what's my price?

The love of money, not just money is the root of all evil.  Read that again, the LOVE of money, not money, is the root of all ego.  Yet we all strive to make more money, so we can live a better live, via better toys, bigger homes, nicer cars, and longer vacations.  Normal, but the attitude we do it with is the most important aspect.  Watching a TV show recently, the 5 minute spot was about a couple who won millions, over $300 of them, and declared on TV, “we’re not quitting our jobs, this won’t change our lives.”  The first lie, because the fact you won, and are on TV have already changed you.  As far as going to work, now you will have the time to live your dreams, or do you enjoy the long hours of low pay?  If the money isn’t going to change you, can you send me some, it will change me?  And suddenly people come out of the woodwork with deals, relatives you hated and avoided for years try to reunite with you, and you have lost your privacy.  The IRS has already taken its share, and will be a constant companion the rest of your life.  And you are keeping your job and it won’t change your life?

I don’t care for the term bucket list, but we all have dreams and desires.  And money not only pays the bills, but is the only thing accepted at my grocery store, cash or debit or credit.  Try trading some live chickens for some fried ones at KFC-or a bag of potatoes for fries at Mickey D’s, I think you get the idea.  It is money that is a universal trading staple, no matter how rich or how poor, winner or not.  Money talks, %^&*& walks. 

Now we all want to get the best deal, so we negotiate when we can.  We brag of when we got a good deal, “look what I bought,” versus when we got a bad deal, “look how they sold me that car.”  Seems it is never our fault, but yet everyone has his price.  When I shop for motorcycle parts, I know the guys at the shops, and ask “what’s my price?”  I like dealer cost, cost plus 10% is still good, but I try to avoid paying retail when I can.  And it always seems there is someone who tells you “I could have gotten it cheaper,” after you make your best deal. Thanks a lot pal, where were you when I called prior to buying?  But we all have a price we pay, and we all have a price that we will sell out for.  You may be being tested, or will be tested, but it will happen.  Mine came a few years ago when working the best paying job I ever had.  I was accused of proseletyzing, which I wasn’t, but my boss told me to leave God at home.  “It only makes sense not to bring god to work,” he told me in a group of managers, the same guy who often had me pray for his family.  And it resulted in my losing my job, I was not going to renounce God for him or anyone.  But the loss of money hurt...so I decided to sue, and had a great case.  They even admitted to breaking the law by telling me that, and we had it from their corporate attorney on paper.  But my heart had been unsettled, the money would have been nice, all 7 figures of it, but the Lord showed me the importance of my witness.  And how suing, and winning would jaundice any words I once said in love.  My last thought was if I ever run into that person,can I tell them about Jesus in love after winning the law suit?  Would they listen?  What was my price for my soul?  Was I in it for the money, or to minister?  And so I did the hard thing, but the right thing, and called off the lawsuit, the day before we were to settle.  I cold face them if I ever saw them, but more importantly I could face God, who I seem to see a lot of.  And I could face myself....what would you have done?

The mercy I had shown my ex-employer, has been shown to me many times over.  The Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do to you.  I almost succumbed to another golden rule, he who has the gold rules.  And although winning, it would have cost me dearly.  Victory comes to us in strange ways when we serve the Lord.  It turns out my heart and witness was being tested, I almost threw it away for a million dollars.  And yes, it would have changed my life.  But then I remembered it was Jesus Christ who changed my life, and no amount of money can compare to that.  Or the peace he brings. Given the chance, who do you serve, God or mammon?  Is it all about Jesus, or all about you?

If I was in prison, or dying in a hospital, how would I have spent it?  How could I?  Certain conditions follow winning, and do with Christ.  He is with you in jail, and I know he was with me in the hospital.  No walls except the ones we build around our heart can keep him out.  So let me close with my favorite Mother Teresa quote.  When being interviewed in an Indian hospital, dysentery everywhere, flies, bugs, and high heat.  Lovely.  The interviewer, from the US of A looked at her and said “I wouldn’t do this for a million dollars.”  “I wouldn’t either,” she replied.  You see there are values more valuable than valuables.  Things that cannot be taken from us.  For the things seen are temporal, the things not seen are eternal.  What’s you price?  And how does it compare to the price Jesus paid? What if you won the lottery and lost your soul?  Keep your day job....of being a witness of and for Jesus Christ.  The biggest payoff is yet to come, and you will win.  You just won’t want to come back to tell anyone.  That’s their job.  There are winners, and there are winners, what’s your price?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

why do they call it a glove box when there are no gloves in it?

A ride to the store the other day, with Theresa driving, had us sitting at a red light, that seemed like it took forever.  So rather than letting the radio scan for the over a million stations, with nothing on, a variation of cable, 200 stations with nothing to watch, I opened up the glove box.  Now it had been awhile since I was in it, the truck and glove box.  Now these handy catchalls were designed for gloves, obviously in winter climes, as we don’t need them here.  But after finding no gloves, big surprise, the search was on.  An owners manual, that only I have opened to read.  All others who need something refer to me rather than opening the book.  Too much energy I guess.  A few years of expired registrations, fortunately the current one was there.  Same with insurance cards, hope I never need either one.  A few pens, of which none would write, seems they didn’t last time I looked, so I just threw them back in, again.  Napkins, for an occasional nose emergency, we don’t eat in our cars, which is why they look like our cars instead of yours.  A tire warranty that had expired, put it back too, never know if I might need it.  An old race day ticket, still on the necklace.  Save it for later too.  An empty CD case, not mine, back it went too.  And with that the light turned green, and away we go.

At the next light, it was the center console.  Which is designed so you cannot access it comfortably from the driver’s side.  I guess you need a co-driver for this one.  This one had about 8 CD’s in, I wondered where my The Wild One soundtrack had gone.  Again some empty cases, where did the CD’s go?  And some with a different CD than the cover suggested, and one that held 3, packed tightly against each other, careful not to scratch them.  And another green light and we were off.  And while driving checking the pockets behind the front seats, nothing of mine, and the door pockets holding some books, “I read them,” I was told, although she couldn’t tell me the titles.  And similiar dust as found in center console and glove box.  All this space, and nothing really needed, unless you have an accident, and use your cell phone, by-passing the insurance and registration in the glove box.  And no gloves found anywhere!  And a quick look through the owners manual, reveled no glove boxes on any vehicle, they are now referred to as “vehicle storage compartments.”  Tell that to the guy stuck in a cubicle! 

I sit with a guy in Bible study, and he lets me share his Bible with him.  I never take notes, I listen and my mind wanders with the spirit while the teacher is teaching.  Making it personal.  But in this particular Bible, with numerous highlighted verse, maybe it is the non-highlighted verses that have meaning, as the blue and yellow verse, some a strange tone of red verse of Jesus’ words and yellow, but how can he find anything?  The third from the top yellow verse, above the second blue one, and how does he find anything?  Now he isn’t so trendy to have a Bible cover on his book, the girl next to me does.  And as she opens it, the pages of notes fall out, and then put back.  So thick it is causing the binding to stretch and crack, and when asked if she ever reads them, her smile tells me no.  She is a note taker, and then stores them away for future use.  Or to be used as refuse and thrown away.  All those notes, at once they were personal....I used to sit by an older couple, she had the tabs for each book attached, and always found it easier to ask the person next to her “where is the book of....?”  And the person next to her usually finding the correct tab and turning the page for her.  Now the above examples may be extreme, are they?  But they may describe people who study the Bible, even read it, but it never becomes personal.  Like my glove box, no gloves but all kinds of things stored, but never used.  But never thrown out, “just in case I ever need a pen that doesn’t write.” 

Now I was a lousy student, particularly at taking notes, and like most of you, studied to pass the test, with the side benefit of occasionally learning something.  Study habits, both good and bad, but that should not be tied to a relationship with Christ.  As Christians we are citizens of heaven, and the Bible should mean more to us than a study tool.  We have the holy spirit, and rather than memorize a verse for testing, God will write it on our hearts.  So it is never far from us.  It is the spirit that reveals the mysteries of Christ to us, we may have read the Bible many times over, but has it changed us?  Do we study to find ourselves approved by a pastor, teacher, or class, do we get to know all about Jesus, but never know him?  The Christian life should be lived by a different set of processes, it should be from the spirit, to the heart, resulting in the renewing of the mind.  Christianity is Jesus in you, driven by the spirit, not trends or study habits.  Some days a verse will do, some days a chapter.  God is all about quality over quantity, ever wonder why people are more concerned about how much you care rather than how much you know? 

There may be times you cannot recall the scripture, but know the concept or application.  Why Jesus spoke in parables, and quoted “it is written.”  No canonized scripture yet.  He gave us his spirit, in just the right size, shape, and container, our heart, so we can always have him with us.  So if you are asked “are you in the word?” the correct answer is “is the word in you?” and now you know it always is.  for he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Much different than the items in my vehicle compartments.  Jesus is always with us via his spirit!

So never stray from complete dependency on the Lord.  Rote prayers, rote answers, and rote memorization of verse may be impressive in church, but when needed most, you always have Jesus.  His spirit will give you the words you need, sometimes before you ask.  Still worrying about what to say, try listening instead of talking or asking.  Application of your education is ministry.  Both to you and the ones you meet.  Paul tells us conduct ourselves in a worthy manner, worthy of the gospel.  Which is good news!  Maybe it is time to clear out your spiritual storage compartments and get personal with Jesus.  Let him grow your relationship, and increase your wisdom.  Somewhere in all your notes and highlighting his love is trying to reach out and touch you.  Maybe that cluttered Bible explains your cluttered life?  Clean it out today, file it for later.  Ask Jesus to guide your studies, approved by him.  When the spirit moves on you, the Bible comes alive personally, and the notes are written on your heart.  Maybe a more worthwhile activity than cleaning out your glove box, ‘er vehicle compartment.  Somewhere among the notes is Jesus, just wanting to change your life, will you let him?

We may not be able to find it in print sometimes, let the spirit give you the words.  Then back it up in scripture later.  You will be tested, and if along the side of the road, last years expired registration won’t cut it.  If you ask me to get something out of your glove box, what will I find?  Depend on God and forego discouragement.  Trust the spirit of truth given by Jesus, and if pulled over by a cop, and he asks for papers, say “scissors, I win.”  An open book test of life, I hope you pass.  Only Jesus forgives, that’s one I am glad is written on my heart!  Some things are so hard to understand, it is much easier just to trust.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

postcards written from home

Over the years of traveling by motorcycle, we have gotten the packing thing down.  For each new bike we travel on, we make variations, sometimes adding a tank bag, sometimes not.  The hard bags may be smaller, causing us to maybe not take an extra t-shirt, or mail the new ones home.  We learned to take what we need, not what we want, and often times don’t use all of that.  But as we travel, many years ago we started collections rfrigerator magnets, they are cheap and small, and our fridge is covered with magnetic postcards of our trips.  But riding with a postcard writer, we pick up postcards to send to certain friends and family to remind them of the good time we are having, being free from traffic, work, kids, hassle, responsibility, and housework.  All good reasons to get on your bike and ride.  But as the ride progresses, and as the first few days of enthusiasm and adrenaline wear off, fewer postcards are purchased, and even fewer are written.  The old stand by of “having a good time, wish you were here” fades as you are glad to be alone, and soon the evenings are spent resting rather than writing.  Planning the next day, rather than trying to explain the day’s ride in a 3x5 area.  The print that got smaller, trying to include all the details that at first you wrote about, now is down to a few simple lines.  And the message gets less and less personal, until the evenings are devoid of writing and the postcards pile up in the tank bag.  And are forgotten until we get home and unpack, and then are written and mailed, with terse messages and a local postmark.  Sometimes weeks after we have returned, and they haven’t moved off the desk or counter.  Finally written to those we care about, or care to brag to, and an evening spent remembering the ride.  It is these postcards written from home that have always had us look back, as well as catch up, and put the final mark on being home.  And of wishing we were still out riding.

But with Instagram and Facebook, I know the postcard sales must be declining.  Too many pictures taken by Theresa on the back get sent out that night, with one line notes explaining.  No more 5 cent stamps, no more local postcards, now she must rely on her memory, or mine, as often either one of asks “do you remember where this was taken?”  And maybe a part of Americana is being lost in the transition, or translation, as what we see may not be representative of the town, the area, the tourism, or the people.  We may miss a shot of the two headed cow, but that is what the town is known for, and a reason to pay more attention next time around.  But maybe this instant email gratification has also made us less personal, and available to any who care to look.  No more personal notes from the road to home, now whoever is on the mailing list gets it, for better or worse.  Plus I tend to be old fashioned, I like to get mail, and hold letters, books, magazines, and postcards in my hands, read them in real time, not on a tiny screen.  And also check the postmarks to see where and when they were mailed.  Postcards are an interesting trip to the past, as seen through a different photographers eyes, on a different day, from another time.  Besides, we hang them up too for us to remember, instead of going through thousands of pictures trying to remember the name of the diner where we had the grilled muffin, with the message on the back, “family owned,” and the trip begins again. Or continues as if it never stopped.

Nothing is as exciting as when you first become a Christian.  When you discover Jesus is real, and the enthusiasm, which means God within, is all new and fresh.  When the highs of being saved haven’t really set in yet, and every time you read your Bible it is fresh and new.  You have to call a friend and tell them, and your time is now consisting of church, Bible studies, and fellowshipping with friends.  The old is put away, and only remembered when sharing your testimony, or running into an old friend who asks “what’s new?”  And he isn’t.  But as on the first few days of a long trip, as the days pass and the miles add up, as the time changes with the zones, we tend to fall back and want to rest.  Maybe stay home on a Friday night instead of fellowshipping.  You miss an occasional church meeting, maybe out on a ride, and new habits form.  The initial excitement of knowing Jesus is blended into everyday life, and soon becomes mundane, or just a part of it.  Where it was all emotion, now a void sets in, and sometimes you just don’t feel like praying, or reading, or going to church.  And you begin to wonder if you are backsliding, as the talk about you is.  Suddenly you are not as religious as your friends, and you wonder, and they wonder about your walk with Christ.  And realize you are more normal than you think, and there is more to Jesus than emotions, than Bible studies, than church and fellowship.  All good things, but when not done in the spirit they become just things.  It is then we need to fall back on the spirit, to reread the postcards God sent to us from his home in heaven, and spend time with him again.  The scriptures become more personal when the spirit guides you, and reveals the mysteries of Christ to you.  A few verses can mean hours of reflection, and the handwriting of his word on your heart is irreplacable.  And suddenly you are recharged, and find what you tried to do on your own wasn’t of Christ, but of yourself.  The New Covenant of Jesus Christ tells us everything comes from him, and not from the law.  We will fail, screw up, do dumb things, but he still loves us.  Jesus changes us, not us or a religion.  And if they have, you still have time to change.  To go new places in Christ, to live new testimonies, and write more postcards.  Rather than sit in church, you get out where the action is, for even though some postcards are written from home, it is out on the road, among people, where the action is.  Where Jesus spent most of his time, and where the New Testament became the word. 

A photo captures a moment, a life in Christ is a movie.  An action film, where you can be part of the action, or part of the audience.  Your choice.  But it is the postcards written, the personal messages from friends traveling that can wake us up, and get us out.  The scriptures do the same thing, when empowered by the spirit.  And God has written many postcards to and for us, with many more to come.  Not just an Instagram, God is more than a moment, he is forever.  And when you flip over the postcard, and see the writing on the back, it really makes us wish we were there.  And we can be....

We save postcards, they make our trip and other’s trips more personal.  Same with God, so spend some time with him today.  Tell him about a ride, a trip, a meal, or another memory.  Send him a personal postcard, and when it comes to the wishing you were here part, know he is, for he never left you.  He has been along for the ride the whole time, and maybe is just waiting to hear from you.  Don’t you think you owe him a postcard or two? 

The best rides or meals are ones shared with friends.  Share one with God today, tell him about it, he loves to hear from you.  A form of prayer, not asking, but sharing with the best friend you will ever have.  Having a great time?  Wish you were here?  Don’t be surprised when a postcard from Jesus shows up in your prayer mail.  Postage paid...note the return address.  A postcard written from home, no matter where you are. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the picture of the girl in the wallet

Twice in my career I worked for a national company based in another city, in another state.  In another time zone.  Which led to many interesting conversations and getting to meet some very interesting people from around the US of A.  The one company based in Cleveland, had a system where you left messages overnight, a precursor to emails, and they would call you back the next day.  Which would give a new meaning to the popular saying “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere,” as they would make me their first call in the morning.  I appreciated their efficiency, but not their timing, as 8 o’clock in Cleveland was 5 o’clock here.  AM o’clock that is.  Many times I was greeted with “did I wake you up?” to which I answered “no, I had to get up and answer the phone anyway.”  Some got it, some never did....maybe it’s like the rude telemarketer who calls at dinner, “can I have your number, I’ll call you back?”  and they hang up.  Better than any alarm clock, it only went on for years.  And years.  And years.

And people never look like they do over the phone.  One particular woman, who was so sweet, southern drawl, and could get anything done, surprised many of us a company meeting.  We figured her for sweet and petite, she was sweet and extra large.  Able to clear hallways at a single bound.  But on our side.  I can only imagine her impressions of us, and how we surprised her when we met.  Another sweet girl who helped us used to giggle, and sounded like the proverbial cheerleader.  In person she had warned us “I don’t look like I sound,” and one friend had already fallen in love with her voice.  When he asked her out for dinner, she would not accept, until his persistence won her over.  Surprise she was wider than tall, but then so was he!  They both got a laugh out of that one!  But it wasn’t always the woman’s voice at 5 o’clock that misled us, one guy, Tanzer seemed suave and was cool.  Street smart.  When meeting him he was anything but, but had guaranteed us a good time.  So out to his favorite place for lunch, “you guys like German food don’t you?” and off we went.  Busy at lunch we waited in line, and when we got to the front of the line, the oompah music stopped, and every head turned and stared at us.  It seems he had taken us to what appeared to be a Hitler recruiting luncheon, and I promised him if we ever got out alive I was going to kill him.  But the food was good, the waitress helpful, if not suspicious, she kept leaving us extra pats of butter, and we escaped unharmed.  And we didn’t kill Tanzer....and the joke was on us.

You may have heard the urban legend of the guy who carries the picture that comes with the wallet with him, telling everyone it is his family.  I knew such a guy, who blew it one day, when he forgot to remove the pretty girl picture, and his date thought it was his wife.  Quick thinking got her away and home early enough for another date.  But it seems we have preconceived ideas, we profile or judge what people look like by their voice.  Maybe it is just wishful thinking on our part, or merciful to them, but you never know.  One other time we all met Gina, who was head of customer service, and we had been warned was a knockout.  She was...at arm wrestling, and had to beat everyone at the table before we would or could eat.  And after a week of meeting faces that didn’t match the voice, we all were ready to go home to the safety of our anonymity.  Safe and secure that we all were just as good looking as we appeared to be over the phone.  Even at 5 am for some of us...

From reading the Bible we get a pretty good idea of what Jesus was like.  But what did he look like?  One supposedly learned scholar, his words, tried to make a mental picture of him, based on how God’s hand spans the universe.  Somehow based on the size of the universe, which no one knows but God himself, and working out a formula, he came up with Jesus was 6’3”, black hair, beard, and wore sandals.  Maybe not very original, how many pictures of him have a beard, remember it was plucked out, so may be factual, and he wore sandals, as scripture notes was the show of the day.  John was not worthy to tie them.  But the height, he would have stood out in a society of shorter people at the time.  Much like Shaq would at a jockey’s conference.  But yet many try to describe him, and only those alive at the time saw him.  But we have the promise we will someday to fall back on, so how will we recognize him?  His hands.  We’ll know.

He was probably ordinary looking, as Judas had to point him out in the Garden.  He was a common man, who had an uncommon heritage, and did uncommon things.  We know his words today in red in the Bible, but it is his actions that changed lives.  His love was more important, and more effectively shown in them than his words, for faith or words without action is empty.   So what does Jesus look like?  I don’t know, but take a look around and you have glimpses of him.  He left us to be his witnesses of him, and a witness can only confirm what he knows or has seen.  Because he gave us his spirit, we can be that effective witness when we act in love based upon the spirit.  And lives will be changed through us, but not by us. 

Paul writes that love without depth and knowledge is useless.  How many examples have you endured of someone going out witnessing and ending up the day in argument with all?  Not winning the argument, just engaging in it.  Their love turns to anger when they aren’t winning, and soon are hateful and full of resentment.  Further boosting their prideful ego by “at least I won the argument.” NO-you blew it.  We need to know when and what to say, and when to just shut up and listen.  Many a conversation has been ruined by going on too long...”if I accept Christ will you just leave me alone?”  And they call that evangelism?  Did any of you come to the Lord that way?  And you wonder why you are not an effective witness?

Without the wisdom of the holy spirit our words are hollow.  They are like the 5 o’clock wake up call, you had to answer the phone anyway.  And today when your phone announces you, they can either not answer, or put you on hold.  So let me leave you with my idea of what Jesus looks like.

In my minds eye I see Jesus walking the crowd while the 5000 were being fed.  “Hi Bill, good to see you, lots of food today, get seconds.  Mary, how are the kids?  Peter, can you help that lady with her food?  Bob it’s been awhile, how have you been?  Matt-we’re serving your favorite.  Sarah, mind if I sit with the kids so you can eat?”  And always surrounded by throngs of children.  And a smile full of love shown to all. He stood out not only because of who he was, but because of who he was and who was in him.  Funny I never see any pictures of him carrying a Bible, yet when I see those coming at me carrying one, I pretend to be busy.  I know their objective.  Jesus was the example of his God writing his word on our hearts, and how it is there when needed, just as promised. So based on my perception of Jesus in the crowd, if you ask someone “which one is Mike?” and I am not in leather, I hope you look for someone who is helping someone.  Being nice to the ones who don’t look like the pictures in the wallet, or sound like they do over the phone.  Who is cheerful, listening-still need work there, and willing to help, through Jesus Christ.  For in him I can do all things,without him I am a disaster. 

We are told to be a witness, use actions and attitudes, then words if needed.  Our job is to see souls won, and needs met, not to win an argument.  To love those who are the least of them, for in doing so we are doing it unto Christ.  The spirit is a gentleman, something to remember when telling about Jesus.  The world already has too many misperceptions about him, don’t add to them.  Love is an interesting word, it is a verb, to love, a personal noun, God is love, a person, and an adjective-the love of Jesus.  Some good things to remember if a guy named Tanzer takes you to lunch.  You never know when all eyes will be upon you.  Should it make a difference in how you act?

And he never invited anyone to church....he went out to the people.  Hmmmmm.....is your witness as pretty as the family in the wallet?  Would they want you to be in it with them?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Pop's legacy

My friend Nicky’s grandpa, Pops, came over from Italy after WWII.  An immigrant, he left a wife behind, promising her he would call for her once he got established and could afford to.  He carried her picture in his wallet for the 20 years as she waited patiently for him to call, telling the woman he dated along the way that it was a picture of his sister.  Finally he did call for her, and she arrived in the states, much older, but still trusting in her husband, now of over 20 years.  A story that he would relate in English, she spoka only the Italian, and it would get a good laugh.  I don’t know if she ever found out, but she stayed loyal to him the whole time.   Just the story of how Pops came to the states....

When I last saw him, he was supposed to be retired.  He was a crossing guard at a busy intersection, and had the record of most accidents of any corner.  He was known for just walking out into traffic, and waving his red STOP sign, hoping the cars would stop.  He never got hit, but who knows how many near or real accidents he caused.  Under pressure the finally had to release him, and he wouldn’t let them.  He kept showing up for work, and when they would approach would start swinging his sign at them, cursing them in Italian.  It was a sight to see, and after many attempts, he finally quit showing up.  But he would not relenquish his stop sign, it was his, and the last time I saw him, he was demonstrating to us young guys how he held off the police who were “trying to steal his sign, and put him out of work.  How was he going to feed his family?” he would say with great emotion, as his wife sat calmly.  Quite a character, Nicky was actually second generation in the states, and we loved to hear the stories of Pop. 

Nicky’s brother Anthony, or Anth as he was called, had just bought a new Firebird, and parked it blocking Pop’s driveway.  It was Thanksgiving, a big event, and the three generations of family were gathered around the table, and I was invited to eat with them.  The excitement about Anth’s Trans Am was the talk before dinner, and at and after dinner too as it would turn out.  Pop was known for wandering away, and had before dinner, to get a jug of his home made vino.  When we all heard the crash.  He had backed out of his garage, and into Anth’s new car!  And was furious.  In words only an Italian could understand, he was mad at Anth because he had parked where he shouldn’t have, and had caused irrepairable damage, a slightly dented bumper on his old Pontiac.  Meanwhile the new Trans Am was missing the right front fender, hit so hard it was torn off the car.  And as Anthony complained to his grandpa, Pops chewed him out.  “Whatsa matter fo you?”  And all through the dinner, kept complaining about how Anthony had ruined his car, and through two jugs of homemade vino it continued.  Finally when Anth apologized, the matter was settled, and all was well, except for the damage to the cars.  But the story went on for years until Pops died, how Anth had wrecked his car on Thanksgiving.  At least he hadn’t brought out his stop sign.

Someday all of us will assume the title of patriarch, when our fathers and grandfathers pass away.  It will be up to us to carry on any legacy, or to start one.  When the first century church was new, it was under constant pressure, and we can see the church today under pressures.  Not the same or as deadly, but as persecution grows, we need to turn to Christ even more.  The first church grew as it expanded past its borders, many times having to move because of being persecuted, as all the disciples would be martyred.  But a false sense was involved in the growth, one that said that they had to grow the church, so that it would not perish or cease to exist.  A common thread that still exists today, as we have boards, rallies, new membership Sundays, and other ways we try to get people to join the church.  But the same scripture is still the same scripture today after 2000 years, unless God builds the church, they labor in vain.  While 2000 years ago well meaning men felt they had to grow the body of Christ, the church, it was God who provided all the growth.  It was God who called them via his spirit to Jesus, and on that rock, Jesus Christ, he established his church.  And from then until today many men have tried to improve upon that, and we end up with division through religion.  Just the opposite of what Jesus had in mind, but what free willed men wrought.  They forgot then, as we do today, that he who began a good work in uswill be faithful to complete it.  We try self help books, 12 ways to pray better, conferences on what Christian men should do and how to live, we try to better ourselves.  And when we don’t we get bitter and disappointed.  As we should, for it is the job of the one who created us to see us through.  Life is a walk that we cannot do without Jesus guiding it, and in our daily personal striving to keep Christianity alive, we soon fail as a group, as a church.  We begin to blame others, much as Pops blamed Anth for his backing into his new car, not accepting responsibility.  Families walk away from the church, confusing it for God, and where a slight lapse in life was forgivable, it was seen as dangerous to the church.  Meetings are held, prayers are offered, and ultimatums are given, all but forgiveness and restoration, the ones Jesus offered, and we need.  I have heard church boards tell men who have strayed they can “come back into fellowship when they get right with God,” not the Jesus I signed up for.  Why is it Christians only kill off their sick or wounded?

While some believe it is their faith that keeps them going, and grows the church, it is really the spirit of the Lord.  My faith wavers based on the situation, Jesus never changes.  He knows of what we did, and will do, and has a plan outlined.  When we consult him, we become a part of it, and grow in Christ.  But we also are part of it when we fail, and we all will.  We cannot make it alone or cut off from fellowship, no matter what church doctrine tells us.  We are to minister and provide aid to the hurting and sick, and sin is a sickness.  They may be told that they can lose their salvation, not be welcomed at church, and need to start all over again with Jesus.  That it all depends on us, leaving Jesus out of the equation.  And bragging about what a great fellowship they have, and the integrity of their flock.  Personally I am so glad I have Jesus to fall back on, that he will provide the growth, and it is only him who can keep me from hell.  If he can save me from hell, why can’t he change my life here on earth?  Or are we busy trying to complete the work God created in us all by ourselves? 

He will be faithful to complete it, whereupon heaven calls us home.  All we leave is a legacy, nothing else.  Without Jesus and our testimony of him in our lives, what will you be remembered for?  I remember Pops and the stories about him, but forget about his wife’s faithfulness to him all those years.  Forgiving and waiting patiently for her bride to call her to America, her new home.  Times were tough, but she persevered.  And what a reunion it must have been.  God is preparing such a reunion right now for us, when Jesus, the bridegroom calls us his bride, the church home.  He will be faithful to complete the work he started, will you be faithful to let him?  We will stumble and trip up along the way, only Jesus will keep us from falling.  Something to remember when the guy next to you in church fails, we all have one thing in common-sin.  But we can have one more thing in common also, Jesus.  Love will change the sinner to a saint, the effective prayer of a righteous man availith much.  God was there at the beginning, and will be in the end.  Where you end up is up to you.  Let the spirit complete the work he started in you, who else but the creator knows what his creation needs.  Salvation is of the Lord, something no religion, program, process, or procedure can imitate.  Some throw seeds, some water, and some fertilize, but it will always be God who provides the growth.  Or, you can do it yourself and fail.....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

 

plays not called in the huddle

Although it is very common today for a quarterback to change the play at the line of scrimmage, when Joe Namath ran the New York Jet offense it wasn’t.  Except for Joe, who would call the play in the huddle, then after seeing the defense, would change it at the line of scrimmage if needed.  Unheard of at the time, back when football players were considered not so bright, and linemen Neanderthals, Joe had a smart and aggressive line that not only protected him, but was willing and able to change as the situation changed.  What was then a novelty, today is SOP for any NFL offense, and has led to many a delay of game penalty, as they try to get too creative, now that the offense changes plays, so does the defense.  The defense has plays?  Notice a defensive huddle, and guys running off and on the field between plays.  They are trying to outwit the offense, and becomes a game within a game.  So much has changed, if only the viewer even thought he knew what was going on....

Baseball for perpetuity has had the third base coach sending signals to the batter, the catcher sending signals to the pitcher, and even defensive shifts per the batter are common.  Much study and prep time goes into each game....which has progressed far away from just throwing, hitting, and catching.  Hockey still looks like to much skating and body checking to me, and basketball has progressed, or degressed to street ball as we used to call it.  Years ago a friend coached a high school woman’s team, who was very good.  It was tough at first boxing out women, if only for certain anatomical reasons, but once the game got going, they played rough and tough, so we would respond.  We were a practice team for them, made up of some friends, and although much older, in our thirties, we kept them at bay, and even won once in a while.  But something happened while we scrimmaged against them, crowds drew, and soon the stands were filling up to see us scrimmage the girl’s varsity.  They cut us old guys no slack, and one close knit game it came down to old age and experience. 

The game tied with only seconds left, and we got the ball out of bounds under our basket.  As David stood out of bounds looking for someone to pass to, I calmly walked up to him, said “here David, I’ll take it out,” he passed it to me, untouched, I did any easy layup, and the girls stood there dumbfounded.  They thought I was going to change positions with David, but it was a  play you can only run once a game, and it worked.  As they complained, the coach stood and smiled, and stored it into his memory for a time in the future when he could use it.  As for the girls, they thought we had cheated, and were caught off guard.  Sometimes the easiest plays are the most effective.

Have you ever prayed and didn’t get an immediate answer?  And wonder what was going on?  Did God hear you, did he understand your request, and why hadn’t he sprung to action on it?  Not an unusual situation, as we find in scripture the apostles acting the same way.  those who would do greater things than Jesus, yet once he was crucified and resurrected, they were on their own.  Or at least would act like it.  Peter had been imprisoned, and they missed him.  Having spent time fervently praying and asking God to have him released, they missed their unofficial leader, and possibly could have been fearing for their own lives.  Remember them hiding out the night Jesus appeared, passing through a wall, you would think that after all the miracles they had seen, they would have more faith.  But patience battles faith, and in my cases, like theirs usually wins.  So we find them talking amongst themselves, praying, asking, and wondering where is God in the situation.  When a knock comes on the door, and they are too self absorbed to answer it.  Funny a little girl recognized his voice, shades of in the Garden, and here tells the others of his escape, and his appearance at the door, yet they rebuff her.  The very prayer God had been called upon to answer, he did, yet they were looking for something else.  The play they had called was changed by God at the line of scrimmage, and it worked.  For all, and as an example to us of trusting God to do things his way and is his own time.  For our benefit. 

It is funny how they reacted, they thought it to be his angel, but not Peter.  As if his angel would abandon him, to show up without him.  But once again the apostles, other than Peter were taken in by a little girl, who recognized Peter’s voice, and ran to find out or to tell others.  Just like our basketball play had caught a team off guard, Peter’s appearance caught his friends off guard.  All were surprised, except the little girl who had seen him, and God.  Nothing takes him by surprise, and while they were praying his plan of action was in action.  Just like the prayers we offer up today, for our situations, God already has them in progress.  And may be knocking on your door with the answer, and you are too busy to answer.  Or don’t like his answer, or wish for something easier, and you wonder “what was God thinking?”  He was thinking of you, and I.

That same God in the form of Jesus knocks at the door of your heart, and wants to be let in.  Are you too busy, or are you expecting someone else?  Are your plans different than God’s and is Jesus a part of them?  Maybe you feel out manned, and it is as simple as taking a ball in under the basket when it is asked for, for in asking I received, and scored.  Right in front of our opponent, who was caught by surprise.  Is it possible Jesus has the same answer, and wants to show your enemy his love while blessing you?  What signals are the holy spirit sending you?  Paul tells us we run the race to win, are you even in the race, or has life taken you out of it?  Or do you just not like the signals God is sending? 

When they finally opened the door, they were astonished, and even more astonished when he told of how the chains had fallen off, and an angel had led him to safety.  Peter who was afraid of a teen age girl, but who could trust an angel in the midst of those who were to take his life.  But he didn’t hang around, and left for another place, as Herod was after him.  So mad he put his own troops who were guarding Peter to death.  “Go tell James and the others,” he commanded, and then left.  Leaving the apostles mystified, but also the soldiers mystified too, and put to death for their failure to contain Peter.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  And who has ever fought God and won?  Even at the cross when all seemed hopeless, it was really a victory for us in the making.  So be patient with God, wait on the Lord, he is not slow, but has a plan in action for us as we speak.  And will unfold it for us as we need to know.  But for now, be patient and wait, maybe the hardest of all things to do.

Professional quarterbacks know what to look for as they come to the line.  Us in the same situation would be blinded, we wouldn’t know.  So God gave us the spirit to guide us at the line, in the huddle, and knocking at the door with the answers.  If only we can get up and exercise our faith, no matter how small.  We won’t win every play, but in every play we will learn something from God.  In the huddle, our prayer time, be still and listen.  God has called a play for our lives, for just this occasion.  He knows the defense, and your enemies, so go with what he calls.  Don’t change it....it may be Peter at the door as the answer, or just someone asking for the ball.  Either way when you listen to God you win.  Believing is seeing, or is it the other way around?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com