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.”

  • Peace, Be Still!

    Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV)

    “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!”And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” my quiet time with the Lord in the mornings, as I read and study from the Holy Writ, recite scriptures, meditate, pray, and exercise, I hear the voice of the Lord in holistic fashion. Each aspect of worship serves in its own unique way reveals His presence and quiets the storms in my spirit and my life. 

    During those quiet moments, when His voice is clear, His presence is felt, and the storms cease, when I experience an overwhelming warmth in my heart, the situations in my life may not change, but the calm that envelopes me gives me a sense of peace and an inner assurance that everything is going to be just fine. It’s hard to explain, since it isn’t always logical. But in those still, quiet moments, His voice whispers and I can hear Him clearly saying, “Peace be still!”

    Life always has storms; one that has passed, one that is happening right now, or one that is coming. When the storm arose on the Sea of Galilee, His Disciples, fearful and scared, cried out, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” When you do not know the one who can calm raging storms with a word, you also don’t know the God who can just as easily calm the storms in your life with the same words, “Peace be still!” Astonished and amazed, His Disciples asked, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

    What they did not know was that the peace of God is the key to making it through a storm. That peace is found in the pages of the Bible, not deeply buried in some secret place that you need a bulldozer or a pickax to find. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or a college graduate. Just trust in the one who looked at the storm, spoke to the winds, and calmed the raging sea.

    If you don’t have a time that you dedicate to spend with Him, a time when it’s just you and God, you are missing the peace that only He can give, and you will never know the kind of peace, what the Bible calls the “shalom” peace, that can weather any storm, even ferocious storms like the Disciples experienced.  

    Truly, it is in those still, quiet moments that you can hear His voice whisper, speaking clearly to the storms in your life saying, “Peace be still!”

    Be Blessed!

    Rev. J. Loren Russell is the Clergy Officiant at the Evangelical Church of God and associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church, both in the Bronx. He is the President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Personal Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096). He writes this column (www.mattersoffaith.blog) and produces and host’s “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on The Matters of Faith YouTube channel (@mattersoffaith9525). Be sure to Friend, Like, and Share the column and the channel.  Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.

  • Going the Distance!

    By Reverend J. Loren Russell

    2 Corinthians 5:1-8 (v. 7) NKJV

    For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

    “Going the distance” is a term often used in the boxing world to describe someone who completes every scheduled round, especially if they are on the losing end of the fight. It describes someone who shows endurance and tenacity, someone who has determined that they are going to stay the course no matter what. We admire people like that. They personify for the rest of us what a person with a made-up mind can do.

    In this letter to the Corinthian church, especially in this chapter, we see Paul as both a realist and visionary. On one hand, he is compelled to admit that these earthly bodies, no matter how well we take care of them, or how much good we do while we are in them, are bound for the grave. But as a visionary, he says we ache for our mortality to be swallowed up by life. John 5:24 captures the spirit of Paul’s writing when he quotes Jesus who said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” Talk about a reason to go the distance!

    How far will you go in your faith? In verses 8-10 of the fourth chapter, Paul acknowledges the pressure of endurance but still encourages them to stay strong. He says they are  “hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” When Paul uses the word “we” in his letter to the Corinthian church, he is talking about himself and his readers. He says those who are willing to go the distance are able to stand through the hardest of times, not just when things are going well.

    With Paul as our guide, pleasing God as our goal, spreading the gospel as our motivation, not concerned with race, creed, culture, or gender, eliminating external distractions, maintaining an eternal perspective, and being completely secure in knowing that being absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, we can go the distance. I am reminded of a poem that says, “It’s easy to smile when life goes by like a song. But the man worthwhile is the man with a smile when everything goes dead wrong.” Are you willing to go the distance?

    Be Blessed!

    Rev. J. Loren Russell is the Clergy Officiant at the Evangelical Church of God and associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church, both in the Bronx. He is the President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096). He writes this column  and produces and host’s “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on The Matters of Faith YouTube channel. Be sure to Friend, Like, and Share the column and the channel.  Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.

  • “Great Power, Great Grace, Great Fear!”

  • Great Power, Great Grace, Great Fear!

    By Reverend J. Loren Russell

    Acts 4:32-33, 5:1-11 NKJV

    32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 

    1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

     7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

    At the start of the New Testament church, with great power the Apostles gave witness of the resurrection of Christ. By the power of the word of God, the people were blessed with divine favor and God’s loving kindness. To show they had great grace, whatever they owned they considered to be for the good of everyone, not just their own personal use. They were of one heart and one mind. There was a strong sense of unity in the community. 

    However, there was one couple who did not fully share in the unified spirit. Ananias and Sapphira devised a plan that would give them honor but shortchange the neediest among them. Their plan was to give less than they actually received but tell the Apostles and the church that they were giving it all. They thought they would get the recognition and get to keep some of the funds form themselves. What they did not account for was God’s ability to see their motives. 

    With great power, Peter revealed to Ananias that he had not just lied to the apostles or the church, he lied to God. With that, Ananias fell dead. 

    Less than three hours later, Sapphira confirmed the conspiracy she and Ananias had conceived. She too dropped dead on the spot. Great fear swept through the community and the church. 

    The church today is an extension of that infant church. She has been gifted by God with great power to proclaim the Gospel, great grace to be generous to the needy, and great fear of living anything other than authentically for Christ. 

    The Union Gospel Press Sunday School guide asks, “How does it feel when you realize someone was pretending to be generous to get people to think more highly of them?”  As is illustrated in the story of Ananias and Sapphira, there is a danger in sin that can cost more than expected. God gives great power to compliment His great grace so that we live with great fear. 

    Be Blessed!

    Rev. J. Loren Russell is the Clergy Officiant at the Evangelical Church of God and associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church, both in the Bronx. He is the President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096). He writes this column  and produces and host’s “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on The Matters of Faith YouTube channel. Be sure to Friend, Like, and Share the column and the channel.  Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.

  • Commended By Choice

    Rev. J. Loren Russell

    2 Corinthians 6:4-10 NKJV

    But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

    To be commended means to be presented as suitable for approval or acceptance. Paul tells the Corinthian church that everything he and his fellow proclaimers of Christ have done gives undisputable evidence of their reliable, credible testimony that professes and encourages them to “come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” (v.17)

    To commend oneself is difficult. It means giving up things that you may hold near and dear. It may mean giving up activities that you enjoy doing or places you enjoy going. Being commended means that you are willing to not just take off, but take oncharacteristics that heretofore have been foreign to you. Paul lists several things he and his fellow servants have taken on to exemplify their commendation. The New Living Translation aptly chronicles their characteristics; “alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.” 

    They were willing to endure trials and tribulations for the reward of an entire community who potentially would follow their lead and be commended in the same fashion as he and his colleagues. Not just that, those who choose to commend themselves will be supernaturally enabled by the God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit to endure as Paul and his comrades were able to endure, and that durability is transferable to every area of their  lives. 

    In the final verse of the chapter, Paul writes these encouraging words, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”  (v.18). I likewise challenge you to be a living testimony of someone who is commended by choice.

    Be Blessed! 

    Rev. J. Loren Russell is the Clergy Officiant at the Evangelical Church of God and associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church, both in the Bronx. He is the President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096). He writes this column  and produces and host’s “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on The Matters of Faith YouTube channel. Be sure to Friend, Like, and Share the column and the channel.  Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.

  • Purposefully Employed

     Rev. J. Loren Russell

    I Corinthians 15:50-58 NKJV

    Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

    The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

    When we think of someone being purposefully employed, we think of them occupying a nine-to-five and being paid for their work-related activity. Some people are skilled at what they do, gifted with a particular ability. Others are trained for the job they were hired to do. Whether they are gifted or trained, if they are working, they are both considered to be purposely employed.

    Working for a living gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment because we know that they can and are providing for our families. Being purposely employed means that you have a regular work schedule and are  receiving a regular income for the work performed. You can be employed by someone, a company, or self-employed, but when you are purposely employed, the assumption is that you are not just getting by, you are doing well enough to provide for your needs and the needs of your family with disposable left over.  

    Beloved, every gift that is given by the Spirit of God is for the edification of the people and the glorification of God. Make no mistake, all gifts are “from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17 MKJV).

    My prayer is that you have been chosen by God to be filled with the Holy Spirit and equipped for purposeful employment as an ambassador in His service. “If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully(Romans 12:6-8 NIV). To be clear, spiritual gifts are given for your employment, not just your enjoyment!

    If you have received a gift from the Holy Spirit, consider yourself to be purposefully employed. 

    Be blessed! 

    Rev. J. Loren Russell is the Clergy Officiant at the Evangelical Church of God and associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church, both in the Bronx. He is the President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096). He writes this column  and produces and host’s “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on The Matters of Faith YouTube channel. Be sure to Friend, Like, and Share the column and the channel.  Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.

  • Matters of Faith: The Radio Show

  • In The Potters Hand!

    Rev. J. Loren Russell

    Jeremiah 18:1-6 NKJV

    The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

    In the hands of the potter, clay can be molded into whatever is desired. In the text, God is the Potter, and we are the clay. As the Potter, the Lord desires only the best for us. But clay has flaws…, lumps, bumps, and impurities. It often must be reshaped several times before it becomes what the Potter has in mind. 

    Jeremiah was sent to the potter’s house to be taught a lesson. As Jeremiah looked at the potter, the Lord spoke to him and revealed to him that the potter has complete and total authority to form and fashion clay as he sees fit. It’s his choice to do as he pleases, to reshape the clay into what he desires. 

    As Jeremiah witnessed the potter reshape the marred clay, the Lord tells him that the potter represented Him, the sovereign God over all creation. He owes us nothing and can reshape or dispose of us at His will. But, He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2Peter 3:9). He gives us multiple opportunities to conform to His image. When we are forgiven of our sins, we are conformed to His image and likeness. You see, unlike clay, the sovereign Lord has given us free will, the ability to choose or refuse to allow Him to mold and to shape us. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). 

    For better or worse, we are in the Potter’s hand. What a tragedy it is when The Lord takes us in His hand and finds that we are not willing to allow Him to shape us into what He desires. If He can’t shape us as monuments for righteousness, He will use us as tombstones to warn others. 

    Be Blessed! 

    Rev. J. Loren Russell is the Clergy Officiant at the Evangelical Church of God and associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church, both in the Bronx. He is the President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096). He writes this column  and produces and host’s “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on The Matters of Faith YouTube channel. Be sure to Friend, Like, and Share the column and the channel.  Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.