the holy spirit-the ultimate luxury item

A Christian life is one on the go. Notice our relationship with Christ is even called a walk, not a sitting. And in His instructions to His disciples, He instructs them go-not sit and be comfortable, but go out among the people. It is supposed to be an active, mobile, engaging, and encouraging life-even referred to as a sojourning with the Lord. He then instructs us to walk in the spirit-and we see that in all these examples we are moving forward, for remember we are but pilgrims on this earth-our heavenly home awaits us, where our true citizenship is-heaven. So-o-o, let's move forward together with Jesus.

Lauren bought a used Sequoia over the weekend, and I advised her to read the owners manual. It has more buttons, switches, and gizmos, and I told her to read the manual, so she would know what they are, and take full advantage of them. I hope she does, but the book of over 200 pages can be intimidating. Compare this with the one I have for a 1966 Rambler Classic, with only 52 pages, and you get the picture. But still, it can be an exciting read.

Did you know the station wagon has a Power-Lift Tailgate Window? How about a Vibra-Tone Sound System? Heavy on the reverb anyone, can you say Crimson and Clover? Of course you can control your temperature with Weather Eye, the precursor to all modern heating systems. Unless you opt for All Season Air conditioning.

Put the shifter in D. Yours is not just an automatic transmission, but a Flash-O-Matic! And for you sporty types, Shift-Command Flash-O-Matic, where you can move the selector yourself, to simulate a manual trans, without the clutch. Cool, huh? And while Flash-O-Matic-ing down the highway, you can get comfortable in your Airliner Reclining Seat! And even lay them flat for the night, into a bed. "Hey Dad, can I borrow the Rambler tonight, I got a date..."

So here you are cruising to get your date, unaware that the Road-Control Power Steering is letting you use less effort, you may need the extra strength later, when reclining. You have adjusted your Adjust-O-Tilt Steering Wheel, and set your Cruise-Command Automatic Speed Control. So put it D, nail the throttle and feel that Twin Grip Differential spin your tires! Arriving at your date's house, assured your Air-Guard Emission System will keep the air clean tonight, and hoping your Powr-Guard 24 battery will last while parking and listening to the romantic songs it needs to play. And when it comes time to get her home by midnight, your Life Guard Safety Tires will get her there, and keep you out of trouble, until next Saturday night. "Hey Dad, can I borrow the Rambler, again...."

Did you know that there is no optional equipment with Jesus? You get it all, and yes, no extra charge. So read the owners manual-daily. So you get full advantage of all he has to offer. Some of these are lighting your path, and a light unto your feet-Guide-O-Matic. He gives us all the strength we need, via Jireh-Matic. Tired and need rest-Peace-O-Matic. Not sure which way to go-Guide-O-Matic. Messed up, and need help? Mercy-O-matic. And finally, assurance of your heavenly home-Cross-O-Matic. And He supplies these, and more via one simple source, the Holy Spirit. Think of Him as God-O-Matic. So put your life in His hands, He'll put your life in gear, and get you going. Walking in the spirit, but be ready. For life is not sprint, but an endurance race, til the end. Life-O-Matic. And you never walk alone, he is always with you, Lord-O-Matic. Now that's Grace! O-Matic!

Jesus Christ, by any other name, still the only, begotten, unique son of God. And the only way to heaven. Christ-O-Matic, buckle up, your heavenly journey is just beginning.

love with compassion-o-matic,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Abram-the father of riding-who's your daddy?

To some it's just another date on the calendar, and to others a three day weekend away from work. But to those of us with the romance of summer in our hearts, Memorial Day Weekend is the un-Official start to summer. Yeah, I know we still have a couple of weeks until the season officially starts, but that summer in your mind, that has laid dormant since last fall when you could ride, magically awakens on this weekend. And all the short rides, waving to the others who are just getting out again, comes together as we all get out, ride farther, longer, and remember how much fun it is, and the freedom that riding gives us. Somehow a tri-tip sandwich tastes better on a ride, eating with friends, while keeping an eye on your bike parked outside among others-a reunion of sorts for them, too. And each year, I notice more and more women riding their own bikes. Women, who have spent time riding buddy with their husbands, finally give into the urge, and get their own bike. And see weekends in a whole new perspective, and Memorial Day weekend is special now in their riding. Meeting more women like themselves, that realize helmet head is a badge of honor, that chaps and a leather vest don't make them less feminine, and that a true lady is one of the heart, not of the beauty parlor. Fake nails, hair spray, and Mary Kay can all wait-they're going riding!

A few years ago at a Hollister Rally, Theresa and I were invited to eat with a group of the Devil Dolls, obviously taking a different take on life than us, we all sat and ate tri-tip-they tolerated me as I was the only man-and as I listened it was evident that they weren't just weekend cowgirls-they loved to ride. And as I listened more, found they had the same likes and dislikes as men riders-fast cars in the slow lane, people tailgating, men who ride too slow, and other women thinking them less feminine because they rode-their own bikes! But without fail, they all understood the freedom in riding! Ride on ladies!

In the Old Testament we find Abram-the father of faith, and of the Israelites, before he was Abraham. And because of changes in his life, he was commanded to leave his household, his country, and his people-and did so in faith and was greatly rewarded by God-even when he was in disobedience we see God's grace in action in his life. It was only when he stopped listening to his family and trusted God, that changes in his life really began. It was only when he hit the road, going places he had never been before that he grew in God, and with God. And finally setting out for new horizons, leaving his country-representing where and how he had grown up-to go explore all things God had for him, did the miracles abound. Just like women who ride, who go from sitting and watching, to actively riding and participating, the view is different when taking the handlebars, and letting go-not the handlebars, and quit leaning against the backrest. When they stopped listening to all the negative, and hit the road, meeting new friends, and enjoying the freedom in riding God provides. And leaving the country of their birth-roads do extend outside of California, and the best roads are yet to to come, if you continually seek them-but you will never know until you get out and ride.

And Abraham found this out-and going from Abram, or exalted father, to Abraham-father of many. And only when God changes your life do you drop the inhibitions, and hit the road of life, and find out all God has for you. He has a road map for your life that includes roads you have never heard of, and rides you would never take without him. Women who ride find this out as they extend their borders, Christians discover this as they grow in God. And the ride may be the best part of it, until we arrive at our final destination-heaven.

Today if you ride, you will make a choice about the roads you take. In life, you also are faced with the way you go. Only one way leads to heaven-Jesus. And He rides, with women, and men, shows proper manners to all, and knows the best roads to take. Follow Him-He won't leave you behind like some women riders I know, I won't mention the names of those on Ducatis who embarrass me in the curves, but is a most faithful riding buddy, and also knows great places to eat and fellowship.

Be an Abram today, trust God and get out and live. Break the mold, be yourself, and find a loving God who wishes only the best for you. And on Memorial Day, as you ride, remember all those who died so you can have the freedom to live in this great US of A. But everyday, remember the one who died and rose again to give you life-a living, loving everyday to all who know Him.

Gotta go-Theresa has been waiting for me, we're going riding. Neat, huh? Jesus, Theresa, and motorcycles. It just don't get any better! You may find out your whole life is just one big, three day weekend!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogdpot.com

how does your garden grow?

Young Alison was the boss's daughter, and born with a silver spoon in here mouth. One summer in between semesters at Wellesley, her dad assigned her to me to learn more about this business he owned. And for weeks I was the tutor, mentor, and often baby sitter of this Jewish princess, and although we were separated by many layers of fiscal society, we became friends. Many didn't like her because she was the boss's daughter, which she would remind you of, and there was more than once I knew she went and tattled on me to her dad. "What did mean old Mike do now?" I could hear her crying to him, and him consoling her. "Just marry a rich Harvard man, dear, and then you won't have to suffer the iniquities of working with a lesser class of people. Or working at all." Which may have been why he gave her to me-so she would be reminded that princesses don't work-they marry rich princes and tend the affairs at the castle. A summer where we both learned a lot, and was reminded that it was true what F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "the rich are different."

There is an old tale about a rich man who one summer decided to retreat to the family cabin at the lake. Owned for generations, it was used rarely, but kept up by caretakers, who assured him it would be ready when he arrived. And when he did found it much like he remembered as a kid, but older, like he was. Part of the deal was to have a young man haul water for him, as the well was sporadic, and had to be hauled up from a spring. At least for the time being.

The first day when this young man, in his early teens arrived, the old man gave him two buckets, and told him to keep the cisterns full. The young man excitedly started, but after a few trips was spilling more on the ground, than was getting into the cisterns. And when the old man chided him, responded "the buckets are old and leak. Only half the water gets there." To which the old man retorted, "then make twice as many trips." And noticing the water spilling on both sides of the ground next to the stony path, also told him to keep the path mud free.

After mildly arguing, mostly comprised of "can't you just buy new buckets?" and being told they were good enough when the old man was his age, shaking his head the young man continued his daily pilgrimage up the path-leaving a trail of muddy water on both sides of the path. But never on it.

This went on for the first month, and as the summer started, it got hotter, but the young man still carried those leaky buckets. And found that carrying that extra weight had grown muscles in him, and made the repeated trips easier as he physique grew. One morning, the old man went out for a walk, which was unusual, as he still did business from the cabin, and rarely left it, even having groceries and his other necessities delivered. And as he walked down the path, noticed both sides lined with beautiful flowers. Yellows, blues, purples, and greens that hadn't been there when he arrived. "When did you plant these flowers? I didn't ask you to,"he demanded. And the young man, looked at him very calmly and answered, "you must have sir. They may have been almost dead, but because of deep roots, and when the water spilling from the buckets watered them, they came back to life. Pretty aren't they, but are of a type that only grew here 30-40 years ago. My dad told me." All the old man could do was smile, almost in disbelief, as he remembered planting them, and nurturing them as a young man himself, remembering all the hard work he had put in, and he himself carrying buckets of water to nourish them. Except the buckets were new then, and didn't leak. Maybe it was more than the buckets that had sprung a leak.
Hard ground made soft, both in an old man's heart, and an old flower bed, just by consistent watering. You see God uses water in the Bible to refer to the Holy spirit, and how it softens a heart. And when a heart is soft, it grows, and produces beautiful fruit in a believer's life. Take time to look at the garden you live in-is it full of weeds from neglect, or dead and dry from life interfering with your plans? At one time did it produce beautiful flowers, or now is it hard and dry? Sometimes it takes a leaky bucket to bring the spirit back into your life and soften your heart. To grow where you are planted.

In the old man's case all it took was a persistent young man to carry the buckets, and while he watered the ground that the old man had planted, God provided the growth-and both were blessed.

Maybe Alison's dad was trying to show her about hard work, or about persistence, or how it is easier to marry rich-but she missed the lesson about growing where you are planted. She only learned about perservering a summer without the blessings of playing. Not what God desires for you. He wants your relationship with Him personal. Don't say when "I'm rich and when I can afford it I'll serve God." You won't. "Or I'll get my career going, then become a Christian." You're only lying to yourself-and God. So take the time now, and enjoy the blessings that only a relationship with Him can afford. Don't wait, or make excuses, or think your situation is hopeless. If God can bring flowers that were dead back to life, imagine what He can do in your life. It's just a matter of where your roots are, and how deep they go. And by your fruit, we will know.

Paul planted, Appollos watered, but it was God that provided the growth. Lesson learned... in the Jesus Zone!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogpsot.com

confronting nice shovels

In 1998 Bob Lutz wrote Guts. An iconic figure in the automotive world, Guts is about breaking rules, setting higher standards, and about actually achieving goals while thinking outside of the box. A scary subject to address successful managers with, and a man that today in his late 70's still commands a top position at General Motors, a position that the new Government Motors insisted he keep when the good old US of A got into the car business. And I like Bob, he says what he thinks, in his words, "when confronted by a spade, I don't say nice shovel." A man who does not readily follow conventional ways. A strict vegetarian, who also smokes cigars, and drinks martinis. Real martinis-read his book. A man excited about new technology in electric cars, and who happens to fly his own Aero L-39 Albatross. A man who was successful at BMW, Ford, Chrysler, and now GM. And in his book, Guts, shares some of his insightful wisdom in handling problems. With titles to chapters like "the customer isn't always right, too much quality can ruin you, and disruptive people are an asset," he tells it like it is, and how it should be. And since he has been successful, he finds he has a rapt audience awaiting him. Being different isn't necessarily wrong, different sometimes is well-different.

Fonzie once told Richie that to have a reputation of being tough, you once had to hit someone. No problem asking the Fonz about toughness. Just don't ask Richie. Talk to Tony Gwynn about hitting, or Michael Jordan about NBA Championships. Talk with Ronald Reagan about successful running of a country, and how turn one around, and I think you get the point. You want the best advice, so you go to the guy who has done it, or won it, or been there. One who didn't make excuses, or blame someone else, one who just got 'er done when it needed to be done. One who accepted responsiblity, and wouldn't settle for second best-despite the outcome. Who operated outside the box, and was successful. Whose name and reputation was on the line.

In ministry, I find it is essential to operate outside of the box, or outside of rules sometimes. When I received a e-mail about a man in the hospital, I inquired could I visit him, and told him I wasn't part of the ministry he belonged to. His answer, "I don't think it will break any of our rules, but I'll check." And I never heard from him. I constantly, and disappointingly so, encounter men who are disappointed because no one they ask to go to church with them accepts. Yet they haven't the heart to sit down with a homeless man over a Happy Meal. The old "get them to church and let the pastor tell them about Jesus, I did my job. " That's not being a witness. And not being sure what your job was, just saw you pass the buck, and miss a blessing. Nice shovel-NOT!

Disruptive people can be an asset. If you have this mental picture of Jesus carrying a sheep under one arm and telling kid stories to a group of children, you just may have an inaccurate view of Him. He did not come into this world so that everyone would play well together. He knows better, and so should you. He knew of a consistent and persistent evil, and came to "separate the sheep from the goats" as he put it. To seek and save those that are lost. And He did it by showing a consistent love to all, sheep or goat, and let them make the decision of which one they would be. Was He disruptive? Of course, He told them the truth despite the outcome and potential danger to Him. No nice shovels in His walk, He was truthful with anyone from the women with seven husbands at the well, to the know it all Pharisees. But He did it in love. And in truth, and He did it consistently. And the fact that He was God incarnate may have helped! But He got 'er done, even unto the cross-and His resurrection afterwards.

So why do people seek Oprah's advice? Why pay $200/hour for some shrink to tell you it's not your fault? Why run an opinion poll to know what to think? When you can seek Jesus, get the truth, save money, and be pointed in the right direction. In love. You see, we need to think like Jesus. We need to think outside of the box, outside of the tomb-to realize He is resurrected, and He lives.
To know that His promises are yes and amen. To know His words are true, and that His love for us is not an emotion-for truly love is a person, and that person is Him. We need to roll away the stone that lies between us and the truth, and follow Him. Just like on that first Resurrection Day, we need to find the grave empty, and Jesus alive in our lives! We need to be disruptive in our walk, not letting lies and opinions shape our walk, but follow the Spirit. We need to trust God so much that we appear careless, but are really carefree, for we trust God in all things.

Bob Lutz wrote Guts. But Jesus Christ had guts. Till the end, when He spilled them out on the cross for you. Today you will be confronted with those that wish to steer you from the truth. Know which end of the spade to grab, and it's OK not to call it a nice shovel. Call it what it is-sin. And call Jesus who He is-Lord and Savior. The Christ. Messiah.

And you will find that you add friend, confidant, and love to the titles. The customer isn't always right, and it's OK to visit people in the hospital. Even if you don't belong to the same club. You keep your laws, I'll keep my Jesus. A true disruptive rebel to the end. Show some Guts, go love someone in Hs name-today.

love with compassion, and guts,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the carpenters

Richard first heard the song while watching TV. On a commercial for Crocker Bank, a melody by Paul Williams played in the background, and the words moved him. At this point in his life he was still a struggling composer/arranger/musician, but here was a tune that was to change all that. And with this new arrangement of this commercial's melody, he had the hit he was looking for. All he needed was the voice, and that was where his sister Karen enters the story. With his gift for composing, and her angelic voice, the song shot to #1! The song-We've Only Just Begun. A song that for the next decade, and even today, is the most popular song played at weddings. And has even been used to console and dissuade suicide attempts, a song of hope, of new beginnings. The group-The Carpenters, a brother and sister from Downey, California. A duet, that for the next four years would have a dozen hit singles, and establish them in music history.

Richard would go on and become a famous composer, and also accumulate one of the greatest Chrysler car collections in the world, named Yesterday Once More, after one of their hits. Karen, a first class drummer in her own right, would use that angelic voice, along with her God given ability to make Richard's music come alive. Her ability was uncanny, as evidenced on Superstar, written by Leon Russell. Never having heard the song, she got it right on the first take, while reading the words written on a napkin. A true musical team if there ever was one.

But as secure as Richard was, Karen had some inner demons, that appeared in the form of eating disorders. For years she battled anorexia and bulimia, while still trying to maintain an exhausting recording and touring schedule. She underwent treatment, but the pain in her was so deep, that it finally took her life from her-and ended a career, and a relationship with her brother and their fans way too early. At one time they were the Carpenters. Now without Karen he was alone. Without her he was just a Carpenter.

"Just a carpenter, and from Nazareth no less. No one or anything good ever comes from there," the people declared. And looking at this young Nazarene carpenter, there appeared nothing unusual about him. But yet he would end up being the most famous man in the history of the world. He never wrote a song, and there is no evidence he ever sang, but more songs have been written about him than all others combined. He never became famous, at least while alive, and was humble-it was his humility that gave him greatness, for he never brought attention to himself, always giving credit to his father. And even though his early career was as a carpenter, it was rumored he built yokes, a true artisan, he is best remembered for the last three years of his life-a career, like Karen, that at first was thought to be ended by demons, but then he was resurrected-proving to be who he said he was all along-the son of God, and God incarnate.

And it is through him, that we can have eternal life. If "the love that I've found ever since you've been around, your love put me on the top of the world," is your daily blessing, you know Jesus-the man from Nazareth. If like the song says, "just like me, they long to be, close to you," then the holy spirit is flowing from your life, and pointing people to Jesus. But if you don't know him as lord and savior, it is not to late, for today is the day of salvation. Give your heart to him today, and "sing, sing a song, make it simple to last the whole day long." And "don't worry if it's not good enough, for anyone else to hear, just sing-sing a song!" And you know what, he loves to hear from you. And you know what, "you've only just begun, to live..." In Christ Jesus,

love with compassion, "sharing horizons that are new to us... together..."

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

of golf carts and taxi cabs-volume one

When we moved to Durango I mentioned that I would clean horse puckey to live there. And I came close, as I worked at at a truck stop that dumped bus commodes. But we were also the only place in town that sold diesel fuel, so we would get the occasional diesel car, the station being on the old highway and most big trucks would by-pass it. We did get an unusual string of cars in one day, led by a diesel Rabbit. This group of cars, all driven by Japanese engineers, employed by General Motors, was testing their prototypes against the Rabbit. Carefully pouring gas into a graduated container, then filling the car, they would then use their slide rule to figure mpg, and one engineer commented to me "we can never get the mileage the Rabbit does." So they retaliated with the infamous 350 gas to diesel conversion. Anyone remember that catastrophe?Do any of you pre-MTV people know what a slide rule is?

Diesel engines, compression firing, cannot use gasoline, but diesel #2. Diesel #1 is kerosene or jet fuel, and sometimes can be cut with #2 in the winter to make it flow-diesel will gel and clog fuel lines when cold. It also was only sold at truck stops, so if you owned one, you dealt with big trucks, sometimes surly owners, wondering what you were doing at their stop, and the owners tended to be a bit differ rent. Costing more to initially purchase, you had to travel twice the miles to make it pay for itself vs. a gas engine. Add to that higher maintenance costs, and you had a vehicle that would get superior mileage, but cost more, along with that diesel odor, smelly exhaust, long warm up times, and an oily residue on everything you touched-only the owner could tell if it made sense to them. Did I mention you also got to rub shoulders with owners of CAT diesel powered rigs? DT66 drivers? Cummins drivers who all wondered why a nice person like you was doing at a dirty truck stop? They went home in their nice gas cars. But you did get more mpg. But to those of us who weren't into diesel, we just thought the diesel owners were a little strange-and they probably were.

I always wondered, why if you can afford to drive a Mercedes Benz, would you buy a diesel that was mostly sold around the world for taxi cabs? When 2% of the richest drove Mercedes Benz, why take a cab home, and park it in your garage? True, it works for semis, and locomotives, and one of the best applications is used on farms, for their trucks and equipment, where the uninformed fieldworker only stole diesel once, thinking it is gas, and clogging up his motor. Gas and diesel are not compatible with each other. Stuck on the side of the road, with that diesel smell, it is hard to plead innocent, but not ignorant. As one of the pump jockeys I worked with learned when he filled this guys new Scirocco with diesel. Fortunately the guy only made it 500', so we didn't have to push him farther, and it didn't damage the gas engine. Do not try this trick at home. Today even the military uses a highly modified diesel KLR 650 engine in their motorcycles-more low end power to move this over laden motorcycle, and the enemy is stuck much like the Scirocco owner when gas is used instead if taken. A glimpse of military intelligence.

Today diesel engines are far superior, due to being computer driven, don't even smell like a diesel, and start quick and accelerate just like a gas motor. Only the badge on the fender gives them away. And their position at the pump. Only the true diesel believer really knows.

Some people are like the modern diesel today. Many say they are Christians, and even walk and talk like one-but inside they are missing the key ingredient that makes them one-Christ! Like their cars they have the right labels, go to the right churches, and listen to the right music. They attend Bible studies, support ministry events, but inside are missing the changed heart that only Jesus can give. And sadly, their names are not written in the book of life. But they have never given their lives to Christ-and have so close yet are so lost. Good people-not saved people. Yet they subtly run on the fuel of the world, instead of the fuel of the spirit. And fall back on their good work record, and sense of duty when questioned-if they are even challenged at all. And they even get fueled at the same station/church, but only one is being fueled, the other not realizing that a good feeling doesn't save you-only accepting Jesus Christ as Lord does. You can put love into an unsaved person, and it can make them run like a Christian-but in the end they aren't. The fruit of the spirit cannot grow in them, and sadly many go to their grave thinking they are saved-when they are not.

How do you know you are saved? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior? Are you born again? Just like Nicodemus, who understood things of the law, but was challenged by Jesus in things of the spirit, it takes the Holy Spirit to point you to Jesus, who points you to God-He is the only way. Does your heart yearn for God? So did Nicodemus. Do you do good things, and obey traditions and the law? Again, so did Nicky. But when he realized who Jesus was, he was there with Joseph of Arimethea to get his body. He gave it all up when he realized who Jesus was, and he was among the richest men of his time, as well as the Pharisee of Pharisees. Money and position, along with knowledge are not enough.

Who do you say He is? If you answer like Peter, "thou art the living God, thou art the Christ," you answer well, and your life will reflect it.

He is not just a great teacher, or great healer, or a great man. He is God incarnate-Lord and savior. He is God-deity.

And if you have never prayed to accept Him, even after years in church, you can do it right now. Just pull up to the right pump-and He will fill your heart and life. He will fuel your life and give it style. And it won't take bumper stickers or t-shirts to tell the world you are saved. We can tell by the sweet aroma your life will give off. Not like the stinky diesel smell of the world.

Filled up by the Holy Spirit-accept no worldly alternative fuels. They are expensive and can cause damage. Jesus-the only way to heaven- He is the ultimate alternative fuel!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25 biker.blogspot.com

greater is He who is in me-and doesn't leak out

As long as there have been motors, there have been gaskets to hold them together. And if they aren't leaking-yet, they will someday. We still joke on about old Brit bikes that if yours isn't leaking it must be out of oil, add two quarts. The old Harley joke, what does HD stand for? Hound dog, they like to ride in the back of trucks and mark their spot. Old BMW's don't leak. At least per the indoctrinated to the brand-they weep. Then along came the Japanese that didn't, so like on the Z-1 added a chain oiler using engine oil from the crankcase-a leak engineered in. Maybe just to make the old Triumph owners feel more one with their bike. But no matter the engine, it is held together by gaskets.

Gaskets-what are they? Simply put, they provide a seal between two machined parts. And do it magnificently, most of the time. From simple paper, to chemicals ranging from RTV silicone-trivia buffs take note-RTV stand for Room Temperature Vulcanizing. Rolls Royce even came up with Hylomar, which is now universally used as it never vulcanizes, but expands and contracts with heat. And today's paper has given way to neoprene seals incorporated in various types of metal-all doing one thing-keeping the oil inside the engine. And they must do it from temperatures and pressures ranging from the outside cold, to the internal hot. Below zero to 250 degrees. You see metals will expand and contract with heat-remember that from chemistry? And heat produces pressure, and increases the liquid's desire to want to escape. Simple, and the only thing between you and the spot under your bike is a gasket. Or between your ride and watching as your other friends go by. And when they fail, the only cure is replacement, no band aids or smearing a wonder sealant over it-replace the gasket! And the equation is simple. Leak+seal=time and money-LOST! So simple even a ------ owner can get it!

There are no needs for gaskets in a relationship with God. The surface of our heart that mates with Jesus, is a perfect fit. He built us to match with Him, remember we were built in His image, not some off shore replica. When you accept Jesus you are a perfect fit-no leaking, weeping, or spots on the ground where you park. But just the opposite happens when something gets between you and God. You leak. Internally from the heart. You see nothing should ever come between you and God-that is His desire for you. But once again life interferes, and with or without our knowledge, we leak. This gasketting material we let get between us and God causes leaks-it is called sin. And once again it comes down to our choice to participate or not. And it comes from places we may not expect to leak, and the leak doesn't always show. Years ago I made up my heart and mind to not let anything get between God and me. It is a choice. But there again, the leaks are subtle. A ministry can become more important than God. Your car, motorcycle, or hobby can take precedent over walking with Him. Even a wife or family can interfere, and what's worse is we make excuses for our failures.

"Look at all the good the good I'm doing for God," they say, when really all the attention goes to them. Kids suffer from lack of parents being there, and seek alternatives-and sin is readily available. Money goes to your new chrome whosywhatchit, instead of for the things of God, and there again, you and your family suffer. Wives can be more important than God, and excuses are made, and a marriage that once was strong, is now weak and leaking love, because only when God is first in the relationship can the wife be the woman the man desires, and only then can the man be the man the wife needs. God's system, and they work.

And like when we fall and see no blood figure there is no damage, not all leaks show. When a head gasket leaks internally between antifreeze and oil, it causes a milkshake color to occur. And is only internal until you remove the cap-and there it is-damage done. And hopefully found before you are stuck-generally on the side of the road. And the repair is the same as the external leak-replace the gasket-and hopefully no other internal damage has occurred.

Is your life not quite as joyous as it once was? Problems at home, with kids, or at work with the boss or others? Can't find time to read the Bible, and now has no desire? More time spent polishing chrome than with God? Have Sunday mornings meant riding with friends, instead of fellowshipping at church with other believers? Check and see-what has gotten between you and God. And let god repair the leak. It is called repentance, and once you do, He will make all things new-or sometimes even better. It's a relationship, and it takes both to participate. God is ready and willing, are you?

No visible signs of leakage? I hope you catch it before all the love you once had leaks out. The signs are there, and maybe others see them. Get your life checked out with Jesus today. Maintenance is cheaper than repairs, and just may make your ride, or walk with God even more exciting. Catch the leak before it is too late. Babies wear diapers, is your walk past that stage with Christ?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com