tie downs or the right t-shirt for the occasion

My whole life I have hated wearing ties.  Well maybe not all of it, in school on game days we wore ties and sport coats, but that went away with graduation.  I have always felt more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt, but many times in my career found myself wearing a tie.  In sales we were taught to dress one step above your audience, what is one step above a grease covered mechanic?  Or an overpriced celebrity wife in her expensive running suit?  But it seemed as I rose up the ladder to financial success, the mode of dress was to reflect it.  Even at company functions, dress up.  Seriously, who looks more out of place in a suit and tie than a young mechanic, with grease still under his fingernails?  Constantly loosening his collar...so I state my case.  With possible exceptions to dress codes, at Mercedes Benz we were allowed to go tie less in the summer, which I extended well into the winter months, of which I was daily reminded, but the discipline was worth the comfort.  At Land Rover we all wore the trademark polo shirts in various colors, not a tie to be found.  But in my first California job selling, I made the mistake of winning some awards, and was expected to wear a suit, first mistake, and a tie, I’m outta here.  Or at least I tried....

I was well known for my lack of wearing a tie, and I had made it plain at the awards banquet I would be tie less.   No tie downs for me, I was going to celebrate, and every time I saw the National Sales Manager he reminded me of the dress code, which I ignored.  It went from telling, to requesting, to asking, to begging, to finally, just a few minutes for me?  And him carrying around an extra tie in his brief case for me, just in case.  In my persistence I was wearing him down, and he held his breath when I walked into the room that night.  Would I be tie less, or tied down?  He had neglected the power and influence of my wife, and when I showed up in a tie, he took all the credit for my tie all night.  Even giving me a nickname in the company “Mike who won’t wear a tie,” I had succumbed to a dress code.  Today I have one collared shirt, no ties, and one pair of non-blue jeans.  Just in case I win an award again.....with a supply of t-shirts for all occasions.  I mean,who wears a car shirt to a motorcycle event?  Or a Harley shirt to a Honda show?  But my shirts are a story of where I have been, what I have ridden, and what I have eaten.  Some stains from some meals are permanently embossed, no that wasn’t lunch, that was dinner, in Santa Fe.  We all should be as comfortable, and dressing in layers as all good bikers do, now my sweatshirt, no hoodies please, is expanding with my t-shirts.  And no tie down after effects...

There was a time when Christian t-shirts were in my wardrobe, until it was pointed out to me “do you need to wear a shirt to tell the world you are a Christian?”  I tell a pastor friend his Jesus shirt is sure to get him a seat alone on the bus, but he doesn’t get it.  And now not wearing Christian colors any more, can blend in better with those who need to hear the gospel, and don’t have an agenda of being preached at, or an argument won showing how superior they are.   It seems when I wore a Christian shirt it was to impress my Christian friends, who thought it was cool, I’m over that, just as you may think it’s cool to wear a Triumph or Harley shirt.  I just like certain shirts, with a few Indian and Honda shirts now being worn daily.  And I ask myself, could you see Jesus in a t-shirt, and if he did, what would it say?  Your answer may surprise you.....

The night Jesus was arrested in the Garden, Judas had to greet him with a kiss as preplanned to identify him.  No outstanding characteristics, no special dress code, he fit in with the crowd, and was a part of it.  He could have dressed upscale like the Pharisees, or drawn attention to himself, but he didn’t.  But somehow in all things he always gave his Father in heaven the credit.  An example I have been trying to emulate for years, with limited success.  After being in the spotlight on occasions, God showed me how I got more done and was more effective if I just sat in the back and let him be God.  Seems he doesn’t need a PR man or team, he does need servants.  Ambassadors who he can shine his light through.  So when it became less about me, or the shirts, I fit in better.  How many bikers would listen to a three piece suit witnessing to them?  A joke I pulled on Oceanside Mayor Jim Woods on two Torches Across America starts.  His first time in a suit, I reminded him, “Jim, when this crowd sees a man in a suit addressing them, it reminds them of the man in court prosecuting them.”  Jim got it, for the next year, he showed up, announcing “look Mike, no suit!” bragging on his Hawaiian shirt.  Jim got it, and my vote, if I lived in his town. 

Tie downs can show up when least expected, when we care more about us than the person we are meeting, it shows.  Best put as “when they know how much you care, it won’t matter how much you know.”   Or what you wear, only how you love.  Jesus stood out in a crowd by who he was, love doesn’t demand its own way, we do.  So common that Judas had to point him out, but the love of Christ won out in the end.  Naked on the cross.....so heed the warning in scripture about putting the well dressed man in a better seat.  Or giving him the preeminence.  You may be putting your pride before Jesus, and you wouldn’t want to miss out.  We look at the outer man, God looks at the inner man.  No tie downs, only a rejoicing of knowing the right t-shirt for the occasion.  And being able to pick Jesus out of a crowd.  How would he find you?  What message are you sending? 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

boots and bonnets

You gotta love the English, if nothing else they are so English.  Even speaking their own language, English, which is far different, and somehow superior to ours.  Opinion, not fact.  Having a soft spot in my head for English cars and motorcycles, I have had overcome the translation from the homeland to the colonies, bloody Colonists, we muck everything up.  But as early as watching A Clockwork Orange, and receiving a a tolchuck to the gulliver, a hit in the head, I have been fascinated by the English, theirs, language.

All vehicles have tyres, I can give them that one, but spanners as wrenches, we fill up with gas, they use petrol, and we all must stop for the zebraway, or crosswalk.  And who better than the Brits, who are able to get a tan from driving in the English rain to call it a windscreen, instead of a windshield.  I wonder, does being a Brit preclude you from using your indicators as it does in the colonies?  By the way, putting your turn signal on in California does not mean you can turn without looking...while pulling in for your fish and chips, fries, chips are crisps, which are best eaten at the pub instead of taking them back to your flat.  Not the tire you’ve been meaning to fix. 

With all America coming unhinged with SUV mania, the Brits still drive a shooting brake, station wagon, or estate car.  When it isn’t raining they can lower the top on their drop head, or while waiting for the lorry to pick them up when out of petrol.  And what Limey would go out at night in his Lucas equipped car without taking a torch for an emergency?  Flashlight for those of you in the dark still.  Especially when going on holiday....

But my favorite that do not translate as equitably are boots and bonnets.  Bonnets are for Easter in the colonies, bonnets are lifted to expose the motor, sneaking a peak under a bonnet?  Means much less in England...what’s under your bonnet?  Hoods are hooligans, or those who ride Brit bikes.  As you wife returns to her flat in angst.  But as once Nancy Sinatra sang “these boots are made for walking,” boots are for storage, aka the trunk.  A quick peek into the boot of an MG is much different than going shopping for a pair of boots, but you still can put your boots in the boots.  You can put your bonnet under the bonnet, but fries will always taste better crispy, chips will be for chocolate to us, and a flat tire is the same as a flat tyre.  Which used to be kept in the boot, or trunk.  Does anyone know the number for 911....you can only imagine the look on my face when the old chap told me he was breaking in a new set of braces.   Suspenders, lest I keep you in suspense....

Now just because you no speaka the language should you be considered stupid or a fool.  Yet many in churches today are graded unofficially by their Biblical knowledge, based on study, attendance, and other extra curricular activities within the fellowship.  Seems spirituality is based on rote regimen many times other than being spirit based.  But while we are quick to comment on others, do we apply the same test to ourselves?  Pau warns us not to think more highly of ourselves than we do of others, and a Christian life is based on not thinking of ourselves, except in prayer, of course, but to think of others as more highly than we do ourselves.  Which has led too many to sticking their head in the sand when it comes to evaluating themselves, or performing a check to see where they are in Christ.  That working out your salvation, the fear and trembling part we avoid, for aren’t we perfect?  My pastor told me so....but really we are a work in process, only God sees us as perfect, the finished product, but we still have a lot of work to do while still here.  And so we do a self evaluation.....but never based on emotions or moods.  Our evaluation should be based on God, not us.  Do we really trust God, or just until the next catastrophe?  When our faith is tested, do we do the grading, or even grade us on a curve?  If faith is trusting God when there is no evidence of him, do we still trust, have faith?  Did you know God has given each one the same measure of faith?  And faith is based on what he can do, not on what we can do. Has not Jesus risen from the dead as he said he would, or are you still living a life of legalism, and basing your life on the sin of Adam?  Don’t ask your friends...or put your ear to the wall to listen, you may not like what you hear.  Pride shows up I very subtle ways, and what we say will not always match up to our actions or what we believe.

So do not stray for the truth, Jesus Christ.  The, not a truth.  Do not get confused with Christianese, that only the church folk speak.  Saved means rescued in all examples, and only Jesus saves. Lost is lost no matter what the map says.  And many need to look under the bonnet of truth to see where they are in Christ, not keeping him in the boot hidden.  Or giving him the boot altogether.  God has prepared a flat in heaven for those who believe, yet many fuss over the flats in life, never checking the spare, which often is just as flat.  Only in Jesus will you be told the truth, and see an example of the truth.  There will be times we may not like the truth, but it will always set us free when we turn to it.  And then we can make better decisions.  Some still don’t drive at night, Lucas the Prince of Darkness blinding their way.  God is light, in him there is no darkness.  Jesus, a torch we all must bear, showing us the light.  So simple even a droog could get it!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

60 miles of gas left with 80 miles to the next station

You never realize just how big the west really is until you ride across it.  After crossing into the Mountain Time Zone, the sunsets get larger and so does the distance between towns.  I had filled up in Guymon, 50 miles form nowhere heading west, and stopped in Hooker for a soda.  Experience told me I could go another 60 miles with the gas left, so I pushed on, with Clayton my next gas stop.  With no mileage markers to go by, I rode on, until I saw it, Clayton 80 miles.  No big deal, there will be gas along the way....after all it was only 80 miles.  But as the miles went on, and the old faded signs that once told of clean restrooms just ahead with friendly service, the old places to fuel along the road were abandoned, or closed.  With the digital fuel gauge on my Nighthawk 650 disappearing, it was evident I would run out of gas gauge and then out of gas.  So just before going into panic mode, I dropped my speed to 40 mph, stayed in sixth gear, and laid  my belly on the tank for the next 60 miles.  Only a two lane road in the middle of nowhere with nowhere to pull over, I rode along the shoulder, being buffeted by big trucks, passed by everything from old pickups to shiny new cars to kids on skateboards wondering what was with the guy on the motorcycle.  As I counted down the miles to Clayton, signs began to appear, promising gas and and cold drinks, if only my bike would cooperate.  And as the sun set in front of me temporarily blinding me, I saw a Shamrock station in the distance.  Old and faded, I hoped it was open, as I coasted in...I was out.  It was, and after filling the 3.4 gallon tank with 3.5 gallons, rewarded myself with a cold Coke, and pointed myself west.  The danger had been averted, if only for now, as I still push the limits of my fuel range...and the greatness of my God.

Truth be told, many situations can be avoided by using common sense and a bit of prudence.  But many times they are avoided with a great degree of stupidity and we pay the price.  It is in those times we wish we had listened and then turn to God.  If only we had turned to him first, heeding the warnings, we would avoid the panic and desperation of much of our prayers later.  But sadly most people’s prayer, both Christian and secular are only in times of distress, but mostly after the trouble arises, and we reach a point of no return.  It may be a 60 mile fuel range with 80 miles to go, it may be not heeding a law about drugs and alcohol, or failing to see the warning signs in a relationship.  It may be buying more car or house than your wallet can pay for, if only your ego was a paycheck.  When suddenly the joy of whatever we thought was worth it becomes a curse, and curse it instead of turning to God.  In over 2000 years since Jesus told us he would never leave us or forsake us, we neglect the things of the spirit for the lust of the eye, and the world.  Just because it isn’t raining we don’t pack the rainsuit, then get upset with God when it does. When we overspend and he tells us to back off and sell, we blame him for our lack of resources, when it was he who let us make the call on what we buy, relying on a FICO score to dictate us rather than the spirit.  Money in the bank means nothing if there is nowhere to spend it, just like I found out with no gas stations.  Yet too many of us spend too much time on our bellies instead of on our knees, seeking God before rather than seeking his mercy after. 

Maybe the difference between grace and mercy is you have to screw up to obtain mercy, we all qualify.  Education and experience may be good guides, but are no replacement for the holy spirit.  But God’s grace is always sufficient, and when walking in it, we see things his way, rather than our own.  It is like riding up your favorite mountain road, we cannot see around the curves and ride in hope, but he can see from heaven and knows what is ahead.  From his point of view he knew the situation between Hooker and Clayton, I only saw the signs, and hoped. It may only be a small cut on your arm, until it is neglected and it gets infected.  But knowing God has never left us, we should know he is with us always, not just in the panic situations.  He is always under and in control....would it not make sense to seek him?  After all the qualities of the spirit are love, joy, and peace.  Wisdom and mercy, that word again, and full of glory.  Maybe the best road map for life ever established, and available to all....yet we neglect to pick up on Jesus and his spirit until we cannot do it ourselves any more.  And yes, you can avoid the rush....

Something inside of me that day told me I needed gas, but I denied the message.  Mercy was needed, and provided, yet I suffered the ride needlessly because I didn’t heed it.  I knew I would make it, I just hoped I didn’t have to push.  Don’t push things with God, trust him now, his spirit is true and wise, his mercy everlasting, because our foolishness is too.  But grace, that wonderful thing we cannot describe but only experience is only a thought or prayer away.  The signs were there, the station was there, and I was there.  So was his spirit.  It was my choice to ride on and face running out.  So rather be like the ten virgins and keep the spirit burning in your lamp, and in your tank.  The restrooms may be clean....but no good if you ain’t there!  Or of course you can take the freeway and live by exit numbers....until it happens again and you have to trust God!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com