Sean "Diddy" Combs Deserves to Die

It's just staggering. Drugging and raping victims, throwing "freak off" sex parties, grooming famous young men and those who want to be for sexual favors, trafficking, and possibly even murder. These are the kinds of crimes linked to musician Sean "Diddy" Combs. The list of celebrities who will be exposed for participating in these sex parties will shock the nation. So will Diddy's victims of grooming. Yet, justice should be served.

Unfortunately, Diddy is just among a very long list of Hollywood and business types that have been exposed for their offenses. Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey, film producer Bryan Singer, beloved singer Michael Jackson, financier Jeffrey Epstein, and many others, have all had to face the music one way or another. 

When exposed for the bad decisions we make- in this case repeatedly- we get desperate. When crimes are punished, it would be natural to consider a quick death by suicide. Certainly, all their victims have probably considered it as well, making healing hard if nor next to impossible. Or forgiveness, for that matter.

Rape ruins people, destroying lives, and impacting families for generations. (Yes, mine too.) The percentage of women experiencing sexual assault or rape is surprisingly high- and the numbers of male victims are increasing as well. Evil, yes, but it's also the human condition. It's not excusable. God certainly doesn't excuse it as it breaks His heart to see a people He created so engulfed with selfishness and utter depravity. He will judge our sin, and we all have fallen short in various ways. 

It's easy to point fingers. 

Because God's laws are designed to protect our lives and lead us on a path full of goodness and mercy, we suffer when we walk a different direction. Pain is the end result when we walk our own way. If you're like me, it's a lesson we learn over and over again. 

Honestly, in the eyes of a loving and holy and pure God, we deserve nothing less than death and punishment. Yet- and I so thank God for this- because He loves us so, He sent Jesus to earth to die for the sins of all men and pay the price in full that a holy God requires. We can choose to believe in Jesus' own words - "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me" and find the wholeness, healing, new constantly look for. If we believe that he died and rose again, it is ours. It's a very gracious offer. One paid for at a very high price. Or we can continue on in our search for fulfillment and pleasure and power in disobedience to God.

Yes, Sean "Diddy" Combs deserves to die. So do we. Thank God, we can all have a fresh beginning and full forgiveness by turning our our lives to Jesus and walking another direction. What will Harvey do now? Hard to say. But I have to focus on my own choices. So do you.

Notable and Quotable: Kansas City Chief's Patrick Mahomes

"Doing what I do every single day, and then knowing that as long I'm doing everything the right way, the way that He'd want me to do it, then I can walk off the field with my head held high and be able to be the man that I'm supposed to be. It's given me a lot of blessing in my life and I'm trying to maximize and glorify Him in everything I do"

Super Bowl Winning Quarterback Patrick Mahomes

Notable and Quotable: Patrick Mahomes

"Doing what I do every single day, and then knowing that as long I'm doing everything the right way, the way that He'd want me to do it, then I can walk off the field with my head held high and be able to be the man that I'm supposed to be. It's given me a lot of blessing in my life and I'm trying to maximize and glorify Him in everything I do"

Super Bowl LIV Winning Quarterback Patrick Mahomes

Unimpressive Idols

American Idol Season 13 is certainly unlucky! After viewing a handful of episodes, I am thoroughly unimpressed. The judges are probably the best mix since the original ones. Jennifer Lopez always displays her soft side (except on stage!), Keith Urban is kind but honest, and surprise hard nose Harry Connick Jr. is generally as dead on as Simon Cowell.  The show is past its prime when greats like Carrie Underwood and Daughtry made a splash. We won't see artists like them again. It's time for The Voice to return.

(Photograph by Michael Becker, Fox)

Another Idol Showdown

Talk about diversity! The final three contestants on American Idol are some of the shows best singers ever, each with individually unique styles and endearing personalities. All in all, qualities making this the most enjoyable season that I have watched in years. 

Three rounds and three winners.

First go around, Phillip Phillips' high energy "Beggin'" walked away with round one, edging out Joshua Ledet's take on Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind", an odd choice for a young artist. It also surpassed the effective and delicate "My All" by Mariah Carey. When Jessica Sanchez took on this song, I expected something different, but I was pleased by the amount of restraint and grace she used, really highlighting her beautiful voice over her ability to belt it out.

That wise restraint won Joshua Ledet round two. Jessica's Aerosmith number was alright, and Phillip's "Disease" by Matchbox 20 was much better than the judges gave him credit for, yet Joshua's control on a stunning "Imagine" convinced me he could also do something different. I still find it interesting when a Christian sings the song ("Imagine there's no heaven"), but it is a lovely melody.

Round three belonged to Jessica. Taking on the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There", she displayed an incredible versatility as she took on several different ranges in the song, hitting the money notes in the lowest registers instead of the highest pieces as a listener would expect. Joshua's "No More Drama" had too much of it, and by taking on Mary J. Blige, it was back to what he is most known for. For all the praise given Phillip's "We've Got Tonight", I found it to be stripped down to the point of being dull- something a song should never be, especially this one. It's made for his voice but not with this arrangement. 

With one win for each of the contestants, it should make tonight's elimination all the more difficult. These are three terrific kids, and my prediction is each will have long and successful careers.

(Photo by Michael Becker, Fox.)