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jameswatkins.com 'heavy topics with a light touch'

hot topics pray for persecuted church 12 sites of Christmas authors v. google bloggers v. journalists Chronicles of Narnia evolution v. intelligent design Harry Potter war on terrorism Writers on Writing contents adultsite4adults [rated pg-13] articles - blog archives books - book reviews comedy/drama email - forums - polls encouraging quotations heavy topics - humor newspaper column press room - reprints speaking schedule spiritual resources top ten lists writing resources XarisCom search site about moi All that's really important to know is that I love God, my family, writing, speaking, and Chinese food—in that order. If you want to know more—or have a really bad case of insomnia—click here. Jim favorites Scott Adams Dave Barry David Drury Keith Drury Dena Dyer Dawn Eden Michael Fraley Robin Lee Hatcher Bob Hostetler C W Muley Barbara Nicolosi Scott Ott Ken Schenk Bruce Tinsley ThinkChristian Crew Lawrence W Wilson

Saturday (11.19) Left Behind v. Last Disciple The second Left Behind prequel is now in stores. Authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have popularized the idea of Christians being "raptured" in the future "last days." Their publisher, Tyndale House, has provided balance with a novel that views the events of Revelation as past history from the First Century. The Last Disciple's authors Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaff believe Nero was the Anti-Christ (his name in numbers is 666) and that the tribulation was the Roman persecution of believers. If you're confused about the timing of the last biblical book (aren't we all?), here's an excerpt from a commentary on Revelation by Richard Eckley that I'm currently editing for Wesleyan Publishing House. - Click here Friday (11.18) dealing with burning issues, flaming emails Sometimes I get tired of writing about burning issues (and especially the "flaming" emails they inevitably ignite). It's much more fun writing safe, nonconbustable stuff (see Thursday's entry). Here's a great quote by Henri Nouwen from In the Name of Jesus that I sincerely try to put into practice: Dealing with burning issues easily leads to divisiveness because, before we know it, our sense of self is caught up in our opinion about a given subject. But when we are securely rooted in personal intimacy with the source of life, it will be possible to remain flexible but not relativistic, convinced without being rigid, willing to confront without being offensive, gentle, and forgiving without being soft, and true witnesses without being manipulative. At least that's my goal in addressing "heavy topics with a light touch." - Click here for burning issues - Click here for more burning issues Thursday (11.17) duct tape, baling wire and Vise-Grips® My dad was a jury-rigging genius. (joor'-ē-rĭg v. to creatively solve a problem using unconventional means or methods. Not to be confused with rigging a jury.) He could fix anything with duct tape, baling wire, and Vise-Grips®. His training came in handy during my latest project. - Click here for gory details [new] Wednesday (11.16) The Lion, the Witch and . . . Jesus on the Wardrobe? Perhaps in preparation for the highly-anticipated "The Chronicles of Narnia," Jesus has appeared on a wardrobe in Romania. Pilgrims are flocking to the flat of Valeriu Junie of Drobeta Turnu Severin to see the "miraculous" image in the grain of the walnut. Vaile Nuhaiu, a local priest, said, "It is a miracle when Saints reveal themselves to us mortals and I crossed myself and started to pray. I told the two old people they should fast and pray to those holy images." Granted it's an amazing design, but only the real Jesus is worthy of worship. And only the real Jesus answers prayer. - Read about the real Jesus - Read the news story Tuesday (11.15) responding to 'Pat' answers Christian talk show host Pat Robertson once again made headlines with yet another outrageous statement on "The 700 Club." This time he claims Dover, Pennsylvania, has rejected God by voting out school board members who recently voted to include intelligent design in public school curriculum. "If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them." My friend Donnell Duncan at The Cracked Door has a great answer to Robertson's latest outburst: - Donnell Duncan's response - My response to a previous outburst Monday (11.14) I Got Rich But Just About Everybody Else Died Tryin' I don't know what I find most disturbing: ex-drug-dealing convict "50 Cents" rapping, "I represent niggas in the hood gettin' rich man, I stack chips and I unload clips," his making a movie called "Get Rich or Die Tryin," or posing with an innocent baby who will grow up with a gansta rapper as a role model—and die tryin'. Movie critic, Roger Ebert, notes that "of course the odds against a young drug dealer eventually selling 4 million copies of an album are so high that, by comparison, getting into the NBA is a sure thing. A more accurate title might have been, 'I Got Rich But Just About Everybody Else Died Tryin', and So Did I, Almost.'" - Roger Ebert's review from the Chicago Sun Times - 50 Cent's disturbing lyrics [WARNING: extremely explicit] Last week (11.06-) Harry Potter, teen sex survey, terrorism . . . . . . intelligent design, interpreting the Constitution and Bible, plus . . - Click here But wait, there's more . . . enjoy 300 articles, book excerpts, humor . . . archives book reviews comedy/drama devotions ecards Espanol forums health holidays humor issues kid's page love and sex media music parenting polls quotations spirituality top ten lists travel writing tips more Read a book excerpt, then go to amazon.com and buy them for yourself, family, friends, co-workers, next door neighbor, paperboy, dentist, pastor, . . . and now a word from our sponsor . . . Thanks for stopping by! Hi, I'm Jim Watkins. Each week I try to bring my guests "heavy topics with a light touch" in articles and editorials on a variety of subjects—everything from sex to sects. Email me at jim@jameswatkins.com and let me know how I can better serve you. And, if you enjoyed your visit, please save it as a bookmark or favorites and come back for new material each week. Link it from your site. Then tell all your family, friends, and email pals know about it! Thanks! You can also sign up for Friday's Spam-O-Gram with the best (?) of my writings for the week. To subscribe simply send an email without subject line or message to SPAM-subscribe@jameswatkins.com. Finally (this is the last commercial, I promise), you can be a Pal and help Pay expenses for this site by contributing securely using any major credit card with PayPal: "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well" (3 John 2). fine print © James Watkins. All text and graphics on my sites, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted © in my name, James N. Watkins, and are protected by United States copyright law and international copyright law under the Berne Convention. Please visit the press room for information on reprinting any text or graphics. Thanks! WARNING: Reader assumes full responsibility for the proper and prescribed use of this site. For external use only. Discontinue if rash, redness, irritation, or swelling develops. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Side-effects may include drowsiness or mild to severe agitation. Do not read while operating heavy machinery. Keep away from open flame. Do not store above 475 degrees. Do not use near or place in water. Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of XarisCom.com, GospelCom.net, any other person using the name James Watkins, or any other person real or fictitious, living or dead. Void where prohibited. 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