pop culture Archives

This Olympian’s Inspiration is His Brother with Cerebral Palsy

Get the tissues out, because this story will tug at your heartstrings.

Canadian freestyle skier Alex Bilodeau won gold at the Sochi Winter Olympics yesterday, the second of his career. And right there cheering him on was his older brother, Frederic. After the big win Monday, the brothers hugged, with Alex lifting Frederic over the fence so they could celebrate together.

Frederic’s support, and the manner with which he has dealt with his physical impediments have inspired Alex throughout his many years of training.

Topics: Current Events Tags: friendship, news, pop culture February 11, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Super Bowl’s Top 5 Most Family-Friendly Ads

As I mentioned in Friday’s post, the team here at Focus thought it would be fun to create a countdown of the night’s most family-friendly ads. After all, we love to celebrate all things that elevate family – even commercials!

It was also nice for us, as Broncos fans, to find a source of distraction as the contest deteriorated on the field. Nevertheless, a big “congratulations!” to all you Seahawks fans out there – it was a well-earned win.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, kids, marriage, parenting, pop culture February 3, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

One of the Most Controversial Super Bowl Ads of All Time?

Amid all the hoopla surrounding this Sunday’s Super Bowl, I can’t help but think back to the 2010 game. That’s the year Focus on the Family debuted its now-famous ad featuring Pam and Tim Tebow. It still gives me a chuckle to think how some groups branded our innocuous commercial “inappropriate,” “offensive” and “hate masquerading as love” – all without ever seeing it!

These allegations led to an intense media blitz leading up to the game that had me speaking with and appearing on what seemed an endless number of media outlets.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, parenting, pop culture, pro-life January 31, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Your Teen is Like Spanish-Speaking Buzz Lightyear

If you’re a parent, you’re probably familiar with the Toy Story movie franchise. The films highlight the secret lives of toys. Here’s a scene from Toy Story 3 featuring a Spanish-speaking Buzz Lightyear:

So Rex presses one simple button, and an entire personality is reset.

That’s how it sometimes feels to be a parent of a teenager. All of a sudden, you’re seeing a different side to your child’s personality that just wasn’t there before. And I should know – we now have a teenager in the Daly household.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting, pop culture January 30, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Know About This Scandal at the Super Bowl?

Here in Colorado, we’re still basking in the glory of Jan. 19 AFC Championship game victory that bought our beloved Broncos a trip to this Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, it won’t all be fun and games in New Jersey this weekend. Beyond the talent of the players on the field and the glitz of the halftime show, the sad reality is that the Super Bowl is, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, “the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States.”

Human traffickers are ready to exploit the party atmosphere and lowered inhibitions of the thousands of men who will be checking into local hotels.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, news, pop culture January 28, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

3 Lessons Christians Can Learn From the Grammys’ Wedding Ceremony

I’m the type who turns on the TV to watch a football game, not an awards show, but I did hear about the mass wedding at the Grammys last night.

Here’s a recap: actress and rapper Queen Latifah officiated a marriage ceremony for 33 same-sex and straight couples. The ceremony was part of a performance of the song “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

“Same Love” came to prominence during Washington’s Referendum 74 campaign, which ultimately legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, homosexuality, news, pop culture January 27, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: Pro-Life Movie “Gimme Shelter” Opens Today

I want to tell you about a new movie – and a modern-day hero.

Kathy DiFiore is the head of a network of shelters for pregnant teens in New Jersey. Kathy has spent the past 35 years “in the trenches.” Her five shelters are run 100 percent on donations, and have saved more than 20,000 babies.

But DiFiore’s work goes beyond saving preborn children – she also helps their moms. Several Sources Shelters provide teen moms with childcare support, education and assistance programs.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, news, pop culture, pro-life January 24, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Know This About Seahawks’ Derrick Coleman?

Here in Colorado all eyes will be on Sunday’s AFC Championship game between our hometown Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. But following that contest is another marquee matchup. The Seattle Seahawks will be playing the San Francisco 49ers for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Regardless of which team you’re rooting for, I think you’ll be inspired by the story of 23-year-old Seattle fullback Derrick Coleman.

Coleman is the first legally deaf offensive player in NFL history.

Topics: Current Events Tags: friendship, pop culture January 17, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

3 Thoughts About Submission in Marriage

I was working in my office with the TV on this past Friday when I heard an anchor passionately raising her voice.

It turned out the all-women panel was discussing actress Candace Cameron Bure’s recent comments on HuffPost Live about her decision to live out biblical submission in her 17-year marriage to NHL hockey player Valeri Bure.

In her interview, Bure defined biblical submission as “meekness, not weakness” and “strength under control; bridled strength.” And while in her interview Bure assured she makes her opinions “very clear” to her husband, the anchor wasn’t convinced.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband, marriage, pop culture, wife January 13, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: Meet the Man Who’s Redefining Beauty

Once upon a time Rick Guidotti was a fashion photographer taking pictures of those that many considered the most beautiful.

I’m sure the images pop into your head: people who are tall and toned and tanned.

But thankfully, Rick has a mind of his own. He had an idea.

It was about 15 years ago when he considered photographing a woman with a disability. That’s when he realized how medical textbooks coldly document men, women and children with physical and genetic abnormalities.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture, pro-life January 10, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura