pop culture Archives

Thoughts on Violent Video Games

Over twenty years ago the Dakin toy company, then a well-known maker of cuddly stuffed animals for kids, ran a controversial advertisement in magazines and newspapers all throughout the country. With images of bloody knives, pistols and hand grenades framing the page, the headline asked the following rhetorical question:

“Is it any wonder the prisons are full?”

Still another ad in the series proclaimed:

“We help children develop more than their trigger finger.”

Directly beneath that ad was a cute little girl squeezing a Dakin teddy bear.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture, technology June 30, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

This is What Integrity Looks Like

Earlier this month Robert Adams of Arlington Heights, Illinois, was waiting to use an ATM machine when he discovered something you don’t often see: a clear plastic bag containing $20 and $100 bills resting beside the machine. He later learned that the sack contained a total of $17,000.

Following some research and a trip to a local Chase bank, it was determined that the bag belonged to the Loomis armored truck company.

Mr. Adams says he was never tempted to keep the lost treasure.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: finances, pop culture June 29, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

TOMS Shoes Discount

As I shared in a post a couple of weeks ago, Focus on the Family is very pleased to be hosting a special event with TOMS Shoes in Irvine, California, this Thursday, June 30th. The gathering is called, “Style Your Sole,” and participants will be given an opportunity to purchase and decorate a pair of shoes at a discount. And according to TOMS tradition, another pair of shoes will be given to a needy child.

For those unfamiliar with TOMS, the company gives away one pair of shoes to a needy child around the world for every pair purchased.

Topics: Current Events Tags: news, pop culture June 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Church of Oprah

Are you a fan of Oprah Winfrey or did you ever watch her popular television program over the last twenty-five years?

In a recent essay in the Wall Street Journal to mark the end of her award-winning show, writer Joanne Kaufman offered an interesting observation:

To watch Oprah, who just wrapped up 25 years of syndicated pastoral work – her last hour of power, number 4,561, aired Wednesday – was to be part of a congregation of true believers.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture June 2, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Would Your Friends Be Shocked?

The latest high profile sex-scandal surrounding the head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahan, brings to mind comments from a previous guest on the Focus on the Family radio program.

Steve Farrar, author of Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family, once wrote:

“If you were accused of sexual indiscretion, would your family, friends and co-workers fall down on the floor laughing because the charge was so ridiculous?”

It’s always shocking and sad when a person of influence is accused of a violent crime, as Strauss-Kahan has been for allegedly raping a hotel maid in New York City.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, pop culture May 23, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Will the World End on Saturday?

By now you’ve picked up on the buzz that, according to Harold Camping of Family Radio, the rapture will occur this coming Saturday, May 21st. He’s even gone so far as to predict the exact time (6 PM), though there’s some confusion concerning time zones around the world.

So, May 21st, give or take a few hours.

This isn’t the first time that Mr. Camping predicted the Second Coming. He had previously proclaimed Jesus would return in September of 1994.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, pop culture May 19, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

New Test Tells How Long You’ll Live

There’s news out of Great Britain this morning that scientists have devised and perfected a blood test that proposes to predict how long you can expect to live.

It’s scheduled to be available by the end of the year.

By almost every account, this is not medical quackery, but instead a highly technical development that’s been years in the making.

Scientists believe a person’s “biological age” can be measured by examining the length of their telomeres, which is another word for the tips of their chromosomes.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news, pop culture May 16, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Steve Martin on Atheism

Are you in the mood to laugh?

My last post dealt with a recent request by atheists to obtain chaplaincy roles within the United States Military. To be sure, that’s no laughing matter. We know salvation of the unbeliever, even an atheist, is an important situation. However, did you know that the legendary actor and comedian, Steve Martin, is now out with a new bluegrass song about atheists and music?

The song is part of the album, Rare Bird Alert, which he produced with his bluegrass band, The Deep Canyon Rangers.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture May 3, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Public Library Pornography

Have you ever been to the New York City Public Library?

It’s been in the national news this week after its spokesperson announced they’ll be making pornography available to any and all of its patrons. This comes as a shock on many levels, especially since adults and children share the same space inside its walls.

This national landmark sits at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Even if your travels haven’t brought you there, you’ve probably seen it on television or in the movies.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news, pop culture April 27, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Morality of the Federal Budget

In a post earlier this week, I speculated on what would happen if churches were to shut their doors. If you missed it, you can click here.

At a recent meeting, I was asked by a reporter to ponder the moral implications of a true government shutdown. I was given an opportunity to think and write about it. Here is how I responded to the question:

A: Although temporarily suspending “non-essential” government functions would have inconvenienced millions of Americans, a closure of that nature doesn’t create a major moral conundrum.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture April 15, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura