How is your driving?

Absolutely. I don't even speed. Unless I am doing it unknowingly.

And if I feel the urge to give the finger, I just smile and wave like that person is someone I know. They will wonder all day who it was they rudely cut off and wether or not they are going to get in trouble for it (with their mom, wife, whatever).

 

So much so that I even offer up live sacrifices on my way on a regular basis! (go ahead and ask my kids, they'll tell you all about it)

 

Nope. I identify with Paul, who said that the minute he becomes aware of a law, there rises up within him a desire to break that law. That's me. The minute I see the 65-mile-an-hour speed limit sign, I have this uncontrollable urge to go to 70. O wretched man that I am!

When it comes to raging at stupid drivers, however, I don't do that. I may speak to them gently, but I'm reasonably righteous in that area. Or is it self-righteous?

 

I certainly am. One of my pet peeves is an evangelist with a radar detector. As far as I am concerned as soon as I see that I have heard enough, he has blown his testimony to me.

I Pet 2:13

 

I have a genetic problem in that my right foot is very heavy. I have written documentation to back up this claim.

 

I got this joke today in my inbox...it's relevant:

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard.

Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him.

He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection,
dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer.

The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.

He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him.

"I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday- School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk.

So, naturally... I assumed you had stolen the car."

 

Well, I've driven more than a million miles, all accident free and I've had one ticket. (Ask me about that ticket sometime. I've been let off from two or three that I should have gotten, but the one I had to pay, I didn't deserve. I think I would have preferred to pay all the other three than to pay that one!)

 

If the speed limit is 55 mph and I going 55.5 MPH, have I committed a sin because I broke the law?

 

I drove the speed limit in Atlanta and about got ran over, several times. I'm thankful to live in a small georgia town where the speed limit is never over 50.

 

Here, passing is the offical state sport. My record is 5 RV's at once, and I'm an amateur.

BTW, click the following link to see why it's a bad idea to actually drive the speed limit in Atlanta: Driving in Atlanta

 

Insuranceman asked

Well the simple answer is yes. I Pet 2:13-15 says

Are speed limits ordinances of men? Are they established by our governments or by those appointed by them for the “punishment of evildoers” (Policemen)? Yes they are.

Now I really don’t have a problem with someone who gets a ticket but did not intentionally speed. Perhaps the limit changed. I got a ticket myself once because I did not see a school zone and did not slow down. I was wrong. I paid the ticket, and I did not try to get out of it or argue the fact that I was in fact going faster than the legal limit.

Those that infuriate me are those with radar detectors. To me they indicate a pattern of intentional, preplanned, deliberate sin and an attempt to avoid the consequences. I don’t feel that is compatible with a Christian leader or teacher.

Of course speed limits are not the only "ordinances of men." Cheating on your taxes is another good one.

 

As someone who drives for a living (I am a delivery driver for NAPA), I have to comment. I do everything I can to obey the laws as a Christian, but I have been pulled over (once) for speeding. I have also noticed the HUGE number of fish symbols and "evangelical bumper stickers" on cars speeding past me!

This has led me to wonder if the Christians in the Spokane, Washington area are as good at being drivers as they think they are. (I refuse to comment about areas in which I have not driven). I have also seen rants such as the one rbell related in the joke!

What would Jesus think of our witness to others as drivers?

In Christ,

Bill