I ride, therfor I am not here

Some of the smartest people you ever meet are the ones who will agree with you.  Which probably tells you a lot about your peer group of friends.  So I hang around with some pretty sharp characters, like you if you are reading this.  But some don’t agree and will go to any lengths to annoy.  So I have a sign out front, “I ride, therefor I am not here.”  Beat it.  My other sign says “be nice or go away.”  Now I tend to be a nice guy, but get annoyed by people trying to sell me things, sell me a discount book-I save $20 every time I say no, or overpriced, under boxed cookies.  But I really don’t like the religious cults knocking on my door.  So I tend to not answer,  I don’t want to be rude or argue, like some do thinking they are an effective witness, but I rather just pray silently for them.  And after 11 years my house still isn’t marked, but may be because of my last conversation with a Jehovah Witness.  This man was evidently seasoned, and by himself.  And caught me off guard, so I had to confront him.  Which I did, with one question, “Do you believe the deity of Jesus Christ, is He God?”  To which he answered no, and before he could argue, I continued, “then you are going to hell by your own choice.  God is not sending you, it is your choice.  And it breaks my heart to see you choose death.”  He started to go into his preplanned routine, and I cut him off again.  “So we have nothing else to talk about”-and I shut the door.  A few minutes later I looked out, and he was leaning on the hood of his car, shaking his head, it looked like he was crying.  Not over me, or his lack of time to argue with me, I hoped he was considering what I told him.  He had heard the truth, in love...for I am not out to argue, nor win an argument, rather to see souls saved.  And he was lost...

Now some think it is right to invite them in and discuss scripture, but 2 John warns us not to.  Do not engage them, they will win, as they are trained to respond, and will wear you out.  You are not to even tell them God bless you, just be nice and courteous-don’t become what they re taught to accuse you off.  But you cancel the conversation before it starts...just as Jesus does.  He never argued scripture, but spoke with authority, the same authority we have in the spirit.  We are told to be a gentle as a lamb, but as wise as a serpent.  Yet most approach it as dumb as a lamb, and leave themselves wide open.  You won’t win an argument, so don’t get involved in one.  No souls are won that way either, it by the spirit, not us, lest we should forget.

So if I don’t answer, read the sign.  And maybe you need to take a ride, to get away where it is only you and God, so you can listen.  Why ask in prayer if you choose not to listen to His answer?   Or if you are a JW or Mormon, take the advice of God-Jesus is knocking, let Him in.  Not the made up god of the Mormons, not some hocus pocus theology of other cults, but the truth.  Truth is you should be out riding rather than annoying others.  Courtesy, kindness,and goodness, fruit of the spirit will show more of Jesus than phony doctrine or arguing.  Most of the Bible is warnings about false teaching, false teachers, and bad doctrines.  If what is being said varies from scripture, it is a lie-avoid it.  Stick to what you know, better yet to who you know-Jesus, who will never steer you wrong.  Maybe my next sign may be “I am risen, therefor I am not here.”  For someday I will be, then who will they annoy?  What excuses will they invent then? 

Put some distance between you and wrong teaching by staying in the word, and being in the spirit.  Nothing new here to Jesus, just the same old lie being resurrected to a new generation.  If you must spend time discussing the scriptures, try Jesus.  Talk to the author instead of one of His fallen angels.  Get the truth, it will set you free.  And give you more time to go riding.  For whoever is free in Christ is free indeed.  Win an argument today by not being in one, go love someone.  And if they knock, don’t answer.  You could be riding.  With Jesus.  Smartest guy I ever met, now about your friends...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

no one ever asked how my motorcycle felt

After numerous trips from coast to coast on the Tiger, we had become old riding pals.  48 states and 80,000 miles in six years will do that.  But coming up on the second anniversary of being life flighted from Durango to Albuquerque and having open heart surgery, I was thinking of how I had to leave her in Durango, with no thought of how she would get home.  In Dal’s good care, Theresa had numerous offers, and was busy with her 200 pound  two year old, me recovering and trying to find housing and running our home in Escondido from 1000 miles away, but when two Harley riders offered, and humbled themselves one weekend to pick her up when they could have been riding, things changed.  They saw the personal side of the need, and how important the relationship between man and machine was, and also between man and God.  Ken and Ned, two Black Sheep, men I respect for who they are in Christ, put their words into action.  And I say humbled, because Triumphs and Harleys don’t mix, they didn’t on the race track for years, and with so many buying into the Harley lifestyle, many would have passed on the chance.  But these men showed love way above and beyond, saying more with their actions than many pastors do with their words.  And when I asked Ned about being conspicuous trailering a Triumph, he told me they wore masks.  To protect the innocent.  But something changed on my Tiger that trip.  She had never been trailered before, a true thoroughbred who had completed every ride she started.  And so when the clutch cable broke, and she had to be trucked to Mickey’s, I thought of the old Harley joke, “What does HD stand for?  Hound dog, as they like to ride in the back of pick ups and mark their spot.”  And this previously never trailered bike has now come home like this four times.  So I wonder, what really went on, what kind of conversations were my Tiger privy to?  Has she become a trailer queen in her old age, or had something else gone on.  Does she think she’s a Harley now, and it is acceptable to ride in a trailer rather than being ridden?  Many other questions arise, but I’ll never know, as no one ever asked how my motorcycle felt.

After waking up four days later from a coma after surgery, the number one question I was asked was “how did this change your life?”  And my immediate answer was “I never want to go through this again.”  Good answer, but they were to change, and become even more personal.  More personal than all about me?  After seeing the affect on my wife and sons, my answer changed to “I never want my family to go through this again.”  It had become even more personal.  One afternoon when praying I asked God about why He had spared my life, why He allowed me to make history?  Nothing special about me, why had He chosen to keep me here on earth.  I had seen heaven, and I want to return.  His answer was simple, grace.  Now I thought I had a handle on grace, it is for me, right?  But His grace showed me how it was for my family-my wife isn’t a widow, and my sons aren’t orphans.  My living was God showing grace to my family.  How’s that for an answer.  But He wasn’t done, and as the year progressed, I saw Andrew get a new job, out of nowhere, a blessing, and Christopher living his dream as a musician.  He had been touring in Spain when I got sick.  And now God’s grace allowed me to see the joy both my son’s were enjoying, something I cannot express in words, but God knows, and knew.  And still He wasn’t through with me, for He showed me again grace isn’t just for me, but can be seen through me.  My sons got to see me blessed by their happiness, and that means even more.  They got to see me see them!  They get to see their father proud of them, and again I saw a different side of grace.  That of a loving father being blessed by His children, watching them being blessed.  And I had come so close to missing all that, if not for the grace of God, I would have.  So be careful asking me about my life changing event, because God has an answer for you that may surprise you.  And when that answer brings full glory to God, you get the full blessings, and sometimes they take years to receive. 

But in all of those who asked, only two men asked how it changed my relationship with God.  One a friend who is a pastor, and has gone through a serious medical condition, the other my doctor, who has known me for 20 years.  And the answers I gave have had a profound impact on both....again grace, amazing huh?

Now in the motorcycle world, more than Harleys and Triumphs need to be trailered.  I have trailered Kawasakis, Hondas, and I had a Yamaha that I think actually rather be trailered than ridden.  I have had Suzukis leak, KTM’s mark their spot, and have BMW’s weep all over the ground, BMW’s don’t leak, they weep oil.  My floor never knew the difference.  So all bikes can and will have a chance to ride in a pick up some day.  So move over Harley, share the ride.  But that weekend Ken and Ned left a mark in my life that I can never thank the enough for.  You see Jesus has prepared a spot for them in heaven, and marked it with His blood, just for them.  And when it is time, He will carry them home, if they can’t ride.  And I think of all the times He carried me, when I couldn’t ride, or wouldn’t ride, or didn’t know the way.  He loved me no matter who I was or what I rode, again His grace.  Might just change your attitude about what and how you ride, who you ride with-and live.  So if someone asks you how Jesus has changed your life, tell them.  Brag on God, tell of His amazing grace, tell them about your ride in the trailer.  No one ever asked my motorcycle how it felt about being abandoned by me, but if it could I’m sure it would be thankful to Ken and Ned.  The grace of God shown by two Harley riders to this Samaritan Triumph rider.  I only hope when she gets the chance she tells me what they said to her....this trailer thing has got to end, we should all be riding!  How has God changed your life, we are wanting to know...and your answer is....Ned, now about that mask?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com