Praxis Professional Foundation Incorporated can qualify to deliver a very wide range of survivor services under the TVPA/TVPRA framework—as a prime federal grantee, a subrecipient to an existing grantee, or as a state-/VOCA-funded provider—so long as you meet eligibility, compliance, and program-standard requirements. Below is a practical, “menu-style” list you can use to scope programs, followed by how invoicing/drawdowns and documentation work. What services can Praxis provide? The 2000 TVPA (as amended by subsequent TVPRAs) authorizes protection and assistance for victims and funds service programs across HHS/ACF’s Office on Trafficking…
Read MoreARTICLES
The Semiotics of Inclusivity and the Word of God
In a recent YouTube conversation between Pastor Brian Wolfmüller and Dr. Greg Schulz, the two Lutheran thinkers revisited the legacy of Seminex and its continuing effects on theology in the church. You can watch their full discussion here: Wolfmüller & Schulz on Seminex and Language. Dr. Schulz argues that the deepest problem was not only about biblical interpretation but about a philosophy of language. In Seminex and in the theological movements that followed, the biblical Word was increasingly treated as a set of signs—a semiotic system that could be re-coded…
Read MoreBuilding a Privacy-Preserving Hotel Red-Flag System + Docket-Aware Amicus Engine for Sex-Trafficking Victim Advocacy
quick note: this is educational content, not legal advice. double-check local rules and ethics before filing. Executive Summary We’re building a single, secure system that (1) detects trafficking red flags at budget hotels using privacy-preserving signals, (2) continuously gathers legal and online-ad intelligence, and (3) auto-drafts amicus briefs within the 7-day window after a principal brief lands—so attorneys can review, refine, and file on time. Compliance brain: FRAP 29 / FRAP 26 (Courts of Appeals) and Supreme Court Rule 37 timing are coded into a deadline engine to start the…
Read MoreHolding Budget Hotels Accountable: An Amicus Strategy on Ignored Sex-Trafficking Red Flags
Budget hotels and motels are frequent sites of sex trafficking. Litigation is increasingly holding these facilities accountable for ignoring obvious red flags. An amicus program can amplify these cases by supplying the broader social, empirical, and policy context courts may otherwise miss. 1) Why Hotel/Motel Trafficking Cases Are Strategic This is a focused, high-impact niche for PraxisProfessional with real momentum in the courts. Many survivors report being exploited in motels, and suits against budget hotel chains are common. Civil claims are often brought under 18 U.S.C. § 1595, the civil…
Read MoreAntithetical Comparison: A 2001 CLU Paper and the LCMS View on Sexuality
By James Polk (Information on LCMS Concordia’s Counseling Program) Introduction This article provides a detailed exploration and antithetical comparison between a paper written at California Lutheran University (CLU) in 2001 for a religion major course and the conservative, traditional views of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) on sexuality. The 2001 paper was composed before the author’s gradual shift away from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) toward the LCMS, reflecting a more liberal academic approach at the time. The purpose of this article is to present a comprehensive account…
Read MoreBiblical Guidance on Sexuality from the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Understanding Christian Teaching on Sexuality In a culture where conversations about sexuality, gender, marriage, and identity are often polarized, many Christians find themselves looking for clear, compassionate, and biblically grounded guidance. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) offers a suite of resources designed to help believers engage these topics with both conviction and care. On their Social Issues — Sexuality page, LCMS gathers documents, articles, studies, and multimedia materials addressing questions such as: What the Bible teaches about sexual orientation, gender identity, marriage, abstinence, and cohabitation. (lcms.org) How to respond with…
Read MoreConversations with Dr. Reverand Voss of Lutheran Mission Society San Diego
This is my essay answering the question, “Who is James, how I got here, how God is working in my life”) as a part of working with Dr. Rev. Tardelli of Lutheran Mission Society San Diego and it has an aim for authenticity, clarity, and a Christ-centered emphasis. “Who is James?” Introduction: A Life Redeemed My name is James Polk. I am a sinner redeemed by Christ, someone who has experienced firsthand both the reality of human brokenness and the greater reality of God’s grace. I carry with me a…
Read MoreBuilding Religious Projects with views that oppose many in Government
Luther’s catechisms and writings affirm obedience to civil authority in temporal matters, but they also draw a bright line at spiritual teaching and conscience. The Schmalkaldic League acted on this principle: they obeyed the emperor in civil matters but resisted in matters of faith. Proclaiming biblical counseling in opposition to government trends fits squarely within this Lutheran tradition. 1. Luther’s Small Catechism (1529) In the section “The Table of Duties”, Luther cites Romans 13:1–4 under the heading “Of Civil Government”, teaching obedience to rulers. But he pairs this with other…
Read MoreA ChatGPT conversation about Stylometric-ML analysis of the Hebrew Bible: Confessional Lutheran Vindication!
what bible translations and also original language manuscripts have been fed through different current llm ai systems and probed for actual percentages of potential validity as to the literary analysis of the JEDP theory? ChatGPT said: Thought for 3m 18s Here’s the straight answer: What’s actually been run (and on what texts) There’s no peer-reviewed study I can find where a modern, closed LLM (GPT-4/4o/5, Claude, etc.) was fed specific Bible translations or original-language manuscripts and then “probed” to output a numeric “% validity” of J/E/D/P. The big vendors also…
Read MoreBabylonian Captivity, Scripture, and the Canon: ELCA vs. LCMS & My Confessional Articulation
A concise, side-by-side comparison of views with explicit point-by-point negations of higher-critical claims. Contents Executive Summary Two Uses of “Babylonian Captivity” LCMS: How the Exile Affected Scripture Old Testament Canon: LCMS-Aligned Snapshot Side-by-Side Comparison & Negations My Short Confessional Statement Notes & Scope Executive Summary This article contrasts three perspectives on Scripture, the Babylonian Captivity, and canon formation: ELCA/Higher-Critical Academic: Pentateuch as late editorial weave (JEDP); exile as the “forge” of texts. LCMS/Confessional Doctrinal: Divine inspiration; exile preserved existing Scripture; canon recognized, not constructed. My stance Personal: I reject JEDP;…
Read More