We were going to hook up for dinner with a friend when in Durango last
month. Until a last minute phone call, and the plans changed. His truck
wouldn’t start, and if it did wouldn’t idle, and he was still at the dealer. So
we rode over, we had time, and he was right. He had had an oil change, and a
fuel filter change on his diesel, and the shop owner had his scanner on it
reading for codes. He was convinced it was a bad injector, until I asked “was
it running OK before the filter change?” At first the tech resisted, he had
never seen a new fuel filter bad right out of the box, but when we insisted, he
put in another new filter, and the truck ran fine. All his schooling hadn’t
taught him what my experience had, go back to where you started, and retrace
your steps. Hopefully he would keep this experience handy if ever needed
again.
Years ago my FJ1100 had trouble starting when hot, would occasionally run
rough, and the shop I had trusted it with told me it needed a head job. At
70,000 miles, it was worn out. But that didn’t satisfy me, so I called an old
friend of mine, who was a tuner for Cal Rayborn, one of the stars in “On Any
Sunday.” After a few questions, he called me a few names, and told me what to
do, on the phone. I had installed a K&N air filter, and a Supertrapp
exhaust. Wanting more sound, ask any Harley rider, if its loud it must be fast,
and added two discs. “Clean your air filter, and take out the two discs, it is
running too lean,” came the advice from a man with a Castrol sticker on his
wooden leg, and it started right up, and ran fine. So good that when I traded
it with 80,000 miles on it I got full retail against the new bike. You cannot
teach experience, you must live it. Once again, go back to where it ran before
you fixed it....
Another friend who is a lifestyle Harley rider, had put a lot of commuting
mile son his bike. A combination of mismatched parts, it was loud, but not fast
and worn out, an ex-rental bike. His mechanic was an old Harley mechanic, who
rebuilt his engine, and a few other things for over $7000...and my friend
bragged how fast it was, so much power it would spin the tire when the throttle
was opened up full. When I finally agreed to ride this killer beast, it was
faster, but his interpretation of wheel slippage under power was a clutch that
was slipping, giving the illusion. Of course because I have such a dim view on
Harleys, I couldn’t be right, after all what did I know...I rode sport bikes!
And his tech had been working on Harleys for 20 years. But when he asked the
tech, he found out he had not replaced the clutch plates, he only did what he
was told to do by my friend, and they were worn. After replacing them, the bike
ran much better, but felt down on power because it didn’t slip. His ego would
never let him admit I was right, or worse yet he was wrong. And I am sure the
tech advised new clutch plates, but when you know it all, this is the price you
pay. Maybe giving credence to the old Harley joke, “95% of all Harleys sold are
still on the road, the other 5% made it home.” Another example of it ran fine
until I fixed it....
The Bible tells of a time when all of man’s heart will be revealed, that
can be a scary thought. But thanks to forgiveness through Jesus Christ, mine
will be found clean. Forgiven, and spirit driven, yet I still can make the
worst mistakes right up there with anyone. We can appear so cool on the
outside, yet be falling apart or rotting on the inside. I have also known
people over the past who live by the creed “God says it, I believe it, that
settles it.” And I avoid them. Leaving the interpretation of scripture up to
themselves, they are so shallow as to drown in their own stupidity. And soon
false doctrines arise, and they become unteachable. Hard hearted, bitter, and
missing out on the blessings of God. No matter if it is right or wrong, how
they were taught is the only truth, and they suffer for it. When questioned can
quote scripture, generally out of text, and can legitimize any sin based on what
they misinterpret. For their own good. They are like the man who knew it all
after one ride, and never rode again, it scared him, so all motorcycles are
unsafe and scary. Ever had a bad time in church? Know anyone who has? And
that was the reason for rejecting Jesus? Don’t confuse church and God, Jesus
saves, the church, well its record is less than holy. And we are the church!
That should be proof enough.
So knowing Christ is more than teaching, or a religious experience. It is
personal, and you must do it alone. Another man I know ministers, but never
alone. Without a group he fails, trying to do it on his own. Within a group he
can hide better, yet tells many about his personal relationship with Christ. We
do need the church, but without the spirit to guide, we are on our own,
fulfilling scripture that reminds us “everyman does what is right in his own
eyes, only God looks at the heart.” The soul of man, our souls. Influenced by
the spirit, when you fall where do you turn?
We need to turn back to Christ, who never left us, and will accept us as we
are. He just doesn’t want to us to remain that way, he has better things for
us. But when we fall back only on scripture, or teaching, or the correct verse
for each situation, without the spirit guiding it is really all about us. From
clutches to filters to Supertrapps, good advice only works when taken. So if
you are of the God said and that settles it club, know this. When Jesus healed
people, sometimes he spit in their eyes, sometimes rubbed dirt in them.
Sometimes all it took was a touch of his robe, sometimes not even being present
he healed. Sometimes he appeared to show up late, ask Martha and Mary, and
weeping himself when they missed the teaching of resurrection he had planned for
them with Lazarus. And sometimes we die, the ultimate healing, and in Christ we
are made new again in heaven. Even the disciples were questioned by the angel
at the empty tomb, “why are you sad, the one you are looking for isn’t here. He
is risen.” Just reading the Bible may teach you, experiencing Jesus first hand
in the spirit, reveals the mysteries of scripture.
Loud pipes don’t save lives, the stats have proved that. Wearing a helmet
is safer in a crash, again proven. But at least in Jesus we get the choice to
choose, not a law that is forced and enforced against us. I love the sound of a
good exhaust note, but loud is annoying. And I wear a helmet. And I choose
Jesus, knowing he loved me first. And knowing heaven awaits when I die. But
for now, I seek the experience of knowing Jesus more than knowing about him. A
simple question I ask my flock,”why do you study for a test?” “To pass,” and
then you forget. The test is over. But the experience of Jesus Christ you
never forget. If the experience works for motorcycles and trucks, you need to
share it. Your testimony. Scripture tells us we are saved by the word of our
testimony and the blood of the lamb. Jesus did his part, are you doing yours?
100% of those saved make it home. May your ride be as successful.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com