new in the neighborhood?

I was five when we moved to Algonquin Drive, and onto the edge of the expanding suburbs.  Hetfield Avenue was the main street then to me, and across it lay a whole new world-a world of dump trucks, steam shovels, graders, and bulldozers-what else could a five year old boy ask for?  But on this new street, where it once had been woods, were now houses, and soon to be families with kids, and soon it would turn into its own neighborhood-and I lived on the other side of Hetfield.  Two lanes of blacktop dividing me from this new neighborhood, but somehow uniting us too.  As we watched the moving vans pull up and unload furniture, we would try to get close and check out the big trucks, which smelled of diesel, a strange but fetching smell-they even burst forth with a giant puff of smoke like the bulldozers.  But really we were curious as to who was moving in, and if they had any kids our age.  And most did, and soon we were playing kickball and hide and seek with our new neighbors, getting to know them and making friends.  Testing them out by making them be it first in hide and seek, and soon finding out who was faster and smarter than you.  Who could kick the ball farther and who could defend himself better in a fight.  We never thought of it as anything scientific, we were just making friends, pals, who would last forever, or at least until 7th grade when it would all change, but friends we were....and then they built more houses....Princeton Avenue was the next new neighborhood.  And soon the woods we used to play in, where many of our WWII battles had been fought playing Sgt. Saunders like on Combat! was turned into  a street with houses.  But along the way.....

For we were older now, and bulldozers still fascinated us.  But now we were told to stay away...and we did until the work day ended, then went and sat on the back hoes, and dozers, playing for real, deciding in life what we wanted to be when we grew up-we wanted to drive construction equipment.  And soon we learned about picking up the extra pieces of wood, the nails they dropped, and were building forts on our last vestige of woods, New York Avenue, the last place to play Army, the last place to sled ride, and the last evidence of our past, before suburbia took over.  But when the new Princeton Avenue neighborhood grew, we made more friends, who would marvel at the stories we told, how we used to play on a giant fallen weeping willow where Bill Moore’s home was.  How the path in the woods that was now paved was a source for dodging lions and bears as a kid, and where we had ridden our bikes through the poison ivy.  And they couldn’t believe how where their new home stood, that once was the woods-a haven for young boys and their imaginations...but soon they were to find out, as we invited them sledding on the hills above where New York Avenue was to be, and the last woods would be there play ground too.  The neighborhood was growing...but really our world was shrinking...we were having to much fun to think of it any other way.

And soon the woods where Ricky Ray’s multi-story tree fort, the creek where we played camping out by, the sled runs, and the places we buried our girly pictures would be paved over...and another neighborhood invading, with another group of kids to welcome to our world, who this time didn’t care about our sacred grounds they lived on, and were just a few years too young to play with.  Our last vestige of childhood was gone, and the new kids didn’t care, in fact they wanted nothing to do with us, they were snobs towards us...fortunately Junior High was closing in on us, and soon the old neighborhood would be a  long ago playground, but for now the times they were a changin’, and for us that meant the neighborhood.

But what we didn’t know at the time, was we were changing too, only doing it as a group of friends.  Hide and seek was played less, no more kickball, and suddenly we were sledding at Echo Lake, riding our bikes to Westfield, and girls were a new word, a welcome word in our vocabulary.  Our neighborhood was changing, as were the neighbors, and we weren’t sure what to think, even the old tree forts seemed childish, and soon we were too old, or sophisticated at age 12 to be a kid anymore, we had grown up, we had changed.  We were teenagers!

It has been said, wisely I might add, that each of us is at a different level spiritually.  Which can get us into trouble, or keep us out.  I tend to gravitate to stronger Christians, learning from their example, and trying to be more mature in Christ.  But many times I fail, and wonder, if that was the only time someone saw me, and had been told I was a Christian, would I measure up?  Which scares me, for so often I am not...only when others aren’t looking of course.  But how do you handle it when busted?  Do you rebel, taking your ball and going home?  Do you make excuses, making your situation even worse?  Or do you admit it, repent, and go on?  Hint-#3 is the best choice.  Forgiveness is wonderful friend, and it seems as young kids we were more forgiving.  You might have a fight, but ten minutes later be chosen to play kickball, or to go sledding.  We forgave easier, we just forgot, and today many of us need to remember the lesson.  We need to remember that Jesus forgives us-all our sins, and those to come.  We are clean and white as the snow we used to sled on, and perfect in His eyes.  How different in our world, where we say “we forgive, but I won’t forget.”  Aren’t you glad God has a much better plan?  And so reading about the TBN founder Paul Crouch and his death, many critics came out and bad mouthed him.  True he wasn’t perfect, and not one of my favorite people, and TBN had become a kingdom of its own, so much criticism is true and warranted.  But not found in heaven, for Paul like others before him, and those to come are found forgiven by God when we ask Jesus into our hearts.  We will still sin, but thankfully no man will be my judge, and only God can grant me a pardon through Jesus.  Paul’s neighborhood changed when he got saved, as ours did, and now has changed forever, where no sins are remembered, or are past things on earth.  It is all new, and unimaginable-anything you think heaven is, it will only be better.  And I my case, maybe more woods, bikes to ride, sleds to ride, and stories to tell around a fire with other kids in the neighborhood.  But this will be a new neighborhood, fashioned by God, and all eyes will be on Him, and not us.  If only we could learn that lesson now, if we could see each other as God does, either forgiven or not forgiven.  Another choice we make, and the difference between those in heaven and hell.  Some may judge you today based on your past, or on your present.  Only God will guarantee your future, and see you as His Son has made you, clean and perfect.  And so for all those who enter heaven, in our new neighborhood, we will all have one thing in common-Jesus.  The same Jesus who saved us on earth, and we claim our Lord.  The same one who tells us “on earth as it in heaven,”  reminding us of forgiven sins.

What sins do you wish forgiven?  What do you want your new neighbors to not know about you?  Practice now by forgiving, and forgetting,  Be that heaven on earth, and set an example, a Godly one.  New neighborhoods are being created daily, and old things are passing away.  Welcome to the family of God, where all things are made new, all sin is forgiven, and we can have heaven on earth.  Where the only thing we will have I common is we have no sin, it is forgiven, and it will be all about Jesus.  One large heavenly neighborhood, with Jesus as the welcome wagon.  And even the worst of sinners can be forgiven, if they only ask.  Hetfield Avenue was the street to cross into many a new neighborhood, one day crossing over into heaven brings new joys-unspeakable joys, and forever joys.  Practice for it here while on earth, the old neighborhoods will soon be gone.  You can never go home again, but once you get to heaven, you will be home.  Hope to see you there...what was once old will be made new again.  Friends that will last forever.  You are never too old for heaven.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Tom Terrific

Mention the name George Seaver, and you might think of your insurance man, a used car salesman, or some other common man.  George who?  But mention the name Tom Seaver, and any Met fans ears perk up, and a smile comes across our face, for we know him as Tom Terrific, or as he was once known in the media The Franchise, one of the best pitchers ever in baseball, and the highest percentage vote getter in the history of the Hall of Fame.  But to most of us he was just Tom, #41, who pitched ever fourth day, and led his team to a 100 to 1 shot as World Series Champions in 1969.  He won over 300 games, and many awards, 3 time Cy Young Award winner as best pitcher of the year, including 1969.  He was the Rookie of the Year in 1967, and led the Mets in wins in 1969, leading the last place Mets to their first World Series.  He was known, loved, and respected by all, and humble in his strength.  We all stood and applauded that night on July 9th when he pitched 8 1/3 innings of perfect ball, only to have his perfect no hitter broken up by a bloop single by Jimmy Qualls,a second string outfielder,  but turning the season around with the win against first place Chicago.  Later he would pitch a no-hitter, but only after he left the Mets.  He would pitch game 1 in the World Series and lose to Mike Quellar, but come back and win in game 4, a ten inning complete game, setting the stage for the next day and the Mets World Series victory.  He never blamed others when he lost, but felt he let the team down when he did, but would give credit to others when he won, “remember the catch in the second,” or “how about that home run.”  Gracious in defeat, humble in victory...that was Tom.  And when Jerry Koosman’s last pitch to Davey Johnson, later to be manager of the 1986 Mets, flied out to Cleon Jones in left, Tom was the first to the mound from the dugout!  The Mets and Tom Seaver, 100 to 1 long shots had won-Tom Terrific and the Miracle Mets!  And for a brief time there was Camelot...the Mets had entered the Promised Land.

Now 1969 was a year to be remembered, we walked on the moon, the Mets won the World Series, and Woodstock changed the music world.  All within a few summer months.  But what if your summer lasted 40 years?  Fed, watered, clothed, and with shoes that never wore out, what are the odds of that?  Surely more than 100 to 1!  But yet we find God’s people under the leadership of Moses doing just that.  A man God raised up to lead them into the Promised Land, a true leader, on the field and in the clubhouse of God.  But even though he made the trip, God told him he would never enter the Promised Land.  40 years for what?  Being denied over one simple act of disobedience?  What about all the good he had done, how he put up with stiff  necked Jews for 40 years?  What about his two trips up the mountain, the Ten Commandments?  What about God?  Yet God had His plans for Moses, and just like Tom T. lost the only Series game that year, and felt like a failure, he was redeemed in the end by the team winning.  And so it was with Moses.  The team had won, they crossed over, but Moses didn’t, but disappeared.  To heaven.  God gave Him a private, personal funeral with no one attending, and no one even knows the place-except God.  And Moses was still young, he had many good years ahead of him, but God chose to reward him with heaven-the true Promised Land.  Showing the people of Israel mercy, grace, compassion, and why they should revere God all in one man.  Which He would duplicate later with Jesus, one man leading many to heaven-the Land of Promise in eternity.  Moses went right to the Hall of Fame in heaven, and a place awaits those who follow Jesus today.  Obedience is better than sacrifice, it kept Moses from crossing over the Jordan, but not from crossing over to heaven.  His sins were forgiven, just like ours are, and even though we struggle, and things don’t seem right, we are promised heaven if we trust Jesus.  Looking at your life today, you may think it is a 1000 to 1 chance of making heaven, based on what you have done.  But based on what Jesus has done, it is 100% guaranteed!  No doubts, despite the odds on earth, we have a loving God in heaven making a place for us-after He made the way for us to get there. 

it takes 27 outs in 27 batters to pitch a perfect game, tom went 25 for 27.  Great stats, but not the perfect game he desired.  Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, not in the won-lost column.  Sadly some come so close by their outer actions, but fail the inner one-the one where God deals with the heart.  Great stats, but no Promised Land without Jesus.  But in God’s mercy, He is patient waiting for you to cross over to Him-He has made the first move sending Jesus to you...now it is up to you. 

God has a special place for you in heaven, long after you leave earth.  Long after your deeds are forgotten here, He will remember you and still love you.  Enshrined in His hall of fame-heaven, next to others who just believed.  Who struggled every day, but hung on to who they knew, rather than what they saw.  Moses knew God, but disobeyed and had to see God’s grace in action, an example to others.  What is God showing through you?  Does your testimony stop with your sin, or with it being forgiven?  Moses left this world forgiven...it would take Jesus years later to come for the Jews, and He still is here today, waiting for you. 

George Seaver, good job.  Thanks for the memories.  But to us you’ll always be just Tom.  Who God is to you depends on Jesus.  To me, He’ll always be my friend, and savior.  Pretty terrific , huh?  And for eternity there will be Camelot...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

bikes I've never ridden

The Bucket List a few years ago sent many off in the direction of making lists of things to do before they die.  Being a true rebel I never fell into the trap, but last night began to think of alternatives to the bucket.  And things I still want to do, but thought instead of things I haven’t done, boiling it down to bikes I have never ridden.  And in true touring bike form, instead of a bucket considered a “saddlebag list,” but I am not a bagger at heart.  So I narrowed it down to the way I have been touring for over 40 years, “the tank bag list.”  A list of bikes I have never ridden....see how yours compares.

I have never ridden a Triumph Hurricane X-75, the custom built by Craig Vetter.  I always thought this pre-custom custom looked cool, and I remember them sitting gathering dust on showroom floors, too expensive.  If only I had bought one then, I could sell it and have enough to buy one now.  A blend of old Triumph, new triple, and custom styling, you gotta love those 3 pipes!  But the closest I ever came was owning a 1998 Thunderbird Sport, again a triple, but with only two pipes.  Great bike, sounded cool, but needed 30 more horsepower, which Mickey provided when he put a Daytona engine in one.  That bike I rode...why didn’t Triumph ever build it, I would still want one now!  But for now, the Hurricane will have to wait.

A slight blip on the café racer radar occurred in the seventies, when sport models of existing bikes sprung up, low bars, louder exhaust, and rear sets.  Even Harley got in on it, with the 1977 XR-1000.  Based on the Sportster it never sold, although it was fast, handled pretty good, and looked great.  But with no chrome, it never had a chance...another one for the tank bag, how great a tank bag would look on it riding some roads I know, maybe my first Harley, are you listening Milwaukee, what is Buell’s number?  I still have an open invite to ride any bike at want at Biggs, how about that XR-1000 on display?  I still would like to ride a Guzzi, Ducati, or any Italian bike that I felt safe riding past the edge of town on.  But with Audi owning Ducati, Ducaudi, when I rode a Diavel, I fell in love with the power-now I just need a race track to use it on.  The new Guzzi looks cool, sounds cool too, but in my mind I see an old friend, and resident Guzzi nut, Capt. Hook on his.  Pass for now, but this three cylinder MV Augusta looks good...

I also have an open invite from the GM at the BMW store to ride the S1000-but probably won’t, the speed junkie in me would come out and I would have to sell 2 or 3 bikes to do it, so I stay away from the store, but someday when I am weak....I still have my New Mexico personalized plate, “MR R90S” wonder if that counts?  I met Michael the new owner and boss at Crocker, bringing back the fastest bike in the 30’s from LA, he even offered me seat time when the prototype is done, it needs miles and I was asked to ride it...I still have his card, I wonder if he’d remember me?  I like the new Indians, and hope they make it this time.  Almost bought one 10 years ago, a Scout for around town, but no test ride offered, now I know they did me a favor.  And with the new crop of bikes coming out of Japan this year, Yamaha 09, a new 750 Honda, it will be neat to see them make a comeback as they have been quiet for a while...a sleeping dog lying that is about to be awakened, should be fun.  Remember the first CB750, the first Z-1, and how you fell asleep dreaming of owning one,  knowing someday...and for the above bikes that someday never came.  But someday I will ride a Vincent, got close when my now deceased friend Barney Li bought the rights and was going to bring them back...with a Honda motor!  Some hybrids were designed to die at birth.  Norton is again trying to come back, Royal Enfield never left, another free ride offer, “Mike you would be surprised,”  I would be more surprised than you think!  Even Triumph is joining the ranks of Harley coming out with a Rocket 3 trike, made in Brazil, the only other manufacturer to offer one from the factory, and both are building bikes in India soon, Triumph a 250cc!  Remember when 250cc was big and 650cc out of reach?  It took real men to kick start a 74 inch Harley...another I would like to try if someone has old Pan or Knuckle they would trust me on for an afternoon.  But there will always be old ones I missed, new ones to desire, but give me any bike with a tank bag and a free weekend to ride and I’m happy.  Some new to come, some resurrected, back from the dead, and some dead and never knowing it.

Which leads me to a trick question, one I love to fool pastor’s with.  We all know of the death of Lazarus and how Jesus put off seeing him until after his death.  And his sisters got cheesed at Him, imagine getting mad at Jesus?  But then Jesus uttered the following words, “Lazarus come forth.”  And Lazarus did, a preview of the resurrection of Jesus and of we who believe.  But the question is, “who were the first three, if He told Lazarus come fourth?”  A cute play on words, but I have sent a few pastor’s into not thinking it was funny, mainly because they didn’t get it at first, but hoped their congregation would when they tell it.  But the truth is, we will all be resurrected like Lazarus, and like Jesus if we believe.  Which is why Jesus calls us many times, sometimes for years, sometimes to a deaf ear.  But He still calls, and is patient for you to come to salvation.  He has a tank bag list with your name on it, which included you before you were saved, and still does if you are still resisting.  Like many famous names of the past being resurrected, He still has the power they don’t to change your life, and give you hope.  An open invite like at the Harley and BMW stores to test their product, they know I am not a buyer, but want to brag on it.  Just like we brag on Jesus, and want you to just try Him, give Him a chance.  “Mike come forth,” He must have said hundreds of times.  For Lazarus it only took 4, if you believe my joke.  But how many will it take for you?  Accept Jesus today, you could be living instead of wondering. 

And don’t put off the chance to ride when asked.  Many have been converted after a test ride, don’t say like I did “but my garage is still full.”  Make room for another ride today, maybe the ride of your life.  Choose Jesus, kick the bucket, and its list, and start living.  Start a new list, call it a diary of all the places and things done with Jesus, and share it.  John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus and wrote all about Him, bringing blessings to many.  Not a bad habit to have.  Like the ad says, “stop dreaming, and start riding.”  So many bikes, so little time.  But only one Jesus.  What are you waiting for, a personal invitation?  Well, you are hereby invited....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

if your car could talk, what would it tell us about you?

I have this philosophy, that over the years has proven to be reasonably accurate, within its self imposed bounds.  I believe you can tell much about a person by what they drive and how hey take care of it.  Having been a service advisor for many years, I have been behind the wheel of thousands of cars, and can prove my point if necessary.  And since this says much about your car, I wonder what your car would say about you given the chance?  I can see some of you shrinking back...I can hardly wait to the secrets they have to tell.  If they are secrets at all.

I had a boss once who never changed his oil, when the red light came on he added 5 quarts.  Tells me a lot about his personal life too, he was always trying to fix things, and somehow his engine went over 100,000 miles.  But would you want to take a vacation in it?  I am sure his car could comment on the excuses he heard for other failures in his life.  But maybe the whispering that went on behind his back said it for the car.  As every old time Harley rider knows, they are told in the owners manual to only use Harley Davidson oil, and once riding with another man, when his low oil light came on, drove many miles with it on looking for a Harley dealer, they weren’t at every freeway exit 40 years ago.  And somehow he didn’t blow up his engine despite passing many gas stations, parts stores, and a few Honda shops. And he told me it didn’t use oil, but some friends wouldn’t let him park in their driveways because it leaked so much.  Again somehow avoiding catastrophe rather than fixing or maintaining his ride.  If only his bike could talk...then again the loud exhaust kept him from hearing us laughing behind his back.  But back to cars...

I would have Mercedes Benz owners driving expensive cars come in with them filled with taco and hamburger wrappers.  Spilled Coke on the console, and smelling of too many bean burritos.  And then complain about our free car wash and how it didn’t detail the car enough.  It seemed the piggier they were, the more demanding they were of us, how many times we wanted to run them through the car wash.  And while parked next to the same car, clean and well maintained, it was hard to imagine both were once new, built with pride, and came off the same assembly line.  Somewhere one car had gotten mixed up with bad company, its new owner, and had suffered, and was still suffering, while the other was treated with respect, and cared for.  Imagine the conversations the two would have about their owners...

I had one particular Land Rover mom come in one day that the rear seat DVD players weren’t working.  She couldn’t hear her phone calls over the kids talking, how rude of them, and demanded it be fixed immediately.  “Simple,” I said, “hang up the phone and talk with them.” Which drew another visit from the service manager telling me how she thought I was rude, again I was glad I wasn’t her kids or her car.  Or her husband, can you imagine dinner talk that night, or any night?  And a hearty amen from the car.  I have also had those so anal retentive that they changed the oil every 1000 miles, and got mad at factory for not covering it, or even requiring it.  First no one made them buy the car, or made them change the oil so frequently-just not needed.  But yet they were the same ones who complained when the oil plug wore out from going to a quickie oil change place, they were mad at the dealer, and trusted their prize car to the equivalent of auto shop.  I can hear this car now, just like the kid who cannot eat sugar or told no all the time, “just let me be me!”  Like the other cars!  But instead driven to the brink of insanity by too much care.

Now finding that anal car to buy used is great, and once I bought a bike like that.  The guy even detailed the sprockets, and it was over serviced.  Good deal for me, and the bike looks and runs great even today.  Despite only recommended maintainence and regular cleaning.  And it purrs every time I ride it agreeing with its new owner.  But what about the guy who spends too much, not that he can’t afford it, but then puts on Korean tires?  Or uses car oil instead of motorcycle oil?  What if it’s a Harley and uses non-Harley oil?  What are these bikes trying tell their owners when they wear out because they didn’t get proper service?  Or cleaning?  And how about the poor tech having to work on a bike that is a mess because of abuse, and then told to fix it cheaply...until it breaks again, and it isn’t its fault?  The things a car or motorcycle can tell about its owner is amazing...and you might not want to know if you are like the above.  But yet if you listen, it is trying to tell you something, are you listening?  For all these things we see in your ride, tell us what your personal life is like, if your car is a mess, so is your life.  If too neat and anal, so is your life.  Too clean, maybe missing out on fun, or too dirty, too much fun.  If you were your car,would you drive in you?  Old Mercedes Benz owners were once proud to show the service book when selling their car, a history of how well it was taken care of.  Not so much anymore, as the relationship between car and driver has faded, don’t even ask if it is leased.  So ask yourself, if we saw your service records, what would they tell us?  Are you worth purchasing?  Is your whole life one of fixing things that broke rather than maintaining them so they didn’t?  How many times has your check engine light of life come on and you disregarded it?  Is it on now?  What is your car trying to tell you about your life?

I have a friend who asks his family regularly why they are saved.  Not to question their salvation, but to remember Jesus.  To maintain their walk and witness, and straighten up when going astray.  A good policy, better than an oil change.  Jesus tells us to work our our salvation daily, not that we lose it, or have to be forgiven again-once saved all sin is forgiven, past, present, and future.  But He advises us to stay in the Word, developing our minds and hearts to be like Him.  To spend time in prayer, and listening to Him, avoiding a costly mistake by obeying, rather than sacrificing later.  Just like missing a day of walking takes three days to recover, missing out on church can set you back weeks trying to catch up.  You only know what you missed after you miss it.  But it takes work, and some commitment to Christ to grow in Him.  And it not only makes life better, but how much better when it comes time to trade this old body for the new one. A quick wash and oil change before heaven may get you in, but the lack of service records will show how you really lived, or rode.  And strangely enough, we can all see what you can’t or won’t.  So try going by the owner’s manual, the Bible, and see how your life can improve, and also improve the lives of others.  Whether you can hear it or not, your car says much about you-are you listening?  You may be shocked to know who is. 

So don’t be surprised if I won’t lend you my rides.  Get your own, and just like your walk with Jesus, maintain it.  Treasure it, and be the example for others you can be in Him.  What about your life would make me want to be a Christian?  If only you knew what others say, if your car could talk, what would it say?  Better yet, what has it been telling you?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Congratulations, you have been chosen to receive...

Everybody likes to think they are getting something for nothing.  And it seems I get deluged by “free” offers in the mail, now in the form of e-mails, from companies I have never heard of, and who claim I have subscribed to them.  The latest came with a picture of a Marriot Resort telling me congratulations, on a 3 day, 2 night getaway.  Sounds good, I sure could use that.  But on the other side in said from over 600 locations, including Marriott.  And then promised free air fare and even a $50 gift card if I call within 48 hours. What 48 it didn’t say...they upped the ante making me want it more, or so I let them think.  And so I called them, with my promo number in hand, and a girl answered the phone, in a very noisy room, speaking with a thick accent.  And wanted to know my income, which I refused to reveal, then told me I wasn’t eligible to listen to their sales talk on what I still don’t know.  Once again proving that there is no free lunch, or motel room, or getaway-forget the airfares!  But verifying the value of something for nothing, and being reminded that someone pays for everything.

There is a law of finances that you don’t hear talked about very often, maybe not a law, but an acute observation.  Simply put “At zero price, there is more demand than supply.”  And after changing channels with frequency to avoid Brown Thursday, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, I am sick of it, and even more sick of those who fall prey to the promises.  Two weeks ago I saw a man setting up a pop up in front of a Staples-two weeks before the sale, is this man nuts, or just stupid?  His time must be worth nothing to spend that much in away from his work and family to save $200 on an i-pad.  The legend of Steve Jobs lives on after his death.  But a few years ago I learned a lesson on these sale days, and now will pass it on.  First, remembering there is no free lunch, the bigger companies up prices slightly before the sale date, even a few cents a day makes a difference when discounted.  It’s like thinking you are getting deal on bike parts, 10% off, when getting ripped off more because they were marked up 20% over retail-such a deal.  And we all like to think we are getting the deal.  Now companies also will buy a special line of product, in my case a 42” TV, brand unpronouncable except in its own third world country, and sell it cheaper than say a SONY, which is usually higher priced giving the impression of greater savings.  But when shopping two weeks after Black Friday a few years ago, found this same TV for half of what it sold for on that day-it seems they bought too many, and if not on sale, no one wants to buy that brand, so I made out like a bandit.  I had been chosen to receive a better deal than the yucks camping outside.  Lesson learned, but also learning that low price may cause a demand, buying too many for the demand results in lower prices later.

In 1982 Yamaha told their dealers at the dealer conference that year that they would push Honda from the #1 sales spot.  Which was fine until Honda heard that, and dropped prices so low that Yamaha almost pulled out of the states.  But the next two years bargain priced Hondas, Yamahas, Suzukis, and Kawasakis were available, some for hundred less than when new, the only difference between them and the current year was color.  I bought a new 1983 Nighthawk for $500 less in 1984, just a different shade of blue.  And so did many of my friends, finding money talks, riders ride, and proving that when the price goes down, the demand goes up.  Whether in TV’s or bikes, summer or Black Friday, the deals are there if you wait.  Where are those deals today when I need them?

Final lesson to you Mr. Consumer, when I sold for Coca Cola, TG&Y was major chain in our area, competing with K-Mart and the new Walmart.  So for Christmas, to get more business, they ran 6 packs, remember them, for 99 cents each, even though they cost them $1.47 each.  To the naked eye they were losing a bundle, but when it was explained by Mr. Money, the store manager, that was his real name, it was simple math, and great marketing.  99 cent six packs of Coke sold, and no one could resist that deal.  I was the hero for this one, but he explained that his total dollars grew, so much that it was equivalent to discounting everything in the store 8%.  No one would storm the shelves for an 8% discount, but when Coke was so cheap, they thought everything else was, and it created a buying frenzy.  And yes the demand almost exceeded the supply, as no one had predicted the impact, and we routed trucks directly to the store from the cannery some 400 miles away.  So read the fine print, and no one is absolved from it.  We all want the best deal....but some are worth waiting for, and not in line two weeks before the store opens!

But sadly many Christians are taught that God loves them more-wrong, if He loved us more, why did He love us enough to save us while still sinners, and believe God is a Pandora’s Box of wealth, until you open it, but that they are exempt.  A lesson learned when first saved was about a young man who came to Jesus expecting things, as if salvation wasn’t enough.  He was told that God will give you whatever you ask for, and he wanted a Cadillac, even gave God the option list and color. And when it didn’t arrive, thought God to be a liar, and turned his back on Jesus.  And some would claim he had lost his salvation, but as Jesus told a similar crowd bragging on what they had done, He told them “I never knew you.”  Not you lost your salvation, but you never had it!  The tricks man and religion play, if only we went right to the source, Jesus.  Another time a Brother Randy Wright, a travelling evangelist came to town.  On opening night the place was half full, and after passing the buckets, covers his eyes, and tells the crowd God has told him to pass the buckets again, and each person was to take one bill out.  Then taught on God’s multiplying our finances.  And it worked, as some who had put in coins, drew out a dollar, some who had put in a dollar, pulled out a five, a ten, or a twenty-enough so the crowd went wild.  And when the word spread of the free money, the place was packed the next night, people dropping in 20’s and 50’s, expecting God to multiply it.  Except this night he didn’t talk to Brother Randy, and kept it all for himself.  And yes it was true, the multiplication that is, but just for himself.  So beware....you have been warned.

Simply put paying more does not guarantee getting more.  We are a case in point.  We gave Jesus our sin and He gave us life.  A good deal for us, and a seemingly bad one for Him.  But both of us got what we desired, a relationship with God.  But sadly only some of us take the deal, thinking it could never be as good as it sounds.  But it is, and even without the promise of heaven, makes for a better life.  Think of it as a free extended warranty.  And you have been chosen to receive this gift, all you have to do is ask Jesus into your heart.  No classes, no ceremonies, no clubs or dues-just ask Jesus into your heart wherever you are-home, church, jail, or while riding-the deal is that good!  And you will find that the zero cost to you will not outweigh His supply...So the real deal this holiday, or any day is still Jesus.  No lines-I like that, He speaks my language, much unlike the girl from another land on the other end of the phone, there is no small print, thankfully large print for my older eyes, and your name is recorded in heaven in the Book of Life.  And cannot be erased-either you are saved or you aren’t-no trial runs, once you are in you are in!  Let Walmart beat that one-and they claim to be the saving place!

Patience leads to salvation-it also leads to great deals.  Don’t delay, invest in Jesus today, and get all the benefits for free-included.  No salesman will call-those who go door to door with news papers aren’t of Christ, just ask them if Jesus is deity.  And watch them flee.  Jesus is still the best and the only deal to get to heaven.  And you have been chosen to receive that gift....no discount or club needed.  Somebody pays for everything, who paid for your salvation?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com