you can come in but you can't use the bathroom

We’ve all done it so fess up.  Buying a cheaper ticket that is in the high heavens at the ball park, and then moving down to a better seat to watch the game.  Hoping not to get caught and have to move, but increasing the possibility of embarassment or being removed altogether.  Why spend so much when you can wait a few innings and then down, or up?  But we all do it, which is why at concerts the front row seats cost more, and at fights being ringside demands a bigger price.  We all want to be as close to the action as possible, we just don’t want to pay the price.  Steak habits on a Mickey D’s budget.  But being on the inside or up front gives you that special feeling, a sense of importance, and bragging rights-I was there, you weren’t.  So you pays for your ticket and you takes your chances as they say.....

When sponsoring off road teams, the SODA series was just coming to California.  I had made arrangements to sponsor a new team out of Wisconsin, Jack Flannery and his sons, we had never met and done the whole deal over the phone.  They were champions in the series and well known, racing against a pre-NASCAR Jimmie Johnson, and I was looking forward to meeting them.  So up to Glen Helen we went, with my son Andrew and nephew Danny who both loved the races.  Both about 10, the sights, sounds, and smells were too much for little boys, of all ages.  I had met with their crew chief I knew,who got us in for free, and after the first race, we would meet at the pits and be introduced.  Jack won the first heat with is sons right behind, and a huge crowd was loving it.  And they were twenty deep at the pit after the race.  When I called out to Brady, who waved me in....

With the two boys stuck to my side.  He introduced me to Jack and his sons, and Jack immediately tore off a  piece of his fender that was damaged in the race, signed a piece for both, and handed to them.  They could barely say thanks!  After they had a tour while Jack and I talked, they walked through the crowd with their trophies, you cannot imagine how cool they felt, I know how their dad did.  They had got to go behind the scenes, past the barrier, were welcomed and left with a prize that hung on their walls for years.  Knowing someone on the inside got them in, and while others wished they could get a closer look, they went behind the scenes.  They probably remember more about that than the race!

All churches have a set of rules for taking communion.  I once approached a pastor afterwards asking him “why do you tell everyone to be a part of God’s family, to accept Jesus, but then tell them unless they do they cannot take communion at your church?  Judas took it with Jesus, and wasn’t saved?  It’s like you tell them you can come in but you cannot use the bathroom.  Go elsewhere.”  He argued that he used it as an evangelistic tool, I argued it was the spirit’s job to save.   Stuck in his ways, we parted, and it still is a ritual instead of a special time at his church.  Maybe some insight as to another of his writings may help.

When Jesus was on the cross, the earth shook, it got dark, and the veil in the temple, which was said to be three feet thick, was torn from top to bottom.  Previously only the priests could gain entrance, now all men, both Jew and Gentile could through the grace of God, by which we are saved, lest no man should boast.  The Holy of Holies that was behind the curtain and represented the law gave way to grace, and the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Back then it was thousands of rules to obey, much like religion tells us today, but God says different.  He invites all to enter through Jesus Christ, the only way, and you don’t have to nor can you work to gain entrance.  Like knowing the Flannery’s got me in, knowing Jesus gets you in.  With all the benefits, you can take communion alone or at a service, it is personal, and even use the bathroom if needed.  No restraints on grace except those that legalism puts on us.  Which the legalistic will argue, missing out on the entire grace that the spirit offers.  They are the ones behind the barrier of laws, trying to figure out how to get the better seat by working on it, even if it takes sneaking in.  Neglecting that Jesus told them “if you live by the law, if you break one law you have broken them all.”  And you are passing on grace......still have to go?

Bottom line we are saved by grace, all are welcome, and Jesus welcomes you today.  The spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing, John 6:63.  What are you counting on?  It should be a who.  There are lots of free seats still available in heaven, no ticket office can offer them.  Enter into fellowship with Jesus today, sit at the table and eat, and afterwards, grab a magazine, or even a Bible, and head for the head.  Jesus wants you to enter and you can use the bathroom, even the kitchen.  Remember, Judas had the seat of choice at the table that night, and Jesus still called him friend, knowing what he would do.  You don’t have to hold it any longer, come on in!  That day Jack gave a bit of himself to those two boys.  Jesus gives us all, only he saves.  And at today’s prices, that’s a miracle!

Or you could still be just a face in the crowd trying to figure out how to get in......how long can you hold it?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

proper break in procedures

“I am new dual sport bike rider and recently picked up a 2012 800XC ABS. I have a 160 miles on the bike and was told by the sales person at the dealership to not ride at one speed for too long during the initial break in period of 500 miles. Does this mean no 1-2 hour highway trips? Anything else I should consider during the first 500 miles? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks”

On one hot boring afternoon, when Brett and I had nothing to do, we stopped in and visited the local Yamaha shop.  An hour later, after a test ride and a deal I couldn’t refuse, I had a brand new 1985 Yamaha FJ1100!  I had no intention of buying a new bike, but the deal was so good I couldn’t say no, and with Labor Day weekend approaching the  next week, the perfect time for break in miles was provided.  I had the bike, the time, and when a ride is needed I can always find the money, so off to Pennsylvania I went, only 1800 miles away, and took a week off from work.  With stops in Pagosa Springs the first night, getting an early start on tomorrow, then Garden City, Kansas, a small town in the middle of Illinois that has come and gone, and finally Roanoke, Virginia, I had 2000 miles before the first weekend of ownership.  Spending a few days with my grandparents, I was able to get my first oil change at the local dealer, who didn’t understand my first service at 2200 miles, and how I had ridden that far to get it.  But after a quick check, a short visit, and some back east riding, and a rest, I was on the road again.  Taking a different route back, by the time I arrived home in New Mexico, I had 6600 miles on my bike and it was only a week old!  I had observed none of the factory break in procedures, and the bike was finally sold 11 years later with over 76,000 miles on it, running so well and looking so good I got full retail at trade in time.  I hope I get such a deal when I get traded in...

When people ask “what do you do?”  I have to stop and think.  I am retired on a disability, but write 5 devotions a week that are read on 6 continents.  I minister to men and women behind bars, and pastor a small group downtown.  I am an advocate for helping those who need it, and at different levels.  I also ride new motorcycles for Triumph’s press fleet, over 200 in the past ten years.  So I am active despite my physical handicap, I may be weakened, but not weak in Christ. I have broken in so many new bikes I can tell when they break in, I can tell the difference on each bike, and each one is different.  It has been awhile since I bought a new bike, but the last one had only 630 miles on it before heading out on a 7300 mile ride, so I know about the real world of break in experience.  But I also know the real world of being a Christian in a fallen world and how tough it can be. 

I have seen and see how weak I am and how it is a strength in God’s eyes, how he uses me because I need to follow him and not lead.  How when his spirit is alive in me, things get done that I couldn’t do on my own.  Or mess up if I had the strength.  His power is made perfect in my weakness, and Paul has been an inspiration to me in that way.  Consider Paul for a moment, and see how our weakness allows God’s will to live through us.  He was not attractive, although learned.  He would never show up in People magazine, nor be honored on TMZ or even at the UN.  He had no press agent, no gaggle of reporters following him around and misquoting him, and many times he admitted to feeling frustrated and restless, as great disappointment attacked him. He was so open to the leading of the spirit that he was subject to all the pain Jesus felt, and yet was encouraged to go on.  He may have been ready to give up on himself, but he never gave up on Jesus.  And a great testimony of Jesus Christ working in his life was going out, people were saved, healed, converted, and ministered to because of his faithfulness.  His ministry was a success, and he never failed to give God all the credit, his eternal prayer “thanks be to God who gives us the triumph through Jesus Christ.”  Despite personal anguish, he had the confidence in Jesus, that things would turn out good.  God’s good, not our own, but for us, if we can only hang on.  He was broken in the Lord, but never broke.  Out of weakness came the personal manifestation of Jesus Christ, his break in procedure providing him a personal relationship that today many marvel at, and one which we can have too.

For when he wrote in 2 Corinthians about persecuted, and beaten down, losing hope and despairing, he also told us how in doing so he was carrying around the spirit of Jesus in him.  In this world we will have tribulation, put that one in your prayer box, but we will rise above it, in Christ.  Those of us who have seen heartache and despair, who have been broke and broken, lonely and alone, can testify to the greatness of God reaching out to us, and we get to see a deeper side of God than those who live life safe.  My FJ may have only been a week old, but had seen more miles than the average rider saw in a year.   And would see many more miles, it wasn’t babied, it was meant to be ridden, far and fast, so it was only doing what it was designed to do.  Where are you in Jesus?  Are you out doing what he has designed and called you to?  Do you stop and falter when God calls and you encounter danger, or do you lean on him, knowing that if he called you to a mission, he will provide?  He who guides provides, and the end results are blessings.  Not all who are called ride 6000 miles in a week, or go to Africa on a mission.  God puts those in need in front of us every day, as he did with the rich man and Lazarus.  Who have you stepped over today, thinking you are rich, only to find that Lazarus was far richer in Christ?  This past week we saw a national evangelist turn away victims from his church who needed shelter, telling them to have faith.  Would you have?  Would Paul have abandoned them? Or as Jesus does, invite them in, and wash their feet.  Give them rest.  Meet their needs.  This supposedly rich man stepped over thousands of Lazaruses, finally opening his doors to pressure.  His reputation tarnished, as he was exposed for the false gospel he preaches, there is no love of Jesus in him, just a way to better yourself.  Ask yourself, who was the weak one in this situation? 

We may not all get to ride as many miles, but each mile has its own blessings.  And dangers, I need Jesus with me every mile, every day.  My body is weak, but when my spirit is willing, I have all I need.  Adequate is what scripture tells us, not too much, not too little, just enough.  Remember he sent out his disciples with only the money in their pockets, and look at the things they accomplished.  I could have sat home, put on the break in miles and then got a service and then taken the trip, but the time would have passed.  So I rode, as I was supposed to, and was a great blessing to my grandparents.  A special three days we kept secret for years, it was our time together, not to be shared.  But meant to be shared with Jesus, who watched out for me in the heavy rains.  Confirmed by a Pennsylvania State Trooper, who when I stopped to remove my rain suit, told us how across the state, they had their eye on me.  “Hard to hide in a bright yellow rain suit,” they told me.  God had them over me, who is over  you?

Proper break in requires care and feeding.  When the spirit feeds us, we have life, and never hunger.  Every 200 miles I need gas, and then and oil change when I arrived.  But it was God who brought me through safely, and has again and again.  Paul had that confidence in Christ, do you?  One short ride could turn into a long one if you don’t.  Or if you do.....the roads are endless.  Jesus Christ, the proper break in procedure for life. 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

ps-I am getting my 2012 triumph tiger XC abs in a few days driving 1,000 miles to pickup the bike. Not riding it, it will get tied down to the bed of the truck.

Plan on bringing it to a shop to have them do a hard break in. The bike will go on a dyno machine and will run 2-3 heat cycles. Once gently for 10-15 minutes, then cool down for 2-3 hours, then medium speed, then full out the last time followed by an oil change immediately.

I guess the idea is to let the motor break in and the rings to seat. By warming up and cooling down and heat cycling you give the bike a chance. Plus I don't have to worry about getting a speeding ticket.
Or I could take it to Chuckwallarace track this weekend and run it on the track for $165. Not sure what I want to do? The cheapest price I got was $80 for a dyno break in at my local shop and $150 (discounted) from cyclemall, who have a very nice dyno room with natural air.

 

Or you could just go and ride it, which will break it in just fine. No need to overthink this. 

 

southern comfort, circa 1974

I love touring through the south, the people, their easy going nature, the BBQ and sweet tea, and the slower pace of life.   But my first trip to the south, really to Florida, was where I saw my first hint of racism, a big deal after growing up 12 miles from Newark where we had seen the riots in 1967.  But it wasn’t a black and white situation, it was some good old boys Savannah cops that showed it.  BH and I were on our way to Ft. Lauderdale, and I-95 was not completed, you took US or 301 for most of it.  But when entering into Georgia, you took I-16 to intersect with with a completed part of 95, and with no signs, and being in a strange area in the dark, we got lost.  Stopping at a diner, the old railroad car style that were once popular, we talked with two local police about directions, which they readily gave.  So simple we couldn’t get lost, and we didn’t, but we didn’t find I-95 either.  In these post Easy Rider days, long hair and motorcycles were still a bit taboo to many law enforcement officers, and with our New Jersey plates, and our two wheeled ride, they directed us into a ghetto area, a very bad ghetto area.  It reminded me of one night getting lost in Philly, except this was on purpose.  And we ended up down a dead end, rocks thrown, taunted and yelled at, and somehow we managed to escape and find our way.  We had been a source of entertainment and prejudice that night, and 30 years later when going to Savannah, which I love, I still kept my eyes open, and made it a point to know just where I was going.  A far cry today from the south of back then, today we are accepted, and welcomed, 40 years ago it was a different story.  Like the header for Easy Rider, two men had set out to find America and they couldn’t find it anywhere.  At least not what we were looking for.

We don’t like troubles, and rather seek comfort from them.  That night we were scared, lost, and couldn’t trust anyone.  Unsaved, I just thought it was bad luck, now I know different.  Walking with Christ has taught me how to react when trouble comes, and walking with him has taught me to trust.  While some find comfort in drinking, I find my comfort in Jesus.  Still a life full of troubles, but also the comfort that goes with them.  Hopefully my reactions show more of Jesus than my actions that may have got me in trouble, but seeking comfort from him, not from a bottle, ill, or other drug.  You can mask the symptom, that doesn’t solve the problem.

2 Corinthians tells us God will comfort us from all our troubles.  Think of he daily stresses we endure, some self inflicted, some not, and the cures we seek.  Some worry, then get bummed out, then depressed, then give up altogether, blaming God for not answering.  He always does, they just don’t like the answer, so continue to pray, really directing God, or at least trying to get him to do it their way.  Small problems become big, big ones become bigger, and the biggest turn catastrophic.  Over the years I have made it a habit to listen when people publicly pray and can tell where they are in Christ.  How they pray, how they react, and where Jesus is in their lives.  They miss the comfort God promises, the strength found in a personal relationship, and you can tell how deep they are or aren’t.  Also about their teaching and find they are no better off than those who are lost and ask in vain.  “Rescue us, deliver us, make it go away,” they cry out, only to find God doesn’t take us around, but through, leading like the good shepherd he is.  Also finding if they let him lead they may not be in the trouble they are now.  And when God doesn’t instantly change their situation, they get mad, angry, depressed, blame god verbally, and abandon him altogether.  That is not Christianity in action, that is selfishness, vanity, and sin. 

We were foolish to try and find our way in the dark, true we were given bad advice, but if we had studied a map before we would have avoided the trouble.  Says a lot about the lives of many, bad choices turning into bad situations, a life without God.  God is not a wonder drug that makes all the pain go away, but loves us and takes us through the trouble, comforting us, strengthening us, and drawing us closer to him.  Showing compassion.  Telling us that when we are weak, he is strong, and made perfect in our weakness.  He is able in all situations, we aren’t.  The Apostle Paul should know, we should too.  When we trust God in our troubles, we have a testimony to share with others, and can help them get through it.  Our testimony of Jesus in action can encourage and guide those in need, giving them comfort to trust God, instead of bailing on life altogether.  The world doesn’t have Jesus, we do, so why act like they do?  Or are you just playing church until trouble strikes?  Are you following bad doctrine, teaching, and denying Jesus altogether?  God is able to comfort us in all troubles, ALL!  A bottle of Southern Comfort may help you forget, it doesn’t solve anything.  The comfort we seek and need can only come via the holy spirit, and gives peace and joy.  With no after effect of a hangover the next day, where the problem still exists.  We found no southern comfort that night, I do now in Jesus.  Quit searching scripture for an excuse for your sin, get real with Jesus.  Turn to him, repent and listen, then follow.  His directions can be trusted.  We are all not so easy riders in life, we can find comfort in Christ.  So we can comfort others.  Try Jesus today, then pass him on, not up.  Seek good teaching, ask questions, pray and listen for God’s response, then do it.  Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil.  Just a shadow can cause fear.  We can rise above it in the light of Christ.

You can either learn from life’s lessons and hope to make it, or learn from Jesus and be victorious.  Knowing Jesus will not absolve you of trouble, but will allow you to find comfort in it.  Listen to your own prayers, where is Jesus in them?  Then listen, the most important part of prayer, for why ask if you do not want an answer?  Your prayers will tell a lot about who you trust, and who Jesus is in your life.  All things, not just the good, work together for those who love the Lord and are called to his purpose.  His purpose, knowing Jesus.  The spirit is calling, the flesh may answer.  Only Jesus saves....southern comfort like northern and eastern and western comes from the spirit, not from a bottle.  Circa 1974 or today, Jesus is still the answer.  Just remember, I don’t have an accent, y’all do.  Now what is your question? 

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

all I needed was an oil change

 

 I felt bad for the guy ahead of me when turned down for service in St. Louis.  I had called ahead, and they told me they would fit me in, they were busy.  From the looks of things that was no lie, but hearing the guy ahead of me being turned away, my heart sank, I really needed an oil change, and being 1800 miles from home with 3000 more miles ahead of me, I had planned being here.  But when I stepped up and introduced myself, I was greeted with “we were expecting you,” and they took my bike to the back immediately and started on it.  Within 20 minutes they were done, it only took over an hour to get out from there.  Seems the tech wanted to talk, and soon we were the source of conversation, riding all the way from San Diego.  They checked the bike over real good, and going upstairs to pay, an old building built against a hill, with service filling the downstairs, I talked with the older guy behind he counter.  Turns out he was the owner, Carl, and had been around at the dealership bearing his name for almost 50 years.  Donelson’s was an old tradition among Triumph, and as we talked, he had just returned from Australia riding a bike like my Tiger with his wife, he mentioned he knew some men in San Diego, one named Lance who worked at Rocket Cycles.  “Lance sold me my first new Triumph,” and his face lit up, he had sold Lance his first Norton back in the early seventies, we had a connection.  Then he asked if I had seen his museum, a collection of bikes raced over the years, and took me to a corner of he store of limits to the public.  Which absorbed more time than I wanted, but not as much as I had, and when leaving he gave me a t-shirt from his store.  All I needed was an oil change, what I got was a new friend, and personal attention.  Just like I remember back when Lance bought his Norton.

There is no other reason to go to Marne, Iowa than Baxter Cycle.  Stopping in this town of 400, they are not hard to find, and they checked a small leak at an o-ring, and offered to fix it immediately,which I declined, it would make it home just fine, which it did. Almost, for when stopping for an oil change at PJ’s in Albuquerque, the tech saw it, replaced it under warranty, and apologized it took so long, they were washing the bike.  Again all I needed was an oil change!  But while at Baxter’s I met the crew, quite a busy shop that sells a lot of new Triumphs, and is a mover in the old bikes too, as his museum, his back room had over 100 British bikes for sale as old as from the 1930’s.  Not a museum because the bikes were for sale, a trip through the parts department, and an hour later we were shipping home shirts, and made some life long friends.  And I didn’t even need an oil change!

It seems that the smaller, not the mega dealer stores still offer personal service.  Where you can walk through service, are offered a cold drink, and can bench race.  They are always busy, but find the time to take care of you.  From the Triumph store in Metuchen, New Jersey who fit me in unannounced for an oil change, to Team Triumph in Janesville, to Sharer Cycle and Stables in Verona, no longer in business, Lyal passed away, and the dealer in Jackson, Mississippi who offered us a place to cool off on a high humidity day, they all offered hospitality to a weary traveller, and his mount.  Very little money if any ever changed hands, that wasn’t the issue, it was a fellow rider who needed assistance or a break from the heat and they were happy to meet the need.  Their balance sheet is filled with an intangible called satisfied customers, under the sub heading of friends.  An intangible that goes way beyond dollars and makes little sense to the big stores today.  It still comes down to the individuals, of which we are all one at one time or another.  Hopefully you can be greeted as we are and return the favor to others.  Be it ever so humble, there is no place like being made to feel at home when on the road.

In Psalms and Nehemiah both authors ask God to “remember them with favor.”  Not that God will forget, but a inspection to see if I am where I need to be in my walk with Christ.  “Search me oh God,” they ask, do we ever ask the same?  Do we know Jesus so well we dare ask without fear of reprisal?  Do we see the loving and forgiving side of God, or does our sin cause us to remember the down of side of us rejecting him?  We deceive ourselves, God never does, that is all the Psalmist is asking, show me where I need to be and help me get there.

God has placed us at this place in time to be his messengers, his hands and feet, and to be the gospel Jesus wants us to share as we go.  Yet in the floods after Harvey, we see a mega church deny those in need assistance, at one point telling them to have faith.  His sin revealing itself, his false doctrines rising above his words, his actions showing he has no heart for Jesus or us.  All from the view from his $10.5 million mansion.  How many of you don’t go to church because of a bad time there, but who reach out to God?  Jesus took his love to the streets and ministered there, no building could contain his love, and we need to do the same.  Would a junkie feel wanted in your church?  Would you offer him the same as you would a rich man?  Where are those great men of today for the hookers, bikers, those in jail, and those who cannot get out?  With so many spiritually bankrupt people at all financial levels, who is reaching out to them?  God has called us all out to minister to them, do we hear his voice, do we hear his call?  That is what a self examination will do, it will show where we are weak, where we need to be, and what we need to do.  And when empowered by the spirit, God’s will in us will be done!  His will, simple, that we all come to know Jesus.  Maybe all some of us need is an oil change, and some fellowship.  The mega churches deal with the 99, Jesus still goes back for the one who is lost and suffering.  Do you, would you?  Am I welcome in our church, your home?  Would Jesus be welcome?  Or do you neglect those who are the least because they do not measure up to you, when it is you who do not measure up to them, are you the ones spiritually that Jesus referred to as the poor who will always be among us?  The least who needs to be ministered to as Jesus did?  Do you see Jesus in those in need? 

Ministry is simple, meeting a need.  Food, clothing, a cold drink, or even an oil change.  God operates on all levels, for years I have been saying if the church could get behind the biker brotherhood how it would impact the world.  You never know when disaster will hit, homelessness in Houston now reaches through all financial levels, all are wiped out.  No home, no job, no goods.  Nothing to go back to.  Many are calling out to God, are your doors open to help?  Don’t let it take a disaster on this scale to show the love of Christ, no matter how big or how small, Jesus loves us this I know.  To bad one church doesn’t....who will be there when they just need an oil change?  And if let in, please take off your shoes first, don’t want to get that expensive carpet all dirty!

Maybe a good foot washing is in order, starting from the head down, I hear there is lots of water available....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

having a license doesn't mean you know how to drive

The General, General Motors that is, was faced with a problem.  A young attorney by the name of Ralph Nader was crusading against their cars being unsafe, and they didn’t know what to do.  Now whether the Corvair was unsafe is still up for discussion, but rather than deal with the issue brought forth in his famous book “Unsafe at Any Speed,” they put a detective on his trail, to see what they could dig up on him and discredit him personally.  Rather than face the facts that some of their cars could be made better, and institute internal policies to correct them, they attacked the messenger and it exploded in their face.  Due to their mishandling of Nader, instead of reducing him they actually elevated his status, making him one of the premier consumer advocates of all time, and inviting the government into the automobile business.  Never again would the business be the same, as soon seat belts, criteria for brakes and safety became government mandated, affecting the styling with 5 mph bumpers, air bags, side door beams, and now the government was in the auto business.  Leading all the way to the eventual bankruptcy of GM by Obama, rather the raping of it.  There are some things the government needs to be involved in, business is not one of them.  General Motors and Detroit, then the world found out what “Hi I’m from the government and I’m here to help” really means.  All because they got busted trying to discredit one man.  The rest is history as they say....

Now I have never met anyone who wants dirty air, or unsafe cars, but we need to be reminded that these are end results.  Talking with a man who attended rehab drug meetings, he found when you put a bunch of druggies together you end up with better connections.  Same with car thieves, but not the same when the government steps in.  We get more rules, more regulations, and soon the problem they set out to fix ends up lost among the rules.  After decades of being warned about drunk driving, 50% of car accidents and those killed in them involve alcohol.  The rules have not changed the drinker who drives.  Following someone yesterday who obviously should not be driving, my friend at first was upset with her, until I reminded him that someone passed her on her driving test.  She may be an idiot, but she had help getting there.  I also watched a man need two lanes to parallel park, and still ended up sideways on the curb,  not in the space.  Supposedly both had licenses to drive, even though they exhibited no signs of knowing how to.

Maybe my own experience will convince you.  I was checking out and found my license had expired, the DMV later sent out notices they had a computer problem and some would not get renewal notices.  Try that one on the CHP, “really officer I do have a license, here is a letter from the DMV stating that,” even Jon and Ponch would have trouble with that one.  But when I took the test after a 7500 mile trip, I failed.  Seems some questions are worded so you have to fail, and if you ride that way may get killed.  When I explained to the DMV woman about my trip, she said “why don’t you sit here, at my desk, and take it again.”  Leaving the test sheet with the correct answers on top for me to see.  Maybe she was the exception of being from the government and wanting to help!  But it still came down to my participation...

When God warns of things not to do in the Bible, they are for  our own good.  When he told the Israelites to not intermingle and marry with those who were their enemies, he told them for their own good.  Those around them worshipped pagan Gods, sacrificed their children to them, and were lewd and had diseases they Jews didn’t have because they had obeyed.  But when they intermarried, and disobeyed the Lord, along with their disobedience they got an attitude and adopted concepts that eventually led to their conquest.  They confused the true God for the pagan ones, and even Solomon, with his 1000 wives, some from pagans, opened the door to civil war.  God knew what he was talking about then, and later when Paul admonished us to not intermarry, that darkness and light have no place together, and soon the light will be overcome by the  darkness.  All cancers start small, some are preventable, but if caught early can be treated.  Same with disobedience and since.  But first we need to recognize it and repent.  We need Jesus, who tells us to turn from our wicked ways, not turn or you will die.  But many still play with fire and end up going down in flames when they didn’t have to.

Just as the government intervenes when we cannot take care of ourselves, bringing more laws and laws to break, if we turn to Christ we can change.  He will effect the change, but first we must realize we are in sin.  And when we do, he is the way out.  It takes Jesus and only Jesus, but I hear too many times “hi I’m from the church and here to help,” meaning well but bringing doctrine and legalism to a place where we need the holy spirit.  They have all the answers, just like I did on my retest, but it didn’t mean I could ride, my trip proved that.  If only we ask “where is Jesus in this situation?” we could avoid the retest, and the penalty.  Getting closer to God all the time!

Love the sinner, but hate the sin.  Easy words to remember afterwards, if only we could practice them first.  One criteria for a mature Christian is accepting responsibility for ourselves, not pointing out sin and attacking the sinner, lest we be attacked.  When told to study to find yourself approved do you approach it like you do a test, to pass, then forget, or is it part of knowing Jesus?  Are you still studying to find a scripture to OK your sin, or do you seek to grow in Christ?  Do you go to church and think that makes you a Christian, or do you know Jesus?  Is your name on a membership list to prove  you go to church, or written in the Book of Life proving you know Jesus and are heaven bound upon death?  Are you attacking the accuser like GM did, or facing up to your own sin?  Your sin will find you out, better to find Jesus first.

God’s wisdom is available to all, his practical guidelines and advice ready to be applied.  But only work when you apply it.  We have all been given the same measure of faith, yet some use it while others make excuses.  Faith is the basis of life, and life is for the living.  Better explained while riding rather than to the CHP on the side of the road.  Sin will always have a consequence, God forgives the courts don’t.  You get to choose the judge you will face, only in Jesus Christ will you have an advocate pleading your case.  “Honest officer...” he’s heard them all.  Why not take a chance with God.  Obedience is better than sacrifice.  Forgiveness is better than condemnation.  Life is better than death.  They killed Jesus the messenger, but his message is still true today.  And Nader, he ended up running for President.  “Hi, you’re from where?” makes all the difference in where you are going.  Having a driver’s license doesn’t mean you know how to drive.....just my take on the law.  Maybe Barney Fife’s advice of the first rule is obeying all rules applies here.  Maybe Jed Clampett said it best about the law, “what in tarnation?”  So they  loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly, in an Oldsmobile.  I’ll take grace, I hope you do too. 

love with compassion,

Mike

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