Dr. Ramesh Richard shares his wisdom and insight on how to reflect and understand as well as react when high-profile leaders defect from the faith. God has patiently put up with a history of leaders who defect—of whom I am one. I defect often. Although I am more aware of my sins of commission than omission, my every sin denies and defies allegiance to the Lord I love. I must return to the One I belong by confession, quickly and regularly, about attitudes and actions not aligned to His standards. Short History Two higher-profile defections in 2019—a mega-church pastor and […]
Dr. Richard’s article on Christian leaders defection and our response reshared and cont’d from PART I. The clincher for me on the issue of eternal life is the very meaning of eternal in that life. If eternal life can be lost for any reason at all, it is not eternal by any definition. In addition is the question of proportionate contribution. To the extent to which one contributes to salvation, to that extent it can be undone. Contribute much to it, undo it easily. Contribute a little bit, undo it eventually, with one too many sins. Contribute nothing, and simply […]
Limits characterize life. Humans experience physical and psychological limitations, geographical and chronological parameters, cultural and intellectual boundaries. Call it finitude. We may try to maximize this existential reality, and we must. Some even break human limits in indirect ways. Remember when poets thanked God that “men cannot fly”? Now we fly, harnessing mind, metal and nature to transport us across the world and to the moon and back—most often with bags. Finitude is attended by frailty. All earthly life features a necessary beginning and an inevitable end. Once we cross peak age, which comes all too early (25, I am […]
All over the world, people are dealing with the effects of COVID-19. As trainers of pastors and pastoral leaders, you and your family are on the front lines of the spiritual response to this pandemic. We want you to know that at this most crucial time, the GProCommunity team is praying for you. We also want to serve and encourage you, your family, and your ministry by sharing a timely message from a different member of our team from their region of the world. For our first article, GProLearning.com content curator, Dr. Jason Richard Tan shares from the Philippines. We encourage you […]
Testing, Testing, Testing… Global PAN(DEM)IC and a Sound Faith Introduction Dr. Ramesh Richard Technical assistants attach a microphone to my face or jacket to ready me for another talk. “Say something. We need a sound check.” Earlier in my speaking career I used to count up or down for sound checks. On occasions I have quoted Scripture, mimicking my dad, who ascended Martin Luther’s pulpit in Wittenberg, recited aloud, “The just shall live by faith,” and quickly alighted. These days, I resort to a dry three-peat: “Testing, testing, testing.” A global contagion has unnerved the collective human psyche. […]
Testing, Testing, Testing … Global PAN(DEM)IC and a Sound Faith Part I of III Dr. Ramesh Richard Disruptions always test the quality of our self-identity. We form identities for other people’s benefit, and sometimes at another’s expense. Psychologists and sociologists point to multiple types of identities with many inputs and components. For instance, identity politics divides by race, color, caste, religion, gender and so on. Identity economics categorizes society by monetary markers, whether in a three-class or nine-class hierarchy. As with the American Great Depression, widespread crises serve to flatten the condescension of the rich and the posturing of the […]
Testing, Testing, Testing … Global PAN(DEM)IC and a Sound Faith Part II Dr. Ramesh Richard Pressing on to maturity is also a standard theme in the New Testament. The apostle Paul consistently wrote about pressing on, reaching forward and striving toward what is yet to be, based on what is already true (Phil. 3:12–14). Maturity can be cultivated and improved by a Trinitarian Christianity through all kinds of troublesome circumstances. A Trinity-based spirituality orients life to the Father, in the Son and by the Spirit. We mature to the glory of the Father as the reason and effect of our […]
Testing, Testing, Testing… Global PAN(DEM)IC and a Sound Faith Part III of III Dr. Ramesh Richard Security builds on survival—a basic human need—but takes a longer view. You and I have physically survived until now, or we wouldn’t be in dialogue. But physical survival does not guarantee security. The onslaught of a dangerous infectious agent threatens the physical health of tens of thousands, myself included. It also undermines economic and psychological safety. “Shelter-in-place” mandates restrict current movement and activity in our city. Economic upheaval eerily looms over any benefits formerly afforded by economic freedom. The international supply chain is […]
We hope you enjoy this timely article series from Dr. Ramesh Richard. “Testing, Testing, Testing” was originally shared in RR Crossing, a RREACH spiritual health resource. Below is an overview of the four-part series complete with the corresponding video message from Dr. Richard. “Testing, Testing, Testing… Global PAN(DEM)IC and a Sound Faith” Introduction “A global contagion has unnerved the collective human psyche. Panic is embedded in pandemic, not solely in letter, but in spirit. The scale and speed of this pathogen have united the world in fear. You, too, may have felt a bit anxious over these exceptional days of […]
Global ReGathering Dallas GProAcademy Global ReGathering June 29, 2020 Since 2005, God has brought about RREACH’s annual flagship event—the Global Proclamation Academy—each June in Dallas. Alas, the current environment did not permit RREACH to host a 2020 class. If the Lord wills, we look forward to June 2021. However, the God who is bigger than the global pandemic allowed RREACH to do something better. We invited all our graduates since 2005 to gather for a couple of memorable and strategic hours at a video meeting. Some of the most memorable moments occurred in the first minutes of the […]