October
2005 CSBA Newsletter
From the Servant’s Desk
Philippians 4:6-7
Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Our daily lives can provide some “anxious” moments. Sometimes we even receive “anxious”
emails.
Recently
I received correspondence from a member complaining about the lack of other
members in his home area and questioned why he should renew his dues if there
weren’t any CSBA members near him for interaction and fellowship. An additional email request came in from a
member wanting their name removed from the member list, as they no longer owned
a sport bike. Yet a third request
arrived indicating that perhaps our focus for evangelism was perhaps “too
narrow”.
Recent
emails of this type and others prompt me to clarify some basic CSBA operating
policies and procedures.
* Money. Don’t be anxious about money. No prospective CSBA member has ever been
turned away because they didn’t have the $20 dues. No registered CSBA member has ever had their
name deleted from the member rolls because they didn’t pay their annual
dues. God provides for the work of this
association. We’ve never had to cancel,
postpone or alter any event OR be unable to send a Bible anywhere in the world
because we didn’t have the money. When
we need something, God lays that particular need on someone’s heart and it gets
done.
Personally, I think if someone feels obligated or burdened about dues, don’t
send the money! We’ll still love you, welcome you to any event
and help you in any way we can when needed.
Member dues and contributions to the Bible Fund should come from the
heart, not the wallet.
*
What we do. The CSBA is a large group of Christians…who
happen to have an interest in sport bikes.
You don’t need a motorcycle to be a member of the CSBA. You do need to believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God AND that He redeemed us of our sins by His death on
the cross AND will return for us one day (soon, I hope).
As Christians, we’re obligated to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. We’re reminded that we’re to pray for those
in need. We’re to turn away from the things
of this world and follow Jesus Christ.
As a Christian group, we’ve chosen to witness to others using our bikes as
tools to start conversations with non-believers. Could we witness without a sport bike? Sure.
Do you need a motorcycle to be part of our group? No.
*
Is the CSBA outreach limited to sport bikes?
No. I’m certain that if a CSBA member was asked
about Jesus Christ by a guy getting off a HD, I’m trusting that the member
would witness to him with the same intensity as if he was getting out of a Ford
Pinto, Mercedes 300D or off a Benelli Tornado.
We don’t limit the spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who
have an affinity for sport bikes.
* There's no chapter in
my area, how can I get one started? Don’t be anxious, stay in prayer for a few
weeks. Ask God if this urge for
leadership is genuine. If after a few
weeks of prayerful consideration God is still putting the matter of leadership
on your heart, call me (610-432-2733) or send an email (info@christiansportbike.com).
All new CSBA chapters need at least three members willing to commit to the time
and responsibility of group leadership.
Chapter leadership requires some running around and publicity work to
get a chapter started. You have to make
up flyers announcing to the area that you’re a viable Christian group. You have to talk to church leaders to see if
they have members in their congregation who ride. You have to put posters in local bike shops
to advise other Christians that you’re up and running. Most importantly, you have to be
consistent. Monthly meetings/rides on
the same day of the month (first Saturday, etc.) are strongly recommended.
Starting a new chapter can be a grind, fraught with disappointment. BUT…if you hang tough and rely on God to put
new members in front of you, you’ll likely gain friends that you’ll have the
rest of your life.
*
There's no CSBA members in my area, what can I do? This is a
tough one. Many new members join only to
find out that they’re living in an area where they might be the only CSBA
member within a hundred miles or more. I
can only suggest emailing me for a generic CSBA flyer that you cam post in a
few bike shops or local church bulletin boards.
Then staying in prayer that God will provide a few Christians to read
the flyer. Keep in mind, the CSBA
started over six years ago with two people; one in Eastern PA and the other in
Southern VA, and it was more than a year before these first two members met
face to face.
Paul
was straightforward in his exhortation to the Philippians: “Don’t be anxious
about anything…” But keep in mind the remainder of the verse: “…but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God”.
Paul’s words are urging us to be at peace when things get hectic or
confusing. God’s in control and all the
worrying we do in this world is, in the grand scheme, a waste of time and
emotions.
I recently returned from a part of the world where eating once a day marks you
as fortunate, where wearing the same clothing day after day is the norm because
that’s all you own and if you’re sleeping in a one room house with six or seven
other people you’re lucky because you have a roof over your head at night.
We’re blessed to be living in this country.
Our children have access to decent schools and medical care. Most of us have jobs that allow us to not
only care for our families, but also have enough money left over to buy sport
bikes and spend leisure time riding with our friends. We’re doing well over here in the USA. Be thankful to Almighty God for all He has
provided for you and your family.
As
we approach the holiday season, I’d urge you to turn your worries over to God
and thank Him for what you have.
God Bless
Brian Phillips
CSBA Servant
info@christiansportbike.com
CSBA
News
RETURN TO QWAQWA, SOUTH AFRICA
In October, I returned to
visit Wim van Rensburg and the people that make BreakThrough Ministry a
blessing to the children of QwaQwa, South Africa.
My first trip to South
Africa in 2004 was a learning experience.
I spent two weeks trying to assimilate a foreign culture, the needs of
an outreach mission project and what I could do to help. My 2005 trip was different in that I was
aware of the needs but needed to hone the focus to get those needs met.
All Christian missions need
money, as does BreakThrough Ministry.
The different focus we plan for Wim’s mission is to grow support one donor/supporter
at a time. No mass mailings or media
spots (as if we had money for that!).
Rather a ground roots building of support with an urging for Christians
to visits or organize mission trips to
QwaQwa. It’s one thing to read
about conditions that snuffs out the hope of a child, it’s quite another thing
to see it first hand.
BreakThrough Ministry needs people to partner with Wim supporting the work
through prayer, word of mouth and recruitment of mission trip teams in their
home churches to go to South Africa.
Mission trips change
lives. You’re not quite the same after
spending time in a third world country.
Everything you assume about the country when you arrive is viewed
differently when you leave. The problems
appear to be overwhelming. The effort
needed to effect change seems to be totally out of your control.
As Americans, we’re used to quick fixes.
Water main breaks and within hours there’s men and trucks digging to
install a new water main. The electric
goes out and there’s utility trucks working on the problem. In QwaQwa, South Africa, they don’t have to
worry about utilities breaking down because most of the people don’t have
“utilities”.
Wim’s vision for the
homeless children of QwaQwa:
- The financial ability to continue providing food
on a regular schedule = Regular donations for the feeding schedule
- Housing = More rudimentary one and two room
homes
- Bible study = Children’s Bibles in the Sotho
language
- Christian mentors.
- Education = English as a second language
- Vocation skills = Computers, brick
manufacturing, livestock, etc.
- Self-sufficiency = A simple tractor to increase
vegetable production.
The logistical problems to
reach such goals can be staggering. Lack
of money, materials, Oz-like local politics, ignorance, lack of personnel and
poor / non-existent infrastructure all vie to make one want to throw up their
hands in frustration. That said, I’m
convinced that all these obstacles are nothing to the God we worship. I further believe that God puts people like
Wim in impossible situations to show us all that it’s not people that effect
change…but God’s Will and intersession.
All that BreakThrough Ministry is today is because God has Willed it,
touched a heart here and there, influenced a food merchant or softened the
heart of a brother or sister thousands of miles away. God is working in Africa …and I’ve seen it!
So…let’s say you’d like to
help Wim and the kids in QwaQwa, South Africa.
What can you do?
- Keep BreakThrough Ministry in your daily prayers
- Visit the BreakThrough Ministry website to learn
more about Wim’s vision for the kids of QwaQwa http://www.breakthrough-ministries.com/
- Talk to your pastor or the director of missions
for your home church. Give them the
BreakThrough web link, ask them to consider helping or better yet,
planning a mission trip to South Africa.
- Or…put your pastor/missions director in touch
with me (Brian Phillips, 610-432-2733).
I’d be glad to explain BreakThrough Ministry. I’ll even come to your church and give a
presentation if it’s within reasonable traveling distance.
- If you feel led, you can make a donation at: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr
SOME OTHER STUFF
**Are you artistically
inclined? Wanna show what you can do?
We’re looking to get some new CSBA T-shirt designs for the 2006 riding
season. If you have some fresh ideas
that would catch the eye of someone on the road and maybe trigger a question
about Jesus Christ or what we do in the CSBA, send it in (info@christiansportbike.com)
Please send your design in jpeg format.
Thanks
** We’re also looking for a
CSBA newsletter editor. As you’ve
noticed the last few months, our previous editor has not had time to review the
newsletter before posting and it’s starting to show. If you have editing/writing experience, or
even if you don’t but would like to give it a try, email me (same address as
above). Thanks
Christian Leader?
Martin Gerald
CSBA Chaplain
October 2005
Fellow
Christians,
I
apologized for the delay in supplying input to the monthly newsletter. I have no excuse.
When the
last newsletter went out, we were preparing for Rita. As you well know now, Rita succeeded in
flooding New Orleans again and sharing the misery with southwest La and
southeast Texas. As a native of
Southeast Texas, I have been particularly concerned. As I write this, my parents have only had
power restored for three days, after a thirty-three day outage. I am thankful for their safety and
health. All glory is to our God in
heaven above!
I also apologize for being absent from out national gatherings over the past
year. I need to follow the calendar a
little closer. I will make it out next
year at least once, prayerfully more. I
look forward to fellowship with all that can make it.
I would like to revisit the verses below.
They are 1Tim1:12-17.
These words are referenced on my email signature file and today I have
to revisit them. As I struggle in my
workplace to control my temper in stressful situations, I need to read and
reread these words.
“12
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me
faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a
blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I
did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was
exceedingly abundant, with faith and love, which are in Christ Jesus. 15
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptances, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for
this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all
longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for
everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen.”
I have to
read it aloud for more effect. Jesus enabled me. He put me into ministry. I was a blasphemer and an insolent man. The grace of our Lord was exceedingly
abundant. Jesus came into the world to
save me, the chief sinner. Through Him,
I obtained mercy. To God who alone is
wise, be honor and glory forever.
That puts it all into perspective for me.
To you, my fellow Christians, I promise to be more diligent in writing. To my coworkers, I will strive to be that
servant that I am called to be. To God,
I offer all the Glory and Honor.
Your Humble
Servant,
Martin
CSBA FALL RALLY
September 30 –
October 2, 2005
Wellsboro,
Pennsylvania
The 2005 Fall Rally continued the tradition of the previous year’s gatherings…great roads, great fellowship and beautiful weather conditions.
Rally coordinator, Bob Brown put another memorable
weekend together reporting:
“We left
Saturday later than I had planned, there was a fog laying in the valley and I
realized not everyone functioned on my time frame, while I had planned on
leaving around 8:30 I think it was closer to 9:30. We 25 riders and broke into 4 groups, the
object being that it was far safer to ride in a group that was smaller and very
close in skill level, so that no one was riding over their head or that others
would have to wait for a rider that was struggling to get around a car. The
goal when we left was to never have to pass the same car twice because you had
to wait at the intersection for a rider who could not keep up, I know only
first hand of the group I rode with but it was one of the most enjoyable rides
I have ever been on.
I truly believe that we rode on some of
the best roads in the country, we had just about no traffic to deal with, I had
at no point ever had to look back and wonder if someone had crashed and why
they were not up with the group. One of the most tiring things about leading a
group is looking back in the mirror and realizing you are short a rider and
having to think about turning around to see if they had crashed because they
did not make the last corner. It was a pure joy to look back in my mirror and
for never more than a short time; be able to tell everyone was accounted for;
the small numbers and compatible skill levels did much to make this easy.
I thought the roads were perfect, the weather was great and we ended up as
a group in one area at the same time for Pastor Dave to give us a lesson on the
Prodigal Son. Some got lost, some of us
ended up turning wrenches along the road, and except for a late lunch we had a
blast and got to enjoy a very unique area. We arrived back at the hotel just a
little after dark, according to Jon who rode in my group we did about 380 miles
of mostly back roads, I will let the others tell their tales of the rides, it
was not without excitement for our group, we had no accidents, no tickets it
was a fine a day as you could ever expect.”
The success of every CSBA rally hinges on the planning of the people
who put the event together. Our rallies
strive to keep the focus on fellowship and strengthening our walk with Jesus
Christ.
The fall rally is special because there are no well-known or legendary road
courses, as in the case of Deal’s Gap.
What we seemed to have stumbled on to up here in north-central
Pennsylvania is an area where we can fellowship with like minded Christians,
spend time in the Word with Pastor Dave Brown and learn a few riding points
from Bob Brown, one of the better riders in the CSBA. It just doesn’t get any better! Plan now to join us the last weekend in
September next year.
***
NEWSFLASH ***
Construction on the visitor's house is
taking a lot of time as the walls are being built from stone. This means the
bottom section needs to be extremely wide to provide strength and stability to
the structure. As the walls rises it becomes narrower and less stone is needed
and building will go a bit faster. We are really pushing hard to get at least
the one section finished for the teams that will be with us during December.
For now this means the roof on the hall has
to wait, which is a bit frustrating, as much of the material has already been
bought.
BIBLE
CLUB
The Bible Club has evened out at around 30
kids, which is good for now. We are in the process of working out a program
with visual aids etc. Once we have that in place we will again work on growing
the numbers.
WE NEED ANY OLD SUNDAY SCHOOL MATERIAL FOR KIDS AGED 4 - 10. IF
YOU CAN HELP IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
During Brian's visit we decided to clean out the
storeroom at our house. It has become a mission to find anything in there as it
was overflowing with food and clothing that we were storing with the intent of
handing it out as it was needed. It became so cluttered that you could not find
anything when needed, so we decided that for now, to just go and hand out all
the food and summer clothes we had in there. It was quite a undertaking and
even now we still have not completely finished that job, but the people living
around the Center enjoyed an early Christmas
The families each got a big food hamper and
there was enough clothing for every woman to get at least 3 - 5 good outfits.
During November we will do the same for the men and children
Wanna know God’s
plan 4 ur life?
By Bernard Claassen
Hey guys, I have had so many young people over
the years ask me this question and this is the core of what I have learned over
the past 18 years:
The moment you start living for God, living a Kingdom lifestyle, things will
start happening in your life!
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Psalms
37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he shall give you the desires of
your heart.
As soon as you start living outside yourself, living
with a ‘Yes Lord!’ attitude, you will find the Holy Spirit prompting and
guiding you. Remember, no matter how much you turn a car’s steering wheel, as
long as it’s standing still it will not go in any direction! Put your hand to
the plough; start to obey the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit and in due
time you will find what you have been created for together with the peace, joy
and excitement that comes from following Jesus the Christ!
God Bless
Wim & Hylien van Rensburg