9/11/2009
WHAT A BLESSING
by
Rev. Don Rivers |
This summer I have had the opportunity to perform several marriage
ceremonies. I have performed weddings from Dover, DE to New Hampshire, from
Victory Lane to Wedding Chapels, from Castles to Clubhouses, the venue
doesn't matter, the hearts of the two being joined does. I am thankful to
God for the opportunity to be a part of so many wonderful celebrations.
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This coming Saturday I have the tremendous blessing of performing
the ceremony for my oldest daughter, Elisabeth and her finance, Joe. It is a
blessing when you can be a part of such a wonderful event that honors God's
order of things. It is tremendous when one of those getting married is your
own child.
Marriage is a wonderful thing when it is entered into with the
understanding of what God intended it to be. Marriage by God's design is for
mankind to continue to grow and prosper. Marriage is a sacred institution
that should be held in the highest honor among all. Marriage means giving up
your life for the benefit of your spouse. Those who enter into this special
relationship begin to form the foundation for all human society, the family
unit. It honors God when a man leaves his home, joins with his wife and they
become one to raise a family. Let's take a look at what it means to be
married under God.
Today we use the title of family for many things. Take a look at
our racing community. We call the entire community a family. We also have a
closer knit family that makes up the tour or series we participate in. From
there we can break it down into the teams that compete, they comprise a
family unit. The most basic of these is the homes that are represented on
each team.
We belong to one another on the basis of the events and activities
we participate in. We share a common language. We experience common
circumstances. Those events bind us together and we call it a family.
Marriage is different, it is when we stand before God and make a
lifetime commitment to submit to our wife or husband. We stand before God
and give up all our personal desires and replace them with the wants and
needs of the one we are marrying. We commit before God to maintain this
relationship for the rest of our lives. Marriage forms the foundational unit
of society that God describes in the Bible. Marriage is based on
unconditional love. Paul helps us understand what that means.
1Corinthians 12:31b-13:8a, 13;
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only
a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and
can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can
move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to
the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain
nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices
with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.
Love never fails.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these
is love.
Marriage is a relationship in which unconditional love is the
foundation. We need to commit to uphold the values of love that Paul
outlines for us. I encourage you to read them and apply them to your life.
They will help make all our relationships better and blessed. Following
these will help you know the love that God has for each one of us.
I am going to enjoy the celebration, the marriage of my
daughter. Remember the significance that God places on this event, short on
our relationship with him, marriage is the most significant relationship we
will enter into. God Bless, Rev. Don.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
MEMORY LANE - I remember the races I enjoyed as a kid, back
then the man making the moves was Richie Evans. I would watch him charge
through the field making up ground lost in a late race pit stop or some
other racing issue. Those memories were relived last Thursday night at
Thompson International Speedway in the Bud 150 that was rescheduled due to
rain a few weeks earlier. Donny Lia marched through the field after a late
race spin to make it two in a row for the Bob Garbarino owned Mystic
Missile.
Lia and TC were engaged is a classic side by side battle when
things took a turn, actually Lia took the turn and ended up facing the wrong
way in turn two. It looked like two drivers wanting to occupy the same real
estate heading into turn one. That real estate was the fast groove and TC
won the battle. Lia managed to keep his car off the wall and then blended in
the field after the caution came out. The race was on!
Lia took ten laps to move from fourteenth to fifth. He stayed
focused on that lead car and got some help from the seventh and last caution
of the event. Now lining up in forth he took the green and then took the
lead with ten to go. Lia never looked back on his way to victory lane. Bob
Garbarino expressed the feeling of the entire team with his comment in
Victory Lane , “What do you think of that!” with the emphatic determination
forty plus years of racing produces.
TWO WEEKS TWO DIFFERENT RACES - In the last two weeks there
have been two Modified touring series races at Thompson. I had the pleasure
of being present for both. I know each division can put on both good shows
and not so good shows. Of these two the Whelen Modified race was what ESPN
would call an “An Instant Classic”. The True Value Series had some
challenges getting used to the speed of Thompson Speedway.
What encouraged me was the fans and their willingness to come out
in back to back weeks to support Modified racing and their local track. Both
weeks the stands were full and indicated that there are folks who want to
come out and see their racing live.
GOOD FOR TV - The numbers from the Bristol Modified race are
in and they are good, 300,000 households tuned in to watch the action. That
is just a notch behind the Camping World Truck Series audiences which is
fantastic when you consider the Whelen Modified Tour was shown tape delayed.
The show put the tour on the map and the folks at Speed Channel were excited
about the event.
FIRST TAP OR THIRD - I am not sure what to make of the tap I
received leaving the track last Thursday, you see I read somewhere that TC
taps you three times before he is going to drive around. I was leaving the
infield after the show only to look in my rear view mirror and see red,
specifically the red #36 driven by none other than TC. I was following the
ambulance and when they stopped not everyone did. Call it the delay from
being the third car back or just letting me know he was back there, I
received the Chrome Horn from TC himself. I looked in the rear view mirror
again and could see that smile. I realized I was now a member of a select
group.
SAFETY TRAINING AVAILABLE - I received a note and wanted
to share it with you;
I just wanted to take a moment to say how blessed I feel
to have been involved with Shane's racing and all the amazing people who
continue to support us and understand that in God's hands he is free. I know
RWJM travels all over and if you know anyone who is struggling, in need of
safety equipment or wants a learning opportunity in midgets to contact me.
I've been working with Fast Track Response, Safety Solutions & Bobby
Seymour. The fund raisers have been successful and I'm here to share what I
can to help any racer be safe.
Deb Marvuglio, Shane's mom,
Shane Hammond Believe Foundation,
www.shanehammond.org
Let me know if you or someone you know is in need of some safety
equipment. I believe education is the way to go. I recently watched a
Limited Late Model driver strap in for his feature without a head and neck
restraint. I don’t think that should be allowed. We need to take every
opportunity we have to race as safe as possible. Please help us get the word
out and educate drivers on how to be safe.
I am headed to the chapel and I’m going to get my daughter married!
Take time to enjoy the celebrations of life. See you at a track near you
soon.
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***
September 10
LARRY AND CARLENE SHIVERS - This Mom and Pop team for #23 Modified
celebrate 49 years on the road.
September 11
BOB & PEGGY KARBONIC - This CT Mod driver and wife have their 15th
anniversary.
September 12
DAN & SHARON MESERVEY - The parents of NASCAR WMT/CWES drivers Dan,
Jr. and Doug from Chatham, MA have their 43rd anniversary.
September 13
LARRY & CINDY NICEWICZ - This retired racing writer/ go-karter and
wife from Vernon, CT share their 49th anniversary.
September 14
ED & GAYLE FERREE - Saxonburg, PA multi-time PA Motor Speedway
Big-Block Late Model dirt champion and owner of Frankland Racing Supply and
Clincher Gears and wife have their 32nd anniversary.
VILL AND ARLENE HARD - The Ford racing fans from Clifton, NJ have
their 51st anniversary as a loving couple and partners in racing.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
September 9
JEFF HAMMOND - Former NSC/NNS Crew Chief now TV commentator.
AUDREY STEVENS MOCKOVAK - This Calremont, NH Speedway Modified driver
is also the lovely wife of Mark Mockovak.
FRED VORDEMEIER, SR. - The father of NASCAR WMT driver, Fred, JR;
"The Big Apple Kid" from West Hempstead, NY.
LARRY NICEWICZ - Vernon, CT retired racing writer.
CHAD MILLER - Son of NY photographer Chuck.
BILL CHANNELL - Proprietor of Epping, NH's Channell 1 Video who has
now gone digital.
ARLEEN SUKUP - Wife of Schodack Landing, NY former Midget owner Joe.
BILL WOODWARD - Big Ed Flemke Jr. fan and former NFM driver.
September 10
ROBERT JEFFREYS - NC Modified driver.
RALPH SOLHEM - Owner of the NASCAR WMT No. 0.
BILL CHRISTOPHER - In Plainville, CT, the father of well-known racing
twins Mike and Ted.
PHIL SMITH - Veteran racing writer from Westerly, RI.
CARRIE KILCOLLINS - Sturbridge, MA fan of CT Mod driver Willie Hardee
and her dad Wendell is Hardee's Crew Chief.
AL HANSEN - Green Lane, PA former Modified team owner at Grandview
and Bridgeport Speedways.
September 11
TERRORISTS STRIKE USA - It was not the first time, but on September 11,
2001, our country changed forever after 3,000 people were killed by
terrorists.
GEORGE KENT - The veteran Tioga Speedway and NASCAR WMT driver from
Horseheads, NY
LARRY CARON - Williston, VT LM driver.
DEBBIE VECCHIO - Wife of Syracuse, NY NASCAR CWES chassis specialist,
Tony.
STEPHEN "GOODYEAR" BELLEROSE - NASCAR WMT crewman and Dave Lind
Goodyear Tire technician.
CHERIE BEERS - Wife of Northampton, PA aspahlt NASCAR WMT driver,
Eric.
September 12
RICKY RUDD - Semi-retired NSC driver.
CINDY NICEWICZ - Wife of retired Vernon, CT writer Larry.
September 13
JIM GUTHRIE - Gadsden, AL born, Albuquerque, NM IRL driver.
ED HERROLD - A former Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Starter, now living in
Texas.
September 14
DOMINIC DOBSON - Mercer Island, WA CTS driver.
MARK PORCARO - Clinton, NJ occasional NASCAR CWES driver.
BILLY CLARK - Farmington, ME LM driver.
WES ROSNER - Famed Agawam, MA ProStock/NASCAR CWES builder.
DELORSE BOULET - The special woman in the life of Jewett City Service
proprietor Henry St. John.
GARY MARTIN - Concord, NC Sprint Cup photographer.
September 15
BILL WILSON - Fuquay Varina, NC Dash Series driver.
VENETTA NARDUCCI - Wife of Greg, WMT fan.
RONNIE MILLER III - Son of Camp Hill, PA Susky fans Ron and Arleen is
17.
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: September
11, 2009 |
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