Irresistible Force - Immovable Object

We took a three day journey to the Midwest to see family that we have not seen for quite a while. Traveling to the north in January was not exactly the most desirable timing, but, it worked out that way. Micah, out 12 year old, has never seen snow. He began to pray that it would snow while we were there. I was born and raised in Chicago so I was praying we would not see snow. God loves it when children pray so Micah got his prayer answered. I had to be satisfied with a resounding "NO" to my prayer. We arrived to -1 temps. Our first morning we woke up to a beautiful six inch snowfall. I have to admit it was a beautiful site even though driving in it was no great bargain.

We often pray with faith only to have God answer our prayer with "NO." Think about that. When God says no to us He may be saying yes to someone else's request. It all works together for good and God knows what is best.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Rom 8:28

Justified Freely!

Missionary Roger Hopgood shared in our morning services today. He is a missionary to our nation's military primarily in the Northwest. What a tremendous ministry it is to take the gospel message to the young men and women who serve our country.

This week I'd like to introduce you to a great family in our church. Patrick and Debbie Hughes have been a tremendous blessing and encouragement to our church. They have been in the daycare business for over sixteen years and have a big heart for young people. Patrick is a flight instructor. They both attended Bob Jones University together and were married shortly after leaving school.  They have four beautiful and talented children. Patrick has been a great encouragement to me personally as he leads music, teaches both children and adult classes, and has taken up the mantle of doing whatever needs to be done. Debbie has a big heart of compassion and uses her gifts to edify and encourage the ladies in our church.

Rom 3:23-26 teaches a wealth of doctrine that is ultimately important to our faith. Verse 24 says, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." 

Verse 26 says that God justifies those that "believe in Jesus." Comparing other scriptures we understand that simple belief in the fact that a man named Jesus once existed does not justify anyone. The devil believes in Jesus but he most assuredly is not saved. The belief that saves that the Bible teaches is a transfer of trust onto the finished work of Jesus Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus' death paid the demand of God for payment for sin. God was "propitiated" by Jesus' sacrifice of himself on the cross. Because Jesus redeemed us, we stand justified before a holy righteous God.

What a tremendous thought. Thank you Lord!

Second Entry

Here is my second entry. I have thought a lot about what format this blog should take in order to keep people interested in reading it. I have lots of ideas so we shall see what path we choose!

Haley Simpson

I would first of all like to introduce my Assistant Editor in Charge of Keeping Me On Track, Haley Simpson. Haley is 18 years old, recently graduated, and eager to serve the Lord with her many talents and interests. She loves art, is a fine musician, and has a very servant minded spirit. Haley is still seeking God's path for her life. She would like to get involved in designing and producing Christian themed T-shirts. I have asked Haley to assist me in gathering information about the people in our church so we can introduce them to you over time. So if you are a member of the church and Haley comes to you asking questions please do not turn her away!


In church I am just coming to the end of series of sermons I have been preaching on the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. It has been a great study as I have sought to make this biblical prophecy relevant and practical. One of the things that has impacted me personally from this study is the progression of sliding away from God's intended purpose for the church. In Rev 4:11 the Bible teaches us that we are and were created for God's pleasure. Everything we do or do not do in this life should be pleasing to God. Paul said it this way, "Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God." The big "take away" from this series has been that it is not about you/me/us, but it is about God. We see in the rebuke to the churches a gradual sliding away from a God centered existence. I am quite sure that the Church of today hardly resembles the church of old. In some cases that may good. The world is evolving and changing. In some aspects we must change with it in order to be an effective witness of the gospel. However, we must never allow our principles, doctrine, and purpose to change. Methods change but principles do not. What God deemed as sinful and repugnant years ago is still sinful and repugnant. God's Word does not change neither does His standards of morality. If, as I believe, we are in or close to being in the Laodecian Church Age, we need to take heed and repent. Apathetic Christianity is deplorable to God.

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Missionary Robert Bottom

Over the next couple of weeks our church family will be blessed by spending time with two missionaries, one we support and one we are hosting for the first time. Missionary Roger Hopgood, missionary to the military, will be presenting his ministry during the Sunday School hour on January 20th.

Missionary Robert Bottom, missionary to the Harris County Prison system, will be filling the pulpit morning and evening January 27th. Our church has supported the Bottom family for four years. Missionary Bottom is an excellent preacher. You will be blessed by hearing him.

Here we go!

Welcome to my initial stab at blogging. Since I have zero experience, and, I am not a great writer, this experience may be short lived. I welcome any and all comments, criticisms, and suggestions.

One of the things I hope to do is to introduce our church family. Our church is made up of families that love God, country, and church. God has blessed us with a group of likeminded, sacrificial, hard working people who desire to see God work in their lives. Getting to know them will be a blessing.

Another item I hope to share with you is a simple thought about the Word of God. It may take the form of a paragraph or several. It may be something I gleaned from another person or something a little more original. (The Bible says there is nothing new under the sun.) One thing I know is it will be...brief.

Let me tell you a little about myself for those of you not familiar with our ministry or family. My name is Dr. Michael Taylor. I don't often use that title, but, I did earn the degree. I did my undergraduate and Master's degree at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida. I received my Doctor of Biblical Studies degree from Gulf Coast Theological Institute in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. I am a thesis away from a second advanced degree, a PHD in Biblical Counseling, from Immaunel Theological Seminary in Peachtree, Georgia. (I will most likely never complete it.)  My family and I spent nearly sixteen years of service to the country of Ghana, West Africa. We were church planting missionaries. While there I founded Western Baptist Bible Institute in the city of Takoradi. In November 2006 we moved to Katy, Texas (25 miles west of Houston) and started The Church at Katy the following March (2007).

Kim

My wife Kim is a jewel of a lady. I am most fortunate to have a wife that is willing to suffer through the life and path I have trod. Our years spent living in Africa was a true testament to Kim demonstrating the grace of God and "the patience of Job." Life in the ministry is life in a fishbowl. We have five children, three boys and two girls. We also have four grandchildren. Our life is family centered.

I love pastoring and can not imagine myself doing anything else. This story kind sums up what I feel about the life God has chosen for me.

"I can remember shortly after I realized God was calling me to a life of ministry I went to an uncle, and aged, godly, southern gentleman and told him what I believed God wanted me to do with my life. Expecting to hear some sort of positive congratulatory response I was taken back by what he said. He looked me right in the eye and said, "Son, if you can do anything else, do it." Wow, you talk about being floored. I left there that day confused and bewildered to say the least. It was not until I had several years under my ministry belt that I finally understood what he was telling me that day. What he meant was that if I "could" do anything else then I was probably not called to the ministry. You see, when a man is convinced that God has a plan, purpose, and path for him he must walk that path." In the center of God's will is the safest, most glorious place you can ever live your life.

The Apostle Paul said it this way, "Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel."