From Garry Wills’s What Jesus Meant:
“Hurt people are not drawn to the aggressively healthy, to the televangelist’s plummy voice, the fire-hose gush of bonhomie. People are instinctively drawn to Jesus, certain that he understands suffering, their particular suffering, that he sees it in their eyes even before they speak.”
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We lost our state championship game to Laredo Del Mar, 4-3. Last night they beat New Mexico, 20-8, in the Southwest Regional championship game to advance to the junior league World Series. So close, yet so far . . . .
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Yesterday my son got his learner’s permit. Then I took him for his first drive. Anyone remember the sheer joy of the first time you got to drive?
Boy do I! My mom took me to the steepest hill in Huntsville and told me to come to a complete stop. Then I had to start going again. Did I mention this was a manual, and I had never driven before, never used a clutch before.
I have fond memories of her standing behind me flagging the other cars around while I rolled down the hill backwards. Yes those were the days.
THanks for the quote about Jesus…very good.
First ride: 1955 Massey-Ferguson tractor on a farm 50 miles north of where you are right now–Stonewall County. I bet that doesn’t count? I was about 10-years-old. The real deal arrived when I was 15. The auto: my dad’s 1957 Buick Super! I felt like a bird out of a cage when I drove off by myself! Not much better. I need to remember that day this afternoon when I am stuck in the blasted traffic here in Dallas!
I still remember the first time I drove the car by myself. I was on my way to school & I remember that mixture of fear of being by myself & joy at the freedom & independence I was experiencing. I think I was driving a Dodge Aries - a K-Car & it was blue.
Before driver’s Ed (or maybe Canada never had it…); first driving experience; my dad took me to the on-ramp of one of North America’s biggest highways in Toronto. There were 16 lanes!!!! He said: “OK, away you go!” I guess he figured it was a sink or swim thing like learning to swim…
Drawn to Jesus… here’s the question: How do we live like him in order to draw people in (to Jesus)? What do we look like? As individuals? As a church?
My dad taught me on a stick shift. Let me drive down country roads since I was 10. Finally took Drivers Ed in the 10th grade and got an A–it was an automatic in class. Impressed all the guys when I left and got my dad’s car and got my license first and on a stick. Actuall taught two guys how to drive a stick, plus my kids years later.
Love the excerpt - I ran across a great blog where ex-Christians are giving resources to those considering leaving Christianity. I find it interesting that the blog still endorses Jesus, though. Granted, they disagree with much of what Paul says, but they still can look at Jesus and be intrigued and find comfort in his words. Makes ya think, huh? What have we done with this thing?
On my first drive, I did great - drove around the block, used all the proper signals, came to complete stops - it was perfect! Then, when I pulled up to my grandfather’s house, I parked behind him - and instead of hitting the brake pedal to move the car into the parked position, I hit the gas. First drive, first wreck!
I learned to drive in a 1976 dark green Pinto wagon. Stick shift. This was in 1985 (my dad was a preacher). Today I can drive anything thanks to that harrowing experience! Good luck to Chris, and happy trails!
Oh, and one of his students named that lovely ride “The Green Hornet”!
The quote about Jesus is great.
I was 14 when I took my first drive. I “borrowed” my father’s work car to take my friend Scott home. It was a stick shift (which I had never driven before) and so I had to pop the clutch to keep from stalling. I was 23 before I told my father about it and I’m pretty sure it was the first time in fifteen years that he wanted to beat me soundly. My children are 10 years away from such adventures and I’ll try to remember not to leave spare keys around the house when they are home alone and feeling the urge to “borrow” my car.
First drove the Form M tractor followed by the Farmall and the John Deere. I started at eleven years old and drove the farm trucks as soon as I could reach the pedals. I got my first license at 14. It was a permit but it allowed farm use, school, and errands, which was pretty much everything for me. I drove to school my freshman year from the very first day of the year…a 1961 Buick. My first real car was a 1983 Dodge Challenger with a 400 and a white Starsky and Hutch stripe down the side and over the top. I could slide it around the corners out on 86 near Spurgeon. I have been driving for 37 years and it is still a thrill for me.
Jesus’ love communicates at a depth in the soul that touches people. True love draws people in. Our souls long for community, for connection, for acceptance, and for authenticity. You can’t fake it. You just have to live it.
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article on Drawn to Jesus at PreacherMike, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
My daughter getting her permit was not nearly so scary as sending her out to Abilene to drive in that heavy, big city traffic!
She has a hard time believing that I drove a school bus when I was sixteen. But that was a different place and time with much different circumstances.
Have you read Jesus Mean and Wild? A little different spin than Willis.
Peace.
we are drawn to the idea of jesus. the idea that we create and re-create in our mind. if our jesus is loving and compassionate, our desire will be toward compassion and love.
Mike, I was sad when your team didn’t advance to the world series, but now I’m really bummed! I read in our local sports page this morning that the world series is here in Michigan, about five miles from my house. It would have been wonderful to see you and your boys play for real instead of merely reading your reports on the blog. Oh, what could have been… Question: should I go out and root for Laredo Del Mar?
Mike,
I didn’t see a blog comment place for your video “Mike Sings the Classics.” I realize you’re trying to be funny, but mocking the acappella position is ridiculing the belief of those who believe it is solely authorized music in worship. Making light of serious, spiritual topics falls under the perview, I think, of “foolish jesting” Paul forbids in Eph 5:4.
In Brotherly Love
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