destination: everywhere!

 Much of what I do remember is based on what Theresa and my son Christopher have told me.  What I do remember was the nurse telling me to keep my feet down because the helicopter was small, and not to interfere with the pilot’s feet.  My veins had collapsed and only the flight nurse could find a vein.  And for the next 250 miles I would be life flighted from Durango to Albuquerque.  Then landing and being greeted to what I thought was a SWAT team of medical personnel.  Then eight days later, waking up and looking at the ceiling, knowing something had happened, but not sure what.  The room was filled with all kinds of monitoring equipment, I had numerous IV’s in me, and my chest felt funny.  Reaching down, I could feel staples and counted 13, turned out there was 27 of them, and I had just endured and managed to live miraculously after open heart surgery.  Among other things, I now have a plastic aorta, mine exploded, no one lives through that, and my heart was out of my body for 5 1/2 hours.  After the surgery until just before I woke up, I had been on life support, as Peter my cardiologist explained, “we can keep you functioning, but cannot give you life.”  A concept that I still hold dear, and I decided at that point, I was not a victim, but a victor, I had seen Jesus, he held my heart in his hands, and all I believed became real, and with access to things I didn’t know about God.  We all think we know God pretty well, for me it took a coma, and a new aorta and another chance to live to see the truth.  But I was alive, more than functioning, and I took the attitude I could do all things in Christ who gives me strength, and life.  Abundantly.  I would soon be released, the nurses telling me they had never seen someone so sick that weren’t dead, and all I wanted was fresh air, and another chance to see the world, my new destination, everywhere.  To go for a ride....oh and I was hungry having not eaten for 12 days, do I hear road trip?

I have learned over the years of planning trips and then adjusting them due to weather, a road not seen and taken, detours, and food excursions.  Flexibility in life as well as traveling has its benefits, we are definitely not cruise ship or tour group participants.  When we travel we want to see the locals, eat at the counter at the diner, pronounce names correctly, and see things not in any brochure.  Saying we have been there is not enough, we cherish the memories of people, places, food, roads, and just being with each other.  So many times we limit ourselves, thinking we cannot afford it, don’t have the time, the finances, or a fear takes over.  Sadly many Christians live like this, which is revealed in their prayers.  Limiting God by asking for a specific, not asking him first what he wants for us.  Some have a prayer list, checking off their desires as they ask, which God hands back, marked “none of the above.”  For he has more and much more than we could ever hope or ask for.  So why settle for our desires when we can have all the desires of God, opening up a new life and and hope for it?

Scripture tells us the spirit intervenes in our prayers with groanings which are too deep for us to understand.  Add being in a coma and not being conscious to pray, yet the spirit is alive, was alive, and I was listening.  Maybe the most private of times ever spent with Jesus, for when I am asked to describe the things of heaven, what does he look like, how does he sound, all physical attributes, all I can say is “I want to go back.”  To me, that says it all....

And so although I have an eternal destination, I am unlimited in where I choose to go on earth.  My first ride seven weeks after surgery was a short 30 miles, after pushing the Bonneville around in the garage with my feet.  Every time I thought I was ready, God showed me it wasn’t my strength, it was his, and the timing wasn’t right.  But when it was.....I was.  On the wall when you come in our front door, friends come in the proper way, through the garage, I have a list of press bikes I rode the first year after surgery.  Something I never thought I would do again.  But Mickey took a chance and kept me riding, maybe the best therapy I could have had, he’ll deny it, but I know.  22 bikes that year, and the miles still accumulate.  So many roads and so little time, so I make my choices differently, better, with so many destinations left I have never heard of.  And roads to take me on to get there....

To some this is a sad story, and they would ask “why me?”  My answer is “why not me?”  We say we trust God, but do we?  Do the words of my mouth really give glory to God, or curse Jesus, backed up by actions and attitudes?  Consider the alternatives, I could be dead and in heaven with Jesus, or alive on earth with Jesus.  So it doesn’t matter, for wherever I am, he is.  We must love God in the trials as we do in the blessings, which sometimes cannot be differentiated.  Jesus never left me in my coma, on the helicopter, or when my heart was out.  If a plastic aorta is how I go into heaven, that’s alright too.  For I know in whom I trust and believe, and where I will spend eternity.  But until then, my earthly destinations remain unlimited, I can go anywhere and everywhere.  In Christ.  You are only given one life, why not spend it living, preparing for eternity? 

All things, not just good things, not just our desires, work together to those who love the Lord.  And are called according to his purpose, which is knowing Jesus.  You cannot have Easter without Good Friday, or be resurrected unless you die.  Your final destination is up to you....all I know is “I want to go back....”

Don’t you just love happy endings?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com 

ten years after, with apologies to Alvin Lee

Now that I am retirement age, 65 going on 16, my peer group is making decisions for life after work.  With a common question, as we all find out we come up short in money for our new life, “would you change anything in your past?  If so, what would you change and where would you rather be today?”  My answer has been and always will be the same, “nothing.”  I am content in Jesus Christ, and even though we all hate the word change, and few if any of us like to, I looked back on my life when retiring, and the one thing in my life was change.  Along with Jesus, motorcycles, and Theresa, the only stability, which have all gotten better.  So why would I want to go back and change anything....when I have so much to look forward to?

At age 10 I was in Mrs. Vanderbilt’s fourth grade class, always in trouble, she told my parents I was too much boy, my life being all about kickball, my Schwinn Sting Ray, and The Hardy Boys.  I was in her class the day JFK was shot, we were sent home early, never understanding the impact.  My least favorite teacher.

Ten years after, I was working at Polychrome, had a career and was hating it.  We had been chased from Florida by various law enforcement agencies, had two BMW motorcycles totaled from out from under me and was riding my R90S.  My life was all about riding, partying, and girls, hating my place in life, yet having a good time, so I would tell people.  It was also the last year before I met Jesus Christ, and it seemed all hell was breaking loose.  But just at the right time he appeared, and looking back, he had saved me many times when I wasn’t saved.  How could having fun make you so miserable....

Ten years after, I was married, with a son, having met and married Theresa in Albuquerque, moved to Durango, lived in a cabin at 8300’, and moved back to New Mexico.  My life was all about Jesus, Theresa, motorcycles, and Coca Cola, but never in that order.  Jesus was always there, but sometimes put on hold.  Riding my KZ750, then my 650 Nighthawk,  interfering with priorities, I was happy and blessed....not knowing it would only last a short time...seems I never had enough.

Ten years after New Mexico, I was living in San Diego, having been hired away by a competitor in outside selling.  I had two sons, was making great contacts in off road racing, with little time to ride.  I hated selling, but it fed my family, and I had learned to trust in the Lord, not man or my job.  The three things in my life that were constant was Jesus, Theresa and my boys, and motorcycling.  With not enough time for any to enjoy like I wanted to.  I was told that was life, not true.  But God was doing a work in me....and in the next ten years, how things would change!

Ten years after, I was working for Mercedes Benz and making more money than I thought possible.  Jesus, motorcycles, work, and Theresa were the most important things in my life, changing all the time.  My sons were growing, not yet grown, and we were a two Triumph household.  We were active in our church, but growing in Christ outside of church also, with my heart drifting towards ministry.  We owned our fourth home, and all seemed right with the world, but that too was to change suddenly.  But God still had our lives under control, even if I wasn’t sometimes.  If only I could get my priorities right, how my life would be fulfilled......

And then ten years after, I had a plastic aorta, had made medical history, was living on disability, and pastoring to people living on the edge.  No one had prepared me for this, but in Jesus I had all I would ever need.  I was able to enjoy life more fully, able to see God at work in me daily, and by his spirit I had a new life to live.  I was changing still, we call it growth, and closer to God than ever before.  Something that would not have worked before, as his timing and my experiences would serve me then and today.  More time to ride, more time with Theresa, and always with Jesus....and today...

At age 65, retired but still pastoring when needed, still writing devotions, and still have my prisoner ministry, and my friends in it.  We are down to Theresa’s Mustang and four motorcycles in the garage, I am working on my second million miles riding, too many bikes and still not enough time, and a happy grandpa.  Still a father, always someone who needs me for something, it seems some things never change, and Jesus is more real to me today than ever.  He has been with me when my aorta exploded and I should be dead, when I was left for dead on the side of the road when hit and run while riding, he has fed us when food was in short supply, money a dream, and wondering how to raise kids.  He was with me in the good times, the bad times, and the in between times, all the time, even when he wasn’t my first choice.  So would I change anything....

I have no idea about ten years after this, but know where I will spend eternity.  Can you say the same thing?  I plan on riding another 20 years, want to see my grandsons saved and growing in the Lord, to see my sons successful and blessed, and to be with Theresa forever.  I have been blessed way beyond my imagination or any prayer I have ever asked, I have seen 48 states from behind handlebars, met famous people, and seen Jesus at work daily.  So should it even surprise you that “no, I wouldn’t change anything, but glad that Jesus changed me.”  Ten years after I am in heaven, I hope your legacy is one filled with memories and a testimony of Jesus Christ.  The only thing I hope to pass on to my family.  Suddenly ten years seems so quick.  And only after Jesus came into my life did life truly begin.  Who could ask for anything more? 

with apologies to Alvin Lee and Ten Years After, by the way Happy 50th Anniversary!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

do you want to be a cool dad?

 The relationship between fathers and sons is the oldest one in the history of the world.  Adam was God’s first son, only preceded by Jesus, who like God, his Father, has always been.  But we all want our dads to be cool, to be able to brag on them when we are out comparing them to our friend’s fathers, from income, to job, to car they drive.  I went to high school with Larry, Enzo Stuarti’s son, who would drop him off occasionally in his Ferrari.  We had numerous very wealthy families, and their fathers with connections, or were the connection.  But as we got older, it came down to what they drove, what  you got picked up in from school, before your license.  And would affect your first car based on the coolness, or lack thereof.  The pecking order had just got moved up a notch....

A road test in Motor Trend today on SUV’s, seems it is either an over priced pick up, or an over priced SUV world, and they recommended “if you want to be the cool dad, this is the SUV to have.”  Just what kind of garbage are our fathers of today passing on to their kids?  An SUV cool?  Whatever happened to the cool dads with Chevy SS’s, Boss Mustangs, and Hemis under the hood?  How many of your friends begged your dad to buy the red convertible, now that was cool.  But even big block Chevies and Fords were better than the Ramblers my dad had, until he bought his first BMW.  Not for performance, it was named as one of the ten best cars in the world, and he figured it would last forever.  Because it was German.  A BMW 2002, today collectible, to him a way to get to work, but to me, the potential start of owning a cool car.  Which faded quickly....but the seeds were planted, and it was up to me to see they grew.

From Mustang convertibles, Thunderbirds, a Probe, and others, we usually had cool cars.  But we always had cool motorcycles, no matter what your dad picked you up in, your son putting on his helmet and all his friends watching as he rode off with you made him the envy.  “Dad, why can’t you ride a motorcycle like Christopher’s dad?”  But it never really sunk in, at least to me, how riding impacted my son, until when he was nine years old, he rode on the back of my FJ1100 to Canada.  Two weeks, rain, heat, ferries, and more fun than any nine year old should be allowed to have.  Which was made aware to me, listening to one of his friends bragging on his vacation, you know the type, “my Dad’s better than your dad,”  but in one sentence, Christopher had him.  “My Dad took me on the back of his motorcycle to Canada.”  Game over.  It was so cool to him, he didn’t have to brag about it, now that’s cool.  And he still rides today when he is in town....almost a prerequisite in our family.  What are you passing on to your kids about cool.....and are you still that cool handing over the keys to them? 

More important, what are you passing along to your kids about Jesus?  I never realized how cool God was until I met Jesus.  Imagine if you can, the disciples hanging with him, and the things they took for granted.  Then one day, without warning, really a warning they missed, he was gone.  Who would they turn to, what would they do?  But Jesus had told them, and he tells us too.  In the midst of the fear and confusion, and there had to be plenty, he told them about the holy spirit, who he would leave with them.  To guide, to help and be an advocate, to teach and be a witness to them, to lead them and be an agent of conviction, to be there always, to never leave them, nor desert them, no matter the sin or their abandonment of him.  This meeting that night, was followed before leaving by taking communion, a ceremony to remember his words, and to honor them in their lives.  This upper room discourse was meant to comfort and prove the spirit’s presence that night, and every night to follow.  Jesus promised them the spirit of truth, then left his spirit after he was gone.  Now how cool a father is that, to send his son so we can be reunited with him, God himself, and then leaving us, giving us his spirit for eternity, which we are in right now? 

So often we only notice the big things, the things that feed our egos and flesh, but God notices the small things we overlook, or think aren’t important.  By his spirit we can please him, how cool is that, to be able to please God?  Do you ever try to please him, knowing his love for you can never grow, for  it is infinite?  Just because he is your God, and your heavenly father, shouldn’t that be enough?  God wants it to be personal, so he sent Jesus, who makes it personal, and the spirit continues with us.  We all want to be proud of our fathers, to have them stand out as the best, the coolest, to our friends, but do we approach God the same way?  Do we think Jesus is cool, or hide him away?  Remember his warning, “if you deny me in front of men, I will deny you before my father in heaven.”  Now before you fall apart, God knows you cannot do it alone, so again, he has given us his spirit, remember the things he has to do?  All he asks is you follow and obey in love, so you can love others as he has.  We all have characteristics of our dads, but we can also have characteristics of God in us, by his spirit.  So do you want to still be a cool dad?

Simply put, the holy spirit provides what we need to follow Jesus in obedience.  That one sentence needs to stick with you.  Whether in a cool convertible, on a motorcycle, and even particularly if stuck with an uncool SUV?  See SUV’s will never be cool, no matter what we are told.  To me another lie of the devil.  But Jesus is cool, and what better way to live than to be cool in Jesus?  I tell people, Jesus and motorcycles, it just don’t get any better.  Rides with him prove it, with my wife and son only add to it.   But it is always about Jesus....so be cool about what you say about him or what you did on your vacation, we know what your dad drives.  Jesus may have been in one accord, not an Accord, proving by his spirit all things are possible.  Any bets in the garage in heaven a few more horsepower are just waiting.....heaven is cool, hell isn’t.  How cool is your God.....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com