you can come in but you cannot use the bathroom

Durango 40 years ago was not the tourist trap it is today.  Small town USA, with a local t-shirt that said “Durango is what America was.”  That was soon to be replaced by a new one, based on the sign on Smelter Mountain, “DURANGLO, COLORADIATION.”  Things were moving fast, as the tailings pile that had greeted you from the west was found too radioactive, and had to be removed.  Soon Highway 550 would be rerouted going through Bodo Park, and many old buildings that had stood 100 years would be torn down and replaced with new ones that looked like Disneyland.  But two things remained constant, at least for the moment, the train and the La Plata County Fair.  With the fairgrounds conveniently placed on Main Ave. north of 25th street, walking distance form downtown.  It would be my first fair, I never got to go, but it was a lesson based on the cultures in the area.  I was working the Saturday shift at La Plata Motors, the Ford store, I was the assistant service manager.  Not much work got done on Saturdays, mostly broken down Texans who had their car tuned to the altitude, and guys bringing in their own cars to work on.  Still a busy place, with lots of traffic walking by, and our doors open.  When an older Indian with a young kid came in, and asked to use the rest room.  Looking at one of the mechanics, who shook his head no, and said “no way,” I informed him they were closed.  But he persisted, and finally feeling sorry for him, or the kid, I let him use it.  Watching close as I had been warned.  And I was about to find out why...

15 minutes, then 20, then 30, and he didn’t come out.  “Now you see why we told him no,” and I was faced with evicting him.  I beat on the door with no response, and finally we took the hinges off the door, and he was just sitting there.  Without a word, he got up and left.  And I was the butt, no pun intended of the joke for a week or so.  No one knows why they do that, my Southern Ute friends laughed when I asked, but to this day, any time anyone asks to use the rest room, I keep an eye on the door, and the clock.  You can come in, but you cannot use the bathroom!

One day when discussing the people who judge us most harshly, a homeless women jumped on me, figuratively.  “You’re judgmental, and Christians shouldn’t judge.”  Her statement more telling than she thought, first she was judging me, second if her words were true, she wasn’t a Christian, by her own definition.  But my reply is simple, “lady I was describing you.”  And she left, and later would join our Bible studies, known for falling asleep in the front row.  Which made a couple upset of “how could she do that , how rude?”  With the homeless women within ear range, I told them, “I take it as a compliment she feels safe enough her to find a few minutes of rest.”  The couple before leaving told me they had learned a lesson as well that day...but what does the Bible say about judgment?  From judgment day to judging others, over 121 times in the NIV.  So sit tight, lest ye fall asleep and someone judges you.  And no, you cannot use the bathroom.

The first time it is mentioned is in Exodus, where God says his judgment will free them from slavery.  1 Samuel tells us we are blessed when we use good judgment.  While Psalm 1 exhorts us not to stand in the judgment, nor with sinners in the assembly.  Later in Psalm 119 it is written “Lord teach me good judgment.”  Yet Isaiah tells us that he will exercise judgment and many will meet their fate with the sword.  Jeremiah says “he will pass judgment on those who say they never sinned.”  While Matthew tells us “we will have to give an account of every word we have spoken.”  Seems judgment takes on many facets in scripture, to us it just means being nasty.  Yet one day we will all stand before a judgment seat, and what will be your fate? 

When Paul stood before Felix, he told him about the judgment to come, and Felix told him to go, “I’ll call for you when it is more convenient.”  How often we react the same way when caught in sin.  “I’m saved, leave me alone.  don’t be judgmental,” as our sin finds us out.  Note that it is our sin that finds us out, not Jesus.  He doesn’t condemn nor accuse, that is the devil’s handiwork.  Jesus came to save, so that on the day of judgment before God, we are found not guilty and sin free, because Jesus took our place.  Today is the day of salvation for many, sadly also the day of judgment for others to whom the gospel was inconvenient.  God’s justice will be based on truth, and when faced with our sin that day, will know why we are guilty.  But you don’t have to face that day in fear, if you face up to the fact of you being a sinner, repent and accept Jesus’ forgiveness.  We will be shown because mercy triumphs over judgment, in Christ.  Don’t dare think you are the one who can escape, for even the angels who rebelled against God will face judgment, forever in the lake of fire and brimstone.  But we can have confidence if we are like Jesus in this world, making his love complete.  Loving him first, than loving your neighbor as yourself.  No man loves himself if in shame and facing judgment, only when forgiven can we truly love ourself and others. 

So fear God, respect and revere him, and worship him who has made you holy.  Worship the one who died on the cross for our sins so we will not be found guilty when judged, and worship the spirit that led us to the truth and guides us today.  We are told we will rejoice in the heavens, but we can now.  Worship him and the one who sits at his right hand, who called the heavens, the earth, and all creation into existence.  Jesus is God, and if he can create a world and a heaven for us, don’t you think he can sustain us here on earth today?

The train still runs in Durango, La Plata Motors and the Fairgrounds are both gone.  They met their judgment and were removed.  And you....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

bragging rights

We are a nation influenced by numbers.  Once upon a time it was longer, lower, and wider, and the more your car was, the more bragging rights you had.   Less than 20 years later it was miles per gallon, and who got the most, leaving the who has the most horsepower crowd in the dust.  Didn’t matter how fast you went, or how wide or long your car was if there was no gas to put in it.  But the numbers only meant something if compared to another number, which was made evident in the late 1970’s in the motorcycle world.  Big once meant 350 cc and above, now 500 or even 750 cc was the buy in number, with 1000 cc’s and up to six cylinders giving you bragging rights.  But one survey done put speed in the right perspective, and how narrow minded California bike riders had become.  If bike A was quicker than bike B by .01 second, guess who got the sale?  Quarter mile times were the defining standard for speed, with manufacturers fighting to get the quickest bike tester and track for their ads, and bragging rights.  How many conversations, really arguments were had over whose 750 was faster, the magazine said this, another said different.  We never took into account track conditions or the test rider, what it came down to among us was on any given day, on any given road, who was quicker.  Who was faster, or who could avoid the police the best.  All the numbers meant nothing when it came down to just riding.  Many egos were bruised, some massaged, and many created on the street, despite the ads.  When cubic centimeters didn’t matter, it came down to the dyno.  But it always came down to the street.

Mickey is right at home in his dyno room.  And one morning while doing a press bike swap, he was arguing with a guy who wasn’t happy about the results of Mick’s dyno.  He was blaming the dyno, as when he had it dynoed at another shop last week it had a few more horsepower, something must be wrong with Mick.  And despite Mickey’s explaining to him the difference weather can make, the fuel you just bought, and other day to day factors, the guy went looking for another shop.  But when confronted with the truth, finally admitted, I just need to have more power than my friend’s bike.”  The statement that coerced his admission was “you can’t even ride the horsepower you have, you just care about the numbers.”  And he couldn’t and he did.  Searching from dyno to dyno for the biggest number.  Just how much did the bragging rights mean to him?  $300 a dyno test! And you think women shop too much.....

Having attended mega churches over the years, I hear too much emphasis on the numbers.  After one Easter when over 1000 came to the Lord at one church, I asked “can you name ten of them?  Five?  One?”  The silence you hear is the answer I got.  Now I am thrilled that many went forward, but that became the main topic among the church during the week.  But after a few weeks, where are the new converts?  If 1000 people got saved at your church one Sunday, wouldn’t you expect a larger crowd the next week?  Yet the crowd never grew larger....where did they all go?  Maybe a lesson hitting me closer to home was my flock grew to over 30 in a tight room.  The numbers were growing, but I was stagnant.  Until a wiser man pointed out to me how a group of 10-15 is just right for the type of ministry I do, and he was right.  We see real growth in the spirit, not reflected in numbers, we see names and faces, we get to know each other, and have bound together in the spirit as a family.  A small community of believers, and growth took on a whole new and exciting meaning.  Jesus taught of the one in 99 he returned for, and all of us were that one at one time.  If Jesus could take the time, why can’t we?  How many know we are his bragging right to his father in heaven, those of us who were given to Jesus to protect and raise up, then do for others.  One person at a time....

So I get blessed when asked for more clothes, that those in our group are taking to the homeless and showing God’s love.  Jesus may love you, but when naked and cold it is hard to hear.  They take food out to those hungry, and when asked “why?” share what Jesus did in their lives.  And all get blessed!  When it comes down to the person and not the group, it becomes more personal.  Individuals get saved, one by one, even in a crowd.  But who is there after the conversion, when it is toughest in their new life?  When those at work make fun of them, when older saints expect too much from them, when they don’t meet church rhetoric or expectations?  Jesus told us make disciples, we need to disciple them, invite them in, and love on them.  Be the older brother God calls us to be, yet too many are only interested in the numbers while getting ready for the next service.  Jesus gave up his rights so we can be his bragging rights before his father, not bragging on himself, but thanking him for what he has done in us.  It’s not “my church is bigger than your church,” but the size of the God you trust and worship.  The one who can save you from hell, and provide heaven on earth.  If dyno tested, how much power would our personal relationship with Jesus produce?  The answer is not found in things done, but how and why we do them.

If not done in love, no matter how many we feed, how big our services are, how much giving we give to orphans or missions, God sees us as a clanging bell, more noise than substance.  Like the bells a Pharisee wore on his robes to warn the people of his coming, it was all about him, what are you all about?  He also describes all our doings as filthy rags compared to love.  We may be highly fashionable, but God sees beyond the Gucci leathers and looks at the leathery heart.  But don’t despair, even the disciples fell asleep at crucial times, Jesus asking them “couldn’t you stay awake just one more hour?”  But don’t worry, he forgives.  Do we let his forgiveness change us?

Yet many still look to out perform the other, pride will do that and it is alive and well.  Read the descriptions of love in 1 Corinthians 13, then the spiritual fruit in Galations 5.  If yours vary, we need to change.  God never does, fortunately, so we need to change to be like him.  Without all the man made and pride induced spirituality we possess confusing the issue.  When the blind man was given his sight by Jesus and asked, all he could say was “I was blind and now I see.  Good or bad, I don’t know.”  How blind are we?  3000 were killed the day Moses brought them the law, 3000 were saved when the spirit descended on them on the day of Pentecost.  You decide about your bragging rights...I know where I place mine.  And at less than $300 to prove it!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blog.spot

sleepers

There was a time when the badge on the front fender told the world what a fast car you had.   Numbers like 454, 426, 302, 406, 327, 396, and 428 along with others told the guy in the lane next to you at the traffic light, “don’t mess with me.”  Sometimes if the other guy hadn’t noticed the badge, a quick rev of the engine assured him you were bad, as in good.  Add in racing stripes, hood pins, mag wheels, Crager SS my favorite, and Wide Oval tires, and you at least looked the part, and might even sound the part.  But maybe about to be taken apart by a sleeper, a plain Jane car with big motor, without all the frills.  One car in our area was a 1966 Chevy Biscayne, two door white, with a 427, that except for its uneven idle, looked innocent enough.  But how many Dodges and GTO’s only ever saw his tail lights until the next red light.  Either looking over with respect or looking away in embarrassment.  Such was the sixties, but sleeper cars have always been, and still are to a certain degree.

Another favorite was a 1967 Chevelle four door hardtop, painted blue with skinny whitewall tires.  Looked like your Mom’s grocery getter, but under the hood was a hot motor in more ways than one.  Borrowed from a race team while everyone else was at the finals, it was a full race drag 327 from a Super Stock car.  Even the exhaust had a slight burble to it, and if you didn’t notice the uneven idle, where it sounded like it was about to die, you were fair bait.  I had a ride in it once, and was hooked.  Both on sleepers and fast cars.  And have never owned a car with racing stripes!  But I did have a motorcycle with one....

Mickey had built a Rocket 3 with a Carpenter head, 2300 cc of motor with 150 hp to start, redlining at 6500.  A torque monster with over 100 lb./ft at idle, more than a Harley at max.  But with head, it dynoed at 220 hp, torque was 189 and redline jumped to 9000 rpm!  It sounded like a NASCAR wide open, but at idle gave no pretense as to what was going on.  Until Mr. Loud Pipes Save Lives pulled up next to me at a light.  Looking at my flat black ride, with a faded white stripe, he gunned his motor, he wanted to race.  Smiling inside my Arai, I revved it up, backed off, let the exhaust pop, then did it again.  I had no intention to race, and suddenly neither did he.  The light turned green and he putt putted off, eyes straight ahead, just in case I blew by him, so I couldn’t see his defeated ego.  Over time I have ridden many fast bikes, and driven many fast cars, but my 15 seconds of glory will always be that morning in Orange County, on a borrowed press bike. 

A lesson to learn is that whenever you take a stand for what you believe in you become a target, like telling people you are a Christian.  They may call you on it, and every heathen knows just how we should act.  Timid, weak, short hair, and a Bible under our arm.  But they never take into account the sleeper Christians, the quiet ones, who sit in the back row, unnoticed, but always ready for action.  While others brag on what they have done for God, they quietly let Jesus show through their actions and attitudes on a daily basis.  Giving God all the credit for the good things, while admitting to still being a work in process about the bad things.  Never revving their motor, but showing love.  Just like Paul tells about in 1 Corinthian 13, the love chapter.  Like a Pharisee who made sure he had an audience when paying his tithe, they bask in the light of themselves, talking of Jesus, but really they are all about themselves.  And when the tough times come, find all the verse memorization, Bible study notes, conference weekends, and church attendance don’t matter without love.  They are exposing who their God really is by their actions, they fail to receive the love Jesus has offered, and fail when tried.  Given a chance to brag on Jesus, they choose themselves, and fail.  Like the Harley rider, fast until tested, then shown to be what they really are.  But God still loves them, and even welcomes them back into the fold.  Been there, done that, I can honestly say it is better to be humbled than humiliated, and in all things show love first. 

When we truly bask in God’s love, agape, the type talked about here, a will of the spirit to uphold and cherish others, then we can begin to fully love God.  We can begin to see Jesus as who he is and why he had to come, and the fruit of the spirit, the love, joy, peace, and patience will shine from us.  Only then can we love ourselves because God loved us first, and begin to love others as ourselves.  When we trust the spirit to show us and guide us how to deal with others, then we grow in his love, which is easy to do once you come to Jesus.  When you realize how much he loves you just as you are, you can love others.  Being forgiven your guilt is taken away, you can begin to be the person God created you to be, this supernatural love from God through you becomes a part of you.  But still Paul warns, that even if  you feed the poor, give all you have to keep them, and boast of anything but Jesus in your hardship, you are like a tinkling bell that no one can hear.  Your loud bark a whimper, your fast car a façade until a really fast one is encountered.  Without God in the equation,without operating in his love, and your love for him, you stumble and fall before the light even changes.  Sometimes exposed for what you really are, not what you claim to be. Better a sleeper believer than a loud bell.  Basking in the solitude of the spirit, you are ready for anything because you have everything in Jesus.

The fast guys are out there, in both religion and on the track.  They may post good numbers on a dyno, or in their church appearance.  But a day of testing is coming, and who you believe in and trust will be displayed.  Burn outs may look cool on shifting sand, but are no way to live for Christ.  He is the firm foundation, the rock that withstood the storm.  Burnouts may sound cool, don’t be one.  Wheel spin means no traction, you are already falling behind.  But look and sound cool....until tested. 

And God makes it easy to love him.  Just be aware of how much he loved you first.  How Jesus has redeemed you and you are forgiven.  The spirit that once stirred you to come to Jesus still is alive in  you today.  God’s love is supernatural, so it must come from him, but can be displayed in and through us.  When the spirit awakens us, and the smoke clears, where will you be found? 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

of course the warranty will cover it...

Buyer beware, we have all seen the warnings, but something inside of us tells us it will never happen to me.  Years ago after a flood in Las Vegas, many cars were flood damaged, totaled by the insurance companies, and sold at auctions with salvage titles.  They had been cleaned up after and prior to the sale, but many tell tale marks were evident, if you knew where to look.  Pull up the trunk mat, pull back a door panel, and look for water marks or where mud had been.  In many cars you could see where the water line was when this was done.  Yet too many looking for the right deal, usually the greedy ones or those who could least afford it were the purchasers.  With those of us at the service department the bearer of bad news.  Some sold so quickly the DMV didn’t have the salvage listed in their data base, but the manufacturer did.  One such man came in with complaints about a new S600 he had just purchased via the internet.  A brand new car for almost half of the $150,000 it listed for new, he had some electrical issues, was told it had a new car warranty, just take it to the Mercedes Benz dealer and they will fix it for free.  Which we would have been happy to do...except...

It was a flood car, showed right on the VMI, the manufacturer records.  SALVAGE-NO FACTORY WARRANTY.  And he went into melt down.  He was going to sue Mercedes Benz, he had been robbed and we all were going to pay.  As he had the car towed out of the service department.  He couldn’t even buy an extended aftermarket warranty, they had it listed as a salvage car also.  And is often the case, all the king’s horse and all the king’s men, along with all the king’s money couldn’t put the car right again.  So beware, if it sounds too good it just might be.  But on the other hand...

We would occasionally get a car towed in that wouldn’t start, maybe a crash or flood.  When told it had no warranty, the owner said he knew, what would it take to fix it?  Not wanting anything to do with it, we finally put a $2000 estimate fee, that may not include needed repairs, and many jumped at it.  We made money, we were able to fix most cars, and the owner knew what he had purchased and was happy with the repairs, which were also not covered by warranty.  I guess it takes both types, but is it worth the hassle?  Such a deal sometimes isn’t, or it can be, but why take the risk?  I can see the cars from Hurricane Michael being lined up and sold on eBay right now.  And the greedy buyers just waiting....

At one point after so many disgruntled and taken owners, we agreed that we not only fix cars, but we had to fix the owners too.  In an age of where it is always someone else’s fault, it takes tact and integrity to tell them the truth and have them believe it.  Seems that when it is for our own good, we rebel, but when it is for another’s we excel, or at least accelerate.  Once I needed advice on a matter, and sought out the elders of the church as scripture tells us to do.  Seven men, seven opinions, some competing with each other.  Confused and a bit deluded, I asked God what to do, and found the answer was I was at fault, and needed to change, not the one I sought advice against.  After I decided to call off the law suit, God asked me “where else can you get free advice that works?”  A lesson I learned early in my Christian life, and trust via the spirit today.  Seems we forget the spirit reveals the mysteries of Jesus to us, without his guidance Bible reading loses much effect, and is open to our own biased interpretation.  Like the flood car, we are at the manufacturer’s mercy, only in Christ will we find the mercy we need.  In an era where everyone screams about their rights, we can turn to Jesus who gave up his rights so we can be saved.  It is when we face the responsibilities and deal with them we see the truth we seek and can deal with it.  The truth, not an opinion.  Yet many seek out advice, shopping their problem until they get an answer they like, then blaming the opinion giver when it fails.  We fail to acknowledge God when we do take his advice, as if it is expected he will just stop running the universe and bail us out.  He gave us stupid for a reason, and a reason for it to hurt.  If only we had sought his advice before.....we might not have to ask for forgiveness later.  Last night someone asked if they could do anything for me, and I told them “don’t ever do anything to me that I have to forgive you for.”  I hope they got it.

When seeking God or being involved in a deal, personal or business, I seek God first.  I have operated that a good deal benefits both parties, and find God gives me more than I can expect when I trust him.  He sees under the carpets and where the damage may be, or can occur.  When he created us and we fell into sin, he knew he could, but didn’t have to enter a recall for our souls, but he did.  Jesus Christ today is the largest and longest ongoing recall in history, and we are all part of it.  We once had a title marked salvage, now we have our name in the book of life.  Which doesn’t exempt us from problems, but gives us an advocate when we do fail.  Trouble with faith lately, scripture tells us in this life we will have tribulations.  Having problems, you are on strong scriptural ground.  Either we stand on Jesus the rock, or find out all else is shifting sand.  Or from a flood.

And just a note of advice for you warranty owners.  Buy a car with a 48 month, 50,000 mile warranty.  At 50,000.1 it’s out.  Over the mileage.  But what date does it expire?  Here is where to pay attention.  Bought on June 1, 2018, it expires at midnight, May 31, 2022.   48 months, not 48 plus one day.  Of course you all knew that....remember the lesson learned from when the twentieth century ended and the new millenium began?  Bought on the internet, you can always right click and have it fixed.  My car may be out of warranty, my God still honors my sin, and forgives it.  Loves the sinner, hates the sin.  Only by his spirit will you know.  Don’t let the burdens of opinions weight you down, Jesus Christ is a fact, not an opinion.  And that is the truth.

 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com