Archive for the ‘Observations’ Category



Jul20

How Changing Your Perspective Can Dramatically Change Your Life

By Harris III | 3 Comments

I bet you’re missing out on so much of life, just by how you currently see things.  There’s so much to gain by just changing your perspective every now and then.  My recent trip to Nicaragua was a strong reminder of that.  Few things bring more perspective than international travel to a third-world country.

Do you need to change your perspective?

Mona LisaThe famous artist, Leonardo Da Vinci, (who painted the Mona Lisa), was known for changing his perspective before considering one of his masterpieces 100% complete.  Apparently, when Da Vinci was supposedly 99.9% finished, his final step was to look at his painting in a mirror.  Simply by changing his perspective and how he saw the painting, he would notice needed changes in the painting that were impossible for him to see before.  Turns out, perspective is a really powerful thing.

I’ve always struggled with this.  Judging others is something I used to do a lot of.  My pride, arrogance, and selfishness always allowed me to look at other people and situations and immediately jump to conclusions.  I’d think, “That guy has READ ALL

Jun15

Jesus Got Struck by Lightning!

By Harris III | 10 Comments

What do you make of a huge statue of Jesus getting struck by lightening?  I mean, if God is in control of that flashing light from the sky, why would he allow it to happen to a statue of his only son?  Definitely stirs up conversation, huh?

That’s what happened recently in Ohio.  I’ve driven by this statue what seems like hundreds of times while traveling that stretch of interstate on tour.  Here’s what the news article had to say:

MONROE, Ohio – A six-story statue of Jesus Christ was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, leaving only a blackened steel skeleton and pieces of foam that were scooped up by curious onlookers Tuesday.

The “King of Kings” statue, one of southwest Ohio’s most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.

The lightning strike set the statue ablaze around 11:15 p.m. Monday, Monroe police dispatchers said.

The sculpture, about 62 feet tall and 40 feet wide at the base, showed Jesus from the torso up and was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signaling a touchdown. It was made of plastic foam and fiberglass over a steel frame, which is all that remained Tuesday.

You can read the whole article here, on Yahoo! News.

Apparently, the statue cost about $400,000 to construct.  Maybe it was allowed to be struck by lightening because God might not be cool with wasting a whopping $400k on concrete? For the record, I have no idea. Just wondering. I’m also not saying that God always causes natural disasters.  But I’m not sure how you could deny that certainly “allows” them.  Again, I’m just wondering…

They’re also already making plans to rebuild it, wasting that kind of money, plus more, all over again.  I mean, I’m not God, so I won’t pretend to know or always understand what he does, or why he allows certain things to happen, but I do know of a whole list of better uses for a few hundred thousand dollars.

And, I’m not the only one. A lot of them are a book called the Bible….maybe this church should read it.  If they do, they might learn a lot about Jesus, the guy they’re making statues of, and in the process, how he encouraged us to live.

What do you think?

May29

I’m totally apathetic.

By Harris III | 6 Comments

I’m totally apathetic today. I was yesterday, too.  Does that ever happen to you?

Kinda like this?

Kinda like this?

It’s weird. I’m usually incredibly positive and have a great attitude.  And honestly, my last few days have been amazing.  I don’t even have a good, valid reason to be apathetic.  I allow myself to get distracted, lose focus, and focus on the garbage.  Garbage like getting screwed by people from my past.  Garbage like us still having a house for sale, because the buyers backed out last second for no valid reason.  Stuff like that.  Eventually, if you dwell on the negative stuff, it makes you frustrated.  And I think frustration can very easily breed carelessness. Which reminds me…   READ ALL

May11

Convicting or Funny?

By Harris III | 4 Comments

I laughed all throughout this entire video. Then, the moment it finished, it hit a little too close to home, and I felt a tad bit convicted. If anything, if you’re in a leadership position at a church, this will make you think, and might even stir up a little conversation about what you’re doing in your services.

Thank goodness they made this about church services, and not conferences, camps, or even the shows put on by “christian entertainers.” If they decided to make those versions, well…I prefer not to think about what might happen.  For now, enjoy this one, regarding Sunday mornings: READ ALL

May10

As if I needed one more reason to love Chick-fil-A…

By Harris III | 3 Comments

I’d love to throw in my two cents on why this video is so amazing, and comment on the invaluable truth contained in it, and what could happen if you and I actually applied it to our lives.  But I won’t.  The video is way more powerful than my words would ever be.

Watch. You’ll be so glad you did…   READ ALL

Apr14

What I think about other magicians…

By Harris III | 6 Comments

Not long after I first launched this blog, I shared my honest opinion about Criss Angel. People always ask me what I think about him, so I told them.  Since then, I’ve shared more than one of other opinions I have about a lot of things.  I’ve also learned a lot along the way, mainly that one’s opinion usually doesn’t matter, and that sometimes, sharing it doesn’t do much more than push people’s buttons.  I enjoy pushing people’s buttons, but pushing them for pushing’s sake…well, what’s the point in that?  That’s stupid.  And yes, I’ve already admitted that sometimes I’m stupid.

Though I’m not always good at it, I’m more interested in encouraging others to think, and motivated by the potential of influence or change. So here’s an opinion that will hopefully influence a few others to consider getting over themselves, and making a better attempt at being who they were actually created to be.

My opinion:  READ ALL

Apr8

My Failing Career, and the Illusion of Success

By Harris III | 12 Comments

What if I told you that I fail repeatedly?  I don’t mean in the whole “I’m an imperfect guy who messes up, just like everyone else, blah blah blah…” sort of way.  I mean literally, I’m currently a failure.  I know, after reading all of this, some of you would love to argue and debate about how “failure” isn’t the best word, or how in the process of failing “financially,” I’m actually winning spiritually.  I get that, and know what you mean, but let’s go back about 15 years, and I think you’ll get what I’m trying to say. Even if I fail at expressing and articulating it.  ;-)

When I was 9 years old, I got a magic set for Christmas from my grandmother.  Not at all what I asked for, but that’s what I got.  Turns out, it changed my life.  When I was 11, I got paid $25 to do my first “real” show.  By 14, I was traveling, performing for schools and churches, and even at all kinds of public and private parties and events. By 16, I got my first cruise ship gig, performing on a big boat back and forth from the Carribean.  By 18, I was making almost $200,000 a year.  By 25, I had made a million dollars in my lifetime.  And I had wasted every penny of it.   READ ALL

Mar17

What if your enemy became “all things to all men”?

By Harris III | 3 Comments

I was thinking the other day about Paul, and how he wrote in 1st Corinthians 9 that he is “All things to all men.”  Obviously, Paul’s goal was to influence as many people as possible, and therefore believed that being all things to all men gave him a better opportunity to do that.  As I thought about that concept, I began to wonder what other agendas could benefit from this.  The first agenda that came to mind was Satan’s.   READ ALL

Feb15

“We would do more events if…” Really??

By Harris III | 5 Comments

This past weekend, we had the honor of partnering with 88.3, a radio station based in Springfield, MO. They did a Valentine’s Day event for their listeners, and we had an absolute blast performing for a PACKED house.  It was a really, really fun event for us, and is probably the 4th or 5th radio station we’ve partnered with here in the U.S.

This morning, my assistant Beth got the following email in her inbox from Ben Birdsong, the Station Manager. It was completely unsolicited, and 100% unexpected:   READ ALL

Jan7

America’s Best Pastor Contest! Nominations anyone?

By Harris III | 12 Comments

I figured that since so many pastors are competing against each other, someone might as well go ahead and organize the contest. Then those who are participating can win the earthly reward they’re working so hard for! READ ALL

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