Rival Sons frontman Jay Buchanan picks ten records that inspired his career in rock

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on Wednesday, following a meticulously planned attack involving an explosive device. The bomb, which had been covertly smuggled into a guesthouse in northern Tehran months prior, was detonated remotely once Haniyeh was confirmed to be inside his room. The explosion also killed a bodyguard and caused significant structural damage to the building​. Haniyeh was in the Iranian capital for the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. The guesthouse, run and protected by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is part of a large compound known as Neshat. According to Middle Eastern officials, the bomb had been hidden approximately two months before the assassination, indicating a significant breach in security by the IRGC​​. https://x.com/PahlaviReza/status/1818692379810894330 The assassination has been attributed to Israel by both Iranian officials and Hamas, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. U.S. officials were briefed on the operation by Israeli intelligence after the assassination took place. The attack has raised concerns about escalating tensions in the Middle East, potentially leading to a multi-front conflict​. The explosion shook the building, shattered windows, and partially collapsed an exterior wall. Haniyeh, who had previously led Hamas’ political office in Qatar, had used the guesthouse multiple times during his visits to Tehran. https://x.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1818948777610182927 The assassination comes as a significant intelligence and security failure for Iran, especially for the IRGC, which prides itself on protecting such high-profile figures​​. Haniyeh was last seen in public at an exhibit at Tehran’s Milad Tower just hours before the blast. Iranian state media initially reported that Haniyeh had been killed by a rocket fired from outside the building, but subsequent investigations revealed the bomb was smuggled into the guesthouse and detonated from within, highlighting a severe lapse in internal security​. The attack threatens to derail ongoing negotiations to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip, in which Haniyeh played a key role as a top negotiator. The incident underscores the vulnerability of even well-guarded locations and raises questions about the effectiveness of Iran’s security measures​​. This assassination marks a pivotal moment in the Israeli-Hamas conflict and has the potential to provoke further violence in the region, destabilizing the already fragile geopolitical landscape of the Middle East​. The post Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed by Smuggled Bomb in Tehran appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

In an unprecedented escalation, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct military strike on Israel, marking a significant intensification in the longstanding conflict between the two nations. This directive follows a series of Israeli attacks that killed several high-ranking members of Iranian-backed militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. On April 13, 2024, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities, with the majority intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system, averting extensive damage and casualties​. This assault represents Iran's first direct military action against Israel, a stark departure from previous indirect confrontations through proxy groups. https://x.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1818948777610182927 The decision for a direct strike was reportedly motivated by a desire to retaliate against Israel for its recent airstrikes in Damascus and Beirut, which killed key figures such as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr​​. Khamenei's rhetoric has been increasingly aggressive, vowing that Israel will "regret" its actions and promising severe repercussions for these targeted killings. The international community has expressed grave concern over this escalation. Russia and Germany have called for restraint, emphasizing the need for de-escalation to prevent a broader regional conflict​. Meanwhile, the United States has voiced support for Israel's right to defend itself, highlighting the complex geopolitical alliances at play. https://x.com/MichaelSCollura/status/1818886893205176510 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of "challenging days ahead," pledging a robust response to any further Iranian aggression. Israel remains on high alert, with its military forces prepared for a range of potential scenarios, including additional missile strikes and asymmetric warfare tactics employed by Iranian proxies​. The strikes come amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions across the Middle East, with Iran seeking to bolster its influence in the region. The Iranian leadership has been facing internal pressures, including economic struggles and widespread protests. Analysts suggest that Khamenei's aggressive stance towards Israel may also serve to consolidate his power domestically by rallying nationalist sentiments and distracting from internal issues​​. The direct confrontation between Iran and Israel marks a dangerous new phase in their conflict, with potential implications for regional stability. The global community watches closely, aware that any misstep could trigger a broader and more destructive war in the already volatile Middle East. The post Iran’s Khamenei Orders Direct Strike on Israel, Escalating Middle East Tensions appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

Sometimes we get Proverbs 3:5-6 mixed up.

Good stories often include odd details. But what first strikes the reader as odd or random may later turn out to be interesting and insightful. Have you noticed, for example, that Doc Brown’s bandana in Back to the Future Part III is made from the same material as his shirt in Part II? What appears to be a run-of-the-mill piece of clothing takes on new significance when it’s viewed in light of the larger narrative. There’s a similarly odd but significant detail in Mark 16. The ending of Mark’s Gospel has long been problematic for some commentators because it lacks an explicit resurrection appearance (vv. 1–8). Matthew, Luke, and John narrate Jesus appearing to the disciples and to two women. But an odd detail in Mark’s ending may be one reason Jesus doesn’t make a post-resurrection appearance in this Gospel. Could an angel’s enigmatic posture hold an important clue? Vivid Description Mark 16 opens with three women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of John and James, and Salome—approaching Jesus’s tomb at dawn on Sunday (vv. 1–2). On their way, the women wonder who could roll away the large stone that sealed the tomb. But when they arrived, to their surprise, the stone had been rolled away (vv. 3–4). An odd detail in Mark’s ending may be one reason Jesus doesn’t make a post-resurrection appearance in this Gospel. The women ventured into the tomb and observed “a young man sitting on the right side [kathēmenon en tois dexiois], dressed in a white robe” (v. 5) Mark divulges three vivid details here: the presence of an individual (“young man”), the man’s apparel (“white robe”), and the man’s posture and location (“sitting on the right side”). Repeated Wording These concrete details certainly underscore the three women’s eyewitness account, but perhaps there’s another significant reason Mark mentions them. He may have included the odd detail of the angel’s “sitting on the right side” (kathēmenon en tois dexiois) because of its symbolic significance. A literal rendering of the phrase is “seated on the right.” Often, the adjective “right” (dexios) occurs by itself and lacks a noun, so the context determines the implied noun (e.g., Matt. 6:3; Mark 10:40; Luke 1:11). In Mark 16:5, the “right” likely means the “right side” of the bench inside the tomb. But “sitting at the right” only occurs two other times in Mark’s Gospel: David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand [kathou ek dexiōn], until I put your enemies under your feet.’” (12:36) And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand [ek dexiōn kathēmenon] of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (14:62) These two passages cite the pivotal prophecy of the Greek translation of Psalm 110:1: “Sit at my right hand [Kathou ek dexiōn] until I make your enemies your footstool.” Psalm 110 is a prophecy concerning the enthronement of a preexistent, divine, and messianic figure. At the end of history, this figure will rule over all God’s enemies (vv. 2, 5–6). Intended Allusion? Yes! Is the angel’s enigmatic posture also an allusion to Psalm 110? Does it symbolize Jesus’s initial fulfillment of the psalmist’s grand prophecy? If so, the angel’s “sitting on the right” of the bench represents Jesus’s “sitting at the right” hand of the Father. Is there further warrant in the text for this conclusion? As noted above, Mark twice quotes Psalm 110 earlier in his narrative (12:36; 14:62) and then subtly alludes to it at the end. Consider also that the angel dons a “white robe,” the same attire Jesus wears at the transfiguration (9:3). “Sitting on the right” isn’t a passing detail. No, the angel’s appearance strikes at the heart of Mark’s message. Mark wrote his Gospel to demonstrate that Jesus is Israel’s king or “Messiah” and the divine “Son of God” (1:1). Though the ascension is weeks away, Christ’s faithful ministry, death, and resurrection already have qualified him to sit enthroned at the Father’s “right hand.” At the resurrection, Jesus began to rule over all God’s physical and spiritual enemies—even death itself. The angel’s ‘sitting on the right’ of the bench represents Jesus’s ‘sitting at the right’ hand of the Father. Does this line of reasoning seem far-fetched? Consider the prominence of Psalm 110:1 in the New Testament. When we tally all the New Testament’s allusions to and quotations of the Old, Psalm 110:1 is by far the most referenced Old Testament passage. We can be confident Psalm 110 was a controlling and influential prophecy. We also have Old Testament examples of an “angel of the Lord” functioning as a unique representative of God on earth (e.g., Ex. 3:2; 23:20; Num. 22:22–27; Judg. 6:11–12; 13:20–21). The angel does what the Lord does. Pay Attention to Odd Details Now that we’ve examined this unique element in Mark’s narrative, what do we learn? The Gospel writers include only the most pertinent information in their narratives. They don’t give us every historical detail at their disposal. For example, here in Mark 16:5, only one angel is found in the tomb, whereas Luke 24:4 says there were two. Is this a contradiction? No, Mark doesn’t claim there was only one angel. He simply aims his spotlight on the one angel and how that angel functions in the scene. The evangelists only included details that hold interpretive value. Knowing that the Gospel writers give us nothing superfluous should inform our reading. When you open the Gospels, take inventory of each scene and ask these questions: Where does the story take place? Who’s present at the event? Who’s speaking? What are they saying? Are there any Old Testament allusions or quotations? How does the event relate to what precedes and follows? Why is the passage even included in the Gospel? And, most importantly, how does the scene shed light on Christ and his work? When you come across an oddity in a passage, carve out time to study it. Consult robust commentaries and look for your passage in the Scripture index of Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias. Above all, conducting a word study is often the best way to solve these types of problems. What strikes you as odd may turn out to be a source of encouragement.

Family discipleship is essential for lifelong faith. In this breakout session from TGC23, Cameron Cole teaches from Ephesians 3:11–16, challenging parents to embrace their central role in their children’s spiritual formation. Formative Christian practices like prayer, Bible reading, and spiritual conversations are crucial, and parents should prioritize their own spiritual growth as they actively participate in church life and discuss the gospel with their children regularly. The local church has a role to play as they equip parents through resources like video courses and Bible studies, promoting family discipleship as essential for lifelong faith. Cole ends by encouraging parents that our confidence and rest are ultimately found in the Spirit’s work.

All the pieces of your life do, or will, fit together, no matter how many are scattered across the floor. Much like LEGO bricks. Those were the words of HG, author at Canary Media who compiled a series of quotes and interviews of people using one of the world’s most famous toys to heal from […] The post How LEGO Is Being Used to Reduce Stress, Combat Childhood Trauma, and Manage PTSD appeared first on Good News Network.

A Bronze Age burial mound surrounded by Iron Age cremation burials has been discovered in Petershagen, northwestern Germany. Archaeologists excavated the site before expansion of a gravel mine after aerial photography revealed rich plant growth in a large circle. The vegetation, which contrasted sharply with the dry gravel around it, was a signal to the archaeologists that there was almost certainly a burial mound there. The mounds were bordered by ditches that were infilled with rich soil which provided a welcoming home for plant life, unlike the gravel. The Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL) Archaeology unit followed up with test excavations based on the aerial data. They found a cremation burial almost immediately, and then more, both cinerary urns and graves consisting of funeral pyres buried after the ceremony. They were buried around the perimeter ditch of the burial mound, using the much earlier Bronze Age mound, which at that time would have loomed large on the landscape, as a monumental centerpoint of a necropolis. The preliminary dating of the graves is based on the shapes and ornamentation of the urns. The earliest of them date to the 7th to 5th centuries B.C. when the Iron Age Nienburg group occupied the area. According to the previous classification of the recovered finds, the cremation graves were buried in the ground between the 2nd century BC and the turn of the era. To date the graves without grave goods, the age will be determined using radiocarbon dating of charcoal. According to the scientists, surprises are always possible. The actual period of use of the necropolis can therefore only be clearly assessed in conjunction with the results of the scientific dating. Sebastian Düvel, scientific advisor at the LWL Archaeology for Westphalia, on the new discoveries: “The monuments, which are still clearly visible centuries after they were built, represented an important reference point in the landscape. In this case, they were the central element for further burials in the 7th to 5th centuries BC and in the 2nd to 1st centuries BC. The new sites clearly consolidate the image of an extensive burial landscape with dozens of mounds and adjacent burials along the Westphalian Middle Weser.”

The United States and Russia have completed a 24-person prisoner swap, the largest in post-Soviet history, with Moscow releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan in a multinational…

It is very strange to see yourself addressed in third person in major publications after giving an RNC speech and after opening a campaign rally for vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, but it has been…