The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
It has been reported in the last day or two, including on MaryMary's blog that three weeks ago, Michael Jackson prayed with Andrae and Sandra Crouch
to receive Christ as Savior after singing the song, "It Won't be Long" (til we'll be leaving here...we'll be going home).
Another report is here. More can be found by simpling Googling for them.
Whether this report is true or not, we can't judge what might have happened in a person's final moments. I'm convinced some pastors and other Christians may have forgotten this fact. I've read so many "status updates" on facebook and other social networking sites, condemning him to hell as well as chastising people for being so sad or rebuking them for being sentimental about his music. This type of judgmental behavior is pathetic. It doesn't help anyone whether they are a believer or not. Christians who do this are exactly the people I do not want to hang around with whether in person or online because my tolerance factor with them is about half a second. Can't they see this is exactly the behavior that drives many away from the Lord, not draws them to Him? Nobody decides to come to Jesus by somebody bashing Michael Jackson or anybody else.
Others say, "look what he did to those kids! Nobody should be honoring him because he's an abuser." I'm not so sure. Believe me, I don't have my head in the sand about abuse. But I'm not so sure he's guilty of it. He was accused of abusing two children. Regarding the first case, I really question any parent who would sell out their child. If someone abused one of my children I would fight to the death for their justice. Nobody could pay me off, nobody could offer me enough money to make up for it. I would keep fighting and money would be no object. It really tells me all I need to know about the character of the parents of the first child that they would so quickly and joyfully accept a bunch of money to make it go away. It smacks of extortion to me, and evidently a judge believed as much. Keep in mind as well that the accuser had also falsely accused others! As for the second molestation he was accused of, there was a lot of evidence to the contrary, including absolutely airtight evidence that he was not even in the same state as the child on some of the dates listed in the accusation. If people lie about some things they will lie about anything.
Do you know how easy it is for someone to accuse another of abuse? Very easy. All you have to do is just open your mouth and say it and it's your word against theirs. Regardless, Jackson was aquitted of all charges. However, some will always doubt and think the accusation is true even if it was not. The media can blow something up like this in two seconds flat. Look what happened in the case of the boys from the Duke University lacrosse team. The accusations were completely false, but the media - and most of America -- rushed to judgment. For that matter, think about the situation this past week with Michael Jackson's doctor. Right after his death the media circulated a story that his doctor had fled and was on the run. That was fabricated. The doctor cooperated from beginning.
Add to all of this his Jackson's eccentric behavior that would remind you more of a typical eight year old than a 50-year old music icon. He never really had a childhood and was pushed so hard by Joe Jackson in his younger years. I really believe his growth was hindered and he didn't emotionally grow up. Hence his strange behavior at times. Let's be real, the man wore Superhero pajamas at times. (Uh, wait...I do that too...lol) Seriously, the man wore footie pajamas and created a zoo at his house. I am not so sure he was abusing children as much as he was simply living as a child, trying desperately to live the years over again that he never got to live the first time.
While there are some who don't want to hear anything about him and are sick of this being on the news, no one can argue the fact that he changed the face of music not only in America but around the world, just as Elvis did. Very few people have that broad appeal and impact. He has been dubbed by many as the greatest entertainer of all time. I don't believe people should worship him by any means but certainly it is appropriate to celebrate his life and accomplishments. He has been a trendsetter in the music industry and , practically put music videos on the map. Whether you like him or not, at least accept the fact that he influenced the very fabric of music internationally and many people just want to pay their respects.
Comments
I didn't follow MJ much but you cannot deny his influence.
As my old youth pastor said once, "I think we're going to be surprised when we get to heaven at who is there AND who isn't there."
[According to one of the kids in my church, though, Michael Jackson is still alive and they took him to wherever Elvis is currently living - the kid is totally serious about this!]
Ruth, PA