Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

Last week I was in Nicaragua experiencing some of the most torrential rain I've ever seen in my life (it is the rainy season there).  Today I am home with my family riding out "Sandy," waiting for the worst that we are told is yet to come.  As I reflect on the rain and the wind and storms, the words to the old hymn come to mind.  I trust they will bless you as you ride out the storm - or even if you are in another part of the world with sunny skies! The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide, A Shelter in the time of storm; Secure whatever ill betide, A Shelter in the time of storm. Refrain Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A Shelter in the time of storm. A shade by day, defense by night, A Shelter in the time of storm; No fears alarm, no foes afright, A Shelter in the time of storm. Refrain The raging storms may round us beat, A Shelter in the time of storm We’ll never leave our...

Baseball season has officially come to an end in the New York City area.   With the Yankees’ final loss to the Tigers last night (and a terrible loss at that!), the Yankees go home to watch the world series on their television sets just like the rest of us—if they will do that (not sure I will).   Until next April, we are done with baseball in New York.   If you are a Yankee fan, you are of course both disappointed and almost stunned by the startling fall of the team.   After all, this was one of the best teams in baseball.   With their payroll and share of baseball superstars, we all expected a much longer post-season.   Who would have thought they would have crashed and burned as they did?   Who would have thought that in three games they would come up with only two runs? It’s not that they were a shoe-in to win the pennant, but who would have thought that they would lose in a shut-out? But, even the strongest and mightiest g...

For years, I’ve had my share of Bibles.   When I was a young boy I got my first Bible, probably from my Aunt Catherine.   It was a Children’s Bible with a picture of Jesus and a group of children around him on its softcover that could be zipped closed.   Inside, the text was the King James Version (which was all we really knew back then) and scattered throughout were classical pictures of the main stories of the Bible—e.g. Adam and Eve in the Garden, Noah and the ark, Jesus teaching the crowds, etc. In my early teens, I was introduced to and received my own copy of the New International Version in a hardcover form (I believe from my Sunday School teacher).   Then, somewhere along the line I got a paperback copy of the version, Good New For Modern Man. That Bible became my companion all through college as I carried it with me every day to school.   And, of course, I’ve had my share of study Bibles and Bibles to use in the pulpit. In recen...

Last weekend, for the first time since they left for college, both of my sons, Jonathan and Nathaniel, came home for the weekend—or at least a part of it.   Since Nathaniel’s school is only about 40 minutes away from Jonathan’s and pretty much on the way home, he picked-up Nathaniel on Friday night and they arrived home at about 10:15 pm.   That night over snacks and the next morning over breakfast, all five of us sat in the kitchen talking and eating.   Conversations were flying in every direction as we all tried to catch up on what was going on in each other’s lives.   By Saturday evening Nathaniel caught a ride back to school. Jonathan was gone by Sunday evening.   Well, it was nice while it lasted.   At least for a few hours we had a full house! Those who know me know that I like to have my family around.   I like it when the whole family is sitting around the dinner table, talking and eating and sharing the stories of the ...