I'm not sure who I am, but I'm glad I'm not you

The state of Colorado used to issue license plates based upon the county you lived in.  The first two letters, followed by four numbers would identify the county where the car was registered, telling others where you lived.  Which could present a problem for some who lived in less desirable counties, or if trying to impress the fairer sex.  Now living in Durango, which is in La Plata county gave me VV or VW plates, which I thought were cool, the VW plates on my Rabbit, almost like custom plates that I still can’t afford, until I would see a clapped out Chevy with the same VW prefix, illusion destroyed.  Through Rex, I met two brothers whose names escape me, who lived in Dove Creek, their family owning a large pinto bean farm, in the pinto bean capital of the world.  They had money, but they didn’t have the right prefix.  And explained one night that they would rive the 70 miles to Durango to get the VW plates, so that when picking up girls they had a better chance.  It seems more than once they got burned when the date saw the plates for Dove Creek, and passed on the brother, and his Corvette, and his family fortune.  All over two lousy letters on a license plate identifying your origin, or living quarters.  And somehow I never thought of Durango as that cool, but I did after that.  I had status, I had the plates!  And a wife!

When I worked for Mercedes Benz in La Jolla, many who brought in their car would try to pass themselves off as living in La Jolla.  La Jolla only has two zip codes, one for PO boxes, 92038, the other 92037 La Jolla’s only resident zip code.  Any so many trying to impress would try to pass off 92109 as La Jolla, which is really Bird Rock, south of La Jolla, and technically San Diego.  Thinking we were stupid, or impressed, never taking into account that we really didn’t care, but we could tell anyway.  Just like we could always tell Land Rover owners from Temecula-faking it while not making it, but pretending they were, until given an estimate that a Land Rover owner was used too, and they didn’t do the repairs.  Down and out in Temecula, or La Jolla wasn’t going to impress anyone.  Same with Beverly Hills, 90210.  The zip code, 92011 being close, but the poorer side of Beverly Hills, and not after the TV show didn’t have quite the panache it once had.  So from Dove Creek to La Jolla to Bird Rock to Beverly Hills, people still put up a façade of who they are, and where they live, never knowing that we know, but just don’t care.

Peter had that problem one night.  His was the opposite.  Being from Galilee he had a specific accent.  Like trying to pass off a Texas accent in New York City.  We can tell, and obviously so could the little girl who confronted him about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  “You sound like a Galilean, you must be with Him,” she insisted.  But he strongly denied being with Jesus, or even knowing Him that night.  And after two other denials, wept bitterly after hearing the rooster that early morning.  What do you do when being accused of being a Christian?  Has it ever happened to you, is there any evidence to prove it other than your bumper sticker and t-shirt?  But yet many live the life of living in one way, yet residing in another.  And when found out, will lie even more.  An “I’m not sure who I am, but I am glad I am not you attitude.”  Such was the case on night when in Bible study and discussing hypocrites.  “What would you do if someone called you a hypocrite?”  And the room went silent, until I protested, the most important question of the night, and you want to pass over it?  And then they attacked, “what would you do?” asking in a condescending tone of voice.  I was on the spot, something they didn’t want to be.  So I answered, “I would admit it, that I am.  But that I have a forgiving God, and hope I didn’t mislead you.  Would you accept my apology, and forgive me, just like Jesus has?  And help me to not be one, I don’t enjoy it when I do, and that isn’t who I am in Christ.”  The silence that followed led me to believe I wasn’t welcomed there, and it was the last study I attended there.  We are all hypocrites from time to time, and we don’t want to be-get over it.  And get on with it.  I was hurt that evening, by them, but more for them, we were chosen to represent Jesus.  But just like Peter, blew it.  But he never looked back, he kept on in Christ, and not more than 90 days later, on the day of Pentecost, led 3000 to the Lord, when in the spirit.  What a difference being in the spirit makes.

So take heart, it may be important to you where you live, but how important is it to where you will spend eternity?  No zip codes in hell, or heaven-saved you miss hell.  And we should all want to go to heaven.  No attraction to hell sounds attractive to me.  And if I screw up, pride taking me over, forgive me, as God does, and as you want to be forgiven.  And do what I do, the next time someone tells you the church is full of hypocrites, agree with them.  But tell them it is not quite full, there is room for one more-them!  And invite them to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Good news, and we all can use a little good news.  Pride may fool the girls at the bar, or the service advisor at the dealership.  You may even fake your accent, but as any Texan will tell you, there is something special about being a Texan.  Now if we could all show how special it is to be a Christian, to know Jesus, when showing His love it just may make a difference.  He came down to your address, and welcomes you to His, will you accept the invitation?  There are zip codes, and then there are zip codes...where do you want your mail forwarded too?  Sorry I can’t understand your accent......Jesus the best address, hypocrites welcome.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

suck, squeeze, bang, blow

“Hee hee, I just put gas in it and drive,” the blond giggled.  And whether she was blond or brunette, male or female, she is more representative of most drivers today.  A computer takes care of all the engine functions, telling it when to do what is next in the required driving sequence, the internal combustion engine being remarkably more efficient than it was when first designed.  And every time electric, LPG, natural gas, or hydrogen is used, we still find gasoline is still the most efficient.  And plentiful, despite having lived through two politically based few shortages in the last 40 years.  And as long as it is available, we will complain about the cost, but still use it all we can.  I like to watch when filling the Bonneville, it takes 3.5 gallons when I flip the petcock to reserve, and grin while the yuppie next to me fills her car to $100, then drives away thinking I am crazy for riding.  All she knows is that it takes $100 to fill up, and has no concern for what the gas does once it is in her tank.  And it is true with almost all of us, for the Otto Cycle engine, or 4 stroke as we refer to it, is a masterpiece of internal combustion magic.  Keep the tank from running dry, and despite lack of maintenance, abuse, and poor gas quality, it just keeps running, sometimes to the amazement of many a mechanic after driven without any oil in it.  But the 4 stroke is very simple, and can be referred to a suck, squeeze, bang, blow.  The four steps in a four stroke engine.

Simply put, an engine is a air pump.  It sucks in fuel, squeezes it under pressure called compression, it explodes, combustion when mixed with electricity and bangs, then forces the air out.  Get it, now you are smarter than 95% of those driving.  A simple theory, but complex in operation.  How much fuel is sucked in is important, hence fuel injection that meters it precisely.  More compression, more power, think of a great big hug, after a while too much hurts.  And can do damage, why we need premium fuel, so it will react correctly to the squeeze.  Timing is important, too soon or too late, you lose power, or the engine will not run at all.  The computer does this for you, making changes thousands of times per second.  And if it can’t, the check engine light comes on, a warning that the computer cannot make the adjustments it needs to.  Meeting the squeeze at just the right time.  And finally out the exhaust goes the residue of the power created.  And the system repeat itself over and over, some 3000 times per second at 60mph, 360,000 per minute.  Something I just made sound so simple is really so complex, and the opportunity to misfire, or fail altogether happens all too often.  But when it does, it is a beautiful thing.  Suck, squeeze, bang, blow-welcome to the 4 stroke world of internal combustion.

I can remember the first time seeing a man drop a lit match into a bucket of gas, and it went out.  Amazed, we all went OHHHH!, but as he explained it took oxygen to make it ignite, we grinned as the rookies went OHHHH the next time.  Air plus fuel plus spark makes power.  DO NOT attempt this yourself, as it is the fuel vapors that ignite.  Don’t find that one out for yourself.  Stupid hurts, always has, always will.  Trust me if you haven’t learned that one already.

And so a life in Christ is like a 4 stroke engine.  We take Jesus in, and the process begins.  We hear the word, and respond to His invitation, but nothing happens.  It takes the spirit, a gentle squeeze to make the love ignite, to cause it to grow.  It takes the light of Jesus in our life to make the combination of fuel of the spirit to ignite, and then we want to go out and share Him with the world.  But like any engine, we need to stay in tune.  We need to be careful what fuel we take in, beware of lies or those who deny the deity of Jesus.  We need to suck in the word daily, the fuel that starts our day.  Without the spirit, the fuel is wasted.  And even can be the wrong type of fuel.  Gas engines don’t run on diesel.  It takes the spirit to interpret the word, just reading a few words that meet your situation don’t help, and can only confuse.  And reading so much will flood the system, again the spirit giving wisdom.  And when the two meet, we have combustion, we explode in Christ, and the fruit of the spirit is found in our lives.  But timing is critical, too soon and you lose power, too late and you backfire.  it takes the spirit firing you on a cylinders, and suddenly this simple walk seems difficult.  Which is why you cannot do it alone, you need Jesus.  And what comes out the tail pipe is what and how it is mixed.  Too much you, the world can tell by your witness, not enough Jesus, they can tell too.  But when the mixture is right, and Jesus is Lord of your life, the process is perfect, and the people are drawn to Him through you and your witness.  Not your witiness.  See the difference I makes? 

Life can be as simple as a smooth running engine, or leave you stranded when it doesn’t start.  So stay in tune, look for the warning signs.  Stick with Jesus in the spirit, and let Him lead.  Long before computers He was the perfect blend of power, spirit and energy, and He still is today.  Stay in the word, pray and ask, then listen.  Trust and obey, and beware of those things others tell you to clog the system.  Cheap fuel can ruin the system, Jesus runs on premium.  He likes the good stuff, and offers it to you, why accept anything less?  And keep going when the times are tough.  Sitting idle is damaging, and a car at idle gets zero miles per gallon.  Doing nothing, missing church, not praying or reading-you are just idling wasting fuel.  The engine runs, but like you it is going nowhere.

Get all the Jesus you can.  Keep your air filter, your mind clean.  What you put out depends on what you take in.  And down to the headers, the exhaust, you too can make a wonderful sound, pleasing to the Lord.  A message others want to hear, not just a loud exhaust.  Fuel and air ignite to make power.  In just the right ratios, at just the right time.  Just like a Christian walk.  Without the spark of the spirit, all fuel and air, all talk and preaching is useless.  Obtain the power in the spirit today.  Get the most mileage out of life, and use less energy.  If a computer can do it for your car, imagine what the spirit can do for you?

So whether you get your power by a twist of the wrist, or pedal to the metal, it takes fuel and air to ignite.  Only in Jesus will you make real power.  Life so simple as a 4 stroke engine.  Diesels, 2 strokes, and rotaries all make power, but none as efficient as the 4 stroke.  How much power does your God make?  What you take in, will tell what you put out.  His meekness is power under control.  Some will just put in the gas and go-where and how far you go depends on the fuel of the spirit.  Hang on for the ride of your life....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

call me Ishmael

It is traditional for the oldest son, usually the first born in Texas to have the nickname of Bubba.  Over the years though too many have become Bubbas, and the reference has become diluted.  But still my ears perk up when in the Lone State and I hear someone at the table being referred to as Bubba.  Within certain families it is still a respected title and position.  The Italians have their Bubba, they call him Sonny.  As in Sonny Corleone.  Being the first born gave him  a status and also a responsibility in family matters, and he like Bubba, was the first to inherit the throne when Papa passed on.  He was groomed to accept responsibility, and also got the first fruits as the oldest.  He was favored, and many enjoyed the power and position of being the first born.

We will call him Ishmael, for that is his name.  Born of Hagar, when Sarai, when she lost patience with God and His promise of a son, she told Abram to sleep with her, and they had Ishmael.  But God, being true to His promises, wasn’t done yet, and some 13 years later Isaac was born from Sarai, now Sarah.  Fulfilling His promise, His way, not Sarah’s.  Giving a party for Isaac, when he was weaned, when at the party, when others were laughing, Isaac means laughter, she heard Hagar and Ishmael mocking him, making fun of him.  And she told Abraham, “get rid of them.”  A sudden change in her had produced anger to them, and Ishmael, who once was the only child, and in line for he promise of God, was banished.  Breaking Abraham’s heart, for he loved His son.  Both his sons.  And you have to pity poor Ishmael, this Bubba of 4000 years ago.  One day the next in line, the next out of line, and on his own.  But God heard his mother’s plea, and reminded Abraham of His promise.  True, his lineage would be through Isaac, and would become the Jewish people, but Ishmael would also become the lineage of a people, the Arabs.  And since then, since that day, when the two were separated, the nations they fathered have never gotten along.  With one exception, the burial of their father, for when Abraham died, they both attended the funeral, and made peace, if only for the day.  One father, two mothers, two sons, and one promise.  Two nations.  God honoring all the promises, but finding favor with Isaac, whose name means laughter, to get the birthright over Ishmael.  But God not forgetting Ishmael, and making him a father of a great nation, just not a blessed one.  And for 4000 years, the brothers fight still continues today.

Like many, I can relate to Ishmael more than Isaac.  Living the great life, having a good time, when along comes a circumstance that changes everything.  The boss calls you in-fired.  The doctor calls you in-life flight or die.  Your house faces foreclosure, the bank wants to repo your car.  Your wife falls out of love, and wants a divorce, and suddenly all is wrong with the world.  Your world.  And too many times we look at the circumstances, instead of the cross.  We forget the promises of God, and doubt, fear, and confusion take over.  “Where is God when I need Him?”  And we become bitter, just like Ishmael.  But God never forgot, and He never forgets, He too knows the pain of losing someone.  And reminds us of Jesus, and when we turn to Him, see the promises of God fulfilled.  A choice we make, follow the Lord, and watch as He makes us a way, or become bitter, and having the doubters make fun of us.  Thinking God forgot, when it is us who forgot, and turned away.  It is the tough times that Jesus is there, and many tough times are to show His love.  He is the great physician, but you must get sick to need one.  He is the great comforter, showing compassion in times of trouble, but we see Him more in those times, how easy we forget when things go our way.  He provides when we can’t and has all along, it is foolish to think our job did, God provided that one too.  And He even shows His grace, when things get tough and we forget, He still loves us, and takes care of us.  No three strike law with grace, even Jesus answered to forgive 7x70, 490 times for us public school attendees.  What may seem to us as forgetful, is really part of the plan.  Sarah lost patience, and then banished the gift she thought she had ordained.  But Hagar, Ishmael’s mom, never forgot.  She loved her son.  And Abraham loved his son, too.

“For God so loved the world,” we quote, John 3:16, yet we forget that love is patient when things don’t go our way.  We rebel, and turn away.  Thinking we know best, that we deserve all the favor.  Yet as we know, Abraham in all this was called to sacrifice his son-only at the last minute did God intervene with the ram.  His plan all the time, but He wanted to see how much Abraham really loved Him.  So Abraham could see God’s love for Him.  After all, didn’t He promise tat Israel would be through Isaac?  Today you may be facing a trial like Abraham, and you ask “where is the ram?  Where is the promise of God?”  Fact is they never left, they are the same today, as they were yesterday, and will be tomorrow.  But you must turn to God, trust Him,and not lean on your own desires, understanding or experience.  It is in the darkest hour that light shines brightest, and God shines the brightest.  We may not all be Bubbas, or Sonny’s, but we all will have times of Ishmael.  Hang on to the promise of Jesus-“I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”  Patience leads to salvation, and out of the situation.  And the mightiest have the same testimony, Joseph in the well after being sold by his brothers, King David after the death of his son Absalom, and even God, turning out the lights on earth after the death of His son on the cross.  But where there is pain in the night, we find Joy in the morning.  Three days later Jesus rose, the grave empty.  David gets an insight to heaven, Absalom cannot come to him, but he can go to Absalom.  And Joseph becomes the next in line to Pharaoh.  And provides food for his family.  Ironic as he was the next to youngest, the 11th son, and became the Bubba, or Sonny of the family.  Got has a plan for all you Josephs, Absaloms, Ishmaels, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry.  For all who call on His name, will be saved.  And delivered, something the lesson of Ishmael reminds us of. 

So don’t wait until a funeral to get back with God.  Don’t let it take a catastrophe like Ishmael did to gain your inheritance.  It is available right now, let God be God, and all men liars.  And watch as when you seek Him first, then all things will be added unto you.  It works in Texas, and for Bubbas everywhere, and even for the Godfather.  Jesus, now that is an offer God makes that you can’t refuse! God hasn’t forgotten about you, take the time to turn to Him today.  Abraham was over 100 years old at the time, and God honored Him.  I hope you don’t have to wait that long, but if you do, you aren’t alone.  The wait is worth it, and heaven awaits. It will all seem so short in eternity, so let’s begin now.  Today in Christ, is truly the first day of the rest of your life.  Call me Ishmael, for I am blessed.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspto.com

I grew up there and I still don't know where it is

We’ve been to Mayberry, in fact we spent a night there.  At least the town that Andy Griffith based his long running series on, and the town is Mt. Airy, North Carolina.  They even have a mountain named Pilot Mountain.  And the town is all about being Mayberry.  And when entering the Exeter Mercantile in Exeter, California, some 3000 miles west, we were greeted by the owner, “welcome to Mayberry.”  Go figure.  How many have been to Metropolis, aka New York City, the Big Apple?  And did you know the Daily Planet Building is really in Los Angeles, and is three buildings-the opening shot is the E. Clem Wilson Building, the front door is of an unnamed building a few doors down on Wilshire, and of course Los Angeles City Hall is them most famous shot we all remember.  Look up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane...it’s LA!  Ever visit the Beav and Wally at 211 Pine Street, Mayfield, USA?  No state given, but Leave it to Beaver fans can claim it in many states. Watching the show I feel as if I have been down that street many times...maybe I have.  There are eight towns called Mayfield in the United States.   A rerun of Starsky and Hutch the other night showed BCPD on their jackets, Bay City PD, which is really San Pedro, south of Los Angeles. Many Bay City residents from Michigan to Texas take note.  And of course the most famous address in Malibu, 29 Cove Road belongs to Jim Rockford, been there many times, and courtesy of a wide angle lens, it looks bigger on TV than it is.  The real address is really Paradise Cove Road, and the restaurant there will not let you park unless you eat there-sorry Rockford fans, and on the occasion we did, the food was OK, but no where near enough to warrant a return. Sorry Jimmy.  Note this also the beach where Gidget surfed.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and maybe  it is true.  Been to Southfork, home of the Ewing’s?  My wife has, and it is again made to be larger than it really is using a wide angle lens.  But it is in Texas.  Just as Miami in Miami Vice is, and Boulder where Mork and Mindy lived-again been by the house.  So it seems there are many places we grew up with on TV and have been to many times, but we still don’t know where they are.  Not on any GPS, map, or not even a local to ask directions, they exist only on film and in our memories.  And due to reruns we can go there just about any night of the week.  Sometimes trading reality for the 25-50 minutes of show minus ads, retreating to a world where Ward always tells Beaver the right thing, Andy knows best, and Jimmy catches the real crook.  Starsky burns through another set of tires, and Mr. Kent returns from the store room.  And JR puts another deal together, and we al cheer his badness.  But in real life, we have towns like Poway, Scotch Plains, Hillside, Yonkers, and Farmington.  Towns where families raise kids, and then they go off to seek their fame and fortune elsewhere.  Towns that never grow in population, but remain steady, with no real reason to leave, and no real reason to stasy either.  And if not for us living there, they have no real reason to exist.  Everytown, USA, bed room communities, and fly over America, which is where most of us live.  Whoever came out of these places?

The same question was asked of Jesus.  He was a Nazarene, and Nazareth was a town of no reputation.  They wondered “can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  He was just Joe and Mary’s kid, with a brother or two, who helped in his dad’s carpentry business.  But was to go on to great things, once He left Nazareth.  We are never told how much of an influence Nazareth had on Jesus, but we know what kind of influence Jesus had on Nazareth,, and the rest of the world.  An example worth following and repeating, wherever God has us now , or will be sending us.  From Texas to Pennsylvania, to New Jersey, back to Pennsylvania, Florida, New Mexico, Colorado, back to New Mexico, and then to California, my course was not plotted by me, but by God.  And someday to heaven-again reserved by God.  For where we are now is not our final destination, we are only passing through, sojourners-I like that word.  And we can leave an impact on those we meet on this trip.  Just like Jesus left an imprint on our lives. 

I am lousy at giving directions, but can get you there.  I don’t remember road names, but landmarks, and where to turn, where to eat, and where to stay.  Many times places not on any map, places in the middle of nowhere, but in the middle of someone’s life.  So I try to take Jesus’ advice to the disciples, “as you go, preach the gospel.”  An ongoing gospel, to whoever, wherever you are.  Using words when needed, and watching as Jesus changes lives along the way.  You many never visit the Cleavers, a perfect family, but you will encounter Eddie Haskell’s, who need Jesus.  You may be sitting on a park bench, and someone come up to you and pour out their life, like has happened to us.  Somehow they knew you would listen, and love them.  You may never see Paradise Cove, but can encourage someone about the Paradise the thief on the cross went to that Jesus promised him.  So don’t feel lost when you remember these towns you grew up with, but have no idea where they are.  They are where you are, and where you are going.   A trip to heaven, with many stops along the way.  And someday we will look up into the sky, and it won’t be a bird, it won’t be a plane, but it will be a super man.  It will be Jesus calling us home.  Riding along getting our kicks on Route 66, watching the sunset over Paradise Cove, and seeing the sun rise on Miami.  No vice, just life.  Wherever you live, so does Jesus.  Invite Him into your home, and accept the offer to visit His.  All who believe will go there someday...and I still don’t know where it is-glad He will show me the way.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

fast girls and cars

An old adage, cleaned up for our readers states, “if it has wheels or a skirt it will break your heart.”  And as many of us know, it will also break your wallet.  So when it came to where our hard earned after school dollars went, many us of chose the wheels over the skirts.  At least for a while, as no one, even the nerdiest had your parents pick up your date, it just wasn’t done.  So the car came before the date, in alphabetical order, and also social order.  And soon we found out that no matter how cool you thought your wheels were, there was someone whose wheels were cooler.  Sadly learned when your date talked about the cooler car next to you at the drive-in, or cancelled and you saw her in it, at the drive-in, while she was home washing her hair.  Add some speed, and soon fast cars were the draw for the girls, with Corvettes, Boss Mustangs, Z-28’s, and 55 Chevies ruling the pecking order as a young man.  Much different today as I see little 4 door Japanese sedans, where have all the convertibles gone, where are all the V-8’s, have girls finally gotten faster than cars?  How far have we fallen from racing stripes, hood lock pins, Wide Oval tires, Cragar SS mags, and open headers?  What is the attraction of a car that was designed to haul your family, and whose motor sounds like a sewing machine?  Have we become a nation of sedans in what used to be a convertible world?  I figure society has just taken a hard left into the abyss, where men shave their heads and women think it is sexy, they drive little sedans with stereos having more power than their engines, and listen to hip hop.  I miss the days of fast cars, and girls in knee socks, short skirts, and sweaters.  Maybe I am showing my age, maybe you are showing yours.  Or maybe I was part of it....

It is 1975, and Garry Brown has just built a custom van as an engineering project for his engineering degree at Bucknell.  A 1973 Chevy van 10, it has two layers of shag carpet, two 8 tracks, an ice box, American Racing mag wheels, and side pipes.  Powered by a 307, low horsepower V-8.  A cool van, I bought it, but low on power, but somehow high on sex appeal, as girls loved it.  Maybe it brought out the bad girl in them, the legends far exceeded reality.  I was living with Cakers, a few years older, and his peer group were professionals.  IE, they had jobs.  He invited me to a party one night, and I followed him in the van, hoping to score early and leave.  Which I did, being introduced as the guy who rides motorcycles, I was a real bad boy.  And soon Maggie, school teacher Maggie and all her beauty was talking to me.  Afraid of bikes, she was suddenly intrigued when she asked if I knew who owned the van, and even more interested when I told her me.  Now Cakers had warned me how shallow she was, but between sexual drive, her willingness, and the van, I didn’t hear a word he said.  But fortunately, before we left the party together I heard hers.  She was in love with the van, and “was willing to endure me to get a ride in it,” I overheard her tell her friend.  She was using me, the roles were reversed.  Silently I went into my “I’ll show you” mode, and off we went.  I even let her drive for awhile, and then we drove off to the river, where people parked for romance.  Finding a spot, we waded into the river, and all she could talk of was the van, and I was tired of it.  So skillfully making an excuse to get something from the van, I went back, got in and left.  Leaving her in the river vanless....a victory for all of us who had been used by a pretty face, more interested in our wheels than us.  And back to the party I went, and when some asked “where’s Maggie?” I told them she went swimming, and would call them tomorrow.  The last party I was invited to by Cakers, but his friends were all impressed by the statement I had made.  Never did hear from Maggie though, sold the van after that.  Still ride motorcycles, so does my wife of 36 years.  Proving there are two kinds of girls, those you date, and those you marry, I hope you make the some great choice I did.

Now I like to think I taught Maggie a lesson, I am sure her version is different.  And to her friends she was the victim, to my friends I was the victim, but ended the hero.  So it is good to know your audience before you tell the story, and always better to listen to both sides before making a decision.  Using the wisdom Solomon had when dealing with two women arguing over ownership of a baby, but only one the true mother.  So he offered to cut it in half, give each half to a one claiming to be the mother, the true mother loving her child so much she was willing to give it over, rather than to see it killed, or even shared.  God feels that way about you, He doesn’t want to cut you up, or off, so sent Jesus to show the way back, to be the only way to Him.  Letting us make the decision, for some easy, for some still debating, and for some total rejection.  Listening to others opinions, letting them become a burden instead of going with the truth.  They are like Maggie, wanting a ride, but not counting the cost.  And when caught in their own lies, pay the price.  Fast girls and cars, a sure equation for disaster, even worse in a van.

So it does matter what you drive, ride, who you date, and who you choose to worship.  Fast cars are still cool today, fast girls still going for rides, just missing the commitment of marriage.  Maybe that is why you never hear the stories at old car shows or see the vans the stories took place in.  One night stands in the social/auto world.  And maybe why so many wives, mine included go to old car shows.  They have memories too, and talk of fast men and cars.  Levis with grease on them, Bell helmet shirts, and nights cruising, getting on the gas.  And of going home after a cruise night with their husbands, the way it oughta be.  Some have the wisdom of Solomon, proving it by choosing you, while their friends tell them “their husband got the best of the deal.”  And when Jesus is in the middle of your marriage, even in a world of fast girls and cars, in wheels and skirts, He never lets you down.  For behind the wheel of all great marriages is Jesus.  And the great ones let Him drive.  Which gives us more time to cuddle in the back seat.  Something we could never do with our parents.

The good old days are here again, or still for some of us.  Speed will always be attractive, and so will fast cars and bikes.  But make sure the one you take home to Mom and Dad knows the difference.  The wisdom of Solomon works great in racing and dating, works great even in marriage.  And maybe explains after all these years why I am not a fan of vans, mini or other.  It took the wrong girl to show me the right way.  And it took a loving God to show me the wisdom of Solomon, giving me the right girl, and blessing our marriage.  I’ll ride to that.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

just another afternoon in Sonoma

It has been said the true definition of a diplomat is telling someone to go to hell, and making them look forward to the trip.  Works in politics, just look around if you doubt the definition, but we got to see one afternoon a woman struggle with it at a new car introduction.  We were coming back from Canada on the Sprint RS, enjoying nights in bed and breakfasts, something we did years ago when we had more money than kids, we still have the kids, the money is long gone.  My older son Christopher was working at a Courtyard by Marriott, and one of the benefits was getting rooms at a huge discount at other Marriott properties, places we would have not been able to afford otherwise.  But our destination that night was in Sonoma, California at the Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort and Spa, even the name sounds expensive and it was, but not for us.  For our $49 we got a deluxe suite that cost the commoners over $400 a night, did we feel rich, but out of place.  But when we pulled up into the courtyard, it was filled with Volvo X-90 SUV’s, it was their international introduction, and their were many press and magazine editors there.  In charge was a rather large Swedish looking woman, call her big boned, who was reading off her clipboard to the few who were listening.  How exciting can a Volvo be after all, and Volvo SUV-boring.  But was doing her best, almost militaristic, “you will sit in car and enjoy,” and then we rode in.  You would have thought no one had ever seen a motorcycle before, for as we pulled through the courtyard, and stopped, a few came up to look.  Even some pictures were taken, and one journalist was excited about it being a Triumph, and had actually been to a Triumph intro-much more fun.  Which really annoyed Ms. Volvo, and now she not only had to make her new SUV interesting, but get them away from our motorcycle.  And if looks could kill, it would have been us instead of her, but we survived, and so did Volvo, as they are still selling their X-90 today, and Triumph is still selling motorcycles.  A press intro we will never forget, nor were we invited to, I doubt we will ever be invited back.  Blame it on my son, and his job, if not for him it would have been a lot less exciting, and expensive.

When I watch someone trying to explain something too cerebral, boring, or sleep worthy, I think of Ms. Volvo.  She was the true definition of diplomacy that day, she wanted to tell us to leave, maybe to go to hell, but had to put on her happy face, with dozens watching.  She had to over come the obvious interest in our motorcycle vs. her Volvo, and she knew she was outmanned.  But she kept it together, I’m sure a healthy stay at the bar after helped her to reconsider her future with Volvo, but she never quit.  And reporters can be a tough lot.  Great product, great room, but bad shrimp, they’ll pan the product.  Bad product, great food, they’ll puff the product.  Long after the event is over, they may forget the car or truck or motorcycle, but they remember the food, the rooms, the plane flight.  Just not always the reason they were there. 

In 1981 I went with my friend Tom to the Kawasaki dealer show in Denver.  Tom was a joker, and we sat in the back, him and a few others making jokes, much like Mystery Science Theatre 3000.  New product would be shown, and Tom would comment, sometimes loud enough for others to hear, and laugh.  And when he got dirty looks, I got them too, somehow they knew I wasn’t a dealer, and the peer pressure was almost funny if not so pathetic.  But I endured the show, remembered being glad I had a new KZ750 ordered, and left thinking “this would never happen at a Honda show.”  And I’ll never know....

‘'Sell the sizzle, not the steak,” is an old advertising mantra, but as an inveterate steak eater, I can tell you that you can’t eat sizzle, and  I’d rather eat steak.  It is the product I am interested in, not the clowns, the girls on the cars, or the celebrities on display.  And sometimes they aren’t either, as running into Ivan Stewart at a Cycle World International show a few years back.  He worked for Toyota, and was there to sign autographs.  Except this was a motorcycle show, and the Toyota booth was empty.  I guess the new Ninjas were more appealing that day.  So when he saw me, a familiar face, he wanted to talk, and was glad to see me, usually it was the other way around.   I was a familiar face, and he needed a friend, and among all the sizzle, I was the steak. 

“Unless the Lord builds it, we labor in vain,” scripture tells us.  Try to tell that to a church looking to grow.  To an over zealous pastor.  We need programs, special guests, movie nights, and free meals.  That will get the people in.  And when it doesn’t, the pastor may turn on the congregation.  He did his part, why didn’t they invite all their friends and neighbors?  How could they let God down, hey, how could they have let him down?  And so we churches die or dying for the lack of a vision.  Great sizzle, but no steak.  Just the opposite of Jesus, who was the meat of the matter.  He was quiet and unassuming, never had any book sales, no PR group to advise others-“ONE NIGHT ONLY-SEE THE SON OF GOD PERFORM MIRACLES!”  And we wonder why some churches never grow.  But what about those that do show up, and are disappointed, is it God’s fault?  Maybe He was booked into another town that night, or just too busy.  Did anyone think to ask Him about His schedule?  But yet we see churches grow in numbers, but not in depth, not in the spirit.  To God it is not about quantity but quality.  Not about the size of the crowd, or the amount of the offering.  It is about trust, something Gideon was faced with.  A miller, told to lead an army, an enemy awaited him of over 30,000, and he was down to 300 men, who had to drink like dogs, so fat and overweight that without God they could only lose, they had eaten both sizzle and steak.  But God provided them victory, it was all about what God would do, not Gideon.

Is your relationship more sizzle than steak?  Are you in it for your glory or God’s glory?  Is Jesus Lord, or just s a genie in a lamp when you want something?  Or just another product intro, where you remember more about the retreat weekend and the food, than the chance to get closer to God?  The gospel is diplomacy in action, telling you of a heaven and a loving God, and making you look forward to the trip.  Don’t pay attention to the guys who ride in and distract you, or the hecklers in the back of the room.  Only Jesus will provide the steak, the nourishment needed, without all the carnival atmosphere.  A meal fit for a king, served by a king, making us feel like kings.  And you get the best rooms available-such a deal, how can you pass that one up?

Ms. Volvo was persistent in her gospel of the X-90.  How persistent are you with yours?  With Jesus?  Diplomacy in action, living what you believe, riding what you believe, and believing who Jesus is.  The Bible calls it witnessing, don’t make it a photo op, but rather a home movie.  To be shared with others for years to come.  Volvo owners welcome.  Just another afternoon in Sonoma...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com