POSTMORTEM

Is is "bad" to speak ill of the deceased? Flowery funeral-speak aside, the media seems determined to glorify Michael Jackson. The "elephant in the room" question is: was MJ a bad boy...a bad fifty-year-old boy? He sang repeated lyrics that proclaimed he was bad. Wait. That meant he was cool/good, not bad. As Mike would say..."give me Johnny Cash lyrics any day; I can understand them."

Why do you think there is such confusion about Michael Jackson's life?

I'm thinking it is because no one wants to appear judgmental. If you say anything about the King of Pop's life, the big ole "judge not" hammer comes out. People who normally may not study the Bible are all of a sudden using it for back-up. They might be surprised if they actually studied what that particular passage says...

Actually we ARE called on to evaluate many things. We expect our children to be able to evaluate their friends because the Bible says "bad company corrupts good morals". We are expected to evaluate the movies and TV we watch because the Psalmist says "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes". We're always evaluating our own motives, our priorities, and our plans for the day because the Bible says I should make the most of my time because I'm not guaranteed tomorrow. So I know God expects my wisdom to be ever increasing and affecting my judgment.

So how can we biblically evaluate Michael Jackson's life? Well, the Bible says we will know people by their fruit. What kind of fruit was on his tree?

Man brought charges against Mr. Jackson and then man ruled that he was innocent; there is no basis for name calling because God only knows. I find comfort in knowing that God's judgment is perfect and the cases that squeak by in this life will certainly be seen in the next life in light as bright as the noonday sun. No one skates by God's omniscience. So if we give MJ the benefit of the doubt that he was innocent of his charges, was his behavior just bizarre? Was he just the product of an abusive father?

Biblically, we are under the injunction to "avoid even the appearance of evil". When Mr. Jackson went on TV and said he liked to sleep with young boys, even if it was innocent, it gave the appearance of evil.

But WAIT. What about all the good MJ did in this life? Doesn't that count for anything? Perhaps he was a "good" father to give his kids the life he never enjoyed. And what about the money he gave to charity? We hear that he got the Guinness World Record for charitable contributions.

Ask yourself whose book recorded points for that generosity? Was it God's book or man's book? God says the things I do for impure motives (to showcase myself...to make me feel righteous...or win friends) those things are like filthy rags to Him, even if they are good things. Why? Because they aren't done for Jesus' sake; they are done for moi'. We are in effect feeling our nakedness (shame) before God and trying by our own deeds to clothe ourselves. God is not impressed. He wants to have a loving and living relationship where I come to HIM to see what He has in mind for my righteousness. The Bible says I have good deeds created before the foundation of the world that God thought up for me to accomplish. If so, I better be about finding out what those are! I want to utilize my gifting and walk in the path He made for me.

Do you think Michael Jackson's path looked like the one the Lord created for him? How profoundly sad it was that he needed operating room anesthetic to even sleep toward the end of his life. There didn't appear to be a glimmer of the joy of the Lord...only pain. The sad waste is that Jesus was always close and willing to give Michael a real reason to dance. The Lord's heart is broken for the hurting.

I get it that when an earthly father does not love well, it is more difficult for the child to understand God's love. Joe Jackson must certainly have his demons. But if a person is open to God's love, God will show Himself to that person. He sees our hearts and knows whether the ground there is plowed up or hard-baked. Was there any evidence of Jesus in Michael's life? I hope such a relationship was there, but I would hate to have to build the case for one. He did not exhibit the peace that passes understanding.

Thank goodness that I am not appointed judge for Michael Jackson's life. There is no desire to malign him now...that lonely and tortured man did a good job of maligning himself. But also we should not pretend. Whether it sounds judgmental or not, Michael Jackson wrote his own script as we all do. And the script was grotesque. Our part in this is to evaluate and decide what might bear emulating.

Jesus said "My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

A TIME OF TESTING

Remember that sick feeling when you got to class and found out there was a test? I wouldn't be surprised if something like that was going on right now. The Lord is good to illustrate His life lessons in living color for us before our very eyes. And that test would be an indication of where our heart lives.

Whatever am I talking about?

What if a godly person were to die in the next few months? It might be someone who had done great good in the world. It might be someone whose example was to serve others and lift the Lord consistently. Then the funeral would be in stark contrast to the memorial service we are about to observe for Michael Jackson. Our Father is just kind enough to make that obvious comparison for us.

The tortured Michael Jackson is about to be buried, but not before people can take the final advantage of him. We are hearing reports that Ebay is scalping tickets to his "funeral". What a charade! How much is "tacky" squared? This poor soul who hid behind Neverland gates and pay-offs and even behind the hair down in his face...will now be put through yet another opportunity to be used as the cash cow.

So what is this test? The test will be taken by the public. They will say by their clamoring adoration who they "vote for" to honor and hold high. There's no question that MJ was given huge talent to create music and dance. But what was that talent used for? Is he why people grope their crotch now as they dance? Mr. Jackson has an amazing following that he might have used to point the way to the Lord. Were there any high thoughts that he influenced others to think? Now his life is celebrated for it's quirky factor - a black man who crossed the color line in his popularity, but who never quite fit comfortably in his own skin.

Last Thursday the King of Pop opened his eyes to see the true King of Kings. All his life is now being examined before the Judge of all men...the One whose name is Holy and Pure...the One who loved Michael's soul as none other loved him in this life. If Michael Jackson does not know this King, all his money/fame cannot help hide him now.

And if there were two funerals, people would have a chance to reflect and decide to pattern their lives after a life that has enduring value. Call it a legacy test.

"And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him". Hebrews 9:27,28 NLT

MR. BITTY

There's a peculiar ziplock in the Saferite's fridge these days. Right beside the cheese, you can find fresh, hand-dug worms. The worms are food for Nate's new pet...a tiny brown box turtle named Itty Bitty. When I asked Nate what his new pet liked to eat, he said "WORMS and STRAWBERRIES!" I might want to tweak the order of those courses myself. Beth swears that when she arrives in Nate's room (singing), Mr. Bitty comes running toward her. He's so smart! He already knows his momma. She's the one bearing the worm segment. Box turtles also like tadpoles, snails, crickets, and dead flies. Yum.

The Saferite's have sweet friends in the neighborhood who just LOVE turtles and they gave Nate his new pet. This couple became turtle experts by rescuing turtles in the road. Then it progressed to bringing the turtles home. Now they built a turtle pen in their backyard where seven turtles live and reproduce! Birthing in captivity is apparently unusual for turtles, so we feel like Itty Bitty comes from sanguine stock. He's eight months old (born last October) and his shell diameter is 1.5 inches. Ring the dinner bell, Mr. Bitty; that's no so much girth.

It is nice to have neighbors who are a walking instruction manual about turtlecare and who give pets away for free. Well, Itty Bitty was free if you don't count buying his "basking"" light, his glass aquarium, assorted aquarium accessories, and his sawdust shavings. At least for now Nate is all over his hunter/gatherer role. But it's not like it's such a big chore. How much grub can a 1.5 inch turtle pack down in a day?

The Lord said we were to have dominion over the animals and I guess He meant reptiles, too. Nate seems to be taking his responsibility seriously. He likes having a friend in his room. The minute they brought I.B. into the house, Nate said "I think he will want to play with my truck"...and off he went to find a matchbox toy to put in the aquarium. He also creatively found a little piece from another toy and they use that for Mr. Bitty's tunnel. Nate says his turtle likes to go for a walk in the tunnel.

Did you have a pet turtle when you were little? I had a green one...a red-eared slider turtle. But the main difference in our turtles would be the pump jar of hand sanitizer beside Itty Bitty's condo. Back in the day, who worried about salmonella? I have to admit, the knowledge of such a disease would have made me turtle-hesitant. But then, we know too much these days. Information overload.

Itty Bitty is a small start toward putting a young man on the road to learning the responsibility of caring for someone besides himself. It's the old "me third" principle...God first, others second (even turtles), and me third. I like to think Nate will be a better husband/father as a result of his new friend, Mr. Bitty.

"Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not merely his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:4