Current Events Archives

The Trump Administration’s Religious Freedom Proclamation

Two-hundred and thirty-two years ago yesterday – January 16, 1786 – the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, legislation ensuring that no citizen would have to choose between their personal faith and the law of the land.

Prior to the American Revolution, Baptists were being harassed and arrested for worshipping in their own homes. Pastors were even being incarcerated.

It was amid this atmosphere that led Thomas Jefferson to pen, in part:

“All men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.”

Over two centuries later these foundational principles, which are enshrined in the First Amendment, are now tenuous and under assault.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, pro-life January 17, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Building Racial Harmony in Our Communities

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we want to share with you a powerful message about building racial harmony in our communities by my dear friend and brother in Christ, Carey Casey.

Carey lived through the real-life story captured in the movie Remember the Titans starring Denzel Washington as an African-American high school football coach who must overcome significant challenges after he’s hired to coach the school’s first racially integrated team. The Titans overcame tremendous adversity, worked through their racial differences, and won the state championship.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, friendship, relationships January 16, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Disciplining Your Kids with Love and Limits

Parents often discipline in terms of behavior modification:

“No backtalk.”
“Say please and thank you.”
“Stop picking on your brother” (with two boys, Jean and I have said that one a lot over the years).
“Put away your backpack.”

Outward behavior is an important part of raising children of character. But it’s only one side of the coin. The other is developing their inner motivation.

The root word of discipline is “disciple.” As disciples of Christ, we follow His teachings outwardly because our hearts are being transformed from within.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, discipline, kids, parenting January 12, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Three Ways to Participate in Our Pro-Life Conference

Focus on the Family and The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) are once again co-hosting Evangelicals for Life, the only major prolife conference for evangelicals in conjunction with the March for Life, the flagship pro-life event.

The Evangelicals for Life event debuted in 2016, and was designed to help invigorate the evangelical pro-life community to greater service and involvement in the pro-life cause.

This year’s event will take place on Jan. 18–20 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C.

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, events, pro-life January 10, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Gospel on the Gridiron

I didn’t have a dog (no pun intended, Georgia fans) in last night’s national championship college football game, but an exclamation point was put on the dramatic finish when Alabama’s winning quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, spoke with the press following the overtime victory.

“My parents would be mad, so excuse me,” he began, “but first and foremost I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with Him, all things are possible and that’s what happened tonight.”

When asked what the victory meant to him, he talked about being overwhelmed by the win but also went on to say,

“All glory goes to God.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, pop culture January 9, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Two Questions to Help You Get Control of 2018

According to billionaire Richard Branson, the secret to making and keeping your New Year’s resolutions is a pen and piece of paper.

“It’s time to get your New Year’s resolutions down on paper,” he recently wrote. “The simple act of writing it down will help you stick to it. Share your goals with your family and friends but ultimately it’s down to you to make your resolution happen in 2018.”

Goal-setting can be very effective, but as we head off into an uncharted new year, I want to ask you a related question, but with a twist:

What if you made a commitment this year to STOP doing so many things?

Topics: Current Events/ Family and Home Tags: events, family January 3, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus on the Family Best Seller List

Week Ending December 22, 2017

7 Women (Eric Metaxas)
7 Men (Eric Metaxas)
Openness Unhindered (Rosaria Champagne Butterfield)
Honey, We Need to Talk (David E. Clarke)
The Kindness Challenge (Shaunti Feldhahn)
Exploring the Joy of Christmas (Phil Robertson)
Forgive, Let Go, and Live (Deborah Smith Pegues)
Your Teenager Is Not Crazy (Dr. Jeramy Clark & Jerusha Clark)
Cherish (Gary Thomas)
Friends of Focus on the Family Best of Broadcast Collection
The Women of Christmas (Liz Curtis Higgs)
Men Who Love Fierce Women (LeRoy & Kimberly Wagner)
Hope Rising (Kim Meeder)
Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You’ll Love (Dr.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family December 27, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Christians Can Share God’s Truth on Sexuality in an ‘Anything Goes’ Culture

What’s your problem with gay marriage? Why does it bother you? How does it affect your life or marriage?

I commonly get asked questions like that in secular interviews.

How would you answer? More broadly, how should the Christian community think about sexual identity-related issues in today’s culture?

Almost two years after Obergefell vs Hodges, the landmark 2015 Supreme Court decision that redefined marriage across all 50 states, social debate continues about homosexuality and transgender issues.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, homosexuality, policy December 26, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Finding True Joy at Christmas

Merry Christmas!

On today’s Focus on the Family broadcast, we’re celebrating the holiday with you in a unique way. Here’s a hint: Think long beards, duck hunting, camouflage outfits, the backwoods of Louisiana, and delicious Cajun recipes.

That’s right. On today’s broadcast, we’re exploring the joys of family and faith as we reflect on what Christmas day is all about with Phil and “Miss Kay” Robertson of the Duck Dynasty clan.

They’ll share some fun stories – like how to cook a squirrel, a scary “John the Baptist” that walked through their front door, and a Christmas fire that almost burned down their house.

Topics: Current Events/ Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family December 25, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Three Cheers for Chick-fil-A’s Decision to Open Last Sunday!

Some are calling it a “Christmas Miracle”!

I’m talking about Chick-fil-A’s decision to open yesterday (Sunday) in order to deliver thousands of meals to stranded passengers inside Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport.

A nearly 11-hour power outage crippled the world’s busiest transportation hub – and at the start of the busy Christmas travel season, no less.

The popular restaurant chain saw the need and worked with Atlanta’s mayor to help bring some timely and tasty relief.

My family jokes about wishing we could stop at Chick-fil-A on the way home from church, but honestly, I’m not at all surprised by their decision to break with their long-held tradition.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, relationships December 18, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura