Written May 2008

Risk - the possibility of loss or injury.

Taking a risk means different things to different people at different points in their lives. Some of you might remember risks you took as a child and look back and wonder why you are still here. I remember when I was about 12 years old hitting a bullet with a hammer. I would now rank this as a very high possibility of loss or injury. Thank God for guardian angels. I think I still have some small fragments in my arm. This was one of many risks I’ve taken in my life.

Many of us take a risk each time we ride a motorcycle. We make the choice to ride and we consider the benefits and pleasure of riding a motorcycle worth the risk. Sometimes we ride “two-up” and share the risks of riding with our passenger. When I am riding with a passenger I try to be especially careful since “the possibility of loss or injury” now extends to another person.

We each have the free will to choose whether we will or won’t take risks as we face them. We also have the free will to choose to completely avoid certain risks. Living in Florida, we face the risk of hurricanes. We take measures to protect ourselves, our families, and our property in the event that a hurricane crosses our path. Some people might completely avoid living in Florida to reduce the risk of encountering a hurricane. Others live here and prepare their homes and families each time we are threatened by a hurricane. Some people simply ignore the threat completely.

Since I had a motorcycle accident earlier this year, I choose to wear more protective clothing and a full face helmet when I ride that motorcycle. I’ve experienced the consequences of sliding down the rode. I didn’t expect it to happen but I was prepared for it to happen. I was wearing a helmet and protective clothing.

Not many years ago I realized a risk I had taken for most of my adult life. Not only was I putting myself at risk but I was extending that same risk to my family. I’ll share more in the next article.

Here if you need me,

Chaplain Sonny






Written August 2008

Brother and Sister Bikers,

First, I want to say thanks for allowing me to serve as the Chapter Chaplain for another term. It is my honor and blessing to be a part of ABATE.

In the previous newsletter, I wrote about Risk but I didn’t quite get finished with what I had to share. We all face risks in our lives and we each have the free will to choose whether we will or won’t take risks as we face them. I mentioned that I had taken a risk most of my life. The risk I took was by my choice. As the (spiritual) leader of my family I was forcing my family members to face the same risk. As the leader of my family, if I’m not leading them closer to God, then I’m leading them further away. There is no middle ground.

For most of my life I believed in God’s existence. I believed in heaven and hell. I believed that God existed in the form of a Trinity as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believed that God the Father created the heavens, the earth, and us. I believed that God the Son (Jesus) came to earth and died for our sins. I believed that the Holy Spirit was with us now to serve as our comforter and to guide and convict us.

It was never a matter of not believing. It was that I chose to ignore these things. God exists and I was ignoring Him. So what was the risk? Many people don’t believe in the Bible. I believe it and try to read some of it on a daily basis. The Bible tells us that heaven and hell exist. If you choose not to believe that then you are taking a risk if the Bible is true. It tells us that we can never be good enough to get to heaven, but because Jesus accepted the punishment for our sins (past, present, and future) through Him we can receive the gift of eternal life in heaven.

Your relationship with God is none of my business. Your relationship with God is between you and Him. God loves us. When I made the decision to accept Jesus as my Savior I couldn’t help but want to share with others what I have learned from my decision to love God back. I had been blessed throughout my life far beyond anything I deserved. It was time that I expressed gratitude for my Blessings. I simply asked God to “use me” and He gave me the opportunity to serve Him by being a Christian biker.

God loves you and has a plan for your life. I encourage you to love Him back.

God Bless you.

Here if you need me,

Chaplain Sonny