September
2005 CSBA Newsletter
From the Servant’s Desk
Job 1:20-22
Then
Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the
ground, and worshipped,
And said: “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and
naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In
all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Much has transpired
since the last newsletter. We’ve all
been inundated with the tragedy and loss from hurricane Katrina (and the
potential damage from hurricane Rita as we go to posting the newsletter). The media has broadcast hours of live feed
video and commentators have debated the blame until the average viewer is more
concerned about who dropped the ball in New Orleans instead of what’s going on
with the people who survived.
I work at a rescue
mission and conduct Bible study sessions with the men every week. Most of the participants are new believers in
various stages of their Christian walk.
Hurricane Katrina brought out the question: “Why would God allow that to
happen in New Orleans?”
Just about every Sunday school participant is familiar with the Book of
Job. Man! Did Job take suffer, or what?
When you get a little further along in your walk with God, you re-read Job and
come to realize there’s more to this book than some guy losing EVERYTHING and
then being harassed by his so called friends.
Job was a man with a
deep abiding faith in God. He saw
clearly that ALL he had was from God…including his children.
Imagine the impressions Job would have made on today’s world. Oprah would have had him on her show and
urged him to seek the “burning strength” within each of us. Dr. Phil would have examined his childhood to
see if his self worth was damaged along the way to adulthood. Every group that had access to the media
would have organized fundraisers to rebuild Job’s house. The government would have been pressed to
provide aid and low interest loans to get this man’s farm operating again.
Some might say the
story of Job is just a story. What human
could endure such trials and not curse God?
I’ve overheard people cursing God because the parking meter ran out and
they got a ticket! From a Christian
view, we might ask God for reasons for such tragedies: “What does it all mean,
Lord?” I feel we all need to re-read the
Book of Job on a regular basis. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary of the Book of Job states in part:
“His faith was fixed upon the coming
of his Redeemer, and this gave him steadfastness and constancy, though every
other dependence, particularly the pride and boast of a self-righteous spirit,
was tried and consumed… It is plain, from this history that the Lord watched
over his servant Job with the affection of a wise and loving father.”
In the hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast, there were numerous reports of looting,
rape and murder. The media was almost
apoplectic in their desire to show us man at his lowest, over and over, ad
nausea. I’m convinced for every dark
view of man’s worst, there were many more stories of ordinary people going out
of their way to lend aid to their fellow sufferer. We didn’t see too many of those reports as it
doesn’t spike the network ratings.
Out of every tragedy
come lessons to be learned. Those of us
who don’t live in the Gulf Coast area have a new understanding of levies and
massive pumps. The people of the Gulf
Coast also have a new understanding of the frailties of politics and disaster
relief administration. It’s all a matter
of perspective.
In 2nd
Timothy 4:10, Paul writes: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this
present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus
unto Dalmatia.”
Paul was in prison when he wrote to Timothy and things weren’t looking
good. Demas left Paul and worse, he
forsook him. Left Paul in a bad
situation and took off. Demas loved
“this world”.
Stay in prayer for the people who lost family, friends and possessions
following Katrina. If you can help the
survivors, do it!
If your church is involved in providing assistance, call your pastor and
volunteer. Don’t take a page out of the
book of “Demas”.
Push away those “love of this world” feelings and do the right thing…the
Christian thing.
God Bless
Brian Phillips
CSBA Servant
CSBA
News
BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA
I’ll be returning to Africa 10/4 for a few weeks with
Wim van Rensburg and BreakThrough Ministry. I’d appreciate your prayers that God would
provide direction working with the kids of the QwaQwa Valley.
There have been changes
since last year. The BreakThrough
orphanage/community center should have a roof by the time I get there. Now we can work on getting windows and
doors…all in God’s time.
When I think back to
December of 2003, Wim was having major problems just foraging food for these
kids once or twice a week. God has
provided in the last year and a half and we can start concentrating on the
spiritual along with the ongoing physical health of the children.
While I’m out of the country
please address CSBA administration questions to Bill Allen (BA_rider2@hotmail.com). For CSBA website or membership questions,
email Ron Anderson (randerson@ChristianSportBike-LA.org)
I’ll have a full report on
the mission trip, complete with photos, in the next CSBA newsletter.
CSBA FALL RALLY
September 30 –
October 2, 2005
Wellsboro,
Pennsylvania
The final rally of the year will be held 9/30 to
10/2 in Wellsboro, PA. If you’ve never attended
a CSBA fall rally, make plans to join us this year.
We’ll be lodged at the Coach Stop Inn outside of town.
Northern
Pennsylvania in late September dictates that you be prepared for just about ANY
type of weather condition. You’ve been
warned!
Call 800-829-4130 or 570-724-5361 for reservations.
Or go to their website at: http://pavisnet.com/coachstopinn/
4th Annual CSBA Ride
& Race Weekend Report.
(aka The VIR Rally)
Check
out all the details and activities from the VIR Rally posted by Bill Allen at:
http://cenvachristiansportbike.homestead.com/VIR2005.html
AND EVEN MORE FROM BILL ALLEN
Dear Friends,
They are proposing an interstate be built through the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway!
Please help save the Dragon!!!
Having just read and signed the online petition: "People Against Highway
3" hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/pplvshwy/
I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree,
too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing
yourself.
Thanks and God Bless!
Bill Allen
Central VA Chapter
*** More Good News! ***
We received another donation this past month that now
enables us to finish the roof on the main building! This is something we have
been praying for for the last18 months and it is awesome to see how God
provided and makes us excited to see where God will take us in the future.
Since we are busy with the visitors’
accommodation and are in the process of moving a lot of stones, sand and cement
up the mountain, construction of the roof will only take place at the earliest
end of November.
Tom Kalina from the US visited us this last
month.
Much time was spent on taking building material up
the mountain. During his visit we also started a Bible Club for children in a
new area.
Pastor Stompi who we have worked with in the
past and whose shack church we visit regularly provides his church for our
meetings. The first time around 80 children showed up, even though the weather
was bad.
We are looking forward to work much more
closely with his church on other projects in the future.
Also this month, Bernard Claassen, whom we have known
for many years and who did youth ministry with us in Bloemfontein, joined the
ministry. In the future Bernard will concentrate more on getting teams to visit
us and the running of the teams while they are here, so if you know of people
wanting to come on a organized mission trip to visit South Africa and the
ministry, please let him know, bernard@breakthrough-ministries.com.
During Tom's visit we had a little taste of
the brunch the kids were having. With the normal maize, they were eating
something very yellow, and we could not quite figure out what it was. At first
I thought 
it may be pumpkin, but looking closer it resembled
sweet potatoes, but the texture was not right.
It turned out that the ladies made mashed
potatoes and added yellow food coloring we had in the house!! Next time I might
show you pictures of kids eating red mashed potatoes!!
God Bless
Wim & Hylien van Rensburg
NEED SOME
HELP IN TENNESSEE
I recently received word from Frank Lenna
that he wouldn’t be able to continue as Tennessee’s chapter leader because of
job demands AND a new baby boy.
Congratulations Frank!
If you’re a CSBA member from the Volunteer
State and feel The Lord nudging you toward leadership, let me know. Thanks
You can email me at brianp@christiansportbike.com
NEW CSBA PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER
We have a new CSBA Chapter in Northeast
Pennsylvania! The new “NEPA” chapter, is led by Joe and Cecilia
Cotterino, with Jeff Aronsohn. Lets keep
the NEPA brothers and sisters in our prayers as they step out in faith to
spread the Word of God.
You can contact the chapter leaders through
Joe’s email: Cowboy-6@ChristianSporbike.com
NEW MEMBER PROFILE
I asked one of our newest
members to send along a short profile owing to the fact that he didn’t live
anywhere that I can walk over to a map and point out to someone else. CSBA member 829, Victor Amanroron is from
Nasipit, in the Philippines. Victor’s
wife was kind enough to send along a short bio of her husband and the work he’s
doing in the Philippines:
“This is Victor's
wife. I have read this message from you and decided to answer it for Vic since
I can type much faster than him. He is very much excited that at last he has
successfully registered in your association. He is at the other cubicle now in
this internet cafe and still surfing especially about your Assoc. He has even
read the set of board of directors and wondered why there was no President. I
answered, "Well, maybe because there is Jesus. He might be considered as
your president." I'm excited if I guess it right. He wrote to Bill Allen
about this.
More about Victor....
He is married for 23 years now, blessed with 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl. We
have an adopted girl, the eldest of them all. I got her when I am still single
and working as a midwife in a maternity hospital. I was the one
who attended her mother's delivery, and unfortunately, this girl was left
at the hospital. I was given the privilege to take care of her after one month
since there's a diarrhea epidemic at the hospital and out of 4 babies left at
the hospital, she was the only one who survived - up to now. She is already
married to a very responsible person, one thing that I am thankful to the Lord.
At least, my frustrations for her failure to finish college despite all our
money and efforts. They have one child; they are living with mother, child and
us because the husband is working in manila, Philippines, a
three-day travel by boat. They have to make sacrifices of being away
from each other because of the economic crisis we have in the Philippines.
So Runa Rae is our
eldest since Vic agreed to bring her with me since coincidentally they were of
the same town and he knows the family very much and one the aunties is a very
close friend of Vic.
Our second, a
boy is 4rth year in Architecture and actively involved in the church being
the lead guitarist and bass guitarist. Our second also a boy is third year in
Nursing, also actively involved as a drummer of the church. Our youngest, a
girl is already first year in high school and the one who operates our overhead
projector, sometimes helps as a back up singer.
We are serving a church
in the municipality of Buenavista. We have a church building, which is being
build phase by phase, depending on the money that comes in. Vic does most of
the carpentry jobs; thank God for giving him the gift. He knows how to build a
building; he can make finest furniture too. He was the one who made our pews,
beautiful pews with hard lumbers. Now we are praying to God to supply our
members financially so they can fulfill their pledge for Vic's project -
"I want that mountain". Mountain, because it seems impossible
for him to start working on the floor tiles, with the economic condition of the
members. But we have faith in God. Next month, Vic will open the box and see
how much our treasurer has received for the pledges. Can we make it as a prayer
request? Vic's timetable is October, so he can work on it - on time for the
thanksgiving on November.
Vic's wife”
Editor’s Note: Please keep
Victor and his family in your prayers that God will provide the money and
materials necessary to finish the work that has started. Thanks.
The CSBA Free
Bible Shipment Totals for August ‘05
75 Bibles $211.45
Philippines 24
Nigeria 48
London 1
Zimbabwe 1
Nova
Scotia 1
Bill Gray
CSBA Free Bible Fund Coordinator