Current Events Archives

Craigslist and Sex Ads

I’ve never met Jim Buckmaster, and the chances are good that you haven’t either. But you’ve no doubt heard of Craigslist, the online site he’s run since 2000.

What started as a “hobby” of the company’s founder, Craig Newmark, is now a major presence on the Internet. From selling a bicycle to buying tickets to the big game, Americans have embraced its convenience and ease of use. What used to take days and dollars to pull off – placing a classified ad in a local newspaper – can now be done in a matter of mere minutes.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news, sex September 16, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Burning the Qur’an Does Not Illuminate the Bible

I am pleased to join several of my friends and colleagues in adding my name to a simple but straightforward statement, published in a full-page advertisement, in today’s New York Times.

It’s sponsored by the American Bible Society. It reads as follows:

“Burning the Qur’an does not illuminate the Bible.”

The ad, along with its signatories, can be viewed by clicking here.

Of course, this was in response to the planned “Burn the Qur’an Day” which was scheduled for this coming Saturday down in Gainesville, Florida.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news September 10, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Snoozing and Losing

Have you ever overslept? Who hasn’t?

But when was the last time doing so potentially caused you to miss out on a $10 million paycheck?

Professional golfer Jim Furyk overslept yesterday and missed his tee time at a pro-am event in New Jersey. He said he had set his alarm on his cell phone but didn’t realize its battery was low. The phone died overnight. Mr. Furyk woke up 7 minutes before he was scheduled to begin play.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news August 26, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why the Proposition 8 Decision Matters

U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision this past Wednesday nullifying the votes of 7 million Californians was, obviously, deeply troubling. The appeal process will be costly and lengthy, but those of us committed to marriage should be optimistic and hopeful. Our own analysts have carefully studied the ruling and fully expect the decision to be overturned upon appeal.

Nevertheless, you might be wondering why the Proposition 8 decision, an issue presumably only dealing with the state of California, should matter to every person in every state of the union.

Topics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, marriage, policy August 6, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Tim Tebow’s Deal with Jockey Tells Us

Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos first-round draft pick and Focus on the Family’s favorite QB, is in the news again today, this time for signing on as a spokesman for Jockey underwear.

The punsters are having a field day with the association (I’ll refrain), but I’m happy for Tim and his family. After he agreed to film Focus on the Family’s “controversial” Super Bowl commercial, many industry watchers suggested he had blown any chance for major endorsement deals.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news, pop culture July 28, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Pride of the Yankees

It’s been a tough few days in the Bronx. Although the New York Yankees enjoy one of the most celebrated traditions in all of sports, this week has been anything but traditional for the legendary baseball club.

On Sunday morning, Bob Sheppard, the team’s long-time public address announcer, died. He was 99. Two days later and 12 hours before Major League Baseball’s All-Star game, the team’s former owner, George Steinbrenner, suddenly dropped dead of a heart attack.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, pop culture July 15, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Condoms for Kids?

There is news out of Massachusetts this week that the Provincetown School Board has decided to revise their controversial plan to make condoms available to children as young as 5 years of age.

Of course, revising an immoral policy without fully addressing the root cause of the objection can sometimes amount to patching a screen door on a submarine.

As originally drafted, any child in Provincetown schools could have requested a condom and received one without a parent ever knowing of the transaction.

Topics: Current Events Tags: kids, parenting, policy June 30, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

One Father Too Many

The Obama administration is actively changing the cultural norms of our country. Equally troubling, the nation’s chief executive is doing so at the expense of our most vulnerable—the rising ranks of fatherless children.

I’m disappointed President Obama has marred an otherwise noble initiative designed to raise awareness of, and offer solutions for, father absence with a political tip of the cap to advocates of homosexual parenting.

This past Sunday, the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day, within the traditional White House proclamation, the president included a single incendiary sentence that not only undermines the unique and complementary roles of mothers and fathers, but also one which science simply does not support.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, homosexuality, marriage June 23, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

They Called Him Coach

John Wooden’s death last week came just four months shy of his 100th birthday. The legendary UCLA basketball coach, affectionately nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood” for his record setting 10 championships, had been officially retired for 35 years. Remarkably, he remained active into his late 90s, regularly attracting huge crowds wherever and whenever he showed up.

But why? What was his allure? Why did he remain so popular? In an age and culture that is so quickly and easily drawn to the cool and hip, what was it about John Robert Wooden, someone clearly not cool and hip, that remained so attractive and tantalizing to audiences all over the country?

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news, pop culture June 9, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Honest Mistakes

“There’s no crying in baseball!” At least according to Tom Hanks’ character in the 1992 film, A League of Their Own. But is there forgiveness? Thankfully, the answer to that question is, well, yes. Have you been following the drama in Detroit that featured Armando Galarraga’s near perfect game this past Wednesday?

If you missed the action, with two outs in the 9th inning and with Armando having retired the previous 26 batters, first base umpire Jim Joyce called Cleveland’s Jason Donald safe, although replays clearly indicated he was out.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, kids, pop culture June 4, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura