A Truth Revealed

~Rancho Capistrano
We received our formal 60 Day WARN Act Notices yesterday from the International Board of Trustees at Crystal Cathedral Ministries. A press release went out to the media as well. Our letter states the reason for closure is because "CCM finds it necessary to severely cut its expenses" while the press release states it another way; "Regrettably, the current economic climate and the rising costs of supporting The Ranch operations led the Board to this final decision." The real truth is there is a lien recorded on the Ranch which has a $41 million dollar balloon payment due in March, 2010 and CCM is unable to pay. Farmers and Merchants are foreclosing on the Ranch. I am extremely dissappointed that CCM, a ministry, is not forthright with the truth. Why? What are they afraid of or what are they protecting?

So my first presumption was correct, the foreclosure. And probably my second presumption is to follow which is bankruptcy. The press release statement, that CCM has decided to "close down operations at the Ranch" followed by (in the next paragraph) "weddings booked at the Ranch will continue through the end of the year" is a flat out lie. First, those two statement are completely contradictory. How can the operation be shut down yet still operate to facilitate weddings???? Weddings are 50 % of the Ranch business. Second, CCM knows they will no longer own the property in March so how are they able to make that promise to the brides and grooms? Third, if they know bankruptcy is around the corner, are they knowingly going to protect themselves from refunding the $1,500 wedding deposits by including those funds in the bankrupcty? Are they really going to say to those brides and grooms, "Sorry, stand in line behind all of our creditors including the $41 million balloon payment???" Is that why the statement was issued so that they can hold off all of the calls from people demanding the return of their deposits??? Holy Moly is all I can say!

Here's what I opened up in my email today from my church home:
Saturday, January 30, 2010
God's Provision: Maintain Integrity by Rick Warren
God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business. Proverbs 16:11 (MSG)

Thank you so much for your prayers and thank you God for answering them. My mom is doing very well. She hasn't been released as of yet as the test results are not in. However, she was in great spirits last night and was even hungry for a grilled cheese sandwich. So prayerfully, she will come home today.

Have a great weekend! It's been beautiful here at the Ranch these past few days. It makes all of us employees have the motivation to change our doom and gloom attitudes. Come by if you haven't been here in awhile.

If you'd like to continue following this blog, would you please sign up.