Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

MICHAEL Jackson’s death last week emphasizes the Biblical warning that death comes like a thief in the night. There are no exceptions. Even one as great and talented as Michael who had planned to start 50 concerts in England next week could not foresee that his life on earth was going to end last week. The best laid plans of mice and men are nothing before the Lord. So, here’s Michael, who is half a billion dollars in debt, required to work again at the age of 50 so that he start paying off his debt. He cannot sleep even with the use of prescription sleeping pills. If you had half a billion of debt, you wouldn’t be able to sleep either. Many clients complain that they cannot sleep and all they owe is $50,000 of credit card debt. Michael owes a thousand more times $50,000! Not being able to sleep is the least of his problems. His creditors have him by the neck. They literally own him. If they ask him to sing and dance, the only question he can ask is when and where. The latest investigation into his death reveals that Michael had been taking the strongest sleeping medicine available by prescription. The nurse practitioner that administered the drug said that Michael said that he could not sleep with regular prescription sleeping pills. The only drug that worked for him was administered intravenously and would knock him out completely immediately.

Michael’s Neverland house was scheduled for foreclosure sale last year. He could not pay the $23 million mortgage. His debt load was overwhelming. His income was insufficient to pay his expenses. His accountant testified in 2005 that Michael was spending $20 to $30 million than what he is earning annually. His financial situation was a mess even though his assets were worth more than his debts. Thus, he had to go back to work. Are you in the same situation as Michael? Do you owe too much debt? Are you not able to sleep worrying about your debt? If you are in that situation, then don’t do as Michael did. Don’t get your peace of mind by resorting to sleeping pills. The pills only give you temporary relief by allowing you to forget about your debt when you sleep. When you wake up, the 800 lb gorilla of debt is still in your bedroom and in your face.

Are you thinking of getting a second or third job or asking your spouse to get a second or third job to handle your debt, just like Michael, who had to start working again at the age of 50? Are you making all kinds of plans to increase your income just like Michael? Well, just like Michael, you are making a mistake. The best laid plans of mice and men are nothing before the Lord! Now, even Michael knows this to be true. The Lord is the way, the truth and the light! The solution to your debt problems is not in sleeping pills or working 2 or 3 more jobs. The solution to your debt problems and peace in your life and family is to seek out Jesus. Michael should have sought Him out in the first place. He might still be alive today if this is what he did, instead of resorting to sleeping pills and planning out 50 concerts.

Place your debt problems on the lap of the Lord, and listen to what he says. Yes, he might tell you to do a personal bankruptcy, maybe a chapter 7, to get rid of all your debt, so you can start life again without debt and be productive again.

If you need debt relief, contact my office. I will analyze your case personally.

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Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Bldg. A-1 Suite 1125 Unit 58, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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( Published on July 11, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. C4 )