Entries from December 2008

December 29, 2008

• New look, new attitude

Pic: Top ten signs you had a bad Christmas
Inside this issue
Heavy topics
• New look, new attitude
• Know your Palestinian players
Light touch
• Top ten signs you had a bad Christmas
• The 365 Days of Christmas
• My annual predictions for the new year
• Finely-aged believers
• And more!

New look, new attitude
JamesWatkins.com is sporting a new [...]

December 26, 2008

• Celebrating Christmas 365 days a year

I trust you had a meaningful Christmas! But it’s not simply a one-day event. Click for Celebrating Christmas 365 days a year.
And come back New Years Day for a whole new look and attitude here.

December 17, 2008

• Wishing you the light of Christmas

The prophet Isaiah writes:
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace [...]

December 13, 2008

• Buggy whip boss begs for bailout

Photo: MTSU
The Amish Buggy Whip Company of Shipshewana, Indiana, is asking the government for a 25 billion-dollar bailout.
Owner and CEO, Jeremiah Miller, notes that the tight credit market, unemployment and decreasing demand will force the company into bankrupcy by the end of the year if the government does not act immediately. Company sales have dropped [...]

December 10, 2008

• ‘What do you want from me?’

A classic Pink Floyd song (yep, I grew up in paisley shirts and bellbottoms) asks:
Do you think that I know something you don’t know
What do you want from me?
If I don’t promise you the answers would you go
What do you want from me?
So, I’ve been thinking, what do you want from this blog? How can [...]

December 10, 2008

• Newsweek: ‘Haven’t you read?’

I like a good debate as much as anyone, but it’s not a good debate if it’s based on bad research. Such is the case of Newsweek’s cover story, “The Religious Case for Gay Marriage.” Religion editor Lisa Miller tries to make Scripture prove the acceptance of same-sex marriage.
She makes two major errors in her [...]

December 9, 2008

• Church responds to financial crisis

Here’s an interesting response to the worldwide financial crisis from The Wesleyan Church:
The Board of General Superintendents of The Wesleyan Church calls upon the Church to renew its demonstrations of being the people of God in the world. In financially troubled times, we call upon Wesleyans to lead lives that are disciplined, generous, prayerful, courageous [...]

December 8, 2008

• Presenting Paul’s portfolio

Our favorite son, Paul, is developing a graphics design business, so proud Dad is pleased to show you what he can do with a scruffy faced little girl through the magic of PhotoShop.

Visit Paul’s portfolio for more examples of photo retouching, gradphic design and flash animation.

December 6, 2008

• Have a tree-mendous Christmas

(Photo from Free Christmas Tree Pictures)
Emily Dickinson never sent her poetry to publishers. Her friends did—often against her wishes. So, in that tradition—but with permission—I’m posting my cousin’s annual Christmas offering.
As you gather around your tree,
Look at the trunk as God strength to uphold you,
See the branches as your family reaching out with love.
Let the [...]

December 4, 2008

• Indian Christians under attack

(Photo from www.topnews.in)
Conditions for Christians in India continue to deteriorate. Here’s an urgent email from Youth With A Mission (YWAM):
Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India,
We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile state in India as far as the Gospel is [...]