In Loving Memory

Yesterday in our worship bulletin we had like many of you may have had an insert with the names of families who donated a flower or two to enhance our worship experiences on this Easter Sunday past. My wife and I bought two pots of tulips. One in memory of her mother, Janice and one in memory of my dad, Dick. I did not get a chance to look at this list until just this morning. As I read through it I rejoiced and had sadness in my heart as well, when I thought about Beckie's mom. She was a down to earth, country women, who loved the Lord Jesus and one as well that died way to early of cancer as have many of your loved ones. I sit here today certain of her place at Jesus side in Heaven. And then there is my Dad, a man who died early as well. But he from alcoholism and emphasima. My Dad whom once told me that he was glad that I had "My Thing" refering to my faith in Jesus. His eternal future I believe to be a bleak and painful one. Yet, I still sit here today, thinking back on how thay both impacted my life. I sit trying to forget the bad things and only focus on the good. I sit here today pondering Hope and grateful for it. May the Hope of Easter be with you, not just for a season, but always. Love Ya' All Pastor Rick       

When Life is Put on Hold

         A few weeks ago when Beckie and I took a vacation to Florida to see some dear friends, we got to the airport and found that our flight was delayed about an hour and one half. What a bummer! We were all stoked and ready to be on our way to the warmer winds of Florida and now here we sit in the airport with many other anxious mid-westerner's wanting to feel once again the warmth of the sun on our face. There were those who took it all in stride and others yet who were angered. But when we found out that the delay was because they needed to "De-ice" the plane from were it was coming from, attitudes quickly changed as we all realized that it was all for our safety.
        You and I are no different when it comes to faith issues as well. We want God to answer prayers now and not in His time. The word wait as you see is just another foul four letter word in our vocabulary! But, don't you just hate it when there is, BUT! But when we wait, even anxiously on the Lord His promise to you and I is to grant us Hope in the matter we are anxious about. He promises to renew our strength as He wait for His guidance. This coming Easter Season, a season of Hope, New Life and Miracles, be still and "Wait" for what God has in store you. And if you find it hard to wait upon Him, maybe your heart needs to be "De-iced" so that you are open to the goodness of God that comes in those waiting times.   
      Have a joyous and Blessed Holy Week, Love Ya' Pastor Rick      
  

Filling out my Brackets

    Like millions of other people, I as well will be filling out my bracket for this years NCAA Basketball tournament. I love doing this! I pour over each match-up trying to consider each fact available to me so that I can make the best choice. And then of course there comes into play, my favorites which I cannot help but pick and then there are those "Gut Feelings" that I get about certain games. Each and every decision I make is a "Judgement Call" about why I feel one team is better then another. And now while considering my Judgement calls about each game, it occurs to me that I/We do the same thing day in and day out when we make "Judgement Calls" about people we encounter. In a matter of just a few seconds we often times make "Judgement Calls" about new people we meet, the driver in the car in front of us, the lady behind us at the check-out counter at the grocery store, the guy not dressed like me at the ball game and I could go on and on, but you get the point by now. In I Samuel 16:7 this is God's word to you and I, "Do not consider his appearance nor his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." So, this coming week, enjoy making those "Judgement Calls" as you fill out your brackets, but also begin today getting to know a persons heart before you make a judgement call about them and I pray that the person looking at you who is about to make that judgement call about you will do the same. God Bless and have a Great Week! Pastor Rick
  

My Own Pillow

   My wife and I just got back from spending a few days in Florida with some dear friends. Whenever I go away I often times find it hard to rest well. Being in a different bed and my head lying on a strange pillow. I seem to toss and turn a bit more then usual. I am always thankful to get back to my own bed and pillow where when my heads hits it at night, all is right in my own little world and I rest better.
   Throughout the Scriptures the word "Rest" is scattered amidst it's pages dozens of times. WHY? You see God wants you and I to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is He that grants us perfect rest in this world filled with Chaos and calamity. Listen to Christ's own words in Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I WILL give you rest." What a blessed promise from our Lord! So on this day allow Jesus to be that perfect pillow that allows you the rest that you need from the "Dog eat Dog" world. May God's richest blessings be upon you all. Love Ya' Pastor Rick  

"Chewing on the Cud"

    "Chewing on the cud" is an old expression meaning to: "give great thought to" or it is something to cause us "to be patient in our decision making". The generations from the 1920's, 30's & 40's are ones whom I remember as people who would "Chew on the Cud". No quick decisions made, instead a time of contemplation would take place, then a decision made. I laid to rest this past Saturday a dear sister in the Lord, Jane Chaffee, leaving our Church with few people from these generations. We are a younger Church and gratful to God for these young families and their kids. But boy do we miss at times those voices of wisdom, grandfathers and grandmothers of those now in leadership. I miss them and the wisdom they would pass down to me. Even at 55, I still am not one to pause and "Chew on the Cud" enough. But today I thank God for those past Saints who have graced the doors of our Church and of yours who are now with Christ. And I pray that those of my generation and the ones before and after mine, that they will pause more often and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us with the same wisdom He gave in the past to names and people who are now our Great Cloud of Witnesses! Thank You for these folks of the past and for those now in leadership, like myself, to "Chew a bit longer" as the Holy Spirit leads us.
Love ya' All, Pastor Rick Dutchtown    

Replacing Fear with Hope

Imagine if you can sitting in your home one afternoon looking out your window at the small river that runs gently thru your tiny town. Now imagine hearing a roar getting ever louder. You go outside to see what's making this noise, you look upstream and that quiet little river is now about to become a raging wall of water that you have little or no time to prepare for. In a matter of just a few hours, much of your sleepy little village in the Catskill mountains has now been literally washed down stream. This is what happened to the little town of Prattsville, New York in the wake of Hurricane Irene. It was here that I and many others have had the privilege of  helping to help replace the fear of that day and the fear of "What Now" by being a part of the re-building process. And it was just that a privilege for me, for this little town to allow me to come in and to do the small part I could do in Christ's name as they are now moving from fear and into Hope! To much of a story to tell in this little Blog spot. But I story I will gladly share with you, your church or your organization if you would like. Today I thank Jesus for this opportunity I had and I look forward as well to the next time I get to serve. Please keep Prattsville and other small burgs tucked into the Catskills who have similar stories like this. Pastor Rick Dutchtown Church      

A Super Bowl Blessing

    Well it is true that my Niner's blew it in the big game and I am now ready for the onslaught of jibes and jeers! But before the game ever started I received a blessing that NO football game could ever give me. There I was all alone in my living room ready for the Kick-off when they introduced the Elementary school Choir from Newtown, Connecticut. These children did a fantastic rendition of "America", while this 55 year old man stood in his living room blubbering the entire time with his hand over his heart. If that were not blessing enough the Color Guard then walked out onto the field bearing the colors of each of the armed services. And just as Alicia Keyes began to sing our National Anthem, the camera cut away to our men and women serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tears rolled even harder now, just as they are as I write these words today! When all was said and done, I stood there awestruck. All of a sudden the game itself was just that a game! We are a blessed people to live where we do. And on that Super Bowl night I was reminded of just that. Thank God for resilient children,  for men and women who protect us faithfully and for the gift of music to move and motivate us! Love You All, Pastor Rick Koch - Dutchtown Church