Pro-Life 'Chefs' Exiting the Pampered Life

Agape Press ^ | June 16, 2003 | Rusty Pugh and Jody Brown

[2Smart2BLiberal]

Actually, the main reason Doris chose to sell TPC is because neither of her daughters want to take over the company and she realizes how important the long-term existence of Pampered Chef is to many, many families who rely on it for income, myself included. Doris is in her late 50's and wanted the company to continue to prosper indefinitely. I believe that in her mind, she did the wisest thing possible. I think the abortion issue took her by surprise.

I gave this whole Warren Buffett thing a lot of thought when it first surfaced last year and decided that my family has been immeasurably blessed by Pampered Chef. I'm able to stay home with my children, which would not be AT ALL possible without that income. Further, if all Christians left Pampered Chef, who would be left? What kind of witness would that be? God is in control of this company, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, and the future. WB may have plans for his money once he's gone, but ultimately, God is in control.

Personally, I think it's more effective to take action against abortion in concrete ways in our own backyard -- donating money to crisis pregnancy centers and pro-life organizations, campaigning and voting for pro-life candidates, even adopting. Not buying a Blizzard may make one feel a little self-righteous for a moment, but in the bigger picture, it's meaningless.

When I was researching this issue, I found it totally weird that the richest people on the planet are so into this global population control thing -- Buffett, the Packards (Hewlitt-Packard), Ted Turner, even Bill Gates. What on earth are these people afraid of??

[STD]

Live it up my sister! Your sin will see the light. You have prostituted the love of money for the fruit of this world. There is no gray area for born again Christians! I'm sick to death of the Christian opportunists that hide within the body, only to surface to use the church mailing lists and women's groups to prosper. Your statement says it all

Personally, I think it's more effective to take action against abortion in concrete ways in our own backyard -- donating money to crisis pregnancy centers and pro-life organizations, campaigning and voting for pro-life candidates, even adopting. Not buying a Blizzard may make one feel a little self-righteous for a moment, but in the bigger picture, it's meaningless.

First, you are doing thousands of dollars a month of business. Theblizzard you speak of is in sales to other Christians. Will your paltry donations and vague political notions ease your guilty concious? I hope not! None the less, I'll pray for you to do the right thing. You will be convicted in prayer should you decide to seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ,

DrMike

[Guenevere]

#21...Does it get easier & easier to compromise?

When, may I ask, did you contribute time or money to a crisis pregnancy center?

..stand as witness in front of an abortion clinic?

...work to elect a pro-life candidate?

...I think I know the answer.

[q_an_a]

The company will tank. the old owner will take it back for a fraction of its original price or start a new one when the non compete is over.

But you are right on about knowing your buyer. The seller forgot that her fortune came from all those church ladies, my wife goes to their parties or orders regularly, will find something else to sell. She should have been thinking that evil comes in all shapes.

[Alex Murphy]

When I was researching this issue, I found it totally weird that the richest people on the planet are so into this global population control thing -- Buffett, the Packards (Hewlitt-Packard), Ted Turner, even Bill Gates. What on earth are these people afraid of??

Somebody else becoming richer than them?

[Ann Archy]

I detest people like Warren Buffet who are for population control. If they think there are too many people in this world, why do;'t they OFF themselves?? HYPOCRITES. I believe he also owns Helzberg's Jewlery Co.

God Bless the people not doing business with Warren Buffet.

[Aquinasfan]

Her actions are commendable. However, we have no control over what merchants do with the money that we give them in exchange for their products and services. We are not morally responsible for what they do with their money, they are. Her actions are meritorious but not necessary.

[Slyfox]

Doris didn't have a few top lieutenants she could have trained to manage her venture while she slipped into retirement? Now she will have a lot of work to do after the business dips, she takes it back and after having lost some great gals because of Buffet.

Phyllis Schlafly is in a different sort of organization, but she has some tremendous 'clones' who will do the job when she is no longer able to carry on. Doris should've tapped into the women who helped her to make Pampered Chef a great business.

[Redbob]

Dairy Queen, See's Candy, and Fruit of the Loom?

I think I see a connection here...

[ReagansShinyHair]

This post is directed really at you and the others who disagree with you. I see both sides of the situation, I don't think you should get slammed right away and I don't think that for sure you're blameless.

I agree with the person who said that we're not ultimately morally responsible for what somebody does with money after we give it to them or purchase something from them. If my church does something wrong with the money I give them...well, I gave it in faith to God, and there's not much I can do about that. However, I'm not going to give them more after that (I'll find someone else), and if it's bad enough I won't even go to that church any more. Once you know, you need to be responsible.

I think it's the same with business. If I don't know what they're spending the money on, then I can't be held responsible. Once I know, I feel very responsible. Are you sure there are no other options? Why not switch to Partylites or Home and Garden Parties or something like that? You can still be a good example within the sell-from-home community without actually working for PC. There are many ways to stay at home, and if that is God's plan for you then he'll find a way for you to do it. Without compromising. Maybe if you switched the other companies would be just as bad, and you'd find out something about them, too. But at least you would have tried your best.

I don't think that all people always have to quit right away, just because a company has done something bad. I would give a church a chance, and I would give a business a chance. If someone worked for See's Candy, would they have to quit right away? No, I don't think so. They could try to have an impact there in the business, and try to rally other employees together to protest against where the money goes. It's easy for us to think up excuses for why we can stay, but there are legitimate reasons to stay as well, I think. You've just got to be sure you know when you are compromising and when you are honestly trying to make a difference.

If somebody doesn't agree that sometimes you do have to work for and help people who are not doing good things, then I think they are a bit hasty in their judgements. Sometimes you do get stuck in a bad situation for a while and you have to make the best of it. 2Smart2BLiberal may just be trying to do that, and I'm not going to cast the first stone and get all Holier Than Thou. What about Daniel and Joseph? They worked for some naughty bosses. They were stuck in that position, however, it wasn't like they could just leave. What about Matthew the tax collector? I didn't see Jesus telling him to quit...but he did call him a sinner in reference to him being a traitorous tax collector, so you can make the call on that one.

Now I am probably going to have to duck from some flames over this part, but I don't see what's the big deal about Pampered Chef, anyway. It's a bunch of overpriced stuff that mostly just clutters up my kitchen. I honestly couldn't sell such overpriced stuff with a good conscience. I would always be telling people to go buy it on sale at CookNStuff instead for 1/3rd the cost. That's why I'm not in sales.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I have admiration for those who are quitting Pampered Chef on principle, that is a choice that they are making that is glorious. But I will remind those who are demanding this type of action to listen to the words of Paul the Apostle:

Rom 14:1-8

1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.
8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

We are not to judge each other on matters of personal faith. Paul is clear on this that there are matters of faith that are not clear and each person must determine between them and God what is right. And once they have determined that, they are not to condemn others who have determined differently. Christians are not to behave this way, this behavior drives those that need Christ away from Christ and his Church.

[SauronOfMordor]

she realizes how important the long-term existence of Pampered Chef is to many, many families who rely on it for income, myself included

Are you contractually prevented from switching to distributing something else?

[MrLeRoy]

"It's not between me and Warren Buffet, it's between me and God," Gillespie says. "I cannot bow before the Lord when I get to heaven and have Him look me in the eye and say, 'You knew that your money was going to fund abortion.' And that's why I'm quitting the Pampered Chef."

Bravo!

[hayseed]

I have read Free Republic for years and I am amazed at the self-righteousness of some of you. If you don't like Pampered Chef, I assure you, you are in the minority. But, you, just like Warren Buffet are entitled to your opinions and entitled to spend your own money on anything you like. Are you going to burn your house down because it was made with Acme Brick, also a BH company? I doubt it. All of these post and articles also forgot to mention Justin Boots. Probably because alot of you are wearing them as we speak and would never throw them away because they are the best boots made.

I have been with The Pampered Chef for 9 wonderful years. I tell people all the time what a gift from God my job with Pampered has been. I am a born again, pro life Christian on my way to a Vacation Bible School meeting this afternoon. I teach Sunday School and a class for 5 year olds on Wednesday. I do all of this because of my love for the Lord and for children. But on Tuesday and Thursday of most weeks, I am showing people how to make quick easy meals using the best kitchen tools on the market today. I show them that even the busiest families can sit down together to a meal and still have time for ball games and all the other things that take up our our precious time. I spread the family meal time message to thousands of people a year and I am proud of the products I sell and of the company for which I sell them. None of these articles or post have mentioned all the good Pampered Chef does. Do any of you know that we are the largest cash contributor to the Second Harvest Food Bank? Do any of you know that we have contributed millions to the American Cancer Society for the prevention of breast cancer? Do any of you know that the Christopher's personally donated over $15 Million to a Christian college in Chicago that is dedicated to educating Christian school teachers and to the Family Resiliency program at the University of Illinois? This is not to mention the money that is given every single week in tithes to churches all over the country from other Christian Chefs.

My point is that unless you are willing to research the charitable giving of every single place you do business. Your doctor, your gas station, your grocery store etc.... and would be willing to give them up if you don't agree with what they do with their personal wealth, DON'T BASH THE PAMPERED CHEF!!! You will not agree TOTALLY with any of them and that is your opinion and your right. I am not saying those VERY FEW that have quit their Pampered Chef jobs are wrong. Again, they are entitled to do what they think is right and form their own opinion. I also applaud the efforts of those trying to get the Buffet Foundation to change it's giving practices. As for me, I will be with the Pampered Chef for the next 25 years and will focus on all the good things my company, my personal business practices and my personal donations will do. As for you PC bashers, I am sure I won't be hearing from you as you will no longer use your PC since it was probably bought from HP or Microsoft and they also support Planned Parenthood.

By the way, my sister and I both sell PC and between us have done almost 2,000 shows and have thousands of customers. Neither of us have not lost a single show or had one single customer even mention Berkshire Hathaway. And I live in the buckle of the bible belt! So for those of you salivating over the impending demise of Pampered Chef, you may have to wait for quite a while. But, like a previous post mentioned: God is in control of everything and you never know what the future holds. Have a nice day everyone!

Mrs. Dee Hohn
Independent Senior Sales Director with The Pampered Chef
(And proud of it!!)

[2Smart2BLiberal]

Thank you! Those exact verses came to my mind last night while I was reading Dr. Mike's "Christlike" response. It's the job of the Holy Spirit to convict. Satan condemns.

It's a little ironic that only a few months ago you all would have commended me for giving up a fulltime job to stay at home with my two little ones and, beginning next year, to homeschool my oldest. I would have gotten numerous pats on the back. However, with a couple of signatures on a contract, I am now being condemned by you because the ownership of our company changed hands.

So, I guess to become righteous in your eyes, I could quit Pampered Chef. Of course then I'd be required to get a fulltime job to replace my current income. That would mean I'd have to put my little ones (ages 1 and 4) in fulltime daycare. Then I'd be unrighteous again. Since my degree and background is in public education, I'd have to get a job teaching. I guess then I'd be forever condemned in your eyes. Oh, but I could always teach in a Christian school, and earn half of what a public school pays. Then I'd be righteous. But working fulltime would make it nearly impossible to homeschool. Uh oh. Unrighteous again.

It's a good thing I've been depending on the Holy Spirit to convict me, or not, as to my participation with the Pampered Chef. I cannot believe that God is directing each and every Christian who works for See's Candy, Geico, American Express, Dairy Queen, etc. to give up their jobs because their companies are owned, in whole or part, by Berkshire Hathaway. Who would be left? Who would be the "salt" in those companies? By the way, when Jesus told his followers to render unto Caesar that which was Caesar's, surely he knew the evil nature of the Roman Empire.

In an article published yesterday, I read that Ted Turner is not going to do any charitable giving this year due to tough times for his company. These billionaires may think they're gods, but they do God's bidding without realizing it. That's why I'm not afraid of Warren Buffett's money or his intentions. Ultimately, God will direct his path.

One more comment. Those of you who have so roundly condemned me, take a look at your computer. Are you enriching Bill Gates by using a Microsoft platform? Is there Microsoft software on your computer? Are you enriching the Packard foundation by using a Packard Bell or Hewlitt Packard product? You're demanding that I quit a business that provides for myself and my family, but are you willing to take a much smaller step to back up your convictions? I thought not.

[stands2reason]

Wow. That's not something I could do, even though I'm not a Christian. I was left sterile from an abortion 16 years ago. The pain it has caused me and even my husband (I won't be able to bear his namesake) makes it impossible for me to contribute even a little to abortionists.

Not buying a Blizzard may make one feel a little self-righteous for a moment, but in the bigger picture, it's meaningless.

Meaningless? Since when is the proper care of one's soul meaningless?

[stands2reason]

Thank you for reminding me why I'm not a Christian.

[BearArms]

Live it up my sister! Your sin will see the light. You have prostituted the love of money for the fruit of this world. There is no gray area for born again Christians!

2Smart2BLiberal brought up an excellent point. I don't know how many of you are aware, but Bill Gates has set up a foundation funded by a huge chunk of his Microsoft fortune that heavily contributes to abortion/pro-choice groups. That means that, by your standard, any of you who happen to be using Microsoft software right now to read this message have contributed to abortion.

And it doesn't stop there. If you do some research, you'll see that a great number of familiar corporations have given to organizations like Planned Parenthood and it's international counterparts. To be pure on this, you'd basically have to throw out most of your possessions and move to the mountains, essentially. So, is there some gray area here after all, or not?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

The pain it has caused me and even my husband (I won't be able to bear his namesake) makes it impossible for me to contribute even a little to abortionists.

So when you buy new windshield wipers at an auto store, and that money goes to the salary of an employee who then buys a Blizzard, that is unacceptable to you?

[agrace]

Oh come on, that's hardly comparable.