better than a letter to the editor

Road Runner, RIP, was a motorcycle magazine that had developed a cult like following, a road test for them was thousands of miles, and that year a few of the heartiest editors, read that craziest, held a motorcycle rally, in Durango. The Durango tour, and although the internet has no evidence of it, I still have a poster tucked away among things that no one else cares about to prove it.  But I met a few of the men involved, who fell in love with the town and the area, some bought property, some actually made the move, one taught at the local college, and numerous rides around the area were featured in the magazine.  Now being a small town, our motorcycle community was close knit, and since I was already involved in that community, I was head of the motocross event in the Durango Snowdown, I got to meet and hang out at one of the bike shops with them.  As I taught them about the roads and the history of the area, they gave me a first hand look into the motorcycle industry, which at the time was thriving.  Affordable bikes, plenty of magazines, and now Durango being added to the list of destinations, it was a great time to ride.  In many ways it was better than a letter to the editor, as I got insight on new models, met reps from Honda, etc, and was given an education on how the industry works, and where the motorcycle magazines fit into it.  These hallowed books we were mesmerized by turned out to be businesses, designed to make money, what a blow to our egos.  With some notable lessons learned....

Yamaha had come out and bragged they were going to bury Honda, to which Honda replied by dropping all their prices, crippling Yamaha enough to almost bury them.  Even the most devoted had a hard time choosing among brands.  Turns out it was true among the magazines too, as one editor from Road Rider explained the economics of circulation.  Cycle was the king, in terms of circulation and ad prices, while RR was near the bottom, with less than 10% of their readership.  They had to make a decision, either go big or go home, as subscription reader number dictated ad prices.  To add readers was to go more mainstream, and lose their base, so being the rebels they were, sold the magazine, took the money and went riding.  It was never about the business end to them, but about the ride, so ended up selling before selling out.  Now known as Motorcycle Consumer News, they exist by subs only, accept no ads, and still march or ride to a different beat.  I have talked with one of their editors, and they honestly test the bikes, not owing anything to the ad buyers, aka the manufacturers, and almost invisible today.  Personally I rode so many press bikes for Triumph I could tell if the magazine actually rode the bike, and ad dollars still run the business.  The power of the press only exceeded by the power of the dollar, for example a few years back a magazine totaled a Honda on loan.  When the were sent a bill for it from Honda, they refused to pay, bragging on who they were, but forgetting who Honda was.  Who immediately pulled all their advertising indefinitely, almost sinking the magazine.  Money still talks, the love of it still the root of ALL evil.  Proven everyday, at least in the motorcycle world.  It may not be what you ride, but who buys the ads that count. 

So I miss Road Rider, honest stories by men who actually rode them and dared to tell the truth.  We will always be a small minority with a small voice, but that doesn’t mean our message is small.  Today if you want to be misquoted, run out of business, or attacked, share Jesus.  Take a stand for him publicly, and watch as evil thoughts turn to evil actions.  Which brings us to 2019, the year God ahs shown me he will separate the sheep from the goats.  For years end time advocates have warned, or been warned, but now all the signs of them are speeding up, in greater numbers, and all at once.  Now we have hurricane and tornado seasons, earthquakes in various places, and all sort of evil visible to us.  Where once men had shame over sin, now we have sin displayed publicly, bragging on itself, proving what Jesus said, “right will be wrong and wrong will be right.”  It doesn’t take a public school education to show something wrong is going on here.  Yet the murmurings go on, “well 2000 years ago Jesus promised to return, where is the evidence of that?”  And I say, look around, to Christians, who are to represent Jesus here on earth, as ambassadors.  To be light and salt of the earth, to give it flavor.  Yet too many hide their light under a barrel, while others shine their lights on high beam, blinding the ones they should be lighting the way for.  Every man doing what is right in their own eyes, but God still sees the hearts.  Which in Revelation 3, makes Jesus sick enough to throw up.  So where do you stand with Jesus?  Maybe it is as what publication you believe.....

It seems any pastor worth his pulpit has written a book, that his flock must read if they want to stay in good standing.  Some address this issue, telling their flock to go out as they  hide behind a pulpit.  Some instruct how to pray, study, worship, or be a better Christian, all without the guidance of the spirit.  How to books on Jesus.  Large churches like large publications need the money to stay open, and provide endless ways to get us to give, as they take.  Bibles are flashed at church, but left to gather dust at home, while these books gain popularity.  And many wanting to appeal to a larger audience, aka selling more books, dilute the gospel, or deny Jesus altogether.  And when some believers take their worship and tithes elsewhere, the fellowship that once depended on God, goes away.  Could it be that a lesson learned by motorcycle mags in the eighties we were on to something? 

God has given us his word, the truth to set us free, and to use for teaching and instruction.  It never changes, but man’s versions do.  He also sent Jesus to set us free, to forgive us and to be the church, his body of believers, not to be religious robots. But finally he left his spirit to guide us, to comfort and lead, to prove him over and over again everyday.  And as the goats, false followers, are separated from the sheep, the goats make noise, but sadly the sheep remain silent.  We have God on our side, yet some cower in fear.  Maybe a letter to the editor, prayer, God is in order.  But more important, his reply.  Given freely, without subscription, truthfully and honestly.  To all who seek, he will be found.  Not a matter of numbers, but of a number, one, and who Jesus is.  Not bought and paid for by religion, but by his blood. 

Very few of us read Road Rider, even less remember it.  Don’t let Jesus in your life end up the same way.  Many are called, few are chosen, be one of the many who believe.  Maybe try this, Jesus never carried money, had no income or place to call his own.  Take money out of your service and try trusting God.  Many good magazines and businesses have come and gone due to lack of it, too many relationships with Jesus have suffered over it.  Today the Bible is still the worldwide best seller, with no advertising, no reviews, and no subscriptions.  Is it possible God knows the publishing business too?  And you have access to the publisher and editor....who was there  in the beginning....will be there in the end.  Where you end up is up to you.  Stick with the best seller, and avoid the cellar.  A lesson learned from riding a motorcycle, try that one on for size!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

an afternoon's ride

I was twenty years old with a strong desire to see America by motorcycle.  Picking up the inaugural of Rider magazine just encouraged me more, as it stressed touring, with one road in particular, Highway 1, which they called the ultimate one.  To a Jersey boy, roads like Highway 1 were a dream, and I made a vow to ride it someday.  It was almost ten years later when I finally did, and over the past three decades have ridden it over a dozen times.  Not sure if I am bragging or complaining, but the road has lost a lot of its romance to me.  I have ridden it in rain, in the dark, on cold sunny days, on windy days I wish I had stayed home, and both from the north and the south.  Even partial runs when landslides interrupted, with my latest attempt two years ago at the Quail.  After riding 450 miles in rain and cold, and the next day offering more of the same, I passed and came home, so when I mentioned to Theresa I was going to ride Highway 1 last week, I got the look “I thought you didn’t like that road.”  Truth is I am not to fond of it, landslides, RV’s, and bad weather usually have me taking a more inland route, but it was the plan last week. What was I thinking?

Leaving Paso in a sweatshirt, it was 100 degrees the day before, the weather looked the same for today, I figured maybe I could get by with only that down the coast.  But when I took it off to fill up in Carmel Valley, and it got warmer, as in hot in Carmel, I rode Highway 1 the way I felt it should be ridden, in hot and sunny weather with a tail wind.  With traffic spread out allowing me to pass and ride my own ride, not based on tourists.  Which I did, with my getting off point at Nacimiento Ferguson Road, straight up a cliff, then across Camp Roberts, with no traffic.  Hot and alone, I rode my own pace, finally covering 320 miles in an afternoon, with 1000 miles covered in three days, getting away from the rat race we call So Cal, and airing out both bike and rider.  It always seems the bike runs smoother and faster after a trip, a prescription for mental and motor health I strongly recommend.  But I also found myself to be Highway 1’ed out, looking forward to other roads to ride, ones that I never have, how can that be?  God had just provided me with a chance few riders ever get to experience first hand, and I was bored with it?  What’s my problem.....or do I have one?

Or maybe I was having a moment like the Israelites did for 40 years under Moses.  They got tired and complained about eating the same manna, aka what is it day after day.  No matter it was fresh and could be prepared different ways, it was the same meal day after day for over 14,000 days.  Seems food, riding, and life can be like that, but so can religion.  And many are on life support and don’t know it.  A friend once boasted of riding 40,000 miles a year, and I was impressed until I asked where he had gone.  “Work,” it was all commuting miles.  Today may live off fast food, I am amazed at how many variations of a burger there can be.  But when it comes to God, this should never be.  We are told that a relationship with him is fresh and new every morning, yet their relationship with Jesus can be shared in one word, church.  Doing the church thing, appearing holy on the outside, but rotting or with nothing on the inside.  If my memory serves me well, the Jews even considered going back to Egypt and slavery, the food was better.  Can this explain the dryness in our relationship with Jesus, why we are missing blessings, and denying the presence of the holy spirit in our lives?  Have we focused on the things of life rather than the provider of life?  Sameness can cause discontent, but God also provided all they needed, like shoes that never wore out, a cloud to block the hot sun everyday, and stars to guide them by light at night.  His faithfulness kept them going, has normalcy, always having, made us forget that?  Do we depend and trust him everyday? 

Psalm 107:9 tells us he satisfies our longings and fills up our soul with good things, blessings.  That afternoon he did both for me, the perfect combination of road and machine, but didn’t stop there.  He added great weather and his presence made it all worthwhile.  For me just a road I had ridden before, to the first time tourist it was a new thrill.  A new vista at each turn, fresh air and photo ops, with new tales to tell their friends and family when they went back.  Is your life in Christ that way?  Is it new and fresh every morning on a diet of and provided by the holy spirit, or has religion stolen your joy?  The people followed the Pharisees because it was the law, they followed Jesus because they wanted to, they saw the freedom and joy of life he was,and wanted it.  They appreciated the provisions, they wanted more of the provider.  Does the road you’re on display the provision or the provider?  Do we even have to ask....

After many miles of non-freeway riding, I was glad to ride some miles at higher speeds to make up time.  Then caught myself, I didn’t need to make up time, I was on no schedule.  Maybe a life in Christ is simple enough to be compared to the manna God provided in the Old Testament, and to what Jesus refers to as “daily bread from heaven,” Jesus himself.  One is life under the law, one is life under grace, and we get to choose.   Jesus’ comment in John 6 tells us “your ancestors ate bread that came down from heaven and still died.”  But he is the bread of life that came down from heaven and gives us eternal life.  Offered to all, so that we might not ever die.  Which of course leaves us more time to ride.....and time to thank God for all he has done.

Highway 1 may be the ultimate one when it comes to riding, Jesus is the ultimate one when it comes to life.  He has always provided what we need, yet what is keeping us from trusting him more?  Today turn to Jesus, let his spirit lead you, abandon religion, which is not necessarily church, and be set free.  Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, and since he is omnipresent, wherever you are in him, you are free indeed.  The only way to ride or live.  At each intersection we are given a choice to make, continue on or turn.  At one time to me it was all about the miles, and after one million behind bars, the ride has become more important than ever.  I see things differently now than when I first rode, you can read about experience, don’t stop there.  Get out and ride, get out and live, be a rebel among religious rebels like Jesus was, enjoying every minute and mile.  An afternoon’s ride on a road I had ridden many times but with a new attitude removed the manna of riding and brought the joy of Jesus back into it.  God knew and provided what I needed even when I didn’t or didn’t know what to ask for.  Even coming down I-15 didn’t faze my attitude, that ought to make you believe in miracles.  The difference Jesus can make in a life, for all to see.  Personal so you can take it public, with no more vows or bucket list.  You see we don’t know what tomorrow brings, but when Jesus is the main thing, you can be assured you will enjoy the ride.  Next time out it will be going down roads I passed by in the past, new adventures, and new places to see.  One afternoon Carmel was my turn around point, but Highway 1 was my turning point.  Maybe the road you are on is more important than you think, but never put it ahead of the one you ride it with.  Ultimate can be the greatest or the last.  In Jesus I have found both.  I hope you can say the same. 

Seems I read about the old Coast Road detour by Big Sur, I almost started up that road.  Looked interesting...next time. Coast Highway to Coast Road, and back. Keep that manna coming!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com 

 

the day Mapquest finally got it right

If you are the kind who allows themselves to be led around by an i-phone, who thinks a GPS knows the best roads, or who sees life via a 3x5 screen, you probably won’t get this.  But if you are kind of person who wonders where roads go, who wanders where they will take you, and isn’t afraid to keep going when the pavement stops, this is for you.  I confess to being a cartographic junkie, and have boxes of maps from places I have gone, or plan to go.  Spread out over a table they give me a much larger and better perspective of routes to take, and will admit to even using Mapquest, blowing it up so you can see all the roads that don’t appear when asking directions.  Now I have been led astray before, taking the back road off 198 to Parkfield, it started out smooth and curvy, then turned to dirt, then pot holes and dirt, then wash boards.  Add in the cows on the road, and one who didn’t like my motorcycle, I felt like I had been led astray, only feeling better when a sports car greeted me from the other way, so when coming back from Monterey last week, and a road showed up I had never taken, I was skeptical.  I knew there had to be more than just the state roads, keep me off the freeway, please, so I took the chance.  Looking for Cerronoreste Road, I turned where it should be, but it was called something else, only a sign that said “I-5 40 miles” kept me going, the road looked promising and I had a full tank of gas. Sp the ride continued....

For the next 18 miles I saw some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen, looked down on two huge valleys, and rode up to over 6000’, never seeing another car.  Great curves, a lot of 2-3rd gear riding, even the old telephone poles were barren, no wires on them.  I kept going, hoping the 40 miles sign was accurate, and enjoying the ride, I wanted to get away from it all, and finally did. Could it be this was the day Mapquest got it right?  With all thoughts of what was ahead, I kept going, and suddenly there was a ranger station, then a golf course, then a small village, cheap gas, and soon I could see the Grapevine.  I had placed my trust in Mapquest and it didn’t let me down.  Now will I ever trust it again......

It took faith and a strong desire to find a new road that day to let me trust Mapquest.  I kept telling myself that the person who laid this out never rode this road, so was driving by faith, not by sight.  As Christians we are told to walk by faith, not by sight, but too often we lose sight in the one we are to have faith in.  Three omnis about God are forgotten until we go trembling in prayer to God, often times with no faith in our requests either.  We forget God is omnipotent, all powerful, if he could create the heavens and earth by speaking them into existence, shouldn’t we respect that kind of power?  It is something to make something from something, but God created the universe from nothing.  When he promises us his spirit so we don’t have to live in fear, but to live in power and self control, we have to look no further than Jesus, who went to the cross willingly, a sacrifice of his life for ours.  Don’t you think this could make a difference in your life?  Yet he goes beyond power, beyond omnipotence, telling us “not by might, not by power, but by his spirit.”  The next omni...omniscient, all knowing.

Before the beginning, while still in the womb, God knew us and all about us.  He knows everything, past, present, and future.  He knows all the details of your situation, and when you finally start to trust him, you find your prayer life greatly changed.  You listen to his advice rather than explaining the situation to him.  You trust rather than just strike out and hope.  If he cares for the sparrows, why do we act like he doesn’t care for us?  Or when things don’t go our way?  He knows how many hairs on our head, the grains of sand, and the words we will say and the actions we will take, long before we do them.  He knows you were gong to be reading this before you ever decided to.  Yet when we don’t trust him, don’t obey, or don’t follow the spirit, we are telling him we know better, we are questioning his omniscience and falsely claiming we know better.  We can even trust his prophets and their prophecies, for God’s truth is revealing the future to us.  Nothing surprises Jesus, nor does anything catch him off guard.  Yet why do we say “God why have you abandoned me?”  What does he know we don’t?  Inquiring minds still want to know.

When we are told by Jesus “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” we forget he is omnipresent.  He is everywhere at once, and there is no place you can go to escape his presence.  The promise of on earth as it is in heaven should remind us of that, that we don’t have to die have the things of the spirit, we just need to trust and obey.  Yet so many church services start with “come holy spirit,” thinking he left us, when it is us who have left him.  We can talk to him because he is near, listen to him because he is near, and have his peace and confidence because he is near.  Proving his presence by his son Jesus sent to walk among us, who ate our food, felt our pain, died our death and was resurrected for us.  We aren’t worshipping a God only on Sunday, only in a sanctuary, or even just in a church setting.  He is acquainted with all aspects of our lives, with one warning.  Don’t give Satan too much power or recognition, he is a created being, and cannot be everywhere at once.  He is not in control, God doesn’t allow him to do one thing without knowing it.  By giving Satan credit or blaming him for your sins, you give him power, but only God will forgive and save you.  Have you asked yourself like the Psalmist did, “who is like our God”?

So three questions need to be answered by you, are you experiencing his power right now?  Are you trusting in his will and his wisdom?  Are you conscious of his presence in your life?  Add a fourth, are you trusting enough to pray the four hardest words, “thy will be done?”  Or are you trusting him like you ride, by Mapquest or a GPS?  Truly, you don’t know what you are missing until you meet the Lord.  Not know about him, but meet him.  And so God has provided those of us who ride times alone with him.  New roads to trust him on, to see his handiwork, to see him at work in your life.  Something to consider the next ride you go on, or the next decision you have to make. 

By the way, I did find Cerronoreste Road, it was at an intersection, that only led one way, to the top of a peak at over 8100’.  Life will be full of peaks and valleys, don’t confuse them with highs and lows, or trusting your own feelings.  All things work together, both good and bad, both known and unknown, for those who love the Lord.  All. Omni.  If your God isn’t omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient, it isn’t his fault.  It’s your choice.  Which can give you a whole new outlook on the plans he has for you, and why we need to seek him with our whole heart, mind, and spirit.  Long before GPS’s, God knew the way and Jesus was the way.  With so many roads and so little time, can you afford to go through life any other way?

By the way, James Dean died on this date in 1955, you never know where the road you are on will lead you....but you can rest assured in Christ.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

my first, last, and only night spent in Yosemite

John and I were Jersey boys who met in Santa Monica while on vacation through friends of friends who knew each other.  So it only made sense that he should ride back with me in my van, after a few stops along the way.  Which included Yosemite National Park, and a night spent there.  We had no intention of spending the night, but like the others who filled the overflow lot, when it turned into a tail gate party, and it got too late to leave, a Park Ranger stopped by to notify us to quiet down and look out for bears.  It took a few visits for the quiet part, and none of us suspected bears.  To me at least, bears were all about Smokey, or the contemporary Smokey Bear, the police handing out speeding tickets.  A far cry from the real Smokey, but following the warnings to throw away all trash and secure our vehicles,  we all went our separate ways to bed.  When sometime in the early hours of the morning, we were all awakened by a horrible screeching, tearing noise of metal on metal.  Soon the parking lot was ablaze with flash lights and lanterns, and the shadow of a bear running off into the woods.  Not sure if the noise or lights scared him away, but most of the side of a van parked down from me was gone, as the bear had smelled food, and tried to get it by reaching in a window, and then pulling back the sheet metal a good 18 inches.  All the warnings became truth in that moment, my first, last, and only night even spent in Yosemite.  I would travel through many times after, even see bears running across in front of me, but that night when all the warnings came true, my respect for bears grew immensely.....

The Bible tells us of a day when all of the true believers in Jesus Christ will be called out of this world, referred to as the rapture.  False prophets try to figure the date, films are made about the apocalypse, and some try to figure out who the anti-Christ is.  All taking a bite of scripture, but all falling short of the truth.  For one thing Jesus doesn’t even know of the time he calls for his bride, us, it will not be the end for Christians but really the beginning, and it won’t matter to us who the anti-Christ is, we will be with the real Christ, Jesus.  But the Bible does talk of the seasons and signs that warn  of his return, and the ultimate Bible scholar Satan knows them.  He sees the signs, the warnings, and like never before, we are able to see them too.  While some scoff at us, making fun that he hasn’t returned yet, we get it from all sides, but we should be getting it from God’s side.  Earthquakes and environmental warnings, wars and violence, pleasure seeking and financial woes, disease and stress, drug problems, people seeking knowledge but not wisdom, and settling for false teaching, and finally the search for who is the anti-Christ, instead of seeking the real Christ.  All things that have occurred since Jesus’ crucifixion, but now increasing in intensity, as we have hurricane and tornado seasons, earthquakes places we have never seen them and in great intensity with tidal waves, anti-Semitism once hidden, now everywhere including our government, people worshipping climate based on weather, mass shootings, street warfare in Chicago, Baltimore, and cities worldwide.  An all about me society based on feelings which will betray us, sensitivity training,a another word for all about me, selfishness.  Debt controlling us, new strains of disease everyday, old diseases once destroyed now returning like leprosy.  Legalizing of drugs, controlling people by sedation, and the opiod crisis, self inflicted wounds.  The internet being worshipped as in controls our lives, a storehouse of information, but lacking wisdom in how to apply it.  False teachers denying Jesus but appearing religious, leading others astray, and many seeking anti-Christ, if only to know who he is.  As a true believer, we will never know, and so what if we do, we will all be in heaven and who will care?  True the warnings are there, with only one person noticing them, Satan.

He knows the times and seasons, and knows his time is growing short, so is increasing his evil like never before.  But where sin abounds grace does even more, and God has everything under control, his control.  A season where he addresses the church, separating the sheep from the goats, the saved from the faker.  A time where many call out in their distress for Jesus to come now, but forgetting he is patient that none should perish.  How many of us pray for his patience, that none should perish, forgetting if he came before we were saved we would be left behind without him?  Do we really love God and our neighbor as ourself? 

Today can be the day of salvation Jesus offers, or the tomorrow that you weren’t promised yesterday.  No one escapes hell, the gates keep them in, only Jesus can keep you out.  And no one wants to escape heaven!  Like the warnings of the bears, they were all foolishness until one surprised us all.  And then it was too late.  Don’t get caught up in the false warnings or Hollywood rhetoric, don’t put off Jesus today you may not have tomorrow.  Remember scripture tells us Jesus will call us out like a thief in the night.   Maybe the old movie from the seventies by the same name can be found and watched.  It’s on Youtube.  Many false prophets will come and have, only Jesus is the truth.  Where you wake up is more important than where you fall asleep, proven one night in Yosemite.  You can have that assurance right now by calling out to Jesus, and being saved.  You don’t have to be left behind, you can look forward to what lies ahead.  If you thought being a Christian the first time around was tough, you don’t want to be here for the second time without him.  When you lay me down to sleep, are you sure where you will wake up?  Have you prayed for the Lord your soul to keep?  If a five year old can get it, what’s your problem?

The evidence is there and demands a verdict from you.  Two Jersey boys fell asleep that night, only one knew Jesus.  But in his patience.....God so loved me.  Us.  I’ll never know what it is like here after the rapture, and I don’t care, will you?  Where you watch it from will make all the difference.  Of course it could never happen to you...could it?  Like the bears, the warnings are there...

love with compassion,

Mike

mattehw25biker.blogspot.com