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May 1, 2007: Blog, ezine or whatever . . .
james watkins' heavy topics with a light touch



Code of conduct

God is such a drama king

Granddaughter declares dandelions "flowers"

Happy May Day!

Is it a hate crime to beat up a straight white Christian?

Mission accomplished? No time sunni

Speaking at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference May 20-23

Spiderman 3 spins web of words: who's supreme superhero? [Pic: Sony Pictures]

Top 639 things you must do to please God

Top ten things you won't hear at commencement

Top ten sites at www.jameswatkins.com

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Saturday, May 5, 2007
God is such a drama king

I have a friend who's a novelist and is going through a very a frustrating time with closing on a house. Here's what I wrote to her yesterday:

"God is such a drama King. Great 'story arc' here! Conflict continues to be ratcheted up until the very last second! He's writing a real page-turner in your life, but you're going to love the ending!"

If you're going through a similar situation, here are some articles that may be helpful:
God is never late—but He sure is slow
Why? Some thoughts on life's tough questions



Friday, May 4, 2007
granddaughter declares dandelions 'pretty flowers'

DANDELIONS

Two-year-old Hannah and I just returned from a "loler" (stroller) ride with two handfuls of dandelions. On our mile-long trek around the neighborhood, we picked the "weeds" that had escaped suburbanites best efforts to kill them off. Each time we would pass a patch of the lawn pests, she would squeal, "Pretty flowers!" It was one of our most enjoyable "loler" rides.

It just goes to prove that beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and they are beautiful (see pic on the left). If Hannah and I had our way, dandelions would be declared "pretty flowers" and we could all end the futile fight to destroy them.



Thursday, May 3, 2007
spiderman 3 spins web of words: who's supreme superhero?

As 'Spiderman 3' swings into theaters, the web of words continues. Who's the supreme superhero?

Any superhero worth his or her tights, has to have certain characteristics to qualify. He or she has got to have super powers, a secret identity, an arch enemy, sure success, and—of course—an unlikely sidekick. With that in mind . . .
My favorite superhero
My former favorite superhero

Later in the day . . .
is it a hate crime to beat up a straight white christian?

Author Charles Colson notes in his "
BreakPoint" column, "Last week the House Judiciary Committee, egged on by radical homosexual groups, passed what can only be called a Thought Crimes bill. It's called the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. But this bill is not about hate. It's not even about crime. It's about outlawing peaceful speech—speech that asserts that homosexual behavior is morally wrong."

Some thoughts on . . .
hate crimes
homosexuality
hate and homosexulity



Wednesday, May 2, 2007
top ten things you won't hear at commencement

[Cue "Pomp and Circumstance" being played over and over and . . . ] Congrats, grads! As you go out into the real world, here are some things to consider:
Top ten things you won't hear at commencement
Not everything you need to know was learned in kindergarten
So, what are going to earn as a grad?
Finding God's path on the road of life

Later Wednesday . . .
top 639 things you must do to please God

Just today, the following book proposal came to my attention: How to Please God Obeying God’s 639 New Testament Commands to Christian Believers. I believe Jesus said only two commandments were essential and the second derives from the first!

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

As a acquistions editor for Wesleyan Publishing House, I'm looking for books about developing your relationship with God, but I'm going to have to pass that manuscript onto Pharisee Press.
What I am looking for as acquisitions editor
How to have a love—not law—relationship with God



Tuesday, May 1, 2007
mission accomplished? no time 'sunni'

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED PIC FOR MSNBC

Four years ago today, President Bush arrived by a Navy fighter plane aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln to announce "Mission Accomplished" in defeating Iraq's Saddam Hussein and bringing democracy to the country.

Here are some thoughts on the intense fighting and violence since that claim:
Can "the war on terrorism" be won? (September 11, 2005)
Lone Ranger to blame for Iraq war? (March 23, 2006)
Why do Shiites hate Sunnis? (August 7, 2006)
Are we winning the war on terrorism? (August 21, 2006)
Why we will never see democracy in the Middle East (September 11, 2006) [off site]
My Iran exit strategy (September 20, 2006)

Later in the day . . .
happy may day!

There are some sure symptoms that I'm getting older. I remember the original "Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Brady Bunch." Gasoline at twenty-five cents a gallon. The thin Elvis. Civil Defense films on "How to Build a Bomb Shelter."

And I remember May Day. No, not the military parades in Red Square. When I was a child, May Day meant sneaking around the neighborhood leaving bouquets of dandelions on porches, ringing the door bell and then running for cover—sort of trick-or-treating in reverse.

More on May Day



April 21, 2007
last issue's hot topics

A busy ten days: the Supreme Court outlawed "partial birth abortion," a Chinese province proposed "Women's Town" where "Women never make mistakes, and men can never refuse women's requests," a toy company unveiled "Biker Jesus" (and "Rodeo Jesus," and "Soccer Jesus," and . . .), my latest book, Communicate to Change Lives was released, and—most important—Micah and Hannah turned two years old (I've got pictures).
Click here to go back in time to April 9, 2007



April 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 It's Sunday . . . but Jesus is coming
• 3 "Adult site" for adults
• 4 "Jim Shorts" on sex
• 5 Quips and quotes of encouragement
• 6 Is it a life or a choice?
• 7 Top ten reasons I'm not divorcing my wife
• 8 Women in ministry issues
• 9 "Jim Shorts" on spirituality
• 10 "I just want to die" (suicide)



And finally . . .
code, copyrights, comments, contributions . . .

We subscribe to proposed 'blogger's code of conduct' I'm glad to see the online community developing a set of guidelines to bring civility and credibility to the blogsphere. I've adapted the proposed tenants (printed in bold) to create my own code of conduct.


1. Responsibility for our own words First, I believe that, as a follower of Christ, I am responsible to "speak the truth in love" and to "let all [my] conversation be full of grace." Jesus never backed away from controversial subjects, but He was "full of truth and grace." Second, I believe plagiarism is stealing and thus a violation of the eighth commandment. All material on my site is original with me unless credited to someone else. And third, as a journalist, I must be objective, accurate (I will verify all facts with at least two reliable sources) and fair (I will quote people in context and strive to present their position accurately).

2. Nothing we wouldn't say in person We must be as responsible and civil we are in the real world. I believe that personal attacks, name-calling, profane or vulgar language, and racist, sexist and ethnic humor have no place in the real or virtual worlds.

3. Encouragement of responses (That's currently not in the code, but it should be!) I include guest's comments at the end of articles and columns as well as encouraging comments on my host's online discussion board.

4. No anonymous comments Commenters to supply a valid email address before they can post, though I allow commenters to identify themselves with an alias, rather than their real name for sensitive issues.

5. Discretion to delete comments I refuse to post comments that do not conform to my own code in point 2.

6. Vigorous enforcement of blog hosts' terms of service

7. Nothing harmful We will not engage in any activity that would cause physical, mental, social or spiritual harm or encourage anyone to do the same.

I'll probably be tweaking this as I go along, but for now, those are the promises I'm making to you as a guest on my site.

Blogger's Code of Conduct [off site]
Legal Guide for Bloggers (also very good!) [off site]
Some thoughts on blogging and responsibility

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