Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

As I sit here writing this morning, I am listening to the music from our daughter Joanna’s senior recital on her viola.   It took place last Sunday afternoon at Lafayette College, the school from which she is about to graduate.   The truth is, I had never heard Joanna play at the level at which she played during her recital. The music was as difficult as could be and the fact that she played her own concert for almost an hour was, to me at least, quite a feat.   As you can imagine, mom and dad were on the edge of their seats!   (I know there are lots of parents out there who understand the feeling!)   As a music major (she is also a psychology major), Joanna’s recital was the culmination of her four years of music studies at the college, especially her time spent on her viola.  In some ways, however, it was also the culmination of her time spent learning, first the violin since she was five years old and then subsequently taking up the viola in 8 th ...

As we enter into this weekend leading up to Easter Sunday, I know that it is going to be a very busy couple of days.   Today our church will host two Good Friday Services—we are hosting one on behalf of the community and then tonight we will have our own Good Friday communion service.   Tomorrow we are holding an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.   And, Sunday will be our Resurrection Day Services, complete with an Easter morning breakfast!   It’s going to be a great weekend of celebration.   And, it ought to be.   After all, we are celebrating the pinnacle of our faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the event upon which all of the Christian faith stands! Today, on this Good Friday, I am reminded that it all begins with a cross.  Our whole weekend of celebration that will include Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, special breakfasts, and churches that will be filled music and joy, begins with a symbol of suffering and death: the cross of Jesus Chris...

Tomorrow evening Kim’s brother’s oldest son, Glenn, is getting married. It’s going to be a big event since he is the eldest grandchild on that side of the family, although not the first to get married (our son, Jonathan was the first).   Our children will all be with us, as will Kim’s parents—and of course, lots of family whom we have not seen in a while.     Kim and I know well what it is like to prepare for a wedding.   After all, it was less than two years ago that our son Jonathan married Danielle. Months of preparation, lead up to the ceremony in which the bride and groom are joined together, followed by a few hours of celebration. And, I can just picture what tomorrow is going to be like in the hours leading up to the wedding.   The bride and her bridesmaids will be doing their hair, putting on their makeup, and making sure their dresses look just right.   The groom and his groomsmen may be given some assignments for the morning after which ...