conquests and defectors

When the US of A stood by its friend Israel in 1973 after it was attacked by Syria and Egypt, OPEC decided to punish us by raising the price of oil.   Sending us into a tailspin, as always cheap gas, now was not as cheap.  Pricewise it went from 26.9 to 35.9 where I lived, costing me about 50 cents more to fill up my R90S, but a big jump percentage wise. 25% of my Sears driven income, but still inexpensive, when you could find it, when you could obey the rules each station enacted, and changing the way and how America drove.  Big family cars that used to get 10-12 mpg, were now referred to as Behemoths, and the ugly and undesirable Japanese cars of a few years ago were in vogue.  Bragging on how many miles per gallon was stylish, and the Big Three automakers were in a hurry to do something amid lost sales.  And the move was on to smaller cars, and how to handle the Japanese invasion.....

Henry Ford II, or Hank the Deuce as he was referred to, once said “small cars equal small profits,” as they could make more money selling a Lincoln than the selling price of a Pinto.  After an initial sales dip, the bounced back, but now it was all about Pintos and Vegas instead of Impalas and LTD’s.  With Chrysler having nothing to offer, and AMC cars becoming popular as they sold mostly compacts anyway.  Which in sales meetings brought up two kinds of sales, conquests and defectors.  Conquests were the sales they took from other  brands, defectors were the ones you lost to other brands.  But a third was hurting profits within the Big Three, a different type of conquest sale.  Whereas a family might have purchased an Impala wagon which had a big profit in it, now they were downsizing to a Chevelle, or even a Vega.  Sales numbers would vary, but overall profits took a hit.  And like Alfred P. Sloan once said, “ GM is not in the business of making cars, we are in the business of making money.”  Conquests were now coming from within corporate borders, and not from other brands.  The good side was at least a GM family stayed GM, but no new Ford families were joining in.  Datsun and Toyota were stealing conquests from everyone, and suddenly they were a major player.  One to be dealt with, as they had very little competition for defects, and a whole new market was born.  Or hatched.  Same amount of cars being sold, just spread over more brands and lesser sales per brand.  And it had only just begun....a far cry from The Carpenters hit song....

I was invited to a so called bible study by Gerald’s nurse.  I went based on the fact she was pretty, Gerald’s nurse, and of course a Bible study.  What I found was much different, as I had the only Bible among these space cadets, and their take on spirituality was much different than Christianity.  The only truth in then was they were all lost, all searching, and many had been in churches, but never knew Jesus, or had been made to feel uncomfortable when they asked questions.  They were searching, and much like the sound of one hand clapping, they were alone and lost.  But growing as they were getting others who were defecting from the church of their parents, and becoming part of a conquest by a cult.  Somehow the numbers are always mentioned in growing churches, as if more attendance made them more successful, or brought them closer to God.  They talked of Jesus in a very friendly non-offensive way, not wanting to insult anyone, really not wanting them to think, and many got hurt and confused and still are seeking God.  Nothing knew under the sun...but in the Son, what a difference...

Over my Christian walk I have met people who used to be Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, and other main stream denominations, being saved and leaving the old church and looking for a new one.  These defectives, of which I am one, sought the holy spirit and by passed on religious rhetoric for freedom.  But as one church grew, another shrank, and even today the number attending church regularly is down, despite having a different take on Jesus in every strip mall.  Each with its own set of rules, with many stating they would never do it the old way, but really knowing no other way.  Their hearts are as empty as the tomb of Jesus, but with no knowledge of why the tomb was empty.  Or who had been in it.

A hallmark of Christianity is it is available to all, not just to one social or economical group.  No party affiliation, no dress codes, just sinners, and we all qualify.  Only Jesus invites all, can your church say the same?  Would he be given the same place in your service as the largest donor?  What would he put in your collection plate?  How would he react to your messages?  Remember the disciples were with him for three years, yet if not for the words of the angel that he is risen and not here, would have thought they were at the wrong tomb?  The angel’s telling words, “just as he told you...”  What has Jesus told you makes a difference in how you live.  Where and how you fellowship, and if you are truly saved.  With one example to consider.  I once attended a church of over 7000, who bragged one Easter that over 1100 had come forward and were saved.  But yet the next Sunday’s service was the same, where did all those new Christians go?  Or were they there and the old saints gone somewhere else?  Based on numbers I have to wonder, but based on Jesus, we can know.  He sees the heart, and salvation is more than extra attendance and Easter Lillies....it is personal and knowing Jesus Christ.  A true conquest is being saved, and being a true defector is leaving the world and following him.  Or are you still church hopping until you find one that suits your agenda...In a game of numbers, Jesus would have died for you if you were the only sinner who needed to be saved.  Now do you get it?

Tough times tell us a lot about ourselves.  One minute you are driving a GTO and bragging on horsepower, the next a Toyota and bragging on your gas mileage.  Today so many are defecting to hybrids, and even Prius sales are down, but to Tesla.  No new converts, just changing brands.  Don’t fall into the church growth trap, brag on Jesus.  A lesson today from a pastor I knew was bragging on how  humble his church was.  Any bets he drives a hybrid....and aren’t you glad your God is hitting on all eight cylinders?  If you are what you ride, I am a Triumph.  Is your church in one accord, or so big Jesus couldn’t find a seat?  With love from one defect to another.  In Jesus, the way it should be.

Or you can take the loser cruiser, I mean the bus....both will get you there....who drives your life does make a difference after all.  Ironically Henry Ford’s last ride was in a Packard, he must have asked the an who owns one...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the side of your car you never see

I was told to “be careful,” and I was to find out the hard way why we do things the way we do.  I was a new service advisor for Mercedes Benz, and was told when writing up the car, to walk it, walk around it and note any damage, then have customer sign off on them, lest we get blamed.  A simple yet annoying task, but it only became important when we didn’t do it, leaving us open to suggestion and suspicion of how their precious car got damaged.  Over the years I would see an S class with the right front driver’s door dented and with paint peeling, wheel covers missing-remember them, and other damage, many times unknown to the owner.  Why?  We all get out on the left and never walk our own cars.  I got many questionable and honest appraisals from owners when pointing out damage.  “When did that happen, it must be new?  I don’t remember doing that,” as the rust forming in the bare medal is revealed.  It just didn’t happen yesterday.  With two cases that stick out in my experience, among many others.

A rather air headed woman walked the car with me one day.  Getting to the right front door, it was dinged, paint scraped off, and had been hit many times.  When I pointed this out to here, she admitted she hated the car, it was her husbands and she didn’t like the color, was embarrassed to be seen in it.  So every chance she got, she slammed the door into something, with noticeable paint markings from her garage.  When I asked her what does your husband say?” she looked at me in astonishment.  “Nothing, he never sits on that side, he never sees it.”  Seems after pulling in his garage, he hits the button, shuts the door and goes in the house.  “You mean he never said anything?”  And I wasn’t going to be the one who would tell him....

Another woman in her 560SL was in a hurry, and just signed the papers and left for breakfast with a friend.  I had walked the car, her precious baby, as she put it, and I had been warned she was a pain in the #$%^&*(.  Which became evident when she picked it up, immediately walking to a spot on the car, and pointing out the damage that we had done to her precious baby.  She was going to sue, we would paint her entire car, and then she was confronted with the truth.  I had walked the car in front of her, and she had signed off on it.  Then she got really desperate, claiming I forged her signature, she had been rushed, and it was our fault, as the accusations continued.  But with paper in hand, she finally relented, paying her bill and promising to never come back.  If only we could hold her to it....

And of course my favorite, the one where white paint shows up on bumpers, fenders, and doors.  That we had to have done, even though we painted all barriers orange, and had padding around wall areas when doors were opened.  Funny how when confronted with the truth, some will admit defeat and repent, while others lie after lie to cover their sin.  Of course, this only happens to cars, right?

Fortunately in our sin, God never plots revenge.  When Jesus was crucified and the veil in the temple rent, or torn in two, it began a new era for man and his relationship with God.  No longer was there anything, any sin that couldn’t be dealt with, as now the temple of God’s heart was open to all.  It provided a way for all those who sin, everybody, to come back to God via Jesus Christ, and be forgiven and saved.  A simple task, yet a powerful message on reuniting sinners with the creator via the sinless one, Jesus.  The fine is paid, the cell door open, and all can enter now via Jesus Christ.  The hateful, cruel, mean, and even the empty headed who gathered around Jesus taunting him on the cross, now had a way back.  Hopeless, helpless, and afraid, the door was now open, and the invite made.

In Acts we find a number of priests who were against Jesus now being saved, the same ones who accused him of not being able to save himself, were now being saved.  Jesus had left the door open for them....As he did for the soldiers who had taken his clothes, even to the one who thrust his spear into Jesus’ side.  He promised a bigger reward than the few dollars they got for his clothes, “go tell the centurion there is a closer way to my heart than thrusting a spear into it.”  Man of us weren’t there that day, but are still guilty of the same sins today.  And the way is still open via Jesus and his victory at the cross.

Sadly in our own gospel today, we make rules for others’ forgiveness, forgetting that God sees all sin as sin.  One religion going as far as naming seven deadly sins, while some seek an out “at least I never killed anyone.”  But God forgives all sin, past, present,and future when we come to him.  Our hearts will change, we will still sin, but now its affection us will be different, as we see sin for what it is.  Only when we see Jesus for who he is.  Sin will always be sin, but Jesus will always have the ability to forgive, if you let him.  Yet some choose to live their lives never walking with Jesus, and never see the damage that is there, and when they do blame others.  Pride, it is never their fault, their ultimate downfall.  Two thieves on the crosses next to Jesus, one confessed his sin and confessed Jesus, the other denied him altogether.  One closer to hell than he would ever get, the other closer to heaven than he would ever get.  We are all damaged goods and need forgiveness.  Take a walk around your life today with Jesus, acknowledge the flaws, ask forgiveness, and get on with life in him.  Too many never see the other side of the veil, they only see the hole where it was rent.  And never go through.  Take that step in Christ today and see what is on the other side.  Life and life abundantly.  Leave the flaws and bodywork behind, be restored in him, and if someone wants to walk your life, show them how Jesus changed it.  A few scars may remain to prove he was there, invite them in to hear the good news.  To many there is a side of their car they never see, don’t be guilty of the same mistake with God.  The door is open, the fee is paid.  A custom body shop awaits your arrival.....he who knew no sin became the remedy for all.  Can the paint on your car say the same?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

no more golf at the country club

After years of arguing, of neighbors posting pro and con signs on their yards, of a certain group of old farts not getting their way, and turning a once beautiful country club area into an eyesore, they are starting the building process.  Finally.  We will soon find out just how much traffic will be added to our overcrowded streets, how they will address the issue, how our home prices will be affected, up or down, and was the fight all worth it.  After attending one meeting of the group opposing it, ECCHO, all I could figure was they had to much time on their hands, and looking around the room, if the protest carried on much longer, most of the people in the room would be dead before a decision was made, living out their last few years depressed, upset, and miserable.  Now I am not for the destruction of our once beautiful neighborhood, but get real, this is SoCal, and the only finite commodity is land.  And what was this neighborhood before it was built on......and the argument continues.....

We used to ride the cart paths at night with our sons, the smell of cut grass filling the air daily, and very little traffic.  But as the Country Club began to implode, do we really need 63 golf courses in San Diego, and are the old farts getting what they deserved, they admitted they were against the new generation with long hair and tattoos.  And membership dwindled below a sustainable level, getting what they wanted, at a price they couldn’t afford to pay.  But living on the edge of town, it was commonplace to see wildlife, to see ducks and cranes, to see large turtles by the pond, and to hear the animals in the night.  Seems they are being displaced too, and we even have seen cranes in our yard, and the ever present singing of the  coyotes at night, bragging on their catch.  In fact there are so many coyotes now, it has become unsafe to walk, as they travel in packs, and are not afraid to go after animals of any size.  We have neighbors who have lost pets to them climbing walls and fences, and coming face to face with humans, and not backing down.  I guess it was their land before golf and golfers, but still their eerie singing in the night sometimes sounds like it is just outside your window.  Sometimes it is, as pets are disappearing all too fast.  The scavenger coyote also becoming the predator......

I wonder when Satan fell from heaven, from grace, how it affected the sounds of heaven?  He was the music, he was all the instruments, he was the prince of the air, and them suddenly he was gone.  Earthbound and down, becoming the ultimate predator, going after anyone and all he can, trying to keep them from Jesus, to keep them out of heaven.  Not necessarily to destroy as we think of it, total obliteration, but many times just making you miss heaven, or as Agent 86 used to say, “missed by that much.”  And so we see him as the ultimate predator, going after the weakest ones, those who brag on themselves and have no time for God.  Who goes around and like the coyotes at night, the cries can be heard of another soul lost, and his victory song getting louder as it gets closer.  Being forced from heaven, he was given over to the earth, to its peoples, and has no descriminatory practices, he hates everyone equally, and everyone is fair game.  But as many are busy looking for the return of Jesus, they neglect to see that Satan knows the Bible better than they ever could, and knows his time is coming soon, so is stepping up his plan.  Getting more aggressive, and splitting people among themselves.  Dems vs. GOP, conservative vs. liberal, destroying marriages, destroying families, and making sin acceptable, all in his final purge on mankind.  Just as God is all love, Satan is all hate.  And even the elect are being deceived, sometimes rushing to their own destruction, willingly, doing what is trendy, following church dogma, and allowing sin a foothold.  Denying Jesus in actions, their words becoming hollow because they don’t walk their talk.  Or maybe not talking their walk.....

I can say with some assurance that whatever you think heaven to be, it will much better.  For eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind imagined the kingdom to come.  They talk down heaven, while boosting up hell, all for selfish desires. then when they don’t get their way, blame God.  But let this be a warning to all, as Jesus told us the poor will always be among us.  We see it daily as the homeless population grows, as food stamps are common, and a quality of life is not what is desired.  But Jesus as usual was talking on a higher level, a spiritual one, he was talking of he poor in spirit.  Of which there are two types, the poor who have denied Jesus and rejected his spirit, and the even sadder ones, who claim victory in Jesus, but deny the spirit given unto them for life.  Still doing it their way, and finding no joy in the spirit, the one they chose over Jesus.  And like coyotes, singing in the night after their hollow victories, causing dissent among true believers, and appearing cult like, which they are.  By their actions you cannot discern them from an atheist, overtaken by sin and an appetite for the things not of God, but wanting to portray themselves as godly.  They didn’t make up this belief, they got it from somewhere.....only knowing what they are taught, but never knowing the one who can save.  Knowledge puffs up,  the spirit comforts.  Gives wisdom, protects and guides.  Yet some just study on into oblivion.....

Be assured that Jesus came to separate the sheep from the goats, he knows who are his.  The world is changing and not for the better, but Jesus is still in the business of changing lives.  By his spirit.  Life and wildlife are changing daily as the building begins, but note what God has said.  Take heed of his spirit, trust in him.  He warns unless he builds the church, we labor in vain.  Money may buy a fine building, some nice choir robes, and the latest technology for the congregation, only love will make the place alive.  God is that love, “by his spirit,”says the Lord.  Not by Bible covers, new carpet in the foyer, not by a famous pastor.  Not by a huge congregation, or by teaching, memorization, or study.  By his spirit.....the coyotes are howling, maybe so close you have gotten used to them.  But do you know the still, small voice of Jesus?  Jesus who?  The Christ.  My friend.  No more golf at the country club.....we should have seen it coming.  How you see Jesus in your future will dictate your decisions today......and your decisions today will impact tomorrow, too.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com