going generic

Back in the seventies when money and jobs were both tight, someone came up with the idea of marketing items in plain white packages with black lettering identifying the contents.  No brand name, no picture to tell what it was, just “corn,” “green beans,” “tissue,” or “dog food.”  Generics they were called, and they became a brand of their own, priced less, often with lesser quality than a real name brand, and much less expensive.  Soon they were found on everyone’s table, at least once, some were pretty bad, but the idea stuck, a brilliant marketing move, and I’m sure lots of money was made from it.  We all liked the lesser price, but after the lesser quality, we soon turned back to our old favorites.  Perhaps the prime example of the marketing creating the product, but the product not being able to keep up with the marketing.

Cruising down the 15 the other day, a cursory glance showed very few cars of color, unless you consider white, black, and varying shades of gray color.  But also it seems the world had gone to SUV’s, even Ford  quit making cars except for the Mustang, and they all have the same generic shape.  To me they all look like the cartoon cars when I was growing up, generic four door sedans, same profile, same rear end, only a few changes to the front end distinguishing them.  And it occurred to me that the world has gone to generic cars, only they don’t know it.  It is hard to tell any Japanese cars apart, Chevies and Jimmies are basically the same, Rams have that big front end, and Fords look like Chevies.  Nothing to distinguish the brands any more, a sad thing to consider when we used to buy cars based on looks.  When we used to look back when we parked them with admiration, how many look back except to see the lights flashing confirming they locked it?  So we can add generics to cars, trucks, SUV’s, and in some ways motorcycles.  With maybe the only thing distinguishing the brands apart is advertising.  Remember when you could tell a Honda from a Kawasaki by sound, one look at the engine and you could tell the brand.  Now even the motors are hidden behind panels, with Metric bikes looking like Harleys, Indians wanting to look like dirt trackers, and  performance second nature.  They too are becoming generic looking, doubt me, cruise any multiline dealer and check it out, then you decide.  Does the brand Hondasakisuziyama mean anything to you?  You may be riding one and not know it....

It seems everyone wants to be part of a crowd, from Facebook to religion, we all want to fit in.  Chat rooms provide common issues, forums keep the same like minded members on the same page, and sadly, religion has brought us a generic God.  At one time the denominations each had taken a Biblical stand for their beliefs, now they too are mainstream, not wanting to offend anyone, lest they leave and go elsewhere.  My father in law once told me he liked being a Catholic because e didn’t have to participate, and the services were the same everywhere.  Like when they mispronounced his wife’s name at her funeral...again a generic funeral.  Just fill in the blanks, if you can.  But if you want to stand out and become a target, take a stand.  While churches today are hot on social issues, they remain soft on the one thing they were set up by God to do, to stand out from the world and take the gospel to it.  Where Jesus was once the man thing, now he is neatly avoided, sin is never mentioned and salvation is via church membership, some even claiming they have no members, at least on paper.  Until get an email for money or to attend.  Like the cars we used to look back at, how many look back after a service and say “wow, I was really moved by the Lord today.”  Instead rushing to eat, with informal good byes.  Even generic sermons based on holidays, seasons, tithing when money is lacking, and skillfully avoiding the gospel.  Mention Jesus to be trendy, and today many trendy churches exist, but call him the Christ, Lord, or Savior, you may get some raised eyebrows.  Where is Jesus, where did he go?

Fact is he never left, we moved.  He never changes like styles and social issues do.  Some of the things he wouldn’t do are found as bragging points for some churches, he wouldn’t be found harassing homosexuals, berating women going into abortion clinics, he wouldn’t shoot anyone, burn a cross or hate his enemies, he wouldn’t run for political office, attack the poor or side with the rich, and you would never find him endorsing his name on any merchandise.  When the popular “what would Jesus do?” bracelet came out, how many considered what he wouldn’t do?  And if you are a true Christian, do you need to ask?

Long before he was a hit on Broadway, he was a superstar, a super man before the comic came out, and a rebel with a cause long before James Dean.  Cool before McQueen, in before Flynn, and a popular name before taken in vain.  He was and is the only true son of God, not a generic body on a cross around your neck.  He isn’t an hour long service to endure, not a genie in a lamp to ask things from, and not your enemy.  Yet he is portrayed as these things today.  Only he can take the generic life religion offers and fails at and give you life.  If your Bible cover, bumper sticker or t-shirt are the only way you know and represent him, you have gone with a marketing system not the true gospel.  And beware, for even the devil himself can appear as an angel of light....

So next time you cannot find your SUV in the lot without hitting the panic button, when you cannot tell the difference between brands of soda, when you shop for your next motorcycle based on price, you may be going generic.  Even my Harley friend Mark will tell you, there are only two colors, and both are black.  Again generic Harley colors.  Only in Jesus Christ can you ever be all you can be, a long time before the Army promised it.  Living a boring, mundane, generic life?  Maybe it is the god you serve, for in Christ you find life, and life abundant, worth the living.  Nothing generic about Jesus, you can copy him and come close, or think you do, but for free you can have the real thing.  If your god comes in a generic form, turn to him and flee religion.  Remember it was the generic Pharisees who were trying to catch and persecute him, he reached out to everyone individually, in love.  Only he can forgive, only he can give life.  Only in him will you find true peace.  Nothing generic about Jesus, can you say the same thing about your God?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

shelter from the storm

There is an almost surreal feeling inside a rain suit when it is pouring all around you.  But first you must put on the rain suit,which I always wait too long to do.  The rain will stop I hope, after getting soaked,and wishing I had.  But too many rides in the rain have taught me to keep going, sometimes neglecting God’s common sense telling me to stop.  I was riding across North Dakota, in my rain suit, and after 190 miles the rain stopped, it got cold, 39 degrees, and I noticed my tires worn on the side of the tread, like I had been cornering, in a sense I was, riding at an angle.  Or after eating at Lucille’s in Oklahoma, the sky was dark, but at the next exit got off after a Fedex truck and trailer blew across two lanes.  Rainy and windy and cold, at least I was dry.  Or after Theresa put her rain suit on, I again waited, and the puddle on my seat soaked my crotch.  Making little kids laugh and point when we stopped to eat at the Machine Shed.  Stupid hurts at all ages, humor funny at all ages too.  But then there was the time I stopped in Springfield, Ohio, flooding up to my tank.  Pulling into a gas station seeking shelter, lightning hit the bowling alley next door, suddenly we didn’t feel so safe....

But if you ride, you will face storms.  Not just rain, but storms of health, relationships, finances, and broken parts.  Just like Jesus warned, “in this life you will have tribulation.”  That ought to be a faith builder.  But without a storm, there is no rainbow, God’s sign he would never flood the earth again, and a sign to those he rescued in the flood.  A sign and promise for us, he is with us in the storm and will take us through it.  Sometimes kicking and screaming like Jonah.  Despite God’s efforts to bless him, he rebelled, even to cursing the people God saved, and cursing the plant he sent to protect him from the sun.  Sound familiar?  But did it ever occur to you that a detour to us is a plan of blessing from God?  How many detours or wrong turns, or changes in plans have led you to blessings?  to roads not on maps, to rides better than the one you had planned?  One choice took us down the Snake, more turns and less traffic than the Dragon.  Another across Wisconsin based on a recommendation from another biker, whose wife had brought 21 pairs of shoes with her for the weekend.  On their Harley.  Or my ride last month down the PCH, in a t-shirt!  But yet, some only can relate to “if only I had listened...”

God has given us his spirit to guide and protect, to bless and minster to.  He is along for the ride, and when we seek him first, he becomes the ride.  A ride that doesn’t have to end when the road does, or the storms break out.  Like getting caught in a bad rain and wind storm in Southern Illinois, far form anywhere.  But providing a small local truck stop for the bike, and its riders.  Meeting the locals and learning the area.  Safe and secure, not what we would have planned.  How m any times have you not listened to God and wished you had?  One is too many...

So when it rains put on the rain suit, don’t be like me.  Or don’t neglect to take the jacket, it won’t get cold, when warmth is only a bungee away.  Or pass by the gas station hoping another is within your range, or hoping the diner is still open, despite it being after hours.  I have learned by doing and by not doing, finding that like scripture tells us, “obedience is better than sacrifice.”  Like the carpenter tells us, “measure twice, cut once,” and check the weather before heading out.  It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark, the whale was;t planning on making a u-turn with Jonah.  We hadn’t planned on hail that day riding into Albuquerque, but God knew, and so can we.   If only we sought him as furtively before as we do when we are in the situation how life would be different.  Trust Jesus, not the situation, and enjoy the ride.  Let God bless you, and give you shelter from the storm.  Like Dylan sang “come in she said I’ll give you, shelter from the storm.” 

No rain, no rainbow.  Real bikers ride in the rain, real Christians hang with God in the storm. 

And then there was the time I rode 800 miles in the rain to visit a girlfriend, who broke up with me when she could have done t over the phone....at least I got to ride!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

are you alive and dreaming or dead and remembering?

In the book “The Metamorphosis,” Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find he has turned into a cockroach.  A big one.  He is still a person inside of it, although the world now sees him differently, and he cannot communicate with them.  Sort of a morbid Kafka novel, but an interesting perspective of communication or lack of it.  And people’s reactions to those who are different.  In the book and movie “Johnny Got His Gun,” we find the title character a victim of war, unable to speak, the lower part of his face gone.  But he works out a system of bobbing his head against his pillow that a nurse picks up on.  Both books are good reads, not fast reads, and make you think, “what would I do in that situation?”  If I ever had a fear it is that I would not be able to communicate how I feel when asked, and be misdiagnosed.  Which almost came true when I had my open heart surgery.  Fortunately I had Theresa with me as my advocate, and could make the decisions for me, but how many times do we get cornered, lose our train of thought or become unable to explain our side?  Who stands up for us when no one else will?

When working downtown with the homeless, one man, Angel hung around and helped us out.  He was our eyes and ears to the street, and the people who came in.  Sitting quietly, homeless himself, he refused to take things I would save for him, and taught me much about the street.  One winter I gave him an old leather jacket for the cold, which he refused.  I thought I was helping, he told me he would become a target and have it stolen.  Never  occurred to me...but when he became sick, and was afraid to go to the ER, he would be seen and quickly dismissed, I took him, I was his advocate.  Somehow I gave him credibility, and he was seen instantly, rushed into a room and treated immediately for a heart problem.  Without an advocate, he would have probably died waiting, just anther faceless homeless man, but with an advocate, someone who would represent him and protect him, who could speak the language and communicate for him, the story ended well.  After ten days in the hospital, he was released, and we never heard from him again.  Maybe a real angel. I often wonder what happened to him, and what would have happened if we hadn’t intervened.  When Loretta Lynn sings “Stand by Your Man,” God’s people have a different take on it.  Do you?

But not everyone who claims to be a Christian is of God.  Many use the name of Jesus, but deny his deity.  Religion tells us how to worship and live, many times bringing legalism and fear where Jesus brings peace and comfort.  But how do you know, how can you tell?  What if the way you were raised, taught, or churched was wrong, a sham.  What if you found out that everything I said was a lie, would you believe me?  Something we need to consider when we seek God, and when we find him.  Where do we go when we are afraid, in distress, hungry and tired?  Who do we trust, what is the true cost of free?  And how does it differ from freedom?  Maybe if we consider the Psalmist’s dilemma, and how God enlightened him we too can be set free.

Psalms tells us that God is a mighty fortress, a place to seek when we have difficulties.  To seek before small problems become large ones.  A fortress is many things, a place of rest and comfort, defense, security, and rest.  A place where needs are met, and a place of refuge, to go when the enemy engages us.  A place where we can safely engage the enemy, all the things that we are told how our Lord is a mighty fortress.  How there is no one, no place, and no other way of protection that compares to him.  Where a fortress has walls, he has large arms to hold us, he understands when other don’t understand us, he already has a way of escape planned, and we can walk through the enemy protected, for he is our mighty shield.  He is the interpreter and advisor when we are confused, pointing out the lies of religion, and is the truth.  He is the one who we can turn to when we see the lies we used to believe, and who will set us free.  He is the one who breaks down the barriers between faith and lies, and is truthful, full of integrity, and love for us.  Consider your situation today, who understands the situation better than Jesus?  Who can see the threat before we do?  Who can we turn to when all else is misunderstood?  Who will stand before God in heaven on Judgment Day and represent you?  If he told you the truth would you believe him? 

In times of trouble do we feel like we are alive and dreaming or dead and remembering?  When time and space lose their meaning,when nothing else matters, when we question ourselves, where do we turn? 

Jesus has given us his spirit for just these type of times.  All we need, includes everything, excludes nothing.  The all in the almighty,  available to us 24/7, no matter our situation.  For me it was in a coma, with no hope of surviving, when he spoke to me.  When the physical and emotional are done, his spirit still gives life.  He is the man we need to stand by, for he stands by us.  He is able when no else is, you can believe him when others lie, and be set free in him, in the spirit, not just in mind and body.  Jesus understands....do you?

So rather than seeking signs, seek Jesus.  Rather than offer God a choice in prayer, ask they will be done.  Rather than turning in fear, turn to Jesus.  For three days he was gone and then was resurrected, proving all doubters wrong.  Then leaving us his spirit until he returns again.  So if you found out one day all the lies told about Jesus were just that, lies, would you believe him?  He gives you the choice, for you never know when you may be rushed to the hospital, life flighted, a victim of a drive by, or turned into a cockroach.  But in every case Jesus will be that mighty fortress we need, where we turn to tells us where our faith lies.  When you can’t get no satisfaction, you can always have Jesus.  Believe a lie or rely on Jesus, he has given us his spirit of truth.  Believe man or believe Jesus. 

Gregor Samsa was once the sole supporter of his family, then they turned against him.  He was too different.... How we see Jesus will show in our actions and attitudes.  My cardiologist told me after surgery he could keep me functioning, but could not give me life.  Jesus is life, turn to him and be excited about his return, Jesus is real, now do you believe me?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

I'll never forget good old what's his name

From time to time I run into people who know me, and I cannot remember them, or even their name.  Trying to hide my ignorance, I listen for any hint of who they are and how I know them.  And it even gets more embarrassing when they know some intimate details, and my mind still goes blank.  Leading to a more than once situation that I walked away not knowing who they were, and them not knowing I didn’t know.  From pride of not knowing to not wanting to hurt their feelings by not knowing, I have become more honest, and brought my loss of remembrance down to two questions, “what do you ride?” and “where do you go to church?”  Which should cover most of my social interactions of the last 40 years.....

But it seems it is not only an isolated personal event, for when bench racing and someone is mentioned, and a blank is drawn, even down to the finest detail may not help, or it may open the door to all about the person, except for their name.  “I’ll never forget good old what’s his name....what is his name?”  But in one case, not knowing the man’s name, but knowing all about him blessed me, and his brother.  We had met a man along the road when his Sporty broke down.  He had told me about a brother who was committing suicide by drinking.  I later visited him just before he died in the hospital and saw him saved.  Later when one of my inmates was released, he invited me over, showing me a picture of his brother, who had died, right after a biker had led him to the Lord.  I could hardly contain myself as I said “that was me!”  Only God could take a random roadside stop, tie it to an inmate, whose brother was in the hospital near death, and allow me to minister to him.  Really all of them.  It doesn’t stop there, another story for another time, seems I cannot remember the woman’s name connected to it...and so the story continues....

True Christians believe Jesus will return for us, an event called the rapture.  Remembered mostly in tough times, “Jesus why don’t you just come now and end the misery,” forgetting he has left his spirit to be with us, he never left us, just as he promised he wouldn’t.  But it seems we don’t live like he will return until we get selfish and wish it just for us.  Now we often speak of how it was for the early church, or how it was for the apostles having seen Jesus.  Did you ever wonder what they must have thought after seeing him ascend into heaven?  He had promised to send his spirit, but you cannot touch something not physical.  But we try anyway, to justify our faith.  Also he said he would return, how many times did he go away to the mountains to be alone, and always came back.  Was this another weekend gone, and after a few weeks would they wonder “it’s been awhile, I wonder if he is coming back?”  He was going to prepare a place for them, and our own imagination can spin out of control here.  For eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor the mind imagined the things of the kingdom to come.  How many times had they even wondered “I hope he doesn’t forget us!”  Sound familiar?

Today many scoff at the promise of his return.  They turn to other gods, physical and emotional ones they can touch or feel.  Turning their back on the one they swore they would never forget.  But he never forgets them, or us.  He tells us to encourage and build each other up until his return.  A time and date he doesn’t even know.  He even confronts his apostles, when they wanted to quit and fell asleep, “guys can’t you stay awake just one more hour?”  So how are you encouraging or building up another as he asks?  Simply put, love someone.  Let the spirit guide you,for he knows the ways of the Lord, we don’t.  I never could have choreographed the above story, but God knew, and all who were involved in it were encouraged, some to salvation, others to return to Jesus.  And to spread the gospel as they go. 

Did you know God keeps a book of remembrance about you?  Not that he forgets, but to remind us in heaven of the little things we did that we overlooked at the time or forgot.  There will be no one forgotten in heaven, we will know each other’s names, and be face to face with Jesus.  Isn’t that our blessed hope?  So next time you forget someone’s name, know Jesus has not forgotten yours.  After my surgery, I ran into a man I knew in Albuquerque 35 years before.  We looked at each other, “I know you,” and when I told him my name, he said, “Yeah I remember you, we always wondered what happened to you.”  Maybe it is like the bumper sticker, “if you forget me you have lot nothing, if you forget Jesus you have lost everything.”

Then there was another BMW rider named Jesse...but that’s another story.  He rode a blue R75/5....taught at the Indian school.....I wonder if he remembers me?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com