Please take a look at this video.

http://protectdarfur.org/Pages/Index_Files/Film_Main.htm

I just watched the movie Crash. We are having a conversation about it tonight with folks from Mosaic. I’ve just started looking for facts related to the movie, and I’m having a hard time coming up with stuff. I guess I’ll just start looking for stuff about some of the different racial interactions that are in the movie.
It would be great to compile a concise or summary list of facts related to some of the scenes that are in the movie. Anyone with me on that?

Here’s what I’m going to do. Either comment on here, or email me any facts or websites, or books or anything related to the movie, or just a particular scene in the movie, and I’ll try and compile a website that will have all those collected together.

Examples: Sexual harrasment by LAPD, Racism in LAPD, facts on the problems with the healthcare system, truthes to racism (as described by Ludacris), personal stories of middle and upper-class blacks, arab and asian racist remarks and statistics, etc.

Wouldn’t it be neat to have almost like a study guide to show with the film? A lot of people said they liked it, this would be a good way to take it and move with it.

email: ariahfine@gmail.com or just post below.

Okay, I’ve got an article to write, but then I plan on posting about a number of things:
1. All the cool new websites I’ve found, and the insight they’ll bring into my life.
2. The foster care and adoption presentation we saw today.
3. The movie Saved and the thoughts it evoked.
4. Ellie’s Run
5. Why I think the AIDS Walk is important.
6. 5 reasons why you should give me a dollar for the AIDS walk
Some more things I can’t think of right now.

I’m planning on doing this by a vote. So vote on which post you’d like to see first and I’ll start with those. (this is more of a test to see if folks actually read, and if they have a paranoia of commenting).

Okay, here’s what you do.

1. Go to your computer desktop (leave your favorite programs open in the taskbar)
2. hit “print screen”
3. open paint (or other image program)
4. paste your screenshot, and save it.
5. go to tinypic.com and upload your screenshot
6. Comment on my page with the link to your screenshot.

I always wonder what people’s screen’s look like.

(I’ll post them all in my next post).

So, based on the feedback of my peers I’ve decided to do the AIDS Walk here in Nashville. I’ll give lots of reasons why later, but for now just give out of the goodness of your heart.

Go here.

P.S. You should sponsor me instead of someone else because I’m a really good walker. I’ve done it for a long time and I can even do some freestyle walking if you ask. I promise to include pictures when I’m done. Now how can you pass that up?

I thought I’d just spread the news for all you Nashville folks about two events going on this Saturday.

Peace Gathering
Down by the RIVERSIDE
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PEACE

NASHVILLE: Riverside Park (1st & Broadway, DOWNTOWN)
Saturday, September 24th, 2005

SPEAKERS & RALLY: 1pm – 2pm
PEACE FAIR with over dozen organizations and booths: Noon – 4pm.

Mother, Cindy Sheehan, has helped light a fire in the movement to end the War on Iraq. With just 48 hours notice over 300 Nashvillians and others arrived at the Parthenon. Now let’s engage our family, our friend and bring everyone we know…

Down by the RIVERSIDE

This is the Call to End the War. Join on this day with cities across the globe.

OR… JOIN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

And

Ellie’s Run

When: Saturday, September 24, 2005

Where: Edwin Warner Park, Vaugh Road and Old Hickory
Time: Doors Open: 3:00 PM
Family Fun Race: 3:30 PM
5K Race: 4 PM
Food served: 4:30 PM

Prizes awarded: 5:30 PM

Special Performance by Jars of Clay: 6:30 PM

**Cultural marketplace and games will be open throughout the day.

Donation amounts are as follows:

$15 per student (with student ID)

$20 per individual

$30 per couple

$50 per family

$10 for entrance to concert at 6PM; this price does not include dinner, games or a t-shirt.

If you have any questions, please email us at info@elliesrun.org.

I have credit cards. There where two reasons I’ve used a credit card since after high school. One, with online statements you can download it was the easiest way to track my finances. Two, the cards I have give cash back, about 5% on groceries and gas. I think I’ve made a couple hundred dollars in the past few years. The number one rule in having a credit card is: Don’t spend what you don’t have, and pay off your balance every month (okay that’s sort of two rules).

Now I know that credit cards are a horrible thing for most people, that millions are in debt on their credit cards and spend money they don’t have. The credit card companies always seem to win, though I’m convinced I’ve come out on top with my cards.

But, a good friend pointed out to me that Credit Card companies probably love people like me, cause I tell others about how I use a credit card and it’s a good thing, luring them into a life in debt. I also read somewhere that you spend 12% more with a credit card then you would with cash (I don’t know if that’ s true for me, but those are the stats).

All this to say, I’ve officially zeroed out any balance I had on our credit cards and I will no longer be using them. Here are some of the reasons I think this is a good thing.
1. I want to be a good example to others in being a wise steward of my finances, and for most that means NO credit cards.
2. It’s one less payment to have to do each month. And my wife and I will both be happy about that.
3. If it’s true we spend 12% with a credit card then with cash, then my bank accounts gonna be 12% fatter. nice.
4. I can use my bank debit card for any online transactions or other things I have to have a card for.
5. I’ll quit stealing from The Man (it’s not nice to steal, even if it’s from The Man).

I’d like to encourage others to do the same. Don’t need to cancel your cards. Just pay them off and put them away. Let’s try it for about 3-4 months and then we can re-evaluate.

I wanted to accent again Brian’s comment cause it says so much about what I think the church should look like.
Basically the thing that was so radical about Jesus is he went and hung out with sinners on their turf. I’m in full agreement with Richard and Brian in regards to physical barriers to people hearing the gospel. And my arguement would be that our churches are physical barriers. Sharing the gospel of Jesus with others should happen on their turf.
Again, I’m not saying that big churches don’t get the job done. The comments I’ve gotten have been trying to make a case for bigger churches, and I’m not here to argue that. I’m simply trying to draw our attention to a different way (and maybe better), as well as point out the problems I see with the current structures (again, not negating the good).

My words aren’t coming out right. So much in my brain and it’s coming out like mush.