Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

Today was a very hard day. I finally told our church and especially our students that I am resigning as Next Gen Pastor at First Baptist Tillman’s Corner. This has been a very difficult decision. I really feel for the students. They have been through more than they deserve. To the students, I am sorry. I’m sorry it came to this. We had no intentions of leaving so soon. Unfortunately, we had no idea what we were coming in to.This is not a fault of any of the students. They are innocent in this whole mess. I truly am sorry.

In June a friend of mine Thomas Hammond who used to work for the North American Mission Board of the SBC and is now the Director of Missions for Charlotte, NC SBC called and asked me to send him a resume. In August Durham Memorial Baptist in Charlotte called me for the very first time. I sent them a DVD of me speaking and they called back the same night. They asked me to come for a visit a week after Katrina. I did not want to go. But several friends said I need to at least go. I gave them a plan that was very bold and progressive. They told me they liked every one of my plans! A month later, Cassandra and I flew to Charlotte. Last Sunday I spoke to a crowd of over 300. My message was very bold and visionary. We will make changes. We will start a contemporary service. We will be a “church planting” church! We will be a missions minded church! The vote was 98% for us. They are a great group of people and made us feel very loved. The calling was certain for us.

We sold our house in 30 hours for over asking price a week before we left. We put a contract on a house this past Tuesday before we flew back to Mobile. We have mixed feelings. We are sorry for the Students @ FBTC. I’m sorry my kids have to move again. I’m sorry for Cassandra to start over again. We will miss our friends in Mobile. I am grateful to the Harbins, the Vises, Angela, Whitney, Greg the storm, John-JMO, Ray, Joe, Neil, Scott Bannon, Pates, Jesse, Derek Blackmon, Soupie, Devon, Betti, Spots, Mike, The Fosters, Aaron Bradley, Joel Faircloth, Nuss’, Keel’s and other who have supported me and my family. Dr. Pouncey is a good man and he has been supportive of me.

I’m excited for what is to come. I love big cities. Charlotte is a cool town. I love NASCAR so I will be in the right place. We will be an hour and half from my parents and sister. This is not going to be easy. But Durham has a great group of servant leaders already in place. I’m glad I’ve met Marty Duren who is transitioning a church in Atlanta. I’m happy to have Jason Burns to bounce stuff off of. I am blessed. God has taught me so much during this last 3 years. God has taught me more about being submitted to him rather than committed.

Thanks to a man who left our church(who thought we were liberals) I have a gift subsription to the poster child of legalism THE SWORD OF THE LORD. It is good for a laugh.

This is a 12oz Coffee mug with a picture of THE SWORD featuring all the editors: Dr. John R. Rice, Dr. Curtis Hutson, and Dr. Shelton Smith. Every Pharisee needs this!

Here are songs of praise, testimony and revival. A collection of 60 gospel filled songs penned by the beloved evangelist, Dr. John R. Rice. Every church planter must have!

Here is an important work on the definition of fundamentalism. This is a term that has been greatly misused and misunderstood by the media, educators and even fundamental Christians themselves. Dr. Hutson is more than qualified to write an authoritative study on the question, “Who is a fundamentalist?” This title is also available in pamphlet edition. We all must have this!

When Becky Reynolds sits down to play the piano her music is captivating, which you will notice as you listen to these Christmas favorites. The songs included here are: “The First Noel”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Brahm’s Lullaby-Away In a Manger”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “Silent Night”, “Joy to the World”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”, “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night”, “O Holy Night”. I can’t wait to get mine!

I hope this has been helpful to you . I hope every Pharisees Christmas wishes will be met!! Have a Pharisic Christmas!

Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas and Easter because all they represent in Christianity. However, my favorite holiday has to be Thanksgiving! There is nothing commercial about it! All you do is give thanks, eat, watch football and spend time with family and friends. It was good to see my parents this week. I can’t wait to watch the Macy’s Parade with Hope. Jacob and I will overdose on the LIONS and the COWBOYS. Mostly I will thank God for all of the blessings He has given to me. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!

In August people asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I wanted cash because I wanted to purchase a new Palm handheld. I did my research and discovered I could get the Palm T5 during the month of August and get a free wi-fi card. I called the Palm representative to ask even more questions and asked if there was something else coming out soon that I should wait on. I didn’t want to regret buying the T5 if something were coming out in the next few weeks. The rep assured me there was nothing new coming out. So I made my purchase towards the end of August before the free wi-fi card expired.

A few weeks later I’m in Atlanta and stopped by the Palm store and there it was the Palm T/X. It is $50 cheaper with a larger screen and built in wi-fi. I was sick!

Our world is like that. You go to Best Buy and buy a new Sony Vaio and by the time you get home and pull it out of the box it is obsolete! Our churches are like that. We have got to be constantly changing or we are going to miss the boat. Companies don’t make long range plans anymore because society is constantly changing. We have to study people, especially the unchurched and discover ways to relate to them.

I love the apostle Paul. He was all about reaching people for Christ. He was the first relevant minister after the death of Jesus. Paul said in I Corinthians 9 that he was going to be all things to all people in order that he might win some. He was willing to do whatever it takes! He was like this guy, GIT R DONE!

Too bad churches don’t go with that mentality. What if we said, lets do it. Lets reach people for Christ. Lets be all things to all people. Lets throw out tradition if it isn’t relevant. Lets be real. Lets make a real difference in our communities. Lets really love people. Lets accept them no matter what their background or how they dress or how much or little money they have or what are their sinful patters. Lost people will act like lost people. It is time to get serious church and do whatever it takes, I mean whatever it takes to reach our lost and dying world. This is my one true passion that I am willing to take to my grave!