Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

As some of you may know, this past week I celebrated my birthday.   As I did I was reminded of that fact that, when I was growing up no one in my family really liked my birthday. It’s not that they didn’t like the fact that I was born (so I have to believe!), but it was the timing of my birthday.   You see, being born on August 25 meant that, my birthday signaled the end of summer.   That meant not only my siblings and I would soon be going back to school, but as well my father who was a teacher, would be starting a new school year.   When my birthday came around, everyone knew that we only had about one week of summer left and then school, fall, and eventually winter were on their way!   Thus, no one   was thrilled to celebrate my birthday! Throughout the year we have those dates that become markers of new seasons and the transitions that we go through on an annual basis.   Thanksgiving Day marks the start of the holiday season.   Easter tel...

Yesterday morning I woke up with a craving for a bagel for breakfast. Knowing that there is a bagel shop near to our new church in Shrewsbury, NJ, I decided to pick up breakfast on my way into the office.   When I got there however, I noticed that the normally busy shop was relatively empty.   I looked at the bins that normally hold the bagels and saw that they were all empty! Initially I thought to myself, Wow! They must have been very, very busy earlier this morning! Then I thought (in kind of an annoyed way), Why can’t they keep up with the demand?   What kind of bagel shop is this? When the young guy working behind the counter saw me looking, he informed me that their machine/pot that boils the bagels had broken down. Thus, that morning they had only rolls (which they brought in from elsewhere). I couldn’t believe it: a bagel shop with no bagels!   Of course for a bagel shop not to be able to produce bagels is devastating. It’s a huge loss for them financial...

During this time of transition that my family and I are in (that is, not having a permanent residence near our new place of ministry), a very kind couple in the church is allowing us to use an apartment they have within their home in Atlantic Highlands, NJ.   This is an area of New Jersey that is close to Sandy Hook and which I never knew existed.   It is called Atlantic Highlands because it is set up high above the coastline.   It overlooks Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and even the New York City skyline.   At its highest point, there is a park that is 266 feet above sea level, which we are told, is the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard from Maine to the Yucatan!   Well, all I can tell you is the view from that point is spectacular!   We have stopped at the park a few times now to take in the view, looking out across the bay and ocean; catching a view of the Freedom Tower, the Verrazano Bridge, the Brooklyn to Queens to Long...