Facebook and Google Under Fire

“New Level of Anger” Among Users – Expert

Mark Scheerer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Facebook is making its latest in a string of efforts to regain the trust of members concerned about the security of personal information on the site. The social media giant will reportedly simplify privacy control settings. Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center is watching the drama unfold.

“But I think that strategy may not work this time. I think there’s a new level of anger and concern about Facebook.”

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has admitted his company made, in his words, “a bunch of mistakes.” However, Rotenberg believes Facebook has emerged as a powerful tool for social change, and to shun it because of concerns over privacy would be foolish.

“I think it’s a mistake for people to think that somehow they should boycott or turn off these services. They should be actively engaged, expressing their views and talking about how to make them better.”

With Facebook closing in on 500 million users worldwide, it has only a handful of competitors with meager resources. Google, in only 12 years, has become an Internet behemoth, so Rotenberg says his group and other watchdogs must remain vigilant.

“If we reach a situation, for example, where Facebook really is the only social network service or Google really does dominate all the essential services on the internet, there just won’t be much choice.”

On Tuesday, Rotenberg’s group called for a Federal Communications Commission investigation into Google’s Street View camera cars which gathered data about private citizens’ Wi-Fi hot spots.

‘To Save a Life’ – A faith-based film to reach today’s youth

"The real message of this film is to try and offer help to people that are in trouble," says Josh Weigel, who plays a youth pastor. (New Song Productions / January 20, 2010)

Jake (Randy Wayne) and Jonny (Sean Michael Afabel) share an easy laugh in the quad.

LA – On the surface, “To Save a Life” doesn’t sound that different from a host of indie films — a drama involving a teen coping with the aftermath of a student’s suicide who finds solace in a group of outsiders.

The film, which opened last Friday (Jan 22, 2010), deals with myriad real-life issues facing teens such as drugs, sex and social acceptance. The plot focuses on star athlete Jake Taylor, who seemingly has it all; he has a basketball scholarship, good looks, a cheerleader girlfriend and hangs with the in-crowd. But when a loner, an old friend from his past, shoots himself at school, his world is turned upside down and he seeks answers on how he could have made a difference.

“To Save a Life” is meant to be uplifting and appeal to a wide audience. Which is part of the reason that the filmmakers don’t want to make too much of the fact that this is a faith-based film.

“The real message of this film is to try and offer help to people that are in trouble,” said Josh Weigel, who plays the role of a youth pastor in the film. “I don’t know what that kind of movie is called, movie with a purpose, a positive film, inspirational or redemptive film. It doesn’t really matter.”

The film is being distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films, which had a breakout hit in 2008 with the Christian film “Fireproof.” With a budget well under $1 million, the film, which starred Kirk Cameron, grossed $33 million thanks in large part to grass-roots marketing to church audiences.

Like “Fireproof,” “To Save a Life” is produced by a church-based production company, in this case New Song Pictures, a division of New Song Ministries in Oceanside California. But that’s where the similarities with the more overtly Christian “Fireproof” end. In fact, the new film may have more in common with Fox’s “Glee” than it does with previous Christian films, including a rainbow-colored cast of misfits and a good-looking mentor who guides them through the chaos of high school life.

According to LA Times reporter, Liesl Bradner, screenwriter and producer, Jim Britts, wrote the screenplay after learning that the top influence on teen behavior is not parents, school or even church, but movies.

“I work with troubled teens every day and see the severity of the poor choices they make,” said Britts of his 10 years as a youth pastor at New Hope Church. “Movies are a powerful way to illustrate the consequences of making the wrong choice while reinforcing positive actions. “Not a day goes by without talking to a kid going through some kind of pain.”

Many of those associated with “To Save a Life” are understandably nervous about being typecast as “Christian” filmmakers. It’s not that they are embarrassed by their beliefs, but the track record of faith-based films has been spotty. “To Save a Life” used Hollywood professionals to upgrade the quality of the film, but that was not always an easy task.

“It’s hard to commit to being in a film with any kind of Christian undertones, as most actors don’t want to be pigeonholed,” said casting director Liz Lang. “Christian films can be risky. You can believe in all sorts of things, but when you start talking about God and Jesus, people turn away.”

Initially, Randy Wayne, who plays Jake, passed on auditioning for the role because it was a faith-based movie with a low budget.

“I was afraid it would look really cheesy and I would too,” said Wayne, who changed his mind after reading the script. Jake’s struggles are the heart of the film but the guiding light is Youth Pastor Chris Vaughn, played by actor Weigel. Casting the role of a spiritual leader is crucial especially in faith-based films. “Pastors are depicted as being really preachy,” said Britts. “I knew Chris had been a youth pastor and he came in and nailed it.”

“To Save a Life” is co-produced by Outreach Films, which handled the marketing campaigns for “Fireproof.”

“The grass-roots marketing, especially on the Internet, is a significant part of reaching our teen audience,” said Meyer Gottlieb, president and chief operating officer of Samuel Goldwyn Films, which plans to distribute two faith-based films a year. “We want entertaining films that resonant with people, make them feel good and change their life for the better.” Among the marketing strategies is a Facebook page that also offers tools for at-risk kids, such as suicide hotlines, art contests and other creative outlets.

“We want to empower teens to be a messenger of hope by reaching out and befriending someone in trouble,” said Britts.

Synopsis…

(Source: LA Times, New Song Productions, Internet)

Above the clouds announces winter classes

Above the Clouds ministry has announced the following FREE courses (extraordinary arts!) beginning in January 2010.  Space is limited, so registration is recommended early.  For more information contact Above the Clouds at    (414) 344-3019  or E-mail:  abovetheclouds@att.net  Web site: www.abovethecloudsmilwaukee.com

 Heartlove Place ( 3229 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.)

Tuesdays, Jan. 12 thru May 18, 2010
Ballet: (For students that have taken at least one year.)
Level 2 – 4:45-5:30 p.m. (ages 6-8)
Level 2 – 5:30-6:30 p.m. (ages 9-17)

Wednesdays, Jan.13 thru May 19, 2010

Ballet: (Instructor will place you in these classes to attend.)
Level 4 – 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Level 5 – 5:30-6:45 p.m. 

Parklawn Christian Leadership Academy (3725 N. Sherman Blvd., enter on Roosevelt through door #4)
Mondays, Jan. 11 thru May24, 2010
Ballet: (These classes are for new students with no experience)
Level 1 – 4:45-5:30 p.m. (ages 5-8)
Level 1 – 5:30-6:30 p.m. (ages 9-17)

Thursdays, Jan 14 thru May 27, 2010
Cheerleading:  A fun and energetic way to learn cheers & stunting technique.
4:30-5:30 p.m. (ages 6 & up)

New Beginnings Are Possible Youth Center
(3717 W. Fond Du Lac Ave.) **Space limited at this site**
Mondays, Jan. 11 thru May 24, 2010
Drama:  A fun-filled class that introduces students to the basics of theatre:  crating a character, voice, movement & improvisation.  Students will learn how to create fun characters through games and impro., as well as develop great team-building and public speaking skills.
5-6 p.m. (ages 11-17 yr old)

 COA Goldin Center (2320 W. Burleigh Street)
*COA registration required!!
Tuesdays, Jan. 19 thru May 25, 2010
Stepping: A real life version of “Stomp The Yard”
4:30-5:30 p.m.  (ages 7-17)

Starms Discovery Learning School (2035 North 25^th St.-Enter thru main entrance on 25^th Street)
Wednesday, Jan. 13 thru May 19, 2010
Stepping: A real life version of “Stomp The Yard”
4:00-5:00 p.m. (ages 5 – 15 yr old)

Jared Bruce Academy (6090 N. 35^th St.)
Monday, Jan. 11 thru May 17, 2010
Stepping: A real life version of “Stomp The Yard”
4:30-5:30 p.m. (ages 5 – 17 yr old)

Tuesdays, Jan. 12 thru May 25, 2010
Drama:  A fun-filled class that introduces students to the basics of theatre:  crating a character, voice, movement & improvisation.  Students will learn how to create fun characters through games and impro, as well as develop great team-building and public speaking skills.
4:30-5:30 p.m. (ages 8-17 yr old)

Thursday, Jan. 14 thru May 27, 2010
Ballroom Dancing: will introduce basic steps for a variety of partner dances, including waltz, salsa, rumba, tango, and swing
4-5 p.m. (ages 6 & up)

Hundreds of Christian teens descend on OH town in 2010 to serve

OH — Some 400 teens will descend on Coshocton next summer from across the country for the purpose of helping citizens they don’t know.

“You can go to band camp, you go to soccer camp, you can go to football camp and you can go to a work camp. And they’ve chosen not to go to another country or to a big city, inner city, but to go to places throughout the United States and work,” said project co-chair Mayor Steve Mercer.

The work camps program started in 1975 in Colorado when a storm caused a flood that wiped out a small town and church. Locals from around the area, particularly youth, pitched in to help with the rebuilding of the city and the program grew from that.

Project co-chair Brad Fuller recently spent a week in Colorado where he learned more about the program and its workings. Fuller is in charge of home selection and assembling the needed materials.

“It’s a well oiled machine,” Fuller said. “They’re teenagers, they’re not skilled laborers, but they’re all coming to this camp because they have some degree of skill.”

The program will see 400 youths and 100 adult supervisors stay in Coshocton from June 13 to 19. They will do light repair and painting on 70 to 80 homes. When staying in Coshocton for the week, they will sleep and eat at Coshocton High School.

The youths ages 12 to 18 pay $424 to take part in the program, which pays for transportation, food and other needs. Those who wish to have their house worked on pay nothing.

“I see it as something that will be such a tremendous help to our community and to people in need. It’s geared toward low to moderate income, the elderly or disabled, and certainly the economy the way it is it is difficult for that demographic to do much maintenance. So to have a group like this to come in at a time like this is just a perfect fit to give our community a real shine,” Mercer said.

The program is Christian-based and provides more than physical repairs and work to the teens taking part and the communities they go to.

“It’s not just home repair. That’s a nice by-product. What happens is, it’s a spirit that happens in the community and people really get on board with it …,” Fuller said. “Spiritually what happens (with the teens taking part) is a great thing. It’s building them up… They know they have the ability to help their fellow man.”

Locally, $19,000 needs to be raised to pay for materials and supplies for the work. Paint, tools, ladders and other equipment also can be donated.

“I’m confident that we’ll be able to raise the dollar amount that we need without city funds,” Mercer said. “That money stays right here, it goes nowhere else.”

The Coshocton Baptist Church is acting as fiscal agent for the project. Checks can be made to Coshocton Work Camps and mailed to the Coshocton Baptist Church, 1631 Denman Ave., Coshocton, OH 43812.

Applications for the project soon will be available at City Hall and those who wish to donate materials or some how aide the project can call the mayor’s office at 622-1373 or Brad Fuller at 623-8027.

llhayhur@nncogannett.com; (740) 295-3417

MOVIE REVIEW: Disney’s A Christmas Carol

Disney’s A Christmas Carol (3D and iMax)
Rated: PG   (The film may be frightening for small children.)
CCN Summary:  As artistic, original and dramatic as any animated version can offer in this traditional Christmas story.  An unbeliveable experience for family and friends.

With the Christmas season upon us, like an expected heavy blanket of snow, bombarded by the commercialism and secularism, Disney attempts to lift our spirits in the spirit of Dickensonian tradition with A Christmas Carol.

Not the fanfare of talking animals and outer space effects, nor a culturally contemporary script, but a masterful rendering of the original story, complete with references (and reverences) to the Nativity, Scriptural quotes, and glad tidings.

While some might criticize the effort to retell this story for the 14th time on the big screen since 1938, the technical superiority in 3D is nothing less than breath-taking.  With fly-throughs across the London skyscape, cut-aways from the viewpoint of the ethereals looking down on the Crachet family through roofs and floors, and detailing to the wrinkles and whiskers of old Ebenzer, himself, A Christmas Carol offers the audience a unique experience sure to stimulate the same physical thrills one feels as they ride a roller coaster.

Instead of adapting the story to film, Director/Producer/Screenwriter Robert Zemeckis adapted modern film animation and technology to the story – a rare and refreshing  departure from the cliche seasonal material provided in recent years.  No puppets, talking pigs, or singing mice, Disney’s 2009 contribution to the Charles Dickens legacy  is an endowment of entertainment and encouragement for young and old.

The ensemble cast and technical talent which produced this production have produced art for the film-lover, a tapestry of color and movement forthe art-lover, and an accurate script true enough to the book to please the most traditional adherent.  Jim Carrey carries the film with a noteworthy English accent and all the arrogance, fear and remorse which the part demands.  Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, Carey Elwes, Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins and many others added their talents to complete a euphony which draws one into a complete visual and audio experience of everyemotion throughout the story…from the horror of witnessing the attacks of ‘ignorance’ and ‘want’ while the spirit of Christmas Present fades into dust…to the hights of elation in Scrooge, humself, as he discovers that mankind is now his business.

Some scenes are truly dark, as one would expect when travelling with certain spirits - but the moral is clear: selfishness without repentance leads to a hopeless end.  With spine-tingling and fearsome graphics in mind, the film is probably not suited for the very young, but viewed best by tweens and older.

On the other hand, with repentance and reconciliation being emphasized, albeit apart from any clear statement of the Gospel, a deficiency more critical of Dickens’ original work rather than an issue with Hollywood’s rendering, believers who know that salvation is only by grace through faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and not of man’s works (Eph 2:8-9), might, nevertheless, recognize the positive presence of Scripture and reverent treatment of God in secular media in this day and age.  Few choices offer the possibility to evangelize in mainstream settings, and this may be the domino to fell that singular, hardened heart in your sphere of influence at this hour.

A Christmas Carol opens Friday, November 6, 2009.  Visit the website here.

May  Disney’s A Christmas Carol boldly echo the phrases, “Peace on Earth; good tidings to men,” and “God bless us, everyone!” this Christmas season…throughout the year ahead and for many that may come.

(Source: Walt Disney Pictures)

NY school district settles $1 for refusing student bible club

ISLIP NY — A New York school district will pay a student a paltry $1 in damages after he accused officials of prohibiting him from forming a Bible club.

The Lindenhurst School District on Long Island denies it violated the unidentified student’s civil rights, but agreed to settle the lawsuit. It also paid his $2,500 legal expenses.

The Central Islip, N.Y., district says that in March — a month after the suit was filed — Lindenhurst High School recognized the Bible club.

The district already shelled out $2,500 to the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund which represented the student.

The group files frequent lawsuits on issues involving Christianity and schools, gay marriage and other socially conservative topics.

AG National Prayer Center posts prayer guides on-line

SPRINGFIELD, MO –As millions of young people head back to their classrooms, the AG National Prayer Center has posted a list of downloadable prayer guides for praying for students and schools.

These four free guides include: Prayer for the Assemblies of God Alliance for Higher Education, Prayer for the Assemblies of God Institutions of Higher Education, Prayer for Students on Secular College Campuses and Prayer for Students in Secular High Schools.

The National Prayer Center (NPC) believes keeping students and schools covered in prayer is vital.

“In the case of high school students,” explains NPC Assistant Director James Meredith, “many are entering challenging times – they’re going to face greater temptation, peer pressure and challenges to their beliefs. Those students going on to college oftentimes have the same struggles, but they are leaving the spiritual support system they’ve developed over the years among their family, church and friends – while at the same time trying to discern God’s will for their lives.”

Each guide offers a week’s worth of subjects to prayer over, or each topic can be prayed for each day.

“When it comes to students heading off to school, whether it be grade school or graduate school, there are plenty of reasons to pray,” Meredith says.

To download the free NPC school prayers guides or to learn more about NPC, see its Web site.

American families turn back-to-school shopping into lessons on generosity: OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

BOONE, NC—School will be back in session soon, but many U.S. kids already have homework-as they learn a lesson in giving.  Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, kids kick-off the school year learning about the impact of giving to children in need.  By adding a few extra items to their back-to-­school shopping lists and saving the boxes from their newly purchased shoes, kids are joining the effort to help some 8 million hurting children in more than 100 countries worldwide.

 Operation Christmas Child, a project of international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, encourages volunteers to fill simple shoe box gifts with toys, necessity items, school supplies, candy and often hand-written notes of encouragement.  The gifts are then hand-delivered to children worldwide who are suffering because of natural disaster, disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty.

 ”I can’t help but think how many children dread going back to school, because their parents can’t afford the school supplies they need.” said Lejla Allison, who received an Operation Christmas Child shoe box as a child in war-torn Bosnia.  Now a 27-year-old, married mother of two residing in Williamsburg, Pa., Allison packs shoe box gifts with her family.   ”Back-to-school sales are the perfect opportunity to fill our shoe box gifts with critical school supplies and show love to a hurting child in need.”

 For many of these children, the shoe box gift will be the first gift they have ever received, letting them know they are loved and not forgotten.

 Why now, months before the holiday season?  Operation Christmas Child is not limited to just a few weeks a year.  It is a year-round project, requiring months of organization and preparation to reach millions of kids around the world.  Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has distributed shoe box gifts to more than 69 million hurting children in some 130 countries. 

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (828) 262-1980 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.  National Collection Week is Nov. 16-23, 2009; however, shoe box gifts are collected all year.  Milwaukee’s relay center for box distribution and collections in 2009 will again be ProBuColls Bookstore, located at 1933 W Wisconsin Avenue   Milwaukee, 414-344-7300.

Kids training their brains with Bible knowledge for bee

TAMPA/MILWAUKEE — Jason Epps has cerebral palsy but has the attitude of a marathon runner. What others see as a disability, Jason views as a challenge.

This summer, instead of training on the track, he’s flexing his brain. Along with 16,000 other youngsters across the country, Jason is preparing for a chance to compete at the first National Bible Bee in Washington.

“The way I look at it, it’s just a way for me to get stronger,” says the 16-year-old Freedom High School junior (Tampa Bay).

Jason’s mom, Christine, agrees. “He has a lot of goals in mind, and he doesn’t let anything stop him,” she says. “If he were just a regular kid running around, then he wouldn’t have the impact on people like he does.”

The Bible Bee will begin with local contests Sept. 12. The children, ages 7 to 18, will compete in either a primary, junior or senior age group. The testing style is similar to Scripps National Spelling Bee, but instead of being quizzed on spelling “conscientious,” contestants hone up on biblical knowledge. The Bible Bee includes a written exam. (For sample questions, visit www.biblebee.org.)

There will be 100 finalists from each age group in the national competition. It will be held Nov. 5 and 6 in Washington.

The Bible Bee, sponsored by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, is awarding more than $260,000 in prize money, with $100,000 given to the first-place winner in the 15 to 18 age group.

For participating Wisconsin sites, like here.  The New Testament Church of Milwaukee is serving the Metropolitan area.

—– Read More —-

Jason says that participating in the bee is a chance to grow his faith. Whether he wins or not, going to nationals “would just be a wonderful experience,” he says. “I just think that no matter what happens, this has been a great experience because I’ve learned tools that I would never have known otherwise.”

Still, Jason admits, with a smile, that any help he can get with paying for college would be nice. It’s easy to forget that Jason uses a wheelchair. The honors student already has three colleges he’s considering.

“I’m just torn because part of me wants to go to Duke for seminary,” he says, adding that he leaves tough decisions to the Almighty. “Personally, if God says ‘go here,’ who am I to debate with him?”

For now, Jason, along with other youths, is preparing for the Bible Bee. The practices hardly seem like work. Each session consists of songs and games.

Blake Lambson, 11, has memorized numerous verses this summer. He struggles to pick a favorite. “I like all of ‘em,” he says. The sixth-grader at Burns Middle School does not anticipate competing beyond the local level.

But if he did make it to the nationals? “It’d be pretty awesome, and I’d be really nervous,” he says.

Jodie Gregory of Brandon takes her children, 11-year-old triplets and a 12-year-old, to practice sessions at Bell Shoals Baptist Church. She considers the Bible Bee a great parenting tool.

“I want my kids to have a moral compass to help them make decisions in their life,” she says. “I think that the Bible is a really good compass.”

Jill Cravens, chairwoman of the Lutz Bible Bee group, has three boys, ages 6, 9, and 11, participating in the Lutz competition. Cravens says she always struggled memorizing verses, and she’s impressed by the children’s dedication.

“The children are truly capable of doing much more than we ever thought they could do,” she says. “Instead of one verse monthly, the kids are learning two or three a day.”

Doreen Reyson, a mother of seven, is chairwoman for the Brandon (FL) area Bible Bee. Her daughter Rachel, 12, wears a nametag heavy with multicolored beads.

“Each bead means a certain thing that we’ve memorized,” Rachel says. In her quest to earn beads, Rachel has delved into the lives of biblical characters. Her favorite? “Joseph,” she says, “because he had a lot of struggles in his life, and yet he still held on to God, kept going.”

(Sources: Biblebee.org and Tampa Bay Online)

Teen comes up with prayer app for iPhone

SACRAMENTO — For eons, people have reached out to the Almighty with prayers and supplications. Soon they might be able to use their iPhones.

Teenager Allen Wright of Fair Oaks, Calif., thought up an application for the Apple iPhone called “A Note to God.”   It lets iPhone users send prayers into cyberspace and allows them to read the prayers of others. The messages are stored in a database, and users remain anonymous.

Wright, 17, submitted his proposal to Medl Mobile, a Los Angeles startup that is developing apps for Apple to sell on its Web site. It selected “A Note to God” from 20,000 proposals.

Wright, a junior at Del Campo High School and regular churchgoer, said he came up with the idea while lying in bed and feeling lonesome.  “If you want to send a message, and you don’t have anybody to talk to, you could send a little prayer,” he said.

Apps, which iPhone users download from Apple, range from free to $5 or more. Users can play games, find restaurants or transform their iPhones into remote controls. There are hundreds of applications.  Successful apps can generate thousands or even millions of dollars for developers.  

“It’s so simple, it’s brilliant,” said Andrew Maltin, one of the co-founders of Medl Mobile. “We think it’s going to be extremely successful.”  Any proceeds from “A Note to God” would be shared among Apple, Medl and Wright.

If his app becomes a big seller, Wright said he’d like to use his share of the profits to go to college.

The application is not a joke, but a sincere way for people to reach out to the divine and to each other, Maltin said.

Users can read each others’ prayers and be supportive by clicking on a “thumbs up” sign, he said. Otherwise, they can’t leave feedback, he said.

Religious scholars welcomed the concept; some offered a note of caution.  Darleen Pryds, an expert in medieval religious practices at the Franciscan School of Theology – part of the Graduate Theological Union, in Berkeley – called the app a brilliant use of technology that brings to mind the 13th-century bells summoning people to pray.

“This application sounds to me like a call to prayer,” she said. “It creates a community of prayer, and by seeing other people’s prayers, it is a reminder to pray yourself.”

Family strugglesWright said he prays regularly and attends the New Life Community Church in Fair Oaks.  His favorite iPhone app is one that calls up quotes from Scripture.  In his suburban home on a cul-de-sac, Wright demonstrated “A Note to God.”  He said the need to write a message focuses his prayer. The messages can be as long as you want, he said.

Wright’s father, Tod Wright, said he was badly hurt in a bulldozer accident two years ago and has struggled to raise his children as an out-of-work single dad.  He said his family has been through a lot in the past five years. Cancer, divorce and the death of a baby grandchild have taken their toll, he said.

Prayer outletThe 44-year-old Wright said people need a way to reach out when they are grappling with heartache, trouble and tragedy. His son’s app might provide an outlet for their prayers.  “It’s going to do something for a lot of people to help them through,” he said. “Having a place you can send a message to your lost and loved ones – people you believe are your guardian angels.  “All of us could use some place to reach out,” he said. “I think Allen’s is perfect.”

(Source:  McClatchy Newspapers By Hudson Sangree)