

Dear Sir:
 Two weeks ago I was laid off my job.  I came home to find my wife in the  arms of another man.  As I stumbled from the house, I saw my children being  carried away by some fiend.  On my way to summon the police, I was beaten and  robbed.  I am cold, hungry, and thoroughly desperate.  I sometimes say to myself  "if I knew how to tie a hangman's knot, I would end it all."  What should I  do?-Anonymous
 Simple.  A hangman's knot is tied thusly, right over left, left around  right,and under.  3/4 hemp is suggested.  Good luck!
 Problem not solved!  
 Mickey and I were talking the other day about people trying to fix things  and making them worse.  Sometimes by self inflicting the wound by thinking they  know how to do it, or by paying someone who claims to be a professional, but  isn't.  Note-time on job doesn't count.  Knowing what to do does.  Years ago I  sent a friend who had a Bonneville to him.  This guy was a self proclaimed  Bonneville expert, even ran a Bonne blog.  He had butchered the crabs and intake  so bad , the bike would barely run.  When told the carburators were no good, he  had them apart and put them back together wrong, he deemed Mickey stupid, a rip  off, and thus trailered his bike out.  Felony stupidity-self inflicted.  Just  because you don't like or can't afford the answer, just shows your ignorance,  not his.
 We were laughing about a trike he has there now.  The owner had spent  $4000, although bike in warranty, they told him he had messed something up  himself, voiding the warranty.  A cooling issue.  After pressure testing the  cooling system, he found a bad o ring-a warranty item, and fixed it.  Why  couldn't this trained factory tech do the same thing?
 I also watched my friend and crew chief Don fix a cooling problem one time  in the pits.  While getting fuel, the truck started to overheat.  While everyone  else stumbled around, he calmly climbed up to the radiator, adn opened a  bleeding valve-one he installed for just such a situation.  Thirty seconds  later, the truck was back on the track.
 Sadly, too many are going for the rope, rather then finding the problem.   Solving the symptoms, not the cause.  Many rely on the ten commandments to live  their lives.  good ideas, four to tell about relationships with God, and six for  man, but one thing is missing-there is no salvation found in them.  And trying  to keep them only drives you crazier, as you will always have problems.  Sin  will always be sin, no matter if it is legalized or not.  It takes a savior,  someone to pay the price, to correct the problem.  And when all else failed, God  sent Jesus.  He came down to us, unlike any other god, who demands we go to  him.  We love Him, because He loved  us first.
 He knows where the bleeder valve is when we have pressure in our lives.   When the weight of sin is too heavy, He offers to take it upon Himself, from  your shoulders.  When you lose your job, He still meets your needs. When your  marriage falls apart, He is there to support, console, and show you how to put  it back together-better than before.  He protects us from harm, and delivers us  from evil.  All without ttying one knot, but binding us together in the  spirit.
 And when you decide to finally get your life fixed right, He is there.  So  ask yourself, "if I can't afford to pay the price to do it right the first time,  where will I get the money to fix it right the second?"  Solving life's problems  is not an opinion poll.  Sin will always rob us from God's blessings.  Seek  Jesus.  Get tied in with a good church.  If you ask for wise council, take it.   And trust God, for He knows-and you obviously don't.  Be assured His ways are  not our ways, ask lots of questions, and trust Him.  And if the bill seems too  high, remember where he guided you, He will provide for you also.
 Render unto your mechanic the things of a mechanic, and the things of God  unto God.  
 Dear God-Thanks for your good advice.  I took it, and found a better job,  my wife repented, my children returned, and I am healed.  I still can't tie a  hangman's knot, but found something that binds even better.  
 love, Job.
 When you find that special one who cuts your hair, fixes  your bike, and  cooks your food-don't lose them!  And when He also gives you eternal life,  worship Him forever!
 love with compassion,
 Mike
 matthew25biker.blogspot.com