jameswatkins!com on Israel-Hezbollah war, Mel Gibson's DUI, Christy Brinkley, George Michael, plus free .mp3 music . . .

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JAMES WATKINS!COM: HEAVY TOPICS WITH A LIGHT TOUCH

CHRISTY BRINKLEY: REACTION TO HUSBAND'S INFIDELITY

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july 15, 2006

aclu defends hate group

christy brinkley's breakup

mel gibson's dui

middle east conflict

stem cell research

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Thanks for stopping by! Hi, I'm Jim Watkins: author, speaker, threat to society. I hope you'll come back regularly for constantly updated material (click "Refresh" at the top of your browser to assure latest edition). And tell a friend. Thanks!
• Over 300 articles, columns, .mp3 songs, reviews, "top ten" lists and more
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the passion of the press
(7.29) The media is crucifying the director of The Passion of the Christ for his suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol arrest and his alleged obscene and "anti-Semitic" tirade. This is a very different image of Mel Gibson who, during interviews concerning the film, testified to his new found faith in Christ. "I realized I needed something more if I was going to survive. A closer investigation of the Gospels, of the story, of the whole piece, was demanded of me. I got on my knees. I realized that His wounds could heal my wounds."

So, some thoughts: 1) Gibson is innocent until proven guilty in the court of law, not the court of public opinion, 2) rather than Christians questioning Gibson’s faith, they ought to pray for a wounded soul who, at this point, needs compassion rather than condemnation (correction can come later), and 3) our passion should always be for Christ rather than those in the spotlight who claim his name.

Mel Gibson is in my prayers. I hope he is in yours.

• Gibson's 2004 testimony
• Your thoughts on this incident
• (7.29 7 pm) Gibson apologizes for DUI arrest, "despicable" remarks

brits bonkers over bare-chested blokes
(7.28) British business owners are complaining that men walking around outside without shirts during the recent heat wave are keeping customers from coming into their stores. One woman complained it's "unhygienic" to be outside without a shirt. So, the always prim and proper English are considering a ban on topless men.
• Top ten clues a man should wear a shirt this summer

christy brinkley, george michael: opposite reactions to affairs
(7.28) The recent reactions of super model Christy Brinkley and singer George Michael’s gay lover to their partners infidelity were very different. Brinkley just learned her husband has been sleeping with a nineteen-year-old for two years. A spokesperson for Brinkley reported, "She's still very hurt, very shocked.” However, Michael refused to apologize for performing sex acts with a total stranger. He told a Brit TV show that he and Kenny Goss have “no issue with cruising. I've talked about it many times. It's never been an issue between us.” Very different reactions! This illustrates the results of studies on fidelity in hetero- and homosexual relationships.
• Click here for study results

as israel-hezbollah war continues into third week . . .
(7.25) . . . some questions for your consideration:
• Is this a just war?
• Can war on terrorism be won?
• Is war a case of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"?
• With Christians in both Israel and Lebanon, who's side is God on?
• What's the "Christian" response? Guest Editorial by Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners
• What's behind Israel-Lebanon conflict? [off site]

• Click cartoon above to see more of Gary Varvel's political cartoons

aclu to defend 'god hates fags' picketing at funerals
(7.23) The ACLU, famous for it's suits against religious expression, is now defending the anti-homosexual picketing at military funerals by Fred Phelps and his church's "God Hates Fags" and "God Hates America" group. So, it's wrong to put the Prince of Peace's manger on public property, but it's okay for a hateful sect to harass mourners at a private funeral?! Proving once again, our culture is certifiably crazy!
• My thoughts on Phelps and Westboro Baptist
• My thoughts on homosexuality
• My thoughts on our crazy culture
• The Washington Post's coverage of suit

new columns from Rev. magazine
(7.20) I write a column each issue called "Irreverent" for a minister's magazine. (They make me wait six months after it's appeared in print to post on my site, so here are some new old columns I can now share with you.) WARNING: They are a bit irreverent.
• Membership standards for the modern church
• Top ten signs you may be losing it
• Top ten ways to avoid criticism

katrina killings: mercy or murder?
(7.19) A doctor and two nurses are charged with the deaths of four patients in a New Orleans hospital following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The question seems to be "Were these mercy killings or murder?" I don't believe there is a difference.
• Click here

afterbirth alternative to before-birth stem cells?
(7.19) While the President and U.S. Congress argue over the use of embryonic stem cells, there are plenty of stem cells to be harvested from after birth without destroying potential human life.
• Click here for round up
• Click here Chuck Colson's insightful commentary

senate fails to pass 'marriage protection amendment'
(7.18) The house voted 236-187 in favor of an amendment that would declare, "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman." It fell short by 47 votes of the two-thirds vote needed to pass. Last month the Senate's 49 votes in favor of the ammendment fell short of the 60 votes needed.
• What I think about marriage and same-sex unions
• Read actual bill

'eye for an eye, ten soldiers for 90 civilians'
(7.15) The Old Testament principle of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" is not about retribution, but about limiting retribution. The punishment should never exceed the crime. If I knock out your tooth, you can't poke out my eyes. If someone kills eight of my soldiers and kidnaps two others, I can't kill 90 of his civilians while bombing his airport, power plants and roads! This kind of over-reaction is exactly what the "eye for an eye" law was meant to prohibit!
• What does Old Testament law teach?
• What does Jesus teach?

last issue's hot topics
Were Founding Father's "Christian"? Why has Homeland Security listed Indiana as number one terrorist target? Should you wear a shirt this summer? And many more provocative questions!
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last month's top ten sites
I have in my right hand, direct from my home office, last month's top ten sites . . .

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

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