As we continue to look at selected passages from Scripture that detail face
to face encounters with Christ we find ourselves at Jacob’s well. One of the
most important things we need to sustain life is water. Christ offers us
something better, living water. Greetings in the name of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
It can be hot at the track in the summer and one of the most
welcome sights is a cooler filled with ice cold water. We have seen the
effects of dehydration when we don’t drink enough water. I have watched crew
members go into shock and need medical attention because they didn’t
properly hydrate themselves. Our passage relays the story of a hot summer
day and the need for water to quench our thirst.
John 4:7-15; When a
Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her,
"Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy
food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.
How can you ask me for a drink?"
(For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. )
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you
for a drink, you would have asked
him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.
Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob,
who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his
flocks and herds?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but
whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I
give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty
and have to keep coming here to draw water."
There are many things we can
discuss about this conversation. First, Jews and Samaritans didn’t get
along; in fact they didn’t even talk to each other. I am sure there are some
teams in the pits that have the same kind of relationship. We start to see
the why Jesus had to go through Samaria; he had to start breaking down the
barriers that man had built.
Another thing to look at is the fact that we don’t always see
things for what they are. The time of day was noon, the hottest part of the
day. Why would you come to draw water at that hour? Why wouldn’t you come in
the morning when it is cool and everyone else comes? Because you don’t want
to have to answer the questions about your lifestyle that those people were
asking. We will learn as we continue to examine this passage that this woman
wasn’t leading the best life she could.
Another thing to notice is that she didn’t expect to meet Jesus at
the well. She really hoped to be alone at the well so when someone was there
she was surprised. When Jesus spoke to her she got defensive. She wasn’t
sure who this man was. She also knew she had never seen him before.
Did you notice the question she asked when he offered her a drink?
How can you give me a drink, you don’t have anything to draw water with and
the well is deep. Jesus draws from a different well than we do. He doesn’t
offer us water from a well, he offers us living water.
Living water restores your soul, cleanses your sin and allows you
to enter into a relationship with God as one of his children. Living water
gives us eternal life in heaven with God.
Let me ask you, are you thirsty? Do you want the forgiveness that
comes through Jesus? Do you want the inheritance that comes with being a
child of God? Accept the offer that Jesus gives, accept the living water.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
HOMEBOUND - Well they say there is
no place like home and this week that has been a welcome place to shake off
the road. It hasn’t been without challenges though. On our way back from
Daytona we learned of the death of Lynda’s grandfather. He was 91 and faced
some challenging days ahead, we count it a blessing that he went home to the
Lord before he had to endure some of those difficulties.
Also, we learned of the death of my friend’s dad, some of you may
know Franc Motors in Willington, CT. Rick Ostien is the proprietor and his
dad’s name was Harry. Rick has helped sponsor local race teams and some of
his mechanics compete at Stafford and Thompson. I am thankful that I was
able to help Rick and his family through this difficult time.
THE RACER’S EXPO - With the vacancy created when
Speedway Expo ceased to exist, Bobby Seymour has put together a little show
up in Marlborough, MA. this weekend for some of the trades connected with
racing in New England.
Bobby invites you to come along if you’re a race driver, mechanic,
team owner or sponsor. Exhibitors from across America will be there to
display their products and answer your questions.
The show will be at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in
Marlborough, MA, just 1 mile west off 495 at the Route 20 exit (Exit #24b).
Admission is free.
I will be there on Friday to see some of you before I head down to
Lansdale, PA for a show at Calvary Baptist Church. We will have the pace car
with us and also the #71 K & N Pro Series car of Grimm Racing. If you are in
the area please stop by and say hello.
We have a few weeks off here before we get back to the track but as
you know that doesn’t mean we are standing still. One of the events on the
agenda will be the first of many annual retreats for our RWJM chaplains on
March 19-21. If you want to come and join us in West Springfield let me
know.
Remember we are available to come and speak to your church or
group. If you would like us to come drop us a line and let us know. 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***
February 27
DENNIS & ELLEN MURRAY - This Mike Weeden LM fans from NH have their
44th.
March 2
BILL & SUZANNE STIVASON - These fans from Kittinang, PA share their
19th anniversary.
March 3
TIM & BRENDA STEELE - The Coopersville, MI ARCA 3-time champion now
car owner and wife share their 17th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
February 24
MICHAEL RITCH - High Point, NC NNS/LMSC driver.
RICK DYKE - Danbury, CT retired ProStock driver.
LOUIS LaFLEUR - Thompson Speedway track crew member.
KYLE McGOWAN - Flagger at Wall and familiar sight at Mod races enjoys
his big day.
February 25
NORM HOLDEN - Seekonk Speedway ProStock driver.
T.J. CLARK - Chandler,AZ NASCAR West driver.
BUTCH GILLILAND - Anaheim, CA NASCAR West driver.
PATTI BETTS - Show horse riding Wife of former Long Island now
Salisbury, NC engine builder John.
NESTER Q. KRAMER - Riverhead, NY Billy Pauch fan.
February 26
GLENN FITZCHARLES - Pottstown, PA URC Sprint driver.
KEN LAVOIE - Massachusetts driver.
ZUNILDA ROCCO - Wife of the world famous Plainville, CT Modified
driver "Rocket Ronnie."
ELIZABETH DIAS - Wife of Seekonk Speedway ProStock driver Tony.
February 27
GARY GOLLUB - Mohnton, PA Mod/Sprint driver.
DENNIS SETZER - Newton, NC NNS/CWTS driver.
TODD BODINE - Chemung, NY CWTS Champion driver.
GEORGE INGOLE - Lakeland, FL All Pro driver.
TY DILLON - A son of Welcome, NC NNS driver/ Crew Chief Mike and wife
Tina is 18, Richard Childress' grandson.
February 28
MARIO ANDRETTI - This Nazareth, PA World Class retired driver really
does think he's Mario Andretti.
JAY HEDGECOCK - High Point, NC NSC fabricator and LMSC builder;
Modified driver.
JOE GAERTE - WoO sprint driver.
BUTCH LEITZINGER - State College, PA NASCAR KNPSE and World Class
driver.
RICH GARDNER - Late Model Stock Car driver from Waterford, PA; "Erie
Speedway" 5-time Dirt Late Model champion.
LIZ STRICKLER - Susquehanna Sportsman driver Randy's wife.
JUDY MANIX - The sister of Plainville, CT drivers Ted and Mike
Christopher.
February 29
BRIAN HOAR - His day is really February 29 for this Goss Dodge ACT
driver.
March 1
ALEXIS SZEGEDY - Wife of former WMT champion Todd, AKA George.
BOBBY SEYMOUR - Well known midget driver and partner of Seymour
Enterprises Performance Products Inc.
QUINN CHRISTOPHER - Wife of well known multi-talented driver TC.
DAVE MARCIS - Skyland, NC Retired NSC driver/RCR research driver.
BILLY PAUCH - Frenchtown, NJ driver of the Williams Grove based Zemco
Sprint.
RANDY HEDGER - Sprint Cup official from Williamson, NY.
TIM STEELE - Coopersville, MI ARCA driver.
JERRY CAMINITO - Jackson, NJ NHRA Funny Car driver.
GLENN FRYE, JR - Grandson of Warren "Jeep" Frye and 1/4 Midget driver
of Blackbird, Deleware.
DONNA KOCHER - Bethlehem, PA AMRA Microstock member.
KATHY TEMCHAK - Wife of Canterbury, NH NHIS victory Lane Staff Member
John.
March 2
TAMMY SUE WOODS - The wife of New Jersey born Steve "Woody" Woods on
the R&D staff at Evernham NNC racing.
LAURIE UDES - Wife of Morris Plains, NJ asphalt Modified driver John.
March 3
FRED RAHMER - Pennsy based international sprint car driver.
DANNY JOHNSON - Phelps, NY D.I.R.T. Modified champion.
CHARLIE SAVAGE - From Portland, CT now driving a Modified at
Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda, FL.
MELANIE DEWARE - From Easton, MA, the bubbly wife of Mosler
Automotive/Jilbrit Wheels GT Team driver Scott.
MARY LOUISE HODGE - Racing photographer from Manchester, CT;
photographer Howie's wife.
MARGARET DAVIS - Manassas, VA writer.
GREG RHEN - Sinking Spring, PA dirt catcher and fan of Kenny
Brighbill.
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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