Current Events Archives

The President Should Have Called The Pastors First

There’s a curious article in this morning’s New York Times detailing the evangelical fallout from President Obama’s decision last week affirming his support of same-sex marriage.

The headline reads:

After Obama’s Decision on Marriage, A Call to Pastors

The article described a presidential conference call two hours after Mr. Obama’s announcement with approximately eight African-American ministers, followed by additional phone conversations with several of his spiritual advisors. In each of the calls the president attempted to explain his rationale for the decision.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, homosexuality, news May 14, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Majority Support For Same-Sex Marriage is a Myth

Political consultant Frank Luntz calls it “poll-driven language” – the tendency to phrase a question in a way that will generate a desired answer. Operatives on both sides of the aisle have been doing this for years, but it’s especially blatant when it comes to the reporting of support/opposition to same-sex marriage.

Case in point, a recent New York Times story which was headlined, “Support for Gay Marriage Outweighs Opposition in Polls.” The report was based upon an average of various polling data which supposedly revealed that 50% of Americans support same-sex marriage while 45% oppose it.

Topics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, marriage, news, policy May 10, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Will Marriage Be a Major Issue in 2012 Election?

I’m obviously very pleased with the results of yesterday’s election in North Carolina, where voters passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.I am less pleased, as you might imagine, with President Obama’s announcement today that he has changed his position and now personally supports same-sex marriage.

To help put the vote and announcement in context, I’d like to share some comments and observations, which are excerpts from my recent Washington Post editorial on the subject.

Topics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, marriage, policy May 9, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How I Will Vote in November

The following editorial was first published in The Washington Post on May 1, 2012:

A Chance to Vote Your Values — And Act On Them, Too

Jim Daly

With the withdrawal of Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich from the race, the Republican Party all but has its presidential nominee. That means our country’s major issues will be faced by former governor Mitt Romney or President Obama after the ballots are counted on Nov. 6. But before the ballots are cast, voters must first address two critical challenges.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, policy May 3, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

President Obama’s Prayer Proclamation

From the President of the United States:
2012 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER PROCLAMATION

Prayer has always been a part of the American story, and today countless Americans rely on prayer for comfort, direction, and strength, praying not only for themselves, but for their communities, their country, and the world.

On this National Day of Prayer, we give thanks for our democracy that respects the beliefs and protects the religious freedom of all people to pray, worship, or abstain according to the dictates of their conscience.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, religious liberty May 3, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

It Takes Guts To Walk Away From a Fight

Have you been following the controversy surrounding homosexual-rights advocate and writer Dan Savage and remarks he made at the National High School Journalism Convention this past April?

The address was billed as an anti-bullying talk but quickly digressed into a series of highly critical comments decrying orthodox Christianity. After Mr. Savage used a vulgarity to describe the Bible, approximately one-hundred students made their exit in protest. However, this quiet response raised the ire of the columnist, who then used another vulgarity to criticize the protesters.

Topics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, news, religious liberty May 1, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Million Dollar Bounty on Tim Tebow?

A raunchy website that facilitates extramarital affairs has announced it will award one-million dollars to any person who can prove that New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow has engaged in a sexual relationship.

Since the onset of his success at the University of Florida to his ascent in the NFL, Tim Tebow has endured a litany of personal attacks. He’s been mocked for attempting to live up to the tenets of his Christian faith, including his willingness to publicly evangelize and pledge celibacy prior to getting married.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, intimacy, pop culture April 25, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tributes to Chuck Colson

Today’s Focus on the Family radio program features our late friend and lion of the Christian faith, Chuck Colson. I’d invite you to listen to the broadcast by clicking here.

In the meantime, tributes from friends of Chuck’s are pouring in. He was such a beloved man and a gentleman of the highest order. While many news articles over the weekend seemed to concentrate on Chuck’s White House years, those of us who really knew him know that it was the second half of his life serving the Lord through Prison Fellowship that truly defined him.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news April 23, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Chuck Colson (1931-2012)

America has lost a gentleman and statesman of the highest integrity and character. I’ve lost a dear friend and mentor who, most importantly, modeled for me how to stand for God’s Truth with Christ’s heart. Chuck was an endlessly selfless man, whose love for and ministry to those in prison made him one of the great modern-day lions of the faith.

Chuck was a great example to me and millions of others for his willingness to share so openly about his own faults and the besetting sins of his life.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news April 21, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When Christians Support Atheists

Would you give money to a person who has made life miserable for you?

The members of Sand Springs Baptist Church in Henderson County, Texas, recently did just that, contributing $400 for medical treatment to a gentleman who previously protested their public nativity scene display.

Patrick Greene is the atheist in need, and he’s suffering from an eye disease that may eventually leave him blind.

Jessica Crye organized the collection. “Why not turn this into something else?” she said.

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, news April 10, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura