Ronnie McBrayer

Part 1: Meeting Saul of Tarsus

No single individual outside of Jesus of Nazareth has been more influential within Christianity than Paul the Apostle. After his radical conversion he became the church’s most zealous missionary. Without his travels and letters, Christianity would be much different than the version we have inherited today. Join Ronnie as he leads this eight-part study on “The Life and Writings of Paul the Apostle.” 

Using Matthew 3, the baptism of Jesus, and a wonderful tale from Frederick Buechner, Ronnie takes on the subject of Christian baptism - as sacrament, symbol - and most importantly a sign of things to come.

Ronnie begins this Advent/New Year talk with a personal story and ends with the universal one; about kissing, kindness, and the love of God.

For the Advent Season: Some thoughts on parenthood...angelic messages...unanswered questions...deconstruction...and being quiet.

A timely message from Ronnie: "Most of the control you think you have is an illusion...Most of what you think will strengthen that control is an empty scarecrow...Most of what is left to do, is the best you can...and leave the rest in the hands of God."

"Faith is not having all the answers. Faith is not being protected from trouble or suffering or cancer or poverty or loss. It’s not this gullible “smile though your heart is breaking” sentimental rubbish that is nothing more than wishful thinking. And faith is certainly not a big payoff - where 'If I just believe then all my wishes will come true.' Rather, faith sees the world for what it is; knowing there are no shortcuts, no easy fixes, no silver bullets, and sometimes no sight of or sound from God. But in faith there is tenacity. There is going on, there is moving on, and keeping on. There is putting one sluggish step in front of the other."

A continuation of his talk from Genesis 32, "Boxing God," Ronnie uses the example of Jacob to plot a path of personal transformation. Ronnie says, "Surrender means accepting things as they are: Yourself - others - the world - realty; and admitting your limitations in how you can change any of those things. Surrender meaning taking the days as they come, rather than imposing your predesigned, prefabricated template onto them.  Surrender is letting go of the past - all those regrets and mistakes - and taking hold of the future, even when reaching for that future comes out of the mud and pain of defeat." 

From Genesis 32:22 and following, Ronnie speaks about his self-admitted favorite story from the Old Testament: Jacob's Wrestling Match with God. Ronnie says, "Jacob ended up crawling in the mud begging for mercy - but it was not for the purpose of humiliating or harming him. It was for the purpose of remaking him - and setting his life in an entirely new direction...As Dr. James Finley rightly says, 'Transformation is the result of our willingness to open our hearts to the aching...'"

"There are seasons in life when you are exactly where you feel you need to be. The stars are aligned. It’s a groove. Then there are times when all is wrong. In such times you can make changes - if you have a little courage. But  sometimes changes can’t be made - not in relation to where you are or what you are doing. You can’t jettison the relationships you have...can’t escape your work...can’t run away to some broader horizon. What then? 

At such times, "build your home; plant your garden. Settle in, not to sour, but to live - and flourish.

Bobby Rains captured another fun recording from those old boys Ronnie plays music with: The Backsliders. This is a great blues tune - "Don't Worry About Tomorrow."