Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends. John 15:13. Our country is built on this premise that God
established at the foundation of creation. This past weekend we
remembered those who selflessly gave their lives for our freedom.
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
One of the basic concepts of life is give and take. Life is much more
rewarding and fulfilling when we learn the balance of giving and taking.
When our life seems out of sorts, it can be traced to this concept.
Think about it in racing terms, when we have a race where
there is some give and take the racing is better. When someone is out
there and all they are doing is taking, the racing gets heated and
sloppy. The other drivers are frustrated and the results are not the
best. Conversely, when all someone does is pull over and let everyone
pass the racing isn’t very exciting either. When there is a balance
there is better racing.
The concept of giving ones life for the benefit of others is
not new. This is the greatest gift someone can give. The problem arises
when we take it for granted. When we do not remember and say thank you
we become the takers. We need to be motivated to give because of the
opportunity we have been given.
Think about times in your life when you have been given
something, something of great value. If your first feeling is that you
don’t deserve it, that is good. Then if you are motivated to give back
that is great. It is when we have the attitude that we deserved it that
we falter. Compassion has its roots in our willingness to give when we
have been provided for.
Our country is based on the right response to the gift of
freedom we have been given by those who gave their lives for us. If we
respond with an attitude that we deserve this we are wrong. The right
response is to express a deep appreciation to those who have given so
much. This appreciation should motivate us to give as we have been given
to.
God gave us the opportunity to overcome our shortcomings. He
loved us and didn’t want us to live our lives in vain, separated from
His guidance and wisdom. He provided a way for us to receive
forgiveness. Out of love for us, He provided Jesus.
John 3:16-18, "For God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the
world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one
and only Son.
As you read these verses you can see how the proper response
is one of believing and accepting this gift. Without a proper response
to the gift we have been given we condemn ourselves to living life and
eternity separated from God.
I would encourage you to develop the right spirit in your
heart. Recognize the gift of freedom we have been given by those who
have given their lives for us. Go out this week and drive through a
cemetery, look at the American Flags that adorn the graves of the
veterans who have paid the ultimate price. Take a moment to say thank
you and pray for the family that lost this person. Let them know that
you appreciate their sacrifice.
Likewise, remember the gift of forgiveness that has been
provided for us by God, and say thank you to Him. Let Him know how much
you appreciate His sacrifice for our freedom from the consequences of
sin.
After we have said our thank you's, commit to live a life
that demonstrates that appreciation. Live like you have been given a
tremendous gift, the gift of freedom to live.
Peter 3:8-12, Finally, all of you, live in
harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be
compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with
insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you
may inherit a blessing. For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
As I drove up to the gate at Stafford Motor Speedway on
Friday I was welcomed by a sight I had come to take for granted, Wild
Bill Slater was once again at the gate. He told me it was his first day
out since he had bypass surgery. It didn’t take long for Bill to be his
feisty self again. Great to have you back Bill.
We debuted last week on the new Modified website, The Chrome
Horn, www.thechromehorn.com.
We are excited to have the weekly column available on a website that
reaches the Modified Community. Please stop by and take a look. While
you are there take a look at the new Ford Fusion ministry pace car.
Howie and Mary took photos of it at SMS last Friday night. The photos
are in their photo gallery for the Connecticut Classic WMT race.
We had some extra curricular activity after the race on
Friday. Jon McKennedy spun hard into the first turn wall while running
eighth late in the race. They transported him to Baystate Trauma Center
in Springfield as a precaution. After some tests and some treatment he
was held overnight for observation. He is expected to make a full
recovery and be ready to race soon. I think he will be ready before his
car is. They are a one car, one motor team with a tremendous amount of
work to do before the next race at Thompson. Keep his recovery in your
prayers. Jon has shown he has the ability to get his car in the show and
run up front and if you can help them get back on the track, I am sure
they would appreciate it.
NASCAR returns to Vegas with the Banquet for the Whelen
All-American Series. I heard the reports from last year’s event and it
was a very popular choice. Maybe we’ll have to make the trip out there
and celebrate with the champions from the Northeast.
Thompson Speedway got into weekly action this past Thursday.
I look forward to being out there this week before I head out for South
Boston to take in the Busch East Series Race on Saturday night. Take
time to get out to the track and watch the racing action live and in
person. Have a great week.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and
apparel. See them at the Online Apparel Store at www.RWJM.org. Call us
with your prayer and counseling needs and list all your prayer needs, no
matter what part of our racing family you are in, with the Racing Family
Prayer Request Page,
www.rwjm.org/page/prayers.php, also send your prayer request by
mail. Until next time, remember that God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries , PO Box 586
, Tolland , CT 06084 . Check our weekly printed pages in "Area Auto
Racing News", the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper" See our
on-line Apparel Store for subscription information. Check our home page
www.rwjm.org for past articles. We
invite you to input your thoughts as you sign our Guest Book. Please
remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful financial
support.
Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep
you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the
Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
CHECKERED CHEERS
***WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES***
May 30
BOBBY & MEREDITH DILLNER - This Long Island native, now a
Charlotte based SPEED CHANNEL reporter and wife share their 14th
anniversary.
TOM & CARITA TWINEM - These Brookfield, WI fans share their 26TH
anniversary.
DON & MARY ANN MOYER - This Delaware race writing couple have
their 14th anniversary.
JOE & JULI ANN DEVOLVE - This Plainfield, CT fan couple shares
their 8th anniversary.
June 1
RANDY & LYNDA HEDGER - The Tioga Speedway/NASCAR WMT driver and
wife from Morrisville , NY share their special day.
BOB & TRACY COX - Rev. Pat's cousin in Boyertown , PA and wife,
both NNC and Sprint car fans, share their 10th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
May 30
BOB NEWBERRY - Schenectady , NY Alchohol Funny Car driver.
GLEN MEISENHELDER - Springfield, MA occasional NASCAR BES driver,
son of Ken of KGM Video.
PAUL HEARD - Lisbon , CT LM driver.
TED SEMINARA - This "Area Auto Racing News" Nextel Cup
photographer from Brewster , NY is now turning "Rebel" down in Mount
Holly , NC and loving it.
LISA ORR - Daughter of Orlando, FL LM driver Pete and wife Terri.
PATRICK SHANLEY - Bethel, CT Lebanon Valley fan turns 16.
May 31
GENE WEIDMAN - Big Diamond Speedway dirt NASCAR Modified driver.
ED SANSEVERINO - Hillsborough, NC Orange County (NC) Speedway and
AARN photographer.
STEWART LEHMAN - Former longtime staff member at Wayne County
Speedway, Orville , OH .
THOMAS PURVIS - Son of Clarksville , TN BGN driver Jeff is 18.
June 1
NORM PATRICK - Publisher of NY State's "Gater Racing News."
JAY SAUTER - BGN/Craftsman Truck Series driver.
DAVY JONES - Lake Tahoe, NV Offroad and CTS driver.
DARRYL LEWIS - New York Southern Tier asphalt Modified driver.
LORRAINE SYLVESTRI - The wife of Rich, retired proprietor of
Sylvestri's Auto Care World Center of Speed in Canterbury , CT.
LEW MARDEN - Onwer of Air Transport, Inc in Concord , NH and
Jamie Tomaino NASCAR WMT fan.
DAVID BAKKER - NASCAR BES Race Director
MARY ANN MOYER - Delaware writer.
MATTHEW THOMAS - Son of northern New England 's "Racin' Paper"
Publisher Mark.
DALE BEERS - Dad of Northampton , PA Modified/NASCAR WMT driver
Eric.
June 2
KYLE PETTY - Randleman, NC Petty Enterprises NNC driver.
SATCH WORLEY - Rocky Mount, VA driver.
SAMMY BEAVERS - Glen Gardner, NJ retired famous dirt Modified
driver.
STEVE KINSER - Bloomington, IN World of Outlaws superstar.
LISA LILLQUIST - The daughter of former Thompson Speedway Late
Model driver Jerry and wife Debbie, now living in Myrles Inlet , SC.
JOHN UDES - Wall Township speedway/RoC Modified driver from
Morris Plains , NJ.
June 3
SCOTT NICKEL - The Thompson Speedway based photographer and
brother of photographer Dale.
June 4
BETTY ANN EVANS - The wife of Racing with Jesus Ministries
founder Rev. Pat Evans.
BOBBY HILLIN, JR. - Midland , TX BGN driver.
MICHAEL DOKKEN - St. Petersburg, FL LM/CTS driver.
JENETTE SMULLEY - Daughter of Big Diamond owners Fritz and Krista
Roehrig.
June 5
BUTCH MILLER - Coopersville, MI NASCAR CTS driver.
MIKE & TED CHRISTOPHER - Plainville, CT twin drivers, both
talented in open and closed wheel competition.
EUGENE SENA - Middletown , CT Mike Christopher and NASCAR WMT
crewman.
GARY NELSON - NASCAR Managing Director of Competition.
TONY SYLVESTER, JR. - The son of semi-retired Lebanon , CT
Mod/NASCAR BES driver Tony and wife Diane is 17.
LISA NICKEL - The daughter of Thompson Speedway photographer
Scott and wife Joan is 16.
*** IN THE SHOP ***
JON MCKENNEDY - Keep Jon in your prayers as he recovers from
injuries he received in a crash at SMS last Friday night. He had his
head scrambled a little bit but his prognosis is for a full recovery.
JACK ANDERSON - This request comes from the Chaplain at Knoxville
Raceway, Troy Miller of Team 316 Speedway Ministries. Troy writes, Jack
is one of our car owners and a father of one of our drivers, he is
beginning a chemotherapy regimen to treat a small cell lung cancer that
has spread to other organs in his body. A website that has been set up
to send encouraging words to him and his family is
www.caringbridge.org/visit/jackanderson. Please take a moment to
pray and write a brief word of encouragement to their family. Please
encourage others to do so as well. We want to flood this family with
Christian love!
NICHOLAS MARGIOTTA - Nicholas’ daughter Nicole writes and tells
us the doctor’s have found a large mass on her father’s larynx and they
believe that it is cancerous. They will be receiving the results of the
biopsy late next week. She asks that we join with her in prayer for a
mighty healing!
*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***
CHRISTINE ERREDE FLEMKE BOWEN - Christine, Eddie Flemke and Paula
Flemke Bouchard's mom, went home to be with our Lord on Saturday, May
19. Born on Christmas day she was a lifelong resident of New Britain,
CT. Christine enjoyed many things, ceramics, gardening, sewing, reading
and recently volunteered her time comforting people in the hospice
program. Christine is survived by her three children, Paula Flemke
Bouchard and her husband, Ron, of Fitchburg, MA, Edward D. Flemke of
Southington, and Kenneth P. Bowen, Sr. and his wife, Lois of Sturbridge,
MA. She also leaves three beloved grandchildren, Chad E. Bouchard of
Fitchburg , MA , and Jordan Leigh and Kenneth P. Bowen, Jr., of
Sturbridge , MA . She also leaves her brother, Nicholas J. Errede of New
Britain ; one nephew, Donald J. Errede of Coconut Creek , FL ; and one
grandniece, Heather Lynn Errede, also of Coconut Creek. Christine was
predeceased by her son, Russell Scott Flemke. Our thoughts and prayers
are with Eddie, Paula and the entire family. To extend condolences or to
share a memory of Christine, please visit the website at
www.shakerfuneralhome.com.
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY. SEND THEM TO
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084
Racing With Jesus Ministries Website