Mike’s Rumblings – 11-25-22

Faith Conversations

This is an audio version of Mike Murphy‘s Friday rumblings. This is a regular post on Facebook that I’ve turned into a podcast. I decided Mike’s words needed a wider audience. You may agree or disagree with what he says, but there is certainly much food for thought contained here. You can friend Mike on Facebook for the printed version or read it below

Rumblings. 11.25.22

1. My guess is that pretty much no one you know and respect has said that the #1 priority of the House of Representatives is to thoroughly investigate and punish Hunter Biden.

2. “You can also commit injustice by doing nothing.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

Not rocking the boat can be a good thing – except when it’s not.

Doing nothing often gives permission to those who practice injustice to keep doing what they’re doing.

3. Elon Musk has proven once again that a man is not necessarily wise just because he has great wealth.

4. “Civility does not preclude tough-mindedness. Nor should it be mistaken for a lack of principles or perspective. Supposedly conservative Christians have broadly chosen the company of Trump supporters who deny any role for character in politics and define any useful villainy as virtue. In the place of integrity, the Trump movement has elevated a warped kind of authenticity — the authenticity of unfiltered abuse, imperious ignorance, untamed egotism and reflexive bigotry. This is inconsistent with Christianity by any orthodox measure.” ~ Michael Gerson RIP

Gerson was a thoughtful man of faith. He was a card carrying evangelical who believed that too many conservative Christians were selling their soul to a man who believed only in himself and a political movement that consistently betrayed Jesus and his teachings.

When I grow up I want to be like Gerson, who lived in an authentically prophetic manner and was not stifled by critics who wanted him to abandon his convictions.

5. “Jesus was not killed by atheism and anarchy. He was brought down by law and order allied with religion – which is always a deadly mix. Beware those who claim to know the mind of God and are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make others conform. Beware those who cannot tell God’s will – from their own.” ~ Barbara Brown Taylor

I must admit that being in the presence of law and order religious types is very uncomfortable for me. I’m confused about the bible they read and the god they serve.

6. During her remarks announcing her decision to step down as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi said she enjoyed working with three presidents, referencing accomplishments from the Bush, Obama and Biden eras. Left unsaid, of course, was the fact that Pelosi served as speaker under four presidents, not three.

7. “The obviously well-kept secret of the ‘ordinary’ is that it is made to be a receptacle of the divine, a place where the life of God flows.” Dallas Willard

We ask “Where’s God?” Look towards the ordinary things. Hear them speak in extraordinary ways.

8. “Jesus lived among the rejected. He ministered among the rejected. He died and was crucified as rejected, as somebody who was outside the political power structure. But early Sunday morning, from the grave he led a resurrection movement—a revival of love, a revival of justice, a revival of mercy, a revival of grace.” ~ William Barber

“Jesus began a movement, fueled by the Spirit, a movement whose purpose was and is to change the face of the earth from the nightmare it often is into the dream that God intends.” ~ Michael Curry

A Spirit infused life will lead us to live among the rejected, to be part of a resurrection movement, to yearn for a revival of love, justice, mercy and grace, and stir us to help change the face of the earth from a nightmare and into God’s dream.

In what ways does this resemble your view of following Jesus? Or doesn’t it?

9. Not the first time I posted this. Won’t be the last. Always grabs me.

“I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of God to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.” ~ Wilbur Rees

10. This week I lingered a bit on the story of the thief on the cross who implored Jesus to remember him.

During my lingering, I said to Jesus: “I am so unworthy.” His response: “I will lift you up.”

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