pop culture Archives

Download Your Free ‘Parents Guide to 13 Reasons Why’

Last week I blogged about “13 Reasons Why,” the controversial television series from Netflix that, while rated TV-MA, targets the teen demographic.

As you may know, “13 Reasons Why” tells the story of a teen girl who commits suicide and blames others for what happened.

I explained that our parenting team and counselors here at Focus on the Family agreed with the experts who are concerned the show glamorizes suicide and might influence copycat behavior – and that our recommendation to parents is to not allow their kids to watch this series.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, parenting, pop culture May 19, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why We Don’t Think Teens Should Watch ‘13 Reasons Why’

It’s a new series on Netflix that’s causing a lot of controversy – and if you have a teen in your life, you need to know why so many mental health professionals are concerned.

The series is called “13 Reasons Why,” and it tells the story of a 17-year-old girl, Hannah Baker, who commits suicide – and who blames others for what happened. The story unfolds through the cassette tapes Hannah posthumously leaves for the 13 people she blames for her decision to end her life.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, kids, parenting, pop culture May 10, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Sadie Robertson: “Be confident in who God is through you.”

If you haven’t already heard, in just a few days, Focus on the Family is officially re-launching Brio Magazine, our publication for teen girls. It’s a positive, godly alternative to most of the influences out there today for teenage girls.

Our “Brio girl” for the inaugural issue is Sadie Robertson. Many of you know her from the A&E reality show Duck Dynasty and from Dancing with the Stars a few seasons ago.

She’s just 19, but she’s an impressive young lady, and we’ve asked her to join us in the studio today to share how she is fearlessly living out her faith and using her public platform to be an excellent role model for girls.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, entertainment, faith, kids, pop culture April 28, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

WATCH VIDEO: Focus Flashes Back to 1977!

Monday I shared how the staff celebrated Focus on the Family’s 40th anniversary with a time of prayer and singing during our usual Monday morning stand-up meeting.

But I didn’t tell you the whole story.

Turns out, a few of us wanted to commemorate the milestone – and surprise the staff – in a very 1977 sort of way.

And what’s more 1977 than disco?

That’s right. Our preparation for Monday’s standup meeting included a disco ball, costumes… and a short, choreographed number to “Stayin’ Alive” for Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast co-host John Fuller and me.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, events, pop culture March 29, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Raising a Child with Down Syndrome Changed One Dad

Trevor Hendershot is quite a young man. I think you’d like meeting him.

Cheerleaders in his high school once made banners to cheer him on, and he was so popular he was voted homecoming king. He was a little quirky, too. He had a habit of loudly singing Christian songs in the hallway before, during, and after school. He gave everyone he talked to a high-five, a hug, or a fist bump.

He’s now in his mid-20’s and works for the Los Angeles Angels, a Major League Baseball franchise.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, pop culture, pro-life March 21, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Improbable Adoption Story of Steve Jobs

Today’s broadcast, “Changing the World Through Adoption,” features a conversation with my friend, Focus colleague and co-writer, Paul Batura. The discussion is based on his latest book, Chosen for Greatness: How Adoption Changes the World.

Paul serves as our vice-president of communications. He’s currently in his 20th year at the ministry.

Although Paul often works behind the scenes, you might remember him from a Focus program several years ago where he discussed his popular book, “Good Day!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, broadcast, pop culture March 20, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

New Study Disproves Three Myths about Cohabitation

We’re currently in the midst of National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14), a yearly celebration that recognizes the importance of this most basic human institution.

We’re also living in an age where cohabitation rates are increasing, in part because our culture increasingly doesn’t value the importance of God’s sacred and foundational gift to men and women.

Too many couples simply don’t see the value in getting married. To them, “marriage is just a piece of paper.” From their vantage point, marriage doesn’t bring any added benefits as long as they’re “secure” in their relationship.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, marriage, pop culture, promos February 8, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

This Quote from Abraham Lincoln Still is True Today

A colleague once shared with me a quote from Abraham Lincoln. It dealt with his perspective on public opinion and its impact on the direction of America, as well as the power of culture to shape politics and law:

In this age, in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions.

That’s a statement that just as easily could have been uttered today.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pop culture January 9, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Know This About Duck Dynasty?

Not many families are considered a “dynasty.”

And only one is credited with building a “Duck Dynasty.”

But I guess that’s the way you’d expect a family like the Robertsons to be characterized. After all, the family patriarch, Phil Robertson, turned down an opportunity for a professional football career because it would interfere with duck hunting season.

They’ve also built a highly successful duck call business, have starred in a record-breaking cable television series for several years now, and the men of the family are all well-known for wearing beards that have become something of a cultural icon.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, pop culture December 15, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Chip Gaines Models These Four Biblical Behaviors in His Recent Tweets

If you’re a fan of home improvement shows, it’s hard not to love Chip and Joanna Gaines, the stars of the hit HGTV reality program “Fixer Upper.”

The couple has taken the television world by storm since the show first aired in 2013. And while they’re talented home renovators and savvy businesspeople, those aren’t the main reasons for their popularity.

Fans will happily tell you there’s something different about the Gaineses. They’re kind, funny, and devoted to their four young children.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture, religious liberty December 7, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura