James Watkins on Christ's tomb, Britney Spears' suicide attempt, Iraq war, and more
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3.01.07

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'heavy topics with a light touch'

I hope you'll come back regularly for constantly updated commentary on sex, society, the supernatural and such. (Tag it as a bookmark or favorite.) And thanks for telling a friend about jameswatkins.com!
Over 300 articles, columns, .mp3 songs, reviews, "top ten" lists and more
Top ten sites from February
Tell a friend



Thursday, March 28, 2007
just nine days until easter!



Here are some articles and columns to help you get into the spirit of the season:

• Is Easter a "Christian" holiday? You decide!
• Our eggs-clusive Easter eggs-pose'
• The Passion of the Christ: original 'script'
• They just don't make crosses like they used to
• Ya no hacen las cruces como antes
• 'It is finished!' was announced before Christ's resurrection
• When 'It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin'' just isn't enough
• Divine comedy: Holy Week and humor
• He is risen. He is not here
• "What do I do with Jesus?" An Easter drama from Pilate's perspective
• More from our host gospelcom.net



Wednesday, March 28, 2007
sinclair lewis on making a living as a writer

"What the young writer of today should contemplate is a dual profession, and incidentally, it would be the best thing in the world for his tortured creativeness to be forced to touch some nonliterary world, forced to remember what saner folk are daily up to. Let the young Balzac or Byron not only wear his elbows shiny at his desk, but let him with equal assiduity learn another and slightly more lucrative calling. But I would like him to keep out of advertising, journalism and the teaching of literature, if possible, because they are too much akin to writing. No let him become a doctor or a grocer, a mail-flying aviator, a farmer or a bacteriologist, a priest or a communist agitator, and the two professions together, he may make a living." From The Writer, September 1936
Definition of "assiduity"
More writing advice
Writing effective book proposals [new]



Tuesday, March 27, 2007
speedy gonzales response would have been bueno

The Bush administration seems to have this strategy in dealing with accusations, particularly the latest with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: 1. Strongly deny any wrong-doing. 2. Then, over time, admit to various aspects until the whole truth is dragged out of it. (This, of course, is not unique to the present White House or big business or even local citizens.)

May I suggest a more effective and credible strategy: 1. Don't hold back information, 2. Cooperate with authorities, 3. Step down until the issues is resolved . . .
Click for more



Monday, March 26, 2007
cute polar bears, yes; cute unborn babies, no



Two very different reactions to baby pictures last week.

First, animal rights advocates were demanding that a baby polar bear, abandoned by his mother, should be killed because he would grow up in a zoo rather than his natural environment. The media launched a blitz to save the bear by ooo-ing and ah-ing over "Cute Knute."

Second, the very same media outlets were reporting that abortion rights advocates were protesting South Carolina's recent law to require women considering abortion to view ultrasound pictures of their unborn babies before
the procedure. The media quoted opponents calling the law "emotional blackmail" designed to "intimidate women" into not aborting. There was no ooo-ing and ah-ing over cute ultrasound picture of unborn babies. No media effort to support the law.

What a commentary on our culture and our media!
South Carolina bill requires women see ultrasound before abortion
Sixteen questions abortion advocates would rather duck
Is it a life or a choice?



Saturday, March 24, 2007
back on the 'peer pressure' diet

The last few years have been extremely stressful, and I've reverted back to my mother's solution for any problem, "Here, have a cookie." So, I'm trying to get more exercise and giving up cookies (and other desserts) as well as fries. And, I'm cutting back on dark chocolate, although moderate intake has terrific health benefits. You can help keep me accountable with my patented "Oreo-meter" that will track my progress.Thanks for keeping me accountable! (I'll provide monthly updates.)
Peer Pressure Diet details and 2007 Oreo-meter
Health benefits of dark chocolate

interview featured on writer's blog

I had the pleasure of being interviewed on Alyice Edrich's blog on how I got into writing, what are some of the obstacles to getting published and a bit of advice on what editors are looking for. (One of my new hats is acquitions editor for Wesleyan Publishing House.)
The interview
What I'm looking for at WPH



Friday, March 23, 2007
two weeks offline. four years off track?

Our laptop is back from its two-week stay at the computer shop! It will be nice to check my email and update my site at 3 a.m. in my underwear. For some reason, Indiana Wesleyan's computer lab frowns on that sort of thing.

The big news since I was last online seems to be the fourth anniversary of the seemingly never-ending Iraq War and the never-ending battle between the White House and the Congress over pull-out deadlines. So . . .
March 9, 2003, homepage on impending war
March 20, 2006, columns on the war



Friday, March 9, 2007
arrrgh! laptop computer crashes and burns



My laptop started overheating Monday, so I put ice packs on it—how Apollo 13-ish—to get some urgent writing done the past few days. Then this morning, it was fried. Arrrgh!

So, I'm off-line until further notice. (I am able to get most of my assignments done between my AlphaSmart and Indiana Wesleyan University's computer lab.)

If there's something I absolutely have to spill my spleen about, you'll find it at ThinkChristian.net.

ThinkChristian.net
AlphaSmart (a really cool little word processor)



Wednesday, March 7, 2007
wicked-pedia editor highlights site's lack of credibility

The popular—and controversial—online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.com, took another hit this week. It was revealed that "EssJay," one of the thousands of online "experts," was not a tenued PhD of theology at a private university, but in fact 24-year-old college drop-out, Ryan Jordan.

The imposter contributed 20,000 entries to the resource site that anyone can edit! There are just some things that should not be "democratized" such as brain surgery, nuclear power plant operations, theology, counseling, rocket science, commercial piloting, bridge construction, accupuncture, and especially encyclopedias.
Are bloggers journalists?
The story from The Age



Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Jesus 'appalled' by americans' selfishness, candidate claims



Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards told Beliefnet, "I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs. I think he would be appalled, actually."

Edwards went on to say that Jesus would be upset with the country's willingness to go to war "when it's not necessary." He's also against teacher-led prayers in public schools, but he added that "allowing time for children to pray for
themselves . . . I think is not only okay, I think it's a good thing."

The former North Carolina senator noted that he had lost his day-to-day faith in college, but it "came roaring back" in 1996 after the death of his 16-year-old son, Wade.

While I disagree with many of Edward's political positions, I agree that . . .
Jesus would be appalled with America's priorities
Teacher and/or student-led prayer is a terrible idea
The war in Iraq is not a "just war"
Jesus' politics differ from most candidates (2004)



12 Noon EST Monday, March 5, 2007
britney spears attempts suicide, shouts 'I am the antichrist'

The deeply troubled singer has reportedly attempted suicide after writing "666" (the traditional "mark of the beast") on her shaved head, then shouting, "I am the antichrist!" Five thousand young people attempt suicide every day. So, perhaps some good will come out of Spear's recent bizarre behavior. It's a warning for parents and teachers to be conscious of self-destructive symptoms.
Warning signs of possible suicidal behavior
News story of Spear's suicide attempt

Monday, March 5, 2007
'cec murphey is in trouble'

I love the scene in It's a Wonderful Life when word goes out, "George Bailey is in trouble," and the entire community rallies in support. Beloved author and speaker, Cec Murphey, has certainly had a "wonderful life" by impacting the lives of millions of readers and especially his friends in publishing. (He's the co-author of Gifted Hands and Ninety Minutes in Heaven.)

A fire recently destroyed his house and killed his son-in-law. He was able to save some of his writing, but many of his 100 published books were lost. If your life has been impacted by Cec, you can send cards in care of his agent. The Knight Agency is also collecting money to help with immediate expenses:

Deidre Knight
The Knight Agency
577 South Main Street
Madison, GA 30650
(Make sure the memo line of the check reads "for Cec Murphey.")

Cec's Web site
Newspaper coverage



Thursday, March 1, 2007
director makes titanic claim; has found tomb of Christ



James Cameron claims he has discovered the tomb of Christ—as well as Mary Magdalene's and "their son, Judah."

Scholars claim the Titanic director is all wet: Jesus and Mary were very common names at the time and the same claim of Jesus and Mary having a son by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code just doesn't hold water. The most outrageous claim is that DNA testing proves Jesus and Mary were married. It only proves that the unknown couple were parents of the child, Judah.

It's a boat load of speculation and misinformation—and sinking fast!

Cameron's claims
Ken Schenk's "Top ten reasons why you should laugh really loud"
Scholars, clergy slam documentary
Decifering The Da Vinci Code
Your thoughts



March 1, 2007
last issue's hot topics

Wow, what a couple weeks: Britney "Shears" cuts hair, gets tatoos, checks into rehab three times; Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda claims he's Jesus, gets a 666 tatoo; a new study shows the hangups with "hookups;" I turn 55; Ash Wednesday ushers in Lent; and more. Mercifully, jameswatkins.com remains a Anna-Nicole-Smith-free site!
Click here to go back in time to February 11, 2007



February 2007
last month's top ten sites

I have in my right hand, direct from my home office, last month's top ten sites . . .

• 1
Home page / blog

• 2 "Jim Shorts" on sex

• 3 "Adult site" for adults

• 4 Top ten reasons I'm not divorcing my wife

• 5 Quips and quotes of encouragement

• 6 "Jim Shorts" on spirituality

• 7 "Jim Shorts" on miscellanea

• 8 "Jim Shorts" on issues

• 9 Women in ministry

• 10 "Jim Shorts" on health




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