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The Michael Jackson death is all the news today... It has me wondering, in the whole scheme of things, will Michael Jackson even be historically memorable?

The recording industry is pretty darn new.. The whole audio recording thing came about in 1890.. The 45 record wasn't invented until after World War 2, and prior to that, the various technologies where not nearly as popular.

So I am wondering, despite the fact that everyone knows Michael Jackson, and he is probably one of the most recognizable people in a generation, Is he really a historic figure?

I ran this question by my wife, and she argued that music changes culture, and cited the Beatles. I think a better case could be made for The Beatles being historically significant, but I don't think they changed the world with "I want to hold your hand".. As the culture changed them, the change was reflected in their music, and that music may have amplified the change that was underway...

I don't really think MJ's music had a ton of social content in it. It was good to dance to. But I don't see him impacting culture much outside of a bunch of silly teenagers running around wearing one sequined glove for a few years.. The Beatles changed and the world changed with them. Michael Jackson changed and the world laughed and cried about him.

I suspect in 150 years when they look back, The Beatles might be a small footnote, and Michael Jackson will go unmentioned.

Posted by Josh Reighley at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments ()

Two of my favorite preachers tend to have very idealistic ideas about how families should run. And as far as I am concerned they are right.. Ideally, if you where to do it right the first time, that is exactly how families should be set up...

Mark Driscoll addresses the idea of stay at home dads for example:

Or Voddie Baucham's view on Public Schooling:

In both of these examples, I think that they hold up an ideal that is correct. Husbands should provide for their families. Parents should actively insure that their children are being descipled under the biblical worldview.

Now the challenge is that many of us fall short. We live in a fallen world, and we are being rescued from a fallen culture - one that doesn't necessarily prescribe to the same values as Voddie and Mark. The values being espoused should be something that we can aspire to, not something that we need to feel unchristian about because we are not fully sanctified yet. If you are 18 years old, just setting out on your own, don't go and aspire to find a Doctor wife so you can stay at home and play all day. Aspire to be a primary provider. But if you are a father of 4, and your wife has a long established career, give yourself some slack... Try to conform to the ideal as much as it is practical. Your situation isn't ideal, but few are.

Many folks tend to say "Oh, he is just too radical on that issue" and throw out the advice altogether. I do not think this is wise. When we are in less than ideal circumstances we need to understand that. We need to try to compensate for that, and when practical we ought to consider making sacrifices to get ourselves into a more ideal situation.

Posted by Josh Reighley at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments ()