Bike Ride

The event is called the MS 150 and the 180 mile biking ride is from Houston to Austin beginning on Sat morning, stopping in LaGrange overnight and beginning again on Sunday morning ending at the Bob Bullock Museum in Austin. We left Austin early Sunday morning to get to our Houston church on time to see our grand kids wave palm branches on Palm Sunday and to hear our daughter Jennifer, our youngest charter member to do a short recount of our 20 year church anniversary. For the blessings that God has given us over the past 20 years have been extraordinary. It was a true testimony to the power of prayer, and the unity and service of our church community, and how out of the box God's abilities are when we trust him and what "happens" when we are faithful to follow his direction. But back to the MS.

We began seeing the early riders just outside Bastrop...just a handful. And as we traveled down the road we began to see the clusters of riders making their way up the steep hills and and coasting down the gentle slopes. Each wearing a uniform that had been carefully selected and all heads protected with helmets. The sights, as you can imagine were truly awesome. There were thousands of riders, each focused on one destination, one path and one grueling journey. I just kept looking at them and thinking how can they do this....I would be huffing and puffing at the first upward climb, and consider pretty carefully jumping into that rescue van that was tracking us. But these riders had trained for this event. They has incurred a ready mindset for the challenge, and were riding for a purpose that was beyond themselves. The monies raised were to help in research for those who suffer in the debilitating disease of MS.

Now turning the wheels of this event to the analogy of us on our Christian walk. We, who believe in Jesus Christ, are all participants in a race to a holy
mark of grace that extends to unknown boundaries of eternal life. There are going to be leaders, and stragglers, and in betweeners. There are going to easy riders, new riders, professional riders, want to be riders, riders who compete for placement and riders who are content to be participants. There are going to be malfunctions in our equipment (broken vessels...jobs, dreams, plans, iteneraries) flattened tires (disappointments, heartaches) , potholes (life divets) and challenges of physical stamina (health), but it is our mindset of Christ through our hope and perseverance that generates our driving force to complete the task that we have begun. Biking to our goal of salvation...a fancy term for being conditioned by God, through God, for God and his purposes on this earth.

About halfway through the myriad of riders, we see a group of about five or six people riding with these huge colorful butterfly wings on their backs. What a reminder that we can not successfully bike about our earthly efforts without flying on the wings of the Holy Spirit. It was such a visual image.

But no matter where you in the riders challenge, there must be a certain element of training to be able to contend in an event such as this. You can't just hop on a bike that you haven't ridden for years and expect to make the 180 mile jaunt. You have to have the right equipment, the right clothes, the right padding, the right incentive, and the right mindset, and the right training, and the right focus. All these things must be blended together to make for a right ride.

1) Right Equipment: the word of God
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2) Right Clothes: the armor of God
Ephesians 6:13 - 17 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

3) Right Padding: the protection of God
Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you

4) Right Incentive: the love of God
1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

5) Right Mindset: the purpose of God
Romans 8:28-29 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

6) Right Training: the example of God
John 13:14-16 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 7) Right Focus: the will of God
1 John 2:16-18 For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Dear Lord, As we spin our wheels of life towards your appointed destination, may we desire to be trained accordingly to the purposes of Christ May our ride be a reflection of your grace that we have been given, your blessings that has been poured upon us, your power that is generated through us and your Love that encompasses us. May our ride may be a right ride, in a right direction, for a right reason. Amen

And as a note here: To all of you who were participants on this ride or know folks who were ....congratulations to all of you for an impressive feat of endurance, skill and focus. May the monies that you helped to raise be a sufficient amount to continue in the research for MS, so that those who have this dreaded disease may be comforted and one day cured.


Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . His glory will shine through!