The thought came to mind this week about family and what that means.
June is a time for many weddings and with weddings come the start of a
new family. In May we celebrate Mother’s Day and June is reserved for
Father’s day. What does your family unit look like? How are things going
in your family? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
Family has come to mean many things in our society today. We call
any group of people bonded by some common thread a family. Use the
racing family for example, we come together around the sport of racing.
We have a common language. We experience together the ups and downs of
racing. We are bonded by the tread of racing.
It is interesting how a common thread can bind people of various
backgrounds and histories together. We come from different times,
different parts of the country, with different views on life, but when
we talk racing we are all on the same level.
Recently I have had the opportunity to talk with racers from
different backgrounds. I have had the pleasure of listening to them tell
the stories of the good old days. Many of these folks have been doing
this for a long time and they have stories to tell. No matter what we
have shared as a racing family we all have our other family behind the
scenes.
Some families race together and some tolerate the racing of their
family. The family that we don’t always see at the track, the one we go
home to is the one I want to talk about this week. Have you taken the
time to consider how much that family means to you?
God created the family unit and gave each member responsibilities.
In creation he created man and his perfect compliment a woman. Together
they were to create and raise a family. God ordained marriage for a man
and a woman to come together in a life commitment to each other. A
commitment that starts with marriage and ends with death.
As I reflected on that commitment I thought about what it really
meant. This commitment is a statement to the world that you value the
other person so much that you set them apart from everyone else; you
will remain with them for life. How many of us view it that way today?
A marriage commitment says I will walk alongside you and witness
your life. I will be there for every moment. I will not let your life go
unnoticed, I will share it with you. I will not leave you.
Mark 10:6-9, "But at the beginning of creation God `made
them male and female.' `For this reason a man will leave his father and
mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So
they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together,
let man not separate."
God provided guidance for us as we grow our family and add
children.
Proverbs 22:6, Train a child in the way he should go, and
when he is old he will not turn from it.
This verse implies that we know the right way to go. He impresses
upon us that we need to do what is right. It is not possible to live
your life the wrong way and teach your children to go in the right
direction. Our children will follow our lead.
If we don’t know the right way, we need to learn it ourselves
before we have children.
We recently dedicated Samantha Ann Santerre to the Lord. In that
dedication each member of the family, Mom, Dad, Sister, Grandparent,
Godparents, other family members and friends made a commitment to guide
that child in the way of the Lord. They committed to raise that young
child to honor God and to follow His guidance.
God helps us understand the priorities that He has for our
families. God has made the Husband responsible for the family unit.
Whatever happens to that family will lay on the father’s shoulders. He
first must love his wife more than he loves himself. If he does that she
will respect him. He must teach his children right and wrong. He must
not waver from that path, change the rules, have a different standard
for his children than he does for himself. He first must honor God in
all he does, then lead his family to do likewise.
Ephesians 5:33-6:4, However, each one of you also must love
his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right "Honor
your father and mother"-- which is the first commandment with a promise
-- "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the
earth."
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in
the training and instruction of the Lord.
The family was created by God as the most intimate unit in society,
the foundation of all we are. If we do not honor that and build strong,
God respecting families, we cannot hope to experience the full life that
God promises. A fulfilling and satisfying life starts with a family
built on the foundation that will withstand any storm; Jesus Christ.
I understand there are reasons for the condition of each of our
families, but that doesn’t mean we cannot start here and move toward
God. Look at it this way, take a moment today and pray to God about your
family. Just talk with Him, ask Him to lead you in the right direction,
ask Him to guide your spirit, ask Him to teach you what you need to be
doing. He will; he is our Heavenly Father, like he expects our earthly
father to do, he will teach, guide and lead you in the right direction.
Trust in Him and he will help you move from where you are to where you
need to be. Your life will be fulfilling and satisfying.
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
RUNNING AROUND IN A FOG - The HOT summer air mass that moved
into the Northeast this past weekend was preceded by a heavy fog that
complicated the local racing scene this week. Thompson finished practice
and the fog settled in. They called the drivers together and took a
voice vote as to whether to race or not. By my calculations some 80 plus
percent of the drivers voted to suspend the racing. I talked with a few
and they shared that water was condensing on the cars and the track. The
infield grass was wet, making for a dangerous slide if anyone went
across it. It just wasn’t safe to compete.
On another safety related issue, the light pole in turn one was
mentioned several times as a point of danger. Many thoughts were given
as to the additional safety measures that need to be implemented before
everyone will feel comfortable driving into turn one. The consensus was
that some form of energy absorbing material need to be added. The
existing concrete blocks serve to protect the light post not the driver.
Let’s hope that there are plans in the works to make that a safer
situation.
Stafford suffered the same fate as Thompson. Friday night at
Stafford found a heavy fog hovering over the track but not to the extent
that it posed a safety issue. Practice and heat races were run and the
SKmod Lite feature was contested before the fog settled in on the track.
The fog was so thick it obstructed the view of the backstretch. Several
competitors were consulted and the decision was made to postpone the
event.
This Friday night should be a great one at Stafford with two Late
Model features and the 100 lap SKmod feature, make your plans to be
there now.
I didn’t make it down to Waterford on Saturday night as it was our
twenty-eighth wedding anniversary and it doesn’t matter how good the
racing is, that is time that needs to be spent with family. Ron Yuhas
fared well against the ACT Tour regulars coming home fourth in what I
believe was his first try at running on the ACT Tour. Doug Coby took
home the honors in the SKmod feature. I promise to get down there one of
these Saturday nights that I am not on the road.
Let me put a little word in here to ask for your help. Both
Stafford and Thompson have had extremely difficult early racing seasons.
The weather has not cooperated and I am sure they cannot take too many
more bad nights. Please consider going out and supporting them. Spend
what entertainment dollars you have supporting our local tracks.
Racing team drives for glory of God - Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow -
6/5/2008
A newcomer has arrived on the tarmac ( at Indy) with an exciting
plan to make a dent for God at the racetrack.
Houston based Kingdom Racing is driving home the message of
honoring God through a promotion of excellence, and a series of ministry
events at racetracks. Kingdom Racing spokesman Alan Litvak says they
also want to deliver premium value to their racing sponsors.
Litvak says it is not that God is necessarily being disrespected at
racetracks, but he says "...there's a whole lot more room for a whole
lot more God, and we know if there's 300,000 people at the Indy 500 on a
Sunday afternoon, they're not in church."
Kingdom Racing sponsored a car that finished 14 in the Indy 500 on
a tough racing day. And future plans call for a car in each race in the
series, and ministries including Christian concerts. Litvak says they
could have a racing team running in "every race in the series" by 2009.
WATKINS GLEN RETURN - Mexico, Connecticut , Belgium
, New York and Holland make the top five qualifiers truly an
international group for the Camping World East Series event at the famed
New York road course. Antonio Perez of Guadalajara , Mexico set a new
track record in his first qualifying attempt. Matt Kobyluck and Steve
Park, who won his first Cup race at the Glen, were the Americans
represented in the top five.
Matt Kobyluck bested the field to add his first Watkins Glen
victory to his road racing exploits. Matt won the drag race to turn one
as the second band of thunderstorms necessitated a green-white-checker
finish. He held the lead with the three DEI teams chasing him home.
Jeffrey Earnhardt, Trevor Bayne, Jesus Hernandez and former DEI driver
Steve Park closed out the top five.
SEVENTY-FIVE GREEN LAPS - Mark your calendars as the
Whelen Modified Tour heads back to Thompson International Speedway on
Thursday, June 19, 2008. The race will be a little different format this
time with a guarantee of at least 75 green laps of racing. This has been
something the fans have been asking for and I hope they will come out
and support it. In addition to the Tour, the six local divisions will
also be part of the racing event.
This coming weekend has both divisions off as we celebrate Father’s
Day. Let’s hope the local tracks can finally get some good crowds and
good racing in. See you at a local track near you.
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
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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
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! GOD BLESS.
CHECKERED CHEERS
***WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES***
June 13
MARCEL & CHRIS DUSSEAULT - "Deuce" and his wife from Somersworth, NH
are former owners of the NASCAR BES GRAND NATIONAL Marc Motorsports team
and have their 42nd anniversary.
SCOTT & JOAN NICKEL - This Thompson Speedway photographer and
wife share their 25th anniversary.
SAL & FRIEDA MAGLIO - These fans from Scranton, PA have their
34th wedding anniversary.
June 14
LENNIE & ELAINE STOCKWELL - Mom, dad and crew for the car driven by
their son Kip.
DICK & PHYLLIS WOLSTENHUME - This retired Beech Ridge Speedway
driving mutli-time champion and wife share their 48th anniversary.
June 16
AREA AUTO RACING NEWS - The East's leading weekly racing
publication, led by Publisher Lenny Sammons, celebrates its 43rd
anniversary.
DANA & LAURIE SAVARY - This Plymouth, MA Seekonk Speedway Street
Stock driver and wife celebrate 26 years together.
June 18
JACKIE & WENDY ARUTE - The President of Stafford Motor Speedway/ TV
racing announcer and wife have their 9th anniversary.
June 19
SKIP & LOIS MATCZAK - The Ellington, CT SuperModified team owner and
wife make it 40 years together.
BRUCE & KATHY VanNORDE - This Wall Township Speedway Truck
Division and Demo Derby driver and wife from Longbranch, NJ share their
37th anniversary.
CHRIS & LORI HALSTEAD - Point Pleasant, NJ ProStock driver at
Wall Stadium and wife celebrate anniversary No. 8.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
June 13
DAVEY HAMILTON - Boise, Idaho SuperModified great, now IRL driver.
RON KEYS - Nottingham, PA Sprint/ Modified driver.
SHAUN BUFFINGTON - Plainfield, CT Modified driver.
DIRK STEPHENS - Tumwater, WA BGN/All Pro/CTS driver.
KEVIN RICHARDS - Spokane, WA NASCAR West driver.
IRENE GEHRIS - Grandview Speedway's VIP Registra and AARN
Vickie's mom.
ADRAI SCHAFFER - One of Grandview Mod driver Rick and wife
Donna's children.
FRANK L'ETOILE, JR. - Son of Massachusetts ProStock driver Frank
and wife Betty is 15.
June 14
JACK MILLER - Dr. Jack, Carmel, IN IRL driver.
LEVI SCHULTZ - This Quakertown, PA 250cc Micro Srpint driver at
Borger's Speedway in Saylorsburg, PA.
JOEY CAVALLERO - This Wall Township Speedway fan and son of Tom
and Sally and also the nephew of Steve "Woody" Woods of the Evernham R&D
Department and wife Tammy, turns 7.
June 15
TODD HUMPHREYS - Elbridge, NY NASCAR BES driver.
TREVOR NICKEL - This aspiring photographer is the son of Thompson
Speedway photographer Scott and wife Joan.
June 16
SCOTT PURSELL - Frenchtown, NJ dirt Modified driver.
DEREK LYNCH - Augusta, ME LM/NASCAR BES driver.
VICTORY MIBELLI - Windsor, CA NASCAR West driver.
THOMAS SCHRAMM - Hulmesville, PA Legends driver.
BOB SNYDER - PA photographer.
NIKKI KITCHENS - Daughter of Birmingham, AL BGN driver, team
owner Jimmy is 18.
DAN POZZUTO - The VP of Operations for Ed Ferree's corporations
based in Saxonburg, PA and team member on Ed's winning Pennsylvania
Motor Speedway Big Block Late Model.
June 17
TOMMY BARRON - Ontario, NY driver of the dirt ProStock 28T at Fulton
Speedway.
WAYNE SAVLUK - Lisbon, CT former Mod/ProStock driver; proprietor
of Savluk's Service.
PAUL SURPRENANT - Agawam, MA NASCAR Whelen Modified Series
driver.
ELAINE LaLUMIERE - Jefferson, NH wife of former ACT driver Rene.
June 18
GIL HEARNE - Hueytown, AL born retired multi-time Wall Township
Speedway Modified champion.
JOE MAMMOLITO - Long Island retired Modified Series driver.
GAYLE FERREE - This Saxonburg, PA RWJM Counselor is the wife of
Ed; championhship Big Block LM dirt driver.
June 19
SCOTT RIGGLEMAN - Howell Township, NJ ARTS Truck championship
driver.
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