the three R's-reading, riding, repeating

Those of us who have a passion for motorcycles, and motorcycling have been trying to figure out why it has been receding in the past decade or two.  Yes the prices are higher, but the bikes are so much better.  The deals are out there, even Harley is discounting, and financing is relatively low.  But yet dealer’s sales floors are knee deep in discounted machines, and us older guys wonder why?  And yesterday, I got the answer, which was not what I expected.  But first, the facts...

Talking with a European store last summer, he said he could only finance 3 out of 100 millenials, after a two-three week shopping and then finally deciding.  To many had low paying jobs, still lived at home, or had too much debt at a young age.  But an  underlying reason it took so long was there was no passion to ride.  They were transportation, the thrill of speed and of going places didn’t exist.  They approached a motorcycle much like buying a TV, read the specs, shop for price, then go to Amazon.  It was no longer about the ride, and so the new bikes sit.  As us seasoned riders stop in and wonder why...

Now there are many hard core facts, but one intangible exists, or existed, and has been overlooked.  The magazines.  As kids we used to read with great anticipation about the new Mach III, the Z-1, the new 750 Honda, and each issue had ads and stories that made us want to ride.  To buy that new bike we dreamed of, or to want a Kerker header, buy K81’s, or read about how to adjust the valves on a two stroke.  We were mesmerized, the issues read and reread by our friends and non-riders, who would wonder what it was really like to ride.  Cycle had Cook Nielsen racing and winning at Daytona, and suddenly we were one of him, with him in the pits, and he was one of us.  Peter Egan took us on rides in Cycle World from his garage, Cycle Guide gave us an honest look at road tests, Road Rider tested bikes by riding them thousands of miles and across time zones, Rider took us along, showed the maps, and Road Runner, the new kid on the block, takes us along on the roads and places to stay.  Yesterday it all became clear to me why motorcycling is dying when I got my last issue of the new Cycle World.  Once monthly, now it is quarterly, $11.99 an issue, and not one road test in it.  The kind of magazine you find in the seat back of an airplane while flying, and I cancelled my subscription after almost 40 years.  I am ashamed and embarrassed for them, they have lost touch and the passion s gone.  Motorcyclist, its sister at Bonnier, has gone semi-monthly, and again the same format.  I’m sure some focus group advised them, but I’ll bet no riders were included.  And no new ones will join in.  The passion is gone, the road tests are gone, the type got smaller, and after 10 minutes, I had looked it all, and only Kevin Cameron’s stories stood out.  My wife who rides and reads also, said it looked nice, but after looking inside, the stories were as impersonal as the cover.  The lack of passion within the industry is gone, it is all about making a profit for stockholders.  I’ll stick with my old issues, in between riding. I have been shown the future, and I rather go back.  Finding out I never left. 

But it will always come down to people, and a visit to a multiline dealer and talking with the GM who I have known for years, told me how he was overwhelmed.  Not by sales, but by work, as the dealership had been sold to a conglomerate, who saw motorcycles as a way to make money.  He now works seven days a week, has no time to ride, and the sales force has a high turnover.  No familiar faces to relate to.  Unlike a BMW store where I have known them for years also, and we talk trips and rides, how do I like the new Triumphs, and they are always busy, selling four bikes last Saturday.  The still care and ride, for we have this common disease called motorcycling.  We just choose to ride different brands.  But we all ride!

Today church boards meet with ideas of how to grow the number in the body.  When Saul of Tarsus became Paul of the Bible, he had four things going for himself, his ancestry, orthodoxy, morality, and his activity.  Which all refer to the flesh, it was only when he gave in to the holy spirit did his life and ministry change.  He had been all about the church, all about the external, now it was all about Jesus.  He found you cannot have confidence in both Christ and the world at the same time, one will always win out.  All his education, study, prayer time, and good deeds that shown were for nothing without the spirit guiding.  All the things that make you confident in the flesh are useless without Jesus, neglecting you have all you need in him.  We train or are taught how to respond in any situation, yet cannot find the words based on teaching, but we can on the spirit.  Some memorize and brag on it, some read the entire Bible in a year, some are so overwhelmed with study they never learn anything, it is all to feed the physical, while the spirit goes hungry.  Are you more confident in the things you know than of the Jesus you claim to know?  Has your passion become one of keeping up with the other believers, or making it personal with Jesus?  Whom do you place your confidence in, Jesus or man?  Reading or studying?  Have you or will you ever come to the point of saying all is loss for me Christ is gain?  You cannot have both, your actions show your choice.  Your words may only condemn you.  All the education without the application of love is pride plain and simple.  The passion for the spirit is gone, many still are saved, but never grow in grace.  How many church boards seek Jesus or success in numbers?  The truth is out there, just look and see.  Do we really trust Jesus?  Or just what we have been taught?

And so churches like motorcycle magazines have to compete in the marketplace for customers.  Subscription numbers help advertising rates, membership numbers help feed the ego.  But it goes back to the passion, of wanting to have the aura of speed and excitement.  Of wanting to be thrilled and a bit scared, it comes down to looking forward to the next time we do it, and we count the days.  It works for motorcycles too.  The headstone of the church reads the same as motorcycling, “gone riding.”  Some sit in pews, some experience Jesus first hand.  Some read and want more, some just look at the pictures.  Your actions will reveal your passion, sorry Cycle World, you lost it.  Motorcyclist too.   As a Christian don’t you.  Step out of yourself and into Christ Jesus.  You can listen to the testimonies or be in them.  Shopping without buying is still shopping.  And saying nothing for Jesus is still saying no.  Ronald Reagan was once asked why he left the Democratic party.  He replied, “I didn’t leave the party, the party left me.”   Motorcyclists please take note....Cycle World too.

love with compassion,

Mike

maatthew25biker.blogspot.com

"my friends all drive stick shifts, I must make amends..."

I learned to drive a stick shift in the safe confines of the parking lot of Terrill Junior High.  I knew the dynamics of a clutch from riding a motorcycle, now all I had to do was transfer it to my feet from my hands.  My Mother drove a stick, how hard could it be?  For two weekends I practiced with my Dad, starting off and then shifting into second.  I was getting this thing, and after stalling at every other stop sign, felt I had it down.  A few more days, and I was confident enough to drive my Dad to get his new car, all the way up in Bernardsville.  And after school we went...

Now I was doing well, no stalls yet, looking cool, arm out the window, radio set to WABC, when we approached a railroad crossing going uphill. and I had to stop, just as the barriers went down.  “RATS!”  Or its unprintable alternative.  And as we waited for the train, and the cars began to line up behind me, I thought of the line from David Crosby about looking in his mirror and being paranoid, except in mine I saw an audience of cars, all waiting for me to stall.  And as I became more nervous, being told to stay calm was the wrong thing to do, the train passed, the barriers raised and I stalled.  And for a second, my thoughts were cursing whoever invented trains and the tracks they rode on, roads and whoever made them go uphill, every person behind me, as I was sure telepathically they were all talking about me and either cursing me or making fun of me, and finally whoever designed the planet with hills, just so I could stall and be ridiculed.  For what seemed like minutes, but was really only a few seconds, I had panicked, gone into a complete prideful mode, and hated stick shifts.  I would make it on my next attempt, and would live to drive and learn how to start off uphill, why you park downhill when you can, and now I could drive any car out there.  My friends all drove stick shifts, and I had made amends.  I was a man and had it all together....and the legend lives on.....

The measure of true spirituality is found in those who do not place self confidence in self effort.  From a young age we are taught to do it ourselves, and how important our self confidence is.  But in God’s economy, or when driving a stick, it is a fool who trusts himself rather than God.  Learn to be proficient and confident, and you will succeed.  You can do it all by yourself, when you master it.  As we fail miserably.  But the Lord shows us that self confidence is found in trusting him, just the opposite of ourselves.  We were designed to face life weak and unable, so that we would need God, and he could work in our lives and show his love, and how much we need him.  He enjoys being God to us.  But yet we think we can do it alone, even among believers who quote “I can do all things in Christ that gives me strength.”  Then try to do it alone.  But there is a self confidence from God, but when it is only learned or trained, we are destined to fail.  The trials of life differ from those given after a class or reading a text book, in then when we fail, we get hurt.  No “do overs” in real life. 

We are told to have faith, but when it is in us, or our abilities, or our knowledge, we get prideful, and fall sort of God’s glory.  Knowing Jesus allows us to know that we must eliminate faith in ourselves, and place that trust in Jesus.  Just the opposite of what we are taught by the world and some Christian courses.  When we fall short of confidence in Christ, it may because we have more confidence in ourselves.  Which leads to over confidence in us, and we can drift away from God.  When Paul writes to put no confidence in the flesh, we begin to dissect it, and pretty soon get confused, and when the first hill appears, we panic.  We get paranoid, and we fail.  No training or practice will make the difference, only Jesus can and will. From his training, background, accomplishments, no matter how much he studies, how much he reads or memorizes, Paul still found his confidence in only Jesus.  His only power to persuade people via the gospel came from the holy spirit, how different it may have been if he felt otherwise.

Today when I face a hill, my confidence is to pray first.  The more I learn the more I find I don’t know, and much of my knowledge is useless in spreading the gospel.  It takes Jesus, we initially put our confidence in him at the cross to save, then it goes astray as we are taught.  I can tell where a person is today by asking about their first teaching as a new Christian.  If any teaching or philosophy other than Jesus is introduced, we are doomed to fail.  We may know John 3:16, but do we trust it?  You may know the four spiritual laws, but do you have the spirit?  You will portray him who you trust, and too many times we only trust ourselves.  Rather winning an argument than seeing Jesus changes lives.  The spirit of self reliance or self confidence can ruin many a believer for life.  We won’t always be in the safety of a church congregation or of a parking lot.  Someday we will have to go out and drive.

At least that day I didn’t drift back into the car in back of me.  Or give it too much gas and do a burn out or a wheelie.  We call it a friction zone, when the power meets is released and we move forward.  When we can upshift and keep going.  I wonder how many would have commented “what a good driver” if I hadn’t stalled?  My ego would have liked to hear those words.  Instead I heard the voices of ridicule in my mind.  Living for self is no way to live, for to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  Now I can drive a stick, but still making amends.  Still working hard with no help from my friends.....so Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?  With an automatic of course...the line forming behind me never ends.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

"whata ya got?"

The Wild One has been a favorite of mine for decades, actually wearing out VHS tapes.  We all seem to know the dialogue, I even have the soundtrack music, incredible for the time and now, makes you want to go out and ride, but some conversations tell more about the leader of the BRMC, and about us than we may admit.  When John Strabler, played by Marlon Brando is asked “what are you rebelling about?” after being told the BRMC stands for Black Rebels Motorsicle Club, he responds, “whata ya got?”  And they keep dancing...it seems old Johnny was deeper than we give him credit for, and deeper than many today.  Clubs back then put thought into their name, just the opposite of picking a trendy acronym and finding words to fit.  They were rebelling against the pressures put on their freedoms, which laws and social justices, or injustices were hindering.  Sounds a lot like today...but no one likes to be called a rebel today.  Even back then If you asked, you were told “Johnny Yuma was a rebel.”  All you had to do was ask any 10 year old. 

I was in 10th grade when the moratoriums, the days off to protest the Viet Nam War took place, and we took off one day to go.  Not to listen, we stood firmly behind our military then and now, but because the hippie girls were there, and were easy.  They were so busy standing against something they didn’t stand for anything.  Free love, free sex, free the Black Panthers, free whatever, but never any solutions.  And heaven help the ones who asked them for solutions, they were immediately called names and labeled.  Seems it was OK for them to protest and name call, yet if you asked or did it to them, well you got the wrath side of these peaceful beings.  “Don’t Bogart that joint my friend, pass it over to me...”  and guess who got misquoted on the 5 o’clock news that night? 

So it seems protesting is nothing new, just join in, even if you don’t have a cause, and you will find a mob, or group to hide within.  But how many really know the facts before they take a stand?  And when they do, change their position on it?  Protesting gun laws is nothing new, remember when John Lennon was murdered, shot, by a crazy man.  The shooter broke over 70 established gun laws of the time, would another have saved him?  “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know that.”  But yet we go after the weakest member, a gun that cannot speak for itself.  And yesterday with kids taking off of school to protest, how many just saw a free day off?  How many watched the protester’s speakers protected by gun carrying law officers?  How many don’t know, but are just following the crowd?  Which is nothing new....

With Easter coming up, it is easy to remember how a crowd turned on Jesus, who cried “crucify him!” less than a week after he was greeted with shouts of “HOSANNA!”  Save us.  But we need to look at the message, which is the most important, and a message we as Christians still are responsible to carry today.  The message of Jesus Christ carries on in love, not in protest.  No one wins a argument, maybe why Jesus kept quiet.  But one messenger worth noting by Paul, Epaphroditus, is mentioned to the Philippians.  He calls him a fellow brother, co-worker and soldier, a man who stood with Paul against the insults and accusations.  He is a messenger to the Philippians, the word referring to an apostle, one who has seen Jesus.  He is not one found in protesting, but in spreading the gospel, good news.  How many of us at night have turned off the news, just wishing to hear some good news, yet Jesus offers it?  This was the message Paul was preaching, and the message he sent back with Epaphroditus.  the good news of Jesus Christ.  He represents him, not himself.  And he is hurrying back, because he hears of someone who is ill, himself, and he is returning to minister to those who may get over excited about it.  He is showing love with compassion, to them, lest they worry, so “whata ya got?”

Sadly the message isn’t always told.  After my open heart surgery, and being gone over two months from church, the head of men’s ministry came up to me.  Wondering where I had been, I was part of a team that mentored.  As the leader, he didn’t even know I was sick?  “Why didn’t I call?”  Why didn’t he?  I already knew the answer....We all know someone like that, I hope it isn’t us.  Epaphroditus in his distress looked beyond himself, a true sign of the love and compassion of Jesus.  So are you so busy rebelling that you aren’t standing for anything?  Why do so many good folk protest the devil, yet don’t take a stand by showing love to others?  Maybe even a card from Hallmark, they care.  Says so on the card.  But do we?

So “whata ya got?” often shows more in “whata ya showing.”  The best way to protest hate is to love, the best way to protest tyranny is by being free.  Only in Jesus will you truly be set free, and when we can labor and show concern for others before ourselves, then his love will show.  Then you will see the character of Jesus living, going beyond words.  Actions that we will remember.  You see, life like movies is viewed, we don’t remember many words or quotes.  Thankfully Jesus has written his word on our hearts.  Just in case they can’t hear us, they can still see us. 

And if you see the movie, remember who committed the murder, remember who was happy with all the money flowing.  Remember who got the bum wrap.  So, “whata ya got?”  I got Jesus, man.....and like Epahroditus, he is coming back to those he loves.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

driving with Dad or "don't make me come back there..."

There was a time when we had no seat belts, when if we wanted fresh air we opened all the windows.  When power windows meant turning the crank to raise or lower them, and locking the doors meant holding down the door button while shutting it.  Power meant what happened when you pushed down the accelerator, the AM radio had five presets, one for you, and the rest for your parents, except they only listened to one station.  We used whisk brooms to remove the dirt from the plastic floor mats, many cars had seat covers, new or old it didn’t matter, and white wall tires, if they had them, were cleaned using Brillo pads.  New gas station attendants might ask “where’s the filler?” as it could be on either side, behind a tail light, or the dreaded behind the license plate, spring loaded so it attempted to remove your finger if not quick enough.  Which explains many old pump jockeys missing a digit, or the use of one.  The only standardization was that left to the manufacturer, you could still tell a Chevy small block from a Ford 289, the sound of a Pontiac different than a Plymouth, and VW’s could be heard wheezing their way from blocks away. 

Interiors had colors matched to the exterior, dashes may not be padded, and all cars, except the VW again, offered seating for six, no matter how cramped.  Three across in the front and rear, with all you had with you in the huge trunk, with room to spare.  Which is where a full size spare was kept, along with a bumper jack, and we all knew how to use it.  Snow tires were put on the rear in the fall when we winterized the car, and removed in the spring, getting it ready for summer.  The rich people had white wall snow tires, my parents had black walls, even if the front happened to be white.  An owner’s manual was in the glove box, among the maps, coupons for burgers, napkins, and straws.  A pen may be found, my Grandpa always kept a box of Kleenex there.  You pushed the accelerator twice before turning the key to start.  Let it warm up, then drove off slowly, until it warmed up.  We had no right turn on red, so we sat for what seemed like days waiting, we took driver’s ed. and couldn’t wait until we were 17 and of age.  Not so long ago if your memory goes back far enough...

Today the seat belt chimes reminding you, and kids not yet of age must be in child seats.  Who later will freak out if not buckled up.  You turn on the AC, windows only opened on occasion electrically, and the doors locking after five seconds when programmed.  You now have AM/FM/Serius, or CD, takes yer choice.  Constantly searching for what you want to hear.  We take our cars to car washes, where the black or grey interior is vacuumed, the bonded leather seats treated, and wheels detailed.  No hub caps here.  A locking gas door hides a gas cap behind it, no more license plate finger amputations.  So many things are now standard, per NHTSA, that anyone can get in ay newer vehicle and drive it.  Except when it actually comes to driving.  Seating is for five, or seven, or eight, with third row SUV seats, which may not fit in your garage, trunks may not even have a spare tire, let alone a jack, as there are no bumpers to hook it on.  Call AAA, something no well respected driver would think of.  There are numerous storage compartments for the junk we need but never use, seats that make it impossible to find the right setting, and we just turn the key, or push the button and go.  Point and steer, a much different time than when we went driving with our dads. 

But the one thing that remains is that we still look out for ourselves.  Cars and driving may have changed, but out attitude towards ourselves hasn’t.  We still like to be in control, to make the decisions, to be the one who is behind the wheel.  Some are naturally born good drivers, some are taught, yet some are taught at driving school after obtaining the required tickets to attend.  It has been said “there are two things you never criticize about a man, his love making and his driving.  And not necessarily in that order.”  Which may speak volumes about the cars we drive, or don’t.  In many ways we are extensions of our cars, our personalities may emulate them, bold and fast, or slow and dependable.  We all know a VW Bug driver will be different than the guy in the Mustang GT, driving with my Dad showed me by his comments and how everything, trucks included seemed to pass us.  But when it comes to Jesus, we are told to be meek, and who wants to be a sissy?  A wussy driver?  Or drive a wussy car?   Yet God’s definition is different, read as power under control.  Not buying every option available, not burning rubber from every light.  Making choices based on others, not just yourself.  And in that, we see a different side of Jesus, who was meek.  Who promises us that is we too are meek, we shall inherit the earth.  But in him we see meekness as taking criticism without resentment, and praise without being prideful.  I wish I could say I was more like Jesus in that area, as I need to retaliate, to express my opinion, to hold my ground.  To be prideful.  We all like to be recognized or praised, and grumble when we aren’t, but I stumble when I am.  I know I cannot do anything outside of Jesus doing it with me or for me, it is said success has many brothers, yet failure is an orphan.

Maybe a better understanding of why Jesus never opened his mouth to argue.  He knew his audience, true, but he also knew himself and his father, doing only what he wanted, that’s meekness.  When we were kids traveling with our dads, how often did you hear them say “don’t make me come back there...”  I’ll bet in meekness Jesus never heard those words.  Yet today, we pray “come Lord Jesus,” and we look forward to his return.  How many know he left his spirit, so it is as if he never left?  Maybe a ride or two with our Father in heaven just might enlighten us. 

Do you have to be the quickest off the line?  First at the light?  Have the newest and fastest?  Yet do you have to park it outside because your garage is stocked with junk?  Clear away some clutter today, let Jesus back in where he belongs.  Garages were meant for cars, our hearts are made for Jesus.  Jealous of your neighbor’s new car?  At least my old one sleeps in a garage at night.  Maybe try this, try having an unconcern for ourselves, and an increasing concern for others.  Go beyond the thought process, actually exercise it.  Take a step back to simpler things, where we participated, rather than just pushed a button.  Trust God by showing your love and compassion for others.  Knowing that you can never make Jesus come back here, he wants to.  For us.  That’s power under control, that’s looking out for us first.  We get confused with his words sometimes, but never forget his actions.  There was a time when we didn’t know Jesus....”don’t make me go back there.”

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com