A Katy Perry discussion????

This is how low I've sunk in my blogging inspiration. I'm writing a blog about Katy Perry... I hang my head in shame.

For those who have been living under a rock for the last few years Katy Hudson (stage name Katy Perry) is your typical Pastor's kid gone bad. Other's might say she has has sold her soul to the devil to be famous- and famous she is. With songs like "I kissed a girl", "Hot and cold", "California gurls", "Teenage dreams" and "hot and cold" you are unable to find one positive lyric. However these are the songs on teenagers lips. It has caused me great amusement when, one of my housemate who is obsessed with her, if I am in the room and a song of her's come on, he will switch off the tv but leave the sound on as he knows I'm gonna stir him about the pretty much soft porn of her video clips. However the lyrics are just as bad. And these are played every sat morning and her catchy melodies are sung by millions of children, teens and obsessed young men.

But did you know she Toured with Phil Joel back in the day?

Or she sings on one of my favourite P.O.D. songs "Goodbye for now" a song which I think really looks towards the hope we have for the future. (she is at the end of the song)

But anyways Why am I posting about her? Well I heard a song of hers that made me think and I'm guessing will cause some interesting discussions. Most of them will probably be by teenagers and Isaac Andrews claiming "Look at this song she is a christian, therefore her music isn't bad" Well it is worth having a look at.

The Song is called "Who am I living for?"

Good question.

It seems to have some great religious content e.g.

So I pray for a favour like Esther

I need your strength to handle the pressure
I know there will be sacrifice
But that’s the price

or

I can see the writing on the wall
I can’t ignore this war
At the eh-end of it all
Who am I living for?

But as I had a quick look around some of the forums there were some fascinating discussions about this song. Some are proclaiming that this is why we teach our children religious things young because you never know if they are coming back to them.

Others would say that the song is really about the occult. The Vigilant Citzen says this here

Is it a song about occult initiation? Some might interpret the song as a religious song, perhaps about Christianity. But the terminology used however strongly points to occult mysteries: reference to a phoenix (a metaphor of man’s spiritual rebirth), a sacrifice, light growing from inside (illumination), duality between heaven and hell, etc

Still other theories are still out there including Dan Brown's Favourite- the Illuminati. If you are unaware there are many Conspirator's theories about this sort of thing. This comment was found here

I know someone of you will be completely unknown to this "theory", but a lot of people (including myself) believe there is this secret society that has been around for centuries, they're called the Illuminati. Alot of very successful artists practically sell they're soul to the devil for stardom, and they're usually granted their wishes; because of the immense control this group has on the movie and music industry.

I think the song was written about that. How Katy Perry is so strong in trying to resist the powers of this group. There is alot of religious undertones to the song.

Still others in the same discussion argue that she is indeed part of the group and this is describing her struggle/cries for help

Well I'm not sure about either theory. But I do point out that whilst this seems to kinda have a christian message- after she had released this song she still made videos prancing around in almost nothing and defiantly not living like a christian. So what do you think? I hope that when Isaac does come running to you with this song you have a rebuttal.

Lyrics to Katy Perry's "Who am I living for?"

I can feel a phoenix inside of me
As I march alone to a different beat
Slowly swallowing down my fear, yeah, yeah
I am ready for the road less traveled
Suiting up for my crowning battle
This is test is my own cross to bear
But I will get there

It's never easy to be chosen
Never easy to be called
Standing on the front line
When the bombs start to fall
I can see heavens
But I still hear the flames
Calling out my name

I can see the writing on the wall
I can't ignore this war
At the end of it all
Who am I living for?

I can feel this light that's inside of me
Growing fast into a bolt of lightning
I know one spark will shock the world, yeah, yeah
So I pray for favor like Esther
I need your strength to handle the pressure
I know there will be sacrifice
But that's the price

It's never easy to be chosen
Never easy to be called
Standing on the front line
When the bombs start to fall
I can see heavens
But I still hear the flames
Calling out my name

I can see the writing on the wall
I can't ignore this war
At the end of it all
Who am I living for? (x2)

(At the end, at the end)
Who am I living for?
(At the end, at the end)
Who am I living for?

Heavy is head that wears the crown
Don't let the greatness get you down
Heavy is head that wears the crown
Don't let the greatness get you down

I can see the writing on the wall
I can't ignore this war
At the end of it all
Who am I living for? (x2)

(At the end, at the end)
Who am I living for?
(At the end, at the end)
Who am I living for?

Oh dear

I've had a bit of Trudy moment- after ages of looking at our church roadside Pulpit (message board) I finally got it. This is the sign here.
Now I just took it on face value- yes "God is watching over me" (as bombarded on TV with the Phill Joel song) but only just recognized the Avatar reference- This taken from our church website.
In the movie Avatar, the Na’vi greet each other with ‘I see you’. They dont merely mean I see you with my eyes, but the concept is borrowed from Sanskrit meaning ‘The god in me sees the god in you’ or ‘I see myself in you’. While we don’t subscribe to buddhist or hindu philosophy of divinity in all or all being part of the divine, the greeting is an apt picture of Jesus’ approach to us. He says to us: ‘I know who you are and everything about you. You are made in the image of God, and I want restore your relationship with me’. His expected response from us is also ‘I see you’, but this time ‘I know you are God, I wish to restore my relationship with you, so I place my trust in you’.

It also talks about Jesus being the Real avatar.
Pretty cool- but subtle? Too subtle? What do you think

Anti Abortion Add

Often the American Superbowl adds are the main reason people watch american football. Why because it is long and boring. What we see on aussie TV is the shortened version. This year Focus on the Family has teamed up with College football superstar, who Nathan (mistakenly) alluded to here, Tim Tebow to do an anti abortion add. It will be interesting to see if it airs.

Operation Kill

I just finished watching a TV mini series call Operation Kill. Fascinating. It is based off a book written by a reporter guy who went into Iraq with the Recon Marines (kinda like our SAS) with the 2003 invasion. Quite a brutal but yet honest movie. Definently not a 'cuddle on the couch with Girlfriend movie' but quite thought provoking. It is quite violent and heaps of swearing but I thought showed a small insight into army life and the effects it has on people. Also the effects of good and bad leadership on a community.

Finally Tim has come back Blogging

Inspired by Leah's return to blogging ( http://missleahmaria.blogspot.com ) i thought I should place some thoughts on screen. Last night a group of us went to see Les Miserables put on by the Townsville Choral Society. I was struck about how much of there is of a portray of Christians (something I'd never picked up before) there is in the musical. To begin with when the Convict Jean Valjean is released he is shown nothing but cruelty and hatred hardening his heart and looking to fight for what ever he can get. However he is broken of this by a Bishop who brings him in for a meal and a bed. Jean then repays him by stealing his silver. being brought back by the police the bishop admonishes Jean and says did i not tell you to take the candlesticks too. This act of Grace is turning point for Jean Valjean and a point where he fails to understand Why...
The bishop continues But remember this, my brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man
By the witness of the martyrs
By the Passion and the Blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God!
Whilst I don't agree fully with the practise of buying some one :) it is a nice little summery of our state in todays world.
If only there was more of that in todays media/entertainment.
Maybe thats a challenge to us to live as Christians in our day to day living and generosity to others- that we might show to others the grace that was shown to us.
The ending of the musical is probably my favourite part so i thought I'd share it.

Come with me
Where chains will never bind you
All your grief
At last, at last behind you.
Lord in Heaven,
Look down on him in mercy.

VALJEAN
Forgive me all my trespasses
And take me to your glory.

FANTINE & EPONINE
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation.
Take my love,
For love is everlasting.

VALJEAN, FANTINE & EPONINE
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God!

CHORUS
Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light.

For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise.

They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
They will walk behind the plough-share,
They will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes...
Tomorrow comes!