June 2005 CSBA Newsletter
Bible Verse for
June 2005:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to
look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being
polluted by the world”. James 1:27
From the
Servant’s Desk
I realize that a large percentage of my messages concern themes about
“living in the world”(Mark
In my personal readings, this theme emerges repeatedly: “Don’t get hung
up with the things of this world”. But where do you draw the line between what
you “really need” and what is actually necessary to live your every day life in
Christ? Whew! Tough decisions headed our way. Taking the dilemma a step
further, what should someone do with the extra money they have accumulated by
living within the limitations of their take home pay?
There are hundreds of sermons covering tithing and stewardship. I’m not
going to rehash a topic you might hear regularly at your home church. The
stewardship decisions a family makes should come after prayer and agreement. We
live in a vastly different world than those who wrote epistles following
Christ’s ascension into Heaven. We have a lot more disposable income than
someone walking around Corinth 2000 years ago. What each individual or couple
does with that extra income is between them and God.
In my advancing years, I have stopped playing the “my toys are better
than your toys” game. Whenever one plays, one always comes across someone with
nicer toys. So one works harder to earn more (or worse…borrows more money) to
buy that “nicer” item, only to end up behind the curve again. While you were
working, the bar on “toys” was again, exhaustively, raised!
My point: James extols us to keep from being polluted by this world.
It’s not easy! A concerted effort has to be made each and every day to discern
what God would have us do.
Stay focused. Build habits that will keep you close to Christ: daily
time in The Word, fellowship with other Christians and acts of quiet, unpublicized
charity. The net result may mean a bike with fewer accessories but a small part
of the world drawn closer to Our Savior.
God bless,
Brian
CSBA Servant
CSBA News
Editor’s Note: This month’s newsletter has a
different format to facilitate posting to the CSBA website. To keep everyone up
to speed, the CSBA website is hosted by the very talented and helpful Ron
Anderson in
There’s a good deal of news for this month:
·
Need for a few volunteers
·
CSBA events and happenings from around the country
·
An update from BreakThrough Ministries
·
Some rally reports and notices for upcoming rallies
·
An article to help air-brush new life into an old helmet
Some CSBA old business:
- When you
joined the CSBA and paid your first year’s dues, you were entitled to a
CSBA embroidered patch (conversation starter!) and member card. If you
paid your dues…OR…are on active
- When we
started sending out membership cards, we never dreamed the general membership
would grow to near 800 members. Even being conservative with the number of
members renewing, say 400 or so, that’s 400 member cards, envelopes and
stamps per year.
What we’d like to do is produce one laminated, heavy-duty membership card that someone would receive when they join the CSBA, thus eliminating the yearly mailings. When the new cards are ready, we’ll post one on the CSBA web site and start mailing them out. And…if you have experience in designing “heavy-duty membership cards”, let me know.
Some CSBA needs:
1. We need a volunteer to take
over the membership administration. Keep track of completed member
applications, dues payments, sending out membership cards and patches. Not a
time consuming position but attention to detail is important. We’ve had some
lapses in our “member service” area in the last few months and I take full
responsibility. The last thing I want is a member that didn’t get their patch,
member card or T-shirt in a timely fashion. If you feel moved to help out, let
me know at brianp@christiansportbike.com
2. We’re still in need of
someone to redesign the CSBA brochure. If you have desktop publishing
experience or if you just have some new ideas, send them along.
3. We need a venue for a CSBA
leadership conference during the early part of 2006. The space needs to foster
speakers, workshops and fellowship. The focus would be on chapter leadership
but more broadly, Christian leadership principles that would apply to all
aspects of our everyday lives. If you’re interested in planning this project,
click Brian’s email address above.
CSBA T-Shirts
Need T-shirts?
We have plenty of CSBA T-shirts on hand for the 2005 riding season. Ordering
not only helps the CSBA but also allows you to become a walking witness to what
we do and what we believe. You can order your shirts via Pay Pal or send a
check to the CSBA treasurer.
All available shirts and ordering options are featured at: http://www.christiansportbike.com/former/t-shirts.htm
If you have an
idea for a new design for our shirt inventory, send it along in jpeg format.
Thanks
CSBA
From
Phil Henderson
Spring 2005 report:
The end of April and all of May were very busy for the
Since our regular scheduled April meeting, we have met and visited the San
Diego Automotive Museum for their annual motorcycle display, rode with the
local CMA Chapter "Gospel Riders" on their annual "Run for the
Son" event, held a "garage" day and BBQ, attended 2 "Bike
Nights" at Togo's (a sandwich shop like Subway), attended the May meeting,
and went to the "Streets of Willow Springs" for a track day.
The track day event was noteworthy in many ways: It was on a Monday, so to get
8 people to get off work/school and then drive 3 1/2 hours to the track with 7
motorcycles was a major undertaking. Before we left for the track, we all
prayed. We drove up the day before and stayed at a motel. We had fellowship out
by the pool and then went to Keith's room for some Bible study that he prepared
in advance for us. The track day itself was a total blast. Only 2 of us had
ridden on the track before, so there were smiles everywhere. Our guest who came
along fell, but was uninjured and was able to get his bike back on the track
within an hour. Our
Various pictures of our track day can be found at our Yahoo Groups site:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/sdcsba/lst
and links to more can be found at our forum:
http://csba.slidernet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=796
Your Brother in Christ and humble servant,
Phil Henderson CSBA San Diego Chapter
cc: sdcsba@yahoogroups.com
3rd Annual
By
Bill Gaston
The Chicagoland
Chapter of the CSBA will once again be returning to
Hotel Information:
Econo-lodge,
5760 Hwy 54
(573) 348-1781
To receive discounted motel rates, be sure to tell them you are with the
Christian Sport Bike association group.
CSBA West Coast Rally
By Brian Nobles
This
year's CSBA West Coast Rally will be held
Rally
headquarters will be at the La Quinta.
There is also a Red
Lion nearby.
There
are two great ice cream places nearby so for those of you concerned about that,
you can rest easy. There are so many flavors that we were uncertain of what
some of them might be.
Camping
is not readily available but we're checking into what's available.
If
you have an FRS radio for your helmet (Chatterbox etc) bring it. Several of us
will be using them.
To
register for the rally please send Brian Nobles an e-mail.
CSBA Northwest Ride
2005
marks the Third Annual CSBA Northwest Ride. We meet for two days of great
riding, eating and fellowship (and more eating). This event is planned for on
the last weekend in July. For 2005 those dates are July 29 - 30.
Update
This
year's rally will be in the
If
you have not received e-mail from me about this ride that means that I do not
have a good address for you.
Here's
what my last message said:
I'm
moving the location of the CSBA Northwest Rally (not to be confused with the
West Coast Rally). I may move the dates too, depending upon your response.
The NW Rally has traditionally been held in
This year I want to have the Rally in the
Dana and I would ride up on Friday, spend the night Friday night, ride
Saturday, spend the night Saturday and ride some more on Sunday before heading
for home. The big ride / eating event would be on Saturday.
If that weekend does not work for you please suggest another one. I'll pick the
Saturday that most of you say is good.
Please let me know ASAP.
BreakThrough Ministries –
NewsFlash
May 2005
Today I have exciting news that I would like to share with you, but it is
also something for which I need your partnership.
(I know this is long, but please take the time to prayerfully read it)
Part of the vision God gave me for this
ministry is the planting of a church. Lately He has been bringing the subject
to the forefront on various occasions. Last week Pastor Thabo and I were talking
when he said God had the same subject on his mind for a while now.
I prayed about it this weekend and then contacted Brian Phillips, head of CHANGING
TOMORROW CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION in the States, sharing my thoughts to get a
double check. He wrote back that the exact same thoughts have been "bouncing
around in his head" lately as well!
So in faith we will step up and be true to the commission God has given us.
Right now the whole concept is just a lot of disconnected thoughts, but I know
in time God will line them all up and the picture of what he wants from us will
become clear.
Pastor Thabo said 4 years ago "Ancestral worship in this area is still a
huge problem. Many people who call themselves "Christian" are not
saved at all, but have taken some elements of Christianity, mixed it with ancestral
worship and have confused themselves so much that it is difficult for them to
realize that they are deceived. Even pastors who preached the pure gospel have
been led astray. A lack of funds to keep their churches going has forced them
to preach only what the people want to hear in fear that their congregations
will leave when confronted with the truth."
That picture has not changed much since!! The biggest church in Qwaqwa claims
to have 1000 members. Most of the denominations struggle with ancestral worship
and other fallacies mixed in with Christianity.
To make a clean break from this, Pastor Thabo thinks we should bring something
new and fresh that could not be mistaken for what is going on in present
churches. Do it all in English (yes there would be those that won't understand,
but you can cater to their needs as the church grows). 99% of churches can only
accommodate a maximum of 50 people, so go for a storefront or a hall that can
hold many more people. Hold Praise and Worship in English with new and
meaningful songs (very few songs in Sotho were written for serious Praise and
Worship). Get a core group that is Spirit-filled and make the church active in
the community. Bring along with us as many as possible of the other struggling
churches. This way we assist other word-based churches instead of just starting
a new denomination and stealing members.
To do that we need people behind us upon whom we can rely to intercede for us.
Not only for strength, but to find what God's perfect will is in every step of
the way. More than ever we will need people to really pray for us on a daily
basis.
We also need people to partner with us financially. The people we minister to
are poor and mostly jobless, so tithing would not cover any expenses, but you
can make the difference. $20 monthly support can do that and help us in doing a
good thing from the get go.
I value the response of the people reading our newsletter, so please don't just
send this e-mail to the recycle bin, at least just pray over it, even if it is
only once, or even better, reply and let me know your thoughts.
God Bless - Wim & Hylien van Rensburg
PS We have a bunch of warm clothing that we are
handing out to the smaller kids, but most are still slowly recovering from
the malnourished state they were in. They are very susceptible to flu and
colds. We ask that you join us in continuous prayer for their health during the
next 4 months. Winter is here and the days are getting shorter and COLDER
RUN FOR THE WORD
If you
participated last year, you’ll receive an information packet shortly.
If you’re new to
the CSBA and would like to participate in our annual fund raising effort to
keep the free Bibles going wherever they’re needed, contact Bill Allen: ba_rider2@hotmail.com
Speaking of Bibles…
CSBA May 2005 Bible Shipments:
95 Bibles $232.45
2005 CSBA Deal’s Gap Rally
by John Treese
Yet another
great rally was racked up at Deal’s Gap in May. A complete day-by-day report
can be reviewed here. Some highlighted photos:
Coming
out the woods…at speed
I
wonder if the ACLU has stopped here on one of their rides?
Why the
mountains in western NC are called “smokey”.
For those really organized members… next year’s CSBA Deal’s Gap Rally will
be held
Questions about next year’s rally? Contact “our man at the Gap” Art
Graham
2005
Rocky Mountain Rally
To get a feel
for the 2005
Need a Different
Helmet Accent?
Discounts
for CSBA Members!
By Joe Cotterino
Dear Fellow
Members:
I am writing
this message to introduce you to a talented and generous family. This family is
that of Jack and Glenda Bich of
When I was in
I emailed Mr.
Bich after finding his helmet painting company by Internet search. I looked at
the work he had done on the net and decided he would be a great choice for my
little girl’s present and to honor the heritage of the 28th. I
described what I wanted and the colors involved and Jack emailed back with a
very fair estimate. I then responded with the fact that I wanted to use him but
the helmet would be delayed a bit. I was, of course, in
The next day I
was able to check my email again. There was a letter from Glenda that stated
she and Jack would be doing this job at no charge. They wanted to give my
little girl a Christmas present to make her happy in spite of her daddy being
away at Christmas.
I was
overwhelmed by this gesture and offered to at least pay for the materials but
they would have nothing of it.
Once the helmet
arrived, Jack was hard at work on it even before the drawings I was making in
I have since returned from
The quality of the
work performed by Jack was excellent. I have since bought myself a new helmet
and it is on the way to him now to have my design painted on it also.
I have asked
Jack about offering a special rate to my Brothers in CSBA and he has graciously
offered a 10% discount off his already low pricing for you. You only need to
mention my name and you are in. I encourage you to use his talents if you are
in the market for some custom paintwork.
His web site is:
http://www.helmetpainting.com/
Your Brother in
Christ,
Joe Cotterino
1LT, AR
2-103rd
Armor
Don’t forget
your CSBA June 2005 Calendar Download
Courtesy
of Bill Allen and the
"The
This month's Calendar features a photo from the Triad-NC Chapter's April ride
to Tuggles Gap. Located in
You can download your free calendar here:
http://cenvachristiansportbike.homestead.com/BA_rider.html
New members since last newsletter:
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756 |
Kaliibu |
Lowery
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Felton |
DE |
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757 |
Angela |
Penticoff |
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IL |
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758 |
Andre |
Bindenagel |
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IL |
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759 |
Michael |
Clingman |
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CA |
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760 |
Kevin |
Kranenburg |
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VA |
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762 |
Thomas |
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CO |
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763 |
Randy |
LaNear |
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CA |
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764 |
Matthew |
Smith |
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NC |
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765 |
Keo |
Millan |
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Snoqualmie |
WA |
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766 |
Kwesi |
Agyei |
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767 |
Nathan |
Heimer |
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CO |
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768 |
Hans |
Hansen |
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FL |
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769 |
Charles |
Biggerman |
Hedgesville |
WV |
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770 |
Peg |
Albrecht |
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CO |
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771 |
Nick |
Spiro |
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Coppell |
TX |
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772 |
Richard |
Brown |
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IL |
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773 |
Oakley |
Rolwing |
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Golden |
CO |
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774 |
Robert |
Strong |
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CO |
And a
Little Humor
The
Hikers
One day, Joe, Bob and Dave were hiking in a wilderness area when they came upon
a large, raging, violent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had
no idea of how to do so.
Joe prayed to God, saying, "Please God, give me the strength to cross this
river."
Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was able to swim across the
river in about two hours, although he almost drowned a couple of times.
Seeing this, Dave prayed to God, saying, "Please God, give me the strength
and the tools to cross this river."
Poof! God gave him a rowboat and he was able to row across the river in about
an hour, after almost capsizing the boat a couple of times.
Bob had seen how this worked out for the other two, so he also prayed to God
saying, "Please God, give me the strength and the tools, and the
intelligence, to cross this river."
Poof! God turned him into a woman. She looked at the map, hiked upstream a
couple of hundred yards, then walked across the bridge.
YOU MIGHT BE IN A
1. The doors are never locked.
2. The Call To Worship is "Y'all come on in!"
3. People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the ark.
4. The Preacher says "I'd like to ask Bubba to help take up the
offering" - and 5 guys stand up.
5. The restroom is outside.
6. Opening day of deer hunting season is recognized as an official church
holiday.
7. A member requests to be buried in his 4-wheel drive truck because "I
ain't never been in a hole it couldn't get me out of".
8. In the annual stewardship drive there is at least one pledge of "2
calves".
9. Never in its entire 100-year history has one of it's pastors had to buy any
meat or vegetables.
10. When it rains, everybody's smiling.
Take care & God bless,
Brian &
Beverly Phillips
CSBA Servants