Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

I can remember how, when my kids were little, they would come running up to me while I was in the midst of a conversation and without thinking interrupt me and the person to whom I was speaking with some news of something they were doing or a question that had come to their mind.   As nicely as I could (and maybe sometimes not so nicely), I would point out to them that they would have to wait until I was finished.   Yet from that point on, in the back of my mind I couldn’t help but think about what it was they were trying to say or ask.   My thought process had been interrupted and I had become distracted.   We all know what it’s like to be interrupted.   We might be in the middle of an important conversation or trying to complete a task when, the phone rings or someone steps into your office with an emergency or your child starts to tug on your sleeve.   At that moment whatever you were saying or doing comes to a halt and your attention is diverted to...

My paternal grandmother used to tell about the day my dad was drafted into the Korean War.   For her, seeing her youngest son/child going off to war was devastating.   She told me how, while he was gone, she would cry and pray for him every day.   The whole family was living on pins and needles, especially while he was deployed into Korea itself. Thankfully (and obviously), my dad came home from war, but not after having been injured by an exploding grenade.   In fact, throughout his life he could not have certain medical tests done because of shrapnel that was lodged in his face.   Not too long ago, I found some pictures of my father from the war and a letter that he had sent to his family back home in NYC.   Apparently, just a few months earlier, April 1951, he had been on a short leave and was able to visit with his family.   I found the pictures from that visit and it seems like the family was having such a great time having my dad around. ...

I don’t follow baseball too closely during much of the season, but I do love the postseason. And this year, I really enjoyed watching the World Series.   Unfortunately, most of the games went pretty late into the evening.   Knowing I needed to get up early the next morning, I would eventually go to sleep before the end of the game and get the final score the next day (which I would check on my phone as soon as my alarm went off!). But, as the series between the Cubs and the Indians progressed and each game became more and more significant, I would stay up just a little bit later watching. When it came to the final game, I was determined to watch until the very end. I was not going to miss the last couple of innings.   By the time that final game got to the bottom of the ninth inning, the game was tie, it was midnight, and a rain delay was called—and, in spite of the excitement, my eyes were beginning to close.   I was losing my ability to stay awake.   My d...

Last weekend we had lots of company.   It seemed to be a series of visits in our home for one dinner after another.   On Saturday some friends who this past year had moved out of the area came back for a visit and that night had dinner with us.   On Sunday, Kim and I were blessed to have a young missionary couple come eat with us after our Sunday services.   And, on Monday we received a call from a couple from North Jersey whom we have known for many years; they were in the area and wanted to stop by and see us—so, we gave them dinner as well.   I have to say, Kim is a real trooper when it comes to entertaining guests.   Before you know it, she has a cake in the oven and dinner on the table.   We tend to love having people in our home.   In fact, our children grew up with lots of people, and all kinds of people, coming in and out of our home.   They got used to the missionaries, evangelists, family, friends, and church families sitting a...

Have you ever lost sleep due to stress and anxiety?  I have.  Even recently, I’ve had some nights wherein the thoughts of the day, the stuff going on in our nation, and things that are taking place in my personal life have accumulated in my mind and have kept my mind turning, keeping me from falling asleep.  I know the same has happened to most of you at one time or another.    We are told that, people today are more stressed and anxious than ever before.  A recent study highlighted on the news this past week revealed the high levels of stress and anxiety people across our nation are feeling due to this year’s presidential campaign.  Some people have confirmed to me the same, saying that, especially after watching the presidential debates they have felt their stress levels go up and have had difficulty sleeping that night. I know exactly how they feel!  Some have gotten to the point wherein they refuse to watch any longer; so...