Posted on June 30, 2007 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
This clip is an awesome example of simply using who you are - to love, encourage, and serve others.
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(Be patient while it loads - it may take a few minutes.)
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Posted on June 19, 2007 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
It is not Luck...
Some people believe that success is a matter of luck – that the root cause of success is something outside of themselves – thus they spend their time looking for that one thing which will bring them riches, happiness, and success. The superstitious carry a rabbit’s foot or an amulet, believing it will bring them luck. The “
religious” carry medals or images or the relic of some saint.
What does not occur to them is that they can go directly the ultimate Creator of success and happiness. But to them, “
God” seems too impalpable, too shadowy and far away. His apparent isolation, His seeming detachment from their work-a-day world, makes God appear too unsubstantial to depend upon for their real needs. Instead, they want something they can see, feel and possess. Something with a substance like their own. Hence their demand for statues, pictures, shrines and relics. Hence, too, the need for Saints and Priests – intercessors nearer to God than they believe ordinary mortals can ever hope to reach.
But direct contact is always better than even the most potent intermediary.
So, instead of depending upon the stars, or a rabbit’s foot, or even the Saints, put your faith in God. You do have direct contact, anytime you choose to use it.
No matter what your circumstances may be, no matter what obstacles may conspire to hold you down, look NOT merely to the means at hand, NOT to circumstances or conditions, but look to God – through whom all things are possible.
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Posted on March 23, 2007 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
I have recently been pondering the concept of faith.
For the past few months, I have kept a list in my journal of various truths I am learning regarding the rewards and difficulties of living a life of faith. (Below is a partial list. These are in no order, but listed as I happened to write them down…)
- Faith is a choice. A daily choice. A moment by moment choice.
- Faith embraces and then obeys promptings.
- Faith necessitates that we first make a choice to believe.
- Faith is often times very hard work. It is not natural. Does not come naturally.
- A life of faith can be scary and fears will need to be stepped through.
- Faith takes time to listen for God and then listen to God. It also chooses to believe what God has told you – and that God has told you.
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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
Another video clip with thoughts on Leadership...
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Are you a better leader than you were last year?
What are you doing to be a better leader tomorrow?
What would others say are the next steps you need to take to be a “rock solid” leader for them?
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Posted on February 08, 2007 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
The oarsman, who desires to trust in God, does not just lean on his oars and drift with the tide, deferring to the current. A fisherman, trusting in the Lord, does not find the fish ready on the shore to jump into his net… When a leader seeks to follow God’s call regarding a specific venture, God takes and then blesses that leader’s personal initiative. We seek God’s blessing and God requests our faithfulness.
This is the divine partnership that brings success in leadership, and victory in life.
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Posted on February 03, 2007 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
“And it shall come to pass, when I bring clouds over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the clouds…” (Genesis 9:14)
We know the background of this Biblical test – the catastrophe of the flood had overwhelmed the world. Only the feeble Ark, and those inside it, had escaped. After being shut in the Ark for about a year, the few survivors walked out and entered the vast and silent world which was slowly re-emerging from the fatal deluge.
How lonely they must have felt. The events that surround the flood remind me that, in spite of appearances to the contrary, God still has a plan for this bankrupt world. To be sure, there will be times of thunder and lightening. We have no promise the earth will be a paradise just yet – but what we can know is that whatever happens, however dreadful, the blessings of God remain. His gracious, yet many times hidden, hand will continue to rest upon us.
When I look at the evil mounting in this world, I sometimes wonder whether the hand of God is really stronger than the fist of evil. I think of Believers being persecuted and martyred for their faith, the death of so many innocent civilians in war torn countries, and the festering hate building in lands far off and near.
Indeed, there is a growing darkness that surrounds our world.
But the above text has something to say about all this. “
And it shall come to pass...” The suggestion of this verse is that something is coming. And the Bible says the “
it” will be “
clouds.” Scripture does not tell us what the clouds will be, or where the lightening will strike. It just says something will come. Perhaps what we have spent years building will be swept away tomorrow, or perhaps “it” will be the loss of our health, or something very different. But the clouds will come.
Yet the text also provides encouragement – for God says, “
I am the one who causes (or allows) clouds to pass over the earth.” What happens is not a blind “
it”, or fate of chance. Though our understanding may be hindered by the clouds and lightning – in spite of every appearance to the contrary, our way will always lead to God’s gracious rainbow.
It is precisely in the “clouds”, in the depths of the storm, that we will see that God’s promises remain true. That the rainbow always shines, if we will just look up.
We are those who live by the surprises and miracles of God. The rainbow is a sign of God’s promises. May we have eyes which look past the clouds God sends our way, to fix on the promise of the rainbow.
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Posted on December 28, 2006 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
The dialogs under the post “
Leaders who trust to the very end” has caused me to think deeper about the difference (if any) between the concepts of Courage and Faith. Surely they are related, but do they also stand alone?
I would like to continue this dialog.
My last post under “
Leaders who trust to the very end” stated:
“I tend to believe faith and courage are related, but not the same. The two definitions given by Michael Chitwood at the end of his post reflect the difference."
Remember that God commanded Joshua over and over again to be “strong and courageous”. I am sure Joshua had “faith” in God - for he had seen the hand of God many times. Yet God challenges Joshua not to have more faith, but to have courage. Did Joshua struggle at times with courage? Maybe, for God exhorts him over and over in this way. Joshua is a great example of a person of faith - who then chose to move out courageously, despite risk and fear.
“I still personally believe many believers today have faith, yet lack courage - possibly for the reasons Kent mentions. I can relate to those.” I would like to add here – James writes “faith without works” is dead, seeming to imply that an individual can have faith, yet not produce any useful “works.” And Hebrews 11 champions individuals who added to their faith specific acts of courage.
I have met many Christians who have sincere faith in God – but I also see many of these same people living in such a state of fear that they remain forever stuck in a rut – living their life safely tucked away in their comfort zone. A life where they remain virtually the same for years and years… living a life where they do not realize their potential, but instead bury their “talents” out of fear. I struggle with these same temptations myself.
The key difference between living a fulfilled life and a life nestled in one’s “comfort zone” is courage. It takes courage to acknowledge truth, to acknowledge your calling, and even greater courage to then follow that calling. While many people have faith in what God can do, only a few courageously act out on that faith – in my opinion.
I do believe our courage should be rooted in faith. But faith without works (or courage?) is dead.
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