Biblical archaeology’s top 10 discoveries of 2020

‘There was no shortage of biblical archaeology news in 2020, despite COVID-19 restrictions that canceled almost all of Israel’s scheduled excavations. Some limited digs still took place in Israel and surrounding countries, and research on previous excavations continued, resulting in some major announcements. Here are 2020’s biggest stories about archaeology connecting us with the biblical world…’

2020 in review

Daniel Blanche shares some reflections on 2020 and some lessons he has learnt. Whether you agree with it all or not, I think his final point is the key.

The real problem with 4-letter words

‘As an English professor, I’ve had to consider cursing from theoretical and practical perspectives as I’ve sought to help my students (and myself) think well about the curse words we encounter in literature, art, and life. Ultimately, the way curse words function magnifies the way all words function: the power is not in the letters, but in the context, intention, and effect.’

7 reasons question marks are more productive than exclamation points in evangelism

This one wants to encourage us to use more questions, and fewer points, in our evangelism.

Russell Moore was right

‘Russell Moore was right about Donald Trump. The events of the last several weeks, and the last few days in particular, make this unquestionable. He was right when he said that evangelicals were making a Devil’s bargain by excusing or baptizing Trump’s debauched persona and wicked rhetoric. He was right when he said that character matters. He was right when he said that a leader like Trump is fundamentally untrustworthy and that this lack of honor cannot be papered over by self-reported political ideas.’

When gods fail

Addressing the same unfolding events, but taking an altogether different (but not less important) tack, this one

From the archive: There comes a point when you can’t just ‘stay put’

‘Many of us seem intent on remaining in the burning building until the whole thing comes crashing down around us. Of course, these are not the kind of things from which we simply pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and get on with it. When your house is burning, and you stay put, it rather has a habit of burning you right along with it. At what point do we stop staying ‘this is fine’ and simply get out of there?’