foot pegs and floor boards

It is possible my preference of foot pegs over floorboards goes back to when I was about 10, and Chris Farley’s mom let him ride on the running boards of her Beetle convertible.  The only one in our neighborhood, and perhaps the first and only time I thought they were cool.  It would be another twenty years until I encountered running boards again, this time on the 1949 F-3 pickup we used to cut wood in Colorado.  Taking the fun out of functional, they were on an old truck, an old style, that most cars and trucks had abandoned just after WWII, except VW who kept them until the Beetle finally went away.  But it was my first encounter with floor boards on motorcycles that reinforced my belief that I preferred foot pegs.  On a group ride with mostly Harleys, the road captain warned of curves going to Big Bear, and to go slow so you won’t hit you floor boards.  I had never heard of any rider being warned not to lean and enjoy the curves, but here it was, and being on my Sprint ST, I was looking forward to the curves. But as the Harleys all chugged up the mountain, I decided it was too nice a day to go slow, and pulled ahead, and passed them all, quickly earning a reputation for riding too fast.  NO-they rode too slow, and why today I avoid crowd rides as I call them whenever I can. 

Now today’s foot pegs have feelers to warn you how far you are leaning, and how much fun you are having.  And I routinely wear them down, on my bikes and the press bikes I ride.  A badge of honor, we don’t ask how it handles, we look at what is left of the peg feelers.  And I do drag floorboards, wearing flat spots on them, once you get used to the vibration in your feet when dragging them, you can feel them wearing down, providing any fun you may have missed otherwise.  But having a Rocket 3 last summer, 165hp cruiser with pegs,  I noted the feelers were worn off, along with most of the pegs on both sides.  A new hero, for whoever had ridden this had had more fun than you can have with your clothes on.  And then noticing the license plate bent and shaved, it was evident this had been wheelied more than once-this guy was my hero!  That’s the kind of fun I want to have!

So when I met a man this last weekend who I hadn’t seen for 5 years, and he told me about going fast, and enjoying the curves, I listened.  And as he talked of peg scraping, his wife joined in as how they did too-sometimes, and she liked going fast.  I was impressed, maybe someone to ride with, until she mentioned they rode a cruiser, with floor boards, and suddenly her fast was not mine, and I was reminded the difference between foot pegs and floorboards.  It was only after I mentioned how I can touch the pegs on a Tiger, an adventure bike with high pegs, that she confessed, not knowing the difference.  She rode, and had fun....and then the floor boards touched.  They ahd only begun to touch the threshold of fun, and then the floor boards hit.  The following conversation about chicken strips lost me, I use all the tire, and I am impressed when the fast guys come back with the tires worn all the way across. Someday I will too-but not with floor boards.

Wednesday nights at church have become incredible.  Almost like a graduate course in the Bible, but led by the Spirit, and watching as we and others grow in the Lord.  Great worship, great music, and a great time with communion offered if you wish.  A time to get closer to God, and let Him speak to us, instead of us always speaking to Him.  A time to see Jesus come alive in the scriptures, and when applied to our lives He comes alive in us also.  Surprisingly when we meet new people, they don’t attend our church, but are active in others, but because their church doesn’t offer a Wednesday night service, they come and are fed with us.  And are welcomed.  It seems when Jesus becomes real in your life, you just can’t get enough of Him, and an hour of endurance on Sunday mornings for some, is just not enough for others.  They want more of their God, they want to go deeper, they don’t want any religious or denominational restrictions put on Him, they want to wear the feelers off their spiritual foot pegs, and many have ground away their floor boards on Wednesday nights, going further and deeper in their relationship with God than they thought possible.  Using all the tire to get all they can, and when we meet someone who doesn’t, can’t, or won’t come on Wednesdays, we try to encourage them.  Enjoy all God has to offer, leave no chicken strips behind in your relationship with Him, and watch as life becomes more exciting, more real, and soon others want what you have, all influenced by the spirit calling out to you, and you obeying.  They are called blessings.  You have to experience them yourself.

Some years ago when I had just bought a new Bonneville, I had two young guys work for me, who wanted to go fast.  So they bought an R6, and a CBR1000, wanting to go fast into the curves.  So one afternoon when they showed up at the house, we went riding, with me on the Bonneville, and Theresa on back.  Against guys half our age, and with twice as much horsepower.  I led, until the first curves, and then was soon riding alone, I was that far ahead.  They had the bike, the youth, and the desire.  I had experience, and had been there before.  And as I went deeper and faster, it was evident they weren’t players yet, and after licking their wounded egos, never rode with me again.  And they had foot pegs!  And so the advice of riding your own ride is important on the road, and with God.  Some will be content in religion, some will wonder if there is more, and some will just wander, still looking.  It is the ones who push the limits, who grind their pegs, who go on a Wednesday night when not required of their church, that are growing, and getting more blessings.  And no matter how fast you are, there will always be someone faster.  So I am amazed that when I learn something new, I find out how much I really don’t know.  And want to know more, not so much the knowledge, but I want to get closer to Jesus.  He tells us of the straight and narrow path, showing us how to pick our lines, and using all the road, but not getting off it.  Grind a few pegs with Jesus, go places with Him you were afraid of before.  Watch as the Holy Spirit wakes you up, and suddenly the ride is better.  More blessings!  Learning as the more you lean, the more exciting it gets.  Just like leaning on Jesus.  That is why we follow Him instead of leading, He knows the course He set for us, follow His lines and hang on for the ride of your life.

Now if I could only find who as riding the Rocket that day!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the motorcycle tool kit

Always there, hopefully when you needed it, the motorcycle tool kit has passed into history silently.  Once an intricate part of riding, bikes used to come with one, now you get an 800 number to call when broken.  But at one time, you used to be able to adjust your chain, your clutch cable, and perform a tune up with the kit provided with your bike.  Now the tools were never high quality, only in later life would we discover courtesy of Snap-On that wrenches came chromed.  Or that the reason you called pliers a pair of pliers was because they came in two pieces, or that screwdrivers were meant to fail before you stripped the head on a Phillips, the old two piece with different ends that would twist in the handle, just enough to bugger a screw, but not enough to loosen it, or tighten it properly.  And that wrenches meant for a Honda didn’t fit a Harley, which didn’t fit anything British.  But that an adjustable wrench, not found in the factory kit would.  Simple tools for simple fixes to be used by simpletons.  And they worked, somehow, and kept us riding.  But along came the BMW tool kit, the best tool kit out there, because BMW’s were the best, the Cadillac they were called.  But they never broke, so why the best toolkit for a bike you would need it the least?  A toolkit with shiny wrenches, a screwdriver where the blade didn’t twist, and one piece pliers.  All wrapped in a tool pouch, how cool was that?  Even had feeler gauges for plugs and points, no more using a matchbook cover for accuracy.  But included was also a tire patch kit, tire irons, and a pump.  A 40 strokes to the pound pump.  Do the math for a 35 pound tire-exhausting.  And it would work on other bikes, which made you popular when someone else had a flat.  Even had a neat little shop rag with BMW emblazoned on it, not much for wiping, but good for leaning your knee on so as to not get your chinos dirty.  All secured under the seat, in a tray designed for it.  A far cry from the Allen wrench found behind the side cover on my Bonneville.  But it never breaks, and if I get a flat, most carry cell phones.  The replacement tool kit for the trendy set, as things just don’t break like they used to.

But when they do, they must go to the shop.  Where no mechanics are found, now they are technicians, trained to diagnose and replace the faulty part.  After hooking it up to a scanner.  How impersonal.  And I think of how many rainy Saturdays we spent together in the garage fixing each others bikes, tightening bolts, checking spokes, and changing plugs, all with the factory supplied tool kit. A bit of the past, as most are gone, on dirt bikes remember them packed with dirt and mud, and on street bikes, covered with chain lube, and using the compartment for a stash. So it was a pleasant surprise to find my new old 1978 Suzuki GS1000 still had its tool kit when I bought it, also the owners manual.  A true trip back to the past.  And the pliers still two piece after 36 years, some things never change.

But just as motorcycles got to be more reliable, and no more tool kits included, after walking with Christ we can get lazy, and forget.  Out of sight, out of mind, and some of us are really out of our minds on any given day.  Things are going well, and we forget about God, we step away from praying, and figure all is well.  We don’t read our Bible, and our praying changes.  And then something happens, and we cannot find the tools, our Bible.  Or panic, and try to fix the problem ourselves.  We may be stuck on the side of the road, far from home, and try to fix the situation ourselves, or listen to whatever comes along.  When all the time Jesus is there with you, the ultimate tool kit, the ultimate fix it guy.  And sometimes we find that maintenance is cheaper than repairs, and if we had stayed close to Him in the good times, we may have avoided the problem now.  But after rehearsing panic, uttering some choice words not heard in church, and finally asking, Jesus answers.  He was there all along, and before the problem.  But for some He is only like the tool kit, to be called on when needed.  And if He doesn’t show up immediately, we get angry with Him, and turn against Him.  Ruining any witness we may have had to encourage others.  Not a new problem to Him.  And it all can be prevented...

Are you in the Word?  Is the Word in you?  Been awhile since you prayed, read, or attended church?  Welcome back, you are not alone.  We all stray, you have to screw up to get mercy, and God is mercy.  His tool kit is filled with the right wrench, and He won’t hand you a big wrench when you need a fine adjustment tool. aka hammer.  And He will hand you the tools before you ask, He knows before you do.  And many times we do, but choose the wrong thing, and suffer.  And then out comes the tool kit.  So why not skip over the stupid part, avoid the tool kit and go with God?  He is needed even more in good times when we are most wide open, and we never know how many times He ahs protected us form what could have happened.  Think about it.  Tools are more than for repairs, Jesus is more than a tool kit.

Read the Bible, see who He is, then let Him into your heart.  Follow Him, trusting His advice, and avoid having to pullout the tool kit.  But know that when you need Him, He is there.  Better than roadside, He is also bedside, sofa side, and dinner side.  But not to be put aside.  So reach into your spiritual tool kit today, it may have been awhile, clean up the tools.  Put the pliers together, and find all the tire irons.  Be prepared for any emergency, and it always pays to have the right tool for the right job.  Time to ride.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

the night the cow carved up the butcher

It is the 50th anniversary of many things this year, The Beatles came to the US of A on Ed Sullivan and took over, John DeLorean put a big motor in a small coupe and created the GTO, and Cassius Clay, aka Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston.  Being all of ten at the time, I can remember these events mostly through the comments of others at the time, I did watch the Beatles, and forever became a fan, was still young for the GTO, the big argument among us for speed was Joey Coleman getting a 5 speed English racer, while we were stuck with Schwinns and Rollfasts, and I can remember seeing Clay towering over Liston, and the reports of all the money lost on the fight-Liston was champ, Clay a newcomer with not much of a reputation, except his mouth at the time.  But as the 50th unfolds about the fight, much hysteria is brewing among those who claim it was fixed, that Liston was on mob payroll and took a dive.  And when reading about comments made by those who were there and still alive now, comments like Clay was scared, looked nervous, and the conspiracy theories abound if he really didn’t win, did Sonny take a dive, and of course the rest is history.  Bringing boxing into national prominence, sadly making it somewhat like pro-wrestling, a big show.  And pay per view junkies still prove that today....the fighters get more from TV rights than they do the fight....and they call it entertainment.

We all know that the Beatles were show biz, and not controlled by anyone else but the buying public, no one made you listen to them or buy their records, although many parents discouraged their purchase altogether.  And when they were in town the same time as Clay, were asked to do some promo shots with him, reluctantly doing them, they considered him a clown.  And the attached photos are of them, and Clay stating “you boys aren’t as stupid as you look,” with Lennon’s classic come back, “but you are.”  They knew even then....but fast forward to today, and maybe he was right.  The Beatles music is still played today, and he is Sir Paul.  Clay went on to become a Muslim, dodged the draft, and today needs to be spoon fed, as the fights and hits to the head have turned him into a slobbering fool, sad.  This butterfly floats no more, the bee sting of his punches reign on no one, one reporter of fame writing about that night, “ it was the night the cow cut up the butcher.”  Today in calmer times we just say the tail s wagging the dog.  Score one for Lennon, TKO by decision.  No one ever called John the greatest.

When living in Florida, we spent many nights and afternoons at Pompano Park, watching the trotters.  Lassie had moved down, and played the horses, and did OK, and clued us in, play the jockey, bet on the man in the sulky.  And although never betting big, when we did, we won.  And interesting patterns formed, and the name Jay Sears was among them.  He could stop for a beer along the race, and still win.  Now I have no prove of it, but it seemed the races were always fixed in his favor, and betting on him, won 5 Quinellas one afternoon, picking the first five finishers-if only I had money to bet that day.  But the pattern was formed, and no racing form or gift could serve you better than to figure the races were fixed.  And so I think of Clay winning, and the rhetoric being bantered about today, and I wonder, how much is really a contest, or really a form of entertainment?  Or just a show for the mob to make more money?  Will we ever know, do we even care?

The odds makers were there the day Jesus was crucified.  They were betting He wasn’t who He said He was, betting their lives.  No one believed He was king, Lord, or savior, except for a group of 12, and some women along the way.  “CRUCIFY HIM!” the crowd declared, when before a public court, illegal according to Jewish law, and even found not guilty, interesting Pilate didn’t say innocent.  And watched and washed his hands of the whole thing as they took Jesus away.  The soldiers placing bets for his clothes, imagine what they would bring on e-bay today?  But when they found the tomb empty, they were faced with a media nightmare, what do we report, and how do we report it?  How could a dead man roll away a huge boulder from in front of His grave?  Must have had help, but He was guarded by centurions, who if one failed, all suffered death.  That’s not it.  Maybe He wasn’t dead, and He found a crack and pushed the rock away just enough to escape.  All this after being beaten 39 times, enough to kill, hung on the cross for 6 hours, and finally a spear thrust into His heart, and the water from His pericardial sac flowing forth.  Now that takes a lot of faith to believe.  Yet few chose to believe His claims, and proof from His ministry that He was who He said He was, the Son of God, and that His tomb was empty because He was resurrected, after 3 days, just like He said He would.

Today we know John Lennon made fun of religion, of Jesus, and died a horrible death.  Unless he called out to Jesus is his last breath, he is in hell.  Cassius now Ali claims Muhammad is god, and unless he repents and turns to Christ, he faces hell, too.  Lennon was stupid, and his call on Clay wasn’t.  He may have been the greatest fighter, but that won’t gain you entry to heaven, no Pay per View in God’s kingdom, He has given you all you need in Jesus.  What say you?  Are betting on the horse or the man in the sulky?  Are you betting on hype, or the truth?  Are you hoping that life isn’t fixed, and you have no choice, living a fatalistic life just hoping you are good enough, to gain a decision by the judges.  Or are you making the safe bet, the only one to make, and betting on Jesus?  Undefeated, all knowing, and all loving-I wonder if Vegas ever gives odds on His return? 

Time to place your bets, I go with Jesus to win.  No second place in heaven, no Quinella window, just hell when you don’t.  No rematch, no thrilla in Manila, no pay per view.  Jesus paid it all, and John and Clay lost it all, both were stupid.  And their peers knew it, they could tell.  What are your peers telling you, if it ain’t about Jesus, they are stupid too.  Call out to Jesus today, win the biggest battle, and hang on for the fight of your life, but have eternal life.   A sure bet, you only have this side of eternity to choose.  What will your story tell others in 50 years depends on who you choose today.  Leave a legacy of Jesus, the best thing you can leave behind.  Become a winner by decision, make the right one now. 

50 years later half the Beatles are dead, Clay dribbles, and GTO’s now bring 6 figures.  Big engine in a little car, so why not a big heart in a little person, a little faith in a big decision.  Cows, Goats, Beatles and Clay-know the outcome before the fight begins.  Jesus the all time champion-where you will be depends on who you bet your life on today.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

I get by with a lotta help from my friend

After I got saved, I moved back to Jersey, and was having a tough time.  This whole new thing was going on in my life, and I had no idea what it was.  And until I moved to Albuquerque some 4 months later, I never went to church, met another Christian, but I did read my Bible, no matter how high I was after a night of partying.  My old friends wanted nothing to do with the new Mike, and it was lonely.  In fact the only contact I had with any Christian was John, still living in Santa Monica, about to be transferred to Albuquerque.  But he had a WATTS line at work, an 800 number for you rookies, and would call occasionally.   On one phone call when asked if I was praying, I told him no, didn’t know I could.  To me praying was what you did on Thanksgiving, saying grace, or as a kid, “now I lay me down to sleep...”  But he went on to explain you could, should, and we did pray.  My first prayer was for my job, keeping it until I could have enough money to move west, sell my van, so I could, and a funny thing happened-God answered.  To my surprise, Walter my old boss, fired me, then 15 minutes later came in on bended knee, and rehired me, a mistake had been made.  Later when I was ready to leave, he let me go.....go figure.  I had trouble selling my custom van, but after reading an ad saying they bought vehicles, I called it, went down, and was greeted by a guy who had ripped me off, and who Por Favor was still hunting down to seek revenge.  Out of fear, he got me more for my van than I had paid for it, and even offered me a loaner car.  And ended up getting me a ride home, all because I had prayed.  John was my only Christian friend, and like Ringo sang, I got by with a little help from my friend.   But soon I would have many friends in Christ, and more chances to need them, but also to be a friend.

Ringo sang “what do I do when my love is away, are said because you’re all alone?” and I didn’t realize I was.  It wasn’t personal yet, and like so many religious I knew, it wouldn’t be.  I was forming a relationship with Jesus, who would turn out to be the best friend I ever had.  I had gotten by with a little help from my friends, but would soon learn I could only get by with a lotta help from my new friend Jesus.  And still do today, and the more I get to know Him, after 38 years, the more I need and depend on Him.  Which has brought a whole new dimension to our relationship when I call Him friend.  So many will talk of Jesus as Lord and savior, yes He is the only one who can save us, and we struggle with Lord, making His comment of “why do you call me Lord, Lord, yet do the things I ask you not to do?”  But how many times do you introduce Jesus as your friend?  At a stadium race one night, I had been sponsoring Ricky and Jimmie Johnson in off road racing, yeah those two famous guys.  Rick and I had met professionally, and approaching his table that night, he saw me and called me over, I bent over and told him I knew a friend of his, “who he asked?” and when I said Jesus, the whole conversation changed.  He had been talking with the brothers from NO FEAR about a contract, but was more excited about talking about Jesus.  And whenever we met after that, we embraced as brothers, maybe a side of the famous moto-crosser many didn’t get to see, but I did.  Associates in business, friends in Jesus, what a difference.  And many others in racing would become friends because our real common denominator was Jesus, the Simon brothers and their crew chief Don, Ed who introduced me to Nelson and Nelson, and who I shared Jesus with before he was saved.  Friends in Jesus, with whom we even held up the start of the Baja 1000 once, we gathered to pray at the start, and when we were done  found over 200 had joined us, a group of 4, and ESPN was filming us....friends of Jesus who just happened to race.  A lotta help from our friend Jesus, proving that whenever 2 or 3 were gathered in His name, He was among them.

But what do I do when my love is away, does it worry me to be alone?  No, for He never leaves me, nor forsakes me, and the Holy Spirit is always with me.  So I am always at least 2 of the 2 or 3, in the spirit, who also knows what to pray when I don’t, or get confused, or in a hurry.  All I have to do is agree with Him, a simple amen, and it is done, His will, not mine, but always working out for my best benefit.  Getting by with a lotta help from my friend.  so who do you turn to when alone, or confused?  Or when no one seems to care?  An old biker saying goes “ a good friend will bail you out of jail, a good friend will be there with you.”  Sadly many fall prey to that.  Be a friend of Jesus, maybe avoid jail, and other temptations that can come between you and Him.  But when something does, remember He is there to forgive, and show mercy, which strangely can only happen after you screwed up.  So rejoice, when Jesus is your friend, you will need no others, but instantly get millions of friends, who are brothers and sisters, again the common denominator is Jesus.  And while with my biker friends we mostly talk bikes, or my car friends we mostly talk cars, with Jesus you can talk anything...He has been there, and loves to listen, He enjoys being in the conversation.  In fact one of the best times spent was one afternoon telling Him about a ride I had just taken.  And you know what, He loved to hear all about it, it was almost like He was there, and even better when I realized He was, and will be.

There are all types of friends, we have good friends, very close friends, and even girls refer to their girl friends with no repercussion, don’t try that one lads.  But Jesus is just friend, a very special relationship He wants to have with you today.  Many are satisfied to get by with a little help from their friends, I can only get by with a lotta help from my best friend Jesus.  Do you need anybody?  He is the one when you just need someone to love, and no it just can’t be anybody...only Jesus will fulfill all your needs.  Closer and more accessible than any WATTS line, and never leaves you.  So, why get by when you can have it all?  With a lotta help from my friend, I hope He is yours too.  And I’ll try not to sing out of key.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

your whole life is a vacation

¹³ Now listen to me, you that say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.” ¹⁴ You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. ¹⁵ What you should say is this: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But now you are proud, and you boast; all such boasting is wrong.

¹⁷ So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin.

In the 1950 film noir thriller, D.O.A., Edmund O’Brien  is told he has been poisoned and only has days to live, luminous poison. Told from retrospective, after he bursts into the police station and declares “I want to report a murder, mine!” the story unfolds as to why, how, where, and when.  Showing some great shots of both LA and San Francisco as he tracks down the murderer.  Watch it to find out who dunnit and why, only 75 minutes, about the same time it takes to sip your latte.  Remade later in 1988, it lacks the suspense, drama, and the noir of the  original.  Don’t get it by mistake.  Also the jazz club scene in San Fran is worth it for music the history-and they thought we were wild as teenagers.

In the sixties, Ben Gazzara played a lawyer who was given as much as 18 months to live in the TV show “Run for Your Life,” the show lasting three years, or twice as long as Gazzara’s character was given to live.  Again a mysterious disease, and Ben living the short time he had left, doing all the things he always wanted to do.  Fitting a whole life into 18 months, or three seasons, longer than most gave him to live.  A view into a desperate man, trying to live his life to the fullest.  And then along comes The Bucket List, where two terminally ill men from both economic extremes join together, and try to live out a list, a bucket list of one of them before they kick the bucket.  Which in our trendy social atmosphere of today, spurred many to write bucket lists of their own, and set out to fulfill their desires even though not under the threat of death.  A term that has been used freely, and when I was sick, was asked about my bucket list by some.  Never had one, and still don’t, and I came as close to death as you can without dying.  And I do look at things differently, and am asked many times how this affected my life.  But only two of the many asked the great question, “how has this affected your life with God?”  And both were not surprised by my answer, and allowed me to go into detail about my Mose’s Experience, and the miracles that God performed in my family, and myself.  And today I still live in a right now situation, time is recalled as before surgery and after surgery, and I truly take one day at a time, enjoying the blessings in it, for I know what lies ahead, and I can’t wait to get back to heaven.  With one man adding after asking if I was going to ride more and farther, added “your whole life is a vacation.”  If only it were a paid one.

James, the half brother of Jesus must have had a tough time growing up with a perfect older brother.  He never could rat Jesus out about not doing his homework, not cleaning his room, and not doing chores.  And if any trouble brewed, be sure it wasn’t Jesus who ever got blamed.  Truly blameless, but tough to grow up with.  So when James penned the book in the New Testament the at bears his name, he has some insight to Jesus others didn’t.  His book often compared to Proverbs, as a New Testament version.  And he deals a lot with relationships, must have learned that one at home from his brother.  But in one verse in Chapter 4, he gives an outline of what not to do, an anti-bucket list view point and divine advice.  An insight as how to not stray from God, but to better do His will.  He warns “do not say that tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city.”  Boasting of how you have great plans, but not asking God what His are, like He promises in Jeremiah 29, “for I know the plans for you, for a hope and a future...”  and you think you are smarter than God?  “Where we will stay for a year,” even have the time table worked out.  “Where we will go into business,” again a risky enterprise, Proverbs 3:16 tells us “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be well established.”  “And make a lot of money.”  Boastful, arrogant, and self assured-should do well with Donald Trump.  But pride always goes before the fall, and I know many who have gone this route.  Moving to Durango in 1978, I saw many who had vacationed there like us, start a business, do well until Labor Day hit, and then when business died, so did their dream.  And fortunes along with it.  Names available on request.  Proving scripture, just not following it. 

So James goes on to say your life is like a vapor, and disappears after a moment, and is not seen again.  And exhorts us to ask if God is willing, then we should do it.  And calls any other attitude boasting.  And proud boasting is wrong.  Remember when the disciples approached Jesus and asked Him how to pray, He offered the Lord’s Prayer, telling us “thy will be done,” on earth as it is in heaven.  We can have heaven on earth, while still living an expectant life of going to heaven.  But it takes courage, trust, and a desire to serve a living God.  And sadly many of us fail, but God has provided mercy for us when we do.  So I ask, will you pray with me, asking for God’s will to be done in our lives?  That no matter the situation, we look to Jesus, and how He will be magnified, rather than an escape route?  We may not be able to live like He did, a virgin womb to a virgin tomb, but we can enjoy the forgiveness He offers, and follow Him, instead of our own list.  Do we dare fulfill scripture that tells us God will give us the desire of our heart, and make Jesus that desire?  Before you run for your life, run to Jesus and find life.  No man is promised tomorrow, often heard by patients who are facing death.  Why not offer them eternal life, for those in Christ will never see death, but live forever.  I’d rather boast in that scriptural promise.

So let me ask you the same statement James ends with, if we do not do the good we know to do, then we sin.  Do you know the good?  His name is Jesus, and without Him you are heading for death from sin.  Let Him forgive you today, set you on a righteous path, and deliver you from evil.  Boasting in Jesus is the right thing to do, but you have to know Him to boast in Him.  It starts with faith, are you willing to trust God in the spirit, or rather live like hell and end up there?  Believe me, when the end hits, and you never know when, your last thoughts will not be of searching for God.  And no bucket list will save you.  You are born DOA, and must be born again to inherit the kingdom of God.  Join me in boasting of the things of Jesus, and soon it will be in heaven, but for now settle for on earth as it is heaven.  Your whole life a vacation, when you follow the right planner.  And the plan He has just for you.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com