Stuff Christians Like

The more I get into this blogging stuff, the more cool sites I find. I really like this one: Stuff Christians Like.

Here’s a great post from today:

#138. Saying “I grew up in the church.” Whenever people asked me if I were a Christian, I would say, “Yeah, my dad is a pastor.” That’s not really an answer to that question and neither is “I grew up in the church.” That’s a funny phrase, but it’s the most popular thing I hear in testimonies. I used to say it a lot too until I realized it wasn’t true. If I grew up in submarine for instance I would probably have really intimate knowledge of the ocean and it’s mechanics. But I had just sort of passed through the church experience. Eli grew up in the church. I went a few hours a week. I think it’s more accurate for me to say, “I grew out of the church.” Somewhere in college I got really tired of going through the motions and mentally/spiritually/emotionally I checked out. It wasn’t the church’s fault, it was mine. Today’s different though. In the last three years a lot has changed. And I have a new phrase I want to propose. I’m a huge fan of “retiring” old ideas like “I grew up in the church.” So like a gun for money trade in program I’m suggesting you lay down that phrase and walk away with a new one. Instead, let’s start saying, “I grew into the church.” I think that’s what God’s about. Helping us not grow up in a location, but more grow to embody a destination. Let’s become the church. Let’s be the church.

Biker Geek

Okay, I admit it, I’m a geek. I’m sitting in my home office right now, and I have to laugh. I have a 20 inch iMac with a secondary 22 inch screen beside it. I have two external hard drives connected to it. I also have an Airport Extreme Base Station with another drive connected to it. My 30 GB iPod is currently syncing with my iTunes library. Beside the iPod are two smaller external hard drives that I’m not using. At my feet, in a laptop bag, is my MacBook. Downstairs, connected to my television is my AppleTV (which is also currently syncing with iTunes). I just finished configuring an Airport Express with my network so that I can play my iTunes library wirelessly into my bedroom. My Blackberry buzzes whenever I get a new message. On top of all that, Heather has a MacBook Pro, Brittany has a MacMini, and Christina has an old PC desktop (that I would love to get rid of and replace with another Mini). 

Yup, I’m a geek.

I’m also a biker. I have a beautiful 94 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide sitting in the garage. When I fire it up, something leaps within my heart. There  are very few things that I enjoy more than jumping on my ride and hitting the open highway. It sits beside Heather’s Yamaha Road Star which is in pieces right now while she paints the bike. 

Many would have a hard time connecting the two: Biker & Geek. 

And yet, the more I get to know people, the more I realize how unique each person is. It’s very difficult to put labels on people. To categorize them. To define them by a specific type of person. Well, let me correct myself. SOME people are easy to categorize. They lock themselves into a pre-defined image of what they are supposed to be like, and rule out any other experiences.

The people I find interesting – the one’s I like to hang with – love a wide variety of experiences.

I remember reading an article about Indian Larry a few months after he passed away. For those who don’t know who that is, Indian Larry was one of the premiere bike builders the world. His work was respected by everyone. He died doing a stunt on one of his motorcycles.

According to the article, Indian Larry – this “biker’s biker” loved classical music. He would drive others nuts because he would turn it up really loud while working on a bike. 

Bikers and classical music. Another thing you wouldn’t think to put in the same sentence. 

How are you unique?

UPDATE: Now I’m also the proud owner of a iPhone … it just gets worse!!