Members and guests of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Christian Sport Bike Association met for breakfast on Saturday July 6, 2019. At the breakfast, a motion was made by Chapter President John Lasure Jr., seconded by Chapter Vice President Chris Roddick to promote Russ Buggé, also known to many as “Rusty Bucket”, to the position of Recon & Route Coordinator for the Eastern PA Chapter of the CSBA. The motion carried and Russ has been immediately inducted into his new position.

Russ joined our chapter in 2015 while we were on one of our monthly rides. He had passed us riding in the opposite direction, but looking for a group to ride with he decided to quickly turn around to catch up to us. He joined the rear of the group and followed us to the next stop where he then introduced himself and we welcomed him. He explained that after a multi-year hiatus, he had just gotten back into riding, but he was having no success in finding a group that suited his interests. He knew he was a back-road rider with a sport bike, but he didn’t know any other like minded riders. It also turned out that he is a Christian and on that Saturday in 2015, not only did he find a group to ride with that shared his riding interests, but he also got the added bonus that we were a Christian group with a message to share, which is just what he had been looking for.

He continued to ride with us throughout the remainder of 2015 and at the beginning of the next season he expressed interest in learning our ride routes. Of course we obliged and he began to faithfully recon each monthly ride route prior to ride day to ensure that the routes were clear of detours or any other unexpected issues. In addition to that, he voluntarily began to assist us at our rides by leading a group of riders every month and in the absence of senior leadership has shown his capability to take charge by conducting the rider meetings. He places a strong emphasis on rider safety, honors our chapter qualities and values, and has demonstrated his commitment to the CSBA mission.

Dear Lord God please bless all of these followers of you, that are here today and if it's not too much to ask please shine your light on all that seek you, to illuminate the path so that they may find the way to your salvation.

I have a personal story to relate to you. This same time of year 12 years ago, I was at my brothers hunting cabin. Our yearly brotherly gathering. I woke up in the morning and didn't feel well. I didn't know but I was in the middle of bleeding out internally from a disease (Hep C) that I didn't know I had. Bear in mind I was an active happy family man. I obviously ended up in the hospital and the doctors were able to stop the bleeding and save my life. Turns out I was a very sick man with advanced liver disease and in need of a liver transplant. God saw that a complete stranger and his family would step forward and donate his liver to me since he didn't need it in God's heaven.

Fast forward to this year, my transplanted liver was struggling due to my disease and some other medical issues (hernia operation from earlier failed).