pop culture Archives

VIDEO: Jesus Comes to the History Channel

“Jesus is coming!”

This weekend, on television, that is.

So says Roma Downey, the co-executive producer of History Channel’s The Bible. “He’s the ‘leading man’ of the Bible’s grand story of God’s love for us, and he makes his entrance this week.”

She sent me a clip earlier today of Sunday’s episode and I wanted to share it with you here:

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture March 15, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus Featured in The New York Times

Saturday’s print edition of The New York Times featured an exclusive profile on Focus on the Family. You can access the piece by clicking here.

As I’ve shared countless times on the radio, I believe it’s our responsibility as Christians to be willing to go wherever the Lord leads us. For me this includes being willing to talk with anyone at any time about anything. It stems from my heart for evangelism and my desire to share the good news of the Gospel with those who do not know Him.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture, staff March 12, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

6 Ways to Become a Better Thinker

The following is excerpted from John Maxwell’s book, How Successful People Think:

HOW TO BECOME A BETTER THINKER

Do you want to master the process of good thinking? Do you want to be a better thinker tomorrow than you are today? Then you need to engage in an ongoing process that improves your thinking. I recommend you do the following:

1. Expose Yourself to Good Input

Good thinkers always prime the pump of ideas. They always look for things to get the thinking process started, because what you put in always impacts what comes out.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture March 8, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Bible Sets a Record

I received an email from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett yesterday about Sunday night’s premier of History Channel’s “The Bible,” which garnered nearly 15 million viewers.

Here’s what she wrote:

Number one on tv…Number one on history website…Number one on twitter. People all over our nation are talking about the Bible. People are talking about God , what a blessing that is…

It begins!

We are so grateful to you all for your love and encouragement and prayers.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture March 5, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Hollywood Makes the Case for Teaching the Bible in Public School

The following essay was penned for The Wall Street Journal by our friends, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett.

As a friend of mine wrote on Facebook this morning, “All thoughtful, no thumping.”

But what do you think?

_______________________________

Why Public Schools Should Teach the Bible

Westerners cannot be considered literate without a basic knowledge of this foundational text.

By ROMA DOWNEY AND MARK BURNETT

The Wall Street Journal, March 1, 2013

Have you ever sensed in your own life that “the handwriting was on the wall”?

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, kids, pop culture, religious liberty March 1, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Exclusive Video Clip: The Bible

The highly anticipated five-week miniseries, The Bible, debuts this coming Sunday, March 3, on the History Channel.

Produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice) and his wife Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel) the ten-hour presentation is a dramatic and ambitious project. It’s also a labor of love for the Burnetts, who began this endeavor with a noble and classically evangelistic goal: to encourage people to read the Bible.

Let’s face it – it takes some moxie to lift up the Bible in the middle of Hollywood.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture February 27, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Space Babies and “The Talk”

Continuing on yesterday’s theme of Super Bowl commercials, I wanted to highlight the larger issue brought up by Kia’s ad.

Do you remember it? It’s the one where a dad creates a fantastical story about “Babylandia” to answer his child’s question of “where do babies come from?”

While we laugh at the desire of the father in the commercial to side-step the birds and the bees conversation, the truth is there’s a tendency to not proactively talk to our kids about sex and as a result, they’ll often hear it from someone else.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news, pop culture February 5, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Super Bowl Ads a Contrast of Culture

For good or bad, advertisements are a reflection and extension of the culture.

So, what did the commercials during last night’s Super Bowl communicate?

Just two observations:

1. The most popular ads lifted up noble ideals: Charles Revson was the founder of Revlon cosmetics. He once reflected that his company may make lipstick in a factory – but it is hope that they sell in the drugstores. Super Bowl XLVII’s highest scoring spots struck a similar hope-filled chord:

A trainer and his horse were reunited (Anheuser-Busch)
Hard-working farmers were lauded and honored (Dodge)
The sacrifices and demands facing military families were recognized (Jeep)
The everyday challenges of parent-child communication were noted(Kia)

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news, pop culture February 4, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are the Boy Scouts Endangering Boys?

To the shock and disappointment of many of us, the Boy Scouts of America released a statement yesterday indicating the possibility of changing its policy that prevents the participation of openly practicing homosexuals.

According to press reports, the 100-year-old organization’s board will meet next week at which time the matter will be debated and likely decided.

In an official statement, the Scouts stated:

This would mean there would no longer be any national policy regarding sexual orientation, and the chartered organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting would accept membership and select leaders consistent with each organization’s mission, principles, or religious beliefs.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: homosexuality, news, pop culture January 29, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Exclusive First Look: Saul from ‘The Bible’ Miniseries

We have an exclusive first look at Saul from The Bible, History Channel’s ten-part miniseries acting out the Bible.

If Saul could be converted, is there any doubt in your mind that anyone is beyond the reach of God?

Along with other faith-based outlets including Beliefnet, ChristianCinema.com, Christian Post, Crosswalk, and Hollywood Jesus, we bring you exclusive first looks at character art from the miniseries. Take a peek at Mary, the mother of Jesus, next at American Bible.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, pop culture January 25, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura