About Michael…
Michael Murray was born in — wait a minute… Why am I writing this in third person??? Can I start over?!
Hi, I’m Michael. I don’t have life figured out yet. I’m still a mess. But I believe that every single person matters to Jesus. And I believe that he invites us all to follow him, one shaky step at a time.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
So what’s the deal with Nobody Left Out?
Glad you asked! A few years ago, I was listening to a sermon that posed a simple yet profound question: What breaks your heart?
As I started really thinking about this question, a few things came to mind…
It breaks my heart when people want nothing to do with God because of how they were treated by those who follow Him.
It breaks my heart when people view Christianity as nothing more than a list of do’s and don’ts; as a religion rather than a relationship.
It breaks my heart when people (including myself) use God as a weapon against other people; when God is used as an excuse to treat people poorly.
It breaks my heart when people have a skewed view of what’s in the Bible (and what the Bible is, for that matter) because they were given a simplistic view of it.
It breaks my heart when people don’t understand that it’s okay to be broken and messed up because we’re all broken and messed up, and God is in the business of redeeming all things.
It breaks my heart when our version of religion gets in the way of loving the people God loves.
Simply put, it breaks my heart when people feel left out because they weren’t invited to be part of God’s story. And that’s what led me to start the Nobody Left Out book series. When I read through the pages of the Bible, I see a God who invites and includes.
You’re invited.
You’re included.
A few more fast facts about me…
I was born in the Bronx, New York (Go [insert NY sports team!]), but moved to Orlando, FL, when I was 7 years old. With my family, that is. I didn’t just up and leave them. My mom won a trip to Disney World at a tupperware party, and we liked it so much here that we stayed!
I have a disability called cerebral palsy. If you want to know more about what that is, I encourage you to watch this video. (Just a disclaimer: That’s not actually me in the video. It’s comedian Zach Anner. But he does a great job explaining what CP is!) While having CP has made some aspects of my life challenging, I also think it has given me a unique perspective on God’s grace and mercy. (A bit like #9 on Zach’s list.)
I love sweet tea! (But I’d gladly accept a cup of coffee.)
I love Summit Church!
I love musicals!
I love my wife, Diana, who also happens to be an amazing artist!
I love our son, Emmett, who we recently adopted!
Cool, now what?
If it’s your first time here, take a look around. Feel free to check out my blog archives and videos. I also invite you to sign up for the free Nobody Left Out newsletter. And if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you!