THIS IS WERE MEMBERS CAN ADD THEIR IDEAS, STORIES, TESTIMONIES, PEEVES, LIKES AND DISLIKES.

ok. the following testamony is from one of our local member

In early summer, 1969, I was about to turn sixteen years old. My father unloaded a used Honda 50 Cub (not the ‘girl’s’ version with the funky lower leg fairing). He said, “You owe me a hundred bucks. Get on it and find a job.” And thus began my – so far – thirty seven years “in the wind.”

For the first several years of my driving career, I didn’t even own a car. I was in the wind, rain and snow if I was going anywhere. So don’t ever accuse me of being a “fair weather rider.” After graduating High School, I joined the U.S. Navy. When I was stationed in New London Connecticut (halfway between Boston and New York City) I was one of only three people in the entire town who rode twelve months a year. One time I remember going down the road (on ice) with both feet down, doing 360’s! A huge tree branch decapitated one of the three when he hit a patch of ice; but nothing could deter me from riding. In fact, at the time, I thought that without drugs, booze and motorcycles, life just couldn’t be worth living.

I learned to party hard-core in the military. On the ship, I had a New York City junky friend shoot me up with some clinical synthetic morphine. I immediately saw double, and got the dry heaves. It was the rush of my life, so naturally I had to teach myself how to shoot up. One time I remember being so careless, that I had dropped my works on the dirty kitchen floor, and then just picked it up and hit up without re-sterilizing… I can’t believe the things I used to do in order to try to satisfy the hole in my soul that only God can fill. I got to the point that I would do virtually any drug… at any time… anywhere.

When I was discharged from the service, I made some new biker friends, and was partying at the Copper Queen (now called the Home Den). The Tucson Chapter of the largest 1% Motorcycle Club in Arizona was there. They took a liking to us, and invited us to their clubhouse. As we hung around, over time, two of us were asked if we would like to prospect. I declined, and was no longer welcomed to hang around (surprise, surprise). I just wasn’t ready to commit to anything that was going to take away ANY of my freedom. I decided that I was going to be in charge of my life… not God… not a Motorcycle Club.

About that time, my sister had become one of them “Jesus Freaks.” She started talking about God, Jesus and the Bible. She even knew how to back up what she was saying with the Scriptures. Even though I didn’t want any part of it, I had to respect her for taking a stand. Next thing you know, my mother caved and accepted Christ. My dad threatened to divorce her if she didn’t return to the Catholic Church. She loved my dad, but packed her bags and told the Lord “I’ll do whatever you want me to. It’s in your hands.” Well, God’s Word says He hates divorce, and spared their marriage. But it freaked me out, that she was willing to take such a strong stand. Because my dad was a very overbearing guy, and up until then my mother was very compliant.

Time went by and I found myself working at a large micro-chip manufacturer as an equipment technician. I repaired and maintained the computer-controlled equipment used in the manufacture of integrated circuits. It was said of me “the other technicians work on the equipment: Ron works on the operators.” I was friends with most of the gals on the line, and used to party with them on weekend nights.

One Saturday night, we were looking for a party in progress. I led the way on my 600- pound bike: behind me followed a car and a truck. I was going about 50 or so, when my headlamp beam was suddenly shining straight out into the pitch black. No longer did the beam show the brown dirt road ahead. I hit the brakes, but to no avail. The bridge was out, and I caught MAJOR air. It was an 18-foot drop. I was not wearing a helmet. As a result, I was knocked out. I had a brain concussion, hamburger face, torn muscles in my back, a ruptured disc and a pinched sciatic nerve… severely pinched. The doctor told me I needed surgery. However, since I was less than 6 months on the job, I had virtually no medical coverage. I couldn’t afford the needed care. The doctor told me that if I lost control of my bladder, or my left foot (paralysis) I would immediately need surgery…period. Well, at that point, my foot had already become semi-numb and tingly.

My back pain was so severe that it would take me three to five minutes just to stand up from sitting on a kitchen chair. This may not sound that bad, but look at your watch and time four minutes. It seems like forever. And kitchen chairs are high – you are half way standing up already. It’s not like getting up from a low couch or chair. And this was with the help of a bunch of opiates and alcohol.

I didn’t like missing work, but due to the severe pain, I had no choice. I was bed-ridden for four days, but continued setting my alarm clock each day. I kept my alarm clock on the other side of the room. Because even without the injuries I was normally so groggy from the booze and drugs from the night before, I wouldn’t wake up if the clock were within reach.

My back was getting worse every day… not better. On the fifth day the alarm went off; I jumped out of bed, walked across the room and shut it off. In amazement, I realized my back was totally fine! Never better! I didn’t understand it because – as I said – it had gotten worse every day… NOT better. I called my mother to tell her not to worry (she was at the hospital when the doctor told me I wouldn’t walk for a minimum of 6 weeks). I said “my back is fine.” She replied calmly with “I knew it would be.” This really freaked me out, because she acted as though she expected it! I said “what do you mean you knew ?” She said “we all prayed for you at church last night.”

I was stunned. For the first time in my 28 years of life I KNEW that God existed. AND that HE CARED ABOUT ME! Now you have to realize that I was of the intellectual ilk, which required a logical explanation for everything. If I had prayed for myself, or if I had known in advance that those people were praying for me, I would have explained my healing by some sort of “mind over matter.” But since I had no prior knowledge of their prayers, I knew that God had chosen to answer their prayers and supernaturally heal me.

For the next several days I was elated and in awe of His great Love and Mercy toward me. I had done nothing but reject Him all my life, but He chose to make Himself known to me regardless. To make a long story short… I surrendered my life to the Supreme God of the universe… Jesus Christ. And I have no regrets… PERIOD.

This does not mean life is now trouble-free. The Christian life is NOT for wimps. Was getting your patch easy? NO… neither is carrying your Cross for Jesus. Your friends will most likely leave you, and some of your family will disown you. People you talk to will make fun of you behind your back. You will truly be an outcast. Do you have what it takes? God only knows. But I will tell you first hand, that I wouldn’t go back to living my life without God for anything. He satisfies infinitely better than all the drugs, booze, money and sex the entire world can offer. And as a bonus, when this life ends, it is actually just the beginning! Will you REIGN with the King in Heaven, or SERVE TIME with a defeated Satan in Hell eternally? The choice is yours… at least for now.

FULL THROTLE FOR JESUS!

If you would like to begin this journey now, simply pray the following prayer from your heart with all sincerely:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You. I ask You to forgive me for all my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again. Father, I give You my life to do with as You wish. I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Then contact any Calvary Chapel (Yellow Pages under “Churches,”) or any Bikers For Christ member ( www.bikersforchrist.org ) for additional information on how to grow in Christ. Find a Bible and read the Gospel of John.