Wednesday, December 2, 2009

100 word wednesday: laws of the land...

Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you're irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. (Romans 13:1-2, Message)

Six months have elapsed since the genesis of this blog and I’ve been pulled over four times by the California Highway Patrol. Allegedly I can’t stay below the speed limit. I’m trying to really follow street laws now. To the letter.

On the freeway I’m the only one without a "World's Best Grandma" bumper sticker putt-putting along at fifty-five. I should probably have my hazards on as cars whiz by me. They honk. They swerve. The drivers look at me like I’m the lone Red Sox fan at a Yankees game?!

But I do this for two reasons:

1. I can’t afford to pay more than the price of freedom for my insurance. I just refuse!

2. If I really claim to follow Jesus, then I need to be subject for the Lords’ sake to every human institution (1Peter 2:13-14). Here’s the best part: so do you!

Food for thought,
B

22 comments:

Jenn said...

FINALLY someone addresses this!

It's important to obey the laws of the land and so many Christians ignore this as if it doesn't count. Breaking the speeding law and being drunk are both errors against the tenets we believe.

Step up!

Anonymous said...

Hey grandma! Is it wrong that I found this blog entry quite humorous!! ;) Don't worry though, still got the application...much love!

-j

Cindy A. said...

Hahaha, you make me laugh and you make me cry! I guess it's a good thing I don't really drive anymore (train to DT LA)!

Diandra Ann said...

okay... this one didnt make me cry (finally), but it did make me cringe. Ug, I am so bad at this. I blame the fact that Im just a downright bad driver.

Lydia said...

My friends and I have debated this. If we claim to follow Christ, it really should affect all areas of our lives. As long as the gov't doesn't ask us to do something that goes against His word, we should obey it.

Anonymous said...

Lady Chilax will ya!!! slow down life is short enjoy it!!bye

Anonymous said...

BTDT! ;) I had a stretch (a couple years ago) where I had three tickets in 6 months. I had good reasons for all of them. ;) However, after a very KIND email from my insurance agent I knew things had to change. Do you know what I did? I got rid of my V6 for a 4 Cyl. Haven't had a ticket since (literally YEARS). Change is possible. :) I feel your pain though. I got PASSED on a 25 mph neighborhood street while doing the speed limit. So hard to take when you have a competitive streak and are naturally a fast driver. Ugh.

Celia Jimenez said...

Aha!!! So hard to follow these rules...the line starts to get a little hazy! But when we've had three accidents in two years in our youth group the reality quite literally meets the road! Now...what about texting while driving??? :-) Another hard one!

Anonymous said...

i think its sad that out of all the other people who disobey the laws by even going faster and wreckless driving always get away with it but u who are barely going over the speed limit always get caught! :)

Bianca said...

@jenn: Step up? Oh my word! I totally wanted to get up and start dancing. Yes, I watched both StepUp 1 AND 2.
@j: Laugh. Totally laugh. At least one of us is :)
@cindy: Hopefully those tears you shed were for my bank account. Seriously, I'm making State Farm RICH!
@lydia: I totally want to do this... yet I break the rules all the time. J-walk? Yes, I do. Speed? Yes, I do. California stop? Why, yes, actually I do. Lock me up, I'm krazy!
@anonymous: Chilax is the worst conjuctive word I've ever heard of. Please refrain from using it. Seriously, you'll thank me later.
@Michelle: BDTD? Explain. PS I have a v4... now what do I do?!
@Celia: Ugh!!! I know. I text at red lights. BUT it's still dangerous. And I really need to stop.
@not-so-anonymous: I know, I know! It's like there's a bull's eye target on my trunk. But speeding is speeding and I got caught. But not any more. Once my record improves, I'll be able to get back on the insurance at work ;)

Laurel said...

Love your honesty.

I just talked about this exact thing on my Legalism vs. Freedom in Christ posts a week ago. People think I'm legalistic because I see it as very important to follow the laws of the land (since it is God's Law that tells us to follow the laws of the land).

Since I'm just an "old fogey" no one will probably listen to me. But ... you just may have some influence over the "younger generation".

Keep sharing your life ... others are watching and listening.

Hugs!

mama of 13 :)

Kayla said...

So awesome that God gives us gentle warnings/reminders like this before something serious happens... i.e. car accident while texting/speeding etc.

Thanks Bianca!!

Anonymous said...

BTDT = Been There, Done That

If you're already driving a V4 it may be time to trade in for a bus pass. ;)

Anonymous said...

B...
I know the feeling! I got pulled over by a Downey PO! they are really mean. I told them my explaination (my job) and he STILL gave me a ticket and said "just because you are in a uniform does not make you exempt from the speed law!" HUH? How many times have I seen a PO speed? No lights?...
My Husband wants to get me a Chrysler 300..I told him no way, I have a lead foot, I cant seem to stay under 70! Thanks for the reminder ( my ticket, first speeding ticket ever was in March 06...I was and do drive a Buick Century..a grandma car!)

ap

Bianca said...

@laurel: You're not OLD! Don't even say that ;)

@kayla: You're so optimistic and sweet! PS I got your awesome email about Twitter. I loved it :)

@michelle: Bus pass? Hahahahahahahaha! That was funny.

@ap: You feel me!!! Ugh. I'm doing my best to drive like a grandma!

Allie Marie Smith said...

I feel ya girl! I've gotten 3 tickets in the last 2 months. Okay 2 were for my registration, but still! Your newest mantra should be "KIS" - "keep it slow" =) Hugs. xoxo

melissa said...

Oh no! 4 times?! Jimmeny Crickets! This reminds me of what my daughter said to me a couple weeks ago while i was racing, er, driving to school (late.) She said, "Mama! Remember what not to do? you can't get frustrated. God doesn't want us to do that. So the next time you growl, I'm gonna tell you that!"

Okkkkkay! Oh to be chastised by my own children!!!! ;)

Lindsay said...

Hmm, I see your problem and I think the only solution is to get yourself a chaffeur!!!

Annie said...

So YOU'RE the one that keeps passing me! Got it. ;0)

Cruise control keeps me from going as fast as I'd like on the ol' I-90... in fact, I've adopted a little motto for all those lead feet that go flying by: "Apparently THEY can afford the speeding ticket and insurance rate hike. Good for them!"

Oh, and Michelle -- a bus pass? Good one. Bianca will never find her Schwinn if she's stuck on a bus!

Anonymous said...

Granny time here we come! bring on the glasses and nylons!
ap

Laurel said...

Cruise Control is the ONLY way I keep the needle on 55 when I'm pulling my trailer the WHOLE length of CA. I HATE pulling a trailer in CA. HATE it with a passion. But ... God told me to drive the speed limit. Sometimes I just wish I didn't have such strong convictions (and 13 children watching me and waiting for me to slip up).


:) :) :)

Anonymous said...

Cruise Control!! Yes a magical invention. I did use it OFTEN when I was in my SPEEDING DETOX phase. :) Now I'm just naturally slower so it's not as much of a necessity. That being said, when I'm driving near a trooper I will put it in CC for sure. ;)

Google

Blog Widget by LinkWithin