Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1152386
BSHDFC E-Mag August 2019 | Page 5 By Rod Meyer, Oregon RD Editor's Note: What part of your bike is unnecessary? The clutch, the rear brake, the handlebars? Not likely! If it's going to do everything a motorcycle needs to do, it's going to need every part to succeed. I had been a Black Sheep member in Oregon for a year and a half when, out of the blue, I received a text from Na onal President Marty Edwards. "Call me, we need to talk." I was panicked thinking, "Oh no! What did I do now?" Then, shortly a er that I received a call from Ma Glanz, my Oregon Regional Director, telling me he was going to take some me off from being the RD. He was wondering if I might be interested in having the job. I called Marty. I was surprised he would even consider me. I had been a Black Sheep member for such a very short me, was without my own chapter, and I was just an area contact. All I wanted to do was build a chapter. I made excuses to myself like I wasn't qualified and needed to put in more me. So I told Marty I would think and pray about it and call him back in a week… thinking to myself I would probably call back and say no at this me. This just wasn't in my plans. I really just wanted to build my own chapter and prayed every day for the right people to come along… but I did pray about the invita on. I talked to my wife Diane [photo] who knows me best and is always honest with me. I also called several friends whom I love and trust and asked for their counsel. A er a week or so I called to accept the job. I knew without a doubt that God was asking me again to step up and go. Just like I knew he called be to become a Black Sheep three years earlier at the Crooked River Rally camp fire. But that's another story. I've been learning that God's plans are always be er than mine. Proverbs 16:9 says," We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." I am happy to say we do indeed now have a chapter! There are six members so far; three men and three women. I couldn't be happier! It's all about God's ming. He knows best! Every winter in February we have an Oregon state mee ng to discuss our year's plans and goals. This year the focus was our gi s Body Parts and talents; what we are good at. Our passage was 1 Corinthians 12:12 which talks about all of us being one body with many parts. This is how I see our state and its members. One body in Christ. As Black Sheep we are one body, but we have many parts. Every one of us has different skill sets, talents and gi s. So let's figure out where God has blessed us most and put it into prac ce to the best of our abili es. We have some members that love HOG and riding with them, or just hanging out with them and doing more of the local stuff. Some of us love the open roads so we go on long trips with HOG members. Then there are the boot shiners, like me. I love just taking the me one on one talking with people, ge ng to know about them and their families and maybe even ge ng to pray for them. We also have the members who are the "walk across the room" folks. These uninhibited Sheep will literally walk across the room and introduce themselves to complete strangers just to start a conversa on. Then, there are the hospital people. Personally, I don't like hospitals even in the best of situa ons, but last year I managed to go two different mes to pay a visit to someone. I fumbled through both mes trying to find my way around and searching for the person I needed to see. We have a member in central Oregon who is a chaplain and a gi ed "hospital guy." His name is Mike Taaffe. I finally called him a er a couple nose dives and discovered a wealth of informa on. He could teach a class on hospital visits. The point is we are all gi ed and good at something. God has appointed us all to serve in some unique way or form and nobody is any be er or worse than someone else. Every part is needed; every member is important. We are one serving unit with many parts. Each member has his or her place and func on and we are all necessary. We work best and are successful when we unite together and are dependent upon each other. I love my new job as the Oregon Regional Director! I'm s ll learning! Other members are helping me. We are a very close family here in Oregon. We all know each other pre y well and have each other's backs. We're doing good. Not perfect, but good. Thank you, Ma Glanz for the founda on you built here. Romans 8:28 is a very special verse to both Diane and me. God has proven the truth of this verse many mes over the 37 years we have been married. Not only is the verse painted on my bike, but 8/28 also happens to be our wedding anniversary date. "All things work together for the good of those who are in Christ Jesus and are called according to his purpose."