Remember Drivers Ed class? Remember Behind-the-Wheel? In the “Student Driver” series, Jeremy shares some of the profound similarities between learning to drive and the road to discipleship. Jeremy writes from the unique vantage point of both a certified Driving Instructor and a pastor. This excerpt is called “Fatal Distractions.” Buckle up!
In my home state of Minnesota there are only two seasons: winter and road construction. Road construction season coincides however with another seasonal Minnesota pastime—cabin fever! Every Friday afternoon during the warm months you’ll find a mass exodus of cars heading north for the weekend. The irony of it all is that in order to … More STUDENT DRIVER 9: The Road Less Travelled
The gate is wide and the road is smooth that leads to destruction, and there are many who travel it. But the gate is narrow and the road is rugged that leads to life, and there are few who take it (Matt 7:13-14). Turn around. Change direction. Make a U-turn. These are all accurate … More STUDENT DRIVER 8: U-Turns Allowed
You have heard it said, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” But I’m more convinced it is paved with bad directions. If Eve’s grave sin in the garden was a failure to follow God’s directions, her punishment has been putting up with Adam the rest of the way who refuses to … More STUDENT DRIVER 7: Asking for Directions
There will be a highway called the Holy Road… It’s for God’s people exclusively — impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it” (Isaiah 35:8). When we finally leave the classroom and hit the highway, we find no shortage of traffic — both in real life and the spiritual … More STUDENT DRIVER 6: Driving Aimlessly
Every car has them. They are the little warning lights on your dash that come on when something needs attention. They are quite small and hard to see. They are often ignored and easy to put off until a later time. Yet they are extremely important and can save you much bigger problems in the … More STUDENT DRIVER 5: Warning Lights & Gas Gauges
One of the most simple but important driving lessons we learned in kindergarten: stay between the lines! In driving you must keep yourself from veering to the left and the right. We must keep ourselves between the yellow center line and the white shoulder line. What do these two colored lines represent on the road … More STUDENT DRIVER 4: Life Between the Lines
“They’re not just for decoration.” That’s what I tell my beginning drivers as they nervously drive down the road with complete tunnel vision, neglecting to read the signs lining the roadside out of fear of taking their eyes off the car ahead. All of the signs lining the roads of America are classified according to … More STUDENT DRIVER 3: Can You Read the Signs?
The number one cause of all automobile accidents is driver distraction and inattentiveness. A study released in April 2006 by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that distractions, including drowsy driving, are a contributing factor in 8 out of every 10 police-reported traffic crashes, or an estimated 4 million crashes per year. … More STUDENT DRIVER 2: Fatal Distractions
I’m reposting this DI classic series of posts from a few years ago. Enjoy! As a youth pastor I face a room full of teenagers every Wednesday and try my best to teach them how to travel faithfully the road of Christian discipleship. For the past month, each Tuesday and Thursday evenings have afforded me the … More STUDENT DRIVER 1: This is Not a Game
Jeremy L. Berg 