faith Archives

Ben-Hur: A Great Faith-Based Movie to See This Weekend

By the time the 1800’s came to a close, Lew Wallace’s bestselling novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, was considered by many to be “the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century.” Adapted for film a couple times, most recently in 1959, Ben-Hur became a runaway Hollywood hit, eventually capturing eleven Academy Awards.

Even today, over a half-century later, many critics consider it to be one of America’s greatest movies of all time.

Tomorrow, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are releasing a new version of the classic adventure for the big screen.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, family, pop culture August 18, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Unique Role God Has for Strong-Willed Christian Women

Men are usually held in high esteem for their strong will. “What a leader!” people say. “He’s bold and lives with conviction.”

But a woman with a strong will is often characterized quite differently. “She’s bossy, controlling, and too self-assured.” It’s as if a woman can only be virtuous if she’s quiet and meek.

I think women and men are identical in this sense – God doesn’t want to rid us of our personalities, He wants to direct it and use it for His purposes.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, relationships August 17, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

From Bullied to Olympic Champion: Tamika Catchings-Smith

Did you know that Colorado Springs, where Focus on the Family is located, is an Olympic city? Our mile-high location and thin air make it the ideal place for more than 10,000 Olympians, Paralympians and Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center located here in town.

That connection helps explain why here at Focus we’re pretty excited about the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In my post yesterday I introduced you to two divers, both Christians, who will be competing in the Rio Games.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news, pop culture August 5, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Does Jesus Believe About Race?

A couple of weeks ago, I shared my concern that America seems to be sinking to a new low in race relations. The media has highlighted in graphic detail just how fractured our culture has become.

Even in times when our country has been at its most unified, racial division has remained an unresolved schism bubbling just below the surface. In the wake of severe racial strife over the past couple of years, the “Black Lives Matter” movement emerged, only to be quickly countered by “Blue Lives Matter” and “All Lives Matter” groups.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, pro-life July 28, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

No More Perfect Parenting

Friends: Three policemen were killed yesterday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. You can read my thoughts about this terrible news on my Facebook page. -JD

***

Have you ever felt like a trapped monkey?

Neither had I until a friend described to me how other cultures hunt for monkeys.

The hunters hollow out a coconut and fasten it to a tree with a rope. Inside the coconut, they put a small portion of food that can be reached through a small hole.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family July 18, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

This is the Only Real Solution to the Terror Attack in Nice, France

The death toll from yesterday’s terrorist attack in Nice, France, was raised to 84 this morning. According to reports, two Americans were included in the count. The driver of the truck that rammed into the crowd, which had gathered to watch fireworks and celebrate Bastille Day, is Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel. He was shot and killed by police.

“France has been struck on the day of her national holiday,” said France’s president, Francois Hollande. “Human rights are denied by fanatics, and France is clearly their target.”

This latest episode of terror comes barely a month from the terrible shootings inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were murdered and 53 others were wounded.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news July 15, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Were You Surprised by the Dallas Police Chief’s Comments?

Dallas Police Chief David Brown shared some very personal thoughts during a Monday news conference as he updated the media on the Thursday night attack.

“We’re asking cops to do too much in this country,” he said. “We are. You’re asking us to do too much. Every societal failure, we put it off on the cops to solve. Not enough mental health funding, let the cop handle it. Not enough drug addiction funding, let’s give it to the cops.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news July 13, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Does God Tolerate Our Anger?

If you’re a Christian, you’re aware that God desires to hear your praise and worship.

But what about your anger, or your discouragement, or your frustration that He’s not intervening in your life the way you wanted or expected?

Many Christians have a hard time believing God will tolerate such deep, often unpleasant emotions from His children. They might even say, “Oh, no, no, no. You can’t talk to God like that.”

But the Psalmists felt no such uncertainty.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith July 11, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Sin is at the Center of the Dallas Police Murders

The people of Dallas are in mourning today and with them, all of America as well.

That a rally purported to serve as a peaceful protest to police-involved shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota (read my statement on the deaths on Facebook) turned violent is a stark reminder that sin and evil rage across every corner of every community of the country.

Here’s what we know:

During a “Black Lives Matter” rally last evening in downtown Dallas, 12 law enforcement officers and two civilians were shot.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pro-life July 8, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

One Nation Under God

American patriotism hits a high point at about this time every year. Independence Day celebrations remind us of our nation’s rich history of liberty.

But we’re also confronted with some very dark chapters that can tarnish the national pride we feel.

That paradox brings to mind an important question: “Should we love our country?”

Author Eric Metaxas says a lot of people today interpret love for America as nationalistic chest beating. Our pride is really nothing more than tribalism, they say.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith July 1, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura