Daly Focus Blog
Tim Tebow liked it.
“Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines recommend it.
But blogger Tim Challies refuses to even see it.
I’m talking about “The Shack,” the film adaptation of the 2007 novel of the same name, which is reviving the controversy around William P. Young’s bestselling book about a grieving father who encounters the Holy Trinity … in human form.
The movie debuted in theaters across the nation last Friday, making a very respectable $16.1 million during its first weekend.
Ashton Kutcher’s recent testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his efforts to end sex trafficking has gone viral.
The popular actor has been working to end modern-day slavery for some years now. Back in 2009, he helped found Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, an organization that builds software to fight human trafficking.
He currently serves as Thorn’s chairman, a role that has allowed him to meet trafficking victims and learn the heartbreaking stories of others.
There is good news out of the new Administration in Washington, D.C., this time for the nation’s students and their parents.
The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice “Dear Colleague” guidance letter issued Wednesday revoked a controversial and misguided Obama-era education policy. That previous policy directed the nation’s schools, upon threat of the loss of federal funding, to allow boys who identify as girls, and vice versa, to use the restrooms, shower facilities and locker rooms of, and participate in programs designated for, the opposite sex, such as a women’s choir or track team.
I’ve shared with you many times about the growing number of Christian businesses who are being sued for refusing to service same-sex commitment ceremonies and weddings.
At first blush, one would think that this is a religious freedom issue – and obviously, that is the case.
But have you considered that these are also free speech cases?
Let’s look at what’s happening to Washington State florist Barronelle Stutzman, who is the owner of Arlene’s Flowers.
A born-again Bible-believing Christian, Mrs.
Throughout her 69 years, Norma McCorvey, aka “Jane Roe” of the tragic 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in all 50 states, was a woman whose complicated and grief-laden life spanned the spectrum from abortion activist to pro-life stalwart.
The product of a broken home, Ms. McCorvey was repeatedly raped by a relative, dropped out of school when she was in the 9th grade, married at 16 and divorced shortly thereafter. She had three children, all by different men.
A recent video from the pro-life advocacy group Live Action shows that Planned Parenthood’s frequent insinuations that it provides widespread prenatal care for pregnant women are misleading at best.
The video highlights Planned Parenthood representatives, including its president, Cecile Richards, making the claim that women rely on Planned Parenthood for prenatal care. Yet when investigators tested those assertions by calling 97 facilities across 41 Planned Parenthood affiliates and asking for prenatal care, they found that only five of the facilities provided that service.
Every February the nation observes Black History Month and recognizes the many contributions of African Americans to the United States and the world. Here at Focus on the Family, it’s no different. We recognize the special commemoration during our monthly chapel service with our staff and through other special educational and celebratory activities over the course of the four-week period.
While reflecting on the celebration, I was reminded about something that happened last August on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal.
As I previously mentioned, I had the opportunity to travel to
Washington, D.C. last week to attend the 65th Annual National Prayer Breakfast. I usually try to “bundle” various activities and
meetings per trip, and this visit was no different. All in all, I spent nearly three days in the nation’s capital meeting with several members of Congress and with media.
During my visit to D.C., I was also able to tour the Museum of the Bible, which is located about three blocks from the Capitol.
We’re currently in the midst of National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14), a yearly celebration that recognizes the importance of this most basic human institution.
We’re also living in an age where cohabitation rates are increasing, in part because our culture increasingly doesn’t value the importance of God’s sacred and foundational gift to men and women.
Too many couples simply don’t see the value in getting married. To them, “marriage is just a piece of paper.” From their vantage point, marriage doesn’t bring any added benefits as long as they’re “secure” in their relationship.
Step into any drug store this week and you won’t be able to miss the fact that Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. The aisle filled with candy is beginning to grow crowded. The selection of cards is starting to get picked over. Open the paper or surf the Internet and you’ll see media outlets are beginning to run an assortment of holiday-related articles, from date ideas to odd gifts suggestions (“Name a roach to show your love,” anyone?).
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
