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5/14/2009
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THE DRIVERS
PRAYER
by Rev. Don Rivers |
Do you have a RWJM driver's prayer in your car? If you do, take a little
time and read it through. If you don’t, let us know and we can get you one.
I specifically wanted to talk about our responsibility of responding in a
way that honors God. Have you been engaged in that activity? Greetings in
the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
When we get ready to start the race we glance over and look, maybe
even read the driver’s prayer attached to our dash. Some of us have them on
our passenger car dashboard. Do you have one? Rev. Dan and I revised it a
few years ago to better reflect the way we should respond. It is a pretty
simple prayer, but one that should set your frame of mind for the race of
the day.
For those of you who haven't seen it let me quote the prayer for
you here;
Father God, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, we ask
for Your hand of protection on us. We ask that Your Spirit will guide our
actions and that we would respond in a way that will honor you. Give us your
wisdom, patience and guidance. We thank you for answering our prayers. In
Jesus name, Amen
Let me ask a question, how do we handle adversity when it comes at
us at the track? Maybe someone accused us of doing or saying something we
didn't. Maybe we did. Maybe it is just an outright attack because someone
doesn't like us. Who knows the reason but at times it feels we are being
challenged for things we may not be responsible for.
Back to the prayer, read the line “We ask that Your Spirit will
guide our actions and that we would respond in a way that will honor you.”
We cannot control what other people say or do. We can control how we
respond. If we respond by honoring God it changes the situation. Think about
it for a moment and ask yourself how you feel when someone yells back at
you. Then think about how it feels when they respond with gentleness and
kindness. Try this test, everyone you meet today greet with a smile. You
don't have to say anything just show them a smile. That one little gesture
will change the whole conversation. Think of it this way, when people come
in contact with you they should leave with a better spirit than when they
came. We should add some goodness to those we come in contact with. Why,
because Jesus did. Jesus reached out to people and showed them compassion
and mercy.
Paul writes in Galatians about the difference the Spirit of God
should make in our response to others.
Galatians 5:17-26; For the
sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is
contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that
you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not
under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality,
impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy,
fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like
this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the
sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking
and envying each other.
There is a conflict between goodness and evil. It takes place in
each one of us. We have to decide which little voice we are going to listen
to. The one that makes us feel good and says I don't get mad I get even. Or
the voice that shows kindness and gentleness. We all can decide. When you
are driving on the track or just down the road and someone cuts you off what
are the first thoughts that come to mind? I know and you know what they are.
The key is to take five seconds and remember to respond in a way that will
honor God. Remember the passage from Galatians. Now, give them the benefit
of the doubt and let them go without the horn beep or the indication that
you think the other driver is number one. The more we do it the easier it
becomes. We will start a habit of reflecting the character of Jesus.
Do you know why the people came to Jesus? Because, He had mercy and
compassion for them regardless of what they had done. Jesus didn’t judge, he
forgave. Jesus tolerated their shortcoming in order to have the opportunity
to show them a better way.
Do people come to us? Have we shown them the fruit of the Spirit?
Do we show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control? How we respond to the challenging situations
and people in our lives determines what kind of witness we are. We will only
honor God if we respond in the right way.
I would encourage you to commit this sentence to memory, "I will
only let goodness flow from me." With this type of approach we accomplish
two things, one we honor God, two we honor those who we come in contact
with. Show the love of Jesus to all those you meet. God Bless, Rev. Don.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
What do you do when the Tour is not running? You head out to the local
tracks and run with the local guys. There are many opportunities to run Tour
Type Mods at various tracks in the area. Monadnock is running them as a
weekly division this year. Wall Stadium and Sundance Vacations Speedway
(Mountain) each had 100 lap Tour Type Mod event last Saturday night. For the
local boys Stafford opened its 2009 Whelen All-American Racing Series weekly
show with a Late Model 100.
Phil and Kyle handled the action at Stafford and the racing was
exciting. After a four year absence Jeff Malave returned to Victory Lane in
a SKmod. The competition at Stafford includes several WMT regulars and
winning here means something. It is good to see Jeff rewarded for all his
hard work.
Bob Menschner, Wall Stadium Chaplain sent in this report.
We had 17 cars, to take the flag. Jimmy Blewett did not
time well but on the redraw, he picked the Pole. He had some challenges for
a time with Tony Ferrante, who finished 2nd. The heavy hitters, fell along
the wayside. Jamie dropped out with engine problems. Tim Arre, dropped out
with a broken rack. Earl Paules was running in third when he ran into
troubles and dropped out. Pete Brittan was coming through the pack and he
ran into trouble. Jimmy just kept running and let the others fade. He pulled
away from the pack and no one could catch him.
Also, I made my rounds and got to get stickers on more cars and let
the teams show their support for the ministry. Glad I had extra stickers. I
also wore the new shirt. It was great to get to see the reaction and lots of
people noticed it, right away!!!! I didn't get it dirty and will go back to
the old one, next time. Thanks for the shirt. I still get to do the
invocation at the drivers meeting. It would have been nice to see one or
both but you didn't miss much. Hope you guys had a good week-end, BROTHER
BOB
Jimmy had a comment about his redraw skills, “I guess there were
some people here who wished I would have drawn last,” Blewett said in the
winner’s circle. “But still, I’d rather be lucky than unlucky. I’m just glad
to see a good crowd here again tonight and I hope you’ll all come back
again.” I couldn’t agree with Jimmy more, it is good to see a crowd at a
local track on a Saturday night. I think race fans prefer live racing on
Saturday night versus watching it from the couch. Go out there and support
your local track.
Sundance saw Eric Beers and Matt Hirschman join the locals. Each
had a chance to win but in the end Rusty Smith took home the Checkered Flag.
Beers came home second and Hirschman fourth.
HEADED WEST - This week the
Camping World Series joins East and West in Iowa for a combined race at
Rusty’s Place. Rev. Dan will be joined by Midwest Chaplain Chuck McNeil.
I will be headed to Dover , Delaware to marry a couple in Victory
Lane at Dover Downs. I have been given the opportunity to take a few laps
and I am a looking forward to it.
Wherever the road leads this week respond in a way that will honor
God.
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 17
DAVE & KATHE DUPUIS
- The mom and dad of Renee, accomplished lady NASCAR Modified driver have
their anniversary.
May 18
HOWARD & MARY HODGE - This Manchester, CT racing photographer couple
share their 47th.
JIM, JR AMD GINGER HAILEY - The NC LMSC driving son of Richard
Childress Show Car Team Manager Jim, have their 15th anniversary.
TONY & ELIZABETH DIAS - This Riverside, RI ProStock driver and wife
celebrate 24 years together.
May 19
EDDIE & ANN DENSIESK I- This Riverhead NASCAR Modified driver and wife
share their special day.
JERRY AND DEBBIE LILLQUIST - This former Thompson Late Model driver
and wife, now living in Myrles Inlet, SC, have their 36th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
May 13
BILL STIVASON - From Kittanning, PA, the Scorer at Challenger Raceway.
RON RIEDINGER - Former Flemington dirt Sportsman and LM champion.
CHERYL VENEZIAN - The grown-up daughter of Joe and wife Linda of Perth Amboy
Springs.
May 14
GARY NAPOLITANO - D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
FRED VORDERMEIR - "The Big Apple Kid," West Hempstead, NY Modified
driver.
BUDDY BLACK - NC NASCAR Modified driver.
TONY RAINES - LaPorte, IN NASCAR NSC driver.
STEPHAN GREGOIRE - Neufchateau, France born, now Indianapolis, IN IRL
driver.
DENNIS WOOLDRIDGE - Riverside, CA LM driver.
May 15
SHANE HMIEL - Former NASCAR driver.
ED ST. ANGELO - Barrington, RI Modified/ProStock driver.
NANCY CLARK - Wife of Long Island NASCAR modified driver Dick.
WES BENASH - Marlton, NJ son of Bridgeport Speedway Handicapper Bob.
PETE McCLUSKEY - Pete McCluskey Builders sponsor of Wall Township
Speedway's George Andretta's ProStock and #1 fan.
May 16
DOUG FRENCH - Farmingdale, NJ occasional NASCAR Mod Series driver,
proprietor of DFA, close friend of WMT driver Jamie Tomaino.
PETE PAVONE - Bridgeport, CT DWRS Modified driver.
GEORGE ANDRETTA - Neptune, NJ Wall Township Speedway ProStock driver/
Modified team owner,
STEVIE REEVES - Speedway, IN NNS driver.
TOM TAYLOR - Lodi, CA NASCAR West driver.
GARY DANKO - AARN Brian's brother, racing radio host, Waterford
announcing staff.
JARROD LEHMAN - Son of AARN columnist Doc and wife Carol.
May 17
JOHN McMULLIN - Daytona based Film Producer.
JIM POWERS - Seekonk Speedway co-announcer.
JANIE DANKO - Owner of the Waterford Speedbowl John Faulkner LM.
May 18
ROGER OXEE - Riverhead Raceway competitor.
GARY LaMOUNTAIN - Riverhead Raceway LM driver.
May 19
MATT HUTTER - Chardon, OH NASCAR CWES/NNS driver.
JODY RIDLEY - Chatsworth, GA NASCAR All Pro Series driver.
DALE CAMPFIELD - Apalachin, NY former owner of Shangri-La (Tioga)
Speedway.
SYLVIA CRUNDEN - Wife of CT ProStocker Brian.
*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***
RUSS HOEK - passed away on April 20, at age 75. Russ was the very first
Modified winner at N.J.'s East Windsor Speedway in June 1965; and won
another main there later that year. He also won a Modified feature, in 1962,
at N.Y.'s Orange County Fair Speedway; and competed at Nazareth and Reading.
Russ was a native of New Jersey, and lived in Georgia since the mid-1980s.
Cards may be sent to his family at: John Hoek, 243 Old South River Rd.,
Jackson, GA30233.
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
14, 2009 |
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