rain bikes

Blame it on the suburbs, blame it on the people who lived in the suburbs, blame it on the ads about the suburbs, maybe even blame it on the ads the people who lived in the suburbs they read, but something new was popping up in their lives, the second car.  Just a generation ago, it was the bus or trolley, or the train, but now living outside of the cities, a second car was deemed needed for the stay at home moms, remember them, to take care of all their duties.  From taking kids to school, remember car pools, to shopping at the new shopping centers, to attending the social affairs of the day, that second car became a necessity.  Many times like for my parents, it was an older used car, that never saw the inside of the one car garage, again a novelty in older neighborhoods.  For my parents it was a 1950 Ford Tudor bought for $50 to take me to kindergarten, while the Buick was driven by my Dad.  But manufacturers like AMC’s Romney marketed their Rambler as the perfect second car, one that Mom would not be ashamed to be seen in, and the second car went from necessity to vanity.  By the time I was in first grade, the 1960 models had been released and we got compact cars like the Falcon, Corvair, Lancer, and Valiant to combat the VW Bug.   And America would never be the same....

By the time I was driving legally, second cars were the norm, some with a third car, usually old and used only for snowy days.  The snow car had its place, as even the second car had status with two car garages becoming popular.  Rarely driven, but always seen, these beasts of burden served their purpose until unfixable or they rusted away, and replaced by another former second car.  So if it works for cars, why not for motorcycles?  I confess I have MMD, Multiple Motorcycle Disease, sometimes one is not enough, or the mood changes.  We are down to four from a high of nine, including our old touring bike, the 2006 Tiger with 113,000 miles on it.  Retired to back of the garage status, this year with all the rain it has become the rain bike, and I have put more miles on it this year than the past few combined.  That alone ought to tell you about the weather, but I find it still runs great, is fun, and having it checked over last year needs nothing but to be ridden.  If car people can have snow cars, motorcyclists can have rain bikes, and this one has seen its share of rain.  Two flash floods, water up to the Triumph on the tank, multiple storms when traveling back east, it has seen 48 states, and this years downpours.  If any bike qualifies as a rain bike, it does.  And as of this morning, it is the bike of choice to ride, even if it doesn’t rain.  So I encourage you to find a place in your garage for a second bike, for rainy days or for fun, maybe to tinker with on those days to wet to ride, saving an orphan from the crusher, and maybe even getting out and riding it in the rain.  What a novel idea.....

Sometimes I wonder how I ever got so many bikes, as non-riders claim “you can only ride one at a time,” they obviously don’t get it.  Maybe the same ones living in a 3000 square foot house with no kids, and a three car garage that the car won’t fit in because of all the junk they cannot part with.  We are warned not to love the things of the world, misquoted many times by those who don’t know it is OK to have things, just not have them own you, just as they quote money is the root of all evil, not the scripture telling us it is the love of money that is the root of all evil.  But in 1 John it is broken down into three categories, the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

It is born into us to be better than our neighbor, to strive to be all that we can be.  Jesus tells us that even though we are in the world not to succumb to it.  Use his spirit as the barometer of what we need, not what we feel we need to keep up with the Jones.  Being rich is not a sin, but the attitude towards the riches if placed above God is, remember it is God who lets some become rich to help the poor.  We live in a fallen world, but have a risen savior, lest we forget.  We also battle the flesh through the lust of the eyes.  Imagine a world with no fashion seasons, or stylish trends.  When growing up I never was allowed to wear jeans to school, and t-shirts were for weekends, as were sneakers.  Now it is Nikes and jeans with a shirt with a message.  Whatever is popular we strive to copy, no one wants to be out of style.  Except maybe those who are so far out of style they are in style.  An evangelist once joked how to tell the wife of an evangelist.  He spent all day getting his hair and nails trimmed, his suit pressed, and his shoes shined.  He had to look good for the people, after all who wants to look poor when representing God?   And then here comes his wife, some homely thing with her hair in a bun, an ill fitting dress from two years ago, old shoes, and no makeup.  Sound familiar?  Both ends of the eye spectrum, I go with Greg Lurie who says “if the house needs painting, paint it.”  Instead of a joke from an old customer  “I just dropped my wife off at the beauty parlor for an estimate.”  Don’t fall for the old poster of Jesus in long hair and sandals and think it is spiritual to dress that way.  If that lust goes beyond simple needs, maybe the emperor does have new clothes after all!  Beware the flesh doesn’t take you to extremes....

And of course the devil, Satan himself.  Who at one time was the brightest shining angel in heaven, until he got prideful and challenged God.  Given a short time to do damage here on earth, then the dark pit awaits him with fire and brimstone forever.  I watch as so called Christians blame him for everything, not realizing they are praising his power more than that of Jesus.  The devil made me do it made Flip Wilson a star, but no devil can make a true Christian do anything he doesn’t.  Yet we tell God no so easily, yet succomb to sin easier.  Add in a denomination’s theology, what society believes, and soon, our world is influenced by anything other than Jesus.  We are told love hopes and believes all things, are your lusts making you love God more?  Bringing you closer to him, and becoming a better example?  Or has he been demoted to the status of a rain God, when in trouble you call, Easter and Christmas services fulfill a requirement, and bumper stickers and shirts with spiritual messages all you have of Jesus in your life?  It is when the things own us, when we put them above Jesus that they become sinful.  Pride appears in many subtle ways, but when you start seeing it for what it is, then you can deal with it.   Now everyone won’t ride in the rain, yes I have a rain car too.  But just as motorcycles are meant to be ridden, God made us to worship him, not his creation.  Adam worshipped Eve’s advice over God’s, changing the way we live and dress forever.  Do we do the same thing?  A lot of bad advice is given freely, and taken freely too.  Only Jesus forgives.  Not my rain bike or any bike.  We may need more than one bike, but one God, Jesus Christ is all we need, in fact we can do all things, how, “in Christ.” 

So beware, John does not say don’t have anything to do with them, he says do not let them rule over you.  Do not set your heart on them, do not strive to have the most, the newest and shiniest.  Just to be better than anyone else.  For when we do danger looms ahead, it starts in the head and soon perverts the heart.  If you are constantly wanting something you don’t have, the symptoms are clear, but so is the solution.  We are in the world to be ambassadors for Christ, to deliver his message.  Not to obtain wealth and prestige.  The bumper sticker may say “he who dies with the most toys wins,” but he still dies.  He leaves the choice up to us.  Which brings me to a dilemma today it is sunny, what will I ride?  Hey I’m no dummy, the one with gas in it.  And hope it doesn’t rain....

The way, the truth, and the life.  Anything else is a substitute.  Even in the suburbs, Jesus is Lord!  Talk abut extreme!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com 

corsets-diet plans that really work

Between you and me, I am sick of hearing about Marie and her diet plans.  How a miracle shake will help you lose pounds.  How you can skip the meetings and weighing of food.  That hers and every other diet plan, whether from a sports star to South Beach to Carb City is the best. No tummy tuck as we used to call them, just discipline.  I know people who in their quest to lose weight and be pretty, health reasons are low on the list, go from plan to plan, and after losing a few pounds, gain it back with an additional poundage-for free.  Some years back I lost almost 50 pounds, which has since returned uninvited, and lost again, and in a losing/holding position now, just by cutting out snacks, watching my portions, and eating healthy.  No fast foods, no pizza, and I missed it for awhile, but soon it lost all appeal.  So for free, within six months, it can be done.  The secret is-stop eating!  And eat different.  Cut to commercial....

Years ago I heard Pat Robertson of The 700 Club make a statement, jokingly, about losing weight.  “Lose a pound a week for a year, that’s 52 pounds!”  Change your habits.  Of course we laughed, but it’s true.  With weight loss, and also your relationship with God.  Christians should take note that giving up one habit religiously does not make you a Christian.  Following certain teachers and teachings, are not the answer.  More rules, more religion, and less fun-ask anybody who isn’t a Christian, and still an answer, just not the answer.  But we’re getting close, but many stop here.  AA members are still alcoholics, they admit it, and a higher power can mean God, or Satan. Which in many instances they cannot distinguish between the two.  I am not bashing AA, just pointing out what they say.  Unless the higher power is Jesus Christ, unless you repent and are saved, you will not be saved.  From drugs, drinking, over eating, and hell.  Step one, Jesus.  And off they go, saved but without joy.  So what’s the deal here?  Where is the pastor’s promise?  Is being saved like losing weight, just another program?  To some it is, and less.

Scripture tells us that to grow in Christ we have been given the word of God.  Logos, all the Bible.  Which explains the explosion of Bible studies around the world, do you ever get tired of some bragging brother trying to impress you by asking “are you in the word?”  When I answer “is the word in you?” throws them.  Is the word in you?  If you are saved, Jesus is the word, and when the Bible studies begin, knowledge grows.  But maybe not the person, as so many are in the word, but not in the spirit.  You must read being in the word as reading the Bible and then practicing it.  Living it.  Knowledge, knowing what to do, and obedience in the spirit, the when, what, and why.  The how we are supposed to live in Christ.  The who that Jesus left for us to counsel and provide our needs.  Many grow in knowledge, but fail to mature in Jesus because they lack the obedience led by the spirit.  Reading what they desire, taking copious notes, then hiding them in their Bible, until needed, and then searched for frantically.  But God gave us a better way, before ink and pens, before pencils and i-pods, he had us, so he wrote his word on our hearts.  Always with us, and available via the spirit when needed.  It is the spirit who reveals the mysteries of Christ, who exposes the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

God also has given us the rhema, the personal word needed for certain situations.  While many concentrate on the logos, Jesus makes it personal with his rhema.  Via his spirit.  Which changes the way we study, and changes our life.  If the study of God’s word has become a hobby, or worse yet another homework assignment, it needs the rhema to reveal the personal side of what you need.  To go beyond lessons and memory, and live in and for Christ.  Low calorie Christianity has become a staple for too many, just reading, just praying, and just going on, but with no changes in their life.  Just like just stopping eating will lose weight, just stopping your old ways will change you, but what fills the void?  Can it be we neglect the gift given to us by the one who bore our sin so we can live in him?  The spirit  is always with us, but are we always with him?  Remember Jesus never will leave us or forsake us, he left us his spirit, himself.  Maybe a four course meal of the rhema is needed.  If only we can get through the first course, how our lives would change. 

Jesus taught to abide in the vine.  Not just the scriptures we want, or looking for an escape route for our sin.  To live, to abide in him.  He is the vine, and every branch not bearing fruit is pruned.  Why, so it can bear fruit, the fruit of what, the spirit.  There he is again!  So that your joy may be full!  So your relationship with him is more personal than study, and deeper than just religion.  Abide, obey the spirit, lose the weight of sin and live again! To my fellow branches in the vine, seek his rhema today.  Listen then act.  Low calories may be an effective weight loss plan, no low cal Christian diet, we need all of Jesus, and the word for just that moment.  Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty!  Free shipping included-only God delivers to heaven while we are still on earth. 

You know the drill, you know the scriptures, but do you really know the spirit?

Or if you are lazy, ask Marie where she buys her corsets....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

would you ride with Kowalski?

 Like vice presidents, significant others, and co-drivers, those who are along for the ride never get the credit they deserve.  They either exhibit an incredible amount of faith, just plain stupid, or are in it for the thrill of it all.  Think of famous passengers in movies, Jack Nicholson riding on the back of Peter Fonda’s chopper.  Hutch hanging on for dear life as Starsky blows through red light after red light in LA.  And Hutch returning the favor.  How much courage did it take to ride with Rockford?  How about the passenger in the Charger in Bullitt?  Trying to fire off shots while hanging on for dear life.  Nobody ever rode with Popeye or Clownie in The French Connection films.  Would you get in if picked up by the guy being chased in Duel?  No passenger when McQueen jumped the fence in The Great Escape.  How about your Bonds, James Bond.  Roger does a twist in The Man with the Golden Gun, with the red neck sheriff in tow, and Sean loses his captor when he hits the ejector seat button.  Can you imagine Elwood without Jake being chased.  “It’s a cop car...”  And how about the Good Ole Boys in the Winnebago.  “I’m the driver of the Winnebago and leader of the band.”  How crazy was Frog riding with the Bandit, or was it really love after all?  What you think about that one Fred?  “WOOF!”  But when it absolutely has to be there overnight, would you go FEDEX or Kowalski in the Dodge Challenger?  Too many instances when Mom never should have let him have the keys.

How many time shave you gotten into a car with a crazy and wish you hadn’t?  Or didn’t know or heed the warnings of friends?  Designated drivers may be sober, but are they necessarily sane?  We live in a strange world where if you can navigate a few blocks without hitting anything you can get a drivers license. To drive a truck or motorcycle you must have a special license, but not to drive an RV.  Ever notice the grinning idiot trying to keep his beast in the same lane, while pointing out the sights to his kids who could care less, while driving 45 in the fast lane?  Maybe it is a talent to ignore other drivers, to me it is just plain rude.  I think I would rather take my chances with Kowalski.  I just hope those aren’t bulldozers up ahead....

Imagine you are Peter, and your little brother Andrew introduces you to a man, who invites you along, telling you to drop everything and follow him?  Ever wonder what it was with the disciples that made them follow Jesus, some without hesitation?  Some had careers, some had plans to overtake the government, but each one gave up what he was doing to follow Jesus.  The spirit calling to them, in a way that made the answer easy, but still not knowing what lay ahead.  Today that same spirit is still calling, and we were called and answered like they did.  Maybe not as famously, but we took a chance on this man who claimed to be God, and followed him, trusting him with our lives and our eternal destiny.  He rescued us from darkness, one so blinding dark we didn’t see it, and tells us anyone who hates his brother still walks in it.  Signs like hostility, indifference, and lack of concern for others show where our hearts are with God.  Funny how we are not enticed to follow the dark, yet we live in it while believing the light of the Lord is guiding.  Today while so many evangelize, maybe a look back at one Juan Carlos Ortiz, and the message God gave him for the church may enlighten us.

Although we claim to be individuals in Christ, we tend to walk in whatever the denomination, pastor, or teachings tell us.  We want to fit in, but yet stumble when it comes to the truth.  It is easy to ignore the spirit we cannot see, but hard to ignore the peer pressure at church.   Sadly the world has interpreted the church as Jesus, and religion as his gospel.  It is true he chose some questionable ones like me, but through guys like us he can show his love and power.  It is in our weakness his strength is made perfect.  So Juan took his message of unity in the spirit to the churches in his city.  Who at first didn’t want to hear it.  Dismayed he knew what God had told him, and it was God who brought the churches together.  Much like the lion and the lamb who will someday sit and eat together, it may be easier for two animals than it is for two religious groups of people to eat together.  And they have no access to the spirit!  Yet so much hate goes on in religion, is not a true believer supposed to love others, not just those he chose?  Didn’t Jesus die for us while we were yet sinners?  Didn’t someone take a chance and share the gospel with you?

When Christians hate, or don’t get along, we have an appearance no different than an atheist.  If we pick and choose what we believe, it takes no faith, and the works it fosters are not of God.  God is light, how can a brother hate another and still be called a Christian when he is walking in darkness?  Darkness is the total absence of light, not a dusk or dawn light, no light at all.  Only in God’s light will we see clearly and love, and only Jesus can change a heart so it will.  Something to remember next time you brag “I could never forgive him..”  Jesus did, are you better than him in judgment?  Is your gospel greater?  Even the apostle of love had his heart changed by Jesus.  Who’s changing yours?

Yet many choose to ride with Rockford, get chased by Duel, and even ride with Kowalski.  Unaware of the God who loves them keeping them alive to give him one more chance to be saved.  You can only revive something that was once alive but now dead, except in a graveyard.  A true revival starts in the heart, and is led by the spirit.  It not only wants us to pray more, read more, study more, and fellowship more, but to love as Jesus did, the one great commandment above all others.  Some may live by the 10 Commandments, but there is no salvation in them.  A great way to live, but not forever.  Love the Lord with all  your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.  No man ever hated himself and loved others.  Until he was forgiven and forgave himself.  The key component to salvation, forgiveness.  So give me and others another chance.  That RV driver may be your son, father, or uncle.  You may have Rockford blood in you, be as cool as McQueen, and have a French Connection, but without Jesus you have nothing.  Would you ride with Kowalski or with others in one Accord with Jesus?

Make your choice soon, those bulldozers are getting closer....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com