news Archives

These Students Need Prayer

If you have a moment today, please pray for the safety and wisdom of those high school and college students who will be participating in this year’s Day of Dialogue. The ultimate goal is for Jesus to be glorified.

Citizenlink’s Karla Dial reports…

Students Enter Dialogue This Week

Thousands of high school and college students in approximately 40 states are preparing to engage their peers in discussions about sexuality and God’s love today, as part of the annual Focus on the Family-sponsored Day of Dialogue.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, faith, homosexuality, news April 19, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Who’s Your Caddy in Life?

Sports fans are now familiar with the name Bubba Watson, the winner of this past weekend’s Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

But how about the name Ted Scott?

I wasn’t familiar with him either, until I discovered that he’s not only Bubba’s caddy, but he’s also the guy credited with helping to tame Watson’s temper – which probably also saved his career.

In professional golf, the caddy usually does more than just carry a bag.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, news April 11, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When Christians Support Atheists

Would you give money to a person who has made life miserable for you?

The members of Sand Springs Baptist Church in Henderson County, Texas, recently did just that, contributing $400 for medical treatment to a gentleman who previously protested their public nativity scene display.

Patrick Greene is the atheist in need, and he’s suffering from an eye disease that may eventually leave him blind.

Jessica Crye organized the collection. “Why not turn this into something else?” she said.

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, news April 10, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Chuck Colson Means to Me

By now you’ve probably heard that Chuck Colson, the beloved founder of Prison Fellowship and a very dear personal friend of mine, is in critical condition and recovering from emergency surgery.

It was just a week ago that Chuck was at a speaking engagement and suddenly fell ill. It turned out he had suffered a intracerebral hemorrhage and was rushed to the hospital.

I hope you’ll join me in asking the Lord to sustain and comfort this great lion of the faith.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture April 4, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

1940 Census Doesn’t Reveal Most Important Things

After 72 years under lock and key, the 1940 United States Census was released this morning. Accessing census records has never been easier. All the files have been digitized, a labor-intensive effort that involved scanning millions of documents.

According to the 1940 Census there were 132 million people living in the United States, a 7 percent increase from 1930. Taken in the midst of the Great Depression, the records are particularly revealing. For the first time ever, workers asked about household income as well as the education level of all those in the house.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, news April 2, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What U.S. Marines and Christians Have in Common

The United State Marine Corps has launched its latest recruitment campaign and it touts a single theme:

Chaos.

“We’re going to have a chaotic future in front of us,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, “which also portends a potentially busy time for the Marine Corps.”

The campaign was launched after research indicated Millenials, their target, strongly resonate with the idea that the military exists to serve those in need.

“Most people hear the sounds of chaos and run in the opposite direction,” intones the ad’s narrator.

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, news March 20, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Could Manning Be Good For Tim Tebow?

A collective groan went up around the office yesterday when news of Peyton Manning’s anticipated signing with the Denver Broncos was first reported by ESPN. It’s not that the folks around me dislike Peyton Manning, who in addition to being a certain future Hall of Fame quarterback, is also a very good guy.

It’s just that, to quote Sue McFadden, a colleague on my team, “I love my Timmy.” In fact, her Facebook status summed up the sentiments of many, I think:
“I’m allowing myself 24 hours to be pouty over this Peyton Manning thing, then I’ll move on.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture March 20, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When Women Do Brave Things

On Saturday, thirty-nine young women, each one representing a year of legalized abortion nationwide since 1973, began a walk of 250 miles in southern Texas. Over the course of the next 19 days they’ll cover the distance between the nation’s largest abortion center in Houston to the courthouse in Dallas where the case of Roe v. Wade was first heard.

The journey is being sponsored by an organization called Back to Life, whose founding mission is to stir America’s conscience to the injustice and tragedy of abortion.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, pro-life March 19, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are Parents Ruining Youth Sports?

This is taking “March Madness” too far.

Springfield, Massachusetts,father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.

As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”

Some are suggesting that since all of this took place at the Holy Name School as part of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program that it’s something of a black eye on the faith-based community.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, news, parenting March 13, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

You Don’t Often See a Headline Like This

The devastation spawned by the 74 tornadoes in 10 states over several days last week is nearly impossible to fathom.

It just doesn’t compute.

We read of the numbers killed (39) and wince and wonder why. We cringe at the images of destruction and want to cry, especially when we realize that behind every number lost is a name and an entire world forever changed for those left behind.

I’m especially thinking of the Babcock family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, news March 5, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura