Lessons from American Idol
OK. I have to admit. We TIVO American Idol. But it is only because my wife and kids want to watch it. No, really. We did watch it this past Wednesday night and I was surprised how many people in Seattle really think they can sing. If you missed it, you missed the making of a modern day circus act.
As I reflect on the show I am reminded of a few things we all can learn...
1. Somtimes passion and hard work aren’t enough; it helps to be gifted and called. When you understand your gifts and your calling it will save you a lot of headaches. You can work extremely hard but still be going the wrong direction.
2. Your blessed if you have friends who love you enough to tell you the truth. Each contestant was convinced that they had what it took to be an American Idol because they listened to their friends. There are three conclusions here: a) Their friends are tone deaf; b) Their friends are horribly tricking them; or c) Their friends didn’t care enough to tell them the truth. I hope my friends love me enough to tell me the truth even when it hurts.
3. There’s only one perfect judge. Simon, Paula and Randy all have different preferences and expertise through which they judge the contestants but; in life there is only one judge that matters. The Perfect Judge judges perfectly. He judges your heart. His standard does not change with the culture or with ratings. His standard for perfection is revealed through the Bible. The bad news is we all have fallen short of his standard of perfection. None of us are “Idol” material. I know I'm not. The good news is there is one who was, is and will always be perfect, Jesus. Through faith in him we make it, not to Hollywood, but to Heaven.
4. We all will be judged some day. It takes a lot of nerve to get up and sing in front of the world and have the judges openly attack you. I feel sorry for many of the contestants who leave shocked and hurt. Imagine the day when we will all stand before God and give an account for our life. Now that’s scary! But I am so relieved to know that because I am in Jesus I am not condemned. The words that come from his mouth want be, “Sorry, but your not good enough” they will be, “Well done!” I needed to remind myself of that today.
These are just some of my thoughts after watching American Idol. I know there are more lessons to be learned there. Let me know if you have other lessons we can learn from the show.
Thanks for the recent comments and feedbacks. If you know someone who might need to read this, pass it along.
Y’all are awesome. See you this Sunday.
Pastor Randall
Once again Randall you are timely and give us much food for thought. I want to share this,not quite a comparison to American Idol, yet relevant in a very similar aspect.
A wealthy collector commissioned a painting to be called "Destruction of the Pharaoh's Host in the Red Sea" from the artist William Hogarth, but he wouldn't agree to pay the artist's asking price. Hogarth decided to use his "artistic license" and turned in a canvas that was solid red. When the collector complained he wasn't getting what he'd asked for, Hogarth explained that the Israelites had all passed through the Red Sea and the Egyptians were all drowned in it.
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