icons of cool

My friend Lance sold me my first new Triumph some 16 years ago. So we go back a ways with Triumph, and were commenting on how well the brand is doing. But then we started to talk about a "new" generation of riders who had never heard of them. "Does Honda make them? Are they new? Where's England? And are they like a Harley?" And the answers are- NO, NO, northwest of Europe, and yes, and no. And he told me of one particular young guy who had just left his store. About 20, he was very interested in motorcycles, and never heard of Triumph. "What are they all about?" he wanted to know.

So Lance explained how they are celebrating their 110th birthday this year. Not impressed. So Lance asked if he heard of Marlon Brando. Who? How about Lee Marvin? He had heard of Clint Eastwood. James Dean? Please say yes. Do you know about Steve McQueen? More blank looks. When Lance explained all these guys rode Triumphs, because they were cool, he wasn't impressed. Leaving the store maybe looking for a safer ride, one not so famous. Definitely not so cool. Now I know what the problem with this generation is-they have no cool. In fact, they are so uncool they don't even know what cool is.

Brando was cool. He was the Wild One. So cool he rode his own Triumph Thunderbird in the movie. When asked what are you rebelling against, he answered, "whatta ya got?" Maybe he wasn't acting, just being himself. Lee Marvin, another man's man used to race his Triumph on weekends, after riding it out to the desert. One of the best chase scenes ever was in Coogan's Bluff, where Clint chases the bad guy, both riding Triumphs, through Central Park. No one ever said Clint wasn't cool. James Dean became more famous for cool after his death, but while alive rode all he could. There again, on a Triumph. Like the song says, "he was too fast to live, too young to die..." But the King of Cool is still Steve McQueen. Racing on weekends under the alias of Harvey Mushman, his public wasn't sure if he was an actor that raced, or a racer that acted. Steve would rather be known as a racer, better class of people. No one was cooler than Steve, from the Elsinore Grand Prix to the 1964 ISDT, he was happiest when riding. The perfect combination of cool-Steve and Triumphs. But he was so cool, that when asked did he do the driving in Bullitt, he answered "no, Bud Ekins did it." Bud was Steve's hero, the man who taught Steve to ride. And while we all wanted to be cool like Steve, Steve wanted to be cool like Bud. Racer, stuntman, owner of the largest Triumph dealership in the USA in Hollywood, and cool. Way cool. Quick, where are all the cool guys today? What has the latest generation have to offer? Who is so cool that both men and women want to hang with them?

I wonder...if this kid ever heard of Jesus Christ? Talking of cool, no one was ever cooler. Like Brando, He was a rebel. He was against religion, and what it did to men's relationship with God, so He died so we could know God. Like Marvin, He was tough on the outside, but tender on the inside. He could heal a blind man, or go without food for 40 days. He was love. Like Clint, He has some famous quotes. "Go ahead, make my day." For today is the day of salvation. He said it over 2000 years ago, when He showed His love for us while dying on a cross, an innocent man. Like Dean He was a true rebel with a cause. Recorded in John3:16. "For God so loved the world, He gave His only son, that whoever believed on Him has eternal life." And like Steve, He was the King of Cool. Also King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Almighty God. Terms not equated with anyone else in history. He was God, and He was with God. Something only God could do. Now that's cool.

And He is still alive today, offering eternal life to those that seek Him. He still heals the sick, meets all your needs, and wants to get to know you. So you can know Him. He is so cool that He even calls you His friend! And in everything He does He gives glory to God. The coolest man who ever lived, still lives today. How cool is that?

You see this generation needs someone cool to lead it. Jesus Christ is the answer. The only one cool enough, and loving enough. He is God! And calls out to us, He knows our name! Will you become His friend today? How cool to be in heaven, and have Him introduce you as His friend. And He is willing to do it right now, while we live here on earth.

No one was, is, or will ever be cooler than Jesus Christ. You might call Him a Triumph in His own right. And you would be right. Maybe you are what you ride. Too bad I wasn't there, I would have told this young man all about Jesus, the coolest. But there are many who don't know or have rejected Him. That is not cool. There are many brands of motorcycles to ride, let a Triumph in Jesus be the next ride you take, the best decision you will ever make. Riding with Jesus, who calls you friend-now that's cool!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

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doctor's practice, Jesus heals

 Remember the old Donna Reed Show? She played the perfect mother, and wife of Dr. Alex Stone, MD. And with his office in his home, he truly made house calls, as except for occasional trips to the hospital to visit patients, he did all his business at home. And that is how I remember doctors when I was young. Dr. Santoro was the family doctor, friend, and confidant. His house had been designed to have a doctor's office included in it, and that was how and where you went to the doctor. With the waiting room being the largest room, and his nurse, aka his wife, occupying a small desk, while wearing her clean, white uniform. Same with Dr. Grill our dentist. Rates were reasonable, they were referred to as Dr. and Mrs. and you felt like you were getting personal attention, and you were. But they were more than Dr. and Mrs. and there was a common bond between you. A system that worked-doctors practiced, their wives were the nurses, and you were the patient. We each played our parts.

But today it is all medical groups, in medical buildings, with a full staff, where wives are not nurses, you have insurance billing specialists, and you go to another office for x-rays and tests. All covered by your insurance carrier, if you are insured, after paying your co-pay. A word I never heard until I was in my twenties. As a college student at UNM, the first time I had to go to the student infirmary I was in shock. My parents had always paid, and when I left, they wanted money-now! I had none, and had to make payments, a great imposition to the previous generation. And from there on looked at the medical field in a much different light. I never thought about the business of medicine, and as I was to learn, many doctors didn't either. Adding to their stress, and endangering their practice and home lives.

It had been a bad night. First I fought with my girlfriend, then we broke up. Then as I was going to a friend's house to be consoled, I got hit in the rear by a 1972 LTD-all 4000 pounds of it. Twice the weight of my MG Midget. I had been hit so hard the car was pushed almost 100', and my body was in pain. In this pre-cell phone era, the cop let me call Gerald, my Christian friend and chiropractor. Who immediately met me at his office, on this late Saturday night. My other call was to Michael Baldonado, who was to be a life saver for me the next few weeks. By the time I got to Gerald's office, my friends were arriving. Praying, there was over 20 of them! And Gerald did some cursory checks, and got me going. A night where my emotions had fallen to a new low, the love of my friends was boosting me up. And would continue to support me, as Gerald and his chiropractic gift would aid in the healing. But it was a night of family, my Christian family, that stopped what they were doing, and helped me out. Love was the panacea that night, just the right prescription, and the right prescription for all situations.

Looking back, if I had looked at the situation, it was pretty bad. My body was as damaged as my emotions. But instead I chose to look to the cross of Jesus Christ. He bore my wounds, and guided me through the next months as I recovered. Other true friends like Garcia took me in, after I stayed at Michael's for a few weeks. And we used the time to praise God, to seek Him, and I grew in the Lord. God had taken a bad situation, and turned it into a joyous one. Doctors can only do so much, it takes the ultimate healer, Jesus, to make the changes. And like always, He sends those who are willing, as opposed to those who are skilled. And like the doctor's offices of old, we are taken into homes where we are healed. Where the healing process can be fully seen in a physical, emotional, and a spiritual presence. Where Jesus is allowed to be the ultimate healer, and those involved are blessed. Sadly those who are unsaved miss this opportunity, and suffer needlessly. We have joy, for joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God! The fruit of the spirit.

Today or even right now you may be in a situation that needs help. Apply the proper first aid-prayer. Seek Jesus first, then obey. Lean on Him, and watch as a bad situation turns into a blessing. He will send the right people. Watch as bodies, souls, and spirits are healed. Watch as the family unites in His spirit, and as we are reminded that wherever two or three are gathered in His name, He is among you. Alone-call out to the Holy Spirit-there is your two! See you are never alone or without Jesus.

Medicine has come a long way. But it still pales compared to God. And with insurance companies telling doctors how to practice, and families falling apart daily, why not turn to the one who is always there. Who always knows what to do, and has the ability to do it? Have the same faith in Jesus as you do in an aspirin. I don't know how it finds my headache, or my back ache, or knows the difference, but it does. So I rely on them. A miracle drug if given to someone who has never taken one. Imagine the results if we trusted/relied on God the same way we pop pills?

Doctor's practice, Jesus makes perfect. And He still makes house calls. Now that's a miracle we all need!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

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motorcycle dated

People have different ways of keeping track of time and dates. Some may have a special event that occurred in their life, and recall things before or after it. Some have lived various places, and associate it with where they lived, hoping the dates and addresses coincide. Some keep diaries, and then remember more exact details, at least as their emotions remembered them at the time. But for years, we have used our own system of remembering, times, dates, events, and things missed along the way. We shall call it motorcycle dating, and although it may not always be accurate, it recalls things based on which motorcycle(s) we owned, where we rode them, and who we did it with. A memory album, which can be more complete than any photo album, as it reveals the heart through the ride, and the ride of the heart. If you ride you know what I mean, if not, you may have precious memories awaiting you. I wouldn't want to miss any blessings along the way.

It was September of 1986, and with my new FJ1100 all of a week old, I set out from Farmington to Bangor-New Mexico to Pennsylvania. I was going to surprise my Grandpa with a few day visit-I had eight days to do the total trip, and warned my Grandma I was coming. As I rode down Broadway, he happened to be sitting on his front steps. As I rode by, he jumped up, knowing it was me, and ran to where I parked. "Michael!" was all he could say through tears of joy, and the three of us had a great two days together. We went to dinner, dressed as they called it, at the Colonial, and had a huge meal. He gave me a new shirt to wear, as my t-shirts were not dressy enough. But the three of us also had a secret we always kept. This trip was for them, and although I came within 60 miles of my parents, they never knew it. They would not have understood, so we kept it to ourselves. It was a time for a grandson with his grandparents. I remember the meal, and the shirt, but not what I had to eat. I remember the FJ, but most of all I remember my Grandpa jumping up when he saw me-all 81 years of him. And his tears of joy, maybe the greatest gift anyone had ever given him.

Christopher was nine years old when we rode to Canada, again on the FJ. For 13 days, and 3900 miles, we had a special time. Riding ferries, seeing the Northwest, from Victoria to Mt. St. Helens, we had a great time. A lot for a nine year old to take in. And I never really knew how much, until we were back home. He was playing with a friend, and their Transformers. His friend was a one upper, always one step bigger than the story last told, and had been bragging how his dad had taken him fishing for the weekend. Christopher just answered, "I rode to Canada on his motorcycle for two weeks with my dad." Game, match, set. No brag, just fact. In one sentence he described better what it meant to him than all the pictures I took. Again, a precious moment between a father and son, based on a motorcycle.

Theresa and I had stayed out way too late on a Saturday night in Colorado. In the days of no gas on Sunday, and no motels, we found ourselves at the Jackson Hotel. Which was celebrating its 100th anniversary that night. But the rooms weren't finished, so when the bartender/cook/innkeeper saw we were desperate, he let us stay in the unfinished rooms, with the bathroom down the hall, if we would set up the beds. Sure thing, and then topped it off by having the best pan fried steak I ever ate. An intimate evening, with a meal for two, in the middle of nowhere. The right place, the right time, with he right people we had never met, and would never meet again. And thanks to the tank on my R100S, we had enough gas to get back to Durango the next day. From a town with no name, at a hotel that wasn't open, with my best friend. Something we would never have done in a car, it seemed so normal then, and so normal now. Sometimes the best trips are not the ones we find on a map, or planned.

I had met Jesse when I took my cross country trip in my van in 1975. At at rest stop on I-25 north of Denver, we met and got high. Then went on our ways. I didn't know it then, but within two weeks I would meet Jesus, get saved, and my life would change forever. The next summer, I had moved to Albuquerque,, and was selling motorcycles at Motorsport-when in comes Jesse. He was teaching at the Taos Pueblo. And immediately we hugged, and he wanted to get high. I agreed to go to lunch with him, and for the next hour shared how Jesus Christ had changed my life. No more drugs, and a joy unspeakable. He listened, and I don't know if he ever came to the Lord. But from a chance meeting at a rest stop between a man from New Jersey, and a teacher from Taos, to selling motorcycles in Albuquerque, God had brought us back together. He was perhaps the first person to see how much I had changed after being saved. Even neater, he owned a 1972 BMW R60/5, blue, like my old one.

God has given me three passions in life. First my passion for Jesus Christ, which is the most important in my life. Second, my best friend, riding partner, and wife, Theresa. And third, the love of riding motorcycles. And in His own way has woven a life for me using them all. Some would call it luck, I call it a blessing from a loving God. And like the old gospel song says, "...and the half has never yet been told." For I hope to have many more miles, rides, and memories before heaven. There are so many roads, so little time, and so great a harvest of souls. Make sure that no matter how your memory system operates, it includes Jesus. He is yesterday's memories, today's memories, and a bright outlook on memories to come. Precious times, on bikes long ago traded on new ones, but somehow the memories just get sweeter. As only Jesus can make them.

Let the ride of your life become your own reality series. With no fear of being cancelled when trends or audiences change. Share your own memories with someone today, and encourage them to get out and live. Sometimes you never know how far you have come until you look back. I rather look ahead to how far I have yet to go. Enough talk-let's ride!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot

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I still wave at trains, part 2

I always look forward to the first weekend in May because it is time for the ATHS Truck Show. But this weekend I really needed the break. Andrew had been to the ER three times, I had a torn muscle in my back, we were exhausted, and my father died on Saturday. Then I got a phone call Saturday afternoon, telling me the service was on Tuesday, in Jersey, leaving me no time to get back. Excluding me from any involvement. This after earlier in the week being told by my mother she wanted NO service, and would wait to intur his ashes until we came back this summer. But I could send flowers. And then my mother accosted me on the phone Sunday, cursing me and God, and telling me she was cutting me out of the will-because I was hurt because I was told not to come visit him during his illness. Also keeping my sons from seeing their grandfather. And being skillfully not invited to his service. I have the e-mail. So I needed the truck show! Which is again being held at the Perris Railway Museum, which has real trains, in a county like setting. And this year, Kelly and Theresa would be bringing the kids along, and Landon was bringing his Thomas the Train toy to say hi to the train.

As we rode into Temecula, the traffic suddenly halted ahead, and we saw 40 motorcycles on the side of the road. A semi was doing a sweep blocking off traffic, and then blocked two lanes, protecting the bikers. We stopped to assist, and saw a Soldiers for Jesus patch holder praying with the downed biker, he was OK, his bike was unridable. After the events of the past day, it was refreshing to see total strangers bound together in a common cause, not caring about specifics, just dealing with the problem. Legacy Vets, Viet Nam Vets, and others-more concerned about the safety of one of their own than any politics.

But God knew my heart, and what I needed that day, and had a big surprise for me. When we arrived the train was just pulling out, and Landon got to see it close up. As we walked the truck show, BIG trucks and some cool restored and unrestored trucks, it got time for the kids to ride the train. As Theresa and Kelly sat in the passenger car with the kids, not knowing what was about to go on, we took pictures, then sat to watch. When suddenly the engineer called from the cabin, "Hey do want to ride the train? Come on up into the cab!" If he asked twice, I don't remember, as I was up the ladder and in the cab so fast. Theresa too. And as it pulled out, I was waving at the people-from the train! A smile so big it brought tears. A gift from my heavenly Father, knowing just what I needed, and when. Reminding me how much He cared. My thanks to Ken Schwartz, engineer and superintendent for his great offer. He will never know how much it meant to us. But he wasn't done-or was I. He had me sit in his seat, and I drove the train for about 1 1/2 miles on this short line! And then brought it to a stop. And then when we told them about the kids, he had them come up and sit in his seat, and blow the whistle! Mike had driven the train on their first train ride! An afternoon I will never forget.

For God so loved the world, He gave His only son-Jesus. And gives us life abundantly. Out of the ashes we rise...there is no one like Him! Or His love! Jesus saves-not by words, or by deeds, but by a change of heart-faith He calls it. He also calms and loves the hurting, which I was. Trust Him today. Is it OK to say that that afternoon His train filled my temple?

Over the past week I have ridden anything from a 165hp Ducati, to a Street Triple to a Tiger Explorer. And driven a train. 110 hp to thousands of horsepower. Can you say that? I can! And I even kept it on the track, at speeds up to 14mph! The train, not the bikes. Thanks Lord, for your special care. Not a bad week.

Oh, and please pray for my sister. Reread her words of the note she sent out on my mailing list-you guys. And see I never called her horrible. Reread mine. A prayer request. All lies are based on truth, God knows. Write to my Mother too. She needs love. But pray first. And pray for us too. That the work that God has called us to goes on. As for the quote she stated my father said, "paper will stand still for anything," the only Google items I could find it quoted on was relating to a modern Christianity teaching, that Jesus wasn't God, didn't know who He was, and never was resurrected. Not my kind of Christianity, or truth. Not THE truth. Another lie. Be careful who you quote. God's word will last forever.

No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace. The truth has set me free-I hope it did my dad. I hope someday it does my mother and sister. No airing of family problems, just praying like God instructs us to do-for the lost and dying. Who loved his dad very much, and never got to visit or say goodbye.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

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let your right hand decide

From the teaching an old dog new tricks file comes this personal note. Yesterday, for the first time anywhere, on any road, I used the cruise control on a motorcycle. Now before you think I really lost it, it wasn't on a Gold Wing, or an Ultra Glide. The next two weeks I'm riding a 2012 Triumph Explorer, their answer to the big BMW GS series. Incredible motor-this sucker is quick, and has many electronic enhancements that I normally wouldn't care for. In fact it has so many new items and buttons, I took home the owners manual and read it-just so I could figure out how to get the odometer mileage to show up on the speedometer. Which now is called an info center. An i-pod on two wheels, thankfully no texting feature. I can tell how fast, how far, how much fuel used, and how many miles I have left before I have to push, and knowing the ambient temperature while all this is going on. Two trip meters-that part I like, and can use on trips. But it also has three settings of traction control, ABS which can be turned off in the dirt-I'll keep that one on-great brakes, and cruise control. On a shaft driven bike controlled by a drive by wire throttle. And, get this-it comes standard with a center stand! Finally, something I can use!

But back to the cruise control. Which is hard to use on freeways around here, just too much traffic. But yesterday afternoon riding to Murrieta the traffic was light, and after taking my eyes off the road for seconds at a time, I set the cruise for 84-it only works 30-100mph in case you care. And it worked, once I learned to follow directions. Even on hills, it kept the speed within 2mph of where I set it. It started to grow on me, but my decision was I don't like it. And didn't use it coming home. My right hand felt abandoned, I didn't fell like I had control, and I kept wanting to twist something. The bike didn't miss a beat, but suddenly I wasn't riding, but just along for the ride. Compared to my Street Triple I rode up, which has everything you need, and nothing you don't, this bike was on electric assist overload. And so was I!

Now I'm not saying I'm simple, but I like simple things. And my approach to all these gadgets as they are referred to in the owners manual is, why don't we spend more time creating a better rider? Skill and how to ride in certain situations can help prevent an accident, rather than having a computer do it for you. Plus you have control. You can make the choices, because you are participating. I spent more time looking out for traffic so I could turn off the cruise, and didn't feel safe-I had lost my control! Did I ever really have it? So give me simple, like the Street Triple. And give me simple in my God. A simple gospel that I can understand, that I can understand enough to share with others comfortably. So God gave us one, His Son Jesus. Simply put, we sinned, and are separated from God. We need a way back, and Jesus is the way. Confess your sin, believe with your heart and you are saved. No baptisms to salvation, no classes, no membership, no special underwear, no passing out newspapers, and no Jesus and anything. Just Jesus.

And here is the kicker. The last thing mentioned in the list of the fruit of the spirit is get this, self control. You are not forced to follow Him, but if you don't are in complete rebellion. It is your choice to obey, to live a Godly life, and to follow Him. No rules, just love. It takes you and Him-together. You can't put your relationship with Him on cruise-it takes participation, God is already committed-are you?

And self control works with meekness-which is power under control. Meekness is being in a position to do the wrong thing, but choosing the right thing, despite bad advice. It is your choice. It is living with your handle on the throttle, and knowing how to control it, which is directly connected to God. So the question is, how much of God do you want? Little blessings-use a little throttle. Big blessings-open up your throttle, your heart to Jesus, and trust Him in all things. And marvel as you pass those on cruise, who think they have it made. You're riding, they are just along for the ride. It takes a relationship between you and God, hand on the throttle, to participate. It takes knowing when to open it full, or when to back off. It takes trusting God to know how far and when to open it up. It takes Jesus so you have the access to God. It takes self control, based on trust, based on knowing God.

God wants you to think for yourself. He doesn't demand His own way, but wants you to change yours to be like Him. Blessed He calls it. From a God who has everything you need, and protects you from the things you don't. A simple ride, based on a simple gospel, based on a simple relationship between you and Jesus. So I choose simple-more fun, and more God in my life. Some choose to cruise through life, I choose to tour. Let's compare trip memories some day-I would love to show you all the places Jesus has taken me. And your cruise? Hmmm... But it still takes your hand on the throttle, and a trust in your heart. Faith leading to obedience. I like that. Jesus Christ-everything you need. Nothing you don't. And he's your choice.

How fast and how far you go is up to you. Find out in Jesus. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Don't let anyone else choose your ride for you. And your choice is?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

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you can't teach experience, but you can live it

The game Monopoly was invented during the Great Depression to provide entertainment for those in need of a way to get some escape from reality. Actually, even though it is just a game, it is fun to buy and sell, to get $200 for just passing go, and to beat whoever you are playing against. You do play to win, don't you? And when played during a time when joy was being robbed from daily life, it was an escape to a dream of money, power, and control-at least while playing. Then back to real life which seems to interfere more and more with our daily dreams.

But even in Monopoly, you have to follow certain rules. You must own all the properties in the color group before you can build. And like real life, you must have houses before you can turn them into hotels. So there is a process that you must follow, and a risk you must take. Buy the most, and you risk the most. But buy the least, and you also risk the most. Funny how both ends of the playing spectrum of a game have the greatest risk.

We are told to work out our salvation daily with fear and trembling. Not to be saved, but to grow in our relationship with God. Salvation is a one time, irrevocable event. But life is a daily one, and every day provides new challenges, just like spinning the dice on Monopoly. And just because you are holding the dice, doesn't give you any more power, once they are thrown, you must follow how many spaces they tell you to go. And the longer you play, the less control you have. You go from do I buy or not, to how much do I owe you for rent, or I already own that. And although we all start with the same money, and no properties, the more involved we get, the more it demands from us. Until sometimes frustration wins, and we all quit-and start over.

Riding a motorcycle is like that. Just because you have taken a course, or think you can ride because you passed the licensing test, doesn't mean you can ride. A new bike doesn't give you more skills, but can hurt worse when you dump it, and all new riders will fall at some point. You can't teach experience, but you can ride more, and gain it. Theresa started in parking lots after she got her license after taking the riding course. Parking lots are the worst place to ride, she soon found out. Then it was up old 395, never going above 55. Then the freeway, trying to not get run over by doing the speed limit. Then pretty soon she was staying up with traffic going 85 mph, and riding to San Francisco. As her experience grew, she wanted to go more places. And see more things, and along the way became a better rider while gaining experience. And the joy of life increased-called blessings.

That is why scripture tells us to work out daily with God. The more time you spend with Him, the more of Him you want. You go from trusting Jesus with just a little faith, to wanting Him in all your life. But it takes a commitment, and as you get closer to Him, soon you think like Him. And what was once faith, is now obedience. And unlike Monopoly, when you don't like how the game is going, you don't give in. He will take you past Boardwalk, and get you the $200 for passing go-in other words, He will provide as He guides. And just as you ride more your skills are sharpened, as you get closer to God, you see things through His eyes, and learn how to see what is up ahead, and plan accordingly.

We are all on a different level with God. Some are Monopoly masters, and think they know how to play the game. Some of us have ridden enough miles we think we can handle anything. But without God we are fair game for any disaster. So give in to Him today. Life is not a roll of the dice, and someone will always land on your most expensive rent some day-if you don't land on theirs first. Trust God! Whether playing the game of life, or riding through it, stick with Him. Don't trust to luck as some do, and stick with Him when the going gets tough.

For when the going gets tough, the tough trust Jesus. Your lifetime partner, who works out life situations with you. And then allows you to share them with someone else later with the same problem. So get out into the game of life, and begin living! Don't just be a spectator, but participate. Play the game for all it's worth, and play it to win. You may not live on Park Place, but you can live like it. And next time take a longer ride. See things you have only heard about, and see them for yourself. With Jesus. He makes it personal. Grow with Him, and experience life like owning Boardwalk and Park Place. Rather than landing on it.

And ride seeing the road through His eyes. You can't teach experience, but you can live it today. And tomorrow. More than a game, it is life. And more than collecting money for surviving a trip around the board and passing go, He adds life to your trip. The blessings are awaiting those who take advantage of them. Grow in Christ, a whole new world awaits you. So whether twisting the throttle, or throwing the dice, experience Jesus. And you thought life was just a game.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

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and no religion, too

When working in outside sales years ago, it was all about getting new business, and growing the old. Through various methods, including termination, you were encouraged to make cold calls, and generally do all the things you were told would make you a successful salesman. Looking at the "old" guys, you saw nothing special about them, but you could always tell if a new hire had the potential. And since it was "your" route, it was yours to grow. Rarely if ever did you get a lead, or ever have an account turned over to you. And when you did, at least in my case, they had been abused so bad, you were the mop and squeegee committee, if they didn't take the mop and use it on you. The old accounts turned over to you were worn out, didn't know you, or did know the last salesman. And some would still do business with you anyway. But the new business you got on your own, this was always your best bet. You got to build it with them, and you had no one else to blame. We had been told that your best accounts were ones you cultivated yourself from new, and they were right. We were also told the worst ones would be the ones turned over to you. No matter how large, and how successful they were or would be, somehow they weren't yours. Your heart was never in them as much, and as much as you hated to cold call-you needed it to grow the business to make an income. It came down to relationships, ones you built from scratch, not inherited and tried to maintain.

Sometimes it would work ok. It was like wanting to date a girl who was seeing someone else. You would watch to see what made her laugh, made her mad, and what she liked. Then you would tailor your approach for her, based on the other guy's experience. Hoping it would work, but often failing. You never saw the intimate parts that made her like the other guy, you only saw the external. You were trying to build a relationship based on someone else, and not you-or her. And it would inevitably fail. "Be yourself," you were told, which wasn't always easy. You saw the zits that could only be covered by combing your hair different. You knew all the bad habits you had, and set yourself up to fail. Not knowing she had a set of her own, and thinking no boy would go out with me. She was too pretty, or worse yet too... And when it finally occurred to you to be yourself, and the two of you build your own relationship, then it was special. You got to know her, and when you finally went to hold her hand, you assumed she would, because you had gotten the time to know her. And she finally had the answer to her question of "what took you so long?" Win or lose, it was your relationship-no one else's.

That is why religion is so impersonal. Read this, attend this, recite this, and don't do this list of things. Just like you've been told. Then Jesus comes along. And it's all different. You find the freedom to be you, and marvel as a potential you never knew you had appears. And as your relationship with Him grows, you find yourself wanting to be like Him. Something no laws, classes, or previous religious experience could teach you. This time it was personal-and it was all about you and Him. Just you and Jesus. No one else's mistakes to deal with, Jesus was dealing with yours-with you. And you found all the advice the world had given you, and all the rules religion had given you, didn't work when love came on the scene. It was that personal.

And so it was when I first met Jesus. I was so wild and rebellious I hated rules and authority. But when something, really someone touched my heart, I told God I would give Him a try. With no idea what I was getting into. With one condition-partying was still ok, and I could sleep with all the women I wanted. His answer surprised me-"OK." But a strange thing happened, my heart was changing and I no longer wanted to. I wanted to please Him, and wanted to be like Jesus. Where all the things the world offered-money, sex, drugs, and an all about me existence were hollow, Jesus showed me things of substance. He loved me as I was, and was excited about who I would become. It was all abut Him-no rules or regulations to hold Him back. I had a hope and a future-and He was it.

Struggling-try Jesus. Stuck in religion-trust Jesus. Bad at relationships, let Jesus show you how. Successful but feeling empty, He is the piece missing from your life. No rules, just a bit of faith. Followed up by some trust. Then a bit of obedience, and watch out! You're a Christian! You've been born again, and heading to heaven! With someone to walk with you, and guide you, so you are never alone. A victory you don't ever have to win again, but someone to go to when the battles that will occur in life do. You have fellowship with the creator of the universe.

A hope and a future-just for you, from the creator of the universe. Who loved you so much He sent His son to die and take your sin. You are loved! A relationship without religion, a freedom without laws, and a God who loves you. Make the best of it-trust Him! And watch as dreams you never had come true! All that, and heaven too! No prior experience needed.

You can have your religion, I'll keep Jesus!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

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