Thursday, December 26, 2019

Taking a Look at the Pauline Epistles - 1507 Words

The Pauline epistles are very crucial to the understanding of how a church and a Christian should act. Throughout all the letters, different subjects have been touched creating almost a guide of â€Å"how to’s†. The farewell is especially important as noted in Second Corinthians 13 explains the depth of God’s love to the people and the wrath of doubtfulness. â€Å"since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking though me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you† (13:3). With corrections in the beginning of the letter, or a defense towards Paul’s teachings, shows the continuation of the struggle of Corinth, yet they were doing better as spoken by Titus. Paul’s final request towards the people of Corinth is found in his second letter (2 Corinthians). The last chapter however is similarly a conclusion, or overview of the letter. Although there are some differences throughout the translations, Paul’s final message/warning is evident and clear. The passage is split up into two or three sections, depending on the translation used. Within the New King James Version (NKJ), the breakdown is evident by how the paragraphs are structured to set apart main ideas. Verses 1-4 are thought of as the reminder of what’s Paul’s message entailed. No matter the translation Paul quotes Deuteronomy 19:15, â€Å"One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established† (NKJ; 2Show MoreRelatedImportant Issues in the Non-Pauline Churches1539 Words   |  7 PagesIssues in the Non-Pauline Churches December 3, 2013 Important Issues in the Non-Pauline Churches Even though many Christians are not aware of the problems, there are issues in the non-Pauline churches because the scriptures point out several and the author address them. This paper will focus on those issues found in the non-Pauline letters which were written to the churches of that day. Then those issues will be compared to the issues which are found in the Pauline letters. ManyRead MoreExegesis of Ephesians 2:1-73183 Words   |  13 PagesGod’s Mercy for the Ephesian Church: A Look at Ephesians 2:1-7 INTRODUCTION The book of Ephesians is one of Paul’s many New Testament letters, or epistles, to the Christian church still in its infancy. At the time of its writing, Paul is in Rome, imprisoned for championing the purposes of Christ and growing the church. We see numerous occurrences where Paul, being a man of little concern for the status quo, is either imprisoned or fleeing capture by Jewish or Roman officials for usurping theRead MoreA Practical Apocalypse1894 Words   |  8 Pageselucidate the intention of the author in writing as he has and to show how the specific subject matter of these verses interrelates with the major themes of the Epistle. That Paul is the author of 1st Thessalonians is almost undisputed. Green is in agreement with Wanamaker who comments, No contemporary scholars of repute seem to doubt the Pauline character of the letter. The position taken in this paper, consistent with the majority of scholarly opinion, is that the letter was written around AD 50-51Re ad MoreEtymology of Divine Revelation4215 Words   |  17 Pageswas concrete and not abstract. Thus in showing how divine revelation has been understood, we get an impression that it involves what or who is revealed, and to what or who it is revealed. Going back to the above definition of revelation, we see God taking up the character of the revealer as well as the other of the revealed, while humanity is the recipient of this revelation. Accordingly, we see humanity as the recipient obliged to respond to the communication initiated by God, otherwise theRead MoreHomosexuality and God6017 Words   |  25 Pages23:17). The whore and the sodomite are in the same category. A sodomite was not an inhabitant of Sodom nor a descendant of an inhabitant of Sodom, but a man who had given himself to homosexuality, and the unnatural vice for which Sodom was known. Let us look at the passages in question: â€Å"But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house around, old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Marriage Law The Legal Union Of A Couple As Spouses

Marriage is defined as the legal union of a couple as spouses. The elements of marriage include: (1) the parties legal ability to marry each other, (2) mutual consent of the parties and (3) a marriage contract as required by law. (Legal Information Institute, 2014, n.d.). In the United States, marriage law is regulated by the individual state. Standards such as age, residency, relation, mental capacity, and gender are requirements regulated on a state-by-state basis. Until recent changes, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defined marriage as â€Å"only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife† (1 U.S.C.  § 7). President Clinton established DOMA in 1996 as a definition for marriage for federal law purposes. With gay rights on the forefront of many conversations and headlines in the recent years, there is a large push for change in the laws that apply to marriage. I personally believe that all people should have the right to marry regardless of sexual orientation, and I think as a country we are heading in the right direction for that to happen. DOMA’s definition for marriage remained in effect until recently when the US Supreme Court declared DOMA unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor. Plaintiff Eidth Windsor and wife Spyer were in a single-sex marriage when Spyer died in 2009 and left her estate to her spouse. Although New York state law recognized their marriage, the federal law did not, so Windsor was denied spousal deduction for federal estateShow MoreRelatedGay Marriage Should Be Legal in All States1632 Words   |  7 PagesUnited States for decades has been Gay Marriage. Whether same-sex couples should be given the right to marry or even if same-sex couples should be given rights at all, this has been a contentious discussion which creates division and disunity throughout the country. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Gay marriage has been legalized in 17 states. But only 19 of 194 countries allow for gay marriage. Statistics show more than half theRead MoreSame-Sex Marriage1478 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Same-Sex Marriage: The Problems with DOMA and the Pursuit for Equality Believe it or not, same-sex marriage has been around since ancient times. At least two Roman Emperors, Nero and Elagabalus, were in gay unions. It wasn’t until the advent of Christianity that the practice of same sex marriage was out-lawed by the emperors Constantius II and Constans in 342 AD and has continued to be through-out most of the world until the twenty-first century (Boswell 83). With the advent of gay rightsRead MoreMarriage Benefits vs. Civil Union Benefits What is the difference between marriage and civil700 Words   |  3 PagesMarriage Benefits vs. Civil Union Benefits What is the difference between marriage and civil unions? There are many differences, mostly consisting of the benefits that married couples get that couples in civil unions do not receive. Marriage is different for homosexual and heterosexual couples. Even when homosexuals are married they do not receive the same benefits as heterosexual married couples. What if couples in a civil union could have the same benefits as a married couple? When heterosexualRead MoreGay Marriage Will Harm Children Essay1227 Words   |  5 PagesThe Supreme Court of the United States recently ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Yet, same-sex marriage continues to be a highly debated issue. If same-sex couples are allowed to marry they will hurt heterosexuals. If they are denied this right, then they are hurt. If it is something we have to recognize is that marrying same-sex persons represents itself as a social experiment that never has been experimented, including by societies that fomented the homosexualityRead MoreLegalization of Same-Sex Marriage1446 Words   |  6 Pages Imagine that your spouse was suffering from a terminal illness and one was charged with deciding with whether life-saving measures would be continued or ended. This decision is not one that is made lightly, but for homosexual couples, it isnt one that is often afforded. Now that being homosexual is becoming socially accepted, hom osexuals are demanding the same rights and benefits as others (The Gay Rights Movement). Many homosexual Americans believe that they are being excluded from â€Å"one of theRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Is A Controversial Point For The People Of The United States1316 Words   |  6 PagesStates. As of June 2015, legal marriage is now the constitutional right of all Americans regardless of their sexual orientation or in which state they reside. Although it is now recognized as a fundamental right for all citizens across our country, same-sex marriage is still a large controversy for many in our country. The Supreme Court itself shows this with the fact that the decision came down to a 5-4 voting split in favor of allowing same sex marriages. Marriage is now and always will beRead MoreIn Pro of Same-Sex Marriage1009 Words   |  5 Pages Homosexual couples have had to endure much due to them not only being a minority, but also being declared illegal. I believe that homosexual marr iage should be legal in Georgia. To delve into an issue as divisive as this, understanding why it is illegal in the first place is in order. In 1996 the United States Congress passed DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, into law. This law was made in order to define what marriage means when writing laws. The Defense of Marriage Act states â€Å"†¦ The word â€Å"marriage†Read MoreEssay on Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage1565 Words   |  7 PagesSame-Sex Marriage Same-sex marriage is a huge controversy between Americans across the Country. In thirty-three states marriage is defined as a â€Å"union between a man and a woman†. For seventeen states in the U.S. this definition has been changed because every citizen should be treated equally according to the constitution and this also violates the Equal Protection Clause. It became possible for people of the same-sex to marry when it was stated to be unconstitutional. Denying marriage is denyingRead MoreDefining Legal Marriage in America745 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican Marriage From a historical perspective, marriages have always been recognized as important to the security and future of a state (Brake, 2012). Procreation created a labor force and armies, while family units were an efficient method for creating good citizens. For this reason, governments throughout human history have sought to legally sanction and protect marriage in its various forms, as long as the goals of marriage aligned with the goals of the state. In the United States, marriage priorRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Debate785 Words   |  4 Pages The gay marriage debate is complex, to say the least. Bitter, emotional, and controversial are just a few words that can be used to describe it. In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same sex marriage; since then twelve states have approved gay marriage (Shapiro). Even though some states have decided to legalize same sex marriage others are standing firm on constitutional amendments that ban it. Deciding whether or not gay couples should be allowed to marry is drawing passion

Monday, December 9, 2019

Conceptual Transportation and Distribution Management

Question: Discuss about the Conceptual Transportation and Distribution Management. Answer: Introduction: The movement of human or distribution of products from one place to another is the process of transportation. The modes can be through airways, waterways, roadways or railways. In the given discussion, the focus is not on the man but on the goods or the cargo that is transported. The major focus is on the international transportation that is mostly referred to as shipment. An example of a transporting company is used for the help towards the understanding and gaining knowledge about the management of the transportation and distribution process. Furthermore, the incoterms to be used by the projected organization and the criterion of selecting a constructive carrier and the relationship administration of these carriers is discussed below (Agamez-Arias et al., 2017). Distribution management is the supervision of property and methods that are used to transport products to their final target including storage warehouses from a manufacture Centre. For any association to be successful there should be effectual distribution administration process to guide and control the products. The purpose of the essay is to help comprehend the management system of production and distribution by means of an example of a company Third party logistic providers known as 3PL. It is the most important global company in chain-to-chain supplies and has its operations in the five continents of the globe. They overpass the fissure between the consumers and the goods. They have a consideration of the working towards shipments, warehousing, transportation and deliverance. It also presents together air and sea international shipping services and consequently links the emptiness between the buyers and the sellers. 3 PL Company has a procedure of distribution of all the goods that includes both the household or the light goods and heavy goods, which have an inclusion of the vehicles and other heavy machineries like containers and the automobiles. It also has a distribution facility of the goods in the five continents of the world, which means that they have a huge marketplace (Maizlish e t al., 2013). However, it has its opponents like the Movers Shippers located in Canada and Intl Movers, which has most of its purpose in USA, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and Singapore therefore it has a less significant market in contrast to the other Company. The other opponent and competitor is the Afmex International Courier, which is located in Africa with its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa and offers distribution towards the whole world. The objective of 3PL International Company is the provision of superiority services to the entire world and outstanding delivery of goods to their clientele by means of the implementation of the logistics custom policies. It functions on letters of credit whereby they do the funding and all the activities towards the customer. The functionality exists until the products are delivered at the place of awareness for the buyers pick. Incoterms The International Commercial Terms governing the conveyance of goods from the provider to the buyer and frequently international shipments is referred to as Incoterms. It seems that incoterms comprises of eleven types that include the following; Ex Works i.e. EX, Delivered at Terminal i.e. DAT, Carriage Paid To i.e. CPT, Delivered Duty Paid i.e. DDP, Carriage and Insurance Paid To i.e. CIP, Delivered At Place i.e. DAP, Free Carrier i.e. FCA, which are used for any consignment. The other incoterms that are just severely used for the shipment of sea are four in number that include the Free on Board i.e. FOB, Cost, Insurance and Freight i.e. CIF, Free alongside Ship i.e. FAS and Cost and Freight i.e. CFR. 3PL International Company uses the term of Delivered Duty Paid whereby it is accountable for the delivery of the supplies until they get to the place of disposal for the buyer to collect them. It means that it clears and gets hold of the charge of all the legalities and custom duties for the duty of both import and export together with up the unloading of the goods (Holgun-Veras, 2017). Incoterms Selection Consideration It holds the wants of the exports and imports as it has its representative all over the world. The representatives work with them in an efficient manner and have its operations in five continents, therefore giving them a worldwide encounter. It helps them to have a delivery wherever it is needed i.e. even from door to door. They have a delivery of all sort of goods as affirmed previously and this implies that it is extremely diversified for all goods. In addition, due to their global agencies, the market has a larger control and goodwill. From the research conducted, the buyers have a good description for the corporation as they make available quality services to their consumers and there is a reduction of complaints. This corporation works with the rule, whereby all the duties for the products are paid off. The duties are paid until they get to the buyer, which involves import and export duty and the unloading fee till the time the goods get to the delivery destination of users (Fan am et al., 2016). As per my opinion, the term i.e. the Delivered Depot Paid is the most efficient for the buyer as it is dicey to send the cash for all the actions. By the time the products gets to the client it is damaged, which means the purchaser will have to experience an additional process of being remunerated that might take a further age of time. It also worsens the confidence of the customers for the usage for the next time in, which they need, shipped goods and this will price them as a corporation. Consequently, they ought to reassess the other requisites that are more efficient and will catch the attention of more customers to supply (Neuenfeldt Jnior et al., 2016). The CIF i.e. the Cost, Insurance and Freight is a successful one since the transport company is accountable for the expenses and freights desired to fetch goods to the intended port which subsequent to, any loss is imposed on the buyer. On the other hand, the shipment business takes indemnity cover for the goods and so any damage before the getting down to the port falls on it. An additional efficient incoterm is CIP i.e. the Carriage and Insurance Paid, where the vendor is in charge for all costs until the goods get to the end named. This also favors the buyer since in case of any dent before he gets the products, is not on him. In the case of shipment by sea, the Delivered at Terminal i.e. DAT is a constructive term as the retailer put up with unloading of the goods until they reach the destination of the terminal, which can be warehouse, road or railways. The DAT is also accommodative in nature, because the buyer gets the delivery of the goods and his accountability starts with th e arrival of the goods and the first responsibility being the unloading procedure (Crainic, 2016). Carrier Selection Criteria Every organization has its objective that it has to hit to get an effectual result, which is, additional customers to serve the increase of its market (Liu et al., 2017). For the 3PL Company, it has a focus on receiving the shipment of the goods in the world and that is the reason of having agents in some continents. The agents help in increasing its effectiveness of the networking or communication procedure. In addition, it intends at providing interesting services at an inexpensive price. It makes use of both the air and sea; airways are for the common cargo that is light goods. If the goods are needed very fast and has a heavy cargo, then the sea mode of shipping is preferred like in cases of automobiles. In addition, it provides the domestic shipping service for the goods to a seaport before they are loaded in a ship for overseas supply, which is very valuable. For that reason, the purchaser delegates them with their money and they pay on behalf of the consumers, all the costs fo r their products, which help in reducing the gap between the buyers and their sellers (Cantor et al., 2016). In selection of an organization for serving, there are a couple of things for the reconsideration; principally one judge price, speed, view of public on the organization and many more(Pearce et al., 2014). For this case, one should consider; first, the cost of the service, the reason of choosing a very luxurious company while there are others that are cheaper but providing the similar services. It is very important for assessment, as at the end it is all about preferring an organization that will support the stage of ability. Hence, one should advise a buyer to go for a company that is inexpensive, as long as it provides shipping services with higher quality. Secondly, the speed determines, how long will it take the good to come to the consumer. If there is a corporation that distributes a product within a month, while others are distributing within two months. The faster the product gets to the customer, the more their gladness. Thirdly, safety is very vital, for instance, if we bel ieve that a company assures that goods will get to the buyer at a good state with less goods damage grumbles. In addition, an association that will make sure all the goods get to the buyer when they safely intact with none missing, that includes, no theft cases is the best. The Packaging is important as anything that is designed attracts additional eyes. Therefore, one should consider a company that has a perfect packaging of goods, example, arranging products in brands if products are from different industries and being shipped together, types and so on this ease up sorting when they get to the delivery destination. Lastly, if the Company applies the incoterms, it should consider terms that will be on the favor of the buyer. This includes incoterms such as (CIF, CIP, DAT, DAP) that are under the discussion of this essay. Lastly, one should highlight a company that has effective communication therefore it will allow to keep checking the progress of the baggage, it does not essentially require online communication but also can have their agents in the member country of the buyer (Campa-Planas Kalemba, 2017). Carrier Relationship Management The Carrier relationship management is an effectual way of improving profitability, productivity and general running of the organization. The goals of 3PL International Company are outlined in the previous discussion (Corsi et al., 2014). This subtopic will focus on types of relationships to be built with the Carriers and the process of structuring the association. There is a carrier-to-carrier company relationship and a carrier-to-customer relationship. Both of this is very necessary for the success of any shipment activity. It is very important to have good relationship between customers and the carriers as they need each other, none would be functional without the essence of the other, therefore, it is significant to construct good relationships between each other. Carrier relationship management got some services; Firstly, the Negotiable prices by reducing the rates, should strive to have long lasting relationships with their customers. The fellow carrier partners by having susta inable relationships with them, having a freight data record for future reference and improvement in operations. Conclusion To sum up the whole thing, using the applicable used company there is a fundamental explanation of the entire idea of transport and allocation management. The achievement of any shipment depends on the applied incoterms, the type of carrier selected and lastly the carrier relations with other carrier partners and its clientele. There are better incoterms than others that will support a customer, criterion of selecting one out of the many carriers one ought to be considered the one with the most excellent parameters and lastly good connection finds out how practical the carrier will be and how much market it will have. According to the argument, 3PL International Company remains to all the above requirements. References Agamez-Arias, A. D. M., Moyano-Fuentes, J. (2017). Intermodal transport in freight distribution: a literature review. Transport Reviews, 1-26. Campa-Planas, F., Kalemba, N. (2017). Safety as a management concept in the air transport sector: A systematic literature review. Intangible Capital, 13(1), 71-116. Cantor, D. E., Corsi, T. M., Grimm, C. M., Singh, P. (2016). Technology, firm size, and safety: theory and empirical evidence from the US motor-carrier industry. Transportation journal, 55(2), 149-167. Corsi, T. M., Grimm, C., Cantor, D., Wright, D. (2014). Should smaller commercial trucks be subject to safety regulations?. Transportation journal, 53(2), 117-142. Crainic, T. G. (2016). Transportation Science Special Issue on Freight Transportation and Logistics, Part I. Transpo Crainic, T. G. (2016). Fanam, P. D., Nguyen, H. O., Cahoon, S. (2016). Selection of ocean container carriers: One countrys perspective. African Journal of Business Management, 10(23), 576-584. Holgun-Veras, J., Leal, J. A., Seruya, B. B. (2017). Urban freight policymaking: The role of qualitative and quantitative research. Transport Policy, 56, 75-85. Liu, P., Mu, D., Gong, D. (2017). Eliminating Overload Trucking via a Modal Shift to Achieve Intercity Freight Sustainability: A System Dynamics Approach. Sustainability, 9(3), 398. Maizlish, N., Woodcock, J., Co, S., Ostro, B., Fanai, A., Fairley, D. (2013). Health cobenefits and transportation-related reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the San Francisco Bay area. American Journal of Public Health, 103(4), 703-709. Neuenfeldt Jnior, A. L., Siluk, J. C. M., Paris, S. R. D. (2016). The scientific research context of urban transports for Bus Rapid Transit systems applications. Journal of Transport Literature, 10(4), 15-19. Pearce, D. G. (2014). Toward an integrative conceptual framework of destinations. Journal of Travel Research, 53(2), 141-153. Transportation Science Special Issue on Freight Transportation and Logistics, Part II. Transportation Science, 50(4), 1204-1205. Rotation Science, 50(2), 363-365.

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Fight for Freedom The American Revolution free essay sample

The American Revolution was a time of change, and two sides stood up for what they believed In. Patriots and Loyalists will always be a big part of the history in the American Revolution. When the American colonies split Into Patriots, Loyalists, and fence-sitters, a lot of conflict and fighting broke out. The Patriots were a group of American Colonists, who are sick of Englands laws and tariffs over the colonies and fought for their independence from England during the American Revolution. The Loyalists were alsoAmerican Colonists, but Instead of fighting for American Independence in the Revolution, they remained loyal to Great Britain and would sometimes fight with the British Soldiers. The majority of colonists were called fence-sitters. Fence-sitters did not take sides during the Revolution, and when they did It was for whichever side would most benefit them and their families. In this time period, most colonists were originally from Great Britain so many had a tough time choosing sides, therefore they didnt. We will write a custom essay sample on The Fight for Freedom: The American Revolution or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page During the Revolution, both the Patriots and Loyalists fought for the support of he Fence-sitters, believing that If they received their support and force, they could doom the other side. The loyalists had a tough time during the Revolution. They opposed the Idea of American Independence, and that infuriated the Patriots. The loyalists were prone to beatings, public humiliation, and people stealing their belongings. For example, a loyalist named John Stevens said he was dragged across a river by his neck because he would not support the patriot rebellion (Tindal, Shih 236).There were many brutal beatings that occurred that were similar to this incident. In addition to physical pain, loyalists also suffered emotional pain in the form of public humiliation such as the tar and treatment in which wrongdoers have tar dumped on their skin and feathers thrown on them. It is no surprise that after America won independence from England; roughly 100,000 loyalists left and went north to Canada or back to England. The treatment towards loyalists during the war ultimately led to their departure.Throughout the Revolution, the English military made it a priority to know how many colonists remained loyal to England and where the majority of them lived. The British litany sought to align themselves with an elusive Tory [loyalist] majority (Tindal, Shih 237) because it would be easier for them to conquer those a reas. The British leader, King George, believed that there was a sleeping loyalist power In the south, 1 OFF while, the British gathered momentum from the loyalist countryside but it fell apart for two reasons.First, the Loyalist power was less then King George originally thought, and second, the British forces drove some loyalists into rebellion with their harsh behavior. The lack of loyalist power was a major downfall for the British, who rendered in Yorktown when they were outnumbered 2-to-l by American and French troops, ultimately ending the war. When people made their decision whether to support the Patriots or Loyalists, it split apart friends and families, towns and cities. The greatest example of this was Benjamin Franklin and his son, William Franklin.Franklin and his son were both English, and at first were both loyal to England. As the colonies started to revolt, and England pressed harder and harder against the colonies, Benjamin Franklin became a patriot. William Franklin was the Royal Governor of New Jersey, and remained extremely loyal to the British and England. As time went on, the two grew further and further apart on their political views, Franklin becoming one of the founding fathers for American freedom while his son William Franklin did not Just support England, but helped them out and gave the British information on what was going on in New Jersey.Ben and William stopped talking, since they had become so politically different and could no longer stand talking to each other. It was not uncommon for families to stop talking because of their affiliations during the revolution; Benjamin Franklin actually removed William from his will. As stated earlier, both the Patriots and Loyalists hoped to attract the fence-sitters to their cause. Writers on both sides hoped to sway fence-sitters their way with their writings and pamphlets.The first writing to really fuel the fire was Thomas Pains Common Sense. In Common Sense, Paine argues for American Independence from Great Britain, and makes the case for a Democratic Republic in America. A Democratic-Republic is a system in which the top officials are elected into office, not a anarchy like Great Britain had. Common Sense was published in January of 1776 and quickly added a spark for the Patriots. James Chalmers, a Maryland planter and Loyalist, wrote his own pamphlet in response to Common Sense.Plain Truth was published in 1776 denouncing the Patriot cause and calling Paine a political quack (casuistry. Org). Plain Truth never fired things up the way Common Sense did, and the American patriots won the war of propaganda. Committees of Correspondence persuaded many fence-sitters to Join the patriot cause (casuistry. Org). The battle for the Fence-sitters was one of the most important battles, and the Patriots came out victorious. The Loyalists and Patriots will forever be remembered in American History.In the eyes of Americans, the Patriots are looked at as true heroes, and they are people Americans should thank for their freedom while the Loyalists are looked at as traders. There was truly a civil war in America during the Revolution with all the brutal fights and beatings, families and friends splitting apart, and the literature published during the war. The Americans won the war at the end, getting independence from Great Britain, and would go on to become the most powerful nation in the world.