I made a mistake on my post it was March 1st that Goofy Cyndi gave the sermon! Welcome WW! It's really sad to hear your story as you would think your pastors would have more compassion for their flock. I grew up in churches were the pastors were always available especially to those whose loved ones were dying. After all it's the time you need someone the most. They are completely selfish and self centered.

Welcome to the forum, W W. It is good to hear that you have found a Bible believing, Bible teaching church to fellowship with.

I was struck by the dissonance of your story with the following remark of Emily Masten in a story by the Stranger. Responding to TPC being called a cult by a mother of a student who was recruited to attend a youth meeting, Emily said the following: “[The church] is just different because people are actually caring,”.

I am sorry that you were not able to experience the caring that Emily refers to. I think the leaders at TPC are blind. We all want to belong to a church that will support us when we are going through difficult times. And when we limit peoples sharing to "just praises...remember, just praises" we minimize the hurt that may have been brought into the setting by those who are part of the group. Does not God's good Word admonish us to "bear one another's burdens" and to "mourn with those who are mourning"? Your group leader exercised poor judgment and great insensitivity to your loss and pain.

Thank you for posting. We are glad you have found the forum helpful

TPR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2009 01:32PM by TurningPointReject.

I'm listening to Cyndi's message from Sunday.

She claims that in 1998 at Hopefest (when Michelle Tumes sang "Healing Waters") a young man from the band Liquid Grace was healed of an HIV positive state and became HIV negative and later had children who were HIV negative. This happened in 1998 and Cyndi spoke as if he were part of the band at the time of the healing, but the band wasn't formed until 2000 and broke up in 2003. Perhaps it's just a lack of clarification.

Apparently Cyndi had prophesied in advance of the concert that when Michelle Tumes sang that song, the region-wide drought would end and it would begin raining, and also that God was going to pour out healings at the same time. This apparently happened. I don't doubt that God would do such a thing, but how much of the story can we trust? She said the story was all over KCMS. Can anyone verify these things? I guess the band member story/detail was the most confusing, since the band didn't exist at the time, and it doesn't exist now.

Also, Cyndi endorsed Bob Harrison's increase message by giving an example of a church member who won a trip at work when she decided to begin reciting the increase verse. How shallow, Cyndi! How shallow can you be? In a congregation that size, odds are that you could gather a half a dozen testimonies that "prove" that this increase stuff works. God's goodness happens all the time. How sad that we would attribute to these "laws of increase" what God gladly, and without manipulation, is pleased to provide at the appropriate and appointed times in our lives.

If a father promised his son an allowance each week to meet his needs (and some of his wants as well). In a normal scenario, the son would go about his buisiness and not worry about whether or not he's going to get the allowance. He trusts his dad. His allowance will be given to him at the proper time. He may think about it from time to time during the week, he may feel excited as he anticipates it, grateful when he gets it, he may even take it for granted, but he would be considered obsessive if he stood at his father's side all week long, chanting, "I get an allowance on Friday. I get an allowance on Friday. I get an allowance..." The father would be disturbed by this unhealthy development and encourage his son to go out and play, do his chores, do his homework, enjoy himself, not keep repeating stuff about the allowance. The father promised it, not so the boy would obsess over it, but because he loves the boy and wanted to reveal his heart to the boy. It's a malady for the boy to think that because he is expressing faith in the promise of the allowance that it will come to him and that it will increase. The father will increase the allowance as he sees fit for the boy's growing needs and interests. The boy may even ask for the increase (a raise) from time to time. But it is the Father's job to determine what the boy needs and doesn't need in the way of an allowance. The boy is not going to create an allowance machine out of his dad because of his trust in his father's promise to give him an allowance.

This obsession with the idea of increase is as foolish as a boy following his father around all week, announcing over and over that he's going to be getting an allowance on Friday. And just because someone is first in sales twice in a row for the first time at work and wins a drawing for a trip is not evidence that God is honoring her chanting of a verse "in faith." Satan would love to get people focused on a vending machine view of God. He can orchestrate events too. Jodi, don't be too quick to buy into the prosperity gospel. You were right to question it; that was your initial (and healthy) gut-level response to it. Don't second-guess that stuff. Those red flags are God's Spirit warning you to be careful. Trust God's goodness--that it's always there, not just when you chant increase verses or whatever they're telling you you need to do to bolster your faith.

Finally, those testimonies "acclaiming God" kind of did double duty by casting a wonderful spiritual glow on Mike and Cyndi as well. To whom be the glory?

Thank You everyone for welcoming me to the forum.

Thanks for you kind words and understanding. It seems that when we first entered TP the people were very warm and I astonished at the lack of cliques. I believe that there are many wonderful people at TP who have no real idea on what is or isn't biblical. There are many that I miss seeing. Some I have seen and greeted in my outings around town. I do wish that many will see the manipulation that goes on in that church. As in my moment of grieving I was made to do something that was against everthing I was feeling. I gave in. But I regretted it ever since. People of TP learn to trust your instincts!! God gave you that "gut feeling" so that you can discern that something is not right. I believe that things worsened when SOMA was established. I noticed that many of the once friendly young people in the worship were no longer as friendly and I thought that some were "haughty" in their attitude toward those of us who were non-SOMA members,even though we had been members of the church longer that they were, and also had been walking with the Lord longer!!
I told one person that I saw around town that it is "always hard to leave a church. That person replied,"especially when you are not 'released". Well to that I say I was "released" when I was not being welcome to worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH but was told to let go of "religion" and adopt the TP FORM of worship: JUMP as high as you can, WAVE YOUR ARMS wildly, EMOTE like the best of them! God sees the heart!! AT TP they only see the FORM. Their FORM of their own religion!!

That whole "beng released" bit became a bit old. I can't share too much about it, w/out revealing my identity (I'm sure that I will eventually, but I'm just not ready to do so quite yet). But lets just say that it's one more way that TP attempts to control the actions of the body. Pretty much, in order to participate in this or that, you must be "released" from someone or something else. If that other person or ministry (or whatever) refuses to "release" you, then you are just out of luck.

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LearningPoint
She claims that in 1998 at Hopefest (when Michelle Tumes sang "Healing Waters") a young man from the band Liquid Grace was healed of an HIV positive state and became HIV negative and later had children who were HIV negative. This happened in 1998 and Cyndi spoke as if he were part of the band at the time of the healing, but the band wasn't formed until 2000 and broke up in 2003. Perhaps it's just a lack of clarification.

Does Cindi claim to be a Prophetess?
Then she should know?
Right???

What a con-artist

TPWOC you are showing all the signs of a cult! You are showing all the signs of having a false apostle and false prophet as leaders! Yes, I mean Pastor Mike and Cyndi! They are Wolves in sheep clothing! Do your research and read your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Truth to you! John8:32 Then you will know the Truth,and the Truth will set you Free! 36 So if the Son sets you Free you, will be Free indeed! Freedom from the control of TPWOC Leaders who want to make you spiritual slaves with your mind, time and your money! Jesus Christ wants to set you Free from this sinful nature! 2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom! Jesus wants to release you from the bondage of TPWOC and set you Free to Worship in Spirit and Truth! John4:24 God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in Spirit and Truth! You will not find freedom at TPWOC only sinful false teaching straight from the pit of Hell! Open your eye's the God of this age(satan) has blinded your eye's from the Truth! I Love everybody at TPWOC and if I did not Love you I would not share the Truth with you! I pray that TPWOC will return to the Lord and that people will truly be set Free! If you have been set Free, and you really love them please share the Truth with them so they can also have Freedom! God Bless you with a new Harley! In Christ Love, Buddy

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Brokenhearted
That whole "beng released" bit became a bit old. I can't share too much about it, w/out revealing my identity (I'm sure that I will eventually, but I'm just not ready to do so quite yet). But lets just say that it's one more way that TP attempts to control the actions of the body. Pretty much, in order to participate in this or that, you must be "released" from someone or something else. If that other person or ministry (or whatever) refuses to "release" you, then you are just out of luck.

Are there special permission slips that leaders sign and give you when you are finally "realeased" from something into something else? How silly is that concept anyway? Sounds so spiritual and submissive as it's rolling off the tongue, but it's truly just another form of authoritarian control that leadership has in place by which the lemmings become enslaved.

OK, consider this: PRISONERS are RELEASED. CHRISTIANS are LED BY THE SPIRIT. Do Mike and Cyndi think that run-of-the-mill Christians (we non-apostle, non-prophet nobodies) cannot be led by the Spirit? Or can people not even exercise the common sense God gave them or the freewill we were all granted from the beginning of time?

Well, I did get my "permission slip" when I had a "sit down" with one of the elders before I left. All you gotta do to "be released" is to point out your concerns--what you find to be false and heretical, what you disagree with--and they'll release you on the spot. Never heard another word from anyone. Now THAT'S a release...and a relief. :) Shades of Shawshank Redemption.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2009 02:09AM by LearningPoint.

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LearningPoint

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Brokenhearted
That whole "beng released" bit became a bit old. I can't share too much about it, w/out revealing my identity (I'm sure that I will eventually, but I'm just not ready to do so quite yet). But lets just say that it's one more way that TP attempts to control the actions of the body. Pretty much, in order to participate in this or that, you must be "released" from someone or something else. If that other person or ministry (or whatever) refuses to "release" you, then you are just out of luck.

Are there special permission slips that leaders sign and give you when you are finally "realeased" from something into something else? How silly is that concept anyway? Sounds so spiritual and submissive as it's rolling off the tongue, but it's truly just another form of authoritarian control that leadership has in place by which the lemmings become enslaved.

OK, consider this: PRISONERS are RELEASED. CHRISTIANS are LED BY THE SPIRIT. Do Mike and Cyndi think that run-of-the-mill Christians (we non-apostle, non-prophet nobodies) cannot be led by the Spirit? Or can people not even exercise the common sense God gave them or the freewill we were all granted from the beginning of time?

Well, I did get my "permission slip" when I had a "sit down" with one of the elders before I left. All you gotta do to "be released" is to point out your concerns--what you find to be false and heretical, what you disagree with--and they'll release you on the spot. Never heard another word from anyone. Now THAT'S a release...and a relief. :) Shades of Shawshank Redemption.

Thanks for sharing your experience Brokenhearted
I believe you have exposed one of the deep levels of spiritual abuse being put on the believers in the church. This example should clearly illustrate how twisted and manipulative these leaders have become, forcing their authority over the people in the church. This Spiritual Authority teaching is corrupt and it need to be stopped. I know all too well the secret oaths that these leaders are coursing people into submitting to their authority then they hold their authority over your head. And to think about the ceremony's in which these oats are made and carried out is simply daemonic.

LearningPoint You make an excellent point!
"PRISONERS are RELEASED. CHRISTIANS are LED BY THE SPIRIT"

I have learned that believers LED BY THE SPIRIT will Renounce these false teachings and Cut the Soul Ties they have made with these counterfeit people. That is where we who are trusting God, to Spiritually cut the demonic soul ties and set us apart as his. We who belong to the Lord can take refuge knowing that heavenly Father has our back.
But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.Matthew 5:34-37

What Tony and Mike are doing in there secret inter circles is coercing people into pledging an oath to their authority. They in turn are simply lording over people trying to make CLONES.

Here are some additional notes from what Tony teaches

Tony's teachings;
5/27/03 Unless you are sent by one with authority you have none. Authority is gained through submission to someone who has legitimate authority. You are entitled to your own opinion and can hold that opinion for eternity in hell. We have no opinion or authority unless specifically given that authority. Recognize who has God placed me in authority over and who am I under. The only way to get to the supernatural outcome is to submit to those in authority.
6/3/03 To understand and grow in authority you must recognize and respond to the vision and values of those in authority over you. To grow in authority you must 1) Obedience – submit to your leaders and obey them
6/10/03 If we resist we become kindling at the very least we don’t become the arrow. At the core we must submit ourselves to the whole process.

To the people at Turning Point who are not attending SOMA NW. I challenge you to start asking these students and staffers walking around your church, about the education they are receiving. you parents who are paying for your son or daughter to attend SOMA, go into the SOMA NW headquarters and asked to see their curriculum.

Ask them about Tony's secret teachings on Strategic Relationships....how does this concept work according to the word of God?
from notes 1/26/04 "must have a read on our relationships, and we are responsible to build them. Invite others to go with us. Be transparent so that we won't know them and they know us. We must develop trust in those that we lead."
so what that means to Tony is people need to be transparent with them. But they don't have to.

here is another Tonyisums for you to think about. I believe exposes the real motivating factors behind what Tony believes.

Tony says; "You cannot please God without pleasing the one in authority over you."


Hmm? Now could somebody please show me where this is taught in the Bible?
Did somebody explain that teaching to the man that was hanging on the cross next to Christ, because if they didn't explain it to him. Then, according to Tony, He didn't make it in.