AMERICAN IDOL
IDOL SERIES 1
INTRO: AMERICAN IDOL
BIBLE VERSE: Exodus 20:2-3
TRANSITION: SO WHAT IS YOUR AMERICAN IDOL?
Following are some idols, and they may not always be what you think.
1. PRIDE:
BIBLE VERSE: 1 John 2:15-17
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
A. American Idol Quotes From Losers
I love the response people who get put on the show
Angry American Idol Reject: This woman has a horrible audition, and surprisingly doesn’t slam her that bad, they really don’t. Her response is atypical, the response is “I am great, I am great, I am great, etc.”
Youtube.com has copies of this, her name is rhonetta, and she gets very angry (this specific clip is titled “Angry American Idol Reject,” but it contains the D word in it, so it should not be used). Instead, use just some bad singers and talk about how none of them have a clue how bad they are because they think they are great.
Instead: Use “The Worst American Idol Auditions Ever (MUST SEE)”
WHAT MAKES A PERSON THINK THEY ARE THE BEST, THINK THEY ARE RIGHT?
B. Nebuchadnezzar:
Nebuchadnezzar had anything anybody could ever dream of having. He had all the control, he could sentence people to death or order them to live—it was unbelievable. But his self-proclamation to be great was also his downfall, his pride.
BIBLE VERSE: Daniel 5:18-21
5:18 As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty. 5:19 Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished. 5:20 And when his mind became arrogant and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him. 5:21 He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.
2. POWER:
BIBLE VERSE: Jeremiah 9:23-24
23 This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.
A. Celebrity Contracts
Numerous celebrities reach for power, and understanding some of them are really a lot of fun. Here are some demands made by them:
1) The 70’s Band Hall & Oates, require concerts refer to them as “Daryl Hall & John Oates,” even though for 15 years they had been Hall & Oates. Why, maybe cause the name sounds like “Hauling Oats.”
2) Dustin Diamond, a stand up comedian demands that he NOT be referred to by his more famous name, “Screech” from Saved by the Bell.
3) John Mayer Turns out that the celeb player has a penchant for perfect teeth. Along with his organic fruit and soy milk, on his 2005 tour, singer John Mayer requested four "soft head" toothbrushes, Listerine mouth wash and mint-flavored Sensodyne or Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, plus Altoids.
4) Van Halen, the band, was famous for requesting that all the brown M&M’s would be removed from their bowls, it was not so much a power deal, but a check to make sure bookers read all the contract. They figured if this was followed, the other details did to.
5) Did you think Madonna freely gave her time to Live Aid last year? No way. Aside from reporters not being allowed to lose eye contact with her and look away (no joking, they were not allowed to look down to ask the next question, they had to memorize the question), she also had 12 dozen boxes of strawberries and 8 full size mirrors required in her backstage area, or no show. Wow huh?
These people do this stuff because of power. Some of it is quite humorous, but there are some things that can never be funny.
B. Laws That Abuse Power
Did you know that there are 50 or so countries that forbid just about anything to do with Christianity? Here is one story from prisonalert.com.
Location: Pakistan
Arrested: June 2009
Asia Bibi, a 37-year-old Pakistani woman from the village of Ittanwali, was arrested by police on Friday, June 19, and faces possible blasphemy charges. Asia is the wife of 50-year-old Ashiq Masih, and their family is one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families.
Many of the local women work on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees, including Asia. During their work many of the Muslim women have pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam. In June, the pressure became especially strong.
On Friday, June 19, there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith, with the Muslim women telling Asia about Islam. Asia responded by telling them about her faith in Christ. Asia told the Muslim women Christ had died on the cross for our sins, then asked them what Mohammed had done for them, according to VOM sources. She told them Jesus is alive, but Mohammed is dead. “Our Christ is the true prophet of God,” she reportedly told them, “and yours is not true.”
Upon hearing this response the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia Bibi. Then some men came and took her and locked her in a room. They announced from mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey. Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. She is currently being held at the police station in Nankana city. Christians there urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but police claimed that they must go forward due to pressure from local Muslim leaders.
The Voice of the Martyrs urges Christians around the world to pray for Asia Bibi and her family. Further, we call on the Pakistani government to insure that the rights of Christians like Asia are protected
This is power that is sick!
More Examples of Death to Christians (From Voice of Martyrs):
On Oct. 20, Chen Le, a high school student, was expelled from Xinjiang High school for refusing to denounce his faith, according to China Aid Association.
On Oct.27, The Voice of the Martyrs contacts reported nearly 1,000 Arastamar Bible school students face eviction from a West Jarkata Mayors office building where they were living temporarily
Recently, two Baptist pastors in Russia’s Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad were fined 2,200 rubles (US $75) after their community "sang psalms and spoke about Christ" on the street
On Sept. 21, Pastor Manuel was shot and killed by The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas in San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia, according to The Voice of the Martyrs
3. POPULARITY (PRAISE):
BIBLE VERSE: John 12:43
For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
A. Fashion Report Card
Folks, the fashion police have done their work evaluating the red carpet wardrobes in the last month. Do you want to know what they found?
Megan Fox, model from transformers 2 (and confessed pothead—not to be mentioned to MS), wore an Antonio Beradi dress with gold Brian Atwood pumps, and a Judith Leiber clutch.
Jennifer Aniston wore a Valentino Couture tunic and bejeweled Christian Louboutin stilettos.
Taylor Momsen from The Stepfather wore a goth outfit, a lace minidress, with raccoon looking eyeliner.
My Point? Who Really Cares? These people spend all this money all these funds all this time for what…the praises of men? Meaningless, meaningless, meaningless.
B. My Great 80’s Wardrobe
When it comes to popularity, nothing makes a better message to young people than our own attempts to be popular, so use your own story here. I will explain to them that my attempt at being cool involved wearing a mullet, rolling up my arm sleeves 3 rolls in my bright orange shirt and zuba pants, while tightrolling up my slacks, pulling up my pants to my navel, wearing 3 swatches, sticking a brush in my backpocket, and knowing all the words to La Bamba. Now, you tell me, does it pay to be popular?
THE BIG QUESTION: COOL OR CHRIST, YOU DECIDE.
Sources:
Fashion Report Card 2009, yahoo.com, Photo Galleries.
Fritz, Paul. What American Idol Do We Follow? Trinity College: July 2006.
Persecution.com. Voice of Martyrs (2009).
Prisoneralert.com. Name: Asia Bibi (Prisoner Archives).
Top 10 Outrageous Celeb Contract Demands, ABC News Entertainment, http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Music/Story?id=6461409&page=3.
NAME: _____________________________________________
AMERICAN IDOL
IDOL SERIES 1
SO WHAT IS YOUR AMERICAN IDOL? _____________________________________________________
1. _______________________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: 1 John 2:15-17
Angry American Idol Rejects:
Nebuchadnezzar:
BIBLE VERSE: Daniel 5:18-21
2. ________________________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Jeremiah 9:23-24
Celebrity Contracts:
Hall & Oates:
Dustin Diamond:
John Mayer:
Van Halen:
Madonna:
Laws that Abuse Power: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: John 12:43
For they loved ________________________ from men more than praise from ______________________..
Fashion Report Card:
Personal Testimony:
Big Question: _____________________________ OR __________________________________