I hope we can all include a prayer for Michael Jackson and his children when we speak to God tonight. The charges the state of California have against him are very serious. I am happy yo see the Jackson family and friends support him. Personally, I think he is innocent, he just has an unconditional love for children. My question to you will you pray for him as we did Luther Vandross? He is a chil;d of the King.He and his famly are in my prayers. A black man that is different from what we call nor has a hard way to go in America.Home of the brave , land of the free..

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2003

Answers

We will continue to pray for Michael Jackson. I would like to ask us to be in prayer for his accusers also. For if he is guilty, they need our prayers for healing. And if he is not guilty, his accusers need our prayers that they might repent and confess the truth thereby clearing Michael Jackson. If he is cleared, we need to continue to pray that he might mature and learn to express his love for children in a manner that does not lead suspicous minds to accuse him again. Be Blessed

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2003

Thank you Sister Hardaway for such a benevolent gesture.

I have prayed for Michael and I will continue to pray for him so that when he appears in court on Jan. 9,2004 that God will protect him from further attacks from the father of lies.

I recall in February of this year, I was lied on by an administrator and had to go to court for it. I can sympathize with the falsely accused when I read about things like this in the media. Fortunately for me, I am not locally renowned and my story did not appear in the media. Nevertheless, it was very humbling to have experienced this ordeal.

Any of you on this board who has a good reputation in your community can be victimized with the same kind of allegations that Michael Jackson is facing. I believe that boy got a praying mother and I believe that he will be drawn closer to God as a result of this ordeal. Let's all form a prayer team about Michael's situation.

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2003

Michael Jackson is a Jehovah's Witness and therefore unless he has accepted Jesus Christ as his savior (JW's do not believe Jesus is the Messiah)he is not a child of the King. The Prayer he needs is one simply for his salvation. Whether or not he is guilty of the crime he is accused of, if he does not accept Christ as his savior he will die and go to hell. I don't believe these accusations are racially motivated, Michael has put him self in the position of the "appearance of evil". If he is innocent then he should conduct himself in a manner that does not bring this type of attention to him. This is the price of celebrity, not of his race. A celebrity has to realize that their entire life is played out in a fishbowl.

-- Anonymous, December 25, 2003

Does Jesus call us to pray only for those whom we deem to be Christian? I hardly think that this is true. God loves us all and all are in need of prayer. All have come short of the glory of God. I am appalled by such a bigoted notion as this.

What does, Jehovah’s Witness, Hindu, Jew or Muslim have to do with it? If God can turn a shepherd’s rod into a serpent and cause a donkey to fall in its knees and speak, is the arm of God yet too short to save?

-- Anonymous, December 25, 2003

From the mouth of Michael Jackson:

Asked by Bradley if it was still OK to sleep with children given the charges against him, Jackson answered, "Of course."

"Why not?" he said. "If you're going to be a pedophile, if you're going to be Jack the Ripper, if you're going to be a murderer, it's not a good idea. That I am not."

The resident iconoclast responds:

Somebody better tell this 45 year old man that sleeping with children especially other people's children is not normal behavior for an adult male. But what kind of parents would leave their children sick or otherwise in the care of a an who looks like Michael Jackson.

One never knows do one.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2003

Michael Jackson is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses. And they do believe Jesus is thier savor.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2003

Unfortunately, when one is bent on selfdestruction, even the prayers of the righteous cannot availth much for that person; but, those prayers will help the "pray-er". Mu prayer is that Michael will see the error of his ways, learn to trust God and grow up. I also pray that this will be an example to others traveling a similiar path. Child enternainers have always had a difficult time growing up in that environment. Be Blessed

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2003

Bro Matthews, My answer is not bigoted it is the truth. Salvation is the most important thing for Michael. I did not say not to pray for him. He needs prayer. Without salvation, however all the other prayer is fruitless.

Michael along with Prince and George Benson to name a few are Jehovah's Witness's. They do not believe that Jesus is the Savior.

They do two things we should emulate. 1. Study the word of God. 2. Evangelize constantly.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2003

Fpabon@aol.com,

Emailing in all caps is shouting and rude. If you do not have the courage to respond on the discussion board do not fill my personal email with your drivel.

The Jehovah’s witnesses do not believe that Jesus is anything other than a god. In the New World Translation of the Bible (the JW’s Bible) states in John 1:1 “and the word was a god.” (Emphasis mine) Any one who has studied the Greek knows this is a mistranslation. They believe he was created by Jehovah as the Arch Angel Michael and was not an incarnation but an example of human perfection in response to Jehovah’s moral law. They see the Trinity as Demonic, do not believe in hell or that Christ is the creator of the Universe. Some of their basic Christology beliefs mirror Arianism. To quote Athanasius (295-373 AD) in “Four Discourses against Arianism”, ‘to call the Arians Christian is equivalent to calling Caiaphas a Christian and to reckon Judas as still among the Apostles…Though the Arians use scriptural language, and frequently quote scripture, their doctrine is thoroughly unscriptural’. I am thoroughly informed about the JW’s. If you are not a JW currently you have been deceived by their teachings. I can recommend several sources that can give you information on the beliefs of the JW’s and other religious beliefs.

I do not claim to know everything, however I do not respond to debate unless I have some facts to back up what I argue.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2003

Uhh, Cephas....

I would take any flames and send them to the instigator. Please don't place them on this board.

This just in (From the JW web site):

Jesus

He is the Son of God. He came to earth from heaven and gave his perfect human life as a ransom sacrifice. His death and resurrection made salvation to eternal life possible for those exercising faith in him. He is now ruling as King of God's heavenly Kingdom, which will soon bring peace to the entire earth. Jesus never claimed equality with God and thus is not part of a Trinity.—John 3:16; 14:28; Revelation 11:15.

I guess this goes against Matthew 1:23, John 1:1 (in the original Greek), and Hebrews 1:3-6

But this is what happens when your founder claims that God gave them a divine revelation, and you take pieces of the Bible to base a belief system.

and BTW, MJ is no longer a JW. I understand he's a Muslim.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2003

John:

An update from the Michael Jackson newscenter.

He is not, I repeat, he is not a Muslim he has hired one to work for him.

This has been an update from the Michael Jackson newscenter now back to the discussion.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2003

I am so very sorry to start a war, I was just asking those of us that know and love all people, and say we are saved and close to the Master, to send up a prayer for Michael Jackson. I do remember reading in the Bible Christ died for us ALL. Just say a prayer for the brother and try not to be justmental, we know not his heart.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2003

We also need to lift up 2 children who have "allegedly" been abused by Michael Jackson. While some people are giving Michael Jackson the benefit of the doubt, there is also the strong possibility that what is being said by the children are true. And they need prayer also.

As a therapist who has worked with children who have been abused by pedophiles, there lives are destroyed emotionally and as a therapist who has worked with pedophiles they do not see what they have done as anything wrong, they see it as love. It saddens me that the U.S cares more about a stolen car than children who are sexually abused or kidnapped from their homes, particularly black children.

Michael Jackson is using members of the Nation of Islam as body guards.

Again please pray for the children who have brought allegations against michael jackson. The family of the boy who brought the latest charges has had his life threatened as well as his family and they are living in hiding.

There are facts that the general public is not aware of yet in this case. And I would ask that our prayers be that the will of God be done.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2003

We as followers of Christ, are not called to force the Gospel on those who reject the Gospel. Jesus, himself, said that we were to "shake the dust from our shoes". I never question what another believes unless asked. There are so many who have not heard and are wandering that we do not have time to proselytize those who already believe in something and reject Jesus. For after all, an intelligent being must understand in order to reject. Am I wrong about this?

Be blessed Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2003

Rev. Paris:

I think it is an interesting point you bring up. Perhaps the evangelization of Michael Jackson in the classic sense is a waste of time but I wouldn't discourage those who want to pray about the situation from doing so because in their prayers, they are literally proclaiming that God is the Lord of all things and that God is in charge over the affairs of man.

I join Rev. Rogers in praying for the parties involved and that this matter is settled soon.

-- Anonymous, December 30, 2003

AMEN & AMEN

-- Anonymous, December 30, 2003

Sat-siri-akal,

I am a minister of the Sikh Faith. I hope and pray to Waheguru that only justice prevails in the court of law for Michael Jackson. Waheguru Ji Ki Kalsa, Sri Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2004

The only person who's close to God is Mohammed. Even Jesus wasn't that powerful as Mohammed was. You forgot the last prophet that God sent, and I think that's something you can hear once and witness. So after this, read the Bible .. the verse of John... chapter 16:12 and know that Jesus meant Mohammed. Now respect the muslims for being on the right path and beware for God.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2004

Dear Readers,

As the drama of Michael Jackson (MJ) plays out we should remember history and what history has taught us. History has taught me at least, that great people are not appreciated in their time. This is true for a lot of great figures of world history...lets me name a few; Martin Luther King Jr. (after winning the Nobel Peace Prize was called evil and a liar by (CIA and FBI) the people in power, Ghandi who was a so-called trouble-maker, Abraham Lincoln, JFK, Elijah Muhammed, even Jesus, who signify the ultimate sacrifice one will endure when it goes against the popular view-point, even when that view-point is boldly agaist the word of GOD. All men fall short of the Glory of GOD but life is an initiation. And People who learn to live a virtuous life, will be accepted by GOD...no matter what. The problem with man is that man tries to be GOD without knowing GOD. Passing judgement left and right while simultaneously buried to the neck in filth iniquities. This is such a hypocritical world which is truely ruled by Satan. And all the Holy Books: Bible, Torah, Koran, Buddhist scriptures, ancient texts of all cultures agree to what the end of days will look like and certainly these are the end of days. Michael Jackson is a very unique Personality in that the people who know him describes a heart that 99% of people today have a hard time relating to. I for one believe him and the history of this world especially this country teaches me that crucifixion will be attempted on MJ. But the world doesn't know yet who MJ really is. In the Bible Daniel Chpt12, Vs. 1 tell you exactly who MJ is. It is stated over and over again in the all the prophetic words of all Scriptures exactly who MJ is and if you cannot read these Great Scritures and see with the 3rd eye (AKA Spirit) who MJ is and where to place today's world in the scriptures...you are truely lost. Many many many great Men and Women have been Martyrs so that evil- mindedness can continue but it is the will of GOD the MOST HIGH that these events need to happen to reveal his Glory.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2004

As one of Jehovah's Witnesses myself I must say a few things. The individual in the last post who claims to know so much about Jehovahs Witnesses DOES NOT.

YES we do accept JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR. YES HE WAS A GOD AND NOT GOD. AND OR BELIEFS BBEING SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE ARIA, THAT GIVES ME A GENUINE LAUGH.

As a professor of theology at a major Florida University i am appaulled that you would even bother bringing up something like that. Unlike many I was not born one of Jehovah's Witnesses nor did I become one at a young age.

After a number of years as a professor of theology I was in search of a religion that actually held true to bible standards as closely as the first century apostles would have.

So ofcourse the Catholic Church, Protestants, Baptists, Mormons etc.... were all just humorous wastes of time. Bbut this small group the JW's are the only group tha holds true to the most important aspects of biblical teachings. THE preaching work, the last words Jesus left before he left te earth are so far beyond most organizations. The avoidance of war and involvement in political affairs etc...

Revalute your beliefs against the bible. Not the King James version, not the New World Translation either. Try the septuagint, or pretty much any other old world rendering BESIDES THE CORRUPT KING JAMES version.

Lastly before spewing something that sounds knowledgeabble or believing it, talk to someone who is part of it

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004

Only by Jesus Christ were able to be here i hate to tell muslims and jehovah witnesses are not the path to heaven but i must say it they are not.as a huge mj fan i pray that he gets saved by the blood of jesus christ and asks for forgiveness.And for repeating history if mj is trying to tell us to not let history come bqack up again then why would he put himself back in the same position such as 93 i know he didnt do it but he has no discernment around children

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2004