The double checkered flags signify the end of the race. The first car to
cross the start/finish line under the flags is declared the winner. The race
is finished. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
With each beginning comes an end, there is a green flag that is
followed by a checkered one. So life goes, what is begun has to be finished.
As Jesus hung on the cross, everything He came to do was done and He
pronounced it finished.
John 19:30;
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished."
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Christ
came and gave his life for us, he bore the weight of our sin and reconciled
each one for us. He came to save our souls from eternal separation from God
and that is what he accomplished. He gave us the freedom of forgiveness.
John writes;
John
3:16-17, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.
We also come to this part of our study at
an opportune time to remember those who have given so much for the freedom
we enjoy in America. This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. We remember
those who have given everything they had for our freedom.
I am reminded of the poem “Freedom isn’t Free”. It helps us to
recall the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the giving of
their lives. Their willingness to give secures, to this day, our freedom.
Freedom to do what we enjoy, racing.
I was thinking the other day what would this country look like if
we weren’t free? Would there even be racing, as we know it. On any given
weekend I can choose where I go to watch a race. You can choose where to
race. If you don’t like going to a certain track you can choose another. We
have the freedom of choice. That is not something to take lightly.
Stop and think of all the choices we can make in our life and then
think of some of the other nations in the world who don’t have the same
option. The difference is freedom. The founders of our country decided to
organize this nation on the foundation of God and freedom of choice. We have
fought for over 200 years to maintain that, not only for us but also for
other nations and peoples of the world.
Jesus Christ gave His life for us, to save us from death and
destruction. Do you want to experience an abundant and free life that only
comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior? He gave His life to give you
that opportunity, accept it and free yourself from the burden of sin.
Freedom isn’t free. It cost someone, something. Be thankful there
are those who are willing to pay the price for our freedom.
Thank them. God Bless, Rev. Don.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
RWJM has traveled many roads this past
week. We have been to Pennsylvania, Iowa, New York, Massachusetts and
Connecticut. As this ministry continues to grow God has been faithful and
called workers to help.
Ray Pavkov headed down to PA to speak at a Men’s Breakfast held by
Calvary Bible Fellowship Church in Coopersburg, PA. He sent a brief report,
No tomatoes thrown and no one left early. We are thankful to have Ray on
board and his willingness to speak to others about what we do here at RWJM.
Rev. Dan headed out to Iowa and was joined by Midwest Coordinator
Chuck McNeil. They spent two days with the K&N Pro Series East vs. West
event held at Iowa Speedway.
I sandwiched two tracks in between a wedding. Thursday night I was
at Thompson with Ray and Scott as they opened their weekly racing program.
Friday Scott and I headed to Albany-Saratoga to be with the MRS getting home
in time to get to the chapel Saturday morning in Foxborough, MA.
TNTT - Thompson opened the season with a dandy of a show.
Although it looked like not everyone was ready to get out to the track,
those who did get there put on a show. The highlight of the night took place
on the last lap of the Sunoco Mod Feature when TC dove under Keith Rocco,
held his low line through four and out sprinted Kid Rock to the line for the
win. Let’s face it there are many scenarios that go through your head when
you see a dive bomb move going into turn three on the last lap. In fact I
have seen many of them and the results are usually not pretty. This however
was one result even I didn’t expect, considering the parties involved. In
Victory Lane TC shared, maybe when you are 51 you pick up a few things along
the way.
DIRT TURNS TO DUST - Albany-Saratoga decided for the 2010
season they would turn from dirt to asphalt. This has proven to be a
learning process. The track made improvements from the past visit of the
Modified Racing Series but there are still a few things that need to be
done. The second groove is coming in and there was plenty of side by side
action to indicate this switch will make for some exciting shows.
Unfortunately the pit area was very dry and the dust was very hard to
overcome.
One of our goals here is to see racers race safe. To that end there
does need to be some issues addressed at this track. I think having the
emergency personnel staged and ready in the infield would be a step in the
right direction. Forgive me for being negative but the response time in
accident involving Pete Brittain left me wondering if there was an ambulance
at the track. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt and all worked out for
the best, but I hope this was something we can learn from and make the
necessary improvements. My hope is that they will.
CLOSE ONE IN THE HEARTLAND - Max Gresham won a tight three
way battle with Ty Dillon and Corey LaJoie, The three came across the stripe
taken the white flag three wide. Gresham would inch out the win followed by
Dillon. It a scary crash, Mackena Bell cut a tire and hit the wall, causing
a fire. She was able to get out safely and although a little shaken, she
will be fine. The K&N Pro Series East gets back in action when they join the
Whelen Modified Tour at Martinsville June 5 & 6.
MODIFIED RACING SERIES - As I shared previously we have been
asked by some competitors to be at the Modified Racing Series events and we
were at Albany-Saratoga to see how that might work out. We are pleased to
say that things worked out great. We have committed Rev. Scott Martin to the
MRS as their primary Chaplain and he will be attending their events. We do
not have a partner for him yet, but that will come in time. Look for us at
their events and if God is leading you to get involved let us know.
GOD IS EXPANDING OUR TERRITORY - With the addition of the
Modified Racing Series and our assistance to The World Racing Group we have
some tremendous opportunities to further reach the racing community. Please
lift us up in your prayers as we continue to honor God in all that we do.
It has been a few weeks now that Rev. Bill Waugh, RWJM PA/OH
Coordinator has been sharing with us some of his thoughts. In case you
missed it, Rev. Bill wrote a column that appeared in RPM Racing News and
when they became a part of the AARN Family we welcomed Rev. Bill on board
here to share some of his insights.
IMHO (In My Humble Opinion),
some thoughts from Rev. Bill Waugh
* Ron Fox is producing a really good racing show, PIT PASS on
WHVL. If you can’t get WHVL on your cable, you can watch it on line at
www.whvl.com. Check it
out.
* It was mentor vs. protégé for many laps in the Bedford Speedway Super
Late Model feature Friday night. Veteran racer/Math teacher Jack Pencil
battled back and forth with Shippensburg College Sophomore Dylan Yoder.
Eventually years of experience won out in their top ten duel. Dylan’s mom
said to me during a caution that watching the two race each other was an
AARN photograph as Jack had inspired Dylan to study math in college to
become a math teacher. Our sport is full of stories of positive role models
on and off the track. Sorry I didn’t get a picture of the two on track but
maybe these comments will do.
* New father Chris Chamberlin was in Bedford’s victory lane in the Street
Stocks celebrating after nearly destroying his car there two weeks ago. Then
after he pulled into tech the win was taken away from him. Bob Jay also was
disqualified so the win went to the immaculate yellow Camaro of Brian Duffy.
I heard that they both refused to have the engine tech’d. Even if they did
nothing wrong the court of public opinion will be in force for both of them.
It only takes a moment to mar a racer’s reputation.
* Last Sunday we were on the way home from Blairsville at 7:15 pm. Kudos
to the Millers and their crew for running the kart races in about 3 hours!
Much improved over the leaving at 10 pm the week before. You also have to
give credit to the drivers and families that hustled to make sure that the
karts were on the grid ready to go when their race was on tap. All it takes
in racing, like in life, is a little cooperation.
* Still no Ed Lynch Sprint victory at Lernerville. On the positive side,
he spun, went to the rear and still finished 2nd to Dale Blaney!
Contact me at
revbill87@comcast.net, 724-832-6436, or at 703 Green Street,
Greensburg, PA 15601.
This week finds us back at Stafford on Friday night for the Whelen
Modified Tour and the Scott heads north to be with the Modified Racing
Series for their events at Airborne and Thunder Road. Hope to see you out
there.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and apparel. See
them at the Show Your Faith Apparel Store at
www.rwjm.com. Send us
your prayer and counseling needs no matter what part of our racing family
you are in, or give us a call. 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 26
LLOYD & LINDA AGOR- From Brewster, NY, this Stafford WAARS Modified 2005
champion now WMT #2 crew Chief and wife have their 17th anniversary.
May 27
WALTER & TRUDY CHARETTE- The Linwood,MA proprietor of Son Carpentry/ Mike
Stefanik and Dale Jarrett fan and wife/ Reggie Ruggiero/Ernie Irvan fan have
their 14th anniversary.
RUSH & MARTA LIMBAUGH- This New York City based Indy car fan and wife share
their 15th anniversary.
May 30
BOBBY & MEREDITH DILLNER- This Long Island native, now a Charlotte based
SPEED CHANNEL reporter and wife share their 16th anniversary.
TOM & CARITA TWINEM- These Brookfield, WI fans share their 29TH anniversary.
DON & MARY ANN MOYER- This Delaware race writing couple have their 17th
anniversary.
JOE & JULI ANN DEVOLVE- This Plainfield, CT fan couple shares their 11th
anniversary.
June 1
RANDY & LYNDA HEDGER- The Tioga Speedway/NASCAR WMT driver and wife from
Morrisville, NY share their special day.
BOB & TRACY COX- Rev. Pat's cousin in Boyertown, PA and wife, both NNC and
Sprint car fans, share their 13th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
May 26
STACY COMPTON- NNS driver.
RONALD COOPER- Statham, VA NNS team owner.
GEORGE BRUNNHOELZL- Lindenhurst, NY chassis builder.
LISA SANSEVERINO- A daughter of Hillsborough, NC photographer Ed and wife
Linda.
May 27
GREG GASTELU- Jackson, NJ Wall Township Speedway driver of the famous No. 69
NAPA ProStock.
RON MOON- Cumberland, ME LM driver.
MARK GARMAN- "The Shark" is a Sprint writer from Laureldale, PA and a member
of the Grandview Speedway staff.
DR. DICK BERGGREN- TV Race Commentator and short track fan.
May 28
DON FORTE- Terrebone, Quebec LM driver.
WAYNE CARROLL, SR.- Dad of Massachusetts ProStock driver Wayne, Jr.
May 29
KEN SCHRADER- Fenton, MO NSC driver.
JIMMY MEANS- NSC/NNS/NASCAR West independent driver/owner.
AL UNSER, SR.- Retired Indy Car great, Little Al's dad.
LARRY BARNETT- Ledyard, CT Limited late model champion at Thompson Speedway.
RITA TRUDEAU- Wife of retired Chaplin, CT Modified driver Joey.
RICH SYLVESTRI- Retired proprietor of Sylvestri's Auto Care in Canterbury,
CT formerly referred to as the Northern World Center of Speed.
RITA ST. JOHN- The mother of Jewett City (CT) Service Proprietor Henry.
May 30
BOB NEWBERRY- Schenectady, NY Alchohol Funny Car driver.
GLEN MEISENHELDER- Springfield, MA occasional NASCAR CWES driver, son of Ken
of KGM Video.
PAUL HEARD- Lisbon, CT LM driver.
TED SEMINARA- This "Area Auto Racing News" Nextel Cup photographer from
Brewster, NY is now turning "Rebel" down in Mount Holly, NC and loving it.
LISA ORR- Daughter of Orlando, FL LM driver Pete and wife Terri.
PATRICK SHANLEY- Bethel, CT Lebanon Valley fan turns 18.
May 31
GENE WEIDMAN- Big Diamond Speedway dirt NASCAR Modified driver.
ED SANSEVERINO- Hillsborough, NC Orange County (NC) Speedway and AARN
photographer.
STEWART LEHMAN- Former longtime staff member at Wayne County Speedway,
Orville, OH.
THOMAS PURVIS- Son of Clarksville, TN NNS driver Jeff.
June 1
NORM PATRICK- Publisher of NY State's "Gater Racing News."
JAY SAUTER- NNS/Craftsman Truck Series driver.
DAVY JONES- Lake Tahoe, NV Offroad and CTS driver.
DARRYL LEWIS- New York Southern Tier asphalt Modified driver.
LORRAINE SYLVESTRI- The wife of Rich, retired proprietor of Sylvestri's Auto
Care World Center of Speed in Canterbury, CT.
LEW MARDEN- Onwer of Air Transport, Inc in Concord, NH and Jamie Tomaino
NASCAR WMT fan.
DAVID BAKKER- Former NASCAR CWES Race Director
MARY ANN MOYER- Delaware writer.
MATTHEW THOMAS- Son of northern New England's "Racin' Paper" Publisher Mark.
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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