Page 1 of Jean Purcell's writing

1. Labels I have learned to Love or Live with "Shrimp" "Late baby" "Only a house-wife/stay at-home mom" "Slow-witted Southerner" "Prejudiced" "Foreigner" "Trouble-maker" "Shrimp" is a nickname from a guy in junior high school because I was petite (in those days). I learned to... (posted by Jean 3 days 14 hours ago.)

2. Christmas, a Special "Christmas Carol," and Scrooge Connection Have you seen a TV or DVD version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol this year? If not, I hope you will soon, if you can make the time. Last night while Jim (Dad) and our son-in-law were at a Bruins game, we "girls"--two daughters and... (posted by Jean 154 days 16 hours ago.)

3. Commentary: Beware Revolutionary Hopes without More Information Arab Spring exuberance fades due to what some call "unintended consequences." The word democracy that resounded among protesters has not materialized in Egypt, Syria, and Libya. The countries seem critically and urgently ill as far as democratic... (posted by Jean 213 days 7 hours ago.)

4. I have Seen Disappointment, Betrayal, Loss in One-sided Divorce Someone bluntly asked me why I feel equipped to write about marriage, separation, or divorce. It was a good question, for which my only answer was: I have been through the first two and barely escaped the third. For me, after becoming a person of... (posted by Jean 325 days 16 hours ago.)

5. In the News-Art Critics, Religious, and Atheists Hot about Sin About the time of the Fourth of July this year, an exhibition of Norman Rockwell 's art was in town, in the capital city. Those two events spawned sin being called-out from unexpected camps. Is this a new trend emerging? Art critic Blake Gopnik... (posted by Jean 1 year 321 days ago.)

6. Help for the Troubled Soul "I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy" (Psalm 116: 1-NIV). The soul in trouble sails a ship of confusion, chaos, and fear. Resentments, tears, accusations, and lack of forgiveness are parts of its suffering. ... (posted by Jean 1 year 355 days ago.)

7. The Heart of the Matter of Life - Thoughts at a New Point of Living For decades heart disease can be controllable in an individual, and then with age or other complications it begins to show itself more clearly and dangerously. As many of my readers know, my beloved friend and the mother of my husband lived with... (posted by Jean 2 years 27 days ago.)

8. The Dangerous Philosophy and Politics of the Important Modern American philosophy and politics have, one fears, fallen into a dangerous mis-idea of "The Important." It is "the important" events, people, actions, groups, and ideas that really matter, we come to believe and even, sadly, to look to for... (posted by Jean 2 years 121 days ago.)

9. Navigators for Personal Aid during Haiti Crisis Charity means love, and love always desires ways of expression. Regarding sending love to Haiti, why not first check out Charity Navigator (CN) for a full list of Haiti helping groups? The home page says, "Find A Charity You Can Trust" and... (posted by Jean 2 years 125 days ago.)

10. Lord of Life Early followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. They did not name themselves. Observing how they loved one another, others named them. Heavenly love came by the Spirit of God dwelling in... (posted by Jean 2 years 126 days ago.)

11. Massachusetts Special Election: Best Candidate for Massachusetts Citizens’ Senate Seat Now Senator Edward M. Kennedy was unique in many ways: the youngest son of a prominent American political family, a mentor to many of his nieces and nephews hit by family tragedies that were also felt by the nation, a brother of a President and of a... (posted by Jean 2 years 134 days ago.)

12. Health Care Reform That Makes Most Americans Sick The Congressional health plan, made up now of two negotiable bills, is an increasingly pitiful and yet grand failure of an effort at health care reform. How can a reform proposed by one of the most disreputable Congresses in American history be... (posted by Jean 2 years 134 days ago.)

13. "Game Change": New Book with Little to Cheer Us Gossip sessions are plentiful on TV and radio, I feel certain. These are not the proverbial, old-time coffee sessions of moms with little children, frequent isolation from other adults, and little time out of the house. These gossip sessions often... (posted by Jean 2 years 136 days ago.)

14. Editor's View for Book Author Hello, dear book writer, It's sad but true and the average case that I'm over-loaded with manuscripts, which means that you have to get my attention over all that noise if I am to read your manuscript. This has nothing to do with your writing... (posted by Jean 2 years 146 days ago.)

15. Some General Reflections on Social and Professional Networking in 2009 At the beginning of 2009, I decided to focus more on the Internet for article-writing and sharing information. To SearchWarp.com where I was already writing and where I feel most at home, I took up an idea from another SW writer, Joel Hendon, and... (posted by Jean 2 years 148 days ago.)

16. Oh, to Discern the Wisdom of Christ for Each Instance Dear SW writers who might want to read this note about wisdom. It's also about words and reactions: Please picture me happy, not mad. Please picture me OK, not distressed. Please picture me friendly, not enemy. Words often, in my hands it... (posted by Jean 2 years 149 days ago.)

17. Arguments about the Bible Can Be a Waste of Time One aspect of religion that put me off for decades from college years forward was the determination to "debate the Bible" or "debate about the Bible." What finally drew me close to the Bible, and therefore to God, was a scripture verse that... (posted by Jean 2 years 150 days ago.)

18. Always Time for Toys for Tots Where You Are A color photo of First Lady Michelle Obama appeared again on a front page of The Washington Post newspaper last week. She was carrying a red sack filled with toys for Toys for Tots.This photo drew attention to the First Lady's special projects... (posted by Jean 2 years 158 days ago.)

19. Important Thoughts about Merry, Faxwell, and Copenhagen's Climate Change Conference Faxwell Book and Merry Cable work in the diplomatic corps of two unnamed countries. Each has worked at the UN in NYC for 10 years. Before that, they worked at other UN offices around the world, mostly focusing on meteorological issues. They... (posted by Jean 2 years 160 days ago.)

20. Downgrading New York Senator Chuck Schumer and Upgrading Others The subject of national ethics and public discourse got a new injection of attention yesterday. It was reported that New York state's senior U. S. senator Charles Schumer showed strange and shocking behavior aboard a flight from here to there. ... (posted by Jean 2 years 161 days ago.)

21. The Problem with Oprah’s Christmas Questions to the Obamas Recently Oprah Winfrey sat with President and Mrs. Obama in their private living room at the White House. Oprah has been a strong supporter of the President since his historic run for that office. She visited with the First Couple early in the... (posted by Jean 2 years 163 days ago.)

22. Financial Solutions Finally Discussed in Congress Today Mark your calendars and scheduling gizmos: December 10, 2009 is a day that could go down in economic philosophy and practices history. On the floor of the U. S. Congress today certain lawmakers have found a solution to the growing U. S. Debt fast... (posted by Jean 2 years 168 days ago.)

23. Christmas Cards and Messages, To Read and To Believe A frequent visitor to our house saw the differences in our meeting space. "Wow. What's going on here?" she said, looking toward stacks of dishes on the dining table and a dissembled china cabinet: "Look at the ceiling line. It's unbalanced," I... (posted by Jean 2 years 169 days ago.)

24. BlackBerry Notes Away From Home Virginia Beach VA looks cool, foggy, and rainy this morning. From a third floor balcony I look over two pineapple-shaped pools. There's relaxation here off-season. A smattering of guests at "Turtle Cay" have no competition for garage parking.... (posted by Jean 2 years 206 days ago.)

25. Writers, Why and How to Stop Dread of Marketing "Ugh! I hate marketing! There's nothing but suspicion and rejection!" Many writers feel this way about marketing. Yet, writing requires, even demands, it. We've got to face up to it, somehow. Shyness, feelings of guilt, and repulsed or... (posted by Jean 2 years 210 days ago.)