“One down, four up, got it.” “No, one up, then four down,” came the
reply. “Oh and by the way, it shifts on the right.” Bloody English, and so it
was with my first ride on an old Norton. They shift differently than the
Japanese products taught us, one down, the rest up, and not only switched sides,
but patterns also. Which was different than other Brit bikes, who still shifted
on the right, but used the Japanese pattern. Confused, when BH built his
Dunstall Honda 750 café racer, the rear sets in the kit turned the shifter
around, making it a Norton shift pattern, but on the left. More than once I
went down when I meant up. And on more than one old Triumph I hit the shifter
looking for the brake, downshifting in shock, but not stopping with one older
woman sacrificing her trunk so I would stop sooner. No damage to the bike, she
was shaken, my ego bruised. But we would all live to ride and drive again. But
thanks to our Federal government at work, all bikes imported since 1975 have a
standardized shifting pattern, one down, the rest up, and on the left side.
Making it so anyone can ride any motorcycle, if they know how. A far cry form
Lello’s old Kawasaki 100 with a rotary shift pattern. Unknown to me, it shifted
one down, then the rest up. I’m cool, until I shifted into 5th, which took me
back to first, it went 1-2-3-4-then one again. What were they thinking? And
these folks would later bring us the Mach III, Z-1, and Ninjas. All shifting on
the left, standard pattern. More speed with less surprises. Proving
standardization of shifting is still a good thing, just ask if it is older than
the Nixon administration.
The Bible and its history are very trendy today. From movies about Noah
and Jesus, to O’Reilly’s “Killing Jesus,” to the History Channel and CNN
tickling our curiousity, many patterns are being presented about Jesus. And
many are variations of a theme called truth. With many lies being told, that
when mixed with misquoted scripture sound real. But aren’t. And we need to be
aware, as many are being led astray, not a new thing. One religion who denies
the deity of Jesus changes the to “a” changing the text. He is the son of God,
not a son, and is the way, not a way. See how simple it is. And when a man
approached me Tuesday night excited about the book of Judas, just found and
claimed to be a lost gospel, he believed Judas rather than Jesus. Discounting
the fact it is not found in the Bible, the official word of God, inspired by
him, and his autobiography. He chose to follow a lie, and ended up confused.
He thought he had found truth, but learned that all lies are based on truth, and
only Jesus is the truth. In all cases go to God first, not some documentary or
rewritten history book. Go to Jesus, and if he ain’t in it, you shouldn’t be
either. Many are after your soul to seek and destroy. Some obvious, some
subtle, some confusing, so simple. But God made his gospel simple so I can get
it, and free so I can afford it. Salvation is not a rich man’s reward, it is a
gift from God through Jesus. So beware when someone has a new gospel, God’s was
the original, and he warns hell for those who change it. All the curses of
Revelation, which are pretty bad. So if Jesus ain’t in it, stay away from it!
No matter how good the special effects are, who wrote it, or what channel it is
on, and really beware of misquoted scripture.
Psalm 46:10 tells us to “be still, and know that I am God.” Yet many want
to interpret it as “be still and know that I am God.” Without the comma, the
whole meaning changes. Maybe we should have paid more attention in English
class, today’s lesson is free. But God wants us to be still, to rest in him, to
not worry, assured he is God. He has everything under control. To know him
intimately, to become his friend, and let Jesus into your life. Yet many rather
play God, or play church, and try to control people, when they are really out of
control themselves. Without Jesus, you are under someone else’s control...but
there is still time to change. So beware of false claims, if it doesn’t
minister to your heart, and isn’t found in scripture walk away for it. For it
is a lie. Moses and Aaron were out walking and tested, turning a stick into a
snake. No big deal to the sorcerer, who did the same. Until Moses’ ate his.
Still seeking power and to let his people go, he turned the river into blood.
Killing all the fish. So did the sorcerer, and soon they had to dig pits for
water. In his last message, God tells Moses to flood the land with frogs. So
does the sorcerer, and soon all the frogs have taken over and die. Leaving no
water and no land that doesn’t stink. Cursing Pharaoh for not letting God’s
people go. And trusting magic over God. Sound familiar today....again if Jesus
ain’t in it, get out of it. Unless dead frogs and no water to drink turn you
on. Maybe the frog who you think is saying “ribbit” is really warning “knee
deep, knee deep.” So be still, and know he is God. Let God be God and all men
liars. Seek Jesus first and then all things will be added unto you. Commercial
free...if only shifting were so easy.
So if you are stuck following a lie, shift gears and turn to Jesus. His
word is truth, standardized so you can recognize a lie, and know him
personally. One down, the up, just like resurrection. Jesus went down and
died, so we can live. And we will rise up with him in resurrection. An easy
way to remember how to shift or how to find God. It really is that easy...so
get out and ride. With Jesus. Next week we will address heel and toe
shifters. Where all are down...on the left. Suddenly the gospel is so
simple.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com