Silenced but Un-Changed

The past month, my email inbox has been filled with letters from people asking me about my research on cult groups.  It has been impossible for me to respond to every inquiry, so I will give a blanket response here.  The most common question:  “Where did all of your blogs on IHOP and other cult groups go?”

I apologize, but I pulled those blogs down because it was causing turmoil within my family.  In short, I promised my family I would sit down and shut up in order to promote and maintain peace.  I know I have let some of you down in doing so, and for that I am deeply sorry.

I understand this makes me look weak and pointedly pathetic, not to mention hypocritical, as I encourage all people to stand up for what they believe is right and to fight for truth.  I’m still praying for truth, deep down, despite my forced silence.

If we don’t stand for something we will most assuredly fall for anything.  So, I encourage you to keep seeking knowledge and continue on your quest for truth, taking a stand against the demonic strongholds prevalent in these types of cult groups.  Back up every word with Biblical knowledge.  Beware of false prophesy.  It’s not okay.  It’s not acceptable. Beware of elitism and arrogance, as these are not traits of Jesus, but rather ones that cause relational division and destruction of families and friendships.  Demonic influence is strong in these prophetic-induced, cult-type movements. Study. Study. Study.  Avoid any group that incorporates brainwashing tactics into the core foundation of their methods. Beware of any group that becomes so "radical for the Lord" that they lose balance in daily life.  I cannot stress enough that ANYONE who tells you that false prophesy is justifiable, explainable, acceptable or excuses it as a mere learning curve in the spiritual journey is NOT operating with the Holy Spirit, but rather inducing demonic translation.  The Bible specifically warns us against false prophets.  Heed this warning.

Again, I apologize for letting you down.  I did not pull my blogs because my opinion, intuition or awareness has changed.  If anything, the repulsion against false prophetic movements has grown stronger within me.  I have done it because I have been accused of attempting to cause conflict in my own family and blamed for an intent I never possessed.  In standing up for my convictions and expressing my true beliefs,  I am deemed unacceptable.  I cannot express the lingering heartache.  

To all that have emailed, I am happy to send you my research notes on the cult-type groups I have studied.

May God open the eyes of the blind and one day rid the world of all false prophets and bring about the destruction of the false prophetic movement altogether.  ~

Sequel for Certain

I received several emails regarding my book, House of Lies, asking if there is going to be a sequel and when it will be released.

The answer:  A RESOUNDING YES

There is definitely going to be a sequel and it will be released in the fall of 2014. 

The book has yet to be titled, but I will keep you posted as the release date nears.  If you haven’t yet read House of Lies, I recommend reading it before the sequel.  You can get a copy in either print or Ebook from the following retailers:

BARNES & NOBLE

SMASHWORDS

AMAZON

 

 

 

 

 

As always, thank you for your letters and for your interest in my books.  It means the world to me.   ~

Bickle Lies in Letter to Other Leaders

Below is a letter the International House of Prayer founder, Mike Bickle, sent to other IHOP locations and leaders.  It was then forwarded to associated groups by Gary Wiens, IHOPNW.


Dear Friends of the International House of Prayer,

Mike Bickle, Director of IHOP-Kansas City, sent out this note today, and it's important for all to see. Thanks and blessings,

Gary Wiens, IHOPNW

Mike Bickle's letter begins here:
Friends,

This is a tragic and bizarre situation that is all over the media in KC. We have received sad and sobering news today from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office regarding the death of Bethany Deaton, who was originally believed to have committed suicide on Oct 30. A tight knit religious group of about 15 young people moved to IHOPU from Texas with the specific goal of infiltrating us and even taking over IHOPU. They were a close knit group for several years before moving to KC together (under a cloak of secrecy to try to get involved in IHOP and get into positions of influence etc.) Authorities notified us yesterday that an IHOPU student, who knew Bethany since their college days and is a member of a Texas-based religious group who has recently come to IHOPU, has been charged with her murder. We are passionate that this group's secrecy and religious practices are exposed.

There is an ongoing investigation and we ask you to join us in praying for Bethany's family and all those involved in this tragic situation. We all want to join the IHOPU faculty and student body as they grieve together with the family of Bethany Deaton and all who are involved.

Note also: The guy who confessed to murder told this to the police. He said they cursed the IHOPU leadership and sought to take it over. They were together for several years before all moving together to KC. They have very perverse sexual practices and believe their leader is a chief apostle, etc.

Please pray for us.

Mike Bickle

End of letter.

It never ceases to amaze me how cult groups, such as the International House of Prayer, play the victim.  Bickle states that this group from Texas came to IHOPU with the express purpose of infiltrating them and even taking over.  This is ludicrous.  And, let it be noted that Tyler Deaton was a Division leader in IHOP, not in IHOPU. 

It is time to call a spade, a spade.  It is time to look at the tree that is bearing the bad fruit and cut it down.

There are inside sources at IHOP-KC and they will continue to leak truth to the media and to those who stand against this cult group.  Bickle and others in leadership will undoubtedly continue to scramble, change their stories and lie; but eventually those lies will run dry.

Bethany's family, and the families of every person involved in IHOP and its many branches, deserve to know the truth. 

 

KC Star Speaks TRUTH

A dark side to International House of Prayer’s allure

By MARY SANCHEZ

The Kansas City Star

By MARY SANCHEZ

Updated: 2012-11-15T13:53:03Z

 

Certainly there are more dangerous places for a young person to get lost.


IHOP, south Kansas City’s evangelical missionary movement, was created 13 years ago by a man who grew up in the Center School District. It’s one man’s version of religion made big. 


The suspicious have long leveled the charge of “cult” against IHOP (International House of Prayer). That will likely increase in light of recent news coverage.


A young woman with ties to IHOP was found murdered at Longview Lake. A young man with ties to IHOP is charged with suffocating her.


IHOP, it should be emphasized, isn’t accused of anything criminal in the murder. Only those eventually charged will bear that burden. 


But the praying elephant in the room is that this religious movement is the perfect cover for the sort of wickedness outlined in court records describing Bethany Ann Deaton’s murder. 


Deaton, 27, came to Kansas City from Texas, drawn to do an internship with IHOP. She lived in a house full of people, including her husband, also drawn by IHOP.


IHOP has bought scores of area homes to provide quarters for similar young devotees. This ministry is a siren call to young adults with a taste for wanderlust, a need to feel a part of something, determined to differentiate themselves from their parents, their high schools, their hometowns. 


Founder Mike Bickle has a constant supply of converts. The business plan: Attract enthusiastic young people and evangelize them to believe the end times are near, that they are needed to go forth and make ready. 


It’s why the former Terrace Lake Shopping Center is filled 24/7 with out-of-state license plates. They come for round-the-clock prayer. 


There’s a muted energy in the expansive prayer room. And a lot of pacing as young people roam around the lines of chairs. It’s for the visual. The prayer is webcast. It’s led from a stage full of musicians and readers chanting repetitive phrasings of faith.


 The young people aren’t out boozing it up or drugging, which can lead to bad outcomes.  But many also aren’t in college, living near family, preparing for a career. IHOP runs a “university” that isn’t. Not by accreditation. 


Bickle’s been candid in interviews about hearing God speak to him, and believing he’s been to heaven twice. 


For the curious, IHOP will hold its annual “onething” gathering Dec. 28-31 at the Kansas City Convention Center. More than 25,000 people are expected. 


IHOP does not deserve the barbs likely to come its way as details of the murder unravel. But the organization can’t completely divorce itself from the fact that it lured characters involved with a horrific murder to Kansas City. 


Drawing young people with grand ambitions, after all, is the mission.
 

To reach Mary Sanchez, call 816-234-4752 or send email to msanchez@kcstar.com.

Copyright 2012 . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Posted on Wed, Nov. 14, 2012 11:38 PM

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/14/3917848/mary-sanchez-a-dark-side-to-missions.html#storylink=cpy

Still Glowing!

In case you didn't have a chance to see the True Blue Ebook Review of my suspense novel, House of Lies, I've reposted it below, with a link to the actual review.  I am still glowing!  :) 

________________________________________ 

~ Review conducted by Stephanie Meyers at True Blue Ebook Review.

House of Lies - FIVE STARS - Mesmerizing

The first ebook I have chosen to review on TrueBlueEbookReview is House of Lies by author S.R.Claridge, published by Vanilla Heart. The reason I chose this novel is two-fold: first, because I wanted a new release in the mystery/suspense genre and House of Lies fit that description having been released just this month. (October 2012) Second, because I was seeking a new release that had yet to be reviewed professionally. I don’t like to read other reviews until after I have read the book for myself. Without further explanation, onto my review.

House of Lies is a political cult suspense about a woman who sets out on a mission to save her sister from what appears to be a religious cult group; however, as we move through the novel we discover that the religiosity of the group is merely a cover to hide the real agenda, which is quite political in nature. An anonymous tip leads her to a private investigator and a cop, who begrudgingly agree to assist her quest. That’s really all I can say without giving anything away.

This book has it all. There are plot twists that literally and figuratively take the reader to the edge of their seat and tauntingly leave them there. There is angst and suspense, action, romance and a little bit of sex. But, strangely enough, those things aren’t what drive the story. The character dialogue is the cohesive agent that skyrockets this book to a whole new level of storytelling. I was so enthralled I felt as if I were watching the story like a movie; that’s how powerfully written is the character interaction. But it doesn’t stop there. S.R.Claridge’s ability to tie together past and present events and weave them into a believable storyline is impressive; not to mention this author succeeds at doing something of which most mystery writers fail. She incorporates humor at precisely the right moments, when the reader needs a release from the mounting tension.

As I read, I began to wonder if the book, though fiction, held any truth about cult groups and their potential hidden agendas. I found myself contemplating if the author had once been involved in a group like the one described in House of Lies, and if so how much of what happens in the novel actually happened in real life. It was a similar feeling to what I had when reading Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code years ago. In fact, if I had to liken this book to one that is currently on the market, I would say it is The DaVinci Code, and I wouldn't be surprised if we find some controversy developing as word of this book gets out.

I give House of Lies a full five star rating. If you enjoy suspense novels, you will not be able to put this book down. Without giving away the ending, I can assure you that a sequel is to follow and I only hope it will be released soon.

What an exciting way to start off TrueBlueEbookReview!

Believability: Five Stars

Cohesive Flow: Five Stars

Characterization: Five Stars

Dialogue: Five Stars

House of Lies by S.R.Claridge - Overall Rating: Five Stars
House of Lies is currently available in Ebook at Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes&Noble with a pre-order print date for November 2012.

House of Lies

I am excited to announce the release of my new novel, House of Lies. 

It is a political cult suspense about Skylar Wilson, who sets out on a quest to save her sister from the grips of a deadly cult.  While searching for answers, Skylar discovers that this particular cult group stretches far beyond its evangelical, house of prayer veil; penetrating the upper echelon of the United States government, and pushing a lethal, International agenda.  To expose the truth, Skylar must learn to unravel the lies, each one leading her down a twisted trail of deadly scandals and mysterious deaths.  For the nightmare to end, she’ll have to take her sister back to where it all began.

 

House of Lies is a mystery-suspense-romance-thriller all rolled into one.  Ebook is currently available at Amazon.  Availability from Barnes&Noble, Smashwords and AllRomanceEbooks coming soon.  Look for print editions at all online retailers this Thanksgiving.  Download or Pre-order your copy today!

Here is a video trailer to give you a glimpse into the novel:

 

“House of Lies will take you to the edge and dangle you over the abyss.” Maxwell Crighton, Publicist

 

 

A Jagged Little Pill of Truth

There are moments in life when speaking the truth isn't easy, especially when you know that the truth is going to hurt someone's feelings.  There have been plenty of moments in my life when I have been on the receiving end of a truth I didn't appreciate hearing; but when I look back I realize I didn't want to hear it because the truth can often be painful.  It can be a jagged little pill to swallow.  That being said, hindsight is twenty/twenty and I can now glance back and see that the people dishing up that plate of truth were the ones loving me the most.  They were trying to protect me, not hurt me.  They were trying to open my eyes so that I didn't stumble into something dangerous and cause permanent damage to myself or to others around me. 

They weren't attacking me with the truth... they were attacking the lie I was living in order to free me from it.

We often live under the unspoken pressure of seeking approval and when those around us disapprove, a normal human reaction is to isolate ourselves from them.  In essense we end up pushing away the very people that love us the most, simply because we don't want to face the truth.  We bury our heads in the sand, refusing to look at it; and often, egotistically claiming it is not the root of the problem; but in our hearts we know otherwise.

Sometimes we let ego replace love, judgment trump acceptance and elitism overcome humility....all because it's easier than looking at the truth.  Sometimes we kick out of our lives everyone who isn't living our same lie so that we are surrounded by constant approval.  In doing so, we grow more inbalanced.  We shun every person who has had the courage to speak against the lie, claiming to be attacked instead of realizing how much we are loved.

It is only when we agree to seek out wisdom and knowledge that we will know the truth, "and the truth will set you free."  (John 8:32) 



 

Scary Stuff

I’m working on a new book.  Actually, I began this book last year, after spending three years researching a worldwide cult group…a group that shrouds themselves under the blanket of pseudo-evangelical Christianity, but spreads its tentacles deep into the political world under the guise of pushing “God’s Agenda.” This group believes in falsified prophetic visions and has built their foundation on prophetic words that have already been proven untrue.  They blindly follow their leader, despite the well-known fact that he consorts with demons and has twisted Scripture to fit his teachings.  His charisma and ego knows no bounds, as he manipulates the minds of his followers through contemplative prayer, group hypnosis and mantra, mandatory mortifications and many other tactics.  He feigns humility but his ego is powerful.  He teaches his flock that THEY are to build God’s kingdom on Earth so to usher in the second coming of Christ, and must thereby take control of every element of society….socially, economically, politically and spiritually.  His tentacles run deep and spread across the globe.  The Bible warns us against him:

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.  2 Corinthians 11:13-15."

  It is scary stuff, to say the very least.