JUNE 2006 NEWSLETTER

June 2006 CSBA Newsletter

From the Servant’s Desk

To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

1 Corinthians 9:22

What a great experience I had at the Deal’s Gap rally in May. Putting faces with names, and actually talking with people from all over the east coast, was a blessing.

If you attend one our rallies, you’ll discover that we’re an eclectic group of Christians; many different backgrounds, many different paths traveled before coming to Christ. Sometimes I’ll meet someone who’s “wandering”. They’re believers in Jesus Christ, but their walk isn’t what they hoped it would be. These people like being around Christians, because odds are, they’re not going to get into much trouble hanging with the CSBA. Some have been wandering for many years, not unlike the Israelites in the desert. It took them forty years to complete a three-week journey. Present day wanderers cover a lot more territory, and the desire to enter the Promised Land is just as strong.

We are ALL searching in one form or another. We’re all looking for the right “fit” on our spiritual walk. We read the latest releases by the most popular Christian writers, and attend conferences with well-known, Christian, keynote, speakers. We find a church where the sermons flow like honey and our ears are sometimes tickled to the point where we wouldn’t think of listening to another pastor. In short, we dig ourselves into a rut, and in honest contemplation; we can’t find a way out.

We have to ask ourselves who’s doing the leading? Are we following God? Or, are we leading ourselves?

I like 1Corinthians 9:22. I seem to have a talent for slipping into the language and customs of the people I meet. It serves me well in getting to make someone I have just met feel comfortable, and thus they’re likely to open up a little more. My goal since becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is to ascertain my new acquaintance’s spiritual position. Are they saved or not? It can become tricky dialog, but I keep bringing the conversation around to the same spot, and try again.

I’ve had to use this God-given talent serving the CSBA. We have members from every part of the country, and my job is to communicate with them without the regional quirks that can sometimes project the wrong mental picture, thus sending the conversation spinning off in meaningless chatter.

There are also times when one can’t be “all things to all men”; sometimes you have to draw a line and go no further.

When the CSBA was formed over six years ago, I copied the faith tenets from the Motorcyclist for Jesus. I was a member, and the president of MFJ had no objections. However, one important article of faith was missing and I didn’t catch it for years.
One day Mike Pruitt, from St Louis, called and took me to task about not having a statement about the Bible in our faith tenets.

Mike is prone to take me to task, that’s what I like about the guy, and in this case, he was right on target. We didn’t have a thing about the Bible in our faith tenets. There may have been unconscious reasons for this omission; as to not offend anyone. We wanted the CSBA to be appealing to more prospective members. Maybe we were trying too hard to be all things to all people, and by doing so, we were lukewarm. If you’ve spent any time in the Book of Revelation, you don’t want any part of the term “lukewarm”. Better to be hot or cold.

Finally, the CSBA board of directors was able to meet face-to-face on 5/16/06 in Robbinsville, NC. Among the many routine matters to be resolved, two pressing business items were discussed, and passed, unanimously:

1. An additional faith tenet will be added to the existing tenets for all new CSBA members. The additional tenet will read: We believe…The Bible to be the unerring Word of God and our sole rule of faith. (2Timothy 3:16-17).

2. The CSBA will tithe 10% of the total dues received in a calendar year, and donate this sum to the children of BreakThrough Ministries in QwaQwa, South Africa.

I sincerely hope that the current members are comfortable with the new faith tenet and our decision to step out in faith to help the kids in QwaQwa. As a Christian organization, we’re mandated to spread the Gospel (Matthew 28:19). If we are to follow the last instructions of Jesus Christ, before He ascended into Heaven, then the Bible must be our source document.

Also, in Matthew 25:40, it is clear that we are to help “the least of these…”. Tithing 10% of our annual dues will help the poor, and help do God’s work in a small village 10,000 miles away. It’s a Biblical principal, and the board felt it was the right thing to do. I couldn’t agree more.

God bless.

Brian Phillips

CSBA Servant
brianp@christiansportbike.com

CSBA News

2006 CSBA DEAL’S GAP RALLY

Great time at this year’s rally! Lots of old friends, wonderful roads, fellowship and daily Bible study. The Gap rally just keeps getting better!

Tip of the hat to Rosi Crawford and Beth Matthews for their coordinated efforts at planning and execution. Thanks ladies. Great Job!

Check out all the photos from the May event at:

http://www.csbatriadnc.com/gap06.html

2006 CSBA Rallies

There will be rallies this riding season; it’s just a matter of getting the details together. Here are some “for sure” events:

Rocky Mountain Rally – June 8 to 11, 2006, Estes Park, CO. Check their website for additional info. http://www.cocsba.com/
The Longest Day Rally – June 22 to 25, 2006, new this year! Spend a long weekend with Bob Brown bob@EmpireGP.com in north central Pennsylvania, headquartered in Wellsboro, PA.
CSBA Run for The Word – July 15-16, 2006.
CSBA “Day at the Races” – 8/19/06 Virginia International Raceway.
Southern Virginia Rally – Sept. 15-17, 2006.
CSBA Fall Rally – September 22 to 24, 2006, headquartered in Wellsboro, PA. Ride some of best, yet least known, country roads, in the northeast. This rally just keeps getting better.
CSBA Midwest Rally – The Chicago gang is again invading the Missouri Ozarks. June 15 - 18, 2006
Lake of the Ozarks, MO For info: http://www.csbachicago.com/Rallies.html

AND…Hot off the presses…for next year: The 2007 Deal's Gap Rally Dates are: May 14-20, 2007

Be sure to check the CSBA “Events” page regularly for information updates http://www.christiansportbike.com/events.cgi

Don’t forget, the CSBA Run For The Word – July 15-16, 2006.

This is our once a year fundraiser to pay for the Bibles we send across this country and around the world.

“Run for The Word” packets will be sent out in the next few days to those who have helped in previous years. Sign up some riders, get some pledges, and have a local ride in YOUR area. You don’t need a big production. A small group meeting in prayer, and fellowship, a ride, and lunch somewhere, is a great way to spend a weekend morning. The money you raise will put Bibles in the hands of people who can’t afford one. Think about that for a minute…not having 4 or 5 dollars to buy a paperback Bible!

Any donation of $25.00 or more snags a 2006 Run For The Word T-shirt.

THE NEW CSBA T-SHIRTS ARE NOW IN STOCK

We now have the new one color / one style CSBA T-Shirts in stock. Sizes range from Medium to XXLarge and remain at a cost of $18.00 including shipping.

You can order your shirt by emailing brianp@christiansportbike.com with your name, complete shipping address and size desired.

Currently we don’t have PayPal enabled for the new style shirts. Please send your check for $18.00/shirt made out to

THE CHRISTIAN SPORT BIKE ASSOC.

And mail to:

Marvin Gurganus

PO Box 511

Jamesville, NC 27846

Be sure to indicate that your payment is for a CSBA T-shirt. Thanks

NEED A CSBA STICKER?

We have new stickers in stock! Current color choices are white, blue, red, and black (transparent background).
And the cost? If you feel moved, you can make a donation to the Bible Fund, or Wim’s kids, at BreakThrough Ministry (http://www.christiansportbike.com/donate.cgi). The stickers are a gesture of thanks to the membership for helping the CSBA to be a Christian association that makes a difference for Jesus Christ, both here, and around the world.

Email your name, address, member number, and sticker color (white – blue – black – red) to brianp@christiansportbike.com.

OLD STYLE T-SHIRT BLOWOUT CONTINUES!

The older style CSBA shirts are now “BUY 1 and GET 1 FREE” There will be no re-orders on the older style shirts. When they’re gone, that’s it.

Check out the styles at: http://www.christiansportbike.com/former/t-shirts.htm

The best way to make a purchase:

Make sure that the shirts you want are in stock (jcmathis@insight.rr.com)
Email me with name, address and shirt information (brianp@christiansportbike.com)
Mail a check made out to: “The Christian Sport Bike Assoc”
To: Marvin Gurganus, PO Box 511, Jamesville, NC 27846

A few disclaimers:

Multiple shirt orders must go to the same mailing address.
When the current stock is gone, that’s it. There’ll be no more. No back orders.

Check the available inventory listed below as of 4/1/06. If your size and style isn’t listed, DON’T ORDER!

Knee Down T's	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL	Total
	0	2	0	0	6	13	21

Knee Down Tanks	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
	0	4	3	1	0	0	8

RFTW	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
	0	0	3	0	12	0	15

Original White	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
	0	0	2	11	10	0	23

Original Black	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
	0	0	7	0	1	0	8

Original Blk LS	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
	0	0	6	2	1	0	9

Race	S	M	L	XL	XXL	XXXL
	0	0	0	4	4	0	8

All profits from the proceeds will go to the CSBA Free Bible Fund, to continue our efforts to put Bibles into the hands of believers around the world.

*** NEWSFLASH ***

Editor’s Note:

I haven’t received my monthly E-News from Wim van Rensburg, but I did receive some great photos!

The roof is finally COMPLETE!! Thanks for your prayers and donations. Special thanks to the Roberson family for their kind assistance in completing this phase of construction in memory of their daughter. The dedication plaque finally arrived in Africa!

Another building is going up!