where have all the partsmen gone?

Part of my duty when selling motorcycles for Motorsport, was working the parts counter when it got busy.  Long before the internet, and parts fiche were still a new item, a customer would come in, tell you what he thought he needed, and you would interpret, and try to find it.  From mothers trying to source parts for their sons, “I don’t know what year, it’s blue, says Honda on it.  It’s the thingee that makes it run...” and the race was on.  Finally through shear determination, and luck with patience, we would figure out she needed a valve cover gasket, for a Suzuki TS 185, the Honda sticker was from the dealer who once sold it used.  Exasperating, the worse version was trying to do this over the phone.  And once you figured it out, you went to physically check for it on the shelf.  In the old days of parts cards, at best they weren’t up to date.  But you learned about parts, patience, and tried to remember when you sent your wife or girlfriend for that certain thingee.

But selling BMW, Triumph, and Suzuki, it was interesting at each manufacturer’s approach.  Triumph color coded their part’s book each year, and with only a few models, repetition made it easier, along with the fact they broke more often and needed more parts.  Their books a little more than a pamphlet today, with had drawn pictures, and foreign words to us colonists.  BMW’s book was thick, like a little phone book, great pictures, and both books had numerous notes hand written inside and on the cover.  Some useful, some a phone number when no scratch paper was available, and many a page tattered and oil stained.  Our particular copy even had some pages torn out, but folded over and reinserted, misplaced but never lost.  But Suzuki had this parts fiche, where you could see the parts page blown up on a screen, and show it to the customer.  Later we would learn to get a VIN number to research parts easier, and make mental notes when going back to the parts section to physically find them.  It was learn as you go, every customer an open book test with new variations on a question, and that was just for factory parts.  There was always accessory catalogs, usually with “COUNTER COPY” written on them in Magic Marker, or “DO NOT REMOVE” which usually could be found in the reception area, away from the counter.  But somehow when all the confusion came together, you found the right thingee, and it was in stock, on the shelf where it was marked, all was well with the world...at least until the next customer. 

I was reminded Monday when looking for bags for my new Tiger XRx of how things had changed.  A generation newer than me, he knew how to use the search buttons, but couldn’t navigate very well.  With my help, not asked for, but later appreciated, we found what I needed, and ordered them.  But it reminded me of how important the parts guys are, how their knowledge and experience cannot be discounted, and even with computers to help us seek and scan, nothing teaches the one thing that cannot be taught-experience.  I thought of parts men I knew, who were up on the latest, who knew what parts you needed to finish the job, and their status, either on the shelf or back ordered.  Guys with name like Bud, Speedy, Tiny, or Gears, who with Pall Mall stained fingers guided gracefully through the torn pages of old books, and knew exactly where everything was.  How a thingee was different from a widget, from a whatchacallit.  He knew his parts, his bikes, and his customers, and kept more in his head than most keep in files.  He was underpaid, usually the negotiator when calling around to find one, and knew how far and how long the part would really take to arrive.  The really good ones wore glasses, usually found on top of their head, only brought into reading position when needed.  They are the guys who when someone says “they forget more than you will ever know” come to mind.  There are still some good ones, but mostly they are gone.  No one wants to take the time to learn any more, business will not allow it, and today it can be frustrating dealing with the new guy.  But remembering how we are all new once helps, but still tries our patience.  Particularly when it comes to them standing between us and riding.

“Are you in the word?” I hear from pastors and Bible study leaders.  And many are, memorizing, reciting, and knowing just what page John 3:16 is on in their Bible.  Today we have more Bible students than ever before, who know the word, and can be called upon to recite it, chapter and verse.  But unlike the parts guys of my past, cannot apply it when needed.  For I am amazed that in all their learning and studying, they overlook the scripture that tells us “God will write his word on or hearts.”  Or that when we are questioned, that the holy spirit will give us the words we need.  But you need to get out and live outside the four walls of study to use them, and many don’t.  Or won’t.  Confusing knowledge for wisdom, they can recite the Bible, just don’t know God who wrote it.  They may be saved, and serve at church, but come up empty when it comes to witnessing and ministering.  Education they proclaim, and many churches have schools of theology, along with schools for children to learn.  But until you have the application of the education, it is just facts and figures learned.  Information not used, but learned.  They lack the guidance of the spirit in their lives, and fall back on themselves, rather than Jesus when tested.  They study to find themselves approved, but fail when tested, for without the spirit who reveals the mysteries of Christ, their words are hollow, lack meaning and substance. They are impersonal, but yet sound impressive to one another.  Maybe the answer to them when asked “are you in the word?” is, “Is the word in you?”  Jesus is the word, and when he comes into your life he gives you the spirit, his spirit, yet many avoid it.  They try to serve a God who is a spirit by using physical properties, and it cannot be done.  Some day we all need Jesus, the questions will come up that we cannot answer, and we will need the spirit of God to guide us. 

Finding the scripture is one thing, like locating the right part, but knowing its application, and finding it on the shelf are different things.  So when I wonder where have all the partsmen gone? I also wonder where is the holy spirit in our lives?  Have we become so knowledgable that we don’t know anything, or do we know so many things, we don’t know God?  Only in Jesus will you find the right parts when you need them.  And Jesus not only quoted Old Testament scripture, he taught in parables, and in concepts, showing application as needed.  Using principals rather than words sometimes to show the application needed, but always in love.  Many times the answer in the form of a question, making us think and seek him more, to go deeper than the words on the page.  A story that bears repeating, of a pastor with a flock, underground, for Jesus is not spoken of without penalty of death.  Who have no Bibles, but who has one page, from the book of Acts, and has been teaching from it for 20 years, and still hasn’t used both sides!  For it is the spirit that quickens our heart, how does your knowledge of the word compare with it being written on his heart?   Is he in the word, or is the word in him?

You cannot teach experience, and Jesus must be experienced to fully know him.  Only by his spirit are we saved, not by might or by his power.  By his spirit we have been called, and can be guided.  He is a spirit and must be worshipped as much.  As you go, and are spreading the gospel, you find it is not what you know, but who you know that makes the difference.  Knowing scripture concerning Jesus may help you get to heaven, but he is the only way to heaven.  And his word is written on your hearts already, and can be shared by nothing less than your testimony.  You may be able to quote him, I get excited when you live him.  When I see him in your actions and attitudes.  You may forget more scripture than I’ll ever know, but give me his spirit any time, in any situation.  Application of an education, evidenced in our daily walk.

So next time you wonder why I don’t always carry a Bible, you failed to see how God has written it on my heart.  Simply put, “the things seen are temporal, the things not seen are eternal.”  Look it up in Corinthians, it’s there.  May we all become partsmen for the gospel of Jesus Christ, ready when needed, and having the word written on our hearts.  As it has been said better than I can, “preach the word daily, if if necessary use words.”  Let your life be the counter copy of the Bible, found where needed, and whether in print or on a fische, share it with others.  That special order part called the holy spirit has been in stock the whole time, you just thought he was back ordered.  Take the time to read, Jesus took the time to bleed.  You might be that one needing the thingee of salvation, and words and knowledge will never get you there.  It is that personal, let the spirit show you today.  You may find it in the book, but only when you find it in your heart will you be saved.  And the mysteries revealed. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

it always feels faster from the passenger seat

“You really like riding on the back of motorcycles?  Doesn’t it scare you?  Wouldn’t you rather ride it yourself?”  Yes, no, yes.  Yes, I like to ride, period, and from time to time if I need a ride, the back seat of a bike is fine.  No, worrying about soccer moms doing the i-phone lap dance while heading towards you, I rather just sit back and relax.  And yes, I will only ride with someone who knows how to, or in an emergency, and knows I am not impressed by their speed or showing off.  So I relax and am not scared.  But yes, I still rather ride, but if I have a passenger, years ago I learned that courtesy will get you a second date, and not scare off all her friends while you were being a hot dog.  AKA a jerk.  You may think you are going slow, but to her it feels fast, just like in a car it always feels faster from the passenger seat.  Don’t let her first ride be one of hanging on for dear life, while mounted on a skinny seat, that the manufacturer thought to put a vinyl cover on so it wouldn’t rust.  Show some respect....you might get some seat time someday.  Or marry her, and want her to come along.  And enjoy overnighters, rather than the 2 hour ride she allows.  Alone.

A biker friend of mine and his wife ride together, they have for like 30 years.  She unwillingly obliged him on his skinny seat, until one day he bought a custom seat, and suddenly she can walk after a ride, wants to go with him, and last year did a two week vacation.  All by changing the position where she sits.  And now he has to tell everyone they need a custom seat, because of how it changed his marriage and his rides.  Of course many of us knew this for years, but he is a great cheerleader for it now.  Better late than never.  Happy wife, happy life.  And nothing beats having your wife want to ride with you, unless she wants her own ride herself.  So when searching for a new travel bike, a consideration is the passenger.  Some must be surrounded by 1000 pounds of Honda to enjoy, some have to have the same weight of a V-twin.  We ride ADV bikes, smoother than a Gold Wing, sport bike handling, great gas mileage, comfortable, and when two of us park next to each other, we weigh as much as the above.  And we both ride in comfort, those custom buttons on the seat turn into knives after 100 miles, and though padded soft, compress under any weight in a few miles.  Add a few inches only of wheel travel, you are riding on an old mattress, where it dips in the middle from your weight.  No wonder you didn’t sleep well last night....or felt like it after 100 miles.

To each his own, but when taking a passenger, consider them too.  Your skills may impress others on the track, but to the cop who stops you for going to fast, even though others passed you, somehow missing the eight others texting he passed to catch you, ride safely, and with concern for others.  And while it always seems faster from the passenger seat, it is always slower from the back seat of a police cruiser.

I know a couple, in particular, who were taught witnessing is browbeating a person about Jesus. That is all they talk about, and in one case I know of, after a weekend stuck with them, their guests finally gave in, the attitude of “if I say yes, will you leave me alone?”  And they go on thinking they saved someone, when really all they did was run them off.  So I become suspicious of those standing on street corners holding signs and shouting about Jesus.  Personally they scare me, I cross the street to avoid them, and combined with a bad theology run others off.  Armed with the theology of winning an argument, most wouldn’t know what to do if someone really wanted to know about Jesus, and get eaten with a fork and spoon by someone who has been trained, but not saved, and who argues better.  Maybe if they cared about others enough to love them, to share Jesus first in actions and attitudes, then back it up with words, the results maybe different.  And their lives too.  I had a goofy pastor once, who would get all excited in preaching, and then proclaim “I know good preaching when I hear it, and that was it.”  While we looked for the door.   We heard something much different.  But last night we had a new man with us, who was raised in church, go to Dustin Arms with us.  A flop house, but a nice one, he commented after how one man brought his laundry with him and smelled bad.  He didn’t think he would come back with us, what was this man’s problem, why didn’t he wash first?  What makes him think he would be invited back?  And when I responded “that is the people we are looking for, the least of them, that Jesus compare himself too,”  he got quiet.  I don’t think he will return, get in your Prius and ride to church, telling the person in church next to you what great Christian you are because you go to a Bible study.  But never go out and see life as Christ did, and does.  Why would I want to be like him?

If it works in church, it may work in riding too.  I know many who want to ride, then hear loud bikes, see stoppies and wheelies, or have almost hit someone while they lane split.  Kindness is a fruit of the spirit, you heard it here, I hope not for the first time.  So I ask those who browbeat, shout, pass out tracts that litter the ground, and only want to win an argument, “what is it about you that would want to make me become a Christian?”  Another way to become unpopular...but something we need to ask ourselves, what does our life show about Jesus?  He came to save and rescue, are you throwing an anvil of love to a sinking soul?  Or embracing them as they are, just like Jesus did for you?  Do you only seem to know it all because your audience doesn’t?  And I wonder, did our first time visitor last night ever consider helping this man with his clothes?  See if he had toiletries?  Had the sweet smell of salvation left him, if it had ever been there to start with? 

Would Jesus be comfortable with your riding, or would he look for another ride?  Something to consider when taking a buddy seat sitter along.  And also in witnessing.  How do you introduce Jesus to others?  That one first impression may cement in the minds forever what a jerk you are, or see the side of love many only hear about, but don’t see.  Jesus is along for the ride, and when we call him Lord, he is in control, we sit on back or in the passenger seat.  Just a thought that might change your mind about kindness and sharing Christ while riding.  Sin knows no boundaries, for all have sinned and fallen short.  Today you can offer the seat of salvation to a tired butt, who just needs a rest along with a ride.  Changing the attitude of those you ask to church, asking someone to church is not witnessing, or even evangelism.  That first date could turn into a life long spouse, or become your worst advertisement for riding.  You may be the only book on riding they ever read bout riding....and the only illustration.  Just something to think about, rather than telling me what you know, show me you care.  Then I might want to hear about your God.  Or even ride to church with you.  Now about helmet head....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

 

your dreams were your ticket out

Within 90 days in 1975 I had gone from pot smoking, womanizing heathen, to being born again, to losing my job and being glad about it, and heading west to New Mexico to live with a man who led me to the Lord.  A place I had never been, “they speak Spanish there I think,” I was told, and my life was changing at the speed of grace.  I was young enough to not have much to look back on, but some 40+ years later I have much and many thanks for God’s plan for me. My dream was of So Cal, where you can ride all the time, the weather is always great, and oh the women.  I would finally make it some 12 years later, still riding all the time, despite the weather, and with a great wife and family with me.  How God’s plans changed me for my benefit was amazing.  Many times when the times are tougher than we are, we look back and say I wish I had done something different, taken the big paying job, married the boss’s daughter, or won the lottery.  We look back to times when we thought we had it made, before we had to grow up and be responsible, like living at home with only a room to show for it.  But when God comes into your life, you start to see things differently, and your friends start to see you differently too.  You desire to move on and up, and the naysayers go to work for their fathers, never leaving the town they grew up in.  Safe and secure, the two weeks away more than enough of a change of venue or reality, and it is back to the same old same old, with the future looking just like the past.  So why look ahead, when you can look back and see your future.  But God had something different for me, and he has for all who choose to follow him.

Abram had it made, a secure job and career, a wife who loved him, but had no children.  He saw no future, only his past, until one day God spoke to him, and he listened.  God promised him riches and fame, not for his own, but to give God praise, and he gave Abram the choice of where to go.  His choice is legendary, and he grew and became very rich.  A richness based on knowing and trusting God, but one that still allowed him to be as wrong as he wanted when he didn’t follow him.  Sound familiar?  That’s mercy.  But God rewarded him with everything, and today from him on down we trace the Jewish people, God truly made him father of many.  Where would Israel be today if he had decided to stay home and ignored God?

Sarah was barren, no children before the pill was popular for birth control.  For 90 years they tried unsuccessfully, a lot of fun and practice, just no kids.  Life was no picnic, as at one point Sarah even lied about Abraham being her brother to save his life.  Following God is never easy, but always rewarding, as she finally did conceive, and through her Israel was born.  Two old people, who chose to look ahead, instead of looking back, their dream was their ticket out.  So often we look back when in despair, but Jesus promises us that each day we are closer to eternity and heaven.  And that we are not promised tomorrow, so make the best of today. 

Paul talks of momentary light afflictions, we call them disasters.  It seems some days the light at the end of the tunnel is a train bearing down on us, and we are tied to the tracks.  Sin will tie us down, only Jesus will set us free.   He promises not to take us around, but through the turmoil.  We may get cuts and scrapes, but we win, and grow closer to him.  A lesson we neglect when talking of Abraham and Sarah, for in each tough time, God showed himself and his love.  In his time, all things were made right, and in ours they will be too.  His timing, for just as night will come, sun light will greet us the next day.  And even though clouds may cover, he will shine through them.  We are not stuck where we are, for when the Bible tells us “it will come to pass,” it does.  We will follow where our eyes focus, so focus on Jesus, and follow.  Out of trust, for his plans for us are good, plans of welfare,and a future.  We will spend most of our times in the future, so get today right with God, so you have a bright one.

But in looking back, has God changed you?  Where are you with Jesus today?  Still seeking and suffering?  Or have you found the one in who life belongs?  When he offered the ticket of salvation out of life, did you take it, or get left behind at the station?  Looking back I sometimes cannot believe all God has done for me and my life, so it gives me a good cause to look ahead.  When he says no, it is because a better yes is coming.  And when he says yes, I know it is from him, and I am blessed.  But many times I just need to trust, for I know his voice, and like the good shepherd, the sheep know him.  Lost sheep, or black sheep, he will go back for you if you are lost.  Seek him and ask Jesus for dreams of a future today.  But first ask him to guide you through today.  Each ride begins with leaving home, the first turn, without it you are stuck.  To live in the future we need to get there, so listen today, deal with today, for God has plans in it for you too. 

I didn’t know I was going to hell until some one shared Jesus with me.  I was 21 and knew it all, had a job and a career, and a girlfriend or two.  A fast motorcycle, friends to ride with, it all looked good.  But I had never been more than a few miles from home to live.  Until Jesus entered my life, and showed me the way.  Stuck in a rut, Jesus is the ticket to way out.  Depressed and lonely-he knows.  But he continues to love us where we are, as we are.  He just doesn’t plan on leaving us like that.  Only when you trust and follow God will he show you the dreams that will be your ticket out.  For some it is next door, some the next time zone.  For Abraham it was leaving his hometown of Ur, and only one.  God made him father of many, when he looked to the rock from which he was cut, the rock of God. 

The wise man builds his house upon the rock, and Christ is the rock.  You are never too old to follow God, nor too young.  Nor too smart or too stupid.  Make the right choice today, and see your life change forever.  Abraham did, setting an example for us to follow.  As did the 12 disciples, their dreams were their ticket out.  And Jesus is the ticket to heaven, boarding now.  Don’t be like the old saying, “when they were handing out brains, you thought they said trains and you missed them.”  So “People get ready, there’s train a coming, you don’t need no ticket, you just get on board.”  When your life is examined, don’t look back and say “I wish I had,” let it show the grace of God you were given.  “Young men will dream dreams, old men will have visions,” maybe the skeptics are right, Jesus is way out.  If only they knew he was the way out.  Far out man....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

a ride from a loving father

Having spent a night in jail in Gallup, New Mexico, I am no authority on jails or doing time, but I can tell you I never want to do it again.  My crime of 135 in a posted 55 zone on I-40 may not have made the headlines, but in my life it did.  And although I deal with prisoners, note I have a prisoners ministry not a prison ministry, I deal with people, I am no authority on it or them.  They are all individuals with their own story to tell, I cannot imagine how they feel.  Maybe the same with rock stars, I like good music, and have been to many a concert, maybe eaten at the same restaurant.  Like the time we walked in a small hole in the wall in New Orleans, and the talk was of Paul McCartney and Wings being in town.  When we mentioned it to the man taking our order, he commented “you just missed them, they just left.”  The man who looked like Sir Paul in the back of the limo parked out front that we passed by was in fact Sir Paul and his band.  Missed by that much meeting him.  But they did wave to us as we passed, and we waved back, does that mean I met them?  We once slept in the same bed, 140 years after General Ulysses S. Grant did, when he put the siege on Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Does that make me a Civil War historian?  And how about seeing the infamous Duel truck at a truck show, and even touching it!  Does that make me a target, or the pursuer?  Or an authority on old Peterbilits? 

A friend once put 150,000 miles on his Harley, all commuting miles, where I have almost a million riding in 48 states?  Who better to tell of the ride on the open road?  Yet he can brag on high miles, just not going anywhere but to work.  You decide who knows better.  While one man brags how he survived open heart surgery, he had stints replaced, which is not open heart surgery, but still very delicate, I have the scar and the plastic aorta, backed up by paperwork to prove mine.  Who would know what open heart surgery is really like?  I have fathered two sons, yet never gave birth myself, do I know what labor pains really feel like?  I once made the game winning shot in a key rivalry, but do I know how Reggie felt when hitting three homeruns one night in the World Series? 

I owned a BMW 1600, run that one by Yuppies and see if they ever heard of it.  Back when BMW raised the question of British what?, today it means something else, at least to me.  And to those who drove them for fun, instead of prestige.  So maybe our perceptions of life can be a bit skewed, we want to relate, and draw upon our experience to relate on the subject at hand.  Normal, close, but not close enough.  For unless we are the one in the situation, we don’t know.  We say or think we do, but we don’t, can’t, and many won’t know.  There is nothing like being there.  For instance, we were on stage with Alice Cooper one night, some girls got us back stage passes, and we were stage left next to Alice during his “Welcome to my Nightmare” tour.  We exchanged glances, a wave or two, a smile or two.  But did I know him?  Does he remember me?  Hmmmm?  Maybe you are starting to get the point....we don’t get it!  But we think we do, I think.

Many walk around with Bible knowledge far superior to mine.  You are a majority.  And I am glad you are there to be called on when needed.   But a relationship with Jesus goes much deeper than knowledge, it is that personal.  The following is an excerpt from Ray Stedman, see how you identify with Christ.  Might change your outlook, and who he really is. 

It is well for us to remember frequently the sufferings of Jesus, the sheer physical agony that he went through. Think of the Last Supper when he said his soul was exceeding sorrowful unto death (Mark 14:34 KJV); the shadows of Gethsemane among the olive trees; his loneliness, his prayers, his disappointment with his disciples; his bloody sweat, the traitor's kiss, the binding, the blow in the face; the spitting, the scourging, the buffeting, the mocking, the crown of thorns, the smiting; the sorrowful way and the burdensome cross he had to bear. Think of his exhaustion, his collapse, the stripping of his garments, the impaling on the cross, the jeers of his foes and the flight of his friends; the hours on the cross, the darkness, his being forsaken of God, the terrible cry of anguish, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34 KJV). And then the end at last, It is finished (John 19:30). This is all seen in anticipation by the prophet and was all fulfilled in Jesus.

Consider those words the next time you pray.  The next time you have a rough day, the next time you think you have been picked on, passed over, and no one seems to understand.  Jesus does.  He has been there, and is there today for us.  We tend to think of a resurrected Christ, an Easter Sunday hero, but neglect what he went through to get there.  Good Friday was horrible for him, but great of us.  How many of us can relate better to Easter than to Good Friday?  Or have we seen the suffering servant first hand in our own lives, and has that brought us closer to him?  When we share our testimonies about him, what part does he play?  Stop and think, does this description mean much in your relationship with him?  If not, why not?  Is he just another way to get what you want?  A Sunday event you sleep through, a religious experience, or knowledge you read about, but haven’t experienced?  Who is Jesus to you?

We say a prayer and are saved.  Jesus went to the cross so we could be.  We get exasperated waiting for an answer to prayer, he endured the pain and suffering so we can.  He was there, we only read about it.  But he is here now, he left his spirit to guide us, how many pray in the spirit, call on the holy spirit, or even know there is one?  That it wasn’t some preacher that led you to Christ, but the holy spirit telling you  “you need Jesus.”  And that only Jesus saves?  Would you go through all the sufferings he did to get to know him?  Yet many suffer needlessly, and never know him.  Just about him.

You see I was on stage with Alice Cooper.  I saw him, did he see me?  That is the question.  But one good deed, brought us into contact with him and his band. We had befriended a little 10 year old boy, Billy, who said his dad was the drummer.  When leaving, we were passed by a long, black limo, and the window rolled down.  It was Billy, the car stopped and he waved us in.  His father was thankful for our kindness to his son, and offered a ride.  All because we recognized the son, of a loving father.  Can you say the same about knowing Jesus?  And how a loving father wants to bless you for knowing him?  No good deed goes unnoticed by God, nor do our selfish ones.  In the tough times we get closer to God, we need Jesus more.  If only we knew what tough times lay ahead, we might pray different, act different, or even react different.  Only in Christ, guided by his spirit will we know.  And the more time we spend with him, the closer we get, and the more our relationship grows.  Maybe it is about time to know the person rather than just the one in the Bible.  The best and only one to relate to in times of trouble, and also in times of joy.  The battles are tough, but we win the war.  Who does your testimony reveal, you or Jesus? 

Only Jesus endured the cross, so we don’t have to.  No one else could, did, will, or has.  He offers salvation from sin, joy in the midst of hardship, and eternity in heaven.  A loving father may stop to offer you a ride.  Because you took time to know his son.  Read the book, but get to know the person of Jesus Christ.  By his spirit.  The way to the father is through the son.  And the next time someone tells you to be like Jesus, or they tell only good things about knowing him, point them to the above.  Suddenly we aren’t so tough anymore.......aren’t you glad Jesus is?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com