a bottomless tank of gas, new roads, and the time to ride them

Penny and I were both patients of Gerald’s, and when he introduced us, he mentioned I rode a BMW.  So did she, so we set a time to go riding, and this All American cheerleader type was going to take me for a ride.  We were going to ride S10, the old name for SR14 south that the locals still called by its old name.  I was told she rode fast, and I had that reputation, and when she arrived in her pink leather riding suit, with her blond pony tail out the back, I wondered what kind of ride I was in for.  Barbie on a motorcycle?  I led out I-40 east, and just before the exit she passed me, and for the next two hours I chased her, the only view her pony tail in the wind as I tried to keep up.  She could ride, and I learned a few things about riding, pony tails, and riding new roads.  As we talked at lunch she loved to ride, she just happened to be beautiful, and was tired of fast guys looking down at her because she was a girl.  Once over the wounded ego, when asked “how did it feel to be beat by a girl?”  my answer was “You’ll never know,” and with a smile that kept them wondering.  If you ever come up on a pink leather suit with a blond pony tail look inside the helmet, and if it is Penny, let her lead, and hang on for the ride of your life. 

We never knew his name, he was the dishwasher at the A&W next to the Honda shop in Ft. Lauderdale.  The kind of guy who begs you to put a “kick me” sign on his back, we came to respect him after we saw the old Honda 185 with a Windjammer fairing was his.  At first picking on his choice of bike, 185cc right, with a Windjammer?  What kind of sissy rides like that?  But as we got to know him, we found out he rode like we wished we could, big bikes scared him, and his little 185 touring bike had taken him to Alaska last summer.  He had ridden places across the US of A on it taking three weeks off each summer, when it is brutally hot in Florida, and saw the US by bike.  You see it isn’t the size of the bike, but the size of the heart of the rider.....To some just a dishwasher, to us a new hero.

We were up on Skyline Drive in Virginia one Sunday morning early, when we met a man at a rest stop with a Sprint ST like ours, except blue.  After talking bikes for awhile, he told us he lived nearby, and rode this road regularly, and if we followed him he would show it to us.  How do you say no to that, and for the next 45 minutes rode faster and farther than I ever dreamed on a perfectly designed road for a motorcycle.  He waved and got off, home to do chores, we rode on.  This break in our trip meant a lot to us, I hope it did to him.  Never will Skyline Drive be the same, no matter how many times I ride it.  And I could say I kept up with him....until he got off and we kept going , which was really his dream.  Two riders converge, with only motorcycles in common....what else needs to be said. 

I was hopelessly lost but not out of gas in Western Tennessee, when I met a black guy on a chopped CB750, wearing a helmet with a spike on top.  “Ever ride the land Between the Lakes?  he asked, knowing I was not from around there.  When I nodded no, he offered to show me the best roads there on his lunch hour, and until he had to go back to work, a wave were our final words, getting lost was the best part of my ride that day, or on the trip.  Who would’ve thought this chopper pilot could handle his bike like a sport bike, and take time from his lunch to escort me?  Again, another guy who loves to ride, don’t be mislead by what he rides.  For it is the road that brings us together, not brand loyalty.  Not engine size, sex, or careers.  When the road calls, the only answer is “give me a full tank and time to ride.” 

While riding yesterday putting miles on a 2017 T100, I passed some Mormon kids on a street corner with guitars singing Christmas caroles.  My first thought was these guys deny the deity of Jesus, and then I saw their worship, openly,and rather than trying to convert me or hand me some Mormon jive, they were worshipping Jesus.  And I was reminded how he reveals himself to us, and changes our lives.  Some would stop and argue...later I wished I had stopped and sang along with them.  They were enjoying the joy of Christmas....Jesus now, doctrine later.  But how many of us are established enough in Jesus, who rely on his spirit to guide us?  We sing about being a bond slave, a servant, but are we truly followers?  How dedicated are we?  Are we established in the gospel, so walking in him that we show love first, rather than brag on our superior education?  Church or pastor?  Our denomination?  How much time we spend in the word, or at Bible studies?  What is our true character in Christ?

There was a time when I was intimidated by such people, they had to be better Christians, look at their witness.  But just like one ride with Penny, or listening to a dishwasher tell of his rides, I find we each have much to say about Jesus in our lives, and we can encourage rather than discourage by listening and keeping Jesus the main thing.  When we are firmly established in Christ, we know we are a work in process, and that he who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it, that it is the spirit that provides the growth, we cannot do it alone.  We come by faith, grow by obedience, but when we walk in trust, then we see the side of Jesus too many miss.  I tire of the excuse “I’m waiting on God,” when he has already given you the answer, you just don’t like it.  What you are doing is delaying, telling God your ideas are better.  Who has known his mind that he should counsel him?  Listen to your prayers, how would you answer them?  Yet God sends people into our lives, like my riding friends above, to remind us of how much he loves us, and wants to bless us.  And how we can bless each other.  I wasn’t intimidated by Penny, and she felt safe with me, we both ride.  The dishwasher suddenly had some cool friends, and we found he was even cooler, way beyond us.  Ride with a black guy on a Honda Chopper?  In a place you had never been?  I’ll bet he had as much fun showing off his ride and road, maybe more.  Each person was established in how they rode and who they were on two wheels.  How secure are you in your relationship with Jesus Christ? 

Would you share a meal with a homeless person?  Ask a rich person to come over to your house?  Would you let an ex-con watch your house while you went off?  Do you trust God enough to share your love in actions rather than words?  Are you spirit led, church led, ego led, or just out there?  Honestly, who does your life say Jesus is?  You may be surprised, as one Sunday afternoon my friend Glen, who was totally immersed in the Harley lifestyle wanted to ride one of my sport bikes.  As I chased him on his bike, we came upon a Vago on the side of the road, Glen automatically slowed down to help, and the Vago waved him one.  But when I pulled over on Glen’s Harley the guy would visit with me, and thanked me for stopping, me who makes fun of Harleys on one, go figure.  Are we like the Vago judging based on appearance, or are we secure in Jesus that whatever or whoever he brings into our lives he will be faithful to complete? 

Jesus is the bottomless tank, that day riding that never ends, a new road to ride, the time to ride them all.  With Jesus, the friend who always shows up on time.  Invite him on your next ride, even if it is just to get you through the day. But first ....there’s this road I know....let’s ride.  You never know who you will meet along the way....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

better a Bible than a bomb

It was at a donor’s dinner at CBN that we got to meet Terry.  A man from my parent’s generation, he was a family man with a wife and daughter when he went off to fight in the Korean Conflict.  With memories firmly planted in his mind’s eye that was how he was to remember them, for Terry was wounded and took shrapnel in an eye and was blinded.  Suddenly the only world he would or could remember seeing was in 1952.  And he was a fascinating man to talk with, as he had no bitterness for what had happened.  But his view of the world was of some 60 years ago.  Mention cars and he would see Nashes, Kaisers, Frazers, Hudsons, Studebakers, and Packards.  All which don’t exist anymore.  Mention motorcycles it was Harley or Indian, maybe Triumph.  And while trying to define what a 1989 Ford Mustang looked like, he only had the cars of 1952 to relate to.  Women’s fashions were still of the early fifties to him, as were wide lapels for men and wing tip shoes.  Men wore hats, not the ball caps, but real hats, and many a woman would sport one too.  It was if someone shut the door to his sight that year, and all memories after that were based on before losing his sight.  He may not be able to see, but in his mind he still had a treasure trove of 35mm film that had been developed, but now the camera was empty.

Around the same time of Terry’s loss of sight, a man in Germany was trying to smuggle Bibles into East Germany, where he could have been executed for doing so.  His prayer, “God blind the eyes of them that are open,” was answered, and today Brother Andrew has delivered millions of tons of Bibles into countries where they are not allowed.  Two men depending on God for sight, and God’s answer was to allow both to be blinded for his glory.  One a guard at a border gate, the other Terry, who loved him.  But it was the prayer based on scripture to “open the eyes of the blind,” that Jesus answered in both cases.  One for a man blinded in war to see things clearer in the spirit, another to open the eyes of the blind to the gospel via smuggling God’s word.  And as scripture would tell us, “not all who are blind cannot see.” 

When Jesus healed the blind man who was blind from birth, it was a miracle.  Jesus was on the road and encountered him with his disciples, and after telling him to make mud and cover his eyes, he had sight.  He was blind from birth, but as we will see, God also opened his heart to Jesus, as he would at first answer “I do not know if he is good or bad, but I was blind and now I can see.”  Upsetting the Pharisees, who threatened to expel him from the temple.  His parents telling the Pharisees to confront him, he is of age, so they would not be expelled.  But this blind man who now had sight, who is never mentioned by name, argues back, telling them “he must be of God, for he did good.  No other person in history had been healed from blindness,” and of course Jesus did it on the Sabbath, cheesing them off even more.  And so expelled with his new found sight, he sought out Jesus.  And wanted to know God, and when Jesus told him who he was, the once blind man worshipped him.  He could see Jesus, but via the spirit God had also opened the eyes of his heart also.  God gave him a physical manifestation to prove the miracle of him being born again.  For all had known the man who was blinded from birth, who now could see and was worshipping God.

We don’t know what today will bring.  Terry never woke up that morning thinking this is the last sunrise I will ever see.  But his trust in God has made scripture come alive, as John 9 also tells us these words of Jesus, “neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God may be revealed in him.”  And in us too, as we were all blind to Jesus until the spirit opened the eyes of our heart.  No one woke up today and decided to find God or to risk life for smuggling Bibles.  It is the power of the spirit opening our eyes that changes us, and I am excited for heaven when we have perfect bodies again.  When all my heart will be God made instead of plastic, where Terry will see everything again, and the eyes of the blind who denied Christ have been opened.  What a day!  And revealed through a chance meeting over dinner with a blind man named Terry.  A divine intervention from a loving God to a fallen world.

What was the last thing you remember seeing before dozing off last night?  What if that was the last thing you saw?  But more importantly, who did you say Jesus was before you fell asleep?  We only know we were asleep after we wake up, not when sleeping.  And we only know we were sinners when the spirit convicts us.  And shows us we need Jesus.  And we can have him today no matter our physical, emotional, or lost spiritual condition.  Let him open your blind eyes to your heart today and see things clearly.  Jesus is the light of the world, and soon darkness is coming.  Without light we will all be blind, with Jesus we will see all we need to see.  Trust him today, it was prophesied that the eyes of the blind will be opened.  Close your eyes and what do you see?  Open them in the spirit and see all God has for you.  Life didn’t end when Terry lost his sight, it began when Jesus Christ came into his life.  Don’t wait, glasses or contacts won’t help, it takes the spirit to open those eyes.  Here’s mud in your eye...we are all born into sin, no need to leave without sight.  Some insight from the scriptures, and a man whose last sights were over 60 years ago.

Better a Bible than a bomb.  I think Terry would agree.  Amen to that.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

expert or enthusiast?

Whenever I meet someone from the New York Metro area I always ask “Mets or Yankees?”  And if you grew up back there, you know of what I speak.  You either love one team and hate the other, and it has always been that way.  Except for a void formed when both the Giants and Dodgers moved west, and for those who worshipped the National League, and locals had no one to turn to.  Moods, attitudes, family decisions, and other important things were based on if the Dodgers or Giants won.  My father took his first and only job in Scotch Plains based on the fact he could get the Dodgers on channel 9.  Dinner may be burned or late, but if your team won, all was forgiven.  But for four seasons this void left many fans with no local New York team, and the Yankees didn’t fill the void.  The Yankees were from the other league, and tradition was the Yankees vs. who in the World Series.  So when the Mets were formed for the 1962 season, baseball was officially back in New York, and all was well with the world again.  Win or lose, baseball was back, and the 40-120 first year Mets soon outdrew the Yankees in attendance.  Yankee fans knew all about the Yankees, true baseball fans knew all about the baseball.  And never confuse the two....

With the proliferation of Harley Davidson and their marketing genius comeback after Reagan helped bail them out via a tariff on imported bikes over 700cc’s, many today know all about the brand they worship.  Even rookies can tell a Pan from a Knuckle from a TwinCam, from the new Milwaukee Eight.  They know all about Harleys, but little else about motorcycling.  I expect an argument here, to prove my point name some other brands exist, that were and are thriving today, who outperform them everywhere else but the sales floor?  The Yankees might have been good for baseball, but they weren’t baseball, just as Harley is good for motorcycling, but they aren’t all motorcycling has to offer.  Triumph is back for 30 years now, and a premium brand.  Indian is back, again and again and again, hopefully for good, check out their new 750cc flat tracker.  Despite corporate managers dumping Buell from Harley almost ten years ago, Buell is making his EBR, again.  I rode one, fast but crude, what would you expect from a V twin based on Harley?  Harley’s decision at the time, it is easier to sell $3000 worth of chrome than to sell a bike that isn’t a Harley.  But motorcycling is alive and well, even if sales are down, with great models available form all makes, a Golden Age if you will.  And if you think that Harley and other type customers cannot be converted, check out any metric dealer’s used bike section, almost totally devoted to Harley Davidson, recent years, low miles, and priced much lower.  Only the few like my departed friend Glen would agree, other bikes are better, but I will only ride a Harley.  I happen to like all motorcycles, I choose to ride Triumphs, but also own a vintage 1978 Suzuki, and have ridden the new Indian Scout, various Yamahas, and all but a recent Ducati.  Like Spud at the Harley store, I have this thing called motorcycles, and I love them all.  Harley and other, BMW and other.  I ride, what’s your excuse?  Now if a Harley rider can convert to a motorcycle, can a Yankee fan convert to baseball?

Now while these civil wars exist within baseball and motorcycle, and cars, Ford vs. Chevy, with MOPAR an honorable mention, they should never exist within the church.  Paul warns of this in Romans, about those who may even appear to be Christians, quote scripture, and their pastor, but have an agenda to create a schism within the body.  We see them in groups with churches, who think their doctrine is best, for everyone.  They argue over ideas and will misquote scripture to prove their point.  Even using the words of Jesus against the church, telling that their belief is the only one, all others are blasphemy.  Not quoting, but misquoting Jesus, for things he never said.  Their way is the mark of a true believer, the rest of us aren’t Christians in their view.  They say if you have their mark of belief, if you believe like they do, then you are saved.  Cults, and certain denominations are like this, they do not serve Christ, but their own selfish needs, boosting themselves up using flattering words, presenting an image, and an air of superiority if you believe like they do.  They take one aspect of Christianity and build a religion around it, they may talk and act spiritual, but inside are ravenous wolves, and need to be avoided. 

Now unlike supporting your favorite team, or motorcycle, we tend to be competitive in what we believe.  Yet Paul tells us do not take them on from the pulpit or one on one.  Avoid them, and if anyone who has tried to change their evil destructive ways knows, they will change you long before you change them.  It is the spirit’s job to change, not us, we are simply messengers of the gospel, good news about Jesus Christ.  We are to avoid them, God will deal with them and preserve the peace within the body, all other ways invite dissension, and split churches.  Sadly it goes on to many ways today, just mention building or upgrading your church, and watch as the sides divide against each other.  If you cannot choose carpet and get along, what makes you think you can change another’s heart?  We need to know that the same God who saved us, who preserves the peace he gave us, will also crush Satan under your feet.  These groups will split off and seek another place to spread their poison, without warfare or dissension.  Jesus changes lives, sometimes despite us.  A message we need to consider if we are to grow in him and our church also.

How would you describe your church?  One of prophecy, teaching, spiritual gifts, one that emphasizes the word above all else, or one of love?  One that is spirit driven?  How do you describe yourself in your church?  Do you follow doctrine or Jesus?  Do you see these groups of dissension within your body, are you part of one?  Have you based your life on Jesus or religion?  Would you rather argue your point than minister to those who need love?  Is God at work in your life? Do you know all about Jesus, but never met him?  Are you a Yankee fan who doesn’t like baseball, maybe a Harley owner who doesn’t ride?  Too many garages have them in the corner under a cover, owned never ridden, is your light shining for Christ?  What you ride or who you cheer for is important, but will not get you into heaven.  Only Jesus will.  Some things are worth arguing about, salvation is not one of them.  It is God’s business left best to him.  And yes Harley owners and Yankee fans get saved, just like Honda and Triumph owners do.  By Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven or earth that can save.  What is on your heart is what will come out of your mouth, sure you want to say what you are about to say? 

Seek Jesus first, then all other things will be added unto us.  Motorcycle and sports teams.  As true Christians we should stand out in the dark world of today, by our love, not by winning an argument.  Not by being superior, but by humbling ourselves and being like Jesus.  Serving not demanding to be served.  Today many ride Harleys who would never ride anything else, it is good for motorcycling.  Many are Yankee fans, it is good for baseball.  As Christians we need to unit in the spirit instead of denominations or teachings or pastors or religion.  Only in the spirit will we truly be free, to ride or choose who we want to cheer for.  God lets the decision up to us.....we are all slaves to something, we only become a bond slave to Christ by choice. 

The Mets filled a void in 1962, National League baseball was back in the Big Apple.  Harley is back and causing many others to think motorcycle.  When you hear the name of Jesus what do you think?  Church, doctrines, religion, maybe unity?  Only in the spirit will we be united as one, one in Christ.  By his spirit, not ours.  He changes lives, we interfere.  Are you a fan of Jesus or do you know him?  Are his colors on your heart?  An old Triumph ad attacked Honda, are you an expert or an enthusiast?  The expert knew his bike, the enthusiast rode.  The expert knew the part numbers, the history, the enthusiast rode.  Are you religious or enthusiastic?  Which means God inspired?  Next time someone asks is are you in the word, respond is the word in you? If they have to ask....maybe you need some enthusiasm in your life.  Let the spirit free again and enjoy the game.  Enjoy the ride.  Enjoy being a Christian.  What good is fun if you don’t enjoy it?  Avoid quarrels within the church, all you have to do is argue and you have already lost.  Paul knew this, for the spirit guided him.  Jesus never argued.....can we say the same?  Enthusiast or expert, are you in the word or is it it you?  If it is not all about Jesus it is religion....take it up with him.  I did and it made all the difference.  And I have love, joy, and peace to prove it.  Against which there is no law, so no argument.  Jesus loves me this I know, do you?  Quit bragging about what a great Christian you are and show me.  And watch as God changes lives, maybe even you!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

no one asked for your help-and Mikey likes that

My parents used to make fun of an old coffee commercial where the over bearing, well meaning mother helped her newly wed daughter.  Not allowing the daughter any chances to help herself, the younger girl blurted out “Mother please, I’d rather do it myself!”  And of course the hurt mother went into a tailspin, and the daughter felt bad, but after consuming massive amounts of caffeine everything was well again.  Feelings healed, coffee had saved the day.  And we see the mother letting her daughter serve her coffee....now isn’t that special?  And we would laugh, and the tagline of “Mother please, I’d rather do it myself” was applied to many situations in gest.  But we are often guilty of acting like the interfering mother at times, when it is easier for us to do it rather than wait for someone else.  Let someone else deal with their newness, forgetting we were all new at everything once, or twice.  And if our pride would let us know just how the daughter felt, wishing we could just tell off the well meaning, but interfering other person.  Of course we would never over react....

Now I have trouble remembering the coffee brand, but not the commercial.  Great commercials with great tag lines are like that.  I honestly get so tired of hearing “Mikey likes it,”  ha ha very funny.  For the millionth time.  Or how dangerous motorcycles are and your telling me about someone being killed or maimed on one.  How would you feel if I treated your cancer with so little compassion?  Another pet peeve that begins to darken my mailbox this time of year is the letter from someone who just has to tell me how great their kids and life are.  No problems, and the letter goes on for pages, with a  Happy Holiday at the end, which I rarely get to, especially if I know the person.  Truth is real and exciting enough without your fictional portrayal of your life.  But one morning after church I scored one for our side, and victory, no matter how small is still a win.

Leaving church with our motorcycle jackets on, a man came up and said he rode also, and has a Triumph too.  Could he ride with me sometime?  Before I could answer, he is wife walked up, and he introduced her, and my question changed her whole attitude.  “Do you ride too?” I asked.  And the tirade began of how she was in the medical field, and all the carnage she saw.  And how she would never ride, and of that somehow we were lesser because we did.  Wrong answer, so I countered her, although it was and is unfair to do battle with an unarmed person.  “Really, I’m also in the medical field,” and her face brightened, “I’m, a patient.”  And as her demeanor changed, obviously humor was not part of her make up, I continued, “but I am glad to meet you, because I have a medical question,” still reeling her in.  “In the past two months I have had four friends die in their sleep, is it OK for me to go to sleep tonight?”  I’m not sure of the answer as she grabbed her motorcycle riding husband and split on us, my first thought being what lousy taste in women he has, and the second, I was so glad I didn’t have to go home with her.  Maybe all she needed was another latte....but my point was made.  And Mikey liked it!

There are many gray areas in the Bible, where we must make a decision as to what or what not to do.  But in all cases we are to show love.  After my open heart surgery I was greeted by a well meaning brother, again at church, who wanted me to meet his new friend, who went on to tell me how I needed to get out and witness more, and do more things for God.  I then told him I had just spent 54 days in Albuquerque, 30 in the hospital and 20 in Cardiac Critical Care, and should be dead, but God saved my life and I made medical history.  He walked away, hey I thought it was a good testimony, and giving glory to God.  He meant well, as did the wife with the medical career, they only lacked one thing that was evident, they were more zealous than concerned for others.  And we all get like that, but need to be led by the spirit, rather than trying to impress or win an argument.  If only we took the time to listen, our response may be much different, and I will admit sometimes I just want to be left alone.  Back when my hair was shoulder length and had a full beard, looked like the wolfman, a well meaning man came up to me and asked me “have you heard about Jesus?”  He was trying to witness to me, and when I answered “yes, for many years now,” was stunned.  He had no idea I was saved, his church clothes warned me from across the lot.  If he had just said “hello” and talked with me it would have been a better conversation, yet he was doing what he was told to do.  His heart and his mind wasn’t in it, and soon people like that lose heart.  Maybe just try being yourself, a full time job with overtime for me, and be nice to others.  Visit with them, listening.  I tire of hearing “long after they forget your words they will remember your actions,”  it is like “Brother please, I’d rather let Jesus do it,” than do it myself.  And today you will be on both sides of the conversation....

When it comes to helmet laws we insist “let those who ride decide.”  Then argue over what brand of bike we ride.  Paper or plastic, or bring your own now that they are 10 cents each in California?  Do you want fries with that?  No it’s a salad.  Chargers fan?  No I like football.   And of course we all know our own church is the best.  Can we have a little more concern for each other?  Jesus showed compassion to the woman at the well, the thief on the cross, and to Martha and Mary when they chided him for being late and their brother Lazarus died.  But he showed love in every instance, be led by the spirit rather than our own selfish emotions.  When we are told to love our brother as our self, do we love him enough to love us too?  To listen, then answer.  To not argue over trivial things just to get our way or prove a point?  Do we remember it was Jesus who changed us, not an argument we gave into?  Have you become more like a church or denomination or more like Jesus?  God asked me once why he doesn’t allow us to change people to be like us.  I had never thought about it, but his answer was spot on, so they become more like me and not you.  Believe it or not I have many flaws and scars, some of which don’t show.  The scars on Jesus show his love, and when it comes to salvation, especially via the cross, I am glad that I didn’t do it myself.  I couldn’t and wouldn’t and probably wouldn’t for you.  But Jesus did and will......and wants a chance to prove it to you.  Via his love.  Now that is a witness anyone can get along with, love. 

So it is OK to ask Jesus for help, but good advice only works when taken.  Whether in church, at a bike dealer, or riding, we all need Jesus.  Even those crusty saints who know it all.  Especially those.  Go spread the gospel today by listening and loving on someone.  Use words if needed.  You may be the gospel in action they need.  Jesus saves souls, and fortunately us from each other.  And Mikey likes that....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com