American Idol

14th April 2008

It’s no secret that Iain and I are avid followers of American Idol. We are unashamedly ‘hooked’ and have been ever since the first episode aired in the U.K. as “Pop Idol.”

We tune in religiously every Tuesday and Wednesday and critique each contestant in detail as if we had some coveted record deal to offer. Truth be told, neither Iain nor I can hold a tune let alone read music! But on Tuesday nights, there we are, throwing in out 2 cents worth about how pitchy or original they all sound.

But what a shock on Thursday night when the final eight opened up the show, watched by almost 20 million viewers, to Darlene Zschech’s “Shout to the Lord.” To hear the name of Jesus declared on national TV was, for us, such a joy. However it sparked some controversy.

Apparently, the previous evening, on “Idol Gives Back,” the top eight closed with the same performance. However, the word “Jesus” which was included in Thursday night’s opening was changed to “Shepherd.” I think that was a mistake, if you’re going to sing an “Inspirational” song then sing it – don’t change the lyrics.

It seems that many people were offended by such an “evangelical” song being aired and by the fact that some Idols, who may not be Christians, were forced to sing lyrics that they might not believe in.

Are they saying then that you can only sing songs that you believe in or that you have experienced? What about Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” that was sung on a previous show? Are they saying that the singer really had to believe in the lyrics, “Mama, just killed a man…?”

Many artists sing songs at times about situations that they haven’t actually experienced and sing lyrics that they often don’t believe in. Secular artists sing about drugs, adultery, murder and divorce all the time. Some lyrics out there would make your hair curl, but sadly it seems, that it’s only when the name of Jesus is proclaimed that so many are offended.

Oprah

7th April 2008

Tonight over 2 million people will tune into Eckhart Tolle and Oprah as they discuss his book and talk about “how to create a new earth." And together, without much pomp and ceremony, they will subtly deceive many unsuspecting people with their “New Age” philosophy and beliefs that there is no death and that we create God in “our own” image.

I have tuned in and out of Oprah since the 90s and I have watched as she battled with her weight and became "Everywoman." I cheered as she waged war on the pedophiles living next door and applauded her humanitarianism on her Angel Network. I have fought in her corner as she exposed the wrong and worked to empower woman, something I believe in passionately. But the deception of this “New Age” religion chills me to the bone.

To do away with sin is to do away with the need for the Savior from sin- Jesus Christ. If I was to believe, as they propound, that heaven is "within" why would I need a Savior to take me to heaven? Oprah sites another “New Age” guru, Elizabeth Lesser, as she encourages us to “listen within for your own spirituality.”

God is not “The Universe” or “A Higher Power” God is our Father and we are His children. He wants to have a relationship with us. He desires the very best for us. He is not "jealous" of us, as she suggests, but for us. Why would God Almighty be jealous of Oprah???

Over the past decade, I have invited Oprah into my living room many times, mostly to catch financial tips from Suze Orman or health tips from Dr. Oz, but now with her so called “spiritual” exhortations to, “Search for something more than doctrine” and her belief that, “Jesus came to show us the higher consciousness, He did not come to start Christianity” the invitations will be no more.

The responsibility of mass influence is a grave matter. As Christ said, “Better to have a large millstone hung around your neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” than to cause those who believe in Him to sin!

Sadly, I feel I can no longer allow Ms Winfrey, with her subtle subversions, to enter into my home and affect the people in my life. I cannot embrace her “New Age” philosophy; instead I would rather echo the prophet of old and say, “But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

Fri 7^th March 2008

I have just finished reading a great book called The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus. It’s a book that compares the safety and monotony of civilized Christian religion with the passionate, adventurous, risk-taking life that Christ led and calls us to follow.

I couldn’t put it down; I saw my life in those pages and it gave me goose bumps! I’ve always been a risk-taker – I don’t know why! I drag myself time and again out of the safety of my comfort zone and hurl myself into the unknown. When I am out there I swear I will never do it again, that I will make myself enjoy the normal, the mundane – but I’m never satisfied living there.

There is a compulsion once you have met Christ, a fire that drives you higher and deeper. A passion only sedated by organized religion where man-made traditions force you to conform. It’s a book for the fearless, those that long to take a chance, to make a difference, to change the world. It’s a book for today.

27^th Feb 2008

One very, important thing you might not already know about me is that I was born and bred in Bonnie Scotland. Yes, I am a Scot through and through. I left it all behind in 2004 when I immigrated to Canada with my family.

We arrived in Vancouver on a beautiful sunny day in August rather bedazzled by the enormity of what we had just done, yet incredibly excited about the adventure ahead.

We had no jobs, no house, no school, and no friends! We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Langley while we pieced together our new life - just four noisy kids, two very bewildered adults and six well-traveled suitcases. Only to be joined later by our family dog, Tanya.

Almost four years down the line I can say that it has been and still is an incredible journey. There have been tears and pain along the way, but as we grew together we made some wonderful discoveries about ourselves and this vast country.

Would we go back? No, never! We have traded our football for hockey; our “Tennants” for “Sleemans” and our pounds for dollars. We have embraced all things Canadian and have to pinch ourselves at times when we look at the map and realize just how far we have come.

Mon 25^th Feb 2008

Is it just me or have the Oscars lost their glitter? This year it seemed to be nothing more than a predictable, mundane event, peppered only by the appearance of the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis and Tilda Swinton (though she did look a little scary!)

I couldn’t work out why Cameron Diaz was there, other than to show off her Christian Dior gown; why Harrison Ford always looks so uncomfortable at these events or whether or not Nicole Kidman had had cosmetic surgery on her face.

Did anyone else wonder what was up with John Travolta’s hair? It looked like someone had painted it on for him!

Sorry! But if the 80^th Academy Awards hadn’t lost their sparkle I wouldn’t have got so distracted…

Well, I did think it was nice that they allowed Marketa to go back on stage and say her bit, after being ushered off prematurely. But all in all a waste of time.