As Goes The Agenda So Goes the Church

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

               At one time, the Missouri Synod understood this. It was the issue of the Prussian Agenda that led ultimately to her forefathers being dissatisfied with the German state church. The Prussian Agenda, seeking to unite the Reformed and Lutheran, called for Communion to be distributed with these words: “Jesus says, ‘This is My Body; This is My Blood.’” The Confessional Lutheran divide with the Reformed to this day is what does Jesus mean? Does He mean what He says: that these elements are His body and blood (Confessional Lutheran) or, that these elements symbolize, reminds us of His body and blood?

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“Painting from 1860 depicts a time traveler using her iPhone”

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

Did you see this headline and the painting referenced (boingboing.net/2020/11/16/woman-in-1860-painting-depicts-a-time-traveler-using-her-iphone.html)? Do you realize that more people find it easier to believe that this teenager is using an iPhone in 1860 than a young woman 15-17 years old is going to church intending to use a prayer book there? Equally unbelievable is that a male suitor would be waiting for her with a flower.

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Apostolate and Ministry

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

Over 37 years of ministry, I only personally know of two removed from the clergy roster of the LCMS. One for cause and one just because. The one for cause is Matthew Becker who unlike the Neil Diamond song was not done too soon. That he spewed his falsehood for decades undisciplined is typical of church bureaucracies. The other was Doug Fusselman who was removed for having too high of a view of the office of the ministry.

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Believer’s Baptism, Communion, and Justification

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

This article written and published by Christian News, November 2020. The introductory remarks, in italics, are from Rev. Phil Hale, the editor.

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If that Paul can do it why can’t this one?

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

To my surprise, Paul McCartney’s first solo hit, “Uncle Albert” was made up of pieces from unfinished songs in the last days of the Beatles. There are 12 different sections. When I mentioned this to a musician he said, “They do that all the time.” I replied, “I knew Kid Rock ripped off “Werewolves in London” in his 2007 hit “All Summer Long”. I had abided it because he sang of summer in my northern Michigan albeit 20 years after I. Come to find out he also ripped off “Sweet Home Alabama” (songfacts.com). Well, if songwriters can weave scraps together, why can’t writers?

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Border Blaster’s and Worship’s Use of Video

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

Radio station XER went on the air across the border from Del Rio, Texas in 1931. It broadcast at 500,000 watts. Clear Channel radio stations in the U.S. were and are only allowed to transmit at 50,000 watts. Those of you old enough to remember car radios and night AM stations, probably remember driving cross country through the night switching from WLS Chicago, to WWL New Orleans, to WOWO Ft. Wayne. Alas, the latter hasn’t been a clear channel station for over 20 years.

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Trying not to be that Fish

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

                While saltwater fishing, If you see a feeding frenzy, you can be sure there are probably sizeable speck, reds, or other larger gamefish there. Underneath them, will be smaller fish feeding on the remains of the bait fish that the larger fish have torn to bits. I’ve seen small groups who have left bigger synods exhibit this same sort of behavior. Well, I don’t want to be that fish. Having left the LCMS, I don’t want to turn and feed on it’s detritus. And hear comes the but-

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The Cassandra Complex

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

I first mentioned Cassandra in a February 11, 2013 blog. In Greek mythology, she is given the power of prophesy by Apollo to win her love. When she cheats him, he turns this gift into a curse by causing her always to be right but disbelieved (Oxford Classical Dictionary, 211). This curse of Cassandra sums up the ministry the Lord gave Isaiah. “And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: “Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand”’” (6:9). This is the ministry of everyone in the office to some extent, and it is a burden that can lead to a sore than can lead to an abscess of the mind.

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The Visit I Didn’t Want to Make – Cowboy Church

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

I didn’t even want to write up this account of my 2019 visit to a Cowboy Church in Bryan, Texas. Continue reading →

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Is what We Remember that Important?

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

“You don’t remember what your father said, but you remember what he did.” This was my first circuit counselor’s defense of deeds over creeds. He was a mid-50’s grad of the seminary. I was a new 1983 grad of the logical seminary, and I wondered did he know he Continue reading →

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