tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78461838763893874082011-07-08T08:20:16.159-07:00Raw thoughts and insights on faith, family, & funMark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-47002155408656545292009-06-09T21:12:00.000-07:002009-06-09T21:52:52.729-07:00

6:00 AM or 6:14 AM? That is the question. Be careful how you answer because you don’t know where it will take you.A few weeks ago I read a book entitled, “How I moved from Failure to Success in Selling” by Frank Bettger. The book basically tells the story how Bettger grabbed himself up by the boot straps and got to work. Essentially, all Bettger did to become successful in selling is to

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-22444692735477002092009-05-17T01:20:00.000-07:002009-05-17T08:08:41.260-07:00

I know I am not alone when I say that sometimes I feel as if I am sinking. It is almost a whirlpool effect that takes place, like a piece of toilet paper being flushed down the toilet (hey, that is the only thing I could think of). Imagine for a moment, if you will, that you are treading water. It is easy at first, but then it becomes more difficult and you begin to struggle to stay afloat.

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-54308071587585467572009-05-03T11:50:00.000-07:002009-05-03T12:09:28.752-07:00

Awhile back, I enjoyed a nice long dinner with some old friends. It was one of those dinners that was full of conversation and laughter. You know the kind where you are so in to each other that you never leave the table unless you need to relieve yourself or fill an empty glass. It was the type of dinner where you sit down to eat at 6:00 and realize six hours later (the time of your first yawn

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-12511735860006474672009-04-12T08:30:00.001-07:002009-04-12T08:40:11.425-07:00

The family and I watched an Easter Carol last night. In it, Rebecca St. James plays an angel and sings a beautiful song communicating the essence of Easter. Don't miss the last two lines of the song, "He died for us to give us life and to give us hope He rose." Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-65252105865088941762009-03-15T15:05:00.000-07:002009-03-15T18:18:05.301-07:00

Over the past few weeks I have been part of an on going dialogue with some of my buddies regarding the meaning of THE CHURCH. Our conversation has taken place over the past three weeks via email and has caused us each to stop, think, and ponder the meaning of THE CHURCH. I don’t have the room or space to mention all that we have discovered and talked about. I do however, have time to mention a

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-14318473836752519142009-02-26T08:26:00.000-08:002009-02-26T08:32:42.470-08:00

I had one of those moments last night that make you smile and say to yourself, “I love it when that happens.” Almost instantaneously after this thought another one came to my noggin, “I need to blog about this.” So, here it is, a list entitled: I love it when… (In no particular order and by no means an exhaustive list).I love it when….Finley walks over to Maya when she is crying and pats her

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-33148798168107149802009-02-22T19:34:00.001-08:002009-02-22T19:53:23.103-08:00

Let's be clear - I know! I know what you are going to say once I share the following conversation that I had with Maya, my four year old daughter who just might be going on twenty four. Just this past week the following conversation took place between Maya and I while Heather, Maya, and I were relaxing in the evening watching America's Funniest Home Video's (a family favorite). To begin with,

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-77691424465617216302009-02-11T22:07:00.000-08:002009-02-11T22:27:08.692-08:00

In his book, Obama mentions one of the values of Trinity Church. For Trinity church, their values cross the racial divide and deal with “African American” issues in addition to those commonly associated with the church and Christianity. Whether or not you believe this is right or not you must read on because there is a lesson in this for all of us and it is my hope you can grasp it. Speaking of

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-58237614467363112042009-02-08T19:59:00.000-08:002009-02-08T20:02:19.805-08:00

If you need and introduction, go here. If not just keep reading.Just the other night, I read the section in Obama’s book in which Reverend Wright enters the life of Barack Obama. Their first encounter occurred during Obama’s latter years as a community organizer in Chicago. Obama’s first meeting with Wright took place immediately following a meeting Wright had with some bankers regarding the

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-50959332832771275142009-02-04T21:34:00.000-08:002009-02-04T21:59:26.876-08:00

A few months ago I decided I needed to expand my horizon. Instead of working off of the same old list of books I generated on cbd.com (Christian Book Distributor) long ago I choose to look elsewhere and read other genres. Don’t get me wrong, I am thoroughly enjoying making my way through my list (that is over 5 pages long) with books such as Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling, The

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-73909941973296307512008-12-16T20:06:00.000-08:002008-12-16T20:10:05.325-08:00

Some more from Bonhoeffer for you – this time pertaining to listening. Can you hear me now? What did you say? I didn’t hear you. According to Webster to listen means "to pay attention to sound; to hear something with thoughtful attention; to be alert to catch an expected sound." “Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-30641286942328936352008-12-12T20:37:00.000-08:002008-12-12T20:47:39.080-08:00

The author of the hymn, It is well with my soul, is Horatio Spafford. Spafford was born on October 20, 1828 in North Troy, New York. He was a successful lawyer in Chicago who was deeply spiritual and devoted to the scriptures. In the Chicago fire of 1871 Spafford lost everything he had because his large real estate investment burned to the ground on the shores of Lake Michigan. Later on that

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-17594836428367878152008-12-01T20:39:00.001-08:002008-12-01T20:49:44.653-08:00

Shiloh Basin Community Church is a small rural church located in western Oregon just outside of Rainer on the Columbia River. It is a community church, rich in history and character. Its roots run deep and wide throughout the community and into the world through the lives they have supported and prayed for, for decades. Back in the day, Shiloh might have been classified as a thriving and

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-71692613817733989902008-11-30T17:20:00.000-08:002008-11-30T17:54:25.612-08:00

You might here the phrase, "a new perspective" come out of my mouth much more now. It is all because of the most recent book I am reading. Now that I received my present (any six books off of my wish list) from my wife I can read. The first book I choose to dive into was, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community, written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Though small in pages (

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-10844401520755678072008-11-27T07:24:00.000-08:002008-11-27T07:28:13.941-08:00

Here is the first one....A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York two days beforeThanksgiving and says,'I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that yourmother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.'Pop, what are you talking about?' the son screams.We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,' the father says.'We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-7535130816220489652008-11-18T20:09:00.000-08:002008-11-18T20:34:01.542-08:00

In case you are wondering, it took some time to gather “my second thought”. For the past few weeks it has been sitting in my brain incomplete longing to come to fruition. It has now reached maturity and evolved to the point where it is bursting forth anticipating an exposure to the world on this here blog. This "second thought" was birthed while I was training at work where I was forced to

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-67691585183868579642008-11-13T15:10:00.000-08:002008-11-13T15:17:11.478-08:00

I have had a few thoughts since being back in California so I thought I might share them with you. I only have time to write one at a time so you will have to wait in suspense for the next. The first has to do with Proposition 8…. (need I say more?)For those inside California you will understand, without much explanation, the role Prop 8 has played in our lives over the past few weeks. For

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-87613729427459866932008-09-17T13:32:00.000-07:002008-09-17T13:53:31.074-07:00

Maya just handed me a piece of paper and said, "look daddy it's Jesus on the cross." Take a look at the picture and see that Jesus is in plain view, He is easy to identify. Beneath the face you can track the vertical and horizontal lines that represent the cross. You will notice the big dot at the top of the drawing. I was not quite sure what it was so I asked. Maya looked at me puzzled with

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-86156408730124604762008-09-12T09:16:00.000-07:002008-09-12T10:03:05.516-07:00

Wow, it has been awhile. I did not realize that it has been over a month since my last blog. It's not that I haven't felt the urge to blog, I have. The problem is that I didn't have the energy and mindset to do so. My tag line for my blog if you haven't noticed is "raw insights on faith, family, and fun." Truth be told it normally is anything but raw. My posts are never spur of the moment

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-86818307311214978652008-08-06T12:45:00.000-07:002008-08-06T12:51:28.753-07:00

Just this past week I was on the floor playing with Finley while Maya was in the chair right above me. My back was to her so I couldn't see her coming. All of a sudden she pounced on me and began to tickle and wrestle with me. I looked her square in the eyes and said, "you want a piece of me?" She promptly replied, "no daddy, I want all of you!" To which I replied, "you can have it all, I am

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-71528946226050833252008-07-25T19:15:00.001-07:002008-07-29T19:10:15.999-07:00

The night before last while I was tucking Maya into bed and saying our nightly prayers she decided to ask me a question. Here is the dialogue starting with her question:"Daddy, can I ask you a question? When we fly way up high in an airplane can Jesus see us? Daddy cause that is where heaven is.""Of course He can, Jesus can see everything. He is everywhere."With a perplexed look in her eye Maya

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-21596628272432791572008-07-24T13:21:00.000-07:002008-07-25T19:14:38.310-07:00

It was bound to happen sooner or later - I just didn't think it would happen at age four. While at the park the other night I became an informed father because I found that Maya was being pursued by a younger boy in the neighborhood.While sitting on a park bench watching Maya play another girl (couldn't have been older then 10) came over to me and asked what Maya's name was. By this time Maya

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-80002350762224341742008-07-15T16:03:00.000-07:002008-07-15T23:11:18.824-07:00

Well, I think this day will be one of the days that I remember most while holding the official title, "Mr. Mom." Let me tell you why:My day started with Finley crying uncontrollably (this is completely out of her character). It lasted on and off (mostly on) all day. It feels like she is teething so we may be in for a few more days of this. Amidst Finley's crying I heard Maya yelling at Lucas,

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-67439798843970099092008-07-14T09:31:00.001-07:002008-07-14T09:47:58.448-07:00

The other morning I was on my way to get some donuts for the family. I turned on the radio and an interesting song came on, one that instantly grapped my attention. It didn't grab my attention because of the tune and jingle, it was the lyrics that grapped my attention and made listen attentively. The song is titled, Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath. It has everything to do with my recent post

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-89779161360503018042008-07-09T09:11:00.000-07:002008-07-10T23:48:26.378-07:00

Over the 4th of July weekend Heather and I rented Vantage Point. It was a good movie, a solid rental if you are looking to have a relaxing (though it is classified as "suspenseful") movie night at home. The movie communicates a sequence of events from multiple points of view. As the movie unfolds more and more perspectives are communicated, leading to the complete unfolding of the actual events

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-72638447677541000352008-07-04T14:47:00.000-07:002008-07-04T17:30:00.982-07:00

The last couple days of being Mr. Mom have brought some hilariously funny quotes from my oldest, Maya. I think I should share them with you:While we are playing "Phillip and Aurora" (those are the main characters from Sleeping Beauty for those who don't know) Maya informed me that I had to be Aurora. I told her I am the boy so I should be Phillip. She didn't like that idea and quickly said. "

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-35352866952497299642008-07-04T14:28:00.000-07:002008-07-04T14:39:45.735-07:00

We just had Finley's four month old pictures taken. Heather decided that she wanted to have it taken in the same outfit that Maya had her four month old photo taken in. It is amazing to compare the two portraits. There is no doubt that they are sisters. Go ahead, take a look at the two pictures and decide for yourself which one is Maya and which one is Finley.In case you are wondering -

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-59074800313198527192008-07-01T06:50:00.000-07:002008-07-01T22:16:44.900-07:00

Well, it's 7 in the morning and I am dressed, showered, and sipping on a fresh cup of coffee just waiting for some noise to come from beyond the closed bedroom doors. By all calculations it should be at least another hour before my girls wake up, but only time will tell. I am looking forward to this time with them. It's totally bittersweet. On one hand, I morn with my wife that she has to go

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-36891671475454834692008-06-16T20:28:00.000-07:002008-06-16T21:03:50.338-07:00

I read this story about a man who was unlike any other. He was a noble man of character and justice. The story goes like this:In a time when he had every right to punish and torture his servant till the servant repay his debt, the man did the unthinkable and excused him; relieving him of all his debt. Now this was no small debt; it was a debt so large that by today’s standards it would be

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-8702499061798228462008-06-02T18:46:00.000-07:002008-06-02T19:01:50.755-07:00

Laughter filled my house growing up as a child. As a parent I long to raise my girls with a similar experience. Heather and I got an early start with Finley on the changing table. Take a look.

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-19800899108634829832008-05-22T20:27:00.000-07:002008-05-22T20:39:24.747-07:00

This past weekend I walked across the stage to my name as I was presented with an academic hoodie and a diploma, signifying that I am now in possession of a Master’s degree. The ceremony was special because I had multiple family members in the audience (and in the lobby with my daughters) sitting through two hours of “ceremony stuff”, waiting patiently to cheer as my name was called as I walked

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-84278016339149810462008-05-08T20:23:00.000-07:002008-05-08T20:32:57.388-07:00

If (with a strong emphasis on the IF) the temperature reaches over 70 degrees most Oregonians can be found doing one of two things - either hiking or fishing. Since my family has been in Oregon for three years we have finally "adapted" to the culture. I have proof! This past weekend the temperatures reached into the 70's and Heather and I took the girls for a hike and then I took Maya fishing.

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-64281567786029717412008-04-29T15:09:00.000-07:002008-04-29T15:12:22.773-07:00

It is easy to think about what is best for yourself. It is even easier to think of the things, whether good or bad, that you might need or want. Let’s face it, it is easy to be about yourself, placing your own desires and wishes before those around. Let me let you in on a little secret, it’s not about you!As Christ followers we are called to live with Christ for the sake of others. We are

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-86172759395789847642008-04-24T20:38:00.000-07:002008-04-24T20:48:03.263-07:00

Every so often I pull, Hope for the Brokenhearted, off my book shelf and read a chapter or two. The author of the book, Dr. Terveen was one of my professors at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. Just this past week, I read the chapter entitled, “In the Deepest Waters and Darkest Nights.” In this chapter Terveen takes a look at the all too familiar story of Peter walking on the water to Jesus. If you

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-82693474011395232992008-04-22T19:44:00.000-07:002008-04-22T20:02:45.438-07:00

It is one of those verses that routinely pop into my brain. One might consider it a coincidence, but I don't because I know that it the Spirit reminding me of the words of Jesus. Jesus says. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). Notice that the same peace that is in Jesus is

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-47721301121725103492008-04-18T20:13:00.001-07:002008-04-18T20:22:36.516-07:00

My friend Don is walking in Portland's March for Babies. He is looking for sponsors. I have done it, why don't you? You don't need to know Don to sponsor him. All you need to know is that the mission for March of Dimes, March for Babies is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Don't waste anymore time. Make a donation today. The

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-48400152390481323222008-04-03T18:07:00.000-07:002008-04-03T18:30:18.393-07:00

As we approach the up coming election there will be numerous conversations regarding the governments role regarding the many issues facing our country and culture, one of which is the governments role in social services and social action. I am simply going to let the following words I read from, With Justice for All, by John Perkins this past week speak for themselves:The only institution in

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-34419197464373684412008-04-01T18:02:00.000-07:002008-04-01T18:06:50.966-07:00

Have you noticed? Take a gander at the world around us and see how quickly everything is changing. Right before our very eyes technology is advancing, changing and effecting all aspects of life. I find it very silly that I compare things to “the way things used to be”. Isn’t that something my parents and grandparents do? After all, they have an additional thirty to sixty years on me and have

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-14016317775654888272008-03-30T13:40:00.000-07:002008-03-30T15:13:26.482-07:00

Life is a voyage, a voyage full of moments which lead to a plethora of decisions. Because of this we encounter countless circumstances that mandate a decision on our part. From the moment we wake up till the time we fall asleep, opportunities arise where decisions must be made. Think about it:You decided to press the snooze button more then once this morning (three times if you are like me).You

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-86754021380447512142008-03-17T19:05:00.000-07:002008-03-17T19:12:13.318-07:00

I love this time of the year. At this moment I can pear out my window and see the buds on the trees and plants starting new growth amongst brown twigs and shrubs. More importantly, I love this time of year because we are brought to the cross as we remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Christ the Lord. If you are not reading for yourself (which you should be)

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-70284189343419262292008-03-05T19:40:00.000-08:002008-03-05T19:56:14.355-08:00

Well it happened. FINLEY JEAN HARRIS entered our world 2/29/2008 at 12:30 in the afternoon. She weighed in at 8.4 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. Heather and Finley are fantastic. Finley is gorgeous. The evening nurse brought Finley back to us and informed us that Finley was the cutest baby in the hospital. I guess she saw this as critical information because she shared this with us at 2:00

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-76746965290928443232008-02-20T19:15:00.000-08:002008-02-20T19:17:21.370-08:00

My daughter is three years old and loves to sing. At any moment, she is likely to break out in song and joyfully sing at the top of her lungs. Her favorite song comes from one of her favorite Disney movies, Peter Pan. She sings the lyrics of Following the Leader whenever we need to go somewhere together, such as a bedroom upstairs, a room downstairs, or the park across the street. With her

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-53728617925982555592008-02-17T11:38:00.000-08:002008-02-17T11:50:29.201-08:00

This past weekend the three of us painted Finley's room. The above is short clip of the finished product. If you want to know what it took to get there, keep looking because there are a few photos included as well.

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-20683065899064143122008-02-04T20:46:00.000-08:002008-02-04T21:26:45.707-08:00

Welcome,Here we are continuing a series entitled, What I learned in Seminary. You can catch up with the links below.As I reflect back on seminary I constantly find myself drawn to Jeremiah 9:23-24. This passage has forever been etched into my heart. It serves as a reminder to be that it is not about, "Mark Harris," it's about God. We have a tendency in our world and culture to draw attention

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-62173180606023087002008-01-24T21:15:00.000-08:002008-01-25T19:06:33.356-08:00

Before I forget, please read Dan's Blog on MLK Day. He shares some sections from King's, Letter From A Birmingham Jail. King's letter is very moving and straight to the point. King uses the term "White Moderate" in describing the type of man who is the greatest obstacle to racism. King also labels the church as the "archdefender of the status quo," a term that should not describe the church (

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-45078540769321903512008-01-13T22:31:00.000-08:002008-01-14T10:07:37.538-08:00

Who or what do you consume? If you are anything like me then you consumed a cup or two of coffee this morning. Maybe you recently consumed a movie in the theater or in the comforts of your own home. How about a nice dinner out, where there is no need to cook or clean and you can simply enjoy the food and company. I could go on and on regarding the things that we consume on a regular basis,

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-66654956764691718982008-01-12T23:14:00.000-08:002008-01-12T23:14:59.742-08:00

Here we are continuing a series on the lessons learned (although not necessarily new lessons) throughout the past two and a half years in Seminary. If you need to catch up you can go here, here, and here for the previous three posts.I have done much pondering and thinking on my education and how it has and has not prepared me for ministry. It seems as if people are on either side of the argument

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-52446033958796721772008-01-03T11:09:00.000-08:002008-01-03T11:29:44.475-08:00

The Harris family had a wonderful Christmas. My mom was able to spend the holidays with us, so it was extra special to have family in town. The day was relaxing and refreshing, filled with each other's company. We spent the day with Maya experiencing her new gifts. We played and listened to her new piano, we played numerous rounds of "Memory" and "Candy Land". We even enjoyed playing with her

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-29965128259724365452008-01-02T18:45:00.000-08:002008-01-02T18:55:12.873-08:00

I remember vividly sitting around the campfire at Westminster Woods Camp Grounds nestled in the Sonoma County Coastal Redwoods during family camp singing “We are the Family of God.” During the chorus there is an opportunity to vocally declare your allegiance to the words of the song. “We are the family of God, YES! We are the family of God, and he has brought us together to be one in Him that we

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-55739754149248160132007-12-17T23:07:00.000-08:002007-12-19T20:22:50.041-08:00

If you need to be brought up to speed with what is going on, see last week's introduction entitled, One is closing while another is opening - you'll be informed.One of my classes this past semester was a preaching class. One can't be enrolled in a preaching class without delivering a message or two during the course of the semester. To maintain structure and a sense of order my professor

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-71872640088018708652007-12-14T18:27:00.000-08:002007-12-14T18:44:01.633-08:00

Well, a chapter has closed. Heather, Maya, Finley and I have completed the latest chapter of our lives now that I have completed Seminary. Wednesday December 12, 2007 I gave my last presentation in class and walked out of the Seminary building as a student into the fresh air as an alumni of Multnomah Biblical Seminary.Two and half years ago, Heather and I moved here to Portland not knowing what

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-19217989668119586362007-12-10T07:43:00.000-08:002007-12-14T19:17:42.213-08:00

December 10, 2007. Today is my father's birthday. He would have been 58 had he not passed away in September of 2006. One thing that I loved about my dad was his voice. He was not the greatest singer in the world, but he sure was passionate about it. He had a deep voice and sang bass in the choir at church. You could not miss him because he often sat in the back row in the direct center. He was a

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-29509255837938606942007-12-07T07:45:00.001-08:002007-12-07T09:38:16.871-08:00

Back in the day, Heather and I started dating during the Christmas season. During that year she decided to bless me with some anonymous gifts. During the "12 days of Christmas" she left me presents and gifts in all sorts of ways. During those days I had no idea who was leaving me the gifts. Part of me thought it might be a family member being nice to me and the other part of me was hoping that it

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-74354667672002463272007-12-03T14:58:00.000-08:002007-12-07T07:45:04.431-08:00

I had one of those moments this past week, a moment in which, your life flashes before your eyes as you stand up and ready yourselves preparing for the worst. The circumstances will remain anonymous but the lessons learned will not. As I was waiting to hear the news, preparing for the worst my thoughts and emotions through prayer, embraced the beauty of pain. Quite a paradox is it not. How can

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-15631301716752247672007-11-30T09:18:00.000-08:002007-11-30T09:23:34.871-08:00

Just this past night while Heather and I were putting Maya to bed Maya asked for a second pillow. So, Heather being the wonderful mother that she is ventured into the closet in the bathroom (that is where our linen closet is) and grabbed an Elmo pillow case - or so she thought. As she walked back into Maya's room she unfolded the pillow case only to discover that it was an Elmo blanket. Needless

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-85038340003103172122007-11-23T08:44:00.000-08:002007-11-23T13:11:52.483-08:00

Before you read on make sure you are up to date by reading a previous post about my new favorite word.Marjorie Osborne Wesson was her name. She came from a very distinguished east coast family, you know the kind who shipped their horses and carriages over to Europe when they went on a vacation. Her father was a chemist who created what has become a common cooking ingredient, Wesson cooking oil.

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-26956803708229460082007-11-17T22:27:00.000-08:002007-11-17T22:40:57.390-08:00

Props to my mother-in-law for introducing me to my new favorite word. In case you are wondering what it means, here is the definition:A person who champions the underdog. The word has three parts. The Latin prefix infra- means "interior to,below, or beneath." Related words include under, inferior, and inferno. The middle part, -canino- is from the Latin canus (dog), and-phile is from the Greek

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-23516623721319570412007-11-17T21:39:00.000-08:002007-11-17T21:40:45.552-08:00

Get a Cash Advance

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-1169708401165183982007-11-12T16:06:00.001-08:002007-11-13T23:13:49.251-08:00

The conversation in the car on the way home from Preschool last week went as follows:MAYA: Guess what daddy?MARK: What sweetie?MAYA: I have three boyfriends!MARK: You have three what?MAYA: Boyfriends daddy.Before I could shut my mouth and continue driving she said:MAYA: Yeah, daddy all of the kids in my class are my friends. But I like Charlie, Elliot, and Michael because they are my

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-45485657976447257692007-11-02T13:03:00.000-07:002007-11-02T21:30:19.450-07:00

In 2nd Timothy 1 the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to pursue sound teaching. In 1:13 the Apostle admonishes Timothy to pay attention and remember what he has spoken to him. "What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus." He then empowers him to "guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-56858338241189238582007-10-26T18:49:00.000-07:002007-10-26T18:57:14.892-07:00

The proof speaks for itself - Heather has baby Finley Jean Harris in her womb. She is healthy and is growing as she should be at this stage. Here are a few of the photos that were taking this morning. Enjoy, and marvel at God's creation. Isn't it awesome that the 11 oz. baby girl will grow up to be a 8 lb newborn inbetween now and march 18th. It's rad being a daddy - and it's even greater to

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-60298789617315260682007-10-25T10:21:00.001-07:002007-10-25T10:21:08.810-07:00

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-19798767138729307942007-10-17T12:36:00.000-07:002007-10-18T08:45:48.653-07:00

Heather and I have no clue how and why it is happening. But Maya has finally begun to struggle with darkness. We think it is because of the time of year because of all of the dark advertisements, cartoons, movies, and stories that come out in October. We have placed numerous nightlight in her room and the up stairs loft in order to help out; it hasn't worked yet. She was afraid of the dark

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-43101533250080125142007-10-13T14:59:00.001-07:002007-10-13T15:01:02.824-07:00

$3855.00The Cadaver Calculator - Find out how much your body is worth. JustSayHi - Free Personals

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-29737162810943720722007-10-12T13:47:00.000-07:002007-10-12T15:06:37.231-07:00

One of my favorite songs by Big Tent Revival called “Choose Life” has a chorus with the following lines:Choose life, that you might live the life that He gives, He gives you forever.Choose life, the way that it's true from the one who chose you your father inHeaven. Choose life.Like any good song the lyrics are based from Scripture, a source that BTR had continually drawn from. The passage which

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-55366791820331234042007-10-05T14:46:00.000-07:002007-10-05T15:13:18.218-07:00

Mondays and Fridays are fun days for me. Why? On Mondays and Fridays I get to keep Maya all to myself. We do all sorts of fun things together. For example today we:Ate cereal together out of the same bowl.Enjoyed a five star rated restaurant for lunch - Costco.I baby sat for her baby while she went to the mall during which she made sure I was singing lullaby's to her baby.We went on a picnic

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-84588437642170232732007-10-02T19:54:00.000-07:002007-10-02T20:03:15.905-07:00

I know you heard the slogan, "America the Beautiful." We say it and sing it like we mean it, do we? Is it really? We celebrate it and talk about as if it is God ordained, is it? Questions like these and many more are tough. I don't claim to have all the answers; I just want to ask the questions. These questions and thoughts have emerged in my brain because of a class I am taking. In my

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-20100547547705128052007-09-22T13:07:00.001-07:002007-09-22T13:40:51.443-07:00

I am a planner. I make a list and set goals and then proceed to check each item off one by one. I envision an outcome and work backwards to make it happen. This way I can assure (to the best of my ability) that all standards and objections are met and dealt with along the way. My planning manifests itself in all aspects of my life. I plan my semester of school out, I plan weekends out, I plan

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-44737900892996019892007-09-21T13:41:00.000-07:002007-09-30T08:49:19.832-07:00

When I created this blog I had no idea what to title it. After days of thought and talking Heather turned to the books on our shelves for added insight. On a shelf sits a hymnal from San Francisco Theological Seminary dating back to 1931. It was given to Heather when her grandfather passed away. I guessed they thought we would put it to good use because we were on our way to Seminary. One page

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-10205199501640665832007-09-06T22:37:00.000-07:002007-09-06T23:13:43.327-07:00

Like every other Thursday Heather picked up Maya from school to bring her home and as usual they talked about her day on the home. Maya told Heather about a conversation she had with one of her friends, Lilly. Lilly asked, "Maya, who is picking you up today? Is it you daddy, your mommy, or how about your papa?" Maya replied, "My papa is in heaven." After telling Heather about her conversation

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-33990819242898700762007-08-10T14:11:00.000-07:002007-08-12T22:55:53.159-07:00

One might say that life is a race, a game, or a voyage. Nowadays more then ever it seems that athletes, teams, and crews that are taking all the glory and acknowledgement for themselves. They maintain the attitude that they alone can accomplish the task. It seems to me that they have forgotten one critical component, the coach. Joe Gibbs an excellent coach and winner believes that:Whether the

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-53782647216506087092007-07-18T12:23:00.001-07:002007-07-18T12:36:30.876-07:00

I have a confession to make...I am going to make my first confession on my blog, are you ready? My car radio is tuned into the AM band and talk radio. That’s right I am tuning (I mean turning) into parents who never ventured away from the AM when I was growing up. I tell you this because this past week I was enjoying ESPN radio (since I don’t watch it on TV anymore I must listen to it) and was

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-42886443282920979722007-07-08T21:55:00.000-07:002007-07-09T12:57:00.904-07:00

This weekend at Church, Bob Maddox, one of the Pastor's at Good Shepherd dealt with John 19 and talked about how Jesus is and was always a King, never a victim. Since I left church Saturday evening I have been pondering his big idea: always a King, never a victim. I found myself describing a victim in my brain so that I could better understand what Bob was getting at. You see a victim doesn't

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-31428526226207694802007-07-08T21:47:00.000-07:002007-07-08T21:54:46.889-07:00

The following pictures were just too cute to not post. So enjoy them.

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-31320423278841646122007-06-28T00:35:00.001-07:002007-06-28T00:35:01.869-07:00

Not all music is moving, but this is. It's not just moving because the guy can flat out sing it is moving because of his story. Prior to appearing on, Britain Got's Talent, Mr. Potts worked at a cell phone store. Growing up (and even into adulthood) he lacked self esteem and searched for an avenue to express himself in. He discovered his gifting and pursued his dream of singing opera music. Mr.

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-88348109404174812272007-06-27T21:57:00.000-07:002007-06-27T22:09:33.593-07:00

Some Photos - Since we finally purchased a new camera I am able to add some photos of Maya and as an added bonus I will add a photo of the three of us as well. Here you go:

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-73749719040420367622007-06-17T21:13:00.000-07:002007-06-19T13:16:26.592-07:00

FATHER'S DAY REFLECTIONI woke up yesterday morning (Father's Day morning) to Maya climbing in bed with Heather and I. She was silent for a moment lying between us. She eventually starting talking with Heather, about what I do not know (I was still waking up). However when she said, "Mommy, I talked to Jesus" I was awake. Heather simply replied, "what did you talk about?" To which Maya said, "

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846183876389387408.post-88195352701675103572007-05-31T09:59:00.000-07:002007-06-04T22:49:00.420-07:00

The feeling you get "for the first time" is something which is radical and unique. There is nothing like it. I remember the first time I got a "real" bike that was my own. I was so excited because I didn't have to use my sister's pink banana bicycle any more; I had my own and it was a manly maroon color with 10 speeds. I remember the first time I stood in Yosemite Valley staring up at the

Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05046454143622631000noreply@blogger.com4