Letter to Adrian Warnock 7/21/2006

Dear Adrian, I've just been introduced to your site via the most recent post at Pyromaniacs. As is my custom, I always like to see the background of those who peruse and participate in this and other blogs I happen to participate. In looking over your site, I could not help but notice the term reformed charismatic. Quite frankly, this term would probably generate a few awkward stares from many of the folks I know. I guess my reason for sending you this note, is that while I may be unfamiliar with the combination, I am also comforted by it as well. You see, I once worked as the Chief Information Officer of a reasonable sized christian education company. During my tenure, I was befriended by a man who was the Dean of the School of Education for Oral Roberts. I actually met him because he sat on the board for the accreditation firm we were working with. Anyway, this individual changed my perspective of Charismatics and was a significant help to me in turning away from the Cultural Fundamentalist dogma, that I felt enslaving me, over to the reformed doctrine I lovingly embrace today. Whenever I tried to describe this man and his influence to my reformed brothers, I simply received the same stairs and disbelief as of the fundamentalists whom I departed. Eventually, I stopped trying to convince anyone that such a creature could possibly exist. I must have been imagining it. Now, as a result of reviewing your site, I come to find out there really is such a thing. And I rejoice to know that. For while the church I now call home may appear to be Baptist in so many ways, it actually had its origins as a Church of Christ. It is indeed nice to know that there are others given over to such doctrines of grace; and that no denomination has such a lock on the truth. And thanks for tearing down yet another stereotype. May God bless your ministry,
Mike