Interview with Ms. Allie Beth Stucky
Apostle Paul: a tribute
“Jerry B. Jenkins’ books have sold more than 70 million copies, including the phenomenal Left Behind series, minting him as one of the best-selling novelists of all time.
In his latest release, Empire’s End: A Novel of the Apostle Paul (Worthy Publishing, June 9, 2015), Jenkins tells the heart- stopping story of a man who single-handedly turned the Roman Empire on-end.
The Apostle Paul is a biblical giant who wrote almost one-third of the New Testament, yet most details of his life remain a mystery. How could a devout Pharisee become the most influential Christian theologian of all time? Into that void steps master storyteller Jerry B. Jenkins, weaving a gripping narrative that illumines Paul’s stunning transformation from bloodthirsty murderer of Christians to devoted bond-servant of Christ.
In Empire’s End, Jenkins suggests answers to some pressing questions about Paul:
* What was his thorn-in-the-flesh?
* What went on in the trenches of his life, beyond the pages of the biblical letters he left behind?
* How did he navigate the perilous path from killing Jesus’ followers to becoming one of their most trusted leaders?
* Did he ever fall in love, and if so, how did that romance shape him?
* What thoughts and feelings most profoundly haunted, inspired, and fueled his intensity?
The release added that thanks to Empire’s End, we need no long peer into Paul’s life only as through a glass darkly. This inventive, page-turning novel is steeped in bravado and bloodshed, conflict and deep devotion, romance and political maneuvering. The result is a can’t-put-it-down thriller crafted to satisfy any curious. observer’s longing to meet a flesh-and-blood man whose mission and message ultimately triggered the end of the great Roman Empire.”
Religion and Gun Control
“On Monday, The Atlantic ran a piece claiming mainline Protestants support of liberal politics and “tend to be better educated,” which “correlates with support for gun control.”
In fact, The Atlantic argues that liberal mainline Protestant churches — “with their million and billion dollar endowments/portfolios” — are now among the staunchest institutional backers of stricter gun controls.”
The Atlantic offers many examples of this liberal, church-based, gun control support, among them Gary Hall, “dean of the Washington National Cathedral.” Hall argues that Christians should support gun control because “Christians follow someone who died at the hands of human violence. They didn’t have handguns in his day, but the cross is essentially a form a human torture and execution.”
They point to Trinity Church in Manhattan. Although the church only holds $2,000 worth of Walmart stock, it is demanding that Walmart allow shareholders to override executive or board decisions on what type of guns Walmart sells. Trinity wants the retailer to quit selling rifles “that are well-suited to mass killing.”
Trinity hopes their “$2 billion portfolio” and “moral standing” will hold sway and win the day for gun control at Walmart.
In addition to these two examples, The Atlantic points to the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), both of which are staunchly pro-gun control.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is on the record for gun control as well.
These liberal Protestant churches are joined by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who “support a ban of assault rifles” and “high capacity” magazines.” They support “stronger background checks” as well. They are joined by the Islamic Society of North America, a group that has also “voiced support” for more gun control.
The Atlantic admits that this all comes together to put the mainline Protestant churches at odds with Evangelical churches, which tend to be pro-2nd Amendment. The good news is that congregations of mainline Protestant churches are dwindling while the congregations of Evangelical churches represent “a growing portion of the U.S. religious landscape.”
Mr. Pratt has been Executive Director of Gun Owners of America for over 30 years. GOA is a national membership organization of 300,000 Americans dedicated to promoting their Second Amendment freedom to keep and bear arms. GOA lobbies for the pro-gun position in Washington, D.C. and is involved in firearm issues in the states. GOA’s work includes providing legal assistance to those involved in lawsuits with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the federal firearms law enforcement agency. Pratt has held elective office in the state legislature of Virginia, serving in the House of Delegates.
Interview with Mr. Zachary Bartels
Parker Saint is living the dream. A cushy job at a thriving megachurch has him on the verge of becoming a bestselling author and broadcast celebrity—until life takes an abrupt turn that lands him on the wrong side of the law. To avoid a public scandal, he agrees to consult with the police on a series of brutal murders linked by strange religious symbols scrawled on each victim.
Parker tries to play the expert, but he is clearly in over his head. Drawn ever deeper into a web of intrigue involving a demanding detective, a trio of secretive Vatican operatives, and a centuries-old conspiracy to conceal a mysterious relic, he realizes for the first time that the battle between good and evil is all too real—and that the killer is coming back . . . this time for him.