Chapter Elders
Chaplain Dave Bates
AKA "Cue Ball"
chaplain_dave_bfc@clearwire.net
"Big Mike" Wright
bfcsanta@yahoo.com
(For Those Born Again to Be Wild)*

~I ride first and foremost because God has called me to do so.

~But, I also ride because I enjoy the freedom I feel from being exposed
to the elements, the vulnerability to the danger that is intrinsic to riding,
and the pure pleasure of it.

~I do not ride because it is fashionable to do so. Thus, I ride my
machine, not wear it. My machine is not a status symbol—it exists for me
by the grace of God.

~My machine is not a toy—it is a mechanical wonder in chrome and steel.
As a good steward, I will treat it with all due respect. So, I will strive to
understand all the inner-workings of my machine from the most basic to
the most complex. I will learn everything I can about my machine so that
I am reliant on no one but myself for its operation.

~I will strive to constantly better my skills and control over my machine.
I will learn its limits and use my skill so that I may ride safe and stay
alive. I am the master of this machine, and it is my servant. Working
together in harmony, we will become a team.

~My machine should last longer than I do. Therefore, it is a legacy. I will
care for it so that future bikers can enjoy it as much as I have.

~I do not fear death for my life is in God’s hands. He has ordered the
precise details of my death. Thus, fear will be overcome by confidence in
my Lord. I will, however, do everything possible to avoid death due to
my own carelessness, inattentiveness, or recklessness.

~I do not ride to gain attention, respect, or fear from those that do not
ride, nor do I wish to intimidate or annoy them. For such non-riders that
do not know me, I simply ask for them to try and get to know me. And,
for those that do desire to know me, I will share with them the truth
about myself so that they might understand me and not fear me nor
others like me.

~I will not judge other bikers on their choice of machine, their
appearance, or their profession–I will see them only as bikers. I am
thankful to God for who I am as a biker and for the machine that I ride,
but I will not flaunt such before others. If others ask about who I am or
what I do as a biker, I will share with them.

~I will show respect to other bikers more experienced or knowledgeable
than myself. I will learn from them all that I can. Too, I will not show
disrespect to other bikers less experienced or knowledgeable than me. I
will teach them what I know.

~It will be my task to mentor new riders in the biker lifestyle so that our
lineage may continue. I will instruct them just as I have been taught
preserving and honoring the traditions of bikers before me; and I will
pass on these traditions unaltered.

~I will never pass by a biker pulled over on the side of a road, but I will
stop and be ready to assist as best that I can any biker that truly needs
my help.

~I will never ask another biker to do for me what I can do for myself.

~I will never be the aggressor on the highway; nevertheless, should
others mess with me, their aggression will be dealt with in a manner that
will both honor Jesus Christ as well as protect other bikers and myself
from them.

~I am not a part-time biker. I am a biker whenever and wherever I go. I
am thankful to be a biker, and I hide my chosen lifestyle from no one. I
ride because I love freedom, independence, and the movement of the
ground beneath me as well as to better understand myself as God has
created me to be. But the main reason that I ride is because I have been
called of God to glorify Him by sharing the height and width and depth of
His love to the bikers that He brings across my path.

*(The original version of this credo was previously published in “Thunder Roads” magazine
“anonymously.” It is been extensively adapted for use by BFC, B’ham, and it is reserved in its
present form by BFC, B’ham.  However, it may be used in its present form by any Christian
biker–our prayer is that it may prove to be a blessing to many.
Some Wish to live within the sound of
church or chape
l Bells;
We wish to set up a rescue shop
within a yard of Hell!!
Bikers for Christ
Central Valley Chapter
Stockton/Modesto California
The Original
777 Crew