Umbrellas, Sharing and the Fennel Frontier
Because I travel about once a month (often to speak to groups about media discernment), instead of storing my suitcase in a dusty attic or basement, I actually keep it handy in my bedroom closet. I have about 10 items in that rollerboard that I never (or rarely) unpack such as a small Bible, […]
Son of God Movie Prompts 12 Basketfuls of Comments
I’m hardly a prophet, but when I wrote the Plugged In Movie Review radio feature two weeks ago, I uncharacteristically penned these words: Anytime Hollywood has told the story of Jesus—and there have been nearly 100 films made about Him—it’s inevitable that not everyone is going to be happy. I don’t think Jesus looked like […]
Focus Friday: Get Mentored by One of My Faith Heroes
One of the many perks of working at Focus on the Family—especially for 22 years—is the fact that I’ve had the opportunity to rub shoulders with dozens upon dozens of ministry leaders and Christian musicians. I’ve had lunch with, shared a cup of coffee with, had conversations with, interviewed and been interviewed by so many […]
A 4 out of 5 for Son of God?
This past weekend, two PG-13 films were widely released in America. One film garnered a mere 2.5 out of 5 on the Plugged In family-friendliness meter; the other received a 4. Both contained scenes of violence. However, in an unusual twist, the film that was actually more brutal managed the better score. If you’re wondering […]
Focus Friday: A Media Message Changed My Life
As a blog reader and most likely a faithful Plugged In user, let me ask you: How many people would you guess make up the Plugged In team here at Focus on the Family? 30? 20? 15? Actually none of these. Although we tackle films, video games, television and music, and broadcast our thoughts and […]
Reaching People for Christ Via Film
“Among all varieties of evangelism, film makes one of the deepest impressions, even more than hearing a proclaimed message, reading words of Scripture or listening to a friend’s witness.”— Atlas of Global Christianity, 2010 In 1987 I went on a mission trip to Guatemala where I met the wildest four missionaries you’d ever want to […]
Focus Friday: Getting Educated About a Focus Education
For those of you reading who are in your teens or twenties, let me say this: When you get to be about 50, I can assure you there will be times you look back on your life and wonder what you would do differently if you could do it all over again. Little did I […]
Feeling a Sudden Urge to Visit Nebraska?
“He was dangerous to the government. If he had said, ‘Bomb the White House tomorrow,’ there would have been 10,000 people who would have done it.” Those words from Sean Lennon, son of slain Beatle John Lennon, describe how he viewed the influence his father had on fans. While I might disagree with the number, […]
Focus Friday: Join the Adventure (Part Two)
Years ago, I launched a running club here at Focus on the Family with the stated purpose of helping my colleagues complete their first marathon or half marathon. To facilitate the “club” feel, I scheduled a big kickoff meeting, sent out regular emails, and even scheduled group training runs on the weekends. Then to make […]
A Real Low Point for the Grammys (And It’s Not What You Think)
A lot can be said (and has already been said by tweet, blog and article) about Sunday night’s Grammy Awards. The Grammys have long been about trying to showcase something controversial in an effort to self-promote and ultimately sell more music (e.g., Nicki Minaj’s 2012 performance of “Roman’s Revenge,” J.Lo’s barely-there dress in 2000). With […]