In life there are the have and the have-nots. How we interact is the
subject I wanted to talk about this week. How do we respond to those in
need? How do we respond when we have a need? Greetings in the name of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
At the track we talk about give and take, letting the car with the
advantage go and having the courtesy returned to you when you have the
advantage. Bugs Stevens talked about racing etiquette recently in a
Speedway Illustrated article that covered the same subject, an unwritten
code of ethics between drivers that showed a mutual respect.
The fact of the matter is that at any given time we may have what
we need or we need something. On the track it is the right setup, in
life it is the resources to live. How we respond to having too much or
too little shows who our trust and faith is in. We try too many times to
provide for ourselves without first turning to God and letting Him
provide for us. We see things through our eyes and forget that God has
promised to supply everything we need.
Do you remember Moses? He led the people out of slavery in Egypt .
You would think they would be grateful, but like any leader of people,
Moses faced the complaints from the nation of Israel . That doesn’t
happen; does it?
They complained about not having food because they saw the desert
and didn’t know how they were going to find something to eat. They
wondered aloud if God had called them to the desert to die. They thought
they would have been better off back in slavery in Egypt . They looked
at things with their own eyes and had no idea what God had in store for
them in the Promised Land. We have many similarities with them don’t we?
We rush to judgment without taking the time to step back and look
at the whole situation. We think we know what is going on but we really
don’t understand how God works. Do you think for one moment that God
called the nation of Israel out of bondage to let them die? Sounds kind
of funny when you say it that way. Of course he didn’t. He had a plan
for them just like he has a plan for us.
I have been to enough driver/crew chief meetings to know that what
is said there is only a fraction of what goes on behind the scenes as it
relates to complaints. I am sure every race director and technical
inspector could write a book.
The fact remains that we are not ready to let things play
themselves out and see what God has in store for us. We would rather
complain and whine about what we don’t have or what we think we need.
Before you start defending yourself, let me explain.
There are times when discussions need to take place in racing about
what is fair and equitable, that is not what I am saying. I am saying we
get into the habit of jumping on something before we actually see how it
will work out. We think we know better when most times we don’t.
God provided food for the Israelites with one simple instruction,
Take only what you need. Like most of us, they didn’t have enough faith
and took more than they needed thinking they would save some just in
case God forgot about them tomorrow. Do you know what happened to the
excess? It rotted, stunk and was filled with maggots. God provided daily
for their needs and He will do the same for us.
In 2 Corinthians Paul tells us that God provides some of us with
more than we need and some of us with less than we need so that we can
learn to have faith in Him. Those with more should give of their excess
to those with too little. Read along;
2 Corinthians 8: 9-15 (NIV), For you know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter:
Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the
desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to
do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to
what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard
pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your
plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will
supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He
who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did
not have too little."
The last sentence refers to the Israelites in the desert. They had
what they needed if they only took what was needed. They learned to
trust God and have faith in Him to supply their daily needs. The Lord’s
Prayer that Jesus taught us to say says the same thing, “Give us this
day our daily bread.” God intended for us to trust Him on a daily basis
and let Him supply our daily needs.
Take a look around and see the stuff you have accumulated. Do you
know someone who could use it? Give it to them, no strings attached.
Trust that God will provide for you when you have a need. Don’t let your
life get so burdened down with stuff that you forget to live. Learn to
live in the freedom that comes with having faith in Jesus and trusting
that He will meet your needs.
Remember Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not
want.” Think of it this way; the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything
I need. Trust in God to provide for your needs, give freely from what He
has provided you, live in the freedom of releasing yourself from the
burden of stuff. Let God supply.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
DUAL RACE WEEKEND - Dan and I headed in opposite directions,
literally. Dan went from NY to CT and I went from CT to NY. I know it
doesn’t make sense but it really does. The Camping World Series East
joined the PASS tour at Thompson for a full fendered day at the track.
The Whelen Modified Tour returned to Spencer Speedway in upstate NY for
a throwback style race at the half-mile oval.
Young Trevor Bayne had a banner day visiting the 5/8 mile for the
first time in his career. The 17-year old DEI driver not only won his
first pole but he also won his first race after only six tries. DEI
again showed its dominance placing all three cars in the top five,
first, second for Jesus Hernandez and fifth for Jeffrey Earnhardt. The
top two DEI finishers waged a great battle for the lead and the fans got
their moneys worth from this one. Brad Leighton and Marc Davis finished
third and fourth to fill out the top five.
Spencer produced another memorable battle between Matt Hirschman
and Chuck Hossfeld. Through many restarts the two ran side-by side
dueling for the top spot. In the end, Matt won his first WMT race and
Chuck settled for third. Ronnie Silk ran a patient race that saw him
come home second for his tenth top ten in a row. Others contributed to
the battle; Mike Stefanik, Ted Christopher and Eric Beers before the
tight confines of Spencer clamped down on them. Jimmy Blewett and Mike
Stefanik rounded out the top five.
The next five include some newcomers; Glenn Reen came home in sixth
for the best finish of his rookie season. Another not so newcomer, Wade
Cole, was a newcomer to the top ten in eighth. Let the record show to
cut back on expenses Wade drove his open trailer to the race. It was
great to see Wade in the top ten. Danny Sammons also made a visit to the
top ten to finish ninth. A good run for this team who has been working
hard to find the right combination.
PRAYER LIST IS GROWING - I want to take some space here and
ask you to include these folks in your prayers; Tinker, a Jamie Tomaino
crew member, was in an auto accident with his wife and has some broken
ribs. Al, a crewmember on the #9 WMT team, who is recovering from cancer
treatment and chemo suffered a mild stroke. Cotton, hauler driver for
Jeffery Earnhardt, found out his mom passed away as he drove to
Thompson. He flew back home to be with his family. In a wonderful show
of caring Andy Santerre’s driver drove the hauler back for DEI and Andy
climbed back behind the wheel and drove the ASM hauler home.
There are many more folks out there who need our prayers, please
lift the unspoken requests up when you go before the Lord in prayer.
LAPS OF A DIFFERENT KIND - Ron Yuhas, former WMT competitor,
will run his Late-model around the bases on July 14 at Dodd Stadium on
Norwich . I wonder if he has any experience on dirt? It is all part of a
promotion for MetroCast, one of his sponsors. I for one think it is a
novel way to introduce new fans to the sport. Get out there and run some
laps around your local baseball field, but not without an invitation.
Dan and I will be headed for Nashville this week for the Camping
World Series East race at the Music City Motorplex. Not much downtime in
this trip but I, for one, am always excited about heading to the country
music capital. I will be at Thompson Thursday night to take in the
action before heading out. I’ll be looking for 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
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***
July 16
KEITH AND DEBBIE KRODEL - These former Jan Leaty NASCAR WMT team
members now living in Pensacola, FL have their 15th anniversary.
July 17
MARK & STELLA BURNS - This New Hampshire SuperModified team owners
have their 24th anniversary.
July 21
JERRY & LINDA SOLOMITO - It is 22 laps together for this Long Island
driver and wife.
July 22
BRAD & LYNN LEIGHTON - This Center Harbor, NH CWES Grand National
driver and wife share their 17th anniversary.
PHIL & BETTY SMITH - This veteran writer and wife of Westerly ,
RI celebrate their special day.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
July 16
"BOOTS" TOMAINO - The mother of WMT career driver Jamie Tomaino.
MIKE FIELDS - The Publisher/Editor of
www.LONGISLANDMOTORSPORTS.com from Long Beach , NY and close friend of
the ministry has his day.
WAYNE ANDERSON - Wildwood, FL NASCAR Modified driver.
July 17
DOUG WOLCOTT - NJ asphalt Modified driver.
BRANDON ASH - Umpqua , OR NASCAR West driver.
ERNIE COPE - Spanaway, WA NASCAR West driver.
MICHAEL LEATY - Mod Tour Jan's adult son.
July 18
STEPHEN LEATY - Jan's next son.
RON CORNELL - Westport, MA AARN columnist and candle maker.
MAGGIE WOODS - The daughter of Tammy and Woody who works for
Evernham Racing R&D, living in Mooresville , NC turns 8.
July 20
PETE HAMILTON - Retired Massachusetts driver for Richard Petty won
the Daytona 500 in the 70's.
DAVE WHEELER - Lisbon, CT former LM driver.
DAVE SHIPPEE - Former writing partner of New London , CT 's John
Brouwer, Sr. now retired in NH.
MIKE MONNETT - Owego, NY writer.
HAROLD K. DAUNCEY - Son of NJ asphalt Mod driver Harold and wife
Barbara is 15.
July 21
BOBBY WILKINS - Milford, DE Dirt Modified driver.
TIM McCAULEY - Huntington Beach, CA NASCAR West driver.
July 22
RON YOUNG - Conyers, GA NASCAR All Pro Series driver.
CHRISTOPHER SAVLUK - Son of Lisbon , CT Crew Chief Roger.
RICH YANNETTA - Bridgewater , NJ Flemington go-kart driver.
JULIANNE ELIZABETH COX- The youngest of Bob and Tracy is 5.
*** REMEMBRANCES ***
July 22
ROBERT KENNETH SPRING - 10 years ago Ken Spring 's dad went home to
be with the Lord. Keep Ken, his mom Lucille and the entire Spring family
in your thoughts and prayers as they remember their Dad and Husband. For
as much as we tease him, Ken means a lot to many of us and we know he
will have a heavy heart. Drop him a note and let him know you are
thinking of him.
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
SEND THEM TO:
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084
TheChromeHorn RWJM Archives
Racing With Jesus Ministries Website
