Saturday in the Park

After a suddenly terminated stay in Florida, it was back to the Garden State for BH and me.  Having tasted the freedom of moving out at age 20, we started to look for our own place.  We both had jobs, so we began the search.  Which ended in the Riverfront Apartments, on aptly named River Road in Piscataway, New Jersey.  The name just oozes romance doesn’t it?  But upstairs on the end, we had our bachelor pad, and with a garage a place to store our bikes and bench race.  Where many times we would get to exercise our immaturity and disrespect for the law.  You would think that two young and upcoming males would have plenty to do, but one Saturday, we found ourselves with nothing to do, and riding down the road from where we lived, we stopped in to see what was going on a a park near us, with a name like Prestone or something like that.  It turned out it was a company park for the Prestone plant up the road, and this was a company picnic going on, for only company employees and their families.  Which only made the challenge greater...

Parking our bikes in the shady grove, we approached the entrance, where we were asked “what department did we work in?”  BH, ever the quicker and more devious, announced “we just started, and would be in research,” whatever that meant.   And so we were ushered in, paying attention to not draw too much attention to ourselves, but to hook up with some of the female employees that seemed to be everywhere.  We pled stupid to many questions asked, we claimed we were starting next week, and when names were mentioned, again claimed to be new and not familiar with them.  We ate their food, drank their sodas, played the games, and fit in quite well.  But somehow we didn’t fit in, and when it began to show, you can only be so ignorant, we decided to leave, wishing our new found friends and so called coworkers a good day.  No one really questioned who we were, what we were, we just gave simple, pat answers and pretended we worked there.  And it worked....

So much for a Saturday in the park.  We never got to attend again as we moved, and this was a once every summer event, but from time to time would ride by and wonder, for a time we were part of the Prestone family, welcomed in even if under false pretenses, and how we had lied our way into the hearts and lives of those who worked there.  We were right there out in the open for all to see living a lie, and we had pulled it off.  But we knew, and I suspect somehow they knew too, but had welcomed us in anyway.  BH had posed as a new executive, and who doesn’t want to impress who may be your new boss?  Based on the George Costanza rule of lying, “if you believe it, it isn’t a lie,” we saw, we came, we conquered.  Sadly, there are also those who enter into churches the same way.  Pastor Mark used to be a greeter at the door, and he told me once of a list of people who were known throughout Sand Diego county as those who would cause trouble within church bodies.  Like wolves in disguise, they talked a good game, but their mission was to disrupt, and I got to identify them with Mark.  And when at another church, would identify them there too.  From standing up and a shouting “praise the Lord” during a teaching, to finding the weak ones and challenging their walk, they would infiltrate, and try to disrupt.  We are told to be as wise as serpents, but gentle as lambs, sometimes we are stupid as sheep, and get bit by the serpent.  So beware, as one night I had to be....

When 2 John tells us to be wary of those types, not even say “God bless you,” because their God is not the God of the Bible, and they deny the deity of Jesus, after he taught one night at Dustin Arms, Jim was cornered by two men who were creating a disturbance.  He was in over his head, and when I saw, I walked over and asked “what’s going on?”  These men were expounding on the moral issues of Allah, and Jim was defenseless.  They had caught him off guard, and had him confused about who Jesus was.  And he was a Bible teacher!  So I listened as they went on, and sensing new meat, one asked me,”so what do you think?”  And the door was opened....

I told them there was a lot of truth in what they said, and they smiled, I was there friend because I agreed with them or so they thought.  But when I asked “where was Jesus in all this?”  the mood changed, and they became confused.  I mentioned forgiveness and salvation by grace, and the free gift of both.  How Jesus had proven over and over again he was God, not just a great teacher and profit.  How Allah’s grave was filled, but the tomb where they laid Jesus was empty.  How the Bible preceded their book by thousands of years, and finally asked “where is your joy, your assurance God loves you?”  And it got quiet...

For the next 15 minutes these two rabble rousers began to ask questions, and the spirit gave me the answers they needed to hear.  As the meeting broke up, they asked if they could return, they had more questions, and when I asked to pray with them, both agreed.  From time to time I would see them on the street, we would greet each other with a hug, we had become friends, they knew I cared about them, and we went deeper than just an argument.  I don’t know where they are with Jesus now, but that night I did what God showed me to do, I shared the gospel in love, and disarmed their attack.  By showing love, I had poured hot coals on their heads, not argued, but answered their questions.  The spirit guided, gave life, and I planted some seeds that night.  Now it was time for the holy spirit to provide the growth.  Salvation is up to God, it is his business.  We are just messengers, ambassadors, and representatives.  They had not fooled God, I wonder how many we had really fooled that afternoon in the park?

Scripture tells us that we can entertain angels and not know it.  Something the enemy knows as well, so be gentle as Jesus, but wise in the spirit.  Don’t be afraid to call a spade a dirty shovel if it is, but remember we all once were that dirty shovel, and Jesus cleaned us up and made us useful.  If you are out living the gospel as we are instructed, you will attract those want to know, and also just confuse.  But when in the spirit, God will give you the words and the discernment.  And if you are accused of being judgmental, don’t be afraid to reply, “I’m not judging you, I’m describing you.”  And to Mr. Costanza, even if you believe a lie, it is still a lie.  The truth will set you free.  Don’t be afraid to ask “where is Jesus in this?” and be ready, the spirit is willing, how weak is your flesh?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

on being popular

I was thinking about a man I knew the other day, and how everyone liked him.  It seemed no one ever had a bad word to say about him, he seemed friendly enough, and inoffensive.  In a way I admired the guy, as I have a list of enemies, or those who oppose me, and even my writings, which can be disheartening.  But as I was thinking about the man, it dawned on me why he was so well liked, and it was a disappointing thought.  Quite simply, he never stood for anything, he never took an opposing view on anything, went along with whatever the crowd did.  He always fit in, so no one had any reason to get upset with him.  And it made me very sad, for with no firm belief system, he actually stood for nothing except himself.  I loved the guy, but he hid what views he had, or just agreed with the crowd he was in.  Skillfully avoiding any arguments or confrontations.  Without a firm belief system, he really was all over the board, as long as the two competing sides never met.  Forever neutral, never revving his engine or making noise.  I don’t think I could ever live that way.

Like those who voice opinions or take sides, I can become an easy target.  Once you decide on something, whether it be Harley vs. Indian, Honda vs. Suzuki, latte over expresso, or veggies over meat, you will automatically incur someone’s wrath.  Someone will not agree with you, and worse case get defensive and attack.  Very few will listen to why we believe what we do, it is easier to attack.  But how many base their lives on opinions rather than facts?  How many rather be known as a peace loving person instead of a trouble maker?  Which category do you fit in?  How strongly do you believe in what you believe?

The moment you come to Christ it is like a huge target is pinned on your back, and the world, the flesh, and the devil are poised to attack.  Suddenly you have morals, you stand for someone, and you have a relationship with God.  Early on I was disillusioned when friends turned from me, or told me they now couldn’t trust me.  They did when we did drugs, got drunk, chased and caught women, I was respected by them, but now since I had Jesus, they distanced themselves from me, I couldn’t be trusted.  What a shock, what a dichotomy.  My value system now had value, and upset them.  I never preached, but sometimes just the sight of my Bible would set them off.  I was learning how darkness could not stand in the light, and I was that light Jesus talked of.  Suddenly I was dangerous to them and their lifestyle... I was saved!

And a bit confused, as my peace loving hippie friends thought it was all about singing Cum By Ya, and we all got along.  We were to be like minded men as the church told me.  But scripture revealed to me that Jesus came to separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the chaff.  Not in hate, but because he loved us, and didn’t want us to go to hell.  He wanted us to change via his spirit, to put away the old and dangerous ways, to change course, to repent, and live Godly, to inherit eternal life, not damnation.  I was to put away the old things, I was a new creature in Christ, a new man, and the old man had to die.  Sin was that old man, Jesus killed him on the cross, now it was choice, Jesus or the devil, and in either choice my future would be set.  With Jesus I got eternal life, on earth as it is in heaven, and peace.  The problems of life still existed, but now I didn’t face them alone, and slowly my life became all about Jesus, instead of all about me.  And I began to make enemies, which bothered me, wasn’t Jesus about love?  But he also said when we take a stand for him, we will become a target, be ready to be persecuted, prejudiced, judged differently, and hated, all because of him.  It wasn’t the Jesus the old religion had told me of, and I found out how tough Jesus really was.  And also how tender.  Tough by hanging on a cross, tormented by those he came to save, tender by his love for me while there.  Being a Christian is not easy, but becoming one is.

A certain integrity comes with making a choice, and when Jesus is the choice, you gain the integrity of God.  You gain access to him directly, and the relationship becomes personal.  God is not a higher power, the big guy in the sky, not a she or without gender, but a spirit who must be worshipped as such.  And Jesus is the only way, and by his spirit we can fellowship with him. Not multiple choice or an essay, not pleading your case before a heavenly tribunal, but having an advocate who stood in for us, and showing us how perfect love demands a choice.  When we understand who Jesus is, then we will understand why he came.  So he made the gospel simple so we can get it, and free so we can afford it.  And available 24/7, not just on Sunday.  With the promise that if we represent him on earth, on judgment day after death he will represent us then.  Your today will have a direct effect on your tomorrow.....

When Three Dog Night sang Easy to be Hard, they sang of “the be in crowd,” the clique, the good looking and stylish ones.  The ones your parents hoped you became like.  How many parents wanted you to be like Jesus?  And give up the ways of the world?  Being popular demands a price from you that some day you will not be able to cover.  The price God demands has already been paid by Jesus.  How can people be so selfish? 

Darkness will never be able to stand in the light.  Take a look at where you are now, an absence of shadows may tell you more than you will admit to.  There is a reason they only come out at night, a reason why some are more popular than others, a reason why some seek earthly goods and rewards over eternity with God.  God lets you make the choice, and saying nothing is saying no to him.  Salvation is a private personal intimate choice we make.  It is between you and God, but will show to the world.  But it will also show to God.  Look around, isn’t life hard enough?  Don’t you need a rest from the pressures and things that weigh you down?  Jesus’ offer still stands, don’t be so popular you miss heaven for hell. Proverbs warns us to not put our ear to the wall because we may not like what we hear.  All walls have ears, what are you telling them?  What are they hearing?  What will they repeat about you?  Facebook or face God.  He was such a nice guy but...is no way to be remembered, standing for Jesus and his love is.  We will be known as Christians by his love, and your message is?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

if you were cool back then....

It seems every generation somehow leaves its mark on society, whether good or bad is your choice.  After attending The Race of Gentlemen last fall at Pismo Beach, it was way cool to see the pre-1935 cars and 1947 motorcycles race on the sand.  Racers dressed in period outfits really made the cars and bikes look like the time frame they were from.  And probably like my father’s generation would have remembered them.  For those 10 years older than me, it was flatheads and Chevy motors, raised rear ends and wide oval tires, hood pins and stripes that they remember well.  Dungarees with the bottoms rolled up, engineer boots and DA’s were a bit out of style by then, although flat tops, and long sideburns were for the really cool.  No one wore hats of any sorts, who would cover up their hair back then?  Guys who rode wore leather, not uncommon was WWII surplus jackets and gloves.  But when it came time for me to graduate, it was bell bottoms, really flared jeans, shirts with Hooker Headers, or Castrol Motor Oil, and black sneakers.  No one wore platform shoes who was cool, at least not yet, it was about the cars and motorcycles, we were just wearing what we had at the time.  Cool went way beyond clothes, and still does today.  Being fashionable was and still is so fashionable to the insecure set, but to the really cool, it was what you rode or drove.  I knew geeks who would dress cool, and cool guys who dressed like nerds, they may be out of place in school, but after school in the parking lot, it was a different story.  If you were cool back then, you didn’t need to tell anyone, your car said it all.  Motorcycles spoke louder, and still do today.  Now, how cool are you?

Yet when I go to cruise nights or car shows, I get tired of all men wearing ball caps, women in poodle skirts, and contemporary leather jackets, trying to match the period of their car.  No one would shave their head, no one would wear their cap backwards, in fact very few even wore them.  The seventies was not all about platform shoes and disco, the sixties not all about psychodelic music and lava lamps.  Yet to look at the memorobilia you might think otherwise.  Cool transcended itself no matter the culture or fashion, it encouraged  you to be yourself, and many cool guys and girls operated outside of the norm.  But maybe it was really the other way around....

So being yourself was as hard back then as it is now, and as I see so called vintage racing shirts with logos I don’t remember, crowds of men wearing caps announcing their cars, and women in torn designer jeans at $200 pair, the truth is that is not the truth, but falling in the fashion conscious crowd.  Trying to look the part, to be recognized and fit in, but falling short in their façade.  A Triumph shirt from Lucky jeans is not the way to be cool, a jacket with Harley on it doesn’t make you a biker, and stickers on your car announcing it, well stickers are cheap.  Maybe we cannot define cool, it goes beyond words, but like the judge who was asked to describe pornography answered, “I know it when I see it,” cool is cool and always will be.  The rest of you are trendy.  And just as readily identifiable.

From time to time in my life, it has been trendy to be a Christian.  Church folk who used to wear white shirts and black ties with suits, women in out of style dresses that cover everything, and their hair covered is not cool.  For awhile Christian t-shirts were the fad, as is Bible covers to protect the book you never read, stickers on cars warning of the car being empty when the rapture hits, and listening to all the top-10 on KWVE. They are trendy, and I wonder how deep the relationship with Jesus really goes, as the woman in her SUV on the phone cuts me off then flips me off, her “Jesus loves you,” sticker on the window.  I once had a woman customer continually tell me “praise God,” until I told her that her car needed work, and then the expletives came at me.  Not cool in any circumstances.  You see we may fool some by our outward appearance, but God knows the heart.  And sadly for those led astray, we can tell too.

Jesus tells us a time is coming when he will separate the sheep from the goats.  In Matthew 25 we hear the church bragging on its accomplishments, all visual with little love, and Jesus rejects them.  He knew their hearts, maybe we need to do a self examination as Paul exhorts us to do to see where we are in Jesus.  Are we in the word or is the word in us?  And finally come to a true definition of cool.  Cool is knowing Jesus.  If you were cool back then, trends change, Jesus never does.  Religion goes in and out of style, love never does.  It is perfection and doesn’t need to change, we do.  Yet many Christians choose to be identified by the stickers on their cars, where they go to church, or only listening to Christian music, all stations set to a Christian station on their radio.   But deep down, where the spirit dwells within us, who does your life portray?  Are you a period Christian or in it for life?  Maybe we cannot describe cool, but we can Jesus, and his love for us.  It is in our reactions more than our actions that the gospel goes forth.  Loud pipes may save lives, but they also annoy.  Is your walk with Christ loud pipes annoying others?  Do you show love, or are you still thinking religion instead of Jesus?  Jesus is cool, has been for over 2000 years.  Kings, kingdoms, car and motorcycle companies, and styles have come and gone.  Yet Jesus remains, the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Interesting how society is so in tune with the past, they fear looking ahead.  Cool Christians look ahead with faith, and live today with joy knowing what lies ahead.  So if you were cool back then in Christ, you will be cool in heaven with him forever. 

Nostalgia tells us how it was, Jesus tells us how it is.  All Harley riders want to look bad, all street racers want to look fast, and at car shows a young kid dressed as a hood from the fifties just ain’t making it.  Jesus tells us to be ourselves, in him. Maybe the hardest thing we will ever do.  Cool goes way beyond peer pressure, and what we ride or drive, what we wear, or who we hang out with.  American Graffiti asked “where were  you in ‘62”"?”  Jesus asks where will you be eternally?  You see there is cool, and there is way cool....clothes don’t make the man, Jesus makes the man and is the man.  Who makes you will tell us how really cool you are.  The love of Jesus, I may not be able to fully describe it, but I know it when I see it.  I hope to see it in you.  That would be really cool....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Isaiah 29:13

13 The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth
    and honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
    is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

living the dream or reality? life happens more than On Any Sunday

To a lot of younger riders I meet today, I am just the old guy who has ridden a million miles and who thinks he has seen it all.  But still each ride shows me something new, just like it does for them.  They fail to look at it through my eyes, as I was once where they were, and the dreams of riding places, meeting people, having a fast bike, with all the goodies was once my dream too.  But looking back my reality has been much better than my dreams, only God can do that, and today the reality of life keeps me still dreaming.  There are still more roads, more bikes to ride, and less time now to do it all in.  But one trip back to Cycle Guide magazine, the May of 1980 issue reminds me of how far we have come, how far I have been, how far I still have to go, and rekindles the old dreams again.  The bottom line is I want to get out and ride more, and last week an 1800 mile ride confirmed that.  Back in 1980, that was still a dream....

I owned a 1981 KZ750 like the one on the cover, a superbike at the time, lightweight and running a 12.50 quarter mile.  Bragging rights if you will.  All for $2749 1980 dollars.  The ads again made me think of the dreams, a Windjammer fairing for touring, a big deal back then, as any bike was a touring bike when you added one.  Ads for Alphabet, Hooker, Kerker, Yoshimura, and Jardine headers.  Kawasaki bragging on bringing fuel injection to two wheels, the Vetter Mystery ship revealed on page 36, never saw one on the road.  An article rating motorcycle movies, giving The Wild One only two helmets, we were years away from Harley rewriting marketing and making us all want to be bad.  Bikers were yet to be born for the mainstream rider.  At least Easy Rider and On Any Sunday gained 4 stars!  CHiPs was still prime time, Fonzi rode a Triumph, so did James Brolin on Marcus Welby, MD. and Evel Knievel wasn’t evil, just a fad.  An article on tires never mentioned radials, still 20 years away from everyday use.  Names like Roberts, Springsteen, and Eklund raced at the Astrodome, on the dirt.  Porsche was developing a motor for Harley Davidson, they were still owned by AMF, the Japanese owned motorcycling, BMW’s meant touring, and it was all new and exciting.  The common bond was we all rode, and the breakdown of types of rides was still far away.  Today it divides us, when we need to go back and remember when the fact we rode was more important than what we rode.  And each month we waited for the next issues of Cycle, Cycle Guide, Cycle World, and Road Rider to keep us dreaming.  Only Cycle World remains today....but it seems we have lost more than just the publications, we have lost the brotherhood and dreams it once met.  Now we see groups of Harley riders, Indian riders, Wing nuts or ADV riders, back then I had a Kawi, David rode a Yamaha, Brett and George rode Hondas, and we all got along.  Sadly no one rode BSA’s, Indians, or Triumphs any more, but Triumph would be back, and so is Indian.  The dreams were rekindled and kept alive, maybe this is the good old days after all. 

One thing we needed then, and still do today is we need each other.  Works for riding, it also works for the body of Christ.  Jesus taught us two things in the New Testament, you cannot say “I don’t need you,” and the second is “you don’t need me.”  God set us up as a body who needs each other, and when we realize that, the church, us becomes a vital, living, breathing, and growing body.  We all play a part in God’s kingdom, and none of us should be set apart from it.  Today as always, the ministry of the church belongs to the whole congregation, not just the pastors and staff.  Each one of us is called to be an ambassador of Christ, to bring light and hope into the dark world, to be the Bible they may never read, to be the one who goes out to them, like Jesus did to us.  Inviting someone to church is not evangelism, yet church habits over the years have taught us the pastors are the only ones who can counsel, they are the only ones who can teach, and minister to the hurting.  These are not signs of a healthy church, yet it is talked about, many times from a man hiding behind a pulpit who couldn’t get out and do it, so he doesn’t encourage his flock.  God has given us the privilege of going out and being sharing the gospel wherever we are.  Mention the church, and we think of the building, not those in it.  Jesus saw it differently, and still does.

If your church does not encourage you, it is lacking and may be sick spiritually.  That ought to annoy many, but when we each get out and start to minister, like mentioned in Matthew 25, life becomes exciting, worthwhile,and we see the holy spirit in action.  Life takes on a new insight, as we represent Jesus Christ and not the church.  Do not confuse the two, we need to be guided by the spirit, and should be encouraged from our pastors and his staff.  If not....it has become more important of what we ride than the fact we ride.  The brotherhood we should share becomes splintered, and soon we lose the desire.  Maybe a trip through 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 will give you insight, but then it is up to you as to ride or not, to serve Jesus or not, or be stuck in church wondering what all the excitement is about.  We need each other, but we need the holy spirit to bind us together, to give us the dreams and see them into reality.  In my wildest dreams I never thought I would ride press bikes for Triumph, or ride over 1 million miles, but I do both, and still get excited.  I never thought I would teach Bible concepts and minster to the poor, indigent, and those in jail.  But God did and his spirit inspired me and still does today.  I could not imagine not doing either.  Many cannot see me doing either!   But in Christ-WOW!

The gift of ministry belongs to all who are saved.  We need each other, as I was reminded again when we got back.  I needed a bed, someone called with one.  We need clothes, a couple who has a ministry to the poor supplies all we need.  A large church who distributes food supplies it for us, we get to see those hungry being fed, those naked being clothed, and Jesus at work.  And see them now getting out and doing the same for others, encouraging those who need it, see the Bible come alive, experiencing Jesus, not just learning about him.  Their reality surpassing any dreams they might have had.  Only Jesus can do that!

God has not forgotten about you, have you forgotten about him?  In 1980 motorcycling was different, have we changed or did it?  Still dreaming when you could be out riding?  If your life was a training film for motorcycling, would you watch it?  Would it make you want to ride?  The ads of our youth did, now ask yourself about Jesus, and a movie of him in your life.  What does it tell others?  Would you watch it?  Would it make anyone who did want Jesus?  You cannot teach experience, you can teach about Jesus, but there is nothing like his experience.  Jimi Hendrix once asked “have you ever been  experienced?”  Well have you?  Well, I have.....and the education will never compare to the application.  Or the experience.  Living the dream?  There is nothing like the reality of Christ in your life.  Your ministry is just waiting to begin!

love with compassion,

Mike

mattehw25biker.blogspot.com