Thanks to you who posted your comments and insights regarding the passing of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. All input is greatly appreciated. Others offered your insight via the Facebook link.
Some expressed grief that Mr. Jackson apparently gave no evidence, words or deeds, of being a genuine, biblical follower of Jesus Christ. Others communicated an attitude of “good riddance,” pointing in effect to the laws of sowing and reaping and judgment to come. Some remarked on the certainty of death that comes to us all, rich or poor, famous or unknown. Some shared verses of scripture that have relevance to this situation.
Few, though, followed up on my real question – why do certain individuals become such a global sensation? What is it about them that causes others so adore them (some fanatically), overlooking their many and obvious flaws? My desire was in no way to hold up Mr. Jackson as a positive role model, pass judgment on his walk with God or the lack thereof, but simply to ponder why a handful of individuals become such a phenomenon and others are overlooked.
I thought Greg dealt with this as well as anyone (myself included) in a poignant summary:
Can we call this “Lessons to Live By”? Michael Jackson worked and played hard, made a great sum of money (and spent more), and had the fame that people only dream of – Yet did you ever feel like there was contentment and peace in his life? Our faith in Christ offers so much more and we are all celebrities in the eye of God.
Greg is a friend from High School and I had to give him some play. 
Seriously, his thoughts were great. Another High School friend, Tina, who sometimes makes celebrity appearances in this blog, had some interesting thoughts on her own blog. You can see for yourself right here. For those of you who can handle the Spanish, Lucas Leys dealt with precisely the same theme on my mind - What was it that made Michael Jackson so influential? – only he did a much better job than I did. Really. His is a very good, well-written post. But, then again, he’s one very smart Dude!
Now, what is so fascinating about all the hoopla surrounding Mr. Jackson’s passing – and in no way do I mean to minimize or trivialize either his life or death – is the way this story has dominated the global press. We will continue to be blanketed by coverage until the toxicology reports come in two or three weeks from now.
Meanwhile, what is happening in Iran? Have the protesters given up their anger and gone home to drink tea? What is really going on in this strategic nation that will influence many global events? Has anyone noticed that there are crucial elections happening in Argentina and Honduras that will undoubtedly affect their neighbors? What about the wild man in North Korea and his chest-thumping threats against Japan and the United States? Has anyone heard what’s going on in Somalia lately? Has anyone considered how all of the above may affect the work of God’s kingdom?
As we speaking of Michael Jackson’s death, I think back over some of the other items I have posted in just the past two weeks. Several missionaries have been martyred. A trusted servant has been beaten and imprisoned. As Greg reminded us, these are the real celebrities in God’s eyes.
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What I find amazing is the utter fanaticism of the fanatics that were barely born, or not even, when his last greatest hit album was released, that and the fact I’m actually posting something about MJ’s death. If he had only let his music speak for him then otherwise stayed out of the public eye, like Prince does, he would be even more famous.
The spookiest thing I’ve read so far is this post by Lisa Marie Presley. http://blogs.myspace.com/lisamariepresley It’s more than a little creepy in it’s accuracy.
I just thought of Samson each time….
Spot on, Anthony. The link is indeed creepy accurate. I had heard excerpts from it but thanks for letting me put the whole thing in context.
Jeff, thank you for mentioning my article about “Our Hearts Are Muffled Drums.” I quoted from Longfellow’s poem, in which he said we can leave behind “footprints on the sands of time.”
I wanted to point out that as famous and as idolized as Michael Jackson was, there are few people who will be able to say that they have more happiness, peace, faith and hope because of him. There are many thousands who can say that about YOU and your work through KCBT. You have left footprints on every continent!
It is also true that there are many people–some who are reading this–who have never done all the things you have done, but who nevertheless have had an effect on their families and friends that is far more significant than that of a Pop King.
Thanks, as always, for your thought provoking post. Tina
That’s really a good comparison, Richie! I like that.
Fame itself is a weird thing, because it doesn’t depend on the individual, it depends on other people. You can’t really spread your own fame, other people have to do it.
So what made Michael so influential? The only thing I can come up with is he must have had some way of touching the human heart that caused others to tell others.
I think the music is what made/makes the global sensation… music speaks to the soul (David/Saul, ‘speak to one another in psalms”).. music becomes a part of you, your memories, thots, ambitions… whether you “liked” MJ (or Elvis) whenever you hear a song it evokes an emotion/feeling/thought… your body wants to respond in smile, tears, dance, reflection…. the ‘effect’ of various entertainers/popular speakers seem to wane after death but those that have produced music seems to live forever. Music sets tone, atmosphere, feelings that seem to last more than words… the sounds just seems to replay in your thots .. sometimes appearing out out nowhere. Because we associate the music with the musician when you a musician dies it’s almost like losing part of your heart/childhood/present … Music is a powerful entity that God or Satan can use .. what we listen to DOES make a difference in our life
OK, I know this is an older entry, and probably no one will read this (except maybe Jeff), but I couldn’t get this out of my head. I guess when the teacher at school says – ‘Thanks for trying, but you still didn’t quite answer my question’ – it makes me keep going.
So I was thinking, I had previously posted Ecc 9:10 (whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might), but then I noticed v. 11 (the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, but time and chance happens to them all). I thought of the inverse of verse 11 – that sometimes the race IS to the swift and the battle IS to the strong. Every once in a while, things DO line up for someone – George Washington, Mozart, Genghis Khan – the world is ready for someone with a certain talent at a certain time, and there they are, strong and swift.
I don’t know if this is a universal answer, but it has at least satisfied my own curiosity on the topic!
Aha! See, you are a great teacher of yourself. You’re right. Remember that proverbial literature is just that – proverbs – general principles, but not necessarily air-tight, no exceptions type of rules. Or, as they say, the exception proves the rule.