oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood

Every once in a while, usually when things are going my way, I think I’ve got this thing called life figured out.  Then something happens, and derails my train of tranquility, and I am faced with the reality of how much I don’t know, and how much I depend on God.  One day I am excited about the new appliances we are getting-am I getting old and domesticated? The next minute contemplating having to replace my whole downstairs due to the water on the floor from the fridge leaking, it was hooked up wrong, and it flooded.  One minute enjoying the gifts of God the next minute wondering where he is, why did he let this happen?  I have this dream of living happily ever after, it seems the ever after part is farther off more often lately.  And after 24 days of hassling with vendors, installers, people who should be doing their job, insurance companies, and their estimators, today it is finally settled.  We will be getting a new floor, which should make any homeowner happy, but we didn’t want a new floor, we liked the old one.  If we had wanted a new floor, well, I think you get the picture.....

But being patient, or rather impatient, God has brought us through another chapter in our lives.  Because of our flood, I have been able to share the Lord and encourage two men.  One came to checkout the damage for my insurance company, and he poured his heart out about his family, a strong Catholic, he trusts God, but still hurts.  His wife left him and turned his two daughters against him, and it is Christmas time.....the other seeking God, just not knowing it, who serves the homeless, out of compassion, and doesn’t see how Jesus is changing his life, all without him knowing it.  It reunited us with an old friend, who gave us good advice on the floor, which we are taking, and we will have enough money to replace the old countertops.  A new kitchen, paid for by the insurance money, free and clear, all because our floor flooded, because a man didn’t check a valve and it leaked.  And who says the ways of God aren’t mysterious....

Last week I got a letter from a man who is in jail with a brother of mine, who is seeking God, but has a lot of pain in his life.  All he wants is to find peace, drugs and motorcycles didn’t do it, and now has PTSD.  I can associate with that, the PTSD.  Sharing his letter with the group I pastor, they are reaching out to him in love, first in prayer, and then by writing.  They want to encourage him in Christ, they too have a background in drugs, bad decisions, and loneliness.  Add being homeless and hungry without hope, they have been there, and want to reach out to him.  All because an inmate who knows Jesus Christ stood by him when he was hurting, and showed him the love of Jesus.  Heaven will be flooded with ex-sinners, some who did time, and I cannot wait to meet those I have never met, yet have been part of my prisoner ministry.  The letters they send are my paycheck, no amount of money could meet the love and support and encouragement they provide.  And my prisoner ministry all started when my son got arrested...the 2am phone call that shattered my life, but that God had control of all the time.  I don’t get it, but Jesus does, my only hope.  My prayer simple, “oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood.”

Which is why the things of God are mysteries rather than mysterious, and I get excited when he reveals the answers to me.  Job in his testing, found that life is basically a mystery, that we don’t understand.  Oh we try, but our finite minds cannot grasp the infinite love and power of a loving God.  Job’s friends all offer him no prayer, but lay the blame for his situation on sin in his life.  If only he had listened to them, he might not be suffering now.  Yet it is they who suffer, for in Job’s suffering he begins to trust God.  To trust God for and with the answers, and how it will all work out for him.  He is teaching Job that he has purpose and a purpose, why are the most rewarding times with God after a tremendous battle?  If only we could get it before we get into trouble.

Over the years I have met many who have fallen away and paid a price.  But God never abandoned them, and graciously accepted them back.  You see when I pray that I don’t want to be misunderstood, I should be praying that I don’t misunderstand God.  Or the things of God.  That the spirit will guide me in truth, give me comfort, and provide a way when there seems to be no way.  Leaving us with a testimony that others need to hear, and we need to thank him for.  No one wants cancer, to be homeless, to be unemployed, to lose their family, bad choices will win out, or so it may seem.  But God has everything under control, and we win in the end.  He who began a good work in me, will be faithful to complete it.  It is the job of Jesus, not us.  We just need to trust and obey.  Then let God be God, without our help.  Looking back, we didn’t ask for the pain and turmoil, but when we come to the knowledge that it was God’s plan, and accept it as a way to give glory to him, we begin to trust, and we see the finish line getting closer, we see the checkered flag, not the red flag warning.  We are ready when the white flag signals the last lap, and we have the faith to finish.  Jesus hung on the cross for six hours before he proclaimed “it is finished.”  Sin had lost and he had won, and we win too.  That’s the gospel, so easy a sinner can get it. 

You know, somehow I just knew we would end up winning when our kitchen flooded, another mystery solved.  If only I could have understood it from the start.  All things, not just good things, work out for those who love the Lord, and are called to his purpose.  His purpose is knowing Jesus.  It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.  So why is God so misunderstood?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas, everywhere I go

During my tenure at Mercedes Benz I was to learn why they are designed like no other car in the world.  Attention to detail both in design and assembly, along with a rigid system of parts quality, all add up to make a Mercedes Benz motorcar.  From being engineered so that it can be worked on easier, notice I didn’t day easily, to a parts rejection system like no other, some will accept only a few rejects in 10,000,  to Mercedes Benz that will only pass if it is per million.  Built to go at high speeds and sustain them, and to stop from those speeds, too, their ride quality is like other.  Others try to imitate, and can come close, maybe even surpass in some small area, but none compare overall to the Mercedes Benz motorcar.  None.

But as a young service advisor, I noted on the newer cars, that each one had a distinct odor.   Now who doesn’t like to open the door of a new car for that new car smell, and if it has leather, all the better.  But each Mercedes Benz had its own odor, a signature of sorts, never mentioned it until reading about the woman in charge of interior odors in engineering.  They don’t miss a thing, and they had designed a certain fragrance for each model, you need to smell each one to see what I mean, but you could blindfold me and sit me in each car, and I could tell you what model it was, and in some cases what year.  They were that distinct!  Who else but those crafty, hard core, emotionless Germans would dare to do such a thing, and then pull it off.  Way beyond the new car smell, some cars may look like a Mercedes Benz, and some cars may drive like one, but no other car on the road will smell like one. 

Being Christmas time, many seasonal smells permeate the air.  From fresh cut Christmas tree, let your plastic not so fantastic tree do that, to turkey dinner on Christmas, to apple pies baking, and the smell of monkey bread and the cinnamon, it’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas everywhere I go.  The sights and sounds are there, from the Salvation Army bell ringers, to the cash registers ringing up sales, from the sounds of Christmas caroles in stores, note they are not holiday caroles, to the sound of horns in the parking lot, we all know the sounds of Christmas, but I rather concentrate on the smells, the odors, the fragrance of pine, wood fires, and the smells from Theresa’s kitchen.  A certain time of the year that never seems to last long enough, and we never seem to fully realize how much we enjoy it until after it has passed.  It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas, everywhere I go....

I was thinking about God the other day, and how we are made in his image.  We read of how his eyes search the earth to and fro, how he hears our prayers, how he answers them, and how his hand is upon us, but I fail to think about the odor we give off to him.  Better than the smell of a new car leather interior, better than pies and cookies, better than riding past a golf course of fresh cut grass, and even better than the smell of racing castor, we, the saints give off a pleasing aroma to God.  The way we smell can please God who created the whole world, and how things in it smell.  We are a pleasing fragrance of God to those who are dying, our sacrifice can be a pleasing aroma to him, even our daily walk can be a pleasing aroma to God.  And if it pleases God, it should please us.  He accepts us as a pleasing aroma when we come to him, and seek Jesus.  His spirit fills the air, and a certain indescribable aroma captivates it.  Some are drawn to it, others ignore it, but just as the spirit is a pleasing aroma, there is also a smell of death for those that reject Jesus.

God also promises to those that turn against him that their cities will burn with an unholy odor.  That there is a second death, a spiritual one, that reeks of fire and brimstone, the smell of rotting flesh that has no life.  But he also promises us to be a pleasing aroma when we come out of our sin, and join him.  Even to Noah and his family, and us, his descendants, he hated the smell of death, of those he created in his own image and loved, and even though man’s heart is evil from youth, he will never destroy all the living things on the earth again.  So he sent Jesus to make the way....a pleasing aroma to him, to those that find him, yet a sentence of death to those who deny him.  Funny how one smell can be so heavenly, yet so deadly too.

Jesus gave up of himself to be that pleasing aroma, to atone for ours sins.  Maybe a thing to remember this Christmas, as we eat of all the goodies, as we gather together, as we get and give gifts, and as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Religion can give us that new car smell, bit it too wears off, and like the mask Moses wore, soon God’s glory will fade from us.  Only in Jesus will we find the provision of the pleasing aroma that brings heaven into our earthly lives, that is pleasing to God, and every time we open the door to his heart, we are greeted by that new God smell, made perfect in Christ.  Today we can enjoy the soothing aroma of Jesus if we turn to him, if we confess our sins, and proclaim him as savior.  Let the fragrance of life begin anew for those who fell away, a new smell for those that just believed, and a familiar aroma for older saints.  The perfume of God cost Jesus everything, he was engineered like no other man in the world.  Don’t wait until Christmas to eat of his goods, to enjoy the smells.  Eat and smell and enjoy today.  We are new in Christ only once, but his fragrance of life in us never dies. 

Excuse me, I smell something in the kitchen baking....Merry Christmas to you, and all you eat and enjoy.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

is it still a Cordoba if it doesn't have fine Corinthian leather?

I came close a few times, but never have owned a car with the thick velour seats of the 70-80’s.  Can you remember the sofa like padded cushions of the luxury cars at the time, not only in the crushed velour that was at one time popular, but in earth colors, that made them even worse?  A seat you sank into, that looked comfortable, but provided no form of support, and after a few miles became uncomfortable.  Like those big padded motorcycle seats that some buy, claiming they are comfortable, but have a huge decorative button in the middle, after a few miles it feels like a needle, all in the  name of  style.  My cars in the 70’s mostly had vinyl, cold in winter or hot in summer, remember your leg sticking to them in shorts, or that fake looking velour with no nap on it that looked worn after 15 minutes.  Close but never the rich, velvet looking velour that we all wanted, but that was reserved for the moneyed few. 

I sold AMC cars and Jeeps in 1977, the cars still had the seats that folded flat into a bed from the 50’s, the Jeeps had the Levi’s style vinyl, which looked way cool, and was.  We sold more used than new cars, SUV’s weren’t hot yet, and one used car we had was a Cordoba.  A Chrysler Cordoba, the one that made Ricardo Montalban famous for his words “fine Corinthian leather.”  But this one had velour seats, and a few who looked at it lost interest when they spotted it instead of the FCL.  One guy even wondering “is it still a Cordoba if it doesn’t have fine Corinthian leather?”  He may have had a point....

Yet FCL was an option and many out there didn’t have it, as can be attested to today, see one at a car show, most likely velour, which makes the i-diot generation think it is cool.  They obviously never heard old Ricky M. bragging about the FCL in that wonderful accent.  But in all these years of having leather seats in cars, I have never been asked, nor am sure what a Corinthian is, and what makes its leather so desirable.  I have heard of Connolly leather in British cars, MB Tech, their vinyl look like, Morrokide, that GM vinyl from the 60’s that never wore out, but have never seen of a Corinthian.  Any help out there? 

I love the song Silent Night, almost brings tears to my eyes sometimes, but I have always wondered about a person mentioned in it.  One line reads “round yon virgin, mother, and child,” we know Mary is the mother, Jesus is the child, but who or what is a round yon virgin?  I have asked pastors, worship leaders, and now you, what or who is the round yon virgin?  Obviously important enough to be mentioned along with Jesus and Mary, have I misinterpreted words like my friend Bruce did long ago with Paperback Writer, he would sing “take a fast right turn,” and we would laugh.  And so the mystery of the round yon virgin remains to this day....

But also I question the silent night part of that night.  Inns were not like today, no reservation desk, and thousands were on the road for a census.  Mary was with child, and was offered a place in the stable, maybe not even a barn, but an area broken into camp sites, loud, dirty, and with no privacy.  After giving birth, Jesus was laid in a manger, a feeding trough, carved out of stone that animals were fed from, and wrapped in swaddling clothes, strips of cloth the dead were buried in, like a mummy, the same type of clothes he would be buried in prior to his resurrection.  Not the most sanitary, private, or even place for lyrics to a song, but yet I believe all was calm, as God was with them, Emmanuel means God with us.  Even as a newborn, Jesus was still fully God, and full man.  Sleeping in a heavenly peace we cannot imagine, our infinite minds cannot comprehend the things of heaven.  So maybe the lyrics writer is forgiven, perhaps has insight that the congregation doesn’t, maybe something to consider the next time we sing Silent Night.  Surely in God’s eyes, all was well, and all was bright, even in the middle of the night.  His light shining forth in a fallen world, for he is light, in him is found no darkness at all.  Do you believe or are you still wandering, while wondering about his miracle conception and birth?  It takes faith to believe, for God said it, maybe I should lighten up the round yon virgin, whoever they may be.

Yet some seek comfort in religion, philosophy, or riches, and fall short of God’s glory.  They may even sing the songs at Christmas, but the words fall short of reaching their heart and they miss the blessing.  Just a song for the season, and after Christmas the DVD’s are put away until next year.  They are seeking but they are not wise, the wise men knew of a savior, they didn’t expect a child, today wise men still seek him, a baby who came humbly into the world to save us from our sins.  How could a baby born in a stable, wrapped in death clothes, make such a difference in the world?  Is it possible he really is who he said he was?  Or are you like the used car buyer, who wonders, after hearing the ads about rich Corinthian leather?  Can it really a Cordoba without it?  So much was made of it in the ad...

Why do we believe the words in a car ad, yet doubt the words of God, the word of God, who Jesus was?  How many are sitting on a vinyl seat of religion when you can be wrapped in the luxury of the truth?  There are no options when you come home to Jesus, you get it all, only your faith keeps you from all of God’s blessings.  The truth is Jesus is Lord, and science or the world may not care what you believe, but Jesus does.  All the world celebrates a holiday this time of year, the Jews Hannakuh, and Christians Christmas, the day of Christ.  Even those who don’t believe like to get gifts, and some even give, but where is Christ in your Christmas?  In your heart?  Is it really Christmas without Jesus?  One last thing for those who doubt the time of year....

We celebrate Christmas in December, the 25th, yet history records Jesus physical birth as sometime in September, it was around Yom Kappur, the day of atonement, so they don’t believe based on a calendar date.  But don’t try to outsmart God, the Jews believe life begins at conception, go back nine months from September and you get December, the time of the conception of Jesus, the date when his life began in the womb of a virgin.  His virgin conception.  We get two times to celebrate, and real Christians celebrate him everyday.  We invite you to the party this year, today, consider this an invite to eternity, to the real party, to the real Jesus.  Not an option, you must believe to enter the kingdom of God.  Christmas cannot be Christmas without Jesus, as for fine Corinthian leather.....seems the Corinthians had some strange views on Christianity...don’t you be fooled.  Can it really be Christmas without Jesus?  As for  who was that round yon virgin......

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

apples for the poor and toothless

There is an old tale about four blind men encountering an elephant, and trying to describe it.  One grabs its trunk and says it is like a snake.  Another grabs its leg and describes it as a tree trunk.  Still a third touches its side and describes it as a wall, while the last one grabs his tail, and describes it as a rope.  All men are right in what they felt and described, yet they are all wrong as they only encountered parts of the elephant and never got the whole picture.  A lot of life is like that, we make snap decisions based on a quick encounter, but fail to see the whole picture.  An encounter after church one morning with a nurse tells me how motorcycling is deadly, based on her ER experiences.  Harley guys cruise at the high speed of 65, sport bike guys ride at over 100, and go faster in the curves, yet adventure riders aren’t content until the pavement ends, and the road continues on.  All are the same sport, but each rider sees his ride different. 

Years ago if you wanted the ultimate performance, you rode a liter bike, now you can get the same or better performance from a 600, which coincidentally costs the same as liter bikes of a decade ago.  Metric cruisers try to compete with Harley, Indian has given them a wakeup call, Harley is trying to market a sport bike, and everyone now wants to follow BMW’s lead with their best selling GS 1200.  Trying to predict the next riding trend keeps designers up late, managers looking for trends, and today’s rider wondering what his next new bike will be.  In each case, they are trying to figure out what we want, but really they are more interested in what will sell.  And like the four blind guys and the elephant, each address a part of motorcycling, but somehow never ask the elephant, us how we feel.

Years ago the old dog food story was told, of a company meeting and the new release of a new dog food.  The new ads were shown, the new packaging, and new ad campaign.  The profit picture was shown, and the managers wives were already spending their bonus checks.  The room took on a pep rally atmosphere, until one man asked the question, “what do the dogs think of it?  Have they tried it yet?”  And the room went quiet....No one had thought to ask the dog if he liked it.  Ministry to some people is the same thing, one church has old clothes, so gives them to a second hand store, who then has to throw them out.  Not too many homeless need expensive gowns.  A youth group goes out and gives away apples to the poor, which go uneaten, they never considered their lack of teeth and how the apples cannot be eaten.  It being Christmas season and many toy runs are going on, yet the rest of the year, who cares about these kids?  Many times the ministry we see on the street is like the rich man who stands up in church and gives $1000-anonymously.  All things are good, but not all are productive.  No one took the time to ask the homeless, the motorcycle rider, the dog, or the elephant his point of view, or what he wanted.  Sorta like Job and his friends....

Job’s three friends gave him good advice, but never considered the man and his mental or emotional condition.  In stress and distress, they read his attitude as a man in sin, not a man in misery.  “Job’s misery must be a result of his sin,” and then condemn him, never considering his feelings.  Yet we see a depth to Job in his response to his wife, who is condemned in religion as a bitter and sinful woman, telling her husband to just curse God and die.  But Job’s response gives us real insight to the man, he tells her you are not yourself, you are acting out of character.  He sees deep into her situation, the others are just ready to judge. She too has lost everything....remember that next time your burger comes with onions and you didn’t ask for them.  They give advice, bad here, and go on thinking what a great job they did.  But where is the love.....they never considered God’s character.  How often we react like that to people in distress we have all the answers, we fail to ask the right questions.  Yet many study to find themselves approved, but in reality are looking for loopholes for their sin.  Bragging of God, quoting Jesus, but never knowing him, let alone asking him for guidance.

Like Job’s friends do we consider God in situations?  Do we pray for them, leaving the answer open to the spirit, or do we condemn them in our words?  The book of Job is filled with many prayers, yet they are all his to God, no one else’s.  Which part of the elephant are you grabbing?  A snake or a tree?  Do you ride you Harley on gravel roads, or your adventure bike only on pavement?  A friend of mine spent $7000 to make his Harley go fast, yet never rides over 70.  Another friend has the cleanest leathers, yet his tires have the widest chicken strips.  Some own a motorcycle, some of us ride.  Some are religious, some know Jesus.  Some give advice, some fail to take it.  But in every situation, have we stopped to ask “where is Jesus?”  Not what would Jesus do? if you are a Christian you shouldn’t have to ask, but where is he in this situation?  A test or a punishment.  Even Satan had more insight than Job’s friends, yet many are so busy judging others they fail to see how they misquote scripture when doing it.  Maybe we all just need to go for a ride....

You don’t know what my last phone call was, good or bad.  Yet we are quick to judge, no smile and it’s “what’s his problem?”  When really you are the problem.  So ask God who gives abundantly, including good advice and wisdom.  A good shepherd knows the route he is on, and protects his sheep.  Our great shepherd knows the plans he has for us, for growth, security, and how to deal with danger.  He wants to be part of our lives, and he wants us part of his.  So maybe we need to ask the same question the man at the dog food rally asked, “what does God think of it?”  Have you considered God, or are you acting like a foolish woman?  God knows your character, do you know his?  Or is you relationship with him just another feel good toy run.....if you have to ask, he’ll understand.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

 

across a crowded room

Linda and Diane were friends of mine in high school.  Cute girls who were giggly and boy crazy, but shy, whenever one said hello to them they went to pieces.  They would go to the yearbook, look them up, find where they lived, and cruise by in Linda’s Dad’s Olds 98.  With her Mom driving.  Ducking down in the seat so no one could see as they passed by, sometimes 2-3 times.  We usually hung out in Linda’s basement on Saturdays, and the talk this week was of a new guy who said hi to her named Dave.  Turns out it was a guy I played ball with, “would you like me to introduce you to him?”  And the desperate pleas to not embarrass her were really a yes would you please.  So on one Saturday afternoon, I rode along in the back seat of the 98, big enough to sublet, and we drove past Dave’s house.  Now it was always her dream that the person whose house she drove by would be out, they would see her, have her stop and ask her to visit.  But many drive bys were with them crouched in the seat so they couldn’t be seen just in case that certain someone was outside.  And she would die of embarrassment. And on this particular fall afternoon, Dave was out raking leaves as we drove by.  I called out his name, he responded “hey Mike,” and Linda sank in the seat dying of embarrassment.  I asked her Mom to turn around and go back and stop, and Linda dropped to floor, “take me home!”  I was never invited along for a ride again....

But such was the meeting process as teens, seeing someone across a crowded room, making eye contact, hoping they would notice too, and the relationship began.  Drive bys with your mother optional.  But in some way that is how we are first introduced to Jesus.  We are at a party, or out with a friend, and you see him, something is different about him, and you want to meet him.  You may even be bold enough to say hi, or introduce yourself.  But soon you strike up a conversation, and you are enamored, and you become friends.  You want to find out his likes and dislikes, as being friends you want to please him.  You may even cruise by his place a church, just to see where he lives or hangs out.  But a funny thing begins to happen to you, as you become friends you want to please him, so change your bad habits, you don’t want to embarrass him like you do with others.  Your language and habits change, and soon he offers you to join his family, his inner circle.  And you accept, we call it salvation, and the relationship continues and grows.  You have decided to follow this man wherever he goes, knowing he is the son of God, and his name is Jesus.  And he calls you friend, and wants to be your friend.  No more drive bys, no more wondering, or wandering, you become a child of God, a joint heir with him, and your life has been changed forever.  By this chance meeting....

Which like my ride with Linda that day was no chance.  Long before time God knew what you would need, and how to draw you to him.  What seems like a chance meeting is really part of the plan he has for you, to become part of your life, and you to become part of his.  There may be times you are embarrassed by him, he is so good and your old friends so bad, but he never looks down on them or you.  He listens to them, answers their questions, and wants to be their friend, Lord and savior.  But it is their choice, just like it was yours.  Some will become his friend, some reject him, but no one will ever be the same after meeting him.  If only all your friends were as good a friend as Jesus.

Meeting Jesus is maybe as easy as the song you sang in Sunday School, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  Maybe we are a bit harder, and don’t see our sin, he offers forgiveness and mercy, not pointing out our sin, but showing love.  Our sin finds us out.  Yet many drive by, and keep going, hard for me to figure, since I know him.  But his offer still stands today....

Later when seeing Dave in school, he wondered what I was doing on his side of town.  “Just passing by with a friend,”  Linda might have killed me if I told him.  Don’t let the time with Jesus pass you by, you will die without him.  Be bold in love, guided by his spirit, and when you see that stranger across the crowded room, don’t miss the chance to get to know him.  When we welcome strangers, we are doing what he tells the church to do in Matthew 25, for when we do we are doing unto him.  And some of us are stranger than others.  But one funny thing about Jesus, his love may seem strange at first, but if you miss it you miss out on everything.  It may be just like when Gatsby first saw Daisy across the crowded room, he knew his life would be changed forever.  Jesus meets you where you are, across a crowded room or even crouched down in the front seat.....I call him Lord, he just calls me friend.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com