you never forget your first Sting-Ray

Mu first Sting-Ray was a 1965, Flamboyant Lime, with a white seat, and racing slick.  Probably the best $49.95 my Grandma ever spent on me.  No I’m not talking cars, I was 11 at the time, I’m talking bicycles, Schwinn’s to be exact, and the hottest bike any kid could have, the Sting-Ray!  A 20” bike frame, with no fenders, chrome wheels, high handle bars, apes if you prefer, and that wonderful long and narrow seat.  And a real racing slick!  After markets and imitators would call it a banana seat, but it was original to the Sting-Ray, and I had one, how cool was that?  I can remember riding it home all the way home from Bud’s Cycle Center in downtown Scotch Plains, buying local, as both he and Jay’s Cycle Center a few miles the other way competed for our business.  I could hardly wait to get out of the showroom to ride it, my sister got the girl’s version in purple with the white whicker basket, but mine was the real thing!  I probably never pedaled as fast as I couldn’t wait to show all my friends I wasn’t just bragging, now I really had one!  And showing up at school the next morning would have me all the envy of Shackamaxon Elementary, event the sixth graders would have to respect me now.  If only my parents would have let me sleep in the garage that night, or bring it up into my room....

Now I must admit showing it off was cool, but riding it was even better.  With that slick out back, not just a tire with no tread, but a real racing slick, you could do the best skid ever.  No English racer or regular bike could leave a footprint like the Sting-Ray did, and many a rear Schwinn approved slick was replaced.  Even better was when they did a chip and seal on my street, and you could slide sideways forever on the tiny gravel.  Hours of fun that my parents and the neighbors never understood, oh for just one afternoon again to be that kid.  But as a stripped down bike, it left room for customizing, and soon three speeds, white walled tires, and different seat covers appeared, I even put a plush tiger striped seat on mine, ruined after the first washing, and the guy at R&S wouldn’t give me my money back.  But soon junior high arrived, and suddenly small bikes were out, and I sold it to Mr. Gwas, my typing teacher for $10.  But the Sting-Ray had left a mark on me....

So I did the next best thing, I took off the fenders, and replaced the handlebars on my old Typhoon, the one I used to deliver papers on, baskets not needed, and added apes to it, even ditching the chain guard.  A big guy’s Sting-Ray, where you could ride a friend on the handlebars and another on the bar between the seat and fork, sounds dangerous, but we never crashed, but somehow the skids were never quite the same.  Soon these appeared everywhere as we got too old to ride bikes, but I never forgot my first Sting-Ray, and all the fun I had with it.  Maybe an afternoon with a newly chip and sealed road, with time left over to pick the little gravel pieces out of my shins....

Soon it would be ten speed English racers, more speed but never the cool.  Shifting gears to aid in pedaling, but never the same rush.  We had grown up, yet we were still kids at heart.  Soon it would be motorcycles, a twist of the throttle giving us the rush our pedaling used to, and more power, which meant more speed, which meant bigger skids.  Which usually meant a panic stop, hopefully not meaning an accident. It seems two wheels have always been in my blood, with a natural progression to my Street Triple R today.  Which in many ways reminds me of my Sting-Ray.  It too is light with no extra frills, built with a purpose to go fast and handle well.  To be seen and admired by those who ride, like when pulling into Fun Bike a few weeks ago for a Kawasaki demo ride, every head turned to look when I rode in.  Like the Sting-Ray of my youth, they knew what I had.  But do we always know just what we have?  Or do we succumb to Madison Avenue and the need for better and bigger?  New and improved!  Feeding our egos and emptying our wallets.  Seems no matter the age, we never grow up or out of wanting things, and there is always a newer, if not better way to go.  Over the years I have owned bikes that I promised to never part with, now I look back and wondered why, seems the emotion was greater than the owning.  The joy of never parting being replaced by the new one I would never sell.  But we also hide away hurts in our hearts, ones we never let go....

Which brings resentment, leading to bitterness, and once that sin is seasoned, it has gone throughout our whole body.  We find ourselves jaundiced and jealous of others, wanting to win the pain game, not caring for others.  Seems we are not alone, and Paul in his letter to Philippians addressed it, causing them to think.  He told them to rejoice, to be gentle,and bring everything to God in prayer.  Why do the easiest and correct actions seem so hard in our lowest times?  But it at these times God is still available, and Jesus is standing by, not on you, to assist.  He knows you are hurting, and often so do your friends and family, so why don’t we turn to him?  Can it be our pride or finding solace in our pain?  Jesus offers relief, and we can fill our minds with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy, so that we can keep his peace in our thoughts.  Only God can transform the heart as well as the mind, in an ongoing process.  We may have won the war over sin in Christ Jesus, but everyday we are told we work out our salvation.  Not to be saved again, but to deal with problems and sin that have come between us and God.  And they will and do....

I was so grateful to my Grandma for the Sting-Ray I could never thank her enough, so I tried to make her happy by things I did, so she would be proud of me.  We can never thank God enough for what he has done in Jesus, but we can have the mind set to make him happy and to show how he has changed our lives.  With my new Sting-Ray it was all abut the bike making me cool, now I want to reflect Jesus in my life and how he has made me cool.  How he is the reason for my joy, and the only thing I will never sell or replace.  When we share in God’s grace we go deeper in him, and our fellowship grows.  Our weaknesses will continue, but as they do his grace is made perfect.  We can encourage others to go deeper in Jesus, and to pray more and rejoice more, not just pray in hard times.  He likes to hear about our good times too!

The times of Sting-Rays and skidding is behind me.  But riding isn’t and knowing Jesus has brought me more joy in doing it.  But it has also taught me meekness, power under control, all that power is useless until it gets to the ground.  You don’t ever have to grow up to grow in Christ, he welcomes the children, who are trusting.  The ones who are skidding out of control, or riding on the handlebars.   Lots of prayers were offered on those rides, a thrill a second.  Sounds like the way I live in Jesus.....seems when rejoicing I have little time for trouble.  Or fears, or turmoil.  So rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.  In the Lord....on the street, sliding sideways, giggling all the way never wanting the times to stop.  You know, we just may be onto something here...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

three BMW's in 90 days

Three of the first four motorcycles I ever owned were BMW’s.  My first one a 1972 R60/5, bought new at Malcolm Forbes dealership,where if you paid cash, they paid the tax.  $1600 of paper route money, and the proceeds from selling my Honda 350, and I was riding.  A bigger bike but with no more speed potential than the Honda.  But it said BMW on the tank...and it would be the first bike I put 10,000 miles on, stopping at just over 14,000 after riding it to Florida from Jersey, when a car made a turn from the right lane, and I was in the left.  Both bike and I were fixable, but with insurance money traded it off for the new 900cc BMW’s, at just under $3000 when $1875 would have bought a Z-1.  But I was hooked on BMW, and after healing up enough to ride without the cast on my left wrist, it became my daily driver for four days.  Sitting at a light, a drunk hit me from behind, the last thing I remember laying in the ditch was 10ww10791, his license plate number.  I later that night woke up on a rotisserie in the ER, unable to use my legs, which came back, but the pain and symptoms would last for years.  This time the 400 mile new BMW didn’t make it, anything rear of me on the bike was crushed, including pushing the driveshaft into the engine.  But I was determined, and with my father’s urging, paid cash from the insurance money and $3430 later, I owned the ultimate BMW, the 1974 R90S.  In just a 90 day period, I had totaled two BMW’s, paid cash for two new 900cc bikes, and ended up with the R90S.  Never in my wildest dreams.....but the BMW nightmare would continue.

At 16,607 miles the Wildman was sitting on it, pushed the starter and the engine came apart.  So much for the ultimate motorcycle, but after having it rebuilt by the importer, where someone had tried to steal the motor, I rode it to New Mexico, and sold it to a girl, with 46,000 miles on it in two years.  Confined to lesser bikes for a year, I again succumbed to the sirens singing the praise of BMW, who talked me into a 1977 R100S, which lasted for a year, until you guessed it, both rods came off the crank.  That was it, no more BMW’s for me, between accidents and lousy quality I had had it.  Sadly I missed them for awhile, when they ran they were great bikes, but I had gotten used to getting to where I was going, and BMW didn’t make it for me.  So when people brag about their BMW bikes, I have my story to tell, and I’m sticking by it.  I’ve owned a total of five, the allure is gone, but still I find myself cruising Craigslist for a 1974 R90S, mostly in vain, seems the restorers have taken liberty in how they were, 1974 was a unique year, and they have gotten too expensive.  But for just one more afternoon, on some nice back roads, with my AAA card in hand, I would love to take one for a ride.  Seems we can hide the scars, but still never forget the injuries....

Now I never really bragged about owning BMW’s, like Pearl sang about making amends because all her friends drove Porsches, all my friends rode Hondas or Kawasakis.  Out performed and over spent, I never really intended to one up them, or be one upped either.  I rode motorcycles, and the brand was secondary, riding was first.  But over the years motorcycling became more important than the motorcycle, with all aspects of riding playing a part.  With over one million two wheeled miles behind me, I find motorcycling can be more fun than just owning a motorcycle.  When a man was bragging the other day about owning a new Harley on the 96 month plan, I asked him where he had ridden it, or before he had it.  Ride it?  He was an owner, and even he knew the difference, and if his gas tank needed to be filled more than once a month, well you know the story.  But yet he could park among us and pretend to be one of us, until he opened his mouth.  He never got the freedom we find in riding, the excitement  of riding, or crossing time zones for lunch.  Which reminds me of many church folk who claim to have Jesus, having all the rights of being a Christian, yet never experiencing him.  Is it possible we can be rich in religion but poor in Jesus?

Godliness with contentment is great gain, there I quoted 1Timothy 6:6.  But how many of us are really content in Christ?  We say we trust God, but do are actions follow our words?  Or betray them.  As I used to watch the rows of BMW’s and Mercedes Benz line the first row at church, I wondered how many had fallen into the trap of riches.  Over dressed women, adorned in diamonds and gold, the secret competition between other women not so secret.  The men bragging always on what they had accomplished, but very little of Jesus included. With one instance of a man donating a huge sum of money publicly, but wishing to do it anonymously.  We are still part of a society that brags on us and the things we have accumulated, but give little credit to God.  Yet Jesus tells us to be content, that Godliness is better, how many would take the risk?  We even hear money is the root of all evil, when the love of money, not money is.  Being rich is not a sin, but without Godliness, we all suffer, no matter our FICO score or what we ride.  Many wander from the faith and end up miserable because of this, some to the point of making Jesus sick, throwing up the lukewarm.  But Jesus provides the antidote, being rich towards God.  My Nana used to say once she had money, she would give more to the church, but God asks for more than money.  Many tithe bitterly never getting the blessing, some think of giving only in terms of money, never donating time or opening their home to guests.  Based on money alone, we are all poor givers, so God gives us other ways.  Ways we cannot brag about ourselves and are often unseen.  But God sees them....and that is what really counts.  It is what comes out of a man that counts more than what goes into him.  Being rich towards God reflects the heart towards his creation, man, and is manifest in the fruit of the spirit in our lives.  And we won’t want to love anonymously, but to give Jesus all the credit, as it says, “in all things give him the preeminence.”  All things, both BMW and other.

I find the more I rejoice in what he has given me the less I covet.  I ride in Christ rather than just belong to a church.  I can embrace all aspects of being a Christian based on what Jesus did and who he is, and not depending on me.  Looking back it sounded cool to say I rode a BMW, it was all about me.  But today telling others all about Jesus and how he changed my life has given my life importance.  Models change every year, he never does.  The old air cooled BMW’s went out of style, God’s love never does.  Inflation changes the value of our money, there is no price you can pay to have God love you more.  Some wander from the faith due to riches, some never embrace it.  The man who dies with the most toys doesn’t win, he still dies.  I could brag I had three BMW’s in 90 days, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.  Embrace all God has given you today, for the things seen are temporal, the things not seen are eternal.  And if I have to explain, you probably wouldn’t understand....or ride a motorcycle.

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

the night the light came on in Del Mar

I was in between jobs when I was introduced to a man who was starting a business and needed people like me.  What I needed was a paycheck, what he got was  more than he bargained for.  His business plan was to set up an Angie’s List type of referral business, this was before Angie’s List and when the Internet was brand new.  He had a group of people who were part of his team as he called them, and I was hired on, under the condition that when his funding came through, which was said to be in process, I would get my back pay.  It all sounded good, or maybe too good, so I joined his team, and attended three meetings of them, even having one at my house.  But all didn’t seem to be what it seemed to be, but being the new kid, I played along.  Even becoming a key player in many areas, which would eventually include his funding.  The first meeting was at a lady’s house for breakfast and updates, which all sounded optimistic, and a lot of excitement filled the room.  I mostly sat and listened, never a bad thing, and all were very cordial to me, until one guy asked me “how much you in for?”  My reply stunned him, as I said I was hired, waiting for the funding, everyone else there was an investor.  Suddenly I was the odd man out, as it soon filled the room I had invested no money.  Anyone with common sense would have left, I needed a job, or rather a paycheck, which now I became suspicious of. 

The second meeting all were agreeable to me, seems my ideas were insightful, and I was gaining a reputation for getting things done.  Again the light should have gone on, as the so called sales manager already had his new Mercedes picked out, others were planning vacations on the new found profits, and a lot of talk of when and how much filled the room.  I may only be an employee, but was gaining respect, which opened up the door to the final meeting.  The night that the light came on in Del Mar....

It seems this group of investors was part of a wealth gaining club, which had not been explained to me.  For a fee, a large fee, they were shown how to plan their dream, and see it through to completion.  At the Del Mar Hilton the final night was about to take place, and this world renowned money and business expert was to speak.  But not being a member, I could not attend the dinner or the business meeting afterwards, but would I like to meet this celebrated man in his room before?  The top five men in the wealth club would be there, as would the officers in this new business, and of course this financial guru, who would meet with all of us privately.  It was like going to meet the Wizard, and no one had seen behind his curtain yet. 

This business plan was based on business categories from a free paper, that sold services and and goods, a pre-Craigslist.  Based on the figures, based on the types of business, there were almost three million potential customers, and as the guru studied the plan for the first time, he thought it brilliant, praised the group, and gave them, us, his blessing.  Any questions.....as they all had none, seems they had heard how great they were, and it was on to the roast beef dinner and be recognized at the ceremonies to follow.  But sitting doing the math, I asked a few questions.  One-how many businesses does it take to make this work?  Answer-a potential three million, then I asked “how many people live in San Diego?”  The guru turning to the sales manager asked, who replied 1.5 million.  It would take more businesses than there were people in Sand Diego to make it work!  The light had gone on in Del Mar, the guru exposed, seems he was a self celebrated expert, who sold his books for a premium price at these events, and had fallen into the trap I had unknowingly set.  Exposed he started to leave, silently, but instead the group turned on me, I was the bad guy for exposing the truth and ruining all their dreams. No new Mercedes, no luxurious vacations, and now no recognition at the dinner.  The light had been turned on, but instead of the rats scattering, they turned on me.  I left and never heard from any of them again.  Rather than being set free by the truth, they chose to believe the lie, not wanting to let go of their greedy dream, or face reality.  As l walked out past the dining room with all the shiny dinnerware, I wondered how many had given over their dreams for a lie, and how this group of men would go on.  But I really wondered what would become of this false prophet of wealth.....and where his next victims would encounter him.

It has been over twenty yeas since that night, and I still can see the look on the false prophets face.  Men duped by their own greed, unwilling to admit their sin and repent.  They had been shown the truth, yet followed the lie anyway.  Somehow the words of Stephen as he was stoned filled my ears.  “Do not hold this against them Lord, they know not what they do.”  A wonderful insight even in his final moments, clinging to Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life.  How different the faith of him was than the faith of those who opposed him.  He saw the truth, and knew the truth, and still prayed for his enemies.  How many of us would react the same way?  I wish I could say I would, but I hope I never am confronted as such, seems what we believe in and the depth of it can have deadly results.  Yet we find that someday we all will stand before God and be accountable for our actions.  That ought to scare a few of us, but knowing Jesus can lead us to the truth, he took our place.  When called, we will be found not guilty of our sins, but still accountable for our actions after our salvation.  Like the parable of the seeds, what do we do with our life after we meet Jesus?  Do we hide him away, or throw him to the wind?  Some seed on rocky ground never grew, some was overtaken by weeds, and some got the nourishment and grew into a strong flower.  Our lives, our fruit will either bear out the spirit of God, or the spirit of our own deception.  Be careful how you choose, for even Satan can appear as an angel of light.  And without testing, we may never know him.  That night was a test for me and the others, they made their decision and I made mine.  In the face of adversity, I stood by the truth and was set free.  The others chose and were still in bondage.  Sin will do that to you.  But only in Christ will you be set free.

Stephen knew that, and many other examples are given in scripture.  We all know of such people or may even be one.  Only by being tested will our true spirit be revealed, and it will only be our decision on how, or who to choose.  Only in Jesus can we find trust, he broke all the shackles on us, even the invisible ones that weigh us down.  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” he says, “then all other things will be added unto you.”  God greeted Stephen with open arms, his momentary pain replaced by joy and heaven, while the crowd looked for their next victim.  Going after the weak ones in faith, those who choose not to believe.  Even the demons believe in Jesus and quake at his name, but have no chance of redemption.  But we do....

So when the light goes on, where will you be?  Our God Reigns, not resigns, and Jesus wants to forgive us all today, to welcome us into his kingdom.  Where we find real wealth and our wildest dreams will pale by what he has for us.  “For eye has not seen, nor ear heard, no mind imagined the kingdom of God.”  Whatever you think it to be, it will be better.  One night the light went on in Del Mar, and some chose run to it instead of from it.  Like the man in Ecclesiastes 7, the rich man will never have enough and loses sleep worrying about it.  Making wealth to leave to others and never enjoying it.  The crowd that stoned Stephen showed no mercy, but now you know the truth and have been set free.  No more excuses.....for we know what we do.  So does God.....and we can still look to heaven and see the face of God calling to us.  See you at the celebration!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

one afternoon in Ohio

On a cool spring day the sun felt good on my back.  I was an hour away, or so I thought from my motel, but over the horizon I could see the darkness.  Even in the rolling hills of Ohio storms can move fast, faster than I was riding, and soon, even though blinded by the sun in my mirrors, I was riding in the dark.  Then the rains came in buckets, where is an exit when you need one?  Finding one I got off quick, only to find a Mazda hood deep in the rain, it had been raining and I had entered into a flash flood.  So without stopping, I rode through the water, up to the Triumph lettering on my Tiger’s tank, not the smartest thing, and then once on dry ground, as in not under water, pulled into the first gas station I could with an overhang.  Just as wet in my rain suit as I was outside of it.  Now motorcycles must be a strange sight in this part of Ohio, as all eyes were on me, couldn’t be my appearance or the rain, could it, which now was only a soft downpour.  But while filling up, a loud boom from an explosion shook the building, lightning had hit the bowling alley just 200 feet away!  And I was worried about the rain?  I had never seen the rain coming, now I certainly wasn’t expecting lightning!  Suddenly the safety of a gas station in a lightning storm was the worst place to be, but I stayed there as the fire engines raced by within a few feet to respond to the fire.  When James Taylor wrote “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain,” I bet he never saw it from the seat of a motorcycle in Ohio!  Which would be hard to explain a few minutes later, when the sun broke out again....even the lady at the motel was wondering why I would be wearing a rain suit on such a nice day.  Which made me wonder too....

Scripture tells us the rain falls on the just and the unjust.  Those who ride are not exempt.  I blamed the sudden change in weather on being in Ohio, living in So Cal we are not used to rain, there it is a way of life.  But sometimes I underestimate God, thinking he only gives me what I want, as in no problems, sunny days with dry roads, and enough time and money to ride them.  Yet some days that Yellow Brick road doesn’t lead to Oz, but the odd.  And it can happen when you aren’t riding.  Ask one Joseph, who through no fault of his own, was sold into slavery by his loving brothers at age 17, ending up in the Pharaoh’s house, and for 13 years served there, until Mrs. Pharaoh had the hots for him.  Sounds like the Clinton White House.  Ending up jailed on false charges when he refused her, he had to think at times “what the heck is going on?”  Ever have a day like Joseph?  But God had put him where he wanted him to be, and soon he was in charge of food distribution under the Pharaoh, seems you cannot keep a good man of God down.  And the irony was when his brothers fled to Egypt for food during the famine, they had to deal with Joseph, whom they thought was dead and didn’t recognize.  But being gracious to them, after a gold cup incident had them arrested, Joseph was reunited with them, and his father.  Maybe just another Hallmark Channel love story to some, but to God it was all about Jesus.  Say what....

From the beginning it was God’s objective to send Jesus to redeem us, and for thousands of years he was prophesized.  But without Joseph, his lineage would have been interrupted, you see Jesus can trace his lineage through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jacob being Joseph’s dad.  So despite all the objects and turmoil the enemy threw at him, God had everything under control.  Joseph was an intricate part of the plan, and a lesson to all of us of how what the devil would like to be for bad, that God means it for good.  Joseph was right where God wanted him, where his brothers needed him, and what we need today.  We need Jesus....and every route we are on will lead to him.  If we trust God....

So although that day I might have had the sun at my back, I also had the Son of God, the great shepherd, ahead of me.  In the sudden downpour, he was with me, somehow guiding me through deep water I should have stalled or could have drowned in.  I can still see the Mazda with water covering its hood to the windshield.  Where I thought was safe was dangerous, lightning confirming the danger.  And then the rainbow after, and no proof of what had happened.  Lightning can strike at any time, so can flash floods, but so can Jesus.  My few hours of Ohio weather seemed to me like an interruption at first, but in looking back I saw God’s hand on it and me.  Joseph endured decades.  A miss by that much is still a miss.  Yet many dodge lightning their whole life, thinking they are lucky.  When God has everything under control.  Don’t make the same mistake with Jesus.  After the storm passes, what do you remember, who do you give credit for saving you?  Or do you still curse the one who can save because of the rain?  We will all have our moments, I’m glad God is included in mine...

Now we may never be destined for greatness in the eyes of the world, but in God’s eyes we are precious, he plays no favorites.   When the disciples tried to brag on some being better, it was Jesus who set them straight.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  But to those he offers mercy and grace.  If I had known what was ahead I would have taken a detour, but God had my road determined.  A chance to show his love and mercy, to extend his hand to rescue, and show me how close we can come to death, and how he is even closer.  I saw the clouds, but I never saw the flash flood or the lightning striking the bowling alley.  Looking back though, it should have all made sense.  Where else would you expect to find a strike other than a bowling alley....

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com