Who wants to be like Mike ?

For the last week, we have heard nothing but Michael Jackson on TV, newspaper, magazines etc…..

It is really a very sad story.

Michael had everything that most people strive for and crave for.

Fame and fortune--but it seems like he lacked the thing he wanted and needed most--friends.

One of the people who is talking these days about Michael Jackson is Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi.

Here is part of an interview with Campbell Brown.

Rabbi Shmuley

“Michael always thought that he had ailments of the body. He always had a neck that hurt, a foot that was twisted. Really, he had an affliction of his soul. He was extremely lonely, he was extremely unhappy. He felt purposeless, he felt lethargic. And the way he dealt with that pain -- and he was especially afraid of evasion-- that perhaps his best years are behind him.

I think Michael lived with a profound fear of rejection. And Michael told me once -- and this is a heartbreaking conversation between us -- ‘Shmuley, I promise I'm not lying to you,’ he said. ‘I'm not lying to you.’ He said that twice. ‘But everything I've done in pursuing fame, in honing my craft,’ to quote his words, ‘was an effort to be loved because I never felt loved.’ And he used to say that to me all the time.

And you can imagine if you're trying to get love from the crowd and you're not sure how they're going to react to you because time is going on, they [call you] ‘wacko-jacko’ -- you've become a tabloid caricature. You live in phenomenal fear. And I think that a lot of this -- the prescription drugs -- was used to address and alleviate the anxiety. And it was just tragic to watch.”

Wow.

That describes a lot of people.

Jesus described them this way in Matthew 9.

“When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

There are a lot of Michaels out there.

They are extremely lonely, extremely unhappy, purposeless in life, lethargic …. 

Ask God to help you see the people around you as He sees them. Then ask Him to help you give His grace, mercy, love and hope to them as you have the opportunity.

“Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” -Martin Luther King

There is a Michael Jackson near you.

Happiness anyone ?

It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving, it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.   Thomas Paine (1737-1809),

Appointment

Today, I was soberly reminded of my mortality.

The king of pop culture, Michael Jackson, dead at the age of 50.

Jackson’s lifetime record sales tally is believed to be about $750 million, which, added to the 13 Grammy Awards he has received, makes him one of the most successful entertainers of all time.

He was known to be the first to do the "moonwalk".

Sex symbol Farrah Fawcett, dead at the age of 62.

To many, Fawcett will always be best known for her red-swimsuited image on the pinup poster, which sold a reputed 12 million copies after its release in 1976.

James says, "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (4:14)

Sobbering, isn't it ?

What will you be remembered for?

What are you leveraging in your life for God and His Kingdom?

Will it be remember just for a life time or for eternity?

Remember, you get to choose.

Only One Life

Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice.

Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. -Author Unknown

"It is appointed once to die and then the judgment" Hebrews 9:27

People or Policy

This week they are playing  the US Golf Open in Bethpage, NY. The weather has not been cooperative with most of the field not being able to tee Thursday.

The ticket for Thursday is no longer valid for the rest of the tournament though they really didn’t get to see much golf played. The tickets are expensive.

USGA came out and said that they were holding to their policy which is printed right on the tickets.

This really upset the fans. The USGA had forgotten they were really not in the golf business but the people business.

Here is how it went down. ( Associated Press )

U.S. Open fans who got to see only two-plus hours of golf Thursday might get a chance to see more.

And if they don't, they'll get half of their money back.

Facing mounting criticism, United States Golf Association executive director David Fay announced Friday that fans holding tickets for Thursday's rained-out session can use them Monday if the U.S. Open stretches to a fifth day.

Later Friday a statement from New York state attorney general Andrew Cuomo said that the USGA will refund 50 percent of the ticket price if there is no Monday play.

"I am pleased to report that, after further discussions with my office, the USGA has agreed that if there is no play on Monday, Thursday ticket purchasers will receive a 50 percent refund since there was only limited play on Thursday," Cuomo said in a statement. "I commend the USGA for stepping up to the tee and doing right by their fans."

They corrected their mistake by remembering that though policies are needed , people are more important .

Even when you have to hold to a policy it is important to remember to listen, care and try to understand where people are coming from.

Remember no matter what you do, you are ultimately in the people business.

Say What ?

 

Michael Vick  24 months for killing dogs.

Dante Stallworth 24 days for killing a man.

How did that happen ?

It was announced that Dante Stallworth will be sentenced to 24 days in Jail for killing a pedestrain while drunk in Florida. He pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter ,

Stallworth must also undergo drug and alcohol testing,lifetime driver's license suspension and must perform 1,000 hours of community service. Lyons said after five years, Stallworth could win approval for limited driving for reasons such as employment. He also came to a financial agree with the family of the deceased.

You say you got to be kidding.

What was the difference.

Michael Vick – refused to admit his wrong. He lied . He was arrogant.

Dante Stallworth – Admitted his wrong.  He told the truth. He was broken.

Here are some quotes from an article about the 

I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy," said Stallworth, who was accompanied at the hearing by his parents, siblings and other supporters. "I will bear this burden for the rest of my life."

Lyons noted that Stallworth stopped immediately after the accident, called 911 and submitted to roadside alcohol testing despite spending most of the night drinking at a Miami Beach hotel.

"He acted like a man," Lyons said. "He remained at the scene. He cooperated fully."

What are the lessons ?

Good people are kind   to their animals,  but a mean person is cruel. Proverbs 12:10 ECV

Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red,  when it sparkles in the cup,  when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake 
and poisons like a viper.  Proverbs 23:29  -32

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13

June 10, 1950

 

Fifty-nine years ago today a man named Jim married a beautiful girl named Marie.  That would be my father and mother.  You probably have heard the saying, “They were made for each other.” Well, nothing could be truer of them.

They were very intentional on serving one another and considering the other’s interests above their own. 

I have heard my dad say that he knew of no greater woman than my mom, including his own mom. That is quite a compliment for any woman.

She was the apple of Dad’s eye, and  Dad was the apple of her eye.

I stopped by today to see my dad . I asked him how it was going, and he said it had been a great day. He had worked all day. He said, “I have been listening to music and working.  I have swept the floor, dusted the furniture, mopped the kitchen floor.” He said with a twinkle in his eye, “I did it just in case Mother would come back tonight.”  

If you knew my mother, no one kept a house like her. It was her style.  I know why Dad did what he did today. It was a way of showing honor to his wife, my mother, for all the years she took care of him.

Before I left he wanted me to listen to a favorite song:

Where the Rose Never Fades

I am going to a city,
Where the streets with gold are laid;
Where the tree of life is blooming,
And the roses never fade.
Here they bloom but for a season,
Soon their beauty is decayed;
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.
Loved ones gone to be with Jesus,
In their robes of white arrayed;
Now are waiting for my coming,
Where the roses never fade.
Here they bloom but for a season,
Soon their beauty is decayed;
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.
Here they bloom but for a season,
Soon their beauty is decayed;
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.
Where the roses never fade!

I prayed with him and thanked him for the great example of a marriage that he and Mom had given me.

Number One Responsibility

The Cleveland Cavaliers just came through a very disappointing weekend. Though they had the best record in the NBA they fell short of their ultimate goal--an NBA Championship.

The heads of the sports page reads today: “Now the evaluation process begins.” Danny Ferry the GM for the Cavs said that the evaluation process starts now and continues between now and next February (the NBA trading deadline).

Sounds pretty thorough, but I guess if you are going to have a championship team that is what it takes.

Jack Welch says that is what is required of a leader--that their number one responsibility is to evaluate their team and upgrade .

Why? Because you can’t go any further than the players you have on your team. This may sound cold and hard, but it is really what separates the great leader from the average leader--the team that dreams of a championship and one that wins a championship.

So when was the last time you evaluated your team?

Here are some things you might consider when evaluating.

Is their attitude in a good place ?

Are they still growing as a leader?

Are they in the right role?

Are they still bringing energy and creating energy?

Are they still engaged in meetings, in leading?

Are they bringing solutions or reasons why it won’t work?

Are they attracting new people to their own team?

Are they playing the role you need or the role they want?

Do they push you as a leader or do you have to push them?

Has their position out grown them?

Are they creating momentum for the team?

Are they still teachable? coachable?

Are they stepping up to new challenges?

Do they have a sense of entitlement?

Do they influence and lead other team members toward the goals?

Can they do what is needed to be done ?

In sports at the end of every season, the GM and the coach do a through evaluation to see what changes are needed to compete next season for a championship.

It is no different for you and me--especially if you are in ministry. The stakes are much higher for us.

“Remember those who are closest to you determine your level of success.” -John Maxwell