Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

As many of you know, I have been somewhat of a runner for the past few years. I began with running a mile or two on our local boardwalk.  Since then, I’ve run a number of 5K races, seeking to run a somewhat respectable time. The longest I’ve ever run is 10 miles. Currently, I’m finishing off the second week of a 12 week training plan to run a half-marathon at the end of September. Needless to say, the running metaphors of the New Testament hit home with me.  As I’ve read the scriptures and thought about both my physical running and my spiritual race of faith, I’ve realized that both require of me the same thing. In fact, recently I’ve honed in on four keys to running a good race both physically and spiritually—and in other aspects of life, as well. They are discipline, perseverance, pacing, and focus.  I’ve learned that, in order to run a physical race I need to first of all discipline myself multiple times per week to get up and run, even when I don’t feel like it. I then need perseve

Years ago there was a TV sitcom entitled, “Full House.”  Well, this past week, Kim and I have had the ultimate full house.  Visiting with us as been our two grandsons, Jesse and Jack; their parents, Jonathan and Danielle; our daughter and son-in-law, Joanna and Dan; our son, Nathaniel, and his fiancée, Sarah at various times; and, as of last night, Kim’s cousin’s son, Josh. Oh, did I mention the added dog, Odin, and Sarah’s rabbit, Lizzy, who has as well visited this week? Yes, it’s been a full house!  Of course, most of the time Kim and I are alone in the house and have our routines and ways of keeping things. Add that many people and a dog or two to the mix and things can become a bit crazy. The schedule gets thrown off. Stuff seems to be everywhere. And the questions are endless: Who is sleeping where? What will we eat for dinner? Who’s going to be around for dinner? Can someone help with the crying baby? When can I go play with Jesse? Etc.  For sure, a full house has its challenges

This weekend we as a nation will celebrate our freedom. Independence Day (The “Fourth of July”) is first of all a celebration of our independence from England’s rule over us. But the day is also a celebration of the freedoms that have come with that independence. Those freedoms are listed in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. They are the freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. One person wrote, “Together, these five guaranteed freedoms make the people of the United States of America the freest in the world.”  (“7 Things You Need to Know About the First Amendment” online page of the Free Speech Center)  Although we are grateful for our freedoms as Americans, I think we would all agree that one’s freedom can be used for either good or bad. For example, some think that because we have been guaranteed freedom of speech, they can then say whatever they want to or about others, no matter how hurtful or untrue their words might be—at t