Wednesday, September 16, 2015

your fault or the asphalt

Chicken Strip: The area of the surface of a motorcycle tire not showing any wear because the rider doesn't lean the bike over far enough to contact that portion of the tire with the road. Goes from the very outside edge of the tire, inward. A person really shouldn't worry themselves with chicken strips, but it is supposedly a sign of rider ability and skill if you don't have any. If a rider only rode in a straight line, a tire would have two inches of chicken strips on each side of the tire or more. A normal rider usually has 3/4 to 1 inch of chicken strips. Those that are able to lean their bike way over (hopefully from track riding, not street) might have little to no chicken strips. 













The major problems with laws is that they tell us no.  And we don’t like the word no.  Laws restrict us in everything we do.  Thou shalt not is the way many view Christians and Christianity, just a group of laws and telling me how to live.  How to not have fun, don’t do this, don’t do that.  And sadly they are correct in many cases, as many do not live in spiritual freedom after coming to Christ.  We witness that Jesus will set you free from sin, then hit them with a new set of rules of how to live.  And go from one binding situation to another.  It is called religion, whose base word means binding, as to tie up or tie down.  To restrict.  And although we admire a religious person from afar, we don’t want to live under rules.  I know I don’t, which makes me a rebel among rebels, for those who come to Christ have rebelled against sin, winning the only way possible, Jesus Christ.  Hence the name Christians, which means little Christs, a name when first given 2000 years ago was given mockingly.  And today many still are mocked for their walk with him.  And no rules, laws, or religion can set you free from it.  You will only experience true freedom in the spirit....which is given when saved, yet many neglect.  Trying to get by on their own.  Jesus saves, we try to get by on our own.  By our own set of rules, our own religion....bounded by it and not realizing it.  The gospel of us being the one we live by, whether we will admit it or not.  So get over it, and into the spirit!
It takes Jesus to be a Christian, yet many also think riding a motorcycle makes you a motorcyclist.  Just like standing in your garage doesn’t make you a car, or sitting in church a pew, riding a bike just makes you a rider.  It is when you develop a relationship with riding, when you experience the freedom, when you rather ride in the rain than sit in a car with the heater on you start to get it.  When your motorcycle becomes a personal thing, you have developed a relationship with it.  Color, size, sound, and where and how you ride are important.  Also who you ride with, or who you don’t.  It goes beyond reading the ads, or visiting a dealer.  It is more than sitting on a new bike and seeing how it fits.  It is the freedom of the ride, the ride becoming the destination.  It is when the motorcycle has equal or preferential space in the garage, not just covered or left out.  It becomes a part of you, and as you ride more, you become one with the road.  Any road, and soon what was once a trained response becomes a natural reaction.  No more mechanical actions, your ride flows.  You take care of your bike and it takes care of you.  And if you don’t it is your fault, and when you do it is the asphalt.  Some wrench, some ride.  Some read all about it, some experience.  Some make excuses, some memories.  Some have great expectations of places to ride, some only commute.  Some ride only on weekends, some only every day.  Some ride with their spouses, some are forced to ride alone.  Some look forward to their next ride, some are just enduring the one they are on.  And some get everything out of riding they can, while some are stuck at a green light and don’t know it.  Substitute Christ for your bike, and see where you are in him.  Where is Jesus in your life? 
A popular poster reminds us “I rather be riding my motorcycle thinking about God than in church thinking about riding.”  Sounds like a lot of us if we are honest enough to admit it.  A life in Christ should never be a weekend experience.  Jesus is not just for going to church and enduring an hour.  He should be part of your life everyday.  He should fill the most important part of your life, he should dwell in your heart.  Yet some treat him like the way they ride, and when the bike won’t start, gets dirty, or needs maintenance, park it outside and go on to to something else.  Jesus is their Lord when all goes well, but when something else is available, they flee like rats when the lights come on.  They really have no relationship, they just fill a pew, creating a pew no one wants to smell.  They may even had said a prayer, joined a church, tithed regularly, or served on a committee.  But they do not know Jesus personally.  He fills a void in time, not in their life.  They have become religious, and live by a set of rules.  Within the group they are admired, but are miserable inside.  They have a motorcycle, they just don’t ride it, and if they do, never go anywhere.  They never get any bugs in their teeth because they never smile.  Only on cue when expected. 
The law kills, the spirit gives life.  And freedom in the spirit.  Some talk of chicken strips, not at McDonalds, but the unused space on the edge of your tire.  None of my bikes have chicken strips, the tires are worn to the edge.  I like the curves,and getting everything I can from my bikes.  Some bikes maximum lean is on the sidestand, and kick stands up is a challenge.  I learned long ago in corners to keep leaning, and in life to keep leaning too, on Jesus.  I may be selfish, but I want all I can get form him, I want to be blessed, and to be a blessing.  To see others saved, and growing in him.  To walk in the spirit, not become a victim of religion.  The choice is up to us.  The way may be straight and narrow, but the roads in life aren’t.  And we need to learn to lean on him, to trust the spirit, and enjoy the freedom we are promised.  So he took all the Mosaic rules, over 600, and brought it down to one, love God first with all your heart, then your neighbor.  Be forgiven, then forgive others.  Including yourself.  Maybe the hardest thing to do.  But in Christ, you will.  Only in Christ can you do all things, with his spirit.
Motorcycles are not for everyone.  Jesus is.  I used to ride with many others, but found restricted by their rules to ride by.  So I ride alone, but not by myself.  Jesus is always with me, no matter the ride.  Or road.  I know many who have taken an MSF course, and are good riders.  They have the mechanics down of how to ride, now they need to build the relationship with the road.  The more you ride, the more miles, the more experience.  The narrower the chicken strips, and soon only those who look for them are the ones who haven’t experienced all the ride can give.  You all know them, by their stripes you know how they ride.  With Jesus, it is by his stripes we are healed.  And the freedom begins.
If you don’t ride it is not my fault.  It is your fault, so try the asphalt.  Same with Jesus.  Not my fault, or other Christians.  It is your fault, based on a choice you make.  Get out and enjoy the asphalt of riding in the spirit, and see where he takes you.  Lean on Jesus, not only in the curves but in the straights also.  Get the most for your ride and life but only in him.  Let him stir your soul the way riding does, and look forward to every day with him.  Don’t leave home without him, no matter what you ride.  Finally, a short story that happened after church...
A man approached me and also had a Triumph and wanted to ride with me.  Excited we talked, then his wife walked up.  She hated motorcycles, when I asked if she rode.  “I’m in the medical field,” and she went on about the danger of riding, and so my response surprised her.  “So am I” I said, “I’m a patient.  And I am really glad to meet someone else in the medical field.  Maybe you can answer me a question, is it OK for me to go to sleep tonight?  I have 4 friends this year who have died in their sleep?”  Her answer may surprise you, it didn’t me.  She stormed off.....You see I don’t wish to live my life in fear, but in the spirit.  I want all from life I can get.  And if I have to sit somewhere, why not sit behind bars, handlebars?  She had rules, and boundaries.  I have the spirit, and freedom.  My wife and I rode home, I don’t want to think of the ride home with the other man’s wife.  You know I did see a broom parked outside....you think?
Your fault or the asphalt.  Freedom in the spirit, or bound by rules.  Your choice.  I can be best described as a Christian motorcyclist.  Jesus and motorcycles, it just don’t get any better.  Except Jesus, Theresa, and motorcycles.  She rides her own bike by the way....even to church.  The asphalt....not my fault.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com