Category Archives: For Pastors Only

They Would See Me, Not

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Paul Harris

It’s a delightful text where the Greeks come, without bearing gifts I might add, saying, “We would see Jesus.”  Every pastor ought to know that some pulpits have a plaque or an engraving that only the pastor can see quoting … 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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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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2,000, .32 cents, and More

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Paul Harris

“Seven Pounds” was the name of a 2008 movie about a man who didn’t want to live anymore and wanted his heart to go to person needing it.  Figures can do more than inform they can crystallize.  When I saw … Continue reading →

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Closed versus Close

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Paul Harris

I recently listened to an excellent presentation by a brother in the ministry on this topic.  He gave it to his circuit.  He went over the history of these two words and how they jumped from the Baptist to the … Continue reading →

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Fiel pero desdichado

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Paul Harris

That’s the Churchill family motto since 1661.  It’s not Latin but Spanish, and nobody knows why. It expresses how I have frequently thought about my relationship to the LCMS.

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Battle Fatigue, Old Sergeant’s Syndrome, and Grace

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Paul Harris

You can’t miss that St. Paul likens ministering to soldiering.  In reference to paying pastors, he says in 1 Corinthians 9:7, “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?”  In Philippians 2:25 he calls Epaphroditus “my brother, fellow worker … Continue reading →

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The Piety of the People

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Paul Harris

While St. Kurt (Marquart) lay dying from ALS, a Reverend David Petersen collected stories of the good saint to present to him before he entered Paradise rather than to each other after he had.  That was a good idea.  One … Continue reading →

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Talking Peace While Bomb Dropping

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Paul Harris

On August 8, 1945 the United States became the first nation to sign the United Nations Charter in hopes for continued peace after World War II.  The next day the United States dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki (This … Continue reading →

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Is or Isn’t it Enough?

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Paul Harris

Thirty years ago a Texas District official said in the District newsletter that some Ivory Tower theologians believe all that you have to do is preach the Gospel purely and administer the sacraments rightly and the church will grow. He … Continue reading →

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