pop culture Archives

The Cheap Jerk

Do you use coupons?

According to a recent study, Atlanta shoppers use them more than anywhere else in the country. How does your city stack up?

Before I reveal the twenty most frugal cities, I need to tell you a story and ask a question.

There’s a gentleman who’s been working on the team here at Focus for nearly 20 years. He’s married with three girls. If you ever meet him, you’d love him. Bright, chipper, just a real nice guy.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, finances, pop culture February 1, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Chick-fil-A Banned

Indiana University has banned Chick-fil-A from its South Bend campus.

Why?

It’s all because one of the popular company’s restaurants in Pennsylvania has announced plans to donate food to the Pennsylvania Family Institute and Family Life for The Art of Marriage: Getting to the Heart of God’s Design conference.

Translation: According to Indiana University, those who support (or even hint at supporting) traditional marriage are not welcome, and by association, neither are their chicken sandwiches, waffle fries or handspun milkshakes.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, homosexuality, marriage, policy, pop culture January 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

MTV’s Obsession with Child Abuse

On December 29th, the Miami Herald ran a startling headline:

MTV’s Every Detail Etched on Children’s Minds

The article’s author, Ellen Livingston, spoke with myriad teachers and students about the network’s massive influence, almost all negative. John Anderson, a teacher at a private Lutheran School, said he’s worried kids are obsessed with it. He cited the fact that creative assignments often include MTV references.

Livingston asked the question: Knowing that the programming gets “its force from sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll” do parents mind their children spending the best years of their youth in front of MTV?

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, kids, pop culture January 21, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Regis Philbin’s Secret

By now, if you care or pay attention to such things, you know Regis Philbin has announced his retirement from morning television.

In the interest of full disclosure, as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t watch much television, including Regis, but I find elements of his life instructive and thought you might as well.

When most people think of Regis Philbin, they see success. He is one of television’s good guys, quick-witted and kindly humored. But Regis’ life has not been a one-act play whose star always shined strong and bright.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, pop culture January 19, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Does Apple Think Christianity is Offensive?

I am one of the nearly 500,000 proud signers of the Manhattan Declaration, a document and movement spearheaded by my friends Chuck Colson and Dr. Robert George. As drafted, the piece and its adherents proudly and unapologetically affirm support for the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty.

For the last few months, the organizers behind the Declaration have been trying to get Apple to reinstate an app for its iPhone users. Apple had originally approved the app, but pulled it after a small but well organized group of homosexual activists voiced their objections.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage, pop culture, technology January 6, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thank You, Larry King

When Larry King signs off tonight for the final time as host of his award-winning CNN TV show, what will his last words be? Only Larry knows, but chances are they’ll be simple, sincere and straightforward.

Just like him.

When Lawrence Zeiger tried to break into radio back in 1957, moving from Brooklyn to Miami to live with his Uncle Jack, he had to convince his boss to let him get on the air. He was hired to clean the station studio and office, but the 23-year-old had big dreams beyond his initial assignment.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, news, pop culture December 16, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

I Like Keith Fitzhugh

You’ve never heard of him?

Neither had I until I heard what he did.

Keith Fitzhugh is a conductor for the Northern Southern Railroad just outside of Atlanta. He is 24 years old.

Prior to joining the railroad, Keith played football for Mississippi State and then chased his dream of playing in the NFL for the better part of two years. He spent time with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, but never secured a steady spot on any roster.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, family, pop culture December 13, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Interview with the President Went Swimmingly

Today was one of the more exciting days in Daly family history — the reason why all depends on who you ask.

My boys, Trent and Troy, quizzed early this morning about what they thought the highlight of their day was going to be, took nanoseconds to respond, “We’re going swimming!” It was a particularly joyous occasion for Trent, the fish of the family, since he hasn’t been able to hit the pool for a couple of months after breaking his wrist this summer.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, pop culture December 6, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Miracle at Macy’s

I have something neat to share with you. It should put a smile on your face and maybe even a spring in your step.

Would it surprise you to learn that several hundred people – and an additional 650 singers – recently stood in the middle of a big city department store listening with joy in their faces as the name of Jesus Christ was proudly proclaimed?

It’s true.

First, some background.

The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, located at the Macy’s department store in Philadelphia, is the largest operational pipe organ in the world.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, pop culture December 2, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I was only four years old on the night of Thursday, December 9, 1965 (45 years ago!), but to this day, I can tell you where I was and what I was doing – watching the debut of A Charlie Brown Christmas on CBS in our southern California home.

It was an instant hit, much to the surprise of network executives, but surely not to me. (I assumed the whole world was watching!) Creator Charles Schulz argued with the bosses at CBS over a host of issues.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture December 1, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura