From 1992 to 2007, with a year off for good behavior, I had the honor and privilege of serving on the Board of Deacons at East Orrington Congregational Church (EOCC) in Orrington, Maine. During my tenure on the Board, I penned a one-page devotional for the Church Newsletter entitled THE DEACON'S BENCH. From The Deacon's Bench is a compilation of many of these devotionals. My intent and hope was to relate some of life's experiences to God's written word, to expose readers to various passages of Scripture, and to share with others a little of my personal walk with God. --John Murphy