Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

As many of you know, back in October Kim and I got a new dog, Sadie.  She has been a very good dog, but not without some concerns on our part. She is very smart but can also become very independent. So, early on I took Sadie for some training sessions at our local SPCA. Most recently, I’ve been working with a private trainer. Our goal has been to get Sadie to walk with us better, staying closer to our side and less distracted by what’s around her, and to respond more consistently to the times when we call her to come to us—i.e. her “recall.” Although I’ve had dogs before, I had never been through a training routine with any of them. Well, I’ve quickly learned that training a dog is a lot of work, persistence, and perseverance on my part. But, the purpose behind it all is not just that we can say we have an obedient dog, but for her wellbeing and protection. After all, it is our job to keep her from being hit by a car, or running off and getting lost, or eating som...

It was just a week ago that I returned from a trip to Nicaragua.   As the team and I traveled the countryside, I couldn’t help but note that three of the four volcanoes that we passed had smoke coming from their peaks. It’s a pretty awesome and yet sobering sight. In fact, the country of Nicaragua is called “The land of lakes and volcanoes.” And, for good reason. Some say that the country now has 19 active volcanoes.   And, it’s not beyond the possibility that anyone of them will erupt at some time. I just don’t want to be there when that happens!   Of course, the smoke coming from the peak of a volcano is a sign that, that particular volcano is alive. It’s a sign of the fact that there is yet activity and energy taking place deep within it—an energy that at some point in time may reveal itself in a an even greater form than just plumes of smoke. The potential is there for a burst of energy that will lead to the spewing of rock and ash, and the flow of l...

The neighborhood in which I live seems to have become a bit darker this past week as one by one, people have unplugged and taken down their Christmas lights. For a few weeks many of the homes in our neighborhood were brightly lit up as part of the celebration of Christmas. Now, however, most of those lights are gone. In fact, I unplugged our lights yesterday. Thus, as I drove through our neighborhood and up to our house yesterday evening it seemed so much darker—and quite drab. Christmas has been called the season of lights, and for good reason.   During the month of December, wherever you look there are trees, houses, and streets lit up.   And, who doesn’t like the brightness and cheer of the lights, especially as the days are getting shorter and the nights longer. They seem to lift our spirits at just the right time. But, once those lights are turned off and taken down, it seems like the darkness of winter truly sets in.   Oh, if only we could keep...