Things in life change, just as the seasons change so it goes with life.
Change is a constant. In New England they say “if you don’t like the
weather, wait a minute.” If change is inevitable and time marches on
what are we doing to insure we influence the direction of the future? We
need to act in a way that will have a lasting effect on tomorrow.
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Remember the old days? I am sure we all have stories of
events, races, locked in our memory forever. We can recall them like
they were yesterday. What about favorite drivers? We all have certain
ones that for one reason or another we remember; memories that are
burned into our minds forever.
How about heroes? There are people we look up to, separate
them from others in our lives, as we seek to use their lives as
motivation for ours. Do you have some heroes in your life? Do you look
up to someone and desire to be like them?
I think we all do in one form or another. Sometimes it can
take over our lives and everything we do revolves around them. It
becomes an act of worship. We need to be careful that we don’t let it
get to that point, God is the only one worthy of worship.
I got on this subject because of something that happened at
Thompson Speedway last Saturday. Chase Austin and I were watching the
local divisions race and George Summers walked by. I introduced the two
of them. They shook hands, George and I made small talk and we went back
to watching the races. Then it struck me that Chase had no idea who he
had just shaken hands with. I am sure that if I asked Chase the last
thing he would guess is that George was one of the best modified drivers
in the Northeast.
Therein lies the challenge of transferring knowledge from one
generation to the next. Do we know those who made it possible for us to
race today? Do we understand the development of the technology? Do we
care?
Paul cared and took several young men under his wing and
taught them about God and how to live a life that honors God. One of
those men was Timothy. In one of his letters to Timothy he wrote about
his race, life, and the fact that it was nearing the end. He charged
Timothy to keep at it, follow the teachings he had been taught. Show the
world the difference Christ can make in your life.
2 Timothy 4:1-8, I solemnly urge you in the
presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and
the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God.
Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct,
rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to
sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and
will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears
want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be
afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News,
and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering
to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize
awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just
for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
For me this passage holds special meaning. On the day that I
was ordained to the Gospel Ministry T. Marshall Thompson read this
passage to me. He was my mentor, my Paul. He spent his time helping me
learn to handle God’s word correctly. He helped me learn how to be
bolder for Christ. He encouraged me to run the race in such a way as to
win.
A short time after he read this passage to me T. Marshall
left this earth to join God in heaven. I will never forget the
impression he made on me and the things he taught me. When I am faced
with challenges beyond my understanding I think about T. Marshall and
what he would tell me to do. He is still with me.
Let me ask a couple of questions; have you taken the time to
pass along what you have learned in your life and help someone mature?
Have you sought out someone with more experience than you and let them
guide you? What have we done to continue the work of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ?
There is much we do not know and will not learn unless we let
someone teach us. There are many challenges in life that we cannot get
through without someone there to encourage us. Take some time and be an
encourager. Make the effort to ask for help from someone who knows how.
The experiences we endure in life are only valuable if we learn from
them. Let us make every effort to help and encourage one another. God
Bless, Rev. Don
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
Music City USA! I have always wanted to go to Nashville .
Growing up my Mom and Dad listened to Country Music. My Dad had a
honky-tonk that had live country bands come in and perform. I remember
the most famous one, Dick Curless, a tall man from Northern Maine whose
most famous hit was “A Tombstone Every Mile”, a song about truck driving
in Maine in the winter. He was larger than life for a young kid like me
and the patch over his right eye made him all the more mysterious. I
remember the names like Haggard, Jones, Twitty, Pride, Snow, Cash,
Cline, Williams all the big names. I finally made it!
Dan and I headed down on Saturday to get in a little sight
seeing. I wasn’t going to go to Nashville without seeing Music Row and
the home of the Grand Ole Opry for so many years, Ryman Auditorium. Dan
isn’t a country music fan so he put up with my desire to check all these
places out. They didn’t mean too much to him but that is the definition
of a friend, he was happy that I got to see them.
We had some award winning Nashville BBQ and toured the
Charlie Daniels Museum . We took a ride out to Opryland and the new home
of the Opry. All in all we had a full day of sight seeing in Nashville .
We headed off to the track to meet with their chaplain, who is also the
chaplain for the Whelen Southern Modified Tour. It was the first time we
had an opportunity to meet and we are looking forward to having him join
us at Martinsville this year.
First impressions were that you could race on this track. I
was aware of the place it had in NASCAR history and the number of
drivers who had called this place home. I am glad there are efforts
underway to turn the place around. As it turned out this was a two plus
groove track. The outside came in and there were cars that found a place
in between.
The trio of drivers from south of the border notched their
second victory in the series. This time Rogelio Lopez came home the
winner and took home the Electric Guitar. Rogelio had a smile that lit
up the world. Everyone seemed excited about his victory and many came
over to congratulate him. For crew chief Fred Scaff this was a great
win. He has moved down south and the victory was a reward for all the
hard work he has put in. Great job guys.
We spent some time talking with Andy and Sue Santerre about
the upcoming addition to their family. It seems they haven’t decided on
a name for the little lady. Then the idea was hatched, we’ll have a baby
naming contest! This is the official announcement proclaiming the Racing
with Jesus Ministries Santerre Baby Naming Contest. There are no
official rules and yet to be determined prizes, but there is a contest.
Andy suggested the winner might have the opportunity to change some
diapers but that didn’t seem like much of an incentive. We are working
on it. For now this is the deal. Pick a name, email it to Sue and we’ll
tally up the entries and pick a winner. Send all entries to suesanterre@yahoo.com.
Remember they are having a little girl. Maybe we’ll make the winner and
honorary crewchief for a day? Suggestions on prizes are also welcome.
Next week Dan is off to Adirondack . He will be joined by a
racing pastor and his assistant that are from a couple of churches in
the Lake George region. Pray for them as they Minister to the Busch East
teams. I will be visiting my wife’s parents in Maine to celebrate my
____ birthday. We’ll see you back on track at Riverhead. Ya’ll have a
great week, ya hear.
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***
July 31
ED & FRANCIS SPENCER - This Berwick, PA retired LM driver and wife,
proud parents of the famous racing clan headed-up by TV
commentator/driver Jimmy have their 53rd anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
July 25
FRANK FLEMING - Mt. Airy, NC Modified driver.
KELLY PUNCH - A son of Dennis and Pat from Newton, NC and crewman
for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
TODD STILES - Lisbon, CT Tech Inspector.
July 26
RANDY MacDONALD - Canadian born BES,BGN,CTS owner/driver now
living in NC.
RICK CRAWFORD - Mobile, AL NASCAR All Pro/CTS driver.
ALAN COATES - Connecticut Modified driver.
WILL POIGNONNEC - Kart Racer at Oakland Valley Race Park from
East Brunswick, NJ.
DAVID ALIO - NNC photographer
MIKE SOVA - Windsor, NY writer.
July 27
GLENN SULLIVAN - Westbury, LI BES driver.
PETE FIANDACA - Townsend, MA legendary LM/ProStock driver.
JACK SELLERS - Sacramento, CA NASCAR West driver.
July 28
REGGIE RUGGIERO - Berlin, CT NASCAR WMT driver.
WAYNE CARROLL, JR. - Massachusetts ProStock driver.
SAMANTHA JARRETT - Holyoke, MA photographer Gracie Ryan's
grandaughter is 18.
JESSICA LARSEN - A daughter of Linda and Joe, NASCAR Mod Series
official.
July 29
PHIL KURZE - Director of WHELEN MOTORSPORTS, sponsor of the WMT,WSMT
and WAAS, a big fan of modified racing.
ROB OVERTON - Olivebridge, NY Eastern Limited Sprint Series
driver.
PETE ORR - Miami, Fl BGN team owner, former driver.
REV.DON RIVERS - RWJM President and Pastor of WMT.
July 30
MICKEY YORK - Asheboro, NC NASCAR driver.
PENNY DEGRE - Whitinsville, MA NASCAR BES writer.
July 31
BILLY RUSSELL - Hudson, NH long-time crewman on the Dion Bros.
NASCAR BeS team with driver Dave Dion.
TAMMY O'BRIEN - Boyertown, PA crewman for the Grandview Late
Model X4 driven by Lou Egrie.
SONYA CLAY - The lady who heads up the Dale JR Pit Board Charity
out in Gustine, CA. Visit the site at
www.dalejrpitboardcharity.com
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
SEND THEM TO
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT
PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084
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Racing With Jesus Ministries Website