Current Events Archives

Heartache and Heroes in Florida School Shooting

Yesterday’s tragic violence at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is the nation’s third-deadliest school shooting in history – and the 7th such shooting in 2018 alone.

Sadly, we’ve grown familiar with the awful rhythm of these barbaric events.

First comes the text alert on our phone or we hear about the horror on social media. Or maybe we learn of it from the lament of a friend or a co-worker.

Before we ask “How could this happen?” we instinctively ask “How many?”

Of course, we intuitively know that even one is too many, and that behind every number is a name of someone who means the world to someone else.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, kids, news February 15, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Six Free Gifts for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day marks the culmination of National Marriage Week here in the United States. Conceived as a “collaborative campaign to strengthen individual marriages, reduce the divorce rate, and build a culture that fosters strong marriages,” the effort mirrors the ongoing daily work of our ministry.

The traditions surrounding Valentine’s Day may frustrate some, but I’ve always enjoyed them. Jean has been my Valentine for three-plus decades now, and I consider her a gift.

For my fellow male readers, I’m going to assume you’ve already taken care of the cards, the flowers and chocolates.

Topics: Current Events Tags: husband, intimacy, marriage, sex, wife February 14, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Blog: Three Things You Can Do Today to Help Your Child Avoid an Opioid Addiction Tomorrow

Chances are good that you know a family that’s been touched by the opioid epidemic. Roughly 60,000-65,000 individuals in the U.S. died from drug overdoses in 2016, with about 42,000 of those deaths caused by opioids. It’s estimated that more than 11 million Americans misused prescription opioids last year, and nearly one million used heroin. Among the fastest growing groups of users are teens.

Opioids are a class of drugs derived from or related to compounds naturally found in the opium poppy plant.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news February 13, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Trust Not in Kings, but in the King of Kings

Today we’re re-airing one of the highest response programs of 2017 here at Focus on the Family.

It was a message by Senate Chaplain retired U.S. Rear Admiral Barry Black at the National Prayer Breakfast last year in Washington, D.C.

His remarks were delivered to the President of the United States, more than 4,000 government, business, and religious leaders from all over our nation and 160 countries around the world, and to Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, church, faith February 8, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Philadelphia Eagles Take a Knee and Give God the Glory

Last night’s Super Bowl in Minneapolis, which featured an upset win by the Philadelphia Eagles over the New England Patriots, was sports drama of the highest order. The game came down to the last play, a “Hail Mary” heave from the Patriots’ Tom Brady. And although he passed for a Super Bowl record 505 yards, along with three touchdowns, the seemingly timeless Brady came up short.

Thankfully, to the legions of football fans tired of New England’s dominance, there would be no come-from-behind win this time.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, faith February 5, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Signs of Human Trafficking and What You Should – and Shouldn’t – Do to Help

Human trafficking is a part of the seedy underbelly of our society that most of us would rather not have a conversation about. It’s hard to conceive of hundreds of thousands of people, most of them children and women, being either kidnapped or manipulated into psychological enslavement. So we turn our attention to more pleasant topics.

That’s exactly the behavior traffickers count on from us to keep their activities hidden and their operations running smoothly.

Even the lowest estimates suggest that something like 100,000 kids are taken into human trafficking every year in the U.S.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, kids, news, pro-life February 2, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

From President Trump’s State of the Union to the State of the Family

Of the many moving highlights of last night’s State of the Union address, my favorite had to be when President Trump recognized New Mexico police officer Ryan Holets and his wife, Rebecca. You might recall that it was Officer Holets who boldly stopped a pregnant woman from injecting heroin. When it was first reported last year, the story quickly went viral. The Holets were so moved by the plight and need of this troubled young addict that they wound up adopting her baby and named her, quite appropriately, Hope.

Topics: Current Events January 31, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Pain Capable Bill Defeat Is a Cowardly Case of Radical Politics

Last night’s Democrat-led Senate filibuster of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill that would make it illegal to abort a baby after 20 weeks, is an egregious and cowardly case of radical ideological politics coming at the expense of innocent life.

The Senate needed 60 votes in order to advance the bill. In the end, 51 senators voted for it and 46 against. Three Democrats crossed the aisle to support life – Joe Manchin (West Virginia), Bob Casey Jr.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy, pro-life January 30, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Tale of Two Rallies

Several colleagues and I were in Washington D.C. last week for our Evangelicals for Life Conference along with the annual March for Life.

A few observations:

Last week’s massive March for Life rally on the Mall unfolded in familiar fashion. Just before noon, pro-life stalwarts from every state convened to stand in solidarity, many of them carrying signs declaring life as the better choice. It was the 45th consecutive gathering and the longest-running demonstration of its kind.

Topics: Current Events Tags: adoption, events, pro-life January 24, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tragedy in Kentucky

Nobody yet knows why a 15-year-old student opened fire today in Benton, Kentucky, at Marshall County High School.

The latest reports suggest this morning’s horror resulted in the death of two 15-year-old students, one boy and one girl, along with more than a dozen wounded students.

Over the years, school shootings have become an all-too-familiar tragedy.

At an afternoon press conference, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin remarked, “These children belong to this community, and to specific families in this community.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news January 23, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura