5/7/2009
WHO WILL BE
SUCCESSFUL
(PART TWO)
by Rev. Don Rivers |
Welcome back, have you examined the difference between having success and
being successful? Remember being successful has more to do with character
and less to do with performance. Greetings in the name of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Remember that guy that asked to use your hauler as a pulpit? He
thanked you by giving you advice on how to set up your racecar. You were
skeptical but followed his advice. As it turned out he knew what he was
talking about. Therein lies one of the elements of being successful,
following someone who knows.
We spent some time last week looking into a passage from Luke's
Gospel. Here's the passage again so that we can make reference to it.
Luke5:1-11, One day as Jesus was
standing by the Lake of Gennesaret , with the people crowding around him and
listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left
there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the
boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from
shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had
finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down
the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night
and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the
nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that
their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat
to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they
began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said,
"Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions
were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and
John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon,
"Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their
boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
In this passage we find the record of how Peter came to follow
Jesus. Peter had a choice, he could have remained a fisherman or he could
become a fisher of men. To demonstrate the difference to Peter, Jesus
demonstrated His ability to catch fish. After seeing this demonstration the
passage says Peter left his nets and boats and followed Jesus. That must
have been one awesome catch of fish to impress a fisherman that he
determined his life would be better if he followed Jesus instead of
remaining a fisherman.
I find it amazing that Peter walked away from everything he had
accomplished, everything he had built, his entire business and followed
Jesus. What would it take for you to leave everything at the track and
follow Jesus? Can you even imagine what it would take to just leave
everything and follow Jesus?
Peter came to the realization that with Jesus failure was not an
option. Look at the situation; Peter and his associates had been out fishing
all night. They caught nothing. They went back out during the day and caught
so many fish their boats were sinking. They had never seen so many fish. I
can hear the question that ran through their minds, "Who is this man that
knows where all these fish were?" Then Peter decided he was worth following
and his associates, James and John, followed along.
In addition to the three steps we discussed last week;
1) The first step to being successful is including Jesus. He must
be a part of our life.
2) We must allow Jesus to have control of the direction and
decisions in our life.
3) Jesus will guide us to people, places and things that we
wouldn't have met, gone or done if we didn't follow Him.
Let's add these;
4) Realize failure is not an option when we follow Jesus, Jesus
will not fail.
5) Expect Jesus to do great things. He will amaze us with His
blessings.
6) Accept the new direction in life. Follow Jesus with all you
have.
If being successful is more important to us than having success
than we need to follow Jesus. These steps that guide us only serve as
reminders that we do not have control over what happens in life. We need to
follow someone's direction, someone's example. Who we follow determines if
we will be successful.
Phil 4:13, I can do
everything through him who gives me strength.
Luke 1:37, For nothing is impossible
with God.
When all is said and done by whose standard will you be judged, the
standard of the world or the Biblical standard? With Jesus you cannot fail
and nothing is too big to overcome. I encourage you to let Jesus into your
life, give him control, follow him with everything you have. You cannot and
will not fail. God bless, Rev. Don.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
MOTHER’S DAY - This week we celebrate Mother’s Day. The
fact is none of us would be here without our mother. Please take the time to
let her know you appreciate her. Also, you Husbands out there don’t forget
to remember the mother of your children.
Speaking of moms, please keep “Boots” Tomaino in your thoughts and
prayers as she is still suffering complications from her knee surgery. She
is back in the hospital.
MID-WEST UPDATE - Our Mid-West
Coordinator sent this report along to fill us in on what is happening in
Indiana.
An update from Anderson Speedway, World’s Fastest Quarter Mile –
Last week I met up with Rev Dennis Coppock of Families Forever Ministries.
Dennis is a long time Anderson fixture having raced Corvettes there in the
past and also hosting a weekly radio broadcast on the local station. Dennis
wants to pursue expanding his ministry to include racing now and is coming
alongside Racing with Jesus Ministries . He and I talked with several ‘old
timers’ at the race including Darwin Blankenship, former figure 8 champion
from the 70’s and 80’s. Darwin has health concerns, so remember him in your
prayers.
We also got an update from one of the Anderson PD’s finest. His
wife went to Atlanta last year as part of a mission team, and has decided to
pursue that again this year. Between Dennis and John, you can see the
emphasis being placed on families – and how this is key to improving the
outlook of our nation and our community.
This Saturday night found us back for the USAC National Sprint
tour. We met the series chaplains, Dave and Brenda Cochran who have decided
full-time racing ministry is what God has for them. Dave showed us the new
Ministry RV, a great deal that God found a way to make a fantastic deal –
pray for Dave and Brenda as they minister to USAC National Sprints as well
as serving as track chaplains at Kokomo Speedway and Gas City I-69 Speedway.
Several long-haul teams tonight, including Bobby Santos III from
all the way back to my old New England stomping ground. Bobby qualified well
and earned the pole for the 100 lap feature. There was only a turn four
incident at lap ‘zero’ and after that we went flag to flag in a record 19
minutes. What a race! Bobby held on to third place, with the top two spots
going to Bobby East, from Brownsburg and Tracy Hines of Tony Stewart Racing.
East lapped all but the second place car of Hines, and was only a few
minutes from lapping the entire field. His spotter should tell him to ease
it back when he has that kind of lead, but of course with 10-11 second laps,
it still seems close. 15 cars started which is a good warm up for the big
event – the Little 500, where 33 sprint cars will take to the quarter mile,
three – wide, on the fourth Saturday in May. Look for another update from
the 500 weekend.
I’ll be joining Rev Dan in Iowa for the NCWES race in two weeks.
God Bless, Chuck McNeil RWJM Midwest Coordinator.
PLUMSTEAD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - I
headed down to Rev. Pat’s old stomping grounds last Saturday. I figured at
the very least some folks would be encouraged to know that the ministry was
going strong. I want to thank Rob Grimm, owner and sponsor of Eddie
MacDonald’s Camping World East entry, for sending down a car and a couple of
crew members to help out.
We had a visit from a Grandview regular that went way back with
Rev. Pat. He shared how Pat prayed with him and his wife as they went
through a challenging sickness. He invited me down the street to take in the
nights racing action, but I had to get back to Connecticut .
Sometimes you wonder why you need to go someplace, but you have
that feeling in your heart that you need to do it. That feeling is the
leading of the Holy Spirit. True to God’s promise in Scripture we met
someone who may be able to help us take the next step with Racing with Jesus
Ministries . I was reminded of the passage we are studying and the promise
it contains. Again it proved that God knows better than we do and being
there was a benefit to RWJM.
We are looking forward to a long relationship and a return visit to
Plumstead.
WEATHER - Stafford faced
weather issues Friday night and postponed the season opener to this Friday
night. The Late Model 100 is on the schedule for this week. This is one of
the best late-model races of the year, make plans to get out there and take
it in.
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***
May 7
DAVE & KIM DORNBLASER - Both are 270cc Micro-Sprint drivers at
Borger's Speedway and Kutztown Fairgrounds celebrate lap 4 together.
May 8
CHARLES & KAREN TURBUSH - From Long Island, this Rusty Wallace and Hut
Stricklin fans have their 15th anniversary.
DR. CHRIS & CHERIE WIBBLESMAN - The eldest son of RWJM advisor Dick
and wife Judy and wife celebrate their 14th.
May 9
ELI & CLAUDETTE GOLD - The popular race announcer and wife share their
31st anniversary.
RUSS & LISA WOOD - The NH based ISMA SuperModified driver and wife
share their 20th anniversary.
May 12
HAROLD & BARBARA DAUNCEY - This Wall Township Speedway NASCAR Modified
driver and wife share their 24th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
May 6
TODD SZEGEDY - NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver and former Champion.
MIKE COPE - Pinellas Park , FL Slim Jim NNS driver.
TAMMY JO KIRK - Dalton , GA NASCAR All-Pro Series/ CWTS driver.
MIKE CLAYTON - Crewman with Dave Michel No. 60 Wall township team and
proprietor of McGraphics Graphics.
RENE DUGAS - Taftville, CT photographer.
STACEY KOHLER - Wife of Fleetwood, PA Micro Sprint driver Jason.
May 7
BENJI ROWE - Turner, ME NASCAR CWES driver.
DARLA SETZER - The wife of NASCAR CWTS/NNS driver Dennis.
DIANE BENNETT - Wife of Stamford , CT NASCAR CWES/CWTS driver Brad.
BILLY ROE - Indianapolis, IN born, now Gilbert, AZ IRL driver.
STEPHEN GRIMES - Burlington , NC LMSC driver.
JERRY LILLQUIST - From Canterbury, CT, this former Late Model driver
is now residing on the beach just south of Myrtle Beach , SC.
JOHN ROSATI - Retired Modified/ProStock driver from Agawam , MA .
PAT BEEBE - Wife of Star Speedway NASCAR flagman Jim.
CRAIG HIETALLA - Brother of Enfield , CT NASCAR Modified driver Brad.
HENRIETTA KOSZELLA - Wife of Koszella Speed's Sonny and mom of Julie
Stefanik, wife of NASCAR WMT/NASCAR CWES champ Mike.
MISSY LEDFORD - The daughter of LM driver Dave and AARN salesman at
Lakeville Speedway , PA.
May 8
BOBBY LABONTE - Corpus Christi , TX NNC driver.
NATHAN BUTTKE - Randleman, NC NNS/LMSC driver.
BRAD CADDICK - North Kingston , RI NASCAR WMT crewman.
BARBARA KUHLMAN - The Ass't Scorer at Bridgeport Speedway and wife of
AARN columnist Ken.
LOUIS OBERTO - Another son of Mahoning Valley Speedway area famous
news writer and announcer.
RAY MILLER - Retired Modified driver and father of Sk driver Jay.
May 9
ED BRUNNHOELZL, JR. - NJ asphalt Modified driver.
TIM FEDEWA - Holt, MI Former NNS/CWTS driver.
GARY LLOYD - Efland, NC LMSC driver.
MIKE PORTER - Princeton, WV veteran LMSC driver.
MELISSA STUART - The daughter of Preston , CT proprietor of JDM
Chassis/ LM driver Jay and wife Angelina is 12.
May 10
REV. DAN PETFIELD - From Thornwood , NY , CWES Pastor for Racing with
Jesus Ministries and Vice President.
JOHN WALL, JR. - Brother of NASCAR CWES driver Bryan.
RON THIEL, JR. - Long Island NASCAR CWES driver turned Nextel Cup
team fabricator.
LINDA HIETALA - Wife of Enfield , CT Reliable Welding Modified driver
Brad.
TRAVIS PERRY - Son of Seekonk Speedway Sportsman driver Bill and
Stacy is 15.
May 11
BUGS STEVENS - Rehoboth , MA retired NASCAR National Modified champion
and proud dad of NASCAR Modified/ProStock driver Dave Berghman.
JIM BEEBE - Star Speedway NASCAR flagman.
BEVERLY WEIDMAN - The owner of the NASCAR dirt Modified team driven
by husband Gene at Big Diamond.
MICHAEL WIBBELSMAN - The youngest son of RWJM Advisor Dick and wife
Judy in Gainesville, FL.
May 12
JIM SPENCER, JR. - NSC commentator Jim and wife Pat's oldest.
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
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Source: Rev
Don Rivers / Racing With Jesus Ministries
Posted: May
7, 2009 |
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