"American Idol" Gives a Shout Out to the Lord!

Did you happen to catch the closing of "Idol Gives Back" Wednesday night?

It was surreal.

Right there on the "Idol" stage, in front of God and everybody, the "Idol" finalists closed the show with a powerful rendition of "Shout to the Lord."

It was almost like the first time I heard MercyMe "I Can Only Imagine" on a mainstream AC station.

Here's this guy, singing at the top of his voice, "Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel, will I dance before You Jesus?"

And I couldn't believe it!

They had just said "Jesus" on KISS-FM.

And it wasn't preceded or followed by an epithet.

Wednesday night, I listened in amazement as the finalists sang "Shout to the Lord."

Was I dreaming?

Had I tuned in to the Rev. Billy Graham crusade? Was I going to see gold chairs and big hair in a minute?

Or was this a powerful, watershed moment on "American Idol"?

It was indeed the latter.

And it gave an entirely new audience a chance to hear this powerful song and to vote "yes" or "no" for the Source of its inspiration.

Jesus was brought front and center Wednesday night on "American Idol."

Could there have been any more fitting conclusion?

I'm reminded of the verse, "The King's heart is in the hand of the Lord."

I guess that includes Simon, too!

Billy