Have you ever done something wrong? Seems like a
simple question with a simple answer, but why is it we forget that when
it comes time to forgive someone else from a mistake they made?
Forgiveness is something we want to receive but many times are not as
willing to give. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
Let me set the record straight, we all make mistakes. We all
make choices that seem right at the time but in retrospect they were not
the correct ones. That being said why have we become a society that has
developed a less forgiving attitude? Zero tolerance is not the right way
to deal with mistakes.
As the season winds down I can remember several occasions
over the past few months that mistakes on and off the track have been
made. At the moment when they occurred it seemed the whole season hinged
on them. After a little time passed their significance has waned and we
have moved on. Those are the ones that are easy to deal with. Other
mistakes take on a life of their own.
Forgive and forget; a familiar refrain, but one of the most
difficult things for us to do. We want to get back at the person who
wronged us. We have a need to get even. We have our rights and no one is
going to take advantage of us. We say that we forgive but we will never
forget. These are many of the comments you hear when you encourage
others to forgive. We tend to be unforgiving people when it comes to
others, but we want to be forgiven when it comes to us.
Let’s take a look at what God says about this issue. God’s
rules never change and His standard is always the same. God does not
accept our mistakes. God is right and just and mistakes are not
something that God can accept. God says all mistakes are the same; big
or small doesn’t matter, all mistakes fall into the category of sin,
missing the mark. We all have made them and all will have to pay the
penalty.
There is no difference, for all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God. Romans 8:23
And the penalty is the same;
For the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23a
But look at the rest of that verse and we start to see what God intends
for us.
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23b
God said I will make a way for your mistakes to be forgiven; I will send
My Son, Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for you.
"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. John 3:16-18
Rev. Dan has spoken at chapel about being a peacemaker. Jesus
was the ultimate peacemaker. He gave his life so that we could have
peace with God. Jesus came, suffered, died and rose again so that the
penalty for our sin would be paid in full. We can receive that payment
by accepting it. It is a gift from God.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that
no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
God provided this opportunity for forgiveness and we can
receive it by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When we do,
we make peace with God, we restore our relationship with Him, our sin is
forgiven and remembered no more.
As the season comes to an end, take a look back and see if
there are some people you need to forgive. We are expected to forgive as
God forgave us. That means not because we deserve it but because He
loves us. Forgive not because they deserve it, but because God forgave
you.
We cannot experience the full blessing of God if we refuse to
forgive others. Our unwillingness to forgive implies that our standard
is greater than God’s. That is not correct; God’s standard is the only
one that counts. If God is willing to forgive you there is no reason we
could have for not forgiving others. Make that commitment this week.
Commit that you will go to the people you have refused to forgive and
forgive them. Don’t worry if they refuse to accept it, many have refused
to accept the forgiveness that God offers. We are not called to make
people accept our forgiveness, but to offer the gift. Offer that gift to
someone today. God Bless, Rev. Don
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
What a weekend for racing! The weather this weekend at
Stafford was some of the best we have had this season. The racing was
great also. Stafford closed out their racing season with the traditional
Carquest Fall Final.
The Champion has been crowned; Donny Lia is the Whelen
Modified Champion. Bob Garbarino is finally a championship car owner. I
think the scene between Bob and Art Barry said it all. Art and Bob have
been at this for a long time and each one has had their share of success
and challenges. Bob was seriously thinking of hanging it up after last
season. Art walked across pit road, you could see the emotion in his
eyes. He reached the barrier and embraced Bob. Two men who have raced
together for years, one taking the time to say, “well done.”
I am sure it will take a while to sink in but I am sure the
entire Mystic Missile team will savor this win, especially those team
members who have been with Bob for quite some time. Congratulations guys
on a job well done.
Other champions were crowned at Stafford this weekend, Cory
Hutchings won the coveted Late Model championship and TC won the SK mod
title. Woody Pitkat won the SK mod feature and that should go along way
to helping his chances at winning the National Championship.
Joe Brady continues to recover and his wife Linda received a
good report from the doctor this week. Joe credited Linda’s healing to
the prayers of the racing community. He asked me to let you know how
much they appreciated all the prayers that were lifted up for them.
We have a week off and then return to action at Thompson
Speedway for the World Series. We look forward to seeing you there, 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***
October 4
MIKE & LORI FIELDS - The Editor of LONG ISLANDMOTORSPORTS.COM and
wife share their 31th Anniversary. The couple is also Racing 4 Kids
Children's Charities.
BOB & JENNIFER WEBBER, JR. - The Promoter of Star Speedway in
Epping , NH and wife celebrate their 8th anniversary.
TRAVERS & NOREEN CAMBRA - This former Wall Stadium photographer
and wife share their 36th anniversary.
October 6
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES - The longest continuous running
ministry in oval track racing celebrates its 27th anniversary.
TIM & KATHY ATTAYA - The Co-Producers of the annual Maine Civic
Center Motorsports show have their 16th anniversary.
October 7
BOB & CAROLYN BLAISDELL - These fans from Champaign , IL have their
40th anniversary.
October 9
SCOTT & MELANIE DEWARE - This South Easton , MA NASCAR BNS GRAND
NATIONAL/SCCA couple have their 12th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
October 3
ALAN JOHNSON - "AJ Slideways," NY based DIRT Modified driver.
TOM CAPIE - Trevose, PA URC Sprint driver.
TOM TAGG - Webster, MA Semi-retired CT Modified driver.
ALESSANDRO ZAMPEDRI - Monte Carlo, Monaco, Brescia , Italy born,
IRL driver.
October 4
BUDDY LOECHER - Bob Park former Riverhead Modified Crew Chief, now
doing same for Bob in NC.
DREW DAMIANI - The senior driver on the LAD 1/4 Midget Racing
team in PA.
SARAH BURTON - The daughter of South Boston , VA driver Ward and
wife Tabitha.
EMILY CAVALLERO - This Wall Township speedway fan from
Farmingdale , NJ and grandaughter of fan Doris Bradley, has her 9th.
LINDA EVANS - A Whelen Modified Tour & Waterford Speedbowl fan.
October 5
DAVE REZENDES - Charlotte, NC , Assonet , MA born, CTS/BGN driver.
JOHN BLEWETT, SR. - NJ retired asphalt Modified great and dad of
retired great John Blewett II and grandad of WMT driver Jimmy Blewett
and the late John III.
BUBBA GALE - Irvington, AL NASCAR All-Pro Series driver.
VILLEROY HARD - "Vill" of Clifton , NJ has his 78th.
October 6
CHIP SLOCUM - Ewing, NJ dirt Modified driver.
MIKE McLAUGHLIN - Waterloo, NY born former BGN, BES & WMT driver.
DICK McCABE - Retired Kennebunkport, ME NASCAR BES great.
RICH LAVALETTE - "Haskell" is a former Mario Fiore/Gulf Racing
NASCAR WMT crewman, now on a south team
October 7
LYNDA RIVERS - Wife of WMT pastor and RWJM President Rev. Don. Thank
you for all your understanding and love.
October 8
BILL ELLIOTT - Dawsonville, GA Dodge part-time NNC driver and former
champion.
WAYNE ANDERSON - Yaphank, LI, NY former NASCAR WMT champion.
HAL RESH - Pennsy asphalt Modified driver.
SHAWN MARQUIS - One of Enfield, CT NASCAR BES/WMT driver Jerry
and wife Karen's children.
MARK SABATINE - Longtime spotter/radioman for Steve Payne and
Payne Motorsports.
MARILYN BARKER - Mom of Bob "Mad Dog" and Billy "the Kid" Barker
Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club, Saten Island , NY .
October 9
FRANKLIN BUTLER - Chester , VA Mitchell Motorsports NASCAR BES
driver.
RICKY ELLIOTT - D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
RON ESAU - Lakeside, CA NASCAR West driver.
VINCENZO SOSPIRI - Monte Carlo , Monaco IRL driver.
C.D. COVILLE - Retired famous Schenectady , NY dirt Mod driver.
DAN HARMON- Grottoes, VA Micro Sprint driver.
*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***
NICK FORNORO SR. - Nick was the official flagman for the ATQMRA
for much of the 70s and 80s as well as being the only flagger the CART
division had until his retirement from the flagstand. Both of his sons
Nokie and Drew won numerous races with the ATQMRA as well as in midgets
and other divisions. Nick Sr. was a renowned midget driver himself being
credited with 4 feature race wins with the ARDC and the 1950 ARDC
drivers championship. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire
Fornoro family.
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
