Pastor’s Blog

Can a nation be born again? The phrase “born again” has become a catch phrase. Resurging sports teams, corporations, even made-over attics have been described as “born again.” Who coined the phrase? What did he mean by it? The originator is Jesus. He utilized the expression in a conversation with a Jewish lawyer named Nicodemus. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “Be born again? How is this possible?” Nicodemus asked. Jesus replied that just as one is born physically, he must be born spiritually. The only true rebirth is spiritual in nature. It is experienced when one turns in genuine faith and repentance to Jesus Christ and receives His free gift of salvation.  (John 3:1-8)

How can a nation be reborn? Clearly it is not possible nor plausible that everyone in this or any other country would voice a collective prayer of repentance, but national rebirth can occur when a great number of individuals turn to God. Such has been the case in the noted spiritual awakenings of the past. The answer won’t come from better education, good government, or successful commerce. Only in Christ is there hope for any person and any nation.

The rebirth of America is not a noble aspiration. It is a desperate need and, by God’s grace, could become a glorious reality at this critical time. Thursday, May 3rd, is a crucial day for America. Millions of people across this land will gather for the purpose of crying out to God to see a great spiritual awakening take place once again. The Merrell Center will be the designated place to gather for the Katy/West Houston area at 7:00 p.m. Be one of the (hopefully) 4,000 who humbles him/herself, praying for Psalm 33:12 to be fulfilled in our country, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” A nation truly born again.

Praying for You,
Tim

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“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even though he dies.” John 11:25
People have long struggled with the idea of life after death. It is a mystery that continues to be debated. Is there life after death? What happens when we die? Death entered into the world through the sin of mankind, and from that time forward, a battle has been waged. The Devil’s game plan was to kill, steal, and destroy. God’s game plan was to send His only Son to give abundant life. (John 10:10) So for those who believe and receive the gift of God’s grace by faith, death is defeated, and there is life after life.
Jesus Christ provided the key to the mystery of death. Easter’s significance (Christ’s resurrection and victory over death) offers us an antidote to the fear that death arouses in us, a promise of another world beyond this life, and a way to enter it. Death is a reality to which all become helpless. The Bible says, “And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) Most people are afraid to die, but that need not be the case. We do not have to fear death; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 tells us, “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead came also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Death for the Christian is not the end of life but a new beginning.
Death can be tragic when it happens suddenly and without warning, but the real tragedy would be if there was no hope for a resurrection. In Acts 24:15 the apostle Paul states, “…and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” Those who die with the expectation of a righteous resurrection can face death in peace. Our attitude toward death is determined by our faith in Christ. He is the only one who successfully challenged death and de-clared, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even though he dies.” (John 11:25) The lasting legacy that Jesus has left us is that He lived, died, and rose again and that like Him, we might gain victory over death. True life after life!

He has risen indeed,
Tim

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Sitting here writing this article and looking at these photos, my senses seem to transport me back to the vivid colors, the soothing music, the wide array of aromas that are India. I once again feel connected to a people who are culturally much different than I am, yet a people who share many of the same passions and concerns. India has been permanently imprinted in my mind and, even more so, my soul. Although I’ve been actively praying for and supporting the work in India, now I believe I share a perspective about people that caused Jesus to challenge His disciples to go and share the gospel, not only in Jerusalem and Judea, but also to the nations all around the world. Jesus loves all people, and now that I’ve met and have been part of the lives of the Indian people, I too share in the love Jesus has for India.
Just as Christ challenged his followers to GO and share the good news, I use this article to challenge each Katy Fellowshipper. A few Sundays back, I shared with our church family about the opportunity to be part of something special that was happening in the Indian state of Orissa, a state government that is very opposed to any religion other than Hindu and ranked next-to-last in financial status. Yet amidst all the spiritual and economic darkness, there is a light penetrating it. At that Sunday service, Polly and Dana introduced us to three of the many pastors and evangelists who are shining the light of Jesus Christ there. I showed photos of property that was being prayed over as a possible place to build a permanent Bible training center to equip laborers for the spiritual harvest that is Orissa. We traveled to India for the purpose of possibly helping to construct a small village school/ministry facility. But God opened a door for us to be involved in a greater way. I stood on a tract of land that seemed to transport me back to some wooded property in Katy that a few people prayed over and that eventually became the seven-plus acres gifted to us. That land in Orissa became a place of prayer for the four pastors there with me that morning. I couldn’t help but feel a challenge being issued to KCF to be part of a blessing of land to God’s people in Orissa just as Katy Fellowship had been blessed with our land. Could the Heavenly Father be offering us an opportunity to TRUST Him by receiving this Orissa challenge so we can be part of even a greater plan there as well as in Katy? I ask you to pray with our church leadership to answer that question. TRUST.
Praying for You,
Tim

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He became the Son of Man that we might become the sons of God. Here is a man who was born in an obscure vil-lage, child of a peasant woman. He had neither wealth nor influence, neither training nor education; yet in infancy, He startled a king; in boyhood, He puzzled the doctors. In manhood, He walked upon the billows and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His services. He never wrote a book, yet all the libraries of the world could not hold the books that could be written about Him. He never wrote a song, yet He has furnished the theme of more songs than all songwriters combined. He never founded a college, yet all the colleges together cannot boast of as many students as He. “…He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor…” (2 Cor. 8:9) How poor? Ask Mary! Ask the wise men! He slept in another‟s manger. He cruised the lake in another‟s boat. He rode on another man‟s donkey. He was buried in another man‟s tomb.
As a young man, popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away from Him. One of them denied Him; an-other betrayed Him and turned Him over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon the Cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for His coat.
Great men have come and gone, yet He lives on. He rose from the dead on the third day. Death could not destroy Him. The grave could not hold Him. He conquered death and holds the Lamp of Life!
1 Chronicles 28:9 – “If you seek Him, He will be found by you.” FIND HIM.
Have blessed days ahead FINDING Him. If you have already found Him, obey Him because He is your Master; trust Him because He is your Special Friend. Adore Him and glorify Him because He is your God…JESUS, THE MES-SIAH will bless you…Shalom. Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to His People on Earth…
Dearest Abba Father, I adore You for what You are. I cannot repudiate Your ownership over me. I acknowledge and bow before Your supreme authority over everything seen and unseen. I thank You and praise You for the life You have given me. I thank You for all the blessings I can readily see and for all the blessings my limited understand-ing cannot recognize. Who can fully understand the depth of Your love toward us? WE are indeed arrested by Your love for us. This fact gives me lots of confidence to come before You even when I am totally messed up. You will never turn away whoever seeks You in faith. Your mercy draws me near to You. Even when I lose You, You never lose me. I am always held by Your righteous right hand. Your love will never fail me. Sustain me today with Your grace, that my strength and courage may not fail in the face of difficulties that might come my way. Always put me in remembrance that Your grace is more than sufficient to be victorious in all situations, and let me find rest in You. Heal me of my stress, anger, all my bodily ailments, and unfruitfulness in every sphere of my life according to Your mercy and compassion. I ask this in the matchless name of Jesus Christ so that He be glorified through me. Amen

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The beginning of another year is here. Wow, how fast 2011 went by! It seems we just introduced the word for the year. Remember it? The new year brings us a new word; be there for the unveiling on January 8th. Looking back to last year’s word, FOLLOWER, Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must first deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) I remember the song “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” but what do we really mean when we make that decision? First, we must be willing to follow Jesus in His surrender—Philippians 2:5-8 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant . . . humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” It seems that if we are to follow Jesus, we must hold all things loosely and be ready should He ask us to surrender our possessions, positions, or plans for the sake of serving others. Second, we must also be willing to follow Him in sacrifice. Jesus declared Himself to be the good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. He also said in John that greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for his friends. We have been called to a higher standard of “costly faith” that seems to be rather scarce in the “Christian culture” today.

A FAN is an enthusiastic admirer, but a true FOLLOWER is totally devoted to imitate a person. What sets the two apart? Both may know a lot about the person they are following. Both have decided to passionately pursue that person, but when difficult, unforeseen circumstances arise, the fan finds himself distracted, discouraged, or disillusioned while the follower stays determined and devoted. Let’s resolve to truly be followers of Christ today, then again, tomorrow and every day after. Choosing to follow Him is a daily exercise.

Taking a peek forward into 2012 stirs an excitement within me. We have experienced some “Jericho walls” in trying to develop the land and enter the building process on our seven acres. But through prayer and by God’s power and provision, we believe those “walls” have come down.

Polly and I (and possibly two other KCF’ers) will travel to India the middle of January to be part of India Gospel Outreach’s pastors conference where we are in hopes to partner with another congregation in India to help them build a facility while we are building ours. Our group will spend two weeks visiting the four IGO Bible colleges throughout the country and see what God is doing through this wonderful ministry, which Katy Community Fellowship has supported since we began in January of 2000. Please pray for this trip to be anointed by God’s Spirit to make a difference in India and our lives as well.

The word for 2012 is right where we need to be for the time and place God has us. Let’s start the new year off with a renewed excitement and commitment to go and sow and grow! We need everyone (say, “Everyone!”) to come prepared for the best year in Katy Fellowship’s history. I hope to see you there for the first or second service on January 8, 2012!

Praying for You,
Tim

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The following is a letter I wrote to conclude our message on 1 Thessalonians. Have a wonderful CHRISTmas season and know your pastor loves you!

Dear Katy Community Fellowship Family,

I pray God’s abundant grace will flow in and through you daily.

This is a great time of year to reflect on the blessings we have. I have so many. Among them are my beautiful and precious wife, Polly, and our two wonderful children. Then there are the Followers who are Katy Fellowship. I give thanks for you daily as I mention your names in my prayer. We continually remember your work produced by faith and your labors prompted by love for God and for each other.

I love you so much. Being able to share the gospel with you has become a source of great joy. Being able to watch how God’s word has begun to transform and mature you is another of the wonderful blessings I am so thankful for. Thank you for the love you have shown me.

I am concerned about you in a couple of ways. First, we are daily fighting a spiritual battle that is one we cannot fight on our own. Temptations to become discouraged and give up or to become complacent are all around. The tempter does not fight fair so stand firm in your faith. Put on faith and love as your breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. Second, no matter what happens, don’t lose sight of the goal. That is eternal life. Don’t get caught up in chasing after things that have no eternal value.

We have instructed you to live your lives in order to please God as you are doing. But I urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. God has called us to be holy and to live a life separate from sin. Learn to be self-controlled in a way that pleases and honors God. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, work hard, and win the respect of those who are not believers. Time is short; the signs of Christ’s coming are all around. Keep watching and waiting, because just when everyone is thinking things are all right and we can kick back and take it easy, Jesus will come like a thief in the night and will catch many off guard and not prepared. Finally my brothers and sisters, I encourage you, choose everyday to do the right thing. Practice patience with everyone. Don’t pay back wrong with wrong, but be kind to each other and everyone else. Always be joyful; let it be contagious! Please don’t stop praying. Give thanks in every circumstance. That’s what God wants for you. Don’t let the enemy quench the fire inside you for Christ and his church. Hold onto the truth no matter what.

Please pray for me, I need it. I am praying for you. You are so precious to me. I smile each time I think of you and what you’ve done to encourage and support me. Keep up the good work of loving people. I continue to hear how that love is shown throughout this community. Let’s commit to keep at it. Don’t forget to give someone a holy hug, handshake, or high five. Let’s work together to be God’s HELPERS. Receive God’s grace and then be a grace dispenser.

Praying for You,
Tim

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Each time I make the drive down Kingsland toward Mason, I smile as I see the rocks of remembrance on our seven acres. I thank the Lord who miraculously provided it. I imagine the day when I will make that Sunday morning drive, arriving early to prepare for the first worship service in the new building. If I’m not careful, I find myself becoming impatient and wondering, “Why the delays?” But then I remember that God has the timetable we are operating on and I’m to give thanks in everything.

Perhaps there are others who can identify with me and think back to a year ago when we first met on the property to dedicate it to the Lord. We gave thanks for the gift and promised to pray for God’s plan, provision, and fulfillment to His promise. This letter to our KCF family will serve as an invitation to a time of praise and prayer over the property. We are in the process of developing building plans, which should be ready soon, but there are a couple of hurdles that must be crossed before we can proceed. On Saturday, November 5th, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., we will gather to pray specifically for these hurdles. Then, for the next six Saturdays following, we will return to pray around the property (totaling seven times—see Joshua 6:15). We will pray favor and a clear path to allow us to proceed.

November is a time to pause, reflect, and give praise for ALL the Lord has done. Let’s take time to praise Him and pray for His favor on KCF.

Praying for You,
Tim

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Many of those reading this may have taken caution by having a flu shot as the cold and flu season approaches. Much instruction and precautions are given about what to do to prevent the spread of contagious germs. According to Dr. Oz’s research and reports, the cold germ can cause a person to get sick in one day. Pink eye is so contagious that as few as twelve hours is all that is needed for infection to be transmitted. Small pox and the measles virus are two of the most dangerous and rapidly spreading viruses. One person with measles can infect as many as fifteen people from as far away as one hundred feet in a very short period of time.

Over the past few weeks, we have been sharing the challenge on Sunday mornings to practice “Contagious Christianity.” The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica, who were known for their contagious joy and spirit from their new found faith. He encouraged them to spread what they had contracted from the Gospel and from others who had received this powerful force. One of the “germs” being spread was courage. Releasing Christ’s infectious presence in a person’s daily life takes the courage to:

Smile at life rather than dread it.
Listen to God’s, “You can do it!” rather than others’, “Watch out!”
Be enthusiastic rather than pessimistic about what the day holds.

Contagious Christians inspire, challenge, and sometimes reprove us by examples of courage. They literally “en-courage” us—put courage into our lives so we can be contagious also.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul identifies other contagious qualities including living in peace with everyone, being patient and kind, and refusing to retaliate. Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances rounded out his list. The Holy Spirit’s work in us has the power to spread the good news to hundreds and do it faster than an outbreak of small pox or measles.

Taking important steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases is needed for keeping family and friends physically healthy. Taking important steps to promote the spread of contagious joy and courage is so necessary to ensure that family, friends, and the whole world experience spiritual health. Let’s be contagious!

Praying for You,
Tim

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How “catching” is your Christianity? Do joy in Christ, hope for the future, abounding love, and moral sureness radiate from the core of your life and spread to others around you?

It’s so easy in our world to catch serious spiritual disease from the moral decay, hatred, and purposelessness seen everywhere we turn. People so desperately need real health and life—the life that Christ is and gives us.

1 Thessalonians was the first letter of the apostle Paul to find its way into the collection of New Testament books. It is one of the most positive and insightful statements that portrays a first-century congregation. The Thessalonians were contagious folks!

Today, as the church is all too often viewed with jaded, cynical eyes, this affirming letter needs to be declared. Just as Paul encouraged and challenged the followers of Christ in that place, so too, can we work our way through this study. Perhaps some reading this have been drifting dangerously close to mediocrity in their Christianity. A good dose of 1 Thessalonians on a daily basis may be just what’s needed to halt this disease.

We are getting ready to embark on a sermon series on 1 Thessalonians. Some of the message titles include: Germs That Make Us Contagious, When Your Comfort Zone Gets Squeezed, Straight Talk about Moral Purity, Behaving Properly toward Outsiders, Like a Thief in the Night, and Gifts to Give the Family. The first message is titled, A Church with the Right Stuff. I invite all Katy Fellowshippers to join me on September 11th as the apostle Paul challenges us to be one of those churches.

Let’s be known as contagious Christians.

Praying For You,
Tim

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“So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place…but there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it!” Hebrews 6:1-3 the Message

I remember my elementary school days and getting to finger paint. It was fun and did not require much artistic ability (which I did not possess at all). And although we might enjoy pulling out the paints and trying our hand (finger) at it again, finger painting is for children and not adults. The writer of Hebrews was making a point to his listeners that it was time for them to grow up in their faith and not continue in the elementary teachings of the Word.

Soon our kids will head back to school, and as parents we wouldn’t want our children to show no sign of intellectual growth semester after semester, year after year. We trust that they will be challenged to learn and be systematically taught the information that they will need to know to grow into successful adults. Even though our kids would enjoy finger painting, they know that much more is expected of them.

Learning in life should never stop, especially in our spiritual journey. We can never be satisfied with just elementary teaching of the Word. God has greater understanding and revelation for us, and finger painting is not acceptable. The second “E” in HELPERS is Equip. The church’s job is to equip each of us to grow in our relationship with Christ. If we’re to be completely committed FOLLOWERS, we need to be doing everything possible to become students of God’s Word.

Our LIFE (Love, Intercession, Fellowship, Equip) Groups will kick–off a new semester soon. Let me encourage you to do more than just consider attending one. Commit to being part of one. You will learn to love God and others in a greater way, to pray (intercede) for one another, to encourage each other while fellowshipping around a table and sharing life experiences, and to spiritually equip one another.

Rather than looking at learning as a chore or as too time consuming, consider LIFE Groups as an exciting exercise in “followership,” and let us apply ourselves to “get on with a grand work of art” and not just “finger painting.”

Let’s do some painting together,
Tim

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