God’s ways make me smile!
During American Idol audition weeks, Simon predicted that if fresh faced, 24 year old Brooke White made it to Hollywood, she would be drawn to the "dark side."
With that memory in mind it was stunning when American Idol opened the "Idol Gives Back Show." The stage was gorgeous and all 8 contestants were dressed in solid white and backed 
by a gospel choir. Suddenly the familiar chords of a popular praise song began filling the auditorium and the air waves.
Could they really be singing "Shout to the Lord?"
People in "Blog-Land" were similarly stunned by this song choice.
Many were all a twitter because the opening line had been changed from "My Jesus" to "My Shepherd."
There is great blog debate going on about whether this accommodation to the religious sensitivities of others was a good or a bad thing.
I smiled as I thought of Jesus’ words in John 10:11-17:
"I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…
I am the good shepherd.
I know my own and my own know me…
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.
I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice.
So there will be one flock, one shepherd."
Whatever went into the decision to drop Jesus’ name, it seems that Jesus will not be dropped!
He is the Good Shepherd and I have no doubt He was using this most popular show to draw more sheep into the fold!
Interestingly enough, when Thursday night’s show opened, the contestants were dressed in regular garb. Again the familiar chords of "Shout to the Lord" began. This time they sang,
My Jesus, My Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
For two nights in a row this most popular show was used to proclaim the infinitely more valuable Shepherd–Jesus!
You could ask, "Who is drawing whom Simon?"