Are You One of the Slandered?
by Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota)
In regard to the Port Austin Crisis: A web page went up on 2-15-05 on Homer Kizer's web site at:
http://homerkizer.org/02-14-05C.htmlHomer Kizer is now slandering us as well as Norman Edwards, Royce Mitchell and the Church of God.
In the article by Homer Kizer, titled
"Commentary--From the Margins, Judging Rightly, More Edwards on Edwards"Homer writes:
"Here at Port Austin, both the leaders and the brethren of the Sabbatarian fellowship voted to commit Norman Scott Edwards to Satan, but that didn't stop the Lee's from supporting Edwards in their on-line newsletter. When Edwards was initially being shunned, he appealed for support to the Like Minds chat group, and the Lee’s were among the first to support Edwards without hearing the matter except as presented by Edwards himself. With their rush to judgment, the Lees demonstrated that they are today unable to discern right from wrong."
Laura writes:
It is our understanding that on October 29, 2004, that Norman Edwards called a meeting inviting Phillip Frankford, Paul Drieman, and Terry Williams. It is also my understanding that all 3 men walked out of this meeting angry and without hearing the entire matter. Two days later on October 31, 2004 out of the same anger they disfellowshipped Norman and Marleen Edwards.
The above quote from Homer's article makes it look like we first heard Norman Edwards present his case on the "Like Minds" forum and just believed him over Homer. To set the record straight, Darwin and I are not, nor have we ever been on the "Like Minds" forum and the only way we would get posts from that forum is when someone sends them directly to us.
We initially contacted Norman Edwards in regard to a problem on our "Archeology Exchange" list which involved Phillip Frankford whom we found, by Phil's own words to be a liar and an unrepentant one at that. Our entire exchange with Phillip Frankford was in writing, so if anyone would like to see that evidence for themselves we would be happy to send it to them via email. We are unable to send the file snail mail at this time. We contacted Norman to let him know that there was a problem with Phil since we knew he was connected with Norman Edwards and felt Norm should know. It was not until a later date that we were informed that Phillip Frankford was also causing problems for Norman and Marleen Edwards. As a little more time went on we got to know Homer Kizer's thoughts through his own web site and
a letter he wrote to Royce Mitchell.Contrary to what Homer would like many to believe, we did not jump to support Norman and Marleen Edwards without hearing both sides of the matter. We had personal one on one contact with Norman and Marleen Edwards. We also contacted Homer Kizer to ask him for his input before we
printed two open letters. All we received in response to that e-mail is that they had turned Norman and Marleen Edwards over to Satan. We on a later date asked Homer for evidence for the slander he was spewing from his mouth. We were directed at that point to join his e-mail group in order to access that evidence. We did join his e-mail group on 12-10-04 in order to access the evidence that was available at that point. So the bottom line is that we have been looking at both sides of this matter.In the same article by Homer Kizer, he makes several false statements and judgments in regard to a D&R situation we had with the United Church of God over 5 years ago. Homer Kizer has not heard that entire matter either and technically has no right to judge the matter without first reading the material which has been published far and wide over the last 5 years. We were disfellowshipped from the UCGAIA over D&R and what was sent out to judge the matter on was a
111 page document which is still available from us on request. We can now send this document via e-mail also on request. To this day Homer Kizer has never asked us for that document, so unless someone else gave him a copy of it to read, then he has not read it as yet and therefore is unqualified to make judgments in regard to it.Darwin answered what Norman Edwards printed in regard to this matter in an article which we printed in
Issue #2 of our newsletter and you may access that at: http://darwinlauralee.com/l2001-002-01.htm or by postal mail request newsletter Issue #2. The article is titled "Just Judgment for Local Congregations"Homer writes:
"When a disciple voluntarily places him or herself in an organization of men, the disciple can voluntarily leave when that organization does those things that the disciple cannot support. Leaving should be done without fanfare, without trumpeting perceived problems to all who will listen, without commotion. When disciples make themselves judges of those over them, they act presumptuously. They are not learning to judge a matter rightly; they are learning to rebel in the same fashion as Satan rebelled against God."
Laura writes:
Apparently Homer can give others the above advice, but he himself does not seem to feel the same advice applies to himself. My understanding is that Homer arrived in Port Austin on approximately July 29, 2004 and a few days later when he found himself not in agreement with Norman Edwards, rather than going quietly and without fan fare, he instead started publicly posting slanderous articles to his web site at:
http://homerkizer.org/ within 30 days of his arrival in Port Austin.Homer writes:
"And those disciples whose inclination is not to submit to any human organization will also refuse to submit to God when He asks the disciple to figuratively sacrifice his or her son of promise--"
Laura writes:
I don't believe too many people would agree with your statement, especially those who have had contact with one or more corporation churches. Most people who read their Bibles know that we should be in submission to God and not human organizations.
Homer writes:
"Edwards titles his explication of the Lees' September 16, 2000, letter to Church of God Brethren,
"Just Judgment Important for Local Congregations" (SN 26). But the Lees were not seeking judgment by their local congregation. They were seeking to overturn the judgment of their local fellowship, for they felt that the local fellowship had not properly judged the matter. They were appealing to an alleged higher court, because Steve Nutzman, rightly or wrongly, wasn't doing their bidding, They were not willing to wait for God to correct Nutzman, Nor did they wait to be released from UCG-IA fellowship."Laura writes:
The major problem in this matter was with Paul Luecke in Bismarck. Paul Luecke and the local congregation did not ask for our side of anything in this matter. They made judgments based on what they made up in their own minds and not based on any information gotten from us in regard to the matter. The D&R decision was being decided by the home office in Ohio. The matter was to be confidential however Paul Luecke is the one that told Darwin that the D&R decision had been made. I didn't find out until Darwin called me. UCGAIA decided I was free to remarry based on fraud. The marriage counseling was only recommended according to the written letter sent to me by Richard Pinelli. Please get your information straight before you slander others.
Paul Luecke is currently reeking havoc in Pennsylvania. Check with Dixon Cartwright of the
Journal, I'm sure he can point you to the article he published in regard to Paul Luecke and the Pennsylvania UCGAIA congregation(s).Homer writes:
"They deserved it--is this judging another man's servant? They might well have deserved it, but where is the evidence upon which a reader could make this decision? And for the reader to make such a decision is going down the wrong road."
Laura writes:
Our D&R was well documented in writing and on tape. There is plenty there with which a person can make a righteous judgment in the matter. -- John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. -- God wants us all to judge righteous judgment and for you to teach against that as you are is anti God.
Homer writes:
"But their wisdom and judgments become suspect when they make a confidential matter part of a public record."
Laura writes:
This is but another of your statements made within this article which clearly shows you have two sets of rules, one for yourself and one for others. The very thing here that you claim makes our wisdom and judgments suspect should also apply to you, yet you have been posting numerous slanderous articles on your public web site since August of 2004. What is this double standard you have? Why are you making a private matter so public?
Homer writes:
"The greatest problem of the so-called independent Church of God is physical mindedness. With very few exceptions, disciples in the so-called independent Church are unprofitable servants who have buried their talents, for they have proved that they don't have to tithe and they do not work themselves in discipling newly born-from-above sons of God. They are lukewarm, fit for nothing, and proud of their independence. And it is to this body of believers that the Lees appealed for righteous judgment."
Laura writes:
This is what Homer has said about the greater Church of God, the scattered brethren, the same people he expects to read
his own web site and side with him against Norman Edwards and anyone else he wishes to slander on any certain day of the week. After making such a statement about the brethren, why should anyone believe those things which proceed from Homer's mouth?There is a pattern which is emerging from the behaviors of Homer Kizer. Remember the start of this article. Norman called a meeting on October 29, 2004, 3 men walked out of that meeting in anger without hearing the entire matter. Two days later three men who were not trustees of anything again out of anger disfellowshipped Norman and Marleen Edwards. A few days later Royce Mitchell sees the slanderous
open letter to Dixon Cartwright on Homer Kizer's web site. Royce asked Homer for evidence of what he said as being true. Phillip Frankford stuck himself in the middle of the matter and none of the evidence which Homer and Phil sent to Royce or directed us to, proved any wrong doing on the part of Norman and Marleen Edwards. Royce Mitchell posted his conclusions based on the evidence that was sent to him and we printed those conclusions in Issue #25. After Royce posted his conclusions, Homer Kizer began to slander Royce Mitchell and call Royce Mitchell names in various articles posted on Homer's web site. Homer and company are now angry at Royce Mitchell because he did not agree with Homer and company. We are the Lee's Darwin and Laura and we printed Royce Mitchell's conclusions in support of Norman and Marleen Edwards. Remember we also looked over the evidence that Homer directed us to. We came to the same conclusions as Royce Mitchell. Now Homer Kizer is slandering us on his web site because we are printing in support of Norman and Marleen Edwards.Does anyone yet see a pattern here in Homer and company's behaviors? It gets even worse,
Homer's web site also slanders others within the Church of God and even goes so far as to tell the people of God that they do not have the right to judge matters of right and wrong (righteous judgment) and that they are fit for nothing.Our support of Norman and Marleen Edwards is based on the information we have received or sought out on our own. Norman and Marleen Edwards are not posting slanderous web pages in regard to Homer Kizer. Royce Mitchell is not posting slanderous web pages in regard to Homer Kizer and we are not posting slanderous web pages in regard to Homer Kizer. Homer is lashing out at anyone who disagrees with him and is posting it publicly on
his web site. So be warned that those who support Norman and Marleen Edwards through this slanderous ordeal will be publicly slandered on Homer's web site. So you could be next.Christ himself said: John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Homer Writes:
"And the many spiritual judges to whom the Lee's appealed, and to whom Edwards appealed will not die natural deaths if they persist in their presumptuousness. And they will persist, for they have become green-broke horses with their bits between their teeth. They will not be reined in by anyone. They have the scent of freedom in their nostrils, and their eyeballs rolled back in their heads. And they run with wild abandonment where angels fear to tread."
Laura Writes:
Sorry, but a man who wishes God's people to die unnatural deaths is seeming to be going down the wrong path. If Homer has some solid proof or something written by a sound mind to send to us to look at in this matter, we are perfectly willing to look at it with an open and sound mind, but if Homer is going to continue to slander people and wish them to die unnaturally, we can in no way give Homer any of our support in this matter.
As far as the slander about us which Homer has posted on his web site and that which he will probably post against us in the future, please be aware that you Homer are not the first person to slander us and you will not be the last person to slander us as long as we continue to print a newsletter.
And to all of those who are reading this, make no mistake here, Homer is the leader and Phillip Frankford, Paul Drieman, Terry Williams and anyone else supporting Homer Kizer and what he says on his web site is of the same mind as Homer Kizer or else they haven't taken the time to read his destructive materials which by no means target only Norman and Marleen Edwards. Be careful least you get caught on Homer's bad side on a bad day.
Homer seems to be spending his time going over all or most of Norman Edwards back issues of Servants' News for the sole purpose of finding things Norm said in there to twist it for the destruction of Norman Edwards. When Homer finds something he can use for the destruction of Norman Edwards he puts up a new web page slandering Norman and who ever else gets in the way. If no one interrupts Homer's search and destroy mission he will just keep on going like the Eveready bunny on TV. He is so filled with hatred towards God's people. Homer when you are finished going over Norman's back newsletters, read ours next, we have 25 posted at this time and this one will make 26.
We received our latest copy of
"The Sabbath Sentinel" January-February 2005 and here is what it said on page number 3: "Notice Regarding S.E.E. In the September-October 2004 edition of The Sabbath Sentinel we published an article about the Sabbatarian Educational Environment (S.E.E.) written by Norman Edwards, one of the trustees of S.E.E. Since the publication of that article we have been contacted by two other trustees of S.E.E, Homer Kizer and Phil Frankford, disputing the claims made by Mr. Edwards about services currently being offered at S.E.E. We strongly recommend that you make no decisions regarding your participation in S.E.E. until this current dispute among the trustees is resolved. We at the Sabbath Sentinel and the BSA will keep you informed of any change in our position."How did the writers of the
Sabbath Sentinel get the idea that Homer and Phil were trustees of S.E.E. when they are not?We are not going to chase down your evidence. If you want us to believe your statements then you need to send us the evidence of what you say. We have first hand knowledge at this point that you slander people, because you have now slandered us. Thank you for giving us the best proof we could ever have not to believe one word that proceeds from your mouth at this point in time.
For those who are not getting what the problem is here, Homer is a liar and he's really good at it. He seems to have a number of people coned by his persuasive teachings and his many credentials. This man is not qualified to teach the people of God and for those who feel he is remember this verse: -- Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. -- I cannot emphasize more to people to know what your Bibles really say so that you do not get lead astray by false teachers. Lying in regard to other people whether they be true people of God or not, is a sin and we are not to condone such a practice in any way shape or form.
This is a public out cry for Homer to repent of his sin of lying. As God's elect we should be taking some time to try to guide Homer back to the path leading to God rather than to let him continue down the destructive path of Satan.
Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Slander--Lying is not a fruit of God.)
