17 FEB 08: THE PROSECUTING CHURCH

Plenty of small churches and denominations claim to be persecuted. But the church we're talking about today may be doing exactly the opposite. It's going on the offensive against sinners - and taking sinners in its midst to court. At least the courts are independent, so it's not a rerun of the Spanish Inquisition.

We told you here last fall about Cascade Hills Church, and its concern about an e-mail campaign against its board. So were we ever surprised to read in the Ledger-Enquirer about another case, which led to a former church employee's conviction. I can't wait to hear Pastor Bill Purvis's next sermon on "turning the other cheek."

Daniel Jordan was sentenced to two years' probation two weeks ago for "theft by taking" from Cascade Hills Church. Under Georgia law, this is considered different from "theft by deception" - but isn't it still taking, anyway?!

But anyway: we can envision what happened to Daniel Jordan by examining both sides' explanations. Jordan says he was fired from the audio staff at Cascade Hills Church last year, because he talked against Pastor Bill Purvis and one of his sons. Jordan apparently thought the only "boss" he needed to handle with care was the One with a capital B.

Cascade Hills Church claims after Daniel Jordan was fired, he apparently locked his office computer. Church staff members could not gain access to it -- and it held Bill Purvis's sermons and "Xcel Leadership" messages. And you wonder why many local churches have yet to move beyond cassette tape ministries....

If we stopped right there, we might conclude Daniel Jordan locked his office computer to get even for his firing. And some ministers would have concluded he violated the "vengeance is mine" Bible verse, by not leaving the matter to God. But of course, this may explain why you don't hear much about ministers and pastors serving on juries.

But then the Cascade Hills Church Pastor did something unusual. Bill Purvis invited the fired Daniel Jordan back, to repair the unworkable computer. Jordan's return violated another principle, which admittedly is NOT in the Bible - that a smart criminal should never return to the scene of the crime.

Court records show Daniel Jordan showed up at Cascade Hills Church with a backup computer disk hidden in his shirt. He fixed the computer, then was arrested on computer forgery charges. So he repaired a lock-up, only to receive one in return....

Daniel Jordan explained in court he kept a backup hard drive because his office computer crashed in 2006. But Cascade Hills Church considered it theft, and claimed the 934 files on the disk were worth more than $60,000. As if Jordan tried to sell them somewhere?! Did he have a table at those "all shoes $10" stands - offering "good cheap sermons?"

This blog heard rumors last May about some kind of extortion case involving Cascade Hills Church and its Pastor. At the time, the District Attorney's office told us there was NO such case pending. And there was no evidence presented of extortion in the Daniel Jordan case - as if he threatened to sell those sermon recordings to Joel Osteen.

(The newspaper article noted the computer in question was a Macintosh. No wonder Daniel Jordan was at odds with Cascade Hills Church leaders - because aren't Macs usually used by liberals?)

A recording introduced as evidence contains a 90-minute conversation between Pastor Bill Purvis and Daniel Jordan, about the computer problem. This is one "Behind the Scenes" tape that should be offered on the Cascade Hills Church web site -- because it probably takes "raw and real" to a whole new level.

An e-mail from Pastor Bill Purvis to a Ladonia pastor said Daniel Jordan was prosecuted in part because he showed "disregard for the sacred." I've never heard of a computer being called "sacred" before. But then again, if the label can be put on cows....

A statement released by Cascade Hills Church notes Pastor Bill Purvis was willing to have the Daniel Jordan case reduced from felony "computer forgery" to misdemeanor "theft by taking." That's a classic case of mixing mercy with justice -- sort of like Jordan High School's basketball season not ending with that first loss on Friday night.

This case sets a precedent for that other pending case. Last time we checked, Cascade Hills Church was still trying to track down the people who spread e-mails about a change in its bylaws [2 Dec 07 and 17 Dec 07]. The message seems to be clear: if you're going to talk against this Baptist pastor, go to someplace safe - like a Methodist church.

The official Cascade Hills blog has a "talk nice" policy - so of course, these court cases are NOT mentioned there. Instead, it's promoting a "Biblical Church Growth Conference" on Tuesday. Step one: ask the local newspaper to keep your prosecutions of employees off the front page.

BLOG UPDATE: Job-hunting? The Muscogee County School Superintendent's job is now posted on the Georgia Department of Labor web site. But it specifies you must have a Ph. D. and two years' experience as a Superintendent - so we hope Guy Sims keeps enjoying his retirement from education.

It's interesting to note the job description for Muscogee County School Superintendent includes this aspect: "determines amount of school bond issues required to finance educational program." If the school board could issue bonds for improvements, a one-percent sales tax vote might not be necessary - and a few board members actually might have safe seats in this year's election.

As it happens, the Muscogee County Republican Party approved that resolution Saturday against the new school administration building. A statement from Chair Josh McKoon noted there was "only a single dissenting vote." How did Dr. Philip Schley sneak into this meeting?

E-MAIL UPDATE: We've finally had time to make a call about what this reader saw....

As I was leaving home the other day, I saw a Time Warner cable truck and a truck labeled something to the effect of "Fiber Optic Installation Services" parked on the side of Schomburg Road, next to the JR Allen Pkwy exit, and some guys running up the power pole. Any idea what this could have been about? We don't have Time Warner cable in that area, that I am aware of. Might we be getting residential fiber-optic lines?

Thanks,

Brad Newman

The only listing for "Time Warner Cable" in the Columbus phone book had a Fort Benning address. And in 2008, you can probably guess what happened when we called - we wound up talking with an operator in Colorado.

The Time Warner Cable operator had no record of any cable service on Schomburg Road. But she checked the records, and told me there IS service on "Moon Street" in Columbus. Trouble is, Fort Benning has a Moon Street - as opposed to "Moon Road" in Columbus, which for Time Warner would be a new moon.

The operator pointed out it's possible Time Warner Cable is preparing to offer high-speed Internet service in Columbus. Then again, those fiber-optic lines may be connecting Fort Benning with someplace in Ohio -- matching the "high-speed" drivers who hurry through Columbus, on their way to Panama City Beach.

Our Friday mention of talk shows prompted a message as well....

My favorite Duke and the Doctor infomercial is the one with the hairlip Colon Cleanse guy. He looks like he is a real authority on the subject.

It could be worse, you know. They could have a guest promising to put hair back on Duke Liberatore's head.

Now let's see what else has people talking on this holiday weekend....

+ The Columbus Civic Center hosted the "Vision 2008" youth worship weekend. With a name like this, you'd think one of the speakers would have been Dr. Gold from Direct Optical Center.

+ Bob Tant of Columbus Water Works told WLTZ it's time for Muscogee County to be removed from "level four" drought restrictions. After all, how else are you supposed to clean dirty idle fountains - with sponges and buckets?

+ Georgia Arbor Day was marked in Columbus, with a program at Lakebottom Park. This year marks 30 years since Columbus was named a "Tree City U.S.A." But maybe we haven't planted enough of them - because instead of rain forest conditions, we had a drought last year.

+ Knoxville knocked off the Cottonmouths 5-4 at home. Coach Jerome Bechard tried to calm a rowdy Knoxville crowd at the end of the second period, by tossing a puck toward some fans. Truly times have changed in Columbus hockey - because a few years ago, Bechard would have thrown a stick like a javelin at them.

+ Glenwood won its second Alabama girls' high school basketball title in a row, by felling Faith Academy 59-49. Faith needs to recruit some players away from Hope and Charity Academy, to get over the hump.

+ The Atlanta Hawks traded four players and a draft choice to Sacramento, in exchange for guard Mike Bibby. Is Bibby really worth that much? Wouldn't the Hawks fill more seats by trading for Sacramento's other star player -- since Ron Artest could go ballistic at any moment?

+ Instant Message to Octavia Downing: Yes, I realize you're innocent until proven guilty. But if you really did drag children around Imagination Station by their ears, you need to stop watching Three Stooges movies as soon as possible.

SCHEDULED MONDAY: A President's Day special about nine women....

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