Tuesday, June 7, 2016

ever heard a love song about a Prius?
















It has become popular legend and lore that Zora Arkus-Duntov is the father of the Corvette.  Maybe not the original father who fathered it, but definitely the one who raised it and gave it life.  When Chevy was ready to dump it due to incredibly small sales numbers, and especially when compared to the two seater Thunderbird, it was  Zora who through racing breathed life into it, and it has become the legendary ride it is today.  But many do not know of Zora’s association with Ford, not so much the motor company as the flathead V-8.  Mention Ardun heads among any flathead admirer and they know of what you speak, for it was his heads that boosted performance, and the impetus to later give the Corvette a new life.  But aside from the many performance ideas he gave us through the Corvette, one simple philosophy is often overlooked.  And one that inspires greatness in the face of adversity.  Which is the difference between finishing first and not finishing at all.
In the sixties when an informal ban was placed on factory racing, many privateers were helped through dealers, with parts and input from people like Zora.  But without factory backing, aka a budget, very little would get done.  He had to find a way to get more from less, and still win.  What he did was put a GM part number on specialized parts, ones that were only available to factory teams, and made them available through dealers.  Anyone could go to a dealer and order the part, a racing part, and fund Zora’s effort without the factory knowing of it.  Plus it gave many club members and privateers an access to other wise forbidden fruit.  Zora found that when he was forced to do more with less, he succeeded.  Big budgets were nice, but when he had to work smarter rather than harder, with creativity added in they found success in ways they never expected.  And racing being about winning, won more races.
In 1964, John Z. DeLorean sidestepped a GM mandate about engine size in certain models of cars, and rather than making the GTO a model, made it an option.  And today we  have the original muscle car, the GTO, which evolved into its own model because John saw a way around the rules.  A big motor in a small body meant higher performance, and it gave way to Super Sport Chevelles, Gran Sport Buicks, Olds 442, and GTX’s, Road Runners, Fairlanes and Torinos.  All because John thought outside the box, and didn’t let the rules dictate his success.  Like Zora, he saw the opportunity, and made something out of it.  Which DeLorean carried on after going to Chevy, when still a ban on 10 pounds per cubic inch dictated the largest engine allowed, he advertised the 402 as a 396, and the SS396 was born.  So if you hear about the 402 in certain SS models, they mean a 396.  Just don’t get me started on Ford’s 427, 428, 429 engines, none of the numbers match the sizes.  Thinking outside the box has a definite effect on what is under the hood.
It has been said the epitaph for today’s church is “we’ve never done it this way before.”  Too busy building in numbers, then buildings, programs, run by procedures, and financed by budgets, it has gotten far away from Acts 2:42 as it can.  Once the church saw a need and the members met it, by the spirit guiding,  today we have youth groups selling products to raise money, special offerings, and those who professionally raise money for church projects under the guise of missions.  How many ask for money telling you without it they will fail?  And they are to be trusted telling people to trust God?  When they don’t even do it themselves.  A few years back I talked with a well known and popular man on the radio about ministry.  His first world of advice was about finances, and when I told him what God had shown me, he got upset.  Seems scripture in truth without the aid of society just wasn’t enough for him, he was so used to programs and finances, he neglected the spirit in his equation.  Where God guides he provides, Jesus even told the disciples to just take with them what is in their pockets, he would provide.  No special offering for Peter, or spend a day with Paul for only $99.98.  I never heard of an offering basket at the exit when 5000 were fed, or Jesus charging for a speaking engagement, or a book signing tour.  Yet money has taken the place of security, bringing insecurity when taking the place of spiritual guidance.  And we all can become victims in our daily walk.
How many work smart, using all the abilities God has given, instead of going on a fiscal crusade?  I was surprised when working at Mercedes Benz how busy they were the last week of the year, so many companies had budgets to spend or lose them, so bought high end cars.  New Year’s Eve sales meant F&I people working into the new year, they were that busy.  Do we look at our walk with Jesus like that, do the things of life consume us rather than being spirit led?  Do we see the potential God has for us in what he has provided, or do we think we can do better?  Take money out of a decision and see how it effects the decision.  You may find that you have horribly run rampant over morals in your need for money, Jesus tells us to seek him first, even our money says “In God we trust,” but do we trust him first? Ask yourself, are you tithing to get under the law, or giving with a pure heart as God instructs?  Those who give never do without, those that hang onto it never have enough.  Think outside the box, trust the spirit.
Advice found in Proverbs 3, “do not lean on your own understanding.”  Or experience.  Remember the church epitaph, for in each situation God has a way, and an answer for each problem.  Think, a concept not heard from the pulpit, consider the things of God, listen to the spirit, and find growth and success.  Money is not the root of all evil until the love of it takes over.  The answer to your problem is not more money, for if money was the answer, the government would be successful.  You have to live within your budget, they don’t.  Both coal and diamonds are carbon based, the diamond formed under pressure and with a greater value.  Who ever put a ring of coal on their fiancee’s finger?
God gave us the ability to think, to figure out based on what we have been given.  He started by giving us his son, and we are to pass on that love to others, not burden them financially.  Take money out of your relationship with God, and see what you have been missing.  We would not have the Corvette today if Zora had worked harder and not smarter, and within his budget, we might all be driving Priuses.  Use the talent, ability, and opportunity God has presented you with today, and watch as his answers are the best.  No one ever sang a love song about a Prius, how many car songs can you name? She’s real fine my what?
Big motors in small bodies, parts available to the common man.  A good equation for success.  God has given us his spirit.  Which just may be the answer to why there is no replacement for displacement.  There is a substitute for cubic inches....and it ain’t a Prius!
love with compassion,
Mike
mattew25biker.blogspot.com