Outside of Joey Coleman’s Dad having a 1960 Dodge Pioneer, I never really
took notice of Dodges, Plymouths, or Chryslers. Oh, a few of the neighbors had
then, but they were mostly four door sedans no car crazy kid would admit to
wanting. Maybe it was the styling with the backwards fins, or the rear view
mirror on the dash. The weird shaped steering wheel, aren’t they supposed to be
round, isn’t it a steering wheel? Or maybe it was that horrible noise they made
when starting, the Chrysler crank. I can still hear it in my darkest
moments.....and so I have never owned one. I know Petty raced them, and I have
visited a Viper skunkworks in the next town over, but that something is
something I cannot put my finger on. I love the old Jeeps, sold them in 1977,
but when AMC became Chrysler, even my take on Ramblers via Pat Ronco, in the
Indian Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Nash Rambler dealer faded. I was with
Mercedes Benz when they were raped by them, and we all talked of the day a
Pentastar would be found instead of the wreath and laurel. But funny, the only
thing of interest to me was the fratzog, the old hood ornament on 1960 vintage
Dodges. Go figure....and today as the middle name in FIAT Chrysler America, I
rest my case. Where are Walter P.’s Three Musketeers when we need them?
Now looking at new cars over the years, a few times I was attracted. Late
seventies Jeeps, but they were pre-Chrysler. Nippy had a 1970 Dodge Dart with a
340 and three on the tree that was pretty quick. We learned to speed shift it
if I slammed the lever up and over from the passenger seat. The Imperials with
the free standing headlights, cool design. But even then the talk of high
quality engineering could not overcome the lack of quality control. Even
watching Mecum Auctions I lose interest in them, with one exception. 1968-1970
Road Runners. 440 Six Pack, bench seat and Torqueflight. And a large credit
line for all the gas I will use doing burnouts over the quarter. Maybe the
simplicity of them, I wonder how a fratzog would look on the hood? Could I swap
a GM starter? And of course there are the MOPAR jokes, Move Over Parts Are
Rusting. I have almost cried over wanting certain cars, big boys do cry, but I
never cried for a Chrysler. The only difference is those who owned them and
did....
I have no faith in Chrysler products, maybe I am like the disciples who had
no faith in Jesus and his resurrection. After being seen by many who did
recognize him, and revealing himself to the eleven, they still didn’t believe.
Jesus even calling them stubborn. He was expecting them to be excited to see
him, hadn’t he given them the inside track on other things, yet here in the most
important event in history, the first and only time someone who was dead came
back to life, they argued. Then rebukes them for their unbelief. Ever had a
dead person come back to reprimand you, they did! Even Thomas wanted the
physical proof, “let me touch his wounds, then I will believe.” Either the
reports were true or they were fake news. Long before CNN fake news rumors
abounded, but when confronted with Jesus, the truth, it changed their lives. It
was only years later when Peter wrote that not seeing him you believe, and that
even today not seeing him you still believe. Which fills us with joy and
inexpressible hope. Seeing they believed, yet we are told that not seeing him
and believing is better. I can testify to both, and yes, he is real. And yes,
like the scriptures proclaim, we need to trust a trustworthy account.
Yet many deny the fact that he still appears to people, sharing the same
response as the atheist. With the atheist many times having more faith in what
he believes. When we quote “it is written” is it just the accounts we want to
believe, or all the Bible has to say? Religions are filled with statements of
disbelief, some claim he doesn’t heal? Really, when was the cutoff date? Some
deny the cross, look at the seven places he bled. Look at the history of
crucifixion. And here, the most important component to his testimony, rising
from the dead, theologians argue. Which ought to make those of us who do
believe and trust cry out. Scripture is filled with eye witness accounts, if
they were not true, God would not include them. But the fact is that all of
them cannot be contained, as Jesus proclaims no library could hold all the
testimonies.
So when you consider your own gospel, don’t discount Jesus. All of him. He
has granted us the privilege to be called sons of God. To be forgiven, to be in
heaven eternally. True he isn’t here physically, so he left his spirit to
confirm him. Available to all who believe. And even to the atheist......for
even if we are quiet the rocks will cry out. The evidence of Jesus is
everywhere, and revealed to us. Elvis may have left the building, Jesus never
left us!
Funny today how the Chrysler cars that never sold well, the Cudas, Hemis,
GTX, and Road Runners are now bringing big bucks. Due to low numbers produced.
Jesus was seen by over 500 people who knew him over 40 days. How many suffered
ridicule for telling how they saw him. Or denied seeing him, or thought they
saw a ghost? Need proof, ask Thomas. He wanted to touch the wounds to believe,
just the appearance of Jesus brought him to his knees and declared who he was.
He knew him. That still small voice can still be heard over the Chrysler
cranking, he can still be seen in the rear view mirror on the dash, and unlike
most of their styling, he never goes out of style. Looking back we were warned,
looking ahead we should know. Like the collector cars, if you didn’t like them
the first time, you get a chance to now. If you didn’t like Jesus and his
resurrection the first time, you really won’t like his second appearance.
Religion like styles change, Jesus never does. I never cried for a Chrysler,
Jesus has shed tears over you. With no fratzogs harmed in the process. And to
that I say “BEEP BEEP!”
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com