Current Events Archives

Seemingly Divine Occurrences on Set of THE BIBLE

Karla Dial is our talented editor of Citizen Magazine. In this month’s issue she penned a wonderful profile piece on the History Channel’s epic miniseries The Bible. Since its debut on March 3rd, over 68 million people have tuned in to watch this magnificent dramatization of God’s Word. Many of them have been people curious about Christianity. I hope they (and you!) will continue to watch this coming Sunday.

Because I’m so eager to encourage people to watch, I want to share with you a brief excerpt from Karla’s cover story in Citizen about the show.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture March 22, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Same-Sex Marriage Debate Around the World

France. Puerto Rico. Scotland. What do these nations have in common?

All of them have committed active marriage supporters who are working hard to preserve the traditional one-man, one-woman definition of marriage.

There are times when activists who favor the redefinition of marriage seem to suggest that America is simply behind the times when compared to the rest of the world.

But the facts suggest otherwise.

This past January more than 300,000 people took to Paris to protest the French president’s plan to legalize same-sex marriage.

Topics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, marriage, news March 18, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

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

Is the U.S. Doing Enough to Help Get this Pastor Out of Jail?

Pastor Saeed Abedini (photo courtesy of ACLJ) is a United States citizen currently serving an 8-year prison sentence in Iran. Reports indicate that he’s been repeatedly tortured and is at great risk of being killed.

His crime?

Telling people about Jesus during annual trips to the country.

The Iranian government has charged Pastor Saeed with “endangering national security” but the fact of the matter is that he’s helping underground churches as well as building orphanages for children.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, religious liberty March 13, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

WATCH LIVE: Life and Justice Roundtable – Tonight

The 2013 Life and Justice Conference officially begins tomorrow at New Life Church here in Colorado Springs. I’m looking forward to participating.

The critical issues of life and justice are joined at the hip, despite what some might otherwise suggest. By embracing and addressing the life issue the cause of justice is advanced and by embracing the need to do justice in the culture, the cause of life is likewise lifted up.

So what is the conference all about?

Topics: Current Events Tags: adoption, kids, parenting, pro-life March 7, 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

You’ll Want to Watch this Video

Topics: Current Events Tags: kids March 4, 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

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