Entries by Jim

Tribute to a Hero

Earlier today, Uganda laid to rest one of its true heroes – a prosecutor slain for doing her job.  At the memorial service, she was remembered as one who did her job “without fear or favour.”  Her life motto was “Live every day, love every day, love beyond words.” In his eulogy today, the Director […]

The Three Most Important Things

As a Pepperdine faculty member and former administrator, I often interview applicants for teaching and staff positions at the law school.  I start every single interview with the same simple, informal question: “What are the three most important things to you, and why?” My hope is to casually catch the applicant in a moment of […]

Confessions of an Amateur Writer, Part III

In the summer of 2011, a Pepperdine public relations officer contacted Guideposts Magazine — a Christian version of Reader’s Digest – and got them interested in doing a story on the relationship between me and Henry.  A few weeks later, Rick Hamlin (Executive Editor) came out to Pepperdine from New Jersey to meet with me.  […]

Confessions of an Amateur Writer, Part II

In the wake of my ignorant faux pas with the literary agent I really wanted — described at the end of Confessions of an Amateur Writer, Part I — I sent a draft of my first seven chapters to some dear friends in Dallas – Amy and Colin Batchelor.  They were on the list of […]

Confessions of an Amateur Writer, Part I

Five years ago this week, I checked into Buffalo Bill’s Hotel and Casino on the border of California and Nevada. I was going to write a book – or at least a big chunk of one.  Two months earlier, my life had changed during a January, 2010 two-week visit to Uganda – my first foray […]

The Ebola Formula

Perhaps the study of law has something to add to the study of medicine, at least in one context.  A few weeks ago, I was talking with my brother and sister-in-law about their decision to invest a sizable chunk o’ change on their boys learning to “swim” when they were about eight months old.  These […]

At Long Last

I assume I’m not the only one who seemingly spends an inordinate amount of time waiting for some anticipated event to occur, results to come in, or project to be completed.  For those of us with close ties to Uganda, the wait often seems to be especially lengthy.  During my five-year love affair with this […]

Belichick’s Coaching Blunder Bigger than Carroll’s

Bill Belichick is the luckiest man in America this week.  While Pete Carroll is being pilloried in the press and at the water cooler following a questionable play call at the end of the game, it should have been Belichick whose coaching reputation took a throat punch on Sunday night. But wait, you say: Everyone, […]

Confessions of a Godfather

After an ambien-laced redeye from London, I was greeted Saturday morning at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda by blue skies, clean air, and friendly faces.  Unfortunately, the friendly faces checking my passport were hiding behind breathing masks.  As I handed in my health questionnaire swearing I had no bloody stool or vomit, no fever, and […]

Long Weekend in Uganda

I’m not looking forward to the redeye tonight out of London’s Heathrow Airport bound for Uganda’s Entebbe Airport or the redeye back to London on Monday, but I am thrilled to be heading back to my adopted home country for a fifteenth time for a long weekend. While Jessica is loving spending her sophomore year […]