Thoughts on Talks - Rev. Mike & Malayna

Salaam Thompson joins Rev. Mike and Malayna once again, this time to share an event from his life -- #ShoppingWhileBlack at a local Ralph's supermarket. He and his family have been treated extremely unjustly and gotten no response to their attempts to communicate by phone, email or legal means. Together we planned real steps that we can take together as a community to remedy the situation and bring about the vision of a world that works for all. HEARTLESS RALPH'S BANS BLACK FAMILY FOR LIFE from ALL Ralph's and Food 4 Less supermarkets on threat of arrest without reason, proof or recourse. We invite you to join us in prayer and in action steps around the idea that the right people get this information within this structure and it is addressed in a respectful and meaningful way.

In this short, 40-minute episode, Rev. Mike, Salaam and Malayna called an Emergency Session to address all the shootings that have taken place in March of 2021. Salaam presented a perspective from within the Black Community, and Rev. Mike explained how it felt from his white male perspective and helped us consider the relationship to guns from the perspective of a veteran, a sportsman, a police officer. Malayna tried to find where we can each make a heart-to-heart difference in all of our communities, Salaam suggested we all lean into uncomfortable conversations, and Rev. Mike took it the the spiritual level where we're all connected as one. Can you stretch your perspective to hear another's? Try it by watching and listening to this episode!

The Sunday talk from Rev. Mike was about "unleashing the infinite invisible", and our regular co-host, Salaam Thompson, wanted to share about the film "Judas and the Black Messiah" on HBO Max--about the 1960's Chicago Black Panther leader, Fred Hampton. Malayna Dawn has a coughing attack in the middle and tries to recover by attempting to connect the infinite invisible to why empowered leaders seem a threat to those in power. Salaam shares from his vast wealth of knowledge and experience about the Black American experience and being a follower of Islam, which also connecting us to world history, mathematics and pop culture -- which is why we all get along so well. How does this information sit with you? Do your research, then let us know!

Rev. Mike and Malayna discuss the topic of the Sunday Jan 24th talk which was how to use the power of the Divine in your life. Examples from ancient teachers and modern poets are used, Heart Math and Transcendentalists -- get ready for some deep thoughts!

Join Rev. Mike McMorrow, Malayna, and Salaam Thompson as they talk about Inauguration Day firsts, The People's Inauguration.org, and the new movie "One Night in Miami" -- kudos for Regina King, and background info on the Nation of Islam. They discuss how advertising and marketing are responding to the Black Lives Matter movement, getting Colin Kapernick a medal and restoring the career of Jemele Hill, the Black American ESPN reporter who got fired for calling out white supremacy. (She's starting a media empire now!) And an ode to Amanda Gorman, the poet from West L.A. whose "The Hill We Climb" inspired us all on Inauguration Day. We've got work to do!HW: Participate in The People's Inauguration at https://thepeoplesinauguration.org/​Sign a change.org petition for Colin Kaepernick...Check out Jemele's new podcast network on SpotifyLearn more info on Amanda Gorman

Our final episode of 2020 with our friend Salaam had us talking about a bunch of great stuff including: Kwanzaa principles - Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith; Ma'at principles; Melanated Money Mondays.com and support Black-owned businesses!Jingle JangleBridgertonHermione in Harry Potter on stageHamiltonSoulPS 5 ads with DWYCK -- "Do What You Can Kid"Nice and Smooth; DJ Premier/Primo; GangstarSalaam Running for Neighborhood and City Counciland Rev. Mike in Chamber of Commerce! -----------------------------------------------------------------Center for Spiritual Living Granada Hills provides spiritual tools to transform our personal lives and help make the world a better place.We extend a warm welcome to all people in search of a spiritual community where they are embraced, affirmed and accepted for who they are, as well as inspired and supported to grow into their highest potential.Visit us, the Center with Heart: http://cslgh.org

"Preparing the Way" was the jumping off point for this week's conversation, as it was the topic of the Sunday Dec 13, 2020 talk from Rev. Mike, but it went in all kinds of directions: From Lollapalooza and using our phones to look things up, to Winter Solstice and Spirals of Light and stone, which led to thoughts of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Dune, and then down YouTube rabbit holes--- Colbert and James Corden, Paul McCartney and Willie Nelson, intellectuals and quantum thinkers Yuval Harari, Oprah and Thich Nhat Hanh, Joe Dispenza and Fearless Soul, Mel Robbins and Impact Theory, and back to meditation tools and practicing stillness, creating space in your thoughts and your life for the good and the light!

Rev. Mike and Malayna talk about the November 15th talk that asked about How Engaged is God as Us? We talked about how each of us can use our inner guidance to make our best choices, but also, how we can try to connect with others who may be doing the same, but who seem to be in opposition to us. We spoke of connections in the natural world and in mathematics that point us to inspiration and awe about our world. And we also ended up talking about how people unfamiliar with the Bible can understand some basics about the historical context and why a history of a tribe of people resonates with life today (and what to do when it doesn't resonate). Check it out! Visit us, the Center with Heart: http://cslgh.org

Whereas the Talks we share Thoughts on are usually those given by Rev. Mike on Sundays, this episode examines Talks by Joe Biden, Van Jones, Emmanuel Acho and more. Malayna shared her #BlackLivesMatter face mask with art from Jenny Hahn Art.com (to complement her eco tee shirt)and spoke with Salaam about seeing Van Jones in tears the morning the election was called for Joe Biden. He shared about Ice Cube and Kamala and his wise wife saying we can't imagine what it would be like to be a political commentator. Then we discussed Van Jones' TED talk asking 'what if a president refuses to concede?", his #LoveArmy and some of the organizations that are continuing to work for a more democratic democracy. (See below!)And have you noticed that Rev. Mike is of Irish descent, like Joe Biden and Malayna is half-South Asian like Kamala? Just sayin'.And we talked about talks with our friends and family members, abroad or across the nation; the CONSCIOUSNESS behind our political motivations; and the human condition when power is involved. A shout out to the Unity Southwest Region and Rev. John Washington, and an invitation from Salaam to watch his Facebook live chat with his friends coming up. Van Jones suggested organizations:ChooseDemocracy.usElectionTaskForce.orgProtectDemocracy.orgMobilize.usAllAmericans.orgCivicAlliance.comThe Fight Back Table @ Demos.orgVoter Fraud: The Heritage FoundationGov't Accountability InstituteSUPPORT:ACLU.orgLeadership Conference on Civil Rights - civilrights.orgNAACP Legal Defense Fund - www.naacpldf.orgIndivisible.orgColor of Change.org

Starting with Rev. Mike's Oct 18 talk, "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Rev. Mike and Malayna spoke about Simon & Garfunkel, but also tales of ups and downs; the human condition; the evolution of money, power and greed; losing and finding faith; the ourobouros and cyclical nature of life; duality and manifestation; The Social Dilemma; Buddha and Jesus; Genius and common folk; forgiveness and compassion and politics.

In this Oct 14th episode, Rev. Mike and Malayna talk with Salaam about The Lakers' win, the opening monologue on Saturday Night Live (SNL) by comedian Bill Burr that created a Twitter backlash, how Lovecraft Country and Drunk History use horror and comedy respectively to help people learn, and how the Crisis in Democracy isn't new, but is an ongoing experiment. Citizenship requires seeing past the artful storytelling of propaganda and marketing to look into what makes logical sense. We know that none of us represent or speak for all who look like us, but we encourage conversations!

In this episode, Rev. Mike and Malayna discuss the October 4th Sunday talk, "Just Like Me" and apply the concept to finding compassion toward all the White House Staff who have tested positive for Covid-19, to understanding why pharmaceutical companies still keep making ads that show one thing but say another, and how to listen to opposing viewpoints by practicing. Not just our spiritual practice to help us create space in our hearts and responses, but in practicing the art of being curious and looking for common ground. Like by using voca.vote to share opinions on reparations for slavery, and reading the comments from those who disagree with your own stance. Real talk, applying spiritual principles to life without pretending it's not challenging, but also looking for the transcendent in the spaces between.

On this 39th episode of TOT, we talk about the Breonna Taylor verdict, the first presidential debate of 2020 and the over-arching themes that connect them. It IS in our hands, has to be, when justice isn't just, when the masses opt for entertainment over substance and we can't work together but desperately need to do so. We also can strive to be better and vote our conscience. (Salaam's tee this week features Muhammed Ali with Malcolm X and his daughters.) **The Black Lives Matter heart-with-fists-light-and-blood is by Jenny Hahn. Support her work and get a t-shirt or mask at jennyhahnart.com. **

We talked about sports teams and the power of names; gestures like kneeling (like Kaepernick) or embracing (like Tyson and Tupac); the power of artists to empower others and offer hope, and the extremes of expression that push envelopes and buttons (like Cardi B). We talked Lovecraft Country (HBO) and Gil Scott-Heron, (and debated which is scarier: racists or monsters); and then wrapped it up with the power of intention, mindfulness and an invitation for our local police officers to meditate with us. #BLM #MeditatewithPolice #PopCultureLessons #LovecraftCountry #HipHopHistory #BlueCollarSpirituality #NationofIslam #FruitofIslamBLM Heart art by Jenny Hahn of JennyHahnArt.com - now available as a face mask or a t-shirt!

This episode goes behind-the-scenes on Rev. Mike McMorrow's new book, Blue Collar Spirituality: Finding a God that Works (Get it? Works? Like working people do?) He talks with Malayna Dawn about the people who encouraged and supported him along the way, and the people he hopes to help with the information shared in his book. Join us on a journey of a "recovering redneck" to ministry that makes sense. Link on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Blue-Collar-Spirituality-Finding-Works/dp/1735035300/

Rev Mike and Malayna are joined by Salaam Thompson, who this week shares insights on the aftermath of the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin; on the WNBA and NBA leading the athletes protests; about how black women get left out of movements, but fight on anyway. We are sure to praise women like suffragist Ida B. Wells, Tarana Burke (founder of the #MeToo movement) and author Kimberly Jones, whose video asks "How Can We Win"? while explaining the history of Black folks in America in terms of a Monopoly game. A Black woman also started SÜPRMARKT LA -- Olympia Auset brings low cost organic groceries to Los Angeles. AND we talked about Rev. Mike's new book, Blue Collar Spirituality: Finding a God that Works! Join us to learn more about the many ways that #BlackLivesMatter!#BLM Heart art by Jenny Hahn of Jenny Hahn Studio.

Salaam Thompson joins Rev. Mike and Malayna to continue the conversation about #BlackLivesMatter and how to create sustained efforts for lasting change by understanding what has gone before. We're recording from across the San Fernando Valley, on what was originally Tataviam land.

After the August 9th talk had us all singing The Who (yes, Rev. Mike does sing it in this episode!) "da Rev" and Malayna talk more about the Declaration of Principles we speak each Sunday and how they are indeed political -- though he tried to keep it from going there on Sunday. How can our ways of identifying ourselves and our tribe be broadened to connect with other tribes work together? Shifting from a consciousness of consumption... Looking for hope in young leaders like the Mayor of Compton... Leaning more into our spiritual practices aligns us with love, and then we act from that place. Sounds easy, doesn't it? And math. We need math.

August 5, 2020 - Salaam Thompson continues the conversation with Rev. Mike and Malayna, sharing how learning about Islam while in Catholic school combined with the Black Empowerment Movement expressed in Hip Hop helped him overcome the loss of his parents and become the man he is today. In part 2 of 2 of this episode, we move through Salaam's life story, through the history of Black leaders and into a Religious Science interpretation for how we can all move forward.BLM Heart art by Jenny Hahn of JennyHahnArt.com -- where you can buy tee shirts and masks with the art on it!

August 5, 2020 - Salaam Thompson once again joins Rev. Mike and Malayna in supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement by sharing from his personal experience and the wisdom he's gleaned in his extensive studies. In this episode, part 1 of 2, we start with Salaam's Muhammad Ali tee shirt as a doorway to talk about the Nation of Islam and its impact on his life. BLM Heart art by Jenny Hahn of JennyHahnArt.com -- where you can buy tee shirts and masks with the art on it! Links for more info:1985 Farrakan in LAhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/16/us...Nick Cannonhttps://youtu.be/LsHls1V6tE0Charlemagne tha God on Nick Cannonhttps://youtu.be/IfBtA9iVpmcJewish American Business People in Mediahttps://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_J...