Killing with (fake) kindness – a lie that binds
Anyone can do a kind act for a selfish reason. Those who want to control others – and to appear good – can fake kindness and use it to abuse.
Real royalty: Spectacle and grace in Esther
Esther’s story paints a picture of two types of reigning. One type turns on spectacle. The other flows from grace. “Which is real royalty?” Esther’s life asks.
Reign of terror: Narcissism in Esther
Two people in power. One, highly offended. The other, easily exploited. Both, given over to evil. As in Esther, that can erupt into a reign of terror.
Abusers like Ahab & Jezebel use one another
They’re eerily alike: Ahab and Jezebel, who ruled in Elijah’s day. Men and women church leaders, who use one another to abuse everyone else.
Masters of misdirection and mesmerizing fog
People like King Ahab spend their lives using and abusing others, to get what they want. They also mesmerize and misdirect us, so we won’t see them as they are.
Spiritual schizophrenia and the two-headed snake
"How long will you try to go both ways?" Elijah cried. When God's people opt into spiritual schizophrenia, they empower a two-headed snake.
Resentment and its victims: Hate without cause
Resentment may seem harmless. And justified. Yet it is toxic and often misdirected. Whether it’s simmering within you or aimed at you, it’s hurting you.
Love story? Fairy-tale life? The abuse in Esther
Have we seen Queen Esther as a loved wife, with a fairy-tale life? If so, we’ve missed the abuse in her story and a key to reigning in life.
When evil seems invincible: Two surprising sources of hope
When two malignant narcissists ruled, evil seemed invincible. Yet Esther's story shows us two surprising sources of hope and life.
Illusionists! The abusers we have not seen
Some illusionists fool us to amuse us. Abusers and abusive systems fool to control. How to recognize the illusionists we have not seen.