Are we having fun yet?
I’ve been thinking about Biker Bill lately. I don’t know why, because I really never got a chance to spend time with him. I vaguely remember meeting him a couple of times when he came by the property to visit with my father-in-law. At that time I was not yet a member of CMA (Christian Motorcyclists’ Association), but dad and Bill were. I do remember one thing very clearly about Bill, that he was joyful. When I walked up to greet him and ask dad a question, he shook my hand vigorously and asked, “Are we having fun yet?” This struck me as odd; I hardly knew him and “we” weren’t doing anything. I was just looking to borrow a hand tool of some sort from the shop, I think. Most folks don’t start conversations that way, but he had such a genuine smile and happy disposition that, somehow, I didn’t think it odd coming from him.
Over time, I’ve heard stories about Bill from a number of sources, and they almost always include a description of him saying that famous line, “Are we having fun yet?” Bill seemed to be a guy who others were drawn to because he was fun to be around. And if that’s where the story ended, I guess it would be a great epitaph for anyone to have on his or her tombstone, “He was fun to be around.” But Bill stories rarely end there. Bill, it seems, never missed a chance to talk about the thing that made him so happy, about the person who had changed his life. When you met Bill, if you hung around with him for any period of time, he was going to tell you about Jesus. He wasn’t going to wait years to build a relationship or wait for the “perfect” opportunity. He was going to share Jesus with you within a short time. That’s how he shared joy with people; he shared Jesus.
I have heard stories of him giving out toy bears. I’ve heard of him doing some downright juvenile stunts on his bike, I’ve even heard people tell about how he just sat with them, listening for long periods of time while they got through a “rough spot” in their lives. In each story I’ve heard about him, the teller mentioned how Bill talked to them about Jesus. He didn’t pound them over the head about how they were bad and needed to get right with God. They talked about how Bill just said that Jesus loved them, then and there, as they were, and how much they meant to Him. He left a mark on their heart, because he took time to share his greatest treasure with them, he shared Jesus, openly, plainly, and non-judgmentally. He left them feeling joyful, and uplifted.
Bill died a couple of years ago. A young man driving a van hit him. He wasn’t looking at the road and probably never saw Bill coming when he crossed the centerline on a county road near Bill’s home. When I went out for Bill’s memorial service, I was taken aback, and I dare say that I felt a bit of envy by the scene. There were dozens and dozens of people there, on that county road, on a blistering day, to honor a man who had touched their life in a positive way. There were CMA members; Bill had been their Chaplain. There were members of 3 or 4 other bike clubs; Bill had been their friend. There were office girls and salesmen from the local Harley shop; Bill had made them all smile on more than one occasion. There were members of local law enforcement; Bill had been there to pray with, and over, them on occasion. There were family members, as you might expect. One after another people stepped up to say kind words about this man who had touched their lives. For over an hour they spoke, and no one left. Their words wove a story, a legacy if you will, about Bill’s life. Two threads that kept showing up in this fabric of Bill’s legacy were the way he had made them laugh and smile ("Are we having fun Yet?"), and how he had shared with them about Jesus.
I see Biker Bill shirts and stickers from time to time, and each time, I find myself a little feeling a little jealous. I want to have that kind of effect in the lives of others. I want to be bold in my love of Jesus and my love for others. I have a long way to go, and a lot of lessons to learn, if I want to be that effective in sharing Christ.
Step one, be humble, obedient, and filled with joy…. Yeah, that’s the hard one.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Why are We Here?
(Why do we do what we do?)
It’s a new year and I sometimes find myself sitting around wondering where the previous year picked up speed and passed me on its way to a final hurrah. My dad once told me that time would seem to speed up as my years added up, I thought him foolish at the time, but now as middle-age surrounds me fully in its tightening grip, I find his words both prophetic, wise and encouraging. His words came to me last week as I sat around watching my children and my nephews roaming about the property. He’d say, “Don’t close your eyes too long as you get older son, you’ll miss too much.” I think about my dad a lot these days because he is so far away from me. It’s not the distance that separates us; you see, my dad is in the throws of progressive memory loss due to Alzheimer’s. It started a few years ago with simple repeating of details during discussions and has now gotten to a point where he remembers things from 20 and 30 years ago better than he remembers the previous hour.
(Have you talked to someone about Him recently?)
That’s where the encouraging part comes in. I know most folks wouldn’t take a father stricken with Alzheimer’s as encouraging, but I can. You see my father is already saved; he gave his heart to the Lord back in the mid 70’s. I can’t pinpoint the exact day, but I remember the period. I remember when he and mom were on fire for Jesus and the church. I remember seeing the change in their lives. Sure, they changed a lot as their lives went on, there was and still is some bitterness that crept into their lives, but Jesus promised us that once we are His nothing could remove us from His hand. And so I am encouraged, because if I had waited to talk to him about Jesus till the time was right, I would have failed…. it would be too late, because he’s not there anymore.
(Do you have a missed-opportunity regret in your past?)
A friend challenged our chapter last month; he gave us each an index card to put a number on. That number was the number of people we helped lead to salvation through Christ last year. That number is sitting on my shaving mirror and everyday I am faced with reality of the effort I put forth for the kingdom of God last year; and I have to tell you, some mornings it’s all I can do to stand there for the few minutes it takes to brush up for the day. I closed my eyes too much last year, and for that matter, for the past few years. I don’t want that to be my legacy, I don’t want to stand before Christ having to answer the question, “what have you done with the talents I gave you?” by saying the number on that card.
(What would you do with your card?)
So what are we here for? Why do we surround ourselves with reminders of our Christianity? Why are we a part of a church? Our answer must be centered on one thing; to be instruments focused on bringing the good news of salvation through Christ to the world. That’s it; there is no other reason for the existence of the church. As we go through each day that we have left, we have fewer and fewer days left to share the gospel with the lost, so when you look at the percentage of time, my dad was right, time will begin to “go” faster. Why did I waste so much time these past few years? Did you? I heard a definition for insanity once: The act of doing the same thing again and again while expecting something different to occur. If nothing changes, nothing will change. If I don’t make evangelism THE priority that number on my mirror won’t change, and that is not an acceptable outcome.
(Why are we here?)
It’s a new year and I sometimes find myself sitting around wondering where the previous year picked up speed and passed me on its way to a final hurrah. My dad once told me that time would seem to speed up as my years added up, I thought him foolish at the time, but now as middle-age surrounds me fully in its tightening grip, I find his words both prophetic, wise and encouraging. His words came to me last week as I sat around watching my children and my nephews roaming about the property. He’d say, “Don’t close your eyes too long as you get older son, you’ll miss too much.” I think about my dad a lot these days because he is so far away from me. It’s not the distance that separates us; you see, my dad is in the throws of progressive memory loss due to Alzheimer’s. It started a few years ago with simple repeating of details during discussions and has now gotten to a point where he remembers things from 20 and 30 years ago better than he remembers the previous hour.
(Have you talked to someone about Him recently?)
That’s where the encouraging part comes in. I know most folks wouldn’t take a father stricken with Alzheimer’s as encouraging, but I can. You see my father is already saved; he gave his heart to the Lord back in the mid 70’s. I can’t pinpoint the exact day, but I remember the period. I remember when he and mom were on fire for Jesus and the church. I remember seeing the change in their lives. Sure, they changed a lot as their lives went on, there was and still is some bitterness that crept into their lives, but Jesus promised us that once we are His nothing could remove us from His hand. And so I am encouraged, because if I had waited to talk to him about Jesus till the time was right, I would have failed…. it would be too late, because he’s not there anymore.
(Do you have a missed-opportunity regret in your past?)
A friend challenged our chapter last month; he gave us each an index card to put a number on. That number was the number of people we helped lead to salvation through Christ last year. That number is sitting on my shaving mirror and everyday I am faced with reality of the effort I put forth for the kingdom of God last year; and I have to tell you, some mornings it’s all I can do to stand there for the few minutes it takes to brush up for the day. I closed my eyes too much last year, and for that matter, for the past few years. I don’t want that to be my legacy, I don’t want to stand before Christ having to answer the question, “what have you done with the talents I gave you?” by saying the number on that card.
(What would you do with your card?)
So what are we here for? Why do we surround ourselves with reminders of our Christianity? Why are we a part of a church? Our answer must be centered on one thing; to be instruments focused on bringing the good news of salvation through Christ to the world. That’s it; there is no other reason for the existence of the church. As we go through each day that we have left, we have fewer and fewer days left to share the gospel with the lost, so when you look at the percentage of time, my dad was right, time will begin to “go” faster. Why did I waste so much time these past few years? Did you? I heard a definition for insanity once: The act of doing the same thing again and again while expecting something different to occur. If nothing changes, nothing will change. If I don’t make evangelism THE priority that number on my mirror won’t change, and that is not an acceptable outcome.
(Why are we here?)
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