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Daughter of Dorcas
Judging teachings which can be researched and the information sifted until true understanding and a personal decision is made as to whether doctrines, teachings, or interpretation of scripture is right or wrong is not judgment it is discernment. It is what God calls us to do. I have met Buddy, he is a nice person. While I may not agree with his views on everything, I would defend his right to voice his views. I agree. Buddy or anyone else may post what ever they please on this forum or on any other forum.

But criicizing someone for failing to criticize people on a float in a parade is worthy of defense as well. Help me. I may have missed something. Who was criticizing whom for FAILING to criticize people on a float?

When the only communications you see which has value are those that criticize and take an angry tone are you listening to the Lord or are you listening to something else?When you say "you" to whom are you ( D of D ) speaking?

So lets go to the book and see what God says:

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret -- it only causes harm. (Psalm 37:8)

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. (Proverbs 19:11)

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. (Hebrews 12:14-17)

When God is angry, he is slow to respond in anger. And His anger is balanced with his love. Before we are too quick to justify our anger, let's look at examples of righteous and unrighteous anger exhibited by man.

Exodus 34:6
"Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;"

Numbers 14:18
'The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.'"

Pastor Jeff Barnes once mentioned during his opening of a service right after TPC moved to the Jr High that those who had left TPC for whatever reason had not found greener pastures or a better life and he was specific when he mentioned "former elder." We now know he was referring to you. Again, when you say "you" to whom are you referring? I would challenge you not to let him be right or even remotely accurate. We were all angryI think it is fine for you to say you were angry. I think you may be projecting your own act of being angry onto others. Not every one who has left TPc has been angry at Mike and the Elders. Some have left because they disagreed with the direction of the leaders; others left because they were hurt; some left because of false teachings. Yes, some may have experienced anger-but not all were angry. at some point in time with Pastor Mike and the Elders, but at some point you have to say anger whether it is righteous or not is not healthy and choose to loose your anger and be the Christian the Lord's plan calls you to be.


Thanks for taking time to clarify

D of D

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belongs2Him
I am going to rethink posting here. I posted about a parade float not because it is a parade float, but because it is supposed to be a representation of a church that preaches Christ. This whole thread is about TPC and we've all discussed things that aren't about the abuses, but about newspaper articles, sermons, things that are heard and seen. I posted my opinion of how TPC is showing itself to this city, which I believe was poorly done. Even discussing it with current TPC'ers, it was agreed that there was more of a push on how things looked and not on the worship. But I post here and though it wasn't directed at me, I felt like I was chastised for posting on a trivial matter.

How is it trivial if a young man, woman, or family sees this flashy, rock concert-like float and decides to attend the church only to be ignored, or judged, or hurt, or told they are divisive, like many of us were?

I didn't realize there were a set of agreed upon discussion topics, I thought this was a place for ex-TPC'ers to come and commiserate and share hurts and disappointments, to hopefully protect others from being hurt. Someone very dear to me spent hours working on that float and was, in the end, embarrassed by the display as it drove down the street. Though trivial to some, the potential damage done to potential TPC attenders is very important.

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Just so everyone knows, I am Emily Masten. Dan Masten is my husband. I have only ever private messaged one person from this account (wherefromhere) which is why it was created and Dan's first time ever using it was yesterday right after the parade. Dan specifically asked for my permission to post yesterday about how excited he was regarding the float and what it brought to his heart. It wasn't meant to cut anyone down so I am sorry if that is what appeared to happen. He just wanted to share like he knew everyone else was.

I hope this post will be the end to the parade float controversy.