"Eat Your Veggies!"

   Every where in the media these days, we are constantly being barraged with someone trying to tell us how to eat! It all began with our moms, at least from my era, telling me that I could not leave the table until I had finished every Pea on my plate! Those pea's were good for me. But then we do not always do what is good for us or best for us, do we? 
    Another thing we are told that is good for us but often fail to do it, is reading our bibles and other devotional materials. I have three different devotional that I try to read each day. One is the well know "Upper Room", another is a devotional for youth and young adults called, "Devo". Third one is called "Power Up", a devotional put out by Sports Spectrum Magazine. Imagine that, me reading a daily devotional written by athletes about sports & life. Anyway, these devotionals are like the vitamins I take each day. They are good for me.
     God never ceases to amaze me at how there are days when I think that the devotional was written with me in mind. And then very special days like today when two of the writers use the same passage and share stories about a spiritual issue that I am struggling with right now! Praise God!
    So have you taken your daily spiritual vitamin today from God's Word? Or is that bible or devotional still sitting on your desk or another table nearby waiting for you to be blessed by the words and stories inside? What blessing could you be missing today, because you have not made time to read them?
Happy Reading, Pastor Rick Koch Dutchtown Church     

Back to Church Sunday

"Back To Church Sunday"

     Welcome to another installment of Pastor Rick's Blog! A time for me to share with you "Stuff" that God has placed within my heart.

     Did you know that Sunday, September 9th is National Back to Church Sunday? Well it is! A time for Christians everywhere to shake off those lazy, hazy days of summer and to make going to church on Sunday, a weekly event. Now I have to tell you that I had all of these grand ideas floating around in my head to share with you about the importance that Church can play in your life. Each one of them important, at least in my eyes. But then just as I was getting ready to begin typing out those reasons why you to should get back into the swing of of regular Church attendance once again, the Holy Spirit changed everything I was going to say. For you see there is one main reason for all of us to be in Church on Sunday mornings, and that is to praise and give thanks to Christ! This is the Heart of Worship, the reason or call to get back to Church.  

I have hopefully attached a Music Video by Matt Redman for you to watch and listen too. "The Heart of Worship". Take a little time now to listen to it and then finish reading. It will take 5 minutes.

Don't read yet until you have watched video! OK now read. This is the reason to Go Back to Church, Worship of God's Son, Jesus! I love the Church! I love the Church God has called me to Pastor. No, we are not perfect, no church is perfect. But we are trying our best to live out the message of Jesus Christ. And it is in worship, going to church where we continue to learn more and more each week about our Lord Jesus and how He wants us to live. So, go to the Church of your choice, but go! And then Bless Christ and He will in turn bless you! 

    I love you all! Pastor Rick Koch Dutchtown Church

   

Living Dangerously

       On my desk, on a sticky note I keep a list of possible topics that I would like to Blog about at some point. Some I get to, others get thrown into the trash bin. Today is one that has been on my heart for a long time now and is one that I just saw addressed in one of the daily devotions that I read. This devotional is called "Devo". A devotional written for teens, by teens. It is put out by the Upper Room folks. I share with you today the one from August 20th. Here are a few words from Gods Word to sort of set the stage,  Proverbs 17:28a says, "Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent."    
        When I finish writing this, I will post it to our Church web-site then to our Church Facebook page as well as my own Facebook page. I have a responsibility to God and my Church to make sure that the words that I put out there on the Internet are ones that will not come back to haunt me, words that will not embarrass my Church or make my Jesus shake His head in disbelief at what I just wrote. Words that are true, not gossip, words that build up and do not tear down. Words that do not spew anger or filth. I must "Think" before I post!
      Once or twice a day after I post stuff, whether it be on our web page or Facebook, I will read for a few minutes about what else is going on out there that people are talking about. There are times when what I read is helpful to me, a way of catching with peoples lives. Some good information. But then there are times as well when I cannot believe what we Christians are putting out there for all the world to see! It is like a tabloid you would get at a news stand, filled with stories that only tear down, embarrass and make our Lord Jesus sad & disappointed! There are times when I sigh deeply over what I read & see and I tell myself, "That's it! I am getting rid of Facebook!" But then it is not the problem, we are. I truly enjoy reading about the good things going on in your lives, how God has blessed you. I know that these can be tools to further the work of Christ! So I close with this, once again "Think before you Post". Remember that what you say on the Internet IS public!
        Love You All & Happy Posting!                     Pastor Rick Koch Dutchtown Church      

Back to School

    Where did the Summer go? Here it is mid-August and come the end of this week our kids are going back to school already. Maybe your kids are not yet, but they soon will be. As I ponder all of the work you parents have to do to get your kids ready for school, I also am thinking about how diligent the school teachers and school personnel have been in getting themselves and there classrooms ready for school. Our teachers today are given the responsibility to teach "Readin', Writin' & Rithmatic" but in many cases as well they have the responsibility to teach many kids about discipline and to show them that they are loved and cared for. Teachers for your time, compassion, patience and commitment to our children, you have my respect, love and my commitment to you to keep you in prayer. I would like to name each of the teachers and school employees that are apart of my Church in this Blog, but I would miss someone and then feel rotten about that! I also want to encourage you out there who are reading this to lift up in prayer and/or find ways to show your support for our teachers, whether they be public school, private school, local pre-schools or home school educators.
    In a similar way, I know that you Churches out there are getting your Sunday School rooms ready for those kids Christ has committed to your spiritual care. Pray for your kids and those Sunday School teachers as well. Encourage them in this vital ministry that they have accepted. And lastly, to you parents out there who are frantically getting your kids ready for that first day of School, know that your child's Christian education is just as important as their public education and even more so in many ways for it is in Sunday School that they learn about love, forgiveness, caring, but mostly about Christ! And while you are at it, why not stay for the Adult classes that are thee for you as well! There is a Church near you with it's doors open and it's arms open even wider ready to embrace you and your Children. Ready to share with you the stories and truths about Lord Jesus Christ!
   I love you all! Your Brother in Christ, Pastor Rick Koch - Dutchtown Church       

A Trip to the Emergency Room

       This past weekend my wife Beckie and I had our grandsons, Ty & Chase for three days while their parents treated themselves to a 10th anniversary present by vacationing in Peurto Rico. On my 10th Anniversary I think we went to Taco Bell for dinner! Congrats to my daughter Mandy and her husband Mike on this milestone!
       Anyway, it was now Sunday afternoon with less then an hour before we were to take the boys home when Chase decided to do a header off of the playground equipment at Sinnissippi Park, leaving a gash in the back of his head. Off we went to the emergency room at CGH. Now I have made numerous trips to many different Emergency rooms in my years as a Pastor, but it is different when you are on the other side of that fence! Yet our experience was one that I give God the glory for. From the moment we arrived, even though we were NOT the parents, NOR did we have any of the insurance stuff with us, we still got rushed right in. Thanks to texting we got all we needed from the kids. Anyway the visit only got better from there. All of the staff, the Nurses, CNA's, the Doctor and other's all treated us and Chase in a loving and timely manner. When it came time to leave Chase got a serenade of "Hope you get better soon Chase" from all of the staff. That's what happens when you are 4 and really cute!
      Earlier today while I was back in Sterling and reliving Sunday hospital visit, I  had felt a deep appreciation rush over me for that hospital staff. Before I knew it I had left "How Sweet It Is" bakery with a few dozen cookies as a "Thank You" for the Emergency room staff. They were very grateful for the goodies and the appreciation I showed. 
     I don't tell you this story to prop myself up, because there have been many other times in my life that I have failed to show the appreciation to people that God was calling me to give them! In Ephesians the Word of God calls us to "Build One Another Up", but rarely does this happen. Yet this is to be one of the key spiritual differences between the Children of God and those who do not know Christ! We are not simply called to say "Thank You", but we are called to build people up! To let them know of our appreciation for them and for what they have done for us. So, who is it that the Holy Spirit is calling you to show appreciation to?  I encourage you in the week ahead to find that someone who needs built up, and then to do just that!
        Go forth now and Be Christ's Church!
                 Your Brother in Christ, Pastor Rick Koch - Dutchtown Church