We have taken some broad strokes as we looked at this Winter Bible Study
passage, now it is time to dig in. Just like taking a new car to the
track, you do some laps, get a feel for it and then the time comes to
make it go fast. It is time to take this passage apart, verse by verse
and commit to letting it make a difference in our lives. Greetings in
the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Before you can go fast in a racecar you have to get
comfortable first. You have to get a feel for it and learn what the
limits are. The same with Scripture, there is the big picture, a feel
for the entire message. Then you take a closer look, like making the
fine adjustments to make everything work together for a complete
understanding.
David writes about the things God offers us. We have come to
understand that God loves us, He cares for us, He is willing to accept
us where we are and He wants us to experience life to its fullest. Now
what does that really mean?
Psalm 23:1, The LORD is my shepherd, I shall
not be in want.
What does it mean “not to want?” It means that God will
accept responsibility for providing for all your needs. We feel somehow
that if we depend on someone else to provide for us then we are weak. We
are somehow incomplete if we cannot provide for ourselves. Let’s look at
it a little different, can any of us predict the future?
I am waiting for the Super Bowl to begin, I know what team I
want to win, but there is no way for me to state with any certainty
which one will. That’s why we play the game. It is like running a race.
If we knew who was going to win we wouldn’t have to spend the money or
take the chance and run the race.
David says if you let God lead your life, He will meet all
your needs. God does know what the future holds. He knows what is ahead
for each of us. We can however be prepared for the future by trusting in
God and letting Him prepare us. I spoke about it at Motorsports; we will
all have storms in our lives, whether we survive or not depends on the
foundation we build our lives on. David says, “let God lead and He will
meet your needs.” Not only will our needs be met we don’t have to figure
out how to meet them, just let God lead.
Psalm 23:2-3a, He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
What picture comes to mind when you think of green pastures
and quiet waters? We don’t picture chaos or turmoil, do we? No, we think
of a calm refreshing, a peace. When we give God the responsibility for
meeting our needs we can be at peace, we can focus on the things around
us, not on getting the stuff we think we need. Think about what it means
to lie down in the green grass, by a quiet stream, looking up at the
blue sky and taking a deep breath. AHHHHH! Somewhat refreshing isn’t it?
I’m going to date myself here, but do you remember that song from a few
years back, ok maybe a few decades back, “What a Day for a Daydream” by
The Lovin’ Spoonful? I think of that song when I read these verses. For
those who are not familiar with it here are some of the words;
“What a day for a daydream, What a day for a day dreamin' boy.
And I'm lost in a daydream, Dreamin' 'bout my bundle of joy.
And even if time ain't really on my side, It's one of those days for
taking a walk outside.
I'm blowing the day to take a walk in the sun, And fall on my face in
somebody's new mowed lawn.”
There is something about the smell of a new mowed lawn that
brings to mind the carefree days of my youth. I didn’t have a care in
the world. My friend Steve and I would take off on our bikes, go
fishing, do anything we wanted and when we finally came home there would
be supper and a place to rest.
Think of God in that sense. Spend the day focusing on the
world around you and let God meet your needs. The byproduct will be a
restored soul. Your life will be rejuvenated; you will have a new focus
and a peace in your heart.
Digest that this week, let God lead you beside quiet waters
and through green pastures. Let Him restore your souls. God Bless.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
STEVE PARK PUT HIS HAT IN THE RING - Bull Ring that
is. Steve has reached an agreement to drive the #35 Waste Management
Chevy for NDS Motorsports in the Camping World East Series. He plans on
competing in all thirteen races. Steve is excited about the opportunity
to race for wins and a championship.
Jerry Marquis proved the ride is capable of running up front.
Last year taking over the controls from Eric Holmes in Nashville he went
on to finish consistently in the top ten and even had a top five along
the way. It will be great to see Steve in a competitive ride and to see
him return to the form that landed him as the first driver ever for DEI.
OLSEN RETURNS AS ROAD WARRIOR - Mike Olsen has changed
hats; he now wears the hat of driver development coach and represents
car owner Fadden Racing as he leads 19 yr. old driver Max Dumarey on his
American Tour. He has expanded the horizon to include both the Camping
World East and West Series along with the ARCA RE/MAX series. In
addition to the full NASCAR Camping World Series East schedule, Dumarey
will compete at Phoenix International Raceway in April and the road
course event at Infineon Raceway in June with the Camping World West
Series. He will also visit Kansas Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Nashville
Superspeedway, and Talladega Superspeedway with the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
Max has tested well at the Superspeedways and is looking forward to
getting a chance to stretch his legs. I think it is a great way for the
Belgium native to see America .
BORN TO RACE - I remember the banquet at Thompson last
season; Shane Hopkins, crew chief of the Don Bannister #6, whispered to
me he had a new driver for 2007 and he thought he had a shot at winning
it all. I confess I questioned whether they had enough cars to make it
through the season. I saw a young driver who loved to go to the front,
but sometimes lacked the experience to know when to wait for the race to
come to him. Shane assured me he could work with Keith Rocco and if he
listened they would stand on the podium as champions.
Congratulations Keith, Shane, Don and the entire #6 Bannister
Motorsports Team, you predicted it and followed through with the
championship, not an easy task. Keith has been racing Modifieds for
three years, starting at Stafford Motor Speedway. Late in his first year
of driving he came to Thompson and fell in love. He longed to run weekly
at the 5/8’s mile high-banked track in Northeast Connecticut . Don
Bannister and Shane gave him the opportunity and he proved up to the
challenge beating some of the best in the business; Woody Pitkat, Tommy
Cravenho and Kerry Malone, former champions and tough competitors.
This week I am trying to get over the Patriots loss in the
Superbowl. I thought they would be able to finish the perfect season,
but they came up short. I guess it is the familiar refrain that is heard
at the end of the season, “wait until next year.” 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***
February 8
TOM & CAROL HOWARD - This Waterford Speedbowl/Kobyluck team couple
have their 16th anniversary.
February 9
TERENCE & CHRISTINE FITZGERALD - From Rocky Point, Long Island, this
Riverhead Raceway enduro driver and wife share their 7th.
February 11
WENDELL & DELORIS MINTER - The Martinsville, VA WODY Gospel Music
host and wife from Ridgeway, VA celebrate their 31th anniversary.
Congratulations and Praise the Lord!
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
February 6
PAUL GENTILOZZI - Lansing, MI IMSA GTO driver.
BOBBY BROWN - Farmingdale,NJ based Dwarf Car driver/owner.
GLEN FLACK - President of AutoWorks Performance, Inc. in Sewell,
NJ and Atco Raceway SuperPro drag racer.
STEVE FULLER - One of the seven brothers in the famous Auburn, MA
racing family including NNS's Jeff and Rick and NASCAR WMT team owner
Bobby.
PETER SNOW - Southbridge, MA NASCAR WMT Team crewman.
GRACIE RYAN - Holyoke, MA racing photographer and WMT Scorer.
February 7
CLAY CAMPBELL - President of Martinsville, VA Speedway.
WILL HOBGOOD - Winnsboro, SC former Dash Series driver.
BOBBY GAHAN - Barrington, NH NASCAR CWES/LM driver.
DICK KLUTH - Lancaster Speedway Modified driver.
DONNA SCHAFFER - Wife of Woxall, PA Sportsman Modified driver Rick,
Grandview Speedway's all-time winningest Modified driver.
MICHAEL HOPKINS - Son of CT based flagman Chris.
LORI D'AMORE - New Jersey fan.
February 8
MIKE OLSEN - No Haverhill, NH 2006 NASCAR CWES Champion Little Tree
Air Fresheners driver and now car owner.
RON LAMELL - Essex Junction, VT NASCAR CWES driver.
KYLE MICHEL - Wife of Wall Township Speedway excellent Modified
driver Dave. She is also NSCS driver Martin Truex' sister.
SUE MENTEN - Wife of Stony Brook, LI's Vinny.
CAROLYN BLAISDELL - Champaign, IL fan.
JUSTIN WAWRZONEK - Son of Amsterdam, NY dirt fans Ron and Gloria
Hanna.
CHUCK McNEIL - RWJM Anderson Indiana Track Chaplain and RWJM
officer.
February 9
BILLY PENFOLD - Yarmouth, ME NASCAR CWES/LM driver.
STEVE SELLERS - Sacramento, CA CWWS driver.
DUNK RUDOLPH - NH based Modified driver.
LAURA SAVERY - Wife of Plymouth, MA Seekonk Speedway Street Stock
driver Dana.
EARLINE WAGNER - Schwenksville, PA Leonard's wife, both Grandview
Speedway and NSCS fans.
February 10
DAVID OLIVER - Riverhead Raceway's Steve Tooker LM/NASCAR CWES Crew
Chief.
February 11
EDDIE BOHN - Wall Township Speedway Modified top driver, past
champion.
WADE HENDRICKSON - Lawrenceville, NJ Modified driver/owner.
KEN KUHLMAN - Veteran AARN columnist/ Bridgeport, NJ Speedway
scorer.
KRISTI CAMERON - Alfred, ME Jeff Gordon fan.
"DAKOTA" RAY KOHLER - Son of Micro Sprint driver Jason from
Fleetwwod, PA.
February 12
JIMMY CHESTER - Newfield, NJ Bridgeport driver.
RICK HOCTOR - D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
HARMON "BEAVER" DRAGON - Milton, VT Thunder Road based LM/BES
driver.
STEVE BIRD - BGN Crew Chief from Massachusetts.
LORI BEERS - Sister/Team member of Eric Beers Northampton, PA
Modified team.
*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***
ROBERT “BOB” WHITMAN - Bob passed away on January 15 after a long
illness. His son Brian called to give us the news. Bob’s loving wife
Eileen, along with the family needs our prayers in this time of loss.
Brian shared with me that Bob was the pace car driver and flagman at
Five Mile Point Speedway but his love for cars didn’t stop there as he
was instrumental in developing and running car shows in the Binghamton,
NY area. Bob also had a special passion for Christmas and for 30 years
donned his Santa suit and handed out gifts. Bob will be missed by many.
Cards of condolence can be sent to; The Whitman Family, 780 Route 369,
Lot 18, Port Crane, N.Y. 13833. Memorial donations can be made to First
Baptist Church of Port Crane, P.O. Box 33, Port Crane, N.Y. 13833.
MARILYN A. BERTRAND, of Suffield CT, the beloved wife of 36 years
to Gilles Bertrand, entered peacefully into eternal life surrounded by
her loving family on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at her home. Marilyn is
survived by her devoted husband, Gilles, her loving children, Tim
Bertrand and his wife, Cara of Sturbridge, MA, Patrick Bertrand, Lindsay
Bertrand and Todd Bertrand all of Suffield, her mother, Jeannette (Luko)
Mulready of West Hartford, CT a sister, Gilberta Calegari and her
husband, James of E. Hartford, CT, a brother, Stephen Luko and his wife,
Annette of Terryville, CT. Marilyn dedicated her life to her family and
friends, always putting others needs before her own. She spent many
years enjoying all of her children’s pursuits and talents, as well as
supporting Gil in his love of auto racing. Memorial donations in her
memory may be made to the Eye Melanoma Research Fund at the Kimmel
Cancer Center at Jefferson University. Kimmel Cancer Center, C/O Ms.
Helen Lane, 1050B BLSB, 233 S. 10th St., Phiadelphia, PA 19107
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