bitten by the Bug

I will admit it right up front, I have never been a fan of the VW Bug, aka the Beetle.  Ever since I could remember, they seemed to find a way to get in front of me and cruise 10 under the speed limit on the freeway, refuse to pull over on curvy roads, and somehow the owners always thought they were smarter than the rest of us.  Long before economy and MPG became the reason we bought cars, VW launched an ad campaign by DDB, which today still makes me laugh, but not want to buy one.  My experiences have been few, my Dad had a 1963, with the back seat taken out so he could carry his gold clubs, and my first lesson in gasoline economics came at the Sunoco station one Saturday morning, he was filling up with 190 at 23.9 cents/gallon, and the Corvette was getting 260 at 32.9 cents/gallon.  He told me “I don’t know how he could afford to put fuel in it.”  Yet it carried us to school on cold mornings, still can’t figure out the heater, kept him out of car pools-no room for more than two, and couldn’t be blamed for the coming fuel crisis.  And my last driving experience was with my future wife, when we drove from California to Albuquerque in her 1976 Super Beetle.  Which when added to the car family, I had a 1967 Cadillac, was quickly traded for a 1978 Rabbit.  Still VW, but with a heater, stereo, and able to leap small hills in a single bound. But the image of the Bug still lingers on, and may have sold so well initially because of DDB’s great ad campaign.  Which I still love today, its only weakness it never sold me a VW. 

Simple ads, with few words, that caught your attention,made you chuckle, and made you think, “maybe I should check one out.”  And once in the showroom, you were hooked.  As millions were, soon VW Bugs were everywhere.  Last being sold in the US of A into the late Seventies, and in Mexico still in the Nineties, some being used as company executive cars.  Maybe an ad just waiting to happen in itself.  Still alive in various forms in desert racing today, they have gone far beyond iconic, beyond legendary, and still are part of society today.  With Type 2, the vans, going for over $110,000 at auction.  Let me see, a 1958 Corvette or a VW Van for $110k?  I’ll take the van....and I still don’t get it.  But some do, and do, and still get in front of me on the freeway.  Maybe the more things do change the more they stay the same.  If only my body and eyesight had.

But I still like simple things, which is why like my Bonneville, nothing you don’t need, everything you do.  And when I need twice the horses, I ride the Street Triple, which has everything I want, nothing I don’t, and goes fast.  Which is why I get confused with new bikes with electronic settings-too many buttons to push at 100 mph.  And car radios, excuse me sound systems, give me an on/off volume and 5 stations and I am happy.  My old 8 track had two rear speakers, Theresa’s Mustang has six, and still no songs I want to listen to.  So give me simple, because it gives me time to concentrate on other more important things, like where to eat.  Go into any restaurant, and ask for a burger-you get 75 choices, just a plain burger with onion and ketchup not listed.  That’s special, and may cost more.  Or even unorderable, since it is not listed on her i-Pad screen, and may take a half hour because she has to find a person to talk to, who translates into Spanish for the cook, who grins and nods yes, and sends you a #1 with all the fixings.  Which makes me think, maybe that old VW was ahead of its time, and gave you all you wanted, not what you think you needed. Maybe that is why after 60 years I still wear a t-shirt and jeans, simple, never out of style, comfortable, and my Wranglers at Walmart are only $15.  But then I think of Rachel, who is the denim expert at Lucky Brand.....wonder what she drives?

It was my turn last night to teach at Dustin Arms, and I taught the gospel simply.  Using what God had given me, the fact you must be born again to be saved, and that Jesus said “I am the way.”  No misinterpretation there, and afterwards the questions showed they were thinking, and had listened.  With one comment leaving me thinking.  He thanked me for not quoting so many scriptures, he cannot keep up and gets confused, the two or three I quoted made him think, and he left with questions answered, and I hope saved.  Now I like to tell people that God made the gospel simple so that people like me could understand it, and he did.  The thief on the cross got it, without notes, classes, footnotes, or a study guide, and somehow the Apostle Paul finally did after having all the above, plus an education.  In both cases, and in all cases, it takes a personal one on one with Jesus, and it still does today.  We sinned, we need a savior, Jesus is the one. Repent and be saved.  Simple.  Yet why does it take some pastors over an hour to say what Billy Graham can in 5 minutes?  Has the church become like the Internet, more info than we can ever use, but with no wisdom behind it?  Can today’s church find John 3:16 without Googling it first?  And yet some still try to impress us with all their knowledge, yet cannot afford a hug or a smile.  I like St. Francis of Assissi’s advice, “teach the word daily, if necessary use words.”  Maybe the gosple like the old VW ads, simple, to the point, and we still remember them 50 years later.  Maybe we need to remember that Jesus writes his word on our hearts, and it is our minds that need to be renewed daily.  But enough preaching, what brought you to Christ?  The correct answer is the Holy Spirit, anything else is just a tag line, it s still all about Jesus. 

So while some have been bitten by the Bug,  many are still looking for the simple gospel of Jesus Christ.  The one that was good enough for a thief, and a Pharisee, and might be just what you need.  Simple, to the point, and to Jesus.  I just might have to rethink the VW Beetle once again, maybe the idea was way ahead of its time.  But the time for Jesus is now....economy of philosophy and religion, just the right doses of love.  Traction when needed, good mileage, and if you break down, easy to push.  Which makes me think, what kind of mileage are getting out of your god?  Maybe it’s time you tried Jesus.  A God for the people. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

it's just love

The attitude of summertime is wearing down as kids are going back to school.  A time when the girl you met who stayed with your best friend is leaving for home, and many a summer romance is coming to an end.  Some may continue into the school year, but each new September is a new proving ground for summer loves, and the dreams and promises that went with them. For each September, that chubby girl who sat next to you and was so annoying, lost 20 pounds, or shifted it up, and now she won’t talk to you.  If only you had known.  That skinny girl who wore too much Clearasil suddenly has a fresh complexion, and the geeky girl with the braces had them removed, and the nerdy for eyes is wearing contacts.  Summer has made a huge change in many of the girls when I was growing up, and from 8th grade through high school, every summer meant new love.  And perhaps some of the best two month romances I ever had.  Very few continued into the school year, and when they did were short lived.  For all the above mentioned reasons.  For there is nothing more romantic than falling in love, and watching her feel the same way about you as you do about her.  But while your roaming eye is checking out the new talent, so is hers, and the “I’ll never leave you for another one,” fades into just another memory in the fall.  Oh, but those hot summer nights... and to be young again.  After a quick moment, no thanks.

I have been married to the girl of my dreams, Theresa, for over 36 years.  If I had to make a list of everything I wanted in a woman, she is it, and even more things God knew and I didn’t.  She rides, cooks, and loves Jesus, who could as for more?  Yet I see many, too many in their late forties, divorcing.  And it is never their fault.  I could never imagine dating again, of doing the whole dating scene, but yet I see and talk to many, and am shocked when I meet their new spouse.  Maybe their summer lasted a few years, but the September exchange sure looks different than I remember it to be.  Why not invest all that time and energy into the one you vowed to never leave nor forsake, and look ahead together, rather than back alone?  Take your wife on a date, send her some chocolate, as reminded by a bumper sticker I saw today, “I rather fall into chocolate than fall in love.’  From her size, she fell many times and never really left the M&M’s behind.  But there is a certain romance about my wife of many years, and till death do us part had a special meaning when I almost did a few years ago.  Love and respect still go along way, and have never gone out of style.

At the last wedding I did, I introduced the groom’s parents, and had them stand and applaud them for over 30 years of marriage.  Sadly her mother, was there with her boyfriend, husband #2 gave away the bride, and husband #1 paid the bill.  And so I gave them advice, good advice, “you may not always be in love, but honor your commitment.”  And I can tell you personally that if love is only an emotion, that commitment will be short lived.  And what kind of example are you leaving for any children?  And so during the ceremony, I shared about Adam and Eve, the first marriage, and the first family.  And how excited Adam must have been when he woke up and saw Eve.  Ho would he not love her, she was made form him, and a part of him, and apart from him she would never be whole.  And so I had them close their eyes, just before the vows, and open them after.  Just to get the effect of what Adam and Eve saw, and their faces were aglow-and I pray that that  glow lasts until death do they part.  But it takes commitment, and a vulnerability, a trust that you can not have with another for the two to become one.  And a reason I see so many struggling in their relationship with Jesus. 

I was taught early in my Christian walk that I had to be vulnerable to Jesus.  I didn’t get it, but soon found out like falling in love each summer, with no commitment from either of us, that a September love was soon on the horizon.  And that Jesus had made himself vulnerable to me, for me, and with me.  He gave himself wholly, and wanted me to also.  And when I did, the blessings increased, I spent more time with  him, meditating on him, and soon I was in love with Jesus.  More than an emotion, it was so deep I still cannot explain it, for if I could, words would only diminish it.  For when I realized God is love, then I too could be in love.  And then God gave me Theresa.  And as long as I keep him first, I can love her more.  Summer or winter, in good times or bad...he never changes.  And my love for my wife grows because Jesus first loved us.  Paul McCartney wrote that “the world was full of silly love songs,”  and too many relationships are just like that.  I wanted more, I wanted more than something that I’ve heard love called, I wanted to know it was really love, and in Jesus I have found everything.  And he has been my heart’s desire, giving me a wife to share his love with.  Nohting sill about that.

So if you are falling in love, or thinking about it, take the advice from an old Strawbs song, Just Love.  “ It’s just love, don’t try to comprehend it, if you money you’ve best spend it, you may never love again.”  Give your spouse all of the love you can, it is money well spent, but really invested.  And walk with Jesus the same way...and you will never want to walk with any other.  I can never know what Adam felt that morning and Eve was there, but I know what it is like for me.  Jesus, Theresa, and motorcycles-let the blessings continue.  Unforgettable...in every way.  Walking my baby back home.  Love you honey...falling into chocolate.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

there are no bad motorcycles

There are no bad motorcycles.  Just read any motorcycle magazine, and you will see, they like them all.  And will even nitpick to find anything they don’t like.  Somewhere in their road test is the truth, and having experienced the truth, find it can be quite opinionated.  Years ago Honda was given some bad reviews, but true, by an almost 100 year old publication.  They were so incensed, they pulled all their advertising, almost sinking the title, such is their power.  Now Big Red gets nice reviews, and I find their parent company showing much middle of the road opinions many times, dumbed down road tests if you will.  Stopping at the local multi-line dealer while Theresa and a friend were enjoying open air motoring in her Mustang convertible, I stopped by, and as greeted by not one, but three EBR motorcycles.  Eric Buell is back, and these are as far from what Harley used to put in the back corner as they can be.  They look great, and I had been wanting to see one, so when offered a ride, I couldn’t hesitate.  And a 2014 EBR SX1190, an early production bike, #008, was mine to ride.  At first the V-twin rumbled and shook, but after a ride here is my opinion.  It is fast, but not as fast as I thought.  And for $17,000, not very refined.  But for a first effort, I was impressed.  I ran it from 0-110, did some quick stops, a few wheelies, the front end came up rather quickly, and ran it through the canyon and curves.  And when I took it back, Mike, the Sales Manager wanted my input.  He respects what and how I ride, and I had the chance not offered to just anyone.  He used to sell Triumphs, and the Speed Triple is still his favorite.  My only complaint were the clutch was too heavy, and the instrument panel read out of gears went into a blank when the clutch was pulled in, leaving me guessing, and one time confusing the traction control number right next to it for third gear, fortunately it was 4th, or 5th.  But other than that, an enjoyable ride, until I got back on my current press bike, a 2015 Triumph Daytona R.  And the difference was evident, even to me.  But wanting to know more about the EBR, I retreated to my office and a Cycle World, where they had test ridden one, and compared it to a Ducati, now Duc-Audi, since its new ownership.  And I was surprised, and wondered if I had ridden the same bike.  It said it had 185hp, 20 more than anything I had ever ridden, yet weighing the same as the Daytona, and giving up 60 horsepower, wasn’t as fast.  The brakes were not as good, and although it handled well, I couldn’t see the $3500 difference, give me the Daytona, and the $3500, and I’ll see you in a month of riding.  But yet this article was favorable to it, we all like Eric Buell, and found it very comparable to the Ducati.  We have yet to hear from Ducati in their advertising rebuttal.  Different bikes for different riders, but where was that 60 horsepower, and where was $3500 extra in value?  Maybe I just don’t ride enough anymore, 3000 miles in the last 3 weeks, but 60 horsepower, it is the difference between a Bonneville and a Daytona, and no one would ever confuse the two....confuse?  Remember there are no bad motorcycles, and I rather ride a slow motorcycle faster than a fast one slower.  But I rather still ride no matter what.

Consider this man’s resume, and see if you would be interested in him.  He was known as one of the most important, and learned religious men of his time.  He was a Pharisee, a member of he Sanhedrin, spoke many languages, and had other skills.  He was a gifted orator, well versed in many subjects, and was a Jewish Roman citizen.  Able to dialogue with Roman official, while others feared them.  A tenacious debater, there was no question where he stood on any subject, and was legalistic to the letter of the law.  He was later to become one of the most celebrated authors in world history, and an historic figure himself. His name was Saul of Tarsus, and loyal to the Jewish law to a fault.  And an enemy of the cross, at least at first.  Just reading about him now, he seems like someone you would like to listen to, or follow his principals.  But yet we see him at the stoning of Stephen, holding coats, while others stoned him to death.  He was out spoken about the gospel, and would alter become a champion of it.  Yet this man, like many religious types today, needed to meet the real savior, and Jesus changed his life.  On the road to Damascus, he was confronted with Jesus, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  Was he acting in ignorance or faith?  He knew what he had heard about this Jesus, maybe even read about him.  He knew Isaiah 53, but failed to see Jesus as the prophetic one.  It was until his meeting face to face, that it became real, that it became personal.  No more opinions, or gossip, he came face to face with Jesus, and that made all the difference.  One encounter with the truth, and all that he knew and read became real.  Jesus revealed the mysteries of the gospel to Saul, meaning little, and now he became Paul.  And I thought of him after reading the article.  If I hadn’t ridden the bike, I never would have known the differences from the road test.  A good lesson for all, make it personal with Jesus.  Some opinions are just that, but when it comes to truth, go right to the truth-Jesus.  Make it real, make it personal.  Don’t listen to someone else who had a bad time n church, or thinks he knows the Bible without reading it.  See for yourself, then decide.  Is Jesus who he says he is, or is he just a great man?  Is he God, the only way to heaven, or are you depending on your good efforts to make it.  In your spec sheet is your power listed, only to come up 60 horsepower short in everyday life?  Do the shiny ads appeal to you, or are you destined to spend too much, not get enough, and come so close to salvation yet miss it altogether? 

Does Jesus pull his advertising just because of bad reviews?  If he did, the church would be out of business long ago, but Jesus is alive, and the NY Times is close to bankruptcy.  But he still offers you that personal test ride to see for yourself, are you willing to take it?  Or go on believing lies and opinions?  Is your walk with him based on what someone else says, an ad, or do you know him personally?  If Paul, the highest Pharisee knew it all, but couldn’t get it without meeting him, how do think you will?  Do you think you stand a chance?  Have you put your money down and walked away bewildered, or are you still looking?  Jesus is still knocking, calling to you in love.  Are you listening?

Do you believe everything you read, or buy based on the power of the dyno?  Or are you interested in real life results?  Jesus is real, find out for yourself.  It takes no special connection, even the poorest gets in, it is the rich who stumble.  Unlike no bad motorcycles, there are bad gods, and too many fall prey to their false promises, then give up.  It took Paul being blinded on the road, what is it going to take for you?  Unlike hand grenades, close don’t count with Jesus, there is no maybe, Paul found that out.  Read the book, get to know the man, and follow him today.  The truth is out there, and found in the best selling book ever, no advertising needed.  Read about Paul and others who were so close in knowledge, yet blinded by religion.  Meet Jesus and be set free...we all have a testimony to share, what will yours be?  Dare to approach Jesus with the same passion you ride with....wheelies optional.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

third pedal from the right

Missing from the latest generation is a certain right of passage into adulthood.  At 16 or so you can still get your license, which still doesn’t prove you know how to drive, but today no one knows how to drive a manual transmission.  Last year when Christopher was in Europe, he got to drive his friends from Barcelona to Paris because the rented BMW had a stick, and he was the only one who knew how to drive one.  Both my sons learned the skill early, and while some still struggle finding D for drive, so many don’t have to, want to, or know how to drive a clutch.  What is that mysterious third pedal from the right for?  And with 95% of new cars sold with automatics, it is possible that soon no one under 25 will even know what a manual transmission is.  No more jokes about the famous Mexican race driver Manual Shift, no more burn outs, heel and toe shifts, and learning to downshift.  Point and steer will take all their mental capacity, and then some, and as joy stick shifters become the norm, their whole driving experience will be like a 4 wheel Game Boy or Play Station.  Except when they crash there is not reset button.  And I foresee a whole new medical problem with those who paddle shift, arthritis will set in, lawyers will advertise on TV for great gain, and the joy stick will be the only way to go-literally.  And as I fondly look back to high school, the only good thing was the burnouts after school in the parking lot.  Where at the circle at the end of it, we took turns buying a gallon of bleach every day, and doing smoky burnouts.  Longest, loudest, smokiest, until Mr. Orrico chased us away.  But I think he was really jealous, as he wanted to join us in the fun.  Gone are the days of dropping the clutch at a light, wheels spinning, tires burning, and car sliding sideways under power.  A quick shift to second and the fun starts allover again.  And although the new electronic automatics will get you there faster, the thrill is gone.  And with traction control, so are the burnouts.  And tire screeching.  No more, “Bob must be leaving for school, I can hear that 302 winding out.”  No more rock crusher Muncies, and with it an atrophying of the left leg, which years later after many millions spent on studies, they will find is attributed to the automatic transmission.  Only prolonged by left foot on the brake, reaching a certain RPM, and releasing it-just not the same as dumping the clutch. 

When we moved to So Cal in the late eighties, I applied at Coca Cola.  Having driven bottle trucks, and 18 wheelers there, I was amazed and disappointed to find all their fleet was Allison automatics, not a Road Ranger to be found.  No splitters, no two speed rears.  These were sedans disguised as trucks.  Their reasoning was all the hills in San Diego please don’t tell my friends in Colorado, we thought we had hills, and drove manuals!  One trip down the grade into Silverton on an icy road may change their mind about that!  You need all the gears you can get, and then some.

And I can remember when the 4 in 442 stood for 4 speed trans, the Beach Boys sang about a 4 speed 409, and 4 on the floor was better than three on the tree.  And how the really fast guys could power shift that old Chevy with the column shift faster than any kid with heavy clutch attached to a floor shifter.  Who can forget Linda Vaughn, a teenagers dream, Miss Hurst Shifter, and the rite of passage to manhood?  How excited an we get about a joy stick, that shifts faster than we can, but without all the fun?  Did Richard Petty drive an automatic?  Did Dale Earnhardt?  Does Jimmie J?  And so I quietly mourn the passing of the third pedal from the right.  Replaced with of all things a dead foot pedal, what an appropriate name.  RIP 4 Scheifer clutches, burnouts, and spinning a brodie.  Now you are under control, no one knowing you were totally under control in the middle of your stoplight run. 

Mention meekness to a group, and the vision of a 98 pound weakling, 4 eyes behind horn rimmed glasses, and pocket protectors are envisioned.  Remember Mort Meek of cookie fame?  Until he ate his Oreos, maybe we need to bring back the milk and cookie moms from after school too.  If she can get off of work.  But meekness before I was saved was thought to be weakness, and no one wanted to be weak, or meek.  And when scripture told us “the meek shall inherit the earth, I had visions of a society in white shirts, narrow ties, crew cuts, and oxfords inhabiting heaven.  But boy was I wrong, a lesson in paying attention.  Meekness to God, and to Christians means power under control.  Like in racing, getting the power to the pavement.  Like throttle down in a power slide.  Like choosing the right gear down a hill on a snowy night.  Too much power, you get towed home. Not enough, the hill wins.  It takes the right amount of throttle to keep the power on, and in life we call it living in the spirit.  Galatians calls it meekness.  And an even better description is “not doing the wrong thing when it would be OK to do it.”  Such as, turning the other cheek.  Taking advantage of someone not as strong or smart as you.  Or as Jesus showed us, the last fruit in the spirit, self control.  He could have come down from the cross, He could even avoided it, yet went voluntarily-under control.  He could have with a thought destroyed the man whipping him 39 times.  He could have disarmed the soldier nailing his wrists to the cross, but he didn’t.  He knew what he had to do, and did it.  His choice.  Meekness, power under control.  And all manifested in him by the choices he made.  And can be in the choices we make.  God has given us the choice to make a choice, and meekness shows in those we make.  We show mercy when we could prosecute.  We help out the man who cut us off rather than flipping him off.  We give enough power to each situation to keep the power on, yet we don’t lose traction, we don’t enter into sin.  We learn to feather the clutch of choice when losing control, when to upshift when we are done and need to move on.  We can match the rpm’s with the road speed and downshift to get up a hill, or over an obstacle.  We have the choice, to make the choice, to be just like Jesus.  Exercising self control by the decisions we make.  And unlike being caught up in legalism, where we are told how to react in each and every situation, God allows situations not covered in the manual so we have to go to him for advice.  Keeping the relationship healthy, and not atrophying due to nonuse or misuse. 

So if you have gone on automatic in your walk with Christ, before you become a burnout, maybe you need to shift gears, to mentally and physically make a decision to change the course you are on.  Slow down, if you are ahead of the great shepherd, trouble looms.  If way behind, you really aren’t following, you are lagging behind, and fall prey to those who prey on the weak.  It takes meekness to walk with Christ, next to him.  Talking with him, not yelling “wait up,” or worse yet, “c’mon Jesus, I’m in a hurry.”  It takes meekness to walk in Christ, are you up to it? 

Maybe you just need to put it in neutral at the next light, give your foot a rest.  Or maybe you just need to get out and play, and be a kid again.  Slide sideways, do a burnout or two, rev up the engine, and sound cool.  But keep It under control, and when the spirit guides, you are in for the ride of your life.  Some live life a quarter mile at a time, but the miles still add up.  No matter what you drive, drive with Jesus.  Dare to be meek, and find a power you never knew existed in God.  And just a drag racer’s hint.  Don’t rev your engine, find the right rpm, then take off when the light turns green.  Keep the throttle steady, and win more races.  Just like Jesus would, steady and under control. 

Manual shifting, your choice.  Let me know, I’ll bring the bleach.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com