I have had friends questions my "MJ Memories" due to the allegations of Child Abuse he encountered in his later years. I understand these feelings perfectly. As a victim of child sexual abuse I watched that whole MJ scandal and it triggered lots of questions as well. It also uncovered a lot of pain from my own abusive past. However I also know that Michael Jackson was frozen in time at his own level of abuse. Every child that is molested does not become a molester. Because of his fame and his love for children, he was an open target for law suits. I do think he should have used better judgment, but I don't believe that made him an abuser. I also believe that those parents have to be held somewhat accountable. I would never think twice about allowing my child to sleep over with a grown man even... if he was Michael Jackson. After listening to hours and hours of testimony, the jury found him innocent of all charges. He was found "not guilty". However his reputation was marred forever.

My own children were drawn into a situation in our own neighborhood with a young man who had serious issues. On the outside he looked like a boy who just enjoyed being with children. He would play ball with them all in the neighborhood. He coached sports teams. But there were times he would just randomly call to talk to my boys as if they were his "friend". He gave them gifts such as t-shirts, tickets to ballgames, even cell phones in exchange for personal items like shoes or clothing. It naturally set off red flags in me. It wasn't until years later that there was enough evidence to turn him in. As soon as it all came together young boys came out of the woodwork. With all the evidence including federal charges for child pornography this young man is now serving a 20 year sentence with no chance of parole for good behavior. The evidence was solidly there and they found him "guilty".

In making peace with my own abuse... I have found the greatest healing has come through personal forgiveness. I have actually spoken with the man who abused me years ago and found that he had carried the burden of my abuse around with him for years. He willingly confessed his sin toward me and asked for my forgiveness. But even that didn't free me from the cloak of shame that I felt permeated my spirit. Only Jesus could do that for me! He freed me from the hurt, the hate, and brought healing. Because of His great love for me, I continue to work with victims of abuse as a counselor through various community organizations. I know that despite the pain of abuse God is still able to turn this situation into something he can use for his glory. As for your own children... I would encourage you to continue guarding and protecting him. Today's world is so much scarier because technology has opened up a whole new way for children to be exploited and abused. And frighteningly the people who abuse are often very close to home!

As for Michael Jackson... we can be inspired by his music, his lyrics, and be reminded to do what we can as individuals to reach out to others. But as my son pointed out last night after watching, My Sister's Keeper, it is scary to think that there are people out there who lead wonderfully giving lives and can still leave this world and not know Jesus. Their capacity to do "good" may greatly surpass our own... but if they never saw the need for a Savior, they leave this world lost. It is not my place to judge a man's heart. I can only seek to continue to share God's love with others through Christ. Many times we find that people of the world have the right method... they just have the wrong message. We can still learn a great deal from them because if we get the method down... and add the message... then more people can know our Savior! Have a wonderful weekend and I appreciate your response. God bless you and yours! In Christ's Love, Jenny

Michael Jackson Tribute
By Jenny Ross

As a child my memories of Michael are clamoring to watch him on any television show he might have appeared , listening to 45s of him singing with his brothers and laughing every Saturday morning as I watched the cartoon version singing ...ABC... He was such a delight to watch and listen to! As I got older I was enamored with his performance in The Wiz and hearing him sing sweet songs about Ben... It wasn't until I was in college that I became enamored with him again as I watched him perform at the MTV awards on the floor of my Aunt Myrtle's living room working on a school project. Once again I was captivated watching him dance and listening to him sing.

Over the years I enjoyed his newer albums. And then came the day that he performed at the half time show of the Super Bowl. My son, Matt, was just a little boy. He was literally glued to the TV. After that we found videos of Michael Jackson. Matt learned every song and danced along with the music. He started wearing a little blue shirt and black pants with the sparkly socks and black loafers. When he was 4 we went to Epcot and he saw the animated Michael Jackson performance. As we were leaving the theater it had gotten dark. There was a huge fountain that was lit up and they were playing Billy Jean as we made our way to the parking lot. Before I realized it Matt had run over to the fountain and was dancing in the lights. He had every move down pat. I looked up and saw people were stopping and watching him. Before the song was over he had a crowd of people around him who all cheered when the song was over. He's been dancing ever since!

Later he and his brother did a performance of Bad that we still have on video! Kevin later learned every move as well and even won the talent show dancing to a selection of songs performed by Michael Jackson. Both of my boys were the kid that would be surrounded during a school dance. Both were known in high school for their love of Michael Jackson's music.
In years to come we continued to enjoy Michael’s music. Although people look back to his success in Thriller who could deny the depth of the songs he brought to the table. Songs that encouraged people to make changes... to work together to "heal the world" Even in the midst of the series of Free Willie he touched hearts.. and lives. He was a true humanitarian whether you were "black or white",

Some may say he was peculiar... he was bizarre... How about he was unique! His view of the world was different because his experiences in life were different. Some say he struggled with anorexia. From personal experience I can tell you that anorexia derives from a mentally distorted body image. While I was in the hospital 95% of the people who were there with me fighting to overcome this disorder had also suffered from abuse. And when you think of his plastic surgeries... have you ever thought that he was uncomfortable looking at his own image because it favored the very person who abused him? Think about the depth of his lyrics when he sings... I'm starting with the man in the mirror... I'm asking him to change his ways. Psychologically we seek to be different from our abusers... even if it brings harm to ourselves.



Can we listen to him sing his songs about his childhood... hear him shout out his anger... and not identify with his pain in anyway? At the same time... it is so easy to sit back and judge if you have never had to endure pain. Pain Bites! If this man was out preparing like a boxer to go back into the ring and working long hours... his body had to be hurting. I know myself the older I get .. the harder it is to bounce back and there are nights if I had Demerol anywhere near me I would take it in a heart beat!  I find Micheal's death to be a tragedy... but I think it is also something we can learn from. When you look around you and see people you love... hurting... struggling... rather than shake your head and say... how could he do that to himself? Why not seek to be the hand that reaches out in love? There are others out there that are hurting and struggling. I think that would be the perfect way to honor the life of this man who worked his way into our hearts for the majority of his life. Let's keep his songs alive as well as his message of hope!

The Slice of Life we call Today...

I woke up this morning at 5 and could not go back to sleep. I finally
pulled out my Bible and I read the neatest thing in one of the side
line excerpts:



" Is is easy to slip back into worrying about tomorrow, dwelling on the
'what ifs" and the "if onlys". Each day brings a host of things we
cannot change, there will always be circumstances beyond our control.
We must also face the reality of who we are- human beings confined
within the slice of life we call today. We need to ask ourselves at
every turn in life, Am I accepting this present moment or am I
pretending by trying to escape into the past or the future? Each day
there is something to find joy in, and there is strength promised for
the troubles of that day. The psalmist wrote, "This is the day that the
Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24) We,
too, can choose to find joy and strength when we accept each day's
realities.

http://www.youtube.com/wat..ch?v=-xFsygL3V9I



http://www.youtube.com/wat..ch?v=j4MQrCtEpHk



From Dr. Ed Dobson, senior vice president for spiritual formation:



I know that my comments in the Grand Rapids Press, USA Today and on the
Good Morning America Weekend show have created some discussion and
controversy. Unfortunately, the main focus of my journey this year was
lost - namely, to better understand the teachings of Jesus. I come away
from the experience with a deeper appreciation for the life, teachings,
sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus. I wanted to take a few
moments to react to two of the issues that are causing the most
controversy: my vote for President-elect Obama and the issue of alcohol
use.



I have always been and will continue to be pro-life. So why in the
world did I vote the way I did? I am pro-life before birth and pro-life
after birth. I am equally concerned with the violence on our streets,
with people who are dying of HIV-AIDS, people who are suffering
genocide in various places in the world, children who are growing up
without adequate health care, etc. For me, being pro-life includes not
only the protection of the unborn but also how we treat people who are
already born. I felt that Mr. Obama was closer to the essence of Jesus'
teachings - compassion for the poor and the oppressed, being a
peacemaker, loving your enemies and other issues. I have also said,
though it never was printed, that I have little faith in politicians of
either party. The real work of reducing abortions and extending love
and compassion to the poor and oppressed should be done by those of us
who are devoted followers of Jesus.



Now, to the alcohol issue. Jesus himself was accused of being a glutton
and a drunkard. Obviously, he was neither! But he did eat food, and he
did drink wine. He did frequent parties with tax collectors and
sinners. So part of my journey was to try and emulate Jesus in this
way. I know that this is not in sync with the Cornerstone lifestyle
statement. However, I am not an employee. I do not get paid. I am a
volunteer. I was not asked to sign the statement. Had I signed the
statement, I would have followed that commitment because I have always
strived to be a person of my word.



I regret any controversy that I may have caused our community at
Cornerstone University. I love our students, personnel and the mission
of the school, and I do not want to distract from the great things that
God is doing on our campus. I look forward to sharing with you more of
the things that God has taught me during the course of the past year.



Serving alongside you at Cornerstone,

Ed Dobson