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February 2009 |
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From The President's Desk |
What am I supposed to do as I stand at this cross road in my spiritual life? If I had to put into words a common theme among the members of the CSBA this would be it. Some come here to be fed; others come here to help feed those in need. This winter Pastor Art Lohman and I put on a knee dragging clinic down in Daytona Florida. It was not just Art and I but many people that helped put this together, there were many hands and many different skill sets that had made the event such a success. Our Winter Rally is fast approaching, check the forum for more details http://www.christiansportbike.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3827 The goal of this winter meeting is to help answer the question of "What am I supposed to do?" We will go over the nuts and bolts of what it takes to be a Christian Leader and how you can apply these to your personality. We have men who will be sharing the fundamental aspects of organizing for Christ. If you have asked that question and you are looking for answers please join us. Bob Brown President
Written by Art Lohman and Bob Brown
The CSBA Knee Draggin' Clinic was born of a deep rooted desire to reach men on the street with faith in Jesus Christ so they might have the skills and confidence to pass safely through life's many trials and challenges. So what does learning to drag your knee on a parking lot have to do with someone putting their faith in Christ? The similarities between the two are amazing. But first, it's something you have to want. When you see an experienced rider with that mile wide smile after ripping it up on a back road or the track, it's enough for most of us to want learn more about what we do as riders and how we do it. Our faith is no different. Others become curious about it, not so much from our words but by our smiles, our confidence, and the inner peace that comes with salvation.
Like our lives, the track and street will have many curves, and sometimes we can quickly find ourselves in over our heads. I use the analogy of a corner that is much sharper than we anticipated. In blunt terms I have always referred to them as the "Oh SH*T!" corners. As riders we have all been there, a white knuckle moment where we either make mistakes and crash, or our experiences and skills bring us safely through.
The Knee Draggin' Clinic was a good example of what it takes to share a concept and then be able to put it into practice. In the beginning, I spoke of why I was there, a thousand miles from home, to share what I know, both as a rider and as a man of faith. Many times over the years I have seen riders on Friday, after purchasing the bike of their dreams, ready to burst with joy, only to see them on Monday, willing to chuck the whole idea of riding away because they were injured in a crash or had a close call their first weekend out.
They did not have the gear or the training to make riding fun or safe. I could only reflect on the enjoyment I have received, and the thrills I have had over the years on my bike. It broke my heart to think that these same guys, who had such enthusiasm a few days ago, were now willing give up.
I talked about my faith. It too had saved me over the years from the hard crashes I faced in life. My faith and training in God's Word did not mean that I was exempt from life's crashes, but I was better able to survive. I pointed to my suit, well worn and heavily rashed, it had protected me many times, giving me the confidence to enjoy the speed and push hard into a corner. I could not imagine riding in shorts and sneakers any more than I could imagine life without faith.
As Pastor Art Lohman said, "Ideas have consequences. Just like the knees that came so close to touching down, but were held back by the thoughts, the ideas, that there is no way this will work. Our society has the idea that we can exist without God. The consequences of this way of thinking are very evident in the violent crime, collapse of families, rampant immorality, greed and the sexual abuse of children that we are experiencing in our nation." Yeah, we can "exist" that way, but it's not living. As a result, many, many people are headed for a crash.
As Christians, we have the Word of God as an anchor for our conduct, and we have the Holy Spirit to comfort us in the tough times. We have the inner peace that most of the world seeks out.
So, how do we create an environment where people are willing to come and learn about their bikes and faith?
It takes
many people and actions for things to fall into place. For us to teach the
proper body position, it took the ground work of Art Lohman to set up the
whole project, a faithful man named TJ from Deland Motorsports to prep the
bike, Pastor Sean of the Daytona Alliance Church to let use his parking
lot, his congregation to put together the lunch we enjoyed. It also took
Bernie giving
I told the riders that one of the best things about getting it right on the bike is that "It Feels Right." No one needs to tell you you're doing it right. When your bike feels like it's on rails through the corners. I challenged these guys to test what they learned there in the parking lot, so that they would know when it felt right. I asked that they use the same test for faith, to try it out, take a chance and learn about God. No one would have to tell them it was right, it would feel right. The power of Christ and the Holy Spirit make my attempts at coaching seem pretty feeble.
Of the 30 or so riders, we had 8 crashes that weekend. One crash was mine, and one other resulted in a broken ankle. Many people put a knee down for the very first time, and everyone who participated increased their skill level by what I thought were remarkable gains. All were wearing huge smiles! The real test though, was the spiritual one. From our group of almost 50 riders, 15 of them took a Bible from Art. So, someone thought there was enough going on here to at least look into what God had to offer for them. That, my good friend, is success!
Are you interested in hosting a Knee Draggin Clinic for Christ? Contact me and I will be glad to help put it together with you.
Currently Joe Cotterino is planning one in the spring in the Northern Pa. area if you are interested in being part of this event as a helper please contact: Joe Cowboy 6:JCotterino@CSBRacing.com
Support Needed
During last year’s Winter Leadership Meeting, the topic of financial support for CSBRacing Mid-Atlantic, specifically Art Lohman and me being a vital part of our outreach ministry was broached. As was discussed, our ministry is in dire need of assistance. It was agreed upon by the body present that this would be a great idea to set up a fund. So…..
For one reason or another, it never really happened. We did get a check from one person and we were very grateful. With Art’s retirement from the MD State Police and subsequent move to Florida, this need has actually increased. Art’s retirement income has now put him in a position that actually threatens his ability to make it to the events scheduled for the Mid-Atlantic series for 2009. While I am ready willing and able to continue our mission alone, my effectiveness without Art will be incredibly diminished. Art has started something with these people that has just started to grow. With a current attendance to our chapel services in the 60+ range, we have made huge progress over the 3 attendees of the first service back in 2006. This ministry needs Art to be there in the midst of it all feeding this little tree he planted. If he is not there to provide that special water that only Art Lohman can pour, I fear for the tree.
We of the CSBA are a very special group of people. We are not here just because we love motorcycles. You can belong to any group for that. We are here because we have a connection, a Brotherhood in Christ. We come from all different backgrounds with unique individual histories. But when a group of men and women get together with a common goal, anything can happen. Even more so, our goal is God focused and as we all know, with God anything is possible.
So, with no further ado:
Welcome the “Fuel Fund.” The fund’s function is to raise much needed money to get the team to the various tracks where their flock awaits tending and home again. We need this funding regardless of the actual racing that goes on. If we only go to each venue to simply hold chapel service, do Bible study, children’s Bible study, hand out Bibles, comfort the spiritually and physically wounded, and so on, we still need to get there and back. The money raised with this fund will not go to bike parts or any other “racing” function. This is merely a fund to get us where we need to be to bring the Light of Jesus Christ to the darkness of our world.
The estimated fuel costs for Art and I reach over the $8000 mark. This is only about 25% of the budget that we have personally committed to the effort of executing our missionary duties. This does not include any of the paint and bodywork that EmpireGP.com graciously donates to the team as well. With those kinds of figures, it is easy to see why we need our help.
I think you get the message on the real need here. However, while the need can be met by donations from individuals within our huge organization, I want to suggest that we think outside that box. Could we devise some sort of fundraising efforts that will expand our base? Would your church be interested in hearing from us and taking up a love offering or even adopting us as a mission? Last year Art and I visited a small church in Carbondale, PA. Bob will hand out copies of the write-up. The short version is, with members of that church having no connection to either Art or me except the Lord Jesus Christ, having never met us before, but listening to us for 1 hour and 45 minutes, during their next meeting, they officially adopted us as their first mission team. For us the best part of the deal was that 4 young men came to Christ that morning, after listening to us speak. Unfortunately this church was very small and poor. In fact, they have had to put their building up for sale and the church is now all but dissolved. The point of this story is that it is possible. We can do it!
Given the opportunity to speak to a large established congregation, we can show them what we are about. We can earn their trust and support to the point of blowing away our small goal we have set for ourselves.
All that being said, we are setting the goal at:
$8500
All donations are 100% tax deductible and a receipt will be provided if requested.
Please find it on your heart to help us out.
Make checks payable to "Christian Sport Bike Association" and include a short note indicating it is for the Fuel Fund.
Mail to: Marvin Gurganus PO Box 511 Jamesville, NC 27846
By Art Lohman
All the videos and event flyers make
stunters out to be a bunch of wild young men on the rampage, riding their
machines through an urban landscape, hunted by the law with more fervor
and zeal than is applied to many criminal organizations. So I didn’t know
quite what to expect as I backed two race bikes off my trailer at Stunt
Wars 2009. Soon the thumping music roared to life with its message of
lust and power woven throughout the lyrics and pounding into the heads of
the fans which swelled into the Orlando Speedworld quickly numbering into
the thousands. With bungee cords and Christian Sport bike Racing banner
in hand, I watched as the first street fighters rolled
But through the many conversations I had with these bros, I did not find hate wielding show-offs, but instead I found young men with dynamic leadership abilities. Show-offs, yes, just like the rest of us, but underneath the tattoos and spiked hair, there were many scars from embracing the wild life, experiencing betrayal, loss and painful relationships. And this made them hungry for hope, not emotional fluff, but real truth about God.
From encouraging young guys with kids to
stand up as fathers, to strengthening those who had just enlisted in the
These stunters made me think of what
David’s, “Mighty men of valor,” in the
If there is anything you would like posted in the newsletter, please feel free to send it in! If the CSBA can be of any service to you or your family, we will be more than happy to try and accommodate.
Bob Brown To Encourage and Facilitate
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instruction
on a 
onto the track, and I began to realize
that if ever there were men who would not be afraid to stand in the face
of a selfish generation and out of control media that strips away the
hope, moral truth and real love from our youth, in exchange for a money
making message of “just feel good,” I would find those men here. For many
of these young men, I hoped this weekend would see the beginnings of a new
life for them. 
The grassy fields that served as parking began to
overflow with sport bikes. And in the pit area, pickups unloaded the
beaten and bruised war bikes that would serve the 95 riders who had
entered the competition. Their stunt bikes certainly lived up to the Mad
Max image portrayed on TV, with front cowls broken and missing, tail
sections cut off, with holes ripped through the seats and tanks bashed in
for better support while the rider stands on them. They reminded me of
zombies, and with all the tats and pierced body parts, their masters
matched the machines. 
military, even reminding
some of those who performed that their words and actions would carry great
influence into the hearts and minds of youth, these bros received seeds of
faith. I found myself restocking the pile of team posters that were
rapidly disappearing off the display table, and then paused to realize, “I
gotta restock the Bibles as well!” I watched as a father took two of the
Bibles, and gave them to his son and the young man’s girlfriend. He said,
“When life’s storms come upon you, you will find your answers in here.”
And I believe I met our biggest fan, Kevin, who now has an autographed
bike…and body! 
Bible must have been like, and David’s words to them are
still valid for the stunters, racers and sportbike riders of today…”He who
rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God, and he shall be
like the light of the morning when the sun rises…” Even as tough as they
are, these stunters have many deep hurts in their heart, and we as the
CSBRacing team, must be willing to step out of our comfort zones, build
relationships, and be ready to stand with them as the big brothers and
role models they need.