Wisdom Wednesday Goes Rogue (My Post Took a Surprising Turn)

What I had planned to be my ‘Jesus at the Wheel’ post wound up in my new section. Please let me know if you'd rather not receive posts from this section.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight."

This scripture has played out in my life, time and time again. As someone with a bit of an A-type personality (okay, maybe more than a bit), I’ve spent plenty of time relying on my own understanding. People like me—especially those of us who grew up in homes that felt out of control—tend to try to control everything else. I was the queen of that, until I surrendered my life to Christ in 2002. If you’d looked up "control freak" in the dictionary, my picture would’ve been right there.

I didn’t get over that issue overnight. God worked on me through some tough situations, and the biggest was my husband’s battle with alcoholism. But here’s the kicker: God was doing a work in me before He started working on Tommy. The best thing I ever did was relinquish control of my life to Jesus’ care. Once I did, things that would’ve sent me into a tailspin became moments for me to witness how God’s plans always beat my own.

If you’re new to RV Living with Jesus at the Wheel, you may not know that I owned and operated a historic biker bar for over 22 years. That’s right—Johnny’s Bar & Grill in Hollister, California. I walked with the Lord through 16 of those years, and let me tell you, there are plenty of stories from that time where God showed up in ways that would make your jaw drop. Many of those stories are in my memoir, Born Again in a Biker Bar, and others will be in my next book. This story is one of them.

When we purchased Johnny’s in December 1995, we didn’t know anything about bikers or the bar’s history. We had no clue that the bar had a reputation dating back to 1947, thanks to an exaggerated Life Magazine article and the movie it inspired, called The Wild Ones with Marlon Brando. (If you haven’t seen it, let me just say it’s a thing for old-timers.)

Anyway, when we bought the bar, we weren’t thinking about Hollywood movies or riots from 50 years ago. We were just trying to make it work. And the bikers? They quickly became a big part of our business, especially during the 4th of July weekend when the “Hollister Riots” anniversary motorcycle rally brought thousands of bikers to town. What we didn’t expect, though, was how respectful and friendly the bikers were—at least, the ones who came to Johnny’s. Some of the cowboys from the annual rodeo parade? That was another story. But the bikers? They were a pleasant surprise.

Fast forward to 2017, when an official motorcycle rally returned after years of absence. That’s when things really got interesting. I had an issue with a member of a notorious 1% motorcycle club (for those who don’t know what that means, it’s a serious group). After writing a blog post about my frustrations with gangs, local and biker-affiliated, trying to take over my bar, they weren’t too happy about it. In fact, they called for a boycott of Johnny’s.

Now, anyone who knows anything about biker culture knows that this kind of boycott can be a big deal. But here’s the thing: I gave it to God. I didn’t back down. I moved forward with my plans, prepared for a crowd just like any other rally year. And you know what? It turned out to be the best rally weekend we’d ever had. No trouble, just a bunch of awesome bikers spending money and showing respect.

If someone had told me, before I renewed my relationship with Christ, that I’d have a significant number of motorcycle clubs boycott my bar, I would’ve lost my mind. I would’ve cut everything back—staff, supplies, the works—and worried myself sick. But with God in control? He turned what should have been a disaster into one of our best rally weekends ever.

In Closing:
When life throws curveballs at you—whether it's unexpected challenges or people who don't understand your perspective—remember this: God’s got it. Trust in Him, and He’ll make your paths straight. With God in control, you can face anything with confidence, knowing that His plans are always better than ours.

Stay tuned for more stories of how God turned my mess into my Jesus message. Until then, remember: keep trusting, keep surrendering, and keep living with Jesus at the wheel.