It all changed for BMW in 1974, prior to that they were great touring
bikes, referred to as”the Cadillac,” because of their smoothness and shaft
drive. Staid and reliable, no one ever stole a BMW, they even had a generic key
to start them, but in 1974 they went to a car type key, dual instruments, dual
front disc brakes, and 900cc, 300 more than ever before. With the R90S they
started the sport touring genre, and became the most expensive new bike ever
sold at $3430 in 1974 dollars, when a Z-1 cost half of that. But they also
borrowed a page from GM marketing by releasing a new product not fully tested,
let the public find the problems, and it had two major ones. The bolts holding
the flywheel to the crank would sheer, mine did at 16,607 miles when the Wildman
pushed the starter button. And also at 111 mph, the bike went into a violent
death shake, which went away at 112. Accelerating through it was scary enough,
but knowing you had to go through it when decelerating was even scarier. The
physical forces of slowing down made it almost unrideable, more than one rider
got white knuckled following me as I slowed down, “Man I thought you were a
goner...” as I hung on for dear life. When I sold it after two years and 45,000
miles, the new owner swore she had never been over 100, and would be careful. I
never saw her or the bike again, I can only wonder....
A lot of praying went on at 111, and before and after. But I also learned
there is a time to pray, and a time to listen. Too many are confused when asked
“what’s the most important part of prayer?” We are trained to ask, but yet fall
short of listening and receiving. God has shown me there is a time for prayer,
and a time for listening, and preaching and reading the word are part of it.
When in danger I don’t need more prayer I need answers, sometimes right now. In
a message to Jeremiah, he told them it was a time to listen, and obey, they had
fallen away, and needed guidance. But in listening comes judgment, which should
lead to repentance, which should bring us back to our relationship with Jesus.
Prayer can delay judgment or the answer, preaching or listening to the spirit
hastens it. We need answers, not more rote prayers, not long prayers thanking
God for everything when called for a specific reason. We need all of Jesus he
has to offer, we need to cease speaking and start listening. God knows before
we pray what we need and has the plan in action. Yet many drone on informing
him as if he was new on the scene. “OK God, here’s the situation,” at least as
we see it. Yet we go on and on holding back God’s answer, because we don’t
listen.
Judgment is not God’s final answer for us, but a way of love to bring us
back. For us to realize our sin and see Jesus for who he is, turn to him, and
repent. Too many fear judgment as if it were a hateful act, but for those of us
who have gone astray and been shown judgment via the spirit, it was and is the
way back. In our pain sometimes God must shout to be heard, to be taken to a
place where we will listen and hear the spirit. His answer more important than
our asking many times, for he knows the situation better than we do, or will
admit. When God showed Jeremiah the state of the nation, God allowed the nation
to fall, so they could see their sin and rebellion. To admit they had turned
their backs on God, to repent and return to prosperity. Just like I needed to
do at 111...
In our prayers we so often start them, but the spirit has never left us,
and is constantly telling us “we need Jesus.” In all our senses and spirit we
can see our weakness, and God provides the answer. Ever wonder where God is,
but really ever wonder how many times he called you and you didn’t reply? God
is patient and wants you back, not to ridicule, but to restore. To shine
through, to let you be an example to others of his love and mercy. Like the
prodigal father, he longs for our return. From any sin, from any situation, and
from any speed. What does it take with you until he can say “now do I have all
of your attention?”
So there is a time to ask, and a time to receive, not always in that
order. I knew going up I would have to come back down, but did it anyway
despite the danger involved. My riding has changed radically over the years,
the more seat time the better rider I become for all situations. Same with God,
the more seat time with Jesus, our relationship strengthens, and we converse
more. Read that, I listen more. The spirit has never stopped talking to us, we
stopped listening. And in love, God will allow us to fall as far as we desire
until we turn and return to him. Both sin and speed are fun or we wouldn’t do
them, but each has a consequence. The words of discipline or correction may see
harsh, but in the end they bring righteousness. My riding world changed in 1974
when buying my R90S. My forever changed when I met Jesus a year later. He not
only made me a better person, but a better rider, too. In one 18 month period,
BMW and Jesus both changed my life. MY R90S would let me down, Jesus never
has. Ask less, receive more. It is no coincidence that you can control your
mouth and your throttle hand, but not your hearing. Hear what the spirit is
saying to you today, no need to repeat Jeremiah’s message, “While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I
spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did
not answer. Jeremiah 7:13 “
Even in my Arai I can still hear that still small
voice....can you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com