driving

When Will They Pay?

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image by Max from Pixabay

I don’t recall ever getting out of a ticket! Speeding tickets, other kinds of moving violation tickets, nothing! I did manage to get one reduced though. It seems like any time I am out and driving on the road, I witness other drivers being reckless, excessively speeding, and, in general, putting others in danger! Okay, putting me in danger. I know, if I ever drove like them, I would definitely get caught. I don’t seem to get by with anything!

When I see this, I often fantasize about being a cop and pulling them over. I want to be the witness, the jury, and the judge. If that happened, they would pay big time! Honestly, I wonder if the fine would be steep enough to change their behavior.

This makes me think about others who do not violate the laws of man but live in disobedience to God’s commands. If they continue to live their life in such a way and never accept Jesus Christ, who forgives us our sins, they will certainly pay. Unfortunately, the fine will be steep – their life. Will knowing this change their behavior?

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom. 3:23 (NIV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom. 6:23 (NIV)

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Heb. 9:27-28 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Profoundness

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments
Image by PDPics from Pixabay

I don’t particularly appreciate going somewhere because I know there are bad, aggressive, dangerous drivers out there. I don’t “fear” them, but I know I have to be extremely careful while trying to reach my destination in one piece.

I sort of take a lot of pride in my driving. I am courteous, especially to semi-truck drivers, because I know it is challenging considering their length. I give them space to get over or merge into traffic. I learned a lot by watching my mother and comparing her driving to my father’s. Before getting in a vehicle with my father, I would always make sure I was right with God! (Kidding, sort of.)

The other day, April and I were out running errands. I sat behind another driver, waiting to turn right. I watched as the one in front of me missed several opportunities to make their turn. I got very frustrated. They finally turned. I Iooked and made my turn. I said to April, “See. It’s not hard!”

April looked over at me and said the most profound statement. She said, “Maybe it’s hard for them.” Ouch! What do you do when you become aware of the truth? Hopefully, as I decided to do, accept it. I must say, since she said that, I have been more tolerant of other drivers.

Profound – having or showing great knowledge or insight

You might say profoundness is “truth,” and the Bible says the “truth” will set you free. April’s insight is setting me free from frustration while being out there among them driving. What can “truth” set you free from? What “profound” wisdom or insight do you need to hear? Another way to ask this question is: What do you need freedom from?

You can ask God for profoundness in your own life. I would also suggest reading God’s word, the Bible. And I would start with the book of Proverbs. It is full of profound statements and wisdom that, if applied, can change your life. Below is a small sampling.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:7

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:23

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Me? Grumpy?

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments
Photo by: George Desipris

I recently hit a milestone in age. Stop singing. I’m not happy about it. In fact, I was glad April didn’t feel up to celebrating it due to recovering from surgery two days earlier. (Her recovery is going well.) I’ll confess, I scheduled her surgery knowing she wouldn’t feel up to it. Okay, I’ll tell ya, I turned 60.

Combining my age with my current attitude toward others and their behavior, one could call me Walter. As in “Walter Matthau.” As in, from the movie “Grumpy Old Men.” Especially when it comes to how people drive these days. It seems as if I can’t even go two blocks from my house, and I’m disgruntled. If you are the lead dog at the intersection, please pay attention to the light. When it turns green, GO!

Two days ago, at 4:56 AM: I was heading home after dropping April off at work, and I almost slammed into the back of an older pickup truck. It was parked in the driving lane of an exit ramp with no lights on. The area of that highway is under construction, and the new highway lights aren’t on yet. And there was room for the broken down driver to have pulled in between construction barrels. My grumpiness isn’t just with drivers. It seems to be with anyone exhibiting behavior I don’t like.

April diagnosed the problem accurately. She said I get upset when others don’t treat me the way I treat them. You see, I grew up having learned the “Golden Rule.” You know, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Based on; Luke 6:31) The problem is, they do unto me things I wouldn’t do unto them. It seems these days as if they don’t care about others, only themselves. And they know when they have done wrong, but they will make it seem as if you are the one who committed a crime.

I know my grumpiness isn’t of God. I should love like He is to us. I need to show everyone “love,” and here is why. These are some of the qualities of genuine love:

  • Love is patient – True love can tolerate pain or suffering without complaining or getting angry.
  • Love is humble – True love is not proud and boastful. It is humble enough to admit its own mistakes and strive to correct them. It also forgives to get rid of hatred and enjoy peacefulness.
  • Love is respectful.
  • Love is calm – True love always maintains the mind’s clarity and the heart’s softness. Its heart is deep, and its mind is not narrow.
  • Love is persistent – True love doesn’t easily give up. True love transforms you into a whole new and better person.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:18-19 (NIV)

 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” – Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.” – Luke 6:27-33 (NIV)

“Dear God, please help me, love, as you love us. I certainly don’t want to be known as a ‘grumpy old man’ but as a ‘man of God’. A man of love.”

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

We’re Going to Need Another Angel

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

With the blessing of April getting a new job that God is using to meet our financial needs comes a new path home. A much busier, longer, and more opportunities to encounter distracted drivers path. Although driving her to the employer at 4 AM is a bit safer with fewer drivers on the road, some reckless drivers are still out there.

A few days into our new thrill ride, we encountered a busy interchange. As I maneuvered into the cloverleaf while dogging cars entering the highway, I was almost rear-ended by someone going way too fast, considering the number of vehicles, short ramp, and rapidly slowing traffic. I was fearful as I watched the speeding car approach. I just knew they would hit us, but they didn’t. My heart raced as I thought that was close!

The next day, in the same spot in our travel, it happened again, but this time the car speeding toward the back of ours seemed to be guided by a laser determined to cause mass destruction. I cried out in horror as I watched in the rear-view mirror, “Oh God!” There was a look of sheer fear on the face of the driver as he dropped his phone and stood up on the brake pedal. I knew today we wouldn’t survive with a “close call.”

But then, at the point of impact, I watched as the driver moved forward in his car as if he had hit a wall, but there was no direct strike to the back of our car. I continued to look in the mirror as we made our way around the leaf and onto the intersecting highway. I was bewildered, trying to figure out how in the world we were not struck.

The only “satisfying” answer I could come up with is this; it wasn’t anything in our world but out of this world. Yeah, I believe an angel positioned himself between the back of my car and the other car. But the impact on that angel had to be so devastating that I could only imagine he was killed in the line of duty protecting April and me from harm. Or better yet, keeping us from the interruption of having to get our car fixed or replaced.

I was humbled and appreciative of God’s hand of protection upon our lives and the things, like the car that He provides to help us in our daily lives. The next day, I prayed over our commute, pleading the blood of Jesus over us and taking dominion over that spot on the highway. Declaring out loud that any demons of destruction had to go in the name of Jesus and that no harm to our lives or property could come upon us.

I am convinced that God’s hand protects us more than we know. Yes, I saw this angel do his job, but more than not, we don’t. Only when we get to heaven will we see God’s love in action for those who call him “Father.”

No, I don’t honestly believe the angel died, and there is currently a job opening in heaven, but I do know that Jesus died on a cross for us so that this relationship with the awesome loving God could be possible.

9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone. Psalms 91:9-12 (NKJV)

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

“You Want Fries With That?”

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I try my very best to be a careful, cautious, and courteous driver. Because of that I have expectations that others will be as well… but the reality is, some are not! The other day, April and I left the house and a block from home I had an ambulance pull out in front of me with their emergency lights and or siren NOT on. Gees! Then about a mile later I had a driver cut me off and I had to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting them. As it turned out, they pulled into the same drive-thru we did.

That restaurant provides two lanes to place your order.  I was finished placing ours and proceeded to pull forward. That same driver, who had already cut me off once, gave it the gas and cut me off again! I had to hit the brakes hard and then I laid on the horn to show my disapproval. I begin complaining to April about this person’s attitude. I don’t think she wanted to hear it!

On my way back home, after dropping April off at work, I felt bad for allowing this particular person to affect my attitude! I begin praying about it. I felt better. Then I started praying for the individual. I stopped mid prayer and thought, “What kind of a day is this person going to have?” I assumed a very bad one.

I imagine this type of person is the one in the office you cringe every time you have to encounter them. Whether for their time sheet, office supplies, or for information you need to include on the report your boss asked you to write.  You know the type.  You have met one, or two in your career, I’m sure.

Here is how I know they were going to have a bad day; that driver sowed “evil”!  Therefore, they will reap “evil” That is a universal law that God put in place; you reap what you sow. I still prayed for them, but I refocused the words. I prayed they would come to know God, and that his love would fill them as they become like him.

If you are experiencing a lot of bad things and bad people with bad attitudes, perhaps you should consider what you are sowing? It’s not always the case but you can never escape this one universal law.

Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. Gal. 6:7-8 (MSG)

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Where Am I?

/ Mark Brady / 3 Comments

We are spoiled.  We have access to all kinds of technology these days, but my favorite is “GPS” (Global Positioning System).  No longer are we dependent on paper maps or atlases to tell us where we are.  I recall traveling across America and pulling into a rest stop, and looking at the big state map on the wall and searching for those familiar, reassuring, words, “You are here”. 

It’s nice to know where you are.  It’s also good to know where you are going, but God doesn’t always provide one, or the other, or both.  “Blind faith!”  But there are times when you can look back at where you have been and at what you have done, and project a path toward the future.  Doing so may provide some clue as to what God is up to and what He may have for you.  It’s kind of like solving a mystery.

As much as we may want to know where God is taking us the important thing to remember is to be obedient each and every day.  In other words, do today what you know is the pleasing and perfect will of God.  Taking each step, each day will lead you to the destination, action, or even the provisioning God has for you.

The challenge is to keep going, to not get discouraged, but to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  That process is how individuals have done amazing things, so why wouldn’t it work in your journey with God?

I find Paul’s words encouraging.  I hope you do as well:

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” PHI. 3:12-14 (MSG)

I suppose, in some way, you could define “GPS” as “God’s Positioning System”. I also find it comforting that although I may not know what God is doing in my life, or where He is taking me, He always knows, “Where I am!”

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Two Things that Make Me Cry

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Yes, I still own a “Man Card”!  Stopping and asking for directions doesn’t make me any less of a man.  In fact, it demonstrates I don’t have an issue with pride.  So there!  LOL  Admitting I cry doesn’t make me any less of a man either.  So what are the two things that will almost guarantee I will reach for a tissue?

  1. When I begin thinking about God’s goodness, and blessings to me and my wife I get misty eyed.  Like the other day we received three unexpected checks in the mail.  They really helped us out, and before you ask me for a loan they went to pay off some debt.  They were nice checks.  When I opened the envelopes and saw them I sat down and cried.

    A few weeks ago I wrote about sowing into someone else’s financial needs.  I helped a friend work on his condo.  He offered to pay me and I wanted to accept the money, but God whispered, “No.  Sow into their need.”  They didn’t need to spend any more on the condo.

    God has established certain universal laws, and one of them is “sowing and reaping”.  If you sow, give time or money it doesn’t always come back to you in the same form you gave it, but it does come back.  But you have to be willing to give without expecting it to come back, which has to do with the attitude of your heart.

  2. The other thing that gets my eyes to leaking is sensing the presence of God.  When his Spirit comes over me and hovers, and I know I am in the company of God it over whelms me.  To think, the God of the universe wants to spend time with me.  I can’t see him, but I know He is there.  I can’t see the wind, but I know when it blows.  Lately, when this happens, I have been saying, “Come a little closer, stay a little longer.  I can’t get enough of you.”

Okay, in full disclosure those are the words to a new worship song I just discovered the other day.  “Just Like Heaven” by Brandon Lake.  When I hear this song on the radio it ushers me into an attitude of worship.  Expressing my love and admiration to God for who He is, for his holiness.  Worship, does a lot for us, even though we are giving it to God.

So yes, there are times I cry, but they are good tears not bad ones that flow out because of hurt, or pain.  Tears are a release of emotion, and God gave us that capability, and I am so grateful He did.  I can’t imagine what would happen if I didn’t cry.  I’m no expert in biology, but I have a feeling my emotion would come out somewhere, somehow, in some form.  I choose tears.

Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.