The Nature of Man - Michael Jackson

It is the nature of man to need to worship something or someone. The media has worshiped Michael Jackson wall-to-wall since June 25th, and today was the "high holy day."

I watched in extreme discomfort as person after person deified this extremely flawed emotionally arrested man-child who could sing and dance. They started with outright sacrilege. An entire choir sang a song written by Andrae Crouch during the '70s. It was a song written about Jesus Christ, THE King. I had to mute the television not to hear the rest of "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king..." I apologized to my Lord for their ignorant sacrilege.

I am mindful there were 13 very young soldiers who have died since July 5th, and yet no one has deified them, much less mentioned them. They put their lives on the line for you and I. Michael Jackson put his own life on the line, denying his three children their father for the rest of their lives. He was self-destructive and self-indulgent, spending more than $500 Million on himself during his life. Yes, he gave, too, but not $500 Million!

He cost California - the state that is sliding into the ocean from unbelievable debt - another $4 Million for his funeral. Who is going to pay for the 6,000 police, some even pulled out of major crime departments, for their compulsory service to a man who destroyed himself?

And after all the over-kill hype by the media, when the service was ready to start, there were so many empty seats they started handing out FREE tickets just to fill the seats. It begs the question: Was it only the media who deified Michael Jackson? If so many people idolized him, why were there empty seats - lots of them - that had to hurriedly be filled?

The nature of man is the only reason Jesus came to earth, died for man's sins, and was resurrected. And no one but Jesus should be deified. Not JFK, not Elvis, not John Lennon...NO one.

I am sorry for Michael's kids. They will pay the price for his lifestyle. But it seems to me that everyone else connected to Michael has their hands out for what he accumulated, family included.

The two bright spots in the service were Brooke Shields as she spoke of their childhoods together, and Shaheen Jafargholi, a 12-year-old boy from the UK who had been a finalist on Britain's Got Talent.

I am sorry for those who operate out of the 'if a person is talented, then we excuse whatever they do because it's just their artistic nature.' That is an old lie that will continue to infiltrate the nature of man.

My Perspective (c) 2009 April Lorier

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Time For a Hallmark Family DVD

The Note has been released on DVD, and it is a great family movie. If you have not seen this movie, now is your chance!

A warm and touching story of hope and forgiveness based on a novel by best-selling Christian author Angela Hunt.

When a plane crashes, newspaper columnist Peyton MacGruder discovers a note that was from one of the passengers on board and she sets on a quest to find the person for whom it was intended.

The Note shows how dramatically life can change in a split second...the need to make a connection and reach out to someone you care about. If only we had a chance for those final goodbyes, to offer words of reconciliation, to say I love you or share regret.

Who would you write to if you had only a few moments? What would you say?

Starring: Emmy® Award winner Genie Francis (TV's General Hospital) and Ted McGinley (TV's Hope and Faith)

Reviews:

“Filled with a message of love, soul searching and forgiveness...this heartwarming story is awarded our Dove Seal and recommended for ages 12 and above.”

- Donna Rolfe, The Dove Foundation

“The Note” is about finding love - not just romantic love but a love for life, and a love of oneself.”

- Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe

#1 Hallmark Original Movie of the Year and 3rd highest rating of all-time on Hallmark!

There is a Scripture-Based Discussion Guide packaged inside the DVD.

2009 April Lorier

Author of God's Battered Child: Journey From Abuse to Leader, April Lorier offers her Christian view on domestic abuse, issues of society and of women, politics, divorce recovery, books, and Christianity. The daughter of a pastor, her perspective is sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking, but always a helpful faith-based resource for seekers.

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Scott Hamilton - 'Trust Your Almighty Coach'

Skating is a great teacher for discovering spiritual faith, because one of the first things you learn as a skater is that you can’t do it alone. You need a coach you respect and trust, who speaks your language and relates to you emotionally, intellectually, and physically.

I’ve seen a lot of bad coaches. I am not talking about not-good coaches, but downright bad coaches who would be abusive and hit their skaters with their skate guards, play all kinds of head games, even those who would walk away from the boards if their students didn’t skate well. There are also great coaches who are like another set of parents whom you rely on for everything.

Good coaches are good because they give their students the right information at the right time and let them take it from there. The best coaches gave me guidance, instruction, direction and information then allowed me to carry it out.

In 1979, I signed Don Laws as my skating coach. It was a pivotal moment in my career. The first thing Don did was lay down the law. He told me, “You’re going to work, and you’re going to be disciplined.”

The first thing Don and I did publicly as pupil and master was at the annual Professional Skaters Guild of America conference. During the huge banquet, I was sitting at a table when Don got up to speak. He said, “I’m sure you’re all aware that I have taken on a new student. Just so you all know, there’s a new direction, there’s a new commitment, and there’s a new philosophy.” Those were his exact words. He continued, “We will not be a comedian on the ice anymore; we are going to be very focused and hardworking.” And he looked at me with that look that said, “Aren’t we, Scott?”

I was flush with embarrassment, but I knew why he did it. He was letting everybody know that this was the direction he expected me to take, and now I was going to have more eyes on me than since he made that announcement. He knew how to push my motivational buttons. Plus, Don believed in me and was willing to give me all of his attention because he saw my potential. He gave me the road map and I followed it. Where do you want me? How much do you want me to skate? What days? I let him guide me because I trusted him and his commitment to me.

The following year I made the Olympic team, carrying the American flag at the opening ceremonies of the Lake Placid games. I then went from October 1980 through March 1984 without suffering a single defeat. In that stretch, I won four consecutive National and World titles and in 1984 won the Olympic Gold Medal at the games in Sarajevo.

Don was the perfect coach for me at that time. We were truly a divine pairing.

Ken Durham, my spiritual coach, is much like Don. Ken just gives the information from the Bible for me to apply to my life and situation. Ken says one of the most remarkable things about Christianity is its conviction that God cares so much about us that He has, in Christ, come to meet us within our own history. History is both God’s story and ours, together. And because God is so deeply interested in sharing our story with us, He has seen to it that everything we need to know about Him, about each other, and about ourselves is right there in front of us.

It’s amazing how many times you hear someone say, “You know, I was at a crossroads. I was really struggling, and I just picked up the Bible and I couldn’t believe that it spoke to exactly where I was that day.”

That’s what coaching is all about. It’s guidance. The teachings of Christianity include spiritual coaching that helps you live the best life you possibly can. You’re going to be presented with problems, whether it's relationship issues, job stress, financial difficulties or traffic, every single day of your life. It’s amazing the difference God can make; all you have to do is just allow Him to guide you.

God is the Almighty Coach. He always has all the information right there in front of us at the right time. It’s all there; we just need to open our eyes, minds, and hearts.

This Week

Talk through your problems with God. If you don’t feel like you know God well enough to talk to Him, don’t let it stop you from talking to Him because He certainly knows you! Focus on the relationship with God, and let Him coach you in all of your circumstances.

Prayer

“God, You know (describe your circumstances in detail). Please give me the wisdom and understanding I need today. Thank You for Your guidance. Amen.”

Scott's Book is available with your gift to Mission: Water for LIFE. He will be James and Betty's guest on LIFE Today on Tuesday.

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The Story of "My Country 'Tis of Thee"

Moved deeply by the desire to create a national hymn that would allow the American people to offer praise to God for our wonderful land, a twenty-four-year-old theological student, Samuel Francis Smith, penned these lines on a scrap of paper in less than thirty minutes in 1832.

Yet even today many consider My Country, 'Tis of Thee their favorite patriotic hymn and call it our unofficial national anthem.

The easily singable words of the song are matched with a popular international melody used by many nations, including England, where it accompanies God Save the King/Queen. The emotionally powerful ideas that Smith expressed had an immediate response. The hymn soon became a national favorite.

The stirring tributes to our fatherland in the first three stanzas lead to a worshipful climax of gratefulness to God and a prayer for His continued guidance. Following his graduation from Harvard and the Andover Theological Seminary, Samuel Smith became an outstanding minister in several Baptist churches in the East. He composed one hundred fifty hymns during his eighty-seven years and helped compile the leading Baptist hymnal of his day.

He was also editor of a missionary magazine through which he exerted a strong influence in promoting the cause of missions. Later he became the secretary of the Baptist Missionary Union and spent considerable time visiting various foreign fields.

Samuel Smith was truly a distinctive representative of both his country and his God.

My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride,
From ev'ry mountain side let freedom ring!

My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love:
I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills like that above.

Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song:
Let mortal tongues awake, let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to Thee, author of liberty, to Thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might, great God, our King!

By Kenneth W. Osbeck, Guest Writer for CBN

Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants. -- William Penn

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Sarah Palin Quits As Governor

Today the world is shocked at the announcement from Sarah Palin that she is quitting as Governor of Alaska, effective 7/26/2009. Wild speculations are flying as to the reason she is quitting before her term is up in 2010. Pundits are "punditing" like crazy!

She has said she has spent 80% of her time, and $2 Million of her state's money, during the last year, fighting stupid allegations, and she will not do that to her state anymore. She says she will not be a lame duck who merely collects a pay check. She wants to fight for the issues she really cares about, both in Alaska and in the nation.

Some will say she's caving in to pressure. But I say she's crazy like a fox. Never underestimate Sarah Palin!



You go, Sarah! I know God is with you.

(c) 2009 April Lorier

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