I can take criticism when I know the one doing it cares about me. There are certain people in my life who have earned the right to point out areas I need to work on and I will listen and usually work on what they have pointed out. My parents esp. my dad has a way of lovingly pointing out areas in my life I need to change. Cassandara does also. My friend Thomas Hammond is a get in your face type of guy but I know he cares about me. Jason Burns has also helped me greatly. Rob Jackson in Decatur, AL is very wise and eventhough our styles of ministry differ I respect him greatly. Dr. Bob Horner my former pastor has earned the right also. I would gladly listen to Angela, John, Whitney, Greg, Soup, Neil, Dana and Steve and maybe a few more @ FBTC because I know they care about me. (Just for the record, this isn't happening now, it was just on my mind from the past.) There are other people who I feel have agendas. Not a church, but their own agenda. They want the music a certain way. They want their family ministered to, they want to be fed...... Ugghh! John Morgan sent me a quote that said churches don't have a eating problem, they have an exercise problem. I am convinced that most criticisim would go away if people would just do ministry. If they would get involved and make a difference for Christ. I'm sure we all have agendas, including me. I have given my agenda to God and I hope that His agenda is becoming me rather than the other way around. Now even evil or agenda driven people can have good points. Eventhough their method may stink or hurt, we can't ignore their criticism. A few years ago I had an ugly incident where several "well meaning" men called me out @ night to talk about their concerns in the church. They had wrong motives and what they said hurt. But I had to realize that some of what they said was true. They had an agenda, but I made some necessary changes in my life even through the ugly stuff they said. I am grateful for those who care about me enough to help me grow in my faith and as a person.