My friend Stu and his Gold Wing, aka The Buick are back from New Hampshire
for the winter. While there he hooked up with a friend who sells the new Motus
motorcycle, made in Birmingham, Alabama. Which he stopped to visit on his way
west, typical rider, take the long way not the shortest. He advised me that the
San Diego BMW dealer was having demo rides, so we rode down Saturday morning
intending to ride. A beautiful day that would eventually hit 85, the dealership
was crowded, and we were greeted and shown around by a manager. Very friendly,
but when I saw the putting green inside the showroom, and BMW faithful in full
riding gear lining up to putt, no pun intended, my antenna went up. No Prius in
sight, but I hadn’t been there very long to check. We talked BMW, and they had
an R90S, and since I had one once seemed OK. But when inquiring about the ride,
was told you had to make a reservation, but he could get me on one about 2 hours
later. Until he asked “do you plan to buy one?” And when I answered “no,” was
told rides were for customers only. Wasn’t that the purpose of the ride, to
make you want one after riding it? The ads got us in, then it is up to the
salesman to get you to buy. And he refused to give us a ride, and I left
thinking I would never buy anything from him, or refer anyone there. Is BMW, or
rather Motus business so good they can blow off customers? How did he know I
wasn’t thinking of one for my son? Or another friend? Or was with a magazine?
I am, Wheels of Grace. One rude slip of the tongue made my accessment of the
dealership with the putting green accurate. And how the local BMW store always
likes to see my press bikes, and we talk motorcycling. Same with Jerry and
Spud at Harley, and the guys at the new Indian store. Mike and Herm at ECC.
They know what I ride, yet all offer me demo rides anyway. Knowing I won’t buy,
but maybe tell a friend. All without the putting green. Or a Prius. Maybe
another time at another dealer Motus.
Over the years I have taken communion many times, in many churches and many
denominations. It is all about Jesus, his command to “do this in remembrance of
me,” and I have been welcomed every time. One pastor, well known and who loves
the Lord, approaches it a different way, and I called him on it one day. He
would share the gospel, then have communion, but only if you were saved. To all
the others, he extended a thanks for being courteous. My question was simple,
“do you need to be saved to take it?” Judas took it and wasn’t. A bit off, but
still questionable was Jesus feeding the 5000, were they all saved? Do you need
to be saved to eat with Jesus? And he told me he used it as an evangelism
tool. I told him I felt like you had someone over, told them all about how
great your wife could cook, them wouldn’t let them eat with you. Like the “you
can come in, but you cannot use the bathroom.” He considered my words, even
tried it differently for awhile. Then went back to his old ways. I wasn’t
telling him what to do, just expressing concern for guests. Whether offering
demo rides to heaven or on motorcycles, don’t brag what a great product you
have, show me.
Religion is like that. It binds, it puts laws and regulations on us.
Traditions are established,and the body of Christ suffers. We need to be
sensitive to the spirit, maybe it is important to note that the holy spirit had
not fallen on the disciples yet that night. Judas would deny Christ, selling
him out. Yet he took it. Peter was yet to deny Jesus to some teenage girl in
the garden, he was yet a ways from the day of Pentecost. Where while in the
spirit, 3000 came to know Jesus. By the spirit. We all have rules and ways of
doing things, I am reminded of one Sunday at the Spirit of Love church, where
Dal pastored. A bunch of hippies, street people, and mountain types, my kind of
church. I was asked to share my testimony for 10 minutes. I was only saved a
few years, and spoke for over 50 minutes. In the spirit, just not knowing it at
the time. Dal also in the spirit, rather than go onto his sermon, tied it all
together in a few minutes, and had an altar call. 19 men were saved that
morning! Is is possible that the holy spirit knows what he is doing? Dare we
let him?
Maybe we need to be like Fr. Al, who became Bishop Al before he died.
Catholic to a fault, he loved Jesus more. And offered communion to all who
wanted it. He didn’t ask where they went to church, were they Catholic or even
saved. He loved Jesus, and any chance to share him he took. Many times at odds
with his Bishop, he chose to follow God rather than tradition, church doctrine,
or religion. The man showed love...do you think maybe he was onto
something?
After losing my last job, I came home and took communion with orange juice
and crackers. Seeking God and direction. He had never let me down before, I
was doing this in remembrance of him. Of Jesus, doing just as he commanded.
With an open heart seeking his direction. No religion, no service, no
tradition. Just Jesus. Do this in remembrance of him. Share his love by
listening and ministering. By feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty,
clothing the naked, and visiting those in prison and the sick. Welcome them as
they are, just like Jesus welcomed us. He loves us as we are, he just doesn’t
want us to stay that way. By his spirit we will be changed. Years ago a man
told me about Jesus, and the spirit changed my life. A Yamaha dealer offered me
a ride when riding a Honda. A Triumph dealer didn’t care what I rode, he
offered me a ride. Moving where you go to church is not evangelism, we don’t
need conquest sales, but new souls saved. And so even though I didn’t get to
ride a Motus, I learned something that day. About me and God. About communion
and why we take it.
You see life is all about Jesus. And anything else is just a putting
green. Lots of ways to get you in and hooked, to pass time, only one is the
real thing. Only one ride is real. Remember that when sharing Jesus. Show
love, his rule, not ours. It is the job of the holy spirit to save, to point
them to Jesus. When you are saved you get all of Jesus, you are welcomed into
the kingdom. You can come in and eat, and use the bathroom, no more
evangelizing needed. Maybe that is why Jesus ate with sinners, tax collectors,
hookers, and bikers. A better class of people, who had no rules, but need
love. Live your life in remembrance of him, commune with him in the spirit. No
laws there. And when you take communion, invite others. Share Jesus, and
welcome them in. We are told to welcome strangers, some of us are as strange as
you can come. A lesson learned all because I wasn’t interested in buying a bike
that day. And you wonder why when invited to church many refuse. Don’t brag to
me about how great your God is, show me! We all need more Jesus.
So Stu and I did the right thing, and after a 200 mile ride decided we had
made the right decisions about our rides, and about Jesus. Some wait in line
for a ride, I rather be riding. In remembrance of him who set me free.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com