Current Events Archives

Guest Voice: Christians are Hypocrites

Focus on the Family’s Esther Fleece was recently identified by CNN’s Belief Blog as one of the “Five Women to Watch in Religion.” Here she reflects on the television program, GCB:

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ABC aired a new program last night, GCB, based on the book, Good Christian B*tches. Apparently ABC’s attempt at being relevant and cutting edge involves a not-so-subtle reference at an insulting profanity aimed at Christian women.

Well, gee, thanks, ABC.

I find that reference especially out of place given where we are at as a nation, though.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture March 8, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why Does Some Music Make You Cry?

There are few people who know less about music than me, but a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about music and emotion grabbed my attention.

The piece attempted to answer an interesting question:

Why is some music more likely to make people cry?

Is it a matter of nostalgia, a tune tied to a specific time or event in our lives? Or is it the strength, power and message within the song’s lyrics?

Not according to some experts.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, pop culture March 7, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why the Iowa Caucus Mirrors Life

For months we’ve been hearing about the big vote in Iowa today, and for good reason. Picking a party’s presidential candidate is a significant opportunity to help advance our country’s ideals. Who we vote for is a reflection of our priorities and personal convictions.

But unlike most states, the Iowa process is a bit complex. It’s also somewhat messy.

Just like life.

In Iowa, there are 1,774 caucus sites. Candidates are permitted to attend and campaign at any of them.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news January 3, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Parents Deserve Blame for Flash Mob Teens

It happened again last week, this time at a 7-Eleven in Silver Spring, Maryland.

As many as 50 teens and young adults were caught on camera robbing the store. To look at the video footage is to see modern-day anarchy in full living color. The operators of the business were helpless until police arrived.

Officials in cities where “flash mobs” have wreaked havoc insist they’re investigating the incidents and studying ways to prevent them from happening again.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, family, news, parenting November 29, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tim Tebow is Today’s Seabiscuit

He arrived at a time when the nation was fearful and fighting malaise, hungry for a hero to root for, eager to find hope amidst the dark clouds of uncertainty.

That the “he” was a three-year-old thoroughbred racehorse made no difference. After all, Americans enjoy rooting for the little guy, especially when that little guy is criticized and counted out by so-called experts.

Do you remember the story?

It was 1938, smack in the middle of the Great Depression.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture November 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What I Saw at Saturday’s Discussion

It is in the act of discussion, suggested the late Christian writer C.S. Lewis, that you rouse the patient’s reason.

And when such a deliberation is approached thoughtfully and pointedly on a stage, you awaken the senses and stir the hearts of the audience, too.

This is precisely what occurred in Iowa at the first Thanksgiving Family Forum. Hosted by the Iowa Family Policy Center’s political arm, The Family Leader, and co-sponsored by Citizenlink and the National Organization for Marriage, the forum showed America something that almost always gets lost in presidential politics: candidates are real, regular people who face the same challenges in life as the rest of us.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news November 19, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Expose the Evil at Penn State

When Penn State’s Board of Trustees announced the firing of football coach Joe Paterno last night in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky molestation scandal, an audible gasp was heard throughout the room. The news quickly spread across the campus. Riots and swarms of angry protestors flooded the streets. A television truck was pushed over. A chaotic night ensued.

Happy Valley it was not.

Some people are upset and agitated alright, but they’re upset and agitated over the wrong things.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, kids, news November 10, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

I Had to Turn it Off

The disturbing video of Texas judge William Adams whipping his then 16-year-old daughter quickly went viral last week, with several million views and climbing. Have you seen it? I had the unfortunate experience of watching an excerpt the other day.

I was sickened at the sight.

My heart breaks for this young woman, Hillary Adams (now 23) who posted the video, allegedly to get back at her father. He is (or was) running for re-election. Naturally people want to know if officials are going to charge Judge Adams with child abuse.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, news, parenting November 9, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Should Boys Be Allowed in the Girl Scouts?

Perhaps you’ve heard about Felisha Archuleta of Denver. For the last few months she’s been trying to sign her 7-year-old son up to join the Girl Scouts.

Why?

“I consider Bobby to be born in the wrong body,” Ms. Archuleta told a Denver television station.

According to the story, Bobby acts and feels like a girl even though he’s a boy. Not surprisingly the application for admission was originally denied, citing the fact that, well, it’s called the Girl Scouts.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, kids, news November 2, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Gender Development: A Fork in the Road?

According to a news report, a lesbian couple in San Francisco have started giving their 11-year-old son hormone blockers in an attempt to delay the onset of puberty.

Why?

Because when the boy was 3 years old he told them he was a girl. He holds this belief to this day and the hormone blockers administered by his two mothers are intended to put his sexual development on hold until he can decide who he really is.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, family, kids, news October 19, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura