Author Archives: Paul Harris

About Paul Harris

Pastor Harris retired from congregational ministry after 40 years in office on 31 December 2023. He is now devoting himself to being a husband, father, and grandfather. He still thinks cenobitic monasticism is overrated and cave dwelling under.

Ripped from the Headlines

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Paul Harris

As slow-motion scenes are the death knell of B-movies, and time-travel is jumping the shark for science-fiction series, so “ripped from the headlines” is the swansong of the TV drama.  It might also be the prelude to the last gasp … Continue reading →

Posted in Missouri Megatrends | Leave a comment

Look What They’ve Done to Our Brains

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Paul Harris

“Look What They’ve Done to My Song Ma” is a 1971 hit by Melanie Safka. Listen to it. It’s painful. She complains not only look what they have done to her song but what they’ve done to her brain. Let us … Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Missouri Megatrends | Leave a comment

Role Confusion

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Paul Harris

Higher Things much to the disservice of adolescents everywhere last year published an apologetic of sorts by an LCMS clergyman for his lifelong desire to be a woman which they later apologized for. Higher Things didn’t endorse the man’s lust … Continue reading →

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

Not Your Father’s Bible Church

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Paul Harris

I can say this about Hill Country Bible Church, Pflugerville, Texas because about 40 years ago I attended a Bible Church while in college.

Posted in Contemporary Worship | Leave a comment

Who’s Kidding Who?

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Paul Harris

This is from Hill Country Bible Church, Pflugerville, Texas webpage titled “What We Believe.” Strict agreement with these doctrines is not required for membership at HCBC; however, we affirm these beliefs as taught in Scripture and have established them as the … Continue reading →

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You Can Have Your Catechesis

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Paul Harris

Here is my reply to all those pastors who insist on referring to their catechism class as catechesis, a term familiar virtually to no one outside the seminary, and ought to be avoided because it sounds more like a disease … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors Only | Leave a comment

Dale Meyer Does George Bush

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Paul Harris

Who can forget the iconic landing of President George W. Bush on an aircraft carrier ablaze with a banner proclaiming MISSION ACCOMPLISHED? Who does not now know how utterly naïve or perhaps impolitic it was? The banner referred to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ablaze, Contemporary Worship, LCMS 2007 Convention, Missouri Megatrends | Leave a comment

Marriage and the Altar

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Paul Harris

Nope this is not about the marriage altar, but marriage and the Communion altar. If Paul can speak of marriage and really be speaking of Christ and His Church, I can speak of marriage and really be speaking about Communion.

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Visit to A Wisconsin Synod Church

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Paul Harris

Visit to A Wisconsin Synod Church Only it wasn’t; as my April 2015 visit to a Pentecostal church was really a visit to a contemporary one, so was this. They only mentioned WELS once, and I do mean that literally. … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Worship | Leave a comment

Big Dogs, Little Dogs, and Cats

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Paul Harris

Rev. Clint Poppe gave a justifiably famous presentation in 2012 on the need for pastors to be barking dogs. I would – without his permission, knowledge, acquiesce, or acknowledgement – modify some of his thoughts based on church history and … Continue reading →

Posted in For Anyone who dares | Leave a comment