Hi everyone! The complete news story on this will be posted soon (as soon as Dad either emails it to me or uploads it himself.) In the meantime, the short form is that Dad recently received a custom-built Fire Rescue Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Dad recently drove the bike cross-country from Pryor to his current base of operations in Owyhee, NV. More info soon, but for now, enjoy these pictures of the newest addition to the Faith Alive motor fleet.

FAITH AND OBEDIENCE BRING BLESSINGS
by Lloyd Marihugh (July 2007)

If you are reading this article you have probably seen the pictures of The Preaching Machine on the website or seen the bike and myself somewhere across the country. I appreciate you taking your time to read the story of this special motorcycle and how it came into my possession.

First of all, a few questions about the motorcycle need to be answered.  The motorcycle is custom-built by Myers-Duren Harley-Davidson of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  It was commissioned by the Tulsa Crime Commission to be built as a fundraiser for their support of the fire and police departments.

This motorcycle to me is a gift from God and I do not believe that it was an accident for me to receive it. A supernatural series of events had to occur for me to receive this bike. Let me assure you that the Lord Jesus is no respecter of persons and He didn’t just draw me out of some hat to bless. He desires to bless each and everyone of His creation.

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I am committed to live by faith in Jesus and His word. The Word lays down two verses that become key to our receiving the blessing and results of the blessing from God. The first is Isaiah 1:19: “If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the fat (good) of the land.” The second is John 10:27 where Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” These are not the only two principles to follow but these two go a long way in causing us to walk in the blessing.

I have been a believer for some time now and have desired to see more of the Lord’s work in my life. I desired to see my life moved to the level that the Scriptures say a believer should be living. It was for this reason that in the winter of 2005-2006 that I prayed telling the Lord that I realized that one of the areas where I was coming short was in obedience, not in what we would consider the large directions but in the small guidance. I was missing His directions because I wasn’t recognizing His voice. I committed to obeying what I heard even to the point of looking ridiculous. I would not allow myself to reason away His leading. If what I heard did not violate Scripture, break a law, or harm someone I would obey it. This was my commitment in learning to hear Jesus’ voice and to be obedient. These set up for the marvelous story you are about to hear.

A number of years ago the Lord told me to pray over my home county while riding the roads on my motorcycle. Before I ever started, the motorcycle I had developed mechanical problems that prevented me from riding it. I bought another motorcycle with the idea to rebuild it for this purpose but it turned out to be a bigger job than I anticipated.

Each spring I would again try to repair the one or rebuild the other bike but there was always some reason that I did not finish the job. The prayer assignment kept waiting: unfinished. Winter would come and I would vow to do something in the spring.

Shortly after I had prayed to obey Jesus’ voice, He said, “I need that prayer done this year.” I had realized that both of the motorcycles were beyond my ability to repair or rebuild and I did not possess the finances to hire the work done, so I replied that I most certainly was willing but “we will have to repair, rebuild or replace the motorcycle”.

As I was coming to the end of my employment with Wal-Mart I knew that I would be having is a cash payment from the profit sharing.  I had the idea that I would simply take part of that money and buy myself a nice used motorcycle to complete the prayer project on.

While waiting for the payout, my wife and I decided to go to a Bible seminar in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  During this weeklong seminar we would go out to dine between services.  One evening we decided we wanted some ice cream with our dinner so in order to not use the debit card for small purchases and since there was a branch office of our bank close to the Bible college, I decided to go to the ATM to obtain the cash needed.

When I arrived at the bank and began to go through the ATM drive through, I felt I should go into the lobby.  Remembering my prayer to obey God in the small things I spoke to my wife, pulled out of the drive through and around to the parking lot.  When I entered the lobby of that branch the Fire and Rescue motorcycle was on display.  Having always enjoyed motorcycles, and having ridden motorcycles for almost forty years, I stopped to take a look.  One of the tellers walked up to me and asked me if I was going to buy a ticket. He explained this was one of two bikes to be used as fundraisers for the Tulsa Crime Commission.  My reply was  “I don't gamble.”

I proceeded to go to the counter and get my cash.  As I left the bank I again stopped to look at the motorcycle, thinking, “This bike is too pretty, too nice, to just be a show bike.  This bike needs to preach the gospel.”  I prayed over the bike, calling it into the ministry.

My wife and I proceeded with our dinner. We then returned to the Bible seminar.  We enjoyed ourselves at the seminar and then returned home for the evening.  The next morning when I awoke, I shared a dream about the bike I'd had with my wife. It had simply been in my dream. My wife said, “It is for a good cause. Go buy a ticket.” I went back that afternoon to the bank and purchased two raffle tickets on the bike. The teller asked me, “How many do you need?” I replied, “I only need one but I going to get two.” The tickets were $25.00 each or two for $40.00.

The rally and the drawing were scheduled for April 22, 2006. For that date I noted in my PDA, “Pick up motorcycle.” On April 22, our ministry team had a service in one of the prisons so we were unable to attend the rally. When we returned home after the service there was a new message on our answering machine. At first I didn’t put it together since the call was from the Tulsa Fire Department and we live fifty miles outside of the Tulsa fire district. Though it was midnight, the time stamp on the message was 11:35pm, so I returned the call. After verifying my name, the caller asked if I had purchased a ticket on a motorcycle. When I said, “Yes,” he informed me they had drawn my name that afternoon. He told me how much the taxes would be and asked if I would receive the bike. I had just received the payout on my profit sharing so the money was in the bank to pay the taxes. I paid the fees needed and took the bike out to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have had the privilege in the past year of sharing this story from Oklahoma to Nevada. In fact, everywhere I have stopped at least one person has asked me about the bike. The motorcycle has become a tool to preach the goodness of God.

God wants to bless all of His creation through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is not a respecter of persons but accepts all who will come to Him. I do not spend time convincing you how bad I was before Jesus entered my life because it does not matter. God wants to bless you. It begins with receiving Jesus as your Savior. It is obedience to the call of God. What you have or haven’t done doesn’t matter; it is what you do now with the person of Jesus Christ. “He your Savior wants to be.”

Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”(John 16: 33). Trouble comes whether we serve Jesus or not but He is always there “to do exceeding abundantly, above all we ask or think”(Eph. 3: 20). I thought used motorcycle. He thought brand new, custom built, one of a kind motorcycle. Why don’t you trust Him with your life?

Just say, “Jesus, I believe. I give my life to you. Take over my life”

For more information or for prayer call or write:

Lloyd Marihugh

P.O.Box 330

Owyhee, NV 89832

Ph. 775-757-2055