Change Your Frame. Change Your Life. -- Part Three: What Is In A Name?

Monday, February 15, 2021 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



Change Your Frame. Change Your Life.
Part Three: What Is In A Name?


Romans 12:2, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God 

Genesis 17:5, No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

We are going to use the parable of a frame.

People whose name God changed, changed their frame, and changed their life. In our culture we use names as handles or identifiers. Call our name and we will look up. In the Bible, names have meaning and significance.

As new creations in Christ, God makes all things new. In the Bible, we often see that God changed someone's name in order to change their frame or purpose. Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter, and Saul became Paul. In the context of Black History Month, Isabella Baumfree became Sojourner Truth. In every case, changing one’s name changed one's frame and changed the course of one's life.

Your family name has significance. In Christ, God has elevated your name above the letters and words to represent your purpose, your character, and your hope in God. Your given name doesn't have to change, but your frame and name in light of God's purpose can and should change.

Reflection Questions Based on the Teaching:
1. What is your frame?
2. Why did God change the names of some of His leaders and key people in the Bible?
3. How did changing someone's name change their frame?
4. How can your frame and name change without actually changing your given name?

An Old, Sick, Self-Serving Game

Saturday, February 13, 2021 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



It was not unexpected that Republicans would acquit/excuse former president Donald J. Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection on our U.S. Capital.  We always knew they (except for the few) lacked the character and courage to hold him accountable. What was insulting and galling was to use Black Lives Matter as a false moral equivalence and argument to not hold DJT accountable. It has always been easy for these folks to disrespect and blame anything “Black.” 

As an educated rational Black man of 64 years, Christ Follower and community servant for 43 years, it is not lost on me what too many white folk have done, or will do, to cover up one another, while easily hanging blame/guilt on others. It is an old, sick, self-serving game. 

The only consolation from this ordeal is knowing who is who by words, deeds and silence. The whole world knows.

Matthew 7:16, You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Change Your Frame. Change Your Life. -- Part Two: Living by the Power of Another

Sunday, February 07, 2021 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


Change Your Frame. Change Your Life.
Part Two: Living by the Power of Another 


Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Not only have WE been crucified with Christ, OUR PROBLEMS have also been crucified with Him. We can live an empowered through Christ and re-frame problems as an opportunity. As part of being made in God's "Image and Likeness," humanity was designed be "fruitful and multiply," not only by having children, but being fruitful in every area of life. 

The gift of a problem is activating your ability to flourish and thrive. It is essential to have self-awareness of your potential as well as your problems. We don't need to practice denial because we have been empowered by Christ to face every challenge victoriously!

Reflection Questions:
1. How have you been tempted to change your frame and purpose? 
2. What do you need to stop denying so God can help you?
3. What do you look like when you are flourishing and thriving?
4. What does seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness look like?

"We Shall Overcome: A Jazz Tribute to Black History." (Music Video and Visual History)

Wednesday, February 03, 2021 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments




In honor of Black History Month and in tribute to the late Walter Smith, I am sharing the song produced by Walt and George Tyler, “We Shall Overcome: A Jazz Tribute to Black History” and the music video produced by Vision Communications.

Visit the webpage to view the history about events and persons shown in the video. Song available on Apple Music. Watch, enjoy, remember, and LEARN! https://www.biblicaljusticebook.com/walter-smith




Change Your Frame. Change Your Life. | Part One: What is a Frame?

Monday, February 01, 2021 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

 


Change Your Frame. Change Your Life. |  Part One: What is a Frame?




Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith

We have often taught on "renewing the mind" We are going to approach the topic from a different perspective. We are going to use the parable of a frame.

We're going to take a fresh look at this important mandate of renewing the mind. We know that the new birth experience or becoming a believer in Christ is the greatest miracle that happens in the heart. The challenge has always been to reflect in our daily life the same Christ that abides in our hearts.

When we speak of framing, we all have a point of view, which is our frame:
1. You might think about an actual picture frame.
2. If you're into photography you know the importance of the frame, which is what you want the viewers to focus on.
3. You might think of framing as positioning a point of view.
4. You might think of “frame of mind” which is someone's disposition.

These are all appropriate ways to think about that word frame. I would like to focus on how you frame yourself others to frame you.

Our understanding our perception of who we are and what we do comes from something we will call our “frame.”

We all have mindsets, habits, and patterns of thinking and living. Some of these are helpful and others need to be cast off.

This pandemic has forced change on a lot of us. We've had to examine and re-examine our frame. Things we thought we could not do, we've done. Anyone who thought that technology would not become a central part of getting work done, had to change that frame.

In the social sciences, framing is comprised of concepts and perspectives on how individuals, and groups organize, perceive, and communicate about reality.

Reflection Questions:

1. Your Frame: Who are you? (you are not your job)
2. False Frames: what lies do you reject?
3. The frame of your purpose: What do you do?
4. Frame builders: Who are the key influencers in your life?
5. Frame builders: Who do you influence?
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