news Archives

Burning the Qur’an Does Not Illuminate the Bible

I am pleased to join several of my friends and colleagues in adding my name to a simple but straightforward statement, published in a full-page advertisement, in today’s New York Times.

It’s sponsored by the American Bible Society. It reads as follows:

“Burning the Qur’an does not illuminate the Bible.”

The ad, along with its signatories, can be viewed by clicking here.

Of course, this was in response to the planned “Burn the Qur’an Day” which was scheduled for this coming Saturday down in Gainesville, Florida.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news September 10, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

It’s a (potential) Major Award!

Gabriel Heatter, the old radio newsman of the World War II era, used to begin his broadcast with the same opening line: “Good evening, everyone. There is good news tonight!”

Well, our local paper, the Colorado Springs Gazette, has a “good news” type of story today that might be of some interest to listeners and supporters of Focus on the Family.

This encouraging development is attributable to God’s grace, the generous support of millions of listeners and viewers and the hard work of an incredible team here at the ministry.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: entertainment, events, news September 8, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Snoozing and Losing

Have you ever overslept? Who hasn’t?

But when was the last time doing so potentially caused you to miss out on a $10 million paycheck?

Professional golfer Jim Furyk overslept yesterday and missed his tee time at a pro-am event in New Jersey. He said he had set his alarm on his cell phone but didn’t realize its battery was low. The phone died overnight. Mr. Furyk woke up 7 minutes before he was scheduled to begin play.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news August 26, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Tim Tebow’s Deal with Jockey Tells Us

Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos first-round draft pick and Focus on the Family’s favorite QB, is in the news again today, this time for signing on as a spokesman for Jockey underwear.

The punsters are having a field day with the association (I’ll refrain), but I’m happy for Tim and his family. After he agreed to film Focus on the Family’s “controversial” Super Bowl commercial, many industry watchers suggested he had blown any chance for major endorsement deals.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news, pop culture July 28, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

They Called Him Coach

John Wooden’s death last week came just four months shy of his 100th birthday. The legendary UCLA basketball coach, affectionately nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood” for his record setting 10 championships, had been officially retired for 35 years. Remarkably, he remained active into his late 90s, regularly attracting huge crowds wherever and whenever he showed up.

But why? What was his allure? Why did he remain so popular? In an age and culture that is so quickly and easily drawn to the cool and hip, what was it about John Robert Wooden, someone clearly not cool and hip, that remained so attractive and tantalizing to audiences all over the country?

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news, pop culture June 9, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Motherhood By The Numbers

As you know, yesterday was Mother’s Day. It was an emotional time for me. My heart melts at the thought of my own dear mom, a great woman now gone from earth for nearly 40 years. Though decades have passed since her untimely death when I was just 9 years old, her influence on me remains steady and sure. My mother was a strong but very gentle lady. If I close my eyes, I can still hear her voice and feel the softness of her hand in mine.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, news, wife May 10, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What if Someone Did Find Noah’s Ark?

As I scanned the headlines last week, there’s one that caught my eye: “Has Noah’s Ark Been Found on Turkish Mountaintop?” According to news reports, a number of evangelical Turkish and Chinese explorers believe they’ve found Noah’s Ark resting 13,000 feet upon Mount Ararat on an eastern Turkish mountain. Although encased in ice and snow, one of the explorers, Yeung Wing-Cheung, said, “It’s not 100% that it is Noah’s Ark, but we think it is 99.9% that this is it.”

Yeung made the startling statement based on several factors.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news May 2, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Ultra Good News From Sooner Country

William Shakespeare said it: “Troubles come not as single spies—but in battalions!” Well, old Will wasn’t always right. Only days after sharing the good news about the pro-life movement in the Cornhusker State (Nebraska Passes Two Major Pro-life Bills), there’s more encouraging reports regarding the sanctity of life out of the state of Oklahoma today.

One week after Governor Brad Henry vetoed two pro-life bills, the state’s legislature has voted overwhelmingly to override the vetoes.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news, pro-life April 27, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tiger Woods and Billy Payne

Yesterday marked the opening of the famed Masters golf tournament at Augusta National and, more precisely, the official return of Tiger Woods to the PGA Tour.

Augusta National is a beautiful slice of the American South, but for lovers of the game, it’s more than just a picturesque course. In fact, it’s been called golf’s Garden of Eden. “If there’s a golf course in heaven,” Gary Player once remarked, “I hope it’s like Augusta National.” But then he added dryly, “I just don’t want an early tee time.”

How four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods will ultimately fare against the competition is anyone’s guess.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, marriage, news, pop culture April 9, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

NCAA Bans Focus Ad

The latest Focus on the Family ad featuring our “Celebrate Family. Celebrate Life” message was banned last week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Here’s what happened. In short, our agreement with CBS Sports to run the Tim and Pam Tebow ad in the Super Bowl included the placement of banner ads on various Web sites which the network maintains. One of those outlets was a Web site for the NCAA basketball tournament.

I should point out the banner ad had nothing to do with the topic of abortion or sexuality or any other “hot button” issue.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, news, pop culture February 27, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura