Saturday, November 22, 2008

JC vs. JFK



President John F. Kennedy was killed by an assassin 45 years ago today - November 22, 1963. He was 46 when he died. He has been gone just about as long as he was here. His memory lives on in lots of ways today.

When he became President in 1961, people were enthused about his ideas, passion, spirit, glamor and class. He had a symbiotic relationship with the news media and with television cameras in general. During his presidency, JFK had to deal with the Cuban Missile Crisis, pursuit of an out-of-control Mafia, a growing space program, miniaturization of the computer component industry and the exponentially rising influnce of television in the 1960's.

It ended far too quickly. Over the long weekend of his death, the U.S. would be confronted with the somber aftermath of it all ... Jacqueline Kennedy emerging from Air Force One, her husband's blood still visible on her dress - the visceral shock of the assassin himself being gunned down as he was being transferred between jail cells in Dallas - thousands of mourners paying respects as the President's flag-draped coffin lay in the Capitol building - watching Mrs. Kennedy kneel to kiss the flag - her five-year-old daughter Caroline holding her mother's hand and looking up to her as though for guidance - the horse-drawn hearse carrying Kennedy's coffin to Arlington National Cemetery - the President's three-year old son, John Junior, saluting the hearse as it passed by.

Even if you weren't born yet, you know --- you've heard --- you've seen.

But when you think of real greatness, is JFK one of the people who comes to mind? How about Michael Jordan? George Washington? Tiger Woods? Oprah Winfrey? Donald Trump? Bill Gates? Abraham Lincoln? Thomas Edison? Michael Phelps? All these people have made huge impact, but there is a distinction between "being great at something" and "being great?" Have any of them made a lasting impression on you that changed your life in a practical way? Has Tiger Woods bailed you out of a financial crisis? Did Michael Jordan come to your rescue when you were struggling with a personal decision? Did Bill Gates impart knowledge into your life that has shaped and molded you into the person you are today?

In Mark 9:33, Jesus was talking to His disciples and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all." So here's how JESUS defined greatness ... the first needs to be last ... you need to be a servant. A servant is defined as "a person who executes someone else's plans."

The people who are great in your life are the people who have laid aside their own plans and have executed your plans to make you better. Did JFK do that for you - or did JC do that for you?

Being great isn't based on talent but rather on choice - a choice to lay down your life and make someone else's life better. Did JFK do that for you - or did JC do that for you?

JFK lives on today via the memories of his grace - his public policies - his energy - the football games on the White House lawn - JC lives on today thru YOU ... thru YOUR servanthood ... thru YOUR love for people ... thru YOUR hands, YOUR eyes, YOUR speech.
I have nothing against JFK at all. I'm just keeping it in perspective.
And be blessed.

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