Bitterness???

[Sister Alvear]

I am not UPC so may I say something...it is not only the UPC that has left people bitter there are many bitter experiences we all deal with during the space of our lifetime...We all get done wrong sometime or the other...but how we deal with it breaks us or makes us....the choice is ours...

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I am not UPC so may I say something...it is not only the UPC that has left people bitter there are many bitter experiences we all deal with during the space of our lifetime...We all get done wrong sometime or the other...but how we deal with it breaks us or makes us....the choice is ours...

Yes, amen!!

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by Barb

Are things perfect in the UPCI?! No, but there are problems/issues everywhere you go.

Are there pastors who are less than compassionate and diligent in their ministry and care?! Sure, but not every man of God is a control freak.

Have there been people injured by the above?! Absolutely, and I know because I am one.

The solution, as it has been stated by those more eloquent than me, is simply to forgive and move on.

I will repeat what I stated this morning...bitterness is a heart killer.

Should situations/issues be discussed?! Absolutely, but to continue to point out the negative without offering a constructive resolution will only serve to further destroy.

Just my thoughts...

Great post, Barb. I would agree that forgiving the wrongs that we've experienced from people who we trusted is essential for a healthy Christian life.

We tend to loose patience at times with people who process forgiveness slower than we think they should. God made us from the same thread yet we are very unique.

It's that very uniqueness that can build walls between us.

[MrsMcD]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I am not UPC so may I say something...it is not only the UPC that has left people bitter there are many bitter experiences we all deal with during the space of our lifetime...We all get done wrong sometime or the other...but how we deal with it breaks us or makes us....the choice is ours...

This is so true!

[Harmony]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

This is so true!

Amen

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Harmony

I have just read through Coop's thread that ask's if you are co-dependant on a Pastor. It seems like a fair question for a forum such as this.

It it getting a little old to see the posters who follow him around and cry "!!Bitterness!!" any time he starts a thread.

You make it out to be a personal thread regarding Coops past and his situation. Can you NOT forgive Coop and get on with life and trust that he has good intentions?

It is a FACT that there are some who are co-dependant. Why not let the topics he brings up carry a life of there own. If nobody wants to post in his thread it will die....ta da!! Then you don't have to chime in with your own sarcasm and bitterness and make yourself appear to have the same problem you are accusing him of having.

JUST WANT TO BRING HARMONY!!

In the terms of bitterness. They do not always need to be difined with issues concerning the UPCI or experiences within the UPCI.

Bitterness can be found in the home, work place, social group, Family, friends, bad experiences.

We can only control how we walk through these sometimes deep and lonely valleys.

Everyone on this Thread try and understand that we many times excuse the perpetrator.

When the last part of the word is Trator.

Many folks in business and religious circles have fear within because they feel powerless to discuss their issues with leaders.

The first thing from a leaders mouth is "Do you have a bad attitide?"

Situations are swept under the rug because each conversation feels like a trial for your job at work, or you soul at Church.

I sometimes see very little measure of understanding on this forum.

So many folks are ready to curse the offended, without knowing the depth of the personal hurt or in may situations self-blame.

How in God's name do many on this forum really minister to their circle of influence?

If you see something on this forum it may bring some things to light in your ministry and help u recognize how to deal with folks in your church.

And not with the same old Corporpate Influence......

This is what I am talking about review the attached link from a post today.

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...ead.php?t=1147

Sorry many are not mis-informed...

Per Bro. Kenny Carpenter this morning...EXCELLENT message. I needed it.

Three Attributes of a Critical Spirit:
A. Living in the past.
B. They have been mis-informed.
C. Living with revenge in mind.


Wonderful Word on being delivered from a critical spirit...


Nathan Eckstadt

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Barb

I will repeat what I stated this morning...bitterness is a heart killer.

Should situations/issues be discussed?! Absolutely, but to continue to point out the negative without offering a constructive resolution will only serve to further destroy.

Just my thoughts...

Situations should be discussed, but sometimes it's an attitude that comes with the threads that are started. Is there more condemnation or is there a genuine concern for what we see as wrongs? Is there prayer being offered for others whether an individual or a whole organization? It is all about our attitudes not those who have wronged us. Like you said.... bitterness is a heart killer. But as others has noted...forgiveness, humility, and love covers a multitude of sins.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Harmony

I have just read through Coop's thread that ask's if you are co-dependant on a Pastor. It seems like a fair question for a forum such as this.

It it getting a little old to see the posters who follow him around and cry "!!Bitterness!!" any time he starts a thread.

You make it out to be a personal thread regarding Coops past and his situation. Can you NOT forgive Coop and get on with life and trust that he has good intentions?

It is a FACT that there are some who are co-dependant. Why not let the topics he brings up carry a life of there own. If nobody wants to post in his thread it will die....ta da!! Then you don't have to chime in with your own sarcasm and bitterness and make yourself appear to have the same problem you are accusing him of having.

JUST WANT TO BRING HARMONY!!

Actually it gets REALLY old seeing turn everything into a one-sided UPC bash. I think he really sort of digs his own grave. It's not about others following him around with the word "bitterness" on his lips at everything he says...

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Harmony

Ron,

My point is.....how do you know he hasn't forgiven and moved on.

See that's just it....you must not be reading the same things we have. How do we know? From the words that he continually posts over and over and over and over and over. By his words

If it was someone else who brought up the same topic it would be looked at differently.

If it was someone else that brought up the same topic over and over and over and over and continually ties it into the same organization over and over and over and over and makes sweeping generalizations and says he can never trust a pastor ever "again"...if you were objective I think you'd get the point

Why can't topics on the positive and the negative of the ministry be brought up?

Coop doesn't start topics on ministry in general for one thing. It's always about the UPC. Second of all every topic Coop starts is about the negative of ministry it seems like

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Harmony

You have the option of not participating on the thread.
Why must you follow Coop around and cry....another bitterness thread, evertime he brings a topic up? If you don't like it.....avoid it. It will either take on people who want to discuss it or it will die. I think you (not you personally) choke the intended conversation by changing the topic to ....coop is still bitter...yada yada....

Just forgive coop for his crazy threads and move on.....LOL!!!

That's a cop out. You are here acting as though Coop is not bitter and does not do what we are saying he does and when someone points out he does your answer is "you have the option of not participating"....which is an admission.

Second, this is a discussion board. We have a right to reply in every topic and give OUR opinions to HIS opinion. He has the option of NOT posting on this board or not posting something HE knows is a negative attack on the UPC. If you don't like it, YOU can avoid it :-)