Bob Vander Plaats is the president and CEO of The Family Leader, a social conservative organization, and a former national co-chair for Ted Cruz for President. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his.
(CNN) In the past week, both Erin Burnett of CNN and Katy Tur of MSNBC have engaged in a national conversation about evangelicals and forgiving a most controversial subject: Donald Trump.
Bob Vander Plaats
While there is value in these discussions, there is danger in looking at forgiveness and faith through the lens of politics. As we head into Easter weekend, I want us to look higher than headlines -- to look through God's eyes, rather than our own.
For God doesn't look at us like we look at each other, doesn't judge as we judge, and isn't swayed by politics. The Bible insists that God holds us all to the same standard: his own perfection. And against that standard, we all sin and fall short of his glory. None of us is righteous. None of us has merited his favor, and we all deserve his judgment. Worse yet, the Bible says, the judgment for our sin is death.
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Good Friday is about to get better for publicans in the Republic of Ireland. Why? Because they can finally toast the Easter holiday with a pint.
For almost a century, selling alcohol had been banned on Good Friday - a legacy of Ireland's Christian traditions.
But in January 2018 the Irish parliament passed new legislation which means this year will be different.
So what's the story for 2018? And who stands to gain from the change?
What's different this year?
Pubs in the Republic will welcome Easter revellers from 10:30 until closing time at 00:30.
Off-licences may see some changes too, with fewer booze-desiring customers stocking up a day in advance.
Good Friday is traditionally a popular time for house parties in the Republic, as friends and loved ones gather at home instead of the local boozer. But with the pub doors suddenly open, some may decide they'd rather skip the washing-up.
It's good news for tourists seeking a tipple too. On Good Fridays past, hapless foreigners unaware of the drinks ban could be found wandering the streets of Dublin in a futile search for a pint. The most dedicated were even spotted boarding trains or ferries to exploit an infamous loophole - the on-board bar.
Why did the law change?
Easter is a busy tourist period, and the extra day's trade is set to boost the Irish economy.
According to publicans' group the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) - whose interest is clear - it could generate as much as 40m euros (£35m; $49m) in sales - plus 7m for the exchequer through VAT and excise duty.
"The Good Friday ban is from a different era," the group's chief executive, Padraig Cribben, said. "Like all other businesses who were never subject to a ban, publicans now have a choice to open."
...but is everyone toasting the change?
The Roman Catholic Church held considerable influence in the Republic historically, and some would still prefer an alcohol-free Friday on religious grounds.
Back in January, critics said the altered legislation also undermined the government's goal of reducing the harm caused by alcohol.
Independent TD (Irish member of parliament) Maureen O'Sullivan spoke frankly, asking: "Are we saying that the only tourists we want are those who can't last 24 hours without buying a drink in a public house?"
"I actually think we could do with a few Good Fridays throughout the year," she added.
Perhaps mindful that not everyone approves of them opening, some hostelries have decided to give their Good Friday takings to charity.
And in rural Newmarket, a little town in Cork, the six local publicans put their heads together - and agreed to keep their doors bolted.
John Scanlon of Scanlon's Bar explained: "We have only two days off each year, Christmas Day and Good Friday, and we want to hold on to that. It is a day publicans want to spend with their families."
What about north of the border?
In Northern Ireland pubs can open on Good Friday but may only serve alcohol between 17:00 and 23:00.
The hospitality sector has called for the North to have the same options as the Republic.
Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, believes serving restrictions will cost the North's pubs and restaurants £20m in trade over the Easter weekend.
What's your drinking nationality?
How does your drinking measure up to the average in countries around the world? Find out below if you are similar to a boozy Belarusian or a teetotal Kuwaiti.
How much have you drunk in the past week? Pints of beer
(568ml) Glasses of wine
(175ml) Spirits
(25ml) Show other drinks Cider or sorghum beer
(Pints/568ml glasses) Fortified wine, eg port
(70ml glasses) Rice wine, eg sake
(125ml carafes) Which country are you from? Enter a country in the field below Search for counties See how you compare You drink most like you're from (but this is not a very good match) Not a drinker?
Most people from Kuwait also abstain How apt! You Litres of pure alcohol per year You drink more heavily than people from Belarus, the heaviest-drinking country in the world Litres of pure alcohol per person per year, by country Heaviest-drinking Belarus (17.5 litres) Lightest-drinking Kuwait (0.1 litres) Overall alcohol consumption: Heaviest Lightest No data Countries and their favourite type of alcoholic drink: Beer Wine Spirits Other No data
If you cannot see the calculator, click here.
If you're a battle-hardened vegan then chances are you have developed coping strategies you can deploy. But for anyone who kicked off the year with Veganuary and hasn't looked back, we're not going to pretend - this is going to be tough.
There are many ways you could celebrate spring and Easter, as far as cooking and eating goes. Brunch is one option: With a no-cook crab cocktail, custardy bread puddings and vegan waffles that taste like carrot cake (and mimosas, obviously). There’s also the classic duo of ham and potatoes. But when Easter sneaks up on us and feels a little earlier than normal, we opt for a menu that’s a little less complicated, with a few things we can make a day ahead and a few others that come together in a snap.
Lamb Chops With Scallions in a Cola Glaze, above. Featuring a little magic in the form of Coca-Cola*, which reduces to a sticky, not-too-sweet glaze that’s accented with some anise seed and scallions. (Save the scallion greens to make your own vegetable broth.) Note: If the lamb chops you find are on the larger side, like ours were when we recently made it, plan on one chop per serving, for a total of four (rather than eight). Make them just before serving, preferably — they only take about 30 minutes, including prep time.
*Yes, you can use Pepsi. No, sorry, you cannot use diet.
(Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post)
Braised Potatoes With Bay Leaves and Garlic. A clever way to cook small red or white potatoes: They become very flavorful, fragrant and tender as they cook in a covered pot with some liquid (a cooking technique known as braising). You can make these a day ahead, too — they’ll taste even better when reheated in a skillet.
(Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post)
Spring Polenta With Radishes. Are you tired of polenta yet? We hope not, because here’s another tasty way to serve it: topped with fresh springy vegetables, cooked until they’re just crisp-tender and some chickpeas for a little extra protein boost. (This dish would make a good main for vegetarians.) If you can’t find garlic scapes or green garlic, use chives or scallions; you can also substitute broccoli florets for the broccolini. (But in that case, we might add some sliced kale or mustard greens, just to lend a slight bitter note.) If you want to make this ahead of time, know that the polenta will thicken significantly as it cools — you can thin it out with some extra liquid as you reheat it in a pot, or embrace the firmness and cut it into slabs, drizzle them with oil and bake until crusty.
(Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post)
Orange + Radish Salad With Olive Dressing. This quick and beautiful salad will make your Easter spread really pop. (It would be even more lovely served atop a pile of tender greens.)
(Renee Comet for The Washington Post)
Sunrise Granita. Cheery, sunny and made in advance, this is a light dessert that’ll help balance out all the chocolate bunnies and jelly beans you’ll be snacking on. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, or drop a few spoonfuls into glasses of sparkling wine.
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