Mario Unleashed

I found this video clip on Emerging Church Blogs today, and it got me to thinking. These guys probably aren't making a living at this, but they sure look like they're having fun.

I had breakfast with one of the wisest people I know today. He was willing to listen to me, and asked me some of the tough, big questions that I need to be asked.

Paul wrote about taking hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I am somewhere in the process of figuring out the readon Jesus took hold of me.

Like most people, I wear a lot of different hats. Some of them are great fits, and some of them are too big or too small. Or the wrong color. Or the wrong style. Or whatever. I want to find THE HAT, and I want to wear it with as much joy as Mario and Luigi seem to have.

Is that possible?

Hanging Out with Baseball Chapel Leaders

I'm in Chicago today, learning about my new role as the Baseball Chapel leader for State College's new minor league baseball team. The Spikes open their season June 20 against the dreaded Williamsport Crosscutters.

I'm sitting in a conference room with 20 other guys from all over the country. Many of the men are Latino, which is great, since so many teams are finding players from Spanish-speaking countries. I may have to brush up on my Spanish. I can ask the guy where the bathroom is, but that's about it...

There's a lot to learn about being a chapel leader for a professional sports team--a lot more than I realized. Forms, paperwork, timelines, chapel topics, "do's and don't's," policies about not reaching into players' lockers, no eating the food in the lockerroom, no cameras...The conference leaders (Rob Crose and Wayne Beilgard) really drove the point home that almost everybody who comes into contact with the players wants something--an autograph, a ball, a hat...These guys get swamped by this stuff and need to know that the Baseball Chapel leader is not there to get something from the ballplayers, but to serve.

That seems to be the recurring theme that I hear the Lord saying--Serve people. Love God, love others. Another variation on the idea that it's not about me. I will be glad when that concept puts down roots in my heart.

Some things never fail to surprise me...

Here are just a few:
The Pirates' starting lineup

How my heart jumps at the sound of "Daddy's home!!!" from one of my kids...

How great I feel when I get to hang out with students...

How long I go without having deep conversations with other men, even though I know it's good for me...

How much I have to learn...

reality tv (no link--there's too much)...

How much I miss Sean Michael Murphy...

How disappointing professional sports can be (take your pick)...

How often some form of Law & Order is on tv (what is that sound, anyway?)...

How bad my dog's farts smell...

A Change in Plans

I had the opportunity to speak at our church this past weekend. I thought I'd drop some knowledge in the good people of State College, bring some hope to those who are struggling with the blues, blahs, and burnout. I experience the rollercoaster of ups and downs from time to time, and I've tried to handle things various ways. I don't know where the line is between "normal emotional swings" and official depression, but that's what I thought the Lord wanted me to speak to.

I thought it'd be easy to address this. I was wrong. There are no easy answers, no 3-step fixes to depression.

It was a pretty tough week of preparation, mainly because I came to realize that the problem is HUGE. 16% of Americans will face depression at one time or another. An estimated 19 million adult Americans will wrestle with depression this year. Twice as many women than men will have to deal with depression.

There are no easy answers. But there is hope.

I truly believe that Jesus Christ offers wholeness and healing to all people. I'm not talking about "pie in the sky by and by it'll all get better when you die" kind of hope. I mean real answers for the hurting.

If you're struggling, find someone to talk to. You might start with your doctor, a professionall counselor, your pastor, or a trusted friend. At our church, we have a group of people who meet each Monday night to work on recovery, and a prayer team that gathers to pray with people who are processing through tough stuff.

Don't let this go. Help is out there.

Coincidence? I think not

First things first. Sorry for the long absence. I've had stuff going on, sort of...

On the way home from XStream tonight I asked my friend Kimmy to name her favorite movie. She replied without hesitation: "Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility." Then she launched into favorites by category.

I don't know if it's a genetic defect, or if it's just me, but I have a hard time choosing one favorite. I know that by strict definition, a person can truly have but one favorite. There are so many options that play into the mix. Plot, actors, genre, people I watched the movie with...my brother-in-law and I watched Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure every day one summer...

But tonight, as I turned on the tube to relax, I heard the line: "His brain, your strength, my steel..." Yep, The Princess Bride--one of my favorite movies.

"Has it got any sports in it?"
"Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles... "

And Billy Crystal is hilarious. I hate the fact that I missed the swordfight scene.

Good stuff.