This is a season of entropy; the economy is sliding and the moral fabric is fraying in our angst-ridden society. So when Kris Allen won American Idol on Wednesday, it gave us something to cheer about.

23 year-old Allen is a strong Christian who served as worship pastor at New Live Church in Maumelle, Arkansas and has been on numerous mission trips. He wrote the song "Land of Smiles" (see above video) after going on a mission trip to Thailand.

One friend said about Allen's involvement in mission trips with their campus fellowship group: "[W]e have done a lot of mission trips... We feel it is a deep core value to reach out to the poor and oppressed at all ends of the Earth, and I know this is what in Kris' heart, too."

I'm guessing that Rusty Jackson isn't the only guy from Arkansas who's proud.