I was employed by Dodger Stadium back in the day; 1981 to be exact! I sold souvenirs and other novelties. This was after the All-Star Game in 1981...I made good money that night!

Love From An Ethiopian Family!

LOVE FROM AN ETHIOPIAN FAMILY

I was eager to get to Teddy’s house; especially on this day. You see, we were invited over his house for traditional Ethiopian coffee. While driving there, I wondered what awaited us. As we drove through the city of Addis as a ball in a labyrinth, I contemplated the thousands of people moving perpetually in the streets. It seemed as if every person had an agenda or somewhere to go; there were many who just glided to the vibe of the city.
Our driver/concierge/guide/ friend took us to his home. Amid the traffic and multitudes of people with busy lives, Teddy took us to meet his family. What an honor! When we arrived at his home, his wife and two daughters along with several friends were there to greet us. There were at least three dwellings within this beautiful compound nestled in the hills of Addis.
His wife graciously served us food, and then the ultimate treasure came. Freshly made traditional Ethiopian coffee; she made it by baking the beans crushing and grounding the beans and brewing the broth fresh-Teddy had some incense blowing as a family tradition for coffee. This was true love from a family that wanted to share their lives with us. There was no talk of religion, church, bible, or politics; just a family expressing kindness.
The interesting thing about this is that this Family was not on our itinerary; He wanted us to come and experience his family. May God cultivate the seed planted and watered with this family. I’m grateful, for God arranging this relationship.

Lawrence Murray Ph.D.

Preaching to the Choir

Preaching to the Choir

The bank sends the wire, mcdonalds will always hire, some are In the quagmire, trump will continue to fire, don't call me king but sire, I guess you figured I'm preaching to the choir. Every round goes higher and higher, as you try to aspire, straights will seem dire, but keep reacher higher, negativism hot like fire, yea, I'm preaching to the choir.

The choir knows this speech, so I beseech, that you heed each phrase, choir singing for days, about good times, when children respected parents, them were the days, when scripture like sun rays, flooded my soul on Sundays, evening service folk sitting in a daze, existing in a world of haze. the choir knows good preaching, sometime they will settle for solid teaching, as long as souls we're reaching, freeloaders will continue leaching, it's time to blow up the spot with metaphors, my father is bigger than yours, you worship the lowercase g, but the big G-O-D; is father of me, salvation full and free, the choir knows this so why are you looking at me, obey the same and you'll be set free, but I'm a keep it hot like fire cause I'm preaching to the choir....

Now let me be dramatic, charismatic, emphatic about the church world where there is more static, instead of focusing on Him, you Hem me in, not singing the Hymns you're dying within, props to Marrow way in Jersey, borrowed a verse from first name Wesley, ok nods to preachers in the COC, fame we never desire, I'm just preaching to the choir, not adding to your faith, you multiply the hate, subtracting from the word, and dividing the grace, this life is lived from faith to faith, Demas step out of the race, Judas kissed the Lord on the face, betrayal done with grace, Oh I want to see him, the choir knows that song, sing along, love endures and never will tire, I'm preaching to the choir! I can't end this speech so I continue to beseech


Looking at this man looking at me, pointing at me with three fingers pointing back at he, little does he know the things I see, his issues spattering like spotty tissues, refuse to lose, never see me snooze, like Eutychus in the window while Paul was preaching long, no record of any song, don't even know if his fall was long, but he was raised up to life- Paul had the desire-He knew he was preaching to the choir.

Dr. Lawrence Murray's MIND

It's Unbelievable How Some Don't Believe

Its Unbelievable How Some Don't Believe"
Lawrence Murray Ph.D.
Mark 6:1-6


We can start with this soul-searching question, Do you really believe that Jesus is the Son of God? The Lord's own family should at least gave Him the benefit of doubt. however they persisted in their unbelief...

ILLUSTRATION:
Little boy coming out of Sunday school, asked by the minister, "Johnny, if you can tell me something God CAN do, I'll give you an apple."  Johnny said, "Preacher, if you can tell me something God CAN'T do, I'll give you a whole bushel of apples!"

1.  Knowing who God is, and knowing what God can do, I find it unbelievable that people could still suffer from unbelief.  However, unbelief is the root of all of our troubles.

Unbelief results in:
the sinner's doom
the Christian's defeat/discouragement/dullness

1 John 5: 4
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

2.  Unbelief is simply a refusal to LET GOD BE GOD!  When we suffer from unbelief we are simply holding, and hanging on to some aspect of a situation, refusing to turn it completely over to God, and let Him do what we cannot do.  

Faith:  a TOTAL release
Unbelief:  a PARTIAL release
Matt. 17: 20  "Faith of a Mustard Seed"
"mountains removed:"  a common phrase that the Jews knew well.  Whenever a great teacher who could expound the scripture and could explain difficulties, he was said to be an "uprooter, or remover" mountains."  

Jesus was saying:
"If you have enough faith, the size of the smallest seed known to man, every difficulty can be removed!"

1.   Unbelief is characterized by unusual Timing

1.  The time of these people's unbelief is amazing.  In fact, their timing could not have been any worse.  In the previous chapter, Mark 5, what has been referred to as the "Mercy Hospital Chapter," Jesus has just solved the problem of:
**a possessed man**
**a perplexed woman**
**a pitiful child**

2. Unbelief is countered by uncompromising Teaching

1.  Notice verse 2-3.  The first response of Jesus, in regards to their unbelief, was that He began to teach them.  Why?  Because "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God!"  His teaching:

A.  CONFRONTED their DOUBT!

1.  vs. 2  They were confused as to who He really was.  The Jews had no problem believing in God, but, to them, Jesus was an impostor.

B.  CREATED their DISCUSSION!


1.  v. 3  They began to discuss, and try to determine who Jesus really was.  Why?  Simply because, they could not bring themselves to believe in the man who had cast out demons, healed a blood disease, and raised a dead girl back to life.

3.  Unbelief is concluded by an unfortunate Tragedy


A.  What it CREATED!


1.  Their unbelief created confusion among the people.  Yet, these were HIS people.  These were his "kin" (v. 4).  They had no excuse to disbelieve Him, but every reason to believe Him.

B.  What it COST!

1.  Notice verses 5-6.  Their unbelief carried a hefty price tag.  It cost them His person, His presence and His power.  Because they failed to believe, they were cheated from being a part of His mighty work.

2.  I wonder how much our unbelief has cost us?  How much has cost our communities, our country, even our church?  God will do what we cannot do, but He only has one requirement, "ONLY BELIEVE;" "HAVE FAITH IN GOD!"

ILLUSTRATION:
    Elderly woman would pray every day with her windows open.  Her neighbor was an old infidel, God-hater, who made fun of her prayers.  One day, she was in need of groceries.  She had no money, and no way to get them, so she got down in her living room floor and began to pray.  Her neighbor heard her prayer, and decided that he would teach the old woman a lesson.  He went and bought groceries and set them on her front porch.  She went to the door, saw the groceries, and began to praise God for supplying her need.  Her neighbor shouted, "Old woman, you are a fool, God didn't send those groceries, I went and bought them."  She said, "Oh, I beg to differ.  God did answer my prayer and sent those groceries; and, He even used the devil to do it!"

Put your whole trust in the Lord....I didn't see him, nor touch him, but I still believe Him.

Dr LMurray's Mind!!!!!

How Can You Tell If The Saints Have Been Revived?

How Can You Tell if the Saints Have Been Revived?

NEHEMIAH 8: 1 - 3

Many churches engage in revival meetings where the preacher comes and fires up the people; then he leaves. I'm not saying that this is bad, I just know that a deeper experience must be our agenda. I have done myriads of revivals and I enjoy stirring the saints to greater heights of service. However, there is always a hidden thought about whether or not the saints really have had true revival. I know that there are different types of soils in our audiences, and not all soil is prepared for the seed of the word to penetrate. But, this does not absolve us from the concern of revival.

JESUS CHRIST wants there to be tell-tale sings of His work among
His people. After He has brought about revival in the lives of
His people, He desires for there to be evidence that abides.
In the Old Testament there is an experience in the life of
Israel which illustrates this. The Lord had returned His people
to their home land and blessed them in the rebuilding of the
walls of Jerusalem. A spirit of revival resulted among the
people. Their conduct is commendable for us to copy. There are
always specific signs showing that revival has come.

I.THE PEOPLE HAD AFFECTION FOR THE SAINTS (8:1)
Note, "All the people gathered as one man..."
Before the revival, some were pessimistic and complained while
others criticized. They were not different than we before the
revival. May we be no different than they after the revival.
The spirit of revival brought reconciliation and new expressions
of love "as one man." Unity and harmony causes a body to
function together.
Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are my
disciples -- if you love one another."
Candidly, has revival come to you? If you are holding a grudge
or harboring a resentment against someone, you need revival.

II.THE PEOPLE WERE ATTENTIVE TO THE SCRIPTURE (8: 2, 3)
They read it -- 8:3.
They revered it -- 8:5.
They related it -- 8: 7, 8 (understood it and its application)
Honestly, has revival come to your life? If it has, you will do
as they and study the Scripture daily (8:18).

III.THE PEOPLE AFFIRMED THEIR SAVIOR (8:6)
They had renewed reverence.
They had increased prayer.
They had expanded worship.
The Psalmist said: "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and into
His courts with praise."
The Lord said, "Whoso offers praise glorifies me."
Has revival come to you. If so, you will daily praise Him and
pray through Him.

IV.THEY HAD ABANDONMENT OF SIN (8:9)
They were broken over sin. They realized their righteousness
were as filthy rags.
Has revival come to your life. If so, you have a new
perspective of sin -- your sin.

V.THEY WERE AGGRESSIVE IN SERVICE (8: 10 & 18)
When revival comes, there is rejoicing in service.
There is rejoicing in sharing (soul-winning).
The joy of the Lord is dependent upon obedience to the Lord.
Relate to Jesus "who for the joy that was set before Him,endured
the cross, despising the shame..." (Hebrews 12:2).
Is there that joy of service desiring expression in your life?
If so, you have experienced revival. If not, you need revival.

Lyrics Of Fury- I used to hang on this corner in LA-Not to do wrong, but to dream and aspire with friends!

Words can penetrate, the intent can denigrate, poison locking you in a state, of, crazy confusion even strange delusions, so I speak words from my mind, every word inspired by the divine, father of spirits, souls ought to hear it, furious at the state world- PLEASE  HEAR IT!-to the Jury- Lyrics of Fury!

Vocabulary is crucial, speech is critical, terms are lethal, say the wrong thing then burial,  Christ Jesus was lyrical in the sermon on the mount, judge not, that you be not judged, is when it all counts, angry at post-modernism, furious so I bring criticism, tea-party brewing venom, society in delirium, snakes handing out contracts, really trying to find out where I'm at, but i stopped carrying around the gat, get back please, Satan on your knees, blinding eyes with lies and disease, furious at the state of the world-PLEASE HEAR II!-to the Jury- Lyrics of Fury!

Furious at the state of the world, trafficking boys and girls,sensual satanic squirrels, small grooming leaches, should be stretched out on beaches, please listen to this thesis, Allowing. Real criminals to roam free-lord lead me to eternity, the more I stay the more crookedness I see, thank you for living in me, protecting me from the stuff I see, but still loving my community, some are devoted to sticking and robbing, others are into shucking and jiving, me, I'm pushing verses trying to survive-in, the land where the scriptures are not respected, preachers are spitting knowledge and you deject it, furious at the state of the world-PLEASE HEAR IT!-to the Jury- Lyrics of Fury!

Furious at the state of the world, hatred,jealousy, and envy all around me, were you in when the UN, allowed Ahmadinejad"s sin, to manifest what's within-blaming the US for your sin....Son of darkness. The pit is your end.....I love the USA see-peace to Laurence Jeffrey serving for me, she, and we, grammatical structure no concern, writing in a style for those who can discern, passion for love is what I really yearn, state of the world on slow burn, so I write in all kind of styles, the words can flow for many miles, I have one dissertation in the files, but no one would read it, marital satisfaction going down no one would heed it, No one talks about real love on TV, twisted love respected, strange love manifested, the sad thing...we digest it, furious at the state theof the world-PLEASE HEAR IT!-to the Jury- Lyrics of Fury!

Furious at the state of the world, now help me understand, why people  are starving in foreign lands, witchcraft on every hand, combat hand to hand, slaughtering fellow-man & woman, no really, help understand why the community of Christ is so divided, our differences are meant to bring glory so don"t hide it, Mexican, Asian, Caucasian, Malaysian, others are in there from other persuasions, African-American, uh oh here we go again, like all my brothers eat chicken and watermelon, talk broken English in drug selling, KRS-ONE gets the citation for the last phrase but I'm still yelling...that Christians need to stop bailing, out on the responsibility, to make a difference in the community...Christ in thee, hope of glory, the Almighty, Head of the body, can relieve me of fury, furious at the state of the world-PLEASE HEAR IT!-to the jury-Lyrics of Fury!

furious at the state of the world, let me explain, some of the things For which i express disdain, simple humanoid relations, with it we'll be a better nation, teaching a whole new generation, not to engage in the violation, of dehumanization---it can be subtle or overt, but the process can really hurt, a society feeling non-human with no girt, here's another way our human relations suffer, when our young men attempt to act tougher and tougher, the system gets rougher and rougher, so you act harder and harder, rather than smarter and smarter, jobs go farther and farther, from your reach, your grasp, your atmosphere, cause you fail to adhere,the instruction in your ear, watch the obstruction, man your headed for self-Destruction, furious at the state of the world-Please Hear It-to the jury-Lyrics of Fury!          

Dr. Lawrence Murray

CHECK THE RHYME!

In the Photo Reggie & I on my recent visit to Los Angeles-The Lord spared our lives!!!!



Becoming all things to all men that I might gain some--The Apostle Paul



CHECK THE RHYME!
On point L. Murray, Oh yes! On Point L. Murray, Oh yes! On point L. Murray, Oh yes—well grab the microphone and proceed to bless……

It was back in the days on the soil of L.A. I would play in the alley till the dogs chased me away, It was I, Reggie, and Anthony too, we would hang hard looking for something to do. Backyard basketball surviving the heat; not heat from the sun, but heat from the street, parents were strict never taking no mess, my father was real he stayed in my chest.

On point L. Murray, Oh yes! On Point L. Murray, Oh yes! On point L. Murray, Oh yes!--well grab the microphone again and continue to bless……

Growing up in the hood, but raised in the church. Christ was presented and that started my search. Going to service weekly, not connected to the Spirit—baptized in water, but devoid of true Spirit. Sitting in worship on Sunday but didn’t wanna hear it. Knew I had to change but only would fear it. Preacher Hogan speaking, Bro Andrew Tony teaching, Elders and Deacons were reaching, too caught up I was creeping, now in my 40’s these words are seeping, disciplined by God, the saints call it reaping.

On point L. Murray, Oh yes! On point L. Murray, Oh Yes! On Point, L. Murray, Oh Yes!—then grab the microphone and get it off your chest…

I remember being enamored by passages of scripture, they would hit ya-rip ya, I mean really convict ya. Hebrews about better things, Matthew when the Son of God sings, Pastoral epistles ring- Ephesians encourages me to sing. Moses leading the people as far as he could, Joshua following Moses like a good man should- John preparing the way in the wilderness similar to the hood, Now Jesus lives forever and now its all good. The Gospel is to be conveyed, the god of this world is afraid, be like Stephen he stayed, stones hitting his body violent rage.
There’s one more verse to the rhyme please check it. I share this truth because this generation may miss it, I keep on going and flowing like a river, little at a time you see I must gave a, closing truth to the youth they’re obtuse, not pointed, sometimes wandering totally disjointed- Please young folk obey this simple truth-----REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH!
Just showing my teen daughters that dad can still get loose!
Dr. Lmurrays mind---