Books, Resources, Uncategorized

Have you ever been shunned or disfellowshipped?

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This week had a wide array of experiences and I found some of them to be related in some unusual ways. In town where I live, there is a shortcut to the local grocery store that has sharp turn that ends at a traffic light. If you are going to the store this way, you may end up being held at the light until it turns green. While parked in the first position at the light, other cars leaving the main road turn right in a tight spot that requires them to make a sharp turn to the right in order to stay in the proper lane. While those folks are negotiating that turn, they come awfully close to the driver’s side of those who are waiting!

One day as I was the person making the right turn, I saw the concerned face of the driver going the opposite direction. They looked as if they were expecting me to hit them! Of course, I did not. But, as I drove away, I mulled over their expression and realized it was for the most part totally unfounded. I had just as much desire to NOT hit them as they had desire to NOT be hit. It works the same on a two lane road. The constant flow of drivers going 55 mph in opposite directions with only a few feet of space between them works for a few reasons. One is proper training, but the main reason- each one desires to live and not have an accident. All things being equal and with no one operating a handheld electronic device while driving; this common desire to survive; keeps drivers safe and traffic flowing. When this desire to survive or continue living becomes shaky, then people have used vehicles to commit suicide or worse- car bombings. Yes, tragic but true.

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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Gilbert L. Carmona 1985 -2014

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Friday, February 14, 2014, I received a text saying Gilbert Carmona has been killed in a car wreck. Later, as details emerged, it was learned the accident had occurred on I-85 near Charlotte. There were bad road conditions involved and a definite tragedy occurred. The link to the article on the Charlotte Observer website is here. The outpouring on social media has been overwhelming as many have offered reflections of their fond memories for Gilbert, Jr. All of this has triggered some memories of my own, but, first more on the events over the last 24 hours.

Friends
Friends

Comments from different former members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) have reflected their shock and sadness of the passing of Gilbert Carmona. Many have remembered him a sincere, trusting, funny and “real guy.” Some have remembered Gilbert’s warm smile, good heart and the list goes on. One thing that is VERY evident, former members are allowed to show much more love and caring respect for present members than present WOFF members for the former ones. When one leaves WOFF, it is clear in times like this, those deep feelings of love and admiration can continue towards present members when seen as deserved. And for certain, in many previous members’ hearts and minds, Gilbert Carmona, Jr. who was still a WOFF member, deserved such admiration.

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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Michael Lowry tells — the rest of the story (long read)

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 As I sit here watching a beautiful sunrise on Friday morning, I reflect on the events over the last year. It was January 2013 that three young men left Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). One of them, Matthew Fenner, we featured in the last post. It was very soon thereafter Michael Lowry went back in WOFF. What a perplexing time! There were indictments pending at that time against a few WOFF members for their part in the incidents Michael Lowry described which could have put many of the destructive WOFF practices in the public eye. But, alas Michael was taken back in and the confusion would soon thicken over the next few weeks as authorities would hear Michael recant and say the events he told of never happened..???

For those less familiar with Michael’s journey, let’s recap how events unfolded up to the first week in February 2013.  Michael was born into WOFF and spent his whole life inside until November 2011. After much intense emotional drama, Michael Lowry was taken to a motel in Forest City, NC on or about November 19, 2011. After two days, I was contacted and agreed to meet with Michael. We spent time at a local restaurant while he told his emotional exit story. After a few phone calls, we were able to secure his personal items which had previously been withheld. His steps after this time would include trips to see relatives as well as other moves to find Michael’s next place in his life.

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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Two Events from Monday…

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As I sit here reflecting over the events of the last 24 hours, I must say there has not been so much to write since the initial few months of this blog. Actually, I had planned a totally different post for this slot. I planned to bring you “the rest of the story” about Michael Lowry. He has provided a narrative of the events surrounding his recapture, forced recant and second exit. Yes, we will bring that to you, soon. Today, I feel compelled to give you the overview of what I first considered two totally unrelated events. However, after pondering the content of these events, I see they are related. Hopefully, by sharing them we will shed some light where darkness has prevailed.  

First, I received an email on Monday from Josh Farmer of Tomblin, Farmer and Morris. He was questioning some material in a previous post about The Best of Rutherford 2011 and the first post presented about The Best of Rutherford 2013. I read his email filled with questions and took a while to answer. I wrote my answer and then slept on it a night. Tuesday morning, I sent it and have not heard back from him. The following is the text excerpt from his email.

 “I have seen your recent blog post from Saturday.  I am confused.  Your February 6, 2012 post regarding the 2011 Best of Rutherford County poll results indicated that “…the rules don’t seem to be broken [by WFF practices]”.  However, your January 25, 2014 post accuses Jane, the church and me of “vote rigging”.  So which is it?  Can you identify any impropriety here?

I have talked with Matt Clark about my involvement in the Best of Rutherford contest and candidly discussed the matter.  He couldn’t identify any problems with my activities or those of others you have accused.

You accuse me of impropriety by referencing the “Oath of Office as an Attorney at Law”.  So let’s be clear here, do you contend I violated any Rule of Professional Conduct, did anything illegal or even violated a rule of the Daily Courier’s contest?  I would like some clarification because your current post would tend to mislead all of your 10 readers.”

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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

“Best of Rutherford” Results- Mixed for WOFF

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Before we get to the results for the “Best of Rutherford 2013” survey, let me explain certain mistakes I generally make. First, I make the mistake of thinking that others outside of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and the drama circle around them even care about it. It is apparent to me as time goes on, that not everyone in Rutherford County first off even knows about WOFF and second- even care. And furthermore, just because someone has been touched by Jane Whaley’s gift does not make them perceptive enough to understand the darker side of the activities inside of WOFF. So, when you don’t know and you don’t care to know- then you don’t have a reason to pay attention to any of the happenings concerning WOFF or its members.

All that has been said to help explain that Matt Clark, editor of the Daily Courier, has given me no reason in the past to think he has an opinion one way or the other about the drama surrounding WOFF. In times past, he has been non-responsive to any issues I have introduced. A few days ago, I again made the mistake of thinking he had a reason to care. My opinion is now that he has a newspaper/website/Facebook® page to oversee. After considering what I had to tell him, he must have thought it of no concern since he already knew the results of the survey and he knew I did not. I respect him for that and will go forward with that understanding.

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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Again- “Best of Rutherford”- How do we vote, Jane?

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This past December was again the voting for the “Best of Rutherford”. This is a survey for the lack of a better term, where people have the opportunity to select businesses or individuals that they consider the “Best of Rutherford” County. I had been aware of the contest in years past and had written a review of the results from the 2011 survey. The post was titled- “Best of” WOFF Conflictions, Conundrums and Confusion… written February 6, 2012. That post outlines some of the conflictions and conundrums for WOFF members and for those living around them. In all honesty, I had forgotten about that post until I began preparation to write this review. Oh, but before I review those results, let me share about the events from the last couple of weeks.

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with Bryan Bullock who recently exited Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Seemingly out of nowhere, he began to talk about a meeting he had been a part of during his last few days at WOFF. He asked if I knew about the “Best of” survey done every year. I said yes. He said you do know how WOFF handles that? I asked him to tell me. He said in the meeting he was a part of Josh Farmer and Lisa Millwood stood at the podium as 400 ballots were passed out. Then the categories were named off and Josh and Lisa would tell members who to write down as “the Best of the Best.” If there was confusion as to who to select– he said Jane’s grandson was on ready to run down to the office and ask his grandma who to vote for. Upon securing the golden revelation, the grandson would run back down the hall way to the sanctuary to tell Josh so he could pass on the selection to the eagerly waiting members. I was not shocked but intrigued at the scenario. Can you see the wide-eyed child being schooled in the fine art of vote rigging running down the hall as such an eager and willing participant? He along with all the other children watching this must have just known that this was “God’s will”, right? This is the way they roll at WOFF! This is what is taught to children and adults alike at WOFF! Go Jane!

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