Faith Meets Academia
Welcome to Faith Meets Academia!
Struggling to connect your faith with everyday life, career ambitions, or academic pursuits? Hosted by a university professor and ordained minister, Dr. Adrian Reynolds, this podcast will help you translate your faith-based values into personal growth, professional development, and academic success. Faith Meets Academia emphasizes that faith and work can forge a mutually sustaining partnership.
Each episode breaks down complex academic concepts into everyday language and connects them with timeless spiritual principles for transformational learning and development. By the end of each episode, you will be equipped with practical tools to set the tone for a purposeful, productive week.
Join the journey today!
Your host, Adrian Reynolds (Ph.D.), is an ordained minister, learning coach, and assistant professor of medical education at an R1 university. He is on a mission to merge educational innovation with biblical wisdom. Dr. Reynolds brings over two decades of teaching experience across the educational continuum: from working with underserved, high school students as a state-certified instructor of Spanish to coaching students in graduate and professional degree programs in evidence-based teaching skills and the science of learning.
Dr. Reynolds’ work is located within the rapidly growing field of applied learning sciences and is driven by both socio-cognitive and sociocultural approaches to learning and teaching. His preventive model of academic coaching has been published in journals such as Medical Teacher and Clinical Teacher. He has held over 1,000 (one-on-one) academic coaching sessions with medical students, residents, fellows, and pre-med students. Dr. Reynolds has developed numerous peer-teaching programs for medical students in addition to courses in the science of learning for residents, pre-med and high school students.
Dr. Reynolds has been preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ for over 10 years both nationally and internationally. He has long been recognized to seamlessly intertwine academic concepts with biblical principles: His approach to preaching and teaching the word of God is centered around growth mindset (Philippians 4:13), transformational learning (Romans 12:2), and reflective, mindful practice (Philippians 4:8, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:97).
As a missionary ambassador, Dr. Reynolds has embarked on transformative journeys that bridge cultures and continents, bringing tangible support and hope to those in need. Most recently, in the fall of 2023, his dedication to humanitarian causes led him to Mozambique: From the bustling streets of Maputo to the serene countryside of Inharrime, through the unwavering support and sponsorship from faith-based leaders and communities, Dr. Reynolds has played a pivotal role in the allocation of humanitarian aid and educational resources, providing essential support to elevate community wellbeing.
Earlier that year, he engaged in a mission focused on cultural exchange and relationship-building in the Maputo province to better understand and address local challenges. Through these missions, Dr. Reynolds exemplifies the true essence of a missionary ambassador, integrating service, education, and faith into impactful action.
Faith Meets Academia
Episode 33: A Special Prayer for Peace
Ever felt overwhelmed during election season, desperately seeking peace amidst the chaos? Imagine turning off the constant news updates even for a few hours, and choosing prayer as your guide instead. This episode invites you on a heartfelt journey of reflection and hope, inspired by timeless scriptures like Matthew 5:14-16 and Philippians 4:6-7. We explore what it means to be light bearers in today's world, especially as we advocate for peace during tumultuous times. Stepping away from the noise can lead us to seek divine guidance, nurturing a calm and steady spirit. Dr. A. offers a special prayer for peace, reminding us that true peace isn't the absence of troubles, but the assurance of God's presence in the midst of the storm.
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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely my own and do not reflect or represent the positions, policies, or opinions of my employer, any organization or academic institution with which I am affiliated. This podcast is a personal initiative, and is not connected to my official/ formal duties and responsibilities as a university professor.
Hey, family, welcome back. Welcome to this week's episode. This is, let's see, we are on episode 33 of Faith Meets Academia, and it's such a joy, it's such a pleasure to share these priceless moments with you, to rejoice in the word with you, to bring you a word of hope, a word of encouragement, inspiration that can take you through your week and hopefully through the rest of the year. All the podcast episodes can be accessed through any of the major podcast platforms, whether it's Amazon, music, spotify, apple Podcasts you name it or you can also go to the podcast website. You'll see the link in the episode description slash, show notes. You can access the website directly and the episodes they live there forever. They don't go anywhere. So you can access the most recent episode, you can access older episodes and the way the episodes are structured. They never get still, so to speak. The topics that I discuss in these episodes are always applicable, right and will always be applicable, whether it's five, six, 10, 20 years from now. They will always be relevant because they are connected to the Word of God and that never gets old. I know there are so many other things you could be spending your time on, but you have made the conscious decision to spend this time with me today, and I pray sincerely that your week will be blessed and that it will be productive, and that the Lord will shine forth in your heart and in your life in a powerful way so that, as the scripture says, those who sit in darkness can see that great light. Remember the words of our Lord and Savior in St Matthew 5: 14 through 16, where Jesus says you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. So we have a responsibility to be light bearers to the world and along those lines today I want to focus this episode on a special prayer for peace, prayer for peace right, a special prayer for peace as children of God. One key aspect of shining our light is to be advocates for truth and advocates for peace.
Dr. A:One morning I remember driving to work and I was listening to the news. And, as you know, you know this is election season, presidential election season and we're coming to the close of that Tuesday and November 5th is voting day. Early voting has closed, so if you haven't voted yet, you have to wait until tomorrow. So I was driving along and listening to the news and they were talking about the polls and you know how the pundits do it. You're making predictions as to you know the outcome, the potential outcome of the election, and where things stand in terms of the respective candidates, who's ahead, who's behind, who's in the margin of error, so on and so forth.
Dr. A:And I just turned off the news. I just turned it off. I turned it off and I thought to myself you know what? I just need to pray, right, and I'm not saying don't listen to the news, right? I mean, it's important to be informed, it's important to be an informed citizen so that you can make sound decisions. I don't think is the way to go, but in that moment I just felt like I needed to hit the pause button. So I just cut the news off and I just started praying. I started praying for peace and I want to share that prayer with you. I want you to join me in this prayer for peace.
Dr. A:Dear Lord, we come before you today with humble hearts, asking for your divine peace to prevail in our nation, in our world and in our hearts. If we are your children, your people, then your peace should live and dwell within us. Help us, lord, to hold fast to your truth and act in a way that projects who you are. Give ear, oh shepherd of israel. We say this morning in the words of david and psalm 80, verse 1 give ear, oh shepherd of israel, you who lead joseph like a flock, you who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth, lord. We ask that you shine the light of your countenance upon us and give us of your everlasting divine peace. Guide our leaders, strengthen our communities and keep us safe. Keep us protected and keep us safe. Keep us protected. Keep our minds centered on you.
Dr. A:Philippians 4: 6, and 7. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything. By prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God. It's only the peace of God that's everlasting peace. It's only the peace of God that never runs out. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. God is inviting us to bring all our cares, our distress, our worries to him in prayer, replacing our fears or anxieties with his peace.
Dr. A:So we're shifting the focus to peace right now. Yeah, you should listen to episode 31 about shifting our focus and reframing the story. You see, peace is in the absence of troubles, but it's the presence of god's calm, his steady, loving hand, even in the midst of the storms of life, even in the midst of war. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5: 9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children. So, as children of God, we have no choice but to advocate for peace. We are peacemakers, those who seek peace, not just experience it, but those who seek it, the children of God. And so being a peacemaker reflects the nature or the character of God. Lord, whatever the outcome of this presidential election is, we pray that your peace and your truth will prevail.
Dr. A:Paul reminds us in Romans 12: 18. If it is possible, as much as depends on you. Live peaceably with all men. This is the pure word of God. We have a responsibility to live peacefully with each other, and it can start out in very small ways, by making a commitment to releasing or letting go of past hurt, past grudges. And you know what? I've realized? That in order to live peacefully with others, you first need to be at peace with yourself, and you also need to practice self-forgiveness. Sometimes, even when others have forgiven us for the wrongs that we have done, we are still beating ourselves up for something that we did 5, 10, 15 years ago.
Dr. A:Jesus comforts us with these words in John 14: 27. He says peace I leave with you. Oh, I'm so glad, aren't you glad, that he's left us with peace. So if he's left us with this peace, what are we doing with it? Don't let it go to waste. He says peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives. Do I give to you? Because the world can give peace today and then it's war tomorrow. But we're talking about a divine, everlasting peace, a peace that's consistent, that's unchangeable. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. So I'm not going to be anxious about the outcome of this election this week or whenever. We'll know the final outcome. I'm placing everything in the hands of a true and living God, and I know that he never fails. He's never lost a battle.
Dr. A:The peace of God is independent of all external circumstances. It's made by him, it's created by him. He makes it available to us and we've got to seek it and grab hold of it. The prophet Isaiah, in the 26th chapter of his book, the verse three, declares that you, the Lord, will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. So, with our trust and our confidence in God, we have no other choice but to rely on and seek his peace. Peace is connected to trust in the Lord. The more we fix our minds on God is, the more peace we can experience, and that's why I love quoting this scripture so much. I almost never end a sermon without this scripture, and if you know me well enough, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Dr. A:It's Philippians 4:8. It says Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. So, lord, we meditate on and seek your perfect peace. Only the peace of god is perfect, only his strength is perfect, and that's why the weak can say with confidence, with certainty I am strong. Why? Because we speak those things that be not just as though they were.
Dr. A:James 3:18 declares reflection of the fruit of righteousness. This act of creating peace, this state of peacemaking, brings a rich harvest of blessings upon blessings. Yes, god, we know that you will reward us for acting according to your command. Hebrews 11:6. Paul says but without faith, it is impossible to please command. Hebrews 11:6,. Paul says but without faith it is impossible to please him. For he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
Dr. A:Lord, we pray earnestly that your peace will rule, will reign in each of our hearts, as you say in your word, in Colossians 3:15,. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. So, lord, we're already thanking you for your peace. I can see your peace prevailing this week, this month, this year and for eternity, because you are God. You will not lie, you will not change, you will not fail. You are not change, you will not fail. You are the beginning, you are the end, you are the first, you are the last and everything in between. This verse in Colossians 3.15 lets us know that peace is both personal and communal. As we live peacefully with each other together, we're building a stronger body of Christ, stronger communities, stronger cities, stronger states, a stronger nation.
Dr. A:David reminds us in Psalm 34: 14, depart from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. It's not just going to come out of heaven and fall into your heart. This is something that we have to seek. It doesn't just happen out of thin air. We pursue it by loving our neighbors as ourselves. We pursue it by being kind. We pursue it by being kind. We pursue it by being humble. We pursue it by being understanding. We pursue it by assuming the best about each other.
Dr. A:We pursue peace through words of empathy or empathetic communication. I won't get deep into that, but you can listen to episode 30, where we talk about empathy in action, the do's and don'ts of compassionate communication. We know what's right, we know what to do. God has given us the formula. Let us use it. But you see, in order to use it, it has to be in the forefront of our minds, and so that's why I'm doing this special prayer, so that we can all be reminded. Hey, even after this election is over, you can go back and you listen to this. If your spirit is troubled, if you feel like you really need to be reminded of scriptures that could motivate and inspire your peace, you can come back and listen to this. That's how we encourage each other.
Dr. A:David declares in Psalm 34: 14, depart from evil. As children of God, we don't make plans to disrupt. We don't make plans to demean. We don't make plans to undermine. We don't make plans to destroy, but we make plans to build bridges. Proverbs 12: 20 tells us that deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy. Oh, there is joy in choosing peace. Yes, lord, today we are making a commitment to you that we, as children of God, will choose peace and that we will use peace, the benefits that you have blessed us with, to help us choose peace. And one of the ways in which we can advocate for peace is to exercise our civil right to vote. But let us not forget that thousands of people sacrificed their own lives so that we could have this right today To be advocates for truth and justice and peace is not separate from our spiritual calling as believers. Yes, you can be an influencer for peace by using the rod that's in your hand, and one form of that rod is your vote.
Dr. A:Proverbs 29:2 reminds us that when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Lord, we stand on your word, we stand on your promise, as recorded in 2 Thessalonians 3:16. Now, may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always, in every way. Did you hear that? In every way. That leaves nothing out, whether in your homes, whether it's in school, on the job, in the voting booth, in your houses of worship, in your finances, in your relationships. May the lord of peace himself he's not assigning this job to anybody else, but may the lord of peace himself give you peace always, in every way. The Lord be with you all. Hallelujah, hallelujah, Amen.
Dr. A:Yeah, for some reason, that just felt really good. I'm praying for us all, me included. Yeah, yeah, all right, we're going to close this episode with the words of a prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray, and that's why it's called the Disciples Prayer. It's found in St Matthew 6: 9 to 14. And I'll repeat this prayer in the King James Version Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Dr. A:Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen, and I might as well just add jude 24 and 25. King james version. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy. To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Family, brothers and sisters, friends and sisters, friends, don't forget to vote and stay safe Until next week. Peace be unto you.