Vacation Bible School

Too often I hear church leaders and churches simply refer to Vacation Bible School as a week of free babysitting for the community. What a shame. I will admit that there is a lot of work that goes into Vacation Bible School, but to simply see it as a baby sitting service belittles several valuable ministries that the Church is called into. First, Christ was very up front that children meant a lot to Him. They are like sponges ready to soak up all that is sent their way. This week we have the opportunity to embrace these kids ourselves and emerse them into God's word. Second, this a a great opportunity for us to put our best foot forward as a church, for there WILL be several children and there parents here who do not know Christ or have a Church family to love them. A Baby sitting service, how dare we even think about these next five days that way! I know that many of you have given much of your time already to help make this week a success and I thank you. And that a lot of hard work and more time to put in is ahead of us. Once again you have my appreciation. But we also have in store for us the ways in which God will bless us this week if we approach it as an OPPORTUITY to minister. I hope to see many of you at our VBS this week. Love you all, Pastor Rick

A Back Pew Beauty

My heart is heavy today as one of our Back Pew Beauties, Margeret Kendall has passed away. Yes I know that she now has her place in heaven, but I ache right now at her loss. I ache for my daughter Nicki whom Margeret befriended many years ago and was one of her adoptive grandma's. I ache for you who had the joy of visiting around her kitchen table. I ache for her family who has know much pain in there lives. I also ache for myself. She was a fellow dutchtowner but nore importantly a woman of grace and faith. Today I will cherish every fond memory I have of her and I hope that you will as well. You all are in my prayers as you grieve.
Pastor Rick

"Paving the Way"

This past weekend I spent a lot of time putting in a new patio by laying Paving bricks in a seven by eight foot area. It is mostly to be a place for me to have my Grill since my wifes flowers have taken over most of the deck! Now, I admit I am NOT a handyman, but putting down a few pavers seemed like a no-brainer. Well needless to say the plan was re-vised multiple times. Some due to my inexperience and at other times because Menards could not do the math! Well this morning, it is mostly done but is not all that level, I will fix that I hope, and it just doesn't quite look like the ones I see on HGTV!
Jesus had a word or two about Pavers! He said that He came to Pave a straight and narrow path for us to follow. We are not to deviate too far left or right, but to stay on the path that he has laid. His path IS level and it IS straight! So why do we think we know better then Christ and go out on our own to pave our own pathway? Don't we get it! One path, one way, no other! So let's stay on it as Christians and as Christ's Church!
For now I am telling myself that I laid the pavers purposely the way I did so that the water would shed off and not pool. Sounds good to me!
Trying to walk the Straight and narrow Pastor Rick

It's Never Fished!

Even though I was in Missouri for less then 24 hours Jeremy and I caught close too 50 fish in one hour on Sunday night and 3 hours on Monday morning. why so many? Chuck says that these ponds/lakes are rarely fished. Whatever we seemed to through in the water they were hungry to get. You may not agree with me but I believe the world around us is "HUNGRY" to fed what we have in Christ but we simply are not casting out enough. We don't fish thinking that they will see us as Holier then Thou or we don't fish for we don't want to make anyone uncomfortable and so like the fish in these Missouri ponds and lakes they go away living on whatever dead matter is washed inti the water. People are hungry for truth, love, compassion that is genuine. But in the absence of these things they will feed on whatever false teachings may come thier way. So how is your fishing going?

Son-in-laws

Hey, I just saw on Facebook that today is "Son" day. A day for dads with sons, to lift them up and to be proud. Well I have two adult daughters, but I also have two son-in-laws. Now I could tell lots of stories on these guys, but today I simply give thanks to God for Mike & Jeremy. I am blessed to have a good relationship with them both and I am proud of them as husbands and Dads. Thanks guys for keeping my daughters in line! Ha! Ha! Love ya' Rick
Now what about the rest of you out there with son-in-laws? Give a little shout out of praise!

A Blessed Weekend

Hi All, I don't know about you but I had a fantastic and blessed Independence Day weekend! I want to tell you about it and then put forth a challenge to you. Why was my weekend so blessed and fantastic? I got to fishing for a few hours and I caught a six pound bass, wow! I got to go to two birthday parties for my two youngest grandsons. Drew turned two and Chase three. I ran in one of the toughest 5k's I have ever been in, the Reagan Run, but I did it! I was blessed to be a part of our worship service as I along with others participated in Holy Communion. Beckie and I started a new project in our backyard. I got to work side by side with my wife! Later that night I saw a wonderful Fireworks display in Prophetstown. Beckie and I had a 25 mile bike ride on the Fourth and then I got in a two hour nap. Have not done that since I was two! And lastly our neighbors allowed to have an evening swim in thier pool. Anyway I tell you all of this because I am thankful to God for the blessing of this past weekend! And God wants to here from us our thanksgiving and praise, and He deserves to hear it! So, I want you to not simply nod your head if you had a blessing this weekend, God and I want to hear from you. As a matter of fact tell it all who read this whether here or on Our Church Face book page or in an e-mail. Tell everyone how God has blessed you. and if you do it on facebook, I do not want to simply see that you "Like" what I have had to say. That's a cop-out! Let us all be Blessed by your past weekends happenings. Let us all give God the Glory. If you don't, God will call out the Stones to give Him Praise and you know what, it feels good to give thanks and offer praise. I look forward to hearing from you all. Pastor Rick Koch