Members and Friends of Austin Mennonite Church I pray you are encouraged as you journey in God?s grace and mercy. This Sunday we will be reflecting on the experience of prayer. Both our concept of God and our recognition of our finitude interplay whenever we engage the divine mystery in prayer. How does my perception of God?s character influence my practice of prayer? In what ways does my attitude toward myself affect my comfort whenever I dialogue with God? In what ways does my attitude toward others and the created order affect my comfort whenever I consciously acknowledge God?s presence? What can I learn from other seekers about prayer? What can I learn from Jesus? These questions will help compose the sermon, ?Prayer: Finding God outside the Box.? After worship this Sunday, at 11:00, you will have opportunity to view the film, "Beyond Good and Evil," described below. Perhaps this could be a family experience and the issues presented might be discussed at home. Following the film, we will briefly identify the key elements and continue the discussion next Sunday morning at 11:00. May it go well with you. Sincerely, Garland Robertson ...always hold firmly to the thought that each one of us can do something to bring some portion of misery to an end the Film: "Beyond Good and Evil" Summary: The belief that ?good triumphs over evil? resonates deeply in our psyche through religious, cultural, and political discourses. It is also a common theme in the entertainment media where the struggle between good and evil is frequently resolved through violence. The potential negative impact of media violence on children has long been a public concern. It is even more troubling when U.S. military violence, both in the news and in the entertainment, is often glorified as heroic and patriotic. Children's worlds of fantasy and reality collided when our political leaders, in response to the September 11th tragedy, simplified the complex international relationships into a fight between good and evil. The Bush administration used the narrative strategically?and the news media perpetuated it with enthusiasm?pumping up patriotism and generating public support for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. This video examines how the "good and evil" rhetoric, in both the entertainment and the news media, has helped children to dehumanize the enemies, justify their killing and treat the suffering of innocent civilians as necessary sacrifice. The interviews include media scholars (Robert Jenson, Robin Andersen), child psychologists (Diane Levin, Nancy Carlsson-Paige), teachers (Merrie Najimy, Brian Wright), educators (Eli Newberger and Betty Burkes), and the children themselves. Preview: See preview at http://www.mediaed.org/videos/CommercialismPoliticsAndMedia/BeyondGoodAndEvil --- Garland Robertson --- lauralarue@xxxxxxxxxxxxx --- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet.