the Saturday morning meeting or That's Entertainment

Garlick’s Rent a Wreck stood in Durango for many years.  He would take the older cars, spruce them up a bit and rent them, at a sizable price difference than Hertz, Avis, and the other big boys.  While sitting waiting to be rented, they were also up for sale, just in case, Bruce was never one to miss a chance to make a buck.  But what he really was was a showman of sorts, and a Durango tradition, at least when we lived there.  My main contact with him was the once a month gathering at his lot, where he would take a car near death that could no longer be rented, or sold, and in a true PT Barnum display, had a mechanic climb under the car, drain all the oil out, start the engine, and place a brick on the accelerator, while those in attendance would make bets as to how long the engine would run before it seized up completely.  Quite a gathering would show up, even a roach coach sometimes, while betting on the time was conducted.  Not sure if it was legal, but it was a big thing, and hundreds of dollars changed hands.  The one morning I remember most was an old 1962-63 Chevy II had the oil drained, the engine started, and the bets made.  Waiting for the final bang before death, this old Chevy sat and sat, shook, smoked, but refused to die.  For almost 15 minutes the engine roared at redline or above, the sound deafening, but refusing to die.  As the bets continued, it ran on, and finally, with a bang, it gave up and died.  The crowd applauding, those who had the 15 minute mark grabbing all the cash, bragging on how they knew the Chevy engine wouldn’t die, and bragging on ones they had that were the same.  The show over, everyone went their way, some to work, some to breakfast, I went home.  Until the next month...

Now as weird as it may sound, there was a certain thrill in watching and waiting for the engine to die.  My experience with no oil had been a girlfriend who drove 40 miles in her father’s Oldsmobile with the oil light on, until it died in front of her home.  Her father not impressed by her excuse or the fact she didn’t stop.  So maybe that little Chevy engine wasn’t so unusual.  One time at Mercedes Benz a woman came in, her diesel banging louder then ever, her oil light on. Her “should I turn it off?” was met with a resounding “NO?” and a tech poured nine quarts of oil into an engine that held eight, it quieted down, she paid the bill and drove off.  We sing at church about keeping oil in our lamps to keep them burning, yet we fail to acknowledge the light that comes on just before death of an engine.  Might be a lesson in that, maybe that is why God has no warning lights, we would just ignore them anyway....

We all like to be entertained, from sports to movies to racing, it is all a spectator sport.  Just like Garlick used to blow up cars, we found we couldn’t look away, and were disappointed when the car finally gave up.  Over the years in many churches I have been part of, or gave an audience to so called entertainment, I call it such because it did keep your interest, but many times would distort the will for God for entertainment purposes, just to draw a crowd, or to gain attention to itself.  God does not draw attention to himself, but his spirit draws us to him, as no man made act can do.  For instance, one night I attended a faith healer with some friends, Brother Ivy, who would cast out demons, heal the sick, and tell the future, all in God’s name, and afterwards he was invited over for coffee to visit with us.  A short man, greasy hair slicked back, two tone shoes, and the traditional double knit suit, he was the center of attention at the home of my friend.  It seemed he still had some spunk left in him after his stage histrionics, his theatrical show now put on for a private audience.  After continued yelling, God isn’t deaf, so why yell at us, he had us stand in a circle and was going to give us the holy spirit.  As he pushed on the ones in the circle, they fell or sat, supposedly by the spirit, then he pushed me.  And I pushed him back, setting him on his but, looking up at me with great surprise.  I knew God’s touch, this wasn’t it, and he was revealed for what the was, a performer, using the name of God.  He may have believed what he was doing was Godly, but without a sound, he got up and left after I pushed back.  No words, no explanation, no healing power as he advertised.  He was exposed and left....

Jesus healed people in many ways.  One time it was mud in your eye, another just touching his robe.  One man had enough faith Jesus didn’t even go to his daughter, he healed her from a distance.  All without much showmanship, for he was all about giving glory to his father, he was just obeying orders.  But like the blind man was asked after receiving his sight, “I don’t know if he is good or bad, all I know was I was blind and now I can see.”  And the others who knew him saw the change in him.  It was all about Jesus, no screaming, no theatrics, no showmanship.  It was about the power of the holy spirit changing lives, not us.  But working through us, we get to see him in a way the others don’t.  It is the spirit who gives life, as when I had open heart surgery and my aorta exploded, afterwards my surgeon, not a Christian man, told me “it was evident God intervened.”  It was the spirit that gave life, so no man can take the credit.  Yet some still line up like we did at Garlick’s waiting for the end, waiting to be entertained, but missing out on the movement of the spirit in our lives.  We want the emotional trip, but the spirit goes deeper, where no words can explain.  For the things of God are infinite, unlike the finite life of an engine without oil.  So Jesus tells us to keep oil in our lamps, the oil representing his spirit, to keep us alive and ready.  To give us life, should our real life adventure not show up on the dipstick.  His oil is real, spiritual in nature, and needs to be checked, which is why we continually need to seek him.  If you are living based on emotions, your heart will deceive you, no pun intended in my case. 

Is church boring, your Bible reading not as exciting?  Do you need the feel to be entertained as many churches now have concerts, shows, and events to bring in the flock?  Feeling empty after a night out, you need Jesus.  Kings and kingdoms, sports teams, celebrities will all fade away.  Cars get old and worn out, so does our body.  But without the oil in the form of the holy spirit, we have no life.  While some speak of quantity, Jesus talks of quality.  We are only here for a short time, only God knows how long.  You may be the engine without oil, the brick on the gas pedal roaring at high speed, feeling pretty good, then one helicopter ride changes it all.  The spirit gives life, it doesn’t sell it, pedal or peddle it, or negotiate for it.  Jesus is the life, without him we are on borrowed time. 

Church may be just another Sunday morning, like the Saturdays at Garlick’s, and when the show was over, we all went our separate ways.  Make Jesus a 7 day event, don’t wait till Sunday for what you need and can have today.  Jesus is open now and waiting patiently for you, to fill your oil back, to give you his spirit.  Only he who is God can do the things of God, no man can substitute for your salvation.  Your healing.  Your success.  Without him it is just pedal to the metal until the light comes on and you seize up.  All in an instant...we are changed in the twinkling of an eye by Christ, we die in the same twinkling of an eye without him.  Only God will honor his warranty of eternal life in Jesus.

Like the ad says “pay me now or pay me later.”  Jesus paid it all for us years ago.  In that instant you are facing death and danger, you will go into your survival mode first, make yours Jesus now.  And when trouble strikes, you won’t be pushed around by showmanship, you will not be entertained for a morning.  The faithful showed up at Garlick’s on time, they knew what to expect.  Do you know what to expect from Jesus?  Just remember, he has an encore coming second to none, it is called resurrection, I have a seat for it, do you? 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the one eared used car salesman

Having met the man on several occasions, I can tell you that the part about the one ear is true, but will leave it at that.  Bruce had a used car lot, really selling used up or abused cars on Lomas NE in the 1970’s.  A big man, think of Grizzly Adams in a baseball hat, this is before they became popular and only truckers and Little Leaguers wore them.  Always in jeans and t-shirt, his hat pulled down low, you would never notice his right ear was missing, the hair and hat did its job, but then again, who goes looking for a missing ear.  His lot was just that, a lot that looked like the ones that sell Christmas trees in December, worn out gravel, potholes that would swallow a Toyota, and cars, lots of them.  Probably just as he bought them, dirty, used, and all for sale for a set price.  You didn’t negotiate with Bruce, you asked “how much?” he told you and he expected you to buy for cash only.  No credit here, money talked and credit walked.  It was then into his office, an old travel trailer from the fifties, tiny and paint faded, with “USED CARS” hand painted on it.  Think of Bruce a size 12 fitting into this size 10, NFL kickers do it as routine, Bruce did it because he could.  He used to brag that he made $300 per car sale, big money in 1977, and averaged 30 cars a month, maybe stretching the truth as he was the only employee, and often was out looking for other “pots” as he called his inventory to sell.  And that is where I met him...

I was selling AMC Ramblers and Jeeps.  He stopped by often with stories to tell, and to see what we had to sell.  When no one else wanted it, Bruce would buy it for his price, he was the same whether buying or selling, and known by all the dealers.  And as the new guy, got to hear his story about his missing ear.  Not sure how, but he claimed it got cut off when his head got slammed on by a car door.  Scooping up the ear, he rushed to the hospital where they sewed up his head where it once was, and then placed his ear in his stomach area, a scar he showed with pride, to store the ear until he had time to get it sewn back on.  How many times he had told the story, and lifted his shirt to show the scar is unknown, I saw it numerous times, along with the story.  But never saw the ear, only where it had been.  We all just assumed it was sewn up inside Bruce for safekeeping, only he knew for sure, the stuff legends and lore are made of. 

Every time I go by a used car lot, I think of him.The string of lights, some burnt out advertising USED CARS, that little trailer where so many deals were transacted, but really I think of Bruce, no make that his ear.  Not seen, but heard of.  Like faith, the substance of things not seen but believed, many of us know the story of Bruce and his ear and readily accept it as truth, while some may cast a doubtful eye, even after seeing the scar.  But how many want to believe a story, but have trouble with the gospel?  From the Bible cannot be taken as truth, to just a history book, a pretty reliable one, to Jesus was just a teacher and prophet, many choose to believe a lie rather than fact.  Bruce’s scar led many to believe his story, but how many are like Thomas, who didn’t doubt, as religion has painted him, but wanted proof before he trusted?  Thomas wanted to see the nail prints in his hand, he knew the hands of Jesus, and would recognize them, and wanted to see the scars on his side, maybe even touch them.  Sound like many today?  Who believe Jesus is dead, but Elvis is alive in Vegas.  But Thomas never touched Jesus for proof, he knew his voice, recognized his hands, and fell to his knees, he didn’t doubt, he wanted proof, and the spirit gave it to him.  Just like he does to each one of us who accept him.  Jesus knew just what it would take to change us and he still does, from Thomas the non-doubter to the skeptics of today.  The proof of a living and infinite God, the spirit is not hidden, but available, and is more than a Bible story.  Maybe step back in the story helps....

Jesus had been crucified, the disciples scared for their lives.  Where was his body?  Had it been stolen?  So they huddled together upstairs hiding, when Jesus appeared, walking through the wall.  All but Thomas, but we never know where Thomas was.  Perhaps by his character, he was out looking, he wanted proof, he wasn’t afraid as were the others, and when told about Jesus and his appearance, he wanted to see and touch him like the others did.  But they only saw, they didn’t touch, and neither did he, as Jesus was not resurrected yet.  It took faith, supported by works, and God provided both.  And he still does via his spirit.  I choose to be sided with Thomas anytime vs. the misleading story told in church.  I rather know Jesus is alive and willing to prove it, not hiding himself from me, but making himself available 24/7.  He left his spirit, remember he will never leave nor forsake us.  It is us who have left him and believed church tradition rather than trusting the scripture.  Which comes alive in the spirit, revealing the mysteries of Jesus to us.  Need help with your unbelief, seek Jesus.  Need a used up car, seek Bruce.  Have a used up life, call on Jesus.  Who when Paul refers to us as pots for the light of Christ to shine through, means you and I. All we need is that new owner to make us new again.  All we need is Jesus.

I don’t know where Bruce and Jesus were in a relationship, but when scripture says “to him who has an ear let him hear,” I think of the ear buried inside Bruce.  How many of us denied Jesus until the spirit intervened, and we had both ears?  How about the deaf, how do they hear?  By his spirit we are saved.  Somewhere out there in the string of used car lots, there are many pots looking for new homes.  Used up people that no one wants, but are for sale to the highest bidder.  Jesus won that bid 2000 years ago, and Thomas accepted it.  So did 11 of the 12, the one who rejected him went out and hung himself.  What did they know that Judas didn’t?  A who rather than a what.  Do you have the ear to hear?  The spirit is calling, and unless you say yes you are saying no.  Thomas wanted proof like the others had, and Jesus provided it.  He will for you too.  Having known Jesus for two score and two years, I can tell you he is real and alive.  His light never went out, and he appeals to doubters today.  Both Bruce and Jesus had a hole in their side where the truth can be found.  Who you gonna believe?  He who has an ear let him hear, in God we trust, all others pay cash.  Just like on Bruce’s lot....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

like minded men

An old girlfriend, not really old, but a long time ago old, gave me a postcard that read “quit bragging about what a great lover you are, show me!”  Unsaved at the time, that was quite an invitation, but I hung onto it, and later after meeting Jesus, it took on a new meaning.  We are told to be doers not just sayers of the word, to put feet to our actions, to show the love of Christ through our lives.  I took it very serious, and when driven by the holy spirit, I got to see a side of Jesus I hadn’t through just reading and studying.  But being a doer can also isolate you, as I was to find out.....

I was at our Thursday evening Bible study, with a group of “like minded men,” or so they advertised.  I had known many of them for years, and this group of 15-20 was steeped in the word, and tradition.  I was always wary of those who depend on tradition instead of their own experience, and often times got into trouble asking questions, and questioning the teaching.  It was evident that whatever the pastor said was gospel, I had been raised in Christ differently.  Which I later found was not just germane to this church.  We were varied in our social group, from rich to poor, but we all called ourselves Christians.  Some men were even considered to be “on fire for the Lord,” never quite knew what meant, or “good strong men in the word.”  With one who was constantly correcting others with his 10 pound Greek to English dictionary.  Among ourselves we were prideful, and like the ad in the bulletin said, “like minded men.”  And then one night, something happened...

A new guy stumbled in, literally, who had been living in his car.  Recently out of jail, he looked disheveled, hungry, and exhausted.  We fed him all the cookies and juice we had, and he sat in with us, telling us how he was a Christian, but had fallen away.  The leader led us in prayer for him, that God would change him and help him, then he had a request.  He needed a place to sleep, at least for the night and to shower, maybe a meal, could anyone help?  And like good, like minded men, they all got silent.  An eerie uncomfortable silence.  So I spoke up, “he’s going home with me.”  Seems I wasn’t so like minded, thankfully not like hearted as the others.  I got a chance to show what a great lover Christ is, not just talk about it.  After taking him home, and introducing him to Theresa, I could not get hold of her, so this was a surprise, he stayed with us a few nights, sleeping 14 straight hours after eating a meal and showering.  Looking back I saw Jesus, they just saw a man down on his luck, a homeless guy who invaded their meeting.  I saw the least of them, not the man I took home, but the like minded ones that called themselves Christian.  I left that church after that, and still get their emails for like minded men to get together, just so you are like them.  Now I know better, sadly they do too.

How many claim to know Jesus but leave him at the front door?  Claim or brag to be like minded in a church so they fit in, meeting the standards set by the church, but falling short of Jesus?  Did you ever consider the fact Jesus knew and befriended both the rich and poor, and all in between?  He wasn’t poor, but humbled himself, never owning property, having no place to lie his head, had to borrow clothes, and even was laid in a borrowed tomb?  How would he fit into your fellowship today?  But yet he gave up all the riches in heaven for us.  Consider this, that after a prayer and Bible study one day, when the disciples all left to return to their homes, he retreated to the Mount of Olives, for he had no home to go to.  We often refer to what he said in the Olivet Discourse, but do we remember where he retreated to after?  Maybe these like hearted men of 2000 years ago were no different than today.  With one exception, we have the holy spirit to guide, they didn’t yet.  But when they did, what a difference it would make!

Jesus told us the poor would always be with us, we see homelessness and those in jail, Jesus saw those who without him the poor.  Poor in spirit , he called them.  Have a good FICO score but no Jesus?  You are mentioned in the Bible.   Agree with the men and pastors of the church, but have no time for those in need?  You are really blind to your biggest need, the love of Christ.  We are saved individually, we are also judged individually by God.  Falling back on the excuse of being like minded will not cut it on judgment day. When Jesus asked “when did you see me,” what will your answer be?  Are you so busy looking forward to him you are not seeing him now?  His answer is simple, and just for us.  “Whenever you see someone in need, you see me.  And whoever does for the least of them, does for unto me.”  For me it was one night providing food and shelter to a stranger.  Breaking away from the religion of like mindedness, and stepping out with the spirit.  He became poor so we could become rich.  What do you withhold from him?  A pastor may mention your tithes, does God need your money or does the church?  What are you withholding from God while being like minded?  Are you content to be part of the group, or walk with Jesus?  That night when the collection plate came around, I put in part of myself instead of money.  You judge who got the biggest reward for their giving.  What are you withholding from God today?  In him we have all we need, sometimes he needs us to be the messenger or vessel.  Are you like minded with men or Jesus?  Your words may say one thing, your actions another.  It is a terrible thing to live without the Lord.  There may be security in meeting with like minded men, I rather place my trust in Jesus.  If that makes me an outsider, I take it as a compliment.  I prefer to be one in the spirit, can I find anyone who will agree with me?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

don't miss him this time around

Talking with a friend on the phone the other day, he asked “how do you spell Christian?”  Before I could answer “Just make a cross,”  he muttered “I guess I am one,  I should know.”  How to spell it or if you are one?  The conversation went on, but it left me thinking, how many think they are Christians but don’t even know what one is?  Mention Jesus in the equation, they get flustered, “why bring him up?”  So one thing I started to consider was all the myths about being a Christian that are out there, and the misleading of many.  Without Jesus you cannot be a Christian, remember his name is Jesus The Christ, the messiah.  The Jewish people, although the apple of God’s eye  denied him the first time, don’t make the same mistake now, for he will return calling for his church, those who believe in him to take us home.  No Jesus, no Christianity, they re still waiting, depending on signs.  What are you depending on?

The cults are not Christians, even though the LDS uses Jesus in their name, their Jesus is not the one of the Bible.  Beware, they are misled, the true Jesus is the son of God.  JW’s deny Jesus and his deity, and are going to hell, a place they don’t believe in.  But they are still going, and don’t have to, if they recognize who Jesus is and turn to him.  But what about those that fill pews in mainline so-called Christian churches each Sunday?  They give to the church faithfully, and outwardly may exhibit godly actions, but without Jesus, they aren’t.  And may get angry or upset when you ask about him.  An old boss once told me “don’t tell me about being a Christian, my family gives 15% to the church.”  How many give to the church, the Bible says give unto God.  There is a difference, you know.  Also you are not guaranteed going to heaven, or are a Christian just because someone in your family is saved.  An old biker, a Triumph mechanic once assured me of his salvation through his wife, she knew Jesus and he was told God will not break up the family.  Truth is, he was by denying Jesus.  We choose our own fate, and depending on anyone else but Jesus to save you will leave you still lost.  So there are a lot of nice people who are being misled and living a lie, thinking Christianity is one thing, when it is another.  So what is a Christian?

Don’t believe Wikileaks, their take is believing in the Abrahamic covenant, no mention of Jesus.  What does God say in his word, always a good place to start?  Acts gives us three verses to tell us, After teaching men at Antioch, Barnabas and Paul called them Christians.  They adhered to the teaching of the apostles in thought, word, and deed.  Even Agrippa asked Paul “could you even make me a Christian in such a short time?”  Later Peter says do not be ashamed for suffering for being a Christian.  In Titus we get more insight, that Jesus came not because we were clean, but because the dirt of sin kept us from God.  His coming was merciful.  Like Romans says “at just the right time,” and Ephesians ties it together, we are saved by grace so that none should boast.  We cannot save ourselves!  Without Jesus, you cannot or will not be saved, and cannot be a Christian.  But you can become one...

John the beloved tells us that he who does not do the things of God is a liar, and God is not in him.  Whoever claims to be a Christian must live like Jesus did, walking in the spirit.  Something we cannot do on our own, it takes Jesus.  The Old Testament was all about laws and keeping them, or how they kept us from God when we disobeyed.  The New Testament is all about Jesus, and his grace and mercy, how he sacrificed himself, he became our advocate, and left his spirit to guide us until the day we go to heaven.  So how do we know?  God gave us his spirit, and the fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, meekness, long suffering, and self control.  From him, not on our own.  When we repent, accept Jesus as our savior and become born again, his spirit resides in us, and the fruit begins to grow.  We cannot do it on our own.....

So Jesus made it easy to become a Christian, just turn to him, but it is hard to be one.  If we try to do it alone.  Again with his spirit....we can do all things in Jesus Christ who strengthens us.  But yet we walk around pronouncing judgments on those who do no meet our criteria, or one of a denomination.  Jesus simply said “believe on me and be saved.”  No catechism to learn, no ceremony, no tests to be found worthy, just believe.  He does the rest.  So we can rest, in him.  And it starts with us knowing we are a sinner.  Sin is fun or we wouldn’t do it, but it has a price we cannot pay.  When we realize what we are doing is wrong, we will repent, turn from it.  When we admit our sin, and ask Jesus into our heart, we are saved.  And the changes begin...

Our potty mouth is cleaned up.  We have a different attitude, we no longer judge but love.  We forgive, a big deal, for without it, we cannot love our fellow man as we love Jesus.  We begin to read our Bibles because we want to, and by the spirit we begin to understand the things of God.  Our old crowd begins to be less desirable, we want to hang out with other believers, and soon the world sees something different in us,and about us.  We want to be baptized, a pubic confession of who Jesus is in our lives, not for salvation as some will tell you, but because Jesus was baptized, and we should be too.  As our new walk in Christ begins, the world sees Jesus in us, we are new creatures in Christ, behold the old has passed away. And we desire more and more of Jesus every day.  Something no religion or denomination can fill.  We all start out as sinners, we don’t have to die that way.  Are you saved?

So how do you spell Christian?  J-E-S-U-S!  Simple so we can get it, free so we can afford it.  Let the world have its religion and boasting on itself, I rather boast on Jesus and what he has done in my life.  So easy to describe  a blind man given sight by Jesus said when asked about him “all I know is once I was blind and now I can see.”    Believing is seeing, the world missed him the first time around when they saw him and didn’t recognize him.  Don’t make the same mistake now, as no man is promised tomorrow, and at any moment we can be called home, individually or by the rapture.  Absent in the body, is present with the Lord....it all happened at the cross, and ended at the empty tomb.  Resurrected, so we can be also.  More than a Jesus sticker on your car or a perfect attendance record at church, he is the way, the truth, and the life.  So how will you know?  Don’t worry, you will.  Because you will know him.  Not about, but know him personal.  No words to describe it, you need to experience him yourself.

Don’t miss him this time around...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com 

change for a quarter

I may not be able to give you directions to La Habra, or readily find it on the map, but I can get there without either.  Read I can get there, maybe not you.  For example, Wayne and I had gone ahead to a meeting then a picnic and Theresa would drive up later.  After arriving at the picnic grounds, from the other direction, I gave her directions that were easier than the route I took, “just come up the 405, get off at Beach Blvd., and go right for about 4 miles, park is on the right.  Can’t miss it.”  An accomplished traveler, she followed them, and then I got the phone call, “where are you, I’m at the beach.  There is or was no park like you said.”  She had followed my directions exactly, good directions I thought with one exception, they were wrong.  I didn’t know the exit off the 405 at Beach took you under and then brought you not going east, not west.  She had followed them exactly, her right was my wrong.  Today when I pass that exit I laugh, but that day.....

But La Habra, in particular Beach Blvd. has a claim to fame many don’t know about.  A direction that established the 1/4 mile distance for racing, the benchmark for performance today.  “What’ll she do in the quarter?” tells us how fast the car or bike is, but in 1949 the quarter set the standard for time and distance instead of running from telephone pole to pole.  The story goes, and pictures and those in attendance back it up, a man with a horse that was fast off the start, would go around looking for races for money.  His horse was trained to bolt at the drop of his hat, it truly was fast, and had won many races against hot rods.  But this day all was to change, as the hot rod challenger was sober, part of the scenario was get him drunk and bragging, setting him up to lose, and the race was on.  Between poles about a 1/4 mile apart, they raced, the horse had him to 35 mph, then the deuce passed him and won, by a nose.  Previous races had been held to 50-60 yards in which the horse could win, but in the quarter, it all changed.  The car won, if only by a nose, and the unofficial distance became official.  Such is the legend, backed by the truth.  Today the car lives on, changing owners many times as hot rods do, was fully restored and resided in a museum for years.  Now it is coming up for auction, fully restored, and expected to bring between $160-180,000.  No report of what ever happened to the horse...or its owner.  Such is the origin of drag racing....

Drag racing and speed contests are nothing new, and continue today at every red light.  All it takes is two guys over loaded with testosterone and a big ego, fast car or bike, and the desire to sacrifice their license.  I still get the feeling, like when I had a project bike, a Rocket 3 with a Carpenter head, normally aspirated.  It dynoed at 220 hp, stock was 150, and sounded like a NASCAR car.  When at the first light Mr. Loud Pipes save lives Harley comes up, blips his throttle in his pathetic show of manhood, and, looking me in the eye.  So I revved the Rocket back, and when the light turned green, he putzed out on me, just pulling way slow.  There is fast and then there is fast, he gave in just by the sound, if only he knew its twin sister ran a 1/4 in 8.99 seconds@ 155 mph.  I’m sure he will tell the story different, if he tells it at all...

We all have a story to tell, God calls it our testimony.  It belongs to us, and no other, and even though we are encouraged to share it, it will always be ours and ours alone.  Scripture gives it value, as it tells us “the word of your testimony and the blood of the lamb saves.”  But rather than share something personal, many rather engage in theological arguments over scripture.  Some claim it has changed over the years and translation, painting God as forgetful.  Some claim it is fiction, but yet when historians such as Josephus who was there in New Testament times confirms the events, they them try another argument.  They fail to see how all scripture is inspired by God, the authors were just the recorders, not the origin.  No one was there in the beginning, it took the spirit to reveal it to Moses, just as it did to reveal it to Paul, John, Luke, and all the Old Testament prophets.  Inspired by God, directed by his spirit, they wrote the Bible, THE Bible, not a religious book, but a book about God, showing how he worked and works through his people. Unlike the origin of the 1/4 mile, Jesus is verified in history by it, and was read and written when those contemporaries who were there could have disputed its truth.  But didn’t, because it is the truth.  And a funny thing about the truth is revealed, it is the truth whether you believe it or not, the truth doesn’t change, we do.  And just like the Harley rider changed his attitude when he heard the Rocket, our lives change when we read the Bible, inspired by the spirit.  Who reveals the mysteries of Christ to us.  Without the spirit, it is still the truth, you just won’t get it.   And will continue to make excuses for your sin.

Without witnesses the story of that day on Beach Blvd. would be more legend than fact.  God knows about those that doubt, and calls us to be his representatives on earth, telling people about Jesus, sharing our testimonies and seeing lives changed.  The one who inspired the book is also the one who affects the change, we are just the messenger.  Let God do his job, you do yours.  Share.  Or end up giving or taking directions like I did to Theresa.  I meant well, I was wrong.  Don’t you make the same mistake.

The change for a quarter took place on the road, and along the side of the road where the horse ran along, see the picture.  On the road, or along the road, the power of your God inspired testimony has great strength.  No preaching, but telling of Jesus in your life.  He gives us new testimonies everyday, use them and live them.  Pass them on.  No story is told of after the race the jockey’s reaction.  He had never lost, but when they changed the distance, it all changed forever.  You may be in it for a sprint, but know life is an endurance race, to the end, or which we don’t know where or when.  So know who, and know where you will spend eternity.  Don’t lose by the length of a hood like the horse did, be in it for the distance.  “Change for a quarter?”  Now you know the real story. 

Pete Henderson drove the deuce to victory establishing the 1/4 mile as the standard.  God sent Jesus to be the standard.  And they’re off...living life a 1/4 mile at a time.  Still.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

somewhere under the radar

As a kid of the late fifties and the sixties, I saw suburban growth that had never existed before.  In the woods where we once played and pretended, now bulldozers had cleared them away and new houses were springing up.  We weren’t allowed on these building sites during the day, but would watch from a safe distance, dictated by carpenters telling us to back off for our own good, and mesmerized by the building process.  But while watching from the safety of the seat of our Schwinns, our minds were going full speed, we would build too.  We would go and scout out an area where there were still woods to play in, then begin the process of finding the properly aligned trees to build the tree forts of our dreams.  We were the architects, the contractors, the masons and carpenters, we drove the bulldozers and backhoes, at least in our own minds.  But after the workers went home, all the rules changed.....

We never thought of it as stealing, we only took the scraps and scoured the ground for nails before our shoes found them, gathering up enough frees supplies to build our forts.  Rickety and unstable at first, we soon learned some construction techniques, and would scrape enough money together to buy some 2x4’s, and our construction and forts soon showed great improvement.  We observed, we copied, we watched some more, and through experience we got better.  But the key was the free wood and nails we built them from, all we had to do was supply the labor, which was free too, as we couldn’t charge for it, and had plenty of time during summer vacation.  But it seemed that as soon as we built the better fort, along came a surveying crew with sticks and paint marking off where the new homes would be, and our forts would be expendable.  We learned a lot of lessons in watching, building, rebuilding, and obtaining parts and planning.  Looking back it was our kid’s intuitions and desires that drove us, never  heard of a class in school on fort building or how to source scraps of wood and nails, but we learned more by doing than we could from a book.  It was hands on, and along the way we learned of mercurichrome from stepping on nails, the importance of hard soled shoes, how to miss the thumb when hammering and measuring both the inside and the outside distances before nailing.  We learned as we go, without slide rule or computer, we built our forts to last.  And they often did, until the next bulldozers arrived....

Although our parents cast a wary eye towards our building, no one ever got hurt, no eyes got poked out, the worst I remember was sore thumbs from poor aiming.  Which you cleverly hid from your mother at dinner time.  We went out each morning excited, worked and sweated all day, “just playing” if you asked, and went home at night all sweaty, dirty, filthy, and wiped out, sleeping well, so we could get up and do it all over again the next day.  We learned how to delegate work to each other, how to finance by kicking in the dimes and nickels we all had, who to send for supplies, who to scout the building sites, and whose mom made the best lunches.  We argued, we would sometimes fight, we got upset, we got our feelings hurt.  Then a few minutes after were back to building our forts again.  We were kids, we were normal, having fun, staying out of trouble and applying life to our life.  It would only be later when girls and cars interfered we would see how much fun we really had, and the importance of team work.  Maybe that is why we look back so fondly and the memories are all good. It was the summers off with little parental guidance that we really learned life’s lessons, all without cracking a book or doing any homework.  There has to be a lesson in there somewhere...

And then there was theology.  Lessons, memorization, Sunday school and church.  Rules and regulations, a list of thou shalt nots, and all the fun was taken from us.  We just wanted to be kids out playing, they thought it was all about knowledge and obedience.  They taught from books, we learned from doing.  A lesson I apply to my life today.  I am blessed to work with many Christians who are our doing what God has asked them to do with no formal training.  No budgets, meeting, plans or processes, just the spirit to guide as we go.  When we need things, we ask God and then wait as he supplies.  From clothes to beds, from food to water, housing and medical, he never fails.  When we needed food for Dustin Arms, it was Nick who was directed to Pastor Pete, who lets us raid is freezer each week and take all we want.  With joy.  Which has inspired other men, Jay and George to source food and share it also.   Sam and Kay provide more clothes than we need, blankets, robes, curtains and rugs.  We give them a list, they fill it.  And always have more than we ask.  Nick has others within the building help out, clean and vacuum, clean the toilets, and help with repairs.  All without drawing a salary, without a budget, and without seeking funds.  Much like when we were kids, we use what God has provided, and when follow his plans, we are blessed, and others are encouraged.  We study how to apply the Bible to our lives, not study and memorize, but apply it to the problems we face.  No homework other than pray and if a need arises, fill it.  We get to see the gospel in action rather than just words on a page.  We get to see the forgiveness of Jesus in action, people saved and lives changed, and they pass it on to others.  Because they want to, not have to.  Rather than form a team and go out and share Jesus, we try to live him.  Don’t expect perfection though, we are still a work in progress.  A process not completed yet....

But we are out and among the people, not cooped up in church or study.  We don’t have to look for the hurting, they are among us, and all need Jesus.  What shows his love better than feeding the hungry or giving water to the thirsty?  Are you reading the book, or are you becoming a new testimony of what Jesus was telling us?  We look at the small things, and one in particular is blessing me, abundantly.  A guy who is schizophrenic, on meds, but loves the Lord, because of what we have done for him, now is out helping others.  At first it was just trinkets found on the street to be put I the collection plate at church, we do not solicit money, God provides, and then he started giving me cans of food, because he didn’t want me to be hungry.  Now he is passing out CARE backs we provide to the homeless, sharing the love of Christ with others, and be blessed.  No class or lecture could ever teach him what the spirit is doing in his life.  Many hands make light work, and in the loving hands of Jesus Christ, we have all we need.  Somewhere under the radar, we see the blessings from Jesus, and get to pass them on.  We are part of his ministry, part of his family. 

You don’t have to look far to help someone, in the next pew or parking place. Jesus took us in as strangers, and many of us were and are strange, some stranger than others.  The forts we built only lasted for a season, the love of Christ we share never ends.  You may be the one out looking for the right scraps to build, or be the scrap that is picked up and used after being discarded.  It takes all of us, we are all important to God.  We all have a gift and talent to share, it takes love to reveal it. 

The message is Jesus, the way is Jesus, the supplier is Jesus.  A God who understands and wants to include us in his daily life.  I and others get to do it daily, and see lives changed by it.  God invites you today to be part of his work on earth, you may get your hands dirty, may miss a meal, may even see your life changed.  And as he does, others will see too.  Scripture tells us that he is preparing a mansion of glory for us in heaven, I just know mine will be a fort.  With room for all my friends, including the one with the nail pierced hands.  He too was a carpenter, and who knows better than he how to build?  Or restore? 

Thanks to all who serve and encourage. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot com