events Archives

Why I Love Camping

Summer is in the air and in our family that means one thing: camping!

On our family trips in the great outdoors, one of the things we enjoy most is sitting outside at night under the stars. How mind boggling to think that the light from the nearest one took more than four years to reach earth! When we gaze at the starry heavens, we’re literally looking at the past.

And, there’s so much out there that we can’t see – planets, black holes, asteroids, other galaxies – many of which completely defy explanation or even description.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events May 28, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Have You Heard About the Day of Dialogue?

This won’t come as a shock, but there seems to be precious little tolerance for the views and opinions of Christians in public schools lately.

Here are just three examples of the escalating tension involving the expression of faith within educational circles:

Christian student groups are being told they can’t require their own club leaders to share their biblical beliefs.
An esteemed university for deaf students placed its chief ‘diversity’ officer on leave after she signed a petition in favor of allowing voters to have a referendum on a same-sex marriage law.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, faith, religious liberty April 16, 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

A Short Video About Life, Love and the Gospel

Have you seen this new video from Cru?

I welcome your thoughts. Please pass this on, won’t you?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, family January 17, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Have You Heard About What’s Going on in France?

At first glance it seems like a somewhat inconceivable notion: nearly 800,000 French citizens taking to the streets to protest the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Yet, that’s exactly what happened over this past weekend in Paris.

France’s socialist government plans to vote this year on a bill that would redefine marriage, but many of its citizens, both liberal and conservative, would rather the vote be put to the people, not left in the hands of a select few lawmakers.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news, policy January 15, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Don’t Forget: Saturday is Hobby Lobby Appreciation Day

Hobby Lobby, the popular arts and crafts retailer, is being threatened with a $1.3 million daily fine for refusing to provide insurance coverage that pays for contraception that induces abortion. Their lawsuit is working its way to the Supreme Court, but a recent ruling denied their request to suspend the mandate pending resolution of the case.

In response, the family-owned Christian business announced their intent to disobey the law. David Green is Hobby Lobby’s CEO.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, pop culture, religious liberty January 4, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Seven Things Every Parent Flying with Children this Christmas Should Know

Do you have real young children? A cross country flight with a two-year-old can be a wearisome and stressful adventure. To help you navigate the experience, I thought it would be helpful to hear from an expert. Shawna Purvis is a friend of Focus and works full-time as a flight attendant for a major airline. Her husband, Ryan, is also a commercial pilot. We asked her for some tips for moms and dads and she very graciously obliged.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events December 22, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thanksgiving

The Desolate Wilderness

A chronicle of the Pilgrims’ arrival at Plymouth, as recorded by Nathaniel Morton.

Here beginneth the chronicle of those memorable circumstances of the year 1620, as recorded by Nathaniel Morton, keeper of the records of Plymouth Colony, based on the account of William Bradford, sometime governor thereof:

So they left that goodly and pleasant city of Leyden, which had been their resting-place for above eleven years, but they knew that they were pilgrims and strangers here below, and looked not much on these things, but lifted up their eyes to Heaven, their dearest country, where God hath prepared for them a city (Heb.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, family November 22, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

NYC Mayor Bans Food Donations?

When I first heard the news, I assumed it couldn’t be true, that it was just another email hoax along the lines of the generous Nigerian benefactor who wants to wire me $5,000,000.

But then I read the story from CBS News:

“Glenn Richter arrived at a West Side synagogue on Monday to collect surplus bagels — fresh nutritious bagels — to donate to the poor. However, under a new edict from Bloomberg’s food police he can no longer donate the food to city homeless shelters.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news, policy November 12, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Story of Presidential Kindness

Well, this is it. It’s Election Day in America. If you haven’t yet voted, what’s keeping you?

As we await the returns later this evening, it seems fitting to share an old story of presidential kindness. It was first told by former presidential speechwriter and Wall Street Journal columnist, Peggy Noonan. It’s not an urban myth but a true account from another time.

Here is the story, as told by Ms. Noonan:

The Story of Frances Green

Frances Green was an 83-year-old woman who lived in California.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy, pro-life, religious liberty November 6, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura