Current Events Archives

The Good News of the Gospel Brings Hope and Success for African-American Men (Guest Post)

The struggles that Africa-American men, in particular, face in our culture have been well-documented. But recent research offers some helpful signs.

Here to share some explanation and insights about these findings is husband, father and lawyer Timothy Allen. Timothy works in Focus’ public policy area analyzing state legislation and also serves as a member of Focus’ Employee Resource Inclusion Council, which I’ve previously shared about. He’s also a Fellow with Alliance Defending Freedom’s Blackstone Legal Fellowship.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news April 6, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

“God’s Not Dead 2” Inspired by Actual Court Cases

“God’s Not Dead 2,” which debuts this Friday, is the worthy sequel to 2014’s “God’s Not Dead,” one of the largest-grossing faith-based films in history.

Here’s the premise (You can read a more in-depth review of the movie on PluggedIn.com.):

High school history teacher Grace Wesley is asked a question about Jesus and His teachings by a student during class. Ms. Wesley, a devoted Christian, responds accordingly.

The fallout from Grace Wesley’s biblically-based answer is significant.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, pop culture, religious liberty March 29, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

In Remembrance of Good Friday

Yesterday here at Focus, we enjoyed our Maundy Thursday chapel. It was a special time for our staff to come together and reflect on our Lord’s final hours before ascending Calvary to shed His blood on our behalf.

Today, our offices are closed in honor of the holy remembrance of Good Friday.

A few of my non-Christian readers may not understand what today represents. Even some Christians may not fully appreciate the deep, meaningful symbolism ascribed to Jesus and His sacrifice.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith March 25, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When Holy Week & Terrorism Collide

Mobile phone video taken in the moments immediately following the terrorist attack in Brussels shows people running in a smoky airport terminal.

Dust settles on an empty stroller.

We watch a mother hug her young son, fear and worry in her eyes.

Sadly, scenes like what I’ve described above are becoming the new normal. Since June 2014, ISIS has carried out 75 attacks in 20 countries, killing at least 1,280 innocent people. While the majority of these attacks have occurred in the Middle East, ISIS is increasingly targeting the large cities and suburban areas of Europe and North America.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news March 23, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Talk with Your Kids about the Threat of Terrorism

We woke up this morning to horrible news out of Brussels.

Another terrorist attack.

Reports say there were shouts in Arabic before a suicide bomber killed at least 14 people at the Brussels airport. A second blast took 20 more lives during rush hour at a metro train in the capital.

And so once again, a scant four months after the terrorist attacks in Paris, we’re seeing how hatred wreaks destruction and death – and it’s all playing out on our TV and computer screens.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, kids, news, parenting March 22, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Remembering a Faithful Pro-Life Leader

When I spoke at the March for Life event in Washington, D.C., in January, I thanked the Catholic Church for its faithful leadership on the abortion issue. It was the Catholic community that mobilized immediately after the Roe v. Wade ruling, in part because it had been grappling with the issue of abortion long before the Supreme Court rendered its horrific ruling in 1973.

That heritage and sincere commitment to defending life was evident in Father Lawrence W.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pro-life March 21, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Dr. Tony Evans on Growing Boys into Men

You hear a lot of theories tossed about in the media to explain why our culture has suffered such a steep moral decline – things like economic pressures, a lack of educational opportunities, etc., etc.

I’m sure each, in their own way, plays a role. But there’s one factor that I believe is consistently overlooked: the poor state of manhood.

The impact on our society is undeniable. Children from fatherless homes perform more poorly in reading, spelling, and math.

Topics: Current Events March 17, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Top Movies, Books and Audio Recommendations for Spring Break

Is your family looking forward to spring break?

The Daly family is eager for a change of pace to rest and play. While we had a pretty mild winter here in Colorado, the promise of spring and its warmer weather and extended hours of sunshine is always welcomed this time of year.

If you’re a parent, though, you might be asking yourself how to help your children fill those longer days. In the Daly home, we enjoy spending time outdoors and taking in the beautiful Colorado scenery.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, family, promos March 16, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Please Urge the State Department to Help Christians in the Middle East

As Americans, we’ve become all too familiar with horrific references in the news to the Islamic State, otherwise known as ISIS or ISIL. This jihadist militant group based in the Middle East has made clear its intentions to terrorize, kill and destroy anyone who doesn’t adhere to the tenets of Islamic fundamentalism.

To put it bluntly, they seek to dominate the world and will not stop until (according to their magazine) the “Blessed flag [of their organization] covers all eastern and western extents of the Earth, filling the world with the truth and justice of Islam and putting an end to the falsehood and tyranny of jahiliyyah [state of ignorance], even if America and its coalition despise such.”

Christians remain a key target of ISIS.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, policy, religious liberty March 14, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Have You Ever Thought of the Childhood of Jesus?

The Bible is silent on most of Jesus’ childhood. Except for a brief glimpse of Him at age 12, Scripture shows Jesus as a divine baby born under supernatural circumstances … and then as a man aware of His divinity carrying out a miracle-filled ministry on Earth.

But what about those years in between?

There’s a movie that debuts this weekend that explores the period of Jesus’ life where He “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture, promos March 9, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura