after the thrill is gone

There was a time when my world was all about playing sports.  Only 23 innings, what are you a wuss?  Quitting after 12 quarters of basketball, I thought you were in shape?  What do you mean no more touch football?  We can play under the streetlights, it’s only 930 pm!  And so it was with my sports endeavors, it was all about playing the game, about competing, about having fun hanging out with your friends, and pizza afterwards.  Your group of guys was your team, your family circle, to some their only family, and for the length of playing, it was all that mattered.  It was winning and losing, and starting over again, going 0-for-4, then hitting two home runs next game.  Sinking the winning shot with two seconds to play, or intercepting a pass for the winning touchdown, after throwing one earlier.  It was a competition that we played via a game, and those with more talent got to take it to higher levels, with the rest of us watching from the bench.  As we got older and more organized though a funny thing happened, it wasn’t as much fun anymore.  Too much time spent at practice where before it was afterschool pick up games.  Discipline came into the game, rules and regulations, uniforms, and competition to win was more important than just playing the game.  Suddenly the less talented were cut or neglected, best friends soon went to the bench, then out of your life altogether.  Suddenly the game was not a game anymore, but where winning was everything, and losing meant you were a loser.  And no one wants to be known as a loser.  From playing catch, to Little League, to varsity, then back to playing catch, the simpler things turned out to be the most fun.  Running bases, playing horse, touch football, and just playing were how you started, what attracted you, but somewhere along the line religion came into the game, and suddenly it was no longer fun.  For me, it hit one Saturday morning on a softball field....

I was newly married, and played in a very competitive church league.  We were doing good, with two of us the stars, at least to us.  After having a great game, hitting a couple of home runs and the team winning, something was missing.  It wasn’t fun anymore, I had lost all desire to even show up, and later that week quit.  Which surprised many as the game was all about me, no secret there.  But with my new wife, now it was all about her, about us, and being with her.  In one quick “I do” my sports priorities had changed, my life priorities had changed, and Pastor Hyde was right, my desire would be for my wife, to other things.  I was changing, changed actually, and enjoying it.  Go figure, can a woman make that much difference in a life?  Can one person change you that much?  What would my old friends think, and did I even care?

Scripture warns us of the dangers of loving the things of the world.  I had fallen and didn’t even know it, for sports for me had been my world.  God talks of sports, even competition, but for me it was consuming my life.  God wants us to enjoy the things of the world, just not distort them so they control us.  And sports had, fortunately the grace of God caught me in time.  God is like that, and today I enjoy the game, rather than it consuming me.  Yet some must forego all sports, and in their decision take on another all consuming habit, telling themselves “see I am free form that thing that controlled me,” only to submit to another.  It is when the flesh seeks to fulfill that which God promises, to distort it to such a level that it controls us, that it becomes sin and we are sinful.  Followed up by the lust of the eyes, again taking the things of God to a limit we know is beyond what he approves of, and we are still in danger.  Paul addressed these things to the Corinthians, who had it all, but screwed it all up.  He very simply told them to “stop!”  Not stop or you’ll die, as religion adds to it, but simply stop.  Recognize your sin, repent of it, and go on.  God has forgiven you, Jesus wants to bless you, and the spirit will guide you.  Simple, yet overlooked.  Hence we have 5 step, 12 step, 13 chapters to success, with the person graduating the course, but never overcoming the problem.  We cannot make the changes on our own, they must come form God, for without it, we have achieved nothing.  He changes lives, we don’t. 

But be wary lest ye fall, we are warned.  For sometimes just as we become a better hitter, a better passer, or able to sink a 20 footer, we take pride in our accomplishments.  Again the focus is on us.  We set goals, we compare ourselves to others, we brag as to that we have accomplished, only to fall deeper into sin.  We can accomplish nothing in or of ourselves.  We can own a bigger home, have a stable of motorcycles, take the best trips.  We can achieve success in business, in a career, dream big and have it all, but without Jesus, they are just things.  Sometimes we even thank God for all the success we have, but really we are in terrible danger.  The things of life have taken precedence, they have gotten between us and God and anything that does is sin.  For me it was sports, what is it for you?  Beware, motorcycles can break your heart too. 

So what to do?  Seek the Lord, and anything that appears to consume you except for a desire for more Jesus can be a warning.  Playing 23 innings of softball isn’t bad, but at the expense of family, well....making a great living is good, but when it takes away from family.....Nice cars and houses may fill a need, but are they fulfilling the need for more Jesus in your life?  What does God know that we don’t when he says to enjoy what we have, to enjoy today, to seek him first?  When the things are enjoyed more than the creator, we need to stop.  Maybe 9 innings is enough, do I really need a 3,000 square foot house for two of us?  I can only ride one bike at a time.....you make the call.  After the thrill is gone, who do you turn to?

So maybe a few words from 1 John will help us, do not seek to amass things,  do not love luxury and ease, and do not strive to outdo others.  Remember how much fun playing catch was, running bases, playing horse.  Just going for a ride, just spending time with your spouse.  Go back to when things didn’t own you, and you could say no and walk away.  Go back to the first time in Jesus, and remember all the promises you made and broke.  Seek his forgiveness, and carry on.  Seeking him first, then he will add all things.  When he is the most important thing, we enjoy all the others.  Run the race to win, but remember to finish first you must first finish.  Some are in for the ride, some are in for what they ride.  I now remember the who it is all about.  And the thrill is back, Jesus never left me, I left him.  Religion may seem like a set of thou shalt nots to many, to me Jesus means I can do all things in him who gives me strength.  And the desire to do them.  If life isn’t thrilling enough, try Jesus.  And hang on for the life of your run!  The rest of you, enjoy your labor in vain.  Or is it vein?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.om

motoring with Malcolm

When asked about how to go about becoming rich, he answered, “get close to a rich uncle when he is dying.”  Not sure if it is urban legend or truth, but Malcolm Forbes was a very rich man.  Who loved to ride motorcycles, and under the moniker of Capitalist Tool, organized rides around the world, including a famous one into Russia, where very few Americans traveled.  When he first got the fever to ride, he bought his whole family motorcycles, then bought into a dealership with Hank Slegers, forming Slegers-Forbes, the first mega dealer in the US of A.  Just as Steve McQueen described himself as a motorcyclist who liked to act, Malcolm was a motorcyclist who ran an empire.  And in New Jersey became a legend among those of us who ride.

The Garden State Parkway was and is a beautiful road designed for limited access via toll.  Which used to ban motorcycles, which upset Malcolm.  And us.  Since it was private, they could do what they wanted, but still patrolled by the State Police.  So no motorcycles, period.  Think of a freeway with no Jon or Ponch patrolling, they would be banned also. But for one shining moment, with Malcolm leading, we rode down the Parkway.  With a police escort, not to lead us, but to lead us off.  After being pulled over, all 50 of us or so, we were verbally warned, no cop wanted to write 50 tickets, and led off at the next exit.  When as soon as the officer left, we got back on.  And the scenario repeated itself, gathering much needed attention, and some years later motorcyclists were no longer banned.  And when riding it a few years back, somehow the thrill was gone, no longer a rebel, I was welcomed at each toll plaza as a paying customer.  Not sure how much of an impact we made that day, but we always felt victorious in our battle against the man, and the road he patrolled.  Chalk one up for Malcolm, for without his name recognition and love of riding, we still may be an endangered species on the Parkway.

There is never any reason to sin, but when we do we have an advocate in Jesus Christ.  But if we try to make excuses and represent ourselves, it doesn’t work.  His defense is to no avail if we try to defend ourself and our actions.  You can either rely on his atoning blood and forgiveness, or make excuses for your actions, knowing they are sinful, but whining to God who knows better.  You can make excuses that under the circumstances you had no choice, or the action wasn’t sin, but God knows.  As long as you remain defiant or evasive, you are still justifying and excusing yourself, and therefore the judge can only permit the inevitable, the built-in judgment that follows to upset you, overthrow you, harass and baffle you, leaving you in weakness and open to attack.  But if you stop justifying your sin, Jesus will justify you.  His blood cannot cleanse excuses, only sin. 

So why do so many Christians suffer needlessly?  They operate under their own gospel, denying the power of the spirit God has granted them.  It’s only a glass of wine, only an R rated movie, only a wink at work, just a small cheat on my taxes.  But once sin has entered, and the door of our heart locked behind it, we are as messed up as the world, as if telling Jesus “I don’t need to be healed, I am fine as I am,” and the excuses continue.  We deny the sin, calling it a weakness, and making excuses for it, as we decay further and further.  It cuts the bottom out of the redemptive power of the cross, denying his grace and mercy, and we suffer for it.  And all those whom we encounter.  There is no isolated sin, it is more powerful than gravity, more destructive than the wind, and ever present.  But we can stand up against it and win in the spirit, “for not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord.”  So stop making excuses for your actions, and start acknowledging the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Riding with Malcolm that day we were prepared to get a citation.  We were riding where it was illegal.  But the judge on duty, the State Policeman, showed us mercy.  He faced a gang and didn’t want to provoke them any further.  Soon it became a game for us, a frustration for them.  Think sin is a game?  If it wasn’t fun, would you still do it?  The office made excuses and let us go, we too have a judgment ahead, where in Christ we will be found not guilty and allowed into heaven.  All others go to hell.  No free pass, no final exit chance.  It is a choice made via excuses and denying the truth.  And when Christians who know better do it, what does that show the world about Jesus?  Is he a joke like your witness, your life?  What you follow controls you, we followed Malcolm that day, and for better or worse, we would reap what we sowed.  Same with your sin, is Jesus who he said he is except for you?  That day we had Malcolm, who do you ride with daily?  Who do you trust to get you down the road?  Are you guided by circumstances or the holy spirit?  Still making excuses, repent, turn away from your excuses, which are really just lies packaged for you, but with lousy results, and come back to Jesus.  Trust him again.  Jesus works on your behalf.  Wonderful counselor he is called.  And who doesn’t need one when tried? 

Or you can go on sinning, amassing tickets until you lose your license and cannot ride anywhere.  Is sin worth giving up your freedom to ride when and where you want?  Maybe a reminder the next time you accelerate onto the freeway, the law kills, grace adds life.  The law adds points to your license, grace removed all traces of sin from your record.  Next case please, “who do you have representing you today?”  “And how do you plead...”

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

what would you have done?

It was one of our weekend rides, that found us out near an old girlfriend of BH.  At an hour when all sane people are fast asleep, we found our 230am desire to hook up with her a priority.  In the midst of the Pocono Mountains in eastern Pennsylvania, the roads get dark, there are few people, yet still chances to get in trouble.  Which we soon found out...It seems the appearance in some small towns of motorcyclists can be cause for alarm, and that morning, a local Leroy, aka the sheriff pulled us over.  Performing his sworn civic duty, he asked for our licenses, and had begun questioning us as to why we were out at such a time, when suddenly, a chopper went by, and in the full illumination of the streetlight, you could see he had no helmet.  Pennsylvania had a helmet law at the time.  Quickly handing our licenses back to us “here hold these, I’ll be right back,” he took off in pursuit of the scofflaw.  As soon as he was out of sight, without words, we took off in the other direction.  What made him think we would stand there in the dark for who knows how long so he could return and give us a ticket?  For doing nothing but riding after midnight?  So we fled the scene, and never looked back, gave up on the quest for the old girlfriend, and slept along the road for a few hours, before continuing our ride.  Later we joked about what we had done, but we were glad we had done what we did.  The jury still may be out on our decision, but what would you have done?  What if it was hours?  What if he never came back?  What if he did?  And we never got a chance to meet the chopper rider to thank him.  Another take on the biker brotherhood, and taking one for the team.

Scripture tells us we are to confess our sins, that Jesus is just and will forgive us, and purify us from all unrighteousness.  But unlike asking for forgiveness, confessing God does not have to include sin.  We only confess our sins and ask for forgiveness when we realize our actions are wrong, but when Jesus Christ comes into our lives, our lifestyle, words, attitudes, and actions should confess him.  They should represent him as we go about our daily lives.  A funny thing happens to a Christian when they don’t confess Jesus in their lives, they fall into sin.  For if we are in God’s will, being led by the spirit, we will be doing no wrong, remember we only need forgiveness and mercy after we sin, and we are forgiven for now and forever.  But confession...that’s different.  For Jesus tells us that if we do not confess him before men, he will not confess us before his heavenly father.  And when we fall back into sin, because we neglect God, by our actions, then we see the importance of confessing him in our lives.  Christians who stop or don’t confess Christ are miserable, and hard to deal with.  Soon we quit calling on them, and their witness is in shambles.  Then they need to turn and seek forgiveness, because they have failed to confess Jesus as he tells us.  Purification is an ongoing process, for we get dirty and need to shower, and our heart can deny us and we can get it dirty.  Only God can clean us up, and is willing to.

But what of those who profess but don’t confess?  Even a non-believer is confessing his belief or non-belief by his lifestyle.  If we profess to be a Christian, the world expects us to act like one, or at least their vision of one.  It is only when walking in the spirit we truly confess Jesus, for the world and all its temptations can easily cause us to stray.  We need to be in the word, and have the word in us.  We need to see God in all things, both spiritual and secular.  To thank him when we see the beauty of a flowery field, when watching a sunset, or seeing new baby.  But also to see the dark side of those lost and who need salvation, for we are the ambassador God chose to reveal his love.  So do you have a confession to make about Jesus Christ today?  Without your Christian t-shirt, your regular place in church, your Bible book cover or bumper sticker, will anyone know you know Jesus?  Do you confess him in spirit and truth to a lost and dying world, or just to other believers?  Is there any evidence in your life of Jesus Christ?  Would anyone accuse you of being a Christian?  What would you say if they did?

Jesus is faithful and just.  We never stuck around to see if the sheriff was.  The law is like that, love isn’t.  Love purifies, gives hope, and saves.  The law condemns and convicts.  Under grace we are no longer under the law, but have been given one law, that of love.  As Jesus himself did.  The disciples fell asleep one night, and Jesus confronted them, “couldn’t you have stayed awake just ne more hour?”  Today that hour may be required of you, will you confess Jesus when needed?  Or will you make an excuse?  Will you flee the scene?  When you become a Christian, you have marked yourself as not of this world.  And much is expected of you.  Take the time to show love and compassion to all you meet.  If you don’t, you will need to ask forgiveness.  So please, I ask, don’t do anything to me that will cause me to have to forgive you.  And I will do the same.  In the name of Jesus....

Our story of that night was certainly different than the one the sheriff told, if he told it at all.  What would you have done?  If I have caused any to go astray, I am sorry.  Forgive me. Seems we got the forgiveness part down, we are masters at sinning.  Now about confession....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

kids, cars, and the stores that sell them

Being kids in the sixties, meant cars.  And many a Saturday or school holiday had us walking to Westfield, a whole mile away, and cruising the car dealers.  With all makes, read American, no Japanese invasion here yet, having some sort of Muscle car, it was a rush to look, maybe sit in, and collect the brochures we would drive in our dreams and in real life someday.  I vaguely remember Berse Brothers Studebaker, really the building where the store once sold new Larks, Hawks, and Avantis now shuttered, only the signs and some old cars remaining.  Not much interest to a kid then, but now...Down the street was the Chevy dealer, who we didn’t like and whose name escapes me.  Maybe it was Norris.  With Chevelle SS396’s, Camaros, And Corvettes to look at and sit in, the salesman had no time for us as they were selling 1 out of every 4 new cars sold.  But down the block sat Westfield Ford, with cool salesman who let us sit in the Mustangs on the floor, many a mile was driven without leaving the building.  Maybe the seed was planted then as I prefer Ford now, and hove had three Mustangs.   Across the street was Lindemann Buick, lots of old men and old men cars, but later when the Opel 1900 and Manta would arrive, a place to stop and visit.  Farther down the block was Reilly Olds, giving meaning as I look back to “your father’s Olds,” later George would have 1967 442, Richard a 1972, but it was cars like our fathers drove, nothing there for kids.  But across the street lay nirvana, as Rotchford Pontiac always had a row of GTO’s out front.  They sold excitement, and cool cars.  Walking around the back to the body shop, we often watched as the crashes were repaired, giving us a look behind the scenes sort of speak, under hoods and inside.  We heard the sounds, the smells of the garage, and somehow it was intoxicating, still is today.  The one thing we never could understand was they were sharing a building with Dodge, even then we knew the Big Three were separate, but Dodge and Pontiac?  Go figure....

I still remember the first Chargers, 1966 with the fastback.  And the center console that went through to the back.  Custom, WOW!  Suddenly it was noon and time to eat, and on across the tracks.  Where Bob Miller sold Ramblers, nothing there for us kids, my Dad drove a Rambler.  But a brochure called X RAY I would love to have again, as it compared all the models to each other.  I studied that book, with it’s AMC leaning, and still wanted a Mustang.  But all those facts and figure still couldn’t sway me, and many others too.  The Mercury dealer, Somerset had the new Cougar, and later would sell the Pantera.  Wow, a Ferrari in Westfield?  Well, almost...they too sold Triumphs, the cars, the Spitfire creating a desire in me for cornering and open top motoring.  Like a man once wrote, “nothing like the feeling of an open sports car on a country road,”  but I was years away from knowing.  But with bucket seats, four on the floor, and a hood that opened up the whole front end, it had to be a racer.  Said so on the posters....the dream ending at home with a Rambler in the garage.  By then it was 3 o’clock, and with a long walk home, it would be dinner, a bath, and time for Chiller Theatre.  And to read an reread the brochures that sparked our interest, and gave us cars to dream about that someday we would own.  Free entertainment, all for the price of burger and fries.  A far cry from today’s auto parks, but somehow it all seemed bigger when we were smaller.  If only those car dealers knew how they set the tone for future ownership....maybe Chevy would still be the way to see the USA!

It was on these test drives we got to know first hand about cars, to sit and feel and smell them.  To look under the hood, to speak to real men who sold and drove them.  To be given brochures, and treated with respect.  Maybe even a business card with the man’s name on it, we now had a friend there.  And someone to look up to....

Evangelism has been a sore subject for many years with me.  Too often it is street preaching, bothering tourists who want to go about their business like you do, without interruption.  Or it is passing out tracts, which later they end up picking up off the ground.  A last resort is inviting them to church, after all it is the pastor’s job to get them saved, heard that one before.  But the one ingredient missing is the personal touch, listening and getting to know someone.  Living for Christ so they can see him in you.  Most of the world thinks the church only wants their money, true too many times, they only want to build the church in numbers, or when a new person does come to church, is confronted with words that are new, and they cannot understand.  Because they are different, maybe they are given one chance to be saved, and if not forgotten about.  A scenario I hope none of us ever compete in.  Maybe if we treated people as the car dealers did us kids, let us look at the product, sit in it, answer questions, and maybe a test drive, perhaps evangelism would take on a different tone.  There are times I go to stores just to look, I don’t want to be deluged, I just want to look.  I know who the salesman are, and I will ask them if needed.  But don’t follow me around, I just want to look.  It is the attitude about them that helps me make the decision when it is time to buy, remember you buy from a person first, the start of a new relationship.  Same with Jesus....

The holy spirit starts a stirring inside, we all know someone who goes to church, maybe even might be a Christian.  So we talk with them, find they are the same except for Jesus.  We get to know them, and find out this Jesus is more than a Sunday revenue enhancing experience for the church.  Christians really do love, they really pray, feed the hungry, and work with those in need.  Just like Jesus said.  Sometimes a Sunday school lesson is remembered, and soon the spirit is moving.  Jesus knows when the time is right for them to be saved, no end of month special, no special speaker, or service.  Jesus saves, sometimes despite well intentioned people, but without that first interest sparked by the spirit, you labor in vain.  It is God’s job to save, not ours.  If in doubt, look to the cross, who died on it?  You?  Case closed...

But what about evangelism?  Yeah, what about it?  We are called to be witnesses, not to witness.  To live a life reflecting the love of Jesus.  Showing love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, meekness, and self control.  Who wouldn’t want to have those qualities?  But do we reflect them to win an argument, or do they come from the heart? How many have been sold religion and thought they got Jesus?  Again it takes the leading of the spirit....which influences car sales, motorcycle sales, dating, and every choice we ever make.  Why blow it on the big one?  Evangelism isn’t salesmanship, it should lead to salvation.  Were you talked into Jesus or di you come voluntarily?  True love demands a choice, it cannot be forced upon or legislated.  So maybe those trips to the car stores weren’t really wasted, maybe they were more than free time spent looking.  They led to car ownership one day, when we were ready.  How many cards saved were used to look up that salesman when we were ready?  How may times did we see a plate frame with that dealers name on it and remark, “ I know Joe there.”  We had the connection.  He may never sell us a car, but he planted seeds for the future.

So sew seeds of love and kindness.  Jesus was both.  Still is.  The spirit is calling to many today, maybe you.  But God’s servants have run you off.  Seek God, he will draw you unto himself, he will put real persons in your way to guide, and soon you too will claim ownership of salvation in Jesus Christ.  Way beyond a sticker, way beyond the church, you now are part of the family.  With a testimony to share to encourage others.  Inspired by the holy spirit.  Just looking, we all were at one time.  Questions, I still have many.  But now I know where to go to ask for the answer.  It is possible that the Chevy dealers attitude towards us kids influenced my car buying today.  Don’t let one bad experience keep you from Jesus.  You just might be that man a ten year kid has a question for, “hey Mister, can I sit in that car?”  And your answer would be...the seeds of today bloom into beautiful flowers tomorrow.  You always buy from the last guy you talk to.  So throw some today.  Life may just be a red convertible away...

love with compassion,

Mike

mattehw25biker.blogspot.com