The Salvation Prayer

And the lion shall lay with the Lamb.

The other day I got to say the salvation prayer with 4 year old baby James. The night before, he had told Mommy that he was afraid of what happens after you die. So she had a conversation with him about heaven and Hades. She pulled out her phone and Google pictures to show him. He was struck by how the hungry animals were not eating the children who were confidently resting on them. It may be many years before he understands the weight of asking Jesus into his heart, but he gladly did it with me.

The other day my phone rang, and when I answered it the other party said they had the wrong number. I told them no they didn't, they must have needed to have Jesus in their heart, and did they want to say the prayer with me? And so there we were on a wrong number call, saying the Salvation prayer.

Are you ready at any moment? Who knows when the Father will give you an opportunity to say the Salvation prayer with somebody? Here let's say it together now:

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me to pay the death penalty for my sins. Please come into my heart, forgive me, change me from the inside, and be my Lord and Savior. Amen

It's just that simple. Maybe somebody's been waiting for you to open the door for them.

James Disciple Johnson
Natl President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

God Can Really Give a Spanking

1 Corinthians 11:31But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.…

My critics first response, when I am administering discipline, is who disciplines me? The obvious answer is myself. I am my own biggest critic, constantly seeking improvement and deeper spiritual depth. The next obvious answer is God. He disciplines the son He loves. Well He must really love me. He's broken my ribs, taken my job, fluctuated my income, He really knows how to bring it. He also knows how to make my path smooth as silk when I'm pleasing Him.

Hebrews 12:6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son."

But at the end of the day, in this club, the buck stops with me. When a bro has a history of inappropriate actions that gets brought to me to deal with, I'm the guy that gets to deal with it. And that's OK, I've been doing it for years in the corporate, MC and church world.

And I've noticed that the guys who have the most stuff to say are the ones to whom the most discipline has had to be applied.

But imagine if you will,  what an organization like this would be if no one had the guts to sit in the final chair, and decide among brothers when the complaints get brought up? Imagine is no one had the authority to bring discipline? And if everything I do doesn't make sense to you, just remember, there are facts that you may not have that went into that decision, no matter how much you feel you know about the situation. And there was hours of prayer, there was decades of God and men of God who poured training into me to prepare me to sit in the hot seat of leadership.

Now I'm not perfect, of course Im not. If you have the privilege of holding a microscope over my life for years, bless me, you are going to have lots to point the hot finger of indignant judgement at. Oh laws yes. And if every pastor had to be perfect to preach the Word, no preaching would happen. And so the Lord carries right on disciplining us.

And the best thing to do when things seem tough is to assess, is this an attack of the enemy, or a spanking from Daddy? Not all bad circumstances are actually bad in the long run.

So lets be open and honest with God, others and ourselves. Let's respect authority, and leadership. Let's keep right on being judgemental and indignant. Not toward everyone else as the "church" would have us do, but to ourselves.

James Disciple Johnson
Natl President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

Showing Grace When Leaving an MC

When people leave an MC sometimes its for perfectly good reasons. I can think of a lot of guys who felt they needed to leave and did it respectfully.

Many have quit for perfectly good reasons and then come back later. We are so glad they are back. We welcome anyone back.

And some leave and talk smack. They are offended about something, legitimate or not, and can't get over it. Sometimes it's a spirit of anger that causes them to get mad over every little perceived offense and not be able to get over it, like other men can. Sometimes it's a difference of opinion about how an organization should be run, and they lose sight of the mission and flame out. Sometimes it's a spirit of pride and they can't take correction when they've stepped out of line. It might be any number of things, some harder to understand than others. In the heat of the moment it's hard to know, but they might repent and show up apologizing in a few months. Give them grace.

What matters is grace. Everybody screws up. Everyone goes off half cocked, kicking and screaming every once in a while, me included. Don't make a habit of it,  or that will be your reputation. Be ready to love those who left. Forgive them for their smack talk even if they haven't asked for it. Don't engage in the title for tat on social media. Smile, nod, and encourage them to be polite.

The 'church' does enough shouting and fingerpointing. There is enough disagreement and vitriol there. Let's be something different.

After all,  we believe in grace and mercy, and we need to live that and show it.

James Disciple Johnson
Natl President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

Heart of the King, Hand of the Lord

God is capable of moving the mighty Mississippi a mile from its current riverbed, and does that at times. He's also capable of moving me, or anyone else, anywhere he wants us. He can change the heart of a king, or any leader, at the snap of his fingers. So don't get hung up, raging at a king. Check yourself, or check with God...not learning what He is trying to teach you is going to be a humbling and miserable experience. Having a stiff neck toward a king in your life whether it's the president or your boss, isn't going to make you grow, it's just going to chafe at you till you bleed, and everyone will be sitting there wondering why you are bleeding.
It's undoubtedly true that God is always subtly trying to change you, mold you as a potter molds clay. Are you moldable, teachable, listening? Or are you fighting against what He trying to teach you? 

A Prospect Is...

Let me be clear.  A prospect is not a punk. This is not a fraternity. A prospect is not to be 'seen and not heard'. I don't want prospects being fake and humble and quiet, then get their rag and cut loose, and it's like 'who is this guy?'

I treat a prospect just like I treat a brother, it's no different. If a prospect needs to be taught, I'll do that. But the same goes for a brother, a state president, a national officer, and yes even me. I don't have some special aura toward prospects. If a prospect is a solid man, I don't have to work on him to change his behavior. If a prospect is immature, or has anger and pride issues, he's gonna get it. It's gonna be a tough road for him until he becomes reachable, teachable.

Act like yourself. Be a Disciple. Be who you are gonna be when you get a patch. Don't be all meek and mild then get your patch and be real. Don't be a fake. I can't stand a fake.

If you get challenged, if you are questioned for being out of line then listen, do surgery, and CUT THAT PART OFF. Don't go into being a full patch with the same dumb habits you had when you come here. Yes, we will expect some changes in you, not just hiding behavior, but changing it.

The patch doesn't make the man. You're not a punk because you wear a prospect patch. You are here to SHOW US WHO YOU REALLY ARE. If you change when you get the patch, I'm gonna take that patch right back, trust me.

Yes a prospect should be respectful. But then a full patch should be respectful too. A prospect should serve and learn a servants heart. But then being a full patch is about ministry, and the word ministry means service. The more you do in this club, the more service you do. Being a leader is all about humility and service. The first shall be last, and servant of all. Prospects fetch water and red bull, full patches teach life lessons. It's all service,and you're supposed to pick up that lifestyle as a prospect.

Full patches: you are to be honorable and kind to prospects. Can we be tough and harsh when the circumstances demand it? Of course, but humility and honor come first. No one can yell at a prospect louder than I can, but then that prospect also has had me be kind and friendly to him as well. If they don't see you as kind and godly, all the yelling in the world will just make them lose respect for you. But when they see your servants heart they will long to follow you to the gates of hell.

Take initiative men. Exercise humility, leadership, responsibility, grace, strength and kindness. Be known for being prompt and manly. But don't be a punk, don't be punked, and don't be fake. You better not change one iota when you get your patch. You know...if you ever get a patch.

James Disciple Johnson
Natl President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

What Biblical Brotherhood Looks Like

Some could have a deep misunderstanding of brotherhood as being something where you are constantly correcting the guy next to you. Seeking his faults and pointing them out to others, complaining about that other guy. Claiming that you're just iron sharpening iron.

But in fact you may have become what 1 Cor 13 calls an annoying noise. If I don't have love I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal. This is not brotherhood. It's NOT why I started the club. And I don't care if you are a prospect for 10 years, you'll never get my vote until you fix it. Never. Love is what fixes it. I need to see love toward the brothers. Not one brother, or the brothers in another charter, or your ma, but toward the brother who rubs you the wrong way too.

Here are some verses to meditate on about brotherhood. I'm going to expect you prospects to be able to explain them to me. And more, to live them.

James 5:19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.

Proverbs 17:9 He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Sharing Full Patch Pictures

Here are some guidelines for how supporters and up can post pictures of themselves with a full-patch.

First of all it is a core belief that it's important for us to be able to share cool looking pictures on social media for our followers, and advertise our presence to potential members. Therefore it's intrinsically important that cool looking pictures of us riding in a pack, or various people standing next to us such as supporters and hang around in group pictures, be shared on social media.

There is a prohibition on posting pictures of a patch you haven't earned, but this is more for new supporters not to make their profile picture our back patch.

Accordingly if we take a group picture, a prospect, hang around or supporter in the picture should be able to share the picture on social media, and not be restricted from doing so just because one of us has our patch visible. Remember that we're not a 1% Club and we don't need to always follow their guidelines in everything. It shouldn't be if an old lady takes a picture of the group of us that she can't post it for fear of her husband getting reprimanded, nor should we miss out on the opportunity to share epic or iconic images of our organization like a bunch of Brothers riding in the wind. So here's my direction

1. Feel free to post group pictures of Disciples riding, or standing together.
2. Group pictures are defined as pictures we know you're taking, for instance if a group of us is out riding or staring at a camera, as opposed to sneaking in and taking a picture of a secret meeting, or pictures of us when we aren't looking and didn't authorize it.
3. If you appear in a picture, and a full patch is visible, that's okay to post. Because you appear in the picture.
4. You can share a full patch picture from a full patches page. You're clearly sharing somebody else's post so that's okay to do as opposed to posting as if it's you.
5. A RIP picture of a fallen Disciple with his cut.
6. If a full patch feels a certain picture is inappropriate be gracious in asking for its remove, and explain why as well so it's clear.
7. And of course... No pictures with 1%ers, support gear,  or their support clubs.

Hopefully this helps you, and of course if you ever have questions call your ma!

James Disciple Johnson
Natl President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

How to Squash Drama

How to Squash Drama 

I've got a lot of experience in dealing with drama. In churches, in the corporate world, and in motorcycle clubs. Drama is the biggest enemy of any organization. It's like a cancer that eats from the inside out. Churches split, corporations lose money, motorcycle clubs lose entire charters over drama.

So let's define what drama is and how to recognize it. Drama is people not following Scripture. Its people talking ABOUT other people rather than talking TO other people. It's gossip, poison, dissatisfaction. Drama can normally be dealt with simply by talking to the person you were concerned with and simply clearing up the miscommunication or misunderstanding. But immature people don't have the balls to go to the person they have a problem with, so they go to everybody else instead out of cowardice. Normally drama comes from misunderstandings and misperceptions about what somebody is, says or does.

Drama sounds like this:
"Well what she/he said/did is...."
"Well he/she needs to give a second thought to what he's doing because I think...."
"Where does your allegiance lay?"
"They don't know where your allegiance lies so they haven't confided in you... "
"I've done this for you so you need to be on my side..."
"I'll back your play."
"There need to be some changes around here because.... "
"Well what I don't like around here is...."
All this stuff is perfectly understood and accepted in the world, cuz that's how the flesh operates. But in the Christian world, we have a higher standard.

These kind of comments come from helpless and powerless people who want to be in control, but God has not seen fit to put in control. They simply do not understand the level that God has placed them at. While they are desperate for power and hungry for attention, they're dissatisfied with the fact that God has not put them in those places. Truly, their problem isn't with the person they're talking about, but with God. For surely, if God had meant them to be in control, God would have put them in that place. Or of course God is an idiot who doesn't know what He's doing....

So how do you squash drama?

First is to recognize that this person is trying to drag you down. Don't be amazed and bedazzled that they chose you to vomit their trash on to. Be disgusted and disturbed that they think you'd be interested in taking your focus off of mission and ministry and putting it on politics and the political aspirations of men.

Second, just tell them to follow through with what the Word says in Matthew 18: if you have a problem with that person, go to that person, it's not right for you to talk to me about it. Tell them to grow a pair, and go talk to the person they're upset with rather than you. This is where the 24 hour rule comes from, you have 24 hours to go talk to that person that you're complaining about, or else I'm going to put you on Front Street and tell them what you said. After all do you have a covenant allegiance to that person, Or to God?

Third, recognize that this person that's saying these things to you is out of line,  and in the wrong. Pray for them, that they not be focused on the things of man, but they be focused on the things of God. Pray for them that they develop spiritually to the point where God can use them more thoroughly. After all if there is a legitimate problem, they can pray to God, and He will solve it. He is actually capable of that.

Last, have a mindset of mission and ministry, not politics and criticism. People are going to hell. Rather than focus on what may have been a misstep by someone or not, focus on the fact that people need to be saved. Every moment spent on drama is an insult to God, and an insult to the souls who will burn in hell for eternity. Are we about drama, or eternal heaven for lost souls?

And that's critical to remember.

James Disciple Johnson
Natl President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club 

DISCIPLE CMC BLOG: How to Squash Drama

http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-squash-drama.html?m=1

The 24 Hour Rule

The 24 Hour Rule

The Bible is clear and simple. In Matthew 18 it makes a simple and clear rule: if you have a problem with someone, you go to that person. You don't go to anyone else, you don't make it public knowledge, you dont Facebook it, you don't get all the guys you like in your organization on your side first, YOU GO TO THE PERSON,and you win them over.

The 24 hour rule is simple. If you start questioning the motives of or complaining about another person to me, I will stop you. I'll ask you if you have already spoken to them. If you have or if you haven't, I will then tell you that YOU HAVE 24 HOURS to talk to them, and then I'm putting you on front street and telling them everything you just told me.

The only exception, per Matthew 18 is if I am the next level higher in authority, and you already spoke to them as it didn't get resolved.

Your deal is with them, YOU TALK TO THEM. That's how you kill drama. That's how you squash the rumor mill. I don't want to hear your complaints, I'm not gonna be part of the drama machine,  that's not grown up behavior, I want you to talk to them. This goes for lah-dee-dah-dee EVERYBODY in Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club, national officers, presidents, full patches, prospects, hangarounds, supporters, and old ladies too.

Gossip is a sin. Talk is cheap. Insulting others isn't cool. None of that. And if I hear you violated the 24 hour rule I can and will impose consequences and repercussions on you, your ma, your charter boss, whatever I need to do to get the point across. So be notified, tell your son's, tell your charter, and MOST ESPECIALLY tell your old lady because that's quite frankly where I've seen a lot of this junk start. You need to make it CLEAR to everybody everywhere that you do the 24 hour rule cuz your a grown up,and you don't need them drawing you into their trap. We are about mission and ministry, not drama and politics. 

#DramaFreeMC #ThatsHowWeRoll #24HourRule

DISCIPLE CMC BLOG: The 24 Hour Rule

http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-24-hour-rule.html?m=1