Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

This coming weekend, we as a nation will be celebrating our Independence Day (a.k.a. “The Fourth of July”). There will be fireworks, family gatherings, barbeques, and lots of flags flying. And there is much for us as nation to celebrate. The Declaration of Independence was one of the greatest statements of freedom ever made up until that time. And since gaining our independence from the British (an independence that cost the lives of hundreds of soldiers on both sides), we as a nation have experienced the greatest freedoms ever known to mankind up until that time—and in many ways since.  We’ve known a freedom that only a few throughout history have experienced—a freedom that many have only dreamed of.  I think we need to ask, however, have we used our freedom as we ought to have used it? Might there be have been times when we as a nation have used our freedom in ways that have not best served the needs of our nation or the world at large? How about us as individuals? Have ther...

My father-in-law used to say, “The weatherman is always right!”  After all, he would point out, when they give a forecast that says, “ partly cloudy” or “ partly sunny,” whether it's cloudy or sunny, they’re right. When they say, “a chance of rain” or “a chance of snow” or whatever percentages they give, whether or not it rains or snows, they’re right. I know it’s a crazy way to think about it, but he did make his point.  Like many of you, I find myself to be pretty dependent on the weather forecast. Almost as soon as I get up in the morning I check the temperature and the forecast for the day to determine what I should wear. As I’m planning my running or cycling for the week, I’m checking the daily and even hourly forecast. This weekend, with my son Nathaniel and his wife Sarah having their wedding celebration with family and friends (they got married this past August), and with part of it planned to be outside, we are anxiously checking the weather forecast. I think you g...

As many of you know or have experienced, this past week the air here in the Northeast (USA) has been terrible to breathe, with the air quality index at times reaching over 200 due to the wildfires in Canada and the smoke they sent our way. For a couple of days, many people (including myself) wore masks, kids had to stay inside during recess, and even the Yankee game in the Bronx was cancelled. Visibility went down to less than a quarter of a mile in many places.  At times the sky was an eerie orange with the sun turning almost red. I think it has been a reminder to us all of how important the air we breathe, and quality of that air, is to our well-being.  Thankfully, as of the writing of this devotional blog, the air seems to have cleared up (at least where I am in this part of NJ). When I stepped outside this morning, I felt like I could breathe again. In fact, I even took a deep breath to test it out. I don’t think I’ve ever been so appreciative of fresh air!  The Bible...

When possible I like to get a run in, early in the day—as do many other runners. Today was one of those days I was able to do so. So, I was down at the boardwalk in Long Branch, NJ by 7:00 am to do a six mile run. And, it was absolutely beautiful. The sun was still low on the horizon, its rays gleaming off of the ocean. The beach was for the most part empty, except for a few surfers who were trickling in. A handful of people were walking the boardwalk.  The air felt clean, clear, and just slightly warm. It was a beautiful morning for a run. I was so glad to be there, and so thankful for the ability and opportunity to run.   I know some people can’t imagine wanting to go for a run. People will tell me all the time, “The only time I run is when I’m being chased!” or “The only thing I run for is dinner!” And, I get it. Not everyone enjoys running. For me, however, there is something about running that makes me feel alive, especially when I can run in the morning—and most esp...

Many people have never seen it. Even fewer have had it done to them. But this past week, as part of his graduation from his doctoral program, our son Nathaniel went through a hooding ceremony wherein his academic advisor placed an academic hood over his neck such that it draped down along his back, showing by its colors his area of study and the completion of his degree. The ceremony signifies the culmination of doctoral studies and the transition of the student from candidate to colleague. Of course, Kim and I are very proud of Nathaniel and felt privileged to be there to witness his hooding.  The most interesting part of the hooding ceremony to me is the thought that, one’s academic advisor and mentor is conferring on the student the status of a colleague. In other words, the student goes from being one who is under to one who is equal . It is meant to be a visual representation of the fact that the advisor has done their best to pour knowledge into the student and that the stude...

This morning I had to bring my vehicle to the dealer due to a recall, as well as for regular service. Since I needed to leave my car for the day, I asked if I could have a loaner car, which they gave me. In fact, I ended up with a brand new Hyundai Tuscon with only 13 miles on it and all the newest bells and whistles. It’s not that I don’t like my vehicle (a Hyundai Santa Fe), but who doesn’t like driving a brand new car with gleaming new paint and all the newest features?  Of course, I’ll have to return it at the end of the day. That means, I better not get too attached to it or enjoy it too much! And I need to make sure I take care of it properly. After all, it would not be a good thing for me to return a damaged car at the end of the day. I need to remind myself I’m not the owner; it’s only a loaner.  In Matthew 25, Jesus told a parable of a man who was going on a trip. He gave different portions of his wealth to each of his three servants to manage on his behalf. When he r...

How has your week been? Mine has been quite uneventful (except for a bit of a stomach bug that kept me at home for a couple of days). I know that for some, having an uneventful week might seem like a bad thing. I’d say, however, an uneventful week is actually a pretty good thing. After all, I don’t necessarily want my life to be constantly filled with all kinds of excitement, drama, and thus, stress. Sometimes it’s good to have an uneventful week.  Does that mean my week was boring? Not at all. As I mentioned, it unfortunately included a bit of illness. Besides that, I had some chores to accomplish at home and my normal workload for the church, including preparations for Sunday’s sermon. Kim and I attended our church’s marriage class online.  And I did get to watch a bit of the Madrid Open (tennis) on television and finish a book I had been reading on The Battle of Monmouth (a turning point battle for the American cause that took place right here in Monmouth County). So it was...