Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

Yesterday morning I received the shocking word that in the middle of the night, my parent’s house, which we had sold less than a month ago, (i.e. the house I grew up in), had been burned to the ground.   One of my sisters had been on the Internet looking at the local news when she came across the story and pictures of the house up in flames. The headline read, “Suspicious Fire Destroys Airmont Home.”   Thankfully, no one was killed or injured (the house was yet empty).   And, the fire was kept from spreading to the neighbor’s home, which did experience some damage.   We had sold the house at the end of January, so it did not belong to us. Yet, seeing the photos and later on the video of the house in flames was quite a shock to my system.   Later on, I went by the house and experienced firsthand the destruction—just a pile of rubble was now left.   It was hard enough to have sold the house, which we knew was quite necessary, but to see the house in whic...

This past Wednesday began the season in the church calendar that is called, “Lent.”   It is the period of time leading up to Good Friday and ending with the celebration of Easter—i.e. the day we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.   For many, it is a very somber time of the year as they fast meals and/or give up various forms of pleasure that can range from anything like eating chocolate to watching TV or using Facebook.   Why?   Because they have been taught that it is a time to do penance—to repent for sin and then show that repentance by means of some form of self-punishment or sacrifice.   They hope to gain atonement (i.e. forgiveness for their sin) by paying a price for their sin.     I don’t have a problem with people fasting or giving things up for the sake of their relationship with God. There are times when that is appropriate. But, I am concerned that too many people forget that there is no need for penance in order to receive forgivenes...

The other day I passed by a church in our area with a sign that read, “If you want to be loved, you’ve got to be lovable.”   As I passed by and let the words sink in, I thought to myself, what a terrible saying. I think the message was meant to be a spin on the old saying, “If you want to have friends, you need to be a friend.” Nonetheless, I immediately felt there was something wrong with the sign.   For one, during this month of Valentine’s Day, with its emphasis on love and romance, the sign seems to imply there is something wrong with the person who finds themselves alone and without that “special someone.” The implication is, if you aren’t experiencing love you must not be “lovable.”   And, that is just not true.   In fact, I want to say to all my single friends out there who do not have that “special someone” in their life right now, it is not because you are in someway defective or unlovable!   You may have not yet met the right person or God may ha...

I’m not really a football fan.   I probably watch one or two games a year, including the Super Bowl.   So, I dutifully watched last Sunday’s game between the Seahawks and the Patriots.   I’m glad I did. If you watched the game, you know it was the game to see as the score bounced back and forth between the two teams.   Just when you thought the Patriots had the game in the bag, the Seahawks would come back. And, just when you thought the Patriots were done with, there was that final interception and they won the game!   At the end of it all, I was reminded of those famous words by Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!” (Or, in better grammar, “It’s not over until it’s over!”)   How true! I have to admit there have been quite a few times in my life when I’ve felt like I was done with—as if I had already lost the game.   Yet, somehow in his grace, God stepped in and seemed to intercept the ball on my behalf, giving me new hope and helping me co...