Monday, July 28, 2014

Deaton Murder Trial Postponed AGAIN - Cult Details

The trial of Micah Moore has been postponed, yet again and is now scheduled for November 2014; over two years from the date of Bethany Deaton’s murder.  Some speculate there are higher powers at work with a trail leading right to IHOP’s doorstep.

Without re-hashing the entire story, I’d like to share a couple of links that will give background information and updated information you may not have heard before.  I will admit some of it was new to me.

Read here and see what Rolling Stone didn’t tell you about the Deaton case: 


In my research I’ve had the opportunity to talk with many people in and around Grandview, home of IHOP-KC.  Some are current members of IHOP, some former members and some with no affiliation at all.  There are many perspectives but I’ve noticed a common thread in every story.  One word, really.  Cult.  No matter who I interview, the word comes up.  They are either convinced IHOP is a cult, concerned that it might be a cult or defending it as a non-cult entity. 

Years ago, IHOP founder, Mike Bickle, created a list of seven ways to recognize the difference between a religious community and a cult. 

1. Opposing critical thinking

2. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving

3. Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture

4. Seeking inappropriate loyalty to their leaders

5. Dishonoring the family unit

6. Crossing Biblical boundaries of behavior (versus sexual purity and personal ownership)

7. Separation from the Church

The irony is when analyzing the testimonies of numerous former members, IHOP clearly meets all seven of these statutes.

One former FITN intern said, “I, as well as several people I know, were shut down when we dared to question our teachers.”

One former IHOPU student wrote:  “IHOPU discipleship is based on assimilation and a shame-based unity.” 

Another student noted, “The cycle of victim blaming or quasi-Stockholm Syndrome is alive and well there (at IHOP).”

But profound was an utterance from the lips of a former IHOPU teacher when he said, “Toxic faith, lies, pride, shaming…these kinds of things are sadly becoming an epidemic at IHOP.” 

I could literally quote from hundreds of testimony, but in the end the IHOP-ers will continue to defend their theology and claim that anyone against them is “disgruntled” or “misled.”  So, the point becomes moot and the agenda not to talk-down but rather to share the experiences of those who have been and are still involved with a hope to educate others.

In speaking with a literary acquaintance, the book House of Lies by S.R.Claridge came up in conversation, prompting me to contact the author, whose vast personal interest in IHOP was one of the driving factors behind her controversial novel.  Why the controversy?  As some of you will recall, two weeks after the release of House of Lies, which describes a cult member being drugged and ultimately murdered near a lake in Kansas City, Missouri; Bethany Deaton is found dead under similar circumstances.  FOXNews and the rest of the mid-west wanted to know if the author knew more than she was letting on.

The answer, yes.  Interviews with several reporters indicated that the author’s sister is personal friends with Mike Bickle and in leadership with the IHOP organization; starting an offshoot called Gateway House of Prayer (GHOP) in St. Louis.  In an interview Claridge expressed concern for her sister, stating, “IHOP possesses cult-like tendencies, theologies and practices of which I believe are detrimental to the individual, destructive to families and downright dangerous.”

After the release of House of Lies, Claridge received hundreds of hostile emails from IHOP members upset about the book, some of which stated that they were “praying for her to die.”

In a recent interview, Claridge stated that the hate mail, as she called it, has died down but she fully expects it to ramp up again when the sequel to House of Lies is released in 2015.  “I’ve said it a thousand times, ‘the books are fiction’ but their hatred of me is only proof that I have struck a chord of truth within the pages.”

What is that truth?  According to a former IHOP Editor, “members suffer from a spirit of elitism, and a demonic arrogance that trickles down from the top and stems from the belief that they really are the chosen members of God’s elite army.”  Upon what is this belief based?  A vision allegedly given to Mike Bickle from God. 

What happens if a member questions the validity of the vision?  Former member Anthony wrote, “Asking questions about or having any skepticism about the foundation of IHOP or Bickle’s vision is forbidden.”  Another former member, Kris Koppy said, “I was shamed for asking questions, shamed for disagreeing, shamed for thinking differently than the IHOP way.”

It makes one wonder what will happen next?  If you truly want to know why not make an appointment at the IHOP Prophecy Rooms, where you can receive prophecy-on-demand.  Different from fortune telling?  You tell me; but sign up quick because, according to the IHOP website, time slots fill up fast.  http://www.ihopkc.org/propheticministry/appointments/


“A perverse and wicked generation looks for a sign, but none will be given to it.”  Matthew 16:4

Does anyone else find it even remotely ironic that the IHOP symbol itself is waving a red flag?


Additional Resources:





Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Setting The Captives Free

August 2013  -  Author S.R.Claridge takes a stand against a publishing scam, warning other authors to avoid Vanilla Heart.

By: Michael Duran
 
Ever since the October 2012 release of the controversial S.R. Claridge novel, House of Lies, we’ve been following the author, who up until this month spoke highly of Vanilla Heart Publishing, promising that the sequel to House of Lies would be released later this year.  It seems now all bets are off.

Claridge posted a blog, dated August 20, 2013 entitled “Why I Left Vanilla Heart Publishing” that went industry viral and has us wondering what happened?

Why is she warning other authors to stay away from her former publisher, Vanilla Heart? In her blog she cites breach of contract, misrepresentation, fraud and theft. Those are big accusations and after further digging, what we discovered is that Claridge has the facts to back them up.

In the blog posted August 20, 2013 Claridge states she terminated her relationship with Vanilla Heart ten days prior, citing breach of contract specific to Articles #5, #7, #10, #11.  We weren’t able to get a statement from Claridge at this time, but we did manage to obtain a copy of the Vanilla Heart author contract and substantiate Claridge’s claims against them.  We were also able to talk with several former Vanilla Heart authors who had similar tales to tell.

Breach #1:

Article #5 Copyright: The Publisher, upon first publication of the Work, agrees duly to copyright it with the relevant authority in the United States in the name of the Author, and to take all necessary steps to protect the copyright under the Universal Copyright Convention.  The cost of the copyright will be at Publisher’s expense.”

None of Claridge’s eight novels held a U.S. Copyright adherent to the contractual terms and neither did many of the other Vanilla Heart authors whom we researched, namely:    Smoky Zeidel.  Melinda Clayton.  Chelle Cordero.  Charmaine Gordon.  Kate Evans.  Anne K. Albert.  Michelle Devon.  Collin Kelley.  Vila Spiderhawk.  Robert Hays.  Malcolm Campbell.  Victoria Howard.  Jeffrey Martin.  Brenda Hill.  Angela Austin.  Marie Hampton.  Lauren Harvey.  Sandy Nicks.  Marilyn Morris.  Misha Crews and  Janet Lane Walters.  Some of their books had been submitted for copyright by the author themselves or by another publisher, but very few were submitted by Kimberlee Williams of Vanilla Heart. 

Breach #2:

Article #7 Royalties and Licenses: “The Author or his duly authorized representatives shall have the right upon written request to examine the books of account of the Publisher insofar as they relate to Author’s Works under contract to the Publisher.  Such examination shall be at the cost of the Author unless errors of accounting amounting to five percent (5%) or more of the total sum paid to the Author shall be found to Author’s disadvantage, in which case, the cost shall be borne by the Publisher.” 

In a complaint filed by Claridge with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, made public by the State, the author writes that a comparative analysis of the reports given to her by Vanilla Heart and those obtained directly from the distributors (namely Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble) show a “vast difference” in the amount Claridge earned in royalties and the amount Vanilla Heart actually paid to the author.

Several former Vanilla Heart authors also confirmed that their sales did not match with the amount of money they were paid.  One author stated she never received a paycheck from Vanilla Heart at all.  “I only received excuses,” she said.

Breach #3:

Article #10 Statements and Payments:  “The Publisher agrees to render royalty and sales statements on or about the last day of each of the following months:  February and August for the royalty period prior showing an account of sales and all other payments due, as well as returns, if any.  Payment then due shall accompany such statements or be remitted within 15 business days of the statement, except when the amount due is less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), which shall be held until the next period.  Shorter interval electronic books royalty payments will be determined by Publisher and once the decision is organized, will be announced in the Author’s Group, however, to receive monthly or bi-monthly ebook royalties, Author must maintain a Paypal account.  Should author choose not to maintain a Paypal account, ebook royalties will be paid with print book royalties at the above-stated terms.”

According to the complaint Claridge filed against Vanilla Heart, the author received only three payments since her first novel debuted in October 2010.  One on 8/24/11, a second on 3/15/12 and a third on 11/14/12.   

Per the contract, Claridge should have received a minimum of six royalty statements and payments from Vanilla Heart and they should have arrived in the months of February 2011, August 2011, February 2012, August 2012, February 2013, and August 2013.

An anonymous source told us that in the two years he was with Vanilla Heart publishing, he “never received a payment on time.”

Another ex-member of the Vanilla Heart group told us that she “never received a statement at all.”  

We sought to justify Vanilla Heart’s lack of payments and late payments by conducting a random search of sales numbers for five former Vanilla Heart authors, using such channels as NovelRank.  It was our intent to prove that these authors had not met the $25.00 minimum as stated in the contract and would therefore have had their monies held until the next reporting period.  Claridge was one of the authors we chose for our research.  What we discovered is that not one of the five fell below the quarterly $25.00 minimum; thus, all five should have received regular statements and payments.

Breach #4:

Article #11 Reversion and Termination, subset (b): “If the Publisher shall, during the term of this agreement, default in the delivery of scheduled statements or in the making of payments as herein provided and shall neglect or refuse to deliver such statements or make such payments, within thirty (30) days after written notice of such default, this agreement shall terminate at the expiration of thirty (30) days without prejudice to the Author’s claim for any monies which may have accrued under this agreement or to any other rights and remedies to which the Author may be entitled.”

Claridge blogged:  “I requested royalty statements from Vanilla Heart at least eight documented times since October 2010.”   She also stated that she received only one statement on 8/24/11, which she has now confirmed does not reconcile with the sales numbers given by the distributors.

The evidence against Vanilla Heart just keeps piling up.

After interviewing several former Vanilla Heart authors, we uncovered an even greater breach:  Copyright Infringement.  Consultation with our legal team confirmed that the contracts Vanilla Heart distributed to their authors were bilateral agreements, wherein both parties enter into a mutual agreement and are only considered legal and binding if both parties sign and remit a copy of said agreement.  Claridge states in her blog that she has never received a signed copy of any contract from Vanilla Heart, and she isn’t the only one.

Six other authors to whom we spoke stated they have never received a signed contract, and several stated they had never received a contract at all.  In her statement to the Attorney General, Claridge wrote, “I never even received a contract for Petals of Blood or for the audiobook version of Tetterbaum’s Truth, much less a mutually signed agreement.”

Simply put, Vanilla Heart did not contractually own the rights to their author’s intellectual property and has financially benefitted through the fraudulent misuse and abuse of said property.  This is called Copyright Infringement and it’s not only a big NO-NO; it’s a criminal offense.

Claridge’s claims against Vanilla Heart for breach of contract are easily substantiated and the question now is will the author, or any of the previous authors, take legal action against their former publisher?  If they do, they are certainly not standing alone, as the number of author exodus from Vanilla Heart and the collective amount of money withheld from the authors lays a solid foundation for a class-action suit.

This month alone (August 2013) seven authors have left Vanilla Heart, but that is nothing compared to the number of authors who have left in years prior.

Read what former Vanilla Heart author, Ryan Callaway, had to say about his experience.

Another former Vanilla Heart author, Mary Quast, wrote, “I terminated my contract but it took over a year to get my rights back. Never did see any money.” 

 
Upon termination, per Vanilla Heart’s contracts, all rights should be immediately reverted to the author.  This is stated in Article #11 (e):  “Upon the termination of this agreement for any cause under this Article or Article 12 hereof, all rights granted to the Publisher shall revert to the Author for his use at any time and the Publisher shall return to the Author all property originally furnished by the Author, or, in the case of electronic materials furnished by the author, destroy the files.” 


Quast’s rights should have been immediately reverted back to her along with all monies owed in royalties.  Any practice less than this is negligence.


A visit to the Absolute Write site reveals more authors sharing their negative experiences with Vanilla Heart, including but not limited to poor formatting, editing and unprofessional finished products.

Last week, Victoria Strauss, who is renowned in the industry for her work and her industry related warnings, (Writer Beware) blogged to warn authors about Vanilla Heart and tweeted that warning to her more than 11,000 followers. 

But will this be enough to stop Vanilla Heart from abusing other authors?

A quick background check would indicate “No.”  Kimberlee Williams, owner and sole publisher of Vanilla Heart,  is running another imprint, Caged Heart Publishing, with a special emphasis on erotica. She ran a previous imprint which she closed in 2002 via filing Chapter 7 and re-emerged under the name of Vanilla Heart Publishing.  Previous business partner, Michelle Devon, (penname Michy Anderson) split from Kimberlee Williams (penname Olivia Faulkner) over business disputes.  

How does Vanilla Heart stay in business? One way is that Williams keeps her former authors from talking via a gag order placed in the fine print of the Vanilla Heart termination policy, a policy that is not part of the original contract and is only given to the author at the time he or she requests termination.  It states:  “In addition, the author agrees not to discuss the Author’s Group or any information from that group, or discuss Vanilla Heart Publishing, nor speak as an agent or former agent of the publisher, either by verbal, written, or electronic communication with any persons, groups, or agents.”

The fine print in the termination policy carries the underlying implication that the author will not receive their rights in a timely manner if they do not adhere to or obey the guidelines set forth.  Our legal team called this bordering on blackmail.  It poses the question how many ex-Vanilla Heart authors have been blackmailed into silence?  In writing this article alone, several authors either responded with “no comment” or did not respond to our questions at all.  Several others agreed to be quoted but only if they could remain anonymous.  We can only assume this is fear driven from William’s illegal silencing order.

One author, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “I want to tell you what happened but I don’t have my rights back from Kimberlee yet.”  We wrote back to inform this person that contractually, like Quast, via Article #11(e), they legally have their rights back.

How many authors have stayed long-term with Vanilla Heart Publishing? Of the twenty-five mentioned throughout this article and whom we’ve researched, only four remain. That’s a staggering exodus of 84%.
Like a modern-day Moses, Claridge and the other ex-Vanilla Heart authors are learning from their mistakes and leading the way toward redemption, hoping to save other authors from the same fate.

An exodus from any publisher should send a red flag to the industry as a whole, but especially to authors who are seeking a publisher for their work.

Industry veteran, L.Walker wrote, “It is businesses like this that give other small presses a bad name.” 

It would certainly behoove legitimate publishers to work to rid the industry of unethical companies, but that’s a harder process than one might think.  Author Shelley Freedman said, “Authors are afraid their work will disappear forever if they don’t do exactly what their publisher tells them.  By the time they wake up and see they’re being scammed, they’re already trapped.”

“It's ironic that it's Vanilla Heart's apparent bad behavior that enabled its authors to get free,” said Victoria Strauss.  “If there had been no problems, Vanilla Heart could have held on to those authors indefinitely.”

Irony or a miracle? Depends on who you ask.  Either way, it seems Vanilla Heart has buried itself beneath a pile of unethical practices that have come back to bite them and have legally set their captives free.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

No Stranger to Controversy


March 2013  -  Author S.R.Claridge is no stranger to controversy, particularly surrounding her novel, House of Lies. 

Upon the book's release in early October 2012, it was immediately linked to the International House of Prayer (IHOP) student’s, Bethany Deaton, murder later that month.  Strange similarities between the happenings in the prayer group, the murder itself and what Claridge wrote in her novel began to surface, making some IHOP members uncomfortable. 

In November, Fox news posed a question that was on everyone's mind:  Does the author know more about IHOP than she's letting on?

In a statement to the press, Claridge said she studied "five groups with cult-like tendencies" before writing House of Lies and admits that IHOP was one of those five; but she has ensured her readers that the book is fiction.

More intriguing is the fact that Claridge's sister is a leader in IHOP, making the premise of her novel, a story about a woman trying to save her sister from a cult group, appear to hit close to home.  Claridge's distaste for IHOP is no secret, though she maintains that her stance is against the "dangerous cult-like nature of the group" and not against her sister.  In a recent letter written to the Mayor of Sunset Hills in St. Louis, Missouri, made public through the Board of Alderman website, Claridge stated, "my sister has a beautiful heart."

Could House of Lies hold the truth about IHOP and other current cult-type organizations?  Claridge won't say, but advises anyone who is considering joining these types of groups to "educate yourself before jumping in."
IHOP is certainly no stranger to controversy and has come under fire since the '80's.  Founder, Mike Bickle, admits that the entire operation has been built upon the prophetic visions of Bob Jones and Paul Cain, both of whom "have been discredited as dangerous false prophets."  Further scrutiny came with the Gruen Report and the secrecy surrounding Bickle's Blueprint Prophesy, a document supposedly given to him by God, but has been altered three times to fit the ever-changing make-up of current Christianity.  Investigative findings and testimonies from ex-IHOP members lend credence to the speculation that something dangerous is happening behind closed doors, though IHOP denies all claims against them and takes drastic measures to distance itself from controversial issues, such as the starvation death of baby Jeremiah Candler and the murder of  Bethany Deaton.  In both cases, IHOP stated the persons involved were not members, though evidence suggests otherwise.
Claridge’s blog gives insight into some of the groups she may have researched for House of Lies, leaders which include Jim Jones, David Koresh, Westboro Baptist Church, IHOP and many others; though the author remains vague in naming all of the groups and we’re guessing it’s because of the backlash.
 
On her blog, Claridge stated, “I’ve received countless hate mail, seemingly from IHOP members, telling me I would be better off dead and berating me for writing House of Lies.”  In a December post, Claridge stated that she owned a shot gun and was now carrying a stun gun for protection. 

It prompts an important question:  Do people get that upset about something that isn’t true?  Or has House of Lies hit the proverbial nail on the head?  A person who might be able to shed light or at least relate to the backlash Claridge is experiencing would be Dan Brown, author of the controversial novel, TheDaVinci Code.  After his book release he received death threats and employed body guards because evidence shown much of his fictional novel held truth.
When asked about the Deaton murder case, Claridge said she is following the case closely and praying for justice to be served.  “I want the truth to come out so that Bethany’s family and loved ones can begin healing from this tragedy,” Claridge wrote.

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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Who is Mike Bickle?


Who is Mike Bickle?

Some say he is a prominent Christian leader and will be influential in creating an End-Times army that will pray in the return of Christ.  Others say he is the Anti-Christ.  We take a look at the facts and let you decide.

 

 

Mike Bickle is the former senior leader (until July, '99, senior pastor)at Metro Christian Fellowship, Kansas City, Kansas (Formerly: Kansas City Fellowship).   He pastored the Kansas City Prophets and promotes Latter Rain, Manifest Sons of God theology.  He was also a prominent leader in the Toronto Blessing movement, a movement that was found to be corrupted with false prophetic visions and false healings.

Bickle currently leads the International House of Prayer and he told Charisma magazine in July, 1993:

1.     We had an elite spirit. That's become more and more real to me -- it's so repulsive.

2.     We promoted mystical experience in a disproportionate way and it was disastrous.

3.     We were careless in the way we communicated prophetic words. This was hurtful in a lot of cases.

4.     We were wrong in the way we promoted the city church concept. I still believe in it, but now I believe it's a unity based on friendship.

Had his confessions been a sign of repentance and a changing of his ways, this would have been a positive thing.  Instead, Bickle and IHOP grew worse on all accounts.

For a deeper understanding of the Toronto Blessing and the false prophetic words therein, study these writings:
The Kansas City Prophets Chapter in Bill Randles' book "Weighed and Found Wanting"
The Way of Cain - New teachings in the Christian Church- Where are They Leading Us? Feature-length examination of the movement, its teachings, and its teachers.

Suffice to say, Bickle is fulfilling Biblical prophecy, because Jesus warned us against the false prophets, against those that would do works falsely in His name, and that is EXACTLY what Bickle and IHOP are doing. 

Beware!  For the wolf comes dressed in sheep's clothing.

 

IHOP-U: SCAM!


There has been some question as to the validity of the IHOP University in Kansas City, MO.  Is it an accredited university?  The answer is NO.  That means college credits cannot be transferred from college to college or university to university.  Students will not take state required classes, such as algebra, physics, geography and economics.  Instead, the will be taught to “minister in the prophetic.” 
 
 

If prophesy is indeed a gift and the Bible says that it is, than how is it that IHOP is teaching kids to “minister in the prophetic?”  What’s the difference between this and teaching someone to become a psychic?  Absolutely nothing.

Beware parents if you are considering sending your child to IHOP University.  It’s a crock.  It’s a scam.  It’s a sham and your kid will not come out with any applicable world skills whatsoever.

See article below:

International House of Prayer

The International House of Prayer (IHOP) is a charismatic Christian organization based in Kansas City, Missouri.

After a dispute with the International House of Pancakes (the real IHOP), the International House of Prayer started to use IHOP-KC (for Kansas City) instead.

It was founded on May 7, 1999 by Mike Bickle -- who was also involved in the controversial Kansas City Fellowship (later renamed Metro Christian Fellowship) where he pastored the so-called Kansas City Prophets.

While many Americans know the IHOP acronym to represent the 'International House of Pancakes,' Paul Cain -- a heretical minister who considers himself to be a prophet used the initials as an acrostic for the vision of the ministry, which was Intercession, Holiness, Offerings and Prophecy.

The International House of Prayer is a 24-hours a day, citywide, worship and warfare, inter-denominational prayer ministry serving the body of Christ. This ministry is modeled after the tabernacle of David with singers and musicians being released to lead corporate intercession and worship 24-hours a day. This is an effective method for the churches in the county to come together and DWELL in unity so that God can unlock His commanded blessing. ...The Word of God Declares "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations" Mark 11:17. ... This House of Prayer for All Nations ministry includes continuous praise and prayer dethroning the principalities and power over a region declaring Gods sovereignty. This is in the spirit of Revelation 4-5 “Harp & Bowl” worship and warfare prayer gatherings, the harp representing praise and the bowl representing the prayers of the saints which is at the heart of David’s Tabernacle.
- Source: Restoring David's Tabernacle , Revival Times

The International House of Prayer holds prayer meetings around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

IHOP "is planning a $150 million-plus world headquarters a few miles south in Grandview that would include a 5,000-seat conference center, a Bible college (IHOP University) and administration offices." [1]

So IHOP is a place of perpetual worship, with continuous two-hour sets of rock band praise music and prayer, which the Web site calls "heroically keeping the fire upon the altar."

"Get 24/7 access to the prayer room for as little as $10 a month," offers the Web site.

It also is a Bible school - IHOPU - at which students pay $1,500 a semester to earn two- and four-year certificates.

The Forerunner Ministry curriculum focuses on the End Times. The school is not accredited; meaning credits are not transferable to regular colleges.
[...]

IHOPU also has a music academy and a media school at which students use the latest equipment to learn lighting, video production, graphics, scoring and audio effects.
[...]

IHOP has outgrown the old Terrace Lake Shopping Center in the 3500 block of Red Bridge Road. At the west end is Glad Heart Realty, which works closely with people moving here to attend IHOP. The broker/owner is Bickle's wife, Diane. According to the agency's Web site, all profits go to the IHOP ministry.

The group also occupies another strip center on Grandview Road as well as the former Kernodle Lake community, which now is called Shiloh Retreat and used for IHOP conferences. The 94-acre Shiloh site is blocked from public access. The music academy is in what once were Grandview School District administrative offices.

Most recently, IHOP has contracted to purchase the Grandview Plaza shopping center, which is just south of the site of the planned 125-acre development across U.S. 71 from Truman Corners.

Erin Bardon of BNB Design, a Lenexa-based architecture firm, said occupancy of the new Truman Prayer Center is scheduled for summer 2013. Later phases call for dorms, a hotel and office towers, said Bardon, who is not an IHOP member.

An extensive campaign is under way to raise money for the Grandview project just east of U.S. 71, Hall said. Large donors are expected to show up.
[...]

Page 11 of the IHOPU catalog contains these words: "We are looking for a generation of radical young people who are willing to prepare their own hearts and lives that they may soon prepare others for the return of Jesus."