Randall,

Thank you. There was a time when traveling from Greenville that one of my children witnessed LB driving 80 MPH around Spartanburg. When confronted, LB appeared a little flustered and the net reply was it was okay, “If you had a ahold of it – in God.” I remember driving from Greenville and my whole family witnessing BC doing above the speed limit and passing us in a 45 MPH zone all the while we were close enough to see BC just talking a mile a minute- literally. . There was a strange quietness that fell over us all. I suppose BC – “had ahold of it – in God”? Yet, who can forget LK,Sr. getting toasted before us all for getting a speeding ticket? Suppose he didn’t “have a ahold of it – in God”? The message was clear for those who could hear it- certain rules, laws and regulations were subject to “having ahold of it in God”. I think that list is longer than we know. Oh, no, I am not a perfect driver and have had my share of tickets. Each time I got one, I was speeding.

Does “having ahold of it in God” go for treating WOFF employees differently than those employees who are not a part of the church? When preparing an employee handbook for TMP in 2008, the subject of holidays came up. It was a tangled mess to say the least. Word got back to JF about non-church member employees wanting to get paid for holidays and most times they did not. Certain employees in the church were allowed to work and get paid on holidays and that stirred resentment among non-church employees. Here is another angle, when emplyees who were a part of the church mentioned getting paid for holidays NOT worked, I heard JF say,” I don’t take too kindly to church folks thinking they DESERVE a day off.” The insinuation was – off WITH pay. When confronted in a meeting attended by GS, RF, JF and myself: JF said he was “under attack” when he said that and was having it rough that day… That was after I was accused and defamed for telling AK about the remark… I did not back down and stood my ground until JF admitted he said it. ES and JR were in the TMP office when JF said the comment and said nothing about it as far as I know. Why? Did they assume JF “had ahold of it in God”? That thought never crossed my mind. Though I was duped in other situations.. and just by me being in the group for so many years is evidence that I did not stand up every time. Yes, deep regrets over that.

John