I’m about to be sick, just one more commercial showing young people
worshipping some tiny, 4 door sedan is about to make me go green, as in puke.
Whatever happened to kids who liked cars, and didn’t view them as appliances, or
places to listen to prerecorded music stereos with more power than their car?
If I see one more commercial with them dancing synchronized like a Dr. Pepper
commercial, agreeing with the attributes of processed cheese, and “yes, I can
hear you now,” I may just give up hope on this next generation. About as far as
you can get from when I grew up, where men were men, girls were girls, and we
all liked cool cars, and fast was cool. Even our music set the tone, and songs
about Little Deuce Coupes, 409’s, her Daddy’s T-Bird, XKE’s and Vettes on Dead
Man’s Curve, and even ‘34 wagons they thought to be woodies got us in the mood
to go for a ride. Never heard of a song about Toyota did you? Did you know
they even had a car called the Toyolet, sounds like toilet. Who ever sang about
my mpg, but we did sing about 413’s kickin’ in. Even the nerdiest nerd knew
what a 4 speed, dual quad, posi-traction 409 was, she was real fine, what rhymes
with Corolla? Or Camry? What girl could resist a ride on a moonlit night with
the top down in his Mustang, with the tunes pouring out of the AM radio, hoping
the cool DJ would play their song, how could Sirius with prerecorded you choose
to listen to your only favorite songs with the top up so she wouldn’t mess her
hair, seat belted safely on the other side of the car, no wonder kids have no
sense of romance today. Remember bench seats, and her finally getting close to
you, and your arm going to sleep and in agony for hours...who didn’t live for
those moments? Cruising the drive-in on Friday nights alone, and then again on
Saturday night, but this time with your girl...and all the time the songs were
about love, cars, love surf, love, and love. No drugs, unwed mothers, schools
with cops, or divorced parents, we were in love, and the music told all about.
Even two girls for every boy talked about your chances for a date, and not,well
you know. So why not uncap the headers, set the distributor, fill up on Sunoco
260, and meet at the end of town for some drag races, for pinks.
But along came FM, and soon we were able to listen to an entire
album side, instead of just one song, heard 20 times a day. And the sound
quality got better, even better than the reverb kit in your mother’s Pontiac,
and soon it wasn’t about cruising with your windows down, but with them up, to
better hear the music. Suddenly war protest songs, songs about drugs, Society’s
Child, and Love Children became popular, but the cars stayed hot and fast.
Motown was putting out the hits, both in cars and music, and as car songs went
to the older guys, still cruisin’ the drive in on Friday night, looking for a
date, others had gone to Nam, and Country Joe asked “1-2-3 what are we fightin’
for?” Where had all the car songs gone, where had the 2 minute 30 second bursts
of joy gone? Who would have ever thought it would lead to miles per gallon,
Wi-fi, and watts per channel, rather than cubic inches. And no songs. We had
lost our way, and it was to get worse, for in 1974 OPEC controlled America, and
its gas prices, and soon some even rode motorcycles because they got great fuel
economy. Cars were to follow, and soon 0-60 became 0-50, and the times were
slower yet. No songs about Mustang Sally II, And when Daddy said “son you’re
gonna drive me to drinkin’,” it was in a Mark III, not a Hot Rod. Never heard a
song about Nissan/Datsun, Honda cars, although Honda bikes were groovy little
motor bikes. And forever the next generation was doomed to disco, Brittany
Spears, synchronized dancing, and not one song about cars, because cars along
with the music just weren’t cool any more. At least Justin Bieber got a ticket
for speeding. Green was in, and you wonder why I’m about to go green? It ain’t
with envy.
It seems every time God sets up something good, someone has to
try and improve on it, or at least change the truth to suit themselves. If you
can remember all lies are based on truth, then you can get why today we have
people who see demons everywhere, and wish to cast them out of everyone, instead
of facing up to their own actions and being held responsible. They might have
read the Bible, but missed Acts 19, the 7 sons of Skeva. Or those who name and
claim everything, serving God who serves them, a genie in the lamp, demanding
Him to give them what they want...or else. And when He doesn’t, believe God
doesn’t work, when really it is their sin and religion that have led them
astray. Accountability, not me, they claim as they enforce their rules on you,
the young and unsuspecting. And soon, like car songs that made us happy to be
young, they have become old and bitter, and soon songs of divorce, drugs, unwed
mothers, and suicide become popular. The songs reflect what is in our hearts,
and too many Christians just don’t have fun, as if it were a sin. So I ask,
what good is fun if you don’t enjoy it? And Christians should have more fun
than anyone else, we know Jesus, we are going to heaven, and the best day here
is still the worst day in heaven. And yet we see them approach God like they
do their cars, non-descript sedans, dull colors, all looking the same in the
name of individuality, with i-pods stuck in their ears, and their date the same
way. Where is the romance we once enjoyed, and why has the church allowed it to
be taken away?
For many who ask “can you hear me now?” Jesus answers yes, and
asks the same thing. Can we hear Him now, do we want to? Have we become so
isolated as a society, that we think God is the same way? Maybe we need to
bring back that Old Time Religion, for as the song states, “it was good enough
for me.” Get back to Jesus, instead of boring church services. How about the
Holy spirit instead of programs, and spend some time with God. Some day today
will be referred to as the good old days, what will your memories be? Would you
rather go to a cruise night and remember Betty and Veronica, or hang out in a
parking lot showing off your Civic, and the trunk full of speakers? What is
under your hood, in your heart, tells more about where you live and how than we
want to know sometimes. Maybe a trip back where an old AM transistor sister
crackles, while singing about love. Better than your car shaking from the
synthetic bass in the Mazda next to you. Remember when radio was free, and not
a subscription? Remember when Jesus was exciting, and not a subscription?
Maybe it is time to go back to the basics, and get reunited, a cruise night with
Jesus. Remembering the old songs, seeing the old friends, and cruising church
for a date, rather than a place to park. Make it a date tonight, maybe sit out
in the car, top down, AM on, and listen to songs about little GTO”s, Cobras, and
sit back, even if your car is a sedan, and think about it being a woodie...They
may wonder at first what you are up to, and maybe be curious enough to seek and
find, just like the Wonder Bar on your old radio. Try Jesus today, welcome
back, we’ve missed you. Times and cars may change, even radios, but His love
never has, or will. AM/FM-are you Sirius? Religion or Jesus-how serious are
you?
Turn up the reverb, life can be all Crimson and Clover once
again. And no, I’d rather not be a Pepper, too. Looking for a place where the
kids are hip? Look no further than Jesus...even the Little Old Lady from
Pasadena found what she was looking for...have you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com