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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!
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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!
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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!
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Reverend J. Loren Russell
Matthew 5:4 NKJV
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
The death of a loved one can resemble deep darkness and create situations that are so sad and devastating that we don’t know what we’re feeling or how to describe it. We might experience anger, fear, sorrow, anxiety, frustration, confusion, and in some cases, depression, any or all of which can feel overwhelming. It can seem like a nightmare.
When loved one’s transition from time to eternity, we may also begin to realize that there are secondary psychological and/or emotional pain. We often grapple with the fact that things will never be the same. We can lose our sense of personal identity; “Who am I now without him/her?” A loss of security; “How am I going to make it on my own?” A loss of future plans; “What am I going to do now?” A loss of routine, “What am I supposed to do with myself now?”
We can have all those feelings, and then some. These feelings can surface or manifest days, weeks, months, and sometimes years after the death of a loved one. There are no timetable or directional signals in the mourning period, but they are normal parts of grief and mourning.
Through this process, valuable and often beautiful things are birthed through the mourning process. (Not to minimize the pain of death, I share this to assure you that there is a blessing in your mourning).
Throughout the mourning process, I have witnessed people develop other levels of empathy, healthier priorities, revitalized relationships with family and friends, and, most important of all, an enriched relationship with God.
Scripture tells us in verse 3 of the 5th chapter of Matthew, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” When you are poor in spirit, you are part of the kingdom of heaven, blessed when you mourn, and comforted (v.4); not because of the pain, but because of the promise: you shall be comforted. They are not comforted from man-made organizations, conventions, associations, conferences, institutions, or movements, but from their relationship with God Himself.
Remember what the psalmist told us in Psalm 30:5; “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”. (NKJV) The deep darkness of the night may feel heavy, but it will not last forever. Hold on. There is a blessing in your mourning. In the m-o-r-n-i-n-g, your m-o-u-r-n-i-n-g will turn to joy!
Be Blessed!
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You’ll have time to catch the entire game!
Matters of Faith 