pop culture Archives

It’s Now Illegal to Say “God Bless America”?

Have you noticed that many of our cultural elites who demand tolerance in the public square are actually extremely intolerant of anything they don’t agree with?

That came to mind again the other day when I learned that the federal government had issued yet another directive to thousands of public school districts and universities nationwide. This latest one—issued on New Year’s Eve—is one of a steady stream of top-down orders from the federal government that have been sent to schools in the form of “Dear Colleague” letters from the Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy, pop culture January 6, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Paul Harvey Reporting “Live” From the North Pole

Fifty years ago tonight ABC Radio aired a delightful “live” broadcast of legendary newscaster Paul Harvey reporting from the North Pole.

If you appreciated Paul Harvey or love the magic of radio, you’re going to enjoy this one.

To listen to the special broadcast, click here.

Merry Christmas!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, pop culture December 24, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why a Rock Star’s Death Reminds Us of Children Who Suffer in Silence

Although the music of the Stone Temple Pilots isn’t on my iPod, the death last week of its lead singer, Scott Weiland, caught my attention. The 48 year-old was found dead on his tour bus in Minnesota of a suspected drug overdose.

Sadly, the ascent and ultimate demise of Scott Weiland strikes an all too familiar ring. From Elvis Presley to Whitney Houston, drug abuse and celebrity excesses often lead to dark places. Of course, the rest of us aren’t immune to the scourge of modern-day vices either.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, news, parenting, pop culture December 9, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Do You Believe in these Christian “Superstitions”?

Today is Friday the 13th, a day some associate with bad luck. Just saying the phrase brings to mind other (imagined) connections with misfortune, like black cats, broken mirrors and an open umbrella indoors.

While as Christians we should steer clear of these “silly myths,” (1 Tim 4:7) the reality is we have a few “superstitions” we believe, too. Ours might not be rooted in magic or chance, but in a misunderstanding of what Scripture truly teaches.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, marriage, parenting, pop culture November 13, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Four Ways Parents Can Protect Their Kids from Sexting

It’s the type of story that makes parents shudder:

Students exchanging nude photos on their phones.

Members of the Cañon City High School football team here in Colorado allegedly exchanged and collected hundreds of nude photographs of more than 100 students. Some of the students photographed were in middle school. And it seems all of this was part of a competition where points were assigned per picture.

As a colleague remarked, if this type of scandal is occurring in a small town like Cañon City, you know it’s happening all over America.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting, pop culture, technology November 11, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Escape the Comparison Trap

Theodore Roosevelt, always quick with a succinct and witty quip, said it well.

“Comparison,” he once observed, “is the thief of joy.”

And so it is.

Kay Wyma, our broadcast guest today, shares this illustration for how easily – and early – comparing ourselves to others begins.

She took her kids and a few of their friends to a day of fun at a local water park. On the very first ride, a young boy in their group was told he wasn’t tall enough to join everyone else.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, pop culture November 6, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Halloween and The Reformation: Thoughts for Today

Many Americans, especially children, eagerly await the arrival of Halloween this Saturday. I understand and respect that some of my readers choose not to participate in the tradition of the day. If that is you, I appreciate your convictions. However, I think equally devoted Christians can respond differently. My wife and I have opted to allow our sons to trick-or-treat over the years.

We do, though, impose one important caveat: We’ve chosen to stay away from any of the gore and horror of the holiday.

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, pop culture October 28, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why Are Schools Cancelling Recess?

Some elementary schools across the nation are banning recess.

Why?

So kids can have more formal instruction time in class.

Limiting recess is just one example of what’s being done in the interest of giving teachers more time to teach. For example, we’re seeing children being introduced to formal academics earlier and earlier.

One teacher described it like this: “Kindergarten is now first grade, and first grade is now second grade.”

Kids are also coming home with more homework than in years past.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, parenting, pop culture October 21, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Know This About the Christian Singer Plumb?

Have you ever had a shirt with a loose thread? It seems like such a small thing, doesn’t it? But all it takes is one quick tug for you to realize that thread is part of a much larger problem. The next thing you know, your clothing is unraveling right before your eyes.

A marriage can have loose threads, too. A husband and wife don’t see eye-to-eye, or they’re not communicating very well, or little resentments start to crop up here and there.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, husband, marriage, pop culture October 8, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

WATCH: Exclusive Debut of Newsboys Video Kicks Off “Bring Your Bible to School Day”

Last year’s inaugural “Bring Your Bible to School Day” was huge, and this year’s event on Oct. 8 promises to be even bigger.

Just like last year, all 50 states will be represented. But where last year we had about 8,000 students participating, we’re expecting that number to be exponentially higher for the 2015 event.

Think about what God can do through multiple thousands of students, from kindergarten to college, bringing their Bibles to school as a visual way to celebrate religious freedom and share God’s hope with friends!

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, kids, pop culture, religious liberty September 23, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

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