faith Archives

Adventures in Odyssey Children’s Bible Nominated as Bible of the Year Finalist

I am delighted to announce that Focus on the Family’s NIrV Adventures in Odyssey Children’s Bible has been nominated as a finalist for best Bible of the year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).

As I’ve mentioned before, The NIrV Adventures in Odyssey Bible provides an exciting journey through the Scriptures hosted by familiar characters from the beloved Adventures in Odyssey audio drama. Designed for children ages 7 to 12, this full color Bible includes both the Old and New Testaments and these special features:

66 book introductions
100 word searches
200+ devotionals
300 fun trivia facts
A 30-day guided reading plan
Maps of key biblical events
Eight comic-book adventures illustrated by Marvel/DC Comics artist Sergio Cariello

The ECPA’s Christian Book Award “recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards program in the religious publishing industry.” The program began in 1978 and now includes 11 categories including Bibles, Bible Reference Works and Christian Living.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: church, faith, kids April 13, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus on the Family Best Seller List

Week ending April 3rd:

Triggers (by Amber Lia & Wendy Speake)
I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is (by Michele Cushatt)
I’d Like You More If You Were More Like Me (by John Ortberg)
Happy, Happy, Happy (by Phil Robertson)
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (by Ben Carson)
How We Love (by Milan Yerkovich)
The Freedom from Depression Workbook (by Les Carter)
The Holy Spirit (by Billy Graham)
The Mom Project (by Kathi Lipp)
I Can Only Imagine (by Bart Millard)
Love & Respect (by Emerson Eggerichs)
Blessed, Blessed .

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage, parenting, pop culture April 6, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Curious “Comedy” of Stephen Colbert

This past Easter Sunday, Stephen Colbert’s animated television show, “Our Cartoon President,” not only lampooned the President (which is expected), but Colbert also had the nation’s chief executive talk crassly about severing a part of God’s anatomy.

Of course, his defenders will says it’s just a joke – satire on steroids. After all, how can we take a cartoon seriously?

Mr. Colbert is an entertainer, and as such, he understands how to get a strong response from a crowd.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, humor April 4, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

From Conflict and Marriage Troubles to a Duck Dynasty

From growing up dirt poor to becoming reality television superstars, Phil and Kay Robertson, of A&E’s Duck Dynasty, have persevered for more than fifty years together.

It hasn’t always been easy. Their first years together were defined by poverty and alcohol abuse so severe Miss Kay eventually kicked Phil out of the house. Phil says their transformation individually and as a couple was only made possible through repentance.

“We look at the word ‘repent’ as a bad thing,” Phil says.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, marriage April 2, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Should Our Christianity Be Private or Public?

Today is Good Friday, the day Christians remember Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. Sunday is Easter, the day we celebrate His resurrection.

The rest of the world spends this season conjecturing about who Jesus is or debating whether or not He ever existed.

Throughout the culture, the story of Easter is seen as having everything to do with personal faith and nothing to do with objective truth. Religion, it’s believed, doesn’t deal with facts, it deals with personal experience and feelings.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, church, faith March 30, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Find Your Identity in Christ

“Who am I?”

Deep down, that’s a question we’re all asking ourselves. Sometimes it’s answered for us by others … and not always in a good way.

Author Michele Cushatt remembers being 19, in college, and overhearing some fellow students talking about her. One of the boys in the group said, “Michele would be beautiful if she wasn’t so fat.”

She was crushed, embarrassed, and humiliated. Worst of all, his comment solidified what she already believed about herself: Beauty was out of reach for her.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, relationships March 29, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Remembering a Legend: Coach John Wooden

“Make each day a masterpiece.”

That bit of advice comes from Coach John Wooden, a legendary college basketball coach who was respected by millions of people. He died in 2010 at the age of 99.

He led the UCLA Bruins basketball team to 10 NCAA national championships in just 12 years, including an 88-game winning streak. He was the first person to be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, both as a player and a coach.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, friendship March 23, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why They Adopted a Child with Down Syndrome

Yesterday, March 21st, was World Down Syndrome Day, a day to raise global awareness about Down syndrome and to celebrate the vital role people with Down syndrome play in our lives and in our communities.

In recognition, our radio program is featuring the story of one couple who found God’s grace through adoption … in an unusual and remarkable way.

Heather and Josh Avis walked a long, difficult journey through infertility. “Why not us?” was their anguished question.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, broadcast, faith, family, kids March 22, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Does Focus on the Family Promote “Gay Conversion Therapy”?

In recent years, reporters and commentators have repeatedly and regularly alleged that Focus on the Family has practiced and endorsed so-called “gay conversion therapy.”

Here are the facts.

As an unapologetically Christian organization, we believe sexuality is a gift from God designed to be stewarded according to the principles He has outlined in Scripture. As part of that understanding, we believe in and support the availability of professional counseling in matters of sexuality that is respectful, safe, ethical and responsive to the client’s values and desires.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, homosexuality, relationships March 21, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

HBO’s John Oliver Attacks Focus on the Family

Social media is abuzz today concerning HBO’s John Oliver’s Sunday night attack on Vice President Mike Pence and Focus on the Family. The “satirical” late-night talk show host’s screed was not just vicious in tone, but also vulgar and vile in every sense of the word and way.

Mr. Oliver’s rant was motivated by the release of a new book by Mrs. Karen Pence and daughter, Charlotte. Entitled, “Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President,” the second family’s project is centered on the Pence’s pet rabbit.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, homosexuality, policy March 19, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura