faith Archives

Guest Post: How Does the Hobby Lobby Decision Affect Wedding Vendors?

The Supreme Court’s June 30 decision, which protects Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties from having to pay for possible abortion-causing drugs in company health plans, was a necessary win for religious freedom. The Court’s opinion, written by Justice Alito, relies on the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to reach its conclusion that religious freedom trumps the government interest in this instance.

Many Christians are already asking: “Well, if religious freedom can trump a government law, then could wedding vendors refuse to participate in same-sex weddings on religious grounds?”

In several cases over the past few years involving Christian photographers, bakers, and florists, state courts and civil rights commissions have said “no.”

Does Hobby Lobby change things?

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, homosexuality, news, pro-life, religious liberty July 3, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Three Most Common Regrets of the Dying

Every so often it’s good to get little reminders that serve as something of a reset button for what’s truly important in life.

I recently experienced that when a colleague of mine shared some thoughts he found online from a palliative care nurse.

As you can imagine, when each work day is spent caring for folks in the final weeks of their lives, the subject matter tends to dip below the surface to what’s truly meaningful.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, friendship, kids, marriage July 2, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is Your Smartphone Making You into an Android?

I spend a lot of time in airports.

Air travel is a little easier when you love your job – as I do – and when I can pass the time in between flights visiting with my fellow travelers. Some of the most interesting conversations I’ve had have taken place in an airport … maybe because people there come off a little more honest, a little more vulnerable, with those they likely won’t see again.

But I’m finding those airport conversations a little harder to come by.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, friendship, relationships, technology July 1, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

BREAKING: Supreme Court Upholds Religious Freedom

This is a great day for religious freedom.

The Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties cases is a much-anticipated and wonderful affirmation as the court process proceeds. It shows that religious freedom continues to be the lifeblood of a country founded on the inalienable rights afforded to us by our Creator.

We rejoice with the Green and Hahn families who are now free to continue serving the public, their loyal employees, and their God without having to compromise their faith.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy, pro-life, religious liberty June 30, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Research Suggests Loving Dads Help Pass On Faith to Kids

In a previous blog post, I wrote about passing along a faith that lasts to your children. That post focused on the most important thing parents can do: live out a vibrant faith themselves.

Today I want to share with you additional research that suggests another helpful dimension to helping your kids inherit your faith.

As it turns out, that element has a lot to do with Dad.

The power of love and affection

In a New York Times article that ran earlier this year, Prof.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting June 26, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: Who are Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties?

Last week I introduced a series by Bruce Hausknecht, Focus’ judicial analyst, on two cases currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. These cases can potentially have far-reaching implication on the state of religious liberties in our country, which is why it’s important that Christians understand what’s going on – and what’s at stake.

The first part answered the question, “How did we get here?” In this second part, Bruce answers, “Who are Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties?”

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Hobby Lobby

The Green family – David Green, Barbara Green, Steve Green, Mart Green and Darsee Lett – are committed evangelicals, and the founders and owners of the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores, as well as Mardel, a chain of Christian bookstores.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, policy, religious liberty June 24, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Grief Without Despair: What Seattle Pacific University Students Taught Me

Earlier this month, a young male started shooting a gun at Seattle Pacific University, a Christian school. Before he stopped to reload his weapon, he had killed one and injured three others.

A 22-year old student, Jon Meis, put himself in harm’s way to stop the gunman from inflicting further harm. Meis used pepper spray to incapacitate the shooter before knocking him down. At that point, other students jumped in and helped subdue the shooter.

Bucking the narrative

Sadly, these stories of public shootings follow a familiar storyline by now.

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, news, relationships June 23, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is There a Right Time to Start a Family?

The headline certainly draws you in: “Don’t Call Me Grandma: Births to ‘Older’ Moms on the Rise.” The report from NBC News highlights the growing trend of women over age 35 who are having their first baby.

Delaying pregnancy has become the new normal, and there are many reasons why this is so. First of all, men and women are both marrying at an older age. Another reason is many people – most markedly, women – are pursuing college or advanced degrees that pressure them to dedicate time to developing their careers instead of starting a family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, marriage, news June 18, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Would You Choose a Pet Over a Child?

They call them “fur babies,” and many couples in the U.S. are opting for them. One headline aptly described it this way: “Americans are having dogs instead of babies.”

The United States isn’t unique in this trend. We’ve seen for a while now how birth rates worldwide are plummeting and the number of pets are increasing. Japan, a country where sales of adult diapers outnumber those of baby diapers, has a population of more than 22 million pampered pets versus only 16.6 million children under 15.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting, pop culture June 11, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The American Church Has a Choice to Make

Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, has been consistently coming out with interesting and relevant perspectives on the Christian faith, the general culture and the interaction between the two. I enjoyed sitting down with him in Nashville recently for an interview on his popular internet-based show.

In a piece published last week for Christianity Today, “4 Trends for Churches to Consider,” Stetzer builds on some of the points he presented earlier this year refuting the myth about the “dying” American Church.

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, pop culture, religious liberty June 9, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura