When I was 16 years old I got my very first speeding ticket. I don't get many of those anymore but man I got a lot in the early years.

I wasn't ready for the whole idea of having to actually go to court. I don't think I had to but my dad went with me.

But I remember we went in there to, but my dad went with me.

But I remember we went in there and it was my turn

to get up in court and the person there in the courtroom,

I don't know who reads it in Colorado.

That's the bailiff who announces what's happening next,

but they announced that it was the state of

Colorado versus Matthew Whitman. What? We actually say that because that seems like a

lot. I'm 16 I like baseball and Nintendo and I like to skateboard with my friends and I haven't really ever had a state be versed me before

But I guess I have that now and just the authority and the pump and circumstance of the whole

judge and the other people in the courtroom, guys had guns and stuff by the doors, and I got a stern lecture

from the judge, and I was really happy to have the whole thing over.

I had never before and I don't think ever since sat in the seat of one who is being judged by an authority figure in a very formal sense with

consequences and teeth. But it was intimidating and I didn't like it and I didn't like that man.

I respected him but I didn't like being told I was wrong in front of everybody.

And I don't think we like getting to the parts in the Bible very much where we get told we are

wrong.

Happy, friendly God stuff in the Bible where he affirms us or calls us his sons or

his daughters or talks about the inheritance we have in God or how he's going to make everything

better.

We like that, understandably, because we're very attracted to the tender loving gracious side of God

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