Carrie Underwood - Something in the Water

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ2kdx4zZUY

Something in the Water

He said, "I've been where you've been before.
Down every hallway's a slamming door."
No way out, no one to come and save me
Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave me

Then somebody said what I'm saying to you
Opened my eyes and told me the truth."
They said, "Just a little faith, it'll all get better."
So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I'm changed
And now I'm stronger

There must've been something in the water
Oh, there must've been something in the water

Well, I heard what he said and I went on my way
Didn't think about it for a couple of days
Then it hit me like a lightning late one night
I was all out of hope and all out of fight

Couldn't fight back the tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, "God, if you're there come and rescue me."
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I'm changed

And now I'm stronger

There must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water

And now I'm singing along to amazing grace
Can't nobody wipe this smile off my face
Got joy in my heart, angels on my side
Thank God almighty, I saw the light
Gonna look ahead, no turning back
Live every day, give it all that I have
Trust in someone bigger than me
Ever since the day that I believed I am changed
And now I'm stronger

There must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, yeah

I am changed
Stronger

I'm free

When I first heard this song, I was excited that such a famous singer was writing a song so much about God and Him rescuing her. I then heard from a girl in my class that she actually got baptized before this, which got me even more excited that this happened in her life. I am not too sure about Carrie's background with Christianity, but I am excited that she released this song. I got excited that so many people who follow her will hear this song and that they can hear the Truth from her in a song. I also like that she isn't connected to the Christian Music Industry (from my understanding), and that she is a light into the Country Music world.
I would hope that this would allow me to talk more about what Jesus did for us and the life we have now because of what Jesus did for us. I would tell them how the Jesus I serve does care for us and loves us, and would try and explain how bad things still happen because of the sin in the world.

Jesus Cheerleading

(http://pansypanda.com/jesus-doing-everyday-things/)

The other night, I found this link on Facebook of a guy who found the pose of Jesus funny, and decided to Photoshop Him doing every day things.
The entire link has 19 photos of Him photo shopped into normal day activities. When I first found this, I laughed so hard. I don't know if it was because I was over tired or what. But I found all these pictures hilarious. I don't think they were putting down God in anyway. It was meant to be funny.
I don't quite know what kind of image this portrays to non-believers; I don't know if this would cause them to brush off Christianity more, or if this would cause them to question or think deeper. I think if anything, it is a common bridge which both Christians and non-Christians can cross together and have a good laugh about something.
I would use this as a conversation starter with a non-Christian. We could sit together, look at the pictures and laugh together. They could potentially question why I would be laughing at it, and I could explain what I believe and how I don't think it is portraying anything wrong, it is just a bunch of funny pictures. Hopefully this would be able to help them see that we aren't crazy strict people or are uptight (although some people are), but we can have fun and joke around.

The Avengers brings in God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSnHM3rn1jc

So recently, Bryan has been making me watch the entire Marvel super hero movies in order, and the other day it was time to watch The Avengers. Into the movie, this one scene came up in which Captain America brings up the topic of God. In the scene, the woman Natasha, says how he shouldn't try and get involved in a particular fight because they are practically gods (Thor). Captain America responds by saying, "there is only one God, and I'm pretty sure He doesn't dress like that". When I first heard this, I got so excited that they put that into the movie. There weren't any other lines in which God was mentioned in the movie, but it got me so excited that God was included in such a big movie, and that they didn't down play Him, or make fun of Him or anything. They simply brought God into the open, and said there is only one God, and not multiple. It got me excited to think that even if people don't believe in God, or attend church or whatever the case, they just heard a simple statement that there is only one God, and that He doesn't dress up like a fictional character. I am excited that at least people will hear this truth in a pop cultural movie. 

I don't think I am 100% sure on how I would bridge this. I think I would just try and add to the truth that they begin with in the movie. I would try to build a bridge saying that God isn't some fictional character like ones we read about daily (like Thor), but that God is real and is daily involved in our lives and isn't there to ruin our lives. (I suspect the conversation would then turn into why do bad things happen then). 

Lightning Bolt to the Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8llndAAQCbk

When I first heard this song on the radio, I didn't think much of it. Just thought it was a nice pop song, with a good beat that I could work out to; so I found it on iTunes and bought it. It wasn't until a few times into listening to the song, did I realize that the lyrics they are singing can be transferred into the way that Jesus has saved us, or the way that His love makes us feel.
The beginning of this song is definitely more about a girl that the guy had feelings for...

(I was all you thought you ever needed

So you said, "how'd I let this slip away?"

On the floor, cold and barely breathing

So it goes

Sleeping all my dreams away

'Til you found me)

But when it begins to get into the pre-chorus, that is when to me, I find a lot of it begins to relate to how the love of God has transformed us.

(Like a lightning bolt to the heart

You woke me up, woke me up

Yeah, you brought me out of the dark

With just one spark, just one spark

Now I can feel your pulse

Kick starting this lifeless soul

Like a lightning bolt to heart

You woke me up, woke me up

Yeah)

This kind of sent me a new way of looking at how Jesus' love for us has transformed me. His love woke me up, it brings me out of the darkness that I was living in and I can feel Him all around me and in His creation.
This song gives an image of what Jesus' love can do for us. It also shows how society is searching for something that only the Lord can provide and give. To me, it is showing how desperate they are for something to jolt them; to shake them up and set them on a path towards light and not darkness. They are clearly singing about it. 

I would use this song to create an entry for conversation to someone who isn't a believer. Ask them questions like, "what do you think he is talking about/meaning in this song?" Hopefully that will create an entry point for me to go in and even show some Christian songs by Christian artists (ie. Lecrae) who have the same message, but instead of talking about an ex girlfriend, he is talking about his relationship with Jesus Christ who has turned his world around and has fulfilled him the way that they are constantly searching. I would use it to explain that we all make mistakes, sometimes we fall away after we said we wouldn't; but in the end, Jesus' love will always bring a spark back to us and get us set on the right path again.