It’s swarming across the land, it threatens to destroy crops, endanger lifestock and decimate livelihoods. I refer, of course, to the “25 random things” posts on Facebook. I’ve been tagged no less than 10 separate times, and it’s time for it to stop. So here, without further ado (and little thought), are 25 random things about me that you probably will wish you never had read:
1. I’m named after my grandfathers. My dad’s dad was John, my mom’s dad was Lawrence.
2. My childhood nickname was “John John”, to distinguish me from my granddad. (Don’t even think about using that nickname now - you will suffer a horrible fate at my hands.)
3. When I was six, I saw an afterschool special explaining the “facts of life”. Thus informed, I immediately proceeded to relay this information to my older cousin, who told and got me in trouble.
4. In the fifth grade, I was the lead in the school production of “The Pied Piper.” Tights were involved.
5. Also in the fifth grade, I won an award for a poem I had written. For the award, I got my picture in the local newspaper. The problem was that the picture was taken on the day of the dress rehearsal for the school play (see #4), so my picture was taken while in costume.
6. Yet again in grade 5, I won the school spelling bee on the word “coleslaw”. I was knocked out in the first round of the regional spelling bee, appropriately enough, on the word “farewell.”
7. The first movie I ever remember seeing was Star Wars. In the theater. I was 5 years old.
8. When I was in eighth grade, I was home sick one day in January, and went outside to see the shuttle launch, which I could (barely) see from my yard. It blew up.
9. I got my first computer - a Commodore VIC-20 - when I was in sixth grade. I taught myself how to program in BASIC on that computer.
10. In high school, I earned a varsity letter - on the academic team.
11. My favorite breakfast food? Grits and eggs. (Bacon is always appreciated too!)
12. My favorite TV program? LOST.
13. My college degree is in religion and philosophy.
14. My favorite college class: Greek. (Yes, I can still read it, somewhat.)
15. My favorite hobby: Cooking, especially grilling/barbecuing when the weather permits.
16. I’m a total Food Network junkie.
17. I started wearing glasses when I was 27.
18. I met my wife by dating her roommate.
19. Should I die suddenly, I want two hymns played at my funeral: “And Can It Be” and “What Wondrous Love”.
20. I never took a programming class in college (and the one I took in high school was a joke). I’m almost entirely self-taught as a programmer.
21. When I was a senior in high school, I skipped school one day to attend a pastor’s conference led by John MacArthur. (It was totally worth it.)
22. The last time I preached a sermon was the last Sunday in 2000. The topic was Biblical discernment.
23. I am left-handed.
24. My first car was a 1978 Toyota Corona.
25. For my birthday (coming up in a few weeks), my wife bought me (at my request) an ESV Study Bible. This past Christmas, she bought me an enameled cast iron Dutch oven. I’m not sure which gift I like more, but Naomi is definitely a keeper!
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