Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

Next Saturday, September 19, I’ll be officiating at the wedding of my nephew Andrew and his beautiful bride-to-be Angely.  Of course, this final week before the wedding is filled with a fury of preparations on the part of the couple and their families. As with most weddings, there have been months and months of preparation. A venue has been contracted, food chosen, invitations sent out, table arrangements made, and the list goes on. I, for one, don’t envy those who are involved in making sure that all the final details are in place! For my part, I’m working to make sure the ceremony is in order, my pastoral message is finalized, and that I’m prepared to do all that is required of me to help the couple have a beautiful and meaningful wedding. And I’m praying each day for Andrew and Angely that they would have not just a beautiful wedding but a beautiful and God-honoring marriage.  All of this makes me think about the most incredible and beautiful wedding of all that any of us w...

Here at the Jersey Shore, the locals refer to the weeks after Labor Day as “Local Summer.”  It’s that time of year when the water is warm, the daytime sun is strong, and the crowds have gone home—mostly back to North Jersey and New York. In a sense, the beach has been handed back over to the locals. That includes Kim and me!  I don’t complain much about the crowds who come down to the shore in July and August. After all, those who come to their summer homes, or for a week or even a day help so many of the local businesses survive. And I suppose, the crowds bring a bit of excitement to the area. But there is something refreshing about being able to go to the beach this time of year and feel the change in the vibe—i.e., a much more relaxed vibe—and enjoy a bit more space on the sand. And, it helps me appreciate all the more that Kim and I have been blessed to live where we live.  I say that because, I hear so many people complain about living here in Monmouth County, NJ—in ...