Monday, October 18, 2010

Fallout

Thoughts of the snowy looking stuff we've all seen falling from the sky after a nuclear blast on some cheesy old movie form the 50's. It's the cleanup after a major weather event gone wrong, such as a tsunami, hurricane, tornado, flooding, or massive fire somewhere on the west coast that causes erosion of the hillsides. It can come from a shoving match on a playground between 4th graders, or from a battle in a far away desert. (the former earned me a trip to the principal's office, after the other kid wound up with a bloody nose. Hey, he started it, I finished it!) The firing of a head coach after 3 straight losses in a college football season. The loss of a political office after years of voting the wrong way on the issues. This is my friends, is what we call fallout.

So I'm watching a TV show that was recorded on the DVR and when it ended, I clicked 'save' so my wife could watch the ending later as she had left the house to get her evening exercise. As the DVR switched back the the channel that it was on before we watched the recorded show, I realized it was on one of the religious shows. I think it was the 700 Club. On screen were 3 women talking about how one of them had gotten saved through some program at a women's shelter, or something along that line. I don't know the whole story, because I changed the channel quickly. I couldn't stand to watch it because that feeling of disbelief came rising up pretty fast. I find I cannot watch that stuff anymore because I don't believe it's real. I look at Pat Robertson and can't help but wonder if he's a fake and a liar. I think he is, but I'm not 100% sure. I've read some stuff about him that said he is as fake as they come. I have nothing personal against Mr Robertson, I don't even know the man, never spent time with him. But it really doesn't mater if it's Pat Robertson, or someone else. I can't watch any TV preachers, televangelists, or the like. In fact, I'm considering blocking ANY and ALL religious channels on all TV's in my house. Is that sad or what??

Then I see one of my Facebook friends posting a video about TD Jakes and claiming how great it is. "Wooo Preach THAT Bishop Jakes" she says about the video. I have to pry myself away from it, because I used to like TD Jakes' messages on TV. I've bought & read one of his books. Yet again, I'm drawn back to what I've read about him, and how he twists scripture. And what's with the whole 'Bishop' thing? So many black preachers use that title. Bishop of what, exactly? He's not MY Bishop. I don't use the term 'Doctor' for someone who isn't MY Doctor! My daughter's Orthodontist is a friend of mine. I don't call him Doctor, I use his first name. It's not disrespect, he just doesn't need the praise of men for his validation.

Where's this bus going...I'm realizing this is the fallout of my experience with the church. Before I continue, let me set the record straight. My faith has never been stronger. I love Jesus with everything I have and everything I am. However I've never been more spiritually beat up than I have been in the past 2 and a half years. I've learned that sometimes, doing the right thing can get you the kind of fallout you don't want.

For example, if a corporation has an employee who knowingly gets involved in something unethical and illegal, then goes against what their head or authority tells them not to do in order to distance and protect the employee and the corporation from the situation, it's the corporation's responsibility to deal with that employee, no matter the position of that employee, whether president, CEO, janitor, cube warrior, or middle manager. That employee needs to be scripturally approached, disciplined, and if the behavior continues, fired.

Such is the case of the Lorenz's, who were involved in bringing Rifqa Bary down to Florida form Ohio. After being confronted, then fired for continuing in their activities that were certainly illegal, their response was to blow up and yell, instead of accepting responsibility, admitting fault, then repenting. The corporation reluctantly dealt with them in the only way it could have, given the circumstances, by 'relieving them of their responsibilities'.

The worst part was not having a pastor yell at us and say 'you're the most evil people we've ever known....you're demonic....idiots...you have no idea what you're doing..etc'. Although that's not fun. The fallout from this experience, the spiritual abuse, is this. I'm now repulsed by what I hear from the pulpits of the TV preachers, etc, when comparing it to what I'm learning from reading and studying scripture on my own. I know we're supposed to weigh things against scripture to see if they're from God or not, but this feeling of disbelief is somewhat uncomfortable, and I now have absolutely no trust in anyone using the title of Pastor.

I guess using the words 'absolutely no trust in anyone using the title of Pastor' may be a bit extreme. I have met one Pastor who has been a great friend and God has used him in leading me toward the first steps of healing from these experiences. And God has now brought my family & I to the next phase of the healing process, through another church...another pastor....who seems genuine. I can't judge him until I see the fruits of his life. For that, I must give him time and prayer.....that I would be courageous to do the right thing again, regardless of the fallout.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Isn't this interesting?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/crime/os-man-arrested-missing-girl-20101016,0,2404237.story

Ocoee girl who went missing, man arrested


This is an interesting situation. You have a MINOR who goes missing, her parents don't know where she is, and when the cops locate her, they arrest the guy she's with, calling it "Interference with custody". Maybe this only applies to homeless hispanic men?

(As a side note, if my kid ever went missing, whoever took her oughta be hoping the police find him before I do!)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The gift that keeps on giving

Just when you thought it was over & done, there's this:

Rifqa Bary fallout: Blogger, Orlando lawyer fight $10M defamation lawsuit


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/os-runaway-convert-lawsuit-20101012,0,2682560.story

Which came after this:
Stemberger in a fight with the Florida Bar


Which came after this:

Rifqa Bary's former lawyer in trouble with The Florida Bar


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-rifqa-stemberger-complaint-20100923,0,5006064.story

(I don't know how to make fancy links yet, so bear with me.)

I'm no lawyer, but it sounds like Omar Tarazi has an open & shut case. These people can't hide behind the first amendment, or 'legal privilege'...I had to laugh at that one...or 'hyperbole'. They can't point the finger at someone else & say "statements of facts....  "are accurate reports of statements of others or they are true statements simply,", or  "were made in good faith and upon information and belief that the statements made were true."....and expect intelligent people to believe it.


Nope, we're not buying any of it, and I doubt the court will either. If you're gonna say something about somebody that may not be true, it's YOUR responsibility to fact check what you're saying, or risk a lawsuit for defamation. 


Pay your money, take your chances. Geller & Stemberger are all big & brave when defaming someone from behind a keyboard, but when they're called out for it, they back-peddle, and lay blame on someone else. How pathetic. They sound like liberal democrats. They sound like Rifqa's abductors.

Monday, October 4, 2010

The evil Main Stream Media

We've all heard of the Main Stream Media, right? Why do we call it 'Main Stream'? Is there a not-so-main stream? An alternate stream, perhaps. Or maybe an altogether different 'stream'...Where am I going with this?

The MSM is looked at as liberal, lying, against anything conservative, and showing a hatred of anything Christian. Let's face it, the MSM takes any opportunity it can to make a Christian, or Republican, or  anyone 'good' look...well...bad (some don't need the help!). Unless of course we're talking about Foxnews. Now there's the one news source who looks out for the good guys, correct? In my opinion, they're just as liberal as any other news source, they just sugar-coat it and call it 'fair & balanced'. We're supposed to believe that. Right.

So , the general consensus is that the MSM is the bad guy. That is until they run a story that we agree with. Now all of a sudden, we think they're true & correct. We even post the links to their 'true' story on our Facebook page, and sit back & wait for the agreeing comments to roll in. And when someone comments who disagrees with our new friend, we get all hacked off about it.

All my life I've been told the Orlando Sentinel is just as liberal as they come. However, I have to say that the reporting on the Rifqa Bary story by Rene' Stutzman has been not only truthful, but also about 90% accurate. There's really only been a few minor details that were not exactly correct. It wasn't due to Rene' trying to twist the facts to effect the outcome, or plant something untrue in the mind of the reader. Simple things like saying Parker was the president of the corporation of Global Revolution Church, when it was actually John Law who was the president at the time of the Rifqa Bary situation. (Parker became president of the corporation only after Law was voted out by the other board members.) The detail of who was president was a minor detail, and had no bearing on the course or outcome of the story.

Another detail she wrote, stated that the board members were 'too busy to answer questions' on the story. They weren't too busy, they were ordered by their lawyers to remain quiet, and speak to no media. Their lawyers told them to refer all questions to their lawyers. So, again, no twisting of the facts, just a minor detail that wasn't accurate; however true, they couldn't speak to the media. These are not Rene's fault, there's a lot of details to this story that are very confusing for even the most discerning minds. Rene' did a great job of reporting the truth.

So, If you come across something in one of the articles about the Rifqa Bary case that just doesn't sit right, come here & ask me. Be sure to provide a link to the article you're asking about.

If you're asking yourself why a church board would have to have lawyers, stick around...

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Get it right will ya?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-rifqa-pastors-file-complaint-20100126,0,1803940.story

Inconsistencies is an understatement! Isn't it a crime to file a false police report?


Truth - Lorenz did file a complaint
Lie - Wrong date


The meeting recording that showed up in the media was recorded on September 3, 2009. In addition to Blake & Beverly Lorenz, John Law, Tom Sanchez and Jeff Parker were present at the meeting. Brian Smith was out of the country. The complaint said Brian Smith was at the meeting. There were no other people present at this meeting.



Truth - The 2 meetings were recorded on a digital audio recorder.
Lieone-time church president John Law saw Parker put a "video tape recorder" on a table before the first meeting.




If there was a video recording, why did only the audio show up in the media? They can't tell an audio recorder from a video camera? There was no video recorder, only an audio recorder.




Truth - from Parker's statement..."As I began to set up the recorder, Beverly said there was no need to record the meeting, since it was not official. I replied that the meeting was absolutely official and would be recorded.".
Liethe couple didn't know they had been taped.




She asked this before the start of the second meeting, knowing how volatile she got at the first meeting. She was pretty worried about being recorded. Understandably after what the Lorenz's said and how they acted during these meetings!




Truth - the Lorenzes called Law and asked him to contact Parker to see if the meeting was recorded. Law spoke with Parker and was told the meeting was recorded.
Liebut the tape was of poor quality and "it had been destroyed".




John asked if the meeting was recorded. When it was confirmed the meeting was recorded, he then said Lorenz asked if the parts about Rifqa could be edited out. He was NEVER told the recording was of poor quality and had been destroyed. Obviously it wasn't destroyed, because it made it into the media - Duh! He was told the meting was recorded for record keeping purposes, and nothing would be edited. The Corporation bylaws allow for meetings to be recorded. John Law was removed from the corporation on September 5 (2 days after the meeting) for his complicity in the actions of the Lorenz's and for not being truthful with Parker and Sanchez. 

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Whole lotta coachin goin on

And the puppet show starts...

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2009/08/11/story_teen.html?sid=102

"Bary said she hitchhiked and then rode a bus from Ohio to Florida to escape her family, Connelly reported"


She didn't hitchhike anywhere. Lorenz paid a guy (Brian Williams) in Ohio to pick her up, and take her to the bus station, where a ticket was waiting for her under a false name, purchased by John Law, former President of the Board of Directors of Global Revolution Church. All this was done without her parents' knowledge. That's called interfering with parental custody - a crime. John Law was removed from the board for doing this as well as lying to the other board members about this issue. 


"An attorney representing the girl's mother said the parents were allowing Bary to explore her Christianity. The parents claimed that their daughter was not afraid until she made contact with Pastor Blake Lorenz in Orlando."


So, she didn't fear her parents...wasn't scared until she met  up with the good pastor. Hmm...Somethin ain't quite right. Why would a pastor instill fear in her about her parents? Eyewitness accounts from the former church administrator at GRC claim Lorenz's wife coached Rifqa in what to say and what not to say to Police. What else did they coach her into saying?

Where it all began

This is where the media picks up the story. Her poor parents hadn't heard from her in 2 weeks!

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2009/07/31/story_teenager.html

Notice the date, July 19, 2009.

Notice they don't suspect foul play, but that she could still be in danger. Little did they know of the brain washing she'd get when she got to Florida. They did nothing but steer her away from the parents and even her little bother that she loved. I know she loved them because 2 weeks before she turned 18, she sent them a 'care package' with a video telling them she loved them, and missed them. Does that sound like a person who doesn't love or want to have anything to do with her family? Hardly. The Bary's can thank the Lorenz's for that.

Notice the Columbus Police said  "If anybody is harboring her they are definitely in violation of at least one misdemeanor charge that I know of, and that's interference of custody".


I'm sure you noticed....

What?

http://www.wftv.com/video/22307419/index.html

Ya can't make this stuff up! This is classic!

How does lying to anyone mean you have integrity? Lorenz didn't lie to protect anyone but himself. He equated his lies to the time during World War 2, when the Nazi's would go door to door, looking for Jews, and whomever answered the door would lie and say "There's no Jews here" while hiding Jews in a secret room. In Lorenz's mind, this made it OK for him to lie also. Even though in this video he says he didn't lie to the 'authorities', he only lied..oh excuse me..'changed the story'...to the media, yet it's the media he's talking to...huh? And the reporter didn't even question that statement! He should've asked, 'How do I know you're not lying to me now?'.

The ones Lorenz lied to were his covering, the board of directors of his church. The ones who were in place to oversee the day to day operations of running a church. The board was also in place to keep him accountable. At Loren's previous church, Pinecastle United Methodist, these people were even told that there had been death threats because of what & how he preached. The board members also understood they were there to protect the Lorenz's with their lives, if needed. At least 2 of them were licensed to carry concealed weapons, and did so regularly (Florida law allows it). Fortunately, there was never an issue with anyone threatening Lorenz's security. Maybe the death threat story was just that, a story.

So, when confronted with actual evidence that he'd broken the law - board members had an e-mail from Lorenz's lawyer spelling out the actual crimes committed, the Florida statutes and penalties for said crimes...corporate e-mail belongs to the corporation, it's not personal e-mail, as Lorenz's wife believed - Lorenz still adamantly denied any crimes had been committed, and kept saying his lawyers told him so.

Lying again, and being caught in the lies, is what got Lorenz so upset. And he blames the board members of stabbing them (Lorenz and his wife) in the back. Wow. So much for respecting authority. During the meeting where they were fired, Lorenz's wife actually said "You have no business being the boss of white collar workers", simply because she has a college degree, and they don't. You can also hear her asking "what about the money? That's OUR money!"....after they were fired.

Wow again.