if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand

Science tells us that your personality is directly related to the dominant side of your brain that you use. No comments please. The left tends to make you orderly and reality based, things must be black or white and practical. Analytical, cold and factual. Things must be seen. The right side is more romantic, has boundless imagination, and therefore sees more possibilities than just meet the eye. It hears the background vocals, feels the pulse of your engine, and sees things in romantic terms-terms of the heart. You may want an engineer to be left brained, but you would want a right brained person to do the design of the car. Such right side brain examples are Triumph Bonnevilles, the original Z-1, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, and a beautiful woman. The song Amazing Grace. Form that outweighs function. Not graded on a chart, but on how it effects you and your actions. While left brain advocates can point to the 265/283/327/350 small block Chevy. Logical improvements on a tried and true formula. Don't fix what ain't broke!

A romantic person plays music, while a logical person plays notes. Both make up songs, but the right sided person will hear all the orchestra, and can jam in his head with the the other musicians, he hears it before it happens. Years ago when I went to concerts I always liked the jam sessions, when the songs didn't sound like on the albums. Why pay good money to hear an album, even if it is live. But alas many would leave disappointed because they didn't sound like on the album. They paid for something familiar, and that is what they want. For that I pity you left brainers, you can be like a slow car in the left lane. Obeying the speed limit, but causing others to stumble. Safe in the assumption you are legally correct, no matter how it effects others. Some years ago the Beach Boys did their music with country western greats, and the arrangements were incredible. Willie Nelson sang "Warmth of the Sun," after being chided by Mike Love of the Beach Boys on how to sing it. He insisted he was Willie Nelson, and without ever hearing the song before, turned it into a beautiful ballad on the first take, even had the Willie "lilt" in it. You can't teach heart, or harmony-you either have it or you don't. And Willie understands both. Just like Karen Carpenter singing Superstar from a napkin, and the first take was all it took. No need to tell the others, they knew. You know when something special is happening, even if it breaks all the rules. Being in harmony, or in tune, puts you into a different spirit. From the heart...

Moses was in a different spirit when he went to get the 10 Commandments from God. Moses was in the spirit, but the tablets God gave him were stone, not representing God, but the audience for whom they were written. Like many today. God writes His love on our hearts, as He did to Moses, but legalism writes it on tablets, cold and hard. Isn't that loving? That is why Moses wore a mask, he didn't want God's glory to fade from him, the spirit. He never wanted to lose that experience, that oneness with God.

Listening to some old songs tonight, yes they were secular, reminded me of being in the spirit. I love singers who can scream in harmony, like Grace Slick on Nothings Gonna Stop Us, or Lindsay Buckingham on Go Your Own Way. Paul McCartney also has the gift, no matter the volume, they can wail. They don't compete with the instruments, but they all compliment each other. They know when to lead, and when to assist. And without each other in harmony, each playing their part, it wouldn't make a song, but just notes without feeling. Just like the Holy Spirit. He can fit any mood, and brings all the harmonies in your life together perfectly. He takes bad things and turns them to good, allowing you to endure the circumstances, even if you don't care for the situation. Nothing that a set of instructions could ever do. No rules, you know the tune, live with a studio audience in heaven. He brings life, allows you to get it right on the first take, and takes over your whole heart-not just the right or left.

It is like riding on a pretty day. The law says it is 85 degrees, humidity 30%, and the speed limit 70. The spirit sees the warmth from the sun, hears the music of the exhaust note, smells the air he is in, and is at peace. The ride being the destination. Maybe that is why so many quit riding, it is just a set of mechanical actions. They never leave the yard they were taught in. And maybe that is why so many Christians don't have full joy. They fall into legalism. They only see the visible. Where the spirit opens up the eyes of your heart, and you experience things that your body has no sensory organs for. It comes from the heart, a oneness. A harmony of hearts, that voices could never make up.

If you are in the spirit, you know of what I write. If not, you may accuse us of being careless, when really we are carefree. Safe in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, a relationship far beyond any words ever devised or written can explain. The perfect date, on the perfect ride, with the perfect God. You see the spirit believes all things, and doesn't need constant reminding. It trusts, and where the sunset ends, realizes its road is just beginning. A true right brained experience, with a God who loves you just as you are.

Maybe that is why God says make a joyful noise. It isn't the words, the tone, or tune that He hears, it the spirit you sing it with. And His spirit makes it a harmony, a message that compliments both the singer and the hearer, making them one.

Your life may just be tuned to a certain set of specs, like a fine tuned engine. But without a relationship with that engine it will never sing the song it is designed to sing. Jesus is that song-a tune for every day and every event. Loud or soft, He fits the mood. You see there is a lot to be said for being in touch with the spirit.

The rest of you, well, like ELO sings you will Turn to Stone, because of your hard heartedness. God is a spirit, and must be worshipped as such. Getting it more and enjoying less-let the spirit of God loose in your life. Ride roads never explored, sings songs never heard, and see things through the eyes of the one who created it. Romance never felt so good.

And you left brainers thought it was just a pump...and its creator just a....where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Turn up the volume, twist the throttle, and sing aloud with joy! Gets my motor running!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

and you said at their church they did what? and had fun!

Mischief night we used to call it. The night before Halloween when we would go out and be-mischievous! And when and where I was growing up that meant taking a bar of soap and soaping car windows. Only certain ones though, depending on coolness of car or threat potential from owner if you got caught. The real mischievous ones would collect dog turds, then put them in a paper bag, light it on fire on someone's porch-ring the bell and run. I never did this but I heard about the laughter when someone would step on it to put it out. Nothing dangerous-it was mischief! And no one I knew, or had even heard of, had hurt anyone or been hurt themselves. Or thought about the devil or demons or anything occult having to do with Halloween. It was mischief night-and so long as you got back by 800pm curfew, your parents didn't know, and if they did never said anything.

But when I was in high school, things changed in Newark. Untamed people used this as a night to vandalize and destroy-and that brought Mischief Night to an end. And to me it was also the beginning of seeing the tie in with Halloween and the devil. You see he can only operate in the dark for so long, at some point he just has to come out and show himself-such is his pride. In the 80's, living in Durango, they turned Halloween night into a huge downtown party. All the bars would stay open late, and people would cover the streets in costumes-again much different from when we were kids. Candy was dandy, I guess liquor was quicker!

As kids we would wear these cheesy costumes that barely fit over our winter coats and gloves. It is cold in New Jersey in late October, so you dressed warm. Sweating underneath, as you ran from door to door-parents close behind, not for protection but to visit the neighbors and say thanks. And to secretly take their favorite candy when it was given out. All the time grinning and sweating under a cheap plastic mask, the thin elastic strap that held it on cutting into your head-truly one size didn't fit all. Then when in Junior high, we would dress as bums, carrying our pillowcases until they drug on the ground from the weight. We would take our old clothes, rub dirt on them, and cut holes in them to look poor-much like the designer jeans of today. But the special effect was burning cork and rubbing it all over faces. It would make any preteen look like he had a beard, and was unwashed-needing little help with the latter. And when we arrived home by 10pm, throw the pillowcase open and separate the candy-good that you liked, and the bad you would trade. Collect the pennies, and give the apples to your mother. Then try to sleep after 2000 calories of candy bars and a night's adventure. It was all about the candy-or so we thought.

Today Halloween is recognized by many for what it is-All Hallows Eve, the devil's night. And many dress like ghouls, witches, or ghosts tempting fate-not realizing who they represent. For many years now churches all over the USA have been having Harvest Festivals, and providing a safe place for kids to trick or treat. Based on the original day after Halloween, it brings many out from the community. An alternative to what the world offers-safe, fun, and a great place for parents to enjoy the time with others. Did I say it was fun?

At Calvary Chapel Escondido, our CMA chapter has been part of the night for some years now. We let kids and adults sit on our bikes, rev the motors, then run off getting their parents, or their kids to return again. And we even get to dress up-like bikers. And you know how so many like to dress like bikers-just look at the huge number of posers on weekends. But it is a time for showing Jesus Christ in a different light, one of fellowship and love. No preaching-words would not bring the smile to a face that the sound of open pipes do. And they remember who let them do it, and it creates a relationship-we now have earned the right to share Jesus with them-in words. Giving them tracts, and candy, hugs and even offering prayer, we have more more fun than anyone else. You see bikes are cool, but combining them with Jesus is the ultimate cool. And many see that hey if Jesus loves bikers, then He must be cool, too. And you thought it took four spiritual laws or a Roman's Road tract-when all it may take is 750cc of horsepower on two wheels. Maybe like mischief night, Halloween, Christmas, and a never ending weekend all wrapped up in one glorious night.

So I invite you to Calvary Chapel Escondido this Halloween night, and then back again for church. You won't be a stranger, you will have a friend saving a seat for you. And hear about a God who sent His son to die for you-so you may live. Times change, Jesus doesn't. And although the devil has his day, Jesus can have your life. Come for the candy and fun, and return as a friend. Not many places you can have dessert first, then the main meal. Hope to see you there. Encourage others to go to events at their church. Maybe if no one shows up at Satan's party, he'll go home early. Enough mischief for one day.

Friends, we are taking back what is ours. Jesus is winning. I sneaked and read the end of the book-WE WIN!Be part of the celebration. Every Sunday, everyday, or every motorcycle.

And save the soap for washing up after-you get awfully hot and sweaty playing the games and revving the throttles. Jesus Christ-He's not just for Easter and Christmas anymore!

love with compassion, and a bit of mischief,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com