Anita Lustrea

This is a weekly release of the spiritual practice Lectio Divina. I hope you’ll listen and ponder the scripture passage offered and let me know your thoughts. My email address is [email protected]. Also, feel free to share this podcast on your social media or tell a friend about it. 

The post Lectio Divina 95 John 13:12-17 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

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. 3.8.24 

1. I’ve been thinking about Christian Nationalism. Here’s my current best shot at explaining/reacting to it.

“Christian Nationalism is a conservative political/religious movement that weds MAGA to Evangelicalism. It is a movement of mostly grievance laden. white people who are distrustful of diversity, who believe America would be better as a theocracy, admires authoritarian leaders and thinks we should have one as President. Its adherents basically think that the Sermon on the Mount is more than a bit too touchy-feely and that perhaps Jesus should have thought twice before rejecting Satan’s temptations. Stoking fear and telling lies keeps the movement moving forward. I agree with Rob Reiner who said “This idea of Christian nationalism is not only a danger to democracy, but it’s a danger to Christianity itself.””

That this movement is being rightfully put under the microscope and critiqued is a very good thing. Contrary to what you hear and read, they are not under attack nor are they being persecuted. They’re just being held accountable. And that movement hates being held accountable. That’s why it’s so dangerous. 

2. “We should measure the prosperity of a nation not by the number of millionaires, but by the absence of poverty, the prevalence of health, the efficiency of the public schools, and the number of people who can [and] do read worthwhile books.” ~ W. E. B. Du Bois

Our measurement of prosperity says a whole lot about who we are as a people and a nation. 

3. “… As we approach the critical decisions this nation faces this year, ask yourself who is asking you to listen to your best self, to support positive, loving, helpful and hopeful solutions to national and international problems. Ask yourself who is asking you to decide based on your fear of one another, prejudices, anger, lies, and baseless propositions. Just ask yourself what is right and fair and never let your fear decide for you.” ~ Charles Emery, Attorney, Methodist Pastor, and Friend

“Never let your fear decide for you.” Amen. 

4. Biden spoke directly to his opponent: “Instead of playing politics with the issue, instead of telling members of Congress to block this legislation, join me, or I’ll join you, in telling the Congress to pass this bipartisan border security bill. We can do it together….Let’s remember who the heck we work for. We work for the American people, not the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. We work for the American people.” 

Biden was being gracious in offering his rival an opportunity to do something righteous. Of course, the silence is deafening  over in that political camp. I think there’s some confusion and they’re desperately trying to find someone  in their circle  who can explain to them what working together and passing bills for the common good actually looks like. It might take awhile. 

5. Erin Sanzero, writing in Oneing asks  an interesting, thought provoking question:

“Can I walk a spiritual path that encompasses both the vitality and enthusiasm of youth and the wisdom and depth of maturity, marrying what is mystical and meditative while also being intensely practical and pragmatic?” 

6. If Trump is as innocent as he says he is he’d prove it by insisting his trials move along quickly. 

But he knows he’s not innocent. So, he’s playing a bit of a shell game and hoping that before it all caves in on him that he’ll win the election and then use the power of the Presidency to make everything go away.

And if that happens, we’ll have our very own version of Putin. 

Seriously, it’s no joke. 

I don’t want this next election to be our last one. 

7. Last week the Center for Action and Contemplation provided some thoughts to help us  think about exploring a theology of anger.

“Faced with outrage, anger is the price we pay for paying attention. It is the rage that ought to come out, because, when faced with an outrage, it is a sin not to be angry.” ~Allen Dwight Callahan

“The trick with anger is to let it inform us, maybe even to let it warm us if we have become too cold with indifference or apathy, but not to let the fire control or consume us.” ~ Sara Jolena Wolcott

“Embrace your anger with a lot of tenderness. Your anger is not your enemy, your anger is your baby. It’s like your stomach or your lungs. Every time you have some trouble in your lungs or your stomach, you don’t think of throwing them away. The same is true with your anger. You accept your anger because you know you can take care of it; you can transform it into positive energy.” – Thich Nhat Hanh 

There is a way to be angry and to express anger that can be quite redemptive. Of course, there are quite ‘hellish’ ways to be ticked off. We’ve all been on the receiving end of ugly anger. Perhaps we still carry the wounds and grimace at the memories of cruel anger unleashed in our direction. That grimace and those wounds should remind us of some interior healing that still needs to be done. 

If truth be told, most of us have also lashed out inappropriately sometime during our lifetimes, causing hurt and pain. And if we allowed God to do his work in our life, we probably experienced a deep sense of remorse, followed by repentance, and then awkward repair attempts that may or may not have been received well. 

8.  A woman at Navalny’s funeral compared him to Putin saying:  “One sacrificed himself to save the country, the other one sacrificed the country to save himself.” 

Thousands gathered to honor Navalny.  Each of them is a portrait of courage. To speak out the way this woman did could very well end up costing her both freedom and her life.

9. Mahatma Gandhi  famously said:  ‘I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.’ 

I get it. Changing that perception isn’t easy.  But here’s a way forward. 

“Jesus never says to the poor: ‘come find the church’, but he says to those of us in the church: ‘go into the world and find the poor, hungry, homeless, imprisoned.” ~ Tony Campolo

We will be known scripture tells us “by our love.” Then we will walk in the footsteps of Jesus. And Gandhi will smile.

10. Cataract surgery last year gave me two new lenses for my eyes, tucked into my chest is a defibrillator, and by the time most of you read this (surgery today in the early morning)   I will be the recipient of a brand new knee. I’m well on the way to becoming bionic. 

The post Mike’s Rumblings 03-08-24 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

This is a weekly release of the spiritual practice Lectio Divina. I hope you’ll listen and ponder the scripture passage offered and let me know your thoughts. My email address is [email protected]. Also, feel free to share this podcast on your social media or tell a friend about it. 

The post Lectio Divina 94 – John 12:27-32 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

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. 3.1.24.

1.  A story about  America in 10 chapters.  

Chapter 1. Normal day.

Chapter 2. Shootings.

Chapter 3. Panic

Chapter 4. Weeping 

Chapter 5. Thoughts and prayers. 

Chapter 6. Grieving  

Chapter 7. The Funeral (s)

Chapter 8. Talking heads analysis

Chapter 9. Vigorous 2nd Amendment defense

Chapter 10. Nothing changes

Pretty crappy story, isn’t it?

2. When the world around me starts getting a bit ‘iffy’ I need to remind myself that I am first and foremost a citizen of the Kingdom of God and there’s nothing there that’s at all ‘iffy’.

3. I’ve said it before and I will say it again and again in the hope you will say it again and again to those in your spheres of influence. Here it is:

“Make no mistake about it, there’s only one issue on the ballot this fall. It’s about whether or not we will vote to preserve our democracy and its freedoms or take a giant step towards authoritarianism.” 

4. “Choose your leaders 

with wisdom and forethought.

To be led by a coward 

is to be controlled 

by all that the coward fears.

To be led by a fool 

is to be led 

by the opportunists 

who control the fool.

To be led by a thief 

is to offer up 

your most precious treasures 

to be stolen.

To be led by a liar 

is to ask 

to be told lies.

To be led by a tyrant 

is to sell yourself 

and those you love 

into slavery.” ~ Octavia E. Butler

5. One of our presidential candidates is comparing himself to the Russian dissident Navalny who recently died in a Siberian prison. 

Navalny was a courageous leader, a man of faith, a burr in Putin’s saddle, and a truth teller. 

The presidential candidate is none of these things. He’s not brave and his faith is in himself, not God. He is a habitual liar who thinks Putin is worth emulating. 

They are not even remotely alike. No comparison should ever again be attempted. But I’m sure he will try again and his crowd will giggle with delight.  What foolish people they are.

6. “Never make fun of someone who speaks broken English. It means they know another language.” ~ H. Jackson Brown

Those who do ‘make fun of’ them, reveal a whole lot about the prejudices, rudeness, and immaturity that defines their lives. 

7. How then shall we live out our faith?

“Sometimes the best evangelism is simply telling people you’re a Christian and then not being a complete jerk.” ~ John Pavlovitz

 “You meet saints everywhere. They can be anywhere. They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.”  ~ Kurt Vonnegut

8. When asked how Fascism starts, Bertrand Russell once said: “First, they fascinate the fools. Then, they muzzle the intelligent.”

To fascinate a fool isn’t all that difficult. Just remind them of their prejudices and then show them bright shiny objects. 

Muzzling the intelligent (don’t make the mistake of measuring them by their degrees or title or lack thereof) is quite a bit harder for they have this tendency to move around and underground and then become the resistance. But even smart people like to be flattered. That’s what draws them out and that’s when they are far less muzzle resistant.  

9. “Sometimes in the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper in the heart,  giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, and hope to despair.” ~ Howard Thurman

“In the stillness of the quiet” God does some of His best work. What’s sad is that we choose to be noisy more often than not and we wonder why we haven’t heard from God.

10. “…One of the most remarkable things about the Bible is that in it we find the narrative told from the perspective of the poor, the oppressed, the enslaved, the conquered, the occupied, the defeated. This is what makes it prophetic. We know that history is written by the winners. This is true — except in the case of the Bible it’s the opposite! This is the subversive genius of the Hebrew prophets. They wrote from a bottom-up perspective.

Imagine a history of colonial America written by Cherokee Indians and African slaves. That would be a different way of telling the story! And that’s what the Bible does. It’s the story of Egypt told by the slaves. The story of Babylon told by the exiles. The story of Rome told by the occupied. 

What about those brief moments when Israel appeared to be on top? In those cases the prophets told Israel’s story from the perspective of the peasant poor as a critique of the royal elite. Like when Amos denounced the wives of the Israelite aristocracy as “the fat cows of Bashan.”

Every story is told from a vantage point; it has a bias. The bias of the Bible is from the vantage point of the underclass. But what happens if we lose sight of the prophetically subversive vantage point of the Bible? What happens if those on top read themselves into the story, not as imperial Egyptians, Babylonians, and Romans, but as the Israelites? 

That’s when you get the bizarre phenomenon of the elite and entitled using the Bible to endorse their dominance as God’s will. This is Roman Christianity after Constantine. This is Christendom on crusade. This is colonists seeing America as their promised land and the native inhabitants as Canaanites to be conquered. This is the whole history of European colonialism. This is Jim Crow. This is the American prosperity gospel. 

This is the domestication of Scripture. This is making the Bible dance a jig for our own amusement…” ~ Brian Zahnd

We like to read scripture in ways that endorse our politics,  justify our behaviors and to elevate our cause. In doing so, we lose sight of what it’s actually saying and ignore its prophetic edges. And then scripture becomes quite pedestrian, just words on a page, with no power to make a holy mess of our lives.

The post Mike’s Rumblings 03-01-24 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

This is a weekly release of the spiritual practice Lectio Divina. I hope you’ll listen and ponder the scripture passage offered and let me know your thoughts. My email address is [email protected]. Also, feel free to share this podcast on your social media or tell a friend about it. 

The post Lectio Divina 93 John 12:20-26 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

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. 2.23.24 

Only one Rumble today. 

Last week, David French, a NY Times Opinion Columnist, referenced a story told by Tony Campolo, a Baptist Preacher who taught Sociology at Eastern College in Pennsylvania. The story is about Campolo’s  encounter with a hooker named Agnes.

I had the good fortune to hear Campolo’s story two or three times in person and it’s featured in his  book “The Kingdom of God Is a Party”. He’s one of the best storytellers ever.  No matter how many times I read about his encounter with Agnes, in a diner in Honolulu, something new begins to happen in my heart. Maybe it will stir something in you too. So here’s an edited version (my edits) of Campolo’s story about ‘Agnes’.

“…I found a little place that was still open at 3am. This was one of those sleazy places that deserves the name, “greasy spoon.” The  gruff guy behind the counter, his name was Harry, brought me the coffee and donut I ordered.

As I sat there munching on my donut and sipping my coffee, the door of the diner suddenly swung open and, to my discomfort, in marched eight or nine provocatively dressed and boisterous prostitutes.

It was a small place, and they sat on either side of me. Their talk was loud and crude. I felt completely out of place and was just about to make my getaway when I heard Agnes, who was sitting next to me, say “Tomorrow’s my birthday. I’m going to be 39.” One of the other women replied nastily  ” “So what do you want from us? A birthday party. …Ya want us to get you a cake and sing ‘Happy Birthday’?”

Agnes replied …”Don’t be mean …I was just telling you, that’s all… I mean, why should you give me a birthday party? I’ve never had a birthday party in my whole life. Why should I have one now?”

When I heard that, I made a decision. I sat and waited until the women had left. Then I called Harry over and asked him, “Do they come in here every night?” “Yeah!” he answered. “The one right next to me, Agnes, does she come here every night?” “Like clockwork. 3:30 a.m….Why d’ya wanta know?”

“Because I heard her say that tomorrow is her birthday …What do you say we do something about that? What do you think about us throwing a birthday party for her—right here—tomorrow night?”

A smile slowly crossed his face  and he answered with measured delight, “That’s great! I like it! That’s a great idea!” … He called out his wife who was working in the back of the diner and told her the plan. She said:   “That’s wonderful! You know Agnes is one of those people who is really nice and kind, and nobody does anything nice and kind for her.”

I said “Look, If it’s okay with you, I’ll get back here tomorrow morning at about 2:30 and decorate the place. I’ll even get a birthday cake!”

“No way,” said Harry,  “The birthday cake’s my thing. I’ll make the cake.”

At 2:30 the next morning, I was back at the diner… I  had made decorations  and a big sign sign that read, “Happy Birthday, Agnes!”  Word had gotten out that there was going to be a birthday party at the diner so the place was packed with prostitutes.

At 3:30 on the dot, the door of the diner swung open, and in came Agnes. I had everybody ready and when she  came in we all screamed, “Happy birthday!”  …As she sat on one of the stools along the counter, we all sang “Happy Birthday.” As we came to the end of our singing her eyes moistened. Then, when the birthday cake with all the candles on it was carried out, she lost it and  wept. 

Harry gruffly mumbled, “Blow out the candles, Agnes! Come on! Blow out the candles!” …Then he handed her a knife and told her, “Cut the cake, Agnes. Yo, Agnes, we all want some cake.”

Agnes looked down at the cake. Then without taking her eyes off it, she slowly and softly said, “Look, Harry, is it alright with you  if I keep the cake for a little while? I mean, is it OK if we don’t eat it right away?”

Harry shrugged and answered, “Sure! It’s O.K. If you want to keep the cake. Take it home, if you want to.” … 

She got off the stool, picked up the cake, and carrying it like it was the Holy Grail, walked slowly toward the door. As we all just stood there motionless, she left.

When the door closed, there was a stunned silence in the place. Not knowing what else to do, I broke the silence by saying, “What do you say we pray?”

Looking back on it now, it seems more than strange for a Baptist Preacher to be leading a prayer meeting with a bunch of prostitutes, in a diner in Honolulu, at 3:30 in the morning. But then it just felt like the right thing to do. I prayed for Agnes. I prayed for her salvation and that her life would be changed and that God would be good to her.

When I finished, Harry leaned over the counter and said “Hey! You never told me you were a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to?” 

In one of those moments when just the right words came, I answered, “I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for hookers, in a diner, at 3:30 in the morning.”

Harry waited a moment and then almost sneered as he answered, “No you don’t. There’s no church like that. If there was, I’d join it. I’d join a church like that!”

…

Everywhere we look there is an Agnes, someone who lives a hard, scary life. It’s someone who needs a cheerleader and who needs to know someone is for her and not against her. It’s someone who needs to know that God sees her. 

 “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden”, said Jesus, “and I will give you rest.” I think he meant it.  

Do me a favor. Like this and then Share it. I bet you know someone who needs to be lifted up today. 

The post Mike’s Rumblings 02-23-24 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

This is a weekly release of the spiritual practice Lectio Divina. I hope you’ll listen and ponder the scripture passage offered and let me know your thoughts. My email address is [email protected]. Also, feel free to share this podcast on your social media or tell a friend about it. 

The post Lectio Divina 92 – I Corinthians 1:20-25 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

I’m Anita Lustrea and I’m privileged to be a spiritual director. Each time I begin a session, I use a quote or poem or prayer.  As I share one of these with you, see what might catch your attention. Maybe there’s something here for you today.Today’s prayer is titled Ground Myself in Today. It is anonymous.

The post Poem/Prayer 36 Ground Myself in Today appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

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. 2.16.23

1. “I believe in God, but I detest theocracy. For every Government consists of mere men and is, strictly viewed, a makeshift; if it adds to its commands ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ it lies, and lies dangerously.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Theocracy. It gives me the chills just thinking about it. It has this tendency to breed tyrants and tyrant wannabes. It takes sacred writings and twists them to serve nefarious purposes. And it offers us prophets who have never once heard from God.

2. Lent  matters. Here’s some advice from Pope Francis, over the years about what to do during Lent. 

“Fast from hurting words. Say  kind words. 

Fast from sadness. Be filled with gratitude. 

Fast from anger and be filled with patience. 

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful, contemplating simplicity.

Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy. 

Fast from selfishness and be  compassionate. 

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words; be silent and listen.”

3. People often say, with pride, ‘I’m not interested in politics.’ They might as well say, ‘I’m not  interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future or any future… If we mean to keep control over our world and lives, we must be interested in politics.’~ Martha Gellhorn

To be knowledgeable about political matters is a basic life skill. To use that knowledge wisely is an act of maturity. During this next election cycle everything we hold near and dear is on the table. We need to care about politics, lest we end up as proverbial puppets on a string.

4. Speaking of politics, the leader of MAGA  and his surrogates started sending a disturbing message to NATO. It was a warning actually. They’re saying that if  MAGA wins ‘all bets are off, everything will be up for grabs, allies shouldn’t count on us (especially those who don’t pay to play), and international bully ball will be encouraged. It’s the survival of the fittest, baby. If Putin is in your neighborhood, good luck.’

The NATO Secretary General spoke and said: “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.”

Perhaps NY Times writer Thomas L. Friedman is on target when he wrote that the next GOP bumper sticker should be: 

“Trump First. 

Putin Second. 

America Third.”

5. James Baldwin once said: “There are so many ways of being despicable, it quite makes one’s head spin. But the way to be really despicable is to be contemptuous of other people’s pain.”

Whether it’s towards refugees at the border, allies in need, or a rape victim who was impregnated by her attacker, portions of our society are becoming increasingly insensitive and even contemptuous of those in pain. It’s one of the signs of a culture in decline.

6. Most people who listened to the Chapman/Combs  Fast Car duet at the Grammys were uplifted. I sure was. Luke Combs, who is a Country Music star, wrote this note to Tracy Chapman after their performance.  

“Tracy, I want to send my sincerest thanks to you for allowing me to be a part of your moment. Thank you for the impact you have had on my musical journey, and the musical journeys of countless other singers, songwriters, musicians, and fans alike. I hope you felt how much you mean to the world that night. We were all in awe of you up there and I was just the guy lucky enough to have the best seat in the house.”

Class act. Chapman was indeed the main story of the night. Combs showed both humility and deep respect. He harmonized beautifully but only in a way that showcased her song, her guitar playing, and her voice.  She was the star. She deserved the moment. I hope we see more of her. 

7. “… To live in this world

you must be able

to do three things:

to love what is mortal;

to hold it

against your bones knowing

your own life depends on it;

and, when the time comes 

to let it go, to let it go.” ~ Mary Oliver

8. “The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie.” Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn

Courage will ask us to say ‘no’ to lies and liars. Doing so will cost us friendships, perhaps status, and just might result in lost opportunities. But we will also earn the applause of heaven.  

In this upside down world of ours I’m asking God for the desire to live in a right side up kind of way and do it courageously, so that I, too, might hear that encouraging applause from above. I want that for you too.

9. How did I do with my Super Bowl prognostications? Well, I named  the winner, missed on the score, predicted at least one Taylor Swift suite camera shot (I went way out on a limb on that one ) and correctly predicted that conspiracy theorists, who were sure Taylor/Kelce would announce their support for Biden, would have to lick their wounds and slink back to the Gates of Hell to get their next assignment. Actually, I think they have an express train these days.

Every Super Bowl half-time reminds me that, as I age, I know even less about current pop culture than I did the year before. But I watch, I listen, and I ask Google to fill me in. It’s tough for me. My first concert was Herman’s Hermits and the opening act was the Hollies. That was January 1,1967. Yes, I am that old.

10. As  a pastor and spiritual director I’ve learned a lot. This one thing is basic. “Knowing a whole lot about God isn’t the same as actually knowing God.”

The post Mike’s Rumblings 02-16-24 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

This is a weekly release of the spiritual practice Lectio Divina. I hope you’ll listen and ponder the scripture passage offered and let me know your thoughts. My email address is [email protected]. Also, feel free to share this podcast on your social media or tell a friend about it. 

The post Lectio Divina 91 Luke 9:18-27 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.