The old phrase “jack of many trades, but master of none” has become more
evident as I travel these days. As so called technology has advanced, it has
left behind the very people who administer it. Take for instance a recent need
for a quart of oil for my Tiger, no big deal, I knew what it needed, stopping at
a BMW shop, I asked the parts man for a quart of 10-40 synthetic. “All I have
is BMW oil, and I ‘m not sure if it will work in your bike.” When I suggested a
quart from his bulk oil in service, again not sure if it would work, and “I
wouldn’t know what to charge.” I thought the days of you can only use Harley
oil in a Harley were gone, I see they have moved over to BMW. I’m glad I moved
away from BMW too.....
Although certain parts are specific to any motorcycle, an oil meeting the
specs can be many brands. We find running Motul fully synthetic makes the bikes
shift easier. 110,000 miles on my 2006 Tiger is good enough for me. But yet I
have ridden with guys who only will use what the store sells, and pay too much,
or don’t get the best for their bike. Another case in point is while in
Pennsylvania I needed a front tire, it was going away faster than I thought, and
with rain coming, I figured now was the time. But calling around no dealer had
the Tourance Next I needed, so I went with an Anakee 3. I have them on another
bike of mine and like them. First thing I noticed is the bike now steers
quicker, if they wear like the old Anakees guess which will be my new tires of
choice. Sometimes you just have to bend and do the right thing. Or you can
stay at home and read all about my ride...
Too many shops today measure their success by their own success, rather
than the overall condition of the market. As the motorcycle sales drop again
and again, we now see mega shops, and in one case, I saw a Harley, Suzuki,
Yamaha store in Missouri, with six total Japanese bikes, all non-current, and
ones that never sold to start with. A Kawasaki shop in Raton taking on a
Chinese ATV brand to stay competitive, and a family owned Honda store in
Jacksonville, Illinois still alive, still a stand alone, but living on its 44
year reputation. And Honda’s product mix isn’t helping them much either. At
one time it was Honda or other, now it is Harley or other. Or BMW. Competition
is good for business, but is it good for motorcycling? Can a Honda tech change
a tire on my Triumph? Want names of those who can’t? Or won’t? Have we become
snobbish, ignorant, lazy, or do we just not care?
Talking with a pastor years ago, he commented how they had had a successful
year, they had met all their financial obligations. I saw his priorities
immediately. At one time we were Christian brothers, now too many churches are
competing with each other for attendance, and basing success on size, giving,
read that forcing you to tithe to them, programs within the church, and not
engaging in the world as Jesus instructed as to keep themselves pure. Maybe
that is why we see so many rich churches in industrial areas away from those who
need to hear and see the gospel in action. A friend who isn’t saved gives
discounts to churches, until a pastor in his Mercedes asked him for a larger
discount. Seems the light only shines on the congregation, his, and not on the
world. And as I ride around and see so many church building boarded up, I see
religion and its influence on man, yet I see so many smaller meetings in homes,
at lunch, or even in bike shops on Saturday mornings. The gospel is alive even
if the method God chose to convey it dead. If the church is only bragging on
what is going on within and not within the community it is in, it is dying and a
poor church. Jesus didn’t stay confined within the fours walls of the
tabernacle, he went out among the people, as did his disciples and their
followers. Many support only foreign missions, maybe they need to ask “how many
Lazaruses have you stepped over today?” Remember the rich man did, proud of
success, but a failure in God’s eyes.
It starts with us the individual, and we are the church. It isn’t about
social programs or even once a year crusades. It is getting out and living for
Jesus, being the light he provided and seeing him changing lives. No government
program can force morality on us, and money is not the answer to social
programs. If Jesus is not your main focus, if the spirit is not leading you out
into the communities to represent him, then you are like a group of pastors I
know, described by a guy who should know as “guys who like to swim, but are
afraid to go into the water.” Imagine the first church behaving like the church
of today? It is mercy God gives when we screw up, and grace he provides when we
walk with him, our choice. As your congregation dwindles in size or spirit,
maybe it time to come back to Jesus, we are not to become one with the world,
but to go out and be in it. Or you can run out of oil because they don’t have
your brand and just stay home like so many safe Christians do, telling each
other how good they are and what a good job they are doing. Jesus Christ is
alive and well, and his spirit never left. We turned away for better
things.....only to come up lacking.
Don’t let your headstone read “we never did it this way before.” When Paul
had a poor reception from the Jews, God sent him to the Gentiles, who received
him and the church grew. And that cheesed off the Jews, wasn’t god only for
them? If your books balance but your gospel doesn’t balance with God it is time
to fix the holes in your theology. The parable of the ten virgins tells about
the importance of having the proper oil and the correct amount. Oil represents
the holy spirit. If we checked your spiritual dipstick would any show up? If
there is any encouragement in you let it be of Jesus Christ. Some go to church,
some are the church. Some fill pews, some are a p.u.
And whatever you do, if you visit a church I know, don’t sit up front. You
see a family who is influential sits in the front row. The last time a stranger
did so....well let’s say there are dipsticks and there are dipsticks....if you
are judging your success by the size of your meeting hall, the cars parked in
the lot at church, how pure and clean you are, and how great your congregation
is, be careful, for it is dangerous to wake up a sleepwalker. For God so loved
the world, not the church, but the world, he sent his only son. Can you say the
same?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com