events Archives

Why are Schools Banning Bible Verses?

Mackenzie Fraiser’s PowerPoint assignment for her sixth grade class was called “All About Me.”

But it turned out her Las Vegas-area public charter school didn’t really want Mackenzie to share about herself. Because when the sixth grader, the daughter of a pastor, included a slide with one of her favorite Bible verses … her teacher told her to remove it.

Mackenzie was told she wasn’t allowed to use “biblical sayings” in assignments. That left the young girl feeling like she wasn’t supposed to talk about her faith at school.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, kids, news, religious liberty September 16, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What’s on Your Summer Playlist?

Music has the power to transport you back in time, doesn’t it?

Listen to an old song, and all the emotions come flooding back … it’s almost like you’re in your childhood home again, or studying for college finals in your dorm, or falling in love with your spouse all over again.

Fast-forward to today. I hope most of us are enjoying the great things about summer – the barbecues, road trips, and visits to the beach or mountains.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: entertainment, events, family, promos June 29, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Celebrate Dad’s Unique Contributions This Father’s Day

What happens when a researcher tries to measure the parent-child bond using the same standard yardstick for both moms and dads?

Dads lose.

That’s what Dr. Kathryn Kerns discovered when she talked to teens and preteens about their parents.

But something wasn’t adding up: the kids were describing “rich, warm relationships” with their dads. So why weren’t the fathers scoring better?

Because the researchers were using the wrong yardstick.

Turns out you can’t evaluate dads the same as moms, because fathers parent their children very differently than mothers do.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, kids, parenting June 17, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

In Honor of Memorial Day

One million.

It’s a big number. But on today of all days, that number takes on even greater value and significance.

That’s because today is Memorial Day, the day we remember over one million Americans who have died in war on behalf of us all.

That figure is astounding by itself, but it’s even more sobering when you reflect on this: behind every number is a name, and behind every name is a family whose entire world changed forever because that soldier didn’t come home.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, events May 30, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Educational Options for Christian Families

As many Christians have observed, the impact from the Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage last year will be felt for generations and across many aspects of our daily lives.

Our children’s education is one of those areas affected by the government’s legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

A few months ago here in the blog, Focus’ Education Analyst Candi Cushman helped us consider the impact the redefinition of marriage might have on public schools and students’ rights in those schools.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, kids, pop culture, religious liberty April 13, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When Holy Week & Terrorism Collide

Mobile phone video taken in the moments immediately following the terrorist attack in Brussels shows people running in a smoky airport terminal.

Dust settles on an empty stroller.

We watch a mother hug her young son, fear and worry in her eyes.

Sadly, scenes like what I’ve described above are becoming the new normal. Since June 2014, ISIS has carried out 75 attacks in 20 countries, killing at least 1,280 innocent people. While the majority of these attacks have occurred in the Middle East, ISIS is increasingly targeting the large cities and suburban areas of Europe and North America.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news March 23, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Jim Daly Mourns the Loss of Justice Antonin Scalia

Today’s news of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia comes as a blow to all Americans who believe in the rule of law and his adherence to an originalist’s view of the Constitution.

The court’s longest serving member was one of the greatest jurists of our age. He was a terrific thinker with a fluid pen. Most importantly, he was a devout believer in Jesus Christ. Many of the nation’s most impressive attorneys stood before him.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news February 13, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Perfect Way to Spend Valentine’s Day

Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day?

It’s a day for romantic dinners, flowers, chocolate, and clothing the world in red.

But this year Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday, and we have an additional idea in mind.

At Focus on the Family, we believe that weekend offers the perfect opportunity for congregations to unite in conveying one important message – marriage should be honored by all. As Hebrews 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all” (ESV).

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, events, marriage, pop culture, promos January 14, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

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

New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time of year when we pause, reflect, regret, repent, and resolve to make some changes. I can’t say for certain, but I imagine losing weight and getting fit has to be at the top of the list for a few million people. Others desire to quit drinking or smoking, get out of debt, spend more time with family and friends, and read more books. If you are a person of faith, resolving to spend focused time reading the Bible might be a big one, too.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith December 30, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura