Remembering Michael Jackson...

I was pretty much a casual Christian till I had a deep life-changing encounter with God in 2001. One of the many commitments that I made to Him at that time was in the area of music - I dedicated all of it to God (including listening, playing, singing and song-writing). The Lord also responded by sort of removing my love for secular music - it simply disappeared overnight and I threw away all of my secular CDs and cassettes. Since then I hardly think about non-Christian music.

The 1^st death anniversary of Micheal Jackson brings back many childhood memories...singing 'The Way You Make Me Feel', 'Man In The Mirror', 'We Are The World', 'Heal The World'...or dancing to 'Smooth Criminal', 'Thriller', 'Black Or White' during my school days...or the excitement of buying the latest album as soon it hit the stores...

You see, most English language music fans of my generation grew up on MJ songs. Here was an artiste who could do no wrong when it came to chart success. Platinum sales were virtually guaranteed for any of his albums. Everyone seemed to enjoy the uniqueness of his voice and the pristine production quality of his music and it seemed to only get better with every release.

If I remember right, it was after one such outstanding album 'Dangerous' that it all started going downhill. What causes a man who sells 40 million copies of a single album to go bankrupt is something I'll never understand. Not to forget the child molestation allegations when he had millions of women literally worshiping him! From king-of-pop to whacko-jacko, the tragic mutation was simply unbelievable.

As a worship leader / songwriter, I wonder at times what if MJ had experienced Jesus and had become a Christian worship leader! Maybe he would've written 'We are the World' without that ugly incorrect line "as God has shown us by turning stone to bread". What inspired worship songs would the Church have received from the hand that wrote the brilliant 'Heal The World!' Maybe his albums would have been 'Of the Cross' instead of 'Off the Wall', 'Redeemer' instead of 'Thriller', 'Good' instead of 'Bad!'

In the midst of all the pointless tribute concerts and other silly programs from corporations and artistes cheaply trying to extract as much mileage as possible from the moon-walker’s death, what all of it reminds us of is the empty vanity of earthly riches and fame. As St. Augustine said, "Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you." Rest well MJ, I hope you find serenity in death, which you never had in life.

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn men back to dust,
saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning-
though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered." - Psalm 90:1-6

As someone once said: no Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.