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August 2008 |
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From The President's Desk |
Pushing hard going down through the chute from turn 4 into 5 at Summit Point is a fast right hander that goes into a tight second gear left hander; you can go faster than you think; most of the time, but this was not going to be one of those times. I was diving in hard on the brakes, the front wheel chattering as I did the best I could to scruff off speed when I hit a small change in the pavement and my foot slipped off of the peg and connected hard with the pavement. I was bounced out of my seat and off of the foot pegs, tossed like a rag doll just hanging on to the bars for dear life.
Like most of the obstacles in our life we focus on what we see. Hopefully our reaction is based on our training and our past experiences to pull us through the obstacles. As Christian men and women we are often faced with the un-known, the un-planed and the complete surprise. As faithful men and women we have the tools to help us through the un-expected; the key is do we remember to use our tools. Do we have the faith and the courage to rely on our faith and the Word to help us in a crisis? As the world observes us as Christians, it is in these times that we are measured. Being a Christian does not exempt us from the trials of the world. In all honesty it probably means we will be tested more than most if we are willing to speak up for our faith. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;"
We don't always know what to do. As men and women we are frequently involved in problems which do not always have clear cut answers or solutions. As Christians we have an arsenal of tools that can aid us in our survival. Our inner peace, our testimony to others is in the use of the tools we have been given. As I reflect on my experiences over the last few months with confrontations of an array of un-comfortable situations, a host of problems I was not sure how to solve, I used the tools I had been given to deal with these problems by focusing on what was in front of me. It is with hind sight now that I realize that all of these problems were an opportunity for the fragrance of Christ to be shared. Understanding what an impact a fragrance has on us is important, like a fine perfume we know right away when someone entering the room is wearing it, or like the smell of flowers on a sunny spring day it is very subtle yet very real. The inner peace we have, the ability to rely on more than ourselves is that fragrance; while not always something you can see, it is something that is sensed by even those who would deny its existence.
Oh about that corner, I did not panic I remembered the basics, looked through the corner where I wanted to go and made the corner in a somewhat awkward fashion but all in one piece, kind of like my spiritual life, a little jostled once in awhile but still pushing hard for Christ. Your brother in Christ, Bob Brown
A Pilgrim's Journey, Halfway Done By Mark Hamm, “Scraperman1” Eastern Pa. Chapter Leader I was born the youngest of three sons to very good parents. They both had very difficult but very different childhoods. Though they had adversity they always stuck together and gave us a much better childhood than they ever had. We lived a lower-middle class life, doing well but not far from financial troubles. As a young child I always felt like the "odd man out". My older brothers were best buddies and I was the third. We got along okay most of the time. But usually they did stuff and I was left behind. Don't get me wrong, I was no angel and they weren't devils. It just worked out that way. I usually had one best friend at a time and some years with none. I had a pretty decent childhood until things took an abrupt turn in August of 1981. Our middle brother Mike was fearless in almost all things. He was the guy that "tested" the rope swing at the creek first. He was the one that jumped over things off ramps with both skateboard and bicycle. If we had been allowed to have mini bikes and motorcycles he would have been a very fast rider. He had just graduated high school and was looking to enter the U.S. Army. He had gotten a perfect score on their mechanical aptitude tests and was slated to work on the "new" M1 Abrams tank. It was a sunny afternoon when he took his girlfriend home to her house with another friend, and never came back. I was 15 at the time and it hurt badly. The emotions were so strong that I made the mistake that I would never get hurt like that again. So out came the "bricks" and up went the wall. Some people withdraw, I pushed people away. I was rude, obnoxious, and coarse (more than I am now). The things that carried me through all this were my relationship with Christ (I was saved three years earlier), good parents, and staying involved at church. I finished high school and the day after commencement ceremonies, I entered the U.S. Army. I spent the summer in basic training and started college in the fall. For the next three semesters, I goofed off and didn't apply myself to my studies. The college kicked me out. The fact that I didn't finish my degree when I was young and my decision to put up walls at my brother's death are the two things I regret doing. Both of them made life hard over the years. Fast forward to 1993; I was involved in a local church and was highly respected as a youth minister (not a youth pastor, I served with the youth pastor). I had just received my certification as a lay pastor and was going to missionary school then overseas to the mission field. I was about 99% finished with my training when they said I had "emotional issues" that would be detrimental to missionary teamwork overseas. All of my past accomplishments in church had made me proud, now I was humbled. It was at this time that I took out the sledgehammer and started taking down the walls I had built. Here I realized that the walls I had built for my "fortress" had also been the walls of my prison. In 1997 I asked a pretty woman in my Young Adult class to keep me in mind if things didn't work out between her and her current boyfriend. They didn't and our first date was in December. She was currently going to counseling for the death of her father and asked me to come along with her. I did and it started me on the road to healing and right relationships with others. Three years later we were finishing counseling and I asked this pretty lady to be my bride. Our wedding day was the 2nd best day of my life; the first was accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. The best part of that day was starting the rest of my life with my bride, but it also brought about a side benefit. At this time I had asked my brother to be my best man in my wedding. I had also written him a letter that only he and I know the contents. At the time of my other brother's death, my brother Mitch was out of high school and working. He is 5 years older than me. We weren't friends all this time, but I realized once my parents were gone; he was all the "family" I had. The healing from the loss of my brother was finally complete, after all these years. So, after my wedding day, my brother and I spent more time together. Eventually I bought a motorcycle because I thought it was something he and I could do together. I hadn't bought a bike before because I all the bikers I saw growing up were beat up and had a limp. Guess what I got in 2004, not more than 6 months after learning to ride? In 2006, my first child was born and life was changed forever. I am currently working, volunteering at church and my local fire company, serving with my local CSBA chapter (what a bunch of hooligans! ;), AND working on finishing my bachelors' degree. What a long crazy trip it has been. One of my favorite books is Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan. In it "pilgrim" leaves the City of Destruction and begins his pilgrimage to the Celestial City. No one in my family has lived past 83, I'm 42 now. Thus, the title for the newsletter, thanks for letting me share. Your brother in Christ, Mark
Signs Pastor Art Lohman, CSBA Chaplain
I was railing some back roads in West Virginia this past weekend, having to leave the track at Summit Point in pursuit of elusive clutch parts that were vital to keep my teammate running. With directions to a distant bike shop scribbled on my hand, I mounted Gixxer and off we went. There were no lines on the pavement and lots of rolling hills, twisties and no cars.
Eventually I reached one of those T intersections in the middle of nowhere, facing a yellow sign with two arrows pointing in opposite directions. Hmmm, better look at the directions. But with a leather glove on a hot day, sweat had obscured the L’s from the R’s, and I found myself staring from left to right, into the expanse of pavement that disappeared amidst twisties and trees. “They should mark this better,” I thought. “Obviously I have to choose a direction, so a sign that would guide me in making that choice would be appreciated.” And like most situations of choice in our lives, mine was becoming more urgent as my racing suit, which shields me so nicely when I decide to play on the pavement, was now beginning to cook me. Isn’t this just like our lives? We reach a place of decision, staring at the options that yield only a little bit of insight, but desiring divine guidance in making the choice that could have a profound impact on our lives, our families, even our faith. “Where is our sign God!??” And yet just as I received nothing more than the frustrated buzz of mosquitoes that could not access my roasting flesh, our prayers often seem not to have any recognizable direction either. So what’s up with that? Is God hiding? Does He care? We have some faith, trust Him, and yet often end up pressing ahead, seemingly alone.
But when we look at Christ, standing before the religious leaders of His day, they earnestly, then mockingly demanded a sign from Him. Pilate offered Jesus His life if He would but perform a sign, and Satan himself, after Jesus had just endured a torturous 40 days of exhaustion and fasting in the barren wastelands of Palestine…asked Him for a sign. Jesus, who performed so many signs and wonders, declaring His divinity, remained silent, when it seemed to matter most. But that’s not fair! We want God in our lives, to lead us, guide us and protect us. There was a time when God moved daily among the lives of men, visibly full of signs and wonders, columns of fire and cloud, dramatic victories over enemies and immediate, fair justice, where we got what we deserved. Breaches of the law were dealt with immediate consequences, often death, and obedience was rewarded with miraculous provision and supernatural protection. It was a time of signs, miracles and fairness…And the people rebelled.
Maybe Jesus knew that all of those who were seeking signs would do the same, reacting to the temporary miracle, and missing the One who performs the miracle. Through the cross, grace and faith have taught us to love God, the result I believe He wants. But we needed that period in history where God gave so many clear signs, so we would realize that by ourselves, we can’t live up to the righteous, holy nature of God…we need a Savior, a new covenant, where lightning and fear are replaced with love and faith.
So I made a left at the intersection, leaned over the tank, poured on the throttle…and went in the wrong direction for about 3 miles and turned around. But ya know what; God is still God, His living Word, the Bible, remains with us when silence and the unknown are the only offerings the physical world will give. So make the choice, step out in faith, and know that we always have hope, regardless of our circumstances, through the sign of the cross. Art.
Don’t Forget the PAFall Rally!!!!! Sept 11th-14th
Meets at Bob’s house in Montour Falls on Thursday the 11th and moves to Wellsboro, PA starting on Friday the 12th and is headquartered out of the Coach Stop Inn on Rt 6.
NOTE: The Coach Stop is full!!!! There are other hotels very near to the Coach Stop…
Antlers Inn 814-435-6300
If you have never made it out to a Fall Rally… make it a point to come and join in a great time of fellowship and awesome roads, all in HIS presence! Question or comments, contact Bob Brown CSBA STORE
If you are interested in a sweatshirt or any other CSBA store item, check out the CSBA Store and grab up some new apparel. Shirts holding fast? We have new stickers too!
If you would like something posted in the next newsletter, please let us know! Send your entry to Bob.
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