the night we met Duel on a dark desert highway

Going to Penske’s track in Bloomington to see the National Truck Show, big trucks, like semis, Pete’s, Kenworth’s, Macks. and Jimmie’s, I was almost overwhelmed by all the smells of grease,  f big tires, and of real trucks.  Trucks as a kid and now an adult I had seen on the highways of America, and now I could see them up close.  Bigger in real life as I stood next to them, my heart was pounding, and began to beat even faster when someone noted the Duel truck was here.  And suddenly it was right in back of me, and like a kid I ran after it.  Ever since seeing the movie Duel, I had been enamored by the truck, one of the scariest movies ever, about a man being chased by a semi trying to kill him.  I won’t tell you the ending, but it is scary.  And here was the truck, or one of the ones from the film.  It smelled, it looked, and felt bad as I walked around it, just touching it to see if it was really real.  It was.  Maybe one of the highlights of my adult life, meeting Duel, but also going back to one night in Colorado, and almost meeting Duel.  On a dark desert highway...

We were going to La Junta for a job interview, traveling in our Rabbit.  It was dark over the prairie, and keeping at 55 to avoid another meeting with the Colorado Highway Patrol, we were almost alone on the two lane road.  When suddenly a truck was coming up on us fast, blinding us with his high beams, and them riding our bumper, at one time all we could see was grill as our interior was lit up with his lights.  Slowing down we hoped he would pass, but he held onto us, then accelerating to 80 hoping to lose him.  Still on our bumper, we went faster, and so did he, while looking for a place in the dark to pull over.  Now 160 is a two lane road with no shoulders, and from what we could see a ditch and desert.  Praying furiously and scared for our lives, we held on, until I found a place I thought I could trust, and pulled over into the dirt, skidding to a stop, as this Duel nemesis went speeding past laying on his air horn.  All we could think of was the movie, and every truck that came up on us that night filled us with fear.  Was that guy nuts, on drugs, or really out to kill someone?  This 75 mile stretch of road with no towns was the perfect place as no one would ever find us for days.  But as we calmed down, we began to thank God for his mercy.  We had been involved in a trial by fire, and escaped unscathed, except for a lot of fear.  But we had also found that God was with us, showing us as we looked back that he had everything under control.  If he had wanted us dead, we would be, but his will be done.  Not Duel’s.  That was the truck I was looking at when it all came flooding back to me, seeing it in the movies is one thing, when it happens to you, it is much different.  With God writing a script no Hollywood film could ever duplicate.  I know, we’ve been there.  Trust me, the movie is scary enough, do not attempt this ever on an highway.  Particularly a dark desert highway...

Paul wrote that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope.  Which is nice afterwards, but scary when happening.  No one thinks “wow what a great character building exercise” when threatened, but we first choose our own understanding.  Which leads us astray, or from trusting God.  Now we know God will work things out for our benefit, and helps build a hope that does not disappoint.  We can see how in the circumstances as we trust, we are becoming more like him.  We can see more clearly Jesus as he goes to the cross, and on the cross.  We can appreciate if even a little bit more the agony he withstood, but for many it ends there.  Game over, we win.  Until we are tested, and wonder what God is up to?  We forget the empty tomb, our promise of resurrection, we only remember our agony and not the one Jesus endured for us.  We fail to see that God is purifying us, something we cannot do ourselves.  We may wash up after a hard day in the dirt, maybe even unwind from a stressful one, but we cannot purify our own spirit.  In all cases we try to get as clean as possible, but left up to our own sense of clean, we fail.  It is only the blood go Jesus that can clean us from sin.  When we repent and turn from our sin, and turn to him, he will forgive us and purify us from all our sins.  Just as soap can clean physical dirt, it takes the spirit to clean spiritual dirt from us.  We cannot do it alone, but yet we try.  When tempted we must turn to him in prayer and then obey.  Follow the leading of the spirit, lest we fall.  For just like the Duel truck that night, Satan is a roaring lion looking for who he can destroy.  Even just to get our minds off Jesus for a moment bring him glee, but he can threaten, but not consume.  We have the spirit of the Lord living in us, and as scripture tells us, no body can contain both good and evil, for one will rule over the other.  That day on the cross Satan felt a victory but when the tomb was found empty, the victory of Jesus was evident.  Not even death could hold him, nor will it hold us. 

So it is only by his provision that we are purified.   Why we need to repent, not for salvation again, but because we get dirty in this world, and purification is a process.  Jesus saves and he left us his spirit to guide, counsel, and protect us.  When our mirror is filled with the enemy breathing down our back, he is with us.  Even the shadow in the valley of death, the image of fear, he is with us.  Producing in us character that reveals his truth.  Proving when in Christ, we can do all things. When we come to the point of no return, remember he is returning for us.  For his bride, the church, the believers in him who are saved.  But for now and until that day, we are being purified for heaven.  We cannot enter a perfect place without being first purified, as God is pure.  We could all use some character building.....

So the day I met Duel and the night we met Duel are two different occurrences. When the screen came alive that afternoon I ran to see the truck, but when Jesus came alive in me, I ran no more.  No more fear, as perfect love casts out all fear.  Even on a dark desert highway, Jesus is with you.  The devil may gain, but he can never overtake those that belong to Jesus.  In life we study for a test to pass then forget, in real life we don’t get to study.  His hope never disappoints, even if all we can do is yell “HELP!”  And to those who claim God is their co-pilot, a word to the wise.  Move over, let him be pilot.  Another example of how Jesus saves.  Aren’t you glad he does?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

still stuck in traffic, maybe it's the road you're on

If you don’t live in So Cal you don’t understand our freeways.  Whereas interstate highways are found in all 50 states, a misnomer in Hawaii, they are truly limited access highways outside of metro areas.  Most of America and most people’s driving is on secondary roads, and in many rural areas the two laner is still the choice of travel, even if it is the only one available.  But many old two lane highways are now four laners, giving local drivers a new taste of four lane freedom, accelerating speeds and less time to get there, bypassing many old surface streets.  But we out here are used to the freeways, they are our surface streets, even if the are 8-10 lanes wide in places.  Just like some turn right on Main Street, we turn right at exit 29, with many of the old highways and surface streets handling far less traffic, and the accompanying jams. Based on population and distance between destinations, our freeways jam traffic just like the old two laners of the past used to, just in bigger numbers.  But just some observations from recent cross country trips on freeways, to prove a point. 

LA is known for traffic jams, but have you ever driven on Atlanta freeways?  Worse.  Indianapolis, bring a book to read.  Any road in Jersey, another reason to not go there.  OK City, watch the signs and heaven help if you are in the wrong lane, you may end up in Arkansas instead of Tulsa.  Albuquerque jams up early each morning, never did 30 years ago.  San Francisco has no freeways in the city, unless you count Van Ness as one with all its lights and jams.  Want to really get lost, try Pittsburgh, you can see where you want to go, but how do you get there?  From Nashville to New Haven, you can go 10 above the limit, until you hit an urban area, and any time made will be lost.  At least LA has the multi-lanes needed, a recent transplant from Burbank to Springfield, Missouri thought she had gotten off the freeway somewhere, it only had two lanes!  Like the streets by her house.  So no matter what you ride or drive, no matter where you do it, traffic is out to get you.  And if you are stuck in it you are part of the problem!  There has to be a better way...

Simple, go where the others aren’t going.  On our trips we stay off freeways and away from cities.  We have traveled thousands of miles without encountering a traffic jam, three cars at a light being a jam in some towns.  But whereas in West Virginia there were many small towns inaccessible by road, ever been to West Virginia, it has mountains everywhere.  It was by train or don’t get there, in or out.  But thanks to influence peddling and creative finance and Robert C. Byrd, the eternal senator from there, they now have the Robert C. Byrd Freeway System.  Miles and miles of four laners or more, with no traffic on them.  Beautiful perfect roadways, with no traffic.  Unfortunately it will only be a matter of time until they too become jammed, but for now your tax dollars at work in WV pave the way for unobstructed driving and great views.  It is only a matter of time, as when we retrace old roads ridden years ago, we now find them bypassed, expanded to four lanes or more, with the traffic moving as it should, until some bonehead from Cali gets locked into the fast lane on his cell at 48 in a 70 zone.  Anywhere else this is against the law and driving etiquette, here it is the norm.  So please those in So Cal out here, stay home, keep the traffic flowing by not being in it.  For like surface streets, there is a better way, not found on your GPS.  At least not for now, anyway....

But just as the freeways are a nation unto themselves with laws, taxes known as tolls in some places, God has called us unto a nation itself, heaven.  What love he has placed upon us that we should be called the children of God.  But not all are children of God, nor of the land of heaven.  Scripture tells us that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us.  He paved the way, built the road, and made the ultimate free way to heaven, in fact the only way to heaven.  But just like you need a license to drive legally, we need a license, the paperwork of our name written in the book of life to enter heaven.  In our sin, we were helpless to do it alone, there was and is nothing we can do to save ourselves.  Maybe put like this, when we were too proud, condescending towards God, hating him and showing indifference to his word, while an enemy of the cross, Jesus died for us.  While still in the traffic jam of sin, God provided a freeway to heaven.  But a change had to take place so we can be called children of God, not just accept the name by religious rhetoric, or traditional lies.  It takes the truth to be set free, it took the cross for our salvation, and Jesus on it.  It took the resurrection to prove it, and our choice to accept it.  There are conditions to being called a child of God, but no conditions to God’s love for us.  We only love him because he loved us first.  A love so great he wants his enemies to be saved and become his children!  No wonder we should rejoice as we behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called sons of God.  And that we can grow in grace in him.

Yet many are stuck in the traffic jam of lies, stuck on a road while a street just adjacent is empty, both going the same way.  “It’s the same everywhere, we are all his children,” perpetuating a lie, at least they admit there is a God.  But stuck in traffic, can only see what is in front of them, if they can see that far at all.  As cities become more jammed, and as doubters jam the churches and religious groups, the truth will still be the truth.  An exit convenient wherever you are, one marked truth, and paved in love.  An exit passed by many times but somehow afraid to get off and try.  Not marked by religion but by freedom, but it is our choice.  The average speed on LA freeways is 17 mph, slower than a school zone.  God who is light operates at the speed of it.  What manner is keeping you in a jam,when God’s love can set you free? 

With something in the news to remind us.  The southern border is l needed to keep those not citizens out is an example of heaven.  Heaven has walls, and a gate, a strict immigration policy, the only way to get in.  Hell has open borders and anyone can get in.  Jesus is the way, and he stands at the gate to heaven, wishing you entrance.  You will find no way to enter heaven illegally, only through Jesus.  The manner of love he bestows to us, straight and narrow, the quickest way between two points and no detours.  In life we will face many treacherous roads, why not choose one endorsed by God himself, and become family.  That old line given when stopped for speeding, “I know the chief,” fails here.  Knowing the real chief here will get you home to heaven.  New roads are being built every day, God built his years ago, and it is still open and toll free today. 

Still stuck in traffic.....you may have missed the exit, don’t miss Jesus....at least you can’t blame the snow!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

painted ladies

Doris and I worked at opposite ends of the building at Polychrome.  But it would turn out that our social activities were even farther apart.  She was attractive, and most of our relationship was casual pleasantries, but when I heard she thought I was cute, sucker I am, I asked her out.  To a New Years celebration with her friends.  Where we had nothing in common except her.  She was pretty, but once she opened her mouth it was all over.  How could a person be so different away from work?  And all she wanted to do was dance when she wasn’t talking, so after midnight, she explained her friends were going elsewhere, and she would get a ride home from them.  Allowing me to escape the rest of the date, as she talked and danced into the night.  But I wondered, how could such a pretty painted lady, turn out so different?  I had looked the gift horse in the mouth....only Mrs. Ed would think Mr. Ed handsome.  A lesson learned...

But painted ladies come in four legged versions too.  Ever have a stray break your heart, and adopt it?  Where it ends up only liking your mother who feeds it, and dislikes dogs, and has nothing to do with you.  Taken in by a pretty face again....But if it works for two and four legged, it also works for two and four wheeled vehicles.  I had one of the first Rabbits in the states.  Cool looking car, and peppy.  When it ran, the dealer had it more than I did for the first few months, then I sold it, never running quite right.  Another painted lady came into our garage when we needed a second car for the rain.  A 1968 Mercury Monterey with a letter form Ford stating it had an experimental hi performance engine, and parts ordering instructions.  Never been a four door guy, but taken in by its power, it was fast, I bought it.  Only to find out it never went into high gear, I only had burned rubber and never took it out and ran it.  So my new two thirds of a three speed never really got tested, and eventually sold it, letter and all to a guy who said he could fix it.  Another painted lady, this time in a performance disguise.  But I have been struck by this lady twice on BMW motorcycles, my 1974 R90S that blew up at 16,607 miles.  I never forgot that number.  Somehow I put over 46,000 miles on it in 14 months before selling it.  Seems the ultimate motorcycle had more power than the engineers had planned for, and was shredding bolts holding on the flywheel.  Only admitted after they were all out of warranty, of course.  But another lesson not learned, as a 1977 R100S came into my life, developed a knocking noise, and the dealer replaced the ring and pinion.  That BMW found was not faulty, and refused to pay the claim.  And I almost made it home before the engine blew, both rods came off the crank.  The prettiest of painted ladies, and my last BMW.  First time your fault, second time mine.  No chance for a third one, but today they are both collectible.  Some with low miles, I wonder....I’ll just let this painted lady pass for now.  Four wheels or two, used or new, they are out to get you.

Over the years I have been fortunate to sit under great teaching pastors, but very few who truly pastor.  Only to find they are human too, and one of the painted ladies they face is tithes and offerings.  I found out major donors get priority treatment,and some of their sins are allowed, just keep the checks coming.  Often used as an example of godly living, when outside of church, their true side is shown.  I have never found any place where a painted lady is needed, and really not among Christians.  I watch as duplicite men and women do all the things to impress the body, but inside are lecherous.  Lying, cheating, even in certain situations having the pastor back their sin.  Seen it more than once, and when I called one pastor on it, was told I don’t understand.  Seems he did, but chose the lie anyway.  Jesus warns these wolves in sheep’s clothing will be among us, but never of us.  Going their own way, trying to take others with them.  A social experiment, using religion to achieve a prideful end. We are also told to be wise as serpents, but gentle as lambs, it should be noted Jesus even called Judas friend to the end, knowing his heart.  While the others pondered who among them would betray Jesus, I can hear the bragging.  While Judas was hanging himself.  The holy spirit had not come upon them yet.  But it would change their lives forever when he did. With one note to consider, Jesus never bragged on himself, giving all glory to his father.  Mixing in so well with the crowd, Judas had to kiss him to identify him to the Roman soldiers.  But it works two ways in churches...

There are certain people who go into churches to do nothing else but disrupt them.  A list of such people is in San Diego, and the greeters are told to look out for them.  They subtly enter and then draw people away from the gospel.  One such ladies group used to make things for the elderly, until invaded by some Mormon women who liked to knit.  Agreeing to not discuss religion, they once fellowshipped about Jesus, soon they had taken over, and instead of donating the goods, now were selling them.  Painted ladies wear all kinds of paint....

So consider this year as the year God is separating the sheep from the goats.  Evil is showing its ugly head everywhere from aborting babies after birth, to a growing anti-Semitism.  Churches are burning, pastors are being exposed, and we are all being tested by fire.  The spirit of anti-Christ, instead of Jesus, is a painted lady watering down the gospel, and many following the lies.  Worldly ways now becoming the way instead of Jesus.  The Bible being ridiculed, and Christians only acting Christlike in church services.  God is separating the sheep from the goats, and the goats don’t like it.  The painted lady of sin is exposed, and this emperor’s gospel of no new clothes is spreading.  Sound like a Christian, listen to the right songs, attend the right church, buy the pastor’s books.  Talk about Jesus, but never experience him.  Never know the freedom of the spirit, their sin finding them out.  Maybe a self examination of Jesus in our own lives is in order.  Are you brave enough to sit and ask God “where am I in you?” Or are you just hanging around like Judas waiting to die?

Painted ladies ride painted motorcycles, drive painted cars, attend painted churches,and never know the beauty of Jesus Christ.  It is all about the look.  Jesus is looking for sinners to be saved, not pretty religious hypocrites.  He loves them too, but tells us to beware of them.  Giving us the spirit of discernment, so we can tell.  So we can choose, so we can live.  If it works with Jesus, maybe it can work with dates, cars, motorcycles,and even religion.  And wouldn’t you know it, I just got an ad for the new Kawasaki I was looking at.  Heavy discount, great rates.....what a pretty bike....them painted ladies, I wish they would just leave me alone.

Just as he has taught you, “remain in him.”  Just in time.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com