this is it. don't get scared now...

There's a scene in Home Alone where the camera zooms into Macaulay Culkin wearing fatigues and holding a large BB gun as he says, "This is it. Don't get scared now." I stinkin' LOVE that scene because it's a eight year-old boy going to battle with two convicted felons to save his home. He has a battle plan, strategy, and even says a prayer over his microwavable meal before the clock chimes to indicate that the war is about to begin.

Well, that's kinda how I feel. No I'm not eight, I'm not protecting my home from robbery, and I will never eat a microwavable dinner, but tonight I'll be metaphorically wearing fatigues, holding a BB gun, saying a prayer, and quoting to myself, "This is it. Don't get scared now."

As a reminder, I'll be starting the Seven Deadly Sins series tonight. We all know that Jon and Kate are divorced, Jillian had to let go of two bachelors, and the Desperate Housewives of New Jersey are really desperate, so fill yo' mind with some J-E-S-U-S! We'll be webcasting live, starting at 6:50PM. Click here to watch!

one of these things don't belong...

Circa 1986 I laid on the wooden floor of my living room with my chin resting on the grooves of my knuckles and watched episodes of Sesame Street until my eyes glazed over and I discovered that the specific episode of the day was brought to me by the letter R. Ernie and Bert were like my cousins, Big Bird was like a dorky neighbor, and Snuffaupagus was like my peppy friend who had eyelashes to D.I.E for. I loved watching every episode and owe much of my early childhood education to Mr. Hooper, Oscar the Grouch, and Olivia (the resident Puerto Rican).

Well, it's 2009 and I still feel the effects of 1234 Sesame Street. During almost every episode a song would come on that I could still quote for you today:

One of these things is not like the others.

One of these things just doesn't belong,

Can you tell which thing is not like the other,

By the time I finished singing this song?

A few weeks ago I got a phone call informing me that I was invited to speak at an event for over 10,000 youth in the Southern California area. I tried my best to sound calm, cool, and collected... but I sounded more like Screetch Powers from Saved by the Bell. The person on the other end of the phone rattled off the names of the other speakers and I casually let out an audible um hm every now and then to make it seem like I was writing down pertinent information for the workshop I'll do doing. But the truth was that I was only thinking of one thing: How in the world did I make the roster?! I am SO not at the caliber of these people?!

After I hung up the phone, the melodic tones of 1234 Sesame St. crept into the crevices of my mind.

One of these things is not like the others.

One of these things just doesn't belong,

Can you tell which thing is not like the other,

By the time I finished singing this song?

Then I shoved that song out of my mind and realized that this is an opportunity to connect to the hearts and minds of the next generation. Who gives a rip if I don't belong?

If you're a teen or young adult in the OC area on Saturday, May 30th, check out the Movement. It's going to be epic!