today was tomorrow yesterday

We love vacations, in fact I have been accused of my life being a vacation, not sure what that one meant.  But we start to plan our summer trips in the fall, altering them as the year goes by, adding roads and subtracting roads, to  make the trip better.  But once a date to leave has been established, the real planning begins, along with a countdown.  Only 185 days till we leave, then the 100 mark, then finally the last days of the countdown.  Which seem to go by slower, as the day gets nearer.  We love looking forward to the day we leave with great anticipation, we can pack in less than an hour so much of the pre-trip preparation is done.  But when the day arrives, we are out of here, and another, not as exciting countdown begins, that of how many days until we return, or the trip ends.  Today was tomorrow yesterday as far as our anticipation .  And the last few days go much faster than the last few days of leaving went slower.  With the cycle beginning again in the fall.  Time is a constant, even if we aren’t, and to those who find time going faster as we get older, the truth is we are getting slower.  In everything except our vacations....

As Christians we talk of eternity like it was a date on a calendar.  Remember the hippie saying “today is the first day of the rest of your life,” it seems we confuse today with forever.  We want to live forever, if we can only get through today.  Jesus emphasizes the importance of his daily bread, and of our eternal life in heaven, but we lose interest between the two.  We look back, we seldom look ahead, but rarely truly look at today as we should.  Such was the case of the meeting between Paul and Felix.  Here we see Felix, along with his wife who he invited, to spend time with the author of most of the New Testament, yet he loses track, or maybe his true goal is revealed.  He wants money from Paul, and when he doesn’t get it, tells him “that’s enough for now, you can leave.  I will call you when it is convenient.”  But hoping Paul would come through with the sway, called for him frequently. With God, what is more convenient than right now? 

Yet the excuses flow when it comes time for Jesus.  Church, family, job, career, motorcycles, and hobbies all dictate our worship time.  To some it becomes a daily ritual with little or no meaning, God warns of rote prayers, how much of your time with God is a rerun from yesterday?  Do you pray as you go, reflect Jesus in your life as you go, or would we recognize you in public without your church face on?  Paul was telling Felix of a time when all things secret will be revealed, enough to curtail any conversation.  Yet we act as if Jesus doesn’t know, and our lives when exposed will be a surprise to him, and us.  Maybe that helps explain why an hour at church make us uncomfortable, or why they take the offering first before the sermon.  Our attitude towards giving may differ greatly after hearing what lousy sinners we are. Being asked to give money after Jesus tells us the love of money is the root of all evil.  Paul was telling Felix it will all be exposed....so Felix sent him away, to meet him at a more convenient time.  Of course we would never do that.....

Personally I would rather be riding my motorcycle deep in thought with the spirit than sitting in church thinking about riding.  Maybe it is a good thing we don’t wear labels on our lapels expressing our thoughts.  Yet at the end of the service, who doesn’t tell the pastor what a great message he gave, when confronted.  Or lies to their friend about it.  Felix was expressing our thoughts 2000 years ago, we know Jesus is the same, yesterday, and forever, but so are we.  Is that any way to prepare for eternity?  So I like the advice of Augustine, who after being told by the spirit he would win a battle when outnumbered, won miraculously, and made Christianity the rule.  He says “love God and enjoy life.”  What good is fun if we don’t enjoy it, and who should have more fun than a Christian?  We should enjoy today, knowing Jesus is with us.  Anticipate a great tomorrow, knowing it will again be today.  And reflect back on yesterday, on how he took us through.  Today, tomorrow, and yesterday have no place in heaven, eternity has no dates.  But life now does, what are you doing with your today?  Are you putting off time with Jesus until it is more convenient?  Would you put off a ride or trip until it is more convenient?  How many times do we tell Jesus to come back when it is more convenient?  Is the hold button the most used on your prayer time?  Is your time with Jesus put on hold to be played back at a later date?  Only you, and God know the answer.  Someday we all will as it will be revealed.....

Time with Jesus doesn’t stop when on vacation.  If you knew the day of your death how would it effect today’s actions?  We look forward to heaven, I doubt anyone will have a calendar there marking off the days since they arrived.  Some look forward to a vacation, some live a vacation, some look forward to heaven, some enjoy the benefits now.  “On earth as it is in heaven,” Jesus told his disciples.  Start packing now, start enjoying now.  Felix had the ultimate trip advisor, yet sought the payoff of money instead.  Who advises you will reflect in your planning.  Only 152 shopping days until Christmas.....still time to panic.  Your vacation in the spirit can start today, he’ll let you know the check out time.  Until then, enjoy life and love Jesus.  Tomorrow never looked as promising as it does today.  Like the old songs goes, “I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow...”  Jesus took the time to bleed, can you take the time to read?  Start packing now!

love with compassion,

MIke

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the test drive circa summer 1977

At over $8500 at the time, they were in my stratosphere of car buying ability.  Driving my 1972 MG Migdet, really a Midget, but whoever painted the car put the letters back incorrectly, sports cars were it for me, but on my British budget, “why make a car payment when you can support a mechanic each month with the money,” I was looking.  Not to buy, just to look, and take a free test drive.  Now Z cars, 240 Z’s were no stranger to me, and I have wanted one since Gary Ferrao bought one and let me drive it once down the street.  Meanie.  But school, girls, motorcycles, moving west, and life in general kept interfering.  But one sunny afternoon, the kind where nothing happens because of the heat, I decided to kill some time by taking test rides.  Camaro first, MGB, passed on the Mustang II, and even stopped by to see Yo Yo and drive an Alfa GTV, but he was gone.  So stopping by the Datsun dealer, which was very quiet this afternoon, a young girl ready to impress me and make a sale approached me, asking me if I wanted a demo ride even before I asked. And the race, at least to me was on...

Older than me, aren’t all women at 23, she was the kind who tried to boost my sales decision, “men are such better drivers, maybe you can drive this car, I know I couldn’t,” and the snowball started running down hill faster and faster.  Running down the 40 faster than the double nickel, 55, she kept touching my arm, which I don’t like, kept throwing out faux praise, and when it was time to get off at Lomas, a right hand exit with a 15 mph curve, which I had done many times on two wheels, a motorcycle, hit it at 40, slid it sideways, and amid tire smoke, and the screech of tires, brought it to a stop just before the stop line.  Leaving my partner in the driver seat shaken and silent.  She looked at me incredulously, and murmured, “I think I wet my pants...” and back we went to the dealership.  Cautiously.  Without a word, she got out, and walked back to the showroom, with a dark blue, wet area on her maxi-skirt where she had lost it.  She never looked back, I left the keys in the Z and left.  Maybe men are such better drivers as she claimed, but women can be lousy passengers, as she proved.  And I still have never owned a Z car.

Joy is not the absence of suffering but the presence of God.  Paul was learning that while being held by Felix.  His past disobedience had gotten him thrown in jail and beaten, but he repented after Jesus appeared to him, and promised him more when he go to Rome.  But here we see Felix, after receiving a letter exonerating Paul, keeping him in jail, loosely guarded, but still imprisoned.  Felix who knew some of the things of God, wanted to hear more, and kept Paul at hand to hear him speak.  He had every legal right to free him, but wants to hear more.  And Paul answered.  He was to be detained over five years in multiple places, yet the gospel spread due to his imprisonment.  Prison is never comfortable, no matter the security level, and rights or no rights, he was curtailed.  It can best be described as heartache and agony, nothing no safe Christian would sign up for, but Felix knew Paul, and Paul knew Jesus, and that made all the difference.  Today I have many Christian brothers and sisters imprisoned, who are being used as a shining light to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and suffering.  Men and women are being saved by these imprisoned ambassadors of Christ, the spirit guiding them when they cannot do it themselves, and have little or no chance for release.  I look at them as I do at Paul, I couldn’t do it, or rather I wouldn’t do it, but God knows, and they are being effective messengers of the gospel.  I only hope that like Paul did, they see the love of Jesus before them, and find the same joy we do on the outside with fewer restraints.  Maybe it is to them we should tip our hats, as taking the light into the darkest of areas, even if it means being detained without cause as Paul was.  God’s plan is at work in them today, may God bless them all mightily.  God’s message works powerfully through people who have truly repented, and have him to thank.  Like them, Paul became all things to all men, from teacher, to tent maker, to religious leader, to prisoner.  I wonder what job on his resume he looked back at with the most affection?

I hoped I taught that woman a lesson that day, my thought was before taking off, “I’ll show her a thing or two,” not all lessons are easy, the best ones often the hardest.  She never looked back, I wonder if she ever came back to work, she was obviously better suited to another profession.  But in humility, I too had learned a lesson, shopping where I had no right to be, and wasting someone else’s time.  Felix didn’t waste Paul’s time, don’t waste yours with foolish games.  Test drives are exactly that, I passed, but still couldn’t afford the purchase price, so walked.  Skill had no importance when it came time to pay.  The gospel is free, so don’t bother bringing your wallet.  Jesus paid the price.  But Felix also reminds us the law doesn’t forget, but Jesus does.  Some 40 years later I hope that woman forgives me, and every time I take a test drive I think of her.  And I can still see her walking away...embarrassed.  Make no claims about God you cannot back up, your audience may not be a Felix.  Show love, forgive, and don’t be embarrassed by what you drive.  The path of disobedience we set off on has dire consequences, only in Jesus will we be forgiven.  And a true sports car must have the top go down.  The French have a saying, “there are two things you never criticize about a man, his love making and his driving, and not necessarily in that order.”  Of course you knew that already.....for some it takes a test drive to prove it.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

forgotten roads

I have never been a big fan of Missouri, most of my time there has been on the I’s, 44 and 70.  But last month meeting my friend Cyle for lunch in Fair Grove, the talk was of roads.  With a few of the local sheriff’s deputies part of the conversation.  I still don’t understand their lettered roads, today it was CC, but this one gained an A+ from me.  All that we who ride want in a road, curves, smooth pavement, changes in elevation, and no traffic.  I was lost, but if this is lost, count me in.  A road that connects two larger roads on the way to somewhere, depending on which somewhere you chase that day.  A road that is great first thing in the morning, when setting off, setting the mood for the rest of the ride, knowing somehow you will experience traffic and its jams, but not wanting to lose the freshness of my first ride on it.  I would ride many roads like this, in 16 states over the next few weeks, but this one stands out.  Reminding me it is all about the ride, and although the destination is important, it is how we get there that we remember most.

With so much emphasis on heaven, as it should be, we overlook the times and roads we will ride here until called home.  One of my mental escapades while riding why remembering old roads, like Johnson Drive with its thirteen bumps, Canal Road, still not sure where it is in Jersey, SR 32 along the Delaware in Pennsylvania, and A1A in Florida.  Each road a different time and memory, with many ridden with the promise I’ll be back, but never returning.  Somehow the ride wouldn’t be the same.....I ride different now, not necessarily better.  But some roads you know you will ride, better yet you know the destination you will arrive at sometime.  With a greater chance of rain, traffic, and hopefully the diner at the end is still there and open.  With the same smiling waitress that calls you Honey, yells your order to the chef, and keeps your drink full.  When all the right travel components-road, food, weather, and partner are right, sometimes you may wish the ride was longer, just because you don’t want it to end.  I know some who fear heaven because they don’t want to leave their good times here, on good rides I want to go on, on bad ones, “Lord just take me home.”  Of course, I’m the only one who ever feels like that....

After disobeying the spirit, Paul was in for some bad times in his traveling.  He had gone to Jerusalem against the wishes of God, who even sent men, numerous men to warn him not to.  But he went, and just like a detour sign angers us, he went anyway, and suffered for it.  Being beaten severely and jailed.  Not his idea, but his choice, and now Jesus comes to him and comforts him, but leaves him with a travel tip, “it will be the same in Rome for you as it was in Jerusalem.  You will testify in my name,” like thanks a lot Lord, you know I love to tell about you, but more beatings?”  We have the luxury of knowing about his writings from Rome, he didn’t, but went anyway.  Like some roads I have ridden, the weatherman said “no,” but I went anyway.  Fortunately so did Jesus.  Remember he never leaves us or forsakes us, he too goes down some roads he wished you hadn’t take, but in the end you get to see mercy in motion.  And emotion.

This must have been wonderful for Paul, Jesus appearing, but at the same time reminding him of where he was, and how he was about to repeat it in Rome.  How many of us would have taken the car, or stayed home?  Or changed routes?  But Paul went on, in the spirit, and we are the better for it.  He’s back in the spirit, and the glory returns to his ministry.  He realizes again the glory and greatness of knowing Jesus, he is acting like a true Christian again, the spirit flowing through him, and he is filled with joy. 

We too can know the same joy after falling away, we don ‘t have to go back and make it right.  We need to follow the spirit.  We don’t need to offer more or longer prayers, more offerings, more study or Bible time.  We need to pick up and follow Jesus, with our cross, forgiven and restored, doing the will of God.  Which encourages me, because after such great rides, sometimes I wonder if I will ever enjoy myself as much again.  And Jesus reminds me....

Of old South 10, now 14 outside of Albuquerque.  Riding for Silverton to Durango.  The Columbia River Gorge, preferring the Oregon side, or is it Washington?  The ride north leaving Locust Grove.  And any number of county roads told to me by locals, who see the helmet and know how to give the best advice on how to get there.  Riding the Loess Hills in Iowa, Iowa with hills?  Go and find out.  SR 33 in Wisconsin, SR 25 in California, and even the first road I remembered traveling to somewhere else on, Route 22 in Jersey.  All roads lead to somewhere, not all roads lead to someone.  Paul found it out, and when making a course correction, found Jesus never left him.  But that his detour had cost him and would.  But would also bless him more than he would ever think.  Riding with Jesus will take you places you never knew about, but with bad weather, traffic, and detours, ours not his as part of it.  But we go on, encouraged and blessed because we know all roads, all rides, and all things work together for those who love the Lord and are called to his purpose.  We may forget about certain roads, Jesus reminded Paul how he never forgot him.  Sin separates us for God, but not God from us.  So welcome back, continue the journey, enjoy the ride.  You never ride alone....no matter how much you turn from Jesus.  And know that heaven awaits, but until then, the best days are ahead.  In Christ.  Let’s ride.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

traffic locked

People who live on islands can understand being water locked.  And while those in the Midwest may better understand the term landlocked, those of us in California have a new term, traffic locked.  Years ago we would ride up to Malibu, spend the day riding the canyon roads, hang out at The Rock Store, then eat the best fish and chips at the Malibu Fishhouse.  Returning home after over 400 miles, sometimes 500, of good riding, just in time for dinner, and always before dark.  But those rides seem like a dream to me now, as my last ride to Malibu, read lane splitting, took over 31/2 hours, and was so wiped out, I ate and turned around and came home.  More lane splitting.  It seems with so many new homes being built, and people occupying them, everyone lives on the freeways any more.  At one time there was nothing between Escondido and Temecula, now 2000 new homes, a branch of Palomar at the 76, and casino traffic makes the road almost impassable.  It is customary to see I-15 north backed up to the 78 from Temecula, over 30 miles on any weekday afternoon.  The once traveled back roads I enjoy now are used as overflow, as commuters look for an alternative, now also backed up with new stop lights, and stop signs.  And yet they continue to build....

Last week a car ride form Temecula to Escondido took over an hour, we were caging it.  Wanna go to the beach, used to be a 20 minute ride from my house, now figure at least 30 minutes, and leave early, as after 130 pm on the 78 it is backed up for miles.  Got an hour to waste....these people obviously must.  So traffic locked is the new word to enter into your lexicon, defined as living in California with cool places to go, and you just cannot get there.  And as they build more and more, a day at the beach means more time sitting in traffic than on the sand.  Plan ahead, leave early, and join in with the others thinking like you.  But the drivers don’t help either...

California is the only state I have ever driven in, I have in 48 for the record, where any turn on the freeway means you drop 20 miles per hour of speed.  Can’t risk spilling that latte...add in any rise in elevation, same thing, the BMW that blew by you one hand on the wheel, the other texting, suddenly slows and blocks traffic, which he cannot see because his face is buried in his lap, where his phone rests.  Add in those who only feel comfortable in the far left lane going below the posted speed limit, and you can see the problem.  You may even be reading this while driving, adding to it.  We have become the most traffic locked state in the union, although every big city metro area has its traps.  But looking across eight lanes of stopped traffic on I-15, you have to wonder, how did we ever get into this mess?  What has happened to the quality of life here?  Add in the highest gas prices in the nation, more than a dollar more than the other 15 states I just got back from, and you can see, how the old song that “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot” was really talking about our roads.  And of course, just for entertainment value, we all must slow down for any car on the shoulder....

Yet somebody passed these drivers, some city council OK’ed the building, and some one voted for the law makers who made the laws.  Funny how they show up at the polls, but not in public.  But easily identified as the Prius doing 50 in the fast lane, with save the whales and support planned parenthood stickers.  Like a sign in my friend’s office says “some people are alive only because it is against the law to kill them.”  Unless you are a fetus...and we wonder why we are so stressed.

But being traffic locked is nothing new, even one man can cause a traffic jam or interrupt its flow.  Take the man who was beaten on the road, from Jericho to Jerusalem, nicknamed “the bloody road,” injured, bloody, and probably passed out, the Jewish priest passed by, slowing to look of course, then proceeded, not wanting to touch anything dead as his laws proclaimed.  A priest also was too priestly to stop, maybe even cussing the man for laying there, what if a kid saw him?  And looked away and walked away.  Yet when a Samaritan, who were hated by the Jews as half breeds, stopped, we see the mercy of Jesus in him.  He was the only one who didn’t change his course, and instead stopped, attended to his wounds, then put him on his ride and took him to an inn.  Leaving money and telling the innkeeper, I’ll be back, and cover any additional charges.  Traffic permitting, of course.  Showing compassion, just like Jesus would and does, yet how many today curse the man broken down so the lookie loos can slow down and look?  “Her ruined my ride home,” what about his ride?  Amazing the power of one person to cause a traffic jam, while another by providing aid remedied it.  Why can we not be more like the Good Samaritan?  What if we were stuck on the side of the road?  Needing help, and the EMT’s couldn’t get through because of traffic lock?  Do you pray for those next to you stressed out in traffic, curse the biker because he can split lanes, and just sit there wishing to be somewhere else?  Such is SoCal in 2018.  Just be careful, that person broke down may sit next to you in church next Sunday, then what will you say?

Traffic may be the problem, but Jesus is still the solution.  Spend time with him stuck in traffic, maybe take a break and not hurry, he never hurried, and was never late.  Leave early, stay late, drive smart instead of driving hard.  The times tell us we will for sure be traffic locked, don’t be spiritually locked too.  Don’t step over a Lazarus on the way, or avoid a wounded Samaritan.  Your best and most effective witness may be reaching out to the one in need, or putting down your cell and paying attention to driving.  For sure being traffic locked is her to stay, but so is Jesus.  Don’t block him out, don’t lock him out of your drive time.  The two holy men obeyed Mosaic laws and avoided the injured man, only one who showed the law of love, the one Jesus gave us took action.  Just some thoughts for tonight’s ride home from work......remember whatever you drive, they all get zero miles per gallon at idle.  Don’t you be idle either.

And pray it never threatens a few drops of rain...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com