First Love

I can remember going to that gas station out on the lakefront in an area we called the Rockery,  in New Orleans as a high school age kid, with a license, and renting a Honda 50 Cub and cruising the lakefront and City Park on our “motorcycles.”

I remember another ride on another bike.  My first trip to Daytona Bike Week with my buddy Chris.  It was an adventure for sure.  I had been having some trouble with my rear brake locking up and trying not to use it.  Chris waved for me to pass and take the lead at the exit for Cracker Barrel in Tallahassee.  The rear brake didn’t work and I hit the median, breaking the oil filter.  $75.00 and a great mechanic and we were back on the road.  For years we called the oil slick on the side of the road the Bubba Valdez.

I remember riding up with a group to Dothan, AL for the Colors for the Cross rally the first time.  I met my friend Ralph Lawson for the first time there.  This was a Christian Rally.  Imagine that, more Christians riding motorcycles.   I have enjoyed the music Ralph’s band produces ever since.  His band is “AngelWings.”

I remember the first trip to Sturgis.  We had 4 bikes in a trailer.  We had two blowouts on the way on the trailer, and a huge fuel bill.  The first night there camping, it stormed.  My National Ride Captain from Daytona Beach, borrowed a tent, and it was missing the rain flap.  He wound up in the truck that night.  What a great time the four of us had.

I remember the first Thunder Beach Rally here in Panama City Beach.  They tried to start big with a ten day event.  It was a pay to enter event.  Since then it has become free, with many venues, and is growing every year, with Spring and Fall rally’s.  I get to sleep in my own bed every night.

I remember my first ride up Blood Mountain and thought how awesome the ride was, and then we arrived in Robbinsville, N.C. and rode Deal’s Gap and the Cherohala Skyway.  Now those are some breath taking rides.  And don’t forget those Fried Bologna Sandwiches!  Some days we were soaked with sweat, others we had jackets on.  One day we got soaked riding down the mountain back to where we were staying in Robbinsville at the Two Wheel Inn.  A garage for your motorcycle with every room.

We are bikers and we love our bikes, we dream about new bikes, and riding the open road and taking the twisties too fast, and maybe scraping the pegs from time to time.

When was the last time you remembered your first love with Jesus?  Sometimes we get so busy doing “things” that we forget to remember why we have what we have, who provides our protection, health, and prosperity.  Have you daydreamed about the love of Jesus lately?

We each have had so many different and varied experiences on the road and in our personal lives.  Take the time to share some of these with your family and friends.  I have shared in the past how God protected me and the CMA president for PC from a head on collision in Elba, AL  How God gave Brenda a check in her spirit,and the stayed home from church and was praying for us on the road.  We did all the wrong things to get out of the way, but God’s hand was in our protection, and no one was injured.  What a testimony to build faith in others.

Take the time to share God’s provision and protection with others whenever you get the chance.  You could change their life for eternity.

Blessings,

Bubba <”//><

Whew, has it ever been hot,

While it has only (ha, only) been in the mid to upper 90’s, it has consistently felt link 100 to 110 degrees outside.  In the print shop where I work, one of the A/C  units went out, so we have a couple fans circulating what cool air from the other unit around the room.  I rode to work Friday and it was comfortable and enjoyable.  Friday afternoon when I rode home, it was like riding in a blast furnace, and breathing that heat into my lungs with every breath.

Our good friend, Dr. John Watson moved on with his long battle with cancer this week and went to be with our Lord.  Dr. John was the Apostolic covering for the church and school at Marion Christian Center in Marion. Ohio.   Our love and condolences go out to his wife  Pat and family.    His family was very large because he included everyone.  He reached out around the world with his ministry.  He will be missed, but he will be remembered fondly.

Today I received my copy of Southern Biker Magazine in my Email in box.  Lots of articles and advertisements fill its pages.  I particularly like the articles on the Tellico Bike Rally and the  US129 Dragon Harley-Davidson store opening.  I have been to Tellico Plains and to the store where this new Harley-Davidson shop is located while “Riding the Dragon.”  The Harley shop is on the TN end of the Dragon.  Also there is a very nice Sport Bike accessory store in Tellico Plains.   Stories to support rally’s and rememberances of other friends who have passed on.  Thanks to my friends at Roar Motorcycles for Women for suggesting this E magazine to me.

I try to get lots of magazines when my finances will allow it.  I get lots of motorcycle magazines to keep up with what is going on in the industry and around the country at rally’s.  I get my favorite truck magazine, 8-Lug HD Truck, and one or two others to keep up on my favorite heavy duty diesel towing rigs.  I sometimes pick up magazines with shooting sports and gun tests.  At work I get magazines from printer companies about their newest and best printers and how they can save me big bucks if I buy their very expensive printer.

Everyone is trying to catch your eye with a trendy commercial or ad on the television or in magazines.  I think the commercials are getting better because the economy is not improving.  They are spending millions on commercials to get you to buy their products.  We have less money to spend so they want to narrow down our variety to their brand.

I think churches are having the same economic crunch as we are.  People have less to give because they have lost jobs, have had their hours cut, or sickness or any number of other things have cut into their wallets.  These are tough economic times.  Life savings have been stolen or lost to bad recommendations by investment brokers.   I know of people who have gone back to work from retirement and people who have taken second jobs to make ends meet.

Times like this can tax your spiritual lives as well.  We sometimes get so embroiled in our life situation, whatever that may be, that we begin to neglect our spiritual needs and our “walk” begins to suffer.

At Bishop Bill Hamon’s recommendation, the staff at Christian International Ministries Network, Christian International Family Church, the elders and leadership, the prayer warriors and various teams at CIFC, have entered into a season of prayer and fasting.  We want to receive God’s direction for this time.

CIFC has been having prayer walks on the beaches.  They even chartered a boat in Destin and went out one Wednesday night recently to pray against devastation to our beaches by the oil in the gulf.  As of this week, the BP disaster clean up crews have reduced their 2000 number by 60%.  The night shift was dropped.

Wheather you pray prostrate, on your knees, or walking the beaches or the streets in your neighborhood, prayer changes things.  Find the time to put down the magazines, the action/adventure books, turn off the television and read your Bible again.  Spend some time in prayer.  I pray a lot when I ride my bike.  It is just me and God on the bike.

I like what I heard Jerry Savelle said one time.  He said "God speaks to him when he rides his Harley, He just has to talk really loud!"

Blessings,

Bubba <”//><

Billy Sowder

National President

Prophets of God Motorcycle Ministry