Dolly on Idol

This week was Dolly Parton week on American Idol. Now, while I was never a huge Dolly fan, I found it very interesting that I liked almost all of the performances on Tuesday. They were all very strong and even though Simon didn’t like many of them, I found myself disagreeing with him (which is rare). At any rate, the most interesting thing about the week was how spiritual many of the songs were. David Archuleta sang a song (and did amazingly well) called Smoky Mountain Memories and part of the lyrics go:
“But I’ll keep leanin’ on my Jesus
He’ll love and guide and lead us …
If I’ll keep looking to the father
Keep our heads above the water
While the Smoky Mountains memories keep me strong.”

Jason Castro sang a fun little song called Travelin’ Through. Some lyrics:
“Questions I have many, answers but a few
But we’re here to learn, the spirit burns, to know the greater truth
We’ve all been crucified and they nailed Jesus to the tree
And when I’m born again, you’re gonna see a change in me

God made me for a reason and nothing is in vain
Redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain
Oh sweet Jesus if you’re listening, keep me ever close to you
As I’m stumblin’, tumblin’, wonderin’, as I’m travelin’ thru

I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru

Oh sometimes the road is rugged, and it’s hard to travel on
But holdin’ to each other, we don’t have to walk alone
When everything is broken, we can mend it if we try
We can make a world of difference, if we want to we can fly”

Then last night, Dolly got up and sang a song called Jesus and Gravity. I guess I did not realize how much spiritual content was in her music until I started looking through her songs.
She sang:
“I got Jesus, I got
Somethin’ lifting me up
Somethin’ holding me down
Somethin’ to give me wings and
Somethin’ to keep my feet on the ground
I’ve got all I’ll ever need,
cause I got Jesus and gravity

Jesus, I’ve got Jesus, I’ve got Jesus
He’s my everything
He lifts me up
He gives me wings
He gives me hope
and He gives me strength
and that’s all I’ll ever need

As long as He keeps lifting me up
He is my life
He is my God
He is my wings
He is my flight
Lift me, I’ve got Jesus, I’ve got Jesus
and that’s all I need.”

You know, I really just liked hearing all these songs about Jesus on American Idol. It’s funny to me that as much as our culture tries to deny him and claims to be “offended” by him, his name continues to be spoken and sung over and over. There is power in His name, even if the one speaking it does not yet recognize that reality. One day, the very mention of His name will send everyone to their knees, and their mouth will confess that He is Lord and God will be glorified. Until that day, even hearing His name praised on American Idol does my heart good.