Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
Good evening, my dear brothers and sisters. It is not too late today to pray for all those we pray for on Monday, our leaders, our military, and all others who work to keep us safe and healthy. And as in the above scripture, those in authority over us. Also pray for the parents of Wanda Crockett and Glenda Leib, both prayer warriors on the line. Their father, and I am so sorry, I don't remember his name, was taken to the hospital this afternoon with congestive heart failure. I will give updates as I receive them.
Let me say that I am a tad late today (no kidding Pastor Dan). We started out with an early morning doctor's appointment, then the goat vet was coming so we worked with her, then Dolores had PT, and then we got a call to pick up a Yorkshire Terrier. Now about the little doggie, we had said we would not adopt any more, but had one here in foster care and returned her (Angel Marie) to her owner Sunday afternoon. Sadly, her owner, Carol Harris, had to go back to the hospital today, so we got Angel back, and ask you to pray for Carol.
Tomorrow might be a repeat of today as I have a doctor's appointment at 6.30 AM (yes, my doctor comes in early). Also, so you know that our run on Christmas as Santa and Mrs. C (I am Santa) starts on Wednesday and until we get the schedule down I might be writing at different times of the day. With all that said, today is an extra and now the start of a series.
As most of you know I spent many years in charge of the Central Dauphin School Bus fleet, about 25 years and most in leadership. One of my jobs was the training of drivers and the safety of those drivers and the buses and of course the world's most valuable cargo, the children. In those years that I was in charge of the fleet we never had a student injury inside a bus in an accident... However, my first year as a driver there was a bad accident that really put me in the ready position when I was moved into the office the following year. So with that said, I want to give you a few pointers on some safety tips...
Titus 3:1 - Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. (NIV)
I used this scripture to show you that even your speeding and bad driving can be a sin. You see that it tells us to be subject to rulers and AUTHORITIES. The authorities or magistrates as the King James Bible calls the authorities. And a magistrate is a POLICE OFFICER.
Ok, so now you have that connection, let's talk about some safety and I should have had this out before this snow fall.
Before all else, pray about your trip...
It takes many things to have safety on the road, first of all you need good drivers, and I know all of you are the best, and it is the other person, but hey, to me, you might be the other person. First of all we need to be as drivers ready for the road. What can make you not ready? Well, let's start with you are too tired to drive, or you had to much to drink, or you had too many medications and you are tired.
You had a fight at work or with a family member, many things can have you not to full attention. Then some drivers are on cell phones, texting, putting on make up (I never did that one, honest), eating while driving (did that one) or doing so many things while driving. Even those direction finders who in some cases I see on the inside of the windshields of ROAD BUSES. I think is bad, and bus drivers have ear pieces. First for school bus drivers, when I was at Central Dauphin those things were just coming out. They were a no, no, back then for a driver to talk on the phone while driving.
So how safe can a driver be, let's say, Lillie Be Good, is going down the road, a cell phone in one hand and a smoke in the other, and what is steering the car (be nice on that one)? Or how about, Big Tank Burger who has his phone on, and a burger in one hand and a soda in the other, and fries on the seat. Was he steering with his elbows going down the road? You are getting the point, so I will move on.
To sum that part up, a driver must be in control when driving and one of my sayings going down the road is to sort of say loudly HANG UP THE PHONE AND DRIVE YOUR CAR. Drivers. be alert... Now for some car things.
Your car must be ready, tire pressures, and tire tread, wiper blades, washer fluid and lights are just a few things that all drivers should look at daily, and then oil needs checked and it should be done when you get gas (no, not from the food you eat, I am talking gas at the pumps.) Get under the hood and look around. Now here is an offer you can use and I mean it... If you do not know your way around under your hood, or where to check what, I WILL SHOW YOU. But right now you might need to get in line with the kids wanting gifts. Anyway, your car must be in good shape. Also, clear the windshield of frost and snow, etc., and remember, if you do not clear the roof of snow, and the car gets warm inside and you stop or even slow down fast, you might find all that SNOW ON YOUR WINDSHIELD. So clear the car, and get yourself ready. And remember this, sand bags in the trunk of a front wheel drive car don't cut it. In a rear wheel drive, put some sand bags in the trunk and if you don't need to go in the snow, stay home and build a snowman, or snow woman. Now here a just a few road safety features.
Speed Limits are TOP SPEED set for good weather, obey the speed limit, do not go with the flow, lead the flow. If the speed limit is 65 and the weather is good, go 65, not 70 or 80 or more, after all your name is not CARL EDWARDS, or JEFF GORDON.
If the weather is slick, please remember this. If you drive a 4 X 4 or four wheel drive for those who don't know the term 4 X 4 (no that is not piece of lumber) - Anyway, a four wheel drive car will go better in the snow, but IT WILL NOT STOP ANY BETTER and that is why in the snow a lot of the crashes you come upon are those 4 X 4's on their roof. So when you must go and on the snow, use this term that I taught people. Go easy, easy on the gas, easy on the brakes and easy on the steering, and better yet stay off the road.
Did you know that in snow the FIRST INCH IS THE SLIPPERY INCH and snow is more slippery at 30 to 36 degrees than at 10 degrees or lower. Now that I told you that, please do not speed on real cold snow.
Do you know what black ice is? It is ice so thin that you cannot tell it is ice till you spin out. Watch for black ice with drizzle at freezing temps. Watch for black ice when you have fog at freezing temps. Yes, frozen fog is bad. Watch for ice on bridges and in shady places like under a bridge. Bridges can freeze first because, yes, folks, the air goes over and under the bridge. Also, you are doing good on the interstate highway and it is salted (that is the junk that trashes your car) and you are doing that speed limit running in the wet road and you go off the exit to find out the exit ramp as not been touched... The number to call is "TOW TRUCK" (I know it is one extra number, I am running late.)
Just a few more things and we are done for today...
How many colors on a traffic signal? If you said three, you are wrong. Anyone who I taught will tell you a traffic signal has four colors.
Green, you keep going.
Stale Green, a green light that was green when you first saw it, if ready for it to change.
Yellow, means to slow down and stop. IT DOES NOT MEAN, FLOOR IT AND MAKE IT THROUGH.
Red Light, yes it means STOP, really, it does and when it turns green, look both ways before you pull out, look for the one who made a run on the light... it happens a lot...
Turn on RED SIGNAL... Same as a stop sign YOU MUST STOP, NOT SLOW DOWN AND KEEP GOING. Stop means the wheels are not moving. (It really does.)
Stop sign, see above.
Yield. Means what it says, YIELD, and if you can't yield because of traffic, then treat the Yield sign as a stop sign (see above).
Now I think that will get you started... and folks, if you have a new teen driver, pay a few bucks and get a pro to train them (no, I am not looking for a job, I taught my kids, and I have a full head of very gray hair to prove it (just kidding kids, I love you).
Dear Father in Heaven, help us on the road, help us in the car, and help us to remember to pray before we start to drive on the road... Thanks for watching over us on the road... In Jesus' name.
Now go forth sharing your blessing and also the road, remember in America we drive on the right!! (I had to put that one in yet.) Now go forth and live for Jesus and help others keep living by driving safely. Now if you want to get to heaven real fast... forget all I just told you, and drive like a nut but remember, the other driver you hit might not be saved... Love ya, Pastor Dan.
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