9/13/2007

RESPONDING TO LIFE’S CHALLENGES

    When we face challenges in life we need to remember that we don’t travel that road alone. Each one of us has to deal with challenges that push us beyond what we think we can take. At those times we need to remember that God is with us and will help us through. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
    Do you remember your parents using the line “this is for your own good.” It was usually used to motivate us to do something we really didn’t want to do. There were many things we had to do to grow up that we really didn’t want to do.
    I remember once as a kid I took something that didn’t belong to me and when my mom found out about it she not only made me give it back but she also made me stand before the person I took it from and apologize. Couldn’t I just give it back and forget the rest? No, this is for your own good.
    We attempt to help the drivers we minister to through the same things. When there is an incident on the track and it is necessary for the parties involved to get together and work it out, we encourage them to do it. Sometimes we actually get them together and encourage them through the process. It isn’t comfortable but it is necessary to move forward and grow.
    We have the final say on whether we do the wise thing or the foolish thing. Jesus tells us of two different responses to His teaching.

    Wise and Foolish builders, Matthew 7:24-27

    "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

    Look at the similarities of the two men, there were three things. One, they knew the words of Jesus. Two, they both wanted to build a life that would last. Three, they both experienced storms.
    Where do the storms in life come from? I read this note; “this thing is from me”, God. Don’t think for a moment that God is not in the storms of life. He is not only in them but he uses them to help us grow and mature. It is in these times that we learn to depend on him and him alone.
    Most time we live a shallow life. The outside looks great but when you dig a little deeper there isn’t much there. It reminded me of a man that built a sailboat.
    There was a man who wanted to build a fantastic sailing ship. He used the best of materials and bought the finest sails. When he was finished, the boat looked awesome. It sparkled and shone in the sunlight. There was not another ship its equal. However, below the waterline he wasn’t as diligent. He skimped; when it came time for the ballast, he didn’t have much of anything in the hold.
    Do you know what happens when your sailboat doesn’t have any ballast? I remember talking with Dale Quarterly about sailing once and he shared with me his one and only sailing experience. Let’s just say, there is a reason that sailboats have a centerboard of lead that needs to extend down into the water.
    When the boat met its first big wind, it toppled over. The shiny new part of the boat was now underwater and what the man thought no one would see was exposed for all to see. When you build a sailboat it is what you have below the waterline that determines the magnitude of the storm you can endure.
    Life is much the same way. It matters how firm and stable our foundation is. We cannot endure the challenges of life without the right foundation. We cannot survive the storm without being anchored in Christ.
    Difficulties and challenges will come in life. There are three ways we can respond to those difficulties and challenges.
    Despise, we can hate God and be angry with him. Like throwing a temper tantrum when we were children and our parents corrected us or made us do something we didn’t want to do.
    Discouraged, we can be depressed and think that no one loves us. We have no self worth and doubt if God even knows we are alive.
    Learn, we can choose to be proactive and teachable. We know that God is in this, he is in control and he knows what is best for us. Through this situation we need to learn and mature. We open up our hearts and heads to the teaching of God and strive to learn everything there is to learn from the situation, knowing all the while God walks along side to guide us if we stray.
    Which builder are we? Are we wise and build on the solid foundation of Christ? When the storms of life come will we have the resources to get through? Or will everything we have built in life come crashing down around us because we didn’t trust God. We have the choice to make. Choose the solid foundation and learn from God.

THE BEND IN THE ROAD

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the “song has ended”-
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended.

Where can we go find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying.

There’s but one place to go and that is to God
And dropping all pretense and pride
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side. –

And together we stand at life’s crossroads
And view what we think is the end
But God has a much bigger vision
And He tells us it’s only a bend.

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the “pause in the song” is a “rest”
And the part that’s unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best. –

So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load
Your work is not finished or ended
You’ve just come to “the bend in the road.”
                                               *Helen Steiner Rice

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

    I told my wife this week it was good to be sleeping in my own bed this weekend. It didn’t come out quite right, but she knew what I meant. With the race at Thompson this weekend I was able to spend some time at home with her this race weekend. We have a few more trips to take before the season winds down and the little restbit is a welcome pause from the road.
    We didn’t get much in the way of racing in this weekend as the rain settled in Sunday afternoon over Thompson Speedway and dropped enough rain that the infield was starting to flood. The True Value and Whelen Modified portion of Modified Mania were postponed until September 22.
    The Whelen Modified Family Picnic that usually took place on this weekend has found a new home at NHIS next Friday. The Mod Family will hang out together and have some fun on their off day. The location of the picnic is not final yet but just follow the crowd to the party.
    We have some praises to share, Joe Brady received a few stints and his circulation has improved. Look for him Thursday at NHIS. His wife Linda received a liver transplant and made it through the first few days without incident. That is great news and after a few weeks of recovery and supervision in the hospital, she should be good to come home. She is making tremendous progress. This is great news for a couple who have been part of the Modified community.
    We are looking forward to a big weekend at NHIS this week. We have both series in one place but that doesn’t mean there is any less work. These NHIS weekends tend to stretch us as we cover quite a bit of territory and still find time to catch up with some folks we only see there. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

    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***

    Correction, Joe Civali is not married to Carol, he is married to Karen. Due to a lack of sleep on my way home from Mansfield I reported Karen's name in error.

September 12
DAN & SHARON MESERVEY - The parents of NASCAR WMT/NASCAR BNS GRAND NATIONAL drivers Dan, Jr. and Doug from Chatham, MA have their 41st anniversary.

September 13
LARRY & CINDY NICEWICZ - This retired racing writer/ go-karter and wife from Vernon, CT share their 47th anniversary.

September 14
ED & GAYLE FERREE - Saxonburg, PA multi-time PA Motor Speedway Big-Block Late Model dirt champion and owner of Frankland Racing Supply and Clincher Gears and wife have their 30th anniversary.
VILL AND ARLENE HARD - The Ford racing fans from Clifton, NJ have their 49th anniversary as a loving couple and partners in racing.

September 17
DICK & JUDY WIBBELSMAN - Gainesville, FL RWJM Advisor and Counselor wife share their 39th anniversary.
BOB & CAROL PRATT - The brother of dirt Mod driver Richie Pratt and wife share their 29th anniversary.

***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***

September 12
RICKY RUDD - Semi-retired NNC driver.
CINDY NICEWICZ - Wife of retired Vernon, CT writer Larry.

September 13
JIM GUTHRIE - Gadsden, AL born, Albuquerque, NM IRL driver.
ED HERROLD - A former Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Starter, now living in Texas.

September 14
DOMINIC DOBSON - Mercer Island, WA CTS driver.
MARK PORCARO - Clinton, NJ occasional NASCAR BES driver.
BILLY CLARK - Farmington, ME LM driver.
WES ROSNER - Famed Agawam, MA ProStock/NASCAR BES builder.
DELORSE BOULET - The special woman in the life of Jewett City Service proprietor Henry St. John.
GARY MARTIN - Concord, NC NEXTEL Cup photographer.

September 15
BILL WILSON - Fuquay Varina, NC NASCAR Dash Series driver.
VENETTA NARDUCCI - Wife of Greg, NASCAR WMT suspension expert and team owner.
RONNIE MILLER III - Son of Camp Hill, PA Susky fans Ron and Arleen is 15.

September 16
BOB BRUNNELL - Peru, NY NASCAR BES semi-retired driver/ team owner.
TOMMY CLOCE - Canton, NY NASCAR WMT/NASCAR BES driver, son of well-known team owner, Ed.
TIM ZOCK - Youngsville, PA NASCAR BES driver.
BILL DUGGAN - Belmont, NH LM driver.
DARREN BRASSFIELD - Los Galos, CA IMSA GT driver.
JOE BRADY - Stoughton, MA legendary #00 NASCAR WMT team owner.

September 17
PAT SPENCER - Wife of CTS driver, Jim.
DENNIS SAVAGE - Lisbon, CT Producer/Host of TV's "God's Masterpiece."
DEREK FELTENBERGER - The son of Grandview/ Big Diamond flagger/ photographer MIke and wife Mena.

September 18
BORIS SAID III - Carlsbad, CA NASCAR CTS and occasional NASCAR BES/NNC driver.
LOU CICCONI, JR. - The famous Aston, PA ARDC and more Midget driver.
FRANK JASHEMBOWSKI - Orange County Fairgrounds Speedway dirt Modified driver.
LARRY VASSAR - Southington, CT ProStock team owner.
HAROLD BURDICK - Danielson, CT go-kart driver/owner and Stafford Motor Speedway announcing team member.
STEVE RUBIN - Owner of the New Thompson Speedway excellent food concessions from Needham, MA.
HENRY ST. JOHN - Proprietor of Jewett City Service in CT.

*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***

MARILYN A. ANGELILLO - Mrs. Marilyn A. (Zukauskas) Angelillo, 61, of 12 Badger Road, Wolcott, died after a courageous battle with cancer in the presence of her loving family on Tuesday September 4, 2007 at St. Mary's Hospital. She was the beloved wife of Eugene Angelillo. She was an avid participant and fan of Midget Auto Racing. She was long time secretary of the Northeastern Midget Auto Racing Association and a former Midget Race Car owner, car # 45. Besides her husband of 26 years she leaves a daughter, Laura Kibbe and her husband Curt of Middlebury, a brother, James Zukauskas Jr. and his wife Catherine of Torrington, and two granddaughters, Tiana Kibbe and Brooke Kibbe of Middlebury. Contributions to either Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708 or North Eastern Midget Auto Racing Association at www.nemaracing.com.

MICK McNEIR - Mick passed away on August 22, 2007 at age 64 after a lengthy, lung-related illness. Mick was the 1988 and 1989 Late Model champion at N.J.'s Bridgeport Speedway and won 13 features there between 1982 and 1992. He was also a single feature winner at N.J.'s East Windsor Speedway, in 1983 with the Street Stocks. His signature stock car was the No. 11. After easing back on "current-day" racing, Mick later became very active with the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club, displaying and running a beautiful 1937 Ford sedan No. 11 at meets. Cards may be sent to: The MacNeir Family, 11924 Lane Park Rd., Tavares, FL 32778. Donations in memory of Mick MacNeir may go to Hospice of Lake and Sumter, 12300 Lane Park Rd., Tavares, FL 32778-9660.

STELMAN RUDOLF “RUDY” DOVE SR. - Father of Area Auto Racing News photographer Cliff Dove died Aug. 23 in Winchester (Va.) Medical Center. Cards can be sent to Cliff Dove and the Family, 242-3 Reardon Rd., Winchester, VA 22602. Memorials for Stelman Dove may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2654 Valley Ave., Suite B, Winchester 22601 or Winchester Eagles Aerie 824, 700 Baker Lane, Winchester 22601.

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SEND THEM TO RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT
PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084

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Source: Rev Don Rivers/Racing With Jesus Ministries
Posted:  September 13, 2007