Doc,
   Thank you for your response.  It pretty much sums up my sentiments. 

Howard, may you too continue to grow in grace and knowledge of the truth 
as we all are striving to do.

Peace,
Steve



DAVID POWELL wrote:
> Bro. Howard, no one has mocked you.  At this point I think you are just 
> not getting it.  I have yet to see you respond to or voice any opinion 
> other than condemnation.  There are NO circumstances where you or I or 
> any other pastor can always respond in a fashion that you deem appropriate.
> 
> The reaction you got from a group of men whom have bonded through the 
> years is one directly related to the fact that the only participation in 
> this forum that you have taken is one of condemning the behavior of your 
> fellow pastors.
> 
> I am curious, what type of church is it that you pastor?  What area of 
> the country are you from?  Tell us a little about yourself before you 
> tell us how wrong we are.  Maybe then we can understand where you are 
> coming from.  The postings of these men here on PF is not sinful in and 
> of themselves.  Do some of us sin on here?  Yes!  Is the vigorous and 
> even confrontational debate sinful?  No!  Bro. Howard, the reaction that 
> you have received is because the very first experience that any of us 
> have had with you is one of self-righteous condemnation.  You don't know 
> what is behind the conversations.  You don't know the men and their 
> needs!  You have no idea what the dynamics of the situation are.  You 
> are judging your brothers based on your own preconceived suppositions of 
> what you deem correct and incorrect behavior.  You are not the only one 
> who is broght to tears.  You are attempting to guilt men who are in need 
> of letting it all hang out so to speak.  You are talking to men who have 
> 30 or 40 years of fruitful pastoral exerience.
> 
> It breaks my heart to see yet one more person who reacts out of 
> judgmentalism rather than understanding.  As you mature in the ministry 
> you will come to understand that not everything is black and white in 
> every circumstance.
> 
> We all want to get to know you but when all you do is play the martyr 
> and never respond to anything then there is nothing we can do.
> 
> Doc Powell
> 
> Shalom Alechem...Barukh Hashem Y'shua!
> 
> (Peace and Blessings in Jesus' name!)
> 
>  
> 
>  >From: "Rev. Howard W. Dickinson" <PastorDickinson@...>
>  >Reply-To: pastorsforum@...
>  >To: <pastorsforum@...>
>  >Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Respectful Departure
>  >Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 10:01:01 -0500
>  >
>  >Reading many of your responses to my comments only further proves what 
> I have said. Thank you for you kind words of mockery. You know, even if 
> I am wrong, I don't deserve to be treated this way...and THAT is exactly 
> my point! I must tell you that my heart is broken that men can be so 
> arrogant that they can justify themselves & their friends, excusing 
> themselves from proper behavior merely because it is "behind closed 
> doors." Yes I say things to my wife & others that are wrong but it 
> always brings the same response to my heart...brokenness & contriteness. 
> After all, who needs to see and experience my willingness to change more 
> than any other except those closest to me. I don't ask nor do I want 
> them to help excuse my behavior just because we are close. Keep it up! 
> Many of you are doing a great job of justifying your actions. You may 
> consider me weak (in which case you should bear with me, not mock me), 
> But I believe that I am only trying to demonstrate what God is looking 
> for...a gentle spirit that hates sin and always acknowledges it when 
> confronted with it...not find a way to justify it and belittle another 
> in the process. In my tears I will pray for you all! And yes I still 
> love you and look forward to worshipping with you in glory where our 
> flesh won't get in the way!
>  >
>  >Howard
>  >   ----- Original Message -----
>  >   From: Rev. Howard W. Dickinson<mailto:PastorDickinson@...>
>  >   To: pastorsforum<mailto:pastorsforum@...>
>  >   Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 9:05 AM
>  >   Subject: [PastorsForum] Respectful Departure
>  >
>  >
>  >   Brothers, (I doubt most will read this)
>  >
>  >   I say this with most sincere love. I obviously have misunderstood 
> the teachings of Christ and the NT writers that were inspired by the 
> Holy Spirit that we are to at all times display an attitude of Christ 
> likeness. I have completely distorted what it means to display the Fruit 
> of the Spirit. I have completely misapplied the warning of using sharp 
> words and getting involved in arguments over words. And I suppose I 
> could continue on listing the multitude of characteristics that I 
> believed the NT teaches that I thought is expected of ALL Christians at 
> ALL times even and especially on a forum of men who above all should 
> display these at all times. But to do so I think would be futile.
>  >
>  >   Just hearing the responses thus far to this whole matter have 
> revealed the problem with so many today who are in the church and even 
> in the pulpit. Since when have we ever been given permission by Christ 
> to leave our kindness, gentleness, longsuffering, bearing the scruples 
> of the weak, doing nothing to offend another brother, "Let your speech 
> always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you 
> ought to answer each one", and more sitting to the side so that we can 
> belittle another man who has a differing opinion because we feel or even 
> KNOW we or our knowledge is more superior? Go back and look at some of 
> the posts and tell me if you would have responded the way some of you 
> did to Christ or one of the apostles? Yes our discussions you go further 
> than they would with the common layperson, but NOT at the expense of the 
> very characteristics of the One whom we are supposed to represent or 
> whose charter we are to reflect.
>  >
>  >   Two final thoughts before I respectfully depart so as not to cause 
> anyone else to consider their mean spirited attitude wrong. We are NOT 
> professionals! Never have been, never will be. We are SINNERS saved by 
> grace, no better than the least of us. If we are in the pulpit it should 
> ONLY be because we have been called by God and it is a privilege and an 
> extreme obligation and responsibility that must be carried out with fear 
> and trembling. It is NOT a position to be displayed or carried out with 
> an attitude of arrogance or pride, even among fellow pastors. Who among 
> is is truly worthy or even more worthy than another?
>  >
>  >   David Powell, not to pick on you, but you typically sign your posts 
> DP or David Powell. But when you responded to one of my later posts you 
> all of a sudden became "Dr. David Powell, Senior Pastor." Who were you 
> trying to lift up and and whose authority were you trying to appeal to? 
> Be honest! My signature has never changed and it is only the way it is 
> because this is my Pastoral e-mail address that identifies me to many 
> people in many areas as to who I am and what my role is in the church. I 
> would normally just sign my name Howard, but my signature is an 
> electronic signature. So my point is I am not changing my signature from 
> post to post in order to intimidate someone with my title!
>  >
>  >   The Lord forgive me if I am off base here and I ask your 
> forgiveness as well. I just thought that in an era where its really hard 
> to find very many people who display and live the Christian life in the 
> attitude of Christ you might find it among men who are to lead by 
> example! I NEVER said disagreement was wrong, only that the disagreement 
> should be discussed in a way that NEVER belittles another. This is where 
> I believe you have erred!
>  >   God Bless and farewell.
>  >
>  >   Rev. Howard W. Dickinson, Pastor
>  >   Rockton Baptist Church, Winnsboro, SC
>  >
>  >
>