Tremper Longman, Confronting Old Testament Controversies. Pressing Questions about Evolution, Sexuality, History and Violence, (Baker, 2019) 304 pages. $19.99. Tremper Longman has written a helpful and important study about some of the most difficult issues the OT raises for Christians. As the subtitle suggests, he will take on the evolution vs. creation debate, the historicity of things like the Fall, the Exodus and the Conquest, the issue of divine violence, and lastly the issue of homosexuality. This is in many... Read more

I’m very pleased to announce you can now order my latest historical novella— Priscilla: An Early Christian Life, which is only $14.00 on Amazon. It chronicles the whole story of early Christianity from 30-95 A.D. through the eyes of someone who was there for much of it. Paul’s co-worker, Priscilla. Enjoy!! Here’s the link….. https://www.amazon.com/Priscilla-Christian-Ben-Witherington-III/dp/0830852484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V8PT21C4OYND&keywords=priscilla+the+life+of+an+early+christian&qid=155431 Read more

The following courtesy of ‘Lutheran Satire’ BW3 Read more

Blessed are those who expect nothing of God, for they shall not be disappointed. Blessed are those who vote for scoundrels, for they will get what they deserve. Blessed are those who refuse to exercise, as they shall become weighty persons. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for junk food, for you are what you eat. Blessed are those who build walls, for as God told Joshua, they shall be coming down. Blessed are those who admire the greedy,... Read more

Two more good episodes tonight on the History Channel at 8 eastern. One about Mary, one about Caiaphas and the events leading up to the demise of Jesus. Here’s a clip to whet your appetite…. BW3 Read more

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Of the great British crime/thriller/detective novelists of the last half century, all of them save one are women (e.g. Ellis Peters=Edith Pargeter, Agatha Christie, P.D. James). The one is Edinburgh’s own Ian Rankin. There have been 20 some novels, and now there is a play which has been touring the U.K. since 2018— Long Shadows. Rankin wrote the story, then it was adapted for the stage, turned into a screenplay by Rona Munro. It has now appeared as a book... Read more

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One of the phrases being bandied about by Progressive United Methodists, especially in the wake of the outcome of the specially called General Conference session last month, which they trot out to scold traditionalists with is— ‘When are you going to learn the lesson about not being on the wrong side of history?’ with lurid and frankly inappropriate analogies drawn with the issue of slavery etc. Of course, with even a minute’s deep reflection this whole rhetorical question proves to... Read more