Create Like R.L. Stine

/ Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

goosebumpsWho didn’t love Goosebumps as a kid?

If grew up in the 90s, there were 3 things that were always in your bookbag: an emergency supply of Gushers, one of those different color eraser pen things, and the latest ‘Bumps book. (Did people call them ‘Bumps? They totally should have.)

One man was responsible for revolutionary children’s horror anthology. Say his name with me:

R.L. Stine.

R.L. Stine churned out 62 Goosebumps books between 1992 and 1997 – an average of over 10 books per year! That’s not including the 50 Give Yourself Goosebumps create-your-own-adventure style books, plus 74 episodes of the television series based on the books, plus the Fear Street series he published at the same time aimed at teenagers.

Before Harry Potter began weighing down children’s backpacks, R.L. Stine was the undisputed king of kid’s literature.

But this blog is not about R.L. Stine the Goosebumps author.

Last week I read an interview on The A.V. Club with Stine. The interview focused on another aspect of his career.

What I learned in the interview completely redefined my childhood. Before a page of Goosebumps was ever written R.L. Stine worked on another landmark project: Continue reading →

Tips For The Beginning Time Traveler

/ Alex Doriot / 6 Comments

ABOUT-TIME_NZ_A3_v1.inddYou may not be able to travel back in time. But you can change the future.

That’s the theme of “About Time”, the new movie starring Rachel McAdams which just hit theaters. My girlfriend and I saw the film this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The plot focuses on a young man who learns a secret from his father on his 21st birthday – all the males in his family have the ability to travel back in time.

The young man knows instantly what he wants to use his gift for: to find a girlfriend.

At first the possibilities are endless for how to use his new power. He’s able to fix those awkward dinner conversations, perfect the first kiss, even stop the love of his life from meeting a bad boyfriend.

Late in the movie things really get interesting. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything, but the question for the main character becomes “Instead of traveling back in time to fix my mistakes, how can I do things better the first time around?” Continue reading →

What Is The Earth Without Art?

/ Alex Doriot / 1 Comment

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I found this poster in a children’s art classroom the other day.

I think these kids are getting some great wisdom.

Can we all agree to not be boring today?

Follow the calling God puts upon your heart to create.

Make this world a better place with your art.

Live creatively.

Happy Friday.

Why The Church Should Not Evolve

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

blockbuster_1250Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

The video store is dead.

This is not really news. The video store has been on life support for years. And in some rural communities Mom and Pop movie rental shops are still hanging in there.

But after years of fighting a terminal, self-inlicted disease, Blockbuster finally decided to shutter its final 300 stores. Continue reading →

The 40 Year Old Vision

/ Alex Doriot / 3 Comments

40 years ago this week, Bruce Springsteen dropped his second album, The Wild, The Innocent, and The E Street Shuffle, a personal favorite of mine.

The record would go on to become one of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and help establish the career of a first ballot Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

But nobody knew that 40 years ago. Continue reading →

How To Beat Writer’s Block With Organic Tea

/ Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

I could not write yesterday.

I woke up early with the intent of using the extra hour of from Daylight Savings to pump out a world-changing, life-affirming blog post for today.

When I sat down to type nothing came out.

Gibberish. Half-sentences. Cliches. Garbage.

I stood up. Ate some yogurt. Read the Bible. Walked the dog. Took a shower. All in the hope that words would come to me.

Still nothing.

I left for church disappointed and defeated by my sole morning task.

Then, as I sat in the service, I saw it. Continue reading →

Count Your Blessings And Not Your Candy

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(Click Here if you can’t see the video above.)

It’s Friday.

The Halloween Hangover is looming over your head.

Deadlines are looming.

Your belly is aching.

You spent too much time trick or treating and procrastinating.

Your week may feel like it’s falling apart.

Hey – at least your parents didn’t steal all your candy.

It’s easy to scream and blame the world around you when something you didn’t plan for steals all your joy away.

But try not to have a kneejerk reaction like a kid thinking their parent ate all their peanut butter cups.

After all, the kids didn’t know the whole story. Their parents were just playing a joke.

The problem you’re getting upset about is probably not that bad. By the time twelve o’clock rolls around you’ll have already forgotten about it.

If you’re angry about some stolen Snickers bars today, hold strong. God has a great punchline coming your way to put a smile back on your face. And just when you think your candy bag is empty, you’ll find in it more Milky Ways than you could have dreamed of.

Happy Friday.

 

Smiles and Zombies

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GUEST POST: I’m excited to introduce our first guest contributor to POP GOD – Sean Taylor. Sean is the Pastor of Chandler Baptist Church of Missouri. Sean was also a mentor to me when I first began pursuing ministry when we worked together at First Baptist Augusta. Sean is one my favorite writers and blogs at Plunge47.org. Check him out and enjoy his first contribution to POP GOD:

Screen shot 2013-10-30 at 1.44.56 PMThe Photographer said the first take was a “serious” photo. Every youth group veteran knows that means don’t act crazy – smile like it is a family portrait. The next photo will be titled a “crazy” or “silly” photo. Then everyone will jump around and throw up bunny ears and pull out buck teeth… only the photographer followed the first photo by saying, “Okay, now please smile for this picture.

Instantly she realized her mistake. But it was too late and when the cross-country team poster came out, there she stood a smile amidst frowns… Continue reading →