Author: John Paul
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Surrendering from Positions of Strength
Introduction In military engagements, diplomatic negotiations, even business discussions, it is a well- known necessity to confront one’s opponents from a position of strength. On the other hand, the Christian religion teaches that one best wins confrontations from an attitude of meekness and the surrender of one’s own interests. Bible stories, even the life of… Read more
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Defend Democracy. Support the Republic.
Introduction Walking home from the store last week, I passed a yard sign that demanded, “Defend Democracy”. I remembered memes on X proclaiming that the U.S. is a republic. I couldn’t help thinking – wrongly, I suppose – that Democrats work to defend democracy while Republicans support our republic. So, defend democracy. Support the republic. … Read more
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Just How Evil Is Collateral Damage?
Introduction An episode of NCIS: New Orleans I watched recently made a big deal of collateral damage. A military raid to capture, if not fatally eliminate, an evil terrorist resulted in the deaths of the man’s wife and son. The botched raid was treated as a horrible mistake, covered up by the CIA. It became… Read more
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King’s Treatment of Vashti: Immoral or Socially Acceptable?
Introduction The first chapter of the biblical book of Esther records the events of a great feast that King Xerxes (or Ahasuerus) gave for all his nobles and officials. At the height of it, as she was giving her own feast for the women in the royal palace, Xerxes summoned his wife to appear before… Read more
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Intermingled Pictures of Armies Invading Israel
Introduction The book of the prophet Joel gives vivid descriptions of armies come to destroy the land of Israel. Though these armies are different in nature from each other, they have the same devastating effects on the land. Joel gives intermingled pictures of armies invading Israel. Three Different Armies Joel gives us pictures of an… Read more
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Importance for Mavericks in Entertainment
Introduction Originally, a maverick was a wild, untamed horse, not a conforming part of a herd. In the entertainment industry, a maverick is a character who bucks established traditions, the orthodox methods of the crowd. There is an importance for mavericks in entertainment. Mavericks in Entertainment Mannix was such a TV show in the late… Read more
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Rapture Vs. Parousia: Which Will It Be?
Introduction Two fundamentally different viewpoints exist concerning the Second Coming of King Jesus at the end of time. One is the Rapture, the catching away of believers upon His return to meet Him in the air to take them to Heaven with Him. The other is the Parousia, translated as the “coming”, “arrival”, or “appearing”… Read more
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Tree of Good and… What?
Introduction Genesis 2 gives the second Creation story recorded in the Hebrew Bible. It is part of the beginning of the whole Bible narrative that explains why things are good… and bad… in the world. This story says the Creator rested Humanity in the garden He had planted in the delightful country of Eden. He… Read more