James Watkins on Halloween, same-sex unions, stem cell research, The Nativity Story and more plus free .mp3 music . . .
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10.15.06

new heavy topics

bbc's bias

halloween: trick or treat?

my iran exit strategy

the nativity story

nj's same-sex unions

stem cell research


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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
happy 'all hallows eve'

What began as a pagan holiday, was turned into "All Hallows Eve" by the Catholic Church (the night before "All Saints Day"), and then turned into the second largest retail holiday in the United States.
The origins of Halloween





Monday, October 30, 2006
only treats with micah and hannah at children's zoo

What fun to go "trick or treating" at the children's zoo with Paul, Amy and grandson Micah as well as Faith and grandaughter Hannah (Deputy Mike was on duty). Grandma and Grandma had as much fun as the two eighteen-month olds.
• Click pics for larger images
Click for our annual Halloween page



Friday, October 27, 2006
afterbirth stem cells as beneficial as pre-birth stem cells?

Something important is being overlooked in the heated debate between Michael [Sly] Fox and Rush [to Judgment] Limbaugh over a political ad concerning embryonic stem cell research. Several studies have shown that placentas may be a viable source for stem cells.

The two possible sources of stem cells, "adult" or post-natal stem cells and those derived from living embryos, have caused a conflict in the scientific community, setting ethics against hoped-for scientific advancement. Now a group of Taiwanese researchers has isolated stem cells from human placenta tissue and has found that their flexibility may be the equal of embryonic cells. The scientists, from National Health Research Institutes and Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, have isolated stem cells from placentas left after full term pregnancy and offer them as a solution to the ethical impasse.
A roundup of research findings on post-natal stem cells



5 PM EDT Wednesday, October 25, 2006
new jersey court rules same-sex couples have same rights

Same-sex couples have the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples under the New Jersey constitution, its supreme court ruled today. Some thoughts:
Will "unions" be called "marriages"? Lawmakers to decide [off site]
Are there statistical differences between marriage and same-sex unions?
Is there a "win/win" solution to the controversy?
Why are some so bent out of shape about homosexuality?



Wednesday, October 25, 2006
more 'off the sanctuary wall' columns

I write a column each issue for Rev. magazine. They want exclusive use of them for a few months, then I'm free to loose them on the world at large. Here are two now available:
Church reports and the numbers that really matter
Worship songs almost anyone can sing



Tuesday, October 24, 2006
will church listen to the nativity story?

The Nativity Story will debut in December, but what will be the church’s response to
a) Keisha Castle-Hughes, the sixteen-year-old who plays Mary, being “great with child” (by her nineteen-year-old boyfriend, not an immaculate conception), b) the director, Catherine Hardwicke, who has directed films that would not exactly be classified “Christian” such as Thirteen which was “Rated R for drug use, self-destructive violence, language and sexuality” and c) the film being produced by a "secular" Hollywood production company?

Some thoughts: a) God has not always had the purest of spokespersons: Moses (murderer), Samson (playboy), David (adulterer, murderer, polygamist), etc. b) from early press, it appears to be very professionally and accurately produced with Oscar-nominated actors and c) perhaps Paul would say of the producers, “Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice” (Philippians 1:18).

What do you think?

The Nativity Story official site
The Nativity Story's original "script"
Your comments



Monday, October 23, 2006
leaked memo reveals anti-christian bias at bbc

Ynetnews.com is reporting that, and I quote:

An internal memo, recently discovered by the British media, revealed what the BBC has been trying to hide. Senior figures admitted in a recent 'impartiality' summit that the BBC was guilty of promoting Left-wing views and anti-Christian sentiment. Most executives admitted that the corporation’s representation of homosexuals and ethnic minorities was unbalanced and disproportionate, and that it leaned too strongly towards political correctness, the overt promotion of multiculturalism, anti-Americanism and discrimination against the countryside.

For the purpose of illustration, the executives were given a scenario in which Jewish Comedian Sasha Baron Cohen would participate in a program titled ‘Room 101’, a studio program where guests would be asked for their opinions on different issues, and allowed to symbolically throw things they hated in a garbage bin. The executives were asked what they would do if Cohen decided to throw ‘Kosher food’, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bible, and the Quran in the garbage bin. The executives said they would allow everything to be thrown in the garbage bin, save the Quran, for fear of offending the British Muslim community.

Ynetnews.com report
"Jim Shorts" on media



Friday, October 20, 2006
a followup to 'madonna's crass cross'

In September, I reported that NBC was planning to broadcast Madonna's concert in which, during "Live to Tell," she wears a crown of thorns while suspended on a cross. Numerous Christian groups expressed outrage not only of Madonna's use of the cross but the network broadcasting it. NBC has announced it will edit out those images in the concert to be broadcast next week.
My rant on Madonna's crass cross
My rant on the commercialization of the cross
Other's reactions to cross controversy
Response from NBC (Reuters)



Thursday, October 19, 2006
bible wars: the new board game

My wife, Lois, has a very clever, witty article for her "Thursday Thoughts" on how we got the Bible and the challenges translators faced—like being burned at the stake. She's proposing a board game called "Bible Wars."
Click here for more



Monday, October 16, 2006
managing your time . . . and sanity

There will probably not be a lot of new material this week as a) I have an editing project to finish up, b) I have two of my own books I need to get to publishers, c) I need to secure faculty for next year's Sandy Cove Writers' Conference, and d) I have a trip coming up. So, here's an article I'm going to try to apply this week. Hopefully, it will be helpful to you as well.
Managing your time . . . and sanity
Sneak preview of When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Sell 'em on eBay
Sneak preview of Writing to Change Lives



Sunday, October 15, 2006
it's beginning to look a lot like christmas . . .

With two feet of snow in Buffalo and Hallmark's halls decked for the winter holidays, you'd think it was Christmas. So, in the spirit of the upcoming holidays . . .
Halloween: our annual look at all things creepy
Top ten reasons to thanks—right now
The Twelve Sites of Christmas



Sunday, October 15, 2006
last issue's hot topics

The Amish served as a "witness" to Christ's forgiveness following school shooting, Mark "Folly" Foley thought his lewd emails would remain private (what was he thinking?), online libel cost an angry blogger $11.3 million and a study claimed 655,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed during "war on terrorism."
Click here to go back in time to October 1, 2006



September 2006
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

• 2 "The Platypus Players"' billabong page

• 3 Home Page, September 4, 2005

• 4 Home Page, January 15, 2006

• 5 "Jim Shorts" on sex

• 6 Quips and quotes of encouragement

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

• 8 "Adult site" for adults

• 9 "Jim Shorts" on issues

• 10 "Jim Shorts" on miscellanea




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sandy cove writers conference

Refine your writing and speaking skills, be mentored by editors and professional writers, network with editors and professional writers and expand your vision of how God can use you. On the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay in Northeast, Maryland.
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