wear clean underwear

Years ago Frank and I agreed that we are both not afraid to die.  We have given our lives to Jesus, and we know where we are going after we die-heaven.  And after going through life changing illnesses, we still agree.  Our confidence is not shaken, but we also agree that we are not sure of the process.  Something we are all faced with.  And it is no different for those of us who ride, from ads to parts managers to our peer riders, we are shown or told how to dress for the ride.  A man just spent $25k on his Harley Ultra Expensive Glide.  Then spends another $1500 on leathers, gotta look good when cruisin’ by at 25 mph, chaps in the wind when it’s 90 degrees out.  Then they go and spend $25 on a half shell helmet, non-DOT, and brag to their friends what rebels they are.  Even spending another $5 for a sticker to prove it.  BMW riders are no different, after raiding their 401k for the newest BMW to impress the elite, they buy their riding suits-ready for any weather, adding $1500 to their Amex card, but never will ride in the rain.  Too hard to clean the bike after.  But if it gets cold, they are ready-even on 90 degree days, Klim approved and ready to go wherever their adventure bike will take them. Just as long as the road is dry and clear. Sport bike riders are no different, without a full leather riding suit, knee pads, and full gauntlet gloves, you cannot go fast.  Or at least look like you could waiting for the light to turn green.  I fall somewhere in between, or below, depending on your take.  Years ago when a car turned in front of me at 45 mph, and I landed on my head, I was glad to have my Bell R-T on.  Even though it wore a hole in the helmet, the open face part allowed me slide on my face, leaving my left cheek look like it had been sandpapered.  And the ad telling me about a $10 head and a $10 helmet made sense then, and it does now.  I wear a full face Arai, quiet, light, and comfortable.  But I believe you should make the decision yourself, and be given a discount on your insurance for wearing one.  Not sure how that would go over in the mid west, where summer means shorts, flip flops, tank top, and no helmet while riding.  Or what to think of Barr, who I rode cross country with.  Just back from Iraq, he wore his leather jacket and gloves in all weather, up to 124 degrees when my Arai’s glue melted.  Claimed after being in 130 heat, it didn’t bother him.  But he wouldn’t wear a helmet-go figure.  And today we have a new acronym, ATGATT, All The Gear, All The Time reminding us to dress safe.  If only we were shown how to ride safe.  Or better yet, car drivers were taught to drive safe, without cell in hand, or under the influence of children.  Very few of us go down without the help of some irresponsible driver.  Fashion may make a statement, it doesn’t make a better rider.

Now I always wear gloves, deerskins, when riding.  Your first line of defense when falling is your hands, and engines get hot.  Plus you leave no fingerprints.  And talking with Fu last night, a new rider, he reminded me of how his MSF class taught him to always dress safely.  Trendy, and also so when not on your bike, the public knows what you are riding.  Just in case carrying your new helmet didn’t give you away.  On older riders we can tell by the bugs in their beards, and the way they hobble from too much seat time.  You decide.  They are called accidents because they are unplanned, unwanted, and uninvited.  And when asked after being hit from behind by a woman, if I wished I had more riding gear on, my answer was “I wish she hadn’t hit me.”  And no I didn’t have on clean underwear to go to the hospital.

Now if you are looking for a lesson on wearing the armor of God, sorry.  You missed the point.  The point is about choice, and the choices we make.  To ride or not to ride?  Jesus or hell?  King James or NIV?  Honda or Harley?  These are all important decisions we make.  With the one abut Jesus meaning life or death.  But only God lets you choose, no one forces you to go to heaven, or hell, although your parents may have made you go to church.  If I had known I was going to be hit that day, I might have stayed home.  Taken another route.  But they are called accidents, and we don’t know if or when they are going to happen.  But here are some for sure facts, to help you choose.  You will never get VD if you only have sex with your spouse, who has not had sex with anyone else.  If you never drink, you will never be an alcoholic.  If you never try drugs, you will never become a junkie.  Few set out to ruin their lives, yet the results are still the same.  One bad choice got them there, one good choice, turning to Jesus will get you out.  A helmet might not prevent an accident, but I am glad I wore one when I needed it.  And going to church, reading the Bible more, and praying more won’t save you-it takes Jesus, and trusting Him.  So I wish to offer another acronym, ATGATT.  Always Trust God, All The Time!  And show it by your choices you make.  Which show self control, a fruit of the spirit in your life.  Learn to avoid accidents by staying away from situations where they might occur.  Trouble with drinking, stay out of bars and friends who do.  Sex, R is the new X rating, just one peak doesn’t hurt, or does it?  As Billy Graham put it, the first glance is normal, the second is lustful.  Drugs, stay away from those who use them and avoid the temptation.  Bad company corrupts good morals, learn the power in saying no.  And say yes to Jesus, where the real power lays. Live to ride another day, another road.  Spend time with Jesus, and as you get to know Him better, you see sin in a different way, and you want to avoid it.  Your choice-only found in Jesus, not in any other religion.  Or philosophy.  Or fellowship.  Just you and Jesus, and when He becomes real, you make better decisions. 

So never leave the house for any reason without Jesus.  Let Him guide your ride.  And enjoy the ride better.  $25k and 25 miles don’t make you a biker.  Clothes don’t make the man, Jesus does.  You can’t buy your way into Him either.  He is more than the clothes you wear or the bike you ride.  He is life.  And life is for the living.  And so those of us who know Jesus are not afraid to die.  And even though not sure of the process, trust Him daily.  And because of Him we know where we are going, even after we die.  ATGATT-Always Trusting God, All The Time.  Clean underwear optional.  Some decisions will always be more important than others. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

no good reason to ride Pozo Road

A popular theme found in motorcyclist magazines is “Ten Best Roads.”  Letting your mind wander, and wonder what it would be like to ride them.  But coming upon an older article, I found I had ridden 8 of the 10, and that many of them wouldn’t appear on my best list.  Too many people know about them now, pushing many of us to other roads, less traveled, and rally better roads.  Roads that don’t necessarily lead to anywhere, but take you somewhere words and tarmac can’t.  I had ridden Pozo Road before, and it was fun, but didn’t go anywhere except Pozo, open only on weekends, or over the mountain to the Carrizzo Plane.  But last Tuesday I saw it different.  Only 18 miles in length, there were times when 80 wasn’t fast enough, and 30 was too fast.  Whereas the valley was under wind warnings, there was no wind on Pozo that day.  In the 50’s when we first went down it, and in the 70’s returning, we never felt the cold or the warm.  We had ridden Pozo Road, or better yet experienced Pozo Road, a road not to appear on any Top 10.  It is the local roads, the roads where we become one with the bike, and time stands still that we remember best.  Some roads beg to be ridden fast, some slow, some tell us never come back, but some just welcome you, and we were welcomed that morning. 

Now why the pavement is fresh and smooth on this road to nowhere is beyond me, someone in the road department must ride, but it is fresh except for the short sections being replaced.  Even the workers smiled when we rode by, slowing but not going slow-they knew.  Maybe it was the wild turkeys crossing the road, and then giving us the “what for” look as we invaded their road.  Maybe it was the ranches, or the ranch houses, with horses in corrals.  Maybe it was Pozo, all three buildings of it, with the Pozo Saloon getting ready for a big concert that weekend-country western of course.  Maybe it was the elevation changes, the creek that ran along side most of it.  Maybe it was the turn off to Lake Margarita, that we took, only to turn back after being faced with a day use charge-the best things in life still are free.  Maybe it was the herd of horses, who ran when we passed, then all looked at us when we returned.  Unimpressed.  Maybe it was the Rinconcada Store, open only on weekends, and looking like it was closed for good.  A long time ago.  Maybe it was Theresa and I, or maybe it was all the above, and even more.  But one thing was for sure, there is no good reason to ride Pozo Road.

Now it has been said, and rightly so, “I rather be riding my motorcycle thinking about God than sitting in church thinking about my motorcycle.”  Maybe that was the key component that day, like it has been on many others.  But what about the times I have been in church and thought about rides, and riding?  Was I in sin, or the spirit?  Many times when in church, Pastor Ray will say something which confirms what God has shown me before.  He will confirm it in scripture, and my mind gets to going places.  One verse, sometimes one word in the verse, previously overlooked, will set my spirit riding.  And as the scriptures become real to me, I am riding a great road, just me and the Lord, and speed, bike, or any other conditions don’t matter-just Jesus.  Sometimes Wickham will play songs during worship that send me thinking, “Bless the Lord all my soul” sends me back to a precious time with Jesus.  Sometimes I contemplate God, sometimes I am moved to pray for others.  Sometimes it is just sometimes...but can be any time or every time.  For the Holy Spirit works that way, in ways that words cannot describe, for if words could it wouldn’t be God.  You cannot use finite words to explain an infinite God, yet some try.  Or over try-“don’t you get it?” they wonder, when you know you do, and wonder why they don’t.  I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.  It can be seeing friends, listening to testimonies, teachings on the radio, or just you and a Bible, but where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.  A freedom to see God for who He is, to make it personal.  To ride at the speed of light, or sit waiting at a light.  But when He is with you, all things are different, and we look at things in a new light.  We see things through His eyes rather than ours, and lean on Him, rather than our own understanding.  And the blessings begin to overwhelm, over flowing, and we see Jesus-for nothing else matters.  Ever wonder what it will be like in heaven?  Consider your prayer life now, if you really trusted God, what would your prayer life be reduced to?  Praise and worship-heaven, and it can be on earth as it is in heaven, Jesus said so.  So try that one on, and see if it makes a difference in your relationship to God.  Or with God. 

So rather than thinking about it, do it!  Be a doer of the word, not just a talker.  Get out and ride, get to church and into Jesus.  Be in the spirit, and watch as you see things much differently.  Turkeys, horses, and hawks aren’t a distraction, but part of the ride.  Don’t hurry, I still ride fast, but really ride less slow, getting the most out of every ride and road.  Sometimes third gear is too much for 30, and too much for 80.  Not all roads have to lead to somewhere, some are calling to be ridden, then turn around and ridden again.  And again.  Seeing things both ways, and in ways only God sees them.  What are your 10 Best roads?  10 best rides?  Unless Jesus is part of them, you are missing something.  Life is not all about getting from point a to point b, it is about the ride.  So for many there will be no good reason to ride Pozo Road.  It doesn’t seem to go anywhere.  But to those who ride with Jesus, it will take you places you have never been.  And places you can’t wait to go back too.  Only in Christ are your best rides still ahead.  And your 10 best rides yet to come. 

And yes, I think about God a lot when riding, don’t you?  What better reason to ride than to spend time with God with no interruptions?   To see things His way, at His speed, on His roads.  Roads that will never make anyone else’s top 10, only yours.  And on the seventh day when God rested, you will find me resting in Him, while riding.  Just me, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit-for wherever two or three are gathered in His name, He is among them.  No better reason to ride Pozo Road than I can think of.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

just three bikes from out of town

It is always good to get away, and this Easter break Theresa and I went to Paso Robles, and stayed at the Melody Ranch Motel.  We have been staying there for years, and know Frank, the owner quite well.  A 1950’s motel that is for real today, with prices reflecting a slower time in the economy.  A short trip, I could only put 1500 miles on the press bike, so we chose great roads over long distance.  We were the first to arrive, and later after resting went to dinner, noticing two other arrivals via motorcycle.  Across the lot was a Street Glide,  and one look told you this was not his first ride. Something about the way it sat and was loaded told me it was not his first ride.  But right next to me was a new 2014 BMW GS1200, the off road adventure version.  Brand new,it was still shiny red, and loaded with accessories from a trip through the Tourtech catalog.  In fact it had more chrome than the Harley, crash bars, GPS mounts, bags, and loaded up-in comparison to the Tiger Explorer XC I was riding.  Just looking at it, it had to have cost well over $20,000, the buy in price for BMW’s these days, the Harley not much less.  But as I surveyed the differences, it dawned on me how much alike the riders must be, despite our different choice of rides.  One-we were all from somewhere else, and on the road to somewhere, retired or on a trip, as this was Monday night.  We had chosen the road as our destination, although we were spending down time at the same motel.  We had money and experience tied up in our rides also, as these were not beginner bikes.  We were each loyal to our brands, although a common denominator of motorcycles was our most common thread.  I never did see the owners, but meeting their bikes told me something about them, and I wondered what did they think of me or my ride, or did they even notice at all?  And they both were gone early the next morning-before 8 am, the road calling, for me a day’s ride, locally when I got up.  But these three bikes from out of town made me think all day of friends I meet along the road, how a Harley rider has told me of great sport bike roads, how BMW riders will visit with me at rest stops, comparing road notes, and places to eat, and even Gold Wing riders will pull over from their 55 mph cruise to let us pass, then talk with us when we meet.  We all ride, but ride at different speeds, rates, roads, and brands.  We all ride our own ride, as we should, and we should enjoy the ride, instead of trying to keep up, or wait for another rider.  You only go as fast as the slowest rider, so I ride alone, you make your own choice.  But that afternoon it was representative of our brotherhood, we all ride, with the road the destination, not just the way there.

If you don’t ride you won’t know what it is like to be part of the brotherhood of bikers that do.  We wave, we stop for others, and even though our brand loyalties may separate us, when we get together things get done.  We raise money, help others, visit kids in hospitals, and support vets.  Invite one, and you have invited all, so have plenty of chili and coffee handy.  And we don’t knock, we feel that welcome....just  like at church, right?  For years I have told people that the church needs to be more like the biker world, we have Jesus, the ultimate, why not get along better?  Yet I see Baptists try to impress me with their legalism, Lutherans with their ceremonies, and even had a Pentacostal tell me I was unteachable, because I wouldn’t believe what he said, although it wasn’t in the Bible.  The evangelicals tell me I am not evangelistic enough, and the fundamentalists accuse me of not spending enough time in the word.  I never realized it was so tough being a Christian, no wonder I ride so much.  So over the years I have come to appreciate where each one is with God.  Some need the legalism, freedom in the spirit scares them, you mean I can really trust God?  Some need the ceremonies, I love it when each service is different.  Just because a preacher has an hour to speak, doesn’t mean he has to use it.  Why do some waste an hour, and lose an audience, when Billy Graham can speak 5 minutes and many are saved?  Some preach from messages,  I find a new message just by going through the Bible verse by verse.  I believe in healing and miracles, yet some deny them, am I a liar because I am a miracle?  Can we all just get along, remembering our common thread is Jesus, and seek Him and not a form of religion?  Can we be like my friend Fr. Al, no win heaven, who used to serve communion to all believers, against his church’s advice.  He saw Jesus, who knows what they saw.  Why don’t we, why can’t we get along in the spirit?

Years ago, Juan Carlos Ortiz, wrote a book about this, “Call to Discipleship.”  Living in a South American country, he saw many doing things in God’s name, but not getting along with each other.  They talked of unity, like Democrats talk of free speech, OK as long as you agree with them.  So when God put on his heart to be united in the spirit, he knocked on church doors with his vision, and was rejected.  He was seen as a threat, until some said yes, and a revival started, freedom in the spirit had overcome long standing religious lines, and the church grew.  It only took one man and his vision from God, but it was God who brought about the change.  Just think a minute, when the world sees one biker, they see us all.  What does the world see when it sees one Christian?  Or two or three who don’t get along?  Do they see Jesus, who said He was among them, or are they denying Him, themselves and their religion more important than a relationship with Him?  What unity are you seeking-your answers will tell us.  We are the church, and God is adding to us daily, so be in the spirit.  Some will teach, some will disciple, some will visit, and will evangelize.  But we will be called in the spirit, and what Jesus calls us to do will be done-His will be done. 

When you look across the parking lot, who do you see?  Do you see other brothers in Christ, or do you see their denomination?  Do you see the differences, or do you see Jesus?  Are you bound by the legalism of denominations, or are you free indeed in Jesus?  Do you dare ask to pray with someone not of your faith?  A stranger?  Do you have Jesus in common?  Learn the lesson from the biker world, we all ride, yet ride different bikes.  Some exude brand loyalty first, and miss out from other brands.  Some cruise, some carve corners, some set the cruise at 55 and hang on for dear life.  Some live their ride through catalogs and magazines.  We are all on a road to somewhere, not always knowing where the road leads.  Some will rush to their destination, then hurry up and wait for the next ride.  Some keep going, too early to stop.  Some will go back and ride the road again, enjoying the curves, and establishing new braking points.  But we all ride!  And we have a message of being an individual through unity.  Church we all have given our lives to Christ, or we wouldn’t be Christians.  Why can’t we be alive and unify in the spirit?  Let us be known by our unity to God, and not our differences.  Someday we will all reside in heaven, those that believe, and you may just end up next to a biker.  Or a Catholic, or a Pentacostal, or a Baptist.  Or me.  But we will all be with Jesus, and none of that will matter.  Jesus taught us to pray, “ on earth as it is in heaven...” A reminder of three bikes from out of town, we all ride.  If a Harley rider can wave to a Gold wing rider, you see miracles still occur.  Be one today, you will be amazed at the doors it opens up, and you will find Jesus is behind one.  That knocking you hear may not be your engine, but your heart.  Let Jesus be your call to discipleship today...what gets your motor running?  If you don’t know Jesus you will never know heaven.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

why do it right when you can do it yourself?

Let’s get one thing perfectly clear right up front, I don’t work on cars, motorcycles, or fix things around the house.  Although I spent most of my life in automotive, I never fixed anything, I advised or managed.  Put a wrench in my hand and it becomes a hammer, a screwdriver becomes a pry bar, and a hammer becomes an implement of destruction.  I have lost tips to fingers from power tools, and cut more cords, and had more tools go up in smoke from abuse.  Just the thought of me attempting to fix anything sets off tirades of the seven words you can’t say on radio, and you can be assured whatever the problem was, it will cost twice as much and take twice as long to fix.  My hands have no relationship with my brain, the two seem at odds when it comes to tools, so I learned long ago it is easier, cheaper, and less stressful to let someone else do it right the first time. Which lands much credence to my motto of “I rather be riding than wrenching.”  A simple oil change at the last moment before a trip almost led to not going.  Forgetting to replace the drain plug before adding oil, when the stores are closed, and no lights in your garage is not smart.  And finally fixing it by headlight not advised.  There is a reason spark plugs have washers-don’t remove them.  I have over tightened nuts only to have them spin free, under tightened only to have them fall off, and forced a standard thread on a metric-damaged for good, just not mine.  I have forced a 16” tube over an 18” rim, I have forced a single pole bulb into a double pole socket, and cut things too short-missing by that much.  I could probably walk you through an engine rebuild, but run when I grab a wrench.  I have used too much gasket glue, dropped the last nut and never heard it hit the floor, and always have extra parts left over after fixing anything, and when it was once joked that I should call Ford and tell them how to save money by not using so many nuts and bolts, I was stopped by it being pointed out it was a joke.  Chains either stay too loose, or are so tight they make the motorcycle pull.  And never have me fix anything by color-I am color blind and can put a blue plug into a red with disastrous results.  Knives are used to strip screws, hammers to adjust, and vise grips to remove bolts after the heads are stripped off.  So I adhere to the old adage, “if you have someone to cook your food, cut your hair, or fix your motorcycle, let them do it and don’t interfere.”  So I don’t, leaving me to question others like myself who are mired in frustration, “why do it right when you can do it yourself?”

But when faced with the inevitable, I try to follow the instructions.  Like the time we needed a new garage door opener, my wife refused to get out and open it in the rain.  So off to Home Cheepo I go, but a good one, and spend the next 2 hours doing a 45 minute job.  And it still won’t work!  So after taking it apart for the 4th time, I note instead of having three pieces-A-B-C, I have A-B-B.  Even the packers are out to get me.  So going back I get the right one, and soon the garage door opens at the push of  button, the throwing of tools ceases, and I have escaped major injury.  And my wife stays dry when it rains, so maybe persistence can win out over lack of skills. 
And only yesterday when the printer stopped printing, it only took 2 hours to fix a 5 minute remedy.  I seems the instructions were serious when they included step 8, quitting after step 7 fixes nothing, but does add to the aggravation.  And my other accomplishments include, gate won’t open, fixed-now it won’t close either.  AC in car won’t work-fix window crank, now window opens.  Car horn honks on hard right turns-disconnect horn.  But it just isn’t me-I know guys who have put antifreeze in the washer bottle-almost impossible to get off of car and windshield.  I had a tech once put 26 quarts of oil in an engine, and it seized.  His last job was fixing it before he was fired.  I have seen the good tires onteh right side of a car replaced, leaving the bald ones on the other right side unchanged.  So maybe I am not an isolated instance....maybe I am like the joke, “how many does it take to change a light bulb?”  “It depends on how much the light bulb wants to change.”

And so we are brought to those who consider themselves religious.  Who take Jesus, add some laws, regulations, and think they have something better.  We are currently studying Jesus+nothing=everything, and it is true.  We have it all in Christ, no need to be circumcised, no need for special clothes, for making donation pledges, or for acting holy.  We are told if we follow the law, we need to be better than a Pharisee, we need to shine ahead of him more than he does when following him by a 1000 feet.  Too tiring for me.  Yet some approach god like I do tools, they find it is better to make it impersonal, to let someone else get hurt.  Developing their own sense of religion.  Some want to borrow tools, giving them back broken and unusable-and they call that religion.  But most, if not all, choose what fits their life, changing the Bible to fit them, rather than changing to fit God’s plan.  And ending up worse, and not knowing why.  They are the do-it-yourselfers, reinventing the wheel and ending up with a flat tire.  And flat lives, creating their own gospel.  Sadly the gospel we know best, and live most is the gospel of us.  And there is no room for Jesus and our ways.  You cannot serve two masters, and both suffer, so we have to make a choice.  Serve or be served.  Accept Jesus as He is and we change for the better, or accept Jesus and stay the same, blaming God for our mistakes.  It is said you can’t fix stupid, and stupid hurts, if you know that going in, why still do it?  If life was so good, why were you looking for help in it?  Why change if your life is so perfect?

Because we will always have a hole there in our lives that only Jesus can fill.  Cars, money, jobs, houses, and Home Depot cannot fill the need.  It takes Jesus.  It takes us being the wise man who built his house upon the rock, so when the rains came he was safe.  Too late to build after, then it is called rebuild.   So why do it yourself when you can have Jesus?  So why do we do it wrong when we do it ourself?  Make today that last trip to Life Depot, give it all to Jesus.  Home, cars, jobs-He can fix them all.  And show us how to not redamage them again. The Bible, the repair manual for life, and you can know the author personally, no signed copy, but His mark on your life for others to see.  And the evidence of how things change when you follow Him.  Follow His directions instead of your own...and end up where you need to be, rather than where you wish you weren’t. 

Why do it right when you can do it yourself?  The choice is yours.  Like the ad says, “pay me now, or pay me later.”  If you don’t have the time to do it right the first time, why can you always find time to do it the second?  Or third?  God provides the tools you need for life, the instructions, and the way, the truth, and the life to follow.  All found in one man.  Jesus plus nothing equals everything.  How you spend your time is up to you.  You can either join the club of ______, turning riders into mechanics for 90 years, or follow Jesus.  I rather ride than wrench.  Let’s compare stories sometime...I have the scars to prove it.  Now I have the trips.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot