Contemplations of Super Bowl halftime

So, Super Bowl Sunday has gone... and boy what a game.... it was close, down to the wire... just the kind of contest we need in the world championship game. Congrats to the Green Bay Packers!! But folk are talking about the halftime performances of the Black Eyed Peas. Some thought it was cool, others hated it.... most were left scratching their heads like, what in tarnation??

I actually thought the performance was lukewarm. It's just that I find the Black Eyed Peas incredibly out of shape for the high energy group they are supposed to be.... I mean, they have enjoyed fabulous success and probably are eating really good. It shows.

The Tron costumes worn by the dancers were kind of cool, but it seems like those hundreds of LED-lit dancers were meant to distract one away from the performance of the Peas. I mean, I feel like the Peas are supposed to have some sort of dance during their songs or do they just stand and sing in a line.Like a chorus..... That ain't rock n roll, soul, funk, or hiphop!!!! Don't they have choreography of their own? Isn't one of them a DJ? and what the heck happened to Fergie's voice????

They just seemed out of place on America's biggest stage, a problem that wasn't helped by the sound and other technical difficulties. Didn't Fergie's mic go out at the first song? And some of those lights seemed to flicker intermittently also.
The introduction of Usher was ok, but fell short of the expected anticipation as he floated down from the rafters of Cowboys Stadium. Slash was good until Fergie bawled all over his solo.... made me wonder if the monitoring system was working. Couldn't they hear themselves???

I just think that today's generation of entertainers have to remember that an invitation to perform at the halftime of the Super Bowl is one of music's most important gigs. After all, this is the Super Bowl. The world championship of Football.... Ok, ok let's give the Peas the benefit of the doubt. Let's say they aren't the biggest football fans around. Somebody in the league ought to give them a primer on the best Super Bowl performances ever. For me, the best one is Michael Jackson in 1993..... James Earl Jones introduced him, Radio City Music Hall was the producer.... MJ jumped out of the scoreboard....


or Prince, it rained during his performance of Purple Rain.....

or Stevie Wonder came in with his family playing and singing various instruments along with special guests John Legend and India Arie...and proceeded to rock the crowd with all his hits...

Point is, the Black Eyed Peas should have planned to BRING IT when invited to the biggest sporting event in America. They brought it with technology but left the entertainment at home. It was, as one news report described, underwhelming at best. Plus they need to get on a workout plan asap!!!!! Black Eyed Peas have been eating too many black eyed peas....

Contemplations of Forgiveness: The key to our spiritual liberation

Today's contemplation is completely random and is a result of running into Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor who tended to Michael Jackson (or not) in MJ's last hours. Dr. Murray is a major part of today's headlines as he undergoes a preliminary hearing to find if there is enough evidence to put him on trial for involuntary manslaughter of Michael.

I was running around church executing my duties for the day when one of the members asked me if Dr. Murray was one of the souls who answered the altar call. I did not know. I did not see. I was busy working as I had already attended the early service. I remember the question gave me pause for some reason. I asked her where he was. She said in the prayer room. I told her that I had not seen him and went on about my business... A few minutes later, I found myself briefly eye to eye with the man... Dr. Conrad Murray.

The feeling was kind of eerie as our eyes locked briefly. He actually acknowledged me. He smiled and waved. I waved back, but my brain was suddenly flooded with thoughts... whoa, this is the guy who killed Michael Jackson!! He was the doctor on scene!!! Is he a quack? Is he even a real doctor??? This dude killed the King of Pop!!!! Who does he think he is to come into our church??? how convenient!! but then again, if not here... where?? How many times have I come to the church filled with tears and remorse asking God's forgiveness?? or His protection? Was Dr. Murray coming to the Lord for the first time??? Or was he asking forgiveness and protection??? Was he returning to the Lord after being away?? or was he already deep into the Lord's arms and rededicating his life... I guess the circumstances of his life are the prime setting for spiritual redemption. After all, this is what church is for.....

The encounter stimulated a tweet:
hannibalradio Greg J
#ConradMurray in church today.... is it time to forgive? This is my contemplation... I am still trying to come to terms that he killed #MJ
 
I began to contemplate the essence of forgiveness. I admit I was a little alarmed at my feelings. I really was angry with this man. The testimony I have heard infuriates me and I would like to know what really happened and why? But nonetheless, as a Man of God, I realize that I have to forgive this man. Then I started to see that he needs God to stand with him in this time of his life... He needs his love, his protection, his essence. Even if the man is guilty, he needs the Lord...
 
I began to remember that the Bible speaks of forgiveness from cover to cover and most potently, for me at least, in the Gospel of Mark:

Mar 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

It should be noted here that I am not judging Dr. Murray. I pray for justice and that the system will reveal the truth. My angst and analysis against Dr. Murray are no more than the rants of an MJ fan. I do not know him and his acquittal or conviction will not weigh heavily in my life. However, my encounter causes me to take inventory of my own life's issues. In my walk am I forgiving enough? Yes, there are issues that are completely difficult to resolve because of my reluctance to forgive. This reluctance is a hindrance in my quest to walk closer with the Almighty.

I heard a sermon once that I still play from time to time. The preacher says that "unforgiveness is a prison that one can find difficult to escape".... wow.

Forgiveness is the key to our total and complete spiritual liberation.