How to defy gravity

 "Let our Father be in heaven; join Him there through your words.  Defy gravity and stand beside Him.  That's the action of God in prayer."

The sainted Daniel Paavola, "Our Way Home," page 37

Time for a little break

I will be taking a little break from the blog for the next 10 days.  I'll be doing some traveling - fulfilling a bucket list item for my dear, sweet wife.  

The good news is that I have finished all the work on my book and I'll will be forwarding everything to the printer and hope to receive some kind of timeline on when they might have the book ready.

Looking forward to reconnecting with you on July 1st.  God's blessings!

God Delights In Us Too

The delight and pleasure of God are in His beloved Son, and that is where we are too.  What is ours is His; what is His is ours.  So God delights in us too.  If our hearts would take this in, Martin Luther said, they would burst for joy in a hundred thousand pieces.  In a world that is given over to sin, death and the devil, there is one point where the delight of God dwells.  "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased."  That is where we are in solidarity with Jesus.  With Jesus there is God's delight.  God, Christ, you -- all together like one thing.

"Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel" page 44

Practice, Practice, Practice!

The difference between a professional and an amateur?

I had an affinity for Bach, and enjoyed it more.  As (my music teacher) pointed out to me, with exasperation, and on more than one occasion, I liked to play, rather than practice, and that marked me as an amateur.

Kathleen Norris, Acedia & Me, page 15.

"The Breadwinner" - see it this weekend

If you are looking for family friendly entertainment look no further than the film, "The Breadwinner," and I encourage you to see it this weekend.

The film stars Nate Bargatze who also wrote the film.  He plays Nate Wilcox, a car salesman, who suddenly finds himself as "Mister Mom" when his wife, played by Mandy Moore, invents a product, finds an investor on "Shark Tank" and needs to leave Nate in charge of their three daughters while she travels to promote her invention.

Bargatze is clueless as a father.  He has no idea where his kids go to school.  He is hopeless in the kitchen.  He hires the worst roofer in town.  He tries to run the household like a car dealership and chaos ensues.  Clearly he is not cut out to be in charge of the household.

If you like Bargatze's style of humor then you'll like the movie.  He is extremely likable.  Some of the scenes in the picture are based on his stand up comedy.  He often fails in the "Mr. Mom" department but his character is sincere, wants his wife not to worry about the family, and shows love and understand for his daughters (the three actors do a fine job).

My dear, sweet wife gave the movie 4 stars; I give it 31/2 stars.  Some of the scenes fall a little flat.  Still, I think it's a good first effort from Bargatze.  This kind of family oriented entertainment is rare.  So, if you've got some free time this weekend take 90 minutes and see "The Breadwinner." 

What to pray for...

I know I can't keep everything You give.  Therefore, I pray for what best can benefit Your work.  I pray for whatever I need to serve You and help others to experience the light Your resurrection has brought to our world.

From To Live in Christ, page 323 

The Gospel only makes promises

"Like the Law, the Gospel is also necessary; unlike the Law, the Gospel doesn't make any demands.  The Gospel makes only promises"

RJ Grunewald  "Reading Romans with Luther" page 49