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.

DIY Thanksgiving and Forgiving

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Paul Harris

“Today’s Focus Give Thanks to the Lord” was the printed theme for this Thanksgiving service. The subtitle could’ve been  “and you can do it if you try really hard”.  This is my fourth visit to a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod … Continue reading →

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Burr Under My Saddle

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Paul Harris

I don’t know who first referred to having a “burr under my saddle”, and the fact I studiously avoided looking it up while some won’t be able not to is proof of my pudding. (I forbore to look that up … Continue reading →

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Going Digitally Deaf

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Paul Harris

As “Tiresias instructs Odysseus that, before he can go home, he must take his oar and walk inland until someone mistakes it for a winnowing fan—a tool for winnowing grain—and asks him what it is. In other words, as soon as … Continue reading →

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Only a Wizard Could Do This

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Paul Harris
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Fear This?

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Paul Harris
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The Word, The Word, The Word

Posted on August 18, 2025 by Paul Harris

In General Douglas MacArthur’s retirement speech before the West Point corps of cadets on May 12, 1962 he famously ended with these words: “Today marks my final roll call with you. But I want you to know that when I cross the … Continue reading →

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What Every Confessional Lutheran Pastor Should Know

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Paul Harris

Master of Divinity trained pastors are going to become as rare as hen’s teeth. With upwards of 9 ‘alternate’ and much easier, quicker, and funner ways to ordination, the educated way is going to go by the wayside. So how … Continue reading →

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You just Thought the Plastic Raft in the Pacific was Bad

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Paul Harris
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Knowledge Falsely So Called

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Paul Harris

1 Timothy 6:20, in the KJV, reads, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:” The Greek word translated ‘science’ is gnōsis. The basis for our … Continue reading →

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Synods Make for Strange Bedfellows

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Paul Harris

Having been blessedly free of  the Lutheran Church Misery Synod overall and its Texas District for 6 years now, I have no standing with either. Truth be told, even for the 36 years I belonged to the former and the … Continue reading →

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