I happened to be at La Mirada park at sunrise yesterday. I normally play a round of disc golf with a few friends on the weekends. Yesterday was no different, except for the crowds. The park is nearly empty when I play. I saw the bird lady, she feeds a few hundred ducks each morning. Disc golfer Yoshi (a course local) was there early to warm up for the Southern 2009 California Amateur Disc Golf Championship. We played a few holes together. I also saw the big dog that pisses on my disc every chance he gets. He drives me crazy. Everything was normal. The park was quiet. But then I saw something odd, cars were parked along the street near hole 15. Lot of cars, hundreds of cars. I started to see sleepy-eyed children trailing along behind their mothers. When I arrived at the tee pad for hole 15, I saw the angry horde near the gymnasium. There was at least a thousand kids in line. Men with bullhorns stood to the side giving directions. It was only 7:00 am. The day could only get worse. It reminded me of queuing up as a child for my polio vaccine (that memory is in black and white for some reason). My only regret is that I did not have a camera.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Prophet O’Meal Reid accused (Again)
My spider senses are tingling. Whenever a self-proclaimed and uneducated prophet starts talking about the media destroying his church (watch the video in the linked article), I check my wallet. “Prophet” O’Meal stands accused of stealing $15K from an older parishioner. Read’s game is to request a loan from an older parishioner and then call it a gift.
Norma Beckett says Pastor O'Meal Reid of Every Nation Church swindled her out of nearly $15,000.
She says Reid befriended her and borrowed the money, but never returned the full amount.
"Well I didn't want him to lose the lease so I go pay for it. So he gives me a check and it bounces," said Beckett, alleged victim.
I’d cut Reid some slack if this were the first time. But no… (from 2007)
An Osceola County woman said a local pastor ripped her off for thousands of dollars to help pay for a luxury car. Marion Lallmahamad claims after only a few visits to the People From Every Nation church in Kissimmee, pastor O'meal Reid asked to borrow thousands of dollars from her. Lallmahamad said she loaned the pastor the money, and he used it to help pay for a luxury car. Now she says pastor Reid refuses to pay her back, claiming it was a donation.
He might have claimed it was a loan, but the police saw it as abuse of the elderly.
At approximately 11:30 this morning, Osceola County Sheriff's detectives arrested Omeal Reid (11/25/83) from Poinciana on an active felony warrant for Exploitation of an Elderly Person. The case began July 6, 2007, when the victim, Marion Lallmahamad's sister called the Osceola County Sheriff's Office to report fraud. According to Lallmahamad's sister, who recently was given power of attorney due to the victim's failing health, Lallmahamad met Reid, a minister when she attended a worship service at People of All Nations church in early April, 2007. Reid asked Lallmahamad for help to purchase a new vehicle because he was short of money and did not have good credit. Lallmahamad told Reid she did not have money to assist him. Several days later, Reid visited Lallmahamad at her home and again requested money. Lallmahamad told detectives she felt pressured to give Reid a loan. They went to the bank together and Lallmahamad made a cash withdrawal of $11,000. Reid told detectives this was a gift from Lallmahamad and not a loan. Several days later, Reid called Lallmahamad and requested help with purchasing a cell phone. Reid purchased a $399 phone and Lallmahamad agreed to add his bill to her existing account. In addition, Lallmahamad gave Reid $1,000 to pay for medical insurance for his child and allowed Reid to use her charge card to pay for gasoline. Reid told detectives he is a friend of the family and considered Lallmahamad his “family” and calls her “mother.” He denies taking a loan from Lallmahamad and told detectives everything she gave him were gifts to him and his wife. Detectives confirmed with Lallmahamad's doctors her health was declining and that she was not able to properly care for herself both physically or financially. Based on the information the detectives obtained, Reid was arrested and charged with one count of Exploitation of an Elder Person. He was booked into the Osceola County jail on $5,000 and no contact with the victim.
I think his title should be profit O’Meal Reid. If you have the stomach for it, try watching his preaching. Wake up people… It’s an act. It’s how he make his living.
The LAPD makes me smile
I’m not a big fan of the police. I’ve had too many bad experiences over the years. But recently the LAPD did something fabulous. They cut ties with the Boy Scouts.
The Police Commission has voted to cut the Los Angeles Police Department's ties with an organization linked to Boy Scouts of America, which bars gays, atheists and agnostics from being troop leaders.
The organization, Learning for Life, was spun off from Boy Scouts of America, and runs the LAPD's Explorer program for teenagers interested in law enforcement careers.
Thanks LAPD, for doing the right thing.
Beheaded and then crucified
Muhammad Basheer Al-Ramaly was convicted of raping children in Saudi Arabia. He’s set to die for his crimes.
A Saudi court has ruled that a man convicted of raping five children will be beheaded and crucified…
..The court of appeal in Riyadh approved the death sentence handed down in June. Beheading is permitted for serious offences in the conservative kingdom.
More than 40 people have been executed in such a fashion this year.
14th century Islamic justice. I wonder if they kill the kids too. Nah, that would only if they were girls. Oh well, you spin the wheel, you take your chances.
What is Terrorism?
I had to look it up. Terrorism - the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear
I’ve read countless opinion peaces over the last two days calling the Fort Hood murders terrorism. I’ve rejected most arguments based on the definition above, the victims were in the military and terrorism is used against civilians. To me, this travesty is more akin to workplace violence. I might be wrong, but if he acted alone, I cannot see it ever being called terrorism.
We do not yet know what motivated Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan to kill his fellow soldiers. I suspect mental illness plus religious and political motivations, most likely in some broadly screwed up physiological mess we may never fully understand. I’ve been careful not to form an opinion yet, unlike others. The news is not helping. I watched CNN for 10 hour Friday. The speculation that replaces real news is unsettling. They glob on to anything that is even remotely connected to story and run with it no matter how important.
I know religion played a big role in this story. Hasan is a Muslim. It infused his life, that much is clear. I’m already seeing reports that Hasan was not a true Muslim. All one must do is read the comment treads on any big news article. I find this disturbing since Hasan is a lifelong Muslim. That fact that he killed people in cold blood simply makes him a mass murder who is a Muslim. It does not mean all Muslims as murders. Being a Muslim did not offer him any advantage with regard to morality. The fact that he failed the “good Muslim” test does not disqualify him from being a Muslim. But did he murder simply because he was a Muslim? I don’t think so, there are so many other factors involved. Including his mental health and politics.
I want to express my condolences to the families of the victims. To lose a loved one in this manner is something I cannot fathom. My lack of faith precludes prayer, but your loss has been in my thoughts since the story first hit the news. 13 caskets… it hurts to even think about it.
Polygamist Raymond Jessop convicted
These are the victories I celebrate. When a polygamist goes to prison, when his cult practices are exposed, when others see the depravity, I feel like we actually accomplished something. Religion provided the materials, man set the fire, innocent children get burned.
Raymon Jessop used his religious beliefs to justify enslaving young women via cult marriages. In most cases, the young girls are willing but brainwashed participants. Fortunately, the jury saw there the smoke and mirrors to convict Jessop in 2 hours 20 minutes. I hope he spends a long time in prison. The trial was in Texas, I think prison is a safe bet.
The trial of Mr. Jessop offered a rare glimpse of the inner workings of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a group that split from the Mormon Church. Followers believe polygamy brings heavenly rewards and treat Mr. Jeffs as a modern-day prophet.
I wonder if his wives will wait for him?
Friday, November 06, 2009
Pastor Curtis Grant Arrested
Baptist Pastor Curtis Grant was arrested for sex with a 15-year-old girl. Dumb ass, in Alabama the age of consent is 16.
Authorities say a late evening phone call and a confession led to the arrest of 53-year-old Curtis Grant.
“Curtis Grant is a pastor of Open Door Baptist Church here in Dothan and a volunteer chaplain for the Houston County Sheriff's and a former volunteer chaplain for the Dothan Police Dept.” said Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes.
Friday, the Houston County Sheriff's office charged Pastor Curtis Grant with one count of second degree rape, five counts of sodomy and five counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes.
Sorry about that, I mean Pastor Grant being a chaplain and all. It must suck to arrest a trusted friend.
As usual, his church took down the web page that had info about Grant. Plus they make no mention of his arrests. Move along people, there is nothing to see here.
Youth Pastor Joshua O'Bannion Arrested (Again)
Youth Pastor Joshua O’Bannion was arrested on for sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Police said that between January and December 2008, O'Bannion sexually assaulted a 14-year-old female and a 15-year-old female in and outside of First United Pentecostal Church.
The alleged victims came forward after O'Bannion was arrested in September in Arizona in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old female who attended a church in Tempe, Arizona where O'Bannion was working as a youth pastor.
A youth pastor who rapes children, why am I not surprised?
I’ve posted on this freak before: Temptation and youth pastors
A fan posted this stupidity:
First of all There is a God and you need to get to know him!!! I grew up with Josh O'bannion and yeah what he did was wrong and he needs to go to prison for it there is no excuse for raping a 14 year old girl. But youth pastors are very important in the ministry and there should be more to show these kids what the truth is. Nobody said we should get rid of preists[sic] when there were countless accounts of little alter boys getting raped. One person does not describe the thousands of good people out there who are trying to bring the youth of our nation the truth.
One person no, it is when the count reaches 400 or 500 that I start to wonder about your logic.
Youth Pastor Timothy Bottomley arrested
Youth Pastor Timothy Early Bottomley was arrested for possession and dissemination of child pornography.
Timothy Earl Bottomley, 24, of Scott Lane, and Brett M. Fenimore, 21, of the 3700 block of Concord Road, were remanded to the county prison in lieu of 10 percent of $250,000 bail each, according to online court records.
Bottomley is the youth pastor at Zion Community Church on Kings Highway in Clarksboro, N.J. Oh… and he’s screwed.
In a subsequent interview at county detective headquarters, Bottomley “admitted to downloading and possessing images of child pornography and advised his preferential age is 13- and 14-year-old boys and older,” the affidavit states.
I’m betting prison for 10 years.
Feed the poor or play politics?
I like to play a game with myself when I am confronted by strange behavior. I put myself in their place for some role playing. In this case, I assume the role of a pastor asking for donations to his food bank. My role is to feed the homeless in a depressed economy. I need food. I ask myself, under what conditions would I turn down an offer of free food? I can’t think of any because food is food. It feeds people. My mission is to feed people. I would accept a gift of food from anyone.
For the cynics out there, I actually go through this proces. It’s a mental exercise I go through when I do not understand the motives of the people involved in an illogical situation. It helps me understand if their motives are authentic. In this case, the motives failed.
Chris Solberg, director of Loaves and Fishes, a Christian charity in beautiful Shasta County, declined an offer of free food.
"The Lord impressed on me to tell him thanks, but no thanks," he said, adding that he does not regret that decision. "I feel good about the decision. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders."
I thought this statement odd sense this is what they say on their website:
Redding Loaves and Fishes is supported by area grocers, philanthropic community service clubs, church charities and generous and charitable individuals. We are a coalition of local food banks, food assistance providers,and community members. Due to the high number of persons in poverty needing food assistance charities in the Redding and Shasta County area, the program's food bank supply is often exhausted before the end of each month, when need is the highest. Sometimes the food bank program calls on other food banks and charities in Redding and Shasta County for emergency supplies, and visa versa. We gladly accept canned fruits, vegetables and meats, "meal in a can " items such as chili, ravioli, stews, and chunky soups; staples such as peanut butter, jams, jellies and tuna; packaged goods such as pastas and potato and rice dishes, as well as cereal.
I don’t see anything about judging the source of the donation. Yet they did.
he finally realized, once he got off the phone with him, that they were medical marijuana shops.
He said he does not support them and their proliferation.
"They are all over," Solberg said, calling them a "pestilence" and "travesty" in the community.
Solberg said he believed the food offer was made because the marijuana collective was "trying to validate themselves."
Director Solberg made a value judgment based on his religious convictions which results in hurting his core cause of feeding the homeless. The homeless do not know that the beans were donated by a medical marijuana dispensary. They think the beans came from nice Christians. Solberg decision is irrational. Plus, he thinks his decision is biblical instead of political, which is further proof of his irrational thinking.
"As director of Loaves and Fishes, I will continue to run it in a biblical manner, and not a political manner,” he said.
I wonder if Solberg would accept donations from an Atheist organization? Perhaps we should call and ask? (530) 241-1108 or send an email info@reddinglovesandfishes.com.
To Joe and Gina Munday – nice try. I encourage you to continue looking for a way to help. There are other organizations that do not judge the giver but instead focus on helping the needed.
Love One Another, now with Atheists
I shot this bumper sticker today because I noticed it included the Atheist Symbol. Woohoo! Somebody likes us.
New Charges for Rev. James Brady
It’s not enough that Father James Brady tried to buy sex from woman posing as an underage girl. No, he allegedly possessed child porn too.
The Rev. James P. Grady, 58, already faced a felony charge of attempting to obtain a minor for a commercial sex act.
The superseding indictment adds a claim that Grady possessed three pornographic images of young girls on a laptop computer. Prosecutors also added a felony charge of using interstate commerce to attempt to entice or coerce someone under 18 to engage in prostitution or sexual activity.
I think Brady might qualify as the Catholic freak of the week. What must it feel like to know that you received communion from this freak?
Go Cecil
I can’t say enough about the bright young member of my extended family. Cecil Whiteside is an enormously talented athlete and a wonderful person. I am proud to see him selected for U.S. Army’s All American football team. I am confident that next year when he plays for Cal Berkeley, USC will go down in flames. To my cousins Craig and Leilani, I am proud to know you.
Report COGIC Abuse
A website called ReportCOGICAbuse.com (Report Church of God in Christ Abuse) is dedicated to indentify members of this religions sect who engage in clergy sexual abuse. Too bad D.L. Foster is a homophobe who also founded Gay Christian Movement Watch. At least I have a new source for Hypocrisy Watch.
Pastor David Heckman Jr. arrested
Pastor David Heckman Jr. was arrested for embezzlement. He allegedly stole $50k from Habitat for Humanity.
State Police say David Heckman Jr. stole more than $50,000 from the Tioga County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Some of that money came from mortgage payments paid by homeowners who live in homes built by the charity. Heckman was the charity's treasurer.
Money corrupts the weak minded. A pastor is supposed to above this type of pettiness. I wonder what motivates a man to act in direct opposition to the path he was meant to follow? I cannot imagine. The though of stealing from the needed, heck, stealing for anybody, is abhorrent to me. When I read about pastors who make the turn towards amoral behavior, I am stunned by the hypocrisy. You cannot claim the moral high ground if you are willing to steal the roof from over a needy person’s head.