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.”

You Have Been Charged

2 Timothy 2:11-15 KJV

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

There is a level of responsibility that goes along with knowledge.

The Apostle Paul writes to his protégé, Timothy, beginning this pericope with a profound statement of faith:

“If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who He is.”  (NLT)

Paul begins the chapter by telling Timothy, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” In no uncertain terms, Paul tells Timothy to put his faith in Christ and strive to be a good soldier in His army, reinforcing his point in verse 4:

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Timothy was gifted with the skills and then charged to lead faithful men and women into a more purposeful relationship with Christ, just as he had been through his mother, Lois, his grandmother, Eunice, and Paul himself.

But with that gift came responsibility.

To fulfill his charge, Paul says that it was necessary for Timothy to study—to study the Word of God and then put into practice those things he gleaned from his studying. He was to be a living example, a personification of Christ in the flesh. He was charged to be bold in his teaching, “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

If I’ve learned one thing over the years of my life, it is that when you know, and you know that you know, confidence replaces fear.

There is no reason to be ashamed when you have taken the time to study, learn, understand, and apply the Word of God. You have no shame in your game when you know that what you believe is rooted in what God has said.

Paul closes the chapter by charging Timothy specifically and directly to “correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it], and that they may come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (vv. 25-26, Amplified Bible)

When you have been given knowledge, and with that knowledge comes responsibility. You have been given the Word, and with the Word comes an assignment.

Study the Word! Teach the Word! Live the Word!

You Have Been Charged!

Be Blessed! 

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