26 Jun, 2009
The Day of Death
Michael Jackson, the 'King of Pop,' dies at age 50
LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50.
Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center after being stricken at his rented home in Holmby Hills. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him at his home for nearly three-quarters of an hour, then rushed him to the hospital, where doctors continued to work on him.
"It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until results of the autopsy are known," his brother Jermaine said. Police said they were investigating, standard procedure in high-profile cases.
Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage. His 1982 album "Thriller" — which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" — is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.
At the time of his death, Jackson was rehearsing hard for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13.
Story: Yahoo! News
Image: Google Images
1 A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of every man;
the living should take this to heart.
What does God's Story say about death?
It's hard to imagine a world without death. Today's verse reminds us that it is the "destiny of every man." Today, many in the world around us will be talking about the death of Michael Jackson. Some around us might be faced with talking about the death, or pending death, of someone close to us. Death is a reality in the world we live in. But it's not the way God intended it. Remember what God told Adam in the Garden of Eden?
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." - Genesis 2:16-18 (NIV)
Death is a consequence of the sinful world we live in. But it's not going to be that way forever. Remember what God told John to write in Revelation ...
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." - Revelation 21:3-5 (NIV)
Oh what a day that will be!!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Ask God to give you a "good name" in the presence of your friends and loved ones.
- Give God any fears you have over death and ask Him to replace the fear with hope and peace.
- Thank God for the gift of eternal life you have received through your relationship with Jesus.
- Ask ... When you hear your friends talking about the death of Michael Jackson, use that as a doorway to ask questions about their thoughts, fears, and anxieties about death.
- Listen closely to the answers your friends give about death.
- Talk about the hope that comes with a relationship with Jesus. Talk about the eternal life that God gives.
- Pray with and for your friends as you share your story and God's Story.
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