Author Archives: Peter John Louie

Impression Management and a Review of Wade Mullen’s “Something’s Not Right”

In Wade Mullen’s Book, Something is Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse and Freeing Yourself From Its Power, he talks about how impression management is a tool of abusers who use their power for their own gain. Abuse almost always comes in a system that prevents it from being dealt with, especially where the abuser is in what Mullen describes as a “keystone” role, where a key personality holds the community together.

The Problem of Divided Loyalties

In a fascinating episode of Hidden Brain, “When Doing Right Feels Wrong,” Shankar Vendantam tells the story of Darwin, a Detroit police officer who found himself in a dilemma, conflicted between competing values that seemed to be at odds with each other. One evening after work, Darwin found himself sitting at a bar with a… Read More »

Abuse Reports (SBC and PCA) and Abuse Resources

In recent weeks, there have been calls for abuse reform in the Southern Baptist Convention and Presbyterian Church in America. We’d like to highlight some of the recent reports in the news and call the church to repentance and concern for the hurting. For those who want to grow in learning to handle abuse:

The Peacemaker as a Beggar

We come to Christ as beggars. Begging Jesus is what we observed in blind Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who sat on the side of the road, who pleaded for mercy from Jesus. (Mark 10:46-52.) What a picture of our miserable and needy state. We come to Jesus: blind, begging, and in need of a Savior’s… Read More »

The Gabby Petito Murder Case and Domestic Abuse

A few months ago, I wrote a book review on “Is it Abuse?: A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims” by Darby Strickland. Strickland’s book gives us foundational insights in understanding an abusive relational system. I was encouraged by many of you who want to grow in service to the oppressed, as… Read More »

A Review of “Is it Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims” by Darby Strickland

I have been benefiting recently from Darby Strickland’s book, Is it Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims. In the book she challenges Christians and the church to be a refuge for the abused, a place where they can find help and get wise counsel. She cites Psalm 82:3-4, “Give justice… Read More »

Steve Midgley – God Redeems Family (#CCEF17 Main Session 7)

Steve Midgley gave the last message at the CCEF conference regarding how God redeems family.  Perhaps this year’s CCEF conference has brought back bad memories of conflicts, divorce, abuse, distrust, or feuds.  It is true that family life is under threat.  So what hope do we have?  Steve suggested that instead of gazing back on… Read More »