Ronnie McBrayer

The Path Is Made By Walking, Part 2

In Part 2 of Ronnie's exploration of the Emmaus Road text from Luke 24, he takes a deep dive into the background of the story - a background that is more than 400 years old - but one Luke and his listeners would have known all too easily. From there, Ronnie gives a challenge to readers of the Bible to "dig deep," discovering the multiple worlds that are beneath our shallower readings of the text.
Note: For Dum's meme "Persistence," referred to in the talk, visit: http://dumilustrador.blogspot.com/2011/04/ha-momentos-que-devemos-persistir-em.html 

The Path Is Made By Walking, Part 1

With this introduction to the Emmaus Road experience of Luke 24, Ronnie begins an ambitious series of talks entitled, "The Path is Made By Walking" (taken from a poem by Spanish poet, Antonio Machado - text below). Ronnie says, "This story has been given for every true believer, for every spiritual seeker; for every honest doubter, and every troubled questioner; it’s for every wanderer and wonderer; for every curious soul, every longing heart, every disillusioned cause-keeper, and every disappointed lover. It is a tale told for the freshie just beginning her walk of faith; for the cynic who has lost his faith; for the agnostic who interrogates faith; for the atheist who has no faith; and for the old hand, the road-weary traveler who is just trying to keep the faith...I recognize that these seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus cover the distance of eternity. I recognize that these few verses might be the most creative use of narrative anywhere in the Christian lexicon - as Luke, the writer, brings together Jewish wisdom, emerging Christian reflection, metaphor, parable, and borrows from both Plato and Socrates. I recognize that this gold mine has gone largely un-mined; and I recognize that I am not up to the task of trying to communicate all that is here."
 
“Traveler, there is no path. The path is made by walking. By walking the path is made. Beat by beat and verse by verse...When the goldfinch cannot sing; when the poet is a pilgrim; when prayer will do us no good: Traveler, there is no path. The path is made by walking.” - Antonio Machado

Dr. Johnny Savage

On his 90th birthday,  legendary local dentist Dr. Johnny Savage shares words with the congregation at A Simple Faith Church.
See the Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzqFXaIIbAU
Johnny's biography, written by Kathryn Hardy is available at online bookstores.
 

An Easter Reflection: In The Garden

"A garden is where it all began - a garden is where it is all headed - and a garden makes it all possible. The resurrection is heaven come to earth; life and life-giving spirit confronting and overcoming death. Jesus  is the man working in the garden - restoring the garden of life - does all that is necessary and possible for life to flourish. In the words of Robert Frost: “He has kept the pathway open...our home is at the end.”
Based on John 19 and 20
Images referred to in this talk can be viewed at: https://artandtheology.org/2016/04/05/she-mistook-him-for-the-gardener/ 

Little Donkey

Power. Politics. Prophecy. Peace. And a little donkey carrying Jesus through the gates of Jerusalem. In this talk Ronnie focuses on the overlooked details and persisting challenge of the first Palm Sunday.

Music featuring the Backsliders

St. Patrick's Day fell on a Sunday this year, and I couldn't resist playing a few  Irish songs. This quintet collection of The Backsliders band features myself on guitar and vocals, Matt Miller on fiddle, Tim Ryals on percussion, Andy Stucky on bass, and Ricky Stanfield on mandolin. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

What's So Amazing About Grace?

What's So Amazing About Grace? That's a question Philip Yancey asked with the title of his book that has become a Christian classic more than 25 years ago. It's a question that remains worth asking and answering - as Ronnie attempts to do with his latest talk (Based on Ephesians 2).

Making Meaning: "Stick It To The Man," Part 6

This is Ronnie's final talk in a series on the book of Ecclesiastes, using commentary from Viktor Frankl.
"Today, I want you to be infused with holy, scrappy, heavenly resistance. I want you  spilling over with God-given chutzpah. Not arrogance; not violence; not ego or attitude: But humble, hopeful, resilient, defiance: For 'what can be overcome, must be overcome…God grant me the courage to change the things I can.' There is a time for sacred defiance. Stick it to the man - and in that resistance - there is meaning."

Making Meaning: "Let It Go," Part 5

This is Ronnie's fifth in a series of talks exploring the Book of Ecclesiastes alongside the work of Viktor Frankl.
“If possible, we change our fate. If necessary, we willingly accept it…what can be overcome, must be overcome. What cannot be overcome, must be accepted. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” That sounds very much like words written about the same time, not from a Jewish Holocaust survivor, but a Christian theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr. You’ve heard his words many times I suspect: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” 

Making Meaning: Through Love and In Love, Part 4

This is Ronnie's fourth in a series of talks exploring the Book of Ecclesiastes alongside the work of Viktor Frankl.
"Love is the means. Love is the end. Love is the power. Love is the motivation. Love is the inspiration and the aspiration. Love is the ultimate goal and the eventual outcome. Any religion - any spiritual practice - any way of living that does not lead us to love, that does not make us more loving people, that does not increase out capacity to give and receive love (as Thomas Merton said) - that religion, that spirituality, that way of living is as dead as a hammer and serves no purpose but to convince its practitioners that they are right and everyone else is wrong. 'The salvation of man is through love and in love,' as Frankl said.  That is the path. That is the narrow way. That is the only truth I know. And that is the full and abundant life."