Finale Week

This past week I went to 2 finale parties for TV shows - Tuesday night was The Biggest Loser (which I didn't watch this season; I went because I've enjoyed the show before and it's always fun to go to a finale party) and then Wednesday was LOST (which we got to watch with our LOST-loving friends; we even had Dharma snacks!). We have yet to watch the finale for "The Office" - hope to catch up on that soon.

This coming week holds yet another major finale - American Idol. You guys? I have a confession. I used to LOVE this show - but I'm kind of not loving it lately. I used to love seeing how people would pick songs on the various genre weeks and I loved giving my (usually very strong) opinion on each performance. I went 10/10 by myself in an AI round of a trivia challenge a few years ago. I enjoy spirited discussions about the show with co-workers and on message boards and blogs.

However, this year I haven't found any contestant that I've had any type of strong reaction to - positive or negative. I also really don't like having 4 judges.

I just...don't care very much. Which makes me a little sad and nostalgic for earlier AI seasons.

(Remember the AI finale when they had the Clay Aiken lookalike sing - and then brought the real Clay out behind him and he FREAKED OUT? Remember how much I hate Blake Lewis? Remember Fantasia singing after she won?)

My dad sent me this link - A guy ranked his top 95 all-time Idol contestants. Lots of obscure people near the bottom of the list. And he over-ranked the current season's contestants. (Scott Savol at #50? No way.) My dad and my favorite guy (more for personality than singing), George Huff comes in at #38.

Who is your all-time favorite idol contestant? Any other thoughts on AI?

(I will probably try to watch the finale this week - if only to see Adam Lambert sing some super-cheese generic "believe in your dreams/this is my moment" song they wrote for the finale. Or maybe the producers will do another 90's worship song for the group medley like they did last year...)

Dangerous?

We're using a prayer in our services today (in part to celebrate Mother's Day) - and because we're using it, I've been pondering it quite a bit. It's a prayer that sits on my bulletin board at work, so I see it regularly.

I don't always reflect it - but I do believe in living life with purpose and intentionality. My life has been immeasurably blessed by women (both my mom & grandmothers - but also countless women at church, teachers, mentors, and friends) who have chosen to love unselfishly (which is actually redundant). They are examples to me of voices that speak against lies and rebel against the status quo. I am grateful for them - and want to make my life count - to the glory of God.

Dear God,
please make us dangerous women.
May we be women who acknowledge our power
to change, and grow, and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and
speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly,
and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely.
May we be strong ang dentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May we never hesitate to let passion push us,
conviction compel us, and righteous anger energize us.
May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.
May we dismantle abusive systems and
silence lies with truth.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.
May we overflowe with goodness in the name of God
and by the power of Jesus.
And in that name and by that power,
may we change the world.
Dear God, please make us dangerous women.
AMEN.

-Lynne Hybels, "Nice Girls Don't Change the World