Matt Harrison
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Interview at the Coffee Co-op
Lutheran World Federation regional representative Philip Anderson joined us for the day in order to become more familiar with the work of LWR in the region. I caught this little interchange between him and Antonio (a former Contra), who is now a manager at the cooperative. Sorry for the poor quality of the sound. It was quite windy in the valley.
Matt Harrison
Matt Harrison
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Black Christ - El Cristo Negro
While in Managua I was able to slip over to the Roman Catholic Cathedral and purchase an El Cristo Negro crucifix (for about 12 bucks). I always enjoy finding local depictions of Christ in statuary or other art. The Local depiction of Christ is the fundamental affirmation that he came "for me." It depicts at once the fact that Christ took on real, local, genetically determined, human flesh.
But the "black Christ" is at first glance a conundrum, particularly in those places in Central
America where there are few or no people of African descent. Turns out the depiction in this case has to do virtually completely with some of the worst of the Roman Catholic mystic/cultic piety of the veneration of images (the original "Black Christ" may well have been painted in a darker color to represent the darker skin color of Guatamalan natives, then become much darker due to the candles and incense used in its veneration). Thus descriptions of El Cristo Negro have to do with alleged miraculous incidents in the face of a particular image of Christ, commissioned in the late 16th century for a church in Central America. Be that as it may, the Black Christ is for me, still a depiction of the specificty of the incarnation.
But the "black Christ" is at first glance a conundrum, particularly in those places in Central
America where there are few or no people of African descent. Turns out the depiction in this case has to do virtually completely with some of the worst of the Roman Catholic mystic/cultic piety of the veneration of images (the original "Black Christ" may well have been painted in a darker color to represent the darker skin color of Guatamalan natives, then become much darker due to the candles and incense used in its veneration). Thus descriptions of El Cristo Negro have to do with alleged miraculous incidents in the face of a particular image of Christ, commissioned in the late 16th century for a church in Central America. Be that as it may, the Black Christ is for me, still a depiction of the specificty of the incarnation. The crucifix pictured is now El Cristo Negro Ballwinensis. I'll report any miracles that occur. I'm hoping especially for a miracle around tax time.
It's a beautiful piece, no matter what my 1040 looks like come April.
Matt Harrison
The following is from Wikipedia.
Basilica of Esquipulas on January 14, 2005 - day before the annual holiday of Black Christ Shrine
Esquipulas: Location in Guatemala - Coordinates: 14°37′N 89°12′W / 14.617, -89.2
Esquipulas is a town in the Guatemalan department of Chiquimula on the border with Honduras. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name.
The town is famous for the Basilica of Esquipulas which houses the Shrine of the Black Christ. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from Guatemala, the United States, Europe and other Central American countries flock to pay homage to the dark wooden image of the crucified Christ, the most revered Catholic shrine in the region.
Esquipulas was also the site of the initial meetings which led to the Esquipulas Peace Agreement, with which a measure of peace finally returned to Central America. Although the 1987 treaty was signed in Guatemala City, it bears the name Esquipulas.
The city of Esquipulas was founded by the Spaniards between 1560 and 1570 with the name of Santiago de Esquipulas. The image of the Black Christ dates back to March 9, 1595, when the Portuguese sculptor Quirio Cataño presented it to the mayor of the city.
The cathedral at Esquipulas was proclaimed a Basilica in 1961 by Pope John XXIII, and in 1995, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the shrine, Pope John Paul II proclaimed it "the spiritual center of Central America."
The Church of the Black Christ in El Salvador also has a carving by Quirio Cantano. Juayua (pronounced Why-You-Uh) is a pretty village set in a valley surrounded by several lush mountains and volcanoes in the Sierra Apaneca Llamatepec (mountain range). The Central Park in the middle of the village is lovely with many pretty benches, a large decorated water fountain, and a beautiful bright white church. The church houses the famous Cristo Negro (Black Christ), carved by Quirio Catano in the late 16th century.
In 1987 the Trifinio biosphere reserve was created to protect the unique flora and fauna in the region."
For a much more detailed history of El Cristo Negro, see http://www.theologicalclowning.org/cristo.html
It's a beautiful piece, no matter what my 1040 looks like come April.
Matt Harrison
The following is from Wikipedia.
Basilica of Esquipulas on January 14, 2005 - day before the annual holiday of Black Christ Shrine
Esquipulas: Location in Guatemala - Coordinates: 14°37′N 89°12′W / 14.617, -89.2
Esquipulas is a town in the Guatemalan department of Chiquimula on the border with Honduras. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name.
The town is famous for the Basilica of Esquipulas which houses the Shrine of the Black Christ. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from Guatemala, the United States, Europe and other Central American countries flock to pay homage to the dark wooden image of the crucified Christ, the most revered Catholic shrine in the region.
Esquipulas was also the site of the initial meetings which led to the Esquipulas Peace Agreement, with which a measure of peace finally returned to Central America. Although the 1987 treaty was signed in Guatemala City, it bears the name Esquipulas.
The city of Esquipulas was founded by the Spaniards between 1560 and 1570 with the name of Santiago de Esquipulas. The image of the Black Christ dates back to March 9, 1595, when the Portuguese sculptor Quirio Cataño presented it to the mayor of the city.
The cathedral at Esquipulas was proclaimed a Basilica in 1961 by Pope John XXIII, and in 1995, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the shrine, Pope John Paul II proclaimed it "the spiritual center of Central America."
The Church of the Black Christ in El Salvador also has a carving by Quirio Cantano. Juayua (pronounced Why-You-Uh) is a pretty village set in a valley surrounded by several lush mountains and volcanoes in the Sierra Apaneca Llamatepec (mountain range). The Central Park in the middle of the village is lovely with many pretty benches, a large decorated water fountain, and a beautiful bright white church. The church houses the famous Cristo Negro (Black Christ), carved by Quirio Catano in the late 16th century.
In 1987 the Trifinio biosphere reserve was created to protect the unique flora and fauna in the region."
For a much more detailed history of El Cristo Negro, see http://www.theologicalclowning.org/cristo.html
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Satillite Map of Nicaragua
The Lutheran Church Canada/LCMS partner church is located in the northwest of the country, from Managua toward the Coast (Chinandega). The LWR coffee project is to the Northeast of Managua (Jinotega). The second video is taken high over Lake Managua, heading north toward Miami. Matt H 
At the Soppexcca Cooperative
Here's some (third rate) video taken at the (first rate) Soppexcca Coffee Cooperative made possible by Lutheran World Relief, Baltimore. Such cooperatives allow small farmers to increase their profits, and whole communities to increase their capacity to survive and thrive as they connect to local, regional and global economies. Three cheers to President John Nunes, Lisa Bonds, Tim McCully and the whole LWR team. Soppexcca is at Jinotega, Nicaragua.
Matt H
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
LCC Partner Church in Nicaragua
As mentioned earlier, I've been in Nicaragua for a Board Meeting of Lutheran World Relief (Baltimore). Every couple of years the organization goes on site to visit projects. We've spent the past several days working as a board on assisting the staff of the organization in reaching for the next level of excellence in international relief and sustainable development. A highlight of the trip was visiting a coffee cooperative near Matagalpa, whose facility was funded by LWR, and which is functioning magnificiently with local leadership, providing jobs and maximal income from fairly traded coffee.
Today we had the pleasure of seeing the Lutheran Church Canada Missionary, Pastor Sandor. He's done a fantastic job with the assistance of the LCMS Canadian partner church, in planting some 23 congregations in the western part of the country. The church offers education for thousands of children on math and reading, along with the Small Catechism. Our own organization - LCMS World Relief - has assisted this church body in this tremendously successful program. Church President Luis Diaz Turcias, also joined us for lunch with the LWF and ELCA representatives in Nicaragua.
Pictured are LWR Board Members Matt Harrison, Jonathan Schultz, and LWR President (and friend) John Nunes, who was a classmate at the St. Catherine's seminary with Pastor Sandor (also pictured).
Today we had the pleasure of seeing the Lutheran Church Canada Missionary, Pastor Sandor. He's done a fantastic job with the assistance of the LCMS Canadian partner church, in planting some 23 congregations in the western part of the country. The church offers education for thousands of children on math and reading, along with the Small Catechism. Our own organization - LCMS World Relief - has assisted this church body in this tremendously successful program. Church President Luis Diaz Turcias, also joined us for lunch with the LWF and ELCA representatives in Nicaragua.
Pictured are LWR Board Members Matt Harrison, Jonathan Schultz, and LWR President (and friend) John Nunes, who was a classmate at the St. Catherine's seminary with Pastor Sandor (also pictured).
More later...
Matt H
Matt H
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
LWR Board Meets in Nicaragua
I'm blogging from a hotel in Managua, Nicaragua. Meeting here with the Board of Lutheran World Relief (Baltimore), of which I've been a members since 2001.
My friend John Nunes has been doing a wonderful job since taking the helm of the organization a year or so ago. LWR is a cooperation in externals effort funded by
LCMS World Relief and Human Care (about 1.25 million a year) and the ELCA, and also by many individual donors. John and his staff are a pleasure to work with - I always learn something from them - and they are very respectful of the convictions of the LCMS.We are anxiously waiting to roll out a malaria initiative which will be a blessing also to many LCMS partners around the globe, as they care for their communities. By the way, Kenyan Archbishop, Walter Obare has lost several members of his family to Malaria and suffers from boughts with the disease himself.
It was "family day" at Lutheran church we attended this morning, and families 
came forward at one point in the service for a prayer and blessing. The congregation is a part of the ELCA partner church in Nicaragua (no, I didn't commune), and we were recieved with kindness and hospitality. Looking forward to seeing Pastor Sandor of our LCMS partner church, hopefully tomorrow. The Nicaraguan LCMS partner is a wonderful mission plant of the Lutheran Church Canada.
We got our board work done today, and tomorrow it's off to visit several projects sites.
Buenos Noches!
Matt Harrison
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Ahhh... another old photo
Here's a photo taken on "Treaty Day" in Deer Lake, Ontario. The younger men dreamed up a competition of sorts and pitted me (center) against old Adian, and another man. The challenge? Who could empty a baby bottle first? They had a good laugh indeed. Every year on "Treaty Day" the Canadian Government passes out a few bucks to each Indian in the tribe, as promised when the band originally ceded its land rights to the Canadian Government. Games and fun follow. The Cree people are amazing. They struggle so intensely to cope with the incursion of white culture. It was a great honor to be welcomed by them that year (1984-85).
Matt H.
LCMS President's Statement on Life
Click here for President Kieschnick's statement on the value of human life. The President was given the honor of the opening prayer for the kickoff of the Life March today in Washington, D.C. I'm proud to be a member of a church body that is virtually unanimous in its support of the unborn.
Matt H
Matt H
LCMS World Relief and Human Care Life Library
Click to find a large collection of pro-life resources, gathered by our Life Director, Maggie Karner.
For your convenience and education, we have assembled a large on-line collection of papers, articles and information on life issues. Simply click on one of the topics above for a complete list and summaries of our available information. The information there is on-line, free of charge and easily downloaded. We hope that you will find this information useful for your research, and helpful in educating you on some issues you may encounter.
Blessings, Matt H
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
North Dakota, Mercy, and Pfotenhauer
Pfotenhauer , the fifth president of the Missouri Synod, also served as the District President of the Minnesota-Dakota District. During his term he encouraged pastors to not give up hope or to consider their labor in vain as they served on America's frontier.
In North Dakota, I had the privilege of visiting with the pastors of North Dakota at their district convention. Here is the presentation given to the North Dakota District on 20 January 2009 regarding the work of LCMS WR-HC and on Pfotenhauer's encouragement of pastors.
-Pastor H
“We should rather thank God that he has entrusted us with us difficult posts and work diligently. God does not mislead us.”
To be sure it often appears that because of difficult circumstances there is little for us to accomplish but that is not so. A faithful steward will ever be crowned with rich blessings though they be hidden from eyes.
To such a teacher standing under the forgiveness of sins and driven by the Spirit of Christ the Holy Spirit grants the predicate “faithful.”
In North Dakota, I had the privilege of visiting with the pastors of North Dakota at their district convention. Here is the presentation given to the North Dakota District on 20 January 2009 regarding the work of LCMS WR-HC and on Pfotenhauer's encouragement of pastors.
-Pastor H
“We should rather thank God that he has entrusted us with us difficult posts and work diligently. God does not mislead us.”
To be sure it often appears that because of difficult circumstances there is little for us to accomplish but that is not so. A faithful steward will ever be crowned with rich blessings though they be hidden from eyes.
To such a teacher standing under the forgiveness of sins and driven by the Spirit of Christ the Holy Spirit grants the predicate “faithful.”
-- Pfotenhauer, Minnesota-Dakota Convention.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
How Did We Grow? The Word!
Here's an excerpt from a Minnesota-Dakota District convention address by then District President Friedrich Pfotenhauer. It was given in 1907. Pfotenhauer became Synod President in 1911, following Francis Pieper. A forthcoming volume will contain some 30 addresses, sermons and papers by Pfotenhauer. The following has never appeared in English previously.
seed, but he has nothing to do with the bountiful harvest that develops. The scattered seed does not require his care or supervision. While the farmer sleeps or occupies himself in some other manner, the seed sprouts and grows—“he knows not how.” In a way he cannot explain, beyond the farmer’s understanding, the earth yields “first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear,” until the sickle is laid to the grain and the harvest is gathered.
In the way that I just described, but in a spiritual manner, the kingdom of God grew mightily in the Minnesota and Dakota District. It was not our doing, but only and alone the blessing of a gracious and merciful God who caused the seed of the Word to grow and bear fruit. Added to this was favorable weather, which accompanied the spreading of the seed of God’s Word.
To be sure, if the kingdom of God is to grow among us, we must spread the seed of God’s Word. If this does not happen, or if man’s word is preached instead of God’s Word, then we wait in vain for the kingdom of God to grow, even as the farmer waits in vain for the harvest if he plants no seed or instead of wheat, plants weeds. For that reason, our Minnesota and Dakota District in these past twenty-five years resolved to spread the seed of God’s Word in the far Northwest. Only such pastors and teachers were commissioned who had a love and desire for the pure Word to be sown. These spiritual farmers went out to the far reaches of our district and did nothing else but spread the seed of God’s Word in church and school, in homes and on the street, in summer and winter, by day and by night.
Matt Harrison
Today the Minnesota and Dakota District numbers 238 pastors, 49 teachers, 665 congregations, and 90,000 souls, and stretches across Minnesota, the two Dakotas, Montana, and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. We have increased and grown so that already at the last convention of the General Synod, it was resolved that the members in South Dakota be allowed to become a separate district, and we were granted permission to consider further division as it seems feasible in our present situation.
We ask the question: How did it happen that we experienced such growth? Lest we come up with the wrong reasoning, we go to the Word of God for the only correct answer.
Our Lord Jesus Himself answered the question in His words recorded in Mark 4:26–29: “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Here the Lord compares the work in God’s Church with the work of a farmer. The farmer sows the
We ask the question: How did it happen that we experienced such growth? Lest we come up with the wrong reasoning, we go to the Word of God for the only correct answer.
Our Lord Jesus Himself answered the question in His words recorded in Mark 4:26–29: “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Here the Lord compares the work in God’s Church with the work of a farmer. The farmer sows the 
seed, but he has nothing to do with the bountiful harvest that develops. The scattered seed does not require his care or supervision. While the farmer sleeps or occupies himself in some other manner, the seed sprouts and grows—“he knows not how.” In a way he cannot explain, beyond the farmer’s understanding, the earth yields “first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear,” until the sickle is laid to the grain and the harvest is gathered.
In the way that I just described, but in a spiritual manner, the kingdom of God grew mightily in the Minnesota and Dakota District. It was not our doing, but only and alone the blessing of a gracious and merciful God who caused the seed of the Word to grow and bear fruit. Added to this was favorable weather, which accompanied the spreading of the seed of God’s Word.To be sure, if the kingdom of God is to grow among us, we must spread the seed of God’s Word. If this does not happen, or if man’s word is preached instead of God’s Word, then we wait in vain for the kingdom of God to grow, even as the farmer waits in vain for the harvest if he plants no seed or instead of wheat, plants weeds. For that reason, our Minnesota and Dakota District in these past twenty-five years resolved to spread the seed of God’s Word in the far Northwest. Only such pastors and teachers were commissioned who had a love and desire for the pure Word to be sown. These spiritual farmers went out to the far reaches of our district and did nothing else but spread the seed of God’s Word in church and school, in homes and on the street, in summer and winter, by day and by night.
That the seed sprouted in so many hearts, and that hundreds of congregations were established, is a result with which we had nothing to do. In fact, we were as unable as the farmer in causing the seed to grow. Even as the farmer must confess he does not understand the mystery of the growth in his field, so we must confess that we do not understand how the seed of God’s Word sprouts, grows, and develops fruit in the hearts of men. It would, therefore, be vainglory for us today, on account of the rich harvest of souls in our district these past twenty-five years, to ascribe the growth to our wisdom, our alertness, or our diligence.No—the dear Word, which we scattered as seed, blossomed and bore fruit among us because in itself, the seed is a living and powerful seed, unable to do anything but sprout, grow, and bear fruit as it lives in the heart of men.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Ain't She Wonderful...
Doris K. sent this photo of me and the wife of my youth, taken at Ft. Wayne last year. I've been blessed to be married to Kathy for 27 years...
Matt
Rescued and Loved...
This is a video of a little boy whose Hindu grandmother had resolved to terminate because of his blindness. President Samuel personally implored the family to allow him to take the child to his school for disabled children at Vellore. The request was granted. I witnessed this beautiful child reciting the catechism and playing hymns on his recorder for a group of Hindu children who are the children of a clan of snake-catchers near Chennai (the most untouchable of the "untouchables." Their homes were destroyed by the tsunami. With a grant from LCMS WR a program was established to provide remedial education for them. President Samuel brought the boy to show the children what they too could learn and accomplish.
It was a wonderful day.
Matt Harrison
It was a wonderful day.
Matt Harrison
President Samuel of India Evangelical Lutheran Church
We've hosted a conference on work in India today in St. Louis. It's President Samuel's birthday. This dear man, a wonderful and orthodox Lutheran, was elected to the church's presidency quite by surprise last year. His wife passed away of a heart attack only a week or so later. He's taken on the hurculean task of pulling that church together and out of court with great fidelity. And the church has been blessed. I'm proud to be his friend, and a friend of Missouri's oldest mission field and partner church, next to the old Saxon Lutheran Free Church, now a member of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany. President Samuel is pictured at the Vellore school for the deaf in Tamil Nadu, which he administers.
I'm honored to be a friend of Pastor Samuel.
Matt Harrison
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Clergy Sabbatical Part II
Here's part two of the little sabbatical piece I wrote some time ago... I do in principle support sabbatical time for all church workers. Know of any teachers or other church workers who have been able to have a respite or sabbatical, and have written about it? See the Lilly program at http://www.clergyrenewal.org/. You can visit this page to learn more, and note a good looking young guy in a chasuble: http://www.lillyendowment.org/religion_ncr.html
Matt H.
Clergy Sabbatical Can Be a Time of Renewal (Part 2)
So what happened? Quite frankly, I think that time away saved my life.
So what happened? Quite frankly, I think that time away saved my life.
After nearly a decade in the ministry, for the first time I had a serious and extended opportunity to evaluate how I was balancing the needs of parish, children, wife and self. In some ways, I'm afraid I was a health disaster waiting to happen. I had developed some unhealthy traits in my relationships.
The renewal program allowed me to rethink all of life and my vocations. I returned to my work invigorated. I returned with a profound sense of thankfulness to Zion and her people for this precious gift of paid time away. It is a thankfulness that emanates well beyond concern for self. It was a gift the church gave to my wife and my children.
Pastors generally work very hard, deal with very knotty "people problems," regularly handle conflict and constantly give. They do this at levels of remuneration often far below peers with comparable education. They often make sacrifices in family life. What good is it if a pastor gains "the whole world yet loses his family"?
Has your pastor been at the hard work of parish ministry for quite a few years? Do you sense he and his family might really benefit from some time in a directed period of sabbatical?
Perhaps this is an issue to bring up to your congregational leadership. A little time away does most relationships good. Studies show that pastoral sabbaticals often increase the length of pastorates. Your pastor will return refreshed, with some fresh insight into the parish ministry.
The process of self-evaluation in order to apply for a Lilly grant will be a positive one for the parish and pastor. Many of our LCMS districts provide sabbatical guidelines and suggestions. (One such district is the Southeastern.) Local foundations sometimes provide funding for such ventures. A clergy 10 or 20-year anniversary of ordination can be an ideal time for sabbatical.
A paid sabbatical that is more modest, but still very beneficial, can be designed on a much smaller budget than one requiring international travel. Seminarians or retired pastors can be obtained to carry out duties in the pastor's absence.
I heartily encourage you to consider this demonstration of the love of Christ to your pastor and his family.
You will not regret it.
Rev. Matthew Harrison is executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care. Contact Rev. Harrison at Matthew.Harrison@lcms.org.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Wilhelm Sihler on "living and moving" in the doctrine of justification
Here's a paragraph or two from a speech given by LCMS Pastor Wilhelm Sihler on the requirements for a pastor and the goals of seminary education. Sihler followed Wyneken as pastor of St. Paul's in Ft. Wayne. He was the first president of the Ft. Wayne seminary. Next to Walther and Wyneken, he was the most influential clergyman in the founding and early years of the LCMS. He had an earned Doctorate from the University of Berlin, and had been a student and personal acquaintance and friend of the infamous father of liberal theology, Friedrich Schleiermacher. Sihler was pastor of St. Pauls form the late 1840's to the early 1880's. The following is part of an essay which will be included in an upcoming publication of translations of the first five presidents of the LCMS (plus a few essays by others). These remarks were made in Ft. Wayne in 1850 at the dedication of a new building at the sem (at the old Maumee campus east of downtown Ft. Wayne). Sihler, by the way, was pastor at St. Paul's when my former parish, Zion, was founded in 1882 as a daughter congregation.
Matt H.
He [the pastor] must not merely have a sound and well-grounded knowledge of this salvific doctrine. As God grants, he shall also have experienced it himself. He himself shall also in some measure have tasted the killing power of the Law and the enlivening might of the Gospel.
It is certainly of great necessity that the inexperienced minister of the Church already begins to live and move in the highly valuable and highly important article of justification. Otherwise he is merely a doctrine machine [Lehr=Maschine], an orthodox watch mechanism, a lifeless and loveless clanging cymbal, and a ringing shell. He is like a wooden figure pointing the right direction, but which cannot go that way itself. Thus the faith of the Church proceeds from his mouth, but his heart is far from it.
For this reason it is furthermore necessary that the minister of the Church, avoiding such pride, stand in upright humility, simplicity, and purity, and bear the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
It is certainly of great necessity that the inexperienced minister of the Church already begins to live and move in the highly valuable and highly important article of justification. Otherwise he is merely a doctrine machine [Lehr=Maschine], an orthodox watch mechanism, a lifeless and loveless clanging cymbal, and a ringing shell. He is like a wooden figure pointing the right direction, but which cannot go that way itself. Thus the faith of the Church proceeds from his mouth, but his heart is far from it.
For this reason it is furthermore necessary that the minister of the Church, avoiding such pride, stand in upright humility, simplicity, and purity, and bear the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
W. Sihler
Old Photos: A Year in the Canadian Bush
Found this old photo in the same file as the shot of my boys and me on the beach. In 1984-5, Kathy and I spent a year as missionaries in Northwest Ontario in a remote Cree Indian village called "Deer Lake." There were at the time 500 native Canadians and about 5 whites. What a year. This is a photo of my dearest friend "Old Adian". The called him "No White Hair" because at 80 years old he had a jet black shock of hair like Ronald Reagan's.
Old Adian had been born in a bark tee pee. He had hunted, fished and lived in the bush his whole life. And he took a special interest in keeping me alive that year. It was my first significant cross-cultural experience and it was amazing. Old Adian taught me how to fish, how to hunt, how to trap, how to cut wood, how to keep a fire going. He taught me how to stay warm in the bush in 40 below weather. He taught me the Ojibway/Cree words for everything I could think of. He told me stories of Cree myth and funning moose hunting stories, and we laughed daily.
Adian taught me how to set a net under the ice and we checked it together for several months. We had fresh Walleye and Lake Trout every day. He was also a devout Christian who had seen his family and people suffer terribly from the clash of cultures (Indian/white). Most memorable was that he invited us into the life of his family and "band" and loved me like a son.
Adian passed away several years ago. I look forward to seeing him at the coming of Christ. I don't really recognize the other guy in the photo...
Matt H
Thoughts on Clergy Sabbatical/Renewal: My Head Is Like A Dull Knife (Luther)
Here's the first part of a short piece I wrote several years ago on the topic "clergy sabbatical." This has been tucked away on the Synod's web page for quite a while. I've been stopped by several men as of late who found it very helpful for them as they have been able to take a similar route (even if not a Lilly funded adventure). That gives me the greatest possible JOY! (The photo is of my two boys dodging waves on the coast south of Adelaide, South Australia. You may recognize it from my book, "Christ Have Mercy.")
Matt Harrison
"My head is like a dull knife. It just won't cut anymore." I don't think Luther, who spoke those words, ever took a sabbatical. But I think he could have used one!
Several years ago, my wife, two small boys and I were happily speeding over the German autobahn in a rented black Mercedes. I had carefully prepared the boys for the experience by bedtime reading of children's books on the life and work of Martin Luther.
None of us had been to Europe before. I had studied the life of Luther for years and longed for the opportunity to see the Reformation cities. I had read Martin Brecht's great three-volume biography of Luther before the trip.
We saw it all: Eisenach (Luther's childhood school and the Wartburg Castle); Wittenberg (Luther's house, castle and town churches, Melanchthon's house); Eisleben (Luther's birth and death houses); Worms (where the great "Here I stand" speech was made).
None of us will ever forget that time together. But there was much more. We returned to the
U.S. briefly to repack, stop for a week in Hawaii (hiking, swimming and snorkeling). Then we were off to South Australia for seven weeks. There we lived in a "mission apartment" rented from the Lutheran Church of Australia, not two blocks from the beach.
In the mornings, I studied methods of Lutheran outreach and Lutheran spirituality at Luther Seminary. In the afternoons, the family would hop in a borrowed car and head for destinations exciting and unknown. One adventure even included a visit to Alice Springs and extensive interaction with Aboriginal Lutherans!
Was it all a vacation? Actually, no.
I had been working very hard, and. at the time, well into my second parish, I was feeling a deep need to be refreshed personally, professionally and otherwise. My family life had been ok, but the pressures and demands of being a parish pastor were mounting. As a pastor, I had been giving and giving, and the well seemed to be running dry. I had a deep sense of my need for spiritual, marital, familial and professional refreshment, and, yet, had no idea how to bring it about. Then something extraordinary happened. In fact, it changed my life.
After several years' service as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., one of the congregation's devoted elders (God bless you Kevin L!) gave me a brochure. It was a notice of a meeting at the seminary, conducted for area clergy by representatives of the Lilly Endowment. Lilly was offering 30 sabbatical grants for Indiana pastors. (The program is now national).
I listened carefully. I took home the packet of information, which included a copy of Roy Oswald's "Clergy Self-Care" (Alban Institute, 1991). I made use of the self-evaluation tools in that book and discovered that, by all objective standards, I was in serious need of a serious reevaluation of how I was carrying out my professional and personal life.
The normal pressures and stresses of a challenging profession at a challenging parish were sucking me dry of vitality and creativity, as well as of mental, physical and spiritual health. I was in desperate need of a period of reevaluation, rejuvenation and refreshment.
The faithful and visionary leaders of my parish encouraged me to design a sabbatical. Using the Lilly materials, I carefully evaluated where I was in my ministry. I carefully evaluated the needs of Zion Lutheran. Then I designed a "clergy renewal program" for my parish and myself. I applied to Lilly for a grant, which funded three months away from the parish.
Was it merely a vacation? No. Was it a time to finish a Ph.D. or do something else totally draining? No. It was all about renewal.
Zion loves its strong Lutheran heritage, and so do I! I visited the Luther sights, took time to read more about Luther, and, upon my return, provided the congregation with fresh and energized teaching and preaching. I visited South Australia and spent time in directed study and discussion with Lutheran scholars, known for their expertise in Lutheran spirituality and an innovative and far-reaching program for evangelism and adult confirmation instruction.
To avoid burdening the church staff while I was away, Zion employed several seminarians to do neighborhood canvassing, organize a neighborhood VBS and put much needed energy into the congregation's youth ministry.
I planned to return energized and refreshed and come back with, what Luther called, a "new string to thump."
To be continued...
A faith that acknowledges mercy makes alive.
Well, I've been remiss about blogging, I know. Some time off for Christmas and New Year found me engrossed in a couple of projects while enjoying time with Kathy and the two boys. I was pushing to finish what I hope will be a very significant book having to do with the first five - German born - LCMS Presidents.
I must say, even though we face challenging times in the church and nation, I begin this year in a faith in the mercy of Christ which will not let go of me. "Take courage! Your sins are forgiven!" It's gonna be a great year, perhaps the best ever.
Pastor Harrison
Whatever is still sinful or imperfect in these works will not be reckoned as sin or defect for the sake of the same Christ. The whole man, in respect both of his person and of his works, shall be accounted and shall be righteous and holy through the pure grace and mercy which have been poured out upon us so abundantly in Christ. Accordingly we cannot boast of the great merit in our works if they are considered apart from God’s grace and mercy, but, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:31). That is to say, all is well if we boast that we have a gracious God. To this we must add that if good works do not follow, our faith is false and not true.
Augsburg Confession Apology IV.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
LWML Mite Box - Mite you?
You can obtain mite boxes from your congregation's LWML members. You can email the LWML at lwml@lwml.org. You can call at
The LWML supports some $2,000,000 in domestic and international mission projects each biennium. LCMS World Relief has been a thankful recipient of these grants which have made a tremendous difference in the lives of people all over the world, body and soul. I've seen first hand the work done via these grants. The large bustling Bethesda Lutheran Hospital in Ambur, India, really sticks in my mind. The LWML in large measure made that hospital what it is.
Pastor Harrison
p.s. My mom would really appreciate it too.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Doctrine and Withering Christmas Trees
A slip in the definitions might stop all the dances; might wither all the Christmas trees or break all the Easter eggs. Doctrines had to be defined within strict limits, even in order that man might enjoy general human liberties. The Church had to be careful, if only that the world might be careless.
Chesterton, Orthodoxy
Chesterton, Orthodoxy
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