Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Truth

Religion is dangerous because it allows human beings, who don’t have all the answers, to think they do. - Bill Maher

Like Bill Maher or not, he's right.

I have learned and observed during my life that people usually don't like someone they don't like, or approve of, to be right. It infuriates them. If it only came from someone else, some have said. "Oh, I hate for him to be right", they say secretly.

You can learn something all the time from watching other people because we see ourselves in people we love, or people we hate, all at the same time.

Then you self edit, or try...all in the hopes of becoming a reasonable person!

I don't believe we ever completely finish becoming a reasonable person. It is an ongoing process. If that's you, then I reasonably believe you are reasonable. Close enough is good too.

Then you hear: someone's idea of reasonable is another person's crazy.

True.

The difference is, when reason is based on truth, not a version of the truth. Then it's reasonable. At least in the neighborhood.

What is truth?

That one is easy. You may think it's hard because admitting the truth, to some people, is hard. But, it's easy because that's a good sign they already know the truth.

If you don't agree. Then ask yourself if you feel it. You know instantly, it's just admitting it or even saying it that makes it hard. No? Ask someone else. Then ask another. And another. Keep doing so until you are sick and tired of asking, and then keep asking again. If you disagree, someone doesn't have all the facts.

Is it so obvious that it stares you down without question as truth, but still you doubt it?

Is this fruitless?

No, it's a form of fighting. Fighting to find the truth, any truth.

So we do have the skill to find the truth. Some of us know it, some don't realize it, but we do.

We don't have to see ourselves as smart or dumb to have it. We have it. Like it or not. Know it or not.

Where did we pick up this unknown and hidden skill? Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters, the neighborhood, a fight with a bully? God?

I believe the answer is: all of the above.

Since God is in the highest order of things and beings on that very short list, it's got to be that he had a hand in it. A pretty big one at that.

Before you conclude that this is a sermon, I am talking about truth as a thing, fact, something tangible, something reasonable people agree on. It could be that we agree that the sky is blue, or that some people are taller than others.

The truth makes us reasonable.

The truth in this argument is that we know that loved ones are not in our lives because they chose to follow WOFF.

We can all agree on that as truth.

We hurt from that and it skews our ability to process thoughts and actions because not only is WOFF controlling the lives of those in the congregation, but we on the sidelines watching and worrying and hurting.

Their truth is a version of the truth. Not the truth.

Our truth is real. It is clear. It is painful.

What they preach isn't real.

What they preach divides, hurts, exploits. What they preach isn't realistic. What they preach is selfish. What they preach does damage.

In their world they are reasonable.

In our world WE are reasonable. Our world is bigger.

They dismiss THE WORLD, which includes a healthy number of reasonable people, and forms of worship and...you and me.

Their power comes from enablers connected to the church from the outside, aka, the world, or some members of it. I believe money drives all of this.

Let's find out if and how much the church is paying for this protection.

This is where the work begins. This is our road to the truth.

WOFFWATCHER

Monday, July 18, 2011

Welcome!


Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.- Margaret Mead

The WOFFWATCH blog is designed to generate discussion, provide encouragement and motivation for those leaving WOFF and general information about the Word of Faith Fellowship congregation in Spindale, North Carolina, USA. This long road to bring attention and awareness to this group has been a commitment starting in July 2011 .

Online information about WOFF was been sporadic and dated from over the years before the internet became a powerful avenue to fact check, as they have had a hand in controlling the content about them over some of this time. Now online discussion and awareness makes this a daunting task for anyone who seek to suppress the truth.

WOFFWATCHER'S goal, with your help, is through factual truth, is to challenge the legitimacy of WOFF as well as hold it accountable for it's actions that may range from the potential of violation of civil rights to criminal actions. WW will aim to identify those who make it's infrastructure possible. Up to now this has been the key to WOFF going unchallenged, much of it through the enabling of local government and law enforcement as well as legal help aligned with Jane and the church.

Now, fast forward to 2017!

Chipping away at the outside part of the infrastructure is only part of challenge. We also have to dig into the membership itself.  This has not set out to be website just another set of threads with horror stories, complaints, cooky agendas and arguments.

I encourage those to take action in the form of documenting everything, reporting to federal agencies any possible violation of civil rights or criminal activity, as well as supporting WOFF victims.
This is why there are links pages about everything WOFF as well as comments and guidance for the reader to learn as much as they can.

WW seeks facts, truth, news,and  activism. I encourage you to comment.


The message :ASK QUESTIONS, TELL A FRIEND, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING, CHALLENGE, will come up in much of my commentary. They are effective actions in the fight for people we love and to hold those accountable for illegal, if not questionable practices at this "church".

I only endorse going about this in a peaceful, law abiding way.

WOFF membership/leadership read this blog . What they will/would dismiss as lies, have proved otherwise over time.

WOFFWATCHER's determination is committed to confronting WOFF leadership and exposing their actions to government authority as well as international scrutiny.

Readers may find my personal approach to be harsh. It's meant to be. The plain truth folks is, it is most people's nature to be nice and tip-toe through this. Mostly, people in the community are just indifferent, with a "Not my problem" and "Let somebody else worry about this".

This blog is only part of this effort, but indeed one of the faces of it.

Intelligence gathering is a major part of the WW effort as well. So, I blog with the facts I have and continue to get more for future essays.

I have a stake in this. I have family inside and want my them out of there. I encourage them to continue to worship God, just not like this, in this environment. But this isn't just about them. It's about you and YOUR family too.

I appeal to you to become proactive. Join the cause.

Are you ready? Then, ASK QUESTIONS, TELL A FRIEND, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING, CHALLENGE.

Start with: Letter to Jane

WOFFWATCHER