St. Antony’s Cave

Politics and Peeing on New Hay

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:05:47 +0000

This being a presidential election year politics is amped in the secular news. This being an “off” year in the LCMS with neither District nor Synod conventions (Honestly, who but bureaucrats isn’t thrilled by this?) means in LCMS-ville politics are now ramping up.

Abraham Lincoln, so the story goes, once won a court case by saying in his summation to the jury nothing more than, “The prosecution has the facts of the case 100 % correct, but they have come to the wrong conclusion.” (more…)

“Flies on Jesus”

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:54:44 +0000

Saul Bellow in his novel Herzog quotes what he says is an old song, “There are flies on me; there’s flies on you, but there ain’t no flies on Jesus.” O yes, there were (more…)

This Jeremiah Wasn’t a Bullfrog but a Friend

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:49:55 +0000

”Jeremiah was a bullfrog. He was a good friend of mine,” so sang “Three Dog Night.” Well Rev. Jeremiah Wright isn’t a bullfrog, but he was a good friend of Senator Baraak Obamba. Keep reading; this isn’t a political screed but a diatribe on the relationship of pastor and people. (more…)

You Can Learn a lot from women, so Don’t Sacrifice them

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:54:37 +0000

There are shows aimed at men and shows at women. While, as far as I know, no one has thought of a derisive term for movies aimed at men such as “Male Movie” or “Testosterone Tape,” we do have the derisive term “Chick Flick.” Now that my sons are out in the working world, I am left alone with women to watch movies. I find no pleasure in watching a movie and waiting to cry; however, there is even less virtue in watching a typical male movie and waiting for other people to die. Still when watching the things my wife and daughters opt for I find myself dying not crying. (more…)

You’re Just a Kid!

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:40:47 +0000

“You’re just a kid!” O how age can be made an accusation. (more…)

Other Issues from Issues Etc.

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:29:26 +0000

Several people have sent the following response of Mollie Ziegler Hemingway to President Kieschnick’s “letter to the editor.” Here is my reaction. (more…)

David Danced Why Can’t I?

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:19:20 +0000

In the March 8/15 issue of World magazine, Marvin Olasky references 2 Samuel 6:16 to bring up short those of us defending liturgical worship. He quotes the passage: ” ‘As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.’” And then says, “Some church leaders who prefer solemnity despise those who leap and dance. But David insisted to Michal, ‘I will make merry before the Lord,’ and some evangelicals rightly say the same.” Do they? (more…)

Radio Shows Go Mercy Stays & Politics Rules the World

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:09:29 +0000

Several members sent me Radio Silence by Mollie Ziegler Hemingway in the March 28 Wall Street Journal. Here is what troubles me: (more…)

Of Style and Substance

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:39:12 +0000

The following will enable those who haven’t placed me in the category of fundamentalist or uneducated to do so now. (more…)

Heaven Waits for those who Congregate

Rev. Paul R. Harris — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:37:40 +0000

Don Williams sang in 1980 that he didn’t “believe that heaven waits for only those who congregate.” With due respect to the truth of country music in general and Don Williams in particular, I disagree. (more…)