tips on adjusting the valves on a two stroke motor and other helpful hints

Years ago when Jimi Hendrix asked “have you ever been experienced?” I’m still not sure what he was talking about.  I have had experiences, but maybe not what he was talking about or offering.  But a few experiences I have had while inexperienced may help.  100 years ago when I was a Boy Scout, a career Tenderfoot, I was told to find a left handed smoke shifter.  As were the other newbies, only to come back empty handed.  After straight faced Scoutmasters, store clerks, and other scouts couldn’t help, it was finally revealed there was no such thing, and the joke was on you, to be passed on to the next group of newbies.  If asked about a left handed smoke shifter experience, I can answer “I have.”  Have I ever seen one, “no.”

Guys new to the bench racing group, long before they are recognized as a hang along, are asked about their muffler bearings, or their exhaust nebulizer.  Like the smoke shifter crowd, the laughs are plenty because there are no such things, but such is the rite of passage into the group.  But as we age, we hopefully gain knowledge along with our experience.  Which may not always be the case.  For example...in another life I once sold American Motors Cars and Jeeps, long before the SUV sickness took over.  My friend Mike was one of the more creative salesman, and one time a man waiting for his car in service, encountered Mike in the showroom.  Looking under a Jeep, he asked “what is that blue thing?”  And Mike went on to explain it was a Bertel Overdrive, unique to Jeeps.  And then asked the man if he was having his serviced, as it was critical it was serviced properly and only by Jeep mechanics.  Not knowing, he asked his advisor, who wasn’t sure, who asked the service manager, who didn’t know, who asked the parts man who had never heard of one, and then called Jeep in Toledo at their home office.  And they didn’t know, but they knew that blue thing was the Quadra Trac and all Jeeps had one.  Had these guys ever been experienced?  Now they can say “I have.”

As a new Christian I believed every word from the pulpit.  I had a strong hunger to learn scripture, to know all about God, and to know Jesus.  I was being fed and digesting it all when the church I attended changed pastors.  Now being a new pastor has to be tough, and he needed to make a strong initial impression, and I can remember his first Sunday vividly.  After the applause and a warm welcome, he said “please turn your Bibles to Hezekiah 3:16, that will be our study today.”  The noise of pages turning was almost deafening, as the full sanctuary looked for Hezekiah, and soon it began to quiet down.  And puzzled looks filled the room.  No one could find the book of Hezekiah because there is no book in the Bible called Hezekiah.  It was a test to see where we were at with God, but some took it personal, how dare this new guy insult us?  To me it was a lesson on truth and checking out what came from the pulpit.  Just because it is said doesn’t make it true.  Learning curves run from left handed smoke shifters to Bertel overdrives, and can include helpful steps on two stroke valve adjustment, but when it comes to the things of God, it is always best to go to the source, the Word, just as 1 John 4 advises, to test the spirit.  Just because it sounds good doesn’t mean it is, and too many are led astray by scripture twisted to suit a purpose or to excuse their sin.  So in the words of Jesus, “be wary lest you stray.”

Over the years I have been fooled myself, and seen others fooled by claims that sound true.  Pastors taking a denominational stand going against scripture, church leaders claiming to be God or the only voice that God speaks to, or even the messiah himself.  We are warned that even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light, and can mislead the elect, Christians.  We are to be as wise as serpents, yet as gentle as lambs, to test the spirit, to trust God, because all men are liars, some unwittingly, some to deceive.  Something to consider when you open your wallet or purse to give.  God’s view on giving is different, as the Corinthians knew....

Be a cheerful giver, we live under grace, not the tithing law, and if you only give your tithe but complain about it, there is no blessing.  We are to give as the spirit shows us, and it is written the rich never had too much, nor the poor too little.  True giving shows where our heart is with Jesus, the widow who gave her two mites, all she had, an example of Jesus giving all he had.  Remember he owned no property, and didn’t even have a place to lie his head, yet he had all he needed from his Father.  Can we say the same, do we give hilariously, as scripture instructs, or do we hang onto it to increase our FICO score?  To impress our friends or to boost our portfolio?  Or do we give freely of hat we have, our time and money?  Our skills and talents?  Read Acts 2:42, maybe show it to your pastor.  God supplies all your needs through his riches and glory, not the church.  But he can use the church, but only if the church is willing.  Ask any non-Christian about the church and they will tell you the church is only after their money.  That I have experienced.  Don’t confuse the church with Jesus!

So be a giver, led by the spirit, and when asked if you know it is more blessed to give than receive, can you answer “I have been experienced.”  Do you grudgingly pay your tithe, God doesn’t need it.  Do you do without to pay it?  Read 2 Corinthians 8, you may be surprised.  I have never heard that chapter taught from a pulpit.  Don’t depend on the church for the things of God that are available to you in Christ.  Scripture tells us we will never see the faithful without bread, or their children being hungry.  But it does say “if you won’t work, you won’t eat,” won’t not don’t.  Check it out, don’t trust me....

Oh and the tips on adjusting the valves on a two stroke motor, there aren’t any.  The engine is much different than a four stroke.  Money is not the root of all evil, only the love of it.  Don’t fall for the apple Eve ate, it doesn’t say that.  It might have been a grape.  From the vine, which Jesus tells us to be part of.  To live in him, he is the vine dresser.  And God helps more than those who cannot help themselves.  Pick up your Bible and read it for yourself.  Experience Jesus for yourself.  And if asked “have you ever been experienced?” you can answer “I know Jesus personally.”  I only hope Jimi did.

Now turn your Bibles to page....and no peeking at the guy next to you.  He just might be on another page....as I search the Web to find examples, only to find I must turnoff my ad blocker or subscribe.  Beware.....you cannot teach experience, but you can have great ones.  I hope your Christian experience includes Jesus, it’s hell without him.  Not an experience I would want to have....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

     

nine days with a new bike, no money, and no place to go

For me it started on a hot August afternoon when we lived in New Mexico.  It was too hot to ride, so Brett and I decided to cruise by the local Yamaha store, a place we never went because we both rode Hondas, but where we had heard they had a left over 1985 FJ1100 for sale.  We went just to look, but they were discounting it $1000, big bucks 35 years ago, and would give me what I had paid for my CB650 Nighthawk when it was new.  So back home to get Theresa’s blessing on it, and with no money but good credit, an hour later I was the owner of a new bike, another “just going to look afternoon....”

But with a three day weekend called Labor Day coming up, and taking vacation the following week, it would give me nine days to go somewhere, and with my grandparents only 2500 miles away, I could ride there in three days, visit for three days, and three days back.  Ending up riding over 6000 miles in nine days, a very proper way to break in a new bike.  Now I don’t remember much of the ride there except it rained a lot, eastern Kansas was hillier than I thought, and a night spent in Mt. Pleasant, Illinois in an old motor court where the AC put out more noise than cool, and spending the evening with the other travelers outside where it was cooler, with the tiki torches warding off most, but not all the bugs.  And I cannot remember the ride back, except for the last day riding almost 700 miles from OK City to home.  In the rain.  All in the 55 mph world we were prisoners in at the time.....

I had called my Grandma and told her my plans, and we were to surprise my Grandpa, just in case I didn’t come and disappoint him.  But surprise him I did, it was like he knew it was me when I rode by him sitting on the porch steps, as if he already knew without being told.  But for those three days, again I don’t remember a lot of the details, it seems the best times go beyond words and description, but it was a special time, a secret time that we never told anyone else in my family about.  A good time of eating, catching up with things you forget when calling on the phone, and the last night, dressing for dinner, and going out for a fancy meal, something none of us did very often, but the perfect way to end the visit.  What had started out as nine days with a new bike, no money, and no place to go, ended up being one of the best last minute rides I would ever take.  And a memory I treasure to this day, something special about it not being something special, and like the Harley shirt says, :if I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand...”

Reading through the gospels we find Jesus spent much of his time on the road.  We learn, memorize, study, and try to remember all the things he did mentioned in them, but we have no mention of the in between times, the times just hanging with his disciples, over meals, while walking, or getting ready for bed.  We have no mention of the times around a campfire, of the personal one on one times spent, times they took for granted, thinking he would always be with them, not knowing what laid ahead, and a lot of times it was just another day with Jesus.  Even to the point of not knowing the last supper would be their last supper with him, he had always been there, with little thought for tomorrow.  I ask people lately about their Christian experience, and find so much is wrapped around the church, study, services, and doing the right things, but never is mentioned any intimate one on one time with Jesus.  If he is mentioned at all.  It seems because it is religion we have to be religious, but Jesus wasn’t religious, he was against the things of religion that came between us and God, and seeks personal time with us.  Maybe consider your Christian experience and how much Jesus is involved in it, it may surprise you.  And disappoint.  For me it was one afternoon, home alone and quiet, and I shared a ride I had taken with Jesus, he loved to hear of my ride, to be included among those I would tell about it.  He was one of the guys, a friend, but still God with no religious overtones included, two friends talking.  I wonder how many times the disciples looking back told stories of the conversations they had, the things they did with him, the relationship they had with him outside of scripture.  I wonder if we do the same.....

In the heat of the moment we never see the history that is being made, actions that seem normal but will be remembered fondly later on.  But it is the precious times we spend with Jesus, the times that go beyond words, the ones we cannot share with others because they wouldn’t get it that make it all personal.  The proof written on our hearts of the reality of him and is promises, testimonies to be shared only if and when the right time arrives, but times without words, spiritual times with our Lord and Savior. 

Born again or bored again, too many Christians never experience all that Jesus has to offer.  Consider your Christian experience today, is it all about Jesus or all about religion?  The relationship with God doesn’t end when leaving church, in the spirit it is only beginning.  You may know all the right scriptures, but how well do you know the man who said them?  Who wrote them?  Who reveals them to you?  If you are afraid to let Jesus make it personal, you are normal, acting naturally, so go beyond the supernatural, and trust him.  Let the joy of him flow through you.  Let all the no’s of life turn into one big know, that of knowing him personally.  He never left you nor forsakes you, so no appointment needed.  When minutes turn to hours, and hours turn to minutes, you find the time is not as important as the one who created it. 

The look on my Grandpa’s face made the whole trip worthwhile, the joy my visit brought him, a trip that I thought was all about me, was really all about Jesus, giving of myself, and seeing my Grandparents blessed.  The fact God used a motorcycle to do it......well we all need more rides like that.  It all started out just looking, and look what it turned into.  Jesus and motorcycles, it just don’t get any better.  And like the old James Taylor song reminds me, “with ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go...”

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.bkogspot.com

cars I still cannot afford

Throughout my life it seems my income has always fallen behind the car of my dreams.  Not necessarily a dream car, but one that is mine, can be driven past the city limits without fear of not returning on its own, and that all four tires are the same size.  As is the body color, and all interior items should be there, hopefully as they came from the assembly line.  But truthfully I never owned one that bad, well maybe a few, but it seems the car that I really wanted, or had to have, the one that kept me up figuring how many years of lawns I had to cut to get one, still is too expensive for me.  But I can still dream, if not drive...

I was told at an early age you either have time or money, but rarely the two at the same time.  It seems that whenever I see a car I want and the deal seems too good to be true, I cannot honor my end of the buying process, yet when I have a wallet full of cash, after selling a bike or two, those deals don’t exist, or just avoid me.  Or I find I rather have the cash than the car, so it gets used on less honorable things like painting the house, fixing the plumbing, or supersizing a dinner for two, with money left over for the cone.  But some deals that came and went still haunt me, “if only, how would that vehicle have changed my life?  How long would I have kept it?  And where would it be now?”

Every time I see a B Model Mack dump truck, I grimace about how a guy knew was selling his almost perfect one.  $500 in 1978 dollars. I barely made that a month.  It had a two speed rear end, and I can see myself bumping along with my next load of dirt to the job site.  But maybe not, I never could get that beautiful truck dirty...so maybe it was a better deal to pass on it.  A few years back I was interested in a Corvette, red with red interior, that Chevy called Lipstick.  Ooohhh...but looking I found a few in my price range, but not quite in the condition as advertised.  Seems C3 Corvettes of the later years used too many off the shelf Chevy items, and the L82 with only 225 hp was the same as the old Crown Vic I used for my rain car.  I wanted a car to drive, too many are used for weekends only, or I have one and you don’t expressions to the unwashed multitude.  So again I passed....and glad I did.  Finally a BMW 2002, the model not the year, was seen for sale.  Having had one, I knew what to look for, and as cheap as it was, it was still overpriced.  These suckers rusted, many places you couldn’t see, add in German rubber for window seals that rots while you roll one up, another great deal ended in a no sale.  Yet I cruise Craigslist for that elusive car that I can afford that I am sure doesn’t exist.  If only in my dreams......please don’t wake up this sleepwalker, it could be dangerous.

No one wakes up one morning and decides today is the day I find God.  For one thing he isn’t missing, and two, even though we have an innate desire for God, without the urging of the holy spirit, we seek substitutes, or false gods, many times without knowing it.  I dated a girl once whose religion of the month was some Far East nonsense, even weird by her standards, and after a few dates, she was still looking and I started looking for another girl to date.  Any girl who asked “what’s your sign?” was an instant turnoff, although some were worth a second look, but still searching and not finding.  There were the various good girls who went to church, but their morals didn’t include mine, and were too busy trying to change me.   Pass again.....until one night, after reading “Late, Great Planet Earth” by Hal Lindsay, I was invited to a Bible study.  With the intention of picking up a girl, what was I thinking?  As I continued to make eye contact with the very pretty girl in the group, I told the friend I came with I was going out with her afterwards.  Which only made her more forbidden fruit when he told me “she is a Christian girl and won’t date a non-Christian.”  But with my best Jersey foot forward, I walked across the room to her and we met.  I reached out my hand to introduce myself, she embraced me, “isn’t Jesus wonderful?”  What could I say, what could I do?  She was right, so was John, we never went out, but a few days later I was one, and only my leaving back to Jersey cancelled any further plans of her.  But not of Jesus....

You see God has a woman for you and a man for you, woman, if you seek him first.  I don’t get this Christian dating, or on line dating, who hasn’t lied on their Facebook page?  Yet we look for God like we shop for deals on cars and dates.  We have a preset list of how God should be, and then Jesus shows up, and changes everything.  Scripture tells us that God will give us the desires of our heart, is he the desire of your heart?  The spirit is constantly telling you how you need Jesus, but lesser offers distract us, ones that don’t include us changing.  So it must be up to God to change, and that never works.  We are that work in process for the better, how many decisions can I look back and say “I’m glad it didn’t work out,” because he had something better for me.  So the best deal you will ever make is Jesus Christ, he gets you and all your sin and wretchedness, you get forgiveness and grace.  On a religious scale it seems God gets shorted, but such is his love for us.  Anything else, any religion, cult, or philosophy is too expensive, and I cannot afford it.  Nor can you. 

Today can you say “Isn’t Jesus wonderful?”  Despite your situation, despite what is going on, can you honestly say “it would only be worse without him?”  Is your God like the cars of your dreams, always a day late and a dollar short?  Or is he adequate in all things, what you need?  Even when you don’t know what you need?  Temptations come in many shapes, sizes, horsepower, and prices.  God never tempts, but offers.  His offer is Jesus, and heaven.  A proven fact.  Anything else is just a lie.  So as there will always be cars I still cannot afford, I still cannot afford to be without Jesus.  Only Jesus saves, and at today’s prices that is still a miracle.  His arms are open to accept you, not your cash.  To love you as you are, but wanting to make you into what you can be.  He is the only deal in life you should never pass on.....not in any for sale column, but found advertising his love everyday for us to see.  And after all the excuses are made, he still loves you.

But if you do happen to see a B Model Mack dump truck, I am still looking.  A great work truck, I could actually haul things in it.  Not in my truck you’re not.  But in your dreams, do you see jeopardizing it once you get it?  Not in my B Model....now do you get it?  We may abandon our dreams, he never abandons us.

And suddenly Jesus makes all the sense in the world......

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

if fumbles were touchdowns, the Chargers might win

Once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the Chargers blew a half time lead to the Lions in the battle for a higher drafting position.  True to tradition, another team’s half time pep talk came true, “sure we’re down by 24 points, our QB is hurt, but it’s the Chargers, so let’s go out and win!”  With the Chargers leading at half time, and going scoreless the second half.. two missed field goals by their punter, fumbling on the goal line by the replacement for their star running back who is holding out wanting to be traded, two touchdowns being recalled by penalties,and in the clutch, Philip Rivers completes a pass that should have won the game...but to the other team.  Again.  And they honestly wonder why in a town of two NFL teams they are #4?  Remember that USC and UCLA both fill their 100,000 seat stadiums, while down the road the Chargers can’t fill one with 40,000...if only NFL games only lasted for 30 minutes.....if fumbles were touchdowns, the Chargers might win.

As kids we played touch imagining we were stars of the day, like Joe Namath, who is in the Hall of Fame for one victory, and made a hero from it.  He predicted a win in the Super Bowl and delivered.  But what if he hadn’t, no Super Bowl ring or NFL Hall for Joe Willie, just another pretty face who played the game.  But he did win, and the Jets won, and forever changed the NFL, as it was the last AFL/NFL Championship game.  True the two leagues had decided to merge ahead of the game, but many claim it was the Jet’s AFL victory that forced it.  Let them believe what they want, the truth will still be the truth.  Jet’s win, Joe is MVP, and on the way to the Hall...

Imagine game time on a Sunday 2000 years ago.  The promise of victory by Jesus looking like defeat.  Even his loyal fan base has moved on, while some loyal women meet at the tomb.  Joined by some men, who when confronted by is absence, are confused.  Not realizing the victory they are witnessing, the one Jesus had predicted, that on the third day he would be resurrected.  And as the angel spelled this our for them, how doubt must have turned to amazement, and fear to joy.  The resurrection the difference in all religions today, how Jesus Christ overcame death on the cross, how the tomb was empty, and how we too if we believe in him will also be resurrected.  We fail to follow that, never facing the fact we were dead in sin and you can only resurrect something that was dead, and that we can have everlasting life in him.  But just as many on love him until half time, and give up when behind, God leads us to victory in the darkest of hours.  Talk with someone who has faced financial, physical, or emotional ruin, and trusted God and overcame the situation.  Who unlike the Chargers, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, not the other way around, and through them God’s light continues to shine.  It is not tough people, but tough times and a loving God who when trusted will provide the victory. While some brag on the things they have done for Christ, true believers who walk in the spirit brag on what Jesus has done for them.  Jesus even addressed the crowd of so called believers, the church crowd, who after bragging on what they had done, were admonished to find Jesus never knew them.  That what they had been following was a lie...but who turned we never are told.  Jesus’ half time talk on true Christianity must have made an impact on some while others just saw the score, and they looked like they were winning.  No matter where we are in Christ, we still have a game to play out while here on earth.  Life may go on for us in heaven, but life also goes on here on earth for now.  Ahead or behind, we have the second half yet to play...

One victory made Joe a hero, one victory in Christ will do the same for us.  A place in the book of life, the real hall where it is all about his accomplishments not ours.  Where his victory insures ours, and we win because Jesus won first.  No religion necessary, just Jesus. 

But yet the NFL is taking cues from organized religions, by making more laws.  They sure cannot define a catch, but can argue over it and have pass interference reviewed, even if it didn’t occur.  Don’t let the laws of religion become a burden, find victory in Jesus, walk in his spirit, love the unlovely, and don’t give up despite the score.  Or you can remember the Heidi bowl and the last 21 seconds cut off by NBC.  The game went on, only the outcome changed.  Or every week watch the Chargers proclaim “we’re number 4!”  In a two team town.  Some dress the part, some play the part.  Some are waiting on parts.  Imagine the headline “JESUS WINS!”  What it means to you may be your entry into the hall of heaven.  If only we played the Chargers every week, life would be so much easier.....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com