A Lion, an Ox, and a Warning, O My!

Posted on June 1, 2021 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

Dr. Horace Hummel has this story in his wonderful commentary on Ezekiel. He tells of the church in Nebraska where he spent his childhood. He describes the reredos having a statue of Christ flanked by Peter and Paul and accompanied by a lion and ox respectively reflecting the early association of Peter with Mark the Evangelists and Paul with Luke. He had many childish fantasies about those animals, but no one ever explained to him what those two animals were doing above the altar. Much later his own studies informed him.

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Something Better – visit to an Evangelical Lutheran Synod church

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

I’m conflicted. I reported on a virtual visit to an LCMS contemporary service. Today I report on a confessional Lutheran service. It was virtual too; virtually mind blowing.

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If Video Killed the Radio Star, What has the Internet Killed?

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

               The song “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first video to be played on MTV when the network was launched August 1, 1981. And some pundits and prophets trace all sorts of developments or devolutions from this event. TV changed, songs changed, kids changed too. Kids have always been about music but when your eyes are tuned to a song, the message is mainlined.

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Posted in For Anyone who dares, For Pastors Only, Missouri Megatrends | Leave a comment

Sunscreen and Hunting

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

A dermatologist told me I should start wearing sunscreen when hunting. I tried it on several hunts and hated it. Why? It’s a mixed message. The distinct odor of sunscreen is evocative of beaches and salt spray, not vegetation and guns. Cordite is the smell for these. And if you smell those at the beach, hit the ground. Somebody is shooting something.

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Posted in Contemporary Worship, Families, For Anyone who dares, LCMS 2007 Convention | Leave a comment

Greater Things Than These

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

In a series of dramatic revelations the Lord shows the great abomination of the leaders of the Old Testament church culminating with their worship of the sun. He moves the narrative along saying each time that Ezekiel will see greater abominations than these (Ezk. 8). Out of Africa I will show you greater things here (where you are) than there (Africa).

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Three Little Words

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

I’m convinced. The criteria people use to evaluate candidates for the pastoral office are just moribund. They are not even so last century or the century before that. They aren’t even so last millennia; they are the one before it. So I think the following requirements, standards, qualifications are without merit in this enlightened 21st century of ours:

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Flame Rapper (Lutheran Rapper)

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

This was the title of the email I got. The email from a 20-something, confessional Lutheran went on to say: “He graduated with a Master’s in Systematic Theology from St. Louis. The second song references a Dr. Joel Biermann [a Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, professor]. My personal favorite is “Sola Fide,” but “2KR” and “Scattered Tulips” are good too.”

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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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