In the Zone

What is my treasure? Some would look at that picture and come up with an idea. I've been toy collector since 1997 when a buddy of mine bought me a C3P0 action figure for my birthday.  I quickly added an Obi-Wan Kenobi and a Princess Leia.  Before long, I had a collection of about 15 different action figures (still in the packages).  I was off and running on my new hobby. Fast forward some 15 years.  I now collect Star Wars figures (which I have since opened and displayed) and Transformer figures.  I mostly like to get stuff I played with as a kid or that looks like it.  Pictured above is part of my Transformers collection. If you look close enough, you can see my Superion.  That's the red and white robot in the background. (It's actually pictured here on the right). When I was a child, that's the one figure I wanted, and I eventually got it.  (There's a whole other story about how I lost it and reacquired it.)  For me, that is my most prized Transform

A few years ago, I had a major decision to make. I had been in the newspaper business for seven years and spent the last four of those years doubling up as a local youth minister.  The double-life was taking a toll on my marriage, my family, my health and my jobs.  I felt called to ministry, but sports writing paid the bills.  I wanted to do ministry full-time, but I also wanted to provide for my family.  Even worse, I could tell my passion for journalism had waned, and as a result, my performance wasn't what it once was. I needed to rededicate myself to my journalistic craft, or I needed to walk away and focus on my ministry.  On paper (or the Internet) that sounds like an easy decision, but when you have a house payment, a car payment and like to eat, it's a tougher proposition. I discussed my options with my wife.  We prayed.  We read scripture.  We talked some more.  Finally, I decided to do something I hadn't done before - I set a time for a fast.  That Frida

In case you don't know this, I'm a bit odd.  (I can imagine you mockingly shaking your head about that statement.) I may have shared this before, but I obsess about conversations.  I rehearse a lot of important conversations.  I rehearse telephone conversations with potential problem parents.  I rehearse sermons and youth lessons.  I even rehearse conversations I will have with my wife later. The thing is, I'm not good off the cuff.  I'm much better "scripted" per se.  So, I want to make sure I say what I mean and say it in the moment it needs to be said.  For me, there is nothing worse than having a conversation go wrong, and 20 minutes later realizing what you wanted to say.  I want to get it right on the first try. So, yes, I rehearse many of my conversations.  Like I said, I'm a bit odd. There is one conversation I never rehearse.  When I pray, it's off the cuff.  That sometimes gets me in trouble (especially in public or congregationa

I get a little self-conscious when I pray out loud. It's OK to admit that.  If we're honest, I think a lot of people do.  In fact, it's getting harder and harder to find people, even adults, who will pray out loud over a group.  In the past, when I took adults on youth trip and events, I assumed they would pray out loud.  Now, before I go, I poll our adults to find their comfort level. So yes, I'm self-conscious when I pray.  I know prayer is talking to God and that even in a group setting - like Sunday morning worship - I am still talking to God and not the congregation.  However, they are listening (or at least they are supposed to be listening) so when I pray in group setting I'm extra, special careful to not use the Lord's name as a space-filler in prayer. You know what I mean. "Lord, please forgive us, Lord, for all the things we do, Lord and bless these people, Lord, as they go about your business, Lord..." After a while, that gets a b