The Wired Word for 12222024 - CourtneyR.dev's 2nd Brain

The Wired Word for 12/22/2024 ![rw-book-cover](https://readwise-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/images/article2.74d541386bbf.png) ## Metadata - Author: [[The Wired Word]] - Full Title: The Wired Word for 12/22/2024 - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: - #DukeLacrosse - #Truthfulness - #Forgiveness - #Reconciliation - #Confession Author: The Wired Word Team Source: The Wired Word Reference: [The Wired Word for the Week of December 22, 2024](https://www.wiredword.com) date created: 2024-12-20 13:00 --- # Title: Woman at Center of Duke Lacrosse Scandal Asks for Forgiveness ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#summary) - [📖 Main Content](#main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#notes) - [📖 References](#references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#methodology) - [❓ Questions](#questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#future-research) - [💡 Implications](#implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#logical-validity) - [🔍 DARVO Analysis](#darvo-analysis) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#conclusion) ### References: - [The Wired Word - Duke Lacrosse Scandal](https://www.wiredword.com) ## 📝 Summary: Crystal Mangum, at the heart of the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal, admitted to fabricating her rape allegations against three players. After years of defending her claims, Mangum, now incarcerated for murder, has sought forgiveness for her false accusations, recognizing the harm caused to the players, their families, and herself. This story prompts discussions about the power of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation in personal faith journeys and community healing. ## 📖 Main Content: Crystal Mangum's false accusation against three Duke Lacrosse players in 2006 led to a national scandal, sparking debates on race, sexual assault, and justice. Although the charges were later dropped after the players were exonerated, Mangum’s fabricated story had long-lasting effects on their lives. Mangum, now serving time for murder, publicly confessed her lie in a prison interview, seeking forgiveness from the players and the public. Her story underscores the importance of truth, the healing power of confession, and the possibility of reconciliation, even in the face of severe wrongdoing. ### 🗒️ Notes - **The Duke Lacrosse Scandal**: - In 2006, Crystal Mangum accused three Duke Lacrosse players of gang-rape, which led to a widespread media frenzy. - The charges were dropped in 2007, after it was revealed Mangum had fabricated the story. - **Mangum's Confession**: - After years of maintaining her lie, Mangum admitted in 2024 that the rape did not occur and that her actions were a cry for validation. - She apologized publicly, hoping for forgiveness from the players and their families. - **Impact on the Players**: - The players suffered reputational damage, and legal consequences, including lawsuits against Duke University and the City of Durham. - **Faith and Reconciliation**: - Mangum's confession is tied to her personal faith journey during her imprisonment. - She expressed a desire for reconciliation with the players, showing the intersection of faith, truth, and justice. - **Public Reaction**: - Reactions to Mangum's apology have been mixed, with some expressing hope for healing, while others question the timing and sincerity of her confession. ## 📖 References: - [The Washington Post - Crystal Mangum's Apology](https://www.washingtonpost.com) - [The Chronicle - Crystal Mangum Admits to Fabricating the Story](https://www.chronicle.com) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: - **Original**: "I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn't, and that was wrong." - **Paraphrase**: "I lied when I accused them of rape, and I deeply regret my actions." ## 📰 Newsletter: This week, we take a closer look at Crystal Mangum’s shocking admission regarding the Duke Lacrosse scandal. After years of claiming she was assaulted, Mangum publicly confessed that she lied about the entire event. Serving time for a murder conviction, Mangum now seeks forgiveness from the players she wronged. Her confession brings forward important themes of truth, reconciliation, and the power of faith in times of regret. Read more about how this story reflects on forgiveness and healing in our community. ## ✅ Action Items: - **Education on False Accusations**: Raise awareness about the long-lasting effects of false accusations on both the accused and the accuser. - **Support for Victims**: Foster open discussions on the importance of truth and support systems for victims and the wrongfully accused. - **Reconciliation Projects**: Develop community programs focused on forgiveness and reconciliation, especially in cases of personal harm or betrayal. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: - Confessing to a false accusation could serve as a path toward healing for the accuser, but it requires substantial social and emotional support. - The public’s willingness to forgive wrongdoers depends heavily on the perceived sincerity of the apology and the extent of the harm caused. ### 📊 Methodology: - **Qualitative Analysis**: Conduct interviews with legal experts and psychologists to explore the psychological and social dynamics of false accusations and their resolution. - **Quantitative Research**: Survey the public’s perception of Mangum’s confession and its impact on their views on forgiveness and justice. ### ❓ Questions: - What factors influence whether or not someone believes an apology for a serious wrongdoing? - How can communities build trust and facilitate reconciliation after public falsehoods are exposed? ### 🔮 Future Research: - Investigate the long-term emotional effects of false accusations on both the accused and the accuser, especially in high-profile cases. - Study the role of faith and personal transformation in the process of public apologies and healing. ### 💡 Implications: This case offers valuable insights into the social and psychological processes surrounding confession and forgiveness. It could influence how legal systems and social institutions handle the complexities of false accusations and promote restorative justice. ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment: - **Visual Learners**: The article could benefit from infographics that illustrate the timeline of the Duke Lacrosse case and Mangum’s admission. - **Aural Learners**: An audio interview with Mangum or a related podcast could help auditory learners engage with the emotional and personal aspects of the case. - **Verbal Learners**: Adding more narrative examples from individuals who have experienced similar situations could make the material more relatable. - **Kinesthetic Learners**: Interactive case studies or role-playing exercises about false accusations and forgiveness could engage physical learners. - **Logical Learners**: Diagrams or charts outlining the consequences of the false accusation and the legal processes involved would support logical learners. - **Social Learners**: Group discussions about forgiveness, justice, and public apologies could help social learners connect to the material. - **Solitary Learners**: Reflective journaling or personal stories from the readers could engage solitary learners on a deeper level. - **Naturalistic Learners**: Drawing parallels between the healing process in nature and the emotional recovery in false accusation cases could appeal to naturalistic learners. ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment: - **Screen Reader Compatibility**: Ensure that the article's visual elements, such as photos of Crystal Mangum or diagrams, have descriptive alt text. - **Keyboard Navigation**: Ensure that all sections, including links to further reading, are fully navigable via keyboard for accessibility. - **Contrast and Readability**: The article could improve readability by using a higher contrast color scheme and larger font sizes for users with visual impairments. - **Text Resizing**: The article should be optimized for text resizing without losing layout integrity for those with visual impairments. ### 🌍 DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Assessment: - **Cultural Relevance**: The case touches on themes of race, - Summary: Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal, has admitted that she lied about a sexual assault and has asked for forgiveness. Dear Class Members, Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal, has admitted that she lied about a sexual assault and has asked for forgiveness. In response to her surprising admission, this installment of *The Wired Word* will look at what the scriptures teach us about truthfulness, confession, forgiveness and reconciliation. Warning: This story includes descriptions of an alleged rape. ![](https://www.thewiredword.com/_img/tww_logo_email.jpg) **Woman at Center of Duke Lacrosse Scandal Asks for Forgiveness*****The Wired Word*** **for the Week of December 22, 2024** **In the News** In 2006, the campus of Duke University was rocked by a report that a group of lacrosse players had gang-raped a stripper hired to dance at a house occupied by several of the players. The accusation sparked a national scandal, and forced a reckoning across the country about racism and sexual assault on college campuses. The stripper was black and the accused players were white. The next year, authorities determined that she had lied, and they dropped the charges against her alleged assailants. Then, in 2008, the stripper, Crystal Mangum, wrote a memoir in which she insisted that she had been attacked. "I depended on the police investigators and hoped that one of the people at the party would be willing to come forward and tell the truth about what went on that night," she wrote in the book. "Something did happen. Something that would change my life and the lives of countless others, for as long as we all live." But now, according to *The Washington Post*, Mangum is saying that nothing happened. In an episode of the show “[Let's Talk with Kat](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPM5eHqw3hkeu4jUcOqHf4ezbT7kXQEcWlXZidYvXiKGu9IBP_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR7paD6v-2BC8DyRiW75b851I0ljHn3oGXCu81DzdMa-2FBNEIyk3a4yPTlb5GYXAgQBxcc9gDCkiAa6nKTiRIZ9WUGIxBbXaZw0C7Fn5gmzSGQ-2Fw-2BX8orQQE28y961kUV9rYCXKLJ1dVTAO3YhNYFcecwpeR8p9aRN7z3NeNQpM81SC4Z-2FvWCfEg5fnz18PHGGuqTSxdlZ7GYyCVz1vBa1l23YI-3D),” Mangum said she lied about being sexually assaulted by the players. "I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn't, and that was wrong," Mangum told interviewer Katerena DePasquale on November 13. "And I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me and made up a story that wasn't true because I wanted validation from people and not from God. ... And that was wrong." According to *CNN*, the interview took place at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, where Mangum is serving time for a 2013 second-degree murder conviction for stabbing her boyfriend. "It's been on my heart to do a public apology concerning the Duke lacrosse case," Mangum wrote to DePasquale in a letter obtained by *The Chronicle*. "I actually lied about the incident to the public, my family, my friends and to God about it, and I'm not proud about it." In the interview, Mangum speaks of her relationship with God while in prison, connecting her faith to her request for forgiveness. "I hope that [the players] can heal and trust God," she says. "I want them to know that I love them, and they didn't deserve that, and I hope that they can forgive me." Along with a fellow stripper, Mangum drove to a house in Durham, North Carolina, on March 13, 2006, having been hired to dance for six men at a bachelor party. When she arrived, she found that she would be performing for roughly 40 college-aged men. While these facts have never been disputed, some people have criticized the lacrosse players for the act of hiring strippers. But then, according to the account Mangum gave in her book, some of the men shouted racial slurs at her. She said that as she tried to flee, some of them grabbed her, held her in place, and took turns raping her. "I genuinely believed I was going to die in there," she wrote, "but I did not want to." Mangum reported the alleged incident to Durham police, and three Duke lacrosse players were eventually indicted on charges of first-degree rape. The case dominated the national news for months, with major stories appearing in newspapers and on television shows across the country. The CBS News program *60 Minutes* ran five segments about the case. Feeding the flames was the circulation of an email written by a Duke lacrosse player on the night of the party, which joked about doing violence to strippers. The player later clarified that this statement was in reference to the movie *American Psycho.* As the months went by, the case against the lacrosse players began to unravel. The state bar association filed ethics charges against the prosecutor handling the case, accusing him of withholding evidence and making inflammatory statements. The prosecutor resigned, and was eventually disbarred and held in criminal contempt for lying to a judge about the case. The North Carolina Attorney General took over the case and dismissed the charges against the lacrosse players. He said that there had been a "rush to accuse" and that "there were many points in this case where caution would have served justice better than bravado." In 2014, the three players settled lawsuits against the City of Durham and Duke University. According to *The Chronicle*, the attorney general did not prosecute Mangum for perjury after the dismissal, saying that the investigators thought "she may have actually believed the many different stories that she has been telling." The statute of limitations on perjury charges typically lasts two years in North Carolina law, meaning that Mangum can no longer be prosecuted for lying under oath. A former attorney for one of the accused lacrosse players said in a statement on December 13 that he was "extremely pleased that Crystal Mangum finally decided to tell the truth." More on this story can be found at these links: [Crystal Mangum Admits to Fabricating 2006 Duke Lacrosse Scandal Accusations. *The Chronicle*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPCV80jQ7h5GOawK168-2FqIJ7L4Q3DV-2BCj4k0JHKokx7dB-2BEe-2BAQGMANK8faKWvnILX-2FZl-2FhdcyLTN7Irbc1Wv9hCVg1jqO51q8CZPsQTGGZ8CThDiDhUlVqGWUDT3NE031J3bMAMwvlJU6I3VzOWqQa0SJkrjBbmPSQzfTw2lzaGpA6ubs5pLExYvTjFaaQma1JeQP0Yp5nwwgxhEbZzwaiEhhVUtmFsvyN-2FjwDHrIgr9Qr-2Buj6qDf1SWimV1QBv4-2BUDpREiyAJIWKbL0wM7jWGs-3D_xCa_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR5nRQx5dCpTwNDnxfsjQwDe-2FEPP3YZipY8QVu9-2Fn-2FYifBGW7uoZsTCGudA6ZK6Go7DTRxTvwtTgSEISOLI5jeWaNc2oDNfLx9SMm0CeBN6i1fjgXbCOfGGj-2FAVVHcPoyUBRX9dhv29VglyuMfhm6O4l8Lb2Izl1ocZNzEnJrkgUHkWUbqN5dr9neIOtFlvbVn30v0KwKzZDVQhi6CJ7U8Q0-3D)[Crystal Mangum, who Accused Three Duke Lacrosse Players of Rape, now Says She Lied. *CNN*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPHHA4-2BgP6bA2SAHgfNS5ETwDpmBvV4zpuQfdrgll4hCt-2FxiNQfEAtgefxqhQz5rjVbSbofWC-2BLF0dvoM2Wec-2FSR1pCjiKKXTYTZgVLOmgSemBFeh_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR8pYokFSLUexWiR8BBbAUiLv-2F-2B6kWzJBRthWOBASHrFyZSRitcvpbKzcwsbSUYvSfFZ7yabBgAtSFQJ-2FZ-2B2G4-2Baob6Nlf9tWuBDsbaKnOieKVZHBxHgtXAu-2BijLrH1Md94YxJdbDRRwn4btdvgDAzBUPa99CxmHphdmKGVC0AKYYGQro3Pbu-2FYlVnEwoasoQYl73f-2FWTQ0Iy71TEj15nCq0-3D)[Woman Behind Infamous Duke Lacrosse Rape Accusations Admits She Lied. *The Washington Post*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPOwEDRUAVktcmVsOsspgy0U17tkCBJPOTYr-2BJ2FWzIMyTiTefCjqW3xLr7qV04PbYFxOWeGTrq4g-2BP8KPn4UXmvSuy4XYGP53hFbuxa5CLkYqFnE_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR3fhpqtS3NNc-2BlsTC22-2BAyeZYMMPgmwPAFR5tyqDEjaochbjymepJGRHqYruNLPBN4pP7fXyvEfW-2Fa-2FcqY-2FH3jPWVVi30gOysfksH34d0sDuYK47Et6HzG7ZIu9fzCVfylDpQZlinibAbisxrOSGwAMmlU4XaKdsRppI-2FuYpOLWDMY4REMJFGeAk14szhxFpInKAJb5cRUCtpxzhVLavzPw-3D) **Applying the News Story** Use this story of a woman whose faith grew in prison, leading her to make a surprising admission, as an opportunity to discuss truthfulness, confession, forgiveness and reconciliation. **The Big Questions** 1. When, if ever, have you been reluctant to reveal a truth that was difficult to acknowledge, but that needed to be disclosed? What prevented you from disclosing it? How did your faith motivate you to speak the truth, if ever? 2. What is the value of confession, in your relationship with God and your relationships with other people? How is confession a part of the worship, ministry and mission of your church? 3. How would you respond if a person unfairly accused you of a terrible crime? What guidance would your faith give you in formulating a response? 4. Speaking of the Duke lacrosse players, Crystal Mangum said, "I hope that they can forgive me." Would you forgive her? Why or why not? What conditions would lead you to forgive? 5. Dispute resolution, also known as reconciliation, is central to the Christian faith. What steps would have to be taken, in your opinion, to reconcile Crystal Mangum and the Duke lacrosse players? What steps have you taken to restore broken relationships in your life? **Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope**Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: **Exodus 20:16***You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.* (For context, read [Exodus 20:1-17](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxx2FEd3BoRBTxbt4VK5xnRnAtEJuBBasQRlzvQDDnONxGUXn2cw4g55OcWHH-2BhZBpe1g-_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRxCxgekkTBnefiCMcyU5SkuuoDEZYizqe2hr2t5LK28n9Dsf62x3l3srP8G61dOBIACP19B691QcwDVlngbC5X83a0CJPzahqblHBmEpQfMMJnKHbeuZSjEj8PpmOIndts53-2BuQsyg0YstDNctt2GZM8z6ZofzesFasGzrV64q5HOzbvEiQlJaZDCtPveTckLdJz-2BHApPKK9zrvOlMz61jU-3D).) The Ten Commandments, sometimes called the Decalogue (meaning "ten words"), are placed at the beginning of the collection of laws in the book of Exodus. They are said to be given directly by God to the people (20:1), and written by God on stone tablets (31:18). The Ten Commandments are repeated with slight variations in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Most of the Ten Commandments are prohibitions, such as "you shall have no other gods before me" (v. 3). Two are expressed affirmatively: "Remember the Sabbath day" (v. 8) and "Honor your father and your mother" (v. 12). The Ten Commandments begin with rules connected to a person's relationship with God, and end with rules connected to a person's relationships with neighbors. In the second section is the commandment, "You shall not bear false witness." This commandment forbids deceitful testimony and spurious charges in a legal setting. Over time, some people have come to see it as a prohibition against lying in general, or a commandment that has even broader application. Martin Luther, for example, expands this commandment to mean that we "should not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light." > **Questions:** Why is this rule so important that it is included in the Ten Commandments? What problems arise in society when deceitful testimony and spurious charges are tolerated? Why is truthfulness important to you, in your personal life and community life? **Psalm 51:1-2***Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.* (For context, read [Psalm 51:1-17](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxsIml1FVSK5cEEtzkbHNCmy9fJfK-2BgwfbNGEt-2BKIh-2FtxloHSfR398HlfNdrCpc5n79TDi_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR6hYq223RRSYYuphei6CdDJpDQC-2B6HDYARwYHv166EB64gV2DqkcC-2By0xvapPILK5vH31xRdONj-2FSXt4e0zTU6K7ecIeJT30vQvwB9QGZUY47sAyidh25avywtnGbniN3BJxsncQprBbI2ub0eCMLdHlKoK3VvIrFCOnEHWRCDcQu3d1pltrKLj9tZ3lvZjQchoKGPP-2FHvcl682PnuYAu9g-3D).) Psalm 51 is the most famous of the penitential prayers, which include Psalms 6, 32, 38, 102, 130 and 143. It is traditionally considered to be "A Psalm of David," written "when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba" (superscription of the psalm). The story of David's sin is found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12: David has sex with Bathsheba, impregnates her, and then attempts to cover his tracks by having her husband Uriah sleep with her. When this plan fails, David arranges to have Uriah killed in battle. The prophet Nathan then tells David a parable that causes David to condemn himself. The psalm begins with a plea for mercy (vv. 1-2), followed by a confession of sin (vv. 3-5). The psalmist then says to God, "You desire truth in the inward being" (v. 6), and asks to be cleansed of his sins (vv. 7-12). The psalmist then promises to teach transgressors God's ways (v. 13) and offers an expression of humility and repentance (v. 17). A number of different experiences -- from parables to prison time -- can inspire people to confess their sins and speak the truth. > **Questions:** What experiences have inspired you to be honest about your failings and to speak the truth about your life? How does the church help with this, from worship to small group gatherings? What more could the church do? **John 21:15***When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."* (For context, read [John 21:15-19](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxx2AR9Jj9qcsRpI2euRS6tdRauZ8zcH7K22doNa3zO56LWNdhpFGCtn2oFUlTZz5VXY50_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRwAD1ZP7YjmDbabo9OXWbpnWE3kBwwgt3R1RnYtljcZKo-2FhbC4wFY8Q1V3BIsppdrTYT7rclqZZG0s8hDdDiQlSdhT8cfAqRYaHen9yqspavKYwS0BYBh6gaJKUZ2JGMMVGircwkgrmMFzOdYYZYcB-2Fc9E-2Fpw-2FXqW4Rnzcnu8qyPT9GivgtFt1ZT8QkbnHbvghI-2BiPAsO-2BPNu-2BpdB4QicLs-3D).) After Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem, Simon Peter was asked three times if he was one of Christ's disciples. Three times, he denied being a follower of Jesus (John 18:15-27). Then, after the Resurrection, Jesus "showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias" (21:1). He helped them to catch 153 large fish and cooked them a breakfast. After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon ... do you love me more than these?" Peter said yes, to which Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Jesus repeated the question two more times, to which Peter replied in the affirmative, effectively canceling out his three denials. Jesus then predicted that Peter would die in a way that would glorify God, and he said to him, "Follow me" (v. 19). > **Questions:** What failures, if any, prevent us from returning to a life of active discipleship? What steps does a person need to take in order to be restored to a close relationship with Jesus? Where do you see an opportunity to respond to the invitation of Jesus to "[f]eed my lambs"? **2 Corinthians 5:18***All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.* (For context, read [2 Corinthians 5:16-21](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzx5N3asDrM8aLtAZM6HVDt1aw9adGFzqR9ClYZox8YyW2BnEaNyC6c-2FpNiw-2B-2FDnV1nq7kLIyxKgyb2uUYcXP-2BqGA-3D-3Dh5j2_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRxrw-2F2XCNTlpAFN-2BbFD7jKOYuVC-2FSN-2FsWeMUBxcUsJPyltCpvptf8b7p57xvwMGJ2hdP2Wo6DSsHTeN0fYnRrFg7Hi43x3FdrHnp6uMBi-2Bep2asTNcckznO-2Fm1Nc-2Fo1Zk5V0AkvM7hF-2BWZr7bVE7KklOcnqQIUHr18-2FBl7hG4t5ChbnYIMstvJE4szkrDZwEax7qtmVu0Q586-2B8yQc0cg0E-3D).) Paul's second letter to the Corinthians was written after he became estranged from this community and feared that another visit would be painful (2:1). Although he wanted to visit Corinth, he felt that his leadership there was being questioned, and his ministry was being disrupted by people who were false apostles (11:13). He loved the Corinthians, and more than anything else wanted peace with them. So he made reconciliation the focus of his letter, saying: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation."For Paul, reconciliation was the heart of the Christian faith -- reconciliation of people to God, and people one to another. An excellent resource on reconciliation is the Presbyterian Confession of 1967. But exactly what is reconciliation? New Testament scholar Richard Hays says that the interesting thing about the word "reconciliation" in ordinary Greek usage is that it is not typically a religious term. "Rather, it is a word drawn from the sphere of politics; it refers to dispute resolution. So one could speak of the diplomatic reconciliation of warring nations or, in the sphere of personal relationships, the reconciliation of an estranged husband and wife." Paul said that God "reconciled us to himself through Christ," resolving a dispute and repairing the relationship that had been broken by sin. The work of reconciliation has been started by God, and now Christians are challenged to offer a ministry of reconciliation, resolving disputes between individuals and communities. We do this, says Hays, using "practices that show unity, love, mercy, forgiveness, and a self-giving grace that the world could not even dream of apart from Christ." > **Questions:** How can you do the work of reconciliation, in your family, among your friends, or in your church community? Where do you see opportunities to resolve disputes using love, mercy, forgiveness and self-giving grace? Be specific. **For Further Discussion** 1. In a horrifying French case, a man has admitted to enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife. Now, [he is asking forgiveness from his family,](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIKH0aP8wGEF4ljhXMWd-2BfIZlhLhvnj84qmmz874PopawT6o-2BzVwEVINHou62tl5Oyg0C4ef24KQQdeKNQCGV-2Bc-3DiDOp_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRwKlNhG73ck-2B8SCXA1qKb3Lm4vH-2F2Uh7t-2FilZH0D4rFrTWMWxg3UCB6HSvIErUgMUgijES6-2F4ePaPKRrE-2F5CKlvpXjRnfoW5f-2F3aPEpHPJ9Xprj8yvxPBEh-2BO50IE3-2BqdjCYazvbXnH0O76AgdRYmT1uOjR-2FBD208hkZEyTwEOqek4-2FMn2yzdodheWYUUV7VBnZUrOPWOazH7zLQZ4g-2FLq8-3D) and hailing the courage of his now ex-spouse. What is the significance of his regret and shame, in your opinion? If you were a member of his family, what would have to be said and done in order for you to be moved toward forgiveness? In what cases, if any, might a movement toward forgiveness be inappropriate? 2. "I don't have any regrets," [Crystal Mangum said in her interview.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPCV80jQ7h5GOawK168-2FqIJ7L4Q3DV-2BCj4k0JHKokx7dB-2BEe-2BAQGMANK8faKWvnILX-2FZl-2FhdcyLTN7Irbc1Wv9hCVg1jqO51q8CZPsQTGGZ8CThDiDhUlVqGWUDT3NE031J3bMAMwvlJU6I3VzOWqQa0SJkrjBbmPSQzfTw2lzaGpA6ubs5pLExYvTjFaaQma1JeQP0Yp5nwwgxhEbZzwaiEhhVUtmFsvyN-2FjwDHrIgr9Qr-2Buj6qDf1SWimV1QBv4-2BUDpREiyAJIWKbL0wM7jWGs-3Da-id_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR1X4Q1D-2FKJZhI3vKzw6km7PTSw0y4K1Z8fpCazDSeNxY7GDa0m3G4McURMXMObDpMRAhmM1ZtyxThK0EMnlYvRyyalc0-2BeRZ5q7rbA1EMOBzJy8oUj3TbrIBsAsRjDN0CwlCn1sOtrWsxVRnHAQ55RlAgBlaYRuTARrxoKqhLH7-2BESsKdfRvW9yQY9I5lSGGC6tH8eUyDwgiG72JTuozGhg-3D) "Everything happens to get everybody to the point where they are and it's all to show God's love and His forgiveness, His grace and His mercy." TWW Team Member Joanna Loucky-Ramsey finds this comment about having no regrets to be jarring. Why would Mangum feel the need to apologize if she had no regrets? What do you think she means by "regrets"? And if one has no regrets, what does an apology actually mean? Discuss. 3. In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul asks, "Am I now seeking human approval or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ" ([Galatians 1:10](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxkbFv7nat5bHPJJ9MZ1n5O2dKbesosutydqdUU2qOLwSxW4ntfFs5-2BDr9Djth-2F0E9yXNa_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRxOXDmFxaXlXcL20Cp4De-2Bs-2FtvWVxIDfySfMKwYre7qQpR3fsPj1DN-2FsdbL3S0T884PZdDUx7ZKx3PdJsIqUpCoMSbk9w6a9oKXkRDi0cpF8jFWcck8lDgcS9ivOqxVtt89WEjo2O9gLFwidC1YIXpDFhhhypy-2BAutR5N0j7zh2jBTRx1wVj12M67fLcpjAIxkUR44r7K6hWRT3tgdjSnyQ-3D)). Crystal Mangum says, "[I] made up a story that wasn't true because I wanted validation from people and not from God." When, if ever, have you sought validation from people and not from God? What was the result? How is pleasing God an important part of being a servant of Christ? Be specific. 4. The Christmas carol "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" includes the line, "Remember Christ our Savior / Was born on Christmas Day / To save us all from Satan's pow'r / When we were gone astray." How is this true for you, as you prepare to celebrate Christmas? If Christ came to "save us all from Satan's pow'r," who is beyond the reach of his grace, if anyone? **Responding to the News** Use this Christmas week as an opportunity to speak the truth, confess your failings, and seek reconciliation with those from whom you are estranged. Ask God for help in practicing love, mercy, forgiveness and self-giving grace. **Prayer** We thank you, God, for sending Jesus to be our Savior, and to be the one who reconciles us to you. May we accept his grace and mercy, which is so freely given, and resolve to walk in his way, in his truth, and in his life. Amen. ****Copyright 2024 Communication Resources**** [Unsubscribe From This List](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/asm/unsubscribe/?user_id=14323725&data=zWKVWrIPaupfQOyx-6fnfjuldw85PUfAqceOIftKshRoMDAwdTAwMO0TRGnXBYQdqRKoHCGQYTm7m2aPsPyYYrknud8StXM-svr7I7TWDJJzt4bxLRF2FQEFKifbhcCKb7h94ahVv_UiwR0ULoQtX6ZIJBQIsIUynIuB2i2RzNNewOe1_wWlqsczQeKi1KsYd4WtO7wloOaGXsRvIWQhRnLLGOpUOyvqzfrSBJ433L_tKQes2I4HhyAGQU4i6qVhhChibU8OEzsG9MilcemkbRYtiiOlU0o7a-5kO2R29HvZr6dU1P3xmkrUpdRCbKMAY1aoE9q-s9h0b2srAfruICmnFiHNliWpminfZHCLMNYQ_rYy6W7xnFRpG4lhSulD4Q7QUDMk-OwsZQHOIthgmbWWTxP6hwVaP1x7f2bzWBFRFzzBQNrkOtmPlrBu1lh6Fpctf1rmLZlSHR5YtZMg4V-hrgBirK3__-qdSIWPnuqbkA_Z-Kabjq2rxdUU8tklVshc35dZqNbZHP2P-RF505kGCyeAJ_N-VGmFcXn7c7tM2oasqJ6qfGwNqHb5d_Wm5QIP94a5gjPr7FFKDLL4hSIM0VygCSLy7WHbnxcPj5rlpDONWdMK6MBD_Wp5afUJYEmswwJnIyA=) <div>Dear Class Members, Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal, has admitted that she lied about a sexual assault and has asked for forgiveness. In response to her surprising admission, this installment of The Wired Word will look at what the scriptures teach us about truthfulness, confession, forgiveness and reconciliation. Warning: This story includes descriptions of an alleged rape. <center><img src="https://www.thewiredword.com/\_img/tww\_logo\_email.jpg"/></center> Woman at Center of Duke Lacrosse Scandal Asks for Forgiveness The Wired Word for the Week of December 22, 2024 In the News <div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border-top: windowtext 1.0pt; border-bottom: windowtext 1.0pt; border-style: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; background: white;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">In 2006, the campus of Duke University was rocked by a report that a group of lacrosse players had gang-raped a stripper hired to dance at a house occupied by several of the players. The accusation sparked a national scandal, and forced a reckoning across the country about racism and sexual assault on college campuses. The stripper was black and the accused players were white. <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">The next year, authorities determined that she had lied, and they dropped the charges against her alleged assailants. Then, in 2008, the stripper, Crystal Mangum, wrote a memoir in which she insisted that she had been attacked. "I depended on the police investigators and hoped that one of the people at the party would be willing to come forward and tell the truth about what went on that night," she wrote in the book. "Something did happen. Something that would change my life and the lives of countless others, for as long as we all live." <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">But now, according to The Washington Post, Mangum is saying that nothing happened. In an episode of the show “<a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPM5eHqw3hkeu4jUcOqHf4ezbT7kXQEcWlXZidYvXiKGu9IBP\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR7paD6v-2BC8DyRiW75b851I0ljHn3oGXCu81DzdMa-2FBNEIyk3a4yPTlb5GYXAgQBxcc9gDCkiAa6nKTiRIZ9WUGIxBbXaZw0C7Fn5gmzSGQ-2Fw-2BX8orQQE28y961kUV9rYCXKLJ1dVTAO3YhNYFcecwpeR8p9aRN7z3NeNQpM81SC4Z-2FvWCfEg5fnz18PHGGuqTSxdlZ7GYyCVz1vBa1l23YI-3D">Let's Talk with Kat</a>,” Mangum said she lied about being sexually assaulted by the players. "I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn't, and that was wrong," Mangum told interviewer Katerena DePasquale on November 13. "And I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me and made up a story that wasn't true because I wanted validation from people and not from God. ... And that was wrong." According to CNN, the interview took place at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, where Mangum is serving time for a 2013 second-degree murder conviction for stabbing her boyfriend. <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">"It's been on my heart to do a public apology concerning the Duke lacrosse case," Mangum wrote to DePasquale in a letter obtained by The Chronicle. "I actually lied about the incident to the public, my family, my friends and to God about it, and I'm not proud about it." In the interview, Mangum speaks of her relationship with God while in prison, connecting her faith to her request for forgiveness. "I hope that [the players] can heal and trust God," she says. "I want them to know that I love them, and they didn't deserve that, and I hope that they can forgive me." <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">Along with a fellow stripper, Mangum drove to a house in Durham, North Carolina, on March 13, 2006, having been hired to dance for six men at a bachelor party. When she arrived, she found that she would be performing for roughly 40 college-aged men. While these facts have never been disputed, some people have criticized the lacrosse players for the act of hiring strippers. <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">But then, according to the account Mangum gave in her book, some of the men shouted racial slurs at her. She said that as she tried to flee, some of them grabbed her, held her in place, and took turns raping her. "I genuinely believed I was going to die in there," she wrote, "but I did not want to." Mangum reported the alleged incident to Durham police, and three Duke lacrosse players were eventually indicted on charges of first-degree rape. <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">The case dominated the national news for months, with major stories appearing in newspapers and on television shows across the country. The CBS News program 60 Minutes ran five segments about the case. Feeding the flames was the circulation of an email written by a Duke lacrosse player on the night of the party, which joked about doing violence to strippers. The player later clarified that this statement was in reference to the movie American Psycho. <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">As the months went by, the case against the lacrosse players began to unravel. The state bar association filed ethics charges against the prosecutor handling the case, accusing him of withholding evidence and making inflammatory statements. The prosecutor resigned, and was eventually disbarred and held in criminal contempt for lying to a judge about the case. <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">The North Carolina Attorney General took over the case and dismissed the charges against the lacrosse players. He said that there had been a "rush to accuse" and that "there were many points in this case where caution would have served justice better than bravado." In 2014, the three players settled lawsuits against the City of Durham and Duke University. <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;">According to The Chronicle, the attorney general did not prosecute Mangum for perjury after the dismissal, saying that the investigators thought "she may have actually believed the many different stories that she has been telling." The statute of limitations on perjury charges typically lasts two years in North Carolina law, meaning that Mangum can no longer be prosecuted for lying under oath. A former attorney for one of the accused lacrosse players said in a statement on December 13 that he was "extremely pleased that Crystal Mangum finally decided to tell the truth." </div> More on this story can be found at these links: <div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border-top: windowtext 1.0pt; border-bottom: windowtext 1.0pt; border-style: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; background: white;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 2.0pt 0in 8.0pt 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt 0in;"><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPCV80jQ7h5GOawK168-2FqIJ7L4Q3DV-2BCj4k0JHKokx7dB-2BEe-2BAQGMANK8faKWvnILX-2FZl-2FhdcyLTN7Irbc1Wv9hCVg1jqO51q8CZPsQTGGZ8CThDiDhUlVqGWUDT3NE031J3bMAMwvlJU6I3VzOWqQa0SJkrjBbmPSQzfTw2lzaGpA6ubs5pLExYvTjFaaQma1JeQP0Yp5nwwgxhEbZzwaiEhhVUtmFsvyN-2FjwDHrIgr9Qr-2Buj6qDf1SWimV1QBv4-2BUDpREiyAJIWKbL0wM7jWGs-3D\_xCa\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR5nRQx5dCpTwNDnxfsjQwDe-2FEPP3YZipY8QVu9-2Fn-2FYifBGW7uoZsTCGudA6ZK6Go7DTRxTvwtTgSEISOLI5jeWaNc2oDNfLx9SMm0CeBN6i1fjgXbCOfGGj-2FAVVHcPoyUBRX9dhv29VglyuMfhm6O4l8Lb2Izl1ocZNzEnJrkgUHkWUbqN5dr9neIOtFlvbVn30v0KwKzZDVQhi6CJ7U8Q0-3D">Crystal Mangum Admits to Fabricating 2006 Duke Lacrosse Scandal Accusations. The Chronicle</a> <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPHHA4-2BgP6bA2SAHgfNS5ETwDpmBvV4zpuQfdrgll4hCt-2FxiNQfEAtgefxqhQz5rjVbSbofWC-2BLF0dvoM2Wec-2FSR1pCjiKKXTYTZgVLOmgSemBFeh\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR8pYokFSLUexWiR8BBbAUiLv-2F-2B6kWzJBRthWOBASHrFyZSRitcvpbKzcwsbSUYvSfFZ7yabBgAtSFQJ-2FZ-2B2G4-2Baob6Nlf9tWuBDsbaKnOieKVZHBxHgtXAu-2BijLrH1Md94YxJdbDRRwn4btdvgDAzBUPa99CxmHphdmKGVC0AKYYGQro3Pbu-2FYlVnEwoasoQYl73f-2FWTQ0Iy71TEj15nCq0-3D">Crystal Mangum, who Accused Three Duke Lacrosse Players of Rape, now Says She Lied. CNN</a> <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPOwEDRUAVktcmVsOsspgy0U17tkCBJPOTYr-2BJ2FWzIMyTiTefCjqW3xLr7qV04PbYFxOWeGTrq4g-2BP8KPn4UXmvSuy4XYGP53hFbuxa5CLkYqFnE\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR3fhpqtS3NNc-2BlsTC22-2BAyeZYMMPgmwPAFR5tyqDEjaochbjymepJGRHqYruNLPBN4pP7fXyvEfW-2Fa-2FcqY-2FH3jPWVVi30gOysfksH34d0sDuYK47Et6HzG7ZIu9fzCVfylDpQZlinibAbisxrOSGwAMmlU4XaKdsRppI-2FuYpOLWDMY4REMJFGeAk14szhxFpInKAJb5cRUCtpxzhVLavzPw-3D">Woman Behind Infamous Duke Lacrosse Rape Accusations Admits She Lied. The Washington Post</a> </div> Applying the News Story Use this story of a woman whose faith grew in prison, leading her to make a surprising admission, as an opportunity to discuss truthfulness, confession, forgiveness and reconciliation. The Big Questions 1. When, if ever, have you been reluctant to reveal a truth that was difficult to acknowledge, but that needed to be disclosed? What prevented you from disclosing it? How did your faith motivate you to speak the truth, if ever? 2. What is the value of confession, in your relationship with God and your relationships with other people? How is confession a part of the worship, ministry and mission of your church? 3. How would you respond if a person unfairly accused you of a terrible crime? What guidance would your faith give you in formulating a response? 4. Speaking of the Duke lacrosse players, Crystal Mangum said, "I hope that they can forgive me." Would you forgive her? Why or why not? What conditions would lead you to forgive? 5. Dispute resolution, also known as reconciliation, is central to the Christian faith. What steps would have to be taken, in your opinion, to reconcile Crystal Mangum and the Duke lacrosse players? What steps have you taken to restore broken relationships in your life? Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxx2FEd3BoRBTxbt4VK5xnRnAtEJuBBasQRlzvQDDnONxGUXn2cw4g55OcWHH-2BhZBpe1g-\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRxCxgekkTBnefiCMcyU5SkuuoDEZYizqe2hr2t5LK28n9Dsf62x3l3srP8G61dOBIACP19B691QcwDVlngbC5X83a0CJPzahqblHBmEpQfMMJnKHbeuZSjEj8PpmOIndts53-2BuQsyg0YstDNctt2GZM8z6ZofzesFasGzrV64q5HOzbvEiQlJaZDCtPveTckLdJz-2BHApPKK9zrvOlMz61jU-3D">Exodus 20:1-17</a>.) The Ten Commandments, sometimes called the Decalogue (meaning "ten words"), are placed at the beginning of the collection of laws in the book of Exodus. They are said to be given directly by God to the people (20:1), and written by God on stone tablets (31:18). The Ten Commandments are repeated with slight variations in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Most of the Ten Commandments are prohibitions, such as "you shall have no other gods before me" (v. 3). Two are expressed affirmatively: "Remember the Sabbath day" (v. 8) and "Honor your father and your mother" (v. 12). The Ten Commandments begin with rules connected to a person's relationship with God, and end with rules connected to a person's relationships with neighbors. In the second section is the commandment, "You shall not bear false witness." This commandment forbids deceitful testimony and spurious charges in a legal setting. Over time, some people have come to see it as a prohibition against lying in general, or a commandment that has even broader application. Martin Luther, for example, expands this commandment to mean that we "should not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light." <blockquote> Questions: Why is this rule so important that it is included in the Ten Commandments? What problems arise in society when deceitful testimony and spurious charges are tolerated? Why is truthfulness important to you, in your personal life and community life? </blockquote> Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxsIml1FVSK5cEEtzkbHNCmy9fJfK-2BgwfbNGEt-2BKIh-2FtxloHSfR398HlfNdrCpc5n79TDi\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR6hYq223RRSYYuphei6CdDJpDQC-2B6HDYARwYHv166EB64gV2DqkcC-2By0xvapPILK5vH31xRdONj-2FSXt4e0zTU6K7ecIeJT30vQvwB9QGZUY47sAyidh25avywtnGbniN3BJxsncQprBbI2ub0eCMLdHlKoK3VvIrFCOnEHWRCDcQu3d1pltrKLj9tZ3lvZjQchoKGPP-2FHvcl682PnuYAu9g-3D">Psalm 51:1-17</a>.) Psalm 51 is the most famous of the penitential prayers, which include Psalms 6, 32, 38, 102, 130 and 143. It is traditionally considered to be "A Psalm of David," written "when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba" (superscription of the psalm). The story of David's sin is found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12: David has sex with Bathsheba, impregnates her, and then attempts to cover his tracks by having her husband Uriah sleep with her. When this plan fails, David arranges to have Uriah killed in battle. The prophet Nathan then tells David a parable that causes David to condemn himself. The psalm begins with a plea for mercy (vv. 1-2), followed by a confession of sin (vv. 3-5). The psalmist then says to God, "You desire truth in the inward being" (v. 6), and asks to be cleansed of his sins (vv. 7-12). The psalmist then promises to teach transgressors God's ways (v. 13) and offers an expression of humility and repentance (v. 17). A number of different experiences -- from parables to prison time -- can inspire people to confess their sins and speak the truth. <blockquote> Questions: What experiences have inspired you to be honest about your failings and to speak the truth about your life? How does the church help with this, from worship to small group gatherings? What more could the church do? </blockquote> John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxx2AR9Jj9qcsRpI2euRS6tdRauZ8zcH7K22doNa3zO56LWNdhpFGCtn2oFUlTZz5VXY50\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRwAD1ZP7YjmDbabo9OXWbpnWE3kBwwgt3R1RnYtljcZKo-2FhbC4wFY8Q1V3BIsppdrTYT7rclqZZG0s8hDdDiQlSdhT8cfAqRYaHen9yqspavKYwS0BYBh6gaJKUZ2JGMMVGircwkgrmMFzOdYYZYcB-2Fc9E-2Fpw-2FXqW4Rnzcnu8qyPT9GivgtFt1ZT8QkbnHbvghI-2BiPAsO-2BPNu-2BpdB4QicLs-3D">John 21:15-19</a>.) After Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem, Simon Peter was asked three times if he was one of Christ's disciples. Three times, he denied being a follower of Jesus (John 18:15-27). Then, after the Resurrection, Jesus "showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias" (21:1). He helped them to catch 153 large fish and cooked them a breakfast. After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon ... do you love me more than these?" Peter said yes, to which Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Jesus repeated the question two more times, to which Peter replied in the affirmative, effectively canceling out his three denials. Jesus then predicted that Peter would die in a way that would glorify God, and he said to him, "Follow me" (v. 19). <blockquote> Questions: What failures, if any, prevent us from returning to a life of active discipleship? What steps does a person need to take in order to be restored to a close relationship with Jesus? Where do you see an opportunity to respond to the invitation of Jesus to "[f]eed my lambs"? </blockquote> 2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzx5N3asDrM8aLtAZM6HVDt1aw9adGFzqR9ClYZox8YyW2BnEaNyC6c-2FpNiw-2B-2FDnV1nq7kLIyxKgyb2uUYcXP-2BqGA-3D-3Dh5j2\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRxrw-2F2XCNTlpAFN-2BbFD7jKOYuVC-2FSN-2FsWeMUBxcUsJPyltCpvptf8b7p57xvwMGJ2hdP2Wo6DSsHTeN0fYnRrFg7Hi43x3FdrHnp6uMBi-2Bep2asTNcckznO-2Fm1Nc-2Fo1Zk5V0AkvM7hF-2BWZr7bVE7KklOcnqQIUHr18-2FBl7hG4t5ChbnYIMstvJE4szkrDZwEax7qtmVu0Q586-2B8yQc0cg0E-3D">2 Corinthians 5:16-21</a>.) Paul's second letter to the Corinthians was written after he became estranged from this community and feared that another visit would be painful (2:1). Although he wanted to visit Corinth, he felt that his leadership there was being questioned, and his ministry was being disrupted by people who were false apostles (11:13). He loved the Corinthians, and more than anything else wanted peace with them. So he made reconciliation the focus of his letter, saying: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." For Paul, reconciliation was the heart of the Christian faith -- reconciliation of people to God, and people one to another. An excellent resource on reconciliation is the Presbyterian Confession of 1967. But exactly what is reconciliation? New Testament scholar Richard Hays says that the interesting thing about the word "reconciliation" in ordinary Greek usage is that it is not typically a religious term. "Rather, it is a word drawn from the sphere of politics; it refers to dispute resolution. So one could speak of the diplomatic reconciliation of warring nations or, in the sphere of personal relationships, the reconciliation of an estranged husband and wife." Paul said that God "reconciled us to himself through Christ," resolving a dispute and repairing the relationship that had been broken by sin. The work of reconciliation has been started by God, and now Christians are challenged to offer a ministry of reconciliation, resolving disputes between individuals and communities. We do this, says Hays, using "practices that show unity, love, mercy, forgiveness, and a self-giving grace that the world could not even dream of apart from Christ." <blockquote> Questions: How can you do the work of reconciliation, in your family, among your friends, or in your church community? Where do you see opportunities to resolve disputes using love, mercy, forgiveness and self-giving grace? Be specific. </blockquote> For Further Discussion 1. In a horrifying French case, a man has admitted to enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife. Now, <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIKH0aP8wGEF4ljhXMWd-2BfIZlhLhvnj84qmmz874PopawT6o-2BzVwEVINHou62tl5Oyg0C4ef24KQQdeKNQCGV-2Bc-3DiDOp\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRwKlNhG73ck-2B8SCXA1qKb3Lm4vH-2F2Uh7t-2FilZH0D4rFrTWMWxg3UCB6HSvIErUgMUgijES6-2F4ePaPKRrE-2F5CKlvpXjRnfoW5f-2F3aPEpHPJ9Xprj8yvxPBEh-2BO50IE3-2BqdjCYazvbXnH0O76AgdRYmT1uOjR-2FBD208hkZEyTwEOqek4-2FMn2yzdodheWYUUV7VBnZUrOPWOazH7zLQZ4g-2FLq8-3D">he is asking forgiveness from his family,</a> and hailing the courage of his now ex-spouse. What is the significance of his regret and shame, in your opinion? If you were a member of his family, what would have to be said and done in order for you to be moved toward forgiveness? In what cases, if any, might a movement toward forgiveness be inappropriate? 2. "I don't have any regrets," <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPCV80jQ7h5GOawK168-2FqIJ7L4Q3DV-2BCj4k0JHKokx7dB-2BEe-2BAQGMANK8faKWvnILX-2FZl-2FhdcyLTN7Irbc1Wv9hCVg1jqO51q8CZPsQTGGZ8CThDiDhUlVqGWUDT3NE031J3bMAMwvlJU6I3VzOWqQa0SJkrjBbmPSQzfTw2lzaGpA6ubs5pLExYvTjFaaQma1JeQP0Yp5nwwgxhEbZzwaiEhhVUtmFsvyN-2FjwDHrIgr9Qr-2Buj6qDf1SWimV1QBv4-2BUDpREiyAJIWKbL0wM7jWGs-3Da-id\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvR1X4Q1D-2FKJZhI3vKzw6km7PTSw0y4K1Z8fpCazDSeNxY7GDa0m3G4McURMXMObDpMRAhmM1ZtyxThK0EMnlYvRyyalc0-2BeRZ5q7rbA1EMOBzJy8oUj3TbrIBsAsRjDN0CwlCn1sOtrWsxVRnHAQ55RlAgBlaYRuTARrxoKqhLH7-2BESsKdfRvW9yQY9I5lSGGC6tH8eUyDwgiG72JTuozGhg-3D">Crystal Mangum said in her interview.</a> "Everything happens to get everybody to the point where they are and it's all to show God's love and His forgiveness, His grace and His mercy." TWW Team Member Joanna Loucky-Ramsey finds this comment about having no regrets to be jarring. Why would Mangum feel the need to apologize if she had no regrets? What do you think she means by "regrets"? And if one has no regrets, what does an apology actually mean? Discuss. 3. In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul asks, "Am I now seeking human approval or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ" (<a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxkbFv7nat5bHPJJ9MZ1n5O2dKbesosutydqdUU2qOLwSxW4ntfFs5-2BDr9Djth-2F0E9yXNa\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmcowqER2lfR-2BCgWEFI3CeIM6z9r4De7XVGUCnIouYKCEa5ngBrFnqQ-2F1WI-2BQ9sfvRxOXDmFxaXlXcL20Cp4De-2Bs-2FtvWVxIDfySfMKwYre7qQpR3fsPj1DN-2FsdbL3S0T884PZdDUx7ZKx3PdJsIqUpCoMSbk9w6a9oKXkRDi0cpF8jFWcck8lDgcS9ivOqxVtt89WEjo2O9gLFwidC1YIXpDFhhhypy-2BAutR5N0j7zh2jBTRx1wVj12M67fLcpjAIxkUR44r7K6hWRT3tgdjSnyQ-3D">Galatians 1:10</a>). Crystal Mangum says, "[I] made up a story that wasn't true because I wanted validation from people and not from God." When, if ever, have you sought validation from people and not from God? What was the result? How is pleasing God an important part of being a servant of Christ? Be specific. 4. The Christmas carol "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" includes the line, "Remember Christ our Savior / Was born on Christmas Day / To save us all from Satan's pow'r / When we were gone astray." How is this true for you, as you prepare to celebrate Christmas? If Christ came to "save us all from Satan's pow'r," who is beyond the reach of his grace, if anyone? Responding to the News Use this Christmas week as an opportunity to speak the truth, confess your failings, and seek reconciliation with those from whom you are estranged. Ask God for help in practicing love, mercy, forgiveness and self-giving grace. Prayer We thank you, God, for sending Jesus to be our Savior, and to be the one who reconciles us to you. May we accept his grace and mercy, which is so freely given, and resolve to walk in his way, in his truth, and in his life. Amen. 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