Hello all,

The day dawned bright and clear, much different from the rain storms that came through a couple of days before. It was also cooler and less humid, a welcome respite from the heat and humidity from earlier in the week. I had cleaned the K&N air filter element on my bike the night before and had to put it back in and reassemble the bike. Well, of course, this took longer than I had planned and once again I would be late for breakfast. I stopped first to fuel up and got a bagel while I was there in the attached Dunkin' Donuts store. Then I went to the diner parking lot and greeted those who were there. I said hi to Derek from the Immortal Riders MC and Kat from Inner Circle Riders MC, glad to see both of them representing and riding with us. I touched base with jlasure on the ride group assignments and said hello to all that were there. I then went in to greet those eating breakfast, including kirchsnr with her pal Jo which we haven't seen literally in years. So glad they could come out and hang out with us. Those two went off on their own adventures for today, but we hope to see them both again real soon. We also had a couple on a black C-14 join us for the first time, so glad they joined us for the ride. I also said hey to Angie, j-mac, and andyr plus others. We then met out in the parking lot where I saw someone I have ridden with in years, Mikey!! He and his friend Luke rode with us in the morning but broke off around 10:15. Mike was one of the three chapter members that were active in the Eastern PA chapter when I took over as chapter leader, many years ago.

We started the riders meeting with our typical rules of the road, went over the safety tip for the day, and then prayed for safety. We then split into three groups; fast, medium, and slow; with the groups leaving in the diner in that order. Jlasure was in the lead group, I was leading the mid group, and andyr was leading the chase group. My group kept catching up to the lead group whenever they would get stuck behind cars. Eventually, we crossed a covered bridge and they left us in the dust. But we caught them and passed them on a highway at a traffic light. A few miles down the road they caught back up with us and passed us again. Before we entered a state park I lost half my group that were leaving for a luncheon, so kpilot and I chased the lead group and hung with them to the first fuel stop. After fueling up we went for lunch to the Sovanno Bistro down near Kennett Square. The food and service there was great. I had the pleasure of having some great conversation with those seated at my table. After lunch I read the Word and we broke back into two groups. The good men that came from Delaware broke off for home and we set out on our route again. The roads and scenery were great but we continued to encounter traffic on our way. We did get a few open spots where we had the road to ourselves and that was big fun. As the day wore on and the heat increased, we all started to get tired. We almost missed the off ramp for our final fuel stop! But, we made it, and we hung out then with a cool drink and talked about the ride and future events. It was a good ride, no crashes, thank God. Our national rally is July 24-27, I hope to see you there. The next Eastern PA ride is already posted, make sure you attend.

Scripture Readings for July 2014

The message for this month is out of our series on Christian Living and it's called "giving". Our key verse is II Corinthians 9:6-7 which says: 6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” The history behind this text is that the christians in Jerusalem were in hard times and Paul was asking the church in Corinth to take up a collection for them. From this passage we see three themes: 1) make up your own mind what to give, 2) don't give reluctantly or under pressure, and 3) God loves a cheerful giver.

In the first theme, make up your own mind what to give, we come accross the first passage, Matthew 6:19-21 which says: 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Here Jesus warns against us putting emphasis on material things not only because they don't last, but because someone can take them. Instead do things that will store treasure in Heaven for you, because where your treasure is, there your heart and your desires will be. Our next passage in this theme was Luke 12:13-21 which says: 13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” 16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Here Jesue had just finished a teaching when someone calls out to him to dispute a financial matter he has with his brother. Jesus warns him and us to guard ourselves against every kind of greed. That's strange, because most people wouldn't think of greed as something we need to protect ourselves against, but it is. He also says how our lives our not measured by how much we own, so much for "he who dies with the most toys wins". And, as typical, Jesus answers the man with a parable. In this parable we see this farmer bring in a bumper crop, so big all his barns are full. So, does he donate the excess to the poor or give some to neighbors in need or help out his family with it? Nope, he is keeping it all to himself and he will tear down his old barns and build bigger ones. In doing so Jesus calls him a fool, strong words indeed. Why? Because the man squandered all God gave Him and missed out on blessing others and storing up treasure in Heaven. Plus, others got all he worked for, since he died that night. A cautionary tale for us all to remember.

Our second theme, do not give reluctantly or under pressure, begins with another passage out of Matthew 6:1-4 which says: “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Now we begin to see how to give, as this passage shows do it secretly and God will reward you. After all, the purpose of the gift is to help the recipient, not bring acclaim to the giver. Right? Our next passage is when the Israelites where in the wilderness and God wanted to come down and be among them. He had instructed Moses and Aaron to build a tabernacle where He would dwell. Here is what Moses said in Exodus 35:4-9= 4 Then Moses said to the whole community of Israel, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 Take a sacred offering for the Lord. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; 7 tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood; 8 olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; 9 onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece. In verse 5 we can see that those with generous hearts can present to the Lord, another version I have said the people were "invited" to give to the Lord. God calls us all to give with a willing heart, not by pressure or regret.

Our third theme is God loves a cheerful giver which takes us back to our starting passage in II Corinthians 9:8-15. It says: 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! Here we see how the "cycle of generosity" works, we give, it blesses others, they thank God for His provision and give glory to Him, and it shows others that we are obedient to God's Word. After all, God has given us so much not only with possessions but also through the gift of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit, we should also give freely and God has given to us. Finally, we see Paul in his letter to the church in Philipi writes: 18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. In Philippians 4:18-20 we see that Paul has all he needs and that God will provide all that we need, this frees up to give as God directs and as we feel is right.

Thanks to all who came out. I hope to see you again very soon