cutting corners.
I am no expert, but I believe one of the most dangerous places to be on the road in America is leaving a high school parking lot after school. Like I said, I could be wrong, but then again I would still beg to differ with you if you desire a good old fashioned argument. I could also offer you the opportunity of picking up Tia and Miriam from MCA five times a week in Indian Trail, NC to prove my point. Smirk.
I have determined several reasons why I believe teenagers to be some of the most dangerous drivers. And why leaving a high school parking lot in the afternoon is one of the most dangerous places on the road in America. Let me count the ways...
1. Teens are less experienced. Hashtag state the obvious. Though I have seen some pretty raunchy drivers that are much older as well. (Y'all should hang out with me on the highlands highway in PNG!!) Generally speaking though, experience minus the abuse of alcohol and mind altering substances, aids in driving ability.
2. Then there is the whole invincibility thing. Again, this does not apply to all teens. Taylor and Tia are both quite cautious and often display fear and trepidation over their impending possible demise while driving.
3. American teenagers are in a hurry!! (FYI, this is in fact a cultural phenomenon. Pinky swear. Not all teenagers in all societies are in the same high speed mode like our American teens. You are just going to have to trust me on this one.)
4. Teenagers are more distracted or less focused on their surroundings. Whichever wording you choose to be less offensive - though I believe them both to be truth. Again, this is more prevalent in America than other places in the world. Especially with the ever growing popularity of social media. Granted both numbers 3 and 4 are symptoms of a large number of Americans. And a large number of other societies' civilians. Myself included. (And, hey, if you aren't distracted... good on ya!)
The last and final way is often more prevalent for boys. 5. Teenagers have a tendency to want to show off. This is in fact in my best expertise NOT a cultural phenomenon. I have lived with and helped to co-parent boys from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Germany (Why hello there, Benedikt - yes, you and that green motorbike are the first ones to come to mind when writing this!), Canada and the Netherlands right off the top of my brain. And it seems to me that it doesn't matter where a boy is from he likes to show off. Especially when in front of teenage girls.
Combine all these and BAM! leaving the high school parking lot at the end of the day is hazardous to your health. Or my health rather. Since I am the one to frequent the area.
As I was pulling out of the school today I was cut of by at least three teens. They were all cutting corners too close for my comfort.
That got me to thinking how I would prefer to be cutting corners in my own life.
I would love to be super model thin while still consuming endless amounts of chocolate and never once sweating (cause, ew, sweating is nasty). Isn't there a pill for weight-loss?
I would much rather eat endless amounts of bacon and ignore my high cholesterol until I reallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllly have to. Isn't there a pill for high cholesterol as well?
I would much rather skip seeing my doctor for regular maintenance (y'all catch my drift, right?) and pretend I am not getting old. Age is totally relative, right?!
I will continue to drink lots of coffee and still desire white teeth. Aren't there teeth whitening strips out there?
And then of course there is the infamous desire to be cutting corners while doing partnership development.
Sigh.
I know you can't believe it, but I would rather not have to let everyone (or anyone) else know our financial woes. (Yes, its a pride thing.) I would rather not have to ask others about partnership. (Um, ew, way worse than sweating. Actually extending an invitation to partnership can be sweat inducing.) It would be more comfortable and therefore I would rather be cutting corners and do it myself. Or perhaps find a sugar-momma and daddy to finance our way.
In fact I even had someone tell me today that if they won a million dollars they would, after tithing, "take care of all the Driggers' financial needs".
But that's my way. And would obviously be the way of my friend were her and her husband to becomeour sugar-momma and daddy millionaires.
Having millions, or even access to someone else's millions, isn't high on our probability list. And doing this missions thing without the prayer and financial partnership of others isn't either. Seriously, we cannot do this thing alone. But then again when I read my Bible I don't see that we are supposed to.
"We are many parts to one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:5 NLT
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastics 4:12 NLT
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17 NLT
When I read the Word, I see partnership encouraged and clearly defined.
"Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth." 3 John 1:5-8 NLT
"whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest" 1 Corinthians 9:10 NIV
This idea of partnership isn't one I have coined. It's one the Scriptures clearly outline. Partnership is about unity. It's about relationships. It's about sharing God's work, not Marty and Sara's. It's about working together for His glory. It's about needing each other. It's about being a teeny weeny slice of a God-given task. It's about loving God and people so much that we do it with hands open wide, willing to trust and understand His way is best.
Partnership is about taking the Sara-focus outta the picture and replacing it with a God-focus.
Partnership is hard work. It is difficult to explain. Dern tootin! It is wayyyyyyyyyyy more uncomfortable sharing all the nitty gritty details of our lives, and it would be easier and less controversial to fund our next term with our own private millions.
But it would also be selfish. It would mean us robbing others of the God-given opportunity to share in the work of bringing the Bible to the Bible-less.
This missions thing is simply not about me and what I want. It isn't about me receiving your money. (Hello, everyone's cash flow comes straight from His hand alone.) It's about our shared service to Him. It's about us (me, you and all y'all) sharing a God-given opportunity! I suppose since this is His mission we will continue to do it His way for His glory and by His power.
Even if it means no cutting corners.
"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours. O LORD, this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from You alone, for You rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and at Your discretion people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to You? Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us!" 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 NLT
I have determined several reasons why I believe teenagers to be some of the most dangerous drivers. And why leaving a high school parking lot in the afternoon is one of the most dangerous places on the road in America. Let me count the ways...
1. Teens are less experienced. Hashtag state the obvious. Though I have seen some pretty raunchy drivers that are much older as well. (Y'all should hang out with me on the highlands highway in PNG!!) Generally speaking though, experience minus the abuse of alcohol and mind altering substances, aids in driving ability.
2. Then there is the whole invincibility thing. Again, this does not apply to all teens. Taylor and Tia are both quite cautious and often display fear and trepidation over their impending possible demise while driving.
3. American teenagers are in a hurry!! (FYI, this is in fact a cultural phenomenon. Pinky swear. Not all teenagers in all societies are in the same high speed mode like our American teens. You are just going to have to trust me on this one.)
4. Teenagers are more distracted or less focused on their surroundings. Whichever wording you choose to be less offensive - though I believe them both to be truth. Again, this is more prevalent in America than other places in the world. Especially with the ever growing popularity of social media. Granted both numbers 3 and 4 are symptoms of a large number of Americans. And a large number of other societies' civilians. Myself included. (And, hey, if you aren't distracted... good on ya!)
The last and final way is often more prevalent for boys. 5. Teenagers have a tendency to want to show off. This is in fact in my best expertise NOT a cultural phenomenon. I have lived with and helped to co-parent boys from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Germany (Why hello there, Benedikt - yes, you and that green motorbike are the first ones to come to mind when writing this!), Canada and the Netherlands right off the top of my brain. And it seems to me that it doesn't matter where a boy is from he likes to show off. Especially when in front of teenage girls.
Combine all these and BAM! leaving the high school parking lot at the end of the day is hazardous to your health. Or my health rather. Since I am the one to frequent the area.
As I was pulling out of the school today I was cut of by at least three teens. They were all cutting corners too close for my comfort.
That got me to thinking how I would prefer to be cutting corners in my own life.
I would love to be super model thin while still consuming endless amounts of chocolate and never once sweating (cause, ew, sweating is nasty). Isn't there a pill for weight-loss?
I would much rather eat endless amounts of bacon and ignore my high cholesterol until I reallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllly have to. Isn't there a pill for high cholesterol as well?
I would much rather skip seeing my doctor for regular maintenance (y'all catch my drift, right?) and pretend I am not getting old. Age is totally relative, right?!
I will continue to drink lots of coffee and still desire white teeth. Aren't there teeth whitening strips out there?
And then of course there is the infamous desire to be cutting corners while doing partnership development.
Sigh.
I know you can't believe it, but I would rather not have to let everyone (or anyone) else know our financial woes. (Yes, its a pride thing.) I would rather not have to ask others about partnership. (Um, ew, way worse than sweating. Actually extending an invitation to partnership can be sweat inducing.) It would be more comfortable and therefore I would rather be cutting corners and do it myself. Or perhaps find a sugar-momma and daddy to finance our way.
In fact I even had someone tell me today that if they won a million dollars they would, after tithing, "take care of all the Driggers' financial needs".
But that's my way. And would obviously be the way of my friend were her and her husband to become
Having millions, or even access to someone else's millions, isn't high on our probability list. And doing this missions thing without the prayer and financial partnership of others isn't either. Seriously, we cannot do this thing alone. But then again when I read my Bible I don't see that we are supposed to.
"We are many parts to one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:5 NLT
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastics 4:12 NLT
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17 NLT
When I read the Word, I see partnership encouraged and clearly defined.
"Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth." 3 John 1:5-8 NLT
"whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest" 1 Corinthians 9:10 NIV
This idea of partnership isn't one I have coined. It's one the Scriptures clearly outline. Partnership is about unity. It's about relationships. It's about sharing God's work, not Marty and Sara's. It's about working together for His glory. It's about needing each other. It's about being a teeny weeny slice of a God-given task. It's about loving God and people so much that we do it with hands open wide, willing to trust and understand His way is best.
Partnership is about taking the Sara-focus outta the picture and replacing it with a God-focus.
Partnership is hard work. It is difficult to explain. Dern tootin! It is wayyyyyyyyyyy more uncomfortable sharing all the nitty gritty details of our lives, and it would be easier and less controversial to fund our next term with our own private millions.
But it would also be selfish. It would mean us robbing others of the God-given opportunity to share in the work of bringing the Bible to the Bible-less.
This missions thing is simply not about me and what I want. It isn't about me receiving your money. (Hello, everyone's cash flow comes straight from His hand alone.) It's about our shared service to Him. It's about us (me, you and all y'all) sharing a God-given opportunity! I suppose since this is His mission we will continue to do it His way for His glory and by His power.
Even if it means no cutting corners.
"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours. O LORD, this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from You alone, for You rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and at Your discretion people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to You? Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us!" 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 NLT
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