the Thursday I have to go back to work on Monday and ruin the last few days of my vacation blues

I blame Gerald.  He once told me the a secret about vacations I wish he hadn’t.   He told me that while on vacation, the Thursday before you come home is when you check out, and begin to come home a few days early.  All the worries you left behind become real, and the last four days of your trip become a preparation to be home.  A thought that has stuck with me in over 40 years of touring, no matter how long, how far or how many time zones crossed, that last Thursday on the road everything winds down and the trip is cut short.  It is when you find you over spent and under planned, how when you mentally checked out the week before leaving those things are waiting for you, and the last four days your mind is not on vacation mode.  A battle I have fought and both won and lost, the time either passes quicker as you know Monday back to work is coming, or slows to a crawl, as you don’t go or do things as planned in anticipation of being back home.  If only you could look forward to being back home as you did to starting on the ride.....

So state of mind has a lot to do with how you see your vacation.  Maybe a lesson in patience we all need, I know I did, learning the hard way.  After being in cardiac critical care for 20 days, I was excited to leave and go to rehab.  My night nurse Neil told me emotionally how to handle it, open heart surgery and new aorta and all.  All the attention I was used to getting, how I had been watched 24/7, would now come to end, and I would be just another patient.  I was ready, or thought I was, impatient to leave, but when the time came....I wish I could have stayed.  Things are different in rehab, I was the youngest at age 58, and the lack of personal care fell short as far as I was concerned.  If not for a night nurse Tomoko, I may have gone crazy, and along with the head of nutrition who rode, they fussed over me.  With the other real memory is of an old woman watching MTV every morning at six, then going back to her room.  After eight days in a coma, it is safe to say my sleeping habits were needing adjustment, not sure about hers.  But being blessed by an ever present Jesus, I went home early, to spend the rest of the 54 days in Albuquerque in a friend’s house.  With the promise of my infection treatments only lasting the balance of the six weeks.  No matter how well I was doing, that six week time frame was necessary, no matter how we begged or Theresa administered them.  To me it was like Thursday in reverse, would I ever leave Albuquerque?  I wondered if I would ever leave CCC, and when the big day came, home I went, riding in the back of a rented Camry, with a new heart, and a new outlook on life.  My traveling would change after that, and Thursdays would never be the same, I now enjoy everyday, looking forward to going and to coming back home.  I almost didn’t make it back....at least to my earthly home.  How could Gerald, a doctor himself, be some right and so wrong at the same time?

Seems we are so overwhelmed with time, or lack of it, we forget we are eternally in God’s presence.  God does not live moment to moment as we do, he is outside of time, as eternity has no beginning and has no end.  A constant right now if you will, and as fragile as the  moment may seem to us, he has it all under control.  Maybe the most important part of my life with Jesus that changed was in my prayers, as Theresa was given Isaiah 65:24, I paraphrase, “before you ask, God knows and has it all in motion.”  He doesn’t stop to wait from us, or listen to our advice, he has it all under control.  He is enthroned forever, no other God to replace him or take his place.  Yet we wander from him in times of need, even telling him how to fix the situation, when if only we had listened we would have the answer in place, along with the solution in progress.  Maybe a side of being a work in progress we never consider.  I read once where Jesus never hurried, and was never late.  I wish I could say the same....

But I have learned the most important part of prayer is listening to his answer, to letting him be God, and take care of me.  He never told us “to him who has a mouth let him speak,” but did say “to he who has an ear let him hear.”  Two ears, one mouth, can hearing be twice as important?  Or do we need two ears because we don’t listen?  Also hearing is the last sense to leave us before death.  Any comments on advice before leaving earth that are better than the words of Jesus?  So despite my impatience to get along and out, to start life over again, to finally get home, God had it all under control.  So that he would get the credit.  When you pray, do you listen, and when he answers do you give him all the credit?  He who never leaves us to fend for ourselves, is ever present, and visible via our actions and attitudes when we walk in his spirit.  God loves to hear from you, can you say the same?  If not, why waste your time in praying if you don’t want an answer?  His answer....

And yet so many well meaning people cross your path, telling you “they understand what you are going through.”  To which I began to reply, “really, explain it to me, I don’t.”  Did you ever wake up after being life flighted and have a new aorta after it disintegrated  during surgery?  If so, I would love to hear from you.  Fortunately I heard from God.....So do you ever get the Thursday I have to go back to work on Monday and ruin my last few days of vacation blues?  Maybe one last perspective from a man going home is needed.

In he Garden on Thursday Jesus knew what lay ahead, he knew his time on earth was coming to an end, and by Monday would be back home.  But first Good Friday, six hours of hell on the cross, yet his thoughts were of us, praying for us in his misery, talking to and listening to his father.  Sunday he would be home, establishing a new Sabbath, where we could all rest in him until called home to heaven.  But on Monday he was back, at the right hand of his father, seeing over the universe, and over us.  He too knows of a day when he will return for us, he just doesn’t know the time or date.  But yet he is patient that none should perish and miss him.  Is he included in your future plans?  Is he part of your future, or more importantly your right now?

Bowie once sang “time might change me, but I can’t change time.”  But you can change your perspective when giving it all to Jesus.  And you don’t have to wait till Thursday or be on vacation, he is listening right now.  Question is, are you listening right now?  The spirit is calling, to give you peace, rest, comfort, wisdom, and understanding.  At times we never thought we would leave Albuquerque for home, but he was patient.  Enjoy today, we may not have a tomorrow.   I know, so enjoy today and everyday in God’s presence.  Jesus his present to you, forever.  Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.  That is where I want to be.  And if you don’t understand, let him explain.....just may change your life, here and forever.  To him who has an ear never sounded so good....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

brand loyalty

Just a few years before I started riding British bikes ruled the world.  The bikes of junior high, the ones we read about in our mags hidden behind text books, would soon be gone by the time I could ride legally on the street.  The Bonneville I lusted after, the Trident, and others had gone from showroom window visibility to back row status.  The new paint jobs on the Hondas, the two stroke ring a ding ding  of the Mach III, and the Yamahas proudly displayed by the new BMW’s were what the magazines were now promoting.  Triumph dealers now added Kawasaki, Honda stores were everywhere, and Suzuki’s were add ons.  Only the most staunch Matchless or BSA dealer hung on, Harley was still Harley only, and drip pans under bikes in showrooms were silently disappearing.  Engineered bikes from the thirties were being passed over, it was the seventies, and we all wanted to go faster, look cooler, and be introduced to a world of quality that never before existed.  We were about to be spoiled rotten, overwhelmed with choices, and forgetting to mourn the passing of the Brits.  Rotting from within, Honda had us, Kawasaki was gaining, Yamaha growing, and Suzuki just a four stroke away from becoming a household word.  These bikes weren’t new and improved, they were totally new, except for a few copying some Brit models, we learned of disc brakes, five speed trannys, electric starting, and reliability.  Push a button after pushing down the choke lever, and off you rode.  Saving many a riding boot from the tickling of the carbs until the gas flowed out, kicking it through to free the clutch, then jumping on the kick starter and hoping it would roar into life, while the rest of us rode away.  New was in, old was out, twins were out, fours were in, a virtual motorcycle revolution was taking place, and I was there.  First on my 1972 CB350 Honda, with 8” bars and high sissy bar with pad.  And cars and bikes would never be the same.....

And either would I.  Motorcycling became the most important part of my life, forsaking girl friends, bikes were still cheaper if not more reliable, living for weekends to head out and ride, and seeking more power, no one wanted to be the last guy leaving from the light.  Brands mattered, but riding mattered more, as Hondas rode with Kawasaki’s, BMW’s with Suzuki’s, and we all worshipped at the brand of our choice.  But secretly wondered what the other bike felt like, and on rare occasions when we found swapped bikes, were impressed with our friend’s choices, but more impressed and glad we rode what we rode.  Variations on a two wheeled theme, with performance the way to leading the pack, while others just wanted to be part of the pack.  Fast, faster, and fastest.....and it was only beginning.  But for the old bikes from ten years ago, the end was near, and no one seemed to notice, or even care.  Triumph stores now sold Kawasaki’s, BMW stores sold Yamaha, Honda were stand alone, and the Norton store sold lawn mowers, along with K81’s, fortunately some things Brit never died.  The era of push button, disc braked, oil tight and reliable riding was upon us....

When I bought my 1978 GS1000 Suzuki a few years back, it felt old.  You had to choke it, let it warm up, the brake pull was difficult, and I had to plan ahead to stop.  In 1978 it was modern, now it was old, or felt old.  On my 2018 Street Triple R, I just pull in the clutch, push the starter and ride off...computers do it all.  A better bike all around, but will it provide the same memories my old Suzuki did?  What do I do with the Friday night sessions tuning my rides like we used to do?  Tires last longer, cost more, no more tune ups, no leaking of oil, no more headers to swap out, race tires to change, or low bars to replace.  All done from the factory....I wonder, and go back so often to the good old days of my early riding.  I wonder, have all the improvements really improved riding....the same thing the old ones before me must have asked.  Just one ride should answer that.....

But some things go beyond wisdom and understanding.  Choice of what you ride, if you ride, where you ride, and how you ride all come into play.  Our rides reflect us more than we let on.  But we should never participate in religion the same way.  While some are brought in as a tradition, the family always worshipped that way, some are brought in socially, via great youth groups or special events.  Some like a teaching pastor, some with a friend, and some are just along for the ride.  If Baskin Robbins has only 31 flavors, religion could never get along with so few.  Countless Lutheran synods, Baptist alternatives, Pentecostal, fundamental, Catholic, cults with Jesus’ name in them, and some who deny him altogether, yet claim to be chosen.  But only in Jesus Christ do we have the ability to choose, to say yes or no, and to choose how we worship.  I was saved during the Jesus movement of the seventies, we sought the truth over religion,and many new churches sprung up.  Bible studies filled homes at night, and it was out with mainline denominations, in with Jesus.  Praying became popular, we talked about Jesus in public, and we formed a tight brotherhood of believers.  A golden age to those of us who were in it, but with an eye out to the future, so we would not become the religious institutions of the past.  But for some it wasn’t enough just being a Christian, these anti-religious believers grew into an elite if not hateful crowd, claiming their way was better, but leaving Jesus behind.  Like minded men were the choice,and either agree or move on.  And many of us did....with many of us moving up, and closer to Jesus.  When the church began to advertise, to go after new members from other bodies, when church attendance was the criteria for success, we left.  But so did Jesus, and sometimes he was never missed. 

God has given us the freedom to choose, but like riding, we all choose differently.  For personal reasons, but  how many of us chose Jesus because he made it personal?  So we could escape religion, so we could find the freedom in Christ we found in our riding?  Some of us found the brotherhood of bikers lacking in the church, and decided to spend our time riding in prayer rather than in church wishing we were riding.  Only in Christ do we find the freedom he speaks of, to allow us to choose, and let him be God.  But can we remember we all have the same Jesus, or are supposed to?  That it is his death and resurrection that make him unique and that we should celebrate?  Is Jesus a daily routine or a miserable hour on Sunday?  Our lives say more about him than we wish others knew about us.  Have we become so righteous we have become religious?  God knows...do we?

Paul warned the Corinthian church to stop it wrong ways, turn and repent, not turn or die.  He knew of the divisions among the body, and found no place for it.  Either do I, we need to get back to the basics of Jesus, remember the apostles creed, and maybe a dose of Acts 2:42 injected into churches wouldn’t hurt.  Churches seem hell bent on going the Brit bike route, don’t let your epitaph be “we never did it this way before.”  Jesus never changes, we do.  He never left, we did.  If only choosing what we want about God was as easy as choosing a bike to ride.  Are you loyal to Jesus or his brand?  Never has being a Christian been so exciting, or so important.....your new “in the beginning” is calling.  Only in Christ will you have the wisdom to tell the difference.  Understand?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

maybe it's time to step out of the ark

 It was only after getting my license and expanding my horizons, that east, west, north, and south became directions rather than locations.  West was where the deer and the antelope play, where discouraging words were few, east was where foreign cars like Volkswagens and MG’s came from.  The south meant the confederacy, and north meant hockey, like they play in Canada.  Up until that point, all directions were based on either going left or right from my house.  Simple.  School was left, high school was right.  Bud’s Cycle Center was left, Jay’s was right.  The Esso station for air was right, the Gulf for gas to cut the yard was left.  The park was left, Joey’s was right, Crestwood Cupboard was left, the Sweet Shoppe was right.  Plainfield left, Westfield right, go left to get to Grandma’s, right took me to New York City.  With some variations....go left, the right to the shore, Phil’s BMW go left then left again, the Honda store was left, buying K81’s you went right.  Life was simple, and if you knew your right from your left, you could get anywhere.  Even moving to Florida was left, then a long right...to Albuquerque add another long right.  I could get anywhere based on going right or left, in a series of turns if needed.  Just like a GPS will tell you today.....and get you lost along the way.  All based on where you are, a starting point.

When someone asks you for directions, the first thing you should ask is “where are you?”  You do don’t you?  If not how can you give directions?  Something to consider, and not a new concept.  Consider Noah for a minute or two.  After the flood and landing on a strange mountain Mount Ararat, the world had changed.  Not only did he have no one local to ask directions from, the whole surface of the planet had changed.  All the familiar landmarks he knew had been underwater, some still would be, and how do I get where I need to be?  Or want to be?  And how will  know when I get there?  You think you got problems...from a valley and a neighborhood he was all alone except for his family on a mountain.  Now what......he had a whole new world before him, much like Adam and Eve did, in which he had go forth and populate it, build cities, establish a government, and only had God to guide him.  He was an old man in a new world, just as Adam had been a new man in a new world, and the possibilities were endless.  Just like when we become a Christian, and become a new creation in Christ.  He might have some familiar landmarks, remembered those that had chastised him, but they were all gone.  What about his family, all the animals, all the provisions that God had provided through the storm, was he on his own now.  Or would he realize that now he needed God more than ever.....the world had changed, how much had he changed with it?

The word discipleship is thrown around loosely in many churches today.  They have no problem with the salvation message, but after being saved, many are thrown to the wolves of the world.  Saved on a Sunday, but back at work on Monday, and the insults begin.  And many falter and regress back to what they once were.  Where is the discipleship, the preparing for the new life, the new relationship with Jesus that is changing the way they think?  Noah had to wrestle with these, and real Christians do on a daily basis.  But the battle is not our own, it belongs to Jesus, and in him we have the victory, we have the tools, and we have the love and compassion.  We are truly a new creature, born again, with access to all the things of heaven, able to do all things in Christ who gives the strength we need.  And if you feel all alone, think of Noah and his view from the ark.  Where do I start, what do I start and when?  And with no one to taunt of harass me about my relationship with God......he must have thought, at least I have my family.  But how quickly things can change, and he should know.

If you feel rejected after being saved, if your friends desert you or make fun of you, you are seeing a side of Christ you need to see, how he suffered at the hands of the Pharisees, how religion was against him, and how aligning with him was dangerous.  How money changes value, as he was sold out for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave.  Sold out for nothing, but what a great place to be, alone with Jesus and nothing to interfere.  But yet we feel less in value sometimes, remembering the price paid for Jesus, but not the price he paid for us.  Maybe the most important question you will ever be asked by God is the same one he asked Adam, “where are you?”  God knows where we are, but do we?  And if we don’t know where we are, in sin or newly saved, how will we know which direction to go? Is not a relationship with Jesus more than points on a compass, a set of laws to follow?  Or is it the true freedom, to want to follow him, to want to pray and read your Bible?  Is it found in laws or love?  But we now have access to all we need.....maybe it’s time to step out of the ark. 

Job wondered at one point if he was too far away for God for him to hear.  He’s a guy who really needed direction, and love.  Some compassion to ease his pain, not a set of rules to point out his fallacies.  No matter which direction he turned his problem was there, but so was God.  We need to know that, to act on it and in it, no just say we believe it.  We may think we get it, or have it all together until the first crisis, and we need direction.  A simple reminder from Jesus, who in all he did he pointed to his father, giving him all the credit.  Noah was no sailor, and couldn’t claim any of his actions for victory, it was only God in control who saved him, who never abandoned Job,and who is with us right now.  So where are you in Christ Jesus? It may explain your dilemma.  It may be as simple as knowing God instead of knowing all about him.  We have the logos of God, all of his word, but only when the  rhema, the spirit driven part of it, the rod for the exact time and place is given, will we see God at work and the way out.  His direction, not necessarily a direction.  And in all these things God is trying to break through to you via his holy spirit. 

So maybe life is as simple as left and right.  Left behind or right with God.  Knowing him personally or just joining a church.  A whole new world is ours someday in heaven, but until then, when we get to our final destination, we need direction.  We will be tested many times in life, it is when we step out of the safety of the ark, where we really start to trust God’s direction for our lives that we see him more clearly.  When we lose fear and gain respect.  Is your life just a point on the compass, or a place to desire?  Is God’s direction a set of rules or a relationship?  Are the directions  you give to someone for salvation as easy as the gospel?  God asks now “where are you?”  Your answer will reflect where you are in Jesus.  As a kid we all knew directions to get around in our neighborhood, but when it expanded, we asked for help.  No one wants to be lost or admit to being lost, it can be scary or exciting.  Only God and Noah knew exactly what he thought when he first left the ark, his new life was just beginning.  But he saw the rainbow, a sign from heaven that he would that the world would never be flooded again.  What you see when you come to Christ will impact your life.  Abraham was promised all as far as he could see, he saw God instead.  Job hung onto God irregardless of the advice given.  And in case you forgot, where’s Jesus?  Sitting at the right hand of God. 

With only one way so you don’t get lost.  Jesus, and oh the roads he will take you on to get there. So, where are you....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com