September
2006 CSBA Newsletter
From
the Servant’s Desk:
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a
camel. Matthew 23:24
When I first read that passage as a new believer, I thought I
understood the analogy. Who hasn’t had a
bug in their summer drink that ended up half way down your throat and gagged, trying not to swallow the little bugger.
After a few years in Bible study, I understood that Jesus
used the illustration to point out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and how they
presented themselves to the Jews. They
spoke and acted one way, but lived contrary to their words.
In our society, we’ve taken that Biblical illustration and
coined the phrase: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Dress it up any way you want, hypocrisy is still hypocrisy…an
insincere act.
We are forced to put on many
different hats in order to coexist with
the world in which we live. I was having
lunch a few weeks ago with a female co-worker.
The guys at the next table were f-wording up a storm. It was even offensive to me! You have to go some to offend me with foul
language. In any case, I had two
choices: inform the young tattooed morons that their language was offending my
coworker, or ask them in a gentle way if they could be more considerate. I imagined how Peter would have handled the
situation and started scouring the corners for a mop handle. Then I wondered what Paul would have
done. I got up, stood in front of their
table and invited them to join us to go over some scripture verses my coworker
and I had talked about in our morning prayer meeting.
The looks on those four pierced and tribal tattooed faces…Priceless! They actually reverted to a courteous “no
thanks man” and quieted down. My
coworker thought the whole thing was “just wonderful” and “wherever did I get
the idea?” I didn’t have the heart to
tell her I couldn’t find a mop handle, and just let it go. An example of a slight
tinge of hypocrisy on my part.
Controlling your baser
instincts, as a Christian, can be a tough act.
Sometimes it’s harder to maintain your composure with a Christian
brother than with a non-believer. I
receive all sorts of email from many parts of the world. Many come in from CSBA members, or potential
members, that have a problem with all sorts of minutia. They are “deeply concerned” about this phrase
or that innuendo, and how it might be reflected toward the general
membership. I used to spend way too much
time trying to apply verbal salve to these occasional gnat ingesters. That was also hypocritical on my part, because
I KNEW the writer was chocking on a gnat, and I failed to point out that fact.
Sometimes I troll the CSBA
forum for newsletter ideas. This past
month’s highlight was a beauty. Any time
the Roman Catholic Church appears on the forum, get ready. The posts are going to fly, packed to the
gills with scripture quotes, Bible versions, concordances, papal bulls and
traditional rites. It can get pretty
testy at times. I usually keep my hands
off the keyboard for two important reasons: I’m not a Bible scholar, and I’m a
former Roman Catholic. Overall, the
messages flying back and forth were a swarm of righteous gnats looking to get a
little one-up-man-ship on the previous poster.
With this latest verbal
bantering, I thought it might be appropriate to clear the air concerning the
CSBA and denominations.
The CSBA is non-denominational.
We are a Christian association. We are not a church body, and I have
reservations about the term “ministry” and the CSBA being used in the same
sentence. We do have members who are
moved by God to step out in faith to evangelize, but I’m convinced those same
people would be stepping out in faith if the CSBA went belly up tomorrow.
Acceptances of our faith tenets are the only
requirement for membership.
Our mission is to comply as best we can with Mathew
28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We do not submit our
literature, newsletters, or rally plans, to any church official or
committee. We do not endorse one
denomination over another.
We move forward following
prayer…as The Spirit leads. Nothing that
the CSBA has accomplished or will accomplish is of man. We’re just not that smart, talented or
organized.
We are a diverse group of
believers. Take in a CSBA rally and
you’ll see what I mean.
We’re a collection of born
again Christians, backsliders trying to get on track again, non-believers
looking for something, and “front-sliders”, i.e. legalists, looking to correct
the “misinformed”.
After six+ years of trying to
steer this hulk of an organization, I’ve learned a few things the hard way.
You can’t please everyone.
Prayer is the fuel that
drives this organization. If your member
number is greater than 20, you’re reading this because someone prayed that you
would find our site.
Jesus Christ is at the head
of this association. All glory goes to
Him that leads us.
When a hot potato is dropped
in my lap, I do not respond for 48 hours.
If it’s REALLY hot, I go to the Bible (KJV) for direction but I still
wait 48 hours to respond. My off the
cuff, “mop handle” responses just don’t work.
That kind of response is of the world and we all know where playing by
the world’s game rules leads.
Stay true to the reason and
feelings that brought you to the CSBA in the first place. You probably thought a Christian group that
rode sport bikes was way cool. The bikes
are our calling cards; The Word (the Bible) is our manual of operations, and
the membership’s becoming “Doers of The Word” is the goal. Watch out for those gnats!
God bless.
Brian Phillips
CSBA Servant
brianp@christiansportbike.com
2006 CSBA Rallies
"Seneca
Rocks Prayer Retreat Weekend” Seneca Rocks, WV –
By
Bill Allen:
Yokum's Vacationland in Seneca Rocks,
Motel, Cabins, Campground and Teepee's available.
Our emphasis will be on a time of Prayer and
fellowship. Friday will be arrival day...get there early enough to squeeze in a
little
local riding if you can!
Saturday is ride day!
Ice Cream Ride Friday night!! Great Ice cream and huge gift shop at Smoke
Hole Caverns. (Maybe again Saturday depending on how long we
are at the
restaurant for the...Saturday night "big eating”). The whole group
gathers at a nice restaurant.
There will be Meetings Fri. night, Saturday night, and
a brief service before we dismiss on Sunday morning.
We'll be talking about prayer and what the Bible has to say about prayer, as
well as spending time in group prayer.
Those who are not comfortable praying in public; please don’t feel like anyone
expects you to make a public display.
We realize that God did not bless us all with the same talents, and did not
design everyone to be a public speaker.
We'd love to have you attend and join along with us silently in prayer!
Expect a blessing and an uplifting weekend of prayer, and lots of Christian
fellowship...both on the bikes and off.
When you get a group of people together seriously praying...anything can
happen!
Expect a blessing and an uplifting weekend of prayer, and lots of Christian
fellowship...both on the bikes and off.
When you get a group of people together seriously praying...anything can
happen!
Sign up, & reservation info Here: http://csbadg.homestead.com/WV.html
CSBA Fall Rally – Sept. 29th
–
Contact: Bob Brown bob@EmpireGP.com
or Jon Treese jt1189@messiah.edu
The
second house is getting its roof as I am typing this. Then we need to finish
the floors and plumbing, fit windows and the second house will be finished.
Brian
got us "televised" last week. He had a 30-minute segment on a local
television program in PA kindly arranged by the Calvary Chapel. He got to tell
about us and was even asked about our needs. Awesome how God is opening doors!!
Keep
praying with us for that special (Sotho speaking) person to manage the first
house and help us get some programs that have been lagging behind running
again.
Jenna Scott from
This
is what she had to say about her experience:
"The
time spent in Qwa-Qwa and Leratong is an experience I
will never forget. Seeing the conditions these people live in and then the pure
happiness from the children makes me so thankful for everything I have. Their
smiles will stay in my mind forever. I had so much fun playing with them
and wish I could take them all home with me. So if you see my suitcase
moving, don't ask questions! I had a ton of fun hanging out with you guys
everyday".
Hey,
we all miss you already too!!
The daycare is really picking up and I have to say Anna is doing an outstanding
job. It is the classic thing of God only asking for willingness, He will supply
the skills. It is awesome to see the kids picking up on the very basic things
we are teaching them.
In time I will post pictures of the kids and tell you a bit more about them.
This is Thankiso. He is
family of Ester, another lady who just showed up one day to help wash dishes
and prepare food. If you have been here you will know him for his bubbly
personality and BIG smiles (yes that is him too with Jenna). He is around 2
years old and will be one of the kids we will actually be able to give a better
chance to by giving
them a better education.
I have started putting all the news and writings of visitors
on a blogg, so if you have a Myspace
account please visit us: www.myspace.com/breakthrough_ministries
...and sign us up as a friend!!..Come
now, you know you want to do it!
It is with great sadness that we send
you this NewsFlash.
Isaac
Mokoena, the young man that was the coach and a
general volunteer at the
After speaking to his grandfather, the chief of the village, we are still not exactly certain of the specific cause of death. We know that Isaac was ill for the last two weeks, with, as far as we can determine, swollen glands. During this time he stayed in town with his parents.
Isaac
was the founder and coach of our Soccer Team, the Leratong Celtics. He moved to
Leratong to stay with his grandfather earlier this year and started getting
involved in the community. He soon became friends with us and became a part
time volunteer at the
Isaac was a young man with heaps of potential, a helping hand and a ready smile! He was gentle natured and loved by all, we were watching his incorporation into the ministry with great expectation and enthusiasm! He is leaving a huge void with his unexpected passing.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 says: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.
Friends, this scripture carries more weight for me today! I want to end this eulogy with an encouragement to all of us: “Carpe diem” – Seize the day! Let every day count!!!
God Bless
Wim & Hylien
"And
let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint
not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do 
Roberta