I was completely taken back by the results of American Idol this season. And not because of who won.

If you didn't watch and you have somehow avoided the media deluge, you may not know that Adam Lambert (the one on the left) was supposed to win this contest. From basically the moment of his audition, the judges had crowned him the victor. It was sometimes more than a little annoying that they assumed all of America would make him the winner because they thought he should be. Most Americans, most people, don't like to be told how to think or what to do. It's the nature of the beast.

Both of these guys are incredibly talented. Adam is the consummate entertainer, always willing to take a risk to make his song an event more than a performance. He has a range that would make Mariah Carey proud, even if he may have a tendency to utilize it more often than necessary. Kris is a musician. He can sit down and jam on the piano, guitar or rely solely on the homey flavor of his voice to relate to his audience. He has a quirky way of scooting his jaw to the right when he hits certain notes, but it's more endearing than annoying. Again, both really great performers.

I believe that Kris won this contest because on the night of the finale the judges were basically consoling him for his inevitable loss to the great and powerful Adam, whom America simply had to crown king. Americans are notorious for loving the underdog, and I think particularly Kara, Paula and Simon catapulted him to that status, setting him up for a huge upset win.

But what shocked me about this was not the fact that Kris won. He was equally deserving of the trophy. It was not Adam's reaction, because he was as gracious as anyone could be and seemed genuinely happy for Kris. (Of course, he has nothing to be sad about. I'm sure the wolves were waiting outside his dressing room door with drool matting their silk shirts in a complete frenzy to be the first to consume this prey.)

What was unsettling was the reaction I saw on Facebook after the results were announced. People were genuinely angry that Adam lost. I guess that's not all that unusual, because we do get passionate about all kinds of ultimately meaningless things... but we're not doing football confessions in this post.

But I was reading things like "the idiocy of the American public...", "prejudice and ignorance equal injustice...", and even "I was hoping personal preference wouldn't decide the winner this year." Excuse me? Isn't personal preference what causes someone to vote one way or the other? That one didn't make any sense.

The prejudice remark refers to the fact that Adam Lambert is rumored to be gay. I honestly can't verify this because I haven't done any research. But it was definitely out there early on that he is. So there are all these articles out there saying that conservatives and evangelicals pushed Kris over the top because we hate gay people. Get serious. First of all, in the overall viewing audience of American Idol, how many do you suppose are conservative evangelical? I'm just saying...

I couldn't resist arguing with the person who posted his anger over prejudice and ignorance equaling injustice. I asked him if he was seriously saying that everyone who voted for Kris was an ignorant bigot. Assuming that homophobia played a part in all of Kris's support is to display exactly the same kind of prejudice that he was complaining about.

I'm so sick of being blamed for my choices based on labeling. I'm homophobic because I preferred Kris. I'm racist because I preferred John McCain (albeit slightly) to Barack Obama. Can't possibly be because I thought Kris was a better musician or completely disagreed with all of Obama's policies. This makes me crazy.

Labeling has gotten out of control. I call you a tree-hugger because you use reusable grocery bags. You call me an enemy of the environment because I drive a minivan. Even though I recycle and you probably take an airplane when you go on long trips, even though our similarities are perhaps even greater than our differences, we both get labeled and judged accordingly.

This pattern is going to continue in the world. This country is becoming more and more divisive each day. The only way to make a difference is to begin with unity in the body of Christ. We are united by a lot of common ground. If we could focus on those things that unite us instead of getting hung up on the lesser details, I think the impact could be great.

My friend Kristen always quotes St. Augustine, and I love it. In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.

Let's love instead of label. It would make the world a better place.

Know what happens when you put one of these...
right here...
and pull? A real, genuine thumb popper hickey.He's got them on the side of his cheeks, too. I asked him what happened to his face and he showed me.

I said, "Son, it looks like I've been beating you."

His perfectly-timed response? "At least now I have something to show the Court."

I got a new phone this weekend. As much as I loved my tiny little Zoolander phone, it really was past its prime. I realized that my trouble understanding virtually anyone I was talking to was probably not always a problem on the other end. So Jeff and I stopped by the AT&T store on Friday night and picked out my new toy.

Seeing as how my old phone isn't even in circulation anymore, the vowel keys were all worn off and the clarity of sound was completely messed up, it didn't seem prudent to try and sell it. So when Bradley asked me if he could have it, I thoughtlessly said, "Sure." He's been begging for a cell phone lately, and since that is not happening, I thought he would enjoy having it. I was sure the novelty would quickly wear off.

Two days later I am about to pull each one of my hairs out individually. The kid is driving me insane asking questions about the phone. Since all of the menu options are still there, he thinks he has the ability to text, send e-mail and get on the Internet, even though I didn't even have those last two capabilities when it was activated. No matter how many times I have tried to tell him that none of those things work, he is still confident that he'll be able to send me one of the 4,392 pictures he's taken since gaining ownership. It is maddening. He can't understand that what he holds is an empty shell which is not connected to any network. So no matter how many numbers he puts in, no call is going to go through.

And I got to thinking about how many people are like this. They are trying so hard to make their lives work, trying to push all of the right buttons and select as many menu options as possible. But the problem is not in their effort, but in the lack of connectivity. My church has had a real emphasis towards being connected over the past couple of years, and it really is a great illustration of what we are supposed to do as believers. Our job is to show people who are unconnected where the source of power really is.

God put us here for two reasons. The first one is to have relationship with Him. This is the most important. We are to love Him, worship Him, praise Him with all we have within us. The second reason is to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. That means showing people the way to true abundant life. If they don't know Jesus, we're supposed to introduce them. If they are believers who have gotten bogged down in the trappings of this world, we're supposed to remind them of what they're missing and encourage and love them back into the fold. It's pretty simple, actually.

But how many times do we temper what we are thinking based on where we think the person we're speaking with is spiritually? If I don't think you are a believer, will I alter my advice because I don't want to offend you or suggest that my way of thinking is somehow superior to yours? Or should I offer you the Prince of Peace, who is big enough to cover anything you may be going through?

Or if I know that at one time the ways of Christ were important to you, but for whatever reason you have left that behind, should I shrug my shoulders and absent-mindedly think what a shame it is, leaving you to wallow around in the pit, hoping that someone will come by who actually cares about you enough to offer some help? Or could the story of the Good Samaritan possibly have been meant for more than felt boards?

I recently had a discussion with my Bible study group about this topic because Facebook has created a strange sort of phenomenon where we are able to connect with people we haven't talked to for a while, often for many years. Sometimes people that we knew as straight are now proudly proclaiming themselves to be gay. Or people whose wedding we attended right out of college are now single. And some people are still exactly the same as they were in high school, which is in itself a sort of tragedy. I've been challenged recently to not just let this stuff go. Why not acknowledge the change and ask to hear their story? Open up a dialogue and see where it leads. Most people are willing to talk about themselves if they think you really want to listen.

So why not listen? Build relationship. Let them see what it is they are missing. Then show them where to find it. No activation charge or connectivity fee required.

Last weekend we had to drop my computer off at Mac Authority because there was a CD stuck in the drive. You could hear it churning and churning, but it wouldn't eject. Very frustrating since there is no real manual override.

Last night they called to say it was ready and Jeff picked it up on his way home. When he got there they told him it wasn't technically a Mac problem, but fortunately they didn't charge us for the service.

Here's what we got back.I was wondering where all the cash register coins had gone.
What do you think?

Bryant wanted macaroni and cheese for breakfast this morning. I offered him cereal, oatmeal, waffles, pancakes and banana bread, but all he wanted was the leftover macaroni and cheese. As I heard myself telling him he couldn't have mac and cheese because it wasn't a breakfast food, I suddenly felt a check in my spirit that said, Why not? Who says macaroni and cheese can't be for breakfast?
f
I asked him, "Are you sure that's what you want? Are you going to eat it?"
f
He assured me that he would, so I gave in. Look at the grin on that face. Of course, when I poured the Cocoa Krispies for Bailey, he suddenly wanted cereal, but that was only after he'd had his fill of processed cheese and noodles.
f
But it got me thinking about all the ways that we decide for other people what is best for them, based on our own experiences, opinions and even prejudices. How often do we assume that someone's way of doing things is wrong because it is different from the way we would have done it? And how angry do we get when someone tells us that our way is wrong because it's not their way?
f
So today I am celebrating the creativity of God, and that he was able to make billions of people that are so incredibly diverse. All it takes is a quick glance at my own three little people to be able to appreciate that.
f
I can almost picture God smiling down on me the next time I make a decision that is going to lead me down a path of learning saying, "Mac and cheese for breakfast? Interesting choice."

Save the Date!

Bradley auditioned for a part in High School Musical and last night we found out that he made the cast! I'm so proud of him, as he had just about chickened out of auditioning at all.

He will be playing the part of Jack Scott, the kid that says all of the announcements over the PA system. He has cool lines like, "Catch me later for more skinny on the hooey," and fun stuff like that. He's a little nervous about the dancing part, but I think it's going to be an absolute blast.

The show is the third week of July, right after VBS, where Brad will be reprising his role as Jake in the Boomerang Express. Hmmm... Jake and Jack. Hope he doesn't get confused.

Hope you can join us for his big debut!

Two Bryant stories:

Bailey and I were just playing a game of Uno with Bryant hovering close by. He asked to play, so I told him to lay down my card and say "Uno!"

He gently laid it down and shouted, "Tres!"

------

Last night he was playing his usual bedtime stalling game and suckered me into sitting down to read him just "one little book." I sat down in the chair and he walked over to the bookshelf and chose a small book. Then he handed me his little white New Testament.

You gotta give him props for that.

It seems like it's been ages since I sat down and actually wrote something on here longer than just a caption for a picture or a quick story. It's not that I haven't had anything to say. It's mainly just finding the time to sit down and try to articulate the stream of consciousness into something readable.

It seems that our country has literally lost its collective mind. I realize it's only half the country, but it's the half that controls the majority of media, and for now at least, controls the government. But to watch the news every day and see our nation sink further and further into the most oppressive, government-run, anti-capitalistic society of my lifetime is unsettling. If I allow myself too much contemplation, it's downright terrifying.

Yes, the United States does go back and forth between liberal and conservative leadership on a pretty regular basis. Obama's reign of teleprompted incompetence will draw to an end, hopefully sooner rather than later. But what will be left of this country when it does?

We are being led by a man who is more afraid of Fox News than Mahmoud Ahmadenijad. Who entertains the idea that returning Iraqi veterans are as much a terror threat as Muslim extremists. Who believes that it is proper for the government to take over failing industries rather than allow bankruptcy to take its course and weed out the companies that need weeding. Who actually believes that the way to help the poor is by taxing everyone into equal standing rather than allow businesses the freedom to grow and make money so that jobs are available. A man that seems to see America as one of the biggest problems in the world rather than a great nation with the ability to promote peace and liberty to people of all nations. Who seeks to weaken our national defense in an effort to appease those who have no understanding of what is necessary to keep our citizens safe. It is mind-boggling.

I've tried to pray for President Obama. I do pray that he will be awakened to the great danger he is putting us in, from both foreign threats and economic ones. I pray that he will not be given enough leash to allow him to put us in a place from which we can not recover. But it truly feels like each day brings a new dose of depressing news. It's only been 100 days. At least 1360 to go.

But I actually didn't open this post to discuss the state of the union. I opened it to draw attention to the work of Compassion International in India this past week. Many of you have been following the bloggers, but if you haven't, please check out Melissa, Pete, Angela, Robin and Anne.

As I've read their entries and vicariously traveled through the slums of India with them, I've just sat and wept. Because I remember. I remember what it is like to think that your heart can not stand to see anything more or it will quite possibly break in two. And I remember how startling it is to find great joy in the midst of utter depravity. To wonder how someone with nothing can seem to have everything they need. To cry out to God and question why? Why was I brought up in the relative lap of luxury when so many live lives like these?

I have said it before, and I now remind myself that ignorance is no longer an excuse. I can't pretend that I don't know these things exist. And neither can you. Christ did not suggest to us that we help the poor when we can. He commanded us to do it. It goes to the very core of what he preached. Put others first. Love your neighbor as yourself. Feed my sheep.

Do I think everyone should sacrifice a vacation and go on a mission trip? Yes, actually, I do. Because when we stay in this culture of stuff and never take the opportunity to stare reality in the face, it is far too easy to pretend that everyone lives the way we do. I've only been back from India a couple of months, and it doesn't take long for me to get sucked back in here and there to wishing I had this or that my furniture didn't look so worn or whatever the fleeting thought of the day may be. For this reason, I long to live in India. There. I do. I want my children to grow up with the awareness that American living is unique so that they won't ever take what God has blessed them with for granted.

I want to make a difference. I'm commanded to make a difference. And so are you.

I'm completely plagiarizing a quote from Pete Wilson's blog, but if you've already read it, it is well worth reading again.

“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”

“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

Get up and do something. If you need an idea, I'm sure Compassion International would love to have you.