Practice Run on Bandit

Well, I went out for test run today. WOW! The bike has great balance, its almost as easy to drive as those 250's in the MSF course. I drove a total of around 18 miles I think, but I did some sharp corners, u-turns, ran to Wal-Mart, etc. The problem I have is taking off in the subdivision. For some reason I don't give it enough gas, and stall it. Oh, well, I'll get over that. Stupid here almost dropped the thing in Arby's parking lot. I just wasn't paying attention to the fact that I had lost all my speed. Funny.

It was a smooth ride, I could get up to about 65 (indicated) on the speedo at about 3500 RPM, still breaking it in. I'm going to drive it to work tomorrow down Hwy 100 so I don't have to get up to interstate speeds yet. Gotta get a hundred miles on it first. It was indeed fun. I had forgotten how much fun it was to drive a machine like that. Well, more later. gotta go.

Certified or Certifiable?

Yes. :-D. I passed the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course over the weekend! I'm now, in the words of the Rider Coach, Chad Hargis, "Certified to do 12 - 18 MPH in a parking lot, safely!" I took my course from Learn to Ride, naturally at learntoride.org. The course is hosted by Nashville State Community College on White Bridge road just about every weekend. The Lady I spoke to over the phone said they were getting swamped with folks wanting to learn to ride now. I'm thinking its both the spring weather, and the ungodly high gas prices. (NOTE: If we didn't have such a stupid impudent congress some folks in the oil industry would be doing time for highway robbery!!!) I'd also like to mention Jeevan Rose, the other rider coach for our range.

By all means take the Course if you are thinking about getting a bike and licensed. Its a good course, and both Jeevan and Chad were very helpful in encouraging good riding habits. No, you're not going to become an expert at riding, but you'll have a good foundation for how to handle a bike. It was interesting to watch the range when half the folks were in one line, watched by Jeevan, and the other in another line watched by Chad. Jeevan would stop just about everybody, and coach them a little, and Chad wouldn't stop you unless you just weren't getting it. Not sure why they both stopped me on an occasion or two, :-\. I had to pick a different bike the second day from the one I was riding the first. The first day I was on an older Honda Nighthawk 250, the second a Suzuki 200 Dual purpose. The Clutch, Gears, Brakes, and height were all different. The Speedo would only go to 15 and would stay there until I stopped so I had no real idea how fast I was going. (I was going WAAAAAYYYY too fast on my first run at the braking eval, and went to using the engine idle as a guage). I eventually got to where I could compensate, but when you are being evaluated its no time to be figuring out a new clutch, crappy speedo, odd shifter, and a bike that is taller! So, my tip is pick a bike, and stay with it the second day. Oh, the Nighthawk had a problem with Neutral, and the green light wouldn't come on. This caused the engine not to start at times. I did notice that a time or two the day before but I'd keep trying and it would come on.

Also, the bike is in the garage. I have a bad picture of it sitting in the garage. You can't really tell much about it, and it doesn't have the side or top cases because we're waiting on the right mounts from Suzuki. I wanted to get out on it this evening and practice a little with it, but it started raining. I'm not necessarily a fair weather rider, however, the last thing I want to do while trying to get used to the bike is fight the weather too! Well, I'll be going by the License place tomorrow, and I'll call Progressive to see if I can move up the insurance effective date by a day or two. I'd like to ride it for real next week.

This weekend is Old Timer's Day in Dickson, TN. Its a big deal around these parts. I'd love to be able to ride my bike downtown, I'd be able to get around easier.

Well, God bless you and yours.

New Bike

Well, I finally will be able to say I own my own bike. I've ridden before, took a Motorcycle safety class in High School, or Jr. High something like that. Many are accusing me of a mid-life crisis, and other such things . . . whatever. The problem is that gas prices are going through the roof, and I need an alternate vehicle that isn't going to take up lots-o-space in the driveway. This was the best option. I have always wanted a GoldWing, however, at this point they are way too big and just as expensive as a car, and probably don't get any better gas mileage.

So, I went smaller. I found a Kawasaki, Concours 14, that wasn't as expensive or big, but its still too big for me at this point. Very nice bike. They have one you can sit on at the local Motorcycle shop in Dickson. BMW has one, but WOW, the price is up there as well. Then I visited the local shop and the sales guy there recommended a Yamaha FZ1 or FZ6 (the 6 being a 650), both of which I'm sure are good bikes. However, neither come with Hard Case Saddle bags (or Panniers) as options from the Manufacturer. The only options found by the local shop were semi-hard shells that mostly covered up the back seat. So that was out. (Yamaha has a nice Sport Touring bike as well, but its as big as the ConCours14). During my search I saw the Suzuki Bandit 1250S.

SWEET RIDE! The Suzuki has options from the factory for Hard Case saddle Bags, and a top case. In Europe and Canada they sell a GT version that comes with ABS, the bags, and a GPS unit. So, I searched the internet for reviews, tests, comparisons, etc. I couldn't find anything negative about the bike that wasn't easily corrected (the mirrors are a little too close in, and the shield is just a little short for long hauls). It has adjustable front and rear shocks, has good horse power, etc. There is even a test that compared it, and the BMW K1200! Granted the Suzy didn't overcome the Beamer, however it held its own, and was declared a close second compared to the MUCH more expensive bike!

So, I go back to the local shop. I tell him I found what I think is my bike. "Suzuki Bandit 1250" I said. His response was, "Not a fan, don't have one." Nice, I thought, but I want one. Then he said, "Old Technology." Basically he gives me the specs for an '06 model, which I'll agree is old tech, but hey, it works. This all clues me in that he really doesn't want to sell me a Suzuki, and isn't even willing to look one up for me. It also clues me into the fact that he isn't nearly up to date on what's going on in the brands of Bikes he's supposed to be selling. Why? They completely revamped the Bandit in '07. Redesigned the engine to put out more torque at lower RPMs (15 ft lbs at 3600 rpm instead of 6000 rpm), and to meat European and Californian Emissions Standards. Along with doing away with the carb, and putting electronic fuel injection on it. So, I went else ware. I found a blue one (without ABS) at Precision Motorsports in Mt. Juliet, TN, and bought it. The sales guy, Brooks, is fairly knowledgeable but didn't remotely claim to know it all, or even much at all about the Bandit, so he wasn't biased. Yes its forever and a day to Mt. Juliet from my house, but they had want I wanted, and were willing to sell it to me. I pick it up Thursday, and I'm Scheduled for the Motorcycle Safety Course this Friday - Sunday. The Drivers License place doesn't open until Tuesday, and my insurance doesn't kick in until the 1st of May, so I won't be able to drive it until next weekend any way.

Anyway, I have a helmet, Gloves, and Jacket lined out. All I have to worry about now are Pants, and Boots. Yes, I have a Full Faced Helmet, and I plan on being covered when my behind hits the pavement :-D . (Not that I think that will happen soon).

The coolest part is that it wont cost me a fortune to run down to the DataCenter from where our main office is!

I'll post pictures of the actual bike when I get it home.

No Longer Pastor of MRBC

It is with a heavy heart that I have resigned from Missionary Ridge Baptist Church. I believed God would do great things there, but alas, if He does, it will be without me.

I could rant here about bad things, and vent frustration, but this is not the forum, and I'm biased. I think it would be extremely wrong for any man claiming to be mature enough to be an Ordained Minister to follow such a path. I'll only say that I regret my own shortcomings. The last year before my Sabbatical were hard on me. Hence the complete absence from blogging. I was very discouraged, and it affected everything. In January I began a short 2 month Sabbatical in order to over come this. During that time God began to renew my heart and overwhelmingly impressed me with what I believe is the direction the Church should go.

Simplify! I believe there comes a time in a Church's existence when it has to step back and ask hard questions. I believe like Ronnie Stinson Sr. of Trace Creek Baptist Church in Mayfield, KY says, "The light that shines the farthest shines brightest at home." I don't believe that cookies and donuts and coffee before Sunday School, or candy for kids is what really grows a Church. There are a great many churches that are large, but they have compromised their message doing so. They replaced, "God commands all men everywhere to Repent!" with "come and we'll give you a cookie". Don't get me wrong, I think social events and possibly giving kids a treat once in a while is not necessarily a bad thing. However, Jesus noted that the large crowds that followed Him only did so because of the miracles, and free food.

What we have to do is strip away everything except the core of what makes a Church a Church. Sunday Morning Worship. That's it. Most folks don't know that in the Grand scheme of things Wednesday Night Services, and Sunday Schools are new deals in the Church. That's right. Neither started getting anywhere before the mid 1800's. However, being a practical man, I believe they are greatly useful, and many communities just plain expect them. So, I proposed that MRBC strip away every program, or service except for the main four, Sunday School, Sunday Morning Worship, Sunday Night Worship, and Mid-Week (Wednesday) Services. And then look at how each service could be used to help Christians go from Won to Winners. The Steps were simple: Worship, Edified, Serve, Win.

1. Worship was to focus us on Jesus Christ, and help us to grow in our devotion and Love for Him. No motivator known to man will take a person to the ultimate commitment in their life like Love. Money, Fear, Fun, Food, or whatever else will only keep folks just so long.
   
2. The Next Step is Edified - That is to be taught, Discipleship. This is where the basics of the Faith are established, and fostered. Every Christian should be rooted and grounded in their faith and know what they believe, not what their Pastor believes, or what the Church, or denomination believes. I've often taught that folks should search the Scriptures to see if what I say is so, and NEVER EVER take what I say at face value. If you know the Scriptures on your own, you'll know when a man has gone off his rocker.
   
3. Next is Serve. Every Christian should be involved in serving other Christians. The Bible is clear in Ephesians 4 and other places that God places each member in the Church to contribute. The saying I hate the most is, "I don't think this Church will meet my needs." What they're saying is this Church doesn't serve me. Godless. My question is always, first is this where God is planting me. 2. Where in this Church can I serve. You'll note that Jesus always got the Apostles involved in Ministry, first in basic ways, and progressively more advanced.
4. Last, and very important, Win. This is where the Christian has grown to become a Soul Winner. Both through a formal outreach ministry in the Church, and through informal personal outreach. Its important that Christians know with absolute certainty that God has never saved a Christian that He intend to keep faith to himself!! Those who say, "I think its just between you and God." are just looking to cover up their lack of a testimony! Every person you find in God's Word who was truly affected by the presence of God couldn't keep it quiet.

That's the base vision. There's more. Every level of ministry has its foundations, the things that give it sure footing and power. I don't care what anyone says the fact is plain, unless a person is truly born again he can have no personal ministry, and if he has no personal ministry he cannot be involved in Church ministry. However, the foundation of the personal ministry of the Christian is found in three things:

1. Drawing Near to God in Faith. Initiating faith. That is not about gaining salvation, so much as it is about getting faith started by picking up the cross and following Jesus.
2. Adding to Faith. Faith that is not growing is dying, its that simple. 2 Peter 1:1 - 11 exhort us to "add to" our faith. So, its not just enough to come to Jesus, we must move on.
3. Maintain Faith. We do this through three spiritual exercises that integrate the whole person:
1. Mental Exercise. 1 Timothy 4:11 - 16 God tells Timothy to give attendance to Reading, Exhortation, and Doctrine, to meditate on these things and give himself wholly to them that his profiting would appear to all. The battle starts in the mind. That's where sin starts, and so God says that's where we start battling sin. If you note in Romans 6 the word "know" shows up a lot. Note that in verse 3 “Know ye not", verse 6 "Knowing this”, verse 9, “Knowing that”, verse 11 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves", then in verse 16 "Know ye not”. Get it?
2. Spiritual Exercise. Watch and Pray. Simple. A little bit of pay attention goes a long way. Stay alert.
3. Physical Exercise. Morality, that is how you behave. Act like a Christian. God's Word is full of commands to live Righteously in this evil world.
   

Well, somehow in sharing this I evidently did so in a way that was offensive and upset some folks that I care a great deal about. I was completely crushed after being skewered for over an hour on a Wednesday night, and then again last Sunday. All of the excitement I felt that God had finally answered my prayer was gone. All the effort I had gone through and the overwhelming assurance that I truly had a confirmed vision from God about the direction of the Church was trampled under.

They never heard the Sermon about the foundations of Church Ministry, and when I did get to preach the one about the four functions of the Church I doubt they paid attention to it. Now, don't think I'm blaming them, I'm not sure now what I may have said, nor how badly I may have said it. I'm not going to blame them. I think a man takes responsibility for his own actions, then moves to correct what he can. Too many people are so eat up with pride that they could never bear the thought that any problem they face could be their own doing. But I digress.

I tried this, but in the end my heart was devoid of the desire to fight the battle. It appeared obvious to me, and my wife, that I had lost the confidence of the people, and nothing I could do at that point would win it back. I Long to see this vision carried out. I believe that God gave me this vision so certainly that I put every thing I had worked for on the line. I still do. However, now I wonder was it for MRBC, or was it for another Church? I also wonder, of course second guessing yourself is never good, whether the battle was over, and I rushed leaving. The folks at MRBC have been very good to me over the years, and I'll never forget their generosity, or willingness. They are good people, as far as people go. That's the problem. We're all sinners, and no one, nor any Church is perfect. The key is Love. We must learn to love like Jesus loved. As I often said, "Love anyway."

With that I'll leave you. Saying Thanks to the folks at MRBC for all the good memories. My prayer is that whether present or absent I will hear of their faith, and that they continue in all things excellent.

Not Interested in $10,000?

Sorry, I know the headline may have gotten you, but somethings never cease to amaze me. According to this link, "not interested in Linux" from ComputerworldUK the reason a Ubuntu Laptop remained unhacked after three days in a contest was because, "There was just no interest in Ubuntu,"! Can you believe that? I can't. If I thought I could take down a Linux box and get 10K for doing it your darn right I'd hack that puppy! I wouldn't care if it was DOS 3.3! Would you? Sounds like to me Microsoft, who hates to have a bad image, cough cough, may have put some pressure on the old boy. Whatever. I know Ubuntu is probably NOT hack proof, OK, but you don't have to start making excuses when its the last OS standing. What bothers me is that non of these so called "Hackers" could hack a Windoze box remotely. If these laptops were configured as they come default, and these hackers couldn't hack the thing remotely, I worry about them. There have been very very few OSes that I can remember that had no known remote hacks. NetWare 5.1 was one (security through obscurity and all :-), OpenBSD (I believe) was the other. If not that BSD it was another of that variant. I've never known (note that word) of a Linux, MAC, or Windoze that was ever that good. So, anyway.

I know, its been a very long time since I've blogged. Everyone thought I had quit. Well, that's because I did, at least for a while. I'm back now. For a while anyway.