Small Wars Blog

Welcome to the Small Wars blog by Darrell Puls. Here, you'll find insights and advice on navigating conflict, understanding its roots, and discovering the power within you to overcome it. Join us on a journey of hope and courage as we explore how to transform church disputes into opportunities for growth.

 

Explore practical strategies for addressing disagreements before they escalate. Learn to identify the early signs of conflict and implement proactive solutions. This section is designed to equip you with the tools to manage tensions effectively and foster healthier relationships.

You Can Do This Work!

I did not set out to be a peacemaker. Instead, it sought me. It's not an occupation so much as a way of life. Over the decades, I became increasingly aware of the emotional and spiritual damage these fights cause. As a result, I've trained hundreds of mediators and negotiators for the courts, businesses, corporations, and many others. I realized something important in writing these books: training in certain techniques is useful, but not mandatory. The books are self-directing by illustrating every technique in enough detail that the path forward becomes clear. We need more Peacemakers!

Understand your background and capabilities

Learn why you possess the unique abilities to do what I do. This section explores the universal principles of conflict resolution and personal growth, empowering you to believe in your capacity to make a positive impact. Gain insights into your own experiences and how they shape your approach to conflict, and how you can use what you already know to become an effective peacemaker.

Protect Yourself and Your Intellectual Property

Well, Small Wars is out, and the wolves are in full attack mode. Within 24 hours of its publication, I was receiving a steady stream of hyper-complimentary emails from so-called book marketers telling me how much they believe in me and my writing, how important the book was, and seeking a book promotion “partnership”.

A few days before Small Wars was published, I began receiving proposals to promote my 2020 book, Let Us Prey (Rev. Ed.). It’s a very long story, but suffice it to say that I caught the authors in several lies and challenged them as scammers. I expected that to be the end of it, but they admitted they had lied and falsified their data and still proposed promoting the book! Now, I’ve been wandering around this planet for going on 78 years, have worked as an interventionist in innumerable conflicts, have the scars to prove it — and have learned to approach every such proposal with great skepticism.

Did you know that between 60-85% of all unsolicited email is from scammers? Here are some ways to tell if you are being scammed:

  • Suspicious Sender Address: The email address does not match the company name, or is a slight variation (e.g., support@paypa1.com instead of paypal.com).
  • Urgent/Threatening Tone: Messages demanding immediate action to avoid account suspension or to claim a prize.
  • Generic Greeting: Phrases like "Dear Customer," "Valued Member," or "Dear Sir or Madam".
  • Hover-to-Reveal Links: Hover your mouse over a link (without clicking) to see the actual URL. If it differs from the link display, it is likely malicious.
  • Unexpected Attachments: Emails containing invoices, receipts, or shipping documents you were not expecting, which may contain malware. Do not open them.
  • Poor Grammar/Spelling: Professional organizations typically do not send emails filled with errors. 

WARNING: A New and Very Dangerous Scammer Toolset:

The scammers attempting to rob me used some new and very sophisticated methods: Artificial Intelligence.  AI programs (ChatGPT, Grok, Microsoft Azure, Asana, Gemini, Claude, etc.) are easy to use and often free (for now).

AI analyzed the book and highlighted the most emotionally charged parts.

AI then composed detailed and personal cover letters designed to make me think they had done what they said, which they had not. The letters were highly flattering and sophisticated; the grammar, spelling, diction, and background were all perfect – too perfect! They are designed to manipulate your emotions, pulling you into their web. Their ultimate goal is to steal every penny you have before you realize it.

How to Protect Yourself:

  • Verify Directly: If an email seems suspicious, do not reply or click links. Instead, go directly to the company's official website or call their verified phone number.
  • Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Set up MFA on your accounts for added security.
  • Report Scam Emails: Use your email provider's reporting tools (e.g., "Report Phishing" in Gmail or Outlook) and report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
  • Don't Rush: Scammers rely on fear to make you act without thinking. 

Common Scams:

  • Account Suspended/Problem with Payment: Pretending to be a bank, Netflix, or Amazon claiming a billing issue.
  • Unexpected Package Delivery: Claiming you missed a delivery and need to pay a fee or confirm information.
  • "From" the Boss/CEO: Spoofed emails asking for gift cards or wire transfers. 

Source: Federal Trade Commission (.gov) +4

Protect yourself from phishing

Phishing (pronounced: fishing) is an attack that attempts to steal your money, or your identity, by getting you to reveal personal information -- such as credit card numbers, bank information, or passwords -- on websites that pretend to be legitimate. Cybercriminals typically pretend to be reputable companies, friends, or acquaintances in a fake message, which contains a link to a phishing website. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation