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 ...

Recently I saw a comedian who referred to a situation I have seen played out over and over again.   A person arrives at a friend’s home and, rather than simply going to the door and knocking, they send a text that says, “I am here!”   It’s so strange to me. Why not just go to the front door?   Why the need for the text? (And, what did we do for so many years, before we could text our arrival?) It seems to me that, with all of our means of communication today, we often don’t know how to really communicate. We don’t know when to use email or text messages or to simply make a phone call.   Every so often I get a text message that is longer than long—which would make for a much better email.   Then there are those people who want to use email for instant communication, instead of sending a text message or making a phone call, expecting the other person to chat via their inbox.   I tell my children that, when making arrangements with someone—i.e. to settle ...

A few weeks ago I wrote about the daffodils that had sprung up at the end of February outside of our church office. For me, they were “a taste of spring” (as I entitled that week’s Pastor’s devotion), breeding hope for that which was to come. How quickly things can change, especially the weather.   Since that time, we have had below normal temperatures and even a snowstorm!   The result is, the daffodils are now drooping to the point of no recovery!   Not only that but, many of us have become a bit frustrated, as we want spring to finally get here! Our daffodils after the snowstorm! We all know how quickly life can change—not just the weather.  One day we are feeling like those daffodils in the midst of warm temperatures, bathing ourselves in the sun and lifting our heads up high. Then without warning, things come our way that we never expected could happen to us and, not only are our heads drooping, but so are our spirits.  Like the sudden deep freeze ...