help me Ron! Duh?

I first met Ron when he and his family moved here from Pasadena.  He was a very successful insurance agent making six figures when that meant something.  His family lived like it but Ron was becoming bored, and his family wanted more.  As in income, as in money.  So he sold his profitable business, and bought a quickie oil lube franchise, using all his cash to get started.  Based on the franchise promises, he would be rich again soon, but one thing stood in his way.  Ron knew nothing about cars or their repairs.  Within a year most of his finances were gone, he was behind to his vendors and mortgage on the shop, and ended up losing everything.  Including his wife, who had some strange religious beliefs.  She had been healed by a famous evangelist, and followed him religiously, and he had become her knew savior, and with Ron losing everything, she left him too, but didn’t divorce him, hanging on so he would have to support her and his son, who she had turned against him.  The last time I saw him was when I helped him moved his few suitcases of belongings into his room he rented in a house.  After renting here a huge house in the custom she was used to.  He should have seen it coming, but his boredom with success and her greed fueled by bad religion led him to ruin.  Help me Ron!  Duh?

I must admit I hadn’t thought of him for years, but while waiting inline for lunch last week, and watching a franchisee folding under pressure, it all came back to me.  This guy was trying to prepare the orders,  the girl had walked out in while serving them, and they were out of meat, salsa, beans, and Coke Zero, every time he called back to the kitchen for help, the answer was “five minutes.”  The guy in front of me started to get upset with the situation, but as the more we watched the futility, we became sorry for him.  Just looking at him you could tell he had been successful once, but probably not with people.  I would label him CPA material, who looking at the potential jumped on it.  Never knowing to be profitable fast food must be fast, and restaurant owners work long hours with low pay.  Bet they didn’t mention that at the franchise meeting.  And I thought of Ron, and how many like Ron had sunk everything into a business that would leave them empty and vacant, and losing everything.  Even Subway will confess it takes two stores to make a living...and the dream becomes a nightmare and goes on.

Sara and Abram both had different views of the promise God provided.  Abram trusted God, while Sara took the promise and thought she had to do it herself.  So many Christians get led astray like this, thinking it is something they have to do to please god, to make him love them more, to make them successful.  To carry out the dream or vision he had given them, only to end up in defeat.  An emptiness sets in as they flounder, and soon more meetings, more processes, procedures, and programs are added, with interest at first, but then they begin to dwindle.  Studying God’s word, but forgetting his words, “unless he builds the church, they labor in vain.”   Hanging on to the false words of going out witnessing, they fail to be a witness, and soon their actions differ very little from an atheist.  As the ones who they try to witness to avoid them, you hear “why should I become a Christian, they act no different.”  With too much truth there to overcome.  If only we listen to what Jesus had for us, and let his spirit guide us.  But we are more Sara than Abram many times, and pay the price.

Sara wanted to fulfill God’s promise of the countless people God promised, so told Abram to have her maiden Hagar, who gave him a son, thinking he was the one God promised.  Only to give birth to Ishmael, who would fight with his brother Isaac, the one God had promised.  Ishmael becoming the Arab people, Isaac the lineage to the Jews.  One promise, but one direction, self directed, not spirit driven, and look at the results even today.  Two brothers who couldn’t get along as kids, leading to two races who cannot get along today.  One race bearing fruit, chosen as promised, the other a bastard, not as promised, but as Sara chose.   We read these things shall follow them that believe, maybe the first words sent by telegraph apply, “what has God wrought?”  Instead of what has man wrought?  Sara never set out to fail, but by trusting God, not following her husband’s faith, it led her to ruin.  Selfishness instead of selflessness.  Abram was found righteous not because of who he was, but because God’s righteousness, and his trusting him.  As he would prove again and again, even a trip where God asked for his son Isaac. 

We call ourselves Christians, but do we trust Christ?  Do we act like Jesus?  Do we trust in him, or by some religious experiences claim his name?  When we come to realize it is not who we are, but what he has done, and who he is and not what we have to do, we grow in his love and mercy.  Grace grows from the relationship, God shows mercy when we fail, we walk in his grace when we obey.  One is our way, the other his. 

When Ron had spent his money on his franchise, then it was up to him.  Unexplored territory, and with no guide he was lost and lost everything.  We have come a long way from when a good mechanic would open his own shop, or a good cook would open her own restaurant.  Today you pay for the franchise, and they will teach you how to fix cars or cook meals.  Jersey Mike’s are everywhere, did you know they are owned by a guy named Pete?  Who gets a cut from each sandwich you buy?  Buying all your supplies and meats from him, to provide a consistent quality, but also feeding his piggy bank.  Whoever sells the franchise owns the franchisee.  Who ever we give our actions to owns us.  You cannot serve both God and man.  Many have lost it all via franchises, sadly too many have lost it all via religion.  From which Jesus came to save us.  So you can say “help me Ron!” And hear a “duh.” Or follow Jesus, and find his promise fulfilled.  It isn’t always all about money, but when we follow the money to where it leads, we see where our hearts really trust.  After coming to Christ, the rest is up to him, just like when we were saved.  We save no one, and only Jesus saves.  Jesus paid it all, so let him do it all.  Alive in the spirit, a vitality that only comes from God.  You will hunger again after eating, and your car will always need service.  Franchises bought on a single promise.  Are you willing to risk your future on a franchised hope or the blessed hope?  Who we depend on will show.  Too many have strayed from the faith when they should have kept their day job.  Jesus never fails.  Sara proved it for all to see, “no, you can’t have it your way.”  But you can be in the way.....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the new Harley next door

A friend stopped by and saw the Harley parked next door and went to look at it.  He came back telling me how well the guy had taken care of his bike, it was spotless, looked like new, and on and on he raved about it.  I smiled to myself, because this friend is known for not listening, and not wanting to embarrass him, didn’t tell him the bike was only a month old with 600 miles on it.  It better look new!  Seems the first impression still reigns supreme, at least to the unknowing or uneducated.  Some stereotypes still ring true, but so does the “don’t judge me,” crowd. But a few years ago while looking for a car, I did see some patterns form....

We never have been nor will be a mini van family.  So looking for a used car I could afford, I narrowed it down to a Z28 Camaro, or Mustang GT.  Convertible.  I was partial to the looks of the Chevy, but the Ford won out, with some observations along the way.  Almost all Mustangs were higher mileage, had a five speed, and were owned and maintained by men.  Well taken care of.  The Z28’s on the other hand, were all women owned with automatics, low miles, and needed maintenance.  I must have looked at dozens of them, to come to this conclusion.  Now some might call this a judgment call, some a poll taken and some would come up with any excuse that fits the moment.  But it was an observation, and I ended up with the Mustang GT, and was happy.  So was my wife, as it would be her daily driver.  Turned out to be a good buy, as when we traded it, I got more on trade than I had paid for it.  I just love it when that happens....

Too many times it is buy for love and sell for money, and the converse is also true.  But when our worldly mindset dictates our decisions, it tends to leave God out of the equation.  We are told you cannot serve both God and man, and living in a fallen world we are pressured, but we as Christians have the assurance of the holy spirit in our lives, and that should make the difference.  But first impressions still are powerful, and as the bumper sticker says, “bad decisions make for better stories.”  But it doesn’t have to be that way, as we will see.

Abram and Lot were cousins, both men of God, but only Abram chose to follow God’s lead.  When offered a place to settle by the Lord, he let Lot choose first, and he chose what his eye could behold, the beauty of the land in what was Sodom and Gomorrah.  Leaving the desert land to Abram, but with God’s promise, “you shall inherit all you see and your descendants shall not able to be counted.”  Seems God sees not only the present, but sees the future, do we in all our decisions?  In any?  It turned out Sodom and Gomorrah were the sickest and most sinful places on earth, two names that represent debauchery today.  It was not at all what Lot had envisioned, and soon it almost killed him.  It did his wife, as she looked back at what was her dream instead of looking ahead to God, and turned to a pillar of salt.  Meaning death and a message that is still told today.  But it was Abram who prayed and God allowed him to rescue his cousin.  Like the new Harley next door, Lot’s first impression was wrong without all the facts. 

God was so upset with Sodom and Gomorrah he wiped out all traces of them from the earth, today they have never been found, but we know they once existed.  Representing sin, we have a picture of how Jesus wipes out the sin form our lives, the scripture means as if it never happened, leaving no trace, no S&G to remind us.  Past, present, and future.  We are forgiven, a new heart is installed and our sinful nature is wiped out.  We will still sin, but with every sin see how it comes between God and us, and as our heart changes, we do too.  That day Lot’s life was changed forever, so was his wife’s.  Sin will do that, but going back to Abram’s decision, his life was forever changed that day he let Lot choose first.  And God still lets us choose today, for perfect love demands a decision.  The things of the world may look good, but come and see the new Harley after 10,000 miles.  If not maintained, it will be old and worn before its time.  So are we if we don’t maintain a solid walk with Christ.  If we don’t pray continuously like Psalm 1 states, if we don’t recognize the spirit and give him a place in our lives, if we don’t read the Bible with his influence, and if we don’t fellowship with other believers, we stand a good chance of the world influencing our decisions first.  The devil does seek to destroy, but can also ruin us one bad decision at a time.  You may not die from an illness, but death may be welcomed after enduring one.   But God had never abandoned us, and can restore the relationship if we want, but on his terms. 

Today you may be in a point in your life where what the world has offered seems better than the promises of God.  It worked for Adam and Eve, but did it really?  Are you willing to give up all God has for you and heaven too, for a shiny new ride?  A desirable place to live?  The right job at the right salary with the right office?  Or are you willing to let the spirit guide you?  It is always best to trust the one holds the future....even when buying a car.

So look twice at the shiny Harley, ask “how many miles?”  Then decide.  After the new fades, it will just be another used bike.  Don’t think so, try to trade it in, see how it has depreciated.  That’s life and that’s the world.  Maybe Proverbs says it best, “ an empty barn stays clean, but produces no profit.”  Just like a low mileage bike, if not ridden, it still gets old.  Second Law of Thermodynamics, everything is in a constant state of atrophy.  Don’t you.  Grow in grace and the love of Jesus Christ, high miles mean better stories, like riding, we don’t quit riding because we got old, we got old because we quit riding....works with God too....but follow his lead.  All roads lead somewhere, only one leads to Jesus. 

Oh and if this seems harsh, no I’m not judging you, just describing you!

love with compassion,

Mike

mattehw25biker.blogspot.com

before Texas, after LA

Suddenly it’s 1969 all over again.  50 years of the Z car, the Mets winning the World Series, the Aquarian Arts Festival, aka Woodstock, and the debut of Easy Rider.  If you were around back then, you may have been too young to know the impact these events would have, as a 15 year old in high school, I was too busy with day to day events.  But I do remember Brennan’s brother getting a 240Z, the afternoon the Mets won the fifth game at home with Koos on the mound, and I used to have an old underground newspaper with ads for AAF.  But the afternoon I spent watching Easy Rider changed me, sitting through it twice.  For a kid whose only exposure to motorcycles was mini bikes or dirt bikes of 50cc, riding across America was my dream.  But never having been more than 100 miles from home, I had no idea America was so beautiful, especially the Southwest.  It would be two years until I was of driving age, add another 12 months til my Honda 350, but the road was calling, off I rode and never looked back.  And at age 21, threw a leg over my R90S, on a cold Connecticut morning, and two weeks later was in Albuquerque the day before Thanksgiving, 1975.  And my rides were just beginning....

I was the Billy type, wild and crazy, just wanting to have fun.  With riding the most important thing in my life.  The Easy Rider influence, but only up to a point, as I was reminded last night.  I only watch until they get to Texas, as it gets too serious then.  No more riding 66 through New Mexico and Arizona, on roads I have ridden so any times they are local to me.  From crossing over into Arizona across the Colorado River, and leaving Needles, a suburb of hell, so many of the locations are familiar to me.  Riding through Kingman, then east leaving town.  Getting gas along the way at a two pump store before I-40 changed it all, the ranches along the way, wondering how anybody got there and why they stayed.  Eating Mexican food for the first time, introduced to sopapillas.  And the New Mexico sunsets, truly the land of enchantment.  Roads and places I have ridden for over 40 years, some as recently as last year.  But at the Texas-New Mexico border, I ride on, but I leave the Easy Rider experience behind.....

For me the southwest has a charm I cannot describe, from mountains to deserts, from wildflowers to cactus, and miles of blue sky.  Lots of miles between towns, and a welcome smile at each one.  Rare to find a person who doesn’t understand your riding, and love for the road, even if they are bound there, even if not by choice.  For me Easy Rider is  before Texas, and after LA, with 1000 miles of roads, road food, and memories had, and to be had.  Travel by motorcycle has changed a lot since 1969, 800-1000 mile days are no big deal.  Bikes are reliable, gas is still relatively cheap there, paid $2.04 a gallon in Albuquerque in March, here it was $3.25.  Most bikers still wave, and at rest stops, we still compare notes.  The road will change you, in my case making you a better person, while still growing along the way.  Seems some roads call me back again, while others call me for the first time, but they still call after 48 states and over 1 million miles.  My hearing may be bad after all those miles, what I hear goes way beyond any auditory sense, it goes right to the soul...

And it comes right from the holy spirit.  The same holy spirit that told you you needed Jesus, is still calling to you today.  Get out and live!  The same spirit told Abraham “take a look around, a far as you can see, it is yours.”  How many of us live a Christian life believing that?  Believing God has infinite resources for us, great plans for our joy and happiness, and all it takes is bit of faith, followed by obedience.  When Wyatt took off his watch before the ride, we need to not be bound by time or earthly constraints, but trust God.  God has each one of us on different road, but all lead to Jesus.  He knows the plans he has for us, and when we trust him, when we follow his spirit, the plans are better than anything we can dream.  But he also inhabits our dreams and visions, promising young men will dream dreams, old men will have visions, not just of the future, but as insight to him personally.  But life can be more than just reading the Bible and praying when the spirit is involved.  Too many lives are like the earth when first created, without form.  Until the holy spirit hovering above it came into it and gave it life.  Just like he does us.  Yet too many journeys end at the end of the driveway, and never see all God has for them.  Pick an excuse....none of them work if you trust and obey. 

Abraham made his choice not on what he saw, but on God’s providence.  Do we make decisions based on only what we see?  I know some who live in San Diego and have never been to LA, too far.  120 miles too far.  Or think it is the same everywhere, so stay home.  Missing on God’s blessings he has for them.  But God made it simple, all this you can see and more is yours if you choose me.  Don’t discount the will of God, for he also promised Abraham descendants that cannot be numbered.  No limit to what God has for us.  With a question, are you content with what life has given you, or what God has for you?  Your choices tell the story...

So God told him to “awake and walk all the land I have for you.”  Maybe that is the same calling I have for the road.  Walk with Christ, and see the world, through his eyes.  Live in his grace and mercy, confident he is always with you.  He knows the mountains, he formed them, he knows the deserts, he created them, and his sunsets are a reminder of how he provides, and will again tomorrow.   With colors no words an describe. 

Two men were asked to make a decision.  One, Lot took what he could see, it ended up being Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham looked out and saw what lay ahead in faith.  Easy Riders of a past generation.  Today we still get to choose, life or death, heaven or hell.  With a test for me after watching the movie last night.  I didn’t sleep much, I so desperately want to be on the road.  Nothing compares with riding a motorcycle on it, cars are like riding the bus.  But I want to be like Abraham and trust God, for what he didn’t see was better than what he did.  So even though it is tough, I will wait on God, as Abraham did.  Too many detours, roads not finished yet, or bad weather to pass on.  I want all the blessings of him now, and the ones to come. Before Texas and after LA a road lies between, just like between now and heaven.  So like God told Abraham, “POSSESS IT!”  There are no easy rides, only easy riders.  Billy and Wyatt thought they had it figured out, but lost instead.  Don’t you.  The things that are seen are temporal, the things not seen eternal.  And the things seen through God’s eyes behind handle bars are priceless.....if only Abraham had a motorcycle to ride....

If they were to make a movie of your life in Christ, would you watch it?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.b;ogspot.com

home-there is no place like it

Sitting jammed into what they call economy seating, I was flying back to San Diego after seeing my parents in Jersey for Thanksgiving.  Bored and gored, I had read all the seat back magazines, and the book I brought along.  Done with small talk, the kids were sleeping, I sat back and listened to a conversation in the row in front of me.  This loud voiced man-read that rude, was talking of his first trip to California, and how he hated it.  Too much sun, no traditional Thanksgiving spirit, you had to drive everywhere as it is spread out too big, the air was dirty, and on and on.  Finally listening to his diatribe for too long, the guy in the seat next to him asked him where he was from, “Newark,” he proudly explained. “Where we know each other, we don’t need to leave the neighborhood for anything, same families for generations living in the same buildings, no car because we don’t need one, ride the bus or walk.  We have real food here, real Eye-talian food, none of this health slop.”  And on he rambled, with each new word proclaiming what an idiot he was, and how we all hoped he stayed home.  In Newark.  My take on Newark in much different....and I lived only 12 miles from there at the time. 

The Wildman had a friend who needed a ride into Newark to get his paycheck, they had forgot to mail it.  It was the week before Thanksgiving, overcast and chilly, but he agreed to ride on the back of my R90S.  Getting off Rt. 22 onto Frelinghuysen Avenue, the siren went on, the red lights lit up, and we were pulled over.  A Newark PD car, the 1974 vintage, the same year of the event.  Whose opening line was, “at 120 mph I would be running up your tailpipe.”  Then wrote me a ticket for speeding, and challenged me to a race.  This guy was nuts, any bet he knew the passenger spoken of above?  But the ticket stated I had a court date on December 24, at 8 pm.  What kind of city has court on Christmas Eve?  So spending a week or two fretting about the date and time, I finally called the court to reschedule.  The woman answering the phone assured me I was wrong, as court was closed that day-all day.  She reluctantly looked up my citation, no such number listed, and wanted to know what I was up to.  After convincing me I had no ticket, no court date, and a promise to myself to never got to Newark again, it became evident I had been part of a prank by this cop.  If he even was one.  And this was the Newark the passenger loved dearly?  And it all came flashing back to me, that guy didn’t drive.  So he would never meet the cop I did.  My only hope is he never needed to call one, and never on Christmas Eve, they’re closed.  But something inside me really wanted to race that guy, for to run up my exhaust at 120 he would first have to catch me.  I’ll bet he never thought of that....

Ever been stuck between a Newark and hard spot?  Ask Father Abraham, who was a traveler of some renown.  Fleeing to Egypt in a panic, not told to by God, disobedience, when we all panic, he was faced with many decisions.  He chose to settle between Bethel, which means “the house of God,” and Ai, which means “ruin.”  Stuck in the middle, not choosing either.  Like too many Christians today, stuck between Jesus and religion.  Knowing what God says, but following denominational practices.  And like the lukewarm spit from the mouth of Jesus, we make him sick.  Showing we only stand for ourselves or what is convenient, not taking a stand either way.  The Greeks had a word, a name for people like that, idiotes, where we get our word idiot.  People who went with whatever was current, riding the wave, but never making waves.  Placed firmly in the middle, lest they need to adjust their position.  And like Abraham, fleeing on their own, doing what seems right in the eyes of man, but denying the spirit of God they tell is leading them.  With no witness that they are any different than the atheist in their reactions or choices.  And you wonder why Jesus was sick.....

But Abraham lived in a tent.  He had no permanent home, he was always on the move.  Walking with God, as we are instructed to do.  We are exhorted to walk in the spirit, not sit in it.  We are not supposed to sit on what we learn today, but go on tomorrow growing in grace and his wisdom.  We will make some bad choices like Abraham supposedly did, but only to find out that God never left us, and the detours we are taught about were really part of his plan, to show his power when we had no power of our own over the situation.  We love it when we come to a place of rest and peace, telling God “I think I’ll settle here, “ when he wants us to keep moving, keep growing, keep relying on him.  Remember Jesus had no place to call his home, no mortgage or rent.  Imagine if he had settled down in Jerusalem and only taught there?  Or Newark?  He spent his time on the road, moving on and up, where he was led by his Father.  Can we, do we do the same thing?

God is always moving, always on the move.  You will never outrun him, yet he will never run up your pipes.  As the great shepherd Jesus has made the way, it is up to us to follow him.  Our lives are a never ending journey, so much to see and do, and a home in heaven to look forward to.  Abraham, and Jesus both knew of the place they called home, with no earthly address.  No night court, no practical jokes.  No loud passengers bragging about how their home is better.  If you do not call heaven home, you are missing out on the joy of the great promise of eternity.  Life on earth is one of a  journey, of continual progress, growing closer to God.  Let no religion get between you and Jesus, and rob you of your joy. Home-there is no place like it, yet many choose Ai, and suffer.  Welcome to the house of the Lord, where we can have all God has for us, even beyond our wildest dreams.  Or we can fly back to Newark....

Many travel brochures are made to make destinations look appealing.  Hell is mentioned more than heaven in the Bible, and heaven cannot be described.  For eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind imagined the kingdom of God.  But he has given us his word,and by his spirit we can read it and learn.  And find the purpose of life and the strength to live it.  Or you can never leave home....making Mark Twain’s statement true.  “If you have a reputation for being an idiot, don’t open your mouth to prove it.”  Especially on a crowded plane....with one thought, it was 80 in Newark there yesterday, and only cloudy and 66 here.  Maybe I under estimate Newark, could people move there for the weather?  With one added bonus, all the toll bridges in New Jersey are free to get in, you pay to leave.  I wonder... May it ever be so humble...and why Abraham was always on the move.  On his way to it.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com