It was with great interest I read the road test between the 1998 Sportster
XL1200 and the Thunderbird Sport. I had just purchased the T Bird, and was
thrilled when it beat the Sporty in every category. It was faster, quicker,
much better brakes, weighed almost 100 pounds less, was more comfortable, and
won the comparisons hands down. Yet the closing line in the article picked the
Sportster as the much better bike, bragging about how since its inception in
1957-it was created to combat Triumph, even shifted on the right, so many parts
were still interchangeable with the new bike 40 years later. Win the
comparison, lose in the article. The next Saturday I was at Orange County
Triumph, and Wayne was all over this guy. Seems this guy wrote the article for
this leading trade magazine, and it brought people out of the service area to
listen. When Wayne finally had him pinned down on the results, he admitted,
"that is not the article I wrote. It is the article I was told to write."
Harley Davidson advertises much more than Triumph, and threatened to pull their
ads. All the writer did was lose his integrity, and any Triumph friends along
the way, not because they are anti-Harley, just anti-lying. As are other
brands, HD included. All for a buck...
A few years ago Honda started billing these same magazines if they wrecked
a bike. When one totaled a new model, Honda sent them a bill. When they
refused to pay it, claiming "you own it, we just tested it," Honda withdrew all
advertising for almost a year. Putting the magazine on the brink of
insolvency-such is the power of advertising. And recently when a WEB based
magazine totaled a new Speed Triple R, wrote a scathing article about it. After
Triumph sent them a bill. But offered to rewrite an article in a future
addition if they gave them another. No one reads them anyway, I don't even
remember their name. Pay the bill, and learn to ride. Money talks...integrity
walks.
After standing back and watching this past presidential election, I see
integrity doesn't count like it used to, or as it should. All who were paid off
via bailouts, various rescues, and other political gifts, came through for their
benefactors. Many voted with their wallets, filled with entitlement cash, and
now the excuses run rampant this morning. Losers have excuses-we have another
four years. Or maybe not...
To those of you who cannot understand politics, let me remind you it is man
based, not God based. When some ask, "why hasn't God intervened?" they act as
if He is not in control. Like He missed out on the election. Yet He knows
exactly, and what seems harsh to some must happen for all-for it is part of His
plan in the Last Days. A Biblical prophecy that doesn't mention the US of A.
Who does mention an Israel with no friends. Who tells us that Jesus is the King
of Kings, forever, and no matter how liars tell lies against Him, being the
truth, He sets us free. Yet so many worry of the politics, stupidly, when it is
always better to trust God.
And the stupidity found in road test articles, and politics is alive and
well in religion, but not in Christianity. The relationship with Jesus. So
don't confuse Jesus with religion. He came to set us free from it, and man's
desires. An old story goes of two men meeting, and finding out they are of the
same denomination. Southern or northern? Both northern. Liberal or
conservative. Both liberal. Pay your tithes? Both do. Belong to the
membership role. Yup, both do. How about Baptism styles and communion? They
both split-going different ways, now enemies, of doctrines not leding to
salvation. Religious yes, maybe even a Christian-but walking with Jesus, do you
have to ask?
And so it goes on...and will until Jesus returns, taking His church out,
and leaving those who don't know Him behind. Still arguing over the truth, but
missing out on He who is truth. I have read the article, and heard the
reports. I have met Jesus. Have you? Life is more than journalistic
integrity, it is about the integrity of God, who loved us so much He sent His
only son to die for us, so we could be reunited to Him. God tells us not to
impede the gathering of His saints-us. Think about your words and actions
today, your advertisement about Jesus. Does it tell the truth, or what you want
people to hear? Is it based on religious dogma, or the truth? Four more years
compared to eternity, didn't the Israelites have some bad and evil kings along
the way? But God...brought them along, just like He will those that follow Him
today.
I rode the bikes myself-big difference, that doesn't take a road test to
explain. Lying I get, misery I wish I didn't. Find the peace that surpassed it
all in Christ. And woe to those who try to edit God's book for their own
benefit. Road tests, politics, and religion. The truth is out there somewhere,
only found in Jesus Christ. Truth wins out, will you ?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com