James N. Watkins's Blog

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Praying you have a very meaningful Christmas!

As we approach Thanksgiving Day here in the States, you might be thinking Thanks for nothing! And you wouldn’t be alone! The prophet Habakkuk writes:

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord!”
Habakkuk 3:17-18

Little is known of the prophet except that he lived in the time when Israel was oppressed and many had been taken captive by the Babylonians. There was little reason to give thanks. Maybe you’re also facing this Thanksgiving Day with little for which to give thanks.

In spite of living in captivity and facing what appears to be a famine, Habakkuk writes, “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord!”

His contemporary prophet, Jeremiah, also wrote of the time of invasion, occupation and captivity:

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Keep in mind, this verse—which is a favorite “promise verse” for many—was written just before 70 years of Babylonian captivity!

Things were no better 600 years later when the apostle Paul wrote during a time of another political oppression. Israel was occupied by Rome which had appointed the infamous Nero to rule over God’s promised land. Paul also had little reason for which to give thanks, yet he writes:

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Notice that Habakkuk and Paul are not giving thanks for their situations, but in their situations!

And the author of Hebrews encourages Christ followers to offer a “sacrifice of praise” (13:14), even though he is writing in the context of bearing the “disgrace” Jesus bore (13:13).

Thanks for nothing!

We may not have anything for which to give thanks, but the psalmists believed we had someone for which to give thanks:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

This very same instruction is given in 1 Chronicles 16:34 and 41, 2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:1 and 29, Psalm 136:1, and Jeremiah 33:11! (Apparently, God thought it was important enough to repeat it eight times!)

Thanks for someone!

So, as we look around this time, we may not see many things for which to give them, we have someone for whom we can give thanks.

Look back at the bold-faced verses. Make this your list of Thanksgiving this year: for the God of our salvation, for his plans for good and a future and a hope, for his faithful love that endures forever . . . even when we have little physically, socially, financially or politically for which to give thanks.

Give thanks to the Lord!

Copyright © 2015 James N. Watkins

Do you enjoy playing “Jeopardy” from your LazyBoy (“I’ll take ‘Fowl Friends’ for $1,000, Ken”)?

Would you like to raise the intellectual level of conversation at Thanksgiving dinner above that of the cranberry sauce? Do you have nothing better to do with your time than to read this column? Then, you’ll be enriched by our highly educational special report on Melgris Gallopavos.

The overgrown cousin of the pheasant didn’t hatch in Turkey, but is native to North America. The turkey trotted from Mexico to as far north in the United States as Maine. They were first domesticated by the Mexicans, but when discovered they couldn’t be trained to assemble American-made parts, were deported to Europe in 1519. One hundred years later, they caught a ride home for Thanksgiving dinner with the Pilgrims.

The record for distance traveled by a turkey is 221,600 miles: lunch for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren during the first moon landing in 1969.

“The turkey has landed” may have announced the moon landing if Benjamin Franklin had his way. Franklin and John Adam campaigned to have the turkey declared our national symbol. He argued that the bald eagle was “a bird of bad moral character” that lived by “killing and robbing.” (The eagle may not be the best choice, but what deranged dictator is going to be intimidated by a turkey?)

California produces the most turkeys of any of the United States. (And that doesn’t include its movie, television, and music production.) An Englishman, however, holds the record for the world’s largest turkey ranch. Bernard Matthews of Norfolk, England, and over seven hundred full-time wranglers, round up three million entrees each year. (The Brits eat turkey at Christmas from which we get the phrase “Like turkeys voting for Christmas.”)

The world’s largest turkey (if you don’t include the Melgris Gallopavos Politicos variety) weighed in at seventy-five pounds. The gargantuan gobbler made its home with Signe Olsen of Salt Lake City until Christmas dinner in 1973.

A turkey’s IQ, unfortunately, is only slightly higher than Stove Top Stuffing. Many die from pneumonia from not coming in out of the rain, suffocate while attempting a world’s record for how many can cram into a feed pail, or never hatch because the cannibalistic “Tom” turkey eats the hen’s eggs.

In case you’d like to know more about the leftovers you’ll be eating for the next two weeks, there are over 600 Web sites on the Internet featuring recipes for “Turkey and Cranberry Salad,” “Turkey and Rice Quiche,” “Turkey Stuffed Tomatoes,” “Apple Cider Baked Turkey Casserole,” and more. And this bit of Internet intelligence: according to http://www.faa.gov, it is against the law to throw live turkeys from an aircraft. (Will this government infringement of our rights never end?!)

But regardless of what you’ll be eating this Thursday, I trust you have a truly grateful Thanksgiving. Here’s my honest post: Thanks for Nothin’.

Copyright © 2000 James N. Watkins

I’m having trouble with memory but passed a test at doctor’s office for dementia. I got 29 out of 30, which means it’s highly unlikely I have dementia. Good to know. I found this post so enlightening and encouraging! I hope it reassures you if it’s only problems with memory. If you recognize symptoms of dementia, see your primary care doctor for references immediately.

Are memory issues the same as dementia?

(AI): No, dementia is not the same as memory loss; dementia is a syndrome that includes memory loss as a primary symptom, along with other cognitive declines that impact daily life. While memory loss can be a normal part of aging, dementia is a more severe condition that significantly interferes with a person’s ability to function independently, such as getting lost in familiar places or having trouble with daily tasks like paying bills.

Dementia vs. memory loss

Memory loss

A broad term that can refer to a range of experiences, from normal age-related forgetfulness to more serious conditions. Symptoms typically do not interfere with daily life. 

Dementia

A term for a progressive decline in mental abilities, including memory, thinking, and judgment, severe enough to interfere with daily living. 

Key differences

FeatureMemory LossDementiaImpact on daily lifeOften doesn’t interfere with daily tasks.Significantly impairs the ability to perform daily tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, or paying bills.ProgressionGenerally mild and does not worsen significantly over time.A progressive condition where symptoms gradually worsen over time.Other symptomsPrimarily affects memory.Includes other cognitive issues like problems with planning, language, judgment, and mood, in addition to memory loss.ExamplesForgetting a name or a phone number.Repeating the same story, forgetting a spouse’s death, or getting lost in a familiar neighborhood.

Check out Faith Watkins (LCSW) James’ hopeful, helpful, humorous devotional on mental health issues: Praise the Lord and Pass the Prozac

Hi. I’ve been working on a song for a couple years that describes heaven as the beauty of Earth without the effects of the fall, thus “Roses without Thorns.”
 
I finally have music and an arrangement and would love to share with you. It’s now on all music streaming platforms:
 
Amazon Music 
Apple Music
Spotify
and YouTube

Please go through one of the above sites or your favorite as I can actually make some money on royalties. If you don’t stream, here’s the song on YouTube. But please use streaming if you have it. Thanks.
 
You can help it gain an audience by playing it for free or purchasing it for 99 cents on your streams. Thanks for helping me get the encouraging message out about . . .
 
Roses without Thorns
James N. Watkins
Copyright © 2024 James N Watkins
 
We’re so far from Eden’s garden
when roses had no thorns
Now souls and minds are pieced and bleed
and bodies bruised and torn
 
We’re so far from the Gardner’s plan
The Fall twists our desires
Lost in the weeds of hate and greed
Love lost in lust’s hot fire
 
The Gardner wore a crown of thorns
To buy back Paradise
Where hearts and minds will bloom anew
His blood has paid the price
 
While here on earth we’ll bear our thorns
With grace as he provides
And promises will be fulfilled
Of hearts and minds revived
 
The Gardner wore a crown of thorns
To buy back Paradise
Where hearts and minds will bloom anew
His blood has paid the price
 
In the soil of the garden
Our wilted lives reborn
Ev’ry petal is a promise
of roses without thorns
 
The Gardner wore a crown of thorns
To buy back Paradise
Where hearts and minds will bloom anew
His blood has paid the price

Copyright (c) 2024

Thanks for spreading the word.
 

If we use the Old Testament as support for capital punishment—shouldn’t we support execution for all offenses it lists as capital?

The Bible isn’t a belief buffet from which we can pick and choose what we want to believe or apply.

Under the Old Testament law, murder (Numbers 35:16) and rape (Deuteronomy 22:25) were in fact grounds for execution. But if we are to consistently apply Old Testament Law—and not simply pick and choose—we would need to apply capital punishment for all offenses it lists as capital, such as . . .

adultery (Leviticus 20:10)

homosexual behavior (Leviticus 20:13)

kidnapping (Exodus 21:16)

occult practices (Exodus 22:18)

premarital sex (Leviticus 21:9)

not observing the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36) and

striking or slandering a parent (Exodus 21:15, 17)

Who would be left to pull the switch?!

Under New Testament grace, didn’t Christ take our “capital punishment” required under the Law?

“When we were utterly helpless with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for him. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since by his blood he did all this for us as sinners, how much more will he do for us now that he has declared us not guilty? Now he will save us from all of God’s wrath to come” (Romans 5:6, 8-9).

“Well then, are God laws and God’s promises against each other? Of course not! If we could be saved by the laws, then God would not have had to give us a different way to get out of the grip of sin—for the Scriptures insist we are all its prisoners. The only way out is through faith in Jesus Christ; the way of escape is open to all who believe in him” (Galatians 3:21-22).

If the death penalty is a universal, timeless punishment commanded by God for those Old Testament sins viewed capital offenses (see above), shouldn’t the following offenders have been executed?

Cain, the first murderer, was actually protected by God (Genesis 4:8-15)

Moses murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-15)

King David committed adultery, then had the woman’s husband killed (2 Samuel 11)

The woman at the well (John 4:1-42) who was guilty of adultery.

The woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:1-11)

The Christians in Corinth (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV) who were formerly “sexually immoral,” “idolators,” “adulterers,” “male prostitutes,” and “homosexual offenders”—all of which were capital offenses in the Old Testament

And don’t forget, to include everyone of us in that list!

“Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal” (Romans 3:23 TLB).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 TLB).

I’ve searched the New Testament for justification for humanly-imposed capital punishment. God’s punishment of unbelievers at Judgment Day is certainly capital! (Revelation 20:11-15)

What I do find, however, are many passages that warn against judging others, not showing mercy, and mistreating prisoners (Matthew 5:7, 44; 7:2; 25:39-40, 44-45).

Admittedly, it is a controversial issue. (And I could be wrong!)

So, on those issues where there is such disagreement, shouldn’t we err on the side of life rather than death?

Adapted from Death & Beyond Copyright © 1992 James N. Watkins. All rights reserved.

An excerpt from Praise the Lord and Pass the Prozac

I am not Alone

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Romans 12:4-5

Hi, I’m David. I’m Bi-Polar

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful.
1 Corinthians 10:13

“Hi, I’m David. I’m with bipolar.”

“Hi, David,” the group in a circle responded. It was the Sheni (Monday) support group for Bible heroes struggling with various mental health conditions. And the although the first one to share was wearing a gold crown and royal robes, no one was intimidated or shocked that the king of Israel was dealing with mental health issues.

“Well, if you read some of my psalms, you’ll see I’ve been going through a rough patch with bipolar. For instance, if you read Psalm 21, I’m having sort of a manic episode.”

David pulled out a scroll. “How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory” (2:1).

“I felt like I could do anything. God was with me and I was definitely enjoying ‘victory.’ But then things went south in the very next psalm: ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief’”(22:1-2).

“But then there’s my Twenty-Third Psalm: ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength’” (21:1-3).

An old man in a tattered robe raised his hand. The group leader nodded to the renowned prophet.

“Hi, I’m Elijah and I can certainly relate to those ups and downs. It seems the higher the highs, the lower the lows that follow. For instance, you probably remember the big contest between the priests of Baal and myself. I proposed that we set up an altar and see which of our gods could light it up.

“As you know, nothing happened for the pagan priests, but as soon as I called out for Yahweh, our God sent a bolt of fire that evaporated the water I had poured of the altar for a bit of dramatic effect, consumed the wood and sacrificial bull—even melted the rocks of the altar. What a great display of God power!”

Elijah suddenly bowed his head and stared at the floor. “But as soon as I heard that Queen Jezebel was also burned up about that, I ran an entire day’s journey and collapsed under a broom tree. I told God, ‘I have had enough, Lord. Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died’” (1 Kings 9:4).

Another member raised his hand.

“Hi, I’m Moses, and I totally understand that. One day when the Israelites were on my last nerve whining about wanting meat to eat, I cried out to I AM. ‘I can’t carry all these people all by myself! The load it far to heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!’” (Numbers 11:14).

The leader acknowledged another raised hand.

“Hi, I’m Job. I hear you. I remember telling God, ‘Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb? Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. I would be asleep and at rest’” (Job 3:11).

The man everyone knew as the weeping prophet spoke up.

“Hi, I’m Jeremiah. I felt the same way. Everyone remembers me from my writing about God having plans ‘for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.’ But there was a time before that I wrote, “Oh, that I had died in my mother’s womb, that her body had been my grave! Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame” (Jeremiah 20:18).
Each member of the group nodded in affirmation and compassion.

“Thanks to everyone for sharing. Most people at Sabbath services aren’t willing to share so honestly. It’s important to remember we’ve all had feeling of despair and despondency, but everyone of you are working through those feelings and holding on to that promise of a hope and future. I’m proud of you. See you next Sheni.”Prescription

As a therapist, I have spent countless hours in group rooms much like this one. Well, maybe not quite like this, so I know the healing power of a support group very well.

When I began my own journey of recovery after the painful aftermath of looking for love in all the wrong places, I found my own biblical heroine support group of sorts. Included in my Love Addicts Anonymous (LAA) group were Rahab, the woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well, as well as others who tragically took their love lives into their own hands. In my dark hours, these women shared their experiences and revealed how God came near to them in their mental and emotional anguish.

What kind of darkness surrounds you today? Grief? Depression? Anxiety? Addiction? Fear? Rejection? Trauma? The Bible is jam-packed with heroes and heroines of the faith who faced similar struggles as you. Who would you want to include in your theoretical support group? Even if you aren’t familiar with the stories of the Bible, a quick Google search of “Bible characters who experienced [fill in the issue]” can give you a starting point.

Learn as much as you can about your group members’ mental and emotional struggles and how God came near to them in their brokenness. Know that you are in good company and hold tight to that promise of hope and a future.Copyright © 2022 Faith A. Watkins and James N. Watkins

HOPE&HUMOR: ENCOURAGEMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, ETC.

Since 1997, I’ve been posting articles, book excerpts, cartoons, devotionals, editorials, videos and etc. It’s earned accolades from the industry as well as the Billy Graham Association (Wow!). So check out, IMHO, my best posts

PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE PROZAC

My daughter, Faith Watkins, the licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and I, the theologian, have written a hopeful, helpful, humorous devotional on mental health issues from a biblical and behavioral perspective. And you’ll find lots of humor from moi. Click for book excerpts, resources and music curated just for us with mental health issues.

DOES YOUR MANUSCRIPT NEED CPR?

For the past 40 years, I’ve served as at two publishing houses as an editor and acquisitions editor and editorial director at a third. I’m also the author of 20+ traditionally-published books with four earning four industry awards including an award of merit in Christianity Today‘s Book of the Year recognition.

So, I’ve worked on both sides of the desk and would love to help your get your article or book published. Here are all the details