parable of the road less traveled

For the last 17 years a neighbor of ours has been watching us leave for weeks at a time on our motorcycle rides across America.  Following us on social media, his dream was to retire, buy a Gold Wing, and ride it across country.  Which he was finally able to do, after leaving his bike here when moving to Virginia and flying back for his dream ride.  I was excited for him, I love to ride and travel the back roads, and he expressed a common desire, and said he would get with me to plan his ride.  Which he never did, instead relying on his GPS, and somehow missing all of the great places in America there are to see.  Using his GPS it carefully avoided such places as Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, The Million Dollar Highway loop, Route 66, and the hill country of Texas.  Instead he saw I-40, 17, 10, and then 81 on his way home.  He got to eat at GPS sponsored fast food, use exit numbers for direction, and bragged of his 680 mile day, thinks he is an Iron Butt Rider, somehow missing the whole purpose of why we ride, we take on many forms.  He will talk to his non-riding neighbors who will think him a nut or a hero, but if he encounters anyone who actually tours, he will come up short.  He saw America one interstate at a time, cruise set, and missing all the country has to offer for a motorcycle rider.  This upsets me, as he has the time and money, a rare commodity having both at the same time, and thinks he saw America, and is a touring rider.  Close, he rode the freeways across it, and close, he did it on a motorcycle, but fell short of becoming a real touring rider, settling for a GPS version of America, the shortest distance between two points the aim, and being cheated on his experience.  He had all the same resources available to him I do, plus my experience, plus some long distance rider friends I introduced him to, yet he chose to do it all by himself.  Sadly I had called this, as I have seen guys like him whose pencil has an eraser at both ends just in case, but never have to use it because they never stray from what the internet tells them.  That bastion of truth once again ruining a great ride, and sadly he will never know it.

I used to minister with a man whose whole Christian experience was inside the church.  Saved at church, taught at church, tithed at church, doing all the church things that he was told make him a Christian.  But when called to go out and minister, he found the real world much different than the safe walls of the church.  Told to go out by a man hiding behind a pulpit, who had never done it, his church experience with Jesus caused him heartache and heartbreak on the outside.  Why weren’t the poor he had signed up to minister to interested in tithing, missions trips, and Christian how to books?  Why weren’t they excited about the latest KLOVE worship music, and why weren’t they immersed in a Bible study as he was?  I think he tried to do it, but on his own, and finally I had to ask him to leave.  His success in ministry was based on numbers, ad sadly after a few years when he left, a week after a man who attended faithfully to our group asked “what was the name of the other guy who used to come with you?”  Maybe a fitting epitaph for a dying Christian, who only knew Jesus within the four walls he called church.

We find Jesus spending most of his time on the road, praying,teaching, healing, and ministering as needed.  He didn’t go to church, but pointed out we are the church, and while it is great to gather, the real blessings occur in everyday life with him.  When what you have been taught can be applied.  I wonder how many confuse Jesus with the church, and think they are saved because they go to church?  How many churches don’t talk abut sin and repentance, but concentrate on personal growth by staying within the church?  An interview on a college campus years ago with students asked about the church gave some rude, but true answers.  But about Jesus they had mostly good things to say, but equated him with the church, so stayed away.  Like my rider friend falling short of the truth of riding by following a GPS and taking the safe route, going to church religiously, and choosing religion over the truth of the gospel, Jesus Christ.  Knowing Jesus saves you, and going to church nourishes you, not the opposite.  Only Jesus saves, man doesn’t, programs, procedures, and processes don’t either.  Yet many settle for a Sunday visit, albeit reluctantly,and miss out on all the blessings, all the joy, and all the Jesus offered.  A ride less taken, like a quick trip across America, some relate to Jesus the same way, a quick trip on Sundays, living the church life of a Christian, but never taking it to a lost and dying world.  And if they take the church instead of  Jesus, they are bound to fail, as homeless, hungry, and thirsty, lonely and abused need love now, not a message or sermon.  For long after the words are forgotten, the action will be remembered.  We all can recall the ministry of Jesus, but we don’t recall all the words.  Yet we don’t follow his example of doing, just of saying.

Evangelism is not inviting someone to church, just like first aid is not taking someone to the hospital.  Many gather around tables and share Jesus, many go out and feed the poor in his name.  While others just serve where needed, and see a side of Jesus not offered via religion.  I want all of the Jesus I can get, and he comes in many forms, written, oral, and action based.  He works through us, within and without us, our choice.  Some are happy with a mainstream Jesus, I choose to travel the road less taken with him, to get away from religion and to spend more time with the man who is also God incarnate.  Don’t read this as anti-church, just anti-religion.  I want more of Jesus than the First Church of the Freeway, more than a freeway relationship when I ride. I hope you do to, for his offer still stands today.  The question is where do you stand?  Where will you stand?

A fancy set of leathers and Gold Wing don’t make you a touring rider, even a little plush animal on back won’t help.  Getting on at one exit and getting off at another is no way to travel.  If you only read the same verse over and over you get a dim view of Jesus, if all you get is the pastor’s take, you are cheating yourself.  Many avoid the road the good Samaritan took, but that is where the action is and was.  That still small voice is still calling to you to go out and be a blessing, consider the parable of the road less taken for your next ride, or your next ministry adventure.  An empty barn stays clean but makes no profit.  Where you ride and how tells us more about you than the bike you ride.  We are the church, it’s about time we started acting like it.  Something to remember next time you are asked “where do you go to church?”  Your answer can be “we are the church, and we go where the Lord takes us.”  And if on two wheels.....with not a freeway in sight....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

living in the days when only Harleys and elephants have trunks?

Some things that we take for granted are disappearing before our very eyes, with no mention of it.  Kids in school aren’t taught to write cursive anymore, cannot count without a calculator, cannot tell time from a watch with hands, and don’t know any phone numbers when their i-pod crashes.  But the one I have noticed lately is the car trunk, with Ford pulling out of autos, and SUV’s and minivans the norm, soon we will have a generation who doesn’t know what a car trunk is, or was.  Maybe it started with the hatchbacks, subtly allowing the rear seats to fold down, station wagon owners never had one, and today where do you hide your valuables after shopping, where no one can look inside to see?  Trunks were marvelous things, my Grandpa’s Cadillac filled with hidden toys for Christmas, a refuse for Mafia enemies until the river, and a place where your friends could hide to sneak into the drive-in, another word gone.  Seems at one time the manufacturers bragged about the size of the trunk, race car batteries were moved there, and all makes even had that same spattered paint interior, with the plaid plastic mat, unless you drove a Caddy or Lincoln with carpet, even a spare tire cover.  Car designers made it a design issue, and how many of us tried to fit in it when we installed the rear speakers to our 8-track in the package tray.  Another item missing and forgotten.  From big trunks of Cadillacs to the joke of a trunk in Mustangs, they served us well....and are soon to be forgotten.

If you remember the first Corvettes were trunkless, but soon had one.  Only to disappear, then go the hatchback route.  Long hood, short trunk styling, not the same three box styling of today.  But glimpses of the missing trunk are showing up, with hidden compartments for goodies, even hiding a storage area under the rear seat of an SUV.  But with no trunk comes the problem of where to put the spare, hide it underneath where it is forgotten until needed, and low on air, call AAA.  Some cars have the inflatable spare, a mini-spare, or no spare at all.  Run flat tires, no jack needed, maybe the disappearing trunk touches our lives more than we think.  But also with the trunk disappearing, no more round headed keys to open it, maybe I’ll just push the remote and go stare into Theresa’s Mustang for a  minute, just to remember, of course. Of course if you ride, none of this matters...

But on today’s big touring models, trunks are a big deal.  Harley offers two styles, pizza or ice cream.  New Gold Wings whole rear area, aka trunk is detachable.  So maybe those of you who treasure trunks will have an alternative in motorcycles.  But for the most part trunks are a thing of the past, swimming trunks are now board shorts even, and soon we will be back to the days when only elephants had trunks.  And motorcycles weighed less than 500 pounds, gas was under a buck, you could look forward to eating at McDonald’s and you could tell time by where Mickey’s big hand was.  The day he goes digital, Walt Disney rolls over  in his grave....

But mostly a car trunk was a place to hide and store things.  Believe it or not the Bible speaks of this place, and calls it the heart, or soul.  We tend to buy and look at the exterior, never looking inside, where the we spend most of the time while driving.  But God sees things differently and looks at the heart of man, and judges us accordingly.  Many years ago a pastor and friend from Texas told of his early Christian days as a struggling pastor.  He was all about Jesus, and his contemporaries were all going to TV and radio.  From humble beginnings they had become enamored by all the things money could buy, even joking how the programs were great places to make money in the name of Jesus.  Some billionaires with their own jets, a huge following and somehow losing the vision God had given them, their hearts being exposed for who and what they are.  My friend walked away before getting carried away, and lives a great life, free from the burden they created.  God sees the heart, the motives, and desires.  Just ask a couple who promised Jesus something, to garner attention and praise, then did otherwise.  Ananias and Saphira were active in the early church, and when other were giving up evil things, or donating goods to meet the needs of others, they joined in.  Like the man who stands up and donates money anonymously, they made a big fuss about themselves, and when they didn’t deliver, as per their plan, God smote them dead.  As a reminder to a young church of the sins of the love of money, and how jealous he is for us to have all the things of God, not of the world.  In their heart, they thought they could hide their evil in a trunk, but God had the keys and saw inside.  Today many things are taught about Ananias and Saphira and money, when it was really about a condition of the heart.  God warns us the heart is deceitful, what things are you hiding in your trunk that only God can see?

But this year we are seeing evil being promoted and exposed like never before.  Even inside the church where he is separating the sheep from the goats.  The goats the church folk who in Matthew 25 did all the right things to be seen, but inside were rotten in God’s eyes.  From pastors to lay people, Jesus sees the heart and asks us to repent.  To his way of living, not a denomination or pastor’s.  To be forgiven, for the day is coming when all sin will be revealed, when our sin will find us out, and if not saved, not in Jesus, it will be destruction.  You may have a trunk load of money, but it won’t get you into heaven.  Jesus even made it plain when he said if you do things for public adoration, you lose the blessing in heaven.  Many things appear good, but may not be holy.

So let the spirit unlock the trunk of your heart today, let the fresh air of the gospel in.  Check the air in the spare, maybe clean out all the junk inside.  If you have one, a trunk that is.  The rest of you, your SUV sin is already being exposed, you may not know it.  Tinted windows make us wonder....so repent while you still can.  We are living in the days when only Harleys and elephants have trunks, don’t hide your light in one.   Don’t you, a trunk load of blessings is waiting for you....for the heart of a Christian is also a place where God inhabits.  Only he has the key...won’t you let him in?  Don’t let Jesus be just another thing that comes and goes.

With only one question to consider, both VW’s and Corvairs had engines in the rear where the trunk should be, is it still considered a trunk if it’s in the front?  It is on an elephant....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

when it comes time to sell

I cannot count the number of vehicles I have bought and sold over the years.  From buying my Dad’s 1969 BMW 1600 two door, and my 1972 Honda CB350, the list would go on and on.  Some were forgettable in ownership, and I bet some would be left off any list because of memory fade, brought on by nothing memorable about them.  Some lived here for years, some were a one night stand.  But for each one sold, there was also a reason I bought it in the first place, and that too varies. Some bought to ride, some to hopefully be an investment, and some to help pay the bills.  I once had a 1976 Suzuki GT380 overnight, bought from a customer who decided he didn’t like to ride with less than 500 miles and a month old, passing it along to another friend and pocketing $100, big bucks when $100 was weekly take home pay.  I don’t remember ever really making money on selling them, most were bought with the idea of riding them, their intended purpose after all.  With some memorable sales remembered...

I had my 1985 FJ1100 for over 11 years and 80,000 miles.  Looking back it always needed something being fixed, but I loved it, until I bought one of the new Triumphs, a 1996 Trident.  Riding off I wondered why I sold my old friend, but at 1.3 miles from the store, knew why, this bike was better in every way, and soon the FJ was gone from my mind.  Selling my CB350 after five months and 6600 miles taught me about depreciation, losing $200 from the purchase price to what  I sold it for.  Big bucks in 1972.  But I also broke even on my 1975 Z-1, trading it for my 1981 KZ750 to my dealer friend who wanted it, like new despite its 77,000 miles.  Which I sold a few years later and bought a 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650, saving an extra $100 when flipping the coin with the dealer and winning.  There are many more I remember, and yesterday a new memory was born.

I traded in my 2017 Triumph Bonneville T120 for a new Street Triple R.  Art the dealer owner and I have been friends for years, and despite the trade in values being poor, gave me an honest price, and I jumped in.  And all was well until the financing, which he had quoted, and the payment went up by $15, a lot for the rest of my life, the terms of the loan.  So I had to turn it down, until he told me wait, and would go an extra $500, losing $1300 instead of $800.  He claimed he will make it up somewhere else, but I know Art, he won’t.  And I also know God, who had a hand in the deal....

I have ridden so many press bikes, that riding a new bike had lost a lot of its thrill. But somehow yesterday I was excited again, but willing to pass on the deal if it wasn’t right for me.  Too much buy for love, and too many hot dog dinners in the past.  But I wanted what God wanted,  and seriously wasn’t bummed, just asked for “his will to be done.”  It seems the moment I was going to pass on the deal, all things changed, and I knew the Striple would be mine.  I had been willing to pass on lust, getting things my way, and letting God negotiate for me.  I was willing to submit to him in a simple thing, allowing him to prove that he is all things in my life, and even times when I feel a loser, when the situation seems overwhelming, he allows it to show how much he loves us, and is control.  If we let him be God!  Some may argue against, but I knew God had something to do with the deal.  And even Art was blessed seeing me get my new bike.

El Shaddai, he told Abram was his name, God Almighty, the one who is sufficient.  Seems after 13 years of waiting for God’s promise of a son, and being 99 years old with a wife who was barren, most would have given up.  But Abram, mentioned in the Hall of Faith didn’t, based on who God was, not on any magical faith, waited.  He had learned by failure when trying to walk in his own way, now he was being shown that God had control in all things, turning his futility into success when allowing God to have his way.  If only we could recover from self and trust the El Shaddai today, to trust Jesus instead of just praying in his way, trying to negotiate with our Savior.  True he saves, but he also leads, as the great shepherd over his flock, but is also Lord of all, over all things and all other lords.  King of kings and Lord of lords.  No one, no name higher, and God himself.  If he can save, why don’t we let him lead also? 

The New Testament tells us we cannot serve two masters, for we will love one and hate the other, depending upon if we get our will or not.  We are content serving Jesus and ourself when things go our way, but yesterday I was reminded how he is part of all my life, even down to finances about buying a new bike.  Little things and big things, and face it, motorcycles are a big thing around here. But only Jesus saves, and is Lord here too.  If only I could remember in all things to give him the preeminence as he asks. 

In our lives we will be asked to serve God, or serve ourselves.  As a self service society we are used to doing things ourselves, even Sinatra sang “I did it my way.”  But the true joy of knowing Jesus comes when we can say “I did it his way.”  When you feel the pressures, feel the drama coming on, step back and give it to Jesus.  He may say “stop this , or “start this,” but the sheep, us, know the master’s voice, his, and should obey.  And in obeying him, he is cutting the ties that bind you to the world....

So when it comes time to sell, consult him first.  Even a loss can be a lesson from him, just wait and see how he turns it into a joy.  In all cases, he wants to be El Shaddai, for he is worthy, he is capable.   Based on his spirit, not your feelings.  He warns against doing things based on emotions too.  Jesus is as practical as he is spiritual, the ultimate caterer feeding 5000 twice, the ultimate boater, saving the disciples in the storm, and yesterday in San Berdoo at a Triumph shop.  Reminding me you may ride a Triumph, but only in him will you triumph....which ought to end any argument about Jesus and his riding motorcycles.  And yes, this is one deal I will not forget.

love with compassion,

Mike

mattehw25biker.blogspot.com

summer meant the smell of canvas

Summer meant no school when we were growing up, which meant no homework, no going to bed early, and lots of time to play.  In our neighborhood we were into building forts, borrowing wood from the new homes they were building, and then hanging out in them.  Even sleeping out in them with our buddies, making the summer nights special.  I was the youngest and nerdiest on our street, and was able to sleep out in Joey Coleman’s big tent with some of the older guys.  After begging to sleep out with them, it was having your parents OK it, and then off to the Sweet Shop to spend  your 15 cents wisely for candy, as it would have to last all night.  Maybe score an Archie comic, for Betty and Veronica, as the older guys, Kenny was a sophomore and Joey in eighth grade knew all about sex and girls.  And on some special nights would sneak a Playboy from under their dad’s underwear drawer for them to look at, giving me an occasional look, as I was too young to look, I was told.  But as it got dark, and the Coleman lantern light got dimmer, it was time for their stories, all about life in high school, maybe they would let me sit on Joey’s new ten speed, someday, and the ghost stories.  Seems every area has its share of ghost stories, and in the dark they could be pretty scary.  Never knew if they were made up or real, this was reality, and often times you were glad the older guys were there to protect you, just in case.  In the dark, even birds sounded scary, trains sounds seemed to be heading right for our tent, and when bored, time spent looking for UFO’s in the sky.  With my imagination on high alert after the stories of girls, ghosts, and things that went bang in the night.  With only the smell of the canvas tent to remind us that it was summer...the best time of the year.

But sometimes we would wander the street with our flashlights, and how everything was so different, and quiet.  Even the old grouchy neighbor’s house was quiet, but somehow we knew he was spying on us.  Every car that went by within hearing was out to get us, and sneaking back unscathed had us falling asleep.  Only to awake a few hours later, exhausted and tired, with whoever’s back yard we slept in, their mother making us breakfast.  Learning at an early age, no one cooks as good as your Mom, all eggs aren’t sunny side up, and toast can be burnt and eaten, showing manners we called it.  Then home before eight o’clock, shower and off to bed.  Later when meeting your friends at the park and bragging about your night out, you were the big guy, where as last night you were the little guy.  From Playboy girls to ten speeds, to ghost stories and Archie comics, you were the man.  Wiped out, bed coming early, except when you got the call, “hey, do you want to sleep out tonight?”  And the sudden burst of energy was all it took to be ready.  Sleep and rest would have to wait, it was summer, and it only lasted ten weeks, and their were new stories to hear, old stories to be retold, and more arguments over who would you pick, Betty or Veronica?  School was out for summer, long before Alice Copper made it a hit song, sleep would have to wait for when school started.  Summer was borrowed time from life, and no better summer nights were spent than those with your older buddies, sleeping out in a tent in a back yard.  If you are nodding and smiling you know what I mean...

We didn’t know it then, but God was always watching us, and watching out for us.  Still is today, which should be a scary thought for some of you.  But not true from God’s perspective, as he is love, and in him we find no darkness at all, or his wishing to scare us.  Funny how we enjoyed being scared by the ghost stories, the stories of the unknown, and about the responsibilities of growing up, but we are never afraid of God.  We may fear situations, fear evil people, but Jesus’ claim of never leaving us or forsaking us means he is always with us, no matter what dark path we go down.  To guide us out, to experience the evil he delivered us from, and to see his light, so we can live in him.  Yet many read how we are to fear the Lord, and how it is the beginning of wisdom, like being scared will make us better.  I was scared too often of tests in school, of bullies, of being caught, I didn’t want God chasing and scaring me too.  But here the word fear means respect and revere.  Just like I envied my older friends, and held them in a high esteem, God wants us to honor him the same way.  To be worshipped and given the proper place of honor, as the creator of the universe.  To worship and honor his son Jesus, who is the way back from sin, and who loves us as we are, and his spirit, who guided us to Christ, and is given to us to indwell in us forever.  We are never alone, yet many tempt God, don’t trust or believe him, and show  him no honor.  Some, fools the Bible calls them, deny him altogether.  How easy it was for us to believe in ghosts, to look for UFO’s, but to deny the truth of Jesus Christ.  Yet God is patient so that none of us perish.  Trust, honor, and obey, things we are told to do to our teachers, police, and the bigger guys, yet we fail when it comes to God.  Aren’t you glad he doesn’t look at us like we look at him?

Many a scary story is told in the Bible, some so gory they would not be shown on TV.  But in each case, God gave the enemy a chance to repent, to honor him, to fear him and respect him.  Yet too many stories end for them in total destruction, with no more chances to change.  They have been given the evidence, but chose the lies instead.  Choosing misery over joy, stress over peace, and Satan over Jesus.  Two men born of the same father, yet one blessed, and one cursed.  Ishmael, the one born out of sin, would be a man who would cause dissent among men, he would turn his hand against man, and they would turn their hand against him.  His mother had been told to return to the circumstance that threatens you and I will rescue you, and she does, claiming that God is the God who sees all.  Ismael chose a different route.  Yet his brother Isaac, the one who was promised, would find the blessings of God and be tested, yet found worthy.  Both the same choices, but both with different choices made.  And today God still calls us back to him, return and I will restore you.  Submit and honor me, and I will bless you....

So he has given us summer, to enjoy with friends, to show off his handiwork, to show how he revives all things that winter had taken the life from.  To extend the day so we can enjoy it more, and give us the night skies to show how infinite the universe really is.  And how it is made for us.  Consider the fact he is God, shouldn’t that be enough to worship and adore him?  Those summer nights in the tent made me feel cool, because the older guys allowed me hang with them.  It was only later when I became the older guy that I too enjoyed how the younger ones looked up to me.  Somehow when I heard the noises in the night, I knew they would protect me.  Today I can say I know God the same way, he takes care of his kids.  Jesus calls us friend.  I have chosen Jesus as the better way, now if I could only decide between Betty, or is it Veronica?  Some of us never grow up...

love with compassion,

Mike

mattehw25biker.blogspot.com

help me Ron! Duh?

I first met Ron when he and his family moved here from Pasadena.  He was a very successful insurance agent making six figures when that meant something.  His family lived like it but Ron was becoming bored, and his family wanted more.  As in income, as in money.  So he sold his profitable business, and bought a quickie oil lube franchise, using all his cash to get started.  Based on the franchise promises, he would be rich again soon, but one thing stood in his way.  Ron knew nothing about cars or their repairs.  Within a year most of his finances were gone, he was behind to his vendors and mortgage on the shop, and ended up losing everything.  Including his wife, who had some strange religious beliefs.  She had been healed by a famous evangelist, and followed him religiously, and he had become her knew savior, and with Ron losing everything, she left him too, but didn’t divorce him, hanging on so he would have to support her and his son, who she had turned against him.  The last time I saw him was when I helped him moved his few suitcases of belongings into his room he rented in a house.  After renting here a huge house in the custom she was used to.  He should have seen it coming, but his boredom with success and her greed fueled by bad religion led him to ruin.  Help me Ron!  Duh?

I must admit I hadn’t thought of him for years, but while waiting inline for lunch last week, and watching a franchisee folding under pressure, it all came back to me.  This guy was trying to prepare the orders,  the girl had walked out in while serving them, and they were out of meat, salsa, beans, and Coke Zero, every time he called back to the kitchen for help, the answer was “five minutes.”  The guy in front of me started to get upset with the situation, but as the more we watched the futility, we became sorry for him.  Just looking at him you could tell he had been successful once, but probably not with people.  I would label him CPA material, who looking at the potential jumped on it.  Never knowing to be profitable fast food must be fast, and restaurant owners work long hours with low pay.  Bet they didn’t mention that at the franchise meeting.  And I thought of Ron, and how many like Ron had sunk everything into a business that would leave them empty and vacant, and losing everything.  Even Subway will confess it takes two stores to make a living...and the dream becomes a nightmare and goes on.

Sara and Abram both had different views of the promise God provided.  Abram trusted God, while Sara took the promise and thought she had to do it herself.  So many Christians get led astray like this, thinking it is something they have to do to please god, to make him love them more, to make them successful.  To carry out the dream or vision he had given them, only to end up in defeat.  An emptiness sets in as they flounder, and soon more meetings, more processes, procedures, and programs are added, with interest at first, but then they begin to dwindle.  Studying God’s word, but forgetting his words, “unless he builds the church, they labor in vain.”   Hanging on to the false words of going out witnessing, they fail to be a witness, and soon their actions differ very little from an atheist.  As the ones who they try to witness to avoid them, you hear “why should I become a Christian, they act no different.”  With too much truth there to overcome.  If only we listen to what Jesus had for us, and let his spirit guide us.  But we are more Sara than Abram many times, and pay the price.

Sara wanted to fulfill God’s promise of the countless people God promised, so told Abram to have her maiden Hagar, who gave him a son, thinking he was the one God promised.  Only to give birth to Ishmael, who would fight with his brother Isaac, the one God had promised.  Ishmael becoming the Arab people, Isaac the lineage to the Jews.  One promise, but one direction, self directed, not spirit driven, and look at the results even today.  Two brothers who couldn’t get along as kids, leading to two races who cannot get along today.  One race bearing fruit, chosen as promised, the other a bastard, not as promised, but as Sara chose.   We read these things shall follow them that believe, maybe the first words sent by telegraph apply, “what has God wrought?”  Instead of what has man wrought?  Sara never set out to fail, but by trusting God, not following her husband’s faith, it led her to ruin.  Selfishness instead of selflessness.  Abram was found righteous not because of who he was, but because God’s righteousness, and his trusting him.  As he would prove again and again, even a trip where God asked for his son Isaac. 

We call ourselves Christians, but do we trust Christ?  Do we act like Jesus?  Do we trust in him, or by some religious experiences claim his name?  When we come to realize it is not who we are, but what he has done, and who he is and not what we have to do, we grow in his love and mercy.  Grace grows from the relationship, God shows mercy when we fail, we walk in his grace when we obey.  One is our way, the other his. 

When Ron had spent his money on his franchise, then it was up to him.  Unexplored territory, and with no guide he was lost and lost everything.  We have come a long way from when a good mechanic would open his own shop, or a good cook would open her own restaurant.  Today you pay for the franchise, and they will teach you how to fix cars or cook meals.  Jersey Mike’s are everywhere, did you know they are owned by a guy named Pete?  Who gets a cut from each sandwich you buy?  Buying all your supplies and meats from him, to provide a consistent quality, but also feeding his piggy bank.  Whoever sells the franchise owns the franchisee.  Who ever we give our actions to owns us.  You cannot serve both God and man.  Many have lost it all via franchises, sadly too many have lost it all via religion.  From which Jesus came to save us.  So you can say “help me Ron!” And hear a “duh.” Or follow Jesus, and find his promise fulfilled.  It isn’t always all about money, but when we follow the money to where it leads, we see where our hearts really trust.  After coming to Christ, the rest is up to him, just like when we were saved.  We save no one, and only Jesus saves.  Jesus paid it all, so let him do it all.  Alive in the spirit, a vitality that only comes from God.  You will hunger again after eating, and your car will always need service.  Franchises bought on a single promise.  Are you willing to risk your future on a franchised hope or the blessed hope?  Who we depend on will show.  Too many have strayed from the faith when they should have kept their day job.  Jesus never fails.  Sara proved it for all to see, “no, you can’t have it your way.”  But you can be in the way.....

love with compassion,

Mike

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