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.

More Computing Power than it took to get to the Moon

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Paul Harris

How many times have you heard that a desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet, and now I suppose a smartphone has more computing power than they had to get to the moon? I don’t know about that one way or the other. I do … Continue reading →

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Like Shepherd and Sheep to Slaughter

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Paul Harris

Theodore Roosevelt was running for governor of New York. He had gained renowned as the leader of the Rough Riders.  To energize his flagging campaign, he took along on his stump speeches veterans of that famous charge up San Juan … Continue reading →

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Deep calleth Unto Deep

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Paul Harris

In 1981 I attended a Synod-sponsored introduction of the then “new” hymnal, Lutheran Worship. This is where we adapted the thoroughly inaccurate “And also with you” in mimicry of Rome. Our new, new hymnal Lutheran Service Book (How I wish … Continue reading →

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Surprised by Surprised by Joy

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Paul Harris

I think I know why Surprised by Joy is not spoken of as much as other works by C. S. Lewis.  It’s his defense, apologetic, explanation, or toleration of homosexuality.  Having leveled such a charge I surely must put up … Continue reading →

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Do I think we’re the only one’s going to Heaven?

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Paul Harris

We practice closed Communion not because we think we’re the only ones going to heaven but because there is only one way to heaven.

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Was it ever really a laughing matter?

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Paul Harris

“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien / As to be hated needs but to be seen;/ Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, /We first endure, then pity, then embrace.” Alexander Pope wrote that in the early … Continue reading →

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You’re Standing in the Wrong Line

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Paul Harris

The Revered Doctor Norman Nagel was a pastor in post-WW II England. He said of those standing in line at churches to get help for physical needs that they were standing in the wrong line. That sounds harsh, but just … Continue reading →

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The Voyage of the Damned

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Paul Harris

This is the title of a 1976 movie and 1974 book based on a true WWII era event. A ship with over 900 Jews sailed from Germany to Cuba in 1939 because of the rising tide of anti-Semitism.  Cuba wouldn’t … Continue reading →

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Ever learning, but…

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Paul Harris

You know when a person says something and then says “but” that he is about to modify, and usually in a bad way, what he has just said.  You would think “ever learning” has got to be a good thing.  Not … Continue reading →

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Justin Long-Lived

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Paul Harris

That wasn’t his nom de guerre. Martyr was. There was a reason for that. He was an apologist not a satirist. About the same time Justin Martyr was making a defense for the Christian faith Juvenal was satirizing the Roman … Continue reading →

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