Matters of Faith

A practical application of the Word of God for everyday issues.

recent posts

about

James ‘Loren’ Russell was born in Harlem, New York, and raised in the Bronx, where he and his wife (Evelyn) of thirty-eight years currently reside. Loren began his professional career as a life insurance agent, quickly rising to sales manager and then senior management. To fulfill his entrepreneurial ambitions, Loren established The JLR Company/J Loren Consulting, LLC to provide financial planning services in general, “Biblical Economics” services to the religious community, and motivational and developmental seminars and workshops. He served 7 years with the Southern Baptist Convention as the Northeast Strategy Coordinator, Regional Church Finance Consultant, and Church Planting Coordinator for NYC. Loren earned the Master of Divinity degree from Drew Theological Seminary and received an Honorary Doctor of Ministry from the Virginia University of Lynchburg. Through J Loren R Consulting, LLC, Loren provides financial, strategic planning, and business consultations to churches, not-for-profit organizations, and businesses nationally, with a specialization in urban church strategies. Loren’s spiritual and civic commitment keeps him busy. He is currently providing pastoral leadership to The Evangelical Church of God and continues as an Associate Minister and former Sunday School teacher at his home church, Goodwill Baptist Church. He is the founder of the Back In Stride Ministry, a ministry designed to help ex-offenders to establish their businesses; past President of the John L. Scott Associate Ministers Auxiliary of the United Missionary Baptist Association; founder and Chief Chaplain of the New York State Chaplains Workers Task Force, Inc; President of the 42nd Precinct Community Council, Clergy Liaison, and Moderator for the Ceasefire Initiative all for the New York Police Department; President of the Home/Simpson Street Homeowners Association, Bronx, NY; Board member of Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI); 3 times past President of the Yonkers-East Yonkers Rotary Club, NY, and past District Governor for Rotary District 7230. Loren has a chapter capturing parts of his life in the book, Children of the Dream – The Psychology of Black Success by Audrey Edwards and Dr. Craig Polite. He also helped establish and provided voice-overs for the Speaking Community Calendar at Bronx Net Cable, Bronx, NY. Rev. Dr. Russell is an author who writes a weekly column called “Matters of Faith” that appear in several publications, Yonkers Insider, Better Mag magazine, Positve Community Magazine, and Pamela’s Big Heart Newsletter, and on his social media outlets. In addition, he hosts a weekly internet radio talk show, “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” (Matters of Faith YouTube channel), and authored and published Matters of Faith: The Book. Loren is a frequently sought-after preacher, keynote speaker, motivational instructor, workshop leader, and Master of Ceremonies for a variety of programs. Loren’s favorite quote is by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. which epitomizes his philosophy on life. It states, “We must all learn to live together as brothers, or we will all perish together as fools.”

  • In Plain Language, Be of Good Cheer

    In Plain Language, Be of Good Cheer!

    Reverend J. Loren Russell

    Scripture:
    John 16:33 (NKJV)

    “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father… These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

    Within the church, many of our prayers, sermons, songs, and expectations center on one desire: that God would deliver us from trouble. We often measure God’s favor by the absence of hardship.

    But what if we’ve been looking at it backward?

    What if some of the very troubles we pray to escape are actually the blessings God is using to shape us? What if our greatest spiritual growth comes disguised as life’s greatest difficulties? Sometimes God’s blessings arrive wearing the clothes of adversity.

    Jesus had given His disciples much to process in this chapter. He warned them that because they followed Him, they would be expelled from the synagogue (v. 1). They would face hatred, persecution, and even death at the hands of those who believed they were serving God (vv. 2–3). Then, as if that were not enough, He announced that He was about to leave them (vv. 5–11).

    The disciples could not understand how Jesus could depart at the very moment they needed Him most. With danger surrounding them, they wanted His physical presence, His leadership, and His protection.

    Yet Jesus explained that His departure was actually for their benefit. If He did not go away, “the Helper”—the Holy Spirit—would not come. But when the Helper came, He would convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. More importantly, He would glorify Christ by revealing His truth to His followers and guiding them into all truth (vv. 13–14).

    Then Jesus spoke even more plainly. Through His finished work, the disciples would have direct access to the Father. They would ask in Jesus’ name, and the Father Himself would hear them because He loved them and because they had believed in His Son (vv. 23–27).

    Finally, the disciples realized that Jesus was no longer speaking in parables or figures of speech. He was speaking plainly.

    Even so, Jesus did not hide the difficult truth. He told them they would soon scatter in fear and leave Him alone. Yet He also assured them that He would never truly be alone because the Father was with Him.

    Then came one of the greatest promises in all of Scripture:

    “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

    Notice what Jesus did not say; He did not say you might have trouble; He did not say believers are exempt from pain; He did not promise a life free from disappointment, sickness, persecution, loss, or heartbreak.

    He promised tribulation, but He also promised peace. The peace is not found in the absence of trouble; it is found in the presence of Christ. Our confidence is not that life will become easier. Our confidence is that Jesus has already conquered everything this world can throw against us. His victory guarantees ours.

    So, in plain language, when life becomes difficult, be of good cheer! When the diagnosis is frightening, be of good cheer. When relationships fail, be of good cheer. When the future is uncertain, be of good cheer.

    Not because the storm has passed, but because the Savior has overcome. The world may produce tribulation, but Jesus produces peace. The world may create fear, but Jesus gives courage. The world may wound us, but Jesus has already won the victory. That is plain language. That is enduring hope. That is the good news of the Gospel. Be of good cheer!

    Be Blessed!

  • Matters of Faith: The Radio Show

  • Receiving Your Inheritance

    Reverend J. Loren Russell

    Scripture: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” — Galatians 3:29 (NKJV)

    When we read the Old Testament, it is easy to think of God’s promises as belonging exclusively to Israel. We marvel at His faithfulness in delivering His people from Egypt, providing for them in the wilderness, defending them against their enemies, and bringing them into the Promised Land. Yet the New Testament reveals an extraordinary truth: through faith in Jesus Christ, believers have become heirs of those covenant promises.

    The Apostle Paul declares that everyone who belongs to Christ is “Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” This means that God’s covenant faithfulness did not end with the Old Testament—it finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ. While some promises were uniquely given to the nation of Israel, the character of God revealed through those promises remains unchanged. His love, His presence, His peace, His provision, His protection, His mercy, and His unfailing faithfulness belong to every child of God.

    The promises of Isaiah 43 remind us that we are redeemed, called by name, and never alone. The promise of Joshua assures us that God will never leave us nor forsake us. The words spoken to David remind us that God’s steadfast love endures forever. The hope proclaimed by Jeremiah tells us that God has plans to give His people a future and hope. These promises are not dusty relics of an ancient covenant; they are living testimonies of the God who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

    This inheritance is not earned by our performance but received through God’s grace. It was purchased at an immeasurable price—the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the cross, the promises of God were secured for all who believe. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen.” Every promise that finds its fulfillment in Christ is available to strengthen, encourage, and sustain His people today.

    Too many believers live like spiritual paupers while possessing the riches of God’s covenant. Fear replaces faith. Worry overshadows peace. Doubt silences confidence. Yet our heavenly Father invites us to live as sons and daughters who know what has been freely given to them. His promises become the anchor for our faith, the comfort in our trials, and the assurance of our eternal hope.

    For those of us who celebrate as citizens in America’s semiquincentennial anniversary, I encourage you to choose to live like an heir instead of an outsider of the covenant. Open God’s Word and embrace His promises with confidence. Reject the lie that you are forgotten, defeated, or alone. Through Jesus Christ, you have been welcomed into God’s family and given an inheritance that cannot be stolen, diminished, or exhausted. Receive that inheritance with gratitude, walk in it with confidence, and celebrate it with joy. The God who made the promises is faithful to fulfill them, and every day is an opportunity to rejoice in the riches that are already yours in Christ.

    Be Blessed! 

  • Matters of Faith: The Radio Show

  • Take A Stand

    “TAKE A STAND !”

    Reverend J. Loren Russell

    2 Thessalonians 2:15 NKJV, TLB

    “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”

     “With all these things in mind, dear brothers, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the truth that we taught you in our letters and during the time we were with you.” (TLB)

    To stand is not exceptional for a Christian. It is not exceptional for the Christian to stand firm in his or her faith; to boldly go where others dare not; to speak what those who know not the Lord are afraid to say; to be a visible ambassador for Christ. 

    Paul writes to the Thessalonian church and presents a challenge. The challenge he presented to the Thessalonian church also challenges believers today. He says that we must take a stand. Paul argues that “God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth (2:13), “therefore” they were told to take a stand. 

    This is an in-your-face faith. In order to get in someone’s face, you must take a stand. Paul says, “Therefore, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle,” or, as the TLB translation says,” stand firm and keep a strong grip on the truth that we taught you in our letters and during the time we were with you.”This  means we also are to stand faithfully, clinging to the Word of God as our source of accuracy and power.

    Moses told the Children of Israel when they were on the precipice of the Red Sea and in the cross hairs of the Egyptian army, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today” (Exodus 14:13). During times of trouble, of trial, of suffering, of persecution, of poverty, of unemployment and underemployment, of broken heartedness and break ups, through unusual circumstances and overwhelming situations, in cases of sickness and heartache, we are charged to stand firm or to stand still.

    The Lord expects His followers to take a stand for their faith. Stand firm and stand still in your faith and you will “see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.”

    Be Blessed!

  • Matters of Faith: The Radio Show

  • Fathers, Pay the Price of Freedom

    Reverend J. Loren Russell

    Ephesians 6:1-4

    Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

    Fatherhood is a privilege that allows men to lead, guide, and protect their families, helping them to avoid or minimize the pitfalls of life and self-sabotage. Fathers make sacrifices so that their children can become their best selves, laying the foundation for personal success and self-determination. Fathers can liberate children from bondage through discipline and instruction from the Lord.

    In the African American community, we just celebrated Juneteenth, our Independence Day. For me, there is a parallel between Juneteenth and Father’s Day. Both days are set aside to commemorate the struggle for liberation as a God-given right; father’s leading the way for their children, and our forefathers in their valiant struggle for the freedom of their yet unborn children.   

    Strong fathers and father figures have enabled us to break free from self-imposed and societal limitations, allowing us to pursue our desires and exercise our God-given rights. 

    The Emancipation Proclamation’s exception clause allowing slavery as punishment for crime perpetuates modern-day slavery; “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” 

    Fathers must train their children to not voluntarily re-enslave themselves through the criminal justice system. Freedom is to be used to serve and share with others, as taught by our fathers, our ancestors, and by God Himself. 

    Biology makes fathers, but love makes Daddies. We must teach our children about the Emancipation Proclamation, teach them about the 13th Amendment, and most of all, teach them of the freedom that makes us free indeed…, the blood of Jesus. That’s love, and the price father’s must pay for freedom.

    Happy Father’s Day to all those who are biological, spiritual, and surrogate fathers, as well as mothers who have had to be both mommy and daddy. 

    Be Blessed!

  • Juneteenth – Conversations in the Key of Black! 

    Rev. J. Loren Russell

    Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and afuture.”

    Today we celebrate that historic day affectionately referred to as Juneteenth. It commemorates June 19, 1865, the day word reached Texas, the last of the rebellious states in the newly formed Union, that the enslaved people of the new Union were free.  

    It was the Emancipation Proclamation enacted by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1862, that set the enslaved people free, but the word didn’t get to Texas until 3 years, 5 months, and 18 days had passed. That was after the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution on January 31, 1865 (4 months and 19 days). It was later officially ratified by the required number of states on December 6, 1865.

    Have you ever read the 13th Amendment? It never actually abolished slavery. The 13th Amendment states:

    “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”. The prepositional word “except” allows legally convicted persons to be enslaved. The 13th Amendment did not abolish slavery but rather moved it from the plantation to the prison. 

    Slavery is alive and well in the United States of America. It went from the plantation to incarceration! Incarcerated individuals in America are legally considered slaves under the Constitution, and there are more Black people enslaved today than in the 1800’s. They are forced to work for pennies an hour with the profits going to counties, states, and private corporations including, among others, Target, Revlon, and Whole Foods. 

    While the Black population in the United States represents  about 13 to 14% of the general population, we disproportionately make up roughly 37 to 42% of the nationwide incarcerated population. That is a disparity that must change.

    Whenever I have the honor of speaking to young men or males, especially those who are involved in the criminal justice system, I routinely ask,  “What made you decide to go back to the plantation?” Even after the sentence, the system will not fully release you; 

    • Probation,
    • Parole, 
    • Supervision that limits where you can go, what you can do, how you can rebuild your life. 

    Still counted. Still controlled.

    If freedom comes with an “exception,” who is most likely to live inside it—and who will have the courage to close that gap? The “exception” clause isn’t just a line in a document—it is a doorway. And too many had been pushed through it. 

    While laws may shape circumstances, they do not have the final word over destiny. While systems may bind bodies, they cannot imprison purpose. And while history may explain the present, it does not have the authority to cancel what God has already declared.

    It is vitally important that we eliminate the senseless crimes, killing, and mass re-enslavement of ourselves. The Lord knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give us hope and a future, we must not be defined by systems, limited by policies, or canceled by a past or confined by a sentence.

    So, the real question before us today is no longer who is caught in the system, but “who will rise up through the system with hope in their hands, truth on their lips, and faith in their heart to believe that God’s plan is greater than any “exception” written by man?”

    Blessed Juneteenth and Happy Father’s Day! 

  • Matters of Faith: The Radio Show

  • Matters of Faith: The Radio Show