"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

To whom can you be the hands of Christ?

 n England, on the base of a statue of Jesus with arms outstretched were the words, "Come unto me."  After the war, an artist was hired to restore that statue, shattered by German bombs.  But he couldn't find Jesus' hands.  So he left the statue without them and changed the wording on the base to read, "Christ has no hands, but ours."

Richard E. Lauersdorf, Together with Jesus, March 23 devotion

+Mikayla Anderson+

We learned this morning that Mikayla Anderson, daughter of our dear friend, Grace Keedy Anderson, suddenly died this morning.  She was the recipient of a heart transplant three years ago.  A number of weeks ago she suffered a heart attack and had to be resuscitated several times.  Over the past couple of weeks she seemed to be improving, baby steps they called it, and her future looked hopeful.  News of her passing has left Sherri and me shocked and saddened.

There are no words that we can speak but the Commendation of the Dying includes this prayer: O God, the Father, fountain and source of all goodness, we give thanks that You have kept Mikayla in the faith and have taken her to Yourself.  Comfort Grace and her family by your Holy Word and give them strength that when their last hour comes they may peacefully fall asleep in You.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Theology of the Cross vs. Theology of Glory

Prof. John Pless hits the proverbial nail on the head:

While Lutherans also confess that God is almighty, Lutheran theology does not begin with His majesty but with His mercy in Christ.

From Handling the Word of Truth, page 101

When should you buy books?

Whenever I get a little money, I buy books.  And if there's any left over, then I buy food and clothes.

Erasmus