King of Pop vs King of Soul(s)

I caught a super late night version of the World Music Awards 2006 and i was sooooo pleasantly surprised to see.... *drumroll*..


MICHAEL JACKSON!!!

Yes, as part of my deep, dark past some 10 yrs ago, i was a MJ fan! In fact i was such a fan that i was a part of the IMJFC (International Michael Jackson Fan Club) and i had penpals from Germany, Japan that were also fans and we'd write and exchange photos of MJ. I bought his first CD all the way from his first solo album "Off the Wall" and drew portraits of him, stayed up to wee hours so i could tape (yes, VCR tape it) his MTVs. It was not his looks or physical traits.. but i think i was just awe inspired by his talents (dance and music), creativity and his pioneering spirit in being on the cutting edge of music and dance AND his humility! He was such a phenomenon!!

Anyway, my point being, after growing out of those years, it was kinda surreal seeing him on TV again. This time, it was to receive the Diamond Award for having maintained the Best Selling Album of all time - "Thriller" (140 million? smthg like that)  that NO new artiste have broken that record yet AND he was also presented the Guinness Book or Record Plaque for the same reason.

It was odd, coz the moment his name was announced over the auditorium, the crowd went into a HUGE frenzy.. screaming his name, cheering, clapping, banner waving.. all that even when he hadn't appeared yet! and when he did, MY GOODNESS, the crowd went bananas! No, wait, not just bananas --- it was bananas, pineapples, apples, oranges and a whole durian plantation thrown in!!! The crowd was SOOO loud that even his voice over the microphone was drowned out, no sound system could beat the audience so he had many long pauses while crowd screamed their heads off (which i never understood... don't u wanna hear what he wants so say?) but honestly, i was quite amazed at the non-stop cheering and how much these people loved this King of Pop from the 80s.. it was like he had never faded off the music scene.

Do i still like him? Well, i still think he's an amazing talent, but that's pretty much it. I would be interested to know what he's doing now and the kpoh part of me wants to see how his kids look like, but my heart sure doesn't beat faster seeing him on TV and there is NO way i would sacrifice my sleep just to tape his MTVs and neither do i have the patience to write to someone overseas about how much i like him and send his photos over. (i suspect that decisions made in those teen years must be seriously evaluated for fear of much regret in future)

As i watched all that unfold on TV, i was just inspired thinking about how it would be like when we welcome Jesus in heaven! More than Pop Culture, Rock , Soul or anything else.. He is the King of Kings... what a grand welcome that would be!!!! Imagine the anticipation, imagine the welcome!!! And though He may be a long time in coming, yet when He does, i have no doubt that all the pp, dead or alive cannot but shout out in jubilation and joy!

And now come to think of it, shouldn't it be like that when and welcome God into our presence in church even while we are here on earth? The joy, the jubilation, the anticipation of our King of Kings and Prince of Peace entering our midst in our worship and praise! I fear that sometimes the welcome given to the King of Pop is greater than the welcome given to the King of Kings! Yes it's true, that unlike the WMA or any concert, there are no tickets required, no long queues to meet with Him, but let's not forget it's only because HE paid it all. it wasn't free. Could it be that we've taken for granted the privilege of having Him in our midst? :(

I do think so and i speak for myself also.. that sometimes during praise and worship i m distracted by things to do, things to resolve that it becomes more like "o, hi God, great, you're here. What do u think about this issue, what do you think about that etc.." and that grand welcome to be given him becomes another consultancy meeting instead of the celebratory event it is. Or, i'd be thinking about what i have to do after the service and who i need to meet.. that i totally miss the welcome. My mouth may be singing.. but it is nothing but pure lip service.

I don't want to be more awed by MJ than i am with God.. and I am not. But I need to remember that beyond Him being my Friend and Counselor, He is also King and He deserves all the glory and praise due Him when the time comes for it.