Smoooth Ride!!!

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is" Romans 12:2

I have a regular therapy session where I am treated for my weekly anxieties. It's an early morning appointment. I schedule it that way so that it doesn’t interfere with work or Julie. My appointment is 6:30 a.m. every Saturday. Fortunately, I'm an early riser and can get up, get dressed, and leave without waking Julie.

As I step into the room where the sessions are held, I have a fresh cup of coffee. A radio is playing some of my favorite music. I've become very familiar with that room. In fact, I can't count the number of sessions that I have had there. I sit down on a favorite short stool that has wheels on it. I grab a clean rag and some spray polish, turn up the music and the session begins! I polish that motorcycle and do preventive maintenance humming along to the music until the third cup of coffee is gone. Therapy is over…Its time for a smoooth ride!

Did you ever notice how much smoother the motorcycle rides when it's all cleaned up and the oil is changed? How many of you have actually taken an old toothbrush to get down into the nooks and crannies of your engine? Ah huh! I'm not alone! You too have had such therapy sessions! Feels good doesn’t it! Doesn't the bike seem to slip through the wind effortlessly after such a session? I don’t know about you, but I've become pretty committed to the discipline of taking good care of my ride because I know that my ride will take good care of me.

Our spiritual life is no different! Oh, you might get by for a while with no spiritual tune up and no spiritual wash and wax job. But I guarantee you that you will loose the optimum performance available to you. And, without that peak performance, you can't effectively navigate life's unpredictable roads, streets, and highways!

You might be saying "Okay Mike, I get the point but where do I start?"

One of my first motorcycles was a used dirt bike. And I mean it was a VERY USED DIRTY BIKE! It didn’t run very well but it was affordable and I was pretty sure that I could fix it up. But where do I start? The first thing I did was to change the oil and the spark plug. Then I spent the afternoon cleaning it all up. With a little bit of care it ran great and of course being the new owner, it also looked pretty darn good to me! You can guess what happened next. I took it for one of the best rides I ever had! I kept that routine up over time and the bike served me well.

The same thing can be applied to your spiritual life. Where do you start? Get the old service manual out…the Bible, and begin with a simple wash job of prayer. Ask the Lord to help you clean up (James 5:16). Next, change the fluid levels of your heart (Luke 6:45) and the ignition of your mind (Romans 12:2). Finally, put on the proper riding gear (Ephesians 6:10-17) and be ready for the ride of a lifetime!

Do you want the good life; the Spirit filled ride of a lifetime? Commit to the regular therapeutic prompting of the Counselor, who is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26)! Trust in Him with all of your heart and He will make your highway smoooth!

Riding with the Spirit!
Mike Swecker

Joy in the Journey

(Yes this is a reprint from ’06 but certainly worth a new look)

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

Springtime is coming. YIPPEE! This means that it won't be long before we are rolling out the motorcycles. Julie and I love to travel. Each year we take a cross-country trip on our motorcycle. The destinations are always awesome. Whether it’s been the Canadian Rockies or the Blue Ridge Parkway, we’ve discovered that the real pleasure is in the moments we spend on the road to the destination and the people we encounter. The joy is in the journey!

However, I have to admit that we didn’t always vacation like this! In fact, in the early years of our marriage, vacation was a destination and never a journey! In fact, I was certain that my wife and three kids appreciated our vacations and particularly my ability to quickly get us from point A to point B so that we could start our vacation. Of course, we would have to slowdown when it was time to eat…sigh! A fast-food drive-thru can really kill your average highway speed! And of course it gets worse when you have to come to a complete stop for the untimely bathroom break...big sigh! My family just didn’t understand how frustrating it was for me to get back on the freeway and come across many of the same slow moving vehicles that I had already passed…I had already watched them disappear in my rearview mirror earlier that day…another sigh!

For me, the vacation obviously began once we reached the planned destination. It was a goal. It needed to be conquered. We needed to get there. I will stupidly report that I have endangered my family by driving straight through from Minnesota to Florida so as to maximize my vacation. I did this single handedly because I didn’t want to risk the chance of my wife falling asleep if she drove…Can you say “DUH!” This type of thinking carried over into my day to day life as well. I realized how driven I had become in my career. I was traveling at well over the posted speed of normality. Often times oblivious to those around me.

Well, with a lot of encouragement from Julie (if you know what I mean), I’ve learned to enjoy the journey. Seriously, I admire Julie’s way of taking time to smell the coffee. Over time I have learned to enjoy the journey. She taught me to get off of the freeway once in a while and enjoy the back roads and small towns and the people. What a discovery!

It's almost an overused statement, but life is also a journey. And how we spend that travel time, how we live, are made up of the moments. These are the moments that should be important to us, because they are important to God. He loves you so much that He sent his Son Jesus to die for you.

Are you traveling beyond the speed limit of life? Are you so single minded with your goals and destinations that you are oblivious to your surroundings? My friend, get off that sterile, hectic freeway of busyness. Take time to smell the coffee and enjoy the rich scenic back roads of life. The joy is in the journey!

Mike Swecker
Hosanna Bikers

THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2008

Yup, its that time of year again. Resolutions and predictions. Resolutions are frequently broken and predictions don't always come true. However, that's not the case with the following top 10 predictions for 2008. A friend sent this to me and they are all 100% true!

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

God whispers in your soul and speaks to your mind. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you. It's your choice: Listen to the whisper, or wait for the brick.

I hope to listen for His whisper and look forward to riding with you in 2008!
Later!
Mike

Summer 2007 – Whatchya Ridin?

Lets jump right into it! Whatcha ridin? You’ve been in these conversations. Get a group of bikers together and one of the first questions that comes up is what brand of motorcycle do you ride? Yup…and the bias bantering begins. However, in the midst of brand diversity, a cool thing happens. A spirit of unity emerges as you swing your leg over the scooter, fire up the engine, and roll out as a group. There is a certain joy and identity in being part of a long line of motorcycles rolling down the highway. There is something about affiliation that creates unity.

My brother Kevin and I do not have the same brand of motorcycle. Yes, we have brotherly brand banter (say that 3 times real fast!) but our affiliation is of course much deeper. We’re brothers by blood. That moves us past affiliation, past association, and into relation! We can count on each other for support and help. In fact, both of us have literally dropped what we were doing to "be there" in a moment's notice for the other! Were brothers! That’s dedication! Webster's definition of dedication is "wholehearted devotion."

John 3:16 is a verse about wholehearted devotion. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Did you know that by believing this, that we have become children of God…This makes us brothers and sisters…co-heirs to an inheritance that you cant imagine! 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can conceive what God has prepared for those who love Him."

So as they say, "Its not what you ride, but who you ride with!" Ride with Jesus!

Photo of the 2 bikes

For the record…Yeah my brother's bike is nice…ahhh…but the one on the right is faster!

Blessings!
Mike Swecker

May 2007 – Deep Secrets

"That is what scriptures mean when they say, 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.' But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (New Living Translation)

Do you remember filling the gas tank of your first bike for the first time? I was so diligent, patient, and careful not to spill gas on the tank. For me that first fill was over 35 years ago. I’m still careful about filling my tank, but it certainly isn’t as big a deal as it once was.

These days being filled with the Holy Spirit has become a very important part of my life just as keeping gas in “The Wing” is important. I’m not sure how spirit fuel is measured but it costs a lot less than $3.07 a gallon, and there is an unlimited supply.

What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit, working in the Spirit, or maybe even touched by the Spirit? I like 1 Corinthians verse 10 to help get my mind around that question. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.

“God’s deep secrets.” God is way way too deep for me, but ya know what? God knows my limitations and he can show me his love in simplistic ways, ways that I can understand. Like riding “The Wing” on a country road and seeing other bikers mixed in the vista view complete with a pure smell of earth freshly turned over by the plow. It’s then when I take my next deep breath do I feel blessed to be alive. To experience my senses and be grateful for friends and small blessings. That is how God’s Spirit can simplify and show me a deep secret. Joy, a God created emotion, an expression of his love for his children.

In the worst of times when colors mean nothing and a smile on your face is as far from possible as the ability to fly. What then? Where is God’s Spirit then? Where is the revelation of deep secrets then? It is there, open your heart. Seek any ye shall find. I read that somewhere.

I know now that during my youth and formative years I was protected from my own stupidity and my free will. Unseen blessings, protective angels, or maybe even by the Holy Spirit touching my mind and giving me a small shot of wisdom just when I needed it most. Could it be that one of God’s deep secret is an open expression of love, and protection for ALL his children?

The Hosanna! Bikers invite you to ride with us, and know the Spirit.

With Joy,
Dan Bohn
Hosanna! Bikers
1982 Honda Gold Wing, Black

April 2007 – Clearly Seeing the Invisible!

It's 9:00 in the morning and 73 degrees outside. The mountain fog is giving way to majestic peaks and vistas. Breakfast and a second cup of coffee were enjoyed at the old roadside café that is disappearing in your rearview mirror. Contentment settles in as you roll down the highway. Your bike resonates with a familiar tone. You pass a road sign that indicates sharp curves "Next 77 miles." Contentment blends into an indescribable anticipation as you downshift into the first curve. Life is good!

Have I connected with you? Friends, Ive motorcycled extensively throughout the Untied States and parts of Canada as well as other places in the world. From dirt biking across the sun soaked Arabian Desert or sport touring through the lush Thailand countryside, the deviating detail of creation was inexpressible! Or how about the distinct beauty of the tranquil; oxygen lean altitudes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains compared to the warm damp splendor of the Florida Everglades at sea level? Amazing. Simply amazing! Big-boom accident? You’ve got to be kidding!

"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20

The splendor of creation allows me to see His invisible qualities. The voice you don’t hear with your ears whispers in my pleasure…His pleasure, and I scarce can take it in!

As you roll out the old scooter this year and take to the highways, consider Gods creation and enjoy the contentment. Let it blend into an indescribable anticipation and you too will clearly see Gods invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature.

See you on the road!
Mike Swecker

January 2007 – Settled In or Still Remodeling?

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:2-3

The bike was put away for the winter and I was standing in the doorway of a partially remodeled room in my home. This unfinished room was becoming the new ministry office I would work out of but I still wasn’t settled into it. I pondered all of the things that I would be involved in from this office and my new vocation. Contemplating the journey that led me here I recalled a moment on a Cursillo weekend in 1988 when I asked Jesus into my life. I would never be the same. I became a new creation. The old was gone and the new had come. I was totally remodeled in one sense but not finished in another. And, I'm still being remodeled daily. As soon as I seem to get settled in, along comes a life event that requires a revamped building plan! Gods building project is an ongoing project in every believer. He gently submits incredible plans for us to consider. Plans that wont harm us but actually prosper us and make us even better! And here is the cool thing. While the Holy Spirit is doing this in us on earth, Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven!

I received the neatest tee shirt from my dad many years ago that reminded me of this. On the shirt is a picture of a large old rugged cross with a note nailed to it. On the note are written these words:

“Gone to see Dad,
We’re fixin’ a place for you.
Be back soon to pick you up!”
Jesus

Any Questions? Are you settled in or is the Carpenter Jesus still working in your life? Is there a personal remodeling project that you need to work on? Can the Carpenter help you? Will you ask Him today?

Back to my office: I was standing in the doorway of the office recalling all that God had done for me. I remembered the story of Joshua when he was near the end of his years. He had gathered all the people together and instructed them to love the Lord their God and be strong in Him and avoid getting settled in with the wrong people and things of this world. Then in Joshua 24:15 he challenged them to “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”

Wow! With that in mind I opened a gallon of white paint that was for the office ceiling and grabbed a paint brush and in big white letters on the hardwood floor in the Cursillo office is painted the rest of that scripture:

“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15

Its time for you to recall the things God has done for you and with His help initiate a personal remodeling program of your own. Jesus has gone to fix a place for you but he’ll be back. In the meantime, He is counting on you!

Standing on the Word of God.
Mike Swecker
Hosanna! Bikers

September 2006 – What's in Your Bible?

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." 2 Tim 3:16-17

Its apparent that I stirred some thoughts with last month's devotional titled "Many Roads Lead to God." One Biker said that it was a little harsh and asked me if that was really in the Bible. Another agreed with me and sent additional scriptures that clearly supported the fundamentals of our faith. Hmmm…What's in your Bible?

Friends, Ive said it before…I believe that the details in my motorcycle manual are true and reliable. I don’t have to understand fuel injection and pistons rods to enjoy the awesome power of the bike. I just have to have faith that they somehow work together. I trust this.

That being said, I have actually studied the manual and am able to tell you how fuel injection and piston rods work together. It's pretty cool how they interact to produce some awesome power! My understanding of the bike has become much richer as a result of studying the manual.

It’s the same with the Bible. It's our manual for life. I believe that the details in my Bible are true and reliable. I don’t have to memorize Jewish festivals or understand the mystery of the Lords Supper to receive and enjoy the power of eternal life. I simply believe that Jesus died and rose again for me. I trust this.

It's pretty obvious where I'm going with this. Yes, my understanding of the Christian life has become much richer as a result of reading the manual, the Bible. Have you had this experience? If not or it's been awhile, why not pick up the Bible today and take it for a test drive. Maybe start with the book of John and move on to the book of Acts. Ask the Lord to enlighten you with His riches and awesome power!

A Bible course that I had taken a couple of years ago asked each person to develop a personal teaching statement on the Bible. Here is mine:

"I believe the Bible is the living and active Word of God, whose very nature is perfect, without error. That being true, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I rely in faith on the final authority and direction of the Bibles so that in all matters, I may conform to God's will in thought, purpose, and action."

What's in your Bible?

Blessings!
Mike Swecker

August 2006 – Many Roads to God

I was sitting around with a group of bikers who were talking about life in general. The conversation turned towards God and heaven. Some felt that there were many ways to get there. Others disagreed and quickly pointed out that there was only one way to God and that was through Jesus Christ. Still others weren't sure either way. The conversation got very interesting. I used to think that here was only one way to the living God. But I was wrong. It doesn’t matter what philosophy, religion or path you take in life, they will indeed lead you to God! Some of you are probably wondering if my motorcycle helmet is a little too tight. So while you are clucking your tongue and before you stop reading, allow me to prove this point by looking at the scriptures in Matthew 25:31-46. (The scriptures are in red. My comments are not).

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

Way Cool! This would be the 2nd coming of the Lord!

32 All the nations will be gathered before him,

The word "nations" in Greek means people! The word "All" in Greek means "ALL." So…you can easily see that it didn’t matter what road you took to get there, ALL people will indeed get to God. However, there is one problem at this point and it’s a BIG problem, an irrevocable one. Jesus is God! And if you didn’t choose and follow him, it's too late to leave early! The scriptures go on to say…

32 and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

What's up with this?

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Very cool! Those of us who believe in, follow, and act like Christ will be blessed with eternal life.

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Very sad! Those who didn’t believe and follow the Way of Christ will be cursed to eternal punishment! It will indeed be too late to leave early…Bummer!

Friends, it’s a no brainer! "Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved." Rom 10:13 There is NO OTHER WAY!

Jesus Said: "I am the way and the truth and the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12

God Loves You!
Mike Swecker
Hosanna Bikers

July 2006 – Planting in Tears

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. — Psalm 126:4-6 (NLT)

Four couples planned the trip for months. We called ourselves the “Kalifornia Kids.” On our way west, we dreamed of winding through the mountains and letting the shear beauty of glacier-clad peaks and plunging valleys take our breath away. Images of alpine meadows, thick forests of hemlocks and cedars, and waterfalls cascading over cliffs into pristine blue lakes filled our imaginations. My husband called it “eye candy.” As our motorcycles slowly meandered through Going-to-the Sun road, the smoky haze in the air grew thicker and it became more difficult to breathe. The panoramic views disappointed as thick black clouds of smoke rose from patches of burning forest and filled the once blue sky. In other areas of the park, baby pines and green vegetation were making a comeback under the charred skeletons of trees from a fire several years earlier.

I didn’t envision breast cancer any more than I envisioned forest fires in Glacier National Park. But God’s amazing ability to restore life was evident in both situations. He can restore a forest after a devastating fire. He can restore health after cancer. He is able to bring good out of any tragedy. Our human tendency is to despair and fall into self-pity in times of crisis. But the Psalmist says if we plant seed during this time of weeping, our tears of sadness can turn into a harvest of joy. If we press into God and reach out to bless others in the midst of our grief, we will receive fruit from the seed we plant. During my darkest times, I found an unexplained comfort in reaching out to others who were suffering. God promises if we don’t get discouraged and plant to please Him, we will reap a harvest of blessing in due time (Galatians 6:9).

Whatever troubles you today, it’s not a permanent condition. And your God is a restoration expert. For hundreds of years, He promised through the prophets to restore His fallen kingdom (Amos 9:11). He fulfilled the promise in Christ’s resurrection (Acts 15:16-17). He removed your sin and restored you to Himself. As a believer, you have been declared righteous so you can know and experience His love and His plan for you (Romans 4:24). Right now, you may doubt both His love and His plan. Your suffering may feel like it will never end. Deep inside, your may feel barren and lifeless, like a forest after a devastating fire. But God promises it will only last a little while (1 Peter 5:10). Very soon, the charred wasteland inside your heart will come to life again. If you trust Him, God will bring more fruit from your suffering than you can imagine. Plant in tears! You’ll be singing for joy when your harvest comes!

Excerpted from:
Grace For Each Hour by Mary J. Nelson (Hosanna! Bikers)
Copyright © 2005; ISBN 0764200240
Published by Bethany House Publishers
Unauthorized duplication prohibited

June 2006 – Do You Have A Reservation?

Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going." Thomas said, "Lord, we don't even know where you are going! How can we know the way?"
John 14:1-5 (Contemporary English Version)

Can you relate to when Thomas said “We don’t even know WHERE you are going, how can we follow?” The poor guy must have felt pretty confused and lost. Imagine a man incredibly dedicated and close to his Lord yet at the same time feeling left behind when his Lord goes somewhere. It bothers me when a lost and confused feeling comes over me. What am I doing? Where am I going with this plan? How did I get myself into this mess? Sure I’m hip to what Thomas was trying to figure out, but what about the here and now?

God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (Contemporary English Version)

God did not give us the spirit of fear; I believe that is something we bring on ourselves. Yes we should be afraid of dangerous circumstances, but we should not fear the future. God is a leader we can trust, he knows the future, and we can have boundless hope each and every day with everything we do. Yes I do backslide from time to time, but 2 Timothy 1:7 brings me back in line. We are not promised freedom from pain, suffering, or hardship, but we are promised a room especially prepared for us.

I trust the route leader of our monthly Sunday biker ride. I trust that the route is thought through and complete. “Thank you ride captains.” With my Christian friends the ride and fellowship is always superb. All I have to do is follow, and I didn’t even know the way. How much more wonderful it is to know the way to my promised room.

With Joy,
Dan Bohn
Hosanna Bikers
1982 Honda Gold Wing, Black

May 2006 – Taking the Final Ride

"...leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." (1 Peter 2:21)

The following short story is from Hosanna Biker Ken Carlson. He and I were talking about our dads and how they influenced our lives. Both of our fathers were bikers in there younger days. I shared a picture of my dad in the Air Force on a '48 Indian. He shared about his dad in World War 2 riding Harley's as a messenger.

Ken's dad has been moved to a hospice care situation and does not have long to live. My dad went home to the Lord a year ago. Ken sent me the following story and it blessed me. I hope it blesses you too! Mike.

Taking the Final Ride
By Ken Carlson in memory of my father.

"You pull out your old worn chaps; it now takes you 5 times as long to get into them as it did 50 years ago. You get your old broken-in jacket out of your closet. You look at all of the patches and pins from yesterday, were you have been. You wonder were all those years have gone. You think of all the friend’s you made over the years. They are all gone now. You are now a solo rider today. Today is different. You wake up, more tired then you have been before, weaker. You know your final ride is coming. As you go to the shed, you notice all the weeds have grown over the driveway. Its takes all your strength to try and pull the doors open. You want to go on this one final ride. You see a light between the cracks in the doors. The light is bright and shinny. It seems to be pulling closer. You try to open the doors, but you still don’t have the strength. Then, all of a sudden the light is real bright. The door opens, you are on your final last ride. The bike is shinny and new. The roads are clear and smooth. You don’t have any pain’s .You feel like you did 50 years ago. All you family and friends are there...your wife, brothers, sister, and parents. You have taken your final ride, to where it all began."

That last ride…what a great trip home that will be! Friends, those of us in the Lord never say goodbye for the last time. People often wonder, "Will I be able to recognize friends and family in heaven?" The Bible points in this direction: David assumed that he would be able to recognize his son in heaven, despite the fact that he died as a baby (2 Samuel 12:23). Also, many people recognized Jesus in his resurrection body (John 20:16, 20; 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7) and the Bible declares that when we arrive in Heaven, we will “be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Yes, what a great final ride!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Cor 2:9

Bless ya,
Mike

April 2006 – Joy in the Journey

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12)

Springtime is here. YIPPEE! This means that it won't be long before we are rolling out the motorcycle. Julie and I love to travel. Each year we take a cross-country trip on our motorcycle. The destinations are always awesome. Whether its been the Canadian Rockies or the Blue Ridge Parkway, we’ve discovered that the real pleasure is in the moments we spend on the road to the destination. The joy is in the journey!

However, I have to admit that we didn’t always vacation like this! In fact, in the early years of our marriage, vacation was a destination and never a journey! In fact, I was certain that my wife and three kids appreciated our vacations and my ability to quickly get us from point A to point B so that we could start our vacation. Of course, we would have to slowdown when it was time to eat. Fast food drive-thrus can really kill your average highway speed. And of course it gets worse when you have to come to a complete stop for the untimely bathroom break. My family just didn’t understand how frustrating it was for me to get back on the freeway and come across many of the same slow moving vehicles that I had already passed…I had already watched them disappear in my rearview mirror earlier that day…sigh!

For me, the vacation obviously began once we reached the planned destination. It was a goal. It needed to be conquered. We needed to get there. I will stupidly report that I have endangered my family by driving straight through from Minnesota to Florida so as to maximize my vacation. I did this single handedly because I didn’t want to risk the chance of my wife falling asleep if she drove. This type of thinking carried over into my day to day life as well. I realized how driven I had become in my career. I was traveling at well over the posted speed of normality. Often times oblivious to those around me.

Well, with a lot of encouragement from Julie (if you know what I mean), I’ve learned to enjoy the journey. Seriously, I admire Julie’s way of taking time to smell the coffee and over time I have learned to enjoy the journey. She taught me to get off of the freeway once in a while and enjoy the back roads and small towns. What a discovery!

Mike Swecker
Hosanna Bikers

Prior 2005 Articles:

October
September
August
July
June
May
April

October 2005 – I've Learned

"I'm absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:38-39 MSG)

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it may be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she handles a rainy day and lost luggage.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

And Ive learned that nothing…nothing…nothing can separate me from the love of God.

"Embrace the peace of God that passes all understanding and guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus!"

September 2005 – A Perfect Statistic

…if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Have you ever noticed that when you are with a group of people and they find out that you ride a motorcycle, they immediately tell you a story of a friend whose cousin's neighbor was hurt or killed on a motorcycle?

Allow me to turn that into a statistic for you. Last year .00017% of the population of the United States perished in a motorcycle accident. That is a very, very, very small percentage.

The Bible supports a statistic that will effect every single person who has ever walked the earth. It’s the perfect statistic. It says, "One out of one person will die." In case you didn’t notice, that percentage is 100%. However, that’s not the end of the story…In fact…the story goes on forever! Each of us will have an eternal existence in one of two places. The following bumper sticker theology begs the question:

Eternity
Smoking or No Smoking

With that in mind, here is some other statistical advice:

1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. Above all else, avoid hospitals.

You will be pleased to learn that only .0001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!

Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.

FOR SAFETY'S SAKE - Attend church and read your Bible ... IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

Later!
Mike Swecker

August 2005 – Smoooth Ride!!!

Our spiritual life is no different! Oh, you might get by for a while with no spiritual tune up and no spiritual wash and wax job. But I guarantee you that you will lose the optimum performance available to you. And, without that peak performance, you can't effectively navigate life's unpredictable roads, streets, and highways!

You might be saying "Okay Mike, I get the point but where do I start?"

One of my first motorcycles was a used dirt bike. And I mean it was a VERY USED DIRTY BIKE! It didn’t run very well but it was affordable and I was pretty sure that I could fix it up. But where do I start? The first thing I did was to change the oil and the spark plug. Then I spent the afternoon cleaning it all up. With a little bit of care, it ran great, and of course being the new owner, it also looked pretty darn good to me! You can guess what happened next. I took it for one of the best rides I ever had! I kept that routine up over time and the bike served me well.

Riding with the Spirit!
Mike Swecker

July 2005 – A Slanted View

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen." (Hebrews 11:1-3 New Living Translation)

It gets my heart pumping, it’s a thrill for me, I find it exhilarating, it is not the sole reason I ride a motorcycle but it’s a good one. I’m talking about curves. Centrifugal force is a friend of mine and on occasion we play a tug of war game. The pull of gravity, that g-force which grabs me and everything I’m connected to, ooohhhhh man how I LIKE that feeling. I’ve been a winner at this game every time except once.

I have a favorite curve and some mornings, absent of the strong mind God gave me, (2 Timothy 1:7)* I accept the tug of war game challenge. Why? I don’t know why. I know it’s not the Holy Spirit telling me to downshift into third gear and power my way though the curve riding on the sides of my tires. All I can tell you is that I get a kick out of seeing the world from a slanted view from time to time.

Do I have faith in my riding ability? Do I have a confident assurance that what I hope for is going to happen? Has sand or gravel accumulated on the curve? With enough faith, can I make the curve going twice as fast if I lean twice as much? I think NOT!

I have faith in the fairness of how the rules of the tug of war game will be governed. How fast I want to power though this curve (my will) is based on past riding experience. What we have faith in is most important, how much faith is secondary. For me a ten second slanted view of the world through my bikes windshield is a wonderful exhilarating moment, I like this slanted view. However a slanted view of God, His force, and “The Truth” is most certainly detrimental to my spiritual life.

I wish you could have heard Kim Erickson speak at the last Alpha session. She talked about the Bible and how it is “The Truth”. I pray that you have at least a mustard seed** of faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Eight years ago only one half of a half of a half of a half of a mustard seed amount of faith was in my heart and mind. My faith in “The Truth” has grown exponentially during the last eight riding seasons. My life is so much richer now because my days are brighter, I have steady employment, I get to ride a motorcycle with a bunch of wonderful fun people, I have come to realize that Harley’s are OK, and Jesus is a friend of mine. No matter the amount of your faith, small or large, nurturing the seed of truth with Bible study, KTIS type radio listening (98.5 on the FM dial), attending church service, signing up for an Alpha course or any Christian based small group, having Christian friends to call upon, will grow a bountiful rich life for you. It’s a promise, and it’s in the Bible.

With Joy,
Dan Bohn
Hosanna Bikers
1982 Honda Gold Wing, Black

June 2005 – Springtime Seeds!

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:37-38)

I love motorcycling out in the country this time of year. There is something relaxing about the rolling countryside and the smell of freshly plowed fields. As I take similar rides in the months to come, I’ll measure the passing of summer by the height of the corn.

My brother in-law is a farmer. He will measure the same passing of time by wondering if there will be enough rain…or if there will there be too much! His farm is set in some beautiful country in south central Minnesota. He is blessed to be the 4th generation in his family to farm that land. In a recent conversation he told me that last year was a ‘fair’ year for his type of farming. When I asked him why only fair, he shared with me that the seeds of his efforts require the cooperation of many things that are beyond his control…like not enough rain! So for him, what could have been a poor year turned into a fair year through persistence and alternative efforts on his part.

Have you ever thought that life had similar frustrations? Sometimes we enthusiastically plant the seeds of our ideas, visions and hopes, then sit back, and wait for them to grow, only to become discouraged by things that are out of our control.

The following illustration says it well:

A foreigner was walking along and saw a man sitting under a peach tree. He stopped and asked the man what he was doing. The man replied,” I’m harvesting peaches.” The foreigner was puzzled and asked the man how he could harvest peaches sitting under the peach tree. The man replied, “When the wind blows, it shakes the tree, the peaches fall to the ground, and I pick them up.” The foreigner asked the man, “What if the wind doesn’t blow?” The man replied, “I have a bad harvest!”

That says it all doesn’t it!

If we think that all we have to do is wait for the harvest of our ideals, hopes and evangelistic efforts to fall into our lap, we are wrong. The wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing over the face of the earth and calling us to GO into the harvest and shake some trees!

Jesus said in Matt. 9:37-38 and Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Go! Some of you will plant, some of you will water, and yes, there will be things that we cant control. BUT the Lord of the harvest can! He will bless our persistence “…thirty, sixty or one hundred times what was sown!”

May the seeds of your efforts become fruits of the Spirit!

Mike Swecker
Hosanna! Bikers

May 2005 – Sloppy Slippery Slope

"Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place…" (2 Peter 1:19)

As Christians, we must use great care when we engage with others in the “hot topics” of our time. Do you find it frustrating when people use passages from the Bible to defend their position and you suspect that they are not only misusing scripture, but are missing the point entirely?

As this postmodern society ebbs and flows with the “latest thinking,” we can expect to see the interpretation of scripture diluted, misused, attacked and even abandoned. While I agree that there is a time to avoid foolish and stupid arguments (2 Tim2:23-26), I must also say that there is a time, with grace and mercy, to speak up! (Matt 10:33, Rom1:16, 2Tim 1:8) Are you equipped?

I had a great conversation about this recently with a biker friend. He said:
"Sloppy Biblical thinking is when someone is either (a) willfully ignorant of the facts or (b) chooses only those snippets that support their position. Either approach gets them to a flawed conclusion. If they take only one phrase from a large body of knowledge, and use that as representative of the entire body of knowledge, they are on that sloppy, slippery slope.”

As a motorcyclist, this would be like opening my exhaustive operating manual for my bike and turning to the section marked “Trouble Shooting." In this section if I picked a problem like "Motorcycle Wont Start" and read ONLY about the "Fuel Flow" and didn’t read anything else, would I be correct in saying that when ever my motorcycle wont start the problem is ALWAYS the "fuel flow?” Of course not. You need to read the whole chapter to be best equipped to resolve that specific problem. Additionally, to understand and maintain the rest of your motorcycle, you need to read the WHOLE manual. It’s the same with the Bible and the Christian life. To avoid that “sloppy slippery slope,” and for optimum performance, one must read and apply the whole Bible to our daily circumstances and relationships.

You might be saying, “I’ve never read the Bible before and don’t know where to start.” Check out this link for a couple of great ideas http://www.hosannalc.org/pages/bible.html or contact me at mswecker@uschristian.net and I can help you connect with a small group Bible study. Trust me…God will speak to you and equip you through His Word!

For the curious, here is Hosanna’s! teaching statement on the Bible:

“We teach that the Holy Bible is inspired by God and is without error in its original manuscripts. It speaks Gods word to us as our final authority in matters of faith and life. The Bible is not just ancient literature, but rather a living book which Christ opens to us,”

Take the Bible for a test ride today, you won’t be disappointed!

Mike Swecker
2 Timothy 3:16-17

April 2005 – Intense Heat…New Growth!

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria…Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail. But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus. (Acts 8:1-4)

While motorcycling through Yellowstone National Park five years ago, Julie and I saw the devastation that the forest fires had created that year. Thousands of acres of pine trees were destroyed. We learned that it was nature’s way of creating new growth. It’s the heat from the fire that causes the pinecones to release their seeds. The seeds have a heavy coating to protect them from the heat. When the fire is out, the scattered seed that is left sitting in that rich organic soil will sprout new life! We traveled through Yellowstone again last year and witnessed the new life of a beautiful park. Intense heat…new growth! God has done the same thing with his people.

“The Passion of the Christ” is a portrayal of the intense heat of the persecution of Jesus as he is arrested, beaten and crucified. The intense heat of persecution caused his followers to scatter like the seed bursting from a pinecone. Ah, but just as the pinecone seed has a coating of protection on it, God himself covers the believer!

So, the Cross scattered fear, but God scattered Faith! Jesus rose from the grave! A short time later the first green hint of new life would rise up in Jerusalem and quickly take hold in the rich anointed soil of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost! This new Life was growing rapidly!

The intense heat of persecution would flare up again! With the martyrdom of Stephen the believers were scattered from Jerusalem to Judea, Sameria, and beyond. Saul scattered fear, but again, God scattered Faith.

Today the ‘scattering’ that started with a seed in Jerusalem continues to spread! Prophecy is being fulfilled. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 “But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

This is an era of opportunity to spread the Truth. Sometimes this will be under intense heat to an apathetic society. Will the intense heat of this postmodern society destroy the Christian church? ABSOLUTELY NOT! The First Seed, Jesus the Christ, said in Matthew 16:18 “…upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

Jesus also said in John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus goes on to pray in our behalf to the Father in the very next chapter of John 17:14-20 “I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not. I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one…As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world…I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.”

Jesus is Way, the Truth, and The New Life. With that seed settled in your heart, might you burst forth the next time your faith is under fire.