don't forget to kiss the cook

Ride to eat and eat to ride is the moniker of many bikers.  At least for me and my friends it is, and many times of good fellowship were found after a great ride. With food found to be a key ingredient to good fellowship.  The Jewish people put a special note on eating together, to spending time around the table, and bikers are no different.  But what about when you haven’t been out riding, and cannot get out and fellowship?  In one case for me, the wife of a biker came to the rescue...

I was in rehab following my open heart surgery, not a pleasant place to be.  Lots of sick people in rehab, and I was one.  Somehow the word got to the cook I rode, and she came out and introduced herself.  We talked riding, places we had been, and why I was here.  Then she took control of my ordering, making up a special menu for me, with bigger portions, yet still within my dietary constraints.  While others craved snacks after a meal, I was full, she even helped me make up my menu, and marked it special.  All because I rode, or we rode, brand of bike didn’t matter.  She was the head of the kitchen, and in her kitchen bikers never left hungry.  It was the highlight, after being released, of my stay there.  We underestimate the brotherhood sometimes, some talk it, she lived it.  Amazing how God puts bikers where and when you need them, I always say “if you need something done, call a biker.”  This time one called on me.

So in a world classified as rider and non, I am glad to be among the rider group.  There are owners who think they ride, some who used to ride, and others who will someday when their wife or mother says “OK.”  But either you ride or you don’t, and if you really ride you know the difference.  Same with Christians too, outside of the JW’s and other cults who outwardly deny Jesus, all so-called Christian religions claim to be Christian. But God sees it different, breaking it down into two classes, saved or unsaved, or righteous or unrighteous.  There is no middle ground, no training period, no gray area.  God calls them as he sees them.  We do different, to our own destruction.  While some well meaning but wrong groups claim we are all children of God, Jesus states different in the gospel.  He accused certain Pharisees of being children of the devil, not created by him, but with the characteristics not of a Christian.  Romans tells us we are all born into sin and fall short of the glory of God, but reassures us that at the right time Jesus died for us.  So we could become children of God.  Which is why he explained to Nicodemus why he must be born again.  Born into sin, forgiven and born again into the kingdom of God.  Which can make it hard to tell the real from the fake sometimes.

I have known many church folk over the years, who live like Christians, but do not claim Jesus.  They fulfill their church or social obligations, but deny Jesus.  They do great things in society, but never know God.  He tells them, “be gone, I never knew you.”  While to others, that are lukewarm, he throws up because they make him sick.  Too many live in that gray area that doesn’t exist in scripture, which means that they are unrighteous or lost.  They have denied their advocate, Jesus Christ and have doomed themselves by their choice.  No wannabes, coulda beens, shoulda beens, or might have beens in heaven.  Only those who receive Jesus Christ.  All of your knowledge, morality, service, heritage, culture, denomination, or church affiliation will not help you here.  Those may not be bad things, but do not lead to salvation.  Only knowing Jesus is the way to be saved.

So while I didn’t take time to kiss the cook, I hope she knew how much she helped me out.  How welcome she made me feel in a strange situation.  But knowing bikers, we do it because of who we are, not because of our audience.  A lesson from Jesus, that we need to reflect in our lives.  He loved us first, so we can love others.  Not because of who we are or what we did, but because of who he is.  He is love, no darkness at all.  So if bikers know the fellowship, and can tell the riders from the posers, don’t you think God can too?  Are you for real about Jesus, or filling a pew?  Do you have the knowledge but not the love?  Do you know it all but not know him personally?  Nicodemus one night left confused, but returned 20 some chapters later claiming the body of Jesus.  A rich and powerful man, he risked it all for who he knew, not what he had known. So don’t forget to kiss the cook, or to tell the truth.  Nice people don’t necessarily go to heaven, only saved ones do. It is time to stop looking and start riding, to turn to Jesus and join the family of God.  An honor he places among his children only.  But wishes all to become part of. 

We underestimate brotherhood sometimes, to fully know it we need to become brothers and sisters.  The cook reminded me of that, that she served all, but the brotherhood allowed me into her kitchen for special meals not on the menu.  God has things on his menu for us, if only we come to him.  But yet comes to us when we are down and out.  Only a loving father would do that.  Only a loving God would reach down to us.  Enjoy a special meal with him today, be warmed by the hearth, and enjoy a fellowship reserved only for family.  All are welcome, many are called, only a few chosen.  God has set a place for you at his table today, sit a spell, take your shoes off, y’all come back, hear!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

advice before accepting your next ride

In between having two BMW’s totaled from underneath me, a 1972 R60/5 and a new with only 400 miles R90/6, I had to get around somehow.  Among other things my left wrist was broken in a few places, so It made pulling in a clutch difficult, also with a shoulder separated and a broken collarbone, I went with the doctor on this one and no riding.  Having only motorcycles, if I wanted to get around I learned to hitchhike, which 40 years ago was an accepted way of travel in South Florida.  And I actually got pretty good at it, it seems there is a way or style to get picked up, and once mastering it, which I never did in the few short months, but got good enough I could get a ride pretty easily.  But as with anything free, or any handout, you took what was offered, and it wasn’t always what you wanted.  Besides some weirdoes, you didn’t necessarily get door to door service, and I learned where to be dropped to best get my next ride.  Like some ride bus routes, we hitch hiked that way, and I never had a bad time, bad ride, or bad experience. Some actually turned out pretty good, but you also learned to be a quick character study, and to learn to pass on some.  You asked first “how far you going,” and if you felt like they were a bad choice, turned the down.  Which I am sure worked in reverse, when I was asked first “how far you going?”

But times and people have changed, and hitching a ride is not what it used to be.  Only in an emergency would I consider it anymore, and with cell phones, you really don’t need to, call a taxi or Uber.  But yet nothing beat free when broke, or broken as I was, which only made the healing time drag on.  I have picked up hitch hikers in my time, but since I ride most of the time, I get a thumbs up from them and a free pass.  But one night, in desperation, his, not mine, I gave a guy a ride.  On I-80 in western Pennsylvania, it is barren, and getting gas on my way to Ohio, this guy approached me.  It was pouring, he needed to get where I was headed, and was willing to ride without rain gear.  At least to the next stop, which came none to soon for him, and for me also.  He was soaked, but further down the road, I had picked up someone who didn’t know to ride. Which is dangerous, and I couldn’t wait to get rid of him.  Fro my own selfish reasons....

For some seeking God is like hitch hiking, you take your chances with what comes along.  Too many cults out to get you for their own good, to misdirect you and mislead.  How many times was I invited to a I Ching meeting, a so-called Bible study, or a wealth building club draped around religion.  Only to find myself short of where I needed to be or wanted to go.  Some wanted to add rules to my life to control me.  Some wanted to take advantage of my money, via dues in the name of giving.  Anytime I accepted an invitation, I was at their mercy to go where they were taking me.  Finding out that all that come in the name of Lord are not of the Lord.  At least the Jesus the Bible speaks of....

1 John tells of no one abiding in Jesus Christ sins anymore.  But when we do we have an advocate in him when we confess our iniquities.  But in him, we won’t want to, because we are guided by his spirit.  That our life in inter twined with his in the spirit.  Yet for the wolfs seeking whom they may devour, twisted scripture can lead to disaster.  Like getting in a car you know you shouldn’t, you can be taken for a ride.  But abiding in Christ works two ways, his spirit comes to live in us, and we come to live in him.  Our lives are intertwined like vines, not being able to tell where one starts and the other ends.  Both clinging to each other, but seeking from Jesus the strength we need, the love we need, and the forgiveness we desire.  Sheep who need a shepherd, a person needing a ride, but with someone they can trust.  When we are picked up hitching, both parties have an obligation, the hitcher to respect the driver, the driver to do what he says he will do.  Too often the signals get mixed, and never to our advantage.  In the spirit, the signal is clear, the choice is always ours, and forgiveness is provided for any wrong doing.  But the choice is ours, do we get in the car or not?  Do we stop to pick up the hitcher?  Or are you talked into it like I was that rainy night?  Jesus never forces himself upon you.....do you force him on others?

Abiding in Christ frees us from the bondage of sin, and from being sinned against.  We can make better decisions when we walk continuously with Christ, which abiding is.  Continually, continuous.  Always, all the time.  Like right now.  Living in him frees us from the bondage of sin right now, so we can live godly lives.  Looking back, I was a fair target for the wolf type looking for whom it might kill.  They go after the weakest ones in the pack, and I was damaged.  I was at risk, and vulnerable.  God watched over me even though I didn’t know it or wasn’t saved yet, that is his love.  But the choice to abide in him was mine and always will be.  So beware of those who appear as sheep but inside are ravenous wolves.  The devil is out to seek and destroy, hitching on wherever he can, offering a ride, but not the one you want or need.  Say no to the cults, to a religion that isn’t all about Jesus, that denies his deity.  They may appear friendly, but are out to get  you.  God has given us his spirit to discern, for in this life you will have trials and tribulation.  By abiding in Christ you will know what to do, and who to do it with.  Long before you ask or know, he has provided the way.  Jesus is the way, anything else is a detour meant to destroy.  Jesus looks out for us, are we out looking for him?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

are the years getting shorter, no but your life is

It is fair to say that as a group of people, humans that is, that we want it all, and we want it right now.  When I was young I always wanted to be 12, then when I got there found out I had to pay adult prices at the movies, what a rip.  I couldn’t wait to get out of high school, but then had to make decisions on my own without school telling me when, where, why and how to be.  Then it was starting a career, making money, then more money, then retiring on a disability.  For 63 years I was in a rush, and with less days ahead than lay behind, I want to slow down.   But it seems the world is getting even faster, why does time fly as I get older, I can deal with it while having fun, but why when older? 

I was excited to have sons, and couldn’t wait to ride motorcycles with them, to see them grow up.  Now they are grown up, and I am about to be a grandfather, yet I still see them as younger sons, needing me.  Why did they grow up so fast?  I got what I wanted, but did I?  Was I so much in a hurry that I missed out on the days I had in anticipation of tomorrow?  I have been so blessed by God with a family, friends, and Jesus, not particularly in that order, but yet something inside cries out for more. And today raising a new 13 week, 30 pound American Bulldog puppy, I am again learning patience, hoping she grows out of her puppy hood soon, but not so soon she gets old.  We had Clemenza for 12 years, we thought she would last forever, forever changed.  And now with only my mother left between Theresa and I, we are the old ones.  It happened so soon, so suddenly, that we never saw it coming.  But it is here now, so I make a vow to try to enjoy every day with what I have, looking forward to the future, but enjoying today too, with all its problems, but also with all its blessings.  Dear Lord, I need you more than ever!

We are called the human race, and scripture tells us to run the race to win.  We see it as a sprint, but really it is an endurance race.  While a drag race may be over in a matter of seconds, and at high speed with high thrills, the Baja 1000 takes hours, with some boring sections mixed in with the technical stuff.  We think we are not making progress, we cannot see where we are, until we compare it to other competitors, than either step it up, or continue at the pace we are running.  Going less slow is how they describe it, for some sections are fast. Some are slow.  The winners know how to make the best time in the section without crashing, a lesson we need to apply to life.  For like in racing, to finish first, you must first finish.  Ask Robbie Gordon, who ran out of gas 5 laps away from winning the Indy 500.  I have seen racers lead the whole race, then fade at the end, exhausted.  Some lives are like that, sadder still is when a Christian life is like that.  We are supposed to know better, at least we say we do.  But do we?

How many wait all year for vacation, then hurry and rush through it?  We wait all week for the weekend, then rush through it.  We enjoy the anticipation more than the event itself many times, forgetting we need to endure to the end, and enjoy the time we are in right now.  Sometimes we just need to stop and ask “where is Jesus in this activity?”  And then listen to his answer.  We have learned to be flexible in our touring, but yet cannot in life.  Yet everyday we need to bend, not break and choose Jesus over our plans.  How many good times were missed by our stubbornness, or good times had because we were flexible?  Maybe the adjustments we make tell us more about ourselves than we need to know.

Yet scripture tells us patience produces salvation, God is patient with us, are we patient with ourselves?  Or is tomorrow more important than today?  Maybe the example of having children says it best.  Fro 9 months we can plan, save, rearrange, and get ready.  Yet when the baby arrives, we feel so inadequate.  They cry, wet themselves, demand all our time, and wear us out.  But somehow it is all worth it when they smile.  Maybe that explains how God sees us, children who cry and complain, yet when we call him Dad, his heart melts.  He knows the hard times are all worth it then.  Do we?  Maybe a day of going less slow is what we need.  To rest and enjoy.  God does, so should we.  He looked at his creation and took great joy over what he had created, even knowing what was to come he rested.  We don’t know and don’t rest.  So take the time today and seek God, follow the spirit.  Rest a moment.  If time still seems to be flying, let it.  It isn’t getting any faster, maybe you are getting slower. 

Let the young ones do their time, we have.  Sit back and enjoy what you have with who you have.  And when you have Jesus you have it all.  He only made it to 33 yet lives on eternity, what’s your rush?

Or you can look back and say “if I knew I was going to live so long I would have taken better care of myself.”

love with compassion,

Mike

matthrw25biker.blogspot.com

rebels back then and now

Looking back, I guess those of us who rode to high school were rebels.  The Viet Nam War was still going, it was still 5 years from Saigon becoming Ho Chi Min City, mini skirts were in, so were maxis, Chevy vs. Ford still ruled the sales race, and Honda was in its third year of its CB 750.  Harley was a leisure activity of AMF, and BSA was gone, no mega dealers yet, and if you rode, you still were looked down on.  At least by your parents, but to the girls....a different story.  A few of us rode, maybe 6-7 every day in the spring, we even started parking our bikes in a space just for us, and from Sportster to Yamaha 100, we had the fever.  We were sticking our faces in the wind every chance we got, some would protest the war, some got high, the stylish group went to the Island to drink as the law there was 18, but for the rest of us it was motorcycles.  Some had fast girls and cars, we had faster girls and faster motorcycles....while the Grateful Dead reminded us “of what a long strange trip it has been...” and ours was only beginning. 

But even with almost every bike on the road a Honda, read old Honda ads, they never referred to them as motorcycles, thanks to the Harley image from The Wild One, and so we rode Hondas.  At least to the uninitiated, but within those of us who rode, there was a pecking order.  With the engine size the main criteria, but the electric leg coming in second.  Real men kick started their bikes, on Triumphs it was a love song you hoped ended in making love, as you tickled the carbs, kicked through to release the clutch and find TDC, then jumped down to make it go.  Usually on the first or second try, and to those watching the when the bike rumbled to life, that was manhood.  But on the 1000cc Sporty, that took real men, men so tough they only wore leather, who smoked Chesterfields hidden in their short sleeve t-shirts, and smelled of grease and oil.  A big bike, a size we all dreamt of riding one day, suddenly our 350 cc’s of Honda were kid’s bike, our push button electric leg a sign of childhood, until the light turned green.  And away we went....

While the old bikes vibrated and leaked oil, ours ran smooth, were very quick and quiet.  They couldn’t shake us, the Triumph lost some of us in the curves, the Harley after 80 ate our lunch, but up till then, we ran neck to neck with them.  Leaving behind the parking lot status of cool, when the light changed, so did the attitude.  When the contest for cool changed, when the criteria was speed rather than being seen, when the audience at 80 was much different than the one parked, a new rebel was born.  A division in our ranks, cruising vs. racing, and the two would  never meet again.  One group of rebels becoming two, bad boys vs. fast boys, finally defined by the girls who rode with us, or dreamed of it.  You might have met the nicest people on a Honda, one ride changed all that.  Such were the rebels of my high school back then.....

We were “one nation under God,” but the dividing line became what you rode.  Sadly a lesson learned from religion.  Our town was broken down as Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish, with each a different belief system, yet honoring the same God.  Just different means to that, some historical, some hysterical, and some not even worship at all.  We watched as the Catholic kids didn’t eat meat on Fridays, not even served in our cafeteria, the Lutherans and Baptists celebrated Lent, and the Jewish kids skipped out on Christmas.  All met in separate buildings, like our bike dealers did, and as a kid I never understood all the rules that made the difference.  Like those of us who rode, we all liked to ride, we just did it differently.  But when it came to religion, no one escaped unscathed, as each rule made one denomination better than the other, more religious, but less loving.  And even then, we were all about love, even if it was all about sex.  We knew there was more to life and love, but we didn’t find it in church.  Some did, but the rest of us wanted more....

With many of us turning to Jesus, which was real rebellion.  But really following a tone set 2000 years ago, when Jesus challenged the religious systems of the day.  The old time religion that was good enough for previous generations didn’t make it now.  We sought truth, the truth, and the spirit pointed us to Jesus, who reunited us with his father in heaven.  Some of the people he reunited were not the nicest people you met on Hondas, Harley types, scooter types came too.  Hippies, red necks, and even nerdy kids were being called, and becoming rebels.  Suddenly groups that would never have anything to do with each other were meeting, sharing Jesus, loving each other.  To our own amazement, and the amazement of others.  This Jesus was real, freed us from religion, united us in the spirit.  Ramblers and Sportsters were found parked next to each other, previous loose girls were finding respect, we got high on Jesus instead, and our worlds, the world was changing.  The same spirit that changed Nicodemus, that brought the 12 disciples together was uniting us.  We had been so busy being rebellious we never considered rebelling against sin.  Or turning to God.  Jesus changed all that, 2000 years ago, 45 years ago, and is still changing hearts and lives today.  Rebels then, rebels now. 

Think you are a rebel because you ride a black V-twin?  Wear leather and denim?  Sorry.  Talk tough and think Christians are weak.  Sorry.  Brag on conquests yet left unsatisfied.  Sorry.  It is only when you come to Christ you are really a rebel, you go against sin in all forms, from religion to society.  When you learn to love as Jesus loves you, then do you truly become a rebel.  Some still hide in pews and pulpits, some still attend church thinking that will purify them, but inside still are not at peace.  Take a break from religion, follow the original rebel, and find love without bounds, peace without description, joy beyond feelings.  Rebel from religion and cling to Jesus, and get ready to get a bad rap.  A small group of us who rode in high school were considered rebels and misunderstood.  Long before the motorcycle crowd espoused “let those who ride decide,” Jesus was sending the same message.  It is your decision, how much of a rebel are you?  Rebellious enough to turn to Jesus?  Tough enough to become a Christian?  Bright enough to see the light?  Or still seeking while others have found?  The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.  

Real rebels, saved rebels make it to heaven.  Jesus separates the good from the bad. Once defined by what we rode, we now are defined by who we serve.  Jesus Christ was a rebel to the end, to his death on the cross, something no religious person would do for anyone.  Jesus died so we could live, religion lives on only because there are rebels yet called but not changed.  Jesus lets you choose, religion tells you what to do.  Now what kind of an honorable rebel would be told what to do? Rebels then, rebels now, and forever...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

SORRY!

 The 1930’s brought us many board games, among them Monopoly, of which we all make up our own rules, and SORRY! where you don’t.  But a few weeks back, after a spaghetti meal at Dustin Arms, I sat with a few girls who were playing SORRY!, and they asked me to join in.  Now I have been playing SORRY! for over 55 years, my Grandma had the original game my father played, and I knew all the rules, the strategies, and the fun of sliding into your opponent.  With the ultimate goal of getting all your pieces home.  But these girls knew none of the rules, they didn’t know you only came out on a 1 or 2, that 4 only went backwards, that with an 11 you could change positions with an opponent, and split a 7.  They didn’t know about sliding, except on your own color, and didn’t even go home, they kept going around the board endlessly.  When I tried to explain the rules, they got exasperated, and one finally told me “you don’t know how to play the game.”  And there was no way to convince them different.  So I left, them still going around the board, missing out on all the fun SORRY! could give them, feeling sorry for them.  They had the same board and the same pieces, just not the same objective.  There was no way to win....they kept going around the board never knowing the truth.  They never knew what drawing the SORRY! card meant, and no one ever won, but no one ever lost either.  All the fun was gone, because they didn’t play the game as it was intended.  And I didn’t know how to play....

Many Christians live their life that way, going around the board without knowing the rules, or the rule maker.  Making up their own set of rules, they try to fit in, and when someone tries to show them the right way, they rebel, sometimes taking their game and leaving.  True, sometimes the rules are forced on them, by those who don’t know you cannot legislate love, but they never knew the truth, only saw the headlines, and the notes from the pastor.  They played the game, but were never in it, never losing, but never winning either. 

When we become a Christian we are promised eternity.  But when does eternity begin?  Like infinity, it has no beginning, so going back as far as you can you still are in it, and going forward you will always have more time to go.  We are not taught that eternity is right now, that we are in the midst of it, and it is quality as much as quantity.  Ever have an old saint tell you “I’ve been in church for over 30 years, didn’t tell me about God,” confusing seat time for heart time.  But it is the quality of life we can enjoy now in Jesus, that many substitute for life after death, which we get, but can have the benefits today.  If we turn to the spirit for guidance, and lean not on our own understanding.  Or we can live life like the girls playing SORRY! by their own rules.

It is a weakness when we try to figure out solutions based on our own intellect.  When we do, we become bored, change the rules, or disobey them, ending in frustration.  Our own programs leave us uninterested and bored, leaving us not wanting to be involved.  We lose interest, fall back on our old ways, and soon the joy is gone.  But the problem still stays, with a new set of players.  Where God walks in and is told “you don’ t know the rules.”  Maybe not, but I know Jesus...

How often have you planned and planned and yet God did it his way, and for your benefit?  With blessings you never imagined?  That is the quality of eternity now in the spirit, the “on earth as it is in heaven,” of the Lord’s prayer.  The words of Jesus to his disciples, on how to pray.  The spirit giving life despite our input.  Have you ever asked God to work through you, then did what you had planned anyway?  Do we cry like a baby when we don’t get our way, and complain God doesn’t answer your prayers?  Maybe...if we saw that every obstacle is an opportunity for Jesus to show himself in our life, to make us a true witness of his grace and mercy.  In him we get to reveal his glory, grace, wisdom, and power, no matter the situation.  For when we are weakest, his strength is made perfect.  Now, not after death, but today, right now!  We invited him into our lives, not just for the future, but today, which yesterday was tomorrow.  How little meaning time has when we spend it in the eternity of the right now of Jesus. 

Looking back, we see more than if we looked ahead in the spirit.  If only we trusted him as much before as we do after, eternity would be revealed in us everyday.  You can experience that eternity now in Jesus, by listening for his answer in prayer, by staying in the word, and letting the spirit guide you.  Finding that if you do, you have a greater chance of never having to say you are sorry.  And meaning it!  You see games have rules, and the game is played to win.  The young girls that day had no idea what they were missing, and didn’t want to know.  Does that sound like you and your relationship with God?  You need the spirit, the rule of love, and forgiveness.  Right now.  Those girls never knew the object of the game was to get home, just like Jesus calls to us now.  To come home to God, be forgiven, and walk in his spirit eternally.  With the blessings now and forever.  God’s way, not ours.  If that that you have heard from the beginning is in you, you have eternity now.  You will be abiding in the father and the son, and the spirit.  NOW!  And live a life you never dreamed of in the spirit.  If not, all you can say is “sorry.” Now you know...life to some just a game, but to those of us who know Jesus, it is eternal life. Which gives us a monopoly in the spirit!  To which I am never sorry...for to some life is a bored game only...but in both only the right way will get you home. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com