faith Archives

Why are These Pastors Being Threatened with Fines of $1,000 Per Day?

Meet Donald and Evelyn Knapp.

Both in their late 60s, the Knapps have owned and operated the Hitching Post Wedding Chapel in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho since 1989. In that time, they’ve performed more than 34,000 weddings. The chapel is conveniently located across from the Kootenai County Clerk’s office, which issues marriage licenses.

The Knapps are more than wedding chapel owners, though. They’re also ordained ministers from the Foursquare Church, an evangelical denomination. They take the tenets of their faith and denomination seriously, including the belief that marriage is a union of one man and one woman.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy, religious liberty October 22, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Firsthand Account of Christians Fleeing from ISIS

We’ve all heard the horrible stories of persecution in the Middle East at the hands of ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The radical militant group is targeting people of various faiths and ethnic backgrounds with violence, including area Christians, forcing these people to flee their homes to save their lives.

Thanks to the generosity of many Focus friends, Sami Yacoub, the regional director of Focus on the Family Middle East, and his team have been helping the refugees.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: church, faith, news, religious liberty October 14, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Hardest Peace

I can’t remember the sound of my mom’s voice.

That’s because she died of cancer when I was just 9 years old. It was a blow, of course, the security of my entire world shattered in an instant. The tragedy was made even worse because nobody told me my mom was so ill.

How do you explain to a young child that his mother is dying of cancer?

It’s not easy to explain death and terminal illness to a young boy or girl.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith, family, kids October 7, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

This Pastor’s Mistress May Surprise You

Looking in from the outside, this young pastor was living a God-honoring life. He shepherded the church’s youth, taught Sunday school, and led a church neighborhood outreach.

But his young wife knew better. She knew her husband had a mistress.

Addicted to Busy

On today’s broadcast, we’re talking with Pastor Brady Boyd, who heads Colorado Springs’ New Life Church. Pastor Brady shares with us how his overly busy schedule almost destroyed his marriage.

Brady’s wife, Pam, had had enough.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith October 1, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Loving Your Neighbor Includes Public Policy Involvement

There’s no way around it: our nation’s laws impact families. The question is, will the influence be beneficial or harmful to our marriages and children?

Today I’m highlighting my recent interview with Citizen, Focus on the Family’s magazine devoted to public policy news and trends. In it, I share why I believe our faith mandates cultural engagement – and why that engagement includes politics. –JD

***

A Political Conversation

With a major election approaching, Focus on the Family President Jim Daly takes time to articulate his views on public policy and Christian responsibility.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, policy, religious liberty September 30, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

“The Song” Movie a Great Date Night for Couples

“The Song” debuts today, and it’s a great date night movie option for couples looking to be both entertained and edified.

The film gives a unique, modern take to the ancient texts of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. It follows fledgling musician Jed, son of the late, great David King, as he tries to make a name for himself apart from his famous dad. Along the way, Jed falls in love, gets married, and faces some tough temptations.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: entertainment, faith, marriage September 26, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Four Best Places to Raise Your Kids

MONEY magazine recently released its list of “Best Places to Live in America” for 2014, and Castle Rock, Colo., a town just north of Colorado Springs, was number four on the list.

How do they determine which cities make the top ten?

MONEY starts with 781 cities and whittles down the list by looking at factors such as median family income, racial diversity, quality of education, economic opportunity, and even the residents’ level of happiness.

That got me to thinking.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting September 24, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Mental Illness Impacts Families

Many of you commented on and shared my recent blog post, “Could Robin Williams’ Faith Have Prevented His Suicide?”

That’s not surprising because mental illness directly impacts about one in four individuals… yet sadly, it sometimes seems that the Christian community doesn’t talk about the issue as often and as thoroughly we should.

Focus on the Family is hoping to help change that by helping families and churches better understand topics related to mental health – things like depression, bipolar and schizophrenia.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, church, faith, family, friendship September 18, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

University Christian Clubs Not Allowed to Require Leaders to be Christian

It’s a disturbing trend taking place on university campuses around the nation. Thanks to a 2010 Supreme Court decision, state universities are now allowed to restrict “belief organizations from requiring belief.”

The way this is playing out in real life is that Christian clubs are no longer allowed to require their members and leaders to be Christian.

Yes, you read that correctly. Pretty much defeats the purpose of having the club, doesn’t it?

And yet, in the name of inclusiveness, some state universities (like the California State University system) are choosing to impose this nonsensical restriction, and private schools like Vanderbilt University are following suit.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, pop culture, religious liberty September 15, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

God in the Middle of Pain and Suffering

Few events in modern America’s collective consciousness embody pain and suffering like the terror attacks we experienced on Sept. 11, 2001. It was this generation’s Pearl Harbor, a day so unthinkable and awful that we spent months reeling from the shock of it. We ached as a nation. We grieved with moms and dads, husbands and wives, children and friends who had lost loved ones.

Where was God in the middle of all that heartache?

It’s a question many people asked themselves in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and understandably so.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news September 11, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura