Is Comic-Con International Worth the Trek?

As Comic-Con International took place the last week of July this past summer, I lamented my being "out" of the collectibles-reporting game. Truth be told, attending SDCC as a reporter is a hectic, exhausting time, but I sure loved it. As I looked back fondly on my past experiences, I decided to provide a new article for Figures.com, and they were kind enough to run it back in August.

Interested in my thoughts on attending the so-called "Mecca of Geekdom"?

Look no further...

Additionally,  Rocco Tartamella, whom I interviewed here and here has a new Kickstarter running for Q4 2014. If you are a figure or video game fan, please check it out!

BOUNDARIES and FREEDOM: My latest at x3Church

Below is an excerpt from my latest submission to X3Church, in which I extol both the virtues and possible vices of placing boundaries on one's life due to addiction.

"Boundaries are useful only to the extent that they have meaning; a meaningless boundary does nothing but impede freedom, and recovery is all about being free. This is why I treat many of my boundaries as lines in the sand rather than laws etched in stone. As habits and patterns change, so too should our mindset; addicts need to get to a place where freedom is normal again. 

"

More From Figures.com : On Displaying Stuff I Don't Need

So, for my monthly piece at Figures.com, I thought I'd pose a question to my fellow collectors. I asked them how they displayed their collection and why. My hope was to start a conversation and get some cool insight into how my fellow toy enthusiasts felt about getting their collections out of the bins and onto shelves.

I offered some thoughts and...received one response in return. I'll take it!

Check out the full piece HERE!

Additionally, I was able to complete another, more-industry focused interview with Rocco Tartamella!  Check it out!

Culture and Comedy, my latest at X3Church

The focus of June at x3church has been raising awareness about porn addiction. As I began to work on pieces for it, I had a difficult time framing how I could approach the discussion in a fresh way.

Here's my attempt to do so, albeit heavily edited and improved by the x3 staff (my submission did not read as well as the final, polished piece).

How feel you?

PORN: Yoke or Joke? 

Excerpt:

"Bring up porn as a joke, you’re clever.

Bring it up as a social danger, you’re a prude. 


Funny how that works. 
Only it isn’t. 
"

Protect and Love : My Latest at x3Watch

Ha! I did not even realize this went live! If you have a home, own media, have children, have friends who have children, or let other people into your house, you may find this article I wrote for the x3watch Blog worthwhile:

The Loving Act of Protection

Here's an excerpt:

"Think of your residence as a castle, and pornography as a latent attacker against your family. You know that he could pass through the walls at any moment, and he could lay claim to one of your loved ones without your knowledge. The truth is clear: evil moves, and it wants to take up residency in our homes."

My Latest at Figures.com : Thoughts on the Present State of G.I.Joe

I've been a G.I. Joe fan for a very, very long time--first as a child, then as a high schooler, then a college student, and even now as I type this--even after those two movies they made--I remain a fan (and I turn 32 on Monday).

Yep. Still.

Of course, in the changing cultural climate, G.I. Joe has had a tumultuous reception, not only due to the film but the concept itself. Being a writer, I had to sort through my emotions by putting my thoughts to page (screen?).

Figures.com was kind enough to indulge me, and one of the Joe Die hards at a separate site in their network, YoJoe.com, was even willing to fact-check and improve it (Thanks, Terrance).

Interested in G.I. Joe? You may find this worth a read.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hiatus

Is Accountability Software Like God?

According to my recent piece for the X3Watch Blog, YES.

Want to learn why? Click the above link, then let me know if you agree or disagree.

Small Group Leader? Youth Leader? Pastor? You should read this.

A groundswell is coming.  If you’ve been in a body of believers—a real community with vulnerability, honesty, and confession—than you’ve probably seen the truth.  Christ’s bride has an addiction problem. It’s not alcohol. It’s not smoking. It’s pornography.

In the minute or two it takes to read this article, over 30,000 people have been watching pornography online.

And a portion of the people with whom you worship on Sunday are the ones doing the watching—and, in some cases, creating.  Porn has become ubiquitous. Any teenager with a smartphone can access an unlimited amount of erotic material, and for the first time since the 1970’s, a blatantly pornographic work has become a normalized part of the cultural zeitgeist.

Latest Published Article: Fighting the Good Fight

I have been talking with Jarrad Miller, founder and lead at the online ministry, GodoverPorn.Org. Jarrad has been a presence for raising awareness through not only his own site and Twitter (where he and I met) but also his own city. Jarrad is the type of dude who drives to adult bookstores and puts his business card with the GOP address on windshield wipers of shoppers.

Yeah, he keeps it real.

He was recently willing to publish an article that I wrote for his newly-redesigned site, and I invite you to check it out as we continue into this new week. Entitled, "Fighting the Good Fight", the article is an encouragement to believers to keep holding strong in the face of constant temptation.

Hopefully readers will take it to heart, if only to make it through this next week or even just today.

Check out GodOverPorn for more.

NOTE: GodOverPorn does not control the post-video content and recommendations made by Youtube; and therefore, their promotional video may have thumbnails after its conclusion which it does not endorse, promote, or otherwise desire to share affiliation whatsoever. 

Addiction and Community. My Latest at X3Church

Below is my recently published piece on Community for X3Church.

Can You Be Accepted, No Matter What? A Family Says Yes.

The State of Toy Shopping. My latest at Figures.com

Monday, Figures.com ran my latest piece on toy punditry and the collecting hobby. Entitled "Thoughts on Modern Toy Shopping", the article looks at the changing landscape of the collecting hobby, lamenting some lost giants while extolling the virtues of online retail. If you're into that sort of thing, check it out below:

"Thoughts on Modern Toy Shopping"

More with Stronghold and Intentional Warriors

James Cordrey, whose work with Intentional Warriors I highlighted on Wednesday, has offered a second piece on our interview about Stronghold and fighting or purity! Please give it a read!

Interview and Book Review at Intentional Warriors

James Cordrey, editor of Intentional Warriors (and author of the book of the same name) was kind enough to run a story not only reviewing Stronghold but also interviewing me about my own recovery journey.

Please take a look at Intentional Warriors to read James' Thoughts

On Wednesday, I'll be running an interview with him about his work with Intentional Warriors. 

Latest Article At x3Church

I wrote this article for the Pastors Blog at xXxChurch, for whom I currently facilitate a Thursday night small group for recovery from pornography addiction. The piece is much more harsh than I intended, but I think that the message and content are worth a taking a jab.

Your Story is a Comedy

Author's Note: By "Comedy" in this instance, I am referring to "a story that ends in triumph and joy" as opposed to a "Tragedy", which obviously does not.

Another Article Elsewhere...Well, Kinda. More Kre-o

So, when I was writing my recent pieces on Hasbro's Kre-O toy line (here and here), I also asked my editor to forward interview questions to the line's brand team. My editor at Figures.com is a good dude: he said he'd do it; he did it; and lo and behold, they responded. I put together the intro, and bada-bing, another article in the mix.

I'll be honest, I'm hoping this is the first of many future written interviews I can re-post at 3LC. Asking useful questions is a good skill to add to my portfolio, and I think developing it will prove valuable as I continue pursuing writing in various formats.

Have any interest toys, or any interest in toys in which I have interest, the below article might be worth a read:

DeConstructing Kre-O

Addiction Relapse, Pirate Monk, Action Figure Collecting, and More...

In lieu of a post this morning, here are links to a few more of my articles elsewhere:

• "10 Emotions That Can Trigger a Relapse in 2014 (part 1)" for X3Church
• "10 Emotions That Can Trigger a Relapse in 2014 (part 2)" for same.

• You Might have a Problem Collecting Toys If... at Figures.com 
• A Second Article on the Building of the Kre-O Brand at same

Finally, I was recently interviewed on Pirate Monk Podcast, the audio program of the Samson Society.

Starting in April, I'll be linking to my work on other sites when the articles go live!

And as a bonus, I included this. Not mine but it's pretty good: A Review of Kre-O City Invasion!

3LC Beyond the Blog

Dear Readers, 

If you enjoy the content I produce here on 3LC, you may take interest in some of my writings at other venues. Hopefully this list will expand in 2014, but for now, here's the whole thing. Please click the links below to check out some of the off-blog content in which I've participated or I've had published (yes, by real editors) on other sites:

Addicts: Give yourself the gift of Time

Why do We collect [Toys]?

What Happaned to the Summer Toy Aisle?

Loving Lego at All Ages

Interview with Covenant Eyes Regarding Stronghold

Audio Interview with Second Chances Radio regarding Stronghold

December Links

Want more to read...Here's some stuff.

November Links

In light of my failure to generate content, I am going to direct you to some of my favorite reads of the web since last month. Get some!

More Reviews for Called to Stay

A month ago, I reviewed Caleb Breakey's wonderful book, Called To Stay. But I'm not the only one. If you want some varied perspectives on the text, just click on any of the well-written reviews below: