Matters of Faith

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

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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.”

That’s the Plan – Plan and Simple!  

Reverend J. Loren Russell

Habakkuk 2:2–4 (NKJV)
“Then the Lord answered me and said:‘ Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.’”

The saying, “Without a plan, failure is highly probable and disaster is a possibility,” deserves to be heard more often. Too many times, we begin with good intentions but without enough planning to support them. When our energy has no direction, we can work hard and still have very little to show for it.

Often, the issue is not a lack of faith; it is that our faith needs direction. We may have desire, energy, enthusiasm, and vision—but without a plan, those gifts remain scattered.

Writing the vision makes it plain. It takes what God has placed in the heart and gives it shape, direction, and purpose. It takes us from dream to vision. 

A dream can remain in your head, but a vision demands movement. A vision says, “I see something that is not here yet, but I believe God can bring it into existence.” When God gives a vision, He does not expect us to simply admire it; He expects us to act on it.

We can have all the energy of an alkaline battery, but if there is no plan to plug into, that energy has nowhere to go. Direction is what turns effort into progress.

You can be busy without being productive. You can be moving without making progress. You can be active without being effective.

That is why the Lord tells Habakkuk, “Write the vision and make it plain.” In other words, get it out of your head and put it where you can see it. Make it clear enough to follow and strong enough to run with.

Write it down, make it clear, give it direction, and give it purpose, then start running.

That’s the plan, plain and simple!  

Be Blessed!

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