JC is calling me to service. I just received a call from my church's nominating committee telling me I was nominated to be a deacon.

I was a deacon before, and it was tough. I took it so seriously, too seriously, humorlessly actually, that after awhile I hated doing it.

I never felt like I was doing a great job, although my parishioners said I was doing a great job.

My screenwriting teacher told me I have very high standards for myself, and some of them were very unreasonable. She's right, I do. But I know myself and I've seen myself when I've been very productive.

But maybe I need to change those high standards a little bit, because I also suffer from burnout constantly. I'm productive and then I burn out, and lately the burn out periods are lasting longer than the productive periods.

Maybe it's better that I work constantly, do a little bit every day, and for longer periods of time. Maybe I won't get burn out and feel consumed, and out of balance with my life. I could still have my high standards, but they'll be adjusted for the long haul.

I haven't decided about the deacon thing; it's a three-year commitment. I do feel called to serve, and my church needs more people to be involved right now.

In the past when I've had a lot on my plate, I became very good at scheduling my time. I was forced to because of the activities I was involved in. I'm thinking if I'm forced to become more efficient with my time usage, maybe I'll get better at scheduling time to write.

I have more time now, and I still can't come up with a consistent writing schedule. I'm willing to try anything right now.

I just watched "The Passion" trailer, which is the new Jesus movie by Mel Gibson. It was very graphic and it made me weep. It's like all those years of having to do stations of the cross at easter came back and I was in tears and so upset at JC being whipped, beated and crucified.

I felt like I was an overly hormonal 13 year old again, crying night after night over JC being crucified, and wondering how could people could be so cruel.

I still don't get it, the cruelty, mean thing. I see it all the time in people I know, it's very subtle but it's there. People crucify each other every day, and for no good reason. I don't understand it, even though I know I've done it myself.

My problem is, I know when I'm being intentionally mean and I feel bad about it for a long time. It's like I've crucified Christ when I'm mean to someone, and it freaks me out and makes me think if I was there, what would I have been shouting? Crucify him or have mercy on him? I can't honestly say what I would have said.

My new favorite term, "tush hog". While watching the Pittsburg/Denver football game, Phil Simms started talking to Greg Gumbel about a "tush hog", which is a football player with a huge behind. This wonderful asset apparently comes in handy for certain types of plays in the red zone.

I'm glad the big behind on a guy comes in handy for something because most women I know cannot stand a man with a huge bum, and will so make fun of it all the time. No bubble butts allowed except on the football field.

I went to see the movie Luther on Saturday. Only for Martin Luther would I pay full price for a movie.

I loved the movie! It starred the beautiful Joseph Fiennes, who played Shakespeare in "Shakespeare in Love" and Robert Dudlely, Earl of Leicester in Elizabeth.

And for Colin Firth fans, the movie also featured his brother Jonathan Firth. Who knew he had a brother? He looks alot like Colin, but not as cute.

I got so caught up in the movie, when Luther was on trial for heresy at Worms, I wanted to shout "No, don't recant, don't! The fate of modern western civlization depends on you!"