Blogs I Read: waYne waGner

This week, I’m on vacation at the OBX.  In my absence, I’ve conjured up some posts about other people who post on blogs… and they do a dang good job at it.  So read, then go visit them…

Wayne Wagner is a special boy.  And I’m not talking about unique.  Seriously, when I met him, I first thought he was kicked off the short bus.  I met Wayne at college.  Wayne was way out in left field–he liked to talk about strange stuff.  He listened to weird music.  He didn’t like to study.  He loved to play guitar.  I liked Wayne immediately.

Early in my freshman year, Wayne and I started a band.  We called it Jesus Wept.  We called it that because some of our other name choices weren’t exactly P.C. on our Bible college campus.  They weren’t bad… they would have just pissed people off.  It was a lot of fun.  We recorded a tape (with a big ol’ camcorder, which we dubbed onto a cassette, and then scrambled around the dorm making copies of on anyone’s tape deck we could use… and then we sold them for $5 a piece to ignorant high school students).  We played at several college functions and student events.  Heck, one of the trips we took is where I met my wife.  Thanks, Wayne (although you tried to convince her not to date me, you jerk).  For my first year of marriage, we lived across the hall from Wayne and his wife in the same house-converted-into-apartments.  Wayne and I would hang out, play chess, and smoke cigars (which was against our college’s rules).

Wayne is now on staff at New Venture Christian Church in Midlothian, VA.  He came on board in wake of a time of great turbulence at the church, and has helped bring things back together.  Wayne is outspoken.  Wayne is very opinionated.  Wayne has a Starbucks addiction (I think an intervention is in order).  He likes golf.  He likes a good cigar.  He has a beautiful family (his wife, Shannon, is absolutely perfect for him).  Wayne is painfully honest, most of all with himself.  Most of all, Wayne is freakin’ passionate about Jesus.  His blog, Supernaturally Pure, is much like mine (although he started his months before I did).  It is his public journal, as he reads scripture, reflects on it, is pained by it, challenges his readers with it, and prays about it.  No subject is taboo; no topic is off limits.

Do yourself a favor and subscribe to his blog.  It’s short, to the point, honest, at times painful, but always focused on Jesus.

And Wayne… when are we getting the band back together?  I need to make some d**n money before I die…