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.

There's No Poop on my Penny!

Sharing the Gospel can be a scary thing for many believers. Especially if you are the one bringing it up. The hardest part is getting someone to understand why our sin is so bad in the first place. 

I am going to quickly teach you a method I have been using one on one and in my message invitations for years. A quick and easy way to take a complete stranger (or friend) to the Gospel in one minute without being pushy.

Have you ever picked up a penny? Of course you have.  Would you fish a penny out of a toilet or the bottom of a trash can? Of course not! I certainly wouldn’t either. I would hate to reach my hand into a toilet or trashcan more than I would love to get a penny.

Suppose you went outside and saw a fresh, steaming pile of dog poop with a penny sticking out. Would you take it? Of course not!

Now, imagine for a moment that this room (or wherever you happen to be) is filled completely with fresh dog poop and there is a penny somewhere in the middle. There is no way you would try to rescue the penny.

What if the penny is you and the poop is your sin. God is repulsed by the smell and site of it, just like you would be of the poop. The difference is that He loves you more than He hates your sin. If you ask Him, He will wade through it all, clean you off, and add you to His collection. Acts 3:19  says Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

Now you are ready to share the Gospel and only a minute has gone by. The best part is that you do not have to be the one to start the conversation. I have developed shirts that do the leg work for you.

Christian tee shirts have become repellant to most unbelievers. They already have an assumption of who Christians are. “There’s no poop on my penny” shirts do not look like Christian shirts at all. People will ask you what it means and within a minute you will be ready to share the Gospel.

You can order your own at the InsideNatesHead store. 

(Sales from the shirts go to help my wife and I go on a mission trip to India this)

WARNING: Do not wear this shirt if you are unwilling to share Christ, because once someone’s curiosity is peaked it's too late!

Jesus the Cavity Filler

My entire family just finished up at the dentist. We were in for a check up and our 6 month cleaning.

As usual I had to get any plaque scraped off that has build up since our last visit. Unchecked this can lead to cavities.

Cavities are empty voids of decay that eat away at our teeth. Unchecked sin does the same thing to our lives.

God's word will reveal what needs fixed and then we can bring our damaged areas to the Great Dentist. He can fill any cavity in any life.

Have you had a check up lately?

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?

Davy Jones of The Monkees Dies at 66

"Hey look its the Monkees, they were a major influence on the Beatles." I still laugh when I remember this line by Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. It was so funny and exactly opposite of the real purpose for the 1960's pop band. The Monkees were formed for their own TV show as a kind of spoof to the Beetles.

Today the Monkees' lead singer Davy Jones died of a heart attack at the age of 66. I can still remember the Brady Bunch episode where Marcia gets him to come and sing at her school dance. Classic!

Although they formed as a mere imitation band they rose to stardom with multi million selling hits like, "I'm a Believer" (sung in Shrek), "The Last Train to Clarksville", and "Daydream Believer". All three of these songs are on my ipod, and I never tire of listening to them. Davy will be missed by Monkees fans everywhere, especially me.

To imitate someone is to admire them. The Monkees did a superb job of imitating the Beetles. If you are a believer then you should be seeking to imitate Jesus. The Monkees are to The Beetles, what Christians are to Christ. Can others tell that you are a Christ imitator? After all, isn't that what a Christian is supposed to be?

The Phantom Menace Passes Star Wars!

Like it or not, The Phantom Menace is now the 10th highest grossing film of all time worldwide. It has grossed over $1 billion dollars. Only 11 movies have ever done this. Brace yourself for number 11--It is...The Dark Knight! OUCH!

But wait it gets worse. On the domestic front Episode 1 moves up a notch as well. It is now number 4 of all time in the United States. What movie did it pass? Star Wars: A New Hope. Although I love all of the Star Wars films, this is disheartening news.

I blame 3D for this travesty. It is the same reason Avatar did so well financially. Prices for tickets are $13 compared to the $3 ticket price for Star Wars in 1977. This means that a whole lot more people went to see the original back in the day.

The only thing that makes me smile is that when the list is adjusted for inflation the top five movies are:

        1. Gone With the Wind
        2. Star Wars
        3. The Sound of Music
        4. E.T.
        5. The Ten Commandments

Avatar is 14th and The Phantom Menace is 16th. Take that 3D!

Anyone can come up with a gimmick to make money, but only a truly moving story will bring people out in droves. I believe that even with my love for Star Wars there is even a more gripping story. If you attend a church, I want you to seriously consider inviting someone to attend with you on Easter. If you don't you can message me and I will recommend one in your area.

Mark your calendars for April 8th. You won't even need to by a ticket to attend "The Greatest Story Ever Told."

What is your opinion of the 3D craze?
Will you be in church this Easter?


You may also enjoy:
7 Problems With the Star Wars Prequels

The Candidate with the Most Military Support

I usually steer clear of supporting a political candidate because of a "law" or rather tax code that states that pastors may not support a particular candidate. After examining the constitution on this matter I have found that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. 


This means that they may not give rules on tax exemptions, but must leave religion alone. Even if there is cause for them to silence my ramblings, I am not in my church and as a blogger am protected by freedom of the press as well as freedom of speech. I am also not in favor of either political party as I am an independent and have voted democrat, republican, & independent. I am simply for the constitution.


I am still not supporting one candidate, but I do want to level the playing field. I am writing to right an injustice. Our news media has tried to silence and even exclude positive polls in the direction of one candidate. And so this will be a small step media wise to get some of the truth out there. There is only one candidate (in either party) who has never waffled on any issue and is a strict constitutionalist. That candidate is Ron Paul. 


He received several boos in the Arizona debate tonight from war happy Republicans ready to send someone else's sons and daughters to war against Iran. Why? because he has been in the military and understands what "common DEFENSE" means. We were not meant to be global cop!


Every news media outlet has marginalized him and even failed to cover certain stories. They have even painted him as an isolationist. Here are the facts: He is a non-interventionist and has the MOST financial support form CURRENT active duty troops by a long shot. 


Below is a video of 500 troops and veterans marching on the White House on President's Day. Have you heard about this? My guess is no. 


Where does this fall into my usually spiritual blogs. Well, I'll tell you. It is integrity! Like him or not--disagree with him or not, we can all learn from him. As believers we should stay in the fight even when the outcome looks doubtful, and press on toward the high calling that is in Christ.


I am not saying that any candidate is God's man or even Godly, but we can sure learn from integrity. Freedom is a great thing and only the Truth can set us free.

7 Not So Serious Ideas for Lent

Lent is the time of year that threatens to bankrupt Starbucks, Russel Stover, and McDonalds.
It has officially begun and people all over the world are giving up something for the 40 days leading up to Easter.


Here are a 7 ideas if you haven't thought of something yet:


1. Jelly doughnuts, but not jelly. To do this right you need to find a large straw such as one used for an Icee. Hold the doughnut in your hand and insert the straw as if it were a Capri Sun. Slurp and enjoy!


2. Lint of all kinds. 
      Dryer lint: Air dry all of your clothes (this will not work in colder climates). 
      Naval lint: Fill your naval with pliable wax to prevent lint from forming.
      Pocket lint: Wear no pockets for 40 days. That's skirts for the women and kilts for the men     
            (do not mix the two up).


3. Feeding your cat (although I do believe more men will take me up on this one than women)


4. The remote control. I do not mean give it to someone else. I mean give it up completely. Get off of your lazy behind and change the channel every so often.


5. Pinterest or at least posting your latest pinnings to Facebook. It seems like the news feed has recently become a inspirational greeting card aisle.


6. 24 hour news networks. There are plenty of places to get news from besides the three ring circus (CNN, FOX News, MSNBC).


7. Shaving. Wouldn't it be cool if every third guy in church on Easter actually looked like Jesus. We have 40 days, lets get going (please ladies do not take this one and apply it to your legs or Easter dresses will be something to dread)!




Whatever you do for Lent please remember that it is all purely voluntary and symbolic. If you feel you must sacrifice, you have missed the entire point of the Easter season. Fat Tuesday reminds us of this as people go out and party because on Ash Wednesday repentance begins. It does not work that way.


Hebrews 10:26 tells us, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left."


Christ was the FINAL sacrifice for sin. Let's use this Lenton season for what it really is--A chance to reflect on what Jesus did, and show our gratitude by putting an area of life on hold to spend with God instead.

What Angers Me About President's Day?

With all of the recent hubbub over the flag at half-mast for Whitney Houston, I am shocked that there is not a bigger stink about today. After all, I have read countless articles and blogs about how this right should be reserved for fallen soldiers and presidents.

This is President's Day, a federal holiday, yet barely recognized by americans at large. We are the same group that refers to "Independence Day" as "The Fourth of July". Not serious you say? I am a youth pastor and have heard from many teens who do not know the origin behind the "4th".

Our schools are out for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but not President's Day (although the schools in my area were, but as a teacher work day). This is a complete shame. Don't get me wrong, I think they should be out for MLK, Jr Day, but more so for today.

This day commemorates all of our presidents who have lead us bravely and wisely in this freedom experiment known as the United States of America. Of all of the liberties we hold so dear none is as important to me as our freedom of religion. I am not sure how long we will have this one. We owe it to our presidents (especially the first few), who dared to defy a corrupt, overbearing monarchy to protect our God given inalienable rights. Happy President's Day!


(By the way this is my 150th post. Thanks for reading!)

Hall of Fame Catcher Gary Carter Dies at 57

Gary Carter the Hall of Fame catcher who helped the Mets win the 1986 World Series died today at age 57. I remember watching him as a kid. He was one of those quiet leaders who was never hyped up.

It was people like Gary Carter, Robin Yount, and George Brett who were great enough for the Hall of Fame, but overlooked by baseball card collecting kids. The hype surrounded people like Frank Thomas who are easily forgotten by history.

In life it is not popularity that is important, but consistency. Gary Carter comes from the era right before the strikes and steroids scandals. The church can feel this way at times. We have artificial holiness(the steroids of works), and church splits(strikes). We can learn a lot about dedication and quiet leadership from Gary Carter and many in his generation.

Thanks for the memories Gary. You will be missed.

Below is his last career hit. Feel the emotion and the love between Gary and his fans:

Should the Flag be Lowered for Whitney Houston?

Today Governor Christie of New Jersey decided to fly the American flag at half-mast in honor of Whitney Houston all over his state. People are outraged. Why are they outraged? Because Whitney had a history of drug abuse and because they feel that the only people worth honoring are soldiers.

I must say that I am outraged by the outrage. I am going to get gut level honest with you, you may be offended and may even stop reading my blog. That is okay with me.

How dare we throw stones at someone who struggled to overcome a vice, while we have vices of our own. How dare we assume what does or doesn't apply as adding to a society. Music is part of our culture and heritage. The most pride I have ever felt hearing our national anthem was from the voice of Whitney Houston.

So, she didn't fight (when she was of age to do so women could not be in combat anyway). In many ways she leveled the playing field in regards to race in the music industry. I can only hope that when Andy Griffith passes to the next life here in North Carolina that we will honor him in the same way. Why because of the contribution they both made to society.

And now to our nation's obsession with fighting for "our" freedom. We have not declared war since World War II. We have been global cop for the past 50 years. We have to stop assuming that every action we take is to defend our freedom. We are forcing our way of life on others and calling it defending our country. (AHEM! Iraq anyone?)

 Don't get me wrong I love our troops and admire them for their bravery. I am deeply thankful for those who went to war and put their lives at risque after our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001. It is not their fault they were left to do nation building.

Would you be less outraged if Governor Christie had lowered the flag every single time a soldier from New Jersey has been killed. What about every police officer and fire fighter since he has been in office. Well, he has. FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! I think we the people should do our homework before posting willy nilly on Facebook.

We should check our own lives before tearing down Whitney. How many people are lining up to rip into Elvis and Michael Jackson because of drug use. These were tortured and hurting people who enriched our lives way more than we enriched theirs. We sit around waiting for celebrities to fail rather than praying for them and shunning the gossip the media churns out.

So how about it America? Can we only honor those that keep us safe or do we have enough class to extend honor to those who inspire?


Also Read:
Whitney Houston Dies at Age 48

Whitney Houston Dies at the Age of 48

Tomorrow the Grammy awards will be held, celebrating the best musicians of today. There was perhaps none better and more influential than Whitney Houston who has died at the age of 48. Stars like Mariah Carey and Christiana Aguilera owe much of their career to the influence of the late pop icon.

Her career was far from over. She was getting ready for the release of her upcoming onscreen musical, Sparkle and it was rumored that she would possibly join Simon Cowell on the X Factor. I remember Simon giving extremely bad feedback to any artist on American Idol who dared to try to sing a Whitney Houston song.

I always admired how she kept her music and image cleaner than most pop singer in the sexual realm. Even when she married Bobby Brown, got involved in drugs and behaved erratically she still maintained the respect of singers and fans everywhere.

Her God given gifts were remarkable. It is very fitting that her last public performance this passed Thursday was to sing Jesus Loves Me. A gift like she had seems rarely bestowed and is not to be taken lightly. But, then again neither are the gifts God has given you. When your life is over will we be able to say why you were here? Will we know without a doubt what your purpose was? Get out there and use your gifts, because there was only one Whitney and there is only one you.

Also Read:
Should the Flag be Lowered for Whitney Houston?
Other Memorials:
Patrick Swayze Dies
Saying Goodbye to Brittany Murphy
James Arness Dies: What Can We Learn from Old Westerns?
Osama Bin Laden is Dead!