My 2002 F150 is having starting issues. I've noticed it more with the heat during this summer but here is the issue... It sounds like my battery is dead when I attempt to start it (which it's not) and I have to pick up on the gear shift like its slipped out of park. Then it starts just fine...
Would this be the shift tube bushing? The reason I mention that is while its in park, the indicator shows to be in drive and while its in drive it shows to be in first gear.

Any suggestions?

When you say it sounds like that battery is dead, do you mean it clicks? It turns over but slowly? It doesn't turn over at all?

Sounds like your transmission position sensor. I don't know what they call it on the Fords, but my brother had a similar problem on his Honda Passport. There is a mechanism somewhere in there that tells the car what gear you're in, and if it slides out of the housing, then it will think you're in a different gear than your transmission is actually in. My guess is that it physically came loose inside the steering column. Open it up and see if you can find a little piece with a wire attached to it that comes from your gear shift and see if that is supposed to be secured somewhere.

Just a guess, but it seems obvious that the issue has to do with your car not thinking it's in park when it actually is. My guess is that your ignition switch is programmed to not send a signal to the starter unless it knows the car is in park, and that's why you're not hearing it turn over.

It clicks like battery is dead which it's not. You pull up on the gear shift, turn the key again and it starts right up.

Ive never heard it click when its the gear shift alignment. I know most fords of that vintage the pointer doesn't line up with what gear its in. Check the terminals for corrosion/bad connection?

Yea pretty much just pull up on the shift lever and it fires right up. I was thinking it's something in the steering column or that's what I'm hoping for... It's just getting old

Sounds like your neutral switch or (Transmission Range Sensor) is out of adjustment, but more like excessive play in the shift linkage.

check this.

http://www.f150online.com/forums/transmissions/441184-park-neutral-safety-switch.html

Well I crawled up under the dash, I found this little white clip thing broken into 3 pieces (should be 1 piece) and I will probably replace my shift tube bushings just to cover that too... I hope this resolves my issues... My gear shift is out of whack due to the white clip broken.. Oreilys has the clip for $13.00 and my bushings were like $7.00, labor may be expensive...

If around Haltom city I can take care of that. Have done plenty of these.

Look at youtube. Now that you know what it is there is almost a 100% chance someone made a video of fixing it on youtube.

Skeeterman what's a good day for you? I can bring a 6 or 12 pack of your choice... I was planning on going to Keller on Friday to visit my mother

Can try and set somthing up for sat. Fri is my anniversary.