Quote from Rev. Ron Mullings

Rev. Mullings was the preacher for the Section 5 of Western District of UPC Prayer and Bible Conference. He is anointed and profound. One statement that struck home was "Being humble doesn't mean you think less of yourself but it does mean you spend less time thinking of yourself." Makes you stop and think about what you have been thinking about!!!

So You Want to be a Lowrider, eh?

Trucks are manufactured and built to drive, haul, tow and climb. They have specifications for the tires, brakes, shocks, struts (sounds like I know something about cars? lol) What I am trying to say is that cars are built so they will perform. When we tamper with that, it may look good but it will not be able to do what it was meant to do.

Jedediah saw a beautiful low-rider on his way to church. He described the paint job and the angle at which the body was set. The bumper almost kissing the asphalt. The dude with an attitude. Gotta have that! He began to think of the diminished value of the truck. Oh, it might hold value to the owner or others who cherish that kind of ride but for the ones who created the truck, it was ruined. It could no longer go off-road or into sand dunes. It would not be able to haul loads or move furniture. It would have a hard enough time going over speed bumps or up curbs. It was only for show. It really couldn't be used as a truck anymore. Too bad.

God creates us with specific designs and abilities. All too often, we take our vessels and pollute them, change them, cheapen them, altar them, abuse them all for our glory but not God's glory.

The Lord speaks of vessels unto honor and some to dishonor. If we follow God's design and allow Him to change us, we can become a vessel unto honor. We will be ready when Jesus looks for a vessel to use. He will see us waiting on His will.

I think I would rather be an old truck that has been able to climb the mountains of life and stand the heat of the valley of trials. One that has been maintained on the Word of the Lord and the oil of the Holy Ghost has been changed every 3000 miles. The tires of my life have worn well with living the life of a Christian. The interior smells of the joy and praise found on the lips of the driver.
That is the kind of vessel I want to be!

Desperation is a Powerful Emotion!

Rev. Shane Koch preached a powerful message on being desperate for God. We don't casually come into this life of a Christian. No! We are born again and enter into warfare. We need to be passionate about our faith. Passionate about the truth. That is what sets us free. I remember feeling so free from the world's belief system which is not much of a belief system. It is more "loosey goosey" and "anything goes" belief. I lacked security and once I met Jesus and He straightened me out, my footing became sure. I knew right from wrong. Everything was clear. Peace entered my life.

Pastor Brian Koch announced the installation of Bro. Shane Koch into the position of Pastor of the Rock. The church prayed for Bro. Shane and Sis. Jessica as they fulfill the call of God in their life.

Bro. Jedediah and Sis. Nicole will be starting outreach in Greenfield with Bible studies.

Please pray for these wonderful young men and women as they work to bring in the harvest. God is with them.

Work It Out!

Sunday evening powered by the engine of the Holy Ghost reminds us to work out our own personal salvation with fear and trembling as stated in Philippians 2:12. We need to forgive those forgotten memories of hurt and trauma that have occurred over our lifetime. Fear and trembling need to be the cautionary emotions that lead us to peace and assurance in Jesus.

It's HOT in Here!

It must be about 85 degrees in here but Bro. Frank led testimonies with fire. It is the Holy Ghost burning in us and it should be evident in our lives. Pastor is at work but the church is being led by the Holy Ghost and able young men and women.
Rev. Shane is doing an awesome job along with his beautiful young wife, Jessica, with her singing talent. Bro. Jed leads in drums and adds his wonderful tenor voice.

Bro. Caleb is thankful for nothing cuz sometimes nothing is good!
Praise God! The Ramirez family is thankful for the simple things in living for God. Sis. Carmen carries a burden for her family but she hears from God His wonderful constant assurances.

Rev. Shane begins his message with the question, "Where did the sword come from?".
The will of God comes to your life so clear and plain and we respond "God, I want your will but I know that ain't it!" We need to quit fleecing God and start trusting God. You think Gideon was excited that his fleece worked? He went about figuring out a plan that did not match up with the plan of God. Thank God he listened to God, reduced the army, changed the tactics and won the victory for the Lord.

Peter thought he knew the will of God and wore a sword (remember he was a fisherman!) to join into the fight for the kingdom of God but when he struck out at the armed guard he was quickly rebuked for cutting off the ear of the guard as the Lord healed the man. Jesus won the battle and Peter picked up the sword of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost and spoke to the sinners about what they needed to do to make it into the true kingdom of Heaven.

Are You Tenderhearted?

Ephesians 4:32 "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Powerful tongues and interpretations with a message of love from God Almighty, straight down to our congregation prepared the way for preaching by Pastor Koch on the power of a tender heart. Forgiving one another allows our footing on the Rock to remain strong. "Vengence is mine, sayeth the Lord." from Romans 12:19...Remove wrath and evil speaking far from you...How often do we get hurt and angry when we should be loving and forgiving? Pastor Koch used to ask his children when they were misbehaving "Just who do you think you are?" I am sure that Jesus would like to ask us that same question. Let us put bad thoughts and things far away from us and let's just love one another and Jesus. I want to make it to Heaven, don't you?
Let's go!

More on A Good Name

START WITH YOUR MOUTH.
Mathew 12:35 "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."

WHAT WE SPEAK SHOWS WHAT IS IN OUR HEART.

Jesus further warns us in verse 36,37: "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

OUR WORDS ARE GOING TO MAKE US OR BREAK US!

CONTRAST WITH WHAT THE WORD SAYS ABOUT JESUS:
1Peter 2:22, "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth."

INSTRUCTION TO SAINTS:
James 3:10, "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

SEEMS LIKE THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD A FOUL MOUTH. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN'T STOP CUSSING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE HOLY GHOST?

READ EPHESIANS 4:21-31
IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN CHURCH LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR PREACHING ABOUT HOW WE OUGHT TO LIVE AND CONDUCT OURSELVES THEN THE WAY YOU TALK SHOULD REFLECT THAT. IF YOU NEED HELP THEN RENEW YOUR MIND BY PRAYING THROUGH (GO TO AN ALTAR AND CRY AND SEEK GOD UNTIL YOU HAVE FOUND HIM). STOP LYING, STOP GIVING VENT TO YOUR ANGER, STOP TALKING ABOUT THE DEVIL. JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE. STOP STEALING. GET A JOB SO YOU CAN HELP YOUR FAMILY, CHURCH AND THE POOR. BACK TO MOUTH. IF IT AIN'T GOOD THEN SHUTUP.

FINALLY, DON'T MESS WITH THE SEAL. SEALS ARE IMPORTANT. TELLS YOU THAT THE CONTENTS HAVE NOT BEEN CONTAMINATED.

IF YOU LET EVIL HAVE IT’S WAY IN YOUR LIFE THEN YOU MAY DAMAGE THE SEAL THAT GOD HAS PUT ON YOU. DON’T GRIEVE GOD..DON’T BE FOOLED, NO SIN ---NO LUKEWARM--- NO FOOLIN AROUND IS GOING TO BE RAPTURED.

PUT ALL THAT BAD STUFF AWAY FROM YOU.

1Peter 1:15, 16, "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy."
WORK ON THE HEART, THE MOUTH WILL FOLLOW

YOUR NAME WILL REFLECT YOUR LIFE. MAKE SURE IT COUNTS.

2Peter 3:11,12, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shal melt with fervent heat?"

SOUNDS LIKE GLOBAL WARMING? I'M WORKING ON HAVING A GOOD NAME, HOW ABOUT YOU?

Thanks for the support

Thank you all for the positive support and I have finally started a blog at lowkoh@blogspot.com ..thanks to Jed... but the older I have become the more I realize that there is nothing new under the sun. It is fun to pontificate on the issues of the day but alas, that is all it is, really. All has been said. Read it for yourself. Try proverbs as a start. God Bless!

The Power of Water

Testimony given by Bro. Jedediah Koch illustrated the need for the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus in baptism in Jesus' name in full immersion in water. Jed went to the sink to wash off the grime of working in his garage (who knows what he is creating next?) and no water issued forth from the trusted pipes of his new home. Frustrated, he tried using towels to no avail. Once he solved the mystery (was it unpaid bills? No! Did the city shut off the water? No. Did the gardener do something he shouldn't have? Yes.) he was so thankful for the cleansing power of the water combined with soap that he realized it is the same with baptism. The sin stains cannot be washed away with anything else but the blood of Jesus. Going down in the water,we are buried with Him in baptism,and the name of Jesus called out over us is the power of soap, we come out whiter than snow. Thank God for the Blood!

A Good Name

What is a Good Name:…. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN…BILL CLINTON..ARNOLD SWARTZNEGGER…GEORGE WASHINGTON……VERBAL BEAN..ABE LINCOLN…BRIAN KOCH…… ICHABOD… BENEDICT ARNOLD..SAMSON… DELIAH.. DAVID...

Images and feelings rise up when you read those names. The stories of their life and decisions that they made affect us. There is a reputation associated with each name. Reputation means the standing one acquires through life. It may be based on falsehood or rumors but it may be based on what you have done or accomplished. Some may say that they don't care what others think. Christians do need to care what others think because our lives are letters to lost souls.

Someone tells you, "I give you my word!". You will judge that statement not based on the literal words but on the life of that individual. Words are validated by actions. A good name takes a lifetime of living right. Benedict Arnold might not have lived a bad life but he is remembered for one very wrong action, that of a traitor.

Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold."

The key action in this scripture is choice. You choose everyday what is most important to you. What are you pursuing? What do you have in your mind when you choose? The kingdom of God or the kingdom of self?

If you doubt how important your reputation is, read Ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth." I think we get it backwards. We race towards youth and as it passes us by, we spend billions on trying to regain it. The scripture tells us that it will be better to die than to live. We forget that eternity is real and this life is but a vapor. This good name will carry us through eternity.

Psalms 52:9 "I will praise thee forever, because thou hast done it; and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints." I am so thankful we know a name that has a ring of truth, power and salvation to it. I love the name of Jesus.

Next blog: How do you get this good name?

Informed Decision

Pastor Koch preached on choices we make regarding our life. How do we make decisions? What is the biggest decision of our life? Do we follow Biblical principles or choose to let decisions be based on convenience.

After hearing this message, I thought about Samson and how frustrating to listen to his story of blind love with Delilah. She repeatedly tricked him and he chose to stay ignorant of her devices. He lost his strength and power because he trusted her. We can chose to be ignorant of the devil's devices and allow our flesh to dictate our course only to find our strength and power in God gone.

What a sad conclusion. He lost so much. Our life is so short. Let us be informed about the Word of God and understand how to make smart decisions in our life. You can be victorious and have joy.

Be informed, be smart, be a Christian!