Time flies when you are riding fun. And over the first million miles I have
met a lot of people, ridden a lot of roads, and stopped at many motorcycle shops
along the way. A few years ago we went back through Durango where we lived for
seven years and stopped in Handlebar Cycle. None of the old familiar faces of
40 years ago were there, except for Gary, who had been running the place before
we came along. After doing some 30 years since we last saw each other catching
up, I mentioned the Harley store down the road, and the fact I was surprised
they didn’t own it. Knowing Durango and how tough a town to make it in it can
be, he said Harley had approached them, but they weren’t interested. They had a
plan, down to location, hours, how many bikes he would sell, and how many
employees he would need. A plug in location that Gary would own, but they would
dictate, really an arm of Harley. It seems the motor company who advertises the
Great American Freedom Machine allows no freedom for its dealers. So Gary told
them no, they weren’t interested, and as he had seen so many dealerships come
and go, he didn’t want to join them. Or Harley. In a what is good for Harley
is good for the dealership owner, over 40 years he knew better, but it seems
Harley isn’t the only one.
Stopping at the Triumph store in Dubuque, Iowa, he has been Honda and
Triumph since the fifties. Confessing that the only reason he keeps Triumph is
because he likes the bikes, the factory stinks. In a town of under 100,000, he
is expected to sell thousands of dollars of shirts a month, sell a certain
amount of new bikes, and accessories. A trend I see across the US of A, with
the dealer getting little or no help form the factory. Like the Great American
Freedom promise, the promise on one side of the counter is different than the
promise on the other. Marketing plans only work if based on the market, using
experience that cannot be taught. But yet our motorcycling freedom is being
threatened by lack of good dealers, and being replaced by new ones just in it
for the money. Now I want my local guys to be profitable, I want then to be
there when I need them, but you cannot dictate success, loyalty, or
profitability, and despite Amazon style buying sweeping the nation, we are not
yet ready to give up the one on one personal relationship with our dealers nor
our motorcycles. Nor our God either!
In an ever changing world, it is refreshing we have an ever lasting God.
Things had changed over the 40 years ago we lived in Durango, old places
replaced with new faces, with a few exceptions, Handlebar and the Durango
Diner. So many businesses had come and gone, some losing everything, some just
getting out by the skin of their teeth. Some cashing out early and going on to
another endeavor, and some still not sure what was going on. It happens in
business, it never should happen with Jesus. God stays the same, Jesus never
changes and can always be counted on, his love never fades or changes. Yet the
places we worship do, I wonder, how many churches could survive a month, a week,
without donations or collections? Budgets set by their organization, and
pastors being held accountable to them and not to God. Programs replacing God’s
promise that is he doesn’t build the church, we labor in vain, yet I have been
part of discussions of how to get more people to our church, how to reach the
young and lost, and failing. Inviting strangers to church, and being told no,
or like a local example, setting up a food bank miles form where the homeless
are, and then when it fails blaming them.
Do you want to minister? When I first decided to go into ministry, I read
the ads for help in churches, I lacked the degree although I had the experience,
as if knowing the Bible via seminary was equal to knowing Jesus. A man I know
who was called into ministry, finally accepting God’s challenge after his wife
confronted him, “how much money will it take to obey the holy spirit?” So just
as there are false prophets, there is false profit also. If God calls you to do
something, he will also provide all you need, including the funds. Somehow
without motels, franchised food, and no internet, the gospel flourished under
Jesus, and still does today in third world countries. Maybe Mother Teresa said
it best, when confronted by a reporter in a make shift hospital filled with
disease and dying, exclaimed “I wouldn’t do this for a million dollars.” Her
reply says it best, “either would I.” The question is, would we? Do we?
Thirty years ago who would have thought Harley would be selling so many
bikes? Or would be betting on the first mainline electric bike from a major
manufacturer? Or that the Great American Freedom Machine would be found at
store with no freedom? Test rides that have come and gone, now coming back,
some with incentives because business is down. That crowd rides would be an
attraction, and $20k and 20 miles would make a biker? Yet going to a church
will not make you a Christian, only knowing Jesus will. His freedom comes in
the spirit, no rules, only one request, love him first, and others as you do
him. No fancy stickers, Bible covers, or shirts proclaiming what a great
Christian you are, show it in love by your actions and attitudes. Time still
flies when having fun, but are you sure where you will land? Will the dealer,
the church be there when you need it? Will they stay late or open early when
you need them? Those of us in Christ know better, that there is none better.
So seek him first as he asks, then all things will added unto you. Open arms
and open doors, no appointment needed.
By the way I heard Kennedy’s Cycle in Oceanside closed, Bill finally
retired. Closing the shop when no one was interested in running it anymore.
Seems the dedication to motorcycling is failing along with the churches
dedication to Jesus. The riders will be there, they will find another shop and
talk of the good old days. Only in Jesus do we have the blessed promise of
tomorrow, some will try to take over for Kennedy, just as some try to take over
for Jesus, but the truth will still be the only thing that sets us free. After
44 years of being a Christian, I can say Jesus never failed me. His door is
always open, his hands outstretched to embrace me. If only the church and
Harley got the same message.....it would be like an old Mercedes Benz ad.
“We have a dealer who is selling more cars, what should we do?” “Send him
more cars...” Now that’s a marketing plan. Unless God builds the church, us,
the body of believers, we labor in vain. You get religion, the very thing Jesus
came to set us free from. Freedom is nothing new to Jesus, he has been setting
sinners free for centuries, for those who are in Christ are free indeed. I hope
you can say the same....Time isn’t getting faster, we are getting slower. And
now we don’t call them motorcycle, they are powersports dealers. Marketing, if
it’s good for Harley, why isn’t it good for God?
love with compassion,
mike
mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com