if every picture tells a story, what does a movie tell?

Up front I must admit I was and am still not a Rod Stewart fan.  Maybe I just expect too much from my music, but anyway, he once had a hit song called “Every Picture Tells a Story,” way back in the past of the 70’s.  Old to some, I remember when it was new, thus establishing the baseline for dating, not the “will you go out with me?” type. We tend to remember times and event based on cars we owned, and anything that I don’t remember when new is old, anything I do is not as old.  It is where the memories begin, not where they end that date us.  But using Rod’s premise for a hit song, with not so new philosophy, not only does every picture tell a story, but one picture can be worth a thousand words.  Which may explain why sometimes when looking at a picture, we stop and gaze, as our minds take us back, or bring another time to mind.  But pictures are limited, they only tell us what is going on at that specific moment the shutter was snapped, we have no insight as to what was going on seconds before, and we can only speculate on what happens next.  Yet we can postulate on what has happened, using what is seen, combined with creative thinking to form a story.  Or to extend one, like in the old movie serials.  “To be continued next week....” and our minds race to imagine.  “Who shot JR?” kept us on the edge of our seats guessing, note Kristin did it.  Least likely on my list.  So you can see how a photo only tells us a time, an occurrence, but a movie tells a bigger story.  Sometimes telling how it all began, and sometimes how it all ended.  Sometimes just a series of photos intertwined, where we still have only a space in time, just a longer one.  But if every picture tells a story, if Rod is right, what do movies tell?

I love to hear how good I look after open heart surgery.  I joke where were you all telling me this before when I was single? But without seeing how sick I was, it doesn’t make as strong as an impact.  Without seeing the helicopter, the 20 days in cardiac critical care, all the tubes and pic lines, seeing me now only gives you a glimpse into the story.  You are given a picture of a moment in time frozen, with no other views of what I went through.  You don’t see the doctors, nurses, and all the equipment moving, used to keep me alive.  You don’t see my wife and what she went through, we can only imagine.  And that is where the real story is, for somewhere between the before and after shots are where all the action was.  If you were to see a movie it would all become clearer, you would have a continuous moment in time to see  and feel.  You become more of the event, you see and feel things that before were not seen, and suddenly my words when telling the story take on a new meaning, it is more personal.  Time takes on a new meaning, and all the stories that one photo tells become a series.  The whole story falls together, with a beginning, the end is not yet written.  It is like when Doug told of going to Israel.  We were interested, then he showed us pictures of Israel.  But when we saw him in the pictures in Israel, it became personal.  It is like sitting on a bike in the showroom, and wondering how it rides. BRRMM-BRMM!  It takes action, not a still photo to be real.  Without the action, we are only left to wonder.

A life in Christ should be more a movie than a photo.  It shouldn’t be a certain time that has come and gone, it is not a sound byte in time.  It has a beginning, and and will have an eternal end, but the in between, where we spend all our time, is where the action is.  We need to see Good Friday before we can celebrate Easter.  We need to see the cross with Jesus on it before we can relate to what he endured.  Single moments cannot do enough, it takes action, with him in it to sustain us.  Remember when will not get us by, we need a constant, living, loving God with no end to us or his love for us.  Seeing a manger at Christmas time doesn’t tell about the immaculate conception, or the journey of a young married couple.  We need to see the movie version of Jesus, not the Hollywood aberration, but get to know him, and ask the sprit to reveal all the mysteries of him.  To make us part of the scenes, to make him real in our lives.  He is not a cross around our necks on a chain, he is the power that broke the chains of sin.  He is alive, we need to know him in action, not just a verse, or a song.  Not just a Sunday event, but a daily living entity, with a personality.  He is the person of God incarnate, not a philosophy to argue.  He rose from the dead so we can too.  Imagine a photo of that, I rather see the movie.  For God is a God of love, of action, not a single event.  And he wishes to be part of all our events.  Yet to many he just remains a picture that tells a story.  A statue on a dashboard, the car moving, but Jesus frozen in time.

Reading the Bible we know of what has passed, and we also are told of what is to come.  And we are to be part of it, not standing and watching as in a photo, but taking part in the action, like in a movie.  Our testimonies bear many words, not just a sound byte of God.  Load your life with an endless supply of film, movie film, video for the new guys, and fill it today with Jesus.  Find yourself in the script God has written for you, not just a walk in part, but a part with lines and a character to portray.  And the star is Jesus, and he is in all parts of your life, living and alive, moving with you.  Not just a moment in time, frozen for posterity, but an eternal moment.  A never ending moment, where all the action is, and is seen.  And where you are part of it.  Some may be satisfied just sitting on the new bike in the showroom, wondering what it will do.  I rather be riding, and seeing what it will do.  One a moment, one an action.  One moment may tell a story, when Jesus is in your life he becomes the story.  A movie.  And we are not just limited to what the camera sees, we have access to heaven, where it all will be revealed.  Jesus, he may be old to some, just a memory to others, but he is alive and moving to me.  And the stories behind the picture are always more interesting than picture itself.  My God is alive and moving, is yours?  Is he a single event, or a living thing?  Take your finger off the pause button, and begin to live.  LIGHTS!  CAMERA!  JESUS!  Where the action is....it is called life.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

on the fourth day we do laundry

Give me a tank bag and I can pack to be on the road for weeks.  Add a tail pack for Theresa and we may never return.  And so our motorcycle packing has been for years.  Of course the Tiger with hard bags has made it easier, but still we don’t need much to get by.  As I watch others dragging a load of bags to put on their bikes, I can be packed in a few minutes, and off riding while they search for items they packed by accident or cannot find. Simplicity is how we tour, and have learned many things over the 48 states and Canada to make our ride easier and more fun.  I have ben using tank bags for over 40 years, if you need more you are over packed.  When I moved west by myself all I had fit in the tank bag on my R90S, just because you own it doesn’t mean you have to bring it along.  We dress in layers and pack accordingly, and over the years have gone with fabric jackets leaving the leathers home.  Not only are they warmer and can be rainproof, they roll up easier and are lighter to pack.  Also pants are good for 2-3 days, and get more comfortable as you ride.  A t-shirt a day, a sweatshirt and swim suit, and socks.  A friend even wears old underwear, throwing them away after use, which also makes room for new t-shirts bought along the way.  I once learned make a list, then cut it in half, then only take half of that, and you will only use half of that.  And we have learned two important tricks to traveling, one is the Post Office, rather than continue to add weight and taking up space you don’t have, mail it home.  Dirty clothes and all, wear your new shirts, and if you need socks, Walmarts are everywhere.  But the one that works no matter the length or distance, whether 10,000 miles or only a week, is simple.  On the fourth day we do laundry.  We pack in 4 day increments, and every fourth day we do laundry.  Also a good day to mail home extra clothes or souveneirs bought along the way.  It is amazing how much stuff you can stuff into a one price shipping USPS box.  Packing skills will aid you here also.  Many times we arrive home lighter than when we left despite buying shirts, etc. using the Post Office.  And be creative, write “contagious” on the box, and watch how carefully it arrives intact. 

But it all comes down to baggage, and the baggage we carry with us.  So many emergency items can be purchased along the way, simple first aid kits can be put together, and even low end motels offer blow dryers.  If camping remember, you’re gonna put your helmet on anyway.  Flip flops pack easy on top, and can be worn when not riding.  But another key is how to pack.  Put the things used most on top, the least on the bottom.  No need unpacking, then repacking every night.  There is some law that it never fits as good as the first time, so do your best to go with it.  Adhering to the rule, if you cannot fit it in your bags or a tank bag, you probably don’t need it.  Make sure your bike is safe and ready and head off.  The road calls, go and have the ride of your life.

Packing light works also in real life.  We all carry a lot of extra baggage we don’t have to.  For some reason we feel we must hang onto things, even when we know they are not good for us.  Some refer to them as addictions, and use them as a crutch, never letting go.  And never finding they can get by just fine without them.  Some get stuck in a rut, which is really a grave, but with both ends open, still a way of escape.  Some don’t know, and use the excuse we’ve always done it this way.  some are brand loyal, “I could never ride anything but a BMW.”  Feel free to write your brand in.  Some go the same trips, some never take one, some only wear leathers, some are posers and don’t know it, and some just don’t care.  Or at least care what others think.  But we all carry extra baggage we don’t need to....

Many live in sin even after they are saved.  They believe in the power of Jesus and his forgiveness, yet hang onto things they don’t have too.  They carry heavy loads when Jesus promises to bear their burdens.  To lighten their load, to direct their paths.  Others tell me “I could never be forgiven for that,” underestimating the fact all sin is forgivable, and never reaping the benefits.  Some are caught up in themselves, and it must be all about them, and they carry about the wright of selfishness.  Pride that must be worn and adorned to show off.  If how you pack tells us about how you tour and ride, then how you live tells us more about Jesus in your life than your words.  Some things need to left home, some thrown away because they are not useful any longer.  Some left behind, they only cause trouble.  Some things are better off forgotten, and some things needed can be picked up along the way.  If Jesus is always with you, why carry anything else?  Why worry?  Why be burdened with excess, when you can have it all in him? 

So leave room for Jesus in your life, home or on the road.  Spend time with him daily, and I have found Sunday’s only are not enough.  I need to be refreshed more often.  I need the fellowship, the teaching, the praise and worship found in the body at church.  I need to be refreshed every fourth day, to do my spiritual laundry.  And not wait until next week, sometimes not wait until Wednesday.  I need Jesus every day, so I take him with me.  I pack him right on top where I can get to him easily.  I try not to let anything get in our way, and when things do, I ask how really important they are.  Do I really need them?  Are they doing me harm?  Some may ask “what would Jesus do?”  I answer, “you have to ask?”  Isn’t he close enough so you know?

We are packing for an eternal trip, and you will leave everything behind except your relationship with God in Jesus Christ.  Make sure that is on your daily list.  No ride, no trip is complete without him along.  Cast your cares on him for he careth for you.  Along the roads of life we will accumulate many things.  Some should be tossed, some sent home, and some kept.  Jesus is a keeper, so take his advice.  Take nothing you don’t need, and everything you do.  Having spent all of his ministry on the road, he knows how to pack, and instructed his disciples how to.  Take only what you have on you, so make sure you pack correctly.  Seek help as needed, God will guide.  And if rejected, take your blessing and move on.  The only thing to pack is love, found in Jesus Christ.  Don’t worry, and again enjoy the ride.

So remember that every fourth day may be OK on the road, but we need Jesus everyday.  Wednesday to be revived, Sunday the same.  You fill your bike’s tank when it is empty, don’t wait for the low fuel or oil light to come on before taking action.  So why live any other way.  And while others are fussing with their load, or repacking, you will be out riding.  Now would you rather hear my traveling stories, or see my packing list?  Be a doer, rather than just a hearer.  Write testimonies rather than read other’s.  On the third day he rose, on the fourth we do laundry.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

getting to "no" you

You cannot teach experience, and one lesson experience teaches is you cannot always make decisions based on it.  For instance last week our F150 wouldn’t start.  After checking the obvious, it had gas, it sounded like a fuel pump.  Recent memory has had me replace two in our other cars last year.  I guess it happens to older cars, my newest is a 2003.  But after surfing for the best deal, and waiting until a Saturday night to install it, still a crank, no start situation.  So we checked all the fuses and relays-good.  A phone call turned us onto trying starting fluid, our next to last resort.  Finally checking the inertia switch ruled out all fuel related possibilities.  $200 dollars later we had experience, and a truck that wouldn’t start.  But one possibility remained, not fuel related, the key.  Newer keys have transponders in them, so the key talks to the truck allowing it to start and run.  So off to the local key shop....on two wheels.  Monday morning.

Where immediately he noticed the microchip was missing, somehow it had fallen out.  Good news, and bad.  Good, key was only $20 rather than the $80 he had quoted me, but he suggested I go back and look for missing price, it had to fallout in truck.  Which it hadn’t, so back to key store, after calling Ford to have key programmed. a dealer only can do this, the machine is way expensive.  But after purchasing the key, I was about to call Ford and have the truck towed, when another man mentioned he had a friend who did mobile programming, so I called him.  For $75 rather than the $120 Ford quoted, he would come by the house, no towing involved.  And when he showed up as arranged, it took him a few minutes and the truck started.  But the deal wasn’t over, he gave me another key for free, and only charged me $65!  And we talked of people we knew in the auto community, we had many of the same friends.  But in talking, he mentioned his 9 year old son, born without part of his heart, and who has had three open hearts surgeries.  Which I can associate with, for we are both miracles to be alive, only God could bring two men together from a missing microchip in a key.  All the “no’s” that diagnostics and experience had taught us were useless, God had a planned meeting for us that day.  And saved us money...and the truck was fixed.  But I go back to the first morning it wouldn’t start and where I sat in it and prayed.  God assured me it would be OK, his OK is always better than mine.  But it was in the no answers he provided, that led me to Bill and the story of his son.  All because my truck didn’t start....

So many ask where is God when I need him?” and when they don’t get an answer, immediately blame God.  But I have learned over the years when God says no, it is because a better yes is coming.  He knows what lies around the next curve, we don’t.  But if we listen to him, really ask “thy will be done,” and then follow it, we are blessed, and we have another testimony to share to encourage other, and give him the glory.  Jesus is referred to as the great physician, not the great doctor.  Doctors practice medicine, Jesus heals.  Doctors diagnose, Jesus not only knows the problem, but has cure and can cure.  All in one convenient prayer, although his timing may have you meet up with others in his plan.  He never hurries, never was late, it is us who are impatient.  And since he never leaves us, or forgets us, he is on call 24/7.  Better and quicker than a 911 call.  From Abraham trusting God who swore by himself, to act because he knew God’s character, he had trouble with his wife’s faith, and today we have the endless battle between Jews and Arabs.  The Jewish race through Isaac who was promised, and was born some 25 years after the promise, and Ishmael, born of his concubine when influenced by Sarah not to wait.  After all they were old, and she was barren.  I wonder if they had waited what the world would belike today?  And I look back to many things I have tried to fix, coming up short.  I think of the doctor telling me I had a pinched nerve in my neck, when really my aorta was about to explode.  The pain was in the same area....but it was a heart problem, one only a miracle of God could cure.  But somehow it always comes back to the heart, from my aorta to the heart of man, the soul.  For hardened hearts towards God will finally end in death as my hardened aorta almost did.  But God knows, in Isaiah 65 he tells us he has the answer in the works before we even pray.  But we still need to follow his lead, even if it takes a life flight on a helicopter, or a ride down to the key store.  If I hadn’t gone back to check for the missing key part, I would have ended up with the truck towed to Ford, as it was it cost less, I got another free key in the deal, and heard of this man’s son.  And was reminded by God how all things work out for good, when we follow his lead, and he wants to bless us.  He had the man in the mobile unit ready just like he had the helicopter ready in Durango, like he had Isaac ready for Abraham and Sarah.  Just  like he has Jesus ready for you.  Today may be your day of salvation, or of a miracle, are you listening?  Or still trying to figure it out yourself?

God is God no matter what you believe, which is a good thing.  He doesn’t change to be like us, but we change to be like him.  I cannot imagine the consequences if it were the other way around.  Just one impatient act by a couple thousands of years ago still is reaping horrible results, and God called Abraham a man of faith.  Imagine what miracles he can do with your little faith, and history of sin.  But you must turn to him, listen, trust and obey.  Get to know God and “no” God.  and learn that no is a wonderful answer when it comes from a loving father.  Paul once said we look through a glass darkly, and what do we see?  Interesting as mirrors were not invented yet, it took faith to look and then obey.  If your mirror of faith is dark, try Jesus.  Open your heart, he’ll open your eyes, for things are not always what we think.  We only seek the symptoms, and a diagnosis.  Jesus is the answer.  And turned out to be the answer to the key for our truck.  He cares about all aspects of your life, from salvation to trucks to motorcycles.   Find out today, you could be riding instead of still waiting for a tow.  You could be a miracle instead of another statistic.  Just say no, God often does, and rejoice in that better yes.  It’s who you know, and who you “no” that makes all the difference.  If God can heal a Ford, imagine what he can do for you? 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Mr. Sternwallow runs a factory

It is hard to believe only 100 years ago Alfred P. Sloan was about to change the world of automobiles forever.  Although he never designed or engineered a car, his contribution to automobile history ranks very high.  He was the architect of putting General Motors together, with the plan of each division making its own decisions, but being responsible to the holding company, the mother.  A plan that not only saved the company, but has become a model for industry since.  His famous quote, “General Motors is not in the business of making cars, we are in the business of making money,” was revolutionary, and he was bold enough to describe free enterprise in one short sentence.  Long gone he philanthropic endeavors outlast him, in such places such as Sloan Kettering Institute, for medicine.  Another automotive pioneer was more hands on in the engineering and just the opposite of Mr. Sloan’s management policies.  Henry Ford at one time used to pay bills by the pound, he was too busy with other things, and his statement “it is a poor company that makes only money” reflected it.  His name is on millions of cars still today, while Sloan’s name may be new to you.  But here is one you never heard of, Elihu P. Sternwallow.  Mr. Sternwallow runs a factory.  From here on we will refer to him as ES.

ES started with the North American Veeblefetzer Company about 100 years ago, out of school.  He rose up through the ranks to eventually run it, making a name and reputation for himself.  He was the model of American business, dealing with labor by throwing the unions out, announcing new models, and setting company guidelines for 50 years.  He put the company on the map, and at shows many were amazed and impressed with new models of the Veeblefetzer, drawing rave reviews and new orders, a stand out being the new model 305-J, with self rotating oil cups and horizontal manifolds.  An especially new touch was calibrating the air pressure gauge in litres per cubic meter, for greater confusion.  He was known to invite others to lunch, then reluctantly pay the bill.  A strict disciplanarian he once fired a secretary for becoming ill on the job.  He threw a party for a 50 year long employee, only docking his employees an hour pay for attending.  And in an attempt to curtail injuries at work, fired the company nurse.  A true leader in the industry, old ES is only remembered in publications from long ago. He even had his own in house publication, VEEBLE PEOPLE.   And one in particular, MAD magazine, who invented him in a parody done over 50 years ago.  You see there is no North American Veeblefetzer Company.  But that didn’t stop many from believing the idiocy of it, and some even tried to buy stock in it.  Creating quite a stir when they found out it was a joke on American business.  And willing to invest in something they had never heard of and didn’t exist, a veeblefetzer.  MAD had gone after the basic instinct of greed, added foolishness, and won.  And today I still find it a tribute to great satire, and the fickleness of the American reader.  To me ES deserves a place right up there with Sloan, Ford, and others such as Gates, and Jobs.  For who else created something out of nothing, and created such a stir...at no cost!  Try running that one up the flagpole and saluting it!

It takes a lot of faith to be an atheist with all the evidence about Jesus.  From his recording by Josephus to the Bible, it is evident Jesus of Nazareth was a real person.  And from the testimonies he had to be God.  He had to be who he said he was.  Yet many believe a lie like the one of old ES, choosing to believe a fabricated story, changing facts to meet opinions, rather than changing opinions to meet the facts.  And no matter how or what you believe, he still is who he says he was and is, and is coming back for his church, us!  He was a winner in all he did, because of one simple choice he made, to trust God his father.  Now although he was fully God, he came to earth as fully man, and only in obedience to what his father told him to do was he successful.  He did nothing on his own, even unto death on the cross.  Asking if there was any other way to let the cup pass.  But stayed true to his instruction to his disciples when they asked him how to pray, “thy will be done.”  Yet we take a different route even though we call ourselves Christians, tell everyone we have faith, and praise God when things go our way.  But what when they don’t, when God knows better?  What can we do?

We can be like Jesus and not question the father’s authority or wisdom.  He took no refuge in unbelief, never questioned what this father told him to do.  Yet we argue, cry, wince, complain, and disobey going our own way, sad after repeating scripture that tells us “all things work together for good for those who love the lord and are called by him.”  And why do you never hear someone rising up the ladder of success claim “it’s all gonna burn someday,” but you do when they are failing?  Jesus put himself in the arms of a loving father, our father and his, and looked to him to sustain him.  And when he did his father brought him safely through, completing the task he was sent to do, to save sinners.  A horrible cost because sin is horrible, and separates us from God.  Only in Jesus do we get through.  Only he is the way.  Only Jesus.

Today you may not be facing death, disease, or a family break up.  You need help from a loving God, one who can make the scripture of all things, both good and bad working together for good, our good.  Although Jesus was his son, and not a messenger or servant angel, Jesus teaches us about obedience through his own example.  He knows and knew suffering.  Yet many still look for Veeblefetzers, rather than him.  It’s our choice.

Finally a quote from old ES, “he placed a sign that read THINK outside his office, drawing a lot of clever comments.”  Think about Jesus for a moment, turn to him.  The battle between head and heart is only 18 inches, but what the heart believes the head can verify, or reject.  Consider the claims of Jesus, have the faith of an atheist.  Look at the evidence, he is who he said he is.  And know that no matter how serious the problem, when even at wit’s end, Jesus never fails.  God will fully meet your need when you need it, in his own way, for your benefit.  So give him the glory due him, and he will give us the blessings that aren’t due us.  He calls it grace and mercy.  Only found through Jesus Christ. Today a veeblefetzer is used to refer to a facetious name or placeholder.  Make believe, yada yada yada.  No veeblefetzers in heaven, only saints.  Of course all you grads of Potrzebie High School know that.  There are names, and then there are names. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

tires by the 6 pack

Coming out of the Christmas concert last night with our wives, Dick mentioned what a great night to ride.  The thermometer read 63 degrees, just right for a night ride.  And he was right, and we wish we had.  But yet we had made a concession and come in our cars.  What were we thinking?  I ran into a friend yesterday who is an LAPD SWAT officer. She has a Street Triple like mine, and was having some suspension upgrades done on it.  She has 91,000 miles on it, and has ridden it to the four corners of the US of A.  By herself.  Which is how she prefers to ride, she loves to ride, not stop for coffee.  And I‘m impressed, and you should be too, as she has a same year Moto Guzzi at home with only 80,000 miles on it.  My kind of rider... I also saw Ray yesterday pulling up on his Gold Wing.  Now before you think Ray is some kind of Wing rider with a plush animal on back, he was there to pick up his Hayabusa powered B King, which Mickey had just turboed for him.  It dynoed at 264hp, 200 more than the Bonneville I was riding.  Firing it up it sounded way cool, a nasty snarl from the exhaust.  But when concerned about the sound attracting the cops, was warned “don’t worry about the sound, worry about the burnouts and wheelies.”  It will wheelie in 6th gear, and will do burn outs half a block long.  When I told him to go home and order a 6 pack of rear tires, he laughed and said that was his next stop.  By the way, Ray is 71, and just had prostrate surgery.  Youth redefined. 

And I thought about another friend who has a life threatening illness.  Yet I the midst of it took of for Alaska on his own, on a bike with over 100,000 miles on it.  I thought of years ago meeting Julius Kagel, a legend among BMW riders, who only stopped riding at age 83 when a car ran a red light and killed him and his bike.  I am proud to say I once rode with him.  I thought of the time a hot shoe in Durango wanted to race me.  He was fast, and I finally agreed if I could pick the route.  “OK, Phoenix.”  We never did race, he wasn’t prepared for 500 miles of speed.  And as I look a the bikes in the garage, 4 Triumphs and a Suzuki, the Triumphs have over 280,000 miles them, and one being ridden in 48 states.  But adding in the oldest, the 1978 GS1000 Suzuki with only 30,000, I have over 300,000 miles of memories sitting here.  But they were bought to ride, and we do.  No idea how many miles on the dirt bike, some fun cannot be measured in distance, just time spent in the saddle.  So we ride, and trying to remember all the bikes I have owned and ridden over the years, I have ridden almost 1 million miles.  Many hours on the road, which may explain my helmet head, and hard of hearing.  But like my friends above, we ride.  It is woven into our life and lifestyle.  We have stories while others only have time to listen.  Some wonder what it is like, we cannot describe it.  Heavenly times are like that.  And yes we admit that we have chosen a dangerous lifestyle, but we live to ride, and ride to live.  We enjoy all that life offers from behind handlebars,  and when today’s ride is over, look forward to tomorrows.  Our Christmas shopping list is easy, it is all done at motorcycle shops.  Our leathers are worn, our hair is flat, and our cameras full of memories, only surpassed by the ones in our memories, which no film or camera could copy. 

An old saying tells us “I didn’t quit riding because I got old, I got old because I quit riding.”  Maybe that is why we will never grow up, never get old, but just get older.  We get out and ride.  Good advice, and found in scripture.  We are  told to not be only hearers of the word, but doers.  See, scripture does encourage us to ride, Jesus would have.  But yet when I encounter many after church, they talk of new books read, lessons on KWVE, and their latest small groups.  And although they are constantly educated, they aren’t out doing it.  They have only experienced Christ within the church, they never get out and take Jesus to the world.  This same group always wonders why I’m not at the men’s ministry, or serving at church.  Yet don’t get it when I answer about being out ministering while they are in class.  God has told me more than once, “if the seat of your pants is wearing out faster than the soles of your shoes, you have it wrong.”  I get it, I prefer to be a doer rather than just a hearer.  I want all that Jesus has to offer, and all the blessing he can give.  They are found out on the road, where he spent most of his time.  Out among the lost and hurting, not hanging out with the Pharisees.  They lived in bondage to the law, the next service, the next teaching.  If Jesus had never uttered a word, his life and style would still have led others to him.  It is like advice given to new fathers, “they won’t remember your words, but they will remember your actions.”  We remember Jesus on the cross long before we remember his final words on it.  So pick up your cross and ride.  Wear out some shoe leather, see for yourself what Jesus is talking about.  Log some miles with the lost instead of among the saved, you studied to find yourself approved, now go out and prove it!  Today may be the day you stop reading other people’s testimonies and making some of your own.  You will never know until you get out of church, and take the church out to the people.  Jesus got it, and many do today.  Jesus was a servant and was out serving.  Are you serving or being served?  Check please, maybe a reality check. 

A few years ago when Theresa was a new rider, she she was offered by a friend who is president of an international motorcycle ministry to trailer her bike to Hollister.  It was about 450 miles each way, and she told him no.  She was riding, wasn’t that why she bought her Bonneville?  Wasn’t Hollister a motorcycle rally?  So maybe it is the ride that is the destination, and how you get there is important.  My final destination is heaven, and I want the most from life I can get on the way.  Life is for the living. Let the dead bury their own.  II want to enjoy the life Jesus has offered me, and don’t wish to miss any blessings.  Or to be a blessing to others.  Get out and live.  Wear out some shoes, break a sweat.  Get your hands dirty.  Stand with a homeless guy who smells.  Whose feet are shoeless.  Whose home is no address.  Tell him about what Jesus has done for you.  Love and encourage him.  But first you must have the testimonies to share.  And they will listen when they know how much you care, not how much you owe.  Some quote scripture, I rather live it.

Ray and I left at the same time yesterday.  My Bonneville down 200 hp on his B King.  His license plate reads “it is good to B King.”  But it is better to know the King, Jesus Christ.  Pray for Ray, I love the guy, he is seeking, yet hasn’t ocme to Christ yet.  My last words to him were “wanna race?”  To which he replied jokingly “I left my title at home.”  Power is good, but only when used properly.  Jesus is the power, and the glory forever and ever.  Bring your title next time Ray, I’ll leave mine at home.  But I won’t leave Jesus.  He goes with me everywhere.  Worn out leathers and all.  Did I mention the Rocket 3 land speed record bike was there also?  465 miles per hour.  Suddenly Ray seems so slow.  You’ll never know until you get out and see.

love with compassion,

Mike

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