Ronnie McBrayer

Bonus Music: "I Want To Be Ready."

September 24, 2020 13:23 - 4 minutes - 4.33 MB

This is an original song of mine that was recorded live recently. I can't take credit for all the lyrics, as they are based on a couple of old spirituals. But, it's one of my faves, so I hope you enjoy it (and thanks to Bobby Rains for capturing it). - RM PS: That's Sarah Anne Davidson on acoustic guitar and background vocals and Nic Turner on lead guitar, with the rest of the Backsliders playing along.

DreamsThat You Dream, Part 7

September 24, 2020 13:18 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MB

"What's in a name?" Sometimes everything. In this seventh installment of "Dreams That You Dream," Ronnie shows how the naming of Joseph's sons reflect his ability to close the door on the past, and with courage walk into the future.

DreamsThat You Dream, Part t

September 24, 2020 13:18 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MB

"What's in a name?" Sometimes everything. In this seventh installment of "Dreams That You Dream," Ronnie shows how the naming of Joseph's sons reflect his ability to close the door on the past, and with courage walk into the future.

Dreams That You Dream, Part 6

September 24, 2020 13:14 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MB

In his continued exploration of the life of Joseph, Ronnie McBrayer explores the tension of these two statements, both of them true: 1) You have almost no control over what happens to you; and 2) You are the only one who can take responsibility for your own life. NOTE: Apologies for a rough spot in the audio about half-way through (technical gremlins).

Dreams That You Dream, Part 5

September 08, 2020 14:58 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MB

"Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away," wrote Sir Paul McCartney. Far away? Yes, but rarely is the past forgotten. In this fifth installment of "Dreams That You Dream," Ronnie shows how Joseph begins to integrate past with his present and future.

Dreams That You Dream, Part 4

September 01, 2020 13:38 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MB

In Part 4 of Ronnie's series "Dreams That You Dream" on the life of Joseph, he takes on the "Best Worst Things" that can happen to us. Trouble has a way of creating new pathways, redirecting our lives in ways we could not have imagined.

Dreams That You Dream, Part 3

August 27, 2020 13:49 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MB

In Part 3 of Ronnie's series on the life of Joseph, it is "Life in the Pits." Ronnie makes the point that “Life and God aren’t the same things, and should not be confused with each other." While God is good, just, and loving, there is no guarantee that life will be the same.

Dreams That You Dream - Part 2

August 19, 2020 13:22 - 26 minutes - 24 MB

So, you think your family is dysfunctional? Wait until you meet Joseph's! In this second part of "Dreams That You Dream," Ronnie takes on the "Biblical Family," revealing that it's a model not always worth imitating.

Dreams That You Dream - Part 1

August 18, 2020 11:53 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MB

This is the Introduction to a series of talks on the life of Joseph. "Dreams That You Dream" is an exploration of faith, resilience, and writing the long story that is your life.

The Magnificent Defeat

August 10, 2020 13:12 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MB

Borrowing the title from Frederick Buechner's book, The Magnificent Defeat is the an examination of the wrestling match between God and the patriarch Jacob. It is an episode that shows the necessity of both struggle and surrender.

Behind Every Beautiful Thing

August 05, 2020 11:40 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB

On the anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's death, Ronnie profiles the painter by looking at his life, his early call to ministry, and how Vincent's suffering was the catalyst for the genius of his art.

Knocking on Heaven's Door

August 04, 2020 11:38 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MB

A look at Jacob's encounter with God at Bethel - and how God is everywhere - though we are usually unaware. Ronnie invite listeners to open their eyes, ears, and hearts to the Wondrous More.

Building Better Bridges

July 20, 2020 19:20 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB

In this talk Ronnie takes on the seeming collapse of today's society, and challenges listeners to see the collapse as an opportunity to build something better in its place.

A Garden in the Wilderness

July 12, 2020 11:40 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MB

In this Independence Day talk, Ronnie tells the story of Roger Williams: Anglican, Puritan, Heretic, Founder of Rhode Island, Baptist, Seeker, and defender of religious liberty. Williams' life and work remind us that the Kingdom of God is "a garden in the wilderness" of the current empires.

The Twelve

June 25, 2020 15:04 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MB

Using the Twelve Disciples as a guide, in the talk Ronnie shows how unity is possible - not because everyone simply decides to get along - but because of how the way of Jesus becomes the primary identifier for those who follow him.

Guidance As You Go

June 21, 2020 00:48 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MB

Start at home. Practice Healing. Travel Light. Don't waste time where you are not welcome. These were the words of instruction Jesus gave his first disciples centuries ago. In Ronnie's latest talk, discover that they hold up just as well today.

Is Love the Answer?

June 11, 2020 12:24 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MB

In this talk Ronnie agrees with the calls from all quarters that, "Love is all we need" to solve the most pressing issues of our day - so long as we know what love is. Using 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide, Ronnie talks about actual, factual, tactical, and practical love for this summer of 2020.

Welcoming Weakness, Part 2

June 06, 2020 17:49 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MB

In this talk Ronnie wraps up his thoughts on Paul's thorn in the flesh, sharing a deeply personal story. In the conclusion, especially the last several minutes, he speaks directly to the unrest in the US today, and the opportunity we all have to learn from it.

Welcoming Weakness, Part 1

May 30, 2020 17:24 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MB

The "Achilles heel" has always been the place of weakness that people protect, hide, or fear will be their undoing. For the Apostle Paul, this was a "thorn in the flesh," but rather than something to worry over, he saw weakness as the pathway to grace and strength. Part 1 of 2.

The Way Out

May 14, 2020 21:47 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MB

In this timely talk, Ronnie takes a realistic, practical view of hardships, saying, "The only way out is through - the only chance we have is to press on - the only path is day by day - and sometimes the most defiant, faith-filled thing we can do is get up in the morning and put on our shoes. Sometimes life boils down to survival, and then survival is enough."

The Time of the Preacher

May 05, 2020 16:34 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MB

Using the Preacher of Ecclesiastes - and the Preacher of Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" - Ronnie creatively talks about the "meaninglessness" of life. He plots a course for finding purpose and fulfillment in chaotic times.

A History of Hope

April 28, 2020 16:16 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MB

In this timely talk, Ronnie talks about the different understandings of hope, from Pandora to the Apostle Paul. He equates hope with "meaning" - finding necessary purpose and significance for living.

The Great Unmasking

April 25, 2020 13:30 - 24 minutes - 22 MB

The word "apocalypse" gets thrown around a lot these days. It's appropriate, as the word doesn't mean, "the end of the world." It means, "to reveal...to unveil...to unmask." Listen to Ronnie's talk about how the current crisis reveals our true character.

Easter Laughs

April 15, 2020 00:55 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MB

Turning to the Psalms for this year's Easter talk, Ronnie picks up a tradition from the Eastern Orthodox Church: One of telling jokes in the aftermath of the resurrection, as Easter will always get the last laugh.

Dominus Flevit

April 07, 2020 17:43 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MB

Jesus wept twice in the New Testament: 1) At the grave of his friend, Lazarus; 2) And on Palm Sunday as he approached the city of Jerusalem. Ronnie challenges the listener to embrace this gift of grief for Palm Sunday, 2020. This year, while the celebration of Holy Week continues, it is also a time to take inventory of our world and our own hearts.

Wounded Healers

March 30, 2020 00:45 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MB

"Broadcasting" from the Upper Room (aka Ronnie' office turned studio during these days of quarantine), Ronnie speaks on Jesus' willingness to take on the wounds and sufferings of others. He challenges listeners to take up the wounds of the healers and helpers who are working so hard in the face of the Coronavirus outbreak. The text from Matthew 8 is read by Anna Balfour.

Simply Strong

March 24, 2020 16:06 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MB

Taking words spoken to Joshua in Joshua 1, Ronnie McBrayer delivers honest, heart-felt encouragement for these unprecedented days.

Love in the Time of Covid-19

March 17, 2020 09:10 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MB

Adapting the title of Gabito Marquez's masterful novel, Ronnie speaks directly to the fears, concerns, and opportunities to serve and love others during these days of unprecedented disruption. Quoting Gabito: "Think of love as a state of grace - not the means to anything - but the end unto itself. For it is love and life - not death - that has no limits.”

The Parables of Jesus: Session 8 of 8

March 09, 2020 14:21 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MB

Session 8: Ronnie McBrayer’s 2020 Winter Bible study explores Jesus’ major parables, parables that seem like harmless stories at first. But if we pay close attention to these stories, we see that Jesus subversively but radically shatters our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality and faith. Jesus’ parables are status quo-breaking tales that invite us to participate in his Kingdom come to earth.

The Lost Highway, Part 2

March 05, 2020 14:51 - 20 minutes - 19 MB

In this second part of Ronnie's telling of the Prodigal Son, he focuses on the "older brother" in Jesus' story. He too was lost, though he never left home.

The Parables of Jesus: Session 7 of 8

February 25, 2020 12:06 - 57 minutes - 53 MB

Session 7: Ronnie McBrayer’s 2020 Winter Bible study explores Jesus’ major parables, parables that seem like harmless stories at first. But if we pay close attention to these stories, we see that Jesus subversively but radically shatters our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality and faith. Jesus’ parables are status quo-breaking tales that invite us to participate in his Kingdom come to earth.

The Lost Highway, Part 1

February 24, 2020 19:52 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MB

In this telling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Ronnie takes an emotional dive into the steady, unyielding grace of God that will always welcome us home.

As You Go

February 18, 2020 14:49

A follow-up to an episode entitled, "Go to Jesus," Ronnie returns to Jesus' Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, focusing on how love is a practical expression of who we can be, not something we do.

The Parables of Jesus: Session 6 of 8

February 18, 2020 11:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MB

Session 6: Ronnie McBrayer’s 2020 Winter Bible study explores Jesus’ major parables, parables that seem like harmless stories at first. But if we pay close attention to these stories, we see that Jesus subversively but radically shatters our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality and faith. Jesus’ parables are status quo-breaking tales that invite us to participate in his Kingdom come to earth.

Go to Jesus

February 13, 2020 14:28 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MB

In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus makes clear that he comes to the world in the "least of these" - the weak, poor, downcast, and marginalized. Thus, we meet Jesus "out there" not within a church or even "in our hearts," not taking him to the world, but meeting him along the way.

The Parables of Jesus: Session 5 of 8

February 12, 2020 21:56 - 58 minutes - 53.2 MB

Session 5: Ronnie McBrayer’s 2020 Winter Bible study explores Jesus’ major parables, parables that seem like harmless stories at first. But if we pay close attention to these stories, we see that Jesus subversively but radically shatters our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality and faith. Jesus’ parables are status quo-breaking tales that invite us to participate in his Kingdom come to earth.

The Parables of Jesus: Session 4 of 8

February 05, 2020 22:51 - 58 minutes - 54 MB

Session 4: Ronnie McBrayer’s 2020 Winter Bible study explores Jesus’ major parables, parables that seem like harmless stories at first. But if we pay close attention to these stories, we see that Jesus subversively but radically shatters our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality and faith. Jesus’ parables are status quo-breaking tales that invite us to participate in his Kingdom come to earth.

Ready and Waiting

February 05, 2020 22:47 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MB

In this talk, Ronnie turns much of today's obsession with prophecy and the imminent return of Christ on its head, inviting us to consider faith for the long haul, rather than seeing it as an any-second-now escape pod.

The Parables of Jesus: Session 3 of 8

January 29, 2020 17:14 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MB

Session 3: Ronnie McBrayer’s 2020 Winter Bible study explores Jesus’ major parables, parables that seem like harmless stories at first. But if we pay close attention to these stories, we see that Jesus subversively but radically shatters our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality and faith. Jesus’ parables are status quo-breaking tales that invite us to participate in his Kingdom come to earth.

A Moveable Feast

January 28, 2020 20:57 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MB

Borrowing a legendary title from a legendary author, Ronnie explores Jesus' Parable of the Banquet Feast and how it defies the setting of all boundaries.

Kingdom Come

January 24, 2020 12:00 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MB

In this exploration of what Jesus called "The Kingdom of God," Ronnie talks about how the love of Christ can indeed change the world.

The Parables of Jesus: Session 2 of 8

January 22, 2020 19:21 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MB

Session 2: Ronnie McBrayer’s 2020 Winter Bible study explores Jesus’ major parables, parables that seem like harmless stories at first. But if we pay close attention to these stories, we see that Jesus subversively but radically shatters our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality and faith. Jesus’ parables are status quo-breaking tales that invite us to participate in his Kingdom come to earth.

The Parables of Jesus: Session 1 of 8

January 15, 2020 20:36 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MB

Session 1: Ronnie McBrayer’s 2020 Winter Bible study explores Jesus’ major parables, parables that seem like harmless stories at first. But if we pay close attention to these stories, we see that Jesus subversively but radically shatters our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality and faith. Jesus’ parables are status quo-breaking tales that invite us to participate in his Kingdom come to earth.

In the Light

January 07, 2020 19:14 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MB

Ronnie disassembles the traditional story of the "Three Wise Men," and puts it back together in his talk from Epiphany.

Unopened Gifts

December 31, 2019 19:37 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MB

In this post-Christmas edition, Ronnie talks about exchanging - and rejecting - certain gifts that are offered. Particularly, the gifts of anger, troubling-making, and toxicity: These must be left unopened, as setting boundaries with poisonous people is an act of well-being and spiritual health.

Living at Peace

December 27, 2019 16:11 - 22 minutes - 21 MB

In this timely talk, Ronnie talks about the lack of peace in our current society, and its source as the lack of peace within each individual. There is so little peace in the world, because we have so little peace within us.

Forever Is A Mighty Long Time

December 11, 2019 02:27 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MB

In the Advent talk that focuses on John the Baptist, Ronnie address how we must wait - sometimes a long, long time - for God's purposes to be fulfilled. While we wait, we work, doing all we can until the Kingdom of God arrives. (Sorry this took Ronnie "forever," but technical difficulties and travel prevented him from posting new material.)

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