When the things we place our trust in are suddenly taken away we find
ourselves searching for an answer. We have a difficult time trusting
again. We need to have something or someone who, no matter what, will
never leave us or forsake us. Christ is the answer. Greetings in the
name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever wanted someone to accept you with all your
flaws? Have you ever wished that people could look past all the things
you didn’t do well to find the things you did do well? Have you ever
wanted someone to love you just for who you are and not want to change
you? We all do.
We have to overcome our tendency to look at the negative
instead of the positive. We have been so conditioned to focus on what’s
wrong that we very seldom take the time to see what is right. We need to
change that process. We need to take a step back and start to see all
the things we have been blessed with.
Someone said to me the other day, as they listed the
challenges they faced physically, that they weren’t big issues compared
to some of the difficulties others were facing. Amen. I am sure they
were difficult to deal with but take a look around at all God has
blessed you with, there is not much room for complaining is there? We
have been conditioned to see what we don’t have, not what we have. We
need to adjust our focus.
When the driver comes into the pits and consults with the
team he only tells them what the car isn’t doing. He proclaims what is
wrong with the car, not what is right. I suggest if you look at your
whole life, we spend more time talking about what is wrong instead of
what is right. I think if we changed that, it would make us aware of how
much God is blessing us.
Have you ever made a mistake? Silly question, we all have. We
make mistakes of all shapes and sizes. Some affect others and some
don’t. Let me ask you, how do you correct them? Who forgives you for
making them? One of the hardest things to do is forgive yourself when
you make a mistake. We carry the guilt and shame, sometimes for a
lifetime. We need to relieve that burden and give it to Jesus. He came
to this earth to cover the cost of our mistakes.
Some of us think God is mad at us for not living the way he
directed us to. He is not mad. In fact he cares so much for us that he
provided a way for us to overcome our guilt and shame. He sent Jesus.
Listen to what John’s Gospel says;
JOHN 3:16-17, "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
God sent Jesus to save us, not to punish us. The guilt we
feel from making mistakes causes us to think that all we deserve is
punishment. That is not true. We do need to be disciplined and
redirected, but through encouragement, not punishment. God chose to do
it this way because of his love for us. He is not mad at us. He wants to
save us from the downward spiral our life will take when we concentrate
on the mistakes instead of the good things we do. He wants to remove the
guilt and replace it with forgiveness. Without Jesus that is impossible.
God is perfect and just and nothing other than that can be in
his presence. Jesus came and gave his life for our life. He was the
perfect sacrifice for our imperfect lives. Through Jesus, we can stand
before God. Through Jesus, we can receive forgiveness. Through Jesus, we
can set the guilt aside and focus on the things we do right. Through
Jesus, we are saved.
Romans tells us the way to accept that gift;
Romans 10:9-13, That if you confess with your
mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you
believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess
and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will
never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and
Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on
him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Scripture makes it clear that God does not want to condemn
us, he wants to save us. Believe that in your heart. Confess that with
your mouth. Call on the name of the Lord and let him bear the guilt of
your mistakes. Set yourself free from the burden of remembering
everything you did wrong and start to focus on the good things, the
right things you do. Let Jesus save you.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
We had a great time at Martinsville . We were not only joined
by the Whelen Southern Modified Tour, we were also had time to spend
with Kyle and Michelle Froman, from MRO. They serve as the Spiritual
guides for the Southern contingent. We met them earlier this year when
the Busch East traveled to Nashville as that is their home base. Its
great to know there are fellow workers out there helping to reach out.
Phillip Satkowski also joined us on the road. Phillip helps
out locally at Thompson And Stafford. This was his first road trip and
he had a great time. We are looking forward to the next time he can join
us on the road.
Jimmy Blewett returned to the track in Martinsville and car
owner Eddie Partridge made sure it was noticed. He rolled out the new
hauler he had purchased. You can’t miss this one. The rear half of the
trailer is red and has the biggest WMT logo know to man. Ed said the CB
was active on the ride down and everyone wanted to know what kind of
cars and where they raced. Thanks Ed for getting the word out and
showing your support for NASCAR’s oldest division.
Jimmy did great, working through the natural emotions to
qualify 23rd. His race was cut short when the engine let go. Jimmy drove
John’s Sunoco Modified that was renumbered and adjusted to meet WMT
rules. Continue to keep the Blewett family in your prayer.
Another racing family needs our prayers. Linda Brady finds
herself in a Boston Hospital waiting a liver transplant. I also received
word late Friday that Joe was admitted to the hospital for unknown
reasons. Keep the entire Brady Bunch in your thoughts and prayers.
Also, keep the crew of #46, Dick Houlihan in your prayers,
Crew member Melissa Constantine received a cal that her nephew Doug
Jones was killed in a car accident.
Donny Lia continued his fantastic season by winning the pole
and the race. Donny was pretty choked up as the victory represented
another milestone with his career. This was victory number six this year
and to get this one he had to hold off a hard charging Ted Christopher.
Not an easy task. Former northern driver, L.W. Miller came home third.
We will be back at Thompson this week for Modified Mania.
Make your plans to come out and join us. Have a great week, Rev. Don.
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***
September 7
BOBBY & SUSAN SILAPIGNI - Sheba Racing NASCAR WMT team crewman and
wife have their anniversary.
RICH & MARY PAWLICH - These Rocky Hill, CT NASCAR WMT fans have
their 14th anniversary.
September 10
LARRY AND CARLENE SHIVERS - This Mom and Pop team for #23 WMT driver
Gregg celebrate 47 years on the road.
September 11
BOB & PEGGY KARBONIC - This CT Mod driver and wife have their 13th
anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
September 5
DICK HOULIHAN - Massachusetts ProStock/ WMT driver.
BILL TANNER - Newtown, PA Bridgeport Modified driver.
KELLY TANNER - Woodinville, WA NASCAR West driver. (no relation
to Bill)
GEORGE WINGATE - Former Bridgeport Speedway Promoter.
JEFF GREEN - Owensboro, KY NNC driver.
KENNY BERNSTEIN - NHRA Funny Car driver.
DOROTHY "PETE" BLACKADAR - West Danville, VT NASCAR Registra.
DONNA WEARING - Wife of Western PA dirt big block LM driver Bob,
Jr.
DAN AYOTTE - Waterville, ME racing writer.
GREG GODEK - Windsor Locks, CT Mini Sprint driver at Whip City.
JULIE STEFANIK - The Manager of Koszella Speed Warehouse in Rhode
Island and the supportive wife of past NASCAR Busch East Series Grand
National Series and Whelen Modified Tour champion, Mike.
September 7
ANDY SANTERRE - Cherryfield, ME, now Mooresville, NC, 4-time BES
Champion now is guiding the carrer of Sean Caisse for ASM.
JOHN PRESTON - Wyalusing, PA NASCAR WMT/NASCAR BES driver.
TOM FEARN- Feeding Hills, MA Late Model driver.
PEGGY HEEG - Sponsor of Mark Lento's Riverhead Raceway Firgure
Eight team.
September 8
MARTY RADEWICK - Almost Retired Riverside Park Speedway Modified
driver.
September 9
JEFF HAMMOND - Former NNC/BGN Crew Chief now TV commentator.
AUDREY STEVENS MOCKOVAK - This Claremont, NH Speedway Modified
driver is also the lovely wife of Mark Mockovak.
FRED VORDEMEIER, SR. - The father of NASCAR WMT driver, Fred, JR;
"The Big Apple Kid" from West Hempstead, NY.
LARRY NICEWICZ - Vernon, CT retired racing writer.
CHAD MILLER - Son of NY photographer Chuck.
BILL CHANNELL - Proprietor of Epping, NH's Channell 1 Video who
has now gone digital.
ARLEEN SUKUP - Wife of Schodack Landing, NY former Midget owner
Joe.
BILL WOODWARD - Former Flemington driver and Dale Jr. fan.
September 10
ROBERT JEFFREYS - NC Modified driver.
RALPH SOLHEM - Owner of the NASCAR WMT No. 0.
BILL CHRISTOPHER - In Plainville, CT, the father of well-known
racing twins Mike and Ted.
PHIL SMITH - Veteran racing writer from Westerly, RI.
CARRIE KILCOLLINS - Sturbridge, MA fan of CT Mod driver Willie
Hardee and her dad Wendell is Hardee's Crew Chief.
AL HANSEN - Green Lane, PA former Modified team owner at
Grandview and Bridgeport Speedways.
September 11
TERRORISTS STRIKE USA - It was not the first time, but on September
11, 2001, our country changed forever after 3,000 people were killed by
terrorists.
GEORGE KENT - The veteran Tioga Speedway and NASCAR WMT driver
from Horseheads, NY
LARRY CARON - Williston, VT LM driver.
DEBBIE VECCHIO - Wife of Syracuse, NY NASCAR BES chassis
specialist, Tony.
STEPHEN "GOODYEAR" BELLEROSE - NASCAR WMT crewman and Dave Lind
Goodyear Tire technician.
CHERIE BEERS - Wife of Northampton, PA aspahlt NASCAR WMT driver,
Eric.
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
