comings and goings the year of my birth

1954 was a special year for a young couple stationed in San Antonio, Texas at Fort Sam Houston.  From Pennsylvania, they had spent time in Colorado, and now he was ending his tour of duty in Texas, when in May, their first and only son would be born.  Not even a blip on the screen anywhere else, but to them and me, that son, it was a great day.  Naturally I don’t remember much, I was too busy, but the world didn’t stop and rest for me that day.  Here are some events that filled the news that day...see if you can relate to any of them.

Joel Rosenberg, author and speaker was born, while up in the Motor City, Ray Parker had a Junior, who ya gonna  call, Ghostbusters?  Fernando Marcos weds Imelda in the Phillipines, I wonder how long it took to pick out shoes to wear for her wedding?  She would someday amass thousands.  The Unification Church was formed that day...who did they call upon?  Determine wins the Kentucky Derby in 2:03, with Raymond York aboard, bet his family was proud.  But that day also made ripples in the auto world in Detroit, as two of the last of the great independent auto makers joined together to form American Motors.  Nash and Hudson joined together forming them in a last ditch effort to keep alive.  The battles between Ford and Chevy had hurt them deeply, and we would later see both names gone in a few years, with the name Rambler carrying on until the late sixties, and saved by buying Jeep from Kaiser, who bought it from Willys-Overland, and finally dying a quiet, if not undignified death in 1987.  Somehow they made it that far, giving evidence to a Lido Iacocca quote, “you never put two number twos together to form a number one.”  And as a young CBS TV news anchor would later say, on his way to becoming the most trusted man in America, “and that’s the way it was, for May 1st, 1954.  Walter Cronkite saying good night.”  But elsewhere in the news of 1954, in sports one Henry Aaron takes over for an outfielder who sprains an ankle, and will retire some 755 home runs later.  In September Willie Mays makes his famous over the shoulder catch.  Marilyn Monroe marries Joltin’ Joe Dimaggio, and our nations turned its eyes to you, or maybe her.  A young Elvis Presley spends $4 in Memphis making a record, and soon will hit the charts, just after bill Haley and the Comets record “Rock Around the Clock,” and rock and roll will be born.  The words “under God” are added to the Pledge of Allegiance, and meat rationing officially ends in Great Britain, the war over almost 10 years.  Sports Illustrated begins, the last new Lone Ranger radio program is aired, now it’s only reruns.  And we never did get a chance to thank him.  Miss America makes it to the TV screen for the first time, and one Ho Chi Minh takes over control over North Viet Nam.  We send our first advisors....  Godzilla premiers, a month later so does the first successful human kidney transplant.  Burger King begins to have it your way in December, and the TV dinner is invented.  Who says there are no good places to eat?  And on April 11th, 1954, True Knowledge refers to the day as the most boring day of the 20th century.  If only we had the first color TV from RCA released a month earlier for only $1000, things might have looked different.  But for now, Father Knows Best would be and always will be in black and white.

What year was Jesus born?  Good question, but no exact date is given.  We know it was somewhere between 4-6 BC, due to historical records backed up by the Bible, but somehow we celebrate on December 25th.  A tradition that no one is sure where it began.  But more important than the day is the fact he was born, to a virgin, as prophesied hundreds of years before, fulfilling over 300 prophesies about him.  All without Facebook, or the Internet, and no one Twittering about it.  But we do know that Caesar Augustus had proclaimed a census be taken, and that all would go back to their home town to be counted.  Which led Joe and Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.  With  some historians and theologians agreeing on the time of year, that the census would be taken during Yom Kippur, when all Jews would return to Jerusalem, the Day of Atonement, the most holy day of the year.  Which may explain the crowds, no room at the inn, and his birth in Bethlehem, only a few miles from Jerusalem.  Which happens in September, or the time of the Jewish month of Tishrei.  How special is that, the savior born on the Day of Atonement?  But why December 25th, if he may have been born in September?  Just a thought to ponder, but consider this, the Jews believe life begins at conception, as do Christians.  As does God.  Fetuses are people, too.  Go back nine months to the end of December, and somehow the 25th make sense.  Now I am not claiming this to be true, but throw this one out for consideration, and suddenly it all makes sense.  And remind the atheist arguing over his birth date, that by arguing he is recognizing the fact he was born!  But no matter the date, we know Jesus came into the world to save us sinners, and I am so glad he did.

So as Christians we celebrate everyday with Jesus.  For each day is special when he is in it.  But the most important date to us is when we are Born Again, when we recognize Jesus for who he is, the Son of God, and we give our lives over to him.  Not an intellectual exercise, or even a religious event, but it is that personal.  If you are saved, you know what I mean.  If not, today can be your day of salvation.  You decide, as we are not promised tomorrow. 

So next time your faith and belief systems in Christ are threatened, by someone misquoting scripture for their own good, compliment them on their Bible knowledge.  Tell them you are impressed by it, and ask them a question.  You obviously read the Bible. what does Jesus mean when he says “you must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven.”  What part of must don’t they get?  What part don’t you get?

Going back nine months from May 1, 1954, brings us to somewhere between July, August, and September of 1953.  The time I was formed in my mother’s womb.  Not sure of the exact day, but looking back nine months it all may make sense. It does trying to pinpoint the birth of Jesus.  In those three months of 1953, who would know or who could predict the year to come.  Che Guevara, motorcyclist and revolutionary sets out on his famed motorcycle trip.  Robin Roberts’ complete game streak ends at 28 complete games.  Ted Williams returns to the Major Leagues after his second tour of duty in the Marines.  The Brooklyn dodgers win the NL pennant, while the St. Louis Browns move to Baltimore and become the Orioles.  And Make Room For Daddy premieres on ABC-TV.  Quite a few months, especially in the household of Jeanne and Jack.  If they only knew what May would bring....and how a son would change their lives.  Today God tells us how his son can change our lives.  A blip on the charts for some, but the day of being born again the most important day of your life.  Life begins at conception, we enter the world a sinner.  But how we exit it depends on who we say Jesus.  Not a big deal on earth, but he angels in heaven rejoice.  All of them!  Just some comings and goings on the year of my birth, 1954.  With a look back to 1953, and a look ahead to the future.  The Beatles once sang about a lucky man who made the grade.  I am so glad it doesn’t take luck, but a person, and I know him, and he knows me!  Now elsewhere in the news....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the best seat in the house

We once we taught in school that one day you too can be President.  The idea was that you can be anything you want, so dream big, and live big.  And I went to a school where it wasn’t if you went to college, it was which one.  What a disappointment it must have been when I went to a Junior college, only a two year school.  We would both repeat the same things the first year, essentially 13th grade, and it would only be the third where we would choose a major and pursue it.  Yet for many it would be like Bluto’s quote in Animal House at graduation time, “7 years down the drain.”  While many would learn and earn a good living based on Judge Smale’s advice, “the world needs ditch diggers too, Danny.”  Some went the route of hair school, I mean night school, some worked for their families, some got drafted and never came back, and some earned degrees, were successful, and lived the American dream, hopefully their own, too.  No one wants to fail, or even plans to, we all like to succeed, maybe even be #1, but not stepping in #2 as Rodney told us.  But many drew attention to themselves along the way, basked in the spot light no matter how dim, or how small the audience.  Just so they were recognized, made special for that 15 minutes of glory Warhole promised each of us.  No one wanted to bat last, to not be picked for kickball, to ride a small motorcycle.  We wanted recogniton, we were in it for the money, to be admired, but really all we wanted was the power.  Just to be better than you-what it was was pride.

There has never been a new church, or denomination that didn’t think it could do it better.  To not fail where others did.  Works that way in ministry too.  We all want to be big, to change the world, to gain the rewards and be able to boast loudest about what God has done, in us of course, and take a bow for it.  With God of course.  We all wanted to start at the top, and stay there, the best we could hope for was a gentle ride on the way down.  And so God has done some incredible things in my life and my ministry.  Please note, I said “God,” for many times kicking and screaming he has taken me places and blessed me, despite my desires.  There have been moments when the spotlight was on me, and I wanted it, only to be ashamed and humbled because it was Jesus who should have gotten the glory.  I can do nothing without Christ in me.  And one day I started taking God’s advice, “just do what I ask, and nothing else.”  And when I did the blessings grew.  I found out I could do more sitting in the back row, than getting attention up front.  I could lead more effectively from the rear, it wasn’t all about me.  I listened and I grew, and still grow today.  Photo ops are nice, but I rather pass and let someone else have a chance.  Advice given me when asked to speak at a rally one time was wise, even wiser when taken.  I was qualified, but was told “maybe there is another Mike out there just waiting for a chance.”  And there was, and still is, and we both were blessed.  Just by trusting God, and not feeding my ego.  Yet so many live for photo ops, a chance to speak, a chance to be the certain of attention.  And use God as the reason.  Look out I warn, the fall down is farther than you have risen up.

So I have found the best seat in the house of God is where he wants me.  I am happy sitting in the back, letting others get attention, and meeting people in the crowd rather than addressing it.  I get more done when God leads and I follow.  Even Psalms asks, “where were you when I decided where to put the seas and the mountains?”  And your answer is....? In our “it’s all about me world,” of today, the old Rolling Stones tune “Satisfaction” is even more true.  Keith Richards was a prophet?  Amazing where good advice may come from.  But with so many not getting satisfaction from God, they turn away, and their path leads to destruction.  Maybe a quick lesson from the Bible is in order.

The Pharisees were not only religious, but rich and powerful for their day.  Like so many televangelists today.  Before paying their tithe or giving a gift, they summoned trumpeters to announce their arrival, to show what great givers they were, to get them recognized and idolized.  All for the glory of them.  They wanted to make sure no one missed what a humble and benevolent giver they were.  But God wasn’t impressed, he still isn’t today.  Or tomorrow.  God looks at the heart, and sees the motive behind not only giving, but all we do.  So he refers to the poor lady giving all she had, less than two cents.  Remember her next time you want to stick in your two cents, she gave even less, and was blessed even more.  She loved God from her heart, can we say we love him for who he is rather than for what he has done?  Isn’t being God enough to be praised?  Yet she gave all she had, an example Jesus showed us.  If you think you are an equal to Jesus, let me get my 9” nails out, he told us to pick up our cross and follow, not be nailed to it.  It is all about him, not us.  That is why it is called giving, and is not required.  Why we should give with a smile and laugh at what we are doing, wishing we had more.  After all, tithing is only 10%, doesn’t even a lousy waitress get 15%?  So give, by donating more than money.  Serve at church, give of your time.  Mentor a young kid, shuttle old people to where they need to go, do it for God.  If you see something that needs to be done, do it.  And when someone asks, tell them what Jesus is doing in you, let him be your testimony.  When he gets the glory, you get the blessings.  And who couldn’t use more blessings?  And do some things where only your God in heaven sees, no photo ops, anything else you do wanting praise is like the oily rags I have for cleaning up spills in the garage-disposable.  Don’t be like the man who stands up in church and donates $1000-anonymously.  Give when the need arises, go where God leads.  Follow the vision he has given you, and let no one deter you, no church, no ministry steal it.  Let go and let God....yet so many ask “what would Jesus do?”  If you are a Christian, do you really need to ask?

God has never asked us to be successful, only faithful.  Which can be encouraging or discouraging, depending on the situation.  But in every situation, Jesus promises a way out, to bring you closer to him.  For you to be blessed, to give you a hope and  future to encourage others.  When in the hospital I had no control over anything, the doctors and nurses did what they had to do to keep me alive.  The only thing I had control over was my attitude.  How I wish it was more perfect than I remember.  So take the attitude of Christ, lower yourself, and follow him.  It eventually leads to heaven, but you can enjoy all the benefits now.  Just by obeying.  Give up the best seat in the house for a better one right next to Jesus.  Wherever you sit, whatever you do, do it with Christ in mind.  Who gave it all and promises a seat for you in heaven.  At the main table.  Don’t settle for second best.  God only has first class seats for you, the ones he chooses not what you would think.  Why would I want to be President when I can live in his kingdom of heaven forever?  And his service isn’t secret!  So let yours be seen only by him, the best story of the gospel you will ever tell is your actions.  Use words only when necessary.  Anywhere Jesus is is the best seat in the house.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the user friendly side of life

With life moving at the speed of technology, so much time is spent any more just keeping up.  When Mickey called to remind me to return the owners manual for the 2015 Tiger XCX I am riding, he wanted to make sure it goes out to the magazines with it, so they can know how to use all the latest electronic goodies on the bike.  Precisely the reason I requested it, so I could keep up.  And after reading it, so many of the buttons don’t quite scare me as much, and I can use the various settings and functions as they were designed-at least as interpreted by me. And there is the critical issue, the end user, and how he perceives things.  How I hate that word perception, but we have become a society of perception, making decisions based on polls, opinions, rumors and inuendoes.  Adapting the truth to fit the scenario, as opposed to making the scenario fit the truth.  A question came up years ago at a Coca Cola business meeting, “why do we work on the days of the smallest business, yet close on weekends when the volume is greatest?”  And why after all the planning, merchandising, and stocking do we leave it in the hands of a part time student paid minimum wage to see it all works successfully?”  Any takers?  While at Land Rover years later, again the question of the final personal contact was brought up.  Why after a company spends billions on engineering a product, spends countless hours training and equipping a sales staff, and training continually the service technicians, do we leave the final product in the hand of the lot attendant who drops off the car to the customer?  Who is left with trying to explain what was done to his car that day, and where his money went and why.  It seems no matter how well we all did our jobs in the process, it is the least paid, least prepared, and least knowledgeable left to leave the final impression, and leave the final perception of what was done.  No wonder no one really wanted to be a stocker or lot attendant.  Underpaid, underprepared, but also under appreciated....and the system goes on.

As I sat in the cafeteria at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Hospital, I had visited and prayed with a friend having a new heart procedure done, in lieu of having his body opened up to replace a valve.  The place was filled with countless doctors, nurses, various medical students and interns, plus all the administrative people it takes to make it all function.  And me.  As I ate my Hainan chicken, which was really good, so much for the hospital food perception, I sat across from a young Oriental doctor, his badge read Head and neck surgery.  I watched as he ate with one hand, and scrolled through his i-pod with the other, with a skill I wish I had, I used my traditional bib to keep my shirt from gaining evidence of what I had for lunch.  And covering up breakfast.  I thought of all the schooling he must have, and will have, and how carefully his hands moved, surgeons don’t get chances to fix their “oops” moments, his concentration told me he would deal with details as he cleaned his plate, rather skillfully, at least as compared to me.  But sitting right next to him was an older man, by the look of his hands I would say a doctor, and probably a surgeon also.  I watched with awe as he cut into his chicken on the bone with great skill, maneuvering the plastic knife deftly, getting all the meat and none of the bone.  Again great concentration, no useless motion, and the same skills used when eating his veggies.  Two surgeons, two different generations, two skill sets, only one has the advantage of years of experience.  The one thing that cannot be taught...but can only be earned through time.  Good or bad is up to the individual...and one final thought of my after surgery, great doctors and nurses, yet it was the volunteers, the nurse aides, the candy stripers as we used to call them that would leave the lasting impression.  Just like an older volunteer lady, Mrs. Nakano did when I needed help finding my way around yesterday, and she guided me with a smile.  She made my whole day user friendly, a side of life we take for granted, but without stopping to remember her kindness will be remembered long after the visit is forgotten.  A volunteer, probably trained, but you cannot teach compassion or kindness, it comes from within, from the heart, a term I do not use lightly.

Over the years religion has tried to make life more user friendly by instituting laws and legalism.  To make your experience a better one, but often to just make whoever is in charge’s life easier.  I think of the perception people have of church, we have all had at least one bad experience, and yet we keep going back for more, at least some of us.  I think of how God created us in his image, sent his son Jesus to reunite us to him, and then formed a team of 12 to go out and change the world with is message of salvation.  12 that I wouldn’t have considered, just look at their resumes.  Fishermen, tax collectors?  Dealing with pastors and church people, I see behind the curtains, and many times it ain’t pretty.  For they are faced with the same problems the end user of a car or drinking a Coke is faced with, the last impression that makes a lasting impression.  I see in churches where people with no training, no skills other than to volunteer are used as greeters, to answer questions after the service, when the pastors and staff stand up front, for you to come to.  Or duck out the side door ASAP so they don’t have to meet their audience.  Our Pastor, Ray has started meeting in the lobby after the service, where the people are, for many will not go up front, but all have to exit, and he can interact with them.  Field questions, and meet his flock face to face.  I like that, and the impression it leaves me is one who cares, one who wants to do effective follow up, ones who loves his flock.  Yet I refer back to the first disciples, and the disciples of today, of which I am one.  We are the stockers, the lot attendants of Christianity, the least skilled, with no pay, volunteering.  Yet we end up with the most contact, and I wonder why did God set us up like that?  What was he thinking that afternoon in heaven?

Yet who better to deal with people than other people.  Who better to care and share than the ones in the trenches, who have been there.  Who when inspired by the holy spirit will give the words as needed.  Who will show compassion when needed many times before it is asked.  To guide you to someone who can help, who can leave you with a favorable impression when you leave, wanting to come back.  Who when they don’t know will find someone for you who can.  Or better yet make you excited about Jesus, and seeking more from him.  We cannot dispense with our pastors, they are priceless, but they cannot serve effectively without us.  Just like God planned it...some with teaching skills, some with the experience.  Some who only read the manual, some who have lived it.  A team, better yet a family, where we all are needed.  So next time you feel like you cannot do anything, you can at least pray.  For your pastors, for me.  We all need it, and what loving words to hear, “I’ll pray for you.”  But don’t let the moment pass, ask to pray with them now, truth being the best perception of the love of Christ.  Be user friendly like Jesus was, show them the way in love.  Just like you would want to be shown...seems that is stated somewhere in the scriptures, at  least I think it is.  Taken to the only two things Jesus asks of us, “love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor also.”  The pastor’s words may be forgotten, but your actions won’t.  Funny how life works out like that.  Maybe God really does know what he is doing.

So don’t brag about all your Bible knowledge, or years studying, we aren’t interested.  Show us how much you love, after all we are ambassadors of Christ, and his representatives here today.  We all need the love Jesus has to offer.  Available through his people-us.  That smile, that hug, that attitude may be the final thing to make the sermon make sense.  To bring it all home, to make it real.  We need our pastors, but God designed us so we all are important, and how ironic it seems the least of us will leave the biggest impression.  Go love someone today....and show how much Jesus is the user friendly side of life.  I hope I was friendly yesterday at lunch, those doctors had no idea who they were sitting across from. Do you?  Now, how about a live demonstration?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the invisible man

Listening to you, I get the music
Gazing at you, I get the heat
Following you, I climb the mountain
I get excitement at your feet

Sadly as a rider I have heard these words told too many times, “I didn’t see him, he came out of nowhere, it’s like he was invisible.”  And sadly these words are spoken after a biker has gone down, hit by a car, driven by someone who wasn’t looking, wasn’t paying attention, was in too big a hurry to care about anyone else but themselves.  But yet the damage is done, and although they walk or drive away, our bikes are loaded on a flat bed with no respect, and we go off in the meat wagon.  But an even more accurate account of the story is simply “I wasn’t looking,” which implies guilt and a sense of responsibility.  But never on their part, so we should be looking out for those who aren’t looking out for us...why does it always seem to end up my fault even when it’s not?  I am reminded of a funny skit in the movie “Amazon Women on the Moon,” a parody of 1950’s sci-fi movies.  In it this man believes he is invisible, and every night takes off his clothes, they aren’t invisible, and goes to a pub playing tricks, moving glasses, making sounds, and moving objects that seem to be moving by themselves.  What he doesn’t know is everyone can see him, but they go on with the charade night after night, “blimey, the glass is moving by itself, must be the invisible man...”  and no one is amused, the man a joke, a big joke.  He is like the emperor who has no new clothes-he is naked!  For all to see! I wonder, maybe if we rode naked, would more people see us?  Who wants to be first?  Just remember to wear your helmet....”blimey, it’s the invisible biker!”

In the famous rock opera Tommy, Pete Townshend writes the immortal chorus “see me, feel me, touch me, heal me...”  It seems the deaf dumb and blind boy, the pinball wizard has some physical problems, but not as much as those who can see, but don’t.  How many times when we see a blind person do we turn away, not making eye contact, as if they could see us staring?  Same for those who are on crutches and wheelchairs, if we don’t look they don’t exist.  Just like the biker they just hit, or the person they stepped over, if I don’t see them, they don’t exist.  Invisible people, the world is filled with them, how many of us have eyes to see them?

Luke tells us the story of the rich man and Lazarus, a poor cripple, who waited each day outside the rich man’s home.  Begging just for a few crumbs to satisfy him,  yet the rich man steps over him every day, every time.  He knows he is there, but they have no relationship other than seeing each other, and Lazarus being stepped over.  Sadly we are all that rich man from time to time, and even the beggar, just looking for help.  So I ask, how many Lazaruses have you stepped over today?  People God has put in your path, who need you?  And you ignore them, making excuses, sometimes feeling remorse, other times disgust for them?  And even worse you know it.  These people aren’t invisible, nor are your actions.  Others see them, and may call you on it, what is your excuse?  Are you not invisible?  Ever wanted to be after being caught?  See me, I wish you hadn’t.

But the one person, the true invisible man, the one we call on daily, is always with us.  It is the person of the holy spirit, unseen by the human eye, but felt within our own spirit.  A person who we cannot deny, but cannot prove either.  Someone who is always with us to comfort, to guide, and to give wisdom, but who we ignore.  Whereas the world tells us “seeing is believing,” until you hit a biker, then you deny it, Jesus tells us “believing is seeing.”  And so many of us miss miracles, blessings, and the presence of God simply because we aren’t looking for him.  We are like the Jews who look for signs and wonders, and follow them, but what happens when the signs and wonders stop?  When they aren’t there?  Does that mean the spirit has left the building?  Elvis may have, Jesus never has or will.  Yet more believe in Elvis being alive than Jesus.  People still claim to see him, how many of us claim to have seen Jesus?  Or will admit to being in the spirit?  Just because you cannot explain it, or haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.  We need to seek the invisible man, to trust in the  holy spirit, and to listen to him.  We need to be reminded of Daniel in the fire, and how a fourth figure appeared in the flames-it was Jesus, via the holy spirit.  It takes the spirit to open the eyes of the blind...to see the invisible, and to trust a God who we can’t see, feel, touch, or hear, but we do.  Who we cannot define because you cannot use finite words to describe an infinite God.  Yet he leaves signs everywhere of his presence, and we don’t see them. 

So we need to trust the invisible man, the holy spirit.  If you are saved you know his voice, you know his presence.  “But how will I know?” you ask.  It is something so personal I cannot describe being in the spirit, but I know when I’m not.  The peace of Jesus, the comfort, the presence of him is not there, not because he left because I did.  I chose not to see him...

Today God will place at least one Lazarus before you.  Before you step over him in too much of a hurry.  Before you make excuses for not stopping or aiding, whether it be a homeless person, or the guy in the next cell, or the next cubicle, even the guy at the light next to you, stop and ask God.  Be ready for his answer, then act.  A smile, a hello, a listening to them, may be all God asks of you, and the blessings flow.  Or you may be reminded except for the grace of God go I.  Whatever your excuses, don’t fall into the group Jesus addresses in Matthew 25.  After bragging of all their accomplishments for him, he tells them to be gone, “I never knew you.”  And asks “where were you when I was hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, in jail, or sick?”  “For whoever takes care of the lowest one has done this to me.”  Want to have a drink with Jesus, a meal?  Take a homeless person to lunch.  Get them some clothes, welcome a stranger at church, do a hospital visit.  See the invisible man in others, and see Jesus like never before.  For God so loved the world, he sent his only son.  Jesus.  So look to the cross, who do you see?  It’s empty, but I see Jesus in the spirit.  The spirit God has sent to us until Jesus returns, and we see him face to face.  For now he appears to only those who can see the invisible man, but seek him.  He gives sight to the blind, maybe you are that blind man, but have 20/20 vision.  Just because you fail to see him doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist.  The rich man saw Lazarus, he never saw Jesus.   Who you see now will give you insight to who you will see forever.  Where your eyes go your life will follow.  Or your motorcycle.   I know where I am going, because I see Jesus. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

but never on a Gold Wing

“How can you be comfortable riding like that?” the Harley guy asks, feet in the wind, birthing style.  And I wonder the same thing about him.  “How can you ride without a windshield,” I’m asked.  “I do , my cars have them,” I reply.   “Your ride doesn’t have cruise or a radio, can’t pull a trailer, how do you tour on it?”  Again refer to my F150, a truck.  “And it even has a chain, aren’t you up to speed on the latest touring bike?”  I guess not, but it’s a good thing I don’t alarm easily.  Or ride the same way, for over the years in my touring, I have ridden coast to coast on five different bikes, and none had more than a bikini fairing.  Only two had a shaft drive, none had radios, two were sport bikes, a third had low bars, and the one with the most trips is an adventure bikes.  Five bikes, nine crossings, but never on a Gold Wing.  And I have had offers from well meaning friends, but have always passed.  From my R90S, to my FJ1100, to my Honda CB650 NIghthawk, to two Triumphs, an ST and my Tiger, I have ridden in 48 states, and three countries.  With no windshield, or other carlike feature to hinder me.  I have done it in 124 degree heat, flash floods, hurricanes, and freezing cold...but never on a Gold Wing.  I have done it in under 70 hours, arriving rested and well, and ridden over 100 miles in one hour.  I have done it with Theresa, alone, and with a group on Torches Across America, but never on a Gold Wing.  Now before you think I am prejudiced against Wings, or big touring bikes, I’m not.  But too many they think that anything without a fairing, shaft drive, a radio, and weighing less than half a ton is not a touring bike.  But to me touring is a state of mind, an attitude, not a type of bike.  It is a relationship between ride and ride, and the road.  Now at one time I thought BMW’s were the way to go, I’ve had five of them, but living in Ft. Lauderdale 40 years ago, while owning an R60/5, my eyes were opened.  A dishwasher at the A&W rode a 185 Honda with a Windjammer fairing, most often seen on larger bikes.  And took off from Florida each year for a month’s ride, his latest ride was Alaska and back-on his 185 Honda!  This man got it, he loved to ride, to tour, he just liked small bikes.  And my thought processes were changed forever. 

It was a big step for my friend Geno in 1976 to forego his BMW 750 for the first Gold Wing.  But he never looked back.  Stu adds to his collection when getting hit and totaling them.  Woody and Sandy have over 200,000 miles on their current one-pulling a trailer and camping.  Even Ray, with his 264 hp B King has a Wing, and just traded for another.  Same color, newer year.  I have even dragged the front lower fairing on a friend’s when switching rides one afternoon.  So I am not anti-Gold Wing, but pro riding.  I think that no matter what you ride you shouldn’t be limited by boundaries, either recognized at state lines or states of mind.  I believe that as much as the bike you ride matters, the fact you ride matters more.  And I encourage all to get out and ride as much as you can, while we still can.  This is a beautiful country, with so many roads yet left to ride, so any to return to, yet too many are hindered by what they ride.  They are trapped in a mind set, and although talk of freedom of the road, enjoy no freedom on it.  So whether you ride an Ultra Glide, a KTM, a Gold Wing, or an adventure bike, or a 185 Honda-get out and ride it.  See America from behind a fairing or face in the wind.  Get the shaft, or be bound by chains, turn up your tunes, or keep them private in your head-but just do it!  A lesson learned from a nameless bus boy at an A&W 40 years ago.  It was true then, it is even truer today.

Proverbs says to instruct the wise and they will grow wiser.  Teach the righteous and they will learn more.  Good advice from Proverbs 9:9.  But maybe it is what you see over the handlebars that influences you more, or less.  Maybe the thought of anything less than a crowd ride scares you.  Maybe anything more than alone does riders like me.  But in all cases, we get out and ride, only restricted by what we see ahead.  Although the disciples didn’t ride, you can bet they would and do today, they all had a different view of what was ahead.  And being with Jesus, hearing the same words, the same love, and same advice, still had different visions.  Jesus knew what laid ahead for him-the cross.  He knew he would have to go it alone, even his Father would abandon him for a short time.  He knew the future, what lied ahead, and went willingly to the cross.  James and John each saw something different.  In their future they saw thrones waiting for them.  The other ten saw the same things, but were upset that James and John had beat them to it.  But Jesus then lovingly reminds them, and us we are not in competition with each other.  He explains how the Gentiles exercise power of anybody and everybody, how power trips lead to more power, that can corrupt.  Using anything within their means to stay powerful...but never knowing real power of the gospel that we all have available to us.  “Not so you...” he tells them, for you are different.  And being saved we are, but not above the lust of power and control.  I see it in churches, ministries, among families, and between brothers and sisters in Christ...and it should never be!  There is no chain of command in the church-only Jesus.  No hierarchy to be set up to rule, we are to follow the spirit.  Yet I have been told by others in the church my weaknesses in ministering, how I don’t do enough, how coming under the church board will enhance my ministry.  And to them I kindly, but more often unkindly tell them no.  None is to command us even from the pulpit-we are to only do as the Lord commands.  And even then we have a free will to say yes or no, to be blessed or not.  It is up to God, not to man to guide us.  We are to be led in the spirit, guided by Jesus.  So what you see ahead of you from behind the handlebars effects you as much as what you see in Jesus. 

God has given us suspensions for rough roads, rain suits for bad weather, and power to pass by others.  All under control of the right hand, which gives us the power, regulates the power, or shuts off the power to the rear wheel.  It is fired by a command coming from the brain, which starts in the heart, and can take us places we never imagined.  Or leave us stranded because of fear and tradition.  All wisdom comes from above, and will add years to your life.  Miles to your ride, so don’t let anyone tell you different.  Don’t be led astray by those who don’t or can’t, be led by the spirit and see where the road God has you on leads.  Some hide behind windshields, some in cars, some never leave the sofa.  Like my friend reminds me” unless you are the lead dog the vies never changes.”  Only in Jesus will your view change, as you see more of him and less of you, as you follow him instead of church tradition or rules, as you get out and enjoy more of life.  Some wonder, some wander, some just never get it.  To which I ask, “how can you be comfortable living like that?”  And they probably wonder the same thing about me. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com 

Farmington to San Diego for lunch revisited

30 years ago five friends took advantage of my idea to go riding together on a Memorial Day weekend.  We all rode, but at different levels, and I was the long distance guy then-still am now.  But at my suggestion we took off on Friday night and would return home late Sunday, riding over 1600 miles in between, riding from Farmington, New Mexico in the Four Corners area, to San Diego, and eating lunch at Anthony’s.  We all had different bikes, different styles of riding, and different styles of life.  But we all made it out, and we all made it back to NM, with stories to tell.  And I had  lost contact with some of them, they got married, had families, followed careers, and I would hear from them every few years. One had quit riding, another kept his license, but quit, another had a short career as a service manager for Yamaha, one got divorced and started his own company, while I kept riding throughout.  So it was with great joy I heard from two of then this week, one wanting to go to Hollister and the rally, towing his bike so he could bring his family, the other, looking to buy a bike, and get back into motorcycling.  Both reflecting on how it was 30 years ago, and out of touch with how it is now. 

I would love to meet Brett in Hollister and ride, but I don’t ride with people who trailer their bikes.  Especially to Hollister, I go back to when Theresa first got her license, and Pastor Fred offered to trailer her bike up.  “It’s only 450 miles, I’m riding.”  And she did, and has.  No trailer queens in this house-we ride.  But Brett goes back to how it was then, motorcycling has changed, and so have we.  George called yesterday, looking to buy a ZX-14 Concours-a big bike, so he can take his reluctant wife riding.  He again is in time warp of some 30 years, this is one big bike, more than he will need, especially since he will be riding mostly solo.  Both are seeing today through 30 year old memories, my relationship with riding goes much deeper.  And so does my family’s, but I hope that somehow it all works out....but that we are able to make new memories rather than live on past ones.  In the past 12 days I have ridden over 1700 miles by myself...on three different bikes.  My relationship to riding is much different.  I hope when asked my answers are weighed and not quickly dismissed...for they are based on not only years of riding, but current also.  But just for the heck of it, maybe I might just ride the 30 miles to San Diego for lunch alone, to see how much I have changed.  I’ll ride the long way just to make sure.

Many men my age are coming back to riding after taking a break for families and careers.  Motorcycles have changed a lot, faster, better brakes, better handling, but not so much a better rider.  And the cost of buying in is a lot more.  So looking for a bike like they once had may be impossible to find, and a whole new attitude must be taken.  Even basic bikes like my Bonnevilles handle better than my Honda Nighthawk did back then.  Now we have specialized touring bikes, adventure bikes, sport bikes, and the list goes on.  Try telling a new rider how and what you once rode 30 years ago and they won’t get it.  Our biggest bike was a 920 Virago, proving the Japanese make ugly cruisers.  My 650 was the smallest, George and Brett both rode 700cc Hondas, downsized to avoid the tariff imposed on 750cc and over, to help save Harley.  The last a Seca 750, a shaft drive 750 when only touring bikes had shafts.  Looking back, much has changed...but so have we.  And so have I.

Some left motorcycling and are wanting to return, and we welcome them.  But be advised, and be ready for the changes.  Sadly too many I once knew have fallen away from God.  Fill in the blank with your own excuse, family, job, wife who hates motorcycles, they’re dangerous, or just not Yuppie accepted, they use the same excuses when trying to explain why they left Jesus.  And now are trying to come back, and we welcome them.  But many base their past experiences on church, and the church has changed.  Saturday night services, multiple services on Sunday, growth groups, small groups, and men and women’s fellowships.  And they are looking for what they once had, which makes me wonder, if it was so good, why did you leave?  And why if the reason you left was church do you want to come back?  Wasn’t our life based on Jesus?  And wasn’t there something more to Jesus than Sunday mornings?  Maybe they miss the fellowship, the music, the teachings.  Maybe they miss the friends, true friends who stuck with them.  But really what they miss is Jesus.  He never left, he hasn’t changed, and just as once he welcomed you into the kingdom, now he welcomes you back.  But like the first time, they are going to have to change...and Jesus will guide them gently back.  And ahead....but it will be different than when they left.  I hope they are ready for an exciting time in Christ, for it is an exciting time to be a Christian.  And if you are a Christian biker, the ride just got better. 

Personally I rather be riding thinking about Jesus, than in church thinking about riding.  But it happens, and Jesus understands.  So he has carefully woven motorcycling into my relationship with him.  And our family is stronger because of it.  We ride together, and share those times later.  But the common thread is not that we ride, but that we ride with Jesus.  We didn’t give up riding to raise a family, start a career, or move to another state.  Nor did we give up Jesus, he went with us.  So while some are looking to return to precious memories, and rekindle them, our memories, our testimonies never stopped.  We can look back at how things were, but we also look at how things are, and how we have grown with Jesus.  But to the many prodigals who left, welcome back.  Jesus has been waiting, and has good things to tell you.  To show you, to give you a hope and a future.  The time in between when you left, he has given you a testimony, and now is welcoming you to encourage others, “don’t be like me, be like Jesus.”  In the fires and in the floods of life, stay close to him.  The storms will end, and you will be amazed at how time flies without him.  Don’t spend time looking in your rear view mirror, the past may be gaining...set your sights on things on high and follow God. 

Most of my life has been seen through the eyes of Christ behind handlebars.  If you need to sit somewhere, why not sit where you are comfortable.  But hang on for the ride, for the road gets twisty, and faster.  Bumps get bigger and we need all the suspension God has to offer to make it.  So I look forward to another ride with my old friends.  We all have changed, Jesus has changed me.  And I can’t wait to tell them all about it.  Like the crew on Gilligan’s Island, we all set out for a three hour tour of life...and then the storms hit.  To some life has become an uncharted desert isle, to others a bad stretch of road.  No matter....it takes Jesus.  My only question is why did you wait so long?   Little buddy....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

forever changes

Rather than turn on the TV and get the latest Radical Muslim daily terrorist count, that your president denies, or turn on HGTV and find out how old and outdated my 30 year old house is, I took my own advice yesterday and put on Forever Changes after getting out of the shower.  And for the next 42+ minutes while deciding where to ride, I was taken on a mystical trip and an instant memory sound experience of how good that album really is.  So while listening I Googled it and found out some interesting facts about it.  Neil Young produced it, but never showed up for the meeting, and was never heard from again.  And not credited.  And Bruce Botnick who later that year would produce the first Doors album finished it, using the same skills on FC for the Doors.  Listen to Hugh Masakela playing trumpet on the album, try whistling his trumpet solo on “Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale.”   That man could toot his own horn.  The first song on side 2 for all you vinyl buffs.  Try to whistle that long-WOW!  And many other non-credited local LA musicians played also, on loan from other bands, under the radar of their contract to other labels.  Friends playing with friends-what a novel thought.  And only to find out that Billboard named it the 40th best album of the best 500 albums of all time.  And yet most have never heard of it....maybe you are what a Mr. John Lennon from Liverpool once referred to as “trendy,” and great music has never been trendy. 

Long before David Bowie became a household name, his Honky Dory was a hit across the pond.  And today his famous song “Changes” can be heard as background music, on TV commercials, and now you will be whistling it as you remember it.  “Time may change me, but I can’t change time...”

But look at all the changes in your life.  Life is constantly changing, in fact the Second Law of Thermodynamics proves it-things are in a constant state of atrophy-of change.  They are not getting better, or evolving, a theory that this law disproves, but getting worse. One trip through the book of Genesis shows how God made this world perfect, sin entered, and it has only gotten worse.  Unless you are the White House Press Corp, that is reality.  Not a social experiment.  And we all get old and die.  Even the Bible is split into two Testaments or covenants, a contract with no ending date-aka forever.  The one Jesus made with us, and asks us to verify with him.  But what got my attention was reading about the title “Forever Changes,” and where it came from.  Not some idyllic drug induced fantasy, or even a nostalgic trip ahead, but it was taken from a break-up.  It seems a friend had been in a long term relationship with a girl, and he broke it off.  “But you promised me you’d love me forever,” she begged through the tears.  “Yeah, well forever changes...”  And the beat goes on. And the truth is forever changes when you become a Christian.

Romans tells us we are all sinners, born into it, and cannot escape it without Jesus.  We fall short, and our destiny upon the first birth has us bound for hell.  But our eternal destiny, our forever changes when we come to Christ.  Not a theory to be debated, not a philosophical view to be expounded upon, but truth.  A truth that we all will face some time in our life, when the final Jeopardy answer will be Jesus.  And the correct question is “who is the son of God?”  And we will be changed forever in the twinkling of an eye, some 1/240,000th of a second.  There I did it again to show you how quick.  And we are changed from the inside out, not the outside in.  And that change grants us entrance to heaven, an escape from hell.  I am glad that that is one forever change in my life.  Yet we steadfastly fight change throughout the in between times here on earth, until we die and go to heaven or hell. 

Change is everywhere, styles change, prices change, the stock market changes, the Broncos changed coaches, and I don’t even have any spare change.  And even though we are told that there is no growth without change, we resist.  Stuck in a perpetual this is as good as it gets syndrome, and we are faced with “yeah, well forever changes.”  For many that breakup spells disaster, for some it spurs them on to better things.  Some look back, some plan ahead, some sit and ponder, and some just wonder what has happened and what is happening.  Only in Christ will the changes be real, and he orders each one of them.  Only on the MAP settings on the new Tiger I am riding can you default back to where the factory set it up.  But after personalizing your ride, why would you want to?  You see Jesus knows just where you are right now, and has a plan for you to be of benefit or blessing no matter where you are.  Some of the worst conditions have brought the biggest blessings in my life, yet I pray to avoid the tough times, the tests, the trials.  Yet in the midst of them is where Jesus shines brightest....and advises us to be losers! Lose your life, and your sin, and become a winner in him.  See we all qualify.  But it takes that forever change, that being born again to do it.  Nicodemus had a problem understanding it, yet the thief on the cross readily embraced it.  We can becomes hoarders of things including false beliefs, or we can be like Father Abraham, who by faith believed.  He gave it all up and moved on to a land he had never seen, but was promised.  And lest I remind you he was less than perfect, so we all have a chance, his name is Jesus.  My motorcycles, my Nikes, my cars, and my vinyl records all wear out.  And without change so will I.  The clock is ticking, today can be the day your forever changes, and your eternal forever guaranteed in Christ.  Just a little faith, a little trust, and he does the rest.  A new covenant where forever never ends, and you won’t want it to.  Where time becomes timeless, and forever is an eternal right now.  Jesus Christ changes lives, but only if you let him. There is no jihad from heaven, he gives us a free will to choose.  We can say no, but why when we can say yes and have it all?  And in the down times, the in between times when we feel the pressures rising, remember that he loves us, and promises to stay....forever.  No breakups, no game ending clock running out.  Jesus changes our forever forever.  No expiration date.  When we become born again.

I think I can find another 42+ minutes this morning, the news will have to wait.  Eternity is calling, and I’m answering.  What your answer is will dictate a forever change.....in the beginning God....so loved the world he sent his only begotten son.  I hope that the day of your forever change is today.  And then go tell someone...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com