I realize it has been a while since my last post, and for that I apologize. Our transition with new jobs and a new home has been a much larger adjustment than we ever anticipated. However, God is good and we are settling in. I look forward to getting back on task soon.
Unfortunately I find it necessary that I disassociate myself with a someone who has been a partner here on MyCall2Rise from the beginning. Engraved Euniques has been listed on this site since nearly the beginning. When I was hosting "The Call" on BlogTalkRadio, I graciously provided advertising for Kaye MaKay's business because I felt it was the right thing to do...a Christian blog and/or radio program promoting a fellow Christian's business.
I did this because I believe Christians should band together and, especially in the market place, Christian businesses should be supported and promoted by fellow Christians. Conversly, whenever that business and/or it's leadership chooses to take an unChristian stance or their actions reveal less than Christ-like characteristics, I believe such promotion and support must be withdrawn.
Such is the case with Engraved Euniques. I have hesitated for some time in doing this, but I now feel it is necessary. The leadership of Engraved Euniques has shown over the past several months that their actions no longer reflect even the nature of the products provided. Without any regard to their fellow neighbors, they have chosen to think only of themselves while causing emotional and financial harm to others. Simply put, the leadership of Engraved Euniques no longer represents the values of MyCall2Rise.
This is a personal decision based solely upon my convictions that I cannot support such a business whose leadership is in stark contrast with the moral, Biblical and professional characteristics of my own. I am saddened that time did not heal or resolve this matter which has gone on for a long time. I had hoped this relationship could have continued.
Such is the case, it can not. I only ask Engraved Euniques and its leadership will see the err of their ways and will do the right thing soon, for all parties involved.
Troy G. White
The Dog Daze of a Presidency
7 hours ago
14 comments:
Wow. I googled Engraved Euniques just now and your post came up.
I know I don't know you, but I do know Kaye MacKay. And I must say I'm having a very hard time accepting these scathing remarks you've written about her.
We correspond regularly, and my family has stayed in her home on two different occasions, and I have never known her to be anything but warm, gracious, unselfish, compassionate and Christlike. She's an incredible woman who loves God with her whole heart.
I hope and pray you aren't slandering a fellow believer unjustly. Because that's sure what it seems like.
Maria,
I am sure you have lived long enough to know that one's experiences with another person differ from person to person. I, too, know of whom I am speaking about. My experiences have resembled yours up until the past few months.
This particular situation has been going on now around four to five months, in which, the Christlike behavior we both have seen has not been shown, even to so-called friends. I have prayed long and hard about my decision and involvement in this matter and after months of consideration, I have chosen to let my readers know that I can no longer support her business. Their actions over these past few months have been unacceptable.
I sleep well at night (which is more than I can say for their neighbors) knowing full well my remarks were not off-base in any way. For you to call it slander is simply an ignorant remark because of your lack of knowledge in the situation. I have simply chosen to end my endorsement of Engraved Euniques because their leadership's recent actions do not meet the standards of those I choose to endorse. It's that simple.
I am sorry if you didn't like it, but, again, you are not aware of the issue, so I do not expect you to understand.
Troy...
Your entry has made me very sad... it seems to me the point of your blog is to bring people closer to Christ. Unfortunately, I do not believe this entry would do that for any Christian or Non-Christian. Why would someone want to be a part of a body that would take to a public forum to slander someone else.
Think deeper than trying to get back at your neighbor and think of the impact you are making for CHRIST... Our goal as Christians is to be an example of HIM!
Praying for your healing!
A couple of points...
(1) Slander, by definition, is "the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation." I have now been accused of slandering Engraved Euniques twice; however, the accusations made are entirely accurate and truthful. It is not slander.
(2) I have read and re-read this post several times, including before I posted it. A lot of thought and prayer went into this post weeks and even months before I wrote it. I waited patiently for a resolution to come forth without my breaking ties. That resolution never came, and, thus, I chose to do what I believe is honest, truthful and Biblical.
In no way can I see my post cause someone to either fall from or to faith in Christ. The only way I believe it could is if what I stated was false. That would be slander and despicable.
I, in no way, feel my writing this post was an attempt to "get back" at someone. It simply was my choosing to let my readers know that I no longer support the business and why they would not see links to it from my site. I chose on my own to freely advertise for them, and thus, I have the right to choose to not advertise.
As I stated in the post, this was a personal decision. Other than some emotional harm, I am not the ones being hurt by the actions of those with Engraved Euniques. I know both parties involved and have seen and heard the situation personally and have made my decision based upon facts. I am sorry that there are those who feel what I am doing is not Christ-like, but I see no where in Scripture that says what I have done is wrong. I have not slandered anyone, therefore I do not feel accountable for the accusations of such.
(3) I do wish to ask anyone willing to comment to please be adult enough to post their name and not comment "anonymously." I find it rather hypocritical that someone would accuse me of slander when they are unwilling to take ownership of their own actions.
(4) As Christians we are to hold one another accountable for our actions. That is Biblical. Christ did it. I chose to disassociate myself from an organization and gave reasons as to why. That is all. I have no problem being held accountable for my words, but I also know full well my words are not off-based, inaccurate or, otherwise slanderous.
Please, before you accuse me of slander, please know the facts. If you do not know the facts, please do not make an accusation of such.
Troy
PS - MARLA..I just realized that I posted "Maria" in the comment responding to yours instead of "Marla." I misread the "l" for and "i." Sorry!
Troy,
I, too, am saddened by your blog posting. Unlike Marla, I am previed to the situation in which you speak and I can assure you that you are only hearing one side of the story. I understand your desire to protect the people you love in this situation as I'm sure I would want to do the same. However, we must also remember that before forming opinions, there are two sides to every story. I am not writing to declare the rights to either one. I am writing to tell you that as Christians, it is not our place to judge anyone. How does it benefit either party involved to call for people to not support a business that has done nothing to you personally or been anything other than supportive of their customers? You are blaming a business on what is actually a personal issue.
I would like to address your definition of "slander" as I have looked it up in the dictionary myself and this is what I have found: "defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc." Unless you have some proof of your claims, then, yes, this can be considered slander. I would highly doubt that there is anything other word of mouth to back up your claims.
I know the person who runs Engraved Euniques personally and I know the neighbors of her as well...I am from the same small town where all of this is taking place. My best friend's parents have a house that is on the edge of the property and have lived there for 20 years. They have never had anything but positive things to say about them as neighbors.
As a final note, I would encourage you to look at your actions and the actions of your loved ones to see if you are being Christian-like yourself. If you want to have your own personal opinion about a matter, that is one thing but to use a public blog to encourage other people to jump on the bandwagon without giving any fact-based logic behind it is very disappointing.
I have a blog myself and have found out all too well how public this format can be. I am not afraid to give you my name but I also do not believe it makes a person immature to want to remain anonymous.
Sincerely,
Amanda Johnson
I started to comment then noticed what Amanda said. I'm in complete agreement with her.
Troy, have you considered the very real possibility that you could be WRONG about Kaye? Could it possibly be a misunderstanding?
It sounds like there's a problem between Kaye and her neighbors (who you are apparently close to). Are you sure your feelings toward her aren't biased?
You haven't given a single proof that Kaye has acted in a way that is un-Christlike. That's a VERY serious accusation to make about someone.
Sounds to me that it's one person's word against another's. Would what you're calling "fact" stand up in a court of law? I doubt it.
I stand by my original statement--"I hope and pray you aren't slandering a fellow believer unjustly."
Because you'll have to give an account.
Folks, I realize that your friendship with the party at question is something that you hold dear and you may want to defend, however, I must ask that you do so in a realistic manner.
(1) I never once called for anyone to follow my lead and to boycott Engraved Euniques. I simply said I could no longer associate myself or my blog with the business. I even stated it was a personal matter.
(2) I never blamed the business for the problem, but rather the leadership of the business. Those two go hand in hand.
(3) I am basing my opinion of the matter on FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE AND EYE/EAR WITNESS ACCOUNTS, not on word of mouth, although I have heard plenty. I have heard the gun shots, I have seen the financial and emotional damage it has caused. I speak for myself and no one else. This is not second or third party information.
(4) Defamation and Slander both MUST be false for the claims to be categorized as such. The claims are NOT false, therefore they are neither defamation or slander. Sorry, but that is fact.
(5) MY blog is MY OPINION, as is most blogs out there, and I have every right to share my opinion on it. I never called for anyone to "jump on the bandwagon" and follow my lead. I simply stated what I was doing and why.
(6) Amanda, your opinion on the "anonymous" situation is your opinion and I respect that. I disagree, but that is neither here nor there.
(7) Marla, I know Kaye's Christian beliefs and I know full well she loves Christ...that's what brought us together in the first place...however, her actions are not cohesive with those beliefs. I am not judging her, I am just saying because of her actions, I can no longer support her business.
(8) As far as providing proof, here is my opinion on that matter...
...only those who actually have a dog in the race need to know details of the situation, no one else. That is why I didn't say specifics in the original post because no one needs to know. I stated my reason for disassociating with Engraved Euniques as simply because I believed the leadership of the business no longer fell in line with the moral and ethical standards I have set for MyCall2Rise. That is all that needed to be shared with those who are not directly involved.
(9) Everything that I have said, again, is based upon my experience, first hand, not word of mouth. That would stand in court, absolutely.
(10) Finally, Marla, I am fully aware and ready to give an account for my actions when the Lord calls me home. I have done enough in my life to be judged by Him and Him alone, however, this is not one I am worried about. I have a peace about what I have said and done in this situation. I am sorry you and others feel the need to judge my actions as unChristian, but, I have prayed about it...have you?
Again, I urge everyone to read my post carefully and you will in no way find my asking you or anyone else to follow my lead. I simply stated my opinion which is 100% based upon my first hand experiences. For those of you who know the people involved, I understand your hesitation in the matter, however, I know BOTH parties involved. Most of the people who have chosen to comment here only know ONE.
That seems one-sided to me.
Here's where I think you messed up. You took a private matter and made it public. You could have withdrawn your support from Kaye without making a big deal (or any deal) about it. No one would have known (or cared).
For some reason, you felt compelled to announce your OPINION (not fact) that Kaye MacKay is un-Christlike. You might want to check your motives.
Marla,
The saddest part of this conversation is I believe you have allowed emotion to guide your thoughts over reason and logic. It happens to all of us, which is why I chose to respond this morning and not last night. After reflection and prayer, my words today are quite different.
I do not understand why you feel I am wrong for holding someone accountable for their actions when the very thing you are attempting to do here with me is that. Why the double standard? Why is it okay for you to "judge" me but I am not allowed on MY blog to do the same thing?
I respectfully ask that you, or anyone else who wishes to chime in on this matter, would NOT put words in my mouth. I NEVER said Kaye was "un-Christlike;" I said her actions, in this particular instance, were. There is a HUGE difference! I'm sure you do your best to live in a Christ-like manner, but on occasion you mess up. That doesn't make you un-Christlike, but the action is. That's where grace comes in.
This is my blog and the majority of what I write here is my opinion. I CHOSE to freely give my opinion in support of Engraved Euniques publicly, therefore I have the right to CHOOSE to withdraw that support publicly.
Everything I said in the blog post is accurate based upon my own personal experiences and what I have witnessed with my own eyes and ears. I have seen the facts and heard the facts, and from them, formed my opinion. You have not, so your opinion is based upon hearsay and emotion.
My motives were clean from the very beginning. They were not vindictive as you assert. I believe I have said this before and it tires me to have to keep repeating myself, but I gave this careful prayer and consideration before writing my post. I chose my words carefully, which you and others have taken and twisted, added and completely warped their original intent and meaning. Please re-read the post and pay attention to the words used. I do not have hidden messages or agendas in my writing. I say specifically what I mean. If I wanted to bash the people and say the things you have claimed I have said, I would have done that. But that was not my intent nor my belief in the matter. I simply withdrew my support and explained why.
My home has always been open to whomever would like to come. Invited or dropping in. I do extend a special invitation to anyone who would like to come and make a judgement on this issue from personal experience. Just bring your bags we will have a room.
Second party
From reading all this, I would say that Kaye is lucky not to be on your blog anymore!
Since you have chossen to make a personal issue public, I was wondering when the neighbor who has suddenly been so harmed bought the property that they built their house on? Who did they buy the property from? And where exactly did they live before?
Who said anything about buying property or building a house. There is more than one being effected in the neighborhood. You have all missed the point.
Are you trying to be the town gossip?
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