From Joseph Bottums, at First Things, on the bloody execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner last week in Utah: They did it, the blood-hungry fools. Last night, just after midnight out in Draper, Utah, they trussed up Ronnie Lee Gardner like a scarecrow, pinned a target on him, and pumped four .30-caliber bullets into his chest. This execution was so unnecessary, and because it was unnecessary, it was simply and completely wrong. They shouldn’t have done it–because they didn’t have to do it. The... Read more

We were invited to Dublin to the Irish Bible Institute to do a two-day institute on the early Christian gospel. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d like to say a few things about it. First, the people were wonderfully hospitable and theologically engaged — and committed to missional work in the Republic of Ireland (southern Ireland for us USA folks who can’t figure out Ireland). Patrick Mitchel, a theologian and deeply committed churchman, met us at the airport and... Read more

David Horowitz and Jacob Laksin: For decades now, Israel has been isolated and alone in the community of nations, with one crucial exception. That exception has been theUnited States, a country on which it has relied for its survival throughout its 60-year history. Every would-be aggressor has understood that the world’s most powerful nation was behind Israeland would not let her be destroyed. Every government harboring ill will toward the Jewish state has had to reckon with the fact that theUnited States was in Israel‘s... Read more

The Deliverance of God – Review and Conclusions Campbell has suggested three steps that JT advocates need to take in response to his rereading: (1) demonstrate that JT is a valid option for Paul, (2) answer his critique, and (3) show how JT is a better interpretive option than his rereading. We have undertaken steps (1) and (2) in previous posts. The final step that Campbell identifies as necessary to refute his view is to show how difficulties with his... Read more

From Northern Island, Graeme McDowell, who plays up on the Portrush golf course in the picture below, has just won the US Open at Pebble Beach. The conditions at Pebble Beach were nothing compared to what McDowell plays in Northern Ireland, so he was more than ready. Read more

We drove by and back by and then back by again so I could just gawk at Portrush … it was windy and crisp and I can’t imagine how demanding it would be to play the course. Someday, perhaps.   Read more

Here are two pictures from Glendalough, the historic church and site of St Kevin, one of Ireland’s saints. The day was gorgeous and this site rests in a beautiful valley. Read more