1586 lines
83 KiB
Plaintext
1586 lines
83 KiB
Plaintext
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GwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwD
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T h e G R E E N Y w o r l d D o m i n a t i o n T a s k F o r c e
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Presents:
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"Bob Larson Parts 9 & 10"
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GwD, Incorporated is dedicated to the exposing of false prophets. We have found
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one such "prophet" in Bob Larson of Bob Larson: Live and formerly of Talk-Back
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with Bob Larson. A supposed Christian radio evangelist, Bob Larson is actually
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only motivated by financial gain. These 14 articles by Kenneth L. Smith prove
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this. From this point on, GwD is anti-Bob Larson.
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PART 9
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Bob Larson: Patterns of Fleece
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This article started out as a journalistic post-mortem, explaining what we had
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learned from the Bob Larson investigation, and why it was of lasting import to
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the Evangelical community. But Bob had ideas of his own: On April 11, he
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announced his intentions to go secular, making a desperate bid to become the
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Christian Rush Limbaugh. No doubt, both Christians and Limbaugh will bristle at
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the comparison.
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Secular Bob: Travelin' in the Rush Hour?
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On Monday, April 18, 1994, the secular airwaves will be invaded by the
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"Christian" version of Geraldo. That's right, it's Bob Larson Live! As if two
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hours wasn't more than enough....
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Bob explained his mission to his Talk-Back audience:
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"Do you know there has never been a national Christian voice
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in secular talk-radio? Never! And a couple of things finally
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drove this message home to me: Do you know that a recent Gallup
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poll shows that 59% of all Americans say religion is important,
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and 64% say that religion can solve all or most of today's
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problems? So, who are they going to get answers from? Who's
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out there to give them the answers?
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Are they going to get it from Jerry Brown or G. Gordon Liddy?
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They gonna get it from Larry King or Rush Limbaugh? With all
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due respects, Rush does a great job, but did you just read the
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headlines recently? Now, he's got a live-in lover -- moved in
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with a woman. Excuse me, Rush -- you're doing a great job and
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I respect it, but there's something called moral authority if
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you're going to deal with subjects like abortion or homosexu-
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ality that you'd better have...."1
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Bob Larson has finally elevated hypocrisy to an art form. By comparison, Bob
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makes Jerry Brown look like a saint, and Rush Limbaugh, a paragon of virtue.
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For that matter, he makes Jim Bakker look like a choir boy (those who have read
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my previous Internet/Christian Press Report articles know why I say this). But
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Bob should take comfort in the fact that if he ever wants to become the
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Christian Bill Clinton, he'll win that title by acclimation.
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Both are compulsive liars, known womanizers, and dodged the
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draft in the Sixties. Both are accused of abusing their posi-
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tions for personal financial gain. And both complain that the
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press has treated them unfairly....
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His plan to move into the secular arena was reasonably predictable, and has
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been rumored for some time now. But to me, the more intriguing story will be
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the financial structure of this new venture. While the information is still
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sketchy, the venture is likely to be structured as a partnership -- with the
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Ministry putting up cash as a limited partner, and Bob retaining a profits
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interest as a general partner. In other words, if the venture succeeds, Bob
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Larson will become embarrassingly rich, and if it fails, the Ministry will be
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left holding the bag.
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It wouldn't surprise me one bit if our Pentecostal Phil Donahue is able to
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pull this one off. Mix the Weekly World News with Rush Limbaugh (and throw in a
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little Howard Stern, for good measure), and you have a prescription for
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commercial success. Of course, if "Bob Larson Live" succeeds, Talk-Back will be
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an endangered species; once Bob moves mainstream, he no longer will have to pay
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even lip-service to Christian standards of morality. And when ghost-writers
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write "his" next series of novels for him, no one will even raise an eyebrow.
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He will have become a celebrity.
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Free enterprise at work -- isn't it exhilarating?
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Satanic Ritual Abuse: Shirley, Bob Jests!
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Bob Larson's sharpest critics have often suspected that, like other real-life
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Jonas Nightingales, he hires "shills" to lend a little controversy to his shows.
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Other opponents of Larson's claims concerning the pervasiveness of "satanic
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ritual abuse" are more charitable, dismissing him as a showman. But all agree
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on the fact that he has yet to produce any competent evidence that would lend
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even colorable support to his theory of a grand satanic conspiracy.
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Instead of answering the critics with hard evidence (or better yet, enlisting
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their aid), Larson greets them with harsh and bitter words. For instance,
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during his recent show on a Satanic murder in West Memphis, Arkansas, Bob
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delivered this Clinton-esque soliloquy:
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"All the time I sit behind this microphone I-- I hear the
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carping of the critics. And I'm not talking about the witches
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and the satanists -- I mean, I expect them to give me a rough
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time.... But you know, all too often, it's the Christians who
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are the worst critics -- who listen to this broadcast and say,
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<in a snotty voice> 'He's just doing that for money and sensa-
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tionalism,' or, 'Where's the proof? Where's the proof?'
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Those of you who have said that, I'm really sick of it. Why
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don't you spend your own dime, pick up the phone, and call the
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parents of those three precious eight-year-old children who
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were sodomized, brutalized, and murdered, and say to them, <in
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a snotty voice>, 'Where's the proof?' How many more kids have
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to be killed?
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We track Satanic crime here at our offices and cult activity,
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and there is so much evidence about what's going on around the
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country that it--you know, it never makes your local press."2
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As a rule, Bob's more questionable callers are careful not to reveal enough
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of their stories to enable any outsider to check them out. But every once in a
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while, a caller will provide us something to work with, like Shirley, a
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hysterical grandmother who appeared on his show on the late Kurt Cobain's
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alleged suicide attempt in March of 1994:
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BL: "I've got Shirley from Bakersfield. Shirley, what's on
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your mind?"
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Caller: "Yeah, Bob--"
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BL: "Yeah."
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Caller: "Because of people like this man [Cobain] and others,
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my children became involved in drugs, and now, they've become
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involved in murder."
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BL: "What?"
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Caller: "Now, they're involved in murdering a man and chopping
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him up in little pieces and throwing him around the desert in
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Arizona. Okay? That's what this music promotes. That's what
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this kind of music promotes. Okay? [BL tries to interrupt.]
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They were raised in a Christian home, but they got involved
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with some boys who liked this music, and then they got involved
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in this music, and then they started doing drugs, and now,
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they're--now, they're going to prison for the rest of their
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lives for murdering somebody."
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BL: "Those are your--"
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Caller: "These are my two girls. These are my children. You
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know, and I don't want that boy who's in the hospital--I don't
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want him to die. I know he's some mother's son. But it's his
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kind of music that caused my children to be the way they are
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today."
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BL: "You're telling me your daughters chopped a man up and
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scattered his pieces in the desert?"
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Caller: "Yes, sir. You can check it out with the Yuma, Arizona
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police department if you want to. They were just up here last
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weekend to talk with me about it. They haven't even found all
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of the boy yet."3
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Well, that's an invitation I couldn't resist. Let's face it: Yuma, Arizona
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isn't exactly South Central, the Dan Ryan, or Twelfth Street in Detroit. And
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while I don't claim any actual evidence on this, I'd suspect that they can still
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measure their yearly murder rate in fractions. When a reporter friend called
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the Yuma police department and asked about Shirley's story, they didn't have any
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clue as to what he was talking about. Ditto, the Yuma Daily Sun. We knew the
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story was a hoax -- almost by nightfall.
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As it was a particularly easy story to confirm, I thought it might be
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interesting to see just how hard Larson tried to confirm it. And in that
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venerable tradition of Mike Wallace and Ed Bradley, I called the HOPE Line --
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nearly three weeks later, to give them a reasonable opportunity to do so:
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CC: "Compassion Connection."
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KS: "Yes, I just wanted to find out something I couldn't find
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out on the Victory Club line; I was sent over here. You know,
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Bob has mentioned Shirley a couple of times, and I was wonder-
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ing-- Did you guys actually follow up on her?"
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CC: "Well, I don't know what you're talking about. Shirley?"
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KS: "Yeah, Shirley. the one gal whose-- the grandmother whose
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daughters killed a man in Arizona?"
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CC [recognition in voice]: "Yeah. You know, Merilee [a.k.a.,
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Debbie Reseigh] is the regular HOPE Line operator on, and we
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have not heard-- I know that we paid her Public Service bill.
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We overnighted that, and we were waiting to hear from her, as
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far as social services, and when she got adopted kids. So we
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are in the process of following up on her."
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KS: "So, you haven't called anything like the Yuma city police
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department or something just to see if the story--"
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CC: "No, because the-- she's not-- she's not in Arizona. She's
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in California."
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KS: "Well, I understand that. But what I was wondering about
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is the story itself. I would think that you'd want to find out
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to see if the story of having several kids -- having her daugh-
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ters cut up a kid and leave it in the desert -- I would think
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that was something you'd want to check up on."
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CC: "Um, boy-- I'm sure that the story was confirmed, but only
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probably through her. We would have no reason to call the
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authorities; there's a social worker involved. Normally, I'm
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the one who screens callers for the show, and I remember Shir-
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ley very well and did talk to the social worker. So I would
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assume that that's a type of verifying--"
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KS: "You talked to the social worker?"
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CC: "Uh-huh. Uh-huh, I sure did."
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KS: "And the social worker told you all about the daughters?"
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CC: "I didn't specifically ask any details. I just asked if
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there was a custody battle going with the children, and the
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daughters were in custody, and Shirley was trying to get cus-
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tody of the kids-- uh, the three grandchildren. That's all I
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asked about."
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KS: "So, you never really checked on the story of whether there
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was a Satanic murder, where they left the body in--"
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CC: "No, I didn't."
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KS: "No, you didn't check that out."
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CC: "Uh-uh."
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KS: "Okay. I was just curious. Thank you."4
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Of course, that is not iron-clad evidence that Larson stages calls. However,
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it does cast grave aspersions upon his assertion that Satanism is rampant in
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America. When bona fide researchers like Jon Trott and Bob and Gretchen
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Passantino come to his doorstep whining for evidence, Bob has none to give. But
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that admission would destroy a most profitable ministry ... $atanism is simply
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too good of a scam to pass up.
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The "Gold" Standard (Robert Tilton)...
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My investigation of Bob Larson Ministries began rather innocuously. All I
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wanted to do was document one footnote in my book, The Curse of Thomas, and I
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needed a real-life example to substantiate my charges. Any disciple of Jim
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Bakker and Billy Sol Hargis would have done (and there are plenty of them in the
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cesspool of media evangelism), but as luck would have it, Bob Larson's financial
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information was available. And the rest is history.
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Still, my main interest is in the story behind the story -- the one I
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half-expected to find. It is a tale of pandemic corruption extending from the
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pulpit to the printing press. A plague, threatening the very fabric of
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Evangelical Christendom. The classic struggle between good and evil. An
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uncivilized civil war.
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While it is far beyond my power to end that war, the 'intelligence' we have
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gleaned from the Larson investigation may help those who want to restore
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Christendom's moral compass. It is with that goal in mind that I offer this
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article.
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The publisher of the erstwhile "Robert Tilton Fan Club Newsletter" (now Snake
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Oil magazine), who goes by the moniker, "Brother Randall," graciously provided
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me with a copy of his compilation of articles on Robert Tilton, _The Beast of
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Robert Tilton_. I had followed the Tilton scandal on a purely casual basis, but
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the good Brother's research put this entire problem in perspective. The Warnke,
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Tilton, and Larson stories were almost identical -- only the names had been
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changed. As this excerpt from a 1990 article by Dallas Morning News columnist
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Steve Blow suggests, the signs of impending scandal were clearly visible:
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"The next morning I stopped by Brother Bob's offices and TV
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studio, located not far from his home. The reception area was
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elegant, decorated in mauve and pale green. Photo portraits of
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Brother Bob hung on two walls.
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His secretary, Roseann Rueffer, came out to tell me that
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Brother Bob does not grant interviews. And she said he wasn't
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in town anyway.
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Roseann and I began to chat about the ministry. We sat in a
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couple of wing-backed chairs in the reception area and talked,
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off the record, for more than an hour. Suffice it to say that
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she believes Brother Bob is a man of great integrity.
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I told her that could very well be true, but that he operates
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his ministry in such secrecy that it's impossible for outsiders
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to make that judgment.
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Word of Faith is run as though it is Brother Bob's private,
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multimillion-dollar corporation. There is no board of trust
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ees, no deacons, no elders. He alone sets policy. He alone sets
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the budget.
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Brother Bob is 'totally, completely, and solely in control,'
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Mr. Joyce [Tilton's attorney] said. I asked Mr. Joyce how much
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Brother Bob pays himself. 'None of your business,' he said."5
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For those familiar with the Larson investigation, this article is a sad but
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familiar refrain. Bob Larson displayed a portrait of himself on his recent
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appearance in an HBO special.6 He refuses to talk with anyone from the
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Christian press.7 Rather than submit his ministry to independent scrutiny, he
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resigned from the National Religious Broad casters.8 Brother Bob is in total,
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complete, and sole control of his Ministry; according to former BLM
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vice-president Lori Boespflug, its hand-picked Board of Directors has never held
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an outside meeting, and whenever Brother Bob is asked about the compensation he
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receives from Ministry sources, he consistently refuses comment.
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Snippets from other articles, such as the Dallas Observer's "Robert Tilton:
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Heart of Darkness," captured my attention. Scott Baradell's observations were
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remarkably familiar: "At home, charitable organizations have complained that
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they get referrals but no money from Word of Faith";9 Compassion Connection
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affiliates like the Arlington, TX office of Watchman Fellowship made the same
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observation concerning Bob Larson. "He [Tilton] has shrouded Word of Faith's
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finances in secrecy ever since."10 Bob Larson wouldn't release his ministry's
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audited financial statements unless a request is made in writing, and the
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inquirer states his reasons for asking.11 "Indeed, he [Tilton] almost never has
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offered doctrinnaire positions..."12 An internal memo, provided by a former
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Larson staffer, echoed a similar refrain: "Muriel, Margo and Becky all said that
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we totally avoid any theological responses."13 But his attempt to find the
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meaning behind the man was in my mind most revealing:
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"At the center of the growing storm, a fundamental question
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remains unanswered: Who is Robert Tilton? What sort of past
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creates such a man?
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Tilton's own account of his life is a classic tale of sin and
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redemption, of a drug abuser wandering in the spiritual desert
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until God, 'in an audible voice,' anointed him a prophet. Dis
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affected followers have cast him as a modern-day Elmer Gantry--
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a preacher who once possessed noble intentions, but who money
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and power have led astray.
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In fact, an exploration of the unplumbed early years of Rob-
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ert Tilton reveals a tale of constancy, not transformation.
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The dark roots of the preacher's present character--the relent
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less ambition and overarching greed, the absence of a moral
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center, and the shameless manipulation of the oh-so-vulnerable
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faithful--run straight and run deep.
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Robert Tilton, seller of spiritual snake-oil, is and always
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has been a salesman. Even his autobiography is a con."14
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Take out the reference to drug abuse, and those words easily could have been
|
|||
|
|
written about Bob Larson. In Hell on Earth, Larson claimed that he "achieved
|
|||
|
|
fame at the age of thirteen when his first hit song was published"; however,
|
|||
|
|
Sharla Turman Logan, the keyboard player for his high-school rock band, The
|
|||
|
|
Rebels, reported to Cornerstone's Jon Trott that she knew him at thirteen, and
|
|||
|
|
she "never heard of any hit song."15 Logan also refuted Larson's tales of
|
|||
|
|
debauchery -- in Western Nebraska, during the early Sixties, no less! --
|
|||
|
|
following their concerts:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"None of us ever did anything sexually or even drank. My
|
|||
|
|
father went with us to the concerts as a chaperon, and he would
|
|||
|
|
have picked up on any sexual stuff. We played at pizza parlors,
|
|||
|
|
rodeos, and churches. Everyone came, from little knee-high kids
|
|||
|
|
to grandpas and grandmas. But Bob talked about us like we were
|
|||
|
|
a bunch of sluts."16
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Larson started his career as an itinerant evangelist, preaching on the evils
|
|||
|
|
of rock-and-roll music. He supported himself through sales of books and gospel
|
|||
|
|
records, some of which he wrote himself. And as the eyes often are said to be
|
|||
|
|
windows to a man's soul, his words are windows to his heart.
|
|||
|
|
One of those gospel records, "Peace Within My Soul," is highly persuasive
|
|||
|
|
evidence that Larson is as inept in his handling of a guitar as he is a
|
|||
|
|
word-processor. The album itself is an effective cure for insomnia: the lyrics
|
|||
|
|
are uninspired; the music, bland and formulaic. Featuring forgettable tracks
|
|||
|
|
like "Men and Machines" and "The Soap Opera Song," it was destined for oblivion.
|
|||
|
|
Yet, one song in particular is deserving of our attention -- not for any great
|
|||
|
|
lyrical value, but for what it reveals about the pathos of Larson's tortured
|
|||
|
|
soul. The avarice and envy unabashedly drips from his voice in this, the
|
|||
|
|
introduction to "Enjoy It While You Can":
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"I had just concluded a crusade, and boarded a plane for the
|
|||
|
|
flight home. They herded me into one of those economy-class
|
|||
|
|
seats that American technology has designed to put the maximum
|
|||
|
|
amount of body into the minimum amount of space. Tired and
|
|||
|
|
cramped, I was treated to a terrible cold-plate lunch. I felt
|
|||
|
|
miserable.
|
|||
|
|
All of a sudden, I heard a commotion up in first-class. I
|
|||
|
|
asked the stewardess what was going on. 'Oh, don't you know?
|
|||
|
|
That's the Jeff Beck rock group on their way to a concert,' she
|
|||
|
|
said. 'They're having a party.'
|
|||
|
|
I used to be a rock entertainer, too. But here I was now,
|
|||
|
|
serving Jesus, worn out and flying second-class, while those
|
|||
|
|
rock stars were living it up."17
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
These days, Bob is serving himself -- and gets to fly first-class. He 'rubs
|
|||
|
|
elbows' with the likes of Bob Guccione, Jr., Sam Donaldson, and reportedly, even
|
|||
|
|
Paul McCartney, and revels in the adulation of his devoted fans. Like Mike
|
|||
|
|
Warnke, Robert Tilton, and the phalanx of pecunious preachers before him, he's
|
|||
|
|
enjoying it while he can.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A Higher Standard (Focus on the Family)...
|
|||
|
|
The best way to put the ministries of Robert Tilton and Bob Larson in
|
|||
|
|
perspective is to compare them to a "good" ministry, like Focus on the Family.
|
|||
|
|
Its fund-raising guidelines, set by founder James Dobson, are worthy of review:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"We believe that the way an organization handles its finances
|
|||
|
|
is a reflection of its integrity in every arena. Therefore, we
|
|||
|
|
have established strict limitations on the way our resources
|
|||
|
|
are used. Here are the fund-raising policies I wrote years ago
|
|||
|
|
that have governed the ministry:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. This ministry belongs to God, not to James Dobson. It is
|
|||
|
|
neither a monument to me nor a legacy to my memory. Focus
|
|||
|
|
on the Family does not bear my name....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[Contrast that with names like "Jimmy Swaggart Ministries" and "Bob Larson
|
|||
|
|
Ministries." There is one notable exception, the Billy Graham Evangelistic
|
|||
|
|
Association, but believers and skeptics alike will agree that Rev. Graham is a
|
|||
|
|
very special case.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
3. One of the ways we can discern the Lord's will regarding
|
|||
|
|
the continuation of our work is through the support He
|
|||
|
|
sends (or doesn't send) from His people. Therefore, dur-
|
|||
|
|
ing lean times we will make our obligations known to our
|
|||
|
|
friends--but we will not squirm, scratch or claw for con-
|
|||
|
|
tributions. We will never resort to disrespectful and
|
|||
|
|
dishonorable methods of fund-raising, even when the needs
|
|||
|
|
are serious...."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[Even in the best of times, the Bob Larsons and Robert Tiltons use deceptive
|
|||
|
|
and dishonorable fund-raising tactics, almost as standard fare. Larson's modus
|
|||
|
|
operandi is to falsely claim that his ministry is on the edge of financial
|
|||
|
|
collapse; the fact that it had millions in cash and marketable securities in
|
|||
|
|
the bank when those claims were made is conveniently overlooked.18]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
11. My wife, Shirley, and I will accept no salary for this
|
|||
|
|
work, and will pay a portion of the radio air time
|
|||
|
|
expenses to compensate for the publicity that increases
|
|||
|
|
our book sales. When our books are offered to listeners
|
|||
|
|
through the ministry, we will waive all royalties to allow
|
|||
|
|
Focus to obtain the lowest possible price from the pub-
|
|||
|
|
lisher. When we use secretarial or staff assistance for
|
|||
|
|
personal reasons, we will compensate the ministry for that
|
|||
|
|
intrusion....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[By stark comparison, Bob Larson Ministries' 1991 audited financial statements
|
|||
|
|
revealed that "the Ministry purchased books and materials totaling $67,982 from
|
|||
|
|
an officer of the Ministry [Larson]. The officer's cost of the books and
|
|||
|
|
materials sold was $45,215."19]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
13. We will conform to the standards established by the Evan-
|
|||
|
|
gelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and
|
|||
|
|
the Canadian Council of Christian Churches (CCCC)--organi-
|
|||
|
|
zations created to ensure ethical fund-raising and admin-
|
|||
|
|
istration practices."20
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Robert Tilton has never been a member of the ECFA.21 Likewise, Bob Larson
|
|||
|
|
Ministries' response to ECFA scrutiny was to quietly withdraw its' application
|
|||
|
|
for membership.22 And actions speak louder than words....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
And the Bottom Line:
|
|||
|
|
In the March 7, 1994 edition of Christianity Today, former CT associate editor
|
|||
|
|
Ken Sidey wrote a glowing review of Selling Satan, the book by Jon Trott and
|
|||
|
|
Mike Hertenstein chronicling the expos<6F> of Mike Warnke. In his opening salvo,
|
|||
|
|
Sidey asked an incisive question which troubles believer and unbeliever alike:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Ever since the Charlotte Observer 'broke' the PTL story,
|
|||
|
|
members of the religious press--at least those who consider
|
|||
|
|
themselves journalists rather than public relations flacks--
|
|||
|
|
have asked, 'Why wasn't the story ours?' The question did not
|
|||
|
|
grow out of professional jealousy over a scandalous scoop. It
|
|||
|
|
came from a sense of community. Why was the exposure of such
|
|||
|
|
unethical behavior left to an 'outside' source and not per
|
|||
|
|
formed by a part of the evangelical body?"23
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There really isn't a reason why the Evangelical community can't rid itself of
|
|||
|
|
the nest of vermin feasting atop its' spiritual food chain. Indeed, it seems
|
|||
|
|
clear from passages like 1Tim. 5:20 ("Those [elders] who sin are to be rebuked
|
|||
|
|
publicly, so that the others may take warning.") and 1Cor. 5:12-13 ("Are you not
|
|||
|
|
to judge those inside [the church]? ... Expel the wicked man from your number.")
|
|||
|
|
that it has a divine warrant to do so. But two elements are lacking: the will,
|
|||
|
|
and the way.
|
|||
|
|
Mike Warnke, Bob Larson, Robert Tilton ... these men are not rocket
|
|||
|
|
scientists. Warnke and Larson left trails that even Hansel and Gretel could
|
|||
|
|
have followed; super-sleuth Jon Trott, reporter Jay Grelen, myself and others
|
|||
|
|
have had no difficulty in doing so. The surprising challenge has been in
|
|||
|
|
capturing the attention of Evangelical leaders, who have been quite reluctant
|
|||
|
|
to lead the charge to confront the sin in their camp.
|
|||
|
|
The excuses given are as varied as the men themselves, but most say that it's
|
|||
|
|
simply not their calling. They'd rather preach the Gospel, ruminate over
|
|||
|
|
doctrinal issues, or attempt to influence the political process. Yet, whenever
|
|||
|
|
they fail to practice the Gospel, they preach a 'different gospel'. And
|
|||
|
|
whenever they consciously overlook the sin in their own camp, they squander that
|
|||
|
|
credibility needed to influence politics. While my Christian friends take
|
|||
|
|
umbrage at the stereotype of Evangelical leaders as sniveling, money-grubbing
|
|||
|
|
hypocrites, many recognize that it is, largely, their own fault. When
|
|||
|
|
miscreants like Billy Sol Hargis, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton, and
|
|||
|
|
Bob Larson are permitted to continue to masquerade as ministers, it makes
|
|||
|
|
legitimate ministries look bad -- and, on balance, hinders the transmission of
|
|||
|
|
the Gospel. In effect, if you are a Christian, the Robert Tiltons and Bob
|
|||
|
|
Larsons of the world are by definition your problem.
|
|||
|
|
According to long-time Larson listener Jack Farmer, even Bob Larson admits
|
|||
|
|
that. In a Prodigy post in April of last year, he offered the following
|
|||
|
|
observations:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Since 1987, we have witnessed the fall of Oral Roberts, Jim
|
|||
|
|
and Tammy Bakker, Marvin Gorman, Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton,
|
|||
|
|
Larry Lea, W.V. Grant, Peter Popoff, Mike Warnke, David Hock
|
|||
|
|
ing, and now Bob Larson. 12 ministers in the past 6 years;
|
|||
|
|
that's 1 too many.
|
|||
|
|
In 1986, Bob had a show in which he interviewed "The Amazing
|
|||
|
|
Randi." This was after Randi had exposed Popoff as a fraud on
|
|||
|
|
the Tonight show. Bob's concluding remark was, 'How long is the
|
|||
|
|
secular media going to do the Church's job? When are the people
|
|||
|
|
of God going to take a stand against this sort of thing'?"24
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
It's a job that needs to get done, and one that no one really wants to do.
|
|||
|
|
The challenge is to develop a regime of preventative medicine which would
|
|||
|
|
obviate the need for doing it. No one seriously suggests that a future David
|
|||
|
|
Koresh on the Pentecostal fringe will be stopped, but most scandals concerning
|
|||
|
|
mainstream ministers can be prevented.
|
|||
|
|
The most significant common thread running through the Hargis, Bakker, Tilton,
|
|||
|
|
and Larson scandals is that there was a complete lack of accountability in their
|
|||
|
|
ministries. If there had been a single independent voice on Larson's
|
|||
|
|
hand-picked board of directors, he wouldn't have been in a position to loot his
|
|||
|
|
ministry; I think the same can be said for Tilton, Lea, Grant, and others.
|
|||
|
|
A second, albeit less tangible, thread has to do with the men themselves. Bob
|
|||
|
|
Larson was the spiritual equivalent of Kurt Cobain -- an accident waiting to
|
|||
|
|
happen. Ditto, Robert Tilton. The Salem letters and Bob's faked illness in
|
|||
|
|
December of 1988 were clear indications of trouble to come. But, like a flare
|
|||
|
|
in the wilderness, no one was out there to see it.
|
|||
|
|
As I see it, the most practical solution is a minor modification to the
|
|||
|
|
National Religious Broadcasters' by-laws. As a condition of membership, NRB
|
|||
|
|
members governed by its' "watchdog" arm, the Evangelical Council for Financial
|
|||
|
|
Accountability, would be supplied with outside directors on a rotating basis.
|
|||
|
|
These people would have the same powers as voting directors, but have the duty
|
|||
|
|
to report improprieties to the ECFA.
|
|||
|
|
Ministry employees could report complaints to the directors, who in turn,
|
|||
|
|
would investigate them on a confidential basis. If a complaint is held to have
|
|||
|
|
merit, it would be referred to an ECFA committee that would recommend corrective
|
|||
|
|
measures. If those measures were not followed, public censure would ensue.
|
|||
|
|
In theory, it should work. However, the fact remains that "problem
|
|||
|
|
ministries" like Bob Larson's and Robert Tilton's do their level best to avoid
|
|||
|
|
any kind of outside scrutiny. Therefore, the problem of how to convince wayward
|
|||
|
|
ministries to play within the rules remains.
|
|||
|
|
The only solution I can see is peer pressure. If a minister knows that large
|
|||
|
|
Christian publishers won't publish his books, other ministries won't invite him
|
|||
|
|
as a guest, and radio stations won't carry his broadcasts unless he joins the
|
|||
|
|
ECFA, it would be a powerful incentive to him.
|
|||
|
|
The final question I'd like to leave to my friends in the Evangelical
|
|||
|
|
community is whether you have the character to 'clean up your own house' -- or
|
|||
|
|
prefer to let characters like Bill and Hillary do it for you.
|
|||
|
|
_____________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ENDNOTES:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1 Bob Larson, "Talk-Back With Bob Larson" (radio broadcast), 11 Apr.
|
|||
|
|
1994 (tape on file).
|
|||
|
|
2Ibid., 22 Mar. 1994 (tape on file).
|
|||
|
|
3Ibid., 4 Mar. 1994 (tape on file).
|
|||
|
|
4Telephone interview, 21 Mar. 1994 (tape on file).
|
|||
|
|
5Steve Blow, "So Much Prosperity, So Little Candor," Dallas Morning
|
|||
|
|
News [Dallas, Texas], 27 May 1992, no page listed, reprinted in "The
|
|||
|
|
Beast of Robert Tilton," Snake Oil [Dallas, Texas], undated, p. 4.
|
|||
|
|
6"In Search of Satan" (television broadcast), Home Box Office, 1993.
|
|||
|
|
7Bob Larson, "Talk-Back With Bob Larson" (radio broadcast), 2 Feb.
|
|||
|
|
1994 (tape on file).
|
|||
|
|
8See, Pat Mahoney, Fax (to Ken Smith), 22 Sept. 1993; Gary Massaro,
|
|||
|
|
"Ministry Quits Audit Group Over Finances," Rocky Mountain News [Den-
|
|||
|
|
ver, Colo.], 24 Sept. 1993, p. 12A, col. 5.
|
|||
|
|
9Scott Baradell, "Robert Tilton: Heart of Darkness," Dallas Observer
|
|||
|
|
[Dallas, Texas], 6 Feb. 1992, p. 13 (reprinted in "The Beast of Rob
|
|||
|
|
ert Tilton," Snake Oil [Dallas, Texas], undated, p. 25), (hereinaf
|
|||
|
|
ter, "Heart of Darkness").
|
|||
|
|
10"Heart of Darkness," p. 15 [p. 27].
|
|||
|
|
11Angelo Diasparra, Memorandum (to staff), 14 Aug. 1992.
|
|||
|
|
12"Heart of Darkness," p. 15 [p. 27].
|
|||
|
|
13 Ministry mail meeting [ memorandum ], 15 June 1989, p. 1
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
14"Heart of Darkness," p. 14 [p. 26].
|
|||
|
|
15Jon Trott, "Bob Larson's Ministry Comes Under Scrutiny," Corner
|
|||
|
|
stone, Vol. 21, Issue 100, Feb. 1993, p. 18 (advance copy courtesy of
|
|||
|
|
Jon Trott).
|
|||
|
|
16Ibid., p. 37.
|
|||
|
|
17Bob Larson, "Enjoy It While You Can" (sound recording), Bob Larson
|
|||
|
|
Ministries, undated (circa 1970).
|
|||
|
|
18See generally, Ken Smith, "The Two Faces of Bob," and "The $64,000
|
|||
|
|
Question," both available on Internet.
|
|||
|
|
19Bob Larson Ministries, 1991 Audited Financial Statements, p. 8
|
|||
|
|
(obtained from Bob Larson Ministries, Aug. 12, 1992, copy on file).
|
|||
|
|
20Focus on the Family, Guidelines for Fund-Raising (a copy is on my
|
|||
|
|
door; I don't have an actual cite).
|
|||
|
|
21Confirmed via telephone with ECFA personnel, Apr. 7, 1994.
|
|||
|
|
22ISee note 8, infra.
|
|||
|
|
23Ken Sidey, "Selling Satan," Christianity Today, 7 Mar. 1994, p. 35.
|
|||
|
|
24Jack Farmer, Post (to Kevin Mowery), Prodigy: "Bob Larson Exposed"
|
|||
|
|
bbs, Apr. 12, 1994.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PART 10
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Bob Larson: Sex, Lies, and Audiotape
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Documents. They are the stuff of history (unless you happen to be Ollie North
|
|||
|
|
... then, they ARE history). They brought us Whitewater and Dead Air. And like
|
|||
|
|
his political soul-mate, the man wearing the clerical 'Clinton collar' (Bob
|
|||
|
|
Larson) is doing his best to forestall a coming catastrophe.
|
|||
|
|
Behind almost every miscreant minister, there's a woman: Jim Bakker had
|
|||
|
|
Jessica Hahn, Jimmy Swaggart had a procession of prostitutes, and Robert Tilton
|
|||
|
|
might have had Candice Caminati.1 David Hocking's fate was sealed with a kiss.
|
|||
|
|
And Bob Larson had his "harem." Still, it's not so much what 'Bobby's Angels'
|
|||
|
|
did between the sheets that got him into trouble, but rather, what they did on
|
|||
|
|
the sheets.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The "Underground" Railroad...
|
|||
|
|
Dead Air was born in an unlikely place: a football game. God spoke to Bob
|
|||
|
|
(or, so the story goes) through His faithful servant, William T. Abbott, who
|
|||
|
|
pointed out that novels are more profitable than works of non-fiction. Bob took
|
|||
|
|
that divine advice, and immediately went to work on a plot sketch. Bob's
|
|||
|
|
original story was a trial concerning a Satanic crime, but Abbott, aware that
|
|||
|
|
Bob didn't know the first thing about the law, reportedly suggested that he
|
|||
|
|
would be better off writing about a talk-show host rescuing a child from a
|
|||
|
|
Satanic cult. And he was right.
|
|||
|
|
As far as can be ascertained, Bob made at least a nominal effort to write what
|
|||
|
|
we now know as Dead Air. But he couldn't make enough time to mount a credible
|
|||
|
|
effort, and editors tend to insist upon that. As this internal Ministry memo
|
|||
|
|
suggests, his own in-house editor, Muriel Olson, did what she could to salvage
|
|||
|
|
it (then titled, "Underground"):
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
DATE: 4-2-90
|
|||
|
|
TO: Bob
|
|||
|
|
FROM: Muriel
|
|||
|
|
SUBJECT: UNDERGROUND DRAFTS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. I understand and share your concern about taking too much
|
|||
|
|
Larson flavor out and injecting too much Olson into the
|
|||
|
|
Underground drafts. It's not a rare problem under these
|
|||
|
|
writing conditions, but I wanted to give you my best cre-
|
|||
|
|
ative work, too. You accepted what I did with the first
|
|||
|
|
chapters and told me to run with it -- so I have. If I
|
|||
|
|
don't give you a descriptive phrase or elaborate on some
|
|||
|
|
scenes, you won't have the opportunity of accepting or
|
|||
|
|
rejecting, so I write as it comes to me.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
It would be hard -- probably impossible -- to tell you
|
|||
|
|
about all the changes, since they're interwoven throughout
|
|||
|
|
what you give me in dictation. You asked me to advise you
|
|||
|
|
about dramatic changes, but I'm sticking to your plot and
|
|||
|
|
just condensing, embellishing phrases or situations as you
|
|||
|
|
present them. Example is throwing in the bit about snakes
|
|||
|
|
in the exposed cellar -- which just enhances the scenario
|
|||
|
|
you're giving the reader. I'm not making changes, not add-
|
|||
|
|
ing plot; I'm filling out scenes and descriptive language,
|
|||
|
|
and I see no way to give you less.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2. I try to appeal to the five senses often and noticed on
|
|||
|
|
UNDFT5-2 that you had eliminated 'red or grey' barns and
|
|||
|
|
'black and white' dairy cattle. Unless there is good rea-
|
|||
|
|
son to take out this stuff that appeals to the reader's
|
|||
|
|
sense of sight, such color might be better left in. In
|
|||
|
|
that particular paragraph, two of the four references to
|
|||
|
|
color have been deleted, and I don't think anything was
|
|||
|
|
gained by doing so. Your opinion?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
3. UNDFT5-2 -- In the second paragraph, the last sentence was
|
|||
|
|
deleted. I wrote that to build suspense about the wolf and
|
|||
|
|
bear shapes in the Mounds. Did I miss my target or was the
|
|||
|
|
reference too obtuse? Just curious.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
4. I get a total of 62 pages (double-spaced) for manuscript as
|
|||
|
|
of today, including Chapter Six as dictated.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
5. On page 5 of Chapter Six, you dictated that Sheriff Hancock
|
|||
|
|
had been voted in 'last year.' On last page of this chap-
|
|||
|
|
ter, Sheriff Hancock states that he has been in office for
|
|||
|
|
35 years. Will he be a newly elected sheriff or an old-
|
|||
|
|
timer?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Just know that I'm sensitive to keeping your flavor and lan-
|
|||
|
|
guage, but don't know how to add creatively to the condensed
|
|||
|
|
dictated version without giving you what comes through my
|
|||
|
|
rewriting process. I'd rather give you too much than not
|
|||
|
|
enough. [emphasis added]"2
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
If the following memo -- dictated in his car -- is a clear indication of Bob
|
|||
|
|
Larson's writing skills, Olson didn't have a lot to work with:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"UNDERGROUND -- Dictated in car by BL 3-12-90
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Columbus County library was one of those old Andrew Car-
|
|||
|
|
negie type, the kind that philanthropists built in Smalltown,
|
|||
|
|
America at the turn of the century -- red brick, unimaginative
|
|||
|
|
architecture, erected on the most prominent plot in town, sig-
|
|||
|
|
naling that knowledge should be the center of the community.
|
|||
|
|
It was many years since Wes Bryant had entered its weather
|
|||
|
|
beaten wooden doors. He remembered it as a kid spending Satur-
|
|||
|
|
day afternoons pouring over children's books. That was before
|
|||
|
|
the advent of television, when adventure on the pages of imagi-
|
|||
|
|
native children's novels was replaced by the dissociate experi-
|
|||
|
|
ence of watching cartoon characters dispassionately. Wes
|
|||
|
|
wasn't what you'd call a reader, unless you count the sporting
|
|||
|
|
news and an occasional Life magazine. But this visit to the
|
|||
|
|
Columbus County library had more in mind than the attainment of
|
|||
|
|
literary wisdom.
|
|||
|
|
As Wes stepped inside, he marveled how little things had
|
|||
|
|
changed: groove and tongue slat-board floors, high ceilings
|
|||
|
|
supporting symmetrically placed ceiling fans that sweeped occa-
|
|||
|
|
sionally, piercing the silence like an owl's shriek in a still
|
|||
|
|
forest, the musty smell of old wood mingled with even older
|
|||
|
|
books.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
'May I help you?'
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The librarian looked the part, stern, bespectacled, not the
|
|||
|
|
kind of person you'd invite to an uproarious party. She tilted
|
|||
|
|
her head down slightly to peer through the top half of her
|
|||
|
|
bifocals, assuming the role of gendarme of Columbus County's
|
|||
|
|
sacred volumes of literature.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
'Could you please direct me to the section where I might find
|
|||
|
|
some books on local history?' Wes asked. [all sic]"3
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Needless to say, Olson wrote almost as much on that draft as Larson dictated.
|
|||
|
|
It is a great feeling to see your book in print, but writing fiction is hard
|
|||
|
|
work. And Bob had better things to do.
|
|||
|
|
Enter Lori Boespflug. Lori signed on as Bob's secretary -- and was promoted
|
|||
|
|
to Vice-President of Creative Services in a mere two years. Like Olson, her
|
|||
|
|
primary job was to write books for Bob. And perhaps, as the following letter
|
|||
|
|
indicates, she did that job too well:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"July 8, 1991
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Mr. Bob Larson
|
|||
|
|
Bob Larson Ministries
|
|||
|
|
P.O. Box 36480
|
|||
|
|
Denver, CO 80236
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dear Bob,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
With the passing of each day, I become more and more con-
|
|||
|
|
cerned about your potential liability to Lori in connection
|
|||
|
|
with Dead Air and its sequels.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The time table is immediate. You will soon know if Dead Air
|
|||
|
|
is to be a publishing success and, quite possible, if theatri-
|
|||
|
|
cal rights are to be optioned. Assuming success, and knowing
|
|||
|
|
the role Lori has played, it would amaze me if she is not suf-
|
|||
|
|
ficiently astute to use this opportunity to both secure her
|
|||
|
|
financial future and to launch her own literary career. More
|
|||
|
|
specifically, she will demand recognition and/or profit partic-
|
|||
|
|
ipation in connection with sequels and possibly Dear Air [sic]
|
|||
|
|
itself. I know how I would advise her in this regard, and it
|
|||
|
|
is unrealistic to think that my insights are unique. Her delay
|
|||
|
|
in contacting me, of course, increases my concern.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
What should you be doing now to anticipate her? I will first
|
|||
|
|
address a legalistic solution which I know is doomed - allowing
|
|||
|
|
her to write sequels but contractually establishing that they
|
|||
|
|
are works for hire. Even if she agreed to this and signed a
|
|||
|
|
confidentiality agreement, her liability for breach could never
|
|||
|
|
equal the value of public recognition of her authorship. Even
|
|||
|
|
beyond that financial consideration, her ego, like that of most
|
|||
|
|
creative people, could not be satisfied with anonymity after
|
|||
|
|
the risk of Dead Air's failure had passed.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Instead, I believe that you have two more realistic choices.
|
|||
|
|
First truly and simply use Lori as a researcher and document
|
|||
|
|
that as her role. You will be required to write more, but
|
|||
|
|
after all, it is you who will enjoy the benefits. Second, if
|
|||
|
|
you want Lori to write, give her credit, (ideally under a pen
|
|||
|
|
name because of past gossip) and a negotiated percentage of
|
|||
|
|
profits, but not copyright ownership, in any sequels. This is
|
|||
|
|
not an unusual solution and has the benefit of obviating any
|
|||
|
|
question of who wrote how much of either Dead Air or the
|
|||
|
|
sequel. Also under such an arrangement, where her profits are
|
|||
|
|
tied to yours, she has no interest in embarrassing you regard
|
|||
|
|
ing the authorship of Dead Air.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Please call me regarding this matter at your convenience.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sincerely,
|
|||
|
|
/s/ Bill
|
|||
|
|
William T. Abbott"4
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This letter was excerpted in World's January, 1993 expos<6F> of Larson,5 and
|
|||
|
|
printed in its entirety in Cornerstone's February, 1993 follow-up.6 When Abbott
|
|||
|
|
was confronted with this letter, he merely expressed surprise: "How in the ****
|
|||
|
|
did you get that?"7 But when Bob Larson was asked about the "Abbott letter" by
|
|||
|
|
a Talk-Back caller, he did his best Bill Clinton imitation:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"What they [Cornerstone] printed was plain and simple: An
|
|||
|
|
attorney, that represented this ministry a couple of years ago,
|
|||
|
|
became concerned about an employee who might try to assert
|
|||
|
|
unreasonable rights, claiming contributions to the book that
|
|||
|
|
were lies, and he was warning me in advance about that. In
|
|||
|
|
fact, that very employee was fired for immoral reasons [sic],
|
|||
|
|
turned around and did make the allegations I was warned about
|
|||
|
|
in that idiotic letter that was a stolen document of confiden-
|
|||
|
|
tial private information between attorney-client privilege
|
|||
|
|
[sic], had to do with an attempt by this very individual, and
|
|||
|
|
all the attorney was trying to do was warn me that that might
|
|||
|
|
happen. That's all!"8
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Getting an honest answer out of Bob Larson with respect to Dead Air is almost
|
|||
|
|
as difficult as getting one from President Clinton concerning Whitewater. Yet,
|
|||
|
|
in the courtroom, where flagrant dishonesty is frowned upon, Bob sang quite a
|
|||
|
|
different tune:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"12. In the World Magazine article, the authors quoted a
|
|||
|
|
confidential letter sent to BLM by one of its attorneys. Upon
|
|||
|
|
information and belief, the letter was given to the authors by
|
|||
|
|
Defendant....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
16. In the Cornerstone article paragraphs from the April
|
|||
|
|
7, 1992 agreement between Larson and Defendant were quoted ver-
|
|||
|
|
batim. The authors stated, 'She (Boespflug) provided us with a
|
|||
|
|
copy of her agreement dated April 7, 1992.'
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
17. The Cornerstone article also quoted verbatim the same
|
|||
|
|
confidential letter sent to BLM by one of its attorneys that
|
|||
|
|
was quoted in World Magazine. Upon information and belief, the
|
|||
|
|
letter was given to the Cornerstone authors by Defendant.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
18. Defendant disclosed business information and propriet-
|
|||
|
|
ary information pertaining to BLM and Larson to the authors of
|
|||
|
|
the Cornerstone article. [emphasis mine]"9
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In bringing his lawsuit against Boespflug, Bob Larson was forced to admit that
|
|||
|
|
the Abbott letter was both authentic and unaltered. As an added bonus, by
|
|||
|
|
authenticating the contract excerpted below, Bob confessed to the fact that
|
|||
|
|
Boespflug wrote the early drafts of Abaddon:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"You hereby agree to provide me on or before May 1, 1992 an
|
|||
|
|
outline of the first two hundred pages of the sequel; and on or
|
|||
|
|
before July 1, 1992, an outline of the remaining 200 pages of
|
|||
|
|
the sequel. If so requested by me, said outlines shall contain
|
|||
|
|
or be accompanied by character sketches, narratives, fact
|
|||
|
|
research and sample dialogue...."10
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The plot, characters, and storyline all belonged to Lori Boespflug (except Wes
|
|||
|
|
Bryant, of course, which everyone recognizes to be Bob). Mark Reynolds was
|
|||
|
|
patterned after one of her former husband's fellow police officers ... who had
|
|||
|
|
left seminary prior to joining the force. Glint Blade [NOT Clint Blade] was a
|
|||
|
|
young man she had encountered at a SOKS event. The publisher's deadline was
|
|||
|
|
fast approaching. What was a best-selling author and commentator to do?
|
|||
|
|
As this internal BLM memo suggests, he turned to former Compassion Connection
|
|||
|
|
director Margo Hamilton:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
MEMORANDUM
|
|||
|
|
TO: BOB
|
|||
|
|
FROM: MARGO
|
|||
|
|
DATE: 6/16/92
|
|||
|
|
SUBJ: BOOK (I have no idea what I'm doing, just thoughts)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
_____________________________________________________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ideas:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter One:
|
|||
|
|
* Wes and Annette are separated
|
|||
|
|
* Annette calls Wes, frantic that Jennifer's been
|
|||
|
|
arrested and now sits in detox
|
|||
|
|
* Her unpredictable, rebellious nature has caused juvenile
|
|||
|
|
courts to get involved
|
|||
|
|
* Jennifer's been actively participating in sex, drugs, and
|
|||
|
|
rock-n-roll
|
|||
|
|
* Her trend is gothic, and her clothes, hair, nails and
|
|||
|
|
attitude reflect this, but not consistently
|
|||
|
|
* The courts decide to put Jennifer in the foster care
|
|||
|
|
system (infiltration of the foster care home(s) will enter
|
|||
|
|
in later chapters)
|
|||
|
|
* Annette blames Wes for the family's dysfunctionalism as he's
|
|||
|
|
absorbed himself in business and career
|
|||
|
|
* Annette refuses family counseling as she wants no one to know
|
|||
|
|
about their past
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter Two:
|
|||
|
|
* Jennifer is moved into the foster home
|
|||
|
|
* Wes's job becomes more demanding as finances are failing and
|
|||
|
|
his board is gaining more control
|
|||
|
|
* Strange messages are left on Wes's answering machine (Jean-
|
|||
|
|
nifer's alters.)
|
|||
|
|
* In frustration, he takes a late night drive, and there on E.
|
|||
|
|
Colfax is a young girl, dressed as a prostitute, that looks
|
|||
|
|
identical to Jennifer. (In actuality, it's her twin that
|
|||
|
|
Annette assume died at birth.)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter Three
|
|||
|
|
* Annette and Wes meet at what once was the family home
|
|||
|
|
* Wes asks to go through Jennifer's room and finds:
|
|||
|
|
death box, odd assortment of clothing, Book of shadow, pic-
|
|||
|
|
tures of odd people participating in odd activities, rune
|
|||
|
|
stones, tarot cards, and an assortment of crystals. The
|
|||
|
|
death box, which is black lacquer and has a tiny paddle lock,
|
|||
|
|
is a mystery as they can't get inside...."11
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Hamilton, a physical education major in college, wasn't much help. But
|
|||
|
|
Larson's young second wife, the former Laura Ann Harris Anderson, was. She
|
|||
|
|
picked up where Lori left off -- and the rest is history.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
And "Railroading" Your Ex-Wife:
|
|||
|
|
Malachi 2:15 warns us that a man should not deal treacherously with the wife
|
|||
|
|
of his youth. That advice is as divine today as it was when it was given ...
|
|||
|
|
and while the war of the Larsons did not end as violently as the cinematic "War
|
|||
|
|
of the Roses," it may well have been his doom. Divorcing a wife is generally
|
|||
|
|
considered bad form among Christian circles [technically, it is adultery11a],
|
|||
|
|
but more to the point, the incriminating financial disclosures Bob was forced to
|
|||
|
|
make to get a divorce laid the foundation for the Larson investigation. The
|
|||
|
|
following document is the 'smoking gun':
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"DISTRICT COURT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO
|
|||
|
|
Case No. 91DR226, Division 9
|
|||
|
|
_____________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
AFFIDAVIT WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF BOBBY E. LARSON
|
|||
|
|
_____________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
BOBBY E. LARSON, Petitioner,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
and
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
KATHRYN G. LARSON, Respondent.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
_____________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Bobby E. Larson, Social Security No. 505-56-3XXX, declares under
|
|||
|
|
oath:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. I am employed by Bob Larson Ministries, Inc. and International
|
|||
|
|
Broadcasting Network, Inc., 575 Union Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado.
|
|||
|
|
I am President of both entities. I am paid twice each month.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2. Monthly salary and deductions are:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Bob Larson Ministries, Inc.
|
|||
|
|
Gross salary 6,792
|
|||
|
|
Expense allowance 2,750
|
|||
|
|
Retirement allowance 4,208
|
|||
|
|
Housing allowance 2,291
|
|||
|
|
FICA (12 month average) -427
|
|||
|
|
Federal withholding -1,064
|
|||
|
|
State withholding -76
|
|||
|
|
125 Cafeteria Plan deduction -333
|
|||
|
|
125 Cafeteria Plan reimbursement 333
|
|||
|
|
Net monthly salary 13,432
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In 1990 I received a bonus of $25,000. I do not
|
|||
|
|
know at this time if I will receive a bonus in 1991.
|
|||
|
|
[Our information shows that Bob received a $50,000
|
|||
|
|
bonus in 1991, which was paid in February of 1992.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
International Broadcasting Network, Inc.
|
|||
|
|
Gross salary 3,333
|
|||
|
|
FICA -255
|
|||
|
|
Federal withholding -432
|
|||
|
|
State withholding -144
|
|||
|
|
Net monthly salary 2,502
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
3. Average net monthly income from other sources, 4,459
|
|||
|
|
based on 1990 federal income tax return:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Honoraria 1,000
|
|||
|
|
Personal auto use 362
|
|||
|
|
Personal life insurance 94
|
|||
|
|
Interest and dividends 2,860
|
|||
|
|
Interest (from Husband's separate 419
|
|||
|
|
property)
|
|||
|
|
BLM Canada consulting fees 4,257
|
|||
|
|
------
|
|||
|
|
Total (before taxes) 8,992 *
|
|||
|
|
Less monthly average of 1991 -4,533 *
|
|||
|
|
federal and state tax estimates
|
|||
|
|
------
|
|||
|
|
Total (after taxes) 4,459
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* Note: Excluding royalty income from publishing con-
|
|||
|
|
tracts, and the income tax thereon, which has been
|
|||
|
|
valued as an asset. See K.47 and 48, page 13.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
4. Estimated net monthly income from all sources 20,393
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
5. Total income reported on our 1990 federal tax return 403,310
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
6. I believe the monthly gross income of the other
|
|||
|
|
party to be Unknown
|
|||
|
|
I believe the monthly net income therefrom to be Unknown
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
7. My estimated monthly living expenses for a household
|
|||
|
|
consisting of one adult are:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A. HOUSING
|
|||
|
|
(1) Mortgage payment 0 *
|
|||
|
|
(2) Utilities 0 *
|
|||
|
|
(3) Homeowners fee 80
|
|||
|
|
(4) Household help 85
|
|||
|
|
(5) Home/yard maintenance 75
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL 240
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* Bob Larson Ministries, Inc. pays the $1,876
|
|||
|
|
monthly mortgage payment and an average of $350
|
|||
|
|
per month for utilities from my housing allowance.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
B. FOOD
|
|||
|
|
(1) Groceries 140
|
|||
|
|
(2) Eating out 150
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL 290
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
C. MEDICAL
|
|||
|
|
(1) Doctor 20
|
|||
|
|
(2) Dentist 20
|
|||
|
|
(3) Counseling 200
|
|||
|
|
(4) Eye exams and glasses 30
|
|||
|
|
(5) Vitamins and supplements 20
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL 290
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
D. INSURANCE
|
|||
|
|
(1) Personal property 113
|
|||
|
|
(2) Medical insurance 0 *
|
|||
|
|
(3) Life insurance 0 *
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL 113
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* Bob Larson Ministries, Inc. pays $163 monthly
|
|||
|
|
for medical, dental, vision and life insurance
|
|||
|
|
and $116 monthly for life insurance as an employ-
|
|||
|
|
ment benefit.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
E. TRANSPORTATION *
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* Bob Larson Ministries, Inc. provides an automobile
|
|||
|
|
for my use and pays all expenses. I pay income tax on
|
|||
|
|
personal use of the automobile, which is reflected in
|
|||
|
|
Section 3, page 2.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
F. CLOTHING 166
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
G. LAUNDRY AND CLEANING 100
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
H. EDUCATION 0
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I. RECREATION (Estimate includes concerts, 1,000
|
|||
|
|
theater, sporting events, skiing and travel.)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* Bob Larson Ministries, Inc. pays a $140
|
|||
|
|
monthly athletic club membership fee as an
|
|||
|
|
employment benefit.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
J. MISCELLANEOUS
|
|||
|
|
(1) Charitable contributions 1,339
|
|||
|
|
(2) Support of parents 850
|
|||
|
|
(3) Gifts 165
|
|||
|
|
(4) Hair cuts and personal 40
|
|||
|
|
grooming
|
|||
|
|
(5) Records and tapes 25
|
|||
|
|
(6) Pet care:
|
|||
|
|
Veterinarian 15
|
|||
|
|
Kennel 150
|
|||
|
|
(7) Personal accounting services 170
|
|||
|
|
(average based on 1990)
|
|||
|
|
(8) Summit County condominium:
|
|||
|
|
Condo fee 369
|
|||
|
|
Taxes 145
|
|||
|
|
Insurance 18
|
|||
|
|
Public service 70
|
|||
|
|
Water and sewer 41
|
|||
|
|
Cable TV 7
|
|||
|
|
Cleaning 50
|
|||
|
|
Maintenance and repairs 183
|
|||
|
|
(9) Genesee land:
|
|||
|
|
Taxes 122
|
|||
|
|
Genesee Foundation fee 71
|
|||
|
|
Homeowners fee 58
|
|||
|
|
Water and sewer 13
|
|||
|
|
(10) Clear Creek County condominium:
|
|||
|
|
Taxes 58
|
|||
|
|
Insurance 14
|
|||
|
|
Homeowners fee 2
|
|||
|
|
Maintenance and repairs 13
|
|||
|
|
Public Service 8
|
|||
|
|
Water and sewer 19
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL 4,015
|
|||
|
|
------
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL REQUIRED MONTHLY EXPENSES 6,214
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
K. MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO CREDITORS 0
|
|||
|
|
(FROM DEBT SCHEDULE)
|
|||
|
|
------
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES PLUS DEBTS 6,214
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
8. DEBTS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A. Campbell & Rosenbaum CPA expert fees Unknown
|
|||
|
|
B. Plaut/Lipstein/Cohen Attorney fees Unknown
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SUMMARY OF MARITAL ASSET VALUES
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A. REAL ESTATE 539,200
|
|||
|
|
B. FURNITURE, ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND HOUSEHOLD Not valued
|
|||
|
|
GOODS (divided by Husband and Wife in a manner
|
|||
|
|
which they believe to be equitable)
|
|||
|
|
C. FURNITURE KNOW TO HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY WIFE 7,874
|
|||
|
|
SINCE 4/26/91
|
|||
|
|
D. CHINA, CRYSTAL, ARTWORKS, JEWELRY, FURS, COINS 86,677
|
|||
|
|
AND COLLECTIBLES (divided by agreement of Husband
|
|||
|
|
and Wife)
|
|||
|
|
Value to Husband 39,381
|
|||
|
|
Value to Wife 47,296
|
|||
|
|
E. AUTOMOBILES 10,000
|
|||
|
|
F. BANK ACCOUNTS AND CASH ACCOUNTS 382,191
|
|||
|
|
G. CASH ON HAND
|
|||
|
|
Husband Minimal
|
|||
|
|
Wife Unknown
|
|||
|
|
H. STOCKS AND BONDS 156,597
|
|||
|
|
I. LIFE INSURANCE 3,265
|
|||
|
|
J. DEFERRED BENEFIT PLANS AND RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS 69,876
|
|||
|
|
Held in Husband's name 51,672
|
|||
|
|
Held in Wife's name 18,204
|
|||
|
|
K. TAX SHELTERED ANNUITIES 152,882
|
|||
|
|
Held in Husband's name 127,468
|
|||
|
|
Held in Wife's name 25,414
|
|||
|
|
L. PUBLISHING CONTRACTS, ROYALTY INTERESTS AND COPYRIGHTS 31,500
|
|||
|
|
M. MISCELLANEOUS ASSETS 4,641
|
|||
|
|
---------
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL 1,444,703
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
9. ASSETS Total
|
|||
|
|
Net Value
|
|||
|
|
A. REAL ESTATE
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(1) Townhouse at 867 Hill and Dale Road, #C, 20,000
|
|||
|
|
Golden, Colorado, titled in names of Husband
|
|||
|
|
and Wife. Property is to be sold. Appraised
|
|||
|
|
value is $215,000, less encumbrance of $180,000
|
|||
|
|
and estimated sale commission (7%) of $15,000.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(2) Condominium Unit 2, Building 1, Hearthstone 225,000
|
|||
|
|
Mountainhomes at Aspenridge Condominiums,
|
|||
|
|
Summit County, Colorado; no encumbrance;
|
|||
|
|
appraised value of $225,000
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(3) Lot 3, Genesee Filing No. 13, Parcel 1, vacant 136,700
|
|||
|
|
land known as 1356 Preserve Circle, titled in
|
|||
|
|
Husband's name. Property is to be sold. Appraised
|
|||
|
|
value is $147,000, less estimated sale commission
|
|||
|
|
(7%) of $10,300. Property is not encumbered.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(4) Unit No. 21 and Unit No. 25, Winterland Condo- 32,500
|
|||
|
|
minium East (Silver Lake), Clear Creek County,
|
|||
|
|
Colorado; titled in names of Husband and Wife;
|
|||
|
|
appraised value $32,500; no encumbrance
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(5) Governor's Park patio home purchased by Wife 125,000
|
|||
|
|
June 3, 1991; purchase price; no encumbrance
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL 539,200
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[sections B-K (pp. 8-12) deleted for brevity]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Total
|
|||
|
|
Net Value
|
|||
|
|
L. PUBLISHING CONTRACTS, ROYALTY INTERESTS
|
|||
|
|
AND COPYRIGHTS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(46) Husband's agreements with Thomas Nelson 25,000
|
|||
|
|
Communications for literary works in print;
|
|||
|
|
value net of required income taxes
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(47) Husband's exclusive Copyright License Agreements 6,500
|
|||
|
|
with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. for literary
|
|||
|
|
works in print, value net of required income
|
|||
|
|
taxes
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(48) Copyrights to videos 0
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL 31,500
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[section M (rest of p. 13) deleted for brevity]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL VALUE OF NET MARITAL ESTATE 1,444,703
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
N. HUSBAND'S SEPARATE PROPERTY
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(54) 1stBank Certificate of Deposit 683-2121 in Husband's
|
|||
|
|
name; balance per statement dated 6/14/91 of $76,950;
|
|||
|
|
original deposit of $64,500 bequest from the Estate
|
|||
|
|
of Ann C. Benson to Husband on 12/8/88 (see section E.
|
|||
|
|
p. 8 for marital portion) [sic]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(55) Brass, carvings, ivory, novelties, porcelain, tables,
|
|||
|
|
sculpture and miscellaneous (see Exhibit A, and also
|
|||
|
|
Section C, page 8)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL [sic]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
O. WIFE'S SEPARATE PROPERTY
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(56) Chair, porcelain and silver (see Exhibit A, and also
|
|||
|
|
Section C, page 8)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
STATE OF COLORADO )
|
|||
|
|
) ss.
|
|||
|
|
County of Jefferson )
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I declare, under penalty of perjury, that I have read the foregoing
|
|||
|
|
affidavit and the statements contained therein are true to the best of my
|
|||
|
|
knowledge.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
/s/ Bobby E. Lar[son]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this __12__ day of July, 1991,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
WITNESS my hand and official seal. 10/12/91
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
/seal/ /s/ Frank Plaut
|
|||
|
|
Notary Public"12
|
|||
|
|
_____________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
According to the Court's order, Kathy Larson got the patio home, some $500,000
|
|||
|
|
in stocks and bonds, $3,700 a month in maintenance ... and I would argue, the
|
|||
|
|
shaft. But while Bob Larson won that battle, he may have lost the war. In
|
|||
|
|
revealing his personal financial condition, he gave substance to widespread
|
|||
|
|
suspicions that he was making an exorbitant living from his ministry.
|
|||
|
|
I saw this document as a blueprint, which enabled me to reconstruct Bob
|
|||
|
|
Larson's financial empire. I used this, his divorce transcript, Ministry tax
|
|||
|
|
returns, and other public domain material to reconstruct Bob's income for 1990.
|
|||
|
|
I chose 1990 on the grounds that every component of Bob's compensation package
|
|||
|
|
-- salary, bonuses, housing allowances, retirement benefits -- either was or
|
|||
|
|
should have been reported on a document signed under penalty of perjury. The
|
|||
|
|
figures could not reasonably be disputed ... but, then again, Bob Larson has
|
|||
|
|
never been known for his ability to be reasonable.
|
|||
|
|
The only figure missing was that of royalties. I had hard evidence that
|
|||
|
|
Larson used Ministry funds to pay staffers to write "his" books, sent out a
|
|||
|
|
direct mailing to donors specifically to promote Dead Air, and made similar use
|
|||
|
|
of Ministry-paid air time. Bob even admitted to me that he didn't pay for those
|
|||
|
|
'spots' (not that it was necessary -- related-party transactions have to be
|
|||
|
|
reported on the Ministry's Form 1990). Likewise, I had testimonial evidence
|
|||
|
|
that he sold his books to the Ministry at a profit -- and had done so for years.
|
|||
|
|
In accordance with IRS regulations [Regs. =1.61-21(b)(1)-(2)], I made an attempt
|
|||
|
|
to estimate the fair market value of Bob's unreported 'fringe benefits', clearly
|
|||
|
|
outlining my assumptions for all to see.
|
|||
|
|
As for the document itself, I had every reason to believe that it was
|
|||
|
|
authentic. First, it bore the stamp of the Jefferson County District Court, and
|
|||
|
|
was signed under penalty of perjury -- which creates a reasonable presumption of
|
|||
|
|
authenticity. Second, the material accuracy of the figures contained therein
|
|||
|
|
was confirmed by Ministry general counsel Chris Johnson.13 Finally, the
|
|||
|
|
figures for Bob's compensation from Bob Larson Ministries were in substantial
|
|||
|
|
agreement with those listed on the Ministries' 1990 tax return, as obtained from
|
|||
|
|
the IRS. Considering that Bob's divorce file remains sealed to this day, and he
|
|||
|
|
has offered no evidence that would bring my work into legitimate dispute, it
|
|||
|
|
takes a certain chutzpah to insist that I fabricated these figures from whole
|
|||
|
|
cloth.
|
|||
|
|
A related document, used in my estimate of Bob Larson's income, is Larson's
|
|||
|
|
agreement with Thomas Nelson concerning Dead Air. It is not particularly
|
|||
|
|
scintillating as bed-time reading goes, but it betrays a fascinating
|
|||
|
|
self-assessment of the moral bankruptcy of his behavior.
|
|||
|
|
The standard book royalty contract contains a morals clause, which gives the
|
|||
|
|
publisher the right to terminate the contract if the author engages in unseemly
|
|||
|
|
conduct. This is taken from Thomas Nelson's pre-printed agreement:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Author is
|
|||
|
|
publicly accused of an act of moral turpitude, the violation of
|
|||
|
|
any law or any other conduct which subjects or could be reason
|
|||
|
|
ably anticipated to subject author or Publisher to public ridi-
|
|||
|
|
cule, contempt, scorn, hatred or censure, or could materially
|
|||
|
|
diminish the potential sales of the Work, Publisher shall have
|
|||
|
|
the right to terminate the terms of this agreement...."14
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Most authors don't have that many 'skeletons' in their closets, and such a
|
|||
|
|
clause is rarely disturbed. But Bob Larson, probably knowing that his sins were
|
|||
|
|
likely to find him out, made a point to alter that clause as follows:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Author is
|
|||
|
|
indicted for, or it is proven that he has engaged in acts of
|
|||
|
|
moral turpitude or he acknowledges such, or of said event, Pub
|
|||
|
|
lisher shall have the right to terminate the terms of this
|
|||
|
|
agreement....[alterations in italics]"15
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Larson also had a special clause written into the contract which is worthy of
|
|||
|
|
note -- not because it is particularly unusual, but rather, because it is
|
|||
|
|
evidence that Bob Larson Ministries does not benefit in any material way from
|
|||
|
|
the sales of Bob's books:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"XXVI. SPECIAL SALES
|
|||
|
|
Communications Consultants Group, Inc. may purchase copies of
|
|||
|
|
the book [Dead Air] at the following special discounts:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1-1,000 copies at a discount of sixty percent (60%) off sug-
|
|||
|
|
gested retail price;
|
|||
|
|
1,000-2,500 copies at a discount of sixty-five percent (65%)
|
|||
|
|
off suggested retail price, provided that the purchase is part
|
|||
|
|
of the Publisher's print run;
|
|||
|
|
Over 2,500 copies at a discount of seventy-five percent (75%)
|
|||
|
|
off the suggested retail price, provided that the purchase is
|
|||
|
|
part of the Publisher's print run.
|
|||
|
|
No royalty shall be paid on these sales."16
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
And of course, it should come as no surprise that the sole owner of
|
|||
|
|
Communications Consultants Group is one Bobby E. Larson.17 Despite the fact
|
|||
|
|
that Ministry employees wrote the book on Ministry time, Bob Larson Ministries,
|
|||
|
|
like everyone else, stood out in the cold.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Secular Bob" -- The Singapore Sting?
|
|||
|
|
Most of the documents are mundane business records: correspondence, internal
|
|||
|
|
memos, show lists, supplier contracts ... the kind of information a typical
|
|||
|
|
American business throws away as a matter of course. And, like pottery shards
|
|||
|
|
at an archaeological site, they mean little in and of themselves ... but when
|
|||
|
|
you put them together, they paint a frighteningly accurate picture.
|
|||
|
|
Most of the bits and pieces are illustrative, like the resum<75> which Larson
|
|||
|
|
supposedly provided to publisher Thomas Nelson indicating that he attended the
|
|||
|
|
University of Nebraska from 1962-196418 (in fact, his freshman year was spent at
|
|||
|
|
McCook Junior College, and he dropped out of the University of Nebraska in
|
|||
|
|
September of 1964).19 I doubt that Nelson gave a damn about Bob's lack of
|
|||
|
|
education, but Bob has no compunctions about lying to anyone at any time
|
|||
|
|
whenever he feels it will serve his purposes. And on the radio, it usually
|
|||
|
|
does.
|
|||
|
|
Bob told us just how bad things were on April 14, 1994:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Now, I looked back at the statistics over the last couple of
|
|||
|
|
years on this particular week -- 'tax week' -- and they're bad.
|
|||
|
|
They're really bad! And part of me says, 'Bob Larson, why would
|
|||
|
|
you pick a week like this as the critical week to evaluate the
|
|||
|
|
stations of this network as to who is going to be able to con-
|
|||
|
|
tinue carrying Talk-Back? And why would you launch this unpre-
|
|||
|
|
cedented incredible opportunity in secular broadcasting?' Well,
|
|||
|
|
folks, I didn't pick the date and the time. In fact, if I would
|
|||
|
|
have had my druthers, I'd have been happy to have waited...."20
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A quick check of the Ministry's weekly statistics for 1991 and 1992 suggests
|
|||
|
|
otherwise:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Week 1991 1992
|
|||
|
|
Number TOTAL $ TOTAL $
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
1 $ 62,312 $ 32,582
|
|||
|
|
2 56,377 38,968
|
|||
|
|
3 43,751 39,731
|
|||
|
|
4 42,425 35,936
|
|||
|
|
5 61,866 39,965
|
|||
|
|
6 40,011 44,241
|
|||
|
|
7 32,056 40,598
|
|||
|
|
8 48,229 34,680
|
|||
|
|
9 57,241 27,052
|
|||
|
|
10 50,029 36,716
|
|||
|
|
11 39,164 35,122
|
|||
|
|
12 47,230 40,444
|
|||
|
|
13 65,023 33,623
|
|||
|
|
14 66,257 40,073
|
|||
|
|
15 57,854 38,352
|
|||
|
|
16 75,046 35,277
|
|||
|
|
17 63,444 46,721
|
|||
|
|
18 69,711 33,117
|
|||
|
|
(wks 19-38 omitted)
|
|||
|
|
Totals: ---------- ----------
|
|||
|
|
Thru 38 wks. $ 1,883,961 $ 1,302,709"21
|
|||
|
|
========== ==========
|
|||
|
|
Weekly Ave. 49,577 34,282
|
|||
|
|
========== ==========
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Historically, April 15th has been an auspicious time for Bob's ministry: In
|
|||
|
|
1992, donations for that week ran 36% ahead of average, and in 1991, the week
|
|||
|
|
before tax day (the 16th or 17th week of the year, depending upon the calendar)
|
|||
|
|
was his second-best of the year. And it makes sense, when you think about it --
|
|||
|
|
most people get their refunds in late March or early April. But if Bob doesn't
|
|||
|
|
face a 'crisis', he is obliged to invent one.
|
|||
|
|
Larson's bread-and-butter ploy is threatening to cancel any station that
|
|||
|
|
doesn't meet its air-time costs. Long-time Talk-Back listeners should recall
|
|||
|
|
times when Bob has claimed that thirty, forty, and even fifty percent of his
|
|||
|
|
stations have fallen far short. But despite his advertised ruthlessness, as
|
|||
|
|
this memo suggests, the stations are surprisingly hardy perennials:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"TO: BOB, ANGELO, LORI, MARGO, BONNIE, LAURA T., DEEANN,
|
|||
|
|
CHRIS, LISA
|
|||
|
|
FROM: PAM K. [IBN Director Pam Koczman]
|
|||
|
|
RE: STATION CANCELLATION STATUS
|
|||
|
|
DATE: 5-20-92
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Seven cancellation letters have been sent out in May. Of these
|
|||
|
|
seven, four have lowered rates or opted out to revenue share
|
|||
|
|
with our premium costs taken out and with limits on total
|
|||
|
|
monies sent to them. Previously for 1992 we had already can-
|
|||
|
|
celled two other stations for lack of support (WSHO, New
|
|||
|
|
Orleans and KOPY in Austin). (Nine total stations have been
|
|||
|
|
cancelled because of lack of financial support.) The stations
|
|||
|
|
receiving letters of cancellation are listed below:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. WBFJ - Winston/Salem, NC - Letter of Amendment - PI basis
|
|||
|
|
through August 31, 1992. Then re-negotiate.
|
|||
|
|
2. WOLY - Battle Creek, MI - June, July, August go to $10 a
|
|||
|
|
day instead of $20.
|
|||
|
|
3. WRKP - Wheeling, WV - Letter of Amendment to a PI basis
|
|||
|
|
June July and August.
|
|||
|
|
4. WXLN - Louisville, KY - Letter of Amendment to do $20/day
|
|||
|
|
instead of $35.
|
|||
|
|
5. KTSJ - Pomona, CA - John Boyd has not responded to cancel-
|
|||
|
|
lation letter. We pay $40 per day for both hours. We do
|
|||
|
|
not want to keep unless they carry for free.
|
|||
|
|
6. WSCW - South Charleston, WV - They are accepting cancella
|
|||
|
|
tion for June 12, 1992.
|
|||
|
|
7. KJAY - West Sacramento, CA - 3-month non-cancellable is up
|
|||
|
|
June 30, 1992. Letter has been sent stating we discontinue
|
|||
|
|
at that time.
|
|||
|
|
_______________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
|
OTHER MARKETS WHERE WE ARE EXPERIENCING LOSSES YTD BUT WEREN'T
|
|||
|
|
SENT LETTERS OF CANCELLATION YET BECAUSE THEY REDUCED THE RATE
|
|||
|
|
FOR A PROBATIONARY PERIOD.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. KIEV - LA - $1440 per day reduced to $1100 per day- June
|
|||
|
|
through August.
|
|||
|
|
2. WPIT - Pittsburgh - $210 per day for both hours now reduced
|
|||
|
|
to $160 per day June through August.
|
|||
|
|
3. KDAZ - Albuquerque - $100 per day for both hours now
|
|||
|
|
reduced to $75 per day June through August.
|
|||
|
|
4. WFUR - Grand Rapids, MI - $50/2nd hr. to $30/hr. May
|
|||
|
|
through August [other stations omitted for brevity] ...
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The above stations are all the stations not bringing in a plus
|
|||
|
|
margin YTD at the end of April. These 18 are all the stations
|
|||
|
|
we have to trim away extra expense.
|
|||
|
|
I realize you are using the campaign of every station pled
|
|||
|
|
ging a gift everyday which I think is working when you read
|
|||
|
|
those you didn't hear from. By the end of summer if the above
|
|||
|
|
stations have not recouped or rebounded, then I suggest you go
|
|||
|
|
back to listing these stations which aren't going to make
|
|||
|
|
it."22
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The cancellation letters are thus simple negotiation tools, permitting Bob to
|
|||
|
|
play hard-ball with both stations and listeners. According to a September 9,
|
|||
|
|
1992 memo, BLM added 22 stations year-to-date, while losing only 19.23 Of the
|
|||
|
|
19, only 6 were cancelled by BLM, and 'lost' markets (e.g., Lansing, MI) were
|
|||
|
|
recaptured shortly thereafter. Bob is secretly building his empire, while
|
|||
|
|
publicly proclaiming that it is burning down.
|
|||
|
|
So, Bob told a fib. So, Bob told lots of them. What's the point? What is
|
|||
|
|
the point??? As Rush Limbaugh is wont to put it, it's character. In a recent
|
|||
|
|
Time editorial, Charles Krauthammer places the character issue into perspective,
|
|||
|
|
as it relates to Larson's favorite whipping-boy:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Why Whitewater Matters
|
|||
|
|
At the heart of the Clinton presidency lies an oddity. Bill
|
|||
|
|
Clinton has been plagued by questions of character and trust
|
|||
|
|
worthiness throughout his career. He earned the name Slick
|
|||
|
|
Willie long before he ran for the White House. The man who
|
|||
|
|
'didn't inhale' is a man the public does not trust. His slick
|
|||
|
|
ness is such a given that in a column defending the President,
|
|||
|
|
Michael Kinsley quite casually, indeed parenthetically, con
|
|||
|
|
cedes that Clinton all but lied about Gennifer Flowers.
|
|||
|
|
And yet this is a presidency that makes a public fetish of
|
|||
|
|
its virtuousness. The Clintons really do believe they are
|
|||
|
|
doing God's work on health care, welfare, national service,
|
|||
|
|
etc. and those who oppose them do so for the most venal, usu
|
|||
|
|
ally pecuniary, motives. They really do believe theirs is the
|
|||
|
|
politics of virtue. Hillary Clinton spent so much time cham-
|
|||
|
|
pioning the politics of virtue that she earned a cover photo-
|
|||
|
|
graph in the New York Times Magazine last year showing her
|
|||
|
|
dressed in purest white, with the accompanying article head-
|
|||
|
|
lined SAINT HILLARY.
|
|||
|
|
It is this contradiction between the claim to saintliness and
|
|||
|
|
the evidence of slickness that gives the Whitewater affair such
|
|||
|
|
drama and urgency. We would not be half so interested in the
|
|||
|
|
personal failings and shady dealings of a First Family that did
|
|||
|
|
not so insistently engage in arrogant, high-handed moralism....
|
|||
|
|
[Whitewater] is a tangled web of, for now, obscure dealings
|
|||
|
|
involving political favors, real estate speculation, and con-
|
|||
|
|
flicts of interest--with a dead man. It is important less for
|
|||
|
|
its possible criminal violations than for the light it sheds on
|
|||
|
|
the ethical norms, the greed and ambition, of our moral betters
|
|||
|
|
in the White House. [emphasis added]"24
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
If the White House should be a bastion of morality, then the pulpit certainly
|
|||
|
|
ought to be. When a minister of the Gospel finds the truth to be a 'cross' too
|
|||
|
|
heavy to bear, perhaps it is time for him to find another line of work. And
|
|||
|
|
what Bob says about Bill Clinton, we might likewise say to him:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Nothing would make me happier than to see the President get
|
|||
|
|
on national television and say, 'I have sinned! I have sinned!
|
|||
|
|
I've sinned against God, and I've sinned against this country.
|
|||
|
|
I ask your forgiveness. I'm going to change. ... I'm going to
|
|||
|
|
apologize to you for lying about what I did, with smoking pot
|
|||
|
|
and the affairs I've had ... God has forgiven me, and I am
|
|||
|
|
going to be the Godly president God wants me to be...."25
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In the same way you judge others, Bob, you will be judged (Mt. 7:2,
|
|||
|
|
NIV)....
|
|||
|
|
_____________________________________________________________________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ENDNOTES
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1"Gospel Grapevine," Brother Randall, ed., Snake Oil, Issue 2, p. 14:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"STOP THE PRESSES. The following report ran Friday, November
|
|||
|
|
5, 7:25 am on WFAA Channel 8 in Dallas: 'Lawyers for TV evan-
|
|||
|
|
gelist Bob Tilton go to court this morning in Houston. Candice
|
|||
|
|
Caminati of Houston claims Tilton raped her when she worked for
|
|||
|
|
him in 1982. She claims she never filed a complaint because
|
|||
|
|
Tilton paid her hush money for 11 years. Lawyers for ex-fol-
|
|||
|
|
lowers of Tilton want to talk to Caminati. They believe she
|
|||
|
|
could help in their lawsuits against the minister.' That same
|
|||
|
|
evening Channel 8 retracted the story saying, 'We broadcast
|
|||
|
|
that report without first speaking to Caminati or Tilton.
|
|||
|
|
Today spokesmen for Caminati and Tilton deny the statements.
|
|||
|
|
The report was broadcast as a result of a mistake by Channel 8.
|
|||
|
|
Channel 8 retracts the report in its entirety, and we apologize
|
|||
|
|
to Candice Caminati and Robert Tilton for our error'." [Inter-
|
|||
|
|
esting, no?]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2Muriel Olson, Memorandum (to Bob Larson), 2 Apr. 1990, pp. 1-2.
|
|||
|
|
3Bob Larson, Memorandum (to Muriel Olson), 12 Mar. 1990, pp. 1-2.
|
|||
|
|
4William T. Abbott, Letter (to Bob Larson), 8 Jul. 1991, pp. 1-2.
|
|||
|
|
5Jay Grelen and Doug LeBlanc, "This Is Me, This Is Real," World, Vol.
|
|||
|
|
7, No. 32, 23 Jan. 1993, p. 9 (hereinafter, "World").
|
|||
|
|
6Jon Trott, "Bob Larson's Ministry Comes Under Scrutiny," Corner
|
|||
|
|
stone, Vol. 21, Issue 100, p. 41 (advance copy, courtesy Jon Trott)
|
|||
|
|
(hereinafter, "Cornerstone").
|
|||
|
|
7World, p. 9.
|
|||
|
|
8Bob Larson, "Talk-Back With Bob Larson" (radio broadcast), 28 Jul.
|
|||
|
|
1993.
|
|||
|
|
9Complaint at 2-3, Bob Larson Ministries v. Boespflug, No. 93 CV 442
|
|||
|
|
(Jefferson County (Colo.) Dist. Ct., filed 5 Mar. 1993).
|
|||
|
|
10Cornerstone, p. 41.
|
|||
|
|
11"Margo" [Hamilton], Memorandum (to Bob Larson), 16 Jun. 1992, p. 1.
|
|||
|
|
11aMk. 10:11-12; see also, e.g., Mt. 5:32, Lk. 16:18 (although the
|
|||
|
|
innocent victim of an adulterous spouse is allowed to remarry).
|
|||
|
|
12Affidavit With Respect to the Financial Affairs of Bobby E. Larson
|
|||
|
|
at 1-14, Larson v. Larson, No. 91 DR 226 (Jefferson County (Colo.)
|
|||
|
|
Dist. Ct., filed 28 Jan. 1991). (The document in question was filed
|
|||
|
|
on July 18, 1991; the divorce file itself was sealed by order of the
|
|||
|
|
Court on 13 Feb. 1992. Larson's SSN is altered for obvious reasons.)
|
|||
|
|
13Michael Roberts, "The Evil That Men Do," Westword, May 27-Jun 2,
|
|||
|
|
1992, p. 12.
|
|||
|
|
14Thomas Nelson Communications, Agreement (with Bob Larson), 27 Feb.
|
|||
|
|
1990, p. 5 (portions of standard contract typed over with x's).
|
|||
|
|
15Ibid., ibid.
|
|||
|
|
16Ibid., p. 8.
|
|||
|
|
17Records can be obtained from the Colorado Secretary of State [(303)
|
|||
|
|
894-2251]
|
|||
|
|
18"Thomas Nelson Author Information," undated, p. 1.
|
|||
|
|
19World, p. 11.
|
|||
|
|
20Bob Larson, "Talk-Back With Bob Larson" (radio broadcast), 14 Apr.
|
|||
|
|
1994 (tape on file).
|
|||
|
|
21Bob Larson Ministries Graphs: 1991-1992 Comparisons, Spreadsheet,
|
|||
|
|
undated (The figures represent pledges made during Talb-Back
|
|||
|
|
broadcasts, which until recently have accounted for roughly one-half
|
|||
|
|
of BLM revenues).
|
|||
|
|
[Everyday financial reports speak volumes about the "ministry" that
|
|||
|
|
bears Bob's name, and what they tell us is not often kind. Consider
|
|||
|
|
the following memo:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NOVE
|
|||
|
|
BOB LARSON MINISTRIES
|
|||
|
|
FOR HALF THE DONATIONS POSTED THRU 07/21/92
|
|||
|
|
July 22, 1992
|
|||
|
|
20%
|
|||
|
|
RADIO STATIONS RSP DONATIONS EXPENSE PREM COST MARGIN
|
|||
|
|
__________________________________________________________ __________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ANON Anonymous 1 20.00 20.00
|
|||
|
|
K108 Honolulu, HI
|
|||
|
|
KALV Alvis, OK
|
|||
|
|
KARI Blaine, WA 27 948.12 645.84 189.62 112.66
|
|||
|
|
KATB Anchorage, AK 102 12,078.87 1,207.96 2,415.79 8,455.22
|
|||
|
|
KAYR Ft. Smith, AK 9 335.00 0.00 67.00 268.00
|
|||
|
|
KBBO Yakima, WA 2 80.00 16.00 64.00
|
|||
|
|
KBBW Waco, TX 49 1,692.31 1,275.90 338.46 77.95
|
|||
|
|
KBLE Seattle, WA 203 9,931.64 2,300.00 1,986.33 5,645.31
|
|||
|
|
KCBC Springfield, MO 1 15.00 3.00 12.00
|
|||
|
|
KCFO Tulsa, OK 48 3,569.38 1,840.00 713.88 1,015.50
|
|||
|
|
KCRO Omaha, NB 48 3,211.05 2,668.00 642.21 -99.16
|
|||
|
|
KCVO Camdenton, MO 4 170.00 34.00 136.00
|
|||
|
|
KDAZ Albuquerque, NM 40 1,334.12 1,725.00 266.82 -657.70
|
|||
|
|
KDBS Alexandria, LA 1 40.00 8.00 32.00
|
|||
|
|
KOMI Des Moines, IA 43 1,016.40 460.00 203.28 353.12
|
|||
|
|
KELP El Paso, TX 22 1,877.56 1,150.00 375.51 352.05
|
|||
|
|
KERI Bakersfield, CA 149 5,363.19 3,783.50 1,072.64 507.05
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[other key cities]
|
|||
|
|
KIEV Los Angeles, CA 150 7,765.59 25,300.00 1,553.12 -19,087.53
|
|||
|
|
KLTT Denver, CO 133 5,057.66 4,140.00 1,011.53 -93.87
|
|||
|
|
K_NP Portland, OR 105 4,724.83 3,850.00 944.87 -70.14
|
|||
|
|
KPLA Oakland, CA 138 9,945.52 5,000.00 1,989.10 2,956.42
|
|||
|
|
KVTT Dallas, TX 540 33,739.11 1,666.68 6,747.82 25,324.61
|
|||
|
|
KXEG Phoenix, AZ 129 6,000.59 1,840.00 1,200.12 2,960.47
|
|||
|
|
WCVO New Albany, OH 139 5,875.42 0.00 1,175.08 4,700.34
|
|||
|
|
WDCT Washington, DC 34 1,688.55 1,955.00 337.71 -604.16
|
|||
|
|
WDRZ Cleveland, TN 33 8,123.80 2,070.00 1,624.76 4,429.04
|
|||
|
|
WFIF New Haven, CT 37 4,560.24 1,943.50 912.05 1,704.69
|
|||
|
|
WLQV Detroit, MI 36 2,307.59 1,656.00 461.52 190.07
|
|||
|
|
WLVJ W. Palm Bch., FL 41 1,710.51 3,933.00 342.10 -2,564.59
|
|||
|
|
WPIT Pittsburg 68 2,919.12 3,680.00 583.82 -1,344.70
|
|||
|
|
WTOF Canton, OH 116 8,591.14 3,565.00 1,718.23 3,307.91
|
|||
|
|
---- --------- --------- --------- ----------
|
|||
|
|
TOTAL (all cities) 4,628 247,356.35 145,309.43 49,471.27 52,575.65
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Two-thirds of the way through the month, Larson covered his monthly
|
|||
|
|
air time costs, with plenty to spare. Moreover, with the obvious exceptions
|
|||
|
|
of Los Angeles and a few East Coast cities, nearly every station contributed to the bottom line. And that is why Bob so rarely cancels stations, despite
|
|||
|
|
his constant whining to the contrary.
|
|||
|
|
His track record in individual cities is of interest as well. Dal
|
|||
|
|
las stands out like a sore thumb: Bob grosses nearly $50,000 a month
|
|||
|
|
there, and doesn't pay a dime for air time. He does give the station
|
|||
|
|
regular gifts, but they don't even come close to the value of the air
|
|||
|
|
time that KVTT gives him. The second is Los Angeles -- which was one
|
|||
|
|
of his top markets prior to his divorce. Bob doesn't do that well in
|
|||
|
|
secular markets, which is why he is going to have to make significant
|
|||
|
|
format changes to give Bob Larson Live a chance to succeed. Third is
|
|||
|
|
his unexpected strength in markets like Anchorage, Seattle, and other
|
|||
|
|
West Coast cities, as compared with the East. I understand that the
|
|||
|
|
hours between 5:00 and 7:00 P.M. are considered as "garbage time" for
|
|||
|
|
purposes of talk radio; drive-time listeners want weather reports and
|
|||
|
|
traffic updates.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
22Pam K. [Koczman], Memorandum, 20 Apr. 1992.
|
|||
|
|
23"1992 General Talk-Back Station Info Update," Memorandum (to Bob),
|
|||
|
|
9 Sep. 1992.
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24Charles Krauthammer, "Why Whitewater Matters," Time, 28 Mar. 1994,
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p. 76 (material particularly applicable to Larson is emphasized).
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25Bob Larson, "Talk-Back With Bob Larson" (radio broadcast), 19 Apr.
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1994.
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_____________________________________________________________________
|
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|
|
Copyright 1994 Kenneth L. Smith. All rights reserved. Copying is
|
|||
|
|
permitted for non-commercial use only. Please direct your questions
|
|||
|
|
to the author at P.O. Box 280305, Lakewood, CO 80228. Posted by
|
|||
|
|
Scott Mikusko: 21922sm@msu.edu or smikusko@nyx.cs.du.edu
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------<GwD Command Centers>------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
Chaos (806)###-#### | PCI (806)794-1438
|
|||
|
|
GridPoint Durant (405)920-1347 | The Sprawl (806)797-0820
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|
Federation Slayers' (806)885-2954 | Tacoland (215)750-0392
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The Snake's Den (806)793-3779 | The Lagoon (203)638-3712
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The Siege Perilous (806)762-0948 | Altered Reality (203)925-8349
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|
|||
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Pirate's Cove (806)795-4926 | Static Line (806)747-0802
|
|||
|
|
PCI (806)794-1438 |
|
|||
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
ftp =-= etext.archive.umich.edu /pub/Zines/Greeny
|
|||
|
|
ftp.fc.net /pub/deadkat/misc/GWD
|
|||
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
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|
|
/---------------\
|
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|
|
Published by GwD, Inc. in September 1995 :FIGHT THE POWER:
|
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|
|
GREENY world Domination Task Force copyright (c) 1993 by Lobo : GwD :
|
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|
|
\---------------/
|
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GwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwDGwD46
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