whaddya mean your wife don't ride?

Early Tuesday afternoon found us pulling into Oklahoma City at the bombing site.  A very somber and sobering place, our Torches Across America ride took us there again, and the media coverage was there to meet us.  I was being interviewed by a local news station, and when she was done, asked “can I speak to you and your wife?”  And so we met up, and she was excited about us riding, but also about Theresa riding with me.  She was a newly wed and her husband rode, and before marriage got counseling.  Where the counselor encouraged them to ride together, as it would make their marriage stronger.  “Do you?”  I asked, and she broke out into a huge smile, “yes, wonderfully so, and she was right, we are having the best time riding together, and it keeps us close.”  Any bets you never see their motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrist’s office?  We need more marriage counselors like that!  And I can vouch for testimony, as from the first night Theresa and I met, from all the trips we have taken, and the ones planned, down to the weekend rides and rides just for lunch or to the beach, riding keeps us strong.  An unspoken element of the marriage vow, “to ride in good times and bad,” I wish it would be part of any bikers vows.  I offer our over 300,000 miles ridden together, and her 50,000+ on her own Bonneville with me as evidence, 39 years strong. So whaddya mean, your wife don’t ride?

Many times when riding, men will talk with her, and ask “can you talk to my wife about riding?”  The answer is always no, you talk to her.  Tell her the good times she is missing, and maybe a short ride is in order.  Think of why she doesn’t ride, would you sit on that fender cover you call a seat?  Maybe she isn’t interested in wheelies, or riding with a group of men.  Do you date alone or in a crowd?  Maybe helmet head deters her, until she meets up with a group of women who have it, and wear it as a badge of honor.  Perhaps you scared her once, and she never wanted to be scared again, do you ride your own ride, can you adapt it for her?  Start with short rides, let her pick out some riding clothes, attend a toy run or biker event, let her get introduced to riding as you were, assure her you are with her and not your buddies, we always hear the horror stories and the rumors, let her find out if riding together is for her, and you.  Maybe have her talk to other wives who ride, who are still feminine and ladylike, underneath all that leather beats the heart of a woman, remember?  It could come down to a simple thing, she doesn’t trust your riding.  Have you given her a reason to ride with you? 

How many woman have you ever scared off on your first date by thinking fear impressed them?  When really the wind in their face for the first time felt like 100, it always feels faster from the passenger seat.  Have you tried including them in your travel plans, many side roads mentioned by Theresa have turned into great finds.  Stop and drink a Coke, smell the flowers, take some pictures to show her friends, and when they cannot believe she is riding, inside she will see they are jealous, maybe even wishing their boyfriend or husband rode, or cared enough about them to ask them along.  Did you stop asking after the first no, do you even want them along?  With 10% of bike sales going to women, they play a big part in riding today, what are you missing by thinking only about your ride and not “our ride?”  For there is a romantic side to riding that cannot be explained in words.  It must be experienced.  You both don’t know what you are missing, whaddya mean your wife don’t ride? 

We read in Ecclesiastes the words of the wise, scripture, are like a goad, encouraging us to go where we might not otherwise go.  To paraphrase Captain Kirk, “to go boldly where no man has ever gone before,”  may be wisdom.  The words of the Bible can prod you along, through rejection and depression, through tough times and into good times, and give you a sense you are not alone.  It may be as simple as in the Lord’s Prayer, “not my will, but yours,”  asking but not receiving, talking but not listening.  It talks of scripture as a firmly embedded nail, when Jesus plants a scripture in your heart and you cannot let it go.  “These things too will pass,” and “let not your hearts be troubled,” two promises we are involved in.  Our choice to be happy or sad in the situation, for it too will pass.  Sometimes it involves letting go of old ways, and trying it God’s way.  When Jesus said “believe in God, then believe in me,” find comfort in it.  Knowing that scripture is that firmly embedded nail, like the ones that nailed him to the cross, his will was done that day, so that we may be saved.  Jesus hung in there in the tough times, and hangs with you in them too, do your actions tell others you know better, and pain and suffering are the better way?  Or have you tried it God’s way via his spirit? 

But we are also warned, that anything added to the words of he wise, scripture are damaging.  Maybe based on God’s wisdom, but not scriptural.  My words may mean something, but only when they are applied to God’s word by his spirit, they should cause you to seek Jesus himself, not as any new way to live.  The Bible needs no second versions, no rewrites, or religious dogma added.  It warns “of many books there is no end,” It is alright to reach out and search, but seek him first, then all other things will be added unto you.  Until we know that Jesus is the reason for our existence, all other books will only confuse us and lead us astray.  How many study books about the Bible, but not the Bible?  How many pastors advertise their book on their website?  Where is the ad for the Bible?  Where is the phone number, the email address to ask about what you have read?  God is available 24/7, he never sleeps, he never slumbers.  And when we read guided by his spirit, he gives insight, wisdom, and comfort to us in our times of need.  No other book can do that, none.  Whaddya mean you don’t trust your Bible?  These things shall follow them that believe, what do you see in your mirror?  Does looking back inspire you to look ahead?

Imagine if Adam and Eve rode, no chance for the devil to talk to her over the sound of a tuned exhaust.  Her husband would be right there with her, two can cover each other’s back, another reason Jesus sent the disciples out by twos.  So maybe riding together isn’t scriptural, but beneficial to a strong marriage.  And God wants your marriage relationship, as well as the relationship with him to be healthy.  To exercise it daily, to grow in him and with him.  Like any good marriage will when he is in it.  If your wife won’t ride with you, ask her why.  Then try to make her comfortable, the spirit is the great comforter, is your seat standing in the way of a great marriage?  Would you allow Jesus to sit on it?  Your riding, may be standing between you and your wife, or it may be the glue that cements it.  Whaddya mean your wife don’t ride?  You may be the problem...and the solution.

By the way, all the women I have ever ridden with who took a class to learn how to ride, had the riding mechanics down better than most men.  They know how to ride, to use their front brakes, to take good lines in corners.  Maybe you are afraid if she does, she will upstage you, and you might have to become a better rider.  Maybe if you put all the time into a ride together you put into Bible study, your marriage may grow.  But if you put all the time riding into God, I can assure you will grow.  When spirit led.  I rather be riding thinking about God, than sitting in church thinking about riding.  You can take Jesus with you, you know?  But  you have to ask him along, like you do your wife.  Maybe he is just waiting for the invite into your life and ride.  Until we meet him face to face, and we are led by his spirit, everything else will be of little value.  Riding more and enjoying it less....maybe you need a passenger along to share it with.  Reading more and enjoying it less, you need the spirit to guide you. 

It may not be your bike that needs the tune up, ask Jesus into your life, ask you wife along to ride.  And find like the newlyweds did, “oh wonderfully so, God is so right.”  Now, whaddya mean your wife don’t ride?

love with compassion,

Mike matthew25biekr.blogspot.com

found under the tarp in the garage

It was with mixed emotions I sold my 1978 Suzuki GS1000E.  I had it for six years, now it was someone else’s turn.  And the guy who bought it got a good deal, knew what he bought, and will appreciate it.  He is into older bikes, and will not expect anything out of it that it cannot produce.  He could appreciate the care it received, the new parts and the fresh rubber.  He could tell the condition went deeper than outer beauty.  He had to have it.  But yet other stories don’t end so well, as today many are getting back into motorcycling after being away for years.  Maybe they kept their old bike, hidden underneath the so called valuables in the garage, and one day decided to ride again.  So digging it out and cleaning it up, he finds the battery dead, the tires flat and cracking, and it needed a tune up when he parked it.  He finds himself surprised that it will only cost him about $1000 to fix all the things, and has to shop for a shop that works on old bikes, even the service manager is younger than his bike, the old store now replaced by a mega bike mall, where is the coffee pot and donuts and other guys he used to bench race with?  A stranger in a strange land he used to inhabit.  But he is persistent, and finds a place, makes the deal, and his bike will be ready next week, in time to ride.  But meanwhile, he needs to buy a helmet, the law now, another $200, and why not gloves and a jacket, and soon his $1500 bike has over $1500 invested in it, and he still hasn’t taken his first ride.  Add in the upgrade to an electronic ignition, the chain and sprockets that were worn, and soon $2000 of money in the eyes of his wife that she could have spent on a Michael Kors purse is gone.  Of which she reminds him all week...

But Saturday morning arrives, a friend drops him off, and he is asked “do you  have an M1 endorsement to ride?”  What?  He can be stopped and have his ride impounded because he is not street legal.  So he rides the two weeks until he can pass his test, a true outlaw in the states’s eyes, and gives him time to relearn how to ride.  40 years is along time, and in between the smiles and hassles wonders “why did I stay away so long?”  Finally after six weeks, almost $2000 invested, and too much time with his wife complaining, he takes off.  And it was all worth it, he now knows why he used to ride.  No Michael Kors purse, nor 401k will give him so much enjoyment and freedom.  And suddenly he is 20 again, out riding, making new friends his age who ride, and soon taking trips.  Maybe the best $2000 he ever invested, he used to feel old, now he feels young again.  He had gotten old because he quit riding, not the other way around.  And the Arai cuts out all the wind noise while riding, if only it worked so well at home.  To her just an old bike with bad paint, to him an escape route, a ticket to adventure.  Freedom he had forgotten about, and life renewed.  This time it was his turn...

Many of the Christians my age only went to Sunday School because they had to.  When we got old enough, we darted, never looking back.  And today, we know something is missing, and the lessons we learned then remind us.  That something was Jesus, we left him, he never left us.  So they look for a way back, into religion they call it.  But are looking for more, and often find less.  The small church is now a mega church, with so many groups and ministries they get lost in the shuffle. All they want is a little Jesus, someone to listen and who cares, what they get is repackaged religion, a new language spoken, new ways to worship, and an over abundance of teaching.  Learn this, memorize that, study for next week, and soon they leave again, unfulfilled, yet full of religion.  The spirit was calling, they answered, but got the wrong number.  Where is the Jesus they talk about?  Where is the forgiveness, the love?  Only the offering plate remains the same.  Pressure from a family member telling them “all churches are the same,” begins to make sense, but the spirit is still calling, they need his direction.  And God hears them, and answers.  They find a fellowship where they are welcomed.  Loved, maybe not understood, but accepted as they are.  And as the spirit begins to change their lives, others notice too.  They were that $1500 motorcycle under the tarp covered with trash, now they are clean and free.  A freedom never found before, and not found in education.  Only found in Jesus Christ, one to one.  Personal.  Forgiven, not perfect, and getting closer to God each day. On the inside where it counts, not on the outside where it is measured.  While some think the new wineskin is a new purse, they find they are a new wine in Christ, and they are the new wineskins in which the holy spirit dwells.  Suddenly the scriptures they had tried to memorize or study become real, as they live them rather than just learn them.  That Saturday morning ride becomes a Sunday ride also, but to church, and out afterwards. Enjoying the freedom only found in Jesus Christ, and realized in riding.  Sound familiar...what are you waiting for?  You could be living and riding in Christ today!

Riding didn’t change but it changes us.  Jesus never changes, but he changes us.  As we go.  The best things in Christ cannot be put into words, churches try, but only the spirit can give the peace you need.  The security you need, the forgiveness from Christ.  All the teachings and fellowship are shallow until you know Jesus personally.  All.  That bike under the tarp just may be your Bible calling out to you. Pick it up, let the spirit tune you up, recharge your battery, replace the soles of your shoes worn from life.  Let him renew your soul, and get out and live.  Taking Jesus with you everywhere, not just on a Sunday ride for an hour.  And finding more of Jesus than was ever taught in Sunday school, or from books.  Jesus is real, not just a study exercise, and like your own ride, it is personal.  Is yours?  Are you stuck in the Sunday for an hour trap?  Do you hear what the spirit is saying to you?  Listen to Jesus, not people, not even me.  The spirit will guide you and bless you.  Time to start living again.....

To some just an old motorcycle with bad paint under a blanket, to you much more.  Don’t keep Jesus the same way.  You could be enjoying all the blessings right now, you’ll never know until you do.  I hope the guy who bought my old GS1000 knows what he got...Jesus knows and knows your condition.  And will invest more than you think you are worth.  More than skin deep...one ride and you will be reminded.  Welcome back...it’s been too long....the road goes on, will you?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

The case of the Driveshaft Drumming Dilemma

When a customer would come in with a complaint of a noise, I would try to pin it down.   “It does it all the time,” and I would ask “is it doing it now?  Well then it doesn’t do it all the time.”  And could narrow it down to make my tech’s job easier to duplicate and diagnose.  A lesson learned and applied to myself one afternoon.  I was managing a small shop with four of us crazies.  We were hanging out from previous stressful jobs, and having fun, too much fun sometimes.  Charlie had a good shop but needed to be organized, which I provided and made him money.  Joe was a well know fabricator among SCORE racers and had helped build some championship trucks.  Harp was just looking to coast, as he was a renowned header builder, had worked on land speed record holding cars, and done wind tunnel work.  Even spent time working for Jim Feuling.  All four of us good at what we did, with one flaw, we loved to laugh and joke.  With one rule, “it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.”  And we were all fair targets.

Now Joe liked to tie zip ties on the wheels of Harp’s cart, making it not roll or fall over.  He was the master of using them, and I became his target one afternoon.  When leaving work, as I drove off in my truck, it started making a banging sound underneath, and I knew just what it was.  Charlie climbed under it, cut off the zip tie wrapped around the driveshaft that made the drumming noise every time the truck moved, we both knew it was Joe, but he had left before.  Remember, no one had lost an eye, yet.  So the next day I showed up early and told Charlie “just go ahead with what I do to Joe.”  And when Joe arrived, I had a sling around my neck, with my arm in it.  And was screaming at Charlie “I don’t think it’s funny, I know you did it.  I spent three hours in the ER having my shoulder put back in place!”  while Charlie tried not laugh, denying it in front of Joe.  Now Joe was the perfect mark, we were close and he was tender hearted, and upset to see me in a sling.  So I went on after Charlie, him standing there and listening when Harp drove up.  And listened.  Charlie kept denying it, I kept accusing, Joe stood there almost in tears, and Harp walked off shaking his head.  That joke wasn’t so funny.  A few minutes later we were all together, except Joe,when he came up and started babbling “Mikey I’m so sorry I did it, not Charlie.  I’m so sorry I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”  And we could no longer hold it together, and we all broke up laughing, even Harp who by now had figured out the joke.  I had gotten Joe back, no one had lost an eye, and I had gotten back at Joe.  In front of everyone.  I had pulled off the ultimate practical joke on maybe the ultimate practical joker, and we still talk about it.  And to this day, I know just what the case of the driveshaft drumming dilemma was all about.  Now about that noise you’re hearing.....does it really do it all the time?

Proverbs tells us “to not put your ear to the wall because you may not like what your neighbor is saying about you.”  It just doesn’t seem right that Solomon was so smart.  But I bet he was also speaking from experience as the king.  Too often we jump to conclusions, and put our foot in our mouths, wishing we could retrieve the words we just spoke.  Sometimes it causes damage to relationships that can go on forever, sometimes it is like Joe, we are sorry and repent.  But until we know what we have done is wrong, we may be sorry we got caught, or even hurt someone, but will do it again, because we have not repented, we have not asked for forgiveness, and turned from it.  Repent is an interesting word, a military term meaning to turn around and go the other way.  Stop what you are doing, and don’t do it again.  Not a retreat, but an admission of guilt, a relieving of guilt and the burden of it getting between you and God.  And that forgiveness is only found in Jesus, when we are prompted by the holy spirit.  We all like to joke, but some go overboard, to great lengths to hurt.  Even a kind ridicule can damage, and you don’t have to lose an eye before it isn’t fun and games anymore. 

Some are just sorry for the moment, some sorry they got caught, but true repentance comes from the heart.  A sign we have sinned, and don’t wish to repeat it.  I have two friends who lately asked me to pray for them, they are involved in sin and want to stop.  Both times I refused, “you know what you are doing is wrong already, it is your choice to continue.  That is not repentance, but your sin is between you and God.”  I love these men, but I cannot be their savior, or their conscience.  That is for the spirit to do, and he seems to be doing a good job, they both are seeking, but still avoiding the inevitable.  Which is to repent, and I hope they both do soon.  I can love and I can counsel, but I cannot change a heart or reunite it with God.  Only Jesus can do that...

So that noise you may be hearing is a knocking at your heart, the spirit telling you that you have a problem.  One that is standing between you and God, and that all it takes is knowing it is sin, repenting, and being forgiven.  Now at first I thought of seeking revenge on Joe, the chance just could not be passed up.  But he got the point, a least for a while, he loved me and didn’t want to hurt me.  But would continue on in his jokes until he repented.  Hopefully before he lost an eye, or a friend did. 

When Paul confronted the church at Corinth about their sin, he didn’t stay stop or you lose your salvation.  He said “stop, you are hurting yourself.”  He just said “stop.”  And enjoy the gift of salvation via God’s grace he has given you.  Let nothing stand between you and Jesus, like David acknowledged, “for I have sinned against both God and man.”  Remember whatever we do we are doing unto others, we are doing unto Jesus.  We all can become that victim at any time.  But that forgiveness is always available.   Seek it first today, let the spirit guide you and show you where sin is in your life.  And give it to Jesus.  “But I don’t do it all the time,”  but did you do it before?  Will you do it again?  Are you still doing it?  Only when your heart changes will your actions follow.  Without forgiveness both the joke and the sin are on you.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

curiosity-a word to the why's

If you are like most of us, when the hot plate of enchiladas is set before you, and told it is hot, don’t touch, you do.  We all do.  When told “don’t look behind  the curtain,” that’s exactly what Dorothy did.  Go into a 31 Flavors and you are offered a sample of Castrol GTX Almond flavor of the month, and you take a taste test.  First thing when you get a new bike, see how fast it will go.  The new car you get says it gets 40 mpg, the first thing you have to do is try it.  Remember as kids going to the carnival, and hearing the guy barking for the yak woman, and you just had to see if it was true?  Or the two headed cow?  When we were young with no beard growth, we were told to dry shave and it would grow in faster.  And when told stay behind the line, what do you do, lean over it as far as you can.  Why?  That’s why, we are curious, and want to know why we can’t go there, if it is really hot, or will it really go 140 just because the speedometer days so.  Curiosity is a word to the why’s, although it may not always be wise.  Curiosity may have killed the cat, it still can maim us.  All life is not why they ask “Why” on the Mickey Mouse Club.  “Because we love you” doesn’t always work in the real world.   Stupid hurts, and we all know why.

But without curiosity we would still live in the stone ages.  And living alone.  Or maybe with God, as part of Satan’s allure to Eve was curiosity.  She wondered, then wandered away from God.  Lot’s wife was curious, and turned back when told not to, she was curious.  Nicodemus was curious about being born again and what it meant.  And we are born curious, wondering if there is a God, who is this Jesus, and can he rally save me.  Curiosity may be the father of faith, it gets us wondering, which makes us ask, which leads to believing, and to salvation.  Aren’t you curious to see if you can do all things in Christ who strengthens you?  Are you curious enough to wonder if Jesus is the only way to heaven?  Curiosity is a word to the why’s, Jesus is the answer to the wise.  But it all starts with “I wonder if...”

But yet it can be dangerous without trusting, while just being curious.  We are warned in Ecclesiastes that whoever digs a pit may fall into it.  Just one step closer to see what’s inside and....and reminds us that all pits are not physical, but emotional too.  We are also told not to break down any walls, a snake may be on the other side.   Yet some just have to take the risk after being warned.  And then we are warned that splitting logs can be dangerous, and be careful quarrying stones, both are dangerous.  Maybe things we may not do today, but in the real world we will dig pits by our words, and fall into them.  We will just have to see what the do not open message on our email says, and suffer the consequences.  We may be forced with a decision, and choose to split the wood rather than leave it stacked for later.  Just because the ax was handy, and we were curious.  All things done without the benefit of wisdom, it was there, but curiosity won out over common sense, or listening to God.  We suffer from normalcy bias, a psychobabbel term meaning if it hasn’t happened to me it must not be true.  If real life terms, believing is seeing, no sight, no belief.  If only we approached Jesus with the same faith the guy pumping our gas has, when asked if your ride will really go 150 like the speedometer says, and you answer “yes,” and he spends all day telling of the 150 mph bike he filled up that day, by himself, he has bragging rights.  To a fantasy.  Yet we have Jesus, reality, and don’t have his faith.  Doesn’t that make you the least bit curious?

And we have bragging rights in Jesus. And God has them in us.  Remember his bragging on Job?  Is our walk brag worthy?  Or do you wonder if reindeer really know how to fly more?  The spirit is busy telling us “we need Jesus,” have you overcome curiosity yet and acted in faith?  Aren’t you the least bit curious about heaven?  Or are you more interested in the why’s rather than being wise?  Maybe we are like the man who wants to split logs, but doesn’t know the ax is dull.  Wants to dig a pit, like the underground forts we used to build, but doesn’t know about the sewer pipe below.  How many big rocks have you tried to make into gravel, and then can’t push the wheelbarrow out of the gravel?  The wisdom is available for all of these, and that is why we are given warnings.  But yet the spirit entices us to get more of Jesus, to go deeper, to trust him, and bear witness.  We look for the key to open the door, only to find we have never turned the knob to see it wasn’t locked.  We have more faith to turn on the light than to trust the Lord.  Even the Israelites wanted to return to Egypt and slavery, just because the food was better.  What is your excuse for your curiosity?  Can it be lack of faith, or just plain selfishness?  Laziness?  Or “nah, that could never happen to me, you don’t know what I’ve done.”  Which only makes us wonder what have you done? 

Jesus Christ, the message is there, the proof is there, the spirit is here.  Going off on our own just wears us out, tires us, disheartens us.  Bums us out.  Without the spirit guiding you will soon be worn out, soon tire, and soon become a target or a victim.  No wisdom in that, when Jesus offers you rest, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  While others still try and fail, in Christ you will succeed.  And open up the doors of heaven to all your questions.  To all God has to offer, rather than just what our minds can imagine.  So Jesus talks more of hell than of heaven, graphic warnings, and tells us “I would not tell you if it was not so.”  Today when your bike won’t start because the kill switch is on, the channel won’t change because the batteries are dead, or your friends are mad because of a joke you thought is funny but they didn’t, wisdom as warned us, we don’t have to be stupid anymore.  And we don’t need both a metric and standard Crescent wrench, when both are the same.  Which you knew, of course.  Turn to God, Nicodemus did, Eve and Lot’s wife turned away.  Abraham turned to him, as did Noah, and all but one of the disciples.  Pretty good company.  Still curious?  Stop and ask Jesus, and listen for his answer.  And be amazed at how many more questions you will have now that you know him.  And trust him.  Good answers require more questions.  Like did Adam have a belly button?  Or was Cain going to kill his brother as long as he was Abel? 

Is your life the pts because you fell into one you dug yourself?  Just because you wondered how much dirt was in that hole, forgetting it was a hole, with no dirt in it?  And blame the shovel?  Don’t be afraid to call a spade a dirty shovel, but realize it is useless until you pick it up.  Tools in the wrong hands can be lethal.  The shovel didn’t get you there, your digging did.  And potholes may be the pits, too.

Now about those flying reindeer....if bird droppings are messy...it may be a good night to stay inside, just to be safe.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com