Current Events Archives

Praying for Our Christian Family in Iraq

If you’ve had an eye on the news lately, you’ve no doubt heard reports about the terrorist group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), more recently known as “The Islamic State.”

They’re a well-armed Muslim extremist group sweeping throughout Iraq, exercising both military and political control over the regions they conquer.

Just the other day we saw grisly images of the beheading of the American journalist, James Foley. ISIS claimed responsibility for his murder.

Beyond the political complications usually addressed on the nightly news are disturbing accounts that hit much closer to home for all of us who profess the name of Christ.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, church, faith, news, religious liberty August 22, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Of Girls and Boys and Baseball

Like many of you, I’ve been fascinated this past week by the rise of Little Leaguer Mo’ne Davis, the 13-year-old female pitcher for the Taney Dragons of Philadelphia. At 5-foot-4 inches, the eighth-grader became the first girl to ever throw a shutout in the Little League World Series.

For her accomplishment, she was also featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week, another first for any Little League player.

Pitching last night, though, Mo’ne proved mortal.

Topics: Current Events Tags: kids, news, pop culture August 21, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: Have You Heard About the “Fire Challenge”?

As I was driving home from work the other day, I heard a disturbing news story on the radio that instantly grabbed my attention.

A new and life-threatening social-media trend has gone viral among teens.

It’s called the “fire challenge.”

In short, teens are daring one another to use flammable liquids to set themselves on fire, quickly douse the flames and then post a video of the entire incident on YouTube or Facebook.

As this story reports, the trend has become so popular that it has resulted in tens of thousands of horrifying “fire challenge” videos appearing online—in addition to emergency room visits across the country.

Topics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, kids, news, pop culture, technology August 20, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Could Robin Williams’ Faith Have Prevented His Suicide?

The death of comedian Robin Williams has reignited something of a nationwide conversation about suicide and mental health. After all, most know someone whose life has been touched or severely impacted by depression. My own wife, Jean, lost a brother to suicide and Jean herself has shared that she struggled with bouts of depression earlier in our marriage.

Here at Focus on the Family our counselors talk with severely depressed people every day. In fact, suicide-related calls have skyrocketed in the past few years.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, humor, news, pop culture August 13, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: Is This Christian College Being Bullied?

Standing up for religious freedom and God’s design for human sexuality these days comes at a price, as one Christian college president recently learned.

Meet D. Michael Lindsay, President of Gordon College, a Christian liberal arts institution located in Wenham, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1889 as a missionary training school.

President Lindsay, a scholar in his own right as well as a Pulitzer-nominated author, stirred up an unexpected tempest for his school by signing on to a July 1 open letter to President Obama, along with other religious leaders from various churches, organizations and social relief agencies.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, policy July 23, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

My Interview with Dr. Ben Carson

Here’s just a friendly reminder for you to tune in to today’s Focus on the Family radio broadcast to hear Part 2 of my interview with Dr. Ben Carson.

He recently joined us in the studio to talk about his faith, his distinguished career as a neurosurgeon, and his views on several current issues impacting our nation and our world. It was an enlightening, invigorating discussion that you won’t want to miss!

And if you missed Part 1 of the conversation last Friday, you can catch up using the link above.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast July 21, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are We Middle School Bullies on a Social Media Playground?

Is it just me, or have you noticed a real increase in downright meanness online these days?

While cruel and hateful words can rear their heads just about anywhere, unkindness is especially intense in the social media world. It seems the gloves can come off and a verbal free-for-all can explode at almost any time. Sadly, this is too often the approach of professing believers and non-believers alike. It can be sparked by even what may at first seem to be the most innocent of topics.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, friendship, pop culture, technology July 18, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Update on the Supreme Court Rulings

By now, you’ve probably heard about the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on June 30th, which upheld the protection of religious liberties. At issue was one facet of the Affordable Care Act which would have forced many business owners to violate their religious principles by requiring them to fund possible abortion-causing drugs in their company health plans.

As the dust settles from this case, moms and dads all over the country who are busy at work and at home are wondering, “What difference does all this make to me?

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, news, policy, pro-life, religious liberty July 11, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: Does New Research Prove Kids Do Better with Two Moms?

Today’s post comes courtesy of Glenn Stanton, Focus on the Family’s director of Family Formation Studies.

A new study from the University of Melbourne in Australia on how kids from same-sex homes fare is getting a good deal of press. Perhaps you’ve seen the news stories and wondered if this changes the nature of the debate over the importance of the family?

It does not.

This new study gives the same kind of findings we’ve seen before, coming from the same kinds of studies with the same kinds of serious short-comings and method problems.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, homosexuality, kids, news, parenting July 9, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Counting the Heavy Cost of American Independence

The following is excerpted from a previous July 4th reflection:

When it comes to America’s sovereignty, freedom has never been free. Dating back to the Revolutionary War right up until our ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, over 1.3 million Americans have died in combat. It’s important to remember that each of these deaths is not an isolated incident; no man is an island. When a soldier falls, life within a family unit is irrevocably and permanently changed.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, policy, pro-life, religious liberty July 4, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura