"Presents, Presents Everywhere"

        One sign of evidence that Christmas took place at my home is one that I am certain that you have as well. Sacks and sacks of discarded Christmas paper and boxes which once held an assortment of presents, now fill my garage awaiting the garbage man to haul them away. But the best present I got this year didn't come wrapped in any shiny paper. It wasn't bought at in a Mall or Box store. Nor was it purchased on-line. As a matter of fact the cost of this gift was me simply taking the time out of my day to allow this gift to come forth. 
   It was now Saturday afternoon, December 22nd, lunch as over and four sets of little eyes looked up at me and said, "Now can we play in the snow, Grandpa?" So the girls got everyone bundled up, almost to the point to where the two littlest ones could hardly walk. Off we went to the front yard, a 3,4,6, 8 and 55 year old. Yup just me in a snow ball fight against four much faster snow ball makers and throwers then I. When that ended we built a Snowman, sort of! The snow would not roll into a ball so instead we stacked one big chuck of snow/ice on top of another. After several failed attempts to keep the chucks from sliding off, we finally got our snow creature together. After a picture or two were taken my oldest, Ty then laid a perfect form tackle on our Frosty look alike sending him back to the ground from which he had come from. Now it was sledding time. We went to the deck in the backyard. The snow was packed hard upon the steps of the deck creating a perfect sled run for these future Olyimpic sledders. Ty & Emma of course had to see who could go the farthest with each new turn they took. While Chase and Drew always slid together hoping to tip over face first into the wintry white stuff! And there you have it! This Grandpa's Christmas gift! There are times when I am not the Grandpa that I want and should be for my four little ones that God has blessed me with. But on this Saturday before Christmas, my present came early as I listened to the laughter of my little ones and them simply asking, "Grandpa, can we go again!" It doesn't get any better then that!
     Thank You Jesus!
         So what memory did you make this year at Christmas that was your favorite Christmas present?
Have a Blessed and Joy Filled New Year in Christ! Pastor Rick Koch - Dutchtown                     

"Falling Off the Spiritual Cliff"

   In recent weeks one story has dominated our news coverage, "Falling off the Fiscal Cliff". In trying to be a good citizen I have done my fair share of reading to try and know just what this "Fiscal Cliff" thing is and it's impact on our nation and other nations if the Congress and the White House does not do something about it. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. Other major news stories have included Syria and Susan Rice, Medicare and Medicaid to name a few. Closer to home many of the young adults I know are focused on Finals, guys like me on Fantasy Football and our wives on Finishing Christmas Cards. 
     But then came Friday and now our hearts and our media are focused on one place, Newtown,  Connecticut. We once again find ourselves grateful for Teachers, all whom serve our children faithfully. Others who served their kids with their lives. Today we grieve for parents and grandparents who can now only hold on too pictures of their 6 & 7 years olds. And today we hold tight to our little ones, our Ty's and Emma's and so many more. And we thank our God that the presents under our Christmas trees will not go unwrapped.
    But we, the Church, also offer up the Hope of Christ, God's Son! The Hope of Christmas! Without this hope sent to us from God the Father, we all would be teetering  perilously on a "Spiritual Cliff". You see our Governments cannot fix what ails us as individuals and as a nation, as hard as they may try. Only Jesus, God's only Son can bring the hope needed in Newtown today. It is the work of His Church to hold out that hope this Christmas, offering more then a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear. Yes, we offer these and the Love of One who will always be there for them for Christmas's to come. 
    Be filled this day with the Hope of the Christ Child, Pastor Rick Koch - Dutchtown Church       




   

Me! A Minority!

   I am a white middle-aged man, a late baby boomer, with thinning hair. Been married 35 years and I have two married children and they are both married and have two children. I am a middle income man who is a conservative in the way I manage my money (well my wife actually manages the money) and I am a conservative politically and in my faith. Because of this simple bio, I am apart of a Majority, when it comes to looking at different groups of people in America today.
     But I am also apart of a Minority group as well. A group of people who proclaim enthusiastically at this year, "Merry Christmas" to those I pass by and not Happy Holidays. Now some have said that we have beaten this issue into the ground and need to let it go. I can't. Just last week I read in our local paper in a letter to the Editor, "That we Christians need to just let it go". In quoting Bob Dylan they said, "the times they are a changin'." That really is a great song and yes the times are changing. But in my humble opinion changing to the detriment of society and to our world in general. Just because the times are changing does not mean that God does! I believe that the word of God still says,  "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." And does it not also tell us in Acts "that salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." In other very simply words, no matter how much the times change, Gods Truth never does! You see when you and I say Merry Christmas we are proclaiming that this season is all about Jesus!  
 I am going to forward you all a a well a link to a video that will help to remind us that Christmas is all about Jesus, His birth, His life and the Cross!
  Have a very Merry Christmas! Pastor Rick Koch Dutchtown

A Parent Forever

         In Proverbs it tells us that if we Raise up a child in the way that they should go, when they are old they will not stray from it." Words from God that are a reward, so to speak, to parents when their kids grow into adulthood and we see them living out some of the stuff that we taught them.
        Today, I get to rejoicee in seeing this come true as later this week my two adult daughters leave there own young families behind for a few days as they travel to southern Missouri to help care for and visit with their grandparents there, my mom and step-dad, who are facing several health issues. They are not going because I suggested it or told that that they should, they had the idea all by themselves. Thank you Lord! I guess a few of the things my wife and I tried to teach them in their younger years did soak in! Or at least a few of the things that there mom taught them!
      But now as I sit here today I am reminded that my responsibility as a parent to them is not over, instead it has simply changed! Unfortunately many parents think that when their kids become adults that their responsibility in setting a Christlike adult example is over. "I've done my job, their adults now. They are responsible for there own actions!" Even though there is a little validity to this statement, very little, our adult children continue each day to need Christlike, common sense moms and dads to look up to and to continue to learn from. So if you are a parent of a two year old or a thirty-two year old, you never stop being a parent! May you parents out there look to Christ and His continual guidance as you seek to be the parents to your adult children they need you to be!
       Your brother in Christ & a Parent of adult girls as well! Pastor Rick Koch - Dutchtown