broadcast Archives

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

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

This Truth is the Key to Your Success

A lot of people assume it’s their circumstances that determine their attitude. But that’s really not the case. It’s actually quite the opposite.

Let me tell you about Christy and Debra. I think their stories illustrate the point well.

Christy is in her thirties. She’s college educated and ambitious, but with the economy struggling, she started cleaning houses to make ends meet. One of her daily tasks is scrubbing toilets. She hates it. From her view, she deserves better.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, finances July 10, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Testifying to the Gospel of God’s Grace

Our family is visiting Mt. Rushmore this 4th of July weekend. In the visitor center Tom Brokaw narrates a film about Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor who carved the four Presidents’ images—Washington, Jefferson, T. Roosevelt and Lincoln—into the granite. Brokaw says of those who worked on the mountain, “… these were ordinary men accomplishing extraordinary things.”

It made me think of our Christian faith. Yes, we are ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things through Christ. In fact, this testimony came to us this week.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith, finances, marriage, parenting July 3, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tell Us Why You’re Thankful for Your Pastor

The broadcast team and I are working on a program to honor our pastors, and we’d like your help.

As you may know, Focus celebrates Clergy Appreciation Month every October, a time when congregations can recognize the sacrifices, hard work and blessings of pastors and their families. These special people often live under incredible pressures. Simply put, it’s hard work being a member of the clergy.

So often pastors give up their own time to be there for their flock – giving up holidays to visit with sick people at the hospital, counseling couples through the tough times in their marriages, and helping congregants pray through milestone decisions.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, church June 25, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Stepfamilies Form Part of Our Christian Faith

Stepfamilies exist for different reasons. Sometimes as a result of marriage after divorce… sometimes because of a marriage after the death of a spouse. Sometimes the stepfamily happens because a baby or child born out-of-wedlock creates a blended family after the marriage takes place.

Whatever the reason, we know this is true: in addition to the issues all families face – the sibling rivalry, economic issues, the occasional spat – stepfamilies often have some added challenges to overcome.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, divorce, family June 16, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did a Teacher Make a Difference in Your Life?

The title of “teacher” is a great one. It conveys passing along wisdom, knowledge and nurturing.

Most of us, looking back, can identify at least one teacher who poured into us. It might have been the elementary school teacher who comforted us, or the high school teacher who encouraged us to believe that God made us capable of achieving our dreams. Whatever it was, their care made a big difference in our lives.

He saw my potential

I remember my “teacher.” He was my high school football coach, Paul Moro.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, friendship, kids June 12, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Typing v. Handwriting: Which Would You Choose?

Typing and “quick communication” have taken over our lives.

From the endless emails that are part of many of our jobs to text messages asking if someone can pick up bread and milk on their way home, typing has largely replaced handwriting.

Scientists are beginning to warn us that this move to all things technology isn’t completely beneficial. Last month The Boston Globe’s article “Taking notes? Bring a pen, skip the computer” connected handwriting with memory retention.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, friendship, relationships June 10, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Post-Abortive Woman Calls Focus Broadcast “Voice of Hope” (VIDEO)

For those of us whose pro-life convictions stem from our Christian faith, the New Jersey Star-Ledger’s recent headline was disconcerting: “Why I perform abortions: A Christian obstetrician explains his choice.”

Willie J. Parker, who performs abortions up to the 24th week of pregnancy, explains his decision this way:

In listening to a sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King, I came to a deeper understanding of my spirituality, which places a higher value on compassion.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news, pop culture, pro-life May 30, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Santa Barbara Killings Remind Us of Violent Video Games’ Role in Culture

Video games are in the news more and more – and usually, it’s not for good reasons.

Gaming is sometimes blamed in the growing trend where young men are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve major life milestones like moving out of their parents’ house, going to college, getting married and starting a family. Some of these men are stuck in a prolonged adolescence; one stat says 18-to- 34-year-old men spend more time playing video games than 12-to- 17-year-old boys.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting, pop culture, technology May 27, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura