Top 10 Rejected Children's Books

Here are the Top 10 Rejected Children's Books of 2012 


10. "Puff the Magic Dragon goes to Rehab"
  9. "Left Behind: The Kid's Guide to Hitchhiking"
  8. "Curious George and the High-Voltage Fence
  7. "When Vegetables Attack"
  6. "All Cats Go to Hell: and Other Songs for Sunday School"
  5. "The Magic World Inside of the Abandoned Refrigerator"
  4. "Thomas the Tank Engine Derails"
  3. Strangers Have the Best Candy"
  2. Things Rich Kids Have, but You Never Will
  1. "Pop! Goes the Hamster . . . And Other Microwave  
      Games"


No one would actually think any of these titles are a good idea for children. If the life you lived in front of your children had a title, what would it be? 
   
   "He doesn't Practice What He Preaches?"
   "The People Who Yell at Me?"
   "Don't Talk While the TV's On?"


Just as we are worried about the content of a book or TV show, we should take stock of the story we are writing for our children to see.

Ralph McQuarrie (Star Wars Concept Artist) Dies at 82

Ralph McQuarrie the conceptual artist behind Star Wars has died at the age of 82. McQuarrie was the first person George Lucas brought on board to help him paint his Star Wars vision. And paint he did, as he painted the conceptual art for some of the most iconic characters ever to grace the silver screen.

Darth Vader, R2D2, C3PO and Chewbacca started in Lucas' mind, but were shaped by the brush of Ralph McQuarrie. He won an Oscar in 1985 for his concept work on Cocoon. He also did artwork for "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Back to the Future," "Total Recall,"  "Raiders of the Lost Ark,"and "Battle Star Galactica" (the original).

Ralph McQuarrie may have passed from this life, but his work lives on in the minds and imaginations of generations of Sci-Fi and adventure fans.

Life is short and time is fleeting. What are you doing that will outlive you?

It's Never too Late

        When John D. Rockefeller died his accountant was asked how much Mr. Rockefeller had left behind. The accountant responded by saying, "He left it all". My basketball coach in high school used to tell us to leave it all on the court. After all what good would a little extra energy do for us after the game was in the record books. We should live life this way. After all, you will leave it all, so why not make it count? 

        My great Aunt Ethel passed away on Saturday at 81 years old. She not only left it all behind, but she left it all on the court. Ethel volunteered in a youth ministry and gave of her own time to visit teens in a children's home every week until she was well into her 70s. Years after her peers were speaking in "used to" phraseology she was still going strong. Why? Because our time here is short and she loved teenagers. In the end only the ravishes of cancer could pull her from her calling. Instead of quitting though she began to focus her attention toward mentoring my mother, which she continued until the end.

        Many people fear, that what they have to say will not be relevant. Teens do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. You will also find that your knowledge and relevancy increase in any area that you love. My aunt was reading the newest, most cutting edge ministry books before I was even aware they were out.

        Aunt Ethel leaves behind a lasting legacy. Because of her faith and others in my family, most of those she leaves behind are firm believers. In fact myself and two brothers have also gone into youth ministry as well. 

        One day you will die. You WILL leave it all. Will you leave it ALL on the court or waste the God-given potential inside of you? You can decide to stand out and make a lasting difference. It's never too late to start. 

We Do Not Get a Groundhog Day

     
          Well Groundhog Day officially starts in a couple of hours. Do you remember the movie Groundhog Day? It was always one of my favorites. I have liked Bill Murray since Ghostbusters, but I really love how it makes me think. What if I could live my day over again? What would I do differently?
       In the movie Phil uses his new found immortality to woo a girl. I can't help but think about more important things to work on. Like not saying something rude to someone I hurt, spending more time with my family, or living more for God. 
      What about you? How many wasted days have you had? What about today? Would you change anything if you could have a do-over?
       Unfortunately, we do not get a do-over in real life. We have one shot to make it count. One shot to raise our children, one shot to show Christ's love to a hurting world, and one shot to leave a legacy that matters.
       James 4:14 says, "How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone." The time to act is now. The Poet C.T. Studd wrote, "Only one life 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last". What are you doing that will last? What do you know in your heart that you should be doing?
       Do it now! Don't wait. We do not get a Groundhog Day.




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