future outlaws

Look at any new car today, and right there on the window sticker it tells of how many and how effective the air bags and side air bags are.  Today a vital point to many safety burdened young parents.  Ten years ago when a customer asked me if their new Mercedes Benz was a safer car with the bags, they pioneered them, I told her “the safest car is the one that doesn’t get into an accident.”  Which only confused her young yuppie mind, as that message didn’t appear on the sticker, or any ads.  But go back a few years to 1956, when Ford in their new models is introducing safety advances such as padded dashes, dished steering wheels, and seat belts.  Without much fanfare, as they are afraid the other manufacturers will use the news to tell everyone that Ford does not build a safe car. Sales are very slow, but by 1966 the NHTSA makes it a law they are in new cars, but not required used by the occupants.  Can’t force people to be careful.  Just watch CHiP’s from 15 years later, not even Baricza wears a seat belt, because it isn’t the law, yet.  And I think of kids sleeping on rear package trays when we were growing up, or my sister riding on the rear center arm rest in my Grandpa’s 1959 Buick Electra, she and many of my generation are still around to collect social security. 

Of course today these habits would be frowned upon, and mostly are illegal.  Riding in the front seat of a car without seat belts?  How can you?  Except if you are an infant who is too small and can be killed by exploding bags, they ride in the back.  Do I see a whole generation who feel inferior because they had to ride in the back of the car?  How do they explain that to their peer group who rode in pickups?  We didn’t know it at the time, but in the future we would be outlaws for our car habits, pulled over and ticketed.  We were “doing nothing wrong officer, honest,” would be our plea of riding in past comfort, but today paranoid when someone doesn’t buckle up.  True, they have made the cars safer, just not improved the quality of the nut behind the wheel’s driving skills. 

Remember riding in the back of pickups?  Today just taking our American Bulldog to the vet and her riding in the back raises safety issues, and legal ones too.  Maybe the dumbest ride I ever did was from Albuquerque to Los Angeles without a helmet, seriously affecting my hearing.  But it was legal then, today will earn you a trip to court.  If you are caught, back in 2007 on the final Torches ride, we met in San Marcos.  One guy had ridden in from Alabama sans helmet, didn’t know California had one and had ridden for his first few days without one, not getting stopped.  Maybe Ultra Glides are invisible....but he was and we all are future outlaws as more laws change or are enacted for our protection.  But let me ask you, with so many drunk driving an even texting laws on the books, why do half of all highway fatalities list them as the cause?  Maybe improve the driver.....but that is too much to ask. 

Now I wear a helmet, by choice, and I think I should get an insurance discount because I do.  But it is my choice, and it should not be a law telling me I have too.  How many turned into outlaws when the 55 mph law went into effect?  Just the day before 70 was safe and legal, then speed kills.  56 gets a ticket, you can lose your license, and you are hurting the ecology because you are driving a gas guzzler.  Hey if they really cared they would have made it mandatory to ride a motorcycle, we already got great mileage.  And we’re having fun, trying to avoid safety mom’s texting in their SUV, getting 12 mpg.  In our helmets as prescribed by law.  Shhhh, don’t mention Honda has an air bag option on its Gold Wing....so to you my past, present, and future outlaws, I find I couldn’t be represented by a better class of people. 

So what good is the past to reflect on in this current safety fueled era?  Look to the Bible, and Paul telling us the things that happened to Israel were for our edification.  To learn from their mistakes, even if they didn’t know they were making them.  Isaiah can be looked at as a separate Bible, split into two parts like ours with a New and Old Testament.  66 books, 66 chapters.  39 referring to Old Testament, chapter 40 foretelling of John’s ministry of foretelling of Christ.  The voice carrying into the wilderness.  Warning future outlaws of a way to be saved.  And the last chapter is our Revelation, telling of a new heaven and new earth to come.  With of course Chapter 53 telling of a suffering servant, a messiah, that perfectly describes Jesus, long before he entered into the world in a manger.  And he writes of a chosen people, chosen by God.  Not because they are better, or different, but chosen for the savior, the channel for Jesus Christ to come through them.  And today his church, those who believe, have been chosen by him to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.  Former outlaws, hookers, bikers, soccer moms, and other sinners who have been forgiven and accepted it in Jesus.  We didn’t know it until he came into our lives via the spirit, but we were all sinners destined to die.  Keeping the laws couldn’t save, but they looked good in public, just ask any Pharisee.  It takes a changing from within to change the outer actions, and only through Jesus will we be changed.  So why read the history of the Old Testament?  Maybe to see how God dealt with sin back then, and does now.  How we are all sinners, we need a savior, and it is only through grace we are saved.  No seat belt will save you from an accident, but may save you if you are in one.  Keeping the commandments won’t save you, but can help you live better.  Especially the one about loving your God with all your might.  Helpfully added with all your heart and mind, if you aren’t very mighty like most of us. 

So I wear my helmet, wear my seatbelt, and would like to ride in the back of a pick up but won’t.  They won’t prevent an accident, but can help if I am in one. Laws won’t save, grace does.  Only found in Jesus.  We were all outlaws once, and will be until the day we die.  So get over it, be forgiven and get on with your life.  Knowing you are saved and going to heaven.  A feeling no safety equipment or law can provide.  Sinners by birth, saved by grace. 

Reading the prophets helps us see the future, by seeing the past.  Still the safest vehicle is one that isn’t involved in a crash.  And the one who is saved by grace is saved.  God never changes, but our laws do.  Don’t get caught being good on your way to hell, seek Jesus today and be saved.  Paul did, and what a difference that made.  All of us will take our final ride in the same vehicle, a hearse, where the soul goes is up to you.  Jesus saves, so be safe and be saved.  If the only thing you know about your future is Jesus is in it and heaven is the final destination, you have made the right choice.  Go live knowing when you die where you will be.  The rest feel safe and secure knowing if you crash, the airbags will protect you.  Many airbags will save you in a crash, but never warn you of hell.  Just think of how secure you are in your final destination knowing you never ride in the back of pickups.  You sanitize after shopping.  You wear a helmet.  Text while driving.  Or just live like hell.  Maybe the old bumper sticker was right, “drive like hell, you’ll get there.”  So please ride safe, if not for your sake for mine.  “The life you save may be my own.”  As said by James Dean in a PSA just before his death.  In a car crash....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the gospel of self, starring you!

Take Ed McMahon for instance, can anyone tell me his true talent as a celebrity?  Playing the fool to one Johnny Carson, he will always be remembered every time someone who has had too many Coronas says “here’s Johnny!”  Well paid, probably overpaid, and nothing on his own, without The Tonight Show he might have been selling aluminum siding, but he will always be known throughout show biz circles.   Whoever said he who finishes second is really first loser never thought of Ed’s success.

“Hi, my name’s Larry, this is my brother Darryl, this is my other brother Darryl...” and immediately we think of think of Newhart, with the lovable three mountain men.  But without Dick to play up to, they just aren’t as funny.  Same with Michael and his wife Stefanie, as obnoxious and funny as they are, they still are secondary characters in a hit show.  Cosmo Kramer, perhaps one of the funniest characters ever, played by Michael Richards, when in his own show bombed.  Not enough Kramer for his own show, just enough to support.  Same with George, and the list goes on.  But if you ever saw Kramer as Stanley Spudowski in UHF, again a supporting role, you can see an early Kramer on the rise.  Supporting of course.

Lenny and Squiggy were two you would let into your living room on Laverne and Shirley, but maybe not at your dinner table.  Funny as characters, but not enough to make it on their own show.  Add in Eddie Haskell, “you sure look fine tonight Mrs. Cleaver, is that an new necklace?  My father says it’s important for up and coming couples to look rich...” but would anyone, could anyone sit through The Eddie Haskell Show?  Add in Lumpy....”yes Daddy...”  and maybe you are starting to see a theme here.  Very funny people, supporting actors, who made the show they appeared on even funnier, and who that maybe without it it might have not had the appeal, but could never stand alone.  They were all part of a supporting cast, and very good at it.  People we imitate, laugh at, and even wish there was more of them on the show, but due to masterful writing and direction, give us just enough and wanting more.  People that were an important part of a cast, at least Garry Marshall knew not to put The Fonz into his own sitcom.  Correctimundo!

Maybe they are like Goldilocks, too much not so funny, too little we want more.  A bed that is never just right, but we sleep on it anyway, a porridge not made right, but when hungry it will do.  Funny characters that are depended on to aid, not to get center attention.  A cast of characters from A to Z that Carly Simon once sang about.  Which is real life.  Face it, our lives are all about us, a gospel of self, that is on display.  But without others, friends, co-workers, family, and others, life just isn’t so interesting.  It takes them and their interaction to make our own lives interesting.  But we have learned when to not answer the phone, or the door when it is them.  Some are riding buddies you won’t take home for dinner, some are guys you eat lunch with, but would never ride with.  Fonzie on Seinfeld?  Kramer living above the Cunninghams? How much of Eddie Haskell would Laverne and Shirley put up with?  And could you imagine June letting Lenny and Squiggy in to see Wally?  If you could, you probably put ketchup on your hot dog, something Darryl would never do. 

And so today we are called to be a cast of characters in our lives as Christians.  When Jesus is the star, the bright and shining star, he needs no others, yet he has chosen us to be his supporting cast.  to be his ambassadors to the world, to take out his message of salvation.  But what good are we without his message, or the message without him?  Some live under the illusion we have to do more for God, living a legalistic life that is never good enough.  They forget we are saved by grace, not by works lest we should boast.  They neglect the direction of the holy spirit, and wonder why they aren’t effective.  without knowing, their ministry and testimony is all about them, and no one wants to hear it.  Some think they need to carry a big Bible, or wear a t-shirt about Jesus.  Some try to impress with bumper stickers, other with Christian colors.  Sadly they don’t realize that all the above are warning signs to avoid them, for no one wants to be preached at.  Yet they walk away after an encounter, safe in the knowledge they are going to heaven, and at least won an argument.  The question they never answer is “who’s Jesus?”  And if he is like you, I’ll stay away.  Sound familiar?

We have all gone through it, and some are still in it.  But when the light went on for me, it meant sitting in the back row and letting Jesus take center stage.  And my ministry took off, rather it grew in the spirit.  I became obedient, then trusting of Jesus, and the final showdown came one afternoon when praying about a big decision.  Like so many times, we already know where God is leading us before we pray, we just don’t like his answer, so try to bargain with him.  I used to throw fleeces like Gideon, to test the spirit, and one day God called me on it.  “Why don’t you quit throwing fleeces and just trust me?”  My faith grew feet, and suddenly it wasn’t all about me, I put him at the head of my life, and I followed.  A supporting character in my own life.  For truly your life, all life is about Jesus Christ. 

Consider this last conversation with God one afternoon.  He asked me “why don’t I let you change lives?”  After the selfish start processes ebbed, his answer made perfect sense.  “I change people so that they can be like me, not like you.”  I have never heard an argument for another me, have you?  So who do you trust with your life?  Whose character do you support? 

If your witness is weak, try Jesus.  Live in his spirit, learn to shut up and listen, rather than annoy and upset.  Show compassion, and learn a lesson from Jeopardy.  How many have lost because they gave the wrong question because they didn’t listen to the complete answer?  In other works, let God speak, don’t interrupt!  And try to be led by him, and soon the change in you seen by others will be his spirit living within you.  Now that is a witness I can embrace!

Co-stars are very good at what they do, but only in the role chosen for them.  With one character worth noting, Gomer Pyle.  From gas pump attendant, to USMC, he stayed Gomer.  But always in a supporting role.  He needed his fellow co-stars to make him funny, by himself he was just a Pyle.  Too much and we change channels, too little we want more.  Like the spirit, he knows just how much we need, and when we are guided by him, he is the star of the show.  Everything the spirit does points to Jesus, and everything Jesus did he pointed to his father in heaven.  Why don’t we learn from the greatest of them Jesus, and be a part of his supporting cast.  Begin to see the blessings when we walk in his light.  Suddenly our words mean more, our compassion is real, and all our education means something in its application.  Maybe if we did the things he directed us to do, then we could really call him Lord?

And maybe people might not shudder when you approach like Mr. Wilson does when he hears “hello Mr. Wilson!” from Dennis.  Father has always known best, that is why we are always referred to as his children.   Now, who really is the Captain Kirk of your Enterprise?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Detroit-they used to make cars there, didn't they?

Years ago I had a customer who did business in Detroit, but lived in La Jolla.  He was part of a decades old family run business, and would visit Motown a few times a year.  When not driving the latest Mercedes Benz had to offer, he drove an old “pregnant elephant” Packard convertible, a beautiful light yellow.  The first new Packards after WWII, it connected him to Detroit and its past, long before it became the urban blight it is today.  One afternoon he let me drive it around La Jolla, and many heads turned.  While the younger ones stared, just another old car to them, the older folks smiled and waved, as they could remember when Packard meant luxury, which meant success and prestige.  Both understood in La Jolla still today.  But he would tell me stories of how grand it was driving down E. Grand in Detroit, and the majesty of the old buildings, all based on the auto business, that formed the town.  But he warned how the city had fallen into decay, and that carjacking was a popular sport for thieves, and leave an out when stopping for a stop light.  They would box you in and rob you...hard to imagine such a gorgeous car came from a town that rich in history, but had become the poorest of the poor within a few decades after.  When the auto manufacturers found it cheaper to build cars in other countries rather than try to meet userous union demands, Detroit became a toilet, where once old, proud  neighborhoods existed, now being torn down or burned down.  And so when we travelled through Detroit 6 years ago, we were careful to avoid the downtown, although riding through it on the interstate.  Depressing and depressed, houses could be sold for hundreds of dollars, or entire blocks for a few thousand.  The auto business had left Detroit, and so had the decades of prosperity, the history, the wealth, and the legacy.  In a succession of mayors that went to jail, Detroit came to represent all that was wrong with America.  Detroit, they used to build cars there, didn’t they?

Watching a show on the water crisis in Flint, up the road from Detroit, I remember riding through there on the way to Detroit, but not stopping.   It was scary, rusty, abandoned buildings, all that Detroit promised later, was seen there.  The town that gave us Buick, who gave us Billy Durant, who formed General Motors, and built cars there himself after he was fired from the same company twice, and many auto related businesses.  It was in ruin, and really is today from the fact you cannot drink the water.  It is poisonous, and kids are getting sick.  Imagine no drinking water, no showers, which means houses are worth around $10,000 on the high end, which kills any business wanting to move in.  No more real estate for sale, houses are being condemned, and one plumber estimates that it would take around $10,000 per home, times 25,000 of them to make them safe.  No one will spend the money to fix their home to make it worth what it is with no water, mixed in with high poverty levels, Buicks aren’t made in Flint, but there is a huge new plant in China, and nothing gets fixed.  Health deteriorates, but attitudes have already begun, and fingers are pointed.  Surely the government is to blame, and the political outcries were heard.  “Spend more money, dump the republican governor,” not surprising from an all Democratic council, mayor, and senator.  Another case of the government failing the people, but really it may have roots that are self inflicted going back many years.  No matter, it needs to be fixed, and blaming each other only starts more problems, more arguments.  Soon people are at each other, race war escalates, and everyone loses.  The one unifying statement was that “no one trusted government,” and wanted to start over. With what or who wasn’t stated, just that government has to pay for it.  Which means you and me.....

But back to Detroit, where a man from South America bought the old Packard plant, all 40 acres of what is left, with a dream of turning it into a business complex.  He paid only $405,000 for it, but has spent 10 times that cleaning it up, and lost his latest backer due to economic changes in the world that threaten a downturn.  He will secure other funding, but for now the future is on hold.  It seems that all the money may rebuild a beautiful historic plant one day, make it usable and desirable, but who is going to change the hearts of people in Detroit?  Why would anyone want to move there?  Add Flint into the equation, and will the last person out of Michigan please turn out the light?  All the king’s horses, and all his men are in danger, and they blame each other, but still think money is the answer.  Hey Bill Gates, here is a town for sale?  What great place to show your humanitarianism?  Bring back Detroit!  Bring back Flint!  Can you right click and repair this mess?

Scripture tells us the wise man built his house upon the rock, and when the storms came it withstood them.  The rock being Jesus, and trusting him in all situations.  Built upon greed and money, we see the love of money will also kill you when you flee with it elsewhere.  When profits became the main thing, and more could be made somewhere else, money made there went elsewhere in search of even more.  The love of money being the root of all evil, Detroit, Flint, and many other once prosperous towns like them in the US of A stand of testimonies of that.  When built on money, when the money is gone, the people turn on each other, and soon we have anarchy.  Out of control, and we see it today, warned of in the Bible, demonstrated on streets in cities worldwide.  But Jesus talks of resurrection, can cities be resurrected too?

You can only resurrect something that was alive once and has died.  Jesus tells us he is “the resurrection and the life,” yet many pray, then stand in government lines waiting for a hand out.  When we pray do we wait for an answer?  Or do we start to blame God for our situation?  Have you ever considered what God has done in the past when we pray?  We believe in a final resurrection, but do we believe God for a right now one?  Do we have faith in him right now, or do we behave as the lenders do, a world crisis looms, we will wait until it is over.  Only hastening its arrival....will we listen to God’s answer, or are we too busy complaining and blaming to listen?  Are we listening now?  Do you believe the hope and future Jesus talks about can happen today?  Yesterday today was tomorrow...and we believed a better day was coming, are we watching and waiting, and maybe God has answered, and we missed it, or didn’t agree with it?

Detroit is an example of too many lives, built not upon the rock, Jesus Christ, and when troubles come, they suffer and die.  How fitting God uses storms of water to wash away the foundations, and Flint knows all about bad water.  But Jesus offers good water, the best water, the spirit.  Can we drink from him just a sip, and see our lives changed?  We say we believe God, will we trust him enough to follow him if the path is treacherous?  Will we learn from Detroit and Flint, or carry on not trusting God until it happens here?  Do you believe God can resurrect your life, or are you just waiting to die a slow death without him?
Some believe resurrection power only works in cemetaries, but it starts from within.  Repent, turn to Jesus, then obey and follow.  The government cannot help you, local social clubs are ineffective, and even the churches are failing.  We need Jesus, before it is too late.  When each one of us is resurrected, others will follow.  Our testimony and Jesus will change them.  It isn’t about money, but about Jesus.  Who offers you to drink from his well...are you still thirsty?  Tired, and need rest?  Confused and disillusioned?  He will calm you, place your feet on solid ground, and resurrect you.  One bad decision can bring decades of misery, one good one, turning to Jesus, can turn it all around. 

Too much water we get floods, not enough droughts.  Dirty we get sick.  But living water will keep us well, and guarantee the future.  Don’t let a physical problem mask a spiritual one.  Do not treat a symptom, treat the disease.  Sin is the disease, Jesus the only cure.  Detroit-pray for them, that their eyes may be open, and their hearts changed.  That they will be saved, and Jesus will save their city.  Men have dreams about resurrecting historical plants, do we dream of a day when God resurrects our hearts?  It has already begun, will you be part of it?  Which fountain will you drink from?  The people in flint have no other fountain to turn to, but will they?  If faced with a problem, where do you drink from when thirsty?  And when the floods came the house stood.  Jesus is the rock...even in Flint and Detroit.  Turn to him before the lights go out.  Today many can only drink water from a bottle, don’t keep your God bottled up too.  Just a thought when you turn on your tap, or shower today.  Where does your water come from?  Water from a rock, or water the government told you was safe?  And would you wash your old Packard with it?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

thoughts about waiting in line

The one true American sport, one that defies age, sex, even disabilities, is waiting in line.  We spend so much of our time waiting in line, that we don’t even realize it.  You expect to at Disneyland, where over an hour in line can get you the same ride that on a slow Tuesday means no line at all.  When watching the NFL on Sundays, Mondays, or Thursdays, we wait in between the plays at least 40 seconds, sometimes more with TV time outs.  Maybe the NFL should be described as 5 seconds of action after 40 seconds of waiting.  Same with Disneyland, an hour of wait for 3 minutes of fun. And yet we wait, and wait, and wait....

Here in Escondido none of the traffic lights seem to be synchronized, at least the way I am going.  And with busy streets, can take 2-3 minutes, or longer for the light to change.  So what do we do-wait.  Same at In-and-Out, we wait for a long time for fast food, which we eat in a few minutes.  After waiting in a long line.  Grocery stores make us wait in line to check out and pay-why is it there is always some obnoxious woman on her cell phone with over 20 items when I am behind her in the express lane?  It seems that whenever someone has what  we want, we are willing to wait for it, no matter how long it takes.  And if you think about it-what is it that makes us wait for something, that we have to pay for after waiting?  Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

And many times we get impatient while waiting, or contemplating waiting.  Driving around LA on a busy day makes you think the city is huge, and it is.  But on a light trafficked Sunday morning, where you can get around fast, you realize how small it really is.  Subtract the wait time in traffic, and it takes on a different size.  Thank goodness for being able to lane split.  And today many toll roads that still have toll booths have us waiting in line to pay.  Hurry up and wait has become a new mantra for America, something to think about the next time you are waiting for the light to turn green, listening to Ms. more than 20 items in the express lane, or to ride the Matterhorn at Disneyland.  The great common denominator-waiting in line.

While waiting is a universal theme, so is delaying.  Putting things off, which is different than waiting.  We can’t wait until we are 21, yet wish we could delay 60.  We delay making a big decision, we can’t wait to get it over with.  So we need to recognize the difference between waiting and delaying.  Waiting is for something expected, delaying is putting off that something expected.  Too many people live an “in the last minute “ life.  From homework to breaking up, to cutting the yard, or washing the car, we delay things as long as we can.  Yet the task at hand waits for us.  Life and death are like that also.  We know heaven waits, yet we want to delay the trip.  We take great pains to stay alive, we want to go, but we have little say in the matter.  Which is maybe why some don’t like death, we have no control over it.  While some hang on and wait to die, others delay it via miracle drugs.  But we are all mortal, except those that have obtained immortality in Christ.  Some days I am eager to go to heaven, other times I am having much too good a time to want to leave.  Yet if we saw heaven for what it is, we might all be committing suicide to get there.  We wait for the headache or illness to pass, praying “God take me now,” yet when it passes, we want to stay and live another day.  But to those who have heard the gospel, and have not come to Jesus, each day for them is a gift form God they don’t know about, for if they had died, it would be hell.  So God is patient that none should perish, he isn’t delaying, but waiting for all to come to repentance.  Maybe praying for that rude person at the light, or in line may make a difference for them. 

Yet God proves the importance of waiting, and of his timing with childbirth.  36 weeks or 9 months, give or take a day and all should be well.  Too short, you get a premie with potential problems.   Too long and you have to induce labor.  God knew this when he created us, and it is still true today.  Life is precious at the beginning, and also at the end.  Maybe if we considered how precious the in between the two is we may have a different attitude.  How many get excited about a new baby coming, yet won’t even talk about what lies ahead after life?  God is loving, and we should get close enough to want to go home to heaven, and he doesn’t delay, if he came only one day before each of us had been saved, think of he difference that would have made.  Something to consider the next time we get impatient, God knows, maybe there is another one just like you who needs to be saved.  Just look around for evidence.

Things to consider while standing in line.  Or waiting at a light.  Or wishing the line at Disneyland was shorter. God knows and has it all under control.  At just the right time, while we were still sinners, he sent Jesus to save us.  Jesus never hurried, and was never late.  Or too early, always on time.  Something to consider, his love for us. So try to be patient and loving.  He waited for you, and that was important.  He is waiting for others too.  He is patient that none should go to hell.  Of course, he never had to spend an afternoon at the DMV....NEXT!

love with compassion,

MIke

matthew25biker.blogspot.com