a land where anything goes

“To go boldly where no man has gone before....” echoes the voice of Captain James T. Kirk, of the Starship Enterprise, on a five year mission.  Perhaps some of the most cherished words in science fiction.  Now I am far from being a Trekkie, but I do have a few of my own favorites from the original, never cared for the ongoing sequels via movies and other variations, Gene Roddenberry, Jr. was even a customer of mine at Land Rover, “call me Rod.”  So I did.  Even took a detour through southern Iowa once to visit Riverside, the future birthplace of James T. Kirk, they even have tombstone bragging on him and festivals during the year.  Great banners on the telephone poles in town with each crew member.  But it was back in star date 1976, when John, Yoyo and I went to see Gene Roddenberry speak that I became a fan.  Even though the bloopers were funny, and production techniques interesting, I found Gene’s basis for relating Star Trek to the masses interesting.  Simply put, he took futuristic people in contemporary situations so we could relate to them, and built a legacy around them.  A simple premise that turned into a dynasty, taking Gene where he had never been before.  Star dates before science fiction became main stream, and there is now a Star Trek for every age and believer.  Indeed, Mr. Spock.

Now as much as I love the monster movies from the fifties, science fiction is set apart from all other venues.  If based on one simple fact alone, you can do whatever you want.  Ten feet tall, invisible, twelve fingers, gaseous, telepathic, and ageless, science fiction stories live in a land where anything goes, where no bounds are made on characters, or their character, morals or lack of them, and everyone can participate, or decline to.  Which may explain why I am so turned off to today’s science fiction, it is all special effects, no suspense in the shadows, you get it all, whether you want it or not.  There is no limit on the imagination, but nothing is left to the imagination.  Because special effects has taken care of that for you.  Life can be weird enough without someone telling me what my imagination is envisioning.

Little is left to the imagination today, a far cry from when we heard a noise in the dark, saw a shadow on the wall, or even allowed us to think for ourselves.  A far cry from what Gene shared with us that afternoon.  He also knew how to relate to his audience, we were his paycheck after all, but in doing so was also going where no man had gone before.  His show started out as a five year mission, lasted only a few seasons on TV, but is shown endlessly today.  Kirk or Picard, pick your favorite series, and the debate continues.  Tribbles or trouble?  With no bounds on where to go, what  you will find, and how it will effect you, the potential is limitless.  Something we all wish we could relate to....

So many people have been searching for God since I became a Christian.  Cults, denominations, philosophies, and others have all taken a part of God and tried to show him how they think he is.  Using the limitless boundaries of special effects, some have tried to describe him, give him a personality, or even a history.  But in all things short of knowing Jesus Christ personally they all come short, for only in him can you relate to God truly.  As a man he knew, he could relate, and in him so can we.  Yet many so called Christians live in this fantasy world, and argue over whose translation is better.  We call it religion, and it divides, for there is no unity in man without the holy spirit, whose unity is pure.  Ask any Christian about what they think heaven is like, and you will get varying answers.  But having seen it, I can tell you it fits perfect with scripture, “for no man has seen, no ear heard, nor mind imagined, the kingdom of God.”  All I can describe it as is I want to go back.  And basically, whatever you think it is, it will be much better.  We have even been given a manual to study in our pre-arrival lives, we have the means to communicate about it, and still fall short of what Gene found as the secret to his success, the ability to relate.  So God gave his son, to die for us, and so we can relate to him.  In the flesh, via his spirit, without human limits imposed.  In Christ we can boldly go where Jesus wants us to go, this place we call heaven.  No warp speed, no transporter, no star ship can take us where only Jesus can.  But how many of us wish to relate to him that way?

If only we sought to bring ourselves up to God’s level rather than bringing him down to our own.  When we read how he created the heavens and the earth from nothing, what is that nothing?  When we believe he is eternal and immortal, do we try to figure out when God began, or tie an end to him?  What part of eternal do we wrestle with?  Hell is eternal to, not just a bad weekend to recover from, or a planet to be rescued from.  It is real, not imaginary, and like heaven, no matter how bad you envision it, it will be a lot worse.  Yet many go boldly into it, when they can go boldly before the throne of God with Jesus.  Try to measure a light  year, they admit that God is light and is everywhere, suddenly even star dates seem so shallow.  With one key ingredient to make it all happen, Jesus.  When Gene set out to tell stories we could relate to, God had already given us Jesus so we can relate to him.  Not a new concept, but when left in the hands of man, can produce disastrous effects.  Heavens that aren’t, hells that they don’t believe in, and a savior they deny.  Left up to their own imaginations, when they can have a reality far beyond any imagination.  Sadly religion today is like it has always been, “beam us up Scotty, no signs of intelligent life here.”  But when it is all about Jesus......life begins.  Becomes real, becomes worth the living.  So why do you still believe Spock can renew life and Jesus cannot? 

No matter how far into deep space Star Trek ventures, it cannot only touch the edge of God’s universe.  In the beginning, God created it out of nothing.  And it was void until the spirit gave it life.  Just like we are, without the spirit.  And only God knows when it will be time to beam up to heaven, or be lost to hell.  Maybe a good idea to visit with him today, to put him on your screen at maximum, to seek him while he may be found.  He isn’t lost, but the time we are given is wasting away.  We have been given a mission on earth to explore new galaxies in Christ.  To relate to God and be saved.  Our choice.  Science fiction allows us to go to a land where anything goes, God created a place where only those who are saved go.  Where no starship can visit, and no one will want to leave.  Who is the Captain Kirk of your enterprise will determine where you end up.  Eternal bliss or eternal pain, even Mr. Spock would say only Jesus is logical.  Gene knew all this when he started the Trek phenomena, but God was ahead of him all along.  Even the Telosians admitted, “you have your illusion, we have our reality.”  I just hope you are ready when the transporter is....sadly Gene didn’t believe.  Don’t you make the same mistake.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25bikr.blogspot.com

my first Mustang

An ad on the Internet got me thinking last night about my first Mustang.  It was a 1965 coupe, with the 289 V-8, four barrel.  Four on the floor, and white in color.  Whitewall tires, and a white vinyl top.  It was to be my first Mustang, my next one would enter my life almost thirty years later, but you always remember your first Mustang.  I even remember the price, $1.19, and with paint and glue, I had almost $1.60 invested in it.  For my first Mustang was not a real car, in the sense of the word, but an AMT 3 in 1 customizing kit, a model.  And at age 11, before any of my other model building friends, I owned my first Mustang, paid for in cash, and sitting on my shelf, the proud reminder of an afternoon spent sitting at my parent’s kitchen table, deep in thought and trying to keep the glue off the parts that showed, in my mind I was cruising the streets of Scotch Plains, in real life I would settle for my friends being jealous I had the first model of it.  Many trips to unknown places were taken in that car, I was the guy in the ads who when he had a Mustang suddenly became cool, where all my friends were envious of me, and the girls wanted to ride with me.  I got the best parking space at work, spent sunny Saturdays washing her, and out with the date of my choice that night.  It was a perfect world, gas was cheap, windows down the fresh air carrying the tunes of WABC and Cousin Brucie outside.  And then my mother interrupted, “time for dinner, pack it up and put it away, for later.” 

Reality can hit hard sometimes, and it would be almost thirty years later until my first real Mustang, a 1986 GT convertible, white of course, with a Flowmaster exhaust and five speed.  225 horsepower under my foot anytime I wanted it, and suddenly I was that 11 year old kid again, burning rubber, day dreaming of racing from stop light to stop light.  Having pretty girls and cool guys look at me with envy, I could rev the motor and thrill kids not yet old enough to drive, be the cool dad who didn’t carpool because we didn’t have enough seats, and even my kids thought it was cool.  Then the guy in the Toyota honked at me, “hey man the lights green,” and suddenly all the cool was gone.  The other cars looked at me differently, no burnout, just a sedate take off, not trying to draw any more attention to me.  And at the next light, only staring straight ahead, as embarrassed as I was, I didn’t want to repeat the process.  Oh, how I wished I was that 11 year old again, and how much easier life was before it became reality.

Today we still have a Mustang in our garage, a 2015 red convertible with 300 horsepower, that when driving it takes 30 years of my age.  I often wonder when passing someone if they look at me and wonder “why does that old guy drive a Mustang?”  Aren’t cool cars, especially convertibles for younger people?  Same response when I take off my helmet when riding the Street Triple, one guy commenting “I didn’t think old guys rode sport bikes.”  Please don’t let the gray in my beard mislead you, inside is the heart and soul of a teenager, the packaging is just a bit worn and needs some repair.  But inside, I am still that 11 year old, except now I have the memories of what I used to dream of etched in my memory from reality.  I still day dream sometimes, but find solace in looking back, at the cars, motorcycles, and the places I have ridden, meals I have eaten, and time zones I have crossed.  My reality much better than any of my dreams, and I only have God to thank for them.  Frank Sinatra might have sung “I did it my way,” but I find that when I do it my way, I end up with glue all over the exposed parts.  A run in the paint, standing in the wrong line, and wishing I had listened to God.  But when trusting him, which will show in your actions, faith without them is dead after all, I have so much and so many good times to show.  Even in the toughest of times, Jesus was there, sometimes seat belted in, he knew the ride would be rough.  Other times just smiling as he saw the smile on my face, and often shaking his head, “back off the gas Mike...”  But never making fun of me, but somehow loving me, and in every occurrence, showing how much he cared.  Jesus was once an 11 year old boy too.  If only I would face my future like he did, fully trusting his father, despite knowing the outcome.  I guess I can day dream, but I am glad his life is intertwined with mine, a greater reality that can never be imagined.  You need to experience Jesus in person....

I often wonder, like Job must have, “where were all my friends with their great advice before I had the problem?  And how could they know so much if they never walked in my shoes?”  Yet we find Job’s three friends, all offering advice to him, from a worldly perspective, except in their own minds, where  they consider it spiritual.  Eliphaz telling him he must have sinned, for only sinners are punished like he is. Just admit it, you’ll be OK.  At least the repenting part was right, sorta.  For based on that philosophy, good things  mean we are good, and bad things mean we are bad.  Contradicted by Psalm 73, where the unrighteous seem to prosper at the expense of the righteous.  But he didn’t have the luxury of the New Testament yet, to see where Jesus explained how in healing a blind man, it was to show the greatness of God, for he was born blind, and his sin hadn’t been the cause of his blindness.  Seems we all have our own gospel or theology to explain away our actions....

So while some seek Jesus, others try to impress God with their goodness, which he refers to as filthy rags.  I have some in my garage, am I that bad?  I usually toss them out, I’m glad Jesus didn’t toss me out in my sinful nature.  But in religion where we are supposed to find freedom, we find being bound by its rule and regulations,which only lead to more sin.  The more laws the more there are to break, hey I knew that before I was saved.  Remember those trips to the principals’ office....I do.  So when Jesus offered me mercy, I jumped at it.  Give me all the grace you got, I love being forgiven, I love walking in the spirit, I love Jesus in my life.  And he is real, and when called for dinner, my prayers, my conversations with him, are real.  In Christ I have been able to put all my old things aside, when it is his word and not mine, I now know peace, his way is my way, not the opposite.  Yet why do we still call him Lord, yet ignore his words? 

We all have holes in our theology from time to time.  We still don’t have all the facts, but this I know, only Jesus saves.  My best day on earth in no way will compare with my worst in heaven.  I can live my life free in the spirit he has given me, his only law being love. Despite his situation, Job knew God better than his friends.  He had that personal relationship with him not based on laws.  And God would honor him in his suffering, and reward him after.  In Job we can see the suffering of Jesus, but also the heaven that awaits us after the trials of life.  Take a good look at your theology today,  where there are holes, let Jesus fill them in.  Put away childish denominational rhetoric.  Let no man deceive you.  And if it means a little glue gets on your hands in the process, look at the finished product and how it got there.  My first Mustang had all the marks of an 11 year old, our latest the marks of an older and sometimes wiser teenager.  Some of us may never grow up, but we all can grow in Christ.  How we see ourselves will reflect in our actions, but who Jesus is in our life will reflect in our heart.  So when asked for what do I want for Christmas, I at first drew a blank.  Then it hit me...to be that 11 year old kid still expecting gifts on Christmas morning.  So I asked for a model, and if you don’t know me, I’ll be the one with glue on my fingers Christmas afternoon.  And Jesus Christ in my heart, that day and everyday.  Christmas may only come once a year.....but Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving! 

I knew my first Mustang would not be my last.  How glad I am that Jesus is everlasting.

Just don’t forget to call me for dinner!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspotcom

why are they always found in a barn?

For me it started out cruising the back rows of car lots in Albuquerque.  Some interesting and forgotten vehicles found there, and although not a true barn find, but rather a back row used car find via the two grandsons who found it in their grandmother’s garage when she died, it was love at first sight.  Something about the 1950 Buick’s toothy grill, that big straight eight, and the roar when the gas pedal is pushed to start it.  They had painted it, restored the interior, new wide whites, and its three on the tree shifted fine, no sissy Dynaflow for her.  So I had my first barn find.....within certain limits.

Today it seems barn finds, cars found in some relative’s barn when they pass away is the hot set up.  Leave them like they were found, the patina worth its weight in restoration, telling a story some trailer queen cannot.  Or maybe once could before being over restored.  But barn finds are out there, if you look or happen to trip over one.  But why are the best ones always found in a barn?

My 1949 Ford F-3 wasn’t, another back row find.  Vermillion with 31 leafs in the rear, it rode like a truck.  With 17” split rims, a 1955 T-bird motor, a battery out of a state police cruiser won on a flip of the coin, it hauled wood, was a place for my son to play in, and finally sold, as was the Buick, when life’s needs surpassed the love of the vehicle.  Neither one a true barn find, no barns involved in the transactions, but oh the tales they would tell if you listened.  The smell of grease and oil, plastic pieces on the F-3 rotting, no headliner, it was a thing of beauty no restoration could improve upon.  Even my Buick won an honorable mention at a Memorial Day car show,  I was impressed until I found all entries got one.  But it too was sold when I needed money, but still to this day the love affair with postwar Buicks from 1946-1950 remains.  Where is that barn when I need it.....

But not all valuable old cars are found barns, just like not all Christians can be found in churches.  When pastoring Dustin Arms we had many barn find people, whose life resembled a barn find, left to rot or die with no one caring.  Many who once were in church, until their sins forced them out, can’t have sinners in the church, how will that look?  Pick a cult, denomination, a philosophy, or trend, we had them all.  And as I listened to their stories, I always asked “where is Jesus in it?”  Even the most hard core atheist would consider, as the holy spirit did his job, saving, we were just the messengers.  And a funny thing happened, these barn find Christians began to grow from the inside, the patina of life remaining, but born again in the spirit, like a restoration project, still in process.  And they began to tell others, to not stumble of denominational differences, leaving the church that hurt them behind.  They may have been accused of leaving the church, but it was really the church that left them, God never did. 

Today there are more barn finds than barns it seems.  With vehicles that were once loved retrieved and valuable once again.  Works with Jesus too, as when he comes into your life, he too will make all things new again.  So often we get caught up in religion and think the church is Jesus, and attendance or membership gets us the heavenly ride we seek, but only in Christ are you saved.  He may be knocking right now on your heart, the spirit calling to you.  And you can answer, no altar calls found in scripture, Jesus meets you right were you are.  Telling you where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with you.  The spirit and you make two, Jesus completes it.  So why sour in church when you can be blessed in the spirit? 

Just as all barn finds have a story to tell, so do God’s kids.  Our testimonies change lives when shared.  No one can dispute them for they are real.  Maybe just cruising the back lots you may have heard of Jesus, and wondered, but sold out to the lies or per pressure.  Holing up in a barn where you think no one can find you, or cares.  Jesus cares, he provides, and is just waiting for the chance to know you, and you know him.  To enter into the family, and to be blessed.  You see when it is all about Jesus, you don’t need religion, you have truth.  You have friend who never asks for money, we never asked for any, yet like scripture says we never went hungry or naked, like the saved ones.  When we needed something God provided, from food to clothes, shoes to beds, it was him not us, who was in charge.  While lives were changing, writing to prisoners and loving them, sharing food and clothes on the street, all the while earning the right to share Jesus with them.  The words carrying weight after the actions of love were shown.

So maybe you are or were a barn find before Jesus.  He is still patient.  No matter where you are, your condition, he’ll meet you there.  You are not alone.  Back row or front row, no bargain is like the free one of eternal life.  So if you are one of the ones who used to sing and believe “Jesus loves you this I know, for the Bible tells me so,” he still does.  His will is that none should perish, but to know him personally.  Some are snatched at the last moment, some barn finds end up crushed.  In Christ we won’t be.  Something to consider....as cars cannot be as valuable as people, can they?

So why are they always found in a barn?  Jesus started in one, but he didn’t stay there.  He was out on the streets.  Where the action is.  Start your barn find story today with him, then go tell someone.  See, true Christians just have to tell someone about Jesus when he comes into their lives.  For me it was a Buick and an old Ford, then Jesus made it real. 

So you too can answer, “have you heard about Jesus?”  “Yes for many years now.  Let me tell you how he found me...”  And you thought it was all about religion....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthw25biker.blogspot.com