randalevan's blog

Michael Jackson, American Tragedy

 

Michael Jackson died yesterday.  Some people cried.  Others were in shock...he was only 50 years' old and about to make one, final comeback.  (*Is it ever "final" for someone who has become addicted to fame? Think Brent Fabre, Lance Armstrong... I guess he had multiple millions of dollars of debt and needed to do something about it.) A lot of people laughed, considering him a freak.  I am sad.  I have looked at Michael Jackson's life from afar for the past 15 years or so, shocked by the child abuse accusations and the grotesque effects of dozens of unnecessary plastic surgeries. (*Who are the doctors, any way, who lack the personal and professional integrity to tell someone like Jackson "no"? Should we look at those physicians and say, "You are more freakish than Michael!")

 

I read an article that a friend posted on Facebook this morning.  I will quote it here.  (*Below the quote find a link for the entire article.)

What keeps us from believing?

I've been reading the Gospel of John and thinking about the miracles that Jesus did.  Take a moment with me to imagine if the things that Jesus did were done for you or for someone you love….

•    You run out of wine at a party and Jesus comes to the rescue, turning water into the best vintage you have ever tasted.

•    Your son has a terrible fever.  The doctors can't bring it down.  If his temperature doesn't go down soon your son will die.  You beg Jesus to come and heal your son.  And he does.

•    You are paralyzed, Jesus tells you to walk, and much to your surprise...you can!

•    You’re hungry (*you and thousands of others, too), so he takes the lunch of a boy, gives thanks, distributes the bread and fish, and everyone has enough to eat.  In fact, there are leftovers.

Nathan's Graduation

Just made a new album from Nathan's Graduation.  (*If you scroll down the blog, it is the second from the last photo album on the right-hand side.) We had a wonderful time together as a family - both the Chase's and Lennox's - celebrating Nathan's great accomplishment!

Yeah, I'm a Tim Keller Fan!

A friend of mine, Meg Venables, knows I like a lot of what Pastor Tim Keller has to say.  So, when she saw that the recent edition of Christianity Today had an article about him and his work in NYC, she put the magazine on my desk.  Well, I read the article this morning while sipping a cappuccino at RedRock and really liked it.  Here's a link if you want to check it out:  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/june/15.20.html.