The controversial film detailing the hijacking of the fourth plane on 9/11, United 93, opens nationwide today.

The film’s Web site, http://www.u93.org, was created by Motive Entertainment, the company founded by Paul Lauer, who spearheaded marketing campaigns for The Passion of the Christ, The Polar Express, and The Chronicles of Narnia.

The controversy stems mainly from opinions that the film comes too soon, that the emotional wound from the tragic events has not yet healed. However, the families of those who were on the flight are in favor of the film.

I saw the movie on Tuesday, and agree that it's powerfully intense, not for those with weak stomachs or deep wounds from that day. I walked out speechless, reminded of how I felt that day almost five years ago. And yet, it all seemed even more real than before, seeing the events played out on a movie screen.

Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Greengrass (Bloody Sunday, The Bourne Supremacy), who directed this film, reportedly interviewed more than 100 family members and friends of those who perished. He hired flight attendants and commercial airline pilots to play those roles; hired several civilian and military controllers on duty on Sept. 11, including the FAA's Ben Sliney, to play themselves.

The film has been criticized for clunky acting, but I think this move adds a unique authenticity.

An important and effective tribute to Americans' sacrifice and bravery.

MySpace

Social networking Web site MySpace—which offers user profiles, photos, videos, blogs, group chat, music downloads, and an internal e-mail system—now boasts more than 72 million registered users.
This is the new “in” thing that “everyone” seems to be doing. A few months ago I hadn’t even heard of this site, one of the most visited in Web-dom.
A Relevant article describe the writer’s similar ignorance, and caution that I’ve had.

Here's what I see as reasons for using MySpace:
* Build “community,” make new friends, catch up with old ones, etc…

Reasons against:
* It can be addicting.
The average user logs onto the site for one hour and 40 minutes daily.

A community college in Texas has blocked MySpace.com. School officials at Del Mar College found that 40% of all Internet use at the school was dedicated to the site and claim it was eating up all the bandwidth.
* Not all the content on MySpace is clean. Member photos, despite being censored for nudity, sometimes show women in seductive poses and revealing clothing.

Because of this and other negative content (explicit song lyrics, marketing, etc…) Christian alternatives to the site are now popping up online.
CoolChristianFriends.com is one, plus Xianz.com announced open registration to artists and record labels, and will go live to the public May 25.

While I admire the efforts of Christians attempting to provide positive content, I am turned off by these sites, which seem like “wannabes.”

Plus, the line between sacred and secular is not always defined, nor should it be.
Christians can make a positive influence even on MySpace—they must just be careful not to be polluted by it. (James 1:27)

So, all things considered, I’ve signed up. I’m going to give it a try—with much precaution not to spend too much time or energy online.

“America Online reported that only 8% blog to ‘expose political information.’ Instead, 50% of bloggers consider what they are doing to be therapy,” according to the April 21 Wall Street Journal.

True, writing is therapeutic, whether it’s on paper or the computer screen. However, it’s probably not healthy for a blogger to receive his or her only source of therapy and community online.

If you want to become my “friend,” or see my page, see http://www.myspace.com/carjoson.

the swirl and ache

love at the lips was touch
as sweet as i could bear;
and once that seemed too much;
i lived on air

that crossed me from sweet things,
the flow of--was it musk
from hidden grapevine springs
downhill at dusk?

i had the swirl and ache
from sprays of honeysuckle
that when they're gathered shake
dew on the knuckle.

i craved strong sweets, but those
seemed strong when i was young;
the petal of the rose
it was that stung.

now no joy but lacks salt,
that is not dashed with pain
and weariness and fault;
i crave the stain

of tears, the aftermark
of almost too much love,
the sweet of bitter bark
and burning clove.

when stiff and sore and scarred
i take away my hand
from leaning on it hard
in grass and sand,

the hurt is not enough:
i long for weight and strength
to feel the earth as rough
to all my length.

--Robert Frost

Dove Awards

Chris Tomlin earned five Dove Awards, including Artist of the Year, at the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards, April 5 in Nashville. The awards show will air in national syndication April 15-May 21. Tomlin was one of 37 award-winners, including Steven Curtis Chapman, who received his 50th.
For a complete winners list, click here.




Pictured (l-r) with awards are: Passion Conferences/sixstepsrecords founder/director Louie Giglio, who received the award for Youth/Children’s Musical for His Renown; Artist of the Year Chris Tomlin; and David Crowder, who received three awards with his band and three for his production and songwriting credits.

Falling Into Love book review

Ned Erickson / Relevant Books
Subject: Relationships

Falling Into Love is the story of an ordinary couple who meet, fall in love, and find hope, despite stumbling through Valentines Day flub-ups, embarrassing moments with in-laws, carpet stains, and lost wedding rings.
This refreshing memoir mixes funny and reflective lessons taught not by how-to steps or formulas, but through tales that describe how our hearts hunger for love but can never be satisfied by anything but Christ. This isn’t a know-it-all, this-is-how-it’s-done approach. Instead, it’s a self-deprecating, floundering, still-learning, honest account of a real couple fumbling in marriage.
Readers, whether single or attached, can resonate with the mishaps, missteps, and miscommunication—and laugh and learn from them. Falling Into Love starts a metaphor that isn’t completely developed throughout, but nonetheless will delight twentysomething readers interested in the complexities of marriage.

Faith and the City book review

Jennifer Ruisch / Relevant Books
Subject: Biography

Ruisch, a college graduate, moves to Chicago to find herself. In a crowd of diverse religions and backgrounds, she meets many “lost” people as she struggles to discover her own place and purpose. The author’s narrative reads like a novel, recording interactions with a cast of characters at Paroneli’s Pasta. Her server job isn’t ideal, but it pays the bills and teaches priceless lessons.
There she meets Hunter, the religion-mocking punk band-leader; Mark, the Zen Buddhist semi-pro wrestler; Nola, “an angry Polish lesbian;” and Brad, the bitter former Catholic turned New Age fantasist.
Along her journey Ruisch discovers more of Christ, despite her experiences with nonbelievers and disappointing believers. She hooks readers with her story and subtly inserts insightful details that encourage deeper thinking. Recommend to college grads and seekers of deeper life in Christ.