"Uncle Mike, what's this button for?"

I was unusually excited to go to a family dinner, as my two oldest nephews would be there.  They both ride, they both ride old Triumphs, and so I was even more excited riding my new 2001 Triumph to see them.  I had just picked it up from Mickey, and the first 70 miles was bliss.  Upon arriving they all came out when they heard me pull up, and with 19 nieces and nephews,  I had a small but eager crowd.  After letting the two older ones sit on it, the younger ones were cool enough to know not to touch a hot bike, I went to start it, and nothing.  As in no sound, no lights....and inside I panicked.  70 miles and now it won’t start?  And trying to avoid the old axiom the larger the audience the larger the chance of embarrassment, I said “let’s check it out after we eat,” when one of the youngest ones, about five years old says “Uncle Mike, what’s this button for?”  He pointed at the kill switch, which my older nephew who should have known better pushed, effectively cutting all power to the starter.  Suddenly there were lights, and a push of the starter brought the bike to life!  All were happy, none more than me, and a lesson learned, stored in my memory for future use as needed......

After putting a new battery in my Tiger 1050, the gas gauge and miles to empty trip computer didn’t work.  Figuring it would take a few miles to rest, it didn’t, I began to panic, mildly, and Googled my problem, and the Triumph blogs came up.  Where one poor sap had the same no start problem with his new bike, and after all the internet geniuses told him how to rewire it, reboot the computer, or trade it in, he wrote back about the kill switch.  Which made me smile but didn’t help my problem.  Until I suddenly found myself smiling, and found the remedy I needed.  I had become a slave to the electrics, and somehow ridden hundreds of thousands of miles without a fuel gauge.  So resetting the trip meter, I rode 100 miles, filled up, and noted it took 2.5 gallons, or half a tank.  And using my public school math from Mrs. Parks, discovered I could go 200 miles till empty, and would fill up long before that!  DUH!!!  A high tech victory for this low tech guy, and problem solved!  All by myself.  And without the benefit of an audience to help...

Ask any Christian “do you trust Jesus?” and of course they answer “Of course.”  Telling the truth to a certain degree.  It seems as long as the bike starts and the fuel gauge works all is right in my world, but let a crisis set in, and panic begins.  Which usually has been there and just looking for a good reason to show up.  Too many value Christ as what he is doing for them, nice house, fast bikes that start, and good health.  Always eager to pray for you, and brag on themselves, using Jesus’ name.  “Just look at us, we tithe, we do Bible studies, we give to missions.  We got to church on more than Easter and Christmas...” and the list goes on, but doesn’t help.  They have missed the message of the gospel, of how God loved us he sent Jesus to save us, not reward us with the thing of life.  Many times their actions not differing from an atheist, with no sign of God other than a bumper sticker.  But let them have trouble, and the whole world stops.  It is all about them, and the Christ they worship doesn’t show up.  No matter how much they rub the lamp their genie fails to appear.  At least to them.  They become panicked, and like those who rushed to the tomb of Jesus, and found it empty, They had missed the message of his resurrection, and until faced with it hadn’t given it or him much thought.  Sound familiar....God knows, do you?

Jesus asked “why do you call me Lord but do not do the things I ask?”  He doesn’t ask for much, just our broken hearts and lives so he can save us and make us new in him.  With one commandment of love him and our fellow man, but when we serve a false Jesus, we miss the true message.   Just like a button pushed by accident and the bike not starting, we fail to give it all to Jesus, and to let him work in us, placing us above, and him to follow.  Maybe not intentionally, but in reality we do.  Maybe we need to ask like my nephew did, “Uncle Mike, who is Jesus, what did he die for?”  And watch as suddenly life starts anew, with him as Lord. 

Now your situation may be more difficult than a no start situation, but today you can start a new relationship in Jesus.  Or renew an old one, and be set free.  If he can save us for heaven, can he not heal the sick, feed the hungry, visit those in jail or the hospital, even if that person is you?  That afternoon I had an audience watching, and all my motorycling reputation was on display.  How I handled it would say more about me than the problem.  And true to form, the gospel came alive, as “a child shall lead them...”   Jesus loves to hear your questions, do you love to hear his answers?  Or has your good fortune rewritten the gospel for you?  Jesus came to save, leaving his spirit to comfort, guide, counsel, and give encouragement.  He once spoke to a man via an ass, so why not speak to an ass via a child?  “Uncle Mike, what’s that Jesus sticker for?”  Glad you asked, let me tell you about my friend Jesus....

Lucas was the Prince of Darkness, Jesus is light and love.  Something to remember next time your bike won’t start.  Or your fuel gauge breaks.  And you thought he only drove in one Accord....and of course you remembered to turn on the pet cock, didn’t you?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

yesterday's ride

The projected high here today is a cool 72 degrees, down from the 91 while eating lunch in Redlands yesterday.  Like a Minnesota summer, if you were put of town that weekend you missed it, but we know summer will be here soon.  I hope.  But yesterday’s ride was unique because there was really nothing unique about it, until I thought about.  Having a motor cop wave and smile at a light, he knew too.  Riding the back roads of once rural Riverside county and now a sea of large warehouses, all those Amazon orders must get filled somewhere.  But it was a ride perfect for the Bonneville, nowhere in particular to go and all day to get there.  So I just enjoyed the ride, slower than on weekends, when everyone confined to 48 hours of riding needs to get their fill, and somehow managed to ride 180 miles in five hours.  Including time for a shake, they used to be called milk shakes, at In and Out.  Just sitting there watching the people in a hurry, and looking at the Bonne not in a hurry.  Each person consumed with their own agenda, and I guess I fit right in, although my agenda was no agenda.  I ended up riding roads familiar but at speeds less than familiar and noticed how things are rapidly changing here.  Ever notice how many stop lights there are?  And how a stop sign in the middle of nowhere can interrupt the rhythm of the ride?  How one Prius in the fast lane doing their best to interrupt traffic can upset you?  But somehow none of that mattered....I’ll deal with the yuck in the Prius later.  We all need rides and days like yesterday’s ride, if for other reason than to escape life for awhile and all the self induced drama in it. If I caught you smiling and nodding your head you know what I mean...

I marvel sometimes at the decisions I make.  And wonder about others.  A neighbor is selling his home, and has just spent many thousands sprucing it up.  When I asked him why did he wait until selling to make it his dream home, he said now he had the time and money.  I wonder why fix it up and finally sell it?  Isn’t it like you always wanted finally?  And you are going to sell it?  Talking with our new gardener, he advises me my green grass will be gone in 30 days, it is field grass.  Yet I fuss over it, he cuts its, and I spend money on watering it.  Only so it can die.....maybe I should sell and move on.  Sitting at a light I watch a station selling gas for 3.799 and busy, while across the street it is 20 cents cheaper and only a few cars.  Getting home an email from a friend who sells Harleys hears I don’t ride for Triumph anymore, “do I want to trade?”  For what?  And finally watching the NCAA championship, and one of the leaders of the losing team in tears, where just two nights ago he was praising God for the victory?  Did I miss something here too?  Did God change or is he only worthy of praise when we win?  Then it’s off to bed, awaiting Tessie’s 5 o’clock breakfast call.....

I have heard over the years of men who physically sit a prayer closet, but for me the spirit has given me a motorcycle.  When a friend cancelled yesterday, I was glad to be alone and spend time out in the air with God, not locked in some closet in the dark.  So often we neglect that God has all things under his control, and he has provided for us ahead of time.  But God in his wisdom has given us humanity, take out the human part and it is a pity.  Almost.  Eating a sandwich we can see how man does not live by bread alone, without the bread it is just random ingredients on a plate, but put between two slices of bread, it becomes a meal.  But without the ingredients we have just bread.  The life of a Christian is like that, we cannot live by just bread alone, we need to have the words from God to guide us and assure us.  We need the spirit to accompany us, yet we talk too much and listen too little.  Did God say “he who has a mouth let him speak?”  Yet we refuse to listen for the spirit, sometimes  encouraged by a zealous pastor or church, and miss out on Jesus altogether.  The bread of life Jesus speaks of is the holy spirit, that we will never be alone, without needs met, and with the hope of glory ahead.  Or with us now, as wherever his spirit is he is present, we don’t have to wait for heaven to be fulfilled.  On earth as it is in heaven.  A promise from our daily bread, but only if we partake in it.  Yet some only nibble, while others pass on it altogether, seeking God’s will but denying his spirit-his will. 

I come from a background of Bible teaching, of knowing the word, but discovered something lacking in knowledge.  I was no smarter than the devil, who knows scripture by heart, he was there when it was written.  But yet we try to understand the mind of God as if that will bring us closer.  But really to build pride in us, as “I know something you don’t know.”  Sounding like that obnoxious girl in fourth grade.  But who can say in love “I know someone you don’t know?”  And by our actions and attitudes prove Jesus.  Is God truly your Jehovah Jireh, your provider?  Or are you like the player giving God the glory only in victory?  Do you study scripture or just read the letters of Paul, as letters, as they were written?  Whose commentaries do you use?  Are you fixing up your physical house on earth and neglecting your spiritual one?  Maybe a hybrid Christian, a Prius in the church taking up space and blocking traffic with doctrinal issues, but showing no love? All this and more the spirit and I shared yesterday.....

So yesterday’s ride was more than a motorcycle outing, more than the weather, and more than a huge carne asada burrito. It was about time well spent listening and talking with my God.  Communing in the spirit, and looking at the world through his eyes.  How I long to get to heaven, but I have a new desire to wait, that none shall perish, God’s will for us.  To see things through his eyes, and change me, not change him to satisfy me.  And I will leave you with a thought he planted in my brain.  Try reading Psalm 23 as if Jesus were speaking it.  Talking to his father in a very personal way. Seeking and trusting, even though he knew what lays ahead.  He understood the valley of the shadow of death, he understood fearing no evil.  He understood that God is always with him.  He understood not wanting because God provided for him all his needs.  Listen to his prayers, they are for others.  Except for one, but knowing God’s will for him he obeyed.  His daily bread can be ours via his spirit.  Fresh every morning, flavorful and fulfilling.  The Lord is my shepherd.  Repeat that until you believe it.  It will change how you worship and live.  Maybe yesterday’s ride was far better than I gave it credit for.  Don’t do the same thing with Jesus.

Meanwhile in Minnesota....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the motorcycle I hope they never make

Since my separation from riding Triumph’s press fleet, I find there is more to riding than one brand.  I knew this before, but my easy access to new Triumphs definitely gave me an advantage over most when it comes to test rides.  But reading an ad this morning about the “perfect motorcycle for you” I took some offense.  I almost bought a  new Duke 790 a few weeks ago on the inside deal, my daughter in law is a VP at KTM.  Maybe the hardest no ever issued by me in my history of riding.  My friend at Triumph still offers me bikes at his cost, and a Street Triple RS is the latest carrot dangling in front of me.  I have two friends who are GM’s at Kawasaki dealers, a new z900rs at their cost is nice, and way too tempting, so I haven’t visited in a couple of weeks.  And that is just the short list, even the GM at the local Harley/Indian store wants to deal with me, to get me on a real bike, whatever that means.  He will show me invoice on any bike in stock, I don’t think an overweight, overpriced, under powered motorcycle will ever be the perfect one for me, so I just laugh at the others how they over pay, and under ride.  I have even been scanning Craigslist for an old R90S, the Harleys are cheaper.  So I decided to keep the four bikes I have, and after new tires, front brakes, chain and sprockets, and a battery, on my Tiger 1050, I spent less than $800 for it all, and have the bike I really want, with title in hand.  And it was hard to admit, but my riding styles have changed, not ready for a boring Gold Wing yet, but I don’t ride like the nut I used to, but still find few who can keep up with me....and just for fun, when Mr. Loud Pipes Save Lives challenged us, I blew him in the weeds after spotting him 30 yards on an on ramp.  Blowing by him like he was standing still, and soon he was out of sight behind me.  Oh, did I mention Theresa was on the back with me?  Could it be the antidote to speed kills is loud pipes on slow bikes save lives?

But in the back of my mind I hope I will always be the young 20 year old kid who loves to ride.  Where going fast still thrills, and corners still tempt.  Where in the middle of winter just sitting on a new bike in the showroom makes me “cannot wait until spring,”  and every time I pass one when in a car makes me wish I had left the car home.  If you know what I mean there is no explaining, if not God bless you and your Prius.  Just not where we ride.  But riding is something personal, and while the ads portray you on their perfect bike, each bike in my past was the perfect bike for that time and ride.  From my first Honda CB350, to the R90S I left home and rode cross country on, to my FJ1100, and 7000 miles its first week of ownership, and to the almost 30 bikes in between then and my Bonneville T120, each bike was the right bike at the right time.  The perfect ride for my age and attitude, only being honest and humble makes me add my pocketbook.  So when I read about the perfect motorcycle, I find that if it was ever made, it would never fit me, for one size doesn’t fit all, no matter how loud your pipes are.  And the fact you ride will always be more important than what you ride.  But for you young riders, never stop dreaming, and us older guys never stop.  Maybe slow down, but never stop.....

It took God 27 verses in Genesis before he made man.  So unique and so different that he gave us dominion over all the earth and all things in it.  Adam named all the animals, trees and shrubs, and he had a free hand in all things with one rule, stay away from that certain tree.  When God made us, he instilled a will in us, unique to all creation, as being made in his image, like him, we were given a choice to love or rebel.  To obey or deny, for perfect love demands a choice.  He instilled perfect values in us, yet Adam was one man alone with God, the perfect one on one relationship.  But God seeing how Adam was alone by himself, created Eve out of man, to share Adam with, taking a part of Adam from his side, not necessarily a rib, but making him just like Adam but uniquely different, just as Adam was like God but uniquely different.  We know their story of sinning, and ever since everything man has created has a certain evil twist to it.  Even at one point erecting a Tower of Babel to the Heavens to prove how great they were, but God struck it down, and confused their language scattering them away.  Their choice might have mentioned God, but it never honored him.  And the likeness of God on earth in his creation endured the flood, and 40 years in the desert, still not trusting while complaining.  But God is patient and Jesus was the way back.  Man cannot legislate love, laws do not make us moral, nor are they moral, it takes a changed heart, a being of being reborn to Adam’s status before his fall, it takes God in the form of a man to walk among us, it took Jesus.  For everything made bears it maker’s mark, all things of man will bear his mark, the things of God will bear God’s mark.  And the physical things will never satisfy the spiritual qualities that only Jesus can fulfill, that can give us perfection and the love we desire.  And need.  The church may try, but is only made up of men also, and without Jesus is a miserable substitute for him.  From religion to motorcycles we need a savior, we need Jesus!

For just as we have retained the capacity to be Godlike, without Christ we do not have the ability.  The way Jesus is talking about.  Although it seems harsh at times, in all our tough times of trials and tribulations, God is at work restoring himself to us.  Revealing his perfection as we put on the new, Jesus Christ, and put off the old man of sin.  We are being refined and purified, and just like it takes tons of pressure to make a diamond fro coal, that same pressure in God’s hands is reforming us.  Until as the silversmith looks over into the pot and sees his reflection, knowing all the dross and impurities are gone, leaving a refined perfect product.  God is refining us so he can see himself in us once again!

So at any moment and at the very moment God is working in the heart of the believer installing in his his own greatness again.  We too can be like the first Adam, but it takes the final Adam, Jesus to do it.  So next time tempted, and you will be, when the loud pipes just make you want to go fast, when you got to go and prove something, remember you are never alone.  For just like Theresa was my passenger that day, Jesus rides with you always, never leaving you nor neglecting you.  He left us his spirit, given to us upon salvation, so wherever two or more are gathered in his name, he truly is with us.  God never left us, that was never his plan, and he misses us and wants us back.  He is the motorcycle I hope they never make, for I never want anything to come between us.  I’m still being refined and still riding, still tempted, and still reading the ads, while still sitting on new bikes, and still visiting showrooms.  But at every visit all I have to do is see what I rode in on, to know what I should ride out on.  That perfect motorcycle for the perfect ride at the perfect time, with no money changing hands and no payments.  Still the temptations line up....so I’ll just go for a ride, and think on Jesus.  A riding partner so unique and different why would I ride any other way?

That something you seek is really a someone, Jesus Christ.  And he leaves it up to you.  Sorry I cannot hear your answer inside my helmet....it still and always will be that personal...so let the good times roll!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com