CMA/Ohio - Merciful Eagles

08/07/2026

Riding in a group: Some groups lack basic riding protocol. Here are some tips; let me know if I missed anything or got something wrong.

1) Trikes and three-wheelers, ride in back. I have mad respect for y’all; most of you have ridden on 2 wheels for a long time and ride trikes now just to keep your knees in the breeze, but I can’t see around you. I also can’t see if you are giving signals with your legs. Also, see #2.

2) New to riding and new to the group ride in back in front of the trikes. Trikes, you are the sweep and the qualified eyes back there to keep an eye on things. After the ride, debrief the road captain: is this new guy a good rider?

3) Formation should be Road captain front left, next highest qualified rider front right. Learn each other's signals and stay consistent.

4) Learn signals that will be given in front of you and pass them back. For example, a low hand wave generally means debris in the road. Do not give unnecessary signals; a dead deer in the shoulder on the other side of the road is not cause for concern. All signals should be discussed in a safety brief before the ride.

5) In most instances, NEVER pass a rider in the group so you can move up. This should get you checked in a hurry, every time.

6) Ride staggered; peg to peg is for other folks, not 99% of you.

7) Ride your ride. Be aware of your surroundings, watch for intersections, pedestrians, and wildlife. Do not concentrate on the taillight in front of you.

😎 Arrive at the planned start of the ride early, with a full tank of gas.

9) Never leave anyone behind. Pull over in a safe spot and wait for them to catch up if they got stuck at a red light or stop sign. Also, never leave the group without prior discussion.

10) If you are joining mid-ride, go to the back. Do not try to jump to the middle of the group.

07/07/2026

Stinking’ woodpeckers and chipmunks! The woodpeckers trying to make my cedar trim into Swiss cheese and then the chipmunks chewed a hole in the soffit. You won’t see this type of finish carpentry on This Old House, but those chipmunks won’t be able to chew through that aluminum flashing.

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

If you were a church, would your family attend? What kind of spiritual guidance are you providing? Would your family chose to be a part of it?

05/18/2026

Biker Blessing with Righteous riders and merciful eagles in akron today!

05/03/2026

The message this morning truly resonated with me. Jesus last words always seemed puzzling to me, so I did a little deeper dive after I got home this morning.

“Famous Last Words” in Pastor Gary’s series.

Jesus’ words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)

The seven last words spoken from the cross, were spoken in Aramaic (“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”) near the end of his suffering, around the ninth hour.

As Pastor said, Jesus is quoting the opening of Psalm 22, a messianic psalm written by David that vividly foreshadows the crucifixion—centuries before Roman crucifixion existed. This is a culture where quoting the start of a psalm would call the whole thing to mind. 
Many details in Psalm 22 parallel the crucifixion:
• Mocking and insults (Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39-43).
• Pierced hands and feet, bones out of joint (Psalm 22:16-17).
• Casting lots for clothing (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24).
• The psalm ends with praise and the declaration that God has not hidden his face (Psalm 22:24).
Jesus is thus fulfilling prophecy while expressing genuine anguish. Those words represent:

1. Real Experience of Separation: At that moment, Jesus bore the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:6). God, who is holy and cannot look upon sin with favor, poured out his wrath on the Son in our place. Jesus experienced the spiritual desolation and broken fellowship with the Father that sin causes—something he had never known in eternity past. This was the “cup” he prayed to avoid in Gethsemane. It was not ultimate abandonment (he would rise), but a profound, temporary forsakenness for our redemption. 
2. Expression of Human Anguish and Trust: Jesus fully experienced human suffering. The cry shows his genuine humanity and pain, yet he still addresses God as “My God,” showing underlying trust - Jesus feels forsaken but knows God hears and will vindicate.
3. It was a public proclamation to those present who were familiar with Psalm 22 as being fulfilled before their eyes, reinforcing that Jesus is the Messiah. Some bystanders even misunderstood it as a call for Elijah. 

What It Does Not Mean:
• It does not mean the Trinity was broken or that the Father stopped loving the Son. The atonement was the work of the triune God. 
• It is not despair without hope—the psalm, and Jesus’ resurrection, shows triumph follows.
• Jesus knew the plan and even though he predicted his death and resurrection, that knowledge did not remove the real experiential weight of the moment. 

Jesus’ cry reveals the depth of his suffering as our substitute, fulfills Scripture, and points to ultimate victory. It assures us that even in our darkest feelings of abandonment, God understands and has provided a way through the cross. The one who was forsaken for us ensures we never have to be ultimately forsaken.

05/02/2026

Great day for Prayer on and off the bike in NE Ohio!! Thank you to all of our Run for the Son donors and supporters! You are loved and very much appreciated!!

04/23/2026

First CMA dinner ride of the year!