happy landings

It was time for new tires on the truck.  Cord was starting to show, and on the front ones you didn’t need to check the air pressure, you could look inside to see if any was there they were so bald and the cord worn away.  So comparing prices via the Internet, one stop was at Discount Tires, but the guy I knew was gone, and a young shark had replaced him.  After listening to his well rehearsed speech to another man, I almost walked out.  He had come dangerously close to telling the truth, just not close enough.  But I was next, so I waited, and he started in on me.  The truck had come with Kumho tires, and I didn’t want to repeat the mistake, but when he told me he could get me a 50% discount because they had worn erratically, I listened.  He gave me a price, and told me that they would only be half of what a set of four would cost, and that Kumho would cover the rest.  Tires at half price, such a deal, but I wanted to think it over.  Which pushed him into the next mode, telling me time was running out, and that he wasn’t sure if he could get me the same deal tomorrow-the red flags were waving.  So I said yes, but couldn’t do it now, but would tomorrow, and he said he would personally guarantee the deal, but I must see only him, no one else could get me such a deal.  And I left...knowing I wasn’t going back.  Something had stopped me and made me realize the deal sounded good, but there was no discount.  Kumho was paying half, a good deal, it sounded, but the store was offering no discount, I paid half, Kumho paid the other half, and he was getting full price for the tires.  And add to the fact I didn’t want Kumho tires again, and suddenly the deal wasn’t as good as he made it sound.  So I went down the street, bought new tires I wanted for even less, and was happy-I had gotten a deal, a real discount, not just a moving target of numbers...and again it is buyer beware, there is no free lunch, or in this case free tires.

It has often been asked jokingly,”if they built an airplane would you fly in it?”  Some will just due to brand loyalty, others not considering the cost involved.  So another version is what I want you to think about.  You have a choice of two flights from two different airlines.  Airline #1 has all new planes, beautiful stewardesses, great food, comfy seats, and the planes are the fastest in the air.  They have an on time record second to none, but with one item worth noting, they have a poor landing record.  They are OK from boarding to take-off to the in-flight route, but their landing record is one of only 20% safety-they crash most of the time.  They cannot guarantee you will land safely.  But based upon the price, and the flight, they are enormously popular, most people will take the risk.  Airline #2 has older planes, older stewardesses, but experienced, the seats are old and crowded, the food is barely edible, and their on-time record is questionable.  Their pilots are experienced, but the airline is known for its rough flights.  But they have a perfect landing record, second to none, and always arrive at their destination, just not always on time.  The cost is less, but many avoid them going with the newer planes, better food, and risk the landing based upon the air time versus the landing record.  Which would you choose?  Which way have you chosen to lead your life?

As I look around we are all looking for the best deal, from tires to airlines.  But we rarely consider the true cost, falling for buzz words and relying on photo ops for evidence.  We are willing to take the chance, thinking it will never happen to me, and even if flying the airline #1 and landing safe, are willing to risk it again.  Those frequent flyer miles just can’t be avoided-they are five times anyone else’s-such a deal!  So they fly and fly again, until one day they crash, and the contract they signed when purchasing the tickets voids their life insurance policy.  They are gone, no insurance, but oh the food and the stewardesses.....and so many lead their lives just like that, trusting their lives to chance, and a good sounding deal, but ending up with nothing.

I don’t care for the saying “He who dies with the most toys wins.”  He is still dead, isn’t he?  What good are his toys now?  He trusted valuables over values, and now has paid the price.  And so it is with God.  “I don’t need Jesus, I am doing well, I have two houses, a vacation home, and a great income.  I am not sick, my kids go to fine schools, and I lease a new BMW every year.”  But just like airline #1, he has no concern for where he lands, he has neglected God in his life, and dies with many toys, but hell awaits.  He bought the eye candy, fed his ego, but had no place for God in his life, he was so rich, yet found out too late how he was so poor.  Yet so many tend to follow his example, forgoing riches and an easy life, never considering Jesus.  And I have found in life that the rougher the road, the more I need Him.  And if I am on a rough road, it is usually the right one.  So I have found great comfort in rough roads knowing that Jesus is with me, and even on rough flights.  We tend to forget God when the going is great, and that is when we should consider Him even more, in forms of praise and thanksgiving.  For we never know what lies ahead, and someone is always there to sell a good deal based on easy living or convenient terms, but the payback isn’t as sweet as the deal offers.

Consider Jesus today, and if having a rough day, hang onto Him.  And if having a great day, thank Him.  But remember He is always there, no matter what flight or what road you choose.  Closer than a shadow who never leaves you, He follows you into the dark area no shadow can go-He is that close.  And following Him promises happy landings-His record is 100%!  Think of it as World Airlines or Jesus Airways-which company do you choose to fly with?  We will all land somewhere upon death, you can choose where you land before even leaving the ground by choosing the right flight-I am glad I chose Jesus.  We don’t know when the plane of life might go down-and I want to be on the flight that assures heaven, don’t you?

All tires, and all tire deals are not equal.  Not all gods are either, only one can promise eternal life in heaven.  Jesus Christ.  If He was a plane, would you fly on Him?  Consider His landing record...get your boarding pass to heaven today!  You don’t want to be dangerously close and miss.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the night before the night before Christmas

Two weeks tonight will be Christmas Eve, and all the last minute shopping will be done, and families will be beginning to gather-hopefully to celebrate Jesus, the reason for Christmas.  And as we get older, it is harder to get presents for some people, so sometimes we have to dig deep, pray, and see what God has for us.  And when you cannot find anything to buy, the bet gift is often giving of yourself, which we did one Christmas.  My family is back in New Jersey, and we talked about going back, but couldn’t afford it.  So we let them think it would be another So Cal palm treed Christmas for us, but secretly had made plans to surprise them by going back and surprising them.  We would fly back, arriving the night before the night before Christmas, and surprise them.  And the saga began...

Leaving warm and sunny San Diego, we landed in snowy, cold, and crowded Newark Airport.  Snow was piled deep, cars were stuck, and one huge, fat Port Authority cop stands out-threatening to give tickets to those waiting, “lady, I told yas don’t park dere, yas wanna ticket?  I don’t care if it’s Christmas, I’m gonna have yas towed...” as snowballs from kids went whizzing by.  But our limo showed up, really only a Lincoln, not a stretch like Andrew thought, and the old black guy knew his way around.  “Is it OK for me to take a shortcut, or do you wanna spend Christmas in trafffic?”   Go man-and he did, taking us back roads that he knew and getting us to Scotch Plains, a mere 12 miles away, but eons from the Port cop, who was still dodging snowballs when we left.  Not the white Christmas of Bing Crosby’s song, but white none the less.  But we had made it, and at about 8pm that night, in the snow, we arrived to a dark house, my parents go to bed early, and the den is in the back of the house.  After a few rings, my mother answered the door, and stood with her mouth open in shock-no way could she be seeing what or who she did!  And could barely mouth my Father’s name to call him-and after a few seconds let us in.  And my Dad was just as shocked, a Christmas surprise that they never expected, a gift from the heart from some 3000 miles away, delivered in person.

And suddenly they were all excited, as they would have all their family together, all 5 grandsons, and the next day was one of shopping, baking, cooking, and of joy.  We had pulled it off-somehow we had kept the secret, harder than you would have thought, and gave them in my Mother’s words, “the best Christmas present they had ever gotten.” Somehow we had avoided the lines on Black Friday, would have no bills coming in January,except for the tickets, and God’s idea of the best gift was right on, a gift from the heart.  And it was worth the flight, the snow, the Port cop and confusion, the limo ride, and the snow packed streets.  Everything was in place and it again even snowed Christmas Eve, as it should, giving us a white and joyful Christmas, for each of us.  A lesson to remember when shopping for gifts this year, one from the heart will top anything that comes in a box, and will be wrapped in joys of memories for years to come.

The first Christmas was just as joyful, and just as much as surprise.  But like us, on the night before the night before Christmas, a family was on the road.  Joe and Mary, expecting, on the road.  And what a surprise was awaiting them on that first Christmas Eve.  Scripture tells us that “Mary pondered these things in her heart,” being told she would have a son, and named Jesus, and He would save the people from their sins, but she never envisioned the trip, nor the way Jesus would come into the world.  But prophesied He was a Nazarene, born in Bethlehem, it could only happen like God planned it, on the way to Jerusalem, the city God calls the “apple of His eye.”  And on the night before His birth, they too would be surprised, and God would give the best gift the world has ever received, His son, Jesus.  But it must have been a rough trip, Joe travelling with his pregnant wife, and still in awe of her pregnancy.  But being soothed and comforted by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what lied ahead for them.  But arriving in Bethlehem the next day, no room was found for them, and as it is today, kids come when they are ready, not when we are, but fortunately God was, this was no surprise to Him, He had it all planned this way.  And you know the rest of the story, our Lord and Savior born in a barn, laid in a manger, while angels watched above, and shepherds waited on high.  A beautiful night, just like God planned it, and today we still celebrate that night...and the days after to come.  And just like the gift to my parents, God’s gift to us was from the heart, wrapped in swaddling clothes, strips of cloth, no bow or fancy paper.  For it is the gift and not the wrapping that brings joy.  It is the thoughtfulness, acted out in love that is remembered.  And for our family, because of Jesus, and the example God set 2000 years ago, Christmas is special.  But we always will remember that one night of surprise, when the greatest gift was us giving ourselves as the gift.  Just as God gave Himself as the gift for us...and reminds us the true meaning of Christmas.  While Bing sings of White Christmases, “just like the ones I used to know,”  we have one to remember too, a special night where four not so wise people came bearing gifts-the only ones they could afford, themselves.  The only ones that still retain their value today in the form of precious memories.  And of course, Jesus Himself, the ultimate gift, the best Christmas you can ever have.  What’s on your gift list?

Little Ralphie’s best Christmas he would ever have was a Red Ryder rifle, ours was a surprise visit to Scotch Plains.  Keep Christ in Christmas, remembering the best gift for every day is Jesus, and never forget Joe and Mary.  Ponder the things of her son as she did, and let God bring Christmas alive in your heart.  Take care of your family as Joe did, trusting God, not understanding, but travelling in faith.  While a song reminds us of the 12 Days of Christmas, the night before the night before Christmas had a young couple on the road, and the next night their true love gave to them a son.  Better than any partridge in a pear tree...proving it is better to remember one night than 12 days.  And how it is better to give than receive.  And how the giver is blessed...no matter how expensive/inexpensive the gift.  Merry Christmas...and may all your Christmases be white! Jesus-the perfect last minute gift-what are you waiting for?  Only God still delivers on Christmas.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

new in the neighborhood?

I was five when we moved to Algonquin Drive, and onto the edge of the expanding suburbs.  Hetfield Avenue was the main street then to me, and across it lay a whole new world-a world of dump trucks, steam shovels, graders, and bulldozers-what else could a five year old boy ask for?  But on this new street, where it once had been woods, were now houses, and soon to be families with kids, and soon it would turn into its own neighborhood-and I lived on the other side of Hetfield.  Two lanes of blacktop dividing me from this new neighborhood, but somehow uniting us too.  As we watched the moving vans pull up and unload furniture, we would try to get close and check out the big trucks, which smelled of diesel, a strange but fetching smell-they even burst forth with a giant puff of smoke like the bulldozers.  But really we were curious as to who was moving in, and if they had any kids our age.  And most did, and soon we were playing kickball and hide and seek with our new neighbors, getting to know them and making friends.  Testing them out by making them be it first in hide and seek, and soon finding out who was faster and smarter than you.  Who could kick the ball farther and who could defend himself better in a fight.  We never thought of it as anything scientific, we were just making friends, pals, who would last forever, or at least until 7th grade when it would all change, but friends we were....and then they built more houses....Princeton Avenue was the next new neighborhood.  And soon the woods we used to play in, where many of our WWII battles had been fought playing Sgt. Saunders like on Combat! was turned into  a street with houses.  But along the way.....

For we were older now, and bulldozers still fascinated us.  But now we were told to stay away...and we did until the work day ended, then went and sat on the back hoes, and dozers, playing for real, deciding in life what we wanted to be when we grew up-we wanted to drive construction equipment.  And soon we learned about picking up the extra pieces of wood, the nails they dropped, and were building forts on our last vestige of woods, New York Avenue, the last place to play Army, the last place to sled ride, and the last evidence of our past, before suburbia took over.  But when the new Princeton Avenue neighborhood grew, we made more friends, who would marvel at the stories we told, how we used to play on a giant fallen weeping willow where Bill Moore’s home was.  How the path in the woods that was now paved was a source for dodging lions and bears as a kid, and where we had ridden our bikes through the poison ivy.  And they couldn’t believe how where their new home stood, that once was the woods-a haven for young boys and their imaginations...but soon they were to find out, as we invited them sledding on the hills above where New York Avenue was to be, and the last woods would be there play ground too.  The neighborhood was growing...but really our world was shrinking...we were having to much fun to think of it any other way.

And soon the woods where Ricky Ray’s multi-story tree fort, the creek where we played camping out by, the sled runs, and the places we buried our girly pictures would be paved over...and another neighborhood invading, with another group of kids to welcome to our world, who this time didn’t care about our sacred grounds they lived on, and were just a few years too young to play with.  Our last vestige of childhood was gone, and the new kids didn’t care, in fact they wanted nothing to do with us, they were snobs towards us...fortunately Junior High was closing in on us, and soon the old neighborhood would be a  long ago playground, but for now the times they were a changin’, and for us that meant the neighborhood.

But what we didn’t know at the time, was we were changing too, only doing it as a group of friends.  Hide and seek was played less, no more kickball, and suddenly we were sledding at Echo Lake, riding our bikes to Westfield, and girls were a new word, a welcome word in our vocabulary.  Our neighborhood was changing, as were the neighbors, and we weren’t sure what to think, even the old tree forts seemed childish, and soon we were too old, or sophisticated at age 12 to be a kid anymore, we had grown up, we had changed.  We were teenagers!

It has been said, wisely I might add, that each of us is at a different level spiritually.  Which can get us into trouble, or keep us out.  I tend to gravitate to stronger Christians, learning from their example, and trying to be more mature in Christ.  But many times I fail, and wonder, if that was the only time someone saw me, and had been told I was a Christian, would I measure up?  Which scares me, for so often I am not...only when others aren’t looking of course.  But how do you handle it when busted?  Do you rebel, taking your ball and going home?  Do you make excuses, making your situation even worse?  Or do you admit it, repent, and go on?  Hint-#3 is the best choice.  Forgiveness is wonderful friend, and it seems as young kids we were more forgiving.  You might have a fight, but ten minutes later be chosen to play kickball, or to go sledding.  We forgave easier, we just forgot, and today many of us need to remember the lesson.  We need to remember that Jesus forgives us-all our sins, and those to come.  We are clean and white as the snow we used to sled on, and perfect in His eyes.  How different in our world, where we say “we forgive, but I won’t forget.”  Aren’t you glad God has a much better plan?  And so reading about the TBN founder Paul Crouch and his death, many critics came out and bad mouthed him.  True he wasn’t perfect, and not one of my favorite people, and TBN had become a kingdom of its own, so much criticism is true and warranted.  But not found in heaven, for Paul like others before him, and those to come are found forgiven by God when we ask Jesus into our hearts.  We will still sin, but thankfully no man will be my judge, and only God can grant me a pardon through Jesus.  Paul’s neighborhood changed when he got saved, as ours did, and now has changed forever, where no sins are remembered, or are past things on earth.  It is all new, and unimaginable-anything you think heaven is, it will only be better.  And I my case, maybe more woods, bikes to ride, sleds to ride, and stories to tell around a fire with other kids in the neighborhood.  But this will be a new neighborhood, fashioned by God, and all eyes will be on Him, and not us.  If only we could learn that lesson now, if we could see each other as God does, either forgiven or not forgiven.  Another choice we make, and the difference between those in heaven and hell.  Some may judge you today based on your past, or on your present.  Only God will guarantee your future, and see you as His Son has made you, clean and perfect.  And so for all those who enter heaven, in our new neighborhood, we will all have one thing in common-Jesus.  The same Jesus who saved us on earth, and we claim our Lord.  The same one who tells us “on earth as it in heaven,”  reminding us of forgiven sins.

What sins do you wish forgiven?  What do you want your new neighbors to not know about you?  Practice now by forgiving, and forgetting,  Be that heaven on earth, and set an example, a Godly one.  New neighborhoods are being created daily, and old things are passing away.  Welcome to the family of God, where all things are made new, all sin is forgiven, and we can have heaven on earth.  Where the only thing we will have I common is we have no sin, it is forgiven, and it will be all about Jesus.  One large heavenly neighborhood, with Jesus as the welcome wagon.  And even the worst of sinners can be forgiven, if they only ask.  Hetfield Avenue was the street to cross into many a new neighborhood, one day crossing over into heaven brings new joys-unspeakable joys, and forever joys.  Practice for it here while on earth, the old neighborhoods will soon be gone.  You can never go home again, but once you get to heaven, you will be home.  Hope to see you there...what was once old will be made new again.  Friends that will last forever.  You are never too old for heaven.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Tom Terrific

Mention the name George Seaver, and you might think of your insurance man, a used car salesman, or some other common man.  George who?  But mention the name Tom Seaver, and any Met fans ears perk up, and a smile comes across our face, for we know him as Tom Terrific, or as he was once known in the media The Franchise, one of the best pitchers ever in baseball, and the highest percentage vote getter in the history of the Hall of Fame.  But to most of us he was just Tom, #41, who pitched ever fourth day, and led his team to a 100 to 1 shot as World Series Champions in 1969.  He won over 300 games, and many awards, 3 time Cy Young Award winner as best pitcher of the year, including 1969.  He was the Rookie of the Year in 1967, and led the Mets in wins in 1969, leading the last place Mets to their first World Series.  He was known, loved, and respected by all, and humble in his strength.  We all stood and applauded that night on July 9th when he pitched 8 1/3 innings of perfect ball, only to have his perfect no hitter broken up by a bloop single by Jimmy Qualls,a second string outfielder,  but turning the season around with the win against first place Chicago.  Later he would pitch a no-hitter, but only after he left the Mets.  He would pitch game 1 in the World Series and lose to Mike Quellar, but come back and win in game 4, a ten inning complete game, setting the stage for the next day and the Mets World Series victory.  He never blamed others when he lost, but felt he let the team down when he did, but would give credit to others when he won, “remember the catch in the second,” or “how about that home run.”  Gracious in defeat, humble in victory...that was Tom.  And when Jerry Koosman’s last pitch to Davey Johnson, later to be manager of the 1986 Mets, flied out to Cleon Jones in left, Tom was the first to the mound from the dugout!  The Mets and Tom Seaver, 100 to 1 long shots had won-Tom Terrific and the Miracle Mets!  And for a brief time there was Camelot...the Mets had entered the Promised Land.

Now 1969 was a year to be remembered, we walked on the moon, the Mets won the World Series, and Woodstock changed the music world.  All within a few summer months.  But what if your summer lasted 40 years?  Fed, watered, clothed, and with shoes that never wore out, what are the odds of that?  Surely more than 100 to 1!  But yet we find God’s people under the leadership of Moses doing just that.  A man God raised up to lead them into the Promised Land, a true leader, on the field and in the clubhouse of God.  But even though he made the trip, God told him he would never enter the Promised Land.  40 years for what?  Being denied over one simple act of disobedience?  What about all the good he had done, how he put up with stiff  necked Jews for 40 years?  What about his two trips up the mountain, the Ten Commandments?  What about God?  Yet God had His plans for Moses, and just like Tom T. lost the only Series game that year, and felt like a failure, he was redeemed in the end by the team winning.  And so it was with Moses.  The team had won, they crossed over, but Moses didn’t, but disappeared.  To heaven.  God gave Him a private, personal funeral with no one attending, and no one even knows the place-except God.  And Moses was still young, he had many good years ahead of him, but God chose to reward him with heaven-the true Promised Land.  Showing the people of Israel mercy, grace, compassion, and why they should revere God all in one man.  Which He would duplicate later with Jesus, one man leading many to heaven-the Land of Promise in eternity.  Moses went right to the Hall of Fame in heaven, and a place awaits those who follow Jesus today.  Obedience is better than sacrifice, it kept Moses from crossing over the Jordan, but not from crossing over to heaven.  His sins were forgiven, just like ours are, and even though we struggle, and things don’t seem right, we are promised heaven if we trust Jesus.  Looking at your life today, you may think it is a 1000 to 1 chance of making heaven, based on what you have done.  But based on what Jesus has done, it is 100% guaranteed!  No doubts, despite the odds on earth, we have a loving God in heaven making a place for us-after He made the way for us to get there. 

it takes 27 outs in 27 batters to pitch a perfect game, tom went 25 for 27.  Great stats, but not the perfect game he desired.  Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, not in the won-lost column.  Sadly some come so close by their outer actions, but fail the inner one-the one where God deals with the heart.  Great stats, but no Promised Land without Jesus.  But in God’s mercy, He is patient waiting for you to cross over to Him-He has made the first move sending Jesus to you...now it is up to you. 

God has a special place for you in heaven, long after you leave earth.  Long after your deeds are forgotten here, He will remember you and still love you.  Enshrined in His hall of fame-heaven, next to others who just believed.  Who struggled every day, but hung on to who they knew, rather than what they saw.  Moses knew God, but disobeyed and had to see God’s grace in action, an example to others.  What is God showing through you?  Does your testimony stop with your sin, or with it being forgiven?  Moses left this world forgiven...it would take Jesus years later to come for the Jews, and He still is here today, waiting for you. 

George Seaver, good job.  Thanks for the memories.  But to us you’ll always be just Tom.  Who God is to you depends on Jesus.  To me, He’ll always be my friend, and savior.  Pretty terrific , huh?  And for eternity there will be Camelot...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

bikes I've never ridden

The Bucket List a few years ago sent many off in the direction of making lists of things to do before they die.  Being a true rebel I never fell into the trap, but last night began to think of alternatives to the bucket.  And things I still want to do, but thought instead of things I haven’t done, boiling it down to bikes I have never ridden.  And in true touring bike form, instead of a bucket considered a “saddlebag list,” but I am not a bagger at heart.  So I narrowed it down to the way I have been touring for over 40 years, “the tank bag list.”  A list of bikes I have never ridden....see how yours compares.

I have never ridden a Triumph Hurricane X-75, the custom built by Craig Vetter.  I always thought this pre-custom custom looked cool, and I remember them sitting gathering dust on showroom floors, too expensive.  If only I had bought one then, I could sell it and have enough to buy one now.  A blend of old Triumph, new triple, and custom styling, you gotta love those 3 pipes!  But the closest I ever came was owning a 1998 Thunderbird Sport, again a triple, but with only two pipes.  Great bike, sounded cool, but needed 30 more horsepower, which Mickey provided when he put a Daytona engine in one.  That bike I rode...why didn’t Triumph ever build it, I would still want one now!  But for now, the Hurricane will have to wait.

A slight blip on the café racer radar occurred in the seventies, when sport models of existing bikes sprung up, low bars, louder exhaust, and rear sets.  Even Harley got in on it, with the 1977 XR-1000.  Based on the Sportster it never sold, although it was fast, handled pretty good, and looked great.  But with no chrome, it never had a chance...another one for the tank bag, how great a tank bag would look on it riding some roads I know, maybe my first Harley, are you listening Milwaukee, what is Buell’s number?  I still have an open invite to ride any bike at want at Biggs, how about that XR-1000 on display?  I still would like to ride a Guzzi, Ducati, or any Italian bike that I felt safe riding past the edge of town on.  But with Audi owning Ducati, Ducaudi, when I rode a Diavel, I fell in love with the power-now I just need a race track to use it on.  The new Guzzi looks cool, sounds cool too, but in my mind I see an old friend, and resident Guzzi nut, Capt. Hook on his.  Pass for now, but this three cylinder MV Augusta looks good...

I also have an open invite from the GM at the BMW store to ride the S1000-but probably won’t, the speed junkie in me would come out and I would have to sell 2 or 3 bikes to do it, so I stay away from the store, but someday when I am weak....I still have my New Mexico personalized plate, “MR R90S” wonder if that counts?  I met Michael the new owner and boss at Crocker, bringing back the fastest bike in the 30’s from LA, he even offered me seat time when the prototype is done, it needs miles and I was asked to ride it...I still have his card, I wonder if he’d remember me?  I like the new Indians, and hope they make it this time.  Almost bought one 10 years ago, a Scout for around town, but no test ride offered, now I know they did me a favor.  And with the new crop of bikes coming out of Japan this year, Yamaha 09, a new 750 Honda, it will be neat to see them make a comeback as they have been quiet for a while...a sleeping dog lying that is about to be awakened, should be fun.  Remember the first CB750, the first Z-1, and how you fell asleep dreaming of owning one,  knowing someday...and for the above bikes that someday never came.  But someday I will ride a Vincent, got close when my now deceased friend Barney Li bought the rights and was going to bring them back...with a Honda motor!  Some hybrids were designed to die at birth.  Norton is again trying to come back, Royal Enfield never left, another free ride offer, “Mike you would be surprised,”  I would be more surprised than you think!  Even Triumph is joining the ranks of Harley coming out with a Rocket 3 trike, made in Brazil, the only other manufacturer to offer one from the factory, and both are building bikes in India soon, Triumph a 250cc!  Remember when 250cc was big and 650cc out of reach?  It took real men to kick start a 74 inch Harley...another I would like to try if someone has old Pan or Knuckle they would trust me on for an afternoon.  But there will always be old ones I missed, new ones to desire, but give me any bike with a tank bag and a free weekend to ride and I’m happy.  Some new to come, some resurrected, back from the dead, and some dead and never knowing it.

Which leads me to a trick question, one I love to fool pastor’s with.  We all know of the death of Lazarus and how Jesus put off seeing him until after his death.  And his sisters got cheesed at Him, imagine getting mad at Jesus?  But then Jesus uttered the following words, “Lazarus come forth.”  And Lazarus did, a preview of the resurrection of Jesus and of we who believe.  But the question is, “who were the first three, if He told Lazarus come fourth?”  A cute play on words, but I have sent a few pastor’s into not thinking it was funny, mainly because they didn’t get it at first, but hoped their congregation would when they tell it.  But the truth is, we will all be resurrected like Lazarus, and like Jesus if we believe.  Which is why Jesus calls us many times, sometimes for years, sometimes to a deaf ear.  But He still calls, and is patient for you to come to salvation.  He has a tank bag list with your name on it, which included you before you were saved, and still does if you are still resisting.  Like many famous names of the past being resurrected, He still has the power they don’t to change your life, and give you hope.  An open invite like at the Harley and BMW stores to test their product, they know I am not a buyer, but want to brag on it.  Just like we brag on Jesus, and want you to just try Him, give Him a chance.  “Mike come forth,” He must have said hundreds of times.  For Lazarus it only took 4, if you believe my joke.  But how many will it take for you?  Accept Jesus today, you could be living instead of wondering. 

And don’t put off the chance to ride when asked.  Many have been converted after a test ride, don’t say like I did “but my garage is still full.”  Make room for another ride today, maybe the ride of your life.  Choose Jesus, kick the bucket, and its list, and start living.  Start a new list, call it a diary of all the places and things done with Jesus, and share it.  John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus and wrote all about Him, bringing blessings to many.  Not a bad habit to have.  Like the ad says, “stop dreaming, and start riding.”  So many bikes, so little time.  But only one Jesus.  What are you waiting for, a personal invitation?  Well, you are hereby invited....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com