In case you haven’t noticed, not even Harley Davidson and BMW are making
truly air cooled motorcycles anymore. BMW by adding liquid cooling to their
heads of the boxer motor now has been dubbed the “shower head,” all in the
interest of meeting emission laws, and creating more power, more efficiently.
Heat is power, but when not applied is wasted. Harley has also adapted similar
head cooling to some of its bikes, hiding it as best as they can. It was
something they knew was coming, and could have been applied years ago via an oil
cooler, which seems to be standard equipment on just about any bike today, but
“didn’t want to spoil the lines,” at the expense of a cooler running motor. You
think all that money spent on leather and chrome was wasted? Triumph has come
under some criticism for making its Bonneville line liquid cooled, but with
cooling fins on the engine, an oil cooler cleverly hidden, and a thin radiator,
they have pulled it off. Seems style and function can achieve an equitable
settlement when they work together. But for now HD and BMW skirt the issue, no
pun intended, sending desperately needed cooling water to the head where it is
the hottest.
I remember when the Suzuki GT 750 came out with water cooling. The Water
Buffalo as it was called was a great bike, but a two stroke water cooled motor
was not what the world was looking for. Later when it was added to dirt bikes,
the naysayers of how rocks will take out the radiator, and the extra weight will
effect handling, were found wanting as now bikes could run cooler, achieve a
more consistent, higher power, and run longer. Air cooling is on the way out,
and water cooling which at one time seemed way out, is now in. And almost
foolproof, my 2006 Tiger with 109,500 miles a testimony to liquid cooled motors,
and also to what is now primitive computer control. But a simple thermostat
still opens and closes allowing coolant to flow to where it is needed, simple
physical laws applied with styling and you have a winner. Or at least a worthy
competitor....
So while the engineers struggle to make a cooler engine, the stylists
struggle to make a cooler motorcycle. And you thought it was all about leather
and chrome. For what you see is not necessarily what you get. How many have
bought into a pretty face, only to wish they had listened before they bought.
Some seats may look great, but offer little comfort, or can turn into a torture
chamber in 20 miles. All that chrome still needs polishing, and so while some
polish, others ride. And air cooled motors need more frequent maintenance,
which means if you ride a lot, more time in the shop, more money for it, and
less to spend on the ride itself. Seems it is a no win situation, when it is
all based on the outside appearance. Except for the man behind the cash
register.....
Within Christianity, many a PR move has been made to boost church
attendance. From free tacos, to free donuts, to big sanctuaries with all the
latest hi-tech goodies, they seem to be competing with each other, rather than
the real enemy, Satan. Numbers are a big key to success, attendance and giving,
taking in rather than giving out, the norm rather than the exception. It seems
too many are running on hot air, and can use a little, or really a lot of liquid
cooling. Through out scripture water is used in reference to the holy spirit,
often times the last, if at all consulted. It comes down to the perception the
world is given, and many times we fall short. We go to be entertained, taught,
and socialize, just like we do to a show or movie. Imagine a review on Jesus,
“he packs them in again, must be the free admission, it sure isn’t an
entertaining show.” And yet how many services have you been to and been
entertained, but left empty. Maybe your life overheated by all the hot air
flowing, when liquid cooling is really what is needed. “But we’ve never done it
that way before,” the last gasp of many a dying church utters, refusing to
change, to obey the spirit, but rather being led by religion, denominations, or
religious men who do it their way. Not all churches are this way, but too many
are on the edge, some without knowing it. Where is the cooling effect of the
holy spirit when we need it?
It is there, and has been and will be. Just as we are saved individually,
the spirit is given individually. To all who call upon the name of Jesus and
are saved. Somehow the personal relationship that is talked about is never
applied, and rather than stick out and stick up for Jesus, it is easier to blend
in, to not be offensive, and to change God’s message to a social message, losing
its content along the way. But not offending anyone. But God looks at the
heart, and sees us as we really are, not the façade of Christianity, or the
fashion statement of acting like one. He sees us as we are, and offers us his
spirit to comfort, guide, instruct, and share with others, the gospel of Jesus
Christ. We are his church, and if we try to build up ourselves, or do it
ourselves, we fail, and so will the church corporately. It is made up of
individuals, lest we forget. Again that personal relationship...
Like a pretty cover on your Bible, it is what is inside that makes the
difference. Until you concede style for substance, all the crosses around your
neck, bumper stickers on your SUV, or scriptures on t-shirts will not matter.
When it comes down to being cool, it is Jesus who is really cool, and his liquid
cooling by his spirit the only way. Just how effective is liquid cooling? Some
years back we were invited to a private school’s junior high graduation, where
we each got a student and drove around a parking lot, while friends and family
cheered us on. It wasn’t hot, but one by one, the Harleys dropped out,
overheating. One chrome laden bike smoking as oil ran all over its chrome.
Another puddled oil underneath it, telling me “it has happened before, it’ll be
OK.” While I was on a Speed Triple, liquid cooled, and kept riding around. And
around. Maybe there is something to this liquid cooling after all....as I have
also had my FJ1100, air cooled, overheat in Phoenix traffic. So how cool do you
look, and how cool are you really? Being a Christian is the coolest, knowing
Jesus never gets any cooler, the water he gives will make us thirst no more. A
woman caught in sin at the well could get it when Jesus offered it to her, any
bets on what kind of bike she rides?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com