when the music's over

I love all kinds of music, good music, yet I don’t have a favorite group.  Or even type.  I tend to listen to songs that make the mood, or set one, rather than be devoted to a single artist.  I love The Band and their American style of music, and one cut with Eric Clapton, Further On Down the Road, wow. I also like the bluesy side of The Allman Brothers, listen to a live cut of Stormy Monday as Duane pours out his heart on the guitar.  I was at the concert the night Springsteen played Born to Run, before the album came out, no rock and roll experience can compare to that energy.  It wore us out.  Unforgettable by Nat King Cole and daughter Natalie, is there a more perfect song?  Any old Beatles music, pre-Sgt. Pepper, can you remember the first time you heard Sgt. Pepper?  Or side 2 of Abbey Road?  So individual songs will set the mood, but somehow I always come back to the Beach Boys, for the way they make me feel.  Fun music we can sing along to, music about cars, motorcycles, girls in bikinis at the beach, and summer nights with that special someone.  It is about convertibles, falling in love, hanging with friends and bench racing.  Dreams of a Jersey boy, who went to the shore, not the beach, and of dreams that were one day realized. 

I have seen the Beach Boys numerous times, partied with Mike Love once, and was at The Capitol Theater in Passaic when they taped a live album.  Fun times for the dozen or so times I saw them in concert, singing along and wishing the summer of fun that night would never end.  But Brian Wilson’s genius was attended by mental illness, Carl died too soon of brain cancer, and Dennis at age 39 drowned.  To me Dennis was always the Beach Boys, blond hair that he shook when he played the drums, he was the surfer in the family and the inspiration for his brother’s surf songs.  He was the car guy, his 1963 split window Corvette on the album cover of Shut Down, part 2.  He was the California guy the California girls chased after, and he led a fast lane life.  He had Charles Manson as a friend, who turned on him when one of Charlie’s songs was credited to Dennis.  His Sunset Blvd. home became so over run with hippies he had to move out.  And soon the drugs and alcohol of being a rock star caught up with him.  He loved his boat, but lost it due to not keeping up the payments.  His other love of his life was taken when they were forced to sell Brother Records, his other sanctuary.  And before he was asked to leave the band due to drug problems, he took over as the leader on stage.  Singing “You are so beautiful, to me,” which I heard a few times, without instruments.  Sometimes in tears of agony, as his life was falling apart.  And one night drunk on stage, he asked “do you want to see what I’ve done?”  And dragged his pregnant wife out on stage.  So many highs and lows, and finally age 39, it was over.  Diving off a friend’s boat while drinking, he came up and hit his head on the bow, he was found dead later.  In a fetal position, most who drown are found in frightful positions, his seemed peaceful.  And he was gone.  The music over, the harmonies just not the same.

As much as the Beach Boys were about fun music, they were about harmonies.  Beautiful harmonies, which take just the right voices to create the sound, and now Dennis was gone.  Brian had previously left the band, and so were his falsettos.  All the fun they once sang about died with Dennis, no more burnouts, he had become one.  No more catching a wave, the wave had caught him.  No more beach fun and bikinis, ironically he died in 2 feet of water by the ocean he loved so much.  But for me it will always be the harmonies, and thankfully I found my perfect harmony in Jesus Christ years ago.  Two part harmonies need just that, and without God in your life, no matter how good the voice, or how great the song, there will be no harmony.  We will never be in tune when we are out of tune with God.  And Dennis joined the long list of musical talent that left us too soon due to a lifestyle opposed to God.  How ironically his voice is heard on “God Only Knows” if only Dennis had known God.

But rock stars, sports stars, and celebrities opposing God is nothing new.  And although many live a life we wish to emulate, death comes to them, and hell follows.  King Herod in the times of the first church was such a star, a man flattered by crowds, and worshipped.  When he spoke the people cried out he had the voice of a god, his tragic warped perception of himself that he was a god.  Vain and twisted, he acted the part, and the people worshipped him as such.  Sound familiar today?  How many would try to keep up with the Kardashians, but don’t or won’t see the ruinous lives they lead?  And how any who get close to them inherit the curse?  But as anyone who claims to be God, or to be worshipped, God has patience with, until they finally die by their own wicked ways.  Herod was stricken with a disease, and died within 3 days.  One day on top, three days later six feet under.  No one escapes death but for those who turn to Christ, and recognize his deity.  God is patient, but warns no one is promised tomorrow.  Herod thought he could do it himself, that he was a self made man, and above God, but soon God placed him under his feet.  Maybe as an example for us to follow, or not follow.  We cannot live apart from Jesus, we need to be in harmony with the spirit, to be guided, for we don’t know what tomorrow brings.  And that was the tragedy of Dennis, blessed with talents and abilities, yet no peace with Christ.  His songs live on, as does his memory, but he is gone.

By the world’s standards he had it all, and lost it.  39 years came and went very quickly, not very much when compared to the endless eternity of heaven.  We can be a star one day and a bum the next, God will allow things to come into your life so you will see how you need a savior, and you cannot save yourself.  No matter how good our voice is without being in harmony with the spirit we will never be in tune.  No perfect pitch, that will be in heaven, as for now we struggle to stay in tune with God.  Sadly many try to do it themselves.  And it is sad to think we can act or react in love and harmony without Christ.  Jesus is the song we sing, the tune that will take us to heaven.  If only those who died without him, rich or poor, famous or unknown would have listened.  But the real question is, are you?  Do you hear what the spirit is saying, or are you trying to make it on your own?  Why work for salvation and maybe never earn enough when you can have it for free, as a gift? 

The Wilson brothers, The Beach Boys, and the fans of Dennis found out what their song said, that God only knows how he feels about us.  And we are left to survey the tragedy.  To play the songs, maybe take a last beach ride, or catch a wave.  One last walk in the sand....but we can know God, and how he feels about us.  And our lives can reflect it for others to see.  The death of Herod is recorded in the same Bible as Jesus’ death.  Both claimed to be kings, only one was.  Only one was the way, yet both are given as examples of how to live.  You choose, for true love demands a choice.  When the music’s over, what song will you be singing?  God only knows, do you know him?  I wish Dennis had...how I miss those harmonies...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

bored of education

I was talking with a group of people yesterday after Bible study.  A woman had been having a rough time, and asked for prayer, so we prayed for her.  Kind words in the prayers, touching and compassionate, but after I talked with her.  Her problem was very evident, and anyone who knew her had probably heard the same old story from her too many times.  She wanted prayer, she wanted compassion and love, she just wasn’t interested in God’s answer because it would have her admit she was wrong and would have to change.  After a few seconds it was obvious her problems were self inflicted, and would continue.  And when I asked her a question she told me she had heard it all, and after telling me “I know what you are going to say,” was surprised with what I said, almost as surprised as I was she gave me a chance to say it.  I have been in situations like this before, and when faced with a situation, they start spewing forth scripture, and what they had been told in Sunday School or church of how to react.  Impersonal, and many times wrong, not the scripture but its application, we are taught about a scripture for each event, but not its application.  Say this about rock and roll, say this about a fallen brother, say this when confronted, and say this when caught.  Right out of the manual God has given us, but just words without the spirit, who reveals the mysteries of Christ to us.  And this girl was a victim of such teaching, the one thing she had never been told, obvious by her pride, was the most important part of prayer, listening to God for the answer.  Then acting on it.  Is it any coincidence God gave us two ears but only one mouth?  And you can control your mouth but not your hearing?  Didn’t Jesus say to he who has an ear let him hear?  Yet she just regurgitated a rote answer, sadly like some of the rote prayers that were offered.  She talked about Jesus, but I wondered, where was he?

A Christian woman we have known for years finally died of a disabling disease.  Her religion based on faith and naming and claiming, had left her body failing and causing her great discomfort for years.  Her husband also suffered as he had to attend to her, aging him in the process.  But it didn’t have to be that way, as there were drugs available to ease her pain, and give her a better quality of life.  Yet she didn’t believe in them, drugs were not for the faithful, I guess most of us sin taking them, God would provide a miracle, and so she suffered needlessly.  Making her husband suffer too.  She got upset with me when I asked “if I had never heard of aspirin and you gave me one for my headache, and it went away, wouldn’t I consider that a miracle?”  Her attitude was causing her to suffer.  Her education from a pulpit had condemned her to not trusting the spirit, and believing books written by a certain man, who obviously hadn’t faced what she had, or he would have called the pharmacy. 

Now I am on several heart drugs after my aorta replacement, and I am glad for them.  But drugs are not the answer, just as no drugs are not the answer either.  Jesus is the answer, and following what the spirit shows us is the way to go.  God gives us a choice in everything from what we ride to where and how we believe, and I had a choice in taking the drugs or not.  Or putting myself in physical danger again, and subjecting my wife and family to needless suffering.  The application of my education to know Jesus proved more important than knowing about him, or knowing how to answer each event.  We are told the spirit will give us wisdom and words when we need them, yet rattle off at the mouth sometimes incoherently.  My best answer for when you don’t know is to admit it, and say “I don’t know,”  and turn to Jesus, and then listen.  Not for what you want to hear, or for what you want others to hear, but what the spirit is saying.  Maybe a little bit more of Jesus and the holy spirit and a lot less religion just might change our lives and others.  I am bored with education, how about an application of Jesus in your life?  I am more concerned with the love of John 3:16 than your memorization of it. 

So my answer to that woman yesterday surprised her.  I referred her to Job, and after being rebuffed, “I know what you are going to say,” surprised her.  Job’s wife is given a black eye in churches today because of one statement, “why don’t you curse God and die?”  But we forget or aren’t taught she had gone through what Job was, a loss of family, riches, lifestyle, and she watched as her husband was suffering.  But they end there, as they don’t tell his response.  “You are acting like a foolish woman,” he tells her, not you are a fool.  You are acting out of character, for you know God, and now you are acting on emotions.  You see this woman has a relationship with Christ, but religion got in the way.  She didn’t need the same answer, she needed the truth, and the truth was she was acting like a foolish woman.  All her many years of education meant nothing if not applied when needed.  And she got it, telling me “I never thought that is what you were going to say.”  I went in love, the others did too, I listened to the spirit. On my own I am not much, but in Christ I amaze myself, and give him the glory. 

We will all be tested, remember God was bragging on Job.  And Job’s relationship was deeper than anyone could know, just read his responses to his friends.  Sound familiar?  They could have come from us.  And too many times do.  Want more from your relationship with God?  Want to see Jesus?  Or are you bored with education and don’t know it?  Start listening to what the spirit says, then trust.  Sincerity counts, but you can be sincerely wrong.  But Jesus forgives, and we can carry on.  But we have a hard time forgiving ourselves.  But when we do the doors to heaven open wider, and we see Christ not only crucified, but resurrected.  We are new creatures in him, so why do we hold onto old things and old religions?

Miracles abound everywhere, you are one.  Share what Jesus has done in your life with others.  Revelation tells us by the word of our testimony and the blood of the lamb we are saved. Jesus did his part, are you doing yours?  We will all say things we don’t mean, or that will be misinterpreted.  Some are fools, some act like fools.  Job knew the difference.  By the spirit.  Now do you?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

test rides

It is a proven fact that test rides help sell more motorcycles.  But as an owner, with all you own invested in your business, you may take a different viewpoint.  Just because you ride in on a motorcycle, and you may even have a license, doesn’t mean you know how to ride, or can handle more horsepower.  “Ride it like you stole it,” the shirts say, and many ride their own like that.  Imagine how they will treat something that isn’t theirs?  Who for a few miles and a few minutes may add years to both the bike and dealership?  The potential to crash is always there...no matter how good a rider you are.  But who buys a bike without a test ride?  Do you?  Would you?  Come along on a few test rides and then decide...

I was selling Suzukis for Motorsport when the new RM370 came out.  Not a dirt rider, the only dirt in Jersey is in the air, in Albuquerque the desert was everywhere, and so were those who rode.  And they were all a buzz about the new RM’s, So warming one up for a potential buyer, I zipped it around the dirt back lot, then accelerated onto the pavement, trying to show off.  I should have known by the size of the crowd not to, but when I hit the pavement in third gear, WTO, the bike slid, then slid on its side for 100 feet, then across 3 lanes of Montgomery Blvd, hit the divider, stood up and headed west.  Losing the right side of my double knit pants, and most of my platform shoe.  Coming back I was embarrassed, I had crashed in front of a crowd.  But they saw it different, “cool Mister,” said one, “do it again.”  My look said one was enough, but I did sell the bike.

My friend Brett was crazy on two wheels, fearless.  One afternoon at Alcon’s Harley Davidson, Jake let him ride a Sportster.  Brett had never ridden a street bike, let alone a Harley, and proceeded to wheelie it off the lot and down San Mateo.  “Is your friend nuts?”  Jake exclaimed in horror.  Again a smile told more than words, and my test ride was cancelled.  And over the years I have owned dozens of bikes, and ridden hundreds.  With numerous test rides in between.  And some offers I passed on.  A Buell test ride was offered one day to me, with a Harley riding friend along.  I had a Speed Triple press bike that day, and the manager offered me a ride, in fact insisted I ride it to compare it.  Since I knew how to ride, as evidenced by the ST3.  But out of earshot of my Harley riding friend, he told me my friend could not have a ride.  “These Harley guys cannot ride bikes with this much power,” and so I passed.  He knew his customers, as he owned the dealership.   So much for letting those who ride decide.

Jim had been wanting to sell me a new bike for years, not content with me financing his service department with all my repairs there.  One afternoon he talked me into riding a new Seca II, and so I did.  I took it for a ride, and was gone over 30 minutes.  When I got back, he was furious, thought I had stolen or crashed the bike, and was about to call the CHP!  Hey Jim, I ride long distances, and a test ride is more than around the block.  Or sliding across three lanes of traffic....He eventually calmed down, now we laugh about it...or at least I do.

I like the new Indian motorcycles, and have ridden two of them.  A big Roadmaster, with Theresa on the back.  A crowd ride as I call them, and I hang back so I can get on it, as you only go as fast as the leader.  I was impressed with the power, but it was big, and the handling was not sport bike as I am used to.  When asked by the exuberant manager how I liked the bike, I told him I did, except “it handled like pushing a wheelbarrow through gravel, full loaded.”  I guess honesty is not the best policy sometimes.  But on another Indian ride, just me and a salesman, I rode the new Scout, which I liked.  Good power, looks cool, had a pipe, but the rear shocks were horrible.  Thankfully Indian already has an accessory for that.  But after our short ride of five miles, he turned to go back to the dealership, and I pulled up next to him.  “I’m not ready to go back yet,” and took off down the freeway as the light changed.  He gave chase, but I outran him, that Scout ran pretty good.  He was more scared than mad as he caught me after getting off, “just don’t tell the owner what you did.”  I didn’t, and later let him the new Street Twin I had, warning him not to take off on me.  He smiled and all was forgiven.  There would be other test rides...but me he would remember.

For what it was worth, I apologized after each test ride if I had been rude.  Well, at least said I was sorry.  And added to myself to never do it again.  At least until the next time...like test riding George’s ZX14 before he bought it.  Did you know it will do 120 in third gear?  But saying you are sorry, is different than meaning it.  Only when you realize what you are doing is wrong will you repent, and change your ways.  Test rides included.  Only in Christ will we be offered forgiveness, not only of past sins, but also of future one.  “You mean I can go out and sin again?  Some more?  Test rides included?”  No, that is not what scripture tells us, or even implies.  For our actions and attitudes will display what is on our heart, and any changes Jesus has made in it.  And being forgiven is where it is at, being accepted by God, and gaining entrance to heaven.  But what about future sins, future road tests? 

When we are born again we are regenerated, and any continuing sin will show that we have not been.  We may be sorry we got caught, but not sorry about our sin.  It would show we don’t understand what Jesus has done for us, and that sin still stands between us and God.  Maybe not losing our salvation, but not enjoying it.  Not walking or riding in the spirit that forgave us, only seeing what we think Jesus has done for us, but not worshipping him for it.  We forget that all things work together, and get down on ourselves when we do repeat the sin, but have to know we are forgiven.  Repent and move on.  When you reflect on your relationship with Christ, do you see him or your sin?  Is the cross empty, or is he still on it?  Is the tomb empty, or have you not given in to his resurrection?  Are you truly sorry that sin got between you and the one who loves you so much he sent his son to die for you?  God has no quarrel with you, he loves you, but your actions are a form of quarreling with him.  And who has ever argued with God and won?  That is one test ride I don’t want to take ever again.

Everything Jesus did was predicted by the prophets.  Every prophet told of how only in Christ can and will your sins be forgiven.  Long before he came to earth, it was written down for all to see, and hear.  The gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, that he died for your sins and you can be forgiven.  And as much as he loves you as you are, he doesn’t want to leave you like that.  And he won’t, and as your heart changes, so will your actions and attitudes.  We are forgiven, that is the resurrecting power of Jesus, taking us dead in our sins and giving us life.  Without forgiveness there is no path to God...

Many will test religion and see its failings.  I suggest trying Jesus.  See if the claims are true.  Let him show you the way, let him love and forgive you.  And when you repent, your life will change.  And no sin will ever show up on your credit report in heaven.  Take a test ride today, as long as you want, but know that the sooner you accept him, the sooner the real ride begins.  Riding a test bike is one thing, having your name on the title is another.  Take a pretest check out with him today, let him show you why you need a savior and why it can be only him.  Or you can be like John, who wanted to show off on a BMW, and not knowing the fork was locked, rode right into the wall.  OUCH!  Or the young husband who “knew how to ride,” and rode his new bike into the fence, throttle WTO.  Stupid hurts, only Jesus forgives.  Now about that test ride.....Harley still offers them, they call it a rental.  What do they know about you we don’t?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

 

the two sides of a circle

Many songs have been sung about circles, “Will I Go Around in Circles?” “Will the Circle be Unbroken?” or just “Circles,” by various artists from The Who to Mariah Carey.  A dog will chase its tail , running in circles, NASCAR races in circles, and I get sick riding on Merry Go Rounds in circles.  The tires on my bike are circular, so are the donuts I should avoid.  Ever wonder that manhole covers are round?  So they won’t fall in the hole, which also is a circle, no matter how they are dropped.  Try that with anything square if you don’t believe me.  So circles appear to be the shape of choice for many things in our daily lives that we cannot do without, or do with without knowing.  The moon travels around the earth that travels around the sun in circles.  Yes sang a song about circles, “Roundabout.”  When you spill something it will end up circular-don’t ask me why on that one.  Pistons and cylinders are round, ask Honda why they are after their oval cylinder failed.  Handlebars are round, flat tires aren’t and some people are fun to be around, while some are not.  We read the cartoon, The Family Circle.  Crop circles anyone?  So the circle, may be understated, underappreciated, and taken for granted. 

Life shows us we will come full circle, as the cartoon shows us in diapers when young, and again in old age.  Records are circular, as are CD’s, but not cassettes, although the tape is wrapped around one-really two.  We put things off, sayings we “will get around to them later,” and The Beach Boys first number one hit was “I Get Around.”  Numbers get rounded off to the closest digit, baseballs and basketballs are round and will roll, but a football won’t.  We sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in a round, and some think they were a big wheel until they found out that squares don’t roll.  Some are in a squirrel cage, on a treadmill, a circle.  Need more ammunition, bullets are called rounds.  So here is to the ubiquitous circle which has been around forever, and has no plans for not being around.  Just remaining round. 

Ask any kid how many sides does a triangle have and they’ll know three.  A square has four, a pentagon five, a hexagon six, and an octagon eight.  After that we have to take our shoes off to count.  But how many sides does a circle have?  Hmmm, got me there, for it  has no edges of demarcation.  It is round....one maybe?  But where does it start and where does it end?  Is the circle the one thing in the universe that has an endless side, or is it all an illusion?  A trick question for extra credit in Mrs. Parks class?  Go look at one, and you tell me, how many sides does a circle have?  The answer is right there, and so evident that you may be seeing it but don’t see it at all.  The answer is two-and inside and an outside.  Two sides...like I said, it is right there for all to see. 

A great Christian poet, named Markham once while doodling, again circles, was inspired by the circles he was drawing and wrote,

“I drew a circle and shut him out, heretic, rebel, a thing to flout?  But love and I had the wit to win, we drew a circle that drew him in.”  An interesting look at how we go through life, with or without Jesus.  We are born in sin, and shut God out of lives, until the spirit moves on us and we make a decision, Christ or not.  If no, we keep him on the outside of the circle of our lives.  But many saved saints do also, they never get personal with him, never letting him into the inner circle of their hearts, and miss out on the blessings of knowing him.  It’s called religion.  The poet saw the circle as a reminder of God’s perfect love for us, of how he takes us in, despite us wanting to shut him out.  Is it a coincidence that a shutout in baseball is all zeroes?  Circles?  Which side of the circle is God in your life?  On the outside looking in, or even on the inside wanting to get out?  Is he infinite in your life as his love for you is, or just a doodling on a page, while you make a decision about who he is?  A circle is perfect, and when out of round no longer a circle, but still circular, and can appear round when viewed.  Is your life out of round, does it give the appearance of being perfect, when really it not round, but oval, because God is not around in it?  Or is it like a manhole cover, wobbling around looking for a way in, but never finding it because it can’t?  You cannot force it, try it with a lid and jar.  And now see why God doesn’t force himself on us.  For he is perfect, and the circle is the only perfect shape, for when it loses it shape is no longer a circle.  Has God lost his place in your perfect life? 

Today is the day of salvation, for those who told God “when I get around to it.”  Don’t put off Christ when you can be around him right now, and find hope and forgiveness.  For God’s love is infinite, just like the symbol for infinity is two circles, interwoven.  Which never end, forever.  Just like his love.  Like he wants us to be with him, a perfect circle of love.  Innie or outie, the choice is yours.  Infinity is a long, long time, hope to see you around.  Choose Jesus before your life spirals out of control.

Is that why they call them prayer circles instead of prayer squares?  So don’t dishonor the circle, don’t you see its pointless?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.