Audio Message Link

Some have been asking if there is a link to the audio of my message, "Witness Protection & You," that I gave at Andrew Farley's church, "Ecclesia, Church Without Religion," on Sunday, September 21. Click on the link below, and you can download it for free.  Cool.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ralph-harris-witness-protectio/id325724962?i=319242455&mt=2

Link To Video Sermon From Sunday, Sept. 21

I was thoroughly drenched by a west Texas thunderstorm Sunday morning, just minutes before speaking at Ecclesia, Church Without Religion (pastored by Andrew Farley). My shirt wrinkled up like an accordion, possibly terrifying the audience into believing that I was there to lead them in classic polka songs. It was quite a day. Here’s the link to the message, “Witness Protection & You.”

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/52944502

Speaking This Sunday - Watch Live

I will be speaking this Sunday at Ecclesia, Church Without Religion, pastored by Andrew Farley. If you would like to watch live, you can do it at 10:30am CST (for music) and 11:00am CST (for sermon) by clicking on the Ustream window at: http://www.churchwithoutreligion.com/home.

To watch my sermon from the last time I spoke there, click:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/17920119

Andrew introduces me at the 11:00 minute point in the service, after which there is a bit of an audio glitch—I didn’t turn on the mic! But it doesn’t last long.

The Foolishness of Freedom

Now and then I post something from another author because I think it's excellent and will be helpful to you.  Andrew Nelson has a lot of great things to say (as well as a good book, "Fight For Grace"), and his article posted at Surrendered Image is a good example.  Have a look by clicking on the link below.

http://surrenderedimage.com/Blog/the-foolishness-of-freedom-32806

(For information about his book, go to http://www.amazon.com/Fight-Grace-Time-Roll-Sleeves-ebook/dp/B00A9XERXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410625125&sr=8-1&keywords=fight+for+grace.)

Day 1 of My Annual Twin Sabbatical

With Brent, just before putting on our fly fishing uniforms and getting after it on Day 1.

Annual Twin Sabbatical

As I head for bed after a long and rigorous day at the beginning of my annual Twin Sabbatical, I have only one thing to say. (More pics coming.)

The Giver

What are my thoughts about the movie, “The Giver”?  My daughter and I enjoyed it very much. (It's an excellent part of a daddy/daughter date.)  She has read the book (loved it), and had some trepidation about how the story would come to film.  While it was different, she said it was true to the point of the book and that many of the changes/additions added to the strength of the story.  I think the story depicted very well the dangers of social engineering, the attempt at creating a better society by taking away personal freedoms and experience.  If everyone is brought to the same level of experience and expectation (financially, emotionally, responsibility, etc.), then everyone will be better off, since sorrow, suffering, competition, success and failure will be minimized—or so the theory goes.  In that setting, however, true love found through trial is the casualty, as is personal character. 

Through my eyes, also, the story depicted the futility of human effort while ignoring God.  We suffer terribly when we are deluded into terrific efforts at making ourselves and life work while abstaining from Him who is Life.  This story illuminates and expands upon that theme.