As I said last week, we are all familiar with the angel on one shoulder and
the devil on the other. We know what is right and want to do the right
thing, but there is still that voice in there that tells us we can do what
we want. Let’s continue as we close out our discussion of the internal
struggle that challenges each one of us. Greetings in the name of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever tried to stretch your car to the end of the race?
Avoiding the pit stop and hoping you had enough to make it. Sometimes we
don’t make it. Sometimes we fall short of the finish line. We need to take
the proper steps to finish the race in such a way as to win.
As we talked last week we discussed the internal struggle and the
spiritual birth that needs to take place in each one of us. We continue that
discussion this week. Let take a look at how should make the right
adjustment in our lives.
For some, we think we can just forgo the decision and not
participate in this spiritual birth. We think we can just do our best and
try to be good people and that will be good enough. It won't, if we do not
accept Christ, we are destined to destruction. Our sinful nature will lead
us down a road that makes life meaningless. We will wake up one morning and
regret the path we took and wonder if there is still a way out. Our only
hope comes from accepting Christ and winning the battle.
The writer in Romans encourages us;
Romans 6:12-14, (New
Living Translation); Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in
to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of
evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were
dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to
do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you
no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under
the freedom of God’s grace.
Living without the anxiety of looking
over your shoulder is a wonderful blessing. Getting there takes some
practice. We have to replace all those desires that are in us with the
character of God. The Holy Spirit that dwells in our heart will help us
learn what decision is right. Paul compiled a list in Galatians for us to
compare the two natures so that we can understand to difference.
Galatians 5:16-22 (New
Living Translation) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you
won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do
evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit
gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.
These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to
carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you
are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very
clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery,
hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition,
dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like
these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort
of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. There is no law against these things!
We need to change the direction our lives
are going. If we stay on the path of self fulfillment, satisfying our
selfish desires, we will find out sooner or later we missed the boat. We
will find ourselves living a life without meaning or substance. We will find
ourselves lost; looking for the turn we missed, wanting to move our lives in
a different direction. As long as you are here there is still hope. Hope
that comes in the form a Savior, Jesus Christ. Take time to consider how
many times you have to look over your shoulder and see who is coming up
behind you, wondering if you treated them right. Accept the hope that Jesus
offers and start your life down the road that leads to security,
satisfaction, fulfillment and life.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
MAD DOG FILLS THE HOUSE - After a 17 year
hiatus the Whelen Modified Tour returned to Monadnock. The fans didn’t
forget and made the night a success by filling the seats. Whelen Engineering
also took the opportunity to say thank you to their New Hampshire Employees
some 250 guests enjoyed the nights racing action. Our thanks go out to Phil
and the entire Whelen crew for outfitting the RWJM pace car with the safety
lighting necessary to pace the field. Because of their provision we were
called into duty as the primary pace car. It was an experience Dan and I
will not soon forget; thanks.
Qualifying saw Erick Rudolph win his first pole. He picked the
right race to do as there was no redraw and his qualifying effort allowed
him to lead the field to green. He was able to maintain his good performance
and brought the car home second behind race winner TC.
Ronnie Silk had the run of the night starting in 16th and finishing
on the podium in third. He passed thirteen cars as he worked to bring the
high groove into play.
All in all it was a good day. We were able to renew relationships
with the folks at Monadnock and catch up on a few things. We want to thank
them for their hospitality. I think they do a wonderful job of making people
feel welcome. Take in a race there some Saturday night.
OPS RUNS LATE - This week I (Scott) traveled a lot further
north to Oxford plains speedway in Oxford, Maine with the Modified Racing
Series. Once again there was a strong contingent of Modified's making the
trip. For me I was excited about going to this track for the first time. I
heard greats like Bobby Allison talk about how they got there start in the
early days by racing at this track and I must say it was worth the trip.
Probably the only issue of the night was the 10:36 green flag which
was caused by some added races from a Wednesday rained out show. Once the
MRS went green no one was disappointed. Oxford is so wide that the cars were
three wide many times during the night and it took 73 laps before anyone saw
a caution. At the end of the night Southern Modified Tour regular Andy Seuss
took down an exciting win for his first MRS win of the season. Louie
Mechalides finished second and Todd Annarummo finished 3rd,
The MRS will be traveling to Canaan, NH this week and I encourage
everyone to get out and support this touring division. You will see some
real special racing and will not be disappointed.
NEMA REMEMBERS SHANE - This Saturday night we will be with
NEMA at Waterford Speedbowl for the running of the First Annual Shane
Hammond Memorial. We will be on hand to help the NEMA family honor one of
their own and to help the racing community remember the inspiration they
received from Shane and the life he lived. There are still lap sponsorships
available, check out the website,
nemaracing.com.
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***
July 21
JERRY & LINDA SOLOMITO- It is 24 laps together for this Long Island driver
and wife.
July 22
BRAD & LYNN LEIGHTON- This Center Harbor, NH CWES Grand National driver and
wife share their 19th anniversary.
PHIL & BETTY SMITH- This veteran writer and wife of Westerly, RI celebrate
their special day.
July 23
RED & STELLA MEAD- This Hyde Park, VT White Mountain Motorsports Park (NH)
driver and wife share their 25th anniversary.
DAVE & SHIRLEY ALEXANDER- This retired Maine Modified driver and wife have
turned their track 43 times.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
July 21
BOBBY WILKINS- Milford, DE Dirt Modified driver.
TIM McCAULEY- Huntington Beach, CA NASCAR West driver.
July 22
RON YOUNG- Conyers, GA NASCAR All Pro Series driver.
CHRISTOPHER SAVLUK- Son of Lisbon, CT Crew Chief Roger.
RICH YANNETTA- Bridgewater, NJ Flemington go-kart driver.
JULIANNE ELIZABETH COX- The youngest of Bob and Tracy is 7.
July 23
BUCKSHOT JONES- Monticello, GA former NNS driver.
DEBBIE KRODEL- Keith's wife, both Sprint and NASCAR WMT fans, in Pensacola,
FL.
July 24
JEFF HERBERT- Wall Stadium Modified driver.
STAN WATTLES- Glen Cove, LI born, now Sewall's Point, FL IRL driver.
LEONARD WAGNER- This Schwenksville, PA Grandview Speedway fan, along with
wife Earlene, is also a Dale Jarrett fan.
JUDY ROBINSON- Wife of Bill, daughter of Doris Bradley, fan of Wall Stadium,
New Egypt and NASCAR fan of Ricky Rudd. Sister of Sally and Tammy.
July 25
FRANK FLEMING- Mt. Airy, NC Modified driver.
KELLY PUNCH- A son of Dennis and Pat from Newton, NC and crewman for Dale
Earnhardt, Jr.
TODD STILES- Lisbon, CT Tech Inspector.
July 26
RANDY MacDONALD- Canadian born KNPSE,NNS,CWTS owner/driver now living in NC.
RICK CRAWFORD- Mobile, AL NASCAR All Pro/CWTS driver.
ALAN COATES- Connecticut Modified driver.
WILL POIGNONNEC- Kart Racer at Oakland Valley Race Park from East Brunswick,
NJ.
DAVID ALIO- NSC photographer
MIKE SOVA- Windsor, NY writer.
July 27
GLENN SULLIVAN- Westbury, LI KNPSE driver.
PETE FIANDACA- Townsend, MA legendary LM/ProStock driver.
JACK SELLERS- Sacramento, CA NASCAR West driver.
***IN THE SHOP***
MICHAEL PARES SR- AARN modified tour photographer had an
accident and is in the hospital with broken legs. He had surgery and in
about 3 weeks he will go back for surgery to have the pins removed. He has a
long recovery 6-8 months. He's getting around in a wheelchair now; he can't
bend his legs as they are in braces. His spirits are up. Please pray for
him. Thank you. If you would like to send him a card his address is 5
Broadway, Wayne, NJ 07470, He need a lot of cheers!
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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