if I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong

My friend Chuck had only ridden Harleys his whole life.  For some thirty plus years they were all he knew.  And with his latest new edition, he bragged about how fast and smooth it was.  And all the Harley types agreed with him, as he would know.  But he had never ridden a Triumph, and one afternoon I talked him into riding my Sprint RS, and his whole world was about to change.  By the first light, he was all smiles inside his helmet, “this thing is fast!”  And after a few miles later stopping for a Coke, “man this thing is smooth!  You were right...”  It seems he knew a lot about Harleys, just not motorcycles. So if I agreed with him, we’d both be wrong.

My Press Bike of the month was a Rocket 3, with more torque at idle than a Harley has max.  Now Harley guys like to talk torque, not horsepower, and another Harley only rider asked to ride it, after another Harley only rider did and came back smiling.  So trying to pace him down the 15, we found him frozen behind the bars, scared, he thought he understood torque, until he had experienced it. And it scared him, so much he got off and started cussing the bike.  When really it was his lack of riding skills that had been exposed....Same guy, his bike this time, after having dropped $7000 in the motor, bragged about how it had so much power the real wheel lost traction while accelerating.  “You have to ride it,” he kept begging, so I did.  I actually got 115 mph downhill out of it, not bad for a slipping clutch.  Seems the expert who built the motor didn’t replace the clutch, the loss of traction perceived was really the clutch slipping.  When he finally replaced it, no more slipping, and he was disappointed, he still thought he was losing traction before.  Insisting I don’t know anything about riding...or speed.

While yet another friend drops big bucks in his motor, but never goes over 70.  Bragging on who built his motor, but never twisting the throttle to get his money’s worth.  Now not only Harley riders fall into this illusion of speed, and not everyone has access to the variety of bikes I do.  Like the Rocket 3 with a Carpenter head, 220 honest dyno horsepower, naturally aspirated.  8.99@155 mph in the quarter.  Stupid fast was the sign a magazine hung on it, and it was.  I can be stupid, but never quite that stupid fast.  There is fast, then there is fast,  like Ray’s B King with 264 dyno horsepower, who buys rear tires by the six pack.  So before you open your mouth, it pays to know what you are talking about, or riding.

In Acts 2 we find a crowd assembled for Pentecost.  As in any crowd some are there for the event, some just along for the ride, and some forced to be there.  Now we don’t know the number of the Jews there to celebrate, or those who thought maybe another free meal, the speaker was all about Jesus, or just another place to hang out.  Maybe just caught in traffic.  But we do know that 3000 came to know the Lord that day, whose lives were changed forever by the holy spirit.  We don’t know where they were religiously, orthodox, Samaritan, agnostic, Sadducees, or heathen, they were just assembled together, and the spirit talked to each one in his own language.  Many adhering to their only religion, the way they knew God, until he opened their eyes and heart to him.  Many today are down on all religion, a tough argument, as each one tries to hold its flock captive to its own Bible interpretation, but when the holy spirit comes upon that same life, we are changed.  Our eyes open to the truth of who Jesus was and is, we go beyond rhetoric and it becomes personal.  All we thought we knew becomes like filthy rags, as the only relationship we had with God was via religion.  A new freedom erupts in the heart as we are set free, and truly forgiven.  Something no denomination can offer via its membership or set or rules.  You may be legalistic Baptist, know all the canons of being a Lutheran, or follow the teachings of the Catholic church, but without Jesus, without your day of personal Pentecost, you fall short.  Truly you don’t know what you are missing till you meet the Lord. 

A relationship with God should not be like the relative speeds of our bikes.  Churches should not be in competition for members, and not look down on others not as blessed as us.  Our real enemy is the devil, and only Jesus can change a heart, for only Jesus has defeated him.  Only by his spirit will we know the truth, walk in the truth, and know real salvation.  Some may come close in name only, offering a sort of Godliness, but lacking Jesus.  They are like the slipping clutch, never knowing real power, or getting to where it belongs.  They may know all about their religion, but know very little of Jesus.  But their day of reckoning is coming.

Sometime in your life, the spirit will confront you and you will have to make a decision about Jesus.  It could be tomorrow or even right now.  It is personal between you and God, maybe in church, on the beach, riding, or reading this.  The many miles of riding your religion come down to that one decision, and will affect your future rides, and where you end up.  There will always be  someone quicker, faster, bigger, or badder.  So God tells us “not by might,” that my brand shall set me free, “not by power,” should my dyno horsepower exceed yours, “but my spirit,says the Lord.”  By his spirit, a gift so that none shall boast.  One day 3000 in the crowd found real power, real might, and real love, real forgiveness in Jesus Christ.  The messenger, one who had denied Jesus just a few weeks ago, but by his spirit had his life changed forever. 

What you ride may be important, but who you walk with makes all the difference.  An eternal difference.  It doesn’t matter what the other guy rides, it is what you ride and believe. Try Jesus today, just one ride will change your mind and life forever.  Only in Jesus can we both be right!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

a tale of two toolkits

We never intended to end up riding in Boulder Canyon that afternoon, but following one road, and then another, we found ourselves over 450 miles away.  Rides were like that when you didn’t have kids to return home to and a sitter to pay.  We were riding our newish 1977 BMW R100S, one of the first sport touring bikes, suited for long days at high speeds.  Now if you have never ridden Boulder Canyon parts of it are very twisty, and fun, and coming around one corner faster than we should, but still safe, we saw an old BSA leaning against a cliff wall, with its rider waving us down.  Not sure if it was rider or bike down, we stopped, and one look at both, gave us no clue.  But we suddenly saw and understood what he needed, and why the bike was leaning.  Among other things it had vise grips welded to the shifter, never a good sign, and oil running everywhere from the engine.  “Wow, a BMW, you guys have the best toolkits,” and we did.  And as he offered to use mine I quickly commented, “there aren’t enough tools to fix your bike,”  and he reluctantly agreed.  Which flashed the thought through my mind of an old motorcycle law, “the better the toolkit, the less you will need it.”  BMW’s was the best and their reliability renown, BSA’s was the worse, and add in Whitworth size wrenches, and their reliability, no stronger argument would ever be presented.  BMW even bragged in their ads about their toolkit, which included wrenches of usable quality, a one piece pliers, all the Jap ones I ever saw were three piece, the screw holding them together either loose or missing, and had a patch kit, pump, and shop cloth.  Probably more than the BSA along the road owner’s kit at home, but his with one difference, vice grips, he conveniently welded to where the shifter once was.  Add in another motorcycle law, the farther from home the more prone you are to break down, and the BSA just out of the garage was inviting trouble.  But that was how things were....a far cry from a toolkit of today.

Most bikes have a few wrenches if any, seems there is nothing you can do outside of the shop, and reliability has helped prove it.  Plus with weight reduction a prime of sport bikes, a five pound loss of tools and 15 pounds of center stand make a big difference.  In both weight and cost. In fact most owner manuals and how to articles on riding only mention a cell phone as the most important tool.  And with almost everyone having one, manufactures do not need to include one, so can spend money like on my new Street Triple R, and provide two piece of luggage, to carry a lap top and all you may need for the office.  Which doesn’t have a tool kit or center stand.  But does have room for a cell phone I don’t have in the bag I never carry.  No vice grips either, metric or standard....

Which means no screwdriver either, and a short time ago the mystery of rounded Phillip screw heads was revealed.  To the naked eye or the unknowing, all screwdrivers look the same, with a #2 Phillips the standard.  But the Japanese use a JIS sized screwdriver, allowing heads to be stripped, impact hammer sales to increase, along with incited bouts of cussing.  How many screws were permanently ruined by the wrong size screwdriver, and no mention of what size the BMW toolkit had, not that it would have mattered that day.  But one tool never found in any toolkit, is a fine adjusting tool, aka a hammer.  When you cannot force, get a hammer.  When you cannot move it, get a longer lever.  If only manufacturers thought ahead, a simple toolkit of a hammer, pry bar, and cell phone could fix almost any problem.  Or, make it worse....

We all know it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.  And for over 120 years he labored to build it.  But no mention of tools, no hammers, vice grips, pry bars, screw drivers, or other tools is mentioned.  Yet with a great deal of precision the ark was built, floated, endured a flood and saved humanity.  As far as we know, without a factory toolkit.  You may wonder what was Noah thinking, but of course he never saw BSA.  Or a BMW.  The best guess is Noah would have had primitive tools, but trusting God built it anyway.  How many times have we doubted God when he asks us to do something we are not prepared for?  Whining and crying we don’t have the skills, finances, time, or desire?  Or the proper tools?  Funny we can trust Jesus to save us, but when he asks us to help in the kingdom, we fall apart.  And end like the guy on the BSA, in need of tools we don’t have.  But not all repairs need tools, such was the situation of the good Samaritan.  Bypassed by religious men, it took a half breed Samaritan to stop and help, doing his part, getting him to an inn, then leaving it for the next guy to follow up on.  Without x-rays or even health insurance, he helped the man, even willing to pay his bill,, including the deductible.  Using the same tool Noah had, faith and obedience, he ministered, doing what needed to be done and went on.  No special offering, or special recognition, he remains nameless, he is a far cry from Christians today who feel the need to be recognized for dong the right thing.  We are given a glimpse into his character, as loving your neighbor as yourself, redefining neighbor to mean everyone.  With no set of rules in place other than love, he did what needed to be done.  Noah may have saved mankind, the Good Samaritan made it personal.  The trained religious men had all the tools needed, but left them in their tool box.  The GS had one tool, love, and dealt with the situation.  Taking into consideration the Samaritans were enemies of the Jews, a sign of Jesus we forget, he gives compassion despite who we are or our situation.  His love like his compassion has no boundaries, the most important tool needed.  We also never know how Noah felt when the rains fell and those who had taunted and criticized him were banging on the door.  Jesus stands at the door knocking, do we let him, do we honor him by loving our enemy?  Could our religious tool kit have all the tools we need except for love?  Do we know that when we minister to those lesser than us we are ministering to God himself?  Do we use the hammer of religion when we really just need the tools of love and compassion?  What if you were that BSA rider?  Or the BMW rider? 

How many times do we go to drama or panic forgetting God has left us his spirit?  What you need, when you need it, he will provide.  No evidence is found of Noah’s tools, but the fruit of his labors is well known.  Proving not only the fruit of works of faith, but how God provides what you need no matter what.  Money for bills, meds when ill, gas when on empty, and tools when you are broke down.  Ironically we were unable to help the BSA rider that day, but we tried, and he knew that.  He knew someone else would come along, maybe the biker in him, as we stopped, some other riders will.  But God will provide, saved or not.  How many times can you look back at how he rescued you and then you met Jesus?  We cannot earn his help, it is mercy when fallen, grace when walking with him.  But in every case he will provide a way out.  His criteria for assistance is much different than ours....too many times we take the Samaritan attitude rather than the action of the Good Samaritan.  Maybe the fact we just stopped and offered was what he needed until real help arrived.  Paul planted, Ananias watered, but remember it was the spirit that provided the growth.  The holy spirit, what we need always and always what we need.  And he fits in any toolkit, on any bike!

Or you can be like  my friend under a truck who yelled to me to hand him a wrench.  When I asked “what size?” he replied, “it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna use it as a hammer.”  Any bets this guy owns an old BSA....what’s in your toolkit?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

did you ever wish you had taken the car?

Our last vacation has become quite a novelty for us, as we took the car.  In fact, twice this year for a total of 31 states I took the car instead of a motorcycle.  After years of two wheeled miles, the one trip took me back to Jersey in March, passing on the bike, and July found us in a cage, to Northern Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana.  We joked along the way of this was our first vacation by car in decades, but for some reason had a good time in the car.  A much different mindset, as we packed more although we didn’t use more, didn’t have to ship the things we bought, neglected weather reports, spent twice as much in gas, felt weird going to motorcycle shops, and felt like a stranger in a strange land talking with touring riders.  Suddenly I was the one with “a motorcycle at home who had seen 48 states,” with no evidence to prove it.  Fill ups went from below ten dollars to almost thirty.  Listening to satellite radio, sorry the only sound system on a motorcycle should be its headers, and sitting in climate controlled comfort.  It seems every sensory sensor was on hold, an artificial environment, never cold and never hot.  A trip in the car that would have pleased even Goldilocks, but never the other three bears.  Conversations increased as we were not inside our Arais, and we talked a few times about “did you wish we had taken the bike?”  A variation on “did you wish we had taken the car?”  The few times it was asked, not by us was always “no.”  Maybe looking at all the pictures Theresa didn’t take from her buddy seat revealed the truth, things are much different in the car.  We’ll see if the novelty has worn off.....

When meeting those who take their long two wheeled trip, there is an excitement, an anticipation of the ride.  Suddenly all the senses except common are used, and the only control of the situation is turning the throttle.  Somehow “yeah we’re in the car” doesn’t get my heart going, a trip back to So Cal after open heart surgery was in a rental car, but in both cases we get used to what we are doing.  Habits can become habitual, how and where we travel, where we eat and what, who we do it with, I think you get the point.  But a relationship with Jesus should never become a habit.  Religion is a habit, trained rote responses to denominational dogma, read this, study that, attend this, support that, and soon religion is just another thing to do on your schedule.  How many sit in the same pew in church week after week?  How many can tell what time it is and how long until they escape the boredom based on where they are in the service?  Do you only hear about his resurrection on Easter, and his birth on Christmas?  Has your relationship with God become like taking the car, insulating yourself from all the things life has to offer?  Stop and consider your Christian habits, are they church based or Jesus based?  Your answer may surprise you.....

I know so many over the years who grew up in religion then got saved.  The desire for Jesus, innate but hidden, finally realized by the holy spirit.  And suddenly life begins anew, you feel the freedom in the spirit, you want to, not have to read your Bible, you want to give not be compelled to tithe, you want to see other believers, not wake up on Sunday morning and feel guilty because you don’t want to go to church.  You find life where before you found a habit, and God where before you had religion.  After many years of fellowship and ministry, never did I ever hear anyone who got saved say “I wish I could go back.”  But how many times have you wanted what they had, the excitement, the relationship, and the joy of Jesus in our lives?  So to me asking “did you ever wish you had taken the car?” is like asking me would I like to go back to not knowing Jesus.  NO!  But I find in Christ, he will take me places my religion of riding might not, and a time to drive instead of ride. In all cases he still leaves it up to us, for unlike religion we can choose, instead of the rules telling us what to do.  The freedom of living in the spirit, guilt free and forgiven, living and riding in the peace and joy of the Lord, and no car can curtail it. But given the choice, I’ll take Jesus every time.  And if he says drive....I can still wave at the others riding.  I can still stop and buy t-shirts.  I can still be part of the brotherhood.....of believers.  Two wheeled or four, the ride may change, Jesus never does.

Finally I am grateful I even get to drive or ride, what a blessing God has provided for me.  In Christ we will find he gives us our heart’s desires, and them fulfills that desire.  When we seek him first it is then all other things are added unto us.  Not motorcycle and Jesus, but Jesus and motorcycle, or even car.  Even Jesus was in one Accord, once, I guess I can make the supreme sacrifice myself, but I also know that even when not on my bike, I can still Triumph in Jesus, knowing he is always with me.  That I have triumphed over sin because of him, and life is worth the living.  Maybe a ride alone with just you and Jesus will help clear your head and your heart.  Ask and you shall receive, give and it will be given unto you.  Ask him into your heart and life and live, ask for forgiveness and you will be forgiven.  Even if you ride.  And like my brother in Christ reminds me, “once I was a 1%er, now I’m 100% for Jesus.”   Who was and is 100% for us. 

So do I ever wish I had taken the car?  Did you ever get out of a car and look back wanting to drive again?  We always look back on what we ride, for like Jesus, we cannot wait to be back in the saddle again.  Looking forward to where we desire to be.  Rides may change, roads differ, but Jesus will always be exciting.  New every morning.  So when asked “what did you do on your vacation?”  The how will be as important as the where.  How is Jesus, and heaven is the where.  Some habits are made to not be broken....just lived.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

better than a letter to the editor

Road Runner, RIP, was a motorcycle magazine that had developed a cult like following, a road test for them was thousands of miles, and that year a few of the heartiest editors, read that craziest, held a motorcycle rally, in Durango. The Durango tour, and although the internet has no evidence of it, I still have a poster tucked away among things that no one else cares about to prove it.  But I met a few of the men involved, who fell in love with the town and the area, some bought property, some actually made the move, one taught at the local college, and numerous rides around the area were featured in the magazine.  Now being a small town, our motorcycle community was close knit, and since I was already involved in that community, I was head of the motocross event in the Durango Snowdown, I got to meet and hang out at one of the bike shops with them.  As I taught them about the roads and the history of the area, they gave me a first hand look into the motorcycle industry, which at the time was thriving.  Affordable bikes, plenty of magazines, and now Durango being added to the list of destinations, it was a great time to ride.  In many ways it was better than a letter to the editor, as I got insight on new models, met reps from Honda, etc, and was given an education on how the industry works, and where the motorcycle magazines fit into it.  These hallowed books we were mesmerized by turned out to be businesses, designed to make money, what a blow to our egos.  With some notable lessons learned....

Yamaha had come out and bragged they were going to bury Honda, to which Honda replied by dropping all their prices, crippling Yamaha enough to almost bury them.  Even the most devoted had a hard time choosing among brands.  Turns out it was true among the magazines too, as one editor from Road Rider explained the economics of circulation.  Cycle was the king, in terms of circulation and ad prices, while RR was near the bottom, with less than 10% of their readership.  They had to make a decision, either go big or go home, as subscription reader number dictated ad prices.  To add readers was to go more mainstream, and lose their base, so being the rebels they were, sold the magazine, took the money and went riding.  It was never about the business end to them, but about the ride, so ended up selling before selling out.  Now known as Motorcycle Consumer News, they exist by subs only, accept no ads, and still march or ride to a different beat.  I have talked with one of their editors, and they honestly test the bikes, not owing anything to the ad buyers, aka the manufacturers, and almost invisible today.  Personally I rode so many press bikes for Triumph I could tell if the magazine actually rode the bike, and ad dollars still run the business.  The power of the press only exceeded by the power of the dollar, for example a few years back a magazine totaled a Honda on loan.  When the were sent a bill for it from Honda, they refused to pay, bragging on who they were, but forgetting who Honda was.  Who immediately pulled all their advertising indefinitely, almost sinking the magazine.  Money still talks, the love of it still the root of ALL evil.  Proven everyday, at least in the motorcycle world.  It may not be what you ride, but who buys the ads that count. 

So I miss Road Rider, honest stories by men who actually rode them and dared to tell the truth.  We will always be a small minority with a small voice, but that doesn’t mean our message is small.  Today if you want to be misquoted, run out of business, or attacked, share Jesus.  Take a stand for him publicly, and watch as evil thoughts turn to evil actions.  Which brings us to 2019, the year God ahs shown me he will separate the sheep from the goats.  For years end time advocates have warned, or been warned, but now all the signs of them are speeding up, in greater numbers, and all at once.  Now we have hurricane and tornado seasons, earthquakes in various places, and all sort of evil visible to us.  Where once men had shame over sin, now we have sin displayed publicly, bragging on itself, proving what Jesus said, “right will be wrong and wrong will be right.”  It doesn’t take a public school education to show something wrong is going on here.  Yet the murmurings go on, “well 2000 years ago Jesus promised to return, where is the evidence of that?”  And I say, look around, to Christians, who are to represent Jesus here on earth, as ambassadors.  To be light and salt of the earth, to give it flavor.  Yet too many hide their light under a barrel, while others shine their lights on high beam, blinding the ones they should be lighting the way for.  Every man doing what is right in their own eyes, but God still sees the hearts.  Which in Revelation 3, makes Jesus sick enough to throw up.  So where do you stand with Jesus?  Maybe it is as what publication you believe.....

It seems any pastor worth his pulpit has written a book, that his flock must read if they want to stay in good standing.  Some address this issue, telling their flock to go out as they  hide behind a pulpit.  Some instruct how to pray, study, worship, or be a better Christian, all without the guidance of the spirit.  How to books on Jesus.  Large churches like large publications need the money to stay open, and provide endless ways to get us to give, as they take.  Bibles are flashed at church, but left to gather dust at home, while these books gain popularity.  And many wanting to appeal to a larger audience, aka selling more books, dilute the gospel, or deny Jesus altogether.  And when some believers take their worship and tithes elsewhere, the fellowship that once depended on God, goes away.  Could it be that a lesson learned by motorcycle mags in the eighties we were on to something? 

God has given us his word, the truth to set us free, and to use for teaching and instruction.  It never changes, but man’s versions do.  He also sent Jesus to set us free, to forgive us and to be the church, his body of believers, not to be religious robots. But finally he left his spirit to guide us, to comfort and lead, to prove him over and over again everyday.  And as the goats, false followers, are separated from the sheep, the goats make noise, but sadly the sheep remain silent.  We have God on our side, yet some cower in fear.  Maybe a letter to the editor, prayer, God is in order.  But more important, his reply.  Given freely, without subscription, truthfully and honestly.  To all who seek, he will be found.  Not a matter of numbers, but of a number, one, and who Jesus is.  Not bought and paid for by religion, but by his blood. 

Very few of us read Road Rider, even less remember it.  Don’t let Jesus in your life end up the same way.  Many are called, few are chosen, be one of the many who believe.  Maybe try this, Jesus never carried money, had no income or place to call his own.  Take money out of your service and try trusting God.  Many good magazines and businesses have come and gone due to lack of it, too many relationships with Jesus have suffered over it.  Today the Bible is still the worldwide best seller, with no advertising, no reviews, and no subscriptions.  Is it possible God knows the publishing business too?  And you have access to the publisher and editor....who was there  in the beginning....will be there in the end.  Where you end up is up to you.  Stick with the best seller, and avoid the cellar.  A lesson learned from riding a motorcycle, try that one on for size!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com