friends in low places

It was a big deal when McDonald’s came to Scotch Plains in the late sixties.  We all had seen the ads, and were enticed by the 15 cent price, but had never really seen one.  We had Snuffy Jr’s, which was pretty good, but ate up a quarter of a dollar for one.  Still for less than a buck you could get a burger, fries, and a Coke, if you happened to have that much money.  But when Mickey D’s opened, conveniently placed on the wrong side of Route 22, the busiest road in the US of A, it took an extra half mile to walk there, walking past Snuffy’s, and many succumbed.  But when old enough to drive, it all changed.  And the importance of friends in low places became important. 

The attraction of McDonald’s brought jobs to many of my friends, Rogo among them.  He was a nice guy, a bit crazy, and always was looking to help.  And he devised a way, probably copied it, to give away free food to us.  We would go in when it was busy, he would notice us, and we would go to his line and order a Coke.  Then hang out, and a few minutes later he would summon us, giving us a big bag full of fries and Big Macs, saying “sorry to keep you waiting, the big order took a bit longer.”  And we would walk out and feed the group waiting in the car.  Thanks Dave.  Another way that worked was having an attractive girl friend who one of the counter guys had a crush on.  But was too nerdy to even talk to.  I would wait in the car, she would go in, flirt with him, and again a bag full of food for the price of a Coke.  No date for him, the closest he would ever get was flirting with her.  I wonder how they counted my meals in the billions served on the sign?

My first night working at Sears in the warehouse, I got a call from the loading dock to bring down a TV.  Being the new guy, my number was up, as it was many times that night.  The guy working the dock was named Hazel, and after loading the TV in the man’s car, he drove off, and Hazel stuck a $20 bill in my hand.  I had never been tipped before, and later when I showed it to another guy, I found out Hazel had sold the TV out the back door at a five finger discount to a friend.  The $300 TV was probably sold for $75, and I was part of the deal.  Which ticked me off, I wasn’t a thief.  Not counting free food of course.  But as I was to learn, many things go out for less than the asking price.  If paid for at all.  One hot Saturday afternoon window air conditioners were selling due the hot weather.  When a customer asked if they were truly portable, the salesman answered “yes.  They are light enough to carry,” which was his mistake.  “When the customer doubted him and asked “if I can carry it out of the store, can I get it for free?”  the eager young salesman said “of course,” never thinking the old man would or could.  But picking one up, he headed for the door, the salesman giving chase, and security stopping him in the lot.  A huge argument followed, and after a few minutes the customer got the air conditioner for free, and the salesman got chewed out. I wonder how many free items this man had accumulated over years?  So maybe there is no free lunch, but free Big Macs and free air conditioners, eaten in front of your free TV, if you know the right person in the low places. 

We all want to make it to the top, some even want to start there.  But we all have had low end jobs, which has provided us with learning experiences not covered in the employee handbook.  The old adage “you can’t teach experience” probably meaning more than we know.  But we all have that first day on the new job, where we know nothing, are subject to being picked on, and unless your father was the boss, you have to earn any respect you get.  But being the boss’s kid can also have its disadvantages.  Co-workers show you fake respect, others down right dislike you, while the rest just tolerate you, knowing when summer ends you will be back off to school, while they will be making the money for your dad to send you there.  And with each new job new challenges face you.  The disciples faced this, being asked to leave their careers, some fishermen, one tax collector, two anarchists, and one banker.  They were asked to drop what they were doing and start on a new venture, to follow this itinerant preacher, who no one had ever heard of.  And to be his disciples....would you have given up your day job to follow him?  Yet they did, and their qualifications from past jobs had little to do with their new careers.  They would be part of a three year course, and then suddenly left on their own to go out and succeed him.  All without warning, although looking back they realized he had warned them, they just didn’t get it at the time.  Sound familiar.  But these 12 ended up in the food industry, feeding 5000+ twice, the janitorial industry cleaning up afterward, in the distribution industry passing out the leftovers, and the hospitality industry seeing the all were fed and welcomed.  Not qualified from their resumes, they met the needs of others, following the example of their leader, Jesus.  They received no pay, were sent out with only what was in their pockets, and told he would provide.  All from a man who never owned property, a business, a place to sleep, or had a bank account.  Far different from religion today, years ago when looking for a position, the churches wanted degrees, education, experience, and offered benefits and a salary.  In only 2000 short years how the ministry has changed.

And I find I learned more from being out in the world than from being separated from it.  Just as Jesus told us, to be in the world, not of it.  And the church was its own world that I wanted to be out of.  I wanted to minister, to be where the action is, and found having friends in low places was superior to having friends with titles.  Friends who knew the business of the gospel and lived it.  Who had nothing but what was on them, and found that all you need is Jesus.  And when you are led by his spirit, where he guides he provides.  And allows others to be blessed along with you.  It was the friends in low places who actually got things done, without programs, processes, and procedures.  Who had to rely on God for all their needs.  Who took to heart Peter’s advice to “lean on Jesus, casting your cares on him, because he cares for you.”  Knowing that the problem may be solved today, but will reoccur tomorrow, and needing to lean on him again.  And again.  So if it is true you cannot teach experience, where do you get it?

By walking with God.  By being out doing it, by being there.  Education may be OK, but application is where it is at.  Too many wear out the seat of their pants in school, while others wear out the soles of their shoes.  Application of the gospel is where Jesus was at.  And still is.  It may get you an A knowing the 12 tribes, but when a hug is needed rather than words where will your education leave you?  We are told to be wise as serpents, but gentle as lambs.  How many lambs have been led to slaughter with knowing all about Jesus, but never knowing him personally?  Reconsider your walk with him today, are you a Bible anyone would want to read? 

You see when I became a manager, it was the things I experienced, that I looked back on.  Books gave me theory, life gave me experience.  I learned there are no free lunches, and watched carefully as my workers would try to challenge me.  I knew nobody tipped big for nothing, it all came with a price.  And to watch my words, as someone will take me up on them.  I found the friends I had in low places were where the action was, who lived for Christ with no compensation.  Whose hearts were tested daily, and whose examples I still look to.  And so I prefer to be a child of the king, and if anyone asks about what I do, I answer “I work for the world’s richest Jew.”  No corner office, no secretary.  No salary but you cannot beat the benefits.  If you are stuck in school, don’t let your life become like summer vacation, no class.  Get out and be among the people.  There are always needs to be met, Jesus told us “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”  To some that means more work, but to me it means more blessings.  More Jesus.  Who had many friends in low places, and a direct line to the boss in heaven.

It doesn’t take skills to work for God, just obedience.  But more than anything it takes love.  And listening to his spirit.  If you know it all but show nothing, here is a job offer for you.  Get out and be among the world.  Be the one who shares Jesus by their actions, using words only when needed.  Be the gospel of Jesus Christ and become someone, rather than a something.  One man directed 12 others, who went out and changed the world.  Now, would you like to super size yours?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

before seat belts

A few weeks ago we took a friend of ours to the water park with us.  Being only 7, he had to sit in the back seat in a booster chair.  In a few years he will be old enough and tall enough to sit in the front set, to ride shotgun as we used to say, and enjoy a whole new view of driving.  I had never really thought about it, but his whole view of the world comes from the back seat....much different than when we were growing up.  How many of you knew someone, or were that someone who could sleep who would sleep up in the package tray of your parent’s car on a trip to Grandma’s?  How many knew rich kids whose back seat was so big you could stand on the floor and play?  Or stand on the seat and look out?  In my Grandpa’s 1959 Buick Electra, silver with red leather interior, my sister used to always win the battle to sit on the rear armrest, I was told I was too big.  Which only made me want it more, but only when she was along.  Other times I always rode up front next to him, sharing our armrest.  And how many times did you pile 6 or 7 of your friends into the car and go somewhere.  We once had seven in my Pinto going to the shore...in the rain, without a second thought for safety.  And yes, just a generation ago on CHiP’s Bonnie, Bear, Jed, and others rode around all day without using their seat belts.  And somehow we all made it to today, despite the safety hazard presented to us by ignoring it. 

We used to ride in the back of pickups, too.  When Bern crashed his Honda 350, we stored it in my Aunt’s garage, going to pick it up with 4 in the back sharing space with it for over 60 miles.  Now you don’t even see dogs in the back.  And roll bars are called light bars....yeah right?  As kids we played in the dirt, played kick ball in the streets, and sat on curbs at night looking for flying saucers and telling ghost stories.  My Grandma and I used to go out after dark, walking the streets of Bangor with a flashlight looking for monsters.  How many young boys huddled under a streetlight, looking at some dirty girly magazine we found in the gutter?  A couple of times we even tried chewing tar, as it bubbled up on a hot Jersey afternoon.  We were kids, life was simple, we all thought we would live forever, and we had fun.  A key composite that is missing from life today, no matter the age or generation.  Today we are faced with many laws, rules, regulations, and codes that are designed to protect us, from everything except ourselves.  Take gun laws for instance....

I bought my first gun, a .22 revolver at H. Cook’s Sporting Goods in Albuquerque in 1976.  I had walked over barefoot, no wallet or ID, went in and applied for a credit card, then up and bought the gun and ammo.  And walked back home with it.  The same gun I once had on as a side arm and walked into Durango National Bank with, did my business and walked out.  With no one noticing, or saying a word.  We are surrounded by helmet laws, and although I wear one, don’t think we should be told to.  Yet a popular ATTGAT, All The Gear All The Time is becoming popular.  Ever see a BMW rider on a hot day not over dressed?  Yes these things will protect, as I learned riding my R100S to San Diego and back from New Mexico, helmetless, losing my hearing for a week, but it seems the more laws there are, the more laws there are to break.  And more of us to become criminals.  I wear my seat belts and have for years because they do save lives.  I know how air bags save lives, how ABS can help in a panic situation, and how all the safety items, and all the laws will not help you if a drunk driver comes at you.  I have been hit and run by one...on my motorcycle with a helmet on.  But no one wants to address the real problem, the driver.  The one who is making the decision, isn’t it nice to know the government has your back on this one?

Next time you see a bad driver, it won’t take long, remember someone from the DMV tested them and passed them.  So it is not totally their own fault.  Some idiot passed them.  From the same government that gave us helmet laws, seat belt laws, booster seat laws, gun purchasing laws, and mandatory safety items on cars.  Mostly for one important reason, we don’t have the sense to take care of it ourselves.  We live in a world of Normalcy Bias, a psycho babble term that means because we haven’t seen it, it won’t happen to us.  Until it does, and some do gooder stands up and reminds us “see, I told you so.  We need another law...” and the government goes on.  “Hi I’m from the government and here to help” becoming more a warning than a joke.  And the joke is on us.

But it seems lack of common sense, try explaining that term to a 5 year old, is common only in that it hasn’t existed since the Garden of Eden.  Common sense coming from God’s mouth was disobeyed by Eve, then Adam followed.  Cain was going to murder his brother as long as he was Abel.  Yet Noah flew in the face of common sense, at least to his neighbors and built the ark.  And was considered crazy until it rained.  Joseph’s brothers used poor judgment against him, until they needed food in a drought, and then he revealed himself to them.  The Israelites thought Moses was crazy as they walked for 40 years in the desert.  Neglecting to be thankful for the light by night, or the clouds by day to protect them from the sun.  Their shoes never wore out, but yet they grumbled about the fresh manna they ate every day.  The food was better in Egypt, and they argued about going back, even if it meant slavery.  And then Moses himself, given the 10 Commandments, and seeing the back of God, and his face glowing. Who then wore a mask to cover his shining face, to protect the people, but keeping it on long after the glow disappeared.  He didn’t want to lose the illusion of being with God.  More laws, more laws to break, if only we listen to God we wouldn’t need them.

But just as there were many laws, over 600, God took them down to 10, all about relationships.  6 for men and men, but only 4 for God and men.  Yet that was too many, and still is today.  So Jesus made it easier, one, love God first then your neighbor the same.  One law, yet we cannot obey it.  Fortunately there is only one way of forgiveness, found in Jesus Christ only.  No special ceremonies for certain sins, no special fines or offerings for that certain sin, one trip to Jesus and he forgives them all.  Past, present like today, and the future ones to come.  And when we are forgiven we forgive others, yet sometimes have a problem forgiving ourselves.  But God sent his Holy Spirit to guide us, to be that common sense factor, to show us the way.  So when we wander off by ourselves, we are not alone, he is with us.  When we don’t know what to pray, he shows us.  When we feel alone we are never alone, because he never leaves us.  All the common sense you will ever need is wrapped up in the spirit, which only works if you obey.  If you trust.  And unlike the tester who passed the lousy driver, it is on us if we neglect to follow his instruction.  Yet in God’s love he forgives, he restores, and forgets.  He doesn’t hold sin against us.  For we are under grace, showing love, something the law could never do.  For the law shows our weakness, and when we break them we need grace. 

Ever go to court?  And even though innocent felt guilty?  Because you were in front of a judge who may be partial.  Fortunately we have been judged in Jesus, who took our sin, and we are found innocent on judgment day.  And welcomed with a compliment, “well done, my good and faithful son.”  Me?  Only those in Jesus will ever hear those words.  All others are already guilty, just awaiting the final death sentence, hell.

Before coming to Christ, he makes no sense.  But after he makes perfect sense.  Common to all Christians in the spirit.  So live in the spirit today, in Christ, and enjoy the fruit of them.  No laws against the fruit of the spirit, and all are welcome.  Freedom from the law, in the spirit.  And just to celebrate, maybe I will take a ride around the block, wind in my hair, helmetless.  Ride around in the back a pickup, with my dog. Hang a gun in my gun rack.  I dare you to dare me to not wear a seat belt.  Or ride to the beach with 7 friends inside.  And while some will applaud my rebellion, my young friend will think I am crazy.  No seat belts, no helmet, no gun safe?  Maybe I’ll let him sit up front next time, and give him a lesson in grace.  Without telling his mom. Seeing the road from the front seat, instead of hidden in the back.  Maybe then when someone explains freedom he will get it.  He will have been there.  Works with God too.  Under laws or under grace?  Can’t you tell by the smile on my face?  I’ll be the one having fun. 

Now about waiting one hour to swim after eating....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

for a guy who hates commercials, you sure watch TV alot

Now that I have finally mastered the DVR that came with our new cable setup, I can record any show I want without getting up too early or staying up too late to watch it.  Or let it interfere with my riding, I just set it and go.  And watch it later at my convenience.  Without commercials.  I can fast forward through them, and miss those irritating interruptions.  I love it.  No more warnings of how I can take a pill to be more of a man, or how I cannot live without the latest i-something or other.  No more desire to sue a manufacturer because the ads telling me to buy it don’t work.  And in 22 minutes I can watch a half hour show.  Which leaves more time for riding....finally a technology I can agree with.

Same with youtube or any web site that makes me sit through an ad first.  They go on my list of never to buy, they are are irritating and intrusive.  I don’t like video ads, yet as kids they were attractive.  Today I avoid them as much as possible, which is all the time.  Now you may wonder why a guy who hates commercials watches TV so much, it is the recorded old shows, even though an ad tells me the last CSI is on, which is a lie because it will go on forever in reruns, I have never watched one episode.  I watch old TV, and thanks to a few retro channels, I am lost in Mayberry, going where no man has gone before on the Enterprise, riding with Rockford in his Firebird, and in court with Perry Mason any time I want.  I watch Highway Patrol so much I know the cops by number.  And all without commercials.  So there.

But when it comes to magazines, I am a different animal.  I like the ads, especially in motorcycle magazines.  So while reading yesterday, I grabbed two copies I previously reread, and counted the ad content.  Both Motorcyclist, one from August of 1981, the other April 2015.  34 years ago the magazine had 92 pages counting the covers, and 25 full page ads, along with 18 half page ads, a total of 34 pages of ads.  Or 36% ads, and I didn’t mind.  Conveniently placed Honda ads after a Honda road test, I remember the ads making me lust for whatever was tested.  Almost the same today, 94 pages with covers, but with 37 full page ads, and only 4 half page.  For a 39/94 ratio ads to content, or 42% ads.  Weird, but I hate commercials, but enjoy the print ads.  Go figure.  And just how important is advertising? 

Advertising doesn’t sell subscriptions, but subscriptions sells ads.  Very little if any money is made from subs, but all the money made from advertising.  Which may explain why readership is so important, and my wife gets all these free mags in the mail, that she never subscribed to.  The more readership, the more they can charge for ads, and with some monthlies being read by 4-5 people for issue, the numbers are big, or mean big money for the magazine.  Which is why e-magazines are loaded with ads, and if you have a website you can have ads on it and get paid 5-10 cents every time someone accesses it.  Ad dollars are big money, for those who buy and those who sell.  So now you know why Super Bowl ads cost so much, and how irritating it is on that day to have them interrupted by the game.  But I still don’t like them, and the Super Bowl Is not worth recording, so I’ll suffer through it.  Just don’t tell the stations, I want Perry Mason and Dan Mathews to be available 24/7.  Recorded of course.

When Michael Jagger sung of how he can’t get no satisfaction, he talked of cigarettes, shirts, and about the external us.  About making an impression.  How many of us Christians care about the impression we make?  Take a moment to consider that one.  Maybe that is why we don’t get no satisfaction in our walk.  We care more about us than we do our audience.  And although many scenarios have been tried, dinner first than sermon, preaching on the street interrupting an outing, or wearing a t-shirt that tells what a good brother you are, the one fact remains, until they know how much you care, they don’t care about how much you know.  Some go out to win souls, and end up winning arguments.  So much love in the “well they’re still going to hell,” when they find someone who knows scripture better, even if they aren’t saved.  And for those who only invite sinners to church, but never sit and get to know them, they come up empty many times.  The one question we fail to ask ourselves is “if I’m a Christian, why would anyone want to be like me?”  If I am an ad for Jesus, what am I trying to sell?  What is my product?

Sorry I lost some of you now, but welcome back.  God’s product is love, available through forgiveness.  Try that one.  And we don’t win souls, Jesus does.  And only when guided by the spirit do we make a difference.  The world looks at drinking and smoking as sin, even calls the taxes on them sin taxes, so why try to share Jesus over a beer?  While taking a drag on a cigarette?  For one thing have compassion for your audience, the other try to appear blameless.  Make your video match your audio.  Years ago I started to give up habits that would not condemn me to hell, but might others.  “Well he does it, and he’s a Christian.”  Care more about the person than yourself.  Just like Jesus said.  And don’t just hide that bad habit at home either, God is watching, and we are a witness of him!  But where the spirit guides we find life, we don’t try to win arguments, or even souls.  We let the spirit do his job, and point them to Jesus.  We are told to love, usually the last thing we do.  And I find a way to do it is by listening.  By shutting up and listening.  Then answering.  Without preaching, as I don’t like to be preached at.  But I sure do love to be listened to and loved.  And I get more results, better results when spirit driven.  Funny how I win more fights because I choose my battles better. 

Some days I am just a seed thrower, some days I water, but like Paul admonishes us, it is the spirit that gives life.  Feeling dead...can’t get no satisfaction, you need the spirit, the holy spirit.  The one commandment Jesus left us with we don’t do.  Or we make them try to like us.  When we need to love them without trying to win an argument.  Or prove a point.  Maybe we underestimate the power of a hug, of listening, of caring.  The world is looking for love in all the wrong places, don’t be one of them.  And if you are worried about what to say, listen, then respond, the spirit again promises to give you the words you need.  And both of you can be ministered to at once.  We are called to be a witness, not go out witnessing.

Don’t become an ad that when people see you coming fast forward away from.  Make your ad time, your witness of who Jesus is in your life count.  Like ads you can be irritating to others, so don’t be.  Just imagine if the Bible, the all time best seller came with ads.  Right in the middle of John 3:16, there was an ad for buying something holy.  Or to invite you to a revival. Or potluck.  You would lose the flow of the spirit.  Now if it can interrupt on TV, or in print, be glad God doesn’t advertise.  You want truth, not a spin on it.  And the truth will set you free from ads, and the temptation to buy something you don’t want, or need.  Reading the Bible should be a joy if for nothing else it has no ads!

So consider that you may be the only Bible some will ever read.  What does your ad say about Jesus?  Why would I want to be a Christian after seeing you?  Which is why God changes us to be like Jesus, and he doesn’t change people to be like us.  Jesus kicked the money changers out of the temple, now they line the sidewalks.  Salvation is free, why pay more than that?  Love and joy are included, with free shipping.  And he will double your order, or 10 times it, what ever is necessary.  All from the safety of wherever you are.  Because he never leaves you nor forsakes you.  A kind word to remember next time a commercial comes on, and you cannot find the remote.  A life in Christ commercial free, and I don’t need a DVR to watch.  Satisfied?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot

it always seems faster from the passenger seat

There is an intersection by my house that leads to the freeway.  The road being in a neighborhood is posted 25, but people zip along at 50-60, thanks Escondido PD.  But when they leave the intersection to go to the freeway, you can hear them accelerate, I just cannot see them.  And some sound really fast, some just noisy, and some you can hear obeying the speed limit posted.  But the sound heard can be misleading, as many wind out first gear, bang second, then back out of the throttle, giving a false sense of speed.  A ZX-10 can hit 102 mph in first gear, while a Harley may manage 40, both may be loud, but only one is fast.  But both give the illusion of speed, at least from where I am sitting out of sight 200 feet away.   But some sound really fast, you can tell how long it takes to wind out the gears, and I can tell over the years how fast they are, or appear to be by the listening distance when they upshift.  Then back out before having to crest the hill.   So fast and quick being relative words, really do mean something.  There was fast for a BMW-until the S1000RR took over the streets, fast for a Harley until 100 hp bikes became available, and fast for any size you ride.  But quick and fast is only relative to whatever the other guy is riding, or driving, and often times how fast it sounds or feels.  Of course none of this is scientific, or based on true readings, or timing slips, but still it is fun feeling faster than the other guy, even if you aren’t. 

An urban legend when I was in high school was the guy, sometimes even the girl who had the fastest accelerating car.  Usually an SS396 Chevelle where I lived, 1969 version, they would place a $100 bill sticking out of the glove box, and if you could grab it when they started off, you could keep it.  These cars accelerated so quick no one was ever able to grab one, or so the legend went.  Por Favor had one, and I could grab fives and tens, but learned to cheat a little, which in racing is only cheating if you got caught.  Never met the illusive $100 bill challenge.  But these cars, and many like them were fast, rather quick off the line.  And many 0-60 times were won or lost based on what second gear would do.  If only 55, you lost time shifting to third, if over 60, you gained time.  How many cars were blown up trying to get that extra 2-3 mph out of second is not recorded, you can lose while winning too.  But one constant from back then, that still exists today is the ride from the passenger seat.  Whether buddy seat sitting, or sitting next to the driver in a car, it always seems faster from the passenger seat.  Not sure why, one of those things in life that just is, but switching seats somehow lessens the effect.  I have ridden in fast cars, only to be disappointed when put behind the wheel.  Some of the thrill is gone, they just don’t seem as fast.  I’m sure some psycho babbler somewhere will come up with the answer, for me I’ll refer to it as the passenger seat speed illusion, or PSSI.  PSSI will impress your friends, cause your wife to complain, and impress little kids.  But like my observation of speed from my office window, has nothing to do with anything other than opinion.  Sight and sound can leave to an illusion, so can sitting in the passenger seat.  And somewhere out there cruising the back streets of my memory is a green, 1969 Chevelle SS396, just looking to embarrass me by trying to grab a $100 bill.  From the passenger seat, of course.

When Jesus tells us “the meek shall inherit the earth,” we think of a group of white shirted geeks, with pocket protectors, and glasses taking over.  Maybe they have, as the nerds in high school seem to be the geeks of technology today.  Where as many of the jocks from my high school are working for their father’s pushing lawn mowers.  But meekness to Jesus means power under control.  Like not spinning your tires losing speed to a drag racer, the burnout looks cool, you aren’t going anywhere, just burning rubber.  But it is the power under control, getting the power to the ground that makes speed.  When I rode the 220 hp Rocket 3 last week, that’s 220 hp on the dyno, not an ad, second gear under full throttle just wasted the rear tire.  And scared the crap out of me.  Only in third could it begin to hook up, still scaring the crap out of me, but accelerating at a rapid pace.  It not only sounded fast, it was fast.  But God refers to his power under control, and we are to be meek like him.  We don’t have to race everyone that comes along.  We don’t have to be the best or fastest, we only need to be us,  which is the hardest challenge you may face today.  Being who you are in Christ.  And only when it is his power in control,will you get all that you can.  Off road racers refer to it as going less slow, getting the most out of a section.  If a 60 mph section, getting 62-65.  If a 25 mph section, getting 27-29, but never trying to get 60.  DNF’s don’t count in the points standings.  So power in control that works in racing, works in life also.  And most importantly in a walk with God.

To God meekness is the characteristic of human nature and behavior.  It is shown in long suffering, righteousness, patient,and forgiving.  All characteristics of God, listed as fruit of the spirit.  It is power under control, and differs from humility, as humility is a reflection of us, while meekness is a reflection of Christ.  Humility is an attitude towards ourselves, meekness is an attitude towards others.  And only two people in scripture were called meek, Moses and Jesus.  Both exercised God’s power under control, yet only one can save.  Moses represents power under control of by the law, Jesus represents power under control by the spirit.  Which are reflected in how we react to others, do we show love or revenge?  Do we try to win at all costs, or be happy knowing we did our best, in Christ?  Who do we credit in our wins and losses will tell more than we want some to see.

So power under control works at the traffic light as well as in the Christian’s life.  Living in the spirit, we have the choice to follow or neglect.  In the spirit it reflects being able to do all things in Christ, in his love.  His spirit.  Where we are more concerned for our neighbor than ourselves in the outcome.  True love doesn’t demand of itself, it gives.  Does your love give, or does it demand?  The best seat, the fanciest Bible cover, knowing scripture, or by living it?  Many fall back on education, memorization, or studying to find themselves approved.  The spirit gives life, it is the education based on application.  Loving your neighbor as yourself, praying for your enemy, and loving the unlovable.  Knowing God will give you the words you need when you need them, rather than falling back on memorization.  It is the old saying that to finish first, first you must finish.  Finishing the race more important, more important than winning it all but giving up your soul.  Only in meekness do we see all the Jesus we can be in others, when he gets the glory we get the blessings.  We reap what we sew, so sew meekness.  His power under your control.  Self control, the last one listed in the fruit section.  Power under control of the choices you make.  And it all starts with choosing Jesus first. 

There is an old Pete Rose story of having a ball called a strike by an umpire.  When he argued it was out of the strike zone, the umpire responded “but it sounded like a strike.”  Are we humbling ourselves in Christ to be the example, or becoming meek to show him as the example?  One of the three great things that are, is you cannot brag about how humble you are.  But your life can brag on Jesus by how meek you are.  How much power of his you are under control of.  How you walk in the spirit.  Racers know when the friction zone is, when the power under control turns to smoke.  It may make a good show, burnouts do.  And we all do them, just don’t become one.  Lean on Jesus, knowing that being in the spirit brings life and liberty.  PSSI may impress your friends, and even yourself, but never the cops.  Another example of the law bringing death, while the spirit gives life.  It may be only a license, but it gives freedom to ride.  Remember the most cautious driver out there is one who left his wallet at home with his license in it.  Humbled rather than humiliated.  While the meek go by casting their cares on Jesus.  Power under control, whether by wrist or right foot, it is always better to be meek than than busted.  PSSI in your walk with Jesus is an illusion others see and you don’t.  Maybe there is some truth that you cannot ride faster than your angels can fly.  And they are probably quick enough to grab your $100 bill.  Keep your meekness, and your money.  Walk in Christ forgiven.  In the spirit.  There is power, and then there is real power...

love with compassion,

Mike

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