Blessing for A Confessional Pastor

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

The only blessing I know is the first stanza of the Irish one. Continue reading →

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Message by Humanism; Music by Disney – Visit to a PCUSA

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

I know the acronym for Presbyterian Church USA is not PUKE but that’s how I have always thought and heard it. A visit to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas confirmed that this wasn’t a mondegreen on my part. Continue reading →

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The Sharpest Knife in the Drawer – Visit to a Non-Denominational Church

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

If you’re a pastor who thinks what the world needs is another non-denominational church or your winning personality, give-up. Send them to Shoreline, Austin, Texas. They have a better sound system than any Dolby movie theater, as comfortable seating as any Continue reading →

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 “Family Guy” Sees what Seminaries Don’t

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

In a “Family Guy” episode from 2005 Peter lists 29 shows that had been canceled by Fox after short runs (“North by North”). Check out the video clip. It’s impressive how many shows a network runs through. In their attempt to catch lightening in a bottle, they break lots of bottles. Continue reading →

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The Lutheran Study Bible More Aptly Named Self-Study Bible

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

            You’ll recall that the 1986 Bible published by Concordia Publishing House was titled Concordia Self-Study Bible. The knock on it was that it was a Lutheranized version of Zondervan’s NIV Study Bible. However, even given the inherent Calvinistic, Reformed, Millennialism bias of the 1984 NIV Bible translation as well as the weakness of some of the notes they didn’t remove, it still was a study Bible that aided in studying the Bible by one’s self. This is as opposed to the 2009 The Lutheran Study Bible which is study of the self. Continue reading →

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Bet You Can’t Do This

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

My father would say, “I bet you can’t rub your head with one hand and pat your stomach with the other.” Try it; it’s hard, but is it possible. He would also say, “I bet you can’t grab yourself by the neck and pick yourself up.” This you can’t to. You have to be outside of yourself to do that. This is the problem with those who have faith in faith, by the way. Their faith is from within not without and it waxes and wanes with how they feel. But I digress, but not too far. Continue reading →

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Sola Structura

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

This may be an apocryphal story, but I was told my someone that the sainted Herman Sasse and Kurt Maquart were attending the vaunted Vatican II Council. As things were going on and on and on about this or that bureaucratic point St. Herman leaned over to St. Kurt and whispered, “Sola Structura.” Well, that ain’t us, is it? Continue reading →

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On Exploded Ordinance

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

If you drive about a major military installation, you will find signs warning you to be aware of live ordinance. An EOD, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, officer told me in 1993 that every year around Fort Hood someone is injured or dies because a passed-down ‘heirloom’ explodes. In a biography of the famous and furious Israeli warrior, Ariel Sharon, the story is related how his 11-year-old son took down an antique rifle that hung on the wall of the family home telling his father he would be out in front playing with it. He gave his father a playful salute and went out. Continue reading →

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Is This Confessional Lutheranism? A Critique of Confessing the Gospel, Volume I

Posted on May 28, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

 

            The following is based on a presentation to my Bible Class on April 22, 2018. It was suggested that I put it in a blog. I would like to think I have refined it and not watered it down, but when self-editing it’s hard to know. In any event I publish this because I thought surely Confessional Lutherans would be on this like white on rice. Continue reading →

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The Eww Factor Isn’t it

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Rev. Paul R. Harris

Joe Dallas, former homosexual activist, now married, father, and family advocate calls it the “Ick Factor” (Speaking of Homosexuality, 32). “Eww” is what comes to my mine. Choose whatever exclamation you will, Christians need to recognize that when it comes to homosexuality the Christian Continue reading →

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