hard hearts and soft butts

There are certain benchmarks that are more important to us than to others. To a biker, those who ride, that can be distance, speed, miles, or some other criteria. The Iron Butt Association has an award they give for riding 1000 miles in 24 hours. A feat, which I have done. In fact I have ridden 1125 miles in 24 hours, and over 1000 in 13 hours. Do the math. 100 miles per hour? How about 100 miles in one hour! Done it twice. Add to that going a real 155mph before rev limiter cut in, riding over 40,000 miles in one year, done it a few times, and my latest riding over 10,000 miles on our trip. Ridden in all 48 contiguous states, and Mexico and Canada, too. Needless to say, I can stay up with most when bench racing about distances ridden. But recently, some friends of mine, rode 1000 miles in 24 hours. At first I was not impressed, until I stopped to think. Not only did they do it on Scramblers, with knobbies, but a total of nine of them riding together did it-at the same time! Now in a world where when riding in a group you only go as fast as the slowest person, this is a feat! And on a bike with no fairing, knobbies, and old style open faced helmets-these guys are either nuts or should be waved off the track. But to me, they are my heroes.

And please, all you Gold Wing riders, windshield types, and cruisers, these guys rule in my book. An accomplishment I could never do, since the old group I used to ride with, did nothing but make excuses for my riding style. Too fast, too long, too many curves, and I think you get the picture. To them I say "too bad." You are missing out on so much. And I wonder how if a person makes excuses in one thing, where do they stop? Like compromising, once you start it's too late. Maybe that is why I ride alone, and when given the chance maybe Stu or Frank. I ride my talk.

Faith is like that. Do you walk your talk? Maybe that is why your faith is weak, when tested it fails because of excuses. Or why your words carry so little weight. You say you trust God, but the first time you encounter difficulties it's worry time, then the excuses flow. And to be honest with you, many are tired of it. And it wearies God. Why do we tend to look to man, who lies and will take advantage of you when given the chance, but turn our backs on God when He has never lied and is trustworthy? Add to that His love and grace, what's up with us?

To some it is like riding. It is the same everywhere, why leave the state. Or like so many ask me, doesn't your seat get sore? NO! I bought a comfortable seat! Are they that smart? And to many they doubt God. And looking to man, compromise what could have been. Why wait until the doctor can't do anymore to pray-pray now-best first aid available. You won't become an alcoholic if you never take a drink-so don't! You will never get VD if you don't have pre-marital sex. So don't! And if you truly give Jesus your life, you won't want to stray-for everything you need and desire is right there, along with so much more you could never imagine.

Have a decision to make? Ask God first. And He will give you insight. Trust Him, He just wants you to know Him better. If I had never been sick, I never would have seen Him as the great physician. In need, I see Him as the great Jehovah Jireh-the provider. Alone and lonely-He is the person who sticks closer than a friend. Scared-He is your protector. His record is clean-never lost.

Yes you might get bruised in the battle, but you will win the war. As God once showed me, referring to Paul and his tent stake in his side, allowed by God to have him seek God in all situation, if I lifted up my shirt, I would look like I fell into the sticker bushes. So many times He ahs tried to get my attention, but I either ignored Him or sought someone else. Stupid hurts, even have the shirt. Don't ask.

Consider God in your situation, and know that in your weakness, He is made perfect, in you. Trust Him first, and remember if on a 1000 mile trip, you ride them one at a time. So make sure your oil is topped off, your tank is full, and your seat comfortable-then hang on for the ride of your life. Safe in the commitment you made with Jesus will be honored by you. Now, all you need to do is keep up your end! Trust!

9 guys x 1000 miles in 24 hours = 9000 miles in 24 hours. What's your excuse? Trust God!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

when life's a beach, go there

In God's ever continuing improvement classes with me, lately we are dealing with patience. And after our recent cross country trip, I think I am finally beginning to get it. Patience has its rewards, and blessings follow those who are patient. But like any battle, once the enemy sees he is going to lose one of his prime impatient representatives, starts throwing all his dirty campaigns your way. And you find if you really want to be patient, you start RIGHT NOW! So that is when we will start.

This last weekend we decided to go to Newport Beach. Joan and a friend were coming in, we could meet at El Cholo for dinner, spend the afternoon at the beach-if the marine layer ever lifted and then I could go to BA-MOTO's second anniversary party in Long Beach the next day. OK, I had ridden the Bonneville up to Newport to meet Theresa. Great plans, and all would seem to work. Just be patient. So we were.

Checking into our motel-the Cozy Inn, cheap, very clean, big rooms-not what you would expect just a few miles from the beach in Newport, the clouds lifted. A find, thanks Lord. Then with the top down-yes we went in the car, we proceeded to Newport Beach.

Now I could care less about the beach, but my better half loves it, so I had decided to spend the weekend with her there, which takes patience. If I have to sit, I wish to have two wheels under me. Doing miles. Seeing things. Going places. This was a test for me. So we crossed over PCH, and proceeded down Balboa Blvd, in traffic. Heavy, then heavier as you go from two lanes to one. And no parking spaces-at all. So being patient, we went on, soon found we had gone through all the number streets that start in the high 30's, and were into the letter streets. And of course the enemy is telling us go back, too many people, too much hassle, and you are wasting your time. And we were, listening to him, so we quit. Even when the thought of that there were only six hours of daylight left, we soldiered on. Until we hit the middle of the alphabet streets. Where the traffic thinned, and the parking meters stopped. Not a good sign, but to the patient a great sign.

You see the ocean didn't stop there, but went on. And turning right at the middle of the alphabet, found parking just two short blocks from the beach-free, and we found ourselves in a beautiful neighborhood. Where all the houses are too cute. But we parked and trekked two blocks to the beach anyway.

Which was empty. Where just a half mile away there were thousands, we were in a crowd of dozens. With the patient. Wide open, clean beach. Quiet, you could hear the waves. With our own life guard, an unreal beach, and a priceless view. All because we had waited, and showed patience. For the price of driving an extra five minutes, in a car, God's answer for our beach day was right here, and while others were impatient, and still circling for a parking space, at an 100-to-1 ration, we sat back, read, dipped in the ocean, and watched as the boats came into the bay. For free, with no hassles!

And still met Joan and Sharon early, before the dinner rush, and then back to the motel. Rested, relaxed, and blessed.

The next day, I rode to Long Beach to meet up with BA-MOTO, which I never did. Once again, being patient, I decided to head home after two times up and down Anaheim Blvd., and was blessed. Missed traffic, and had a great ride home. Don't know why God had me miss the meeting, but He did. And I got to spend more time with my wife-a lot more fun anyway.

God's plans are not always on an express route. You must listen to Him, and for Him to know the proper timetable. And this weekend I was reminded of that, and how listening to Him-obedience, is better than sacrifice-making excuses for the bad times and mixed blessings I cause myself.

So much I can't wait until next weekend! Is that being impatient of me?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com