Sarcastic Lutheran

Bridge to Terabithia

My daughter and I went to see The Bridge to Terabithia today. I've heard people say it's inappropriate for children because one of the main characters dies. If protection from bad things in life is the criteria for something being ok for children, then perhaps life itself is inappropriate for our kids.

There is a beautiful scene in which two 12-year-olds are talking after one had taken the other to visit their church. While riding home in the back of a pickup,
Leslie says, "That Jesus stuff is cool",
Jesse: "God had him killed because we're so awful".
Leslie: "I don't think that's true. I think it's beautiful. You HAVE to believe it and you hate it. I don't have to believe it and I think it's beautiful".

When I HAD to believe it I hated it too.
Now I don't have to believe it and I think it's beautiful.

ushpizin

If you have Netflix, I highly recommend getting a film called Ushpizin - it is a delightful and moving film about an ultra-orthodox couple in Jerusalem. It was filmed entirely on location in an ultra-orthodox neighborhood and all the actors are ultra-orthodox. It is one of the best films I've ever seen about faith. Check out the story behind the making of the film here

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine is the funniest movie I've seen in ages. See it. I feel like the family is like me and my friends, and the little beauty pagent contestants are like the church, or perhaps how people often view Christians...see the difference? Give me messy and loving over perfect and unapproachable any day.

The Libertine

I just watched Johnny Dep's movie from a year or two ago called The Libertine, I'm a sucker for a good period film, which this was not. However, here are two quotes that hit home:

Dep's character:

" I do not mean to upset people, but I have to speak my mind - because what is in my mind is always more interesting than what is happening in the world outside my mind."

response:

"That is what makes you impossible to live with."

ouch.

here's another winner, spoken to Dep's character by his mistress who just told him the brutal truth:

mistress:

"There. I went too far. A trait which in you is fascinating, but in others is a fault."

ouch.