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.

From Pulpit to Pew

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Paul Harris

I had occasion to attend Divine Service as a lay person for the first time in almost 20 years.  What follows is not all that I experienced but all that pained me.  I know; I know; “you got to accentuate … Continue reading →

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Unverifiable

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Paul Harris

I have been told the following Luther quote is unverifiable.

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A Response to the Response

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Paul Harris

I wrote the following in response to a member sending me The Response: a call to prayer for a nation in crisis by Governor Rick Perry.  He said it should publish it, so I am.  You can read about the … Continue reading →

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A Primer on Anfechtung

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Paul Harris

As Jerry’s fellow comedian says, “That’s pure gold Jerry; pure gold I’m telling you” when Jerry tosses him a joke as a bone to his sycophantic friend.  Well my friends I toss not a bone but the whole steak.  First … Continue reading →

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Giants’ Shoulders

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Paul Harris

I’ve said for years that a Christian can safely reject anything said to them by someone who denies the reality of the Real Presence.  This dwarf now has the shoulders of giants to stand on.

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Human Limits – What Can Your Body Take?

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Paul Harris

That was the title of a September 2009 article in National Geographic.  The most remarkable thing I found in this article was that they considered a 150 pound man to be the average.  That’s probably the average 5th grader.

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First Use of Ribbons to Show Support?

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Paul Harris

“On Saint Patrick’s Day in 1946 six Nipponese defense counsel appeared at the captial’s war-crimes tribunal wearing green lapel ribbons…” (American Caesar, 474)

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Libya Comes to the LCMS

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Paul Harris

If you think of what is going on in Libya and what went on in Egypt as popular uprisings against unjust governance, then you can say Libya has come to the LCMS in the form of ACELC.

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Churchyard Saints

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Paul Harris

In a sermon written circa 1520 entitled “A Sermon on the Three Kinds of Good Life for the Instruction of Consciences” (LW, 44, 235-242), Luther breaks the church down by churchyard, nave, and sanctuary.  “A churchyard saint, Luther says, is … Continue reading →

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Grief Observed

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Paul Harris

A Greif Observed is the title of one of C. S. Lewis’ most poignant books.  It’s about losing his wife of only four years after being a confirmed bachelor.  Even as a young man it was difficult to read, now … Continue reading →

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