but we all ride

Those of us who have a love affair with motorcycles, understand why we ride, but sometimes have trouble putting it into to words.  There was a time when the advertising geniuses could do it for us, from “Kawasaki let the good times roll,” to “You meet the nicest people on a Honda,” to the Triumph “expert vs. enthusiast ad,” we all knew what they were talking about.  The language was familiar to what we knew to be true, and the ads brought the desire to us, which brought us to the stores, and then to the streets.  And at  least in the above examples, the good times really did roll, you met the nicest people-notice Honda never referred to their product as motorcycles, The Wild One still banned in England at the time, and you had to be an expert, mechanic that is , or know one to keep your Brit bike rideable.  We knew the differences, whose bike was fastest, who got the best mpg, who wore out tires the fastest, who got the most tickets, and who got the most girls.  Some who weren’t the nicest, but the good times did roll.  But we knew from experiencing riding how accurate the ads were, even if they stretched the truth a bit.  No one ever accused bench racing of accuracy, but for  hours on rainy days and late nights when you couldn’t look ahead, it was fun to look back.  We had a brotherhood based on riding motorcycles, get four or five of us together and you had the same amount of brands.  We waved at Harleys and they waved back.   I even remember an older biker 1%er on his hardtail coming up to me and telling me how my BMW “was the Cadillac of motorcycles.”  We all knew, we all rode, we just had different brands to express it.  But we all rode!

Today at any rally, it is all Harley, with more Indians showing up.  Cruising the HD store yesterday, I stopped and noticed, they all look the same.  But then so do the owners, black bikes and black leathers.  When Triumph returned 20 years ago, the young crowd thought “Honda what?” The old HD riders knew and would visit, they all had one once.  Today the young are the old, and if they ride at all, are more owner than rider.  Staying within a HOG Group lest they have to learn about motorcycles, and test their riding ability.  The bikes haven’t changed, riding hasn’t changed, but the riders and the ads have.  I grin when on trips when I see a group of mixed brands riding together, they get it.  And one afternoon with my friend Chuck, Harley or nothing, surprised even me. Claiming how smooth and fast his new Heritage was, we swapped bikes, and he rode my RS sport bike.  Scared the @#$%^&* out of him, and he admitted, he had never ridden anything so fast or smooth.   But would he own one.....probably not, what would his friends say?  I answered “does it matter, they’ll have to catch you to tell you.”  Be we all ride, and I’m glad we all do.  Yet some still only own.

On any day in a bike shop, you meet owners, but it seems less and less are riders.  The evidence is found on Craigslist, look at all the low mileage ride for sale,  some discounted heavily.   Pick a year, or decade, they are there.  Some even throwing in the helmet and jacket.  You decide. But it seems they were really never of us, and when it came time to actually ride, to cross zip codes, or time zones, to ride where they never had before, the for sale sign went up.  When the first service was due, they got parked, and when the bike wouldn’t start from a dead battery from non use, it was sold.  When you talk with them their motorcycle experience is jaded, jaundiced with not riding.  They were not ever really of us, but go out and diminish what they never understood.  Seems many Christians are the same.....

We live in the days of anti-Christ, anti meaning instead of.  To much there to get our attention and our worship.  Cults such as LDS and JW claim to have a truth, but stray from the truth of Jesus Christ.  They deny his deity, deny his word, and even deny their members from intermingling with others.  Good works are preached as opposed to the work of the spirit, and it is not only in cults.  From gays in pulpits to abortion and civil rights, they suppress God and his rights, seeking a lesser gospel that excuses their sin.  Social issues rather than spiritual ones, based on the group rather than the individuals in it.  Cutting themselves off from the true Christianity found in the New Testament, and creating their own gospel.  They deny the gospel because it points out their failure, missing the salvation message.  In truth they were never part of us, 1 John says, for if they were, they would have remained in the truth.  They are the ones who give Christianity a bad name, but it is good to remember, if bad publicity could destroy a movement, Jesus and the truth would have been gone long ago.  But the truth still sets us free!  If only churches in their campaigns to get donors, I mean members, I mean saved souls could get it.  Unless God builds the church, we labor in vain.  We are the church.  Lest we forget.  It was Jesus who saved us, the spirit that builds us.  There have been influential men in my life, but never any like Jesus. 

So while some look for who is the anti-Christ, they live a life worshipping him, instead of the living Christ.  He is here now, alive and well, his spirit testifying in believers lives.  But yet many fall away, and are not invited back.  Imagine a Craigslist ad like this.  “One owner lost soul, once believed and got lead astray. Stored for many years, all the parts there.  Needs a new owner.  Best offer.”  Know anyone other than Jesus who would respond?  Who could save?  Who would do so without reservation?  Yet the chances are there, as one such experience of mine shows.  I got a call from a lady who had a sister who was in trouble.  She was saved, but lost and lonely.  Could I hook her up?  Being over 100 miles from her, I called a pastor I knew in her town, who had a lesser pastor who minsters to these types.  Later when she called me, she said “I was hungry and hurting. I needed someone to talk to, to visit with me, he advised just read the word.”  And was gone, no hugs, no let’s get you some food.  Never asking if she even had a Bible.  But undeterred, she hung on to Jesus, despite bad ministry.  Ask yourself, was he of us or out from us?  Where was the love of Matthew 25, doing unto the least of them?  God help us to not be like that.

So seek the spirit today, maybe while riding.  Wave at Harleys and Hondas, BMW’s too, and hope they wave back.  We sued to have a brotherhood that I hoped the church would copy, but it too has gone its own denominational or brand way.  We all own bikes, but we don’t all ride.  But the first step is taken, ownership.  All saved have Jesus, but don’t go beyond that, and have him as Lord.  Let Jesus do what no religion can, if one afternoon of windy roads can free your soul, imagine the time spent with what the time spent with Jesus can do.  Like a powerful ride, you will never know what it is all about until you twist the throttle.  And never know power under control until you meet Jesus.  Advice from one who rides and knows both.  Opinions are like Hondas, everybody has one.  Which may explain so many on Craigslist.  The truth will still set you free.  And you can let the good times roll, after you meet the nicest person. 

So Christian, are you an enthusiast?  Or expert?  Read the ad, know God.  We may not all ride, but we can all know Jesus. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

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