I knew my cardiologist was cool when I saw he had a copy of Rider magazine
in his waiting room. And was addressed to him. So many waiting rooms are
filled with the trash of People, Time, various parenting magazines, and other
periodicals that no one would subscribe to, but must endure while waiting 20
minutes past their appointment time that they were told to arrive 15 minute
early for. So even though I get it, I still reread it there, and hope to
encourage him to have even more mags about cars and motorcycles. I admire him
for allowing my blood pressure to rise a bit before checking it, and helping me
remember why life is worth the riding.
As a young gearhead, Car and Driver, Road and Track, and Motor Trend were
our monthly supplements. Years before we could get legally behind the wheel, we
knew how Max Hoffman had imported BMW’s, and why the 2002 blew David E. Davis’s
mind. Via reader polls, not advertising dollars influenced Cars of the Year at
Motor Trend we saw what others drove. And Road and Track was bold enough to
print the truth about problem areas in cars, warning us of over zealous dealer
practices, parts gouging, and used car pricing. It was the enthusiast magazines
that filled our reading time, and although the better liars would claim they
read Playboy for the articles, we read the car mags for the articles, and the
pictures. And at one time I subscribed to all the above plus Road Test, Sports
Car Illustrated, and some other names that have vanished into history, it is the
writers and their writing that kept our attention. If only our teachers had the
subject matter available that we were interested in, how different learning
would be. But with the writers of my youth, came the stories from my youth,
writers such as David E. Davis, and his racing escapades. It seems if you live
a boring life you cannot write about exciting ones. An article from Warren Weith
about a welder straightening his sports car frame after a wreck, influenced my
thinking outside the box mentality. I had trouble keeping up with Henry Manney,
but could relate with his article about an aunt of his and her VW bug. Patrick
Bedard who actually raced at Indy, and others from the 1965-1975 era who were
brave enough to put honesty in words, and put them together to form sentences, a
favorite was from Brock Yates, who died this week, “how thoughtful of British
engineers to mark everything L-U-C-A-S that might fail.” It took men like my
early literary heroes to show their rebellious side, to tell the truth, in the
face of advertising dollars, to want us get out and drive, to wander from Ford
and Chevy to Opel and Lotus, to FIAT, and Alfa Romeo. To take a simple commute
and turn it into a driving event. To let us into their insane and unsanitary
world of truth. To make us think and ask questions....rather than keep up with
the Kardashians. 0-60 times were important, but so was cornering g’s, the right
brand of oil, and why first on race day might sell cars, but not the ones you
would want to drive everyday. Somewhere they were hidden from us, and these men
brought them to light. Even if that light said Lucas.
I have never heard the Bible referred to as a book of rebellion, written by
a group of rebels, inspired by a God whose very son was the ultimate rebel. But
if you think about it, the truth is the Bible spoke out against the times, the
sin, the political correct, and the lies of the day. And is contemporary enough
that it is still good reading today. Moses who wrote the first five, what a
rebel. Think of his resume, what teacher in their right mind would suggest his
books for a curriculum? David’s credentials weren’t much better, but yet God
found him a man after his own heart. Jonah, who defied a direct order from
God? What was he thinking? And any prophetic book, warning about sin and
separation from God and its consequence, a sure black listing today. And the
New Testament isn’t much better. John the anarchist telling us of the future in
Revelation? How about Paul, one of the earliest and most powerful enemies of
Christ, writing most of the New Testament? Here we have a who’s who of rebels,
who stood up to the accepted morals of man, and who defied logic by telling
about Jesus. From first hand experience. Paul, who wrote of the holy spirit,
not from what he heard, but from a personal experience. A testimony you cannot
argue, because it is his and he lived it. Moby Dick or Jonah and the whale?
Moses and the parting of the Red Sea? How about the exodus for a travelogue?
Joseph sold into slavery, and we think today’s youth have it rough? They did it
all without the internet, a cell phone, or i-anything. Their influence was the
spirit,who then gave the same spirit to the readers to read it, and get a depth
far beyond words on a page. They were there, and we can be too in the spirit.
These Bible stories can rival and surpass any stories of our youth. And give us
the encouragement to share our testimonies with others. Just like Paul and the
other rebels of the Bible did. Consider yourself a rebel? If you don’t maybe
you need to, to standup for the gospel and not cater to the church or man’s
demands. Be bold, but loving.
These stories from my youth that influenced me were bench racing put into
text. To be read and reread. To make us want to go faster, better, to enjoy
life more, and get out and live. Some study the Bible, I rather experience it.
Some look at pictures, I rather be in the action. Remembering the times, the
people, the places, and God with us. Who gives life to life. Any one who comes
to Christ is a rebel, I want all of Jesus I can get. Which in some Christian
circles makes me a rebel among rebels. As the ultimate rebellion is not leaning
on religion, but on the spirit. To be rebellious enough in love that you live
Jesus, rather than just saying it. Think of how excited you get when your
favorite magazine arrives each month, then imagine how excited the churches in
Corinth, Galatia, Rome, Philippi, and other cities were to get a letter from
Paul? Gathering the congregation together and hanging on every word. Words
that provoked thoughts, questions, and desiring more from God than they had been
offered. It pointed them to Jesus, and stories, books about him that no library
could hold. Stories of you and him. With your own Dewey Decimal number.
So pick up the Bible today and read about Jesus. And find yourself in it,
and when the rebel in you confronts his truth, act on it. Led by the spirit,
Jesus will come alive in your life. Stories of our youth, no matter how old or
young. We judge magazines by their cover, don’t make the same mistake with the
Bible. Is your life in Christ one you would want to read?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com