Talk to me, not about me. We live in a world that provides many different
ways to communicate with one another, but have we really stopped to talk
with someone lately? Do we depend on electronic devices to take the place of
face to face communication? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
We say many different things about many different people but are we
really communicating? We have many different ways to contact someone but are
we really making a connection? Have we considered the best way to
communicate, face to face?
One thing I like about racing is that there is so much face to face
communication. Having said that, one thing I dislike about racing is there
isn’t enough face to face communication. That may seem like a contradiction
but it really isn’t. There are those of us who prefer talking face to face
and then there are those who do not.
Lets face it racing is all about being able to communicate with one
another. From the crew chief to the driver, spotter to the drivers, teams to
the officials, officials to the teams, officials to the safety workers,
announcer to the fans, fans to the competitors, the list goes on. Racing is
about being able to communicate.
I am reminded of a scripture passage that helps us understand the
best way to communicate is face to face. John writes;
3 John, 13-14 (NLT);
I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and
ink. For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.
We live in a society that has given up
the art of talking with someone. We say a lot but we do it in such an
impersonal way. We talk to many people in a day but what we say doesn’t
always convey what we mean. The way we communicate with each other leaves
something to be desired.
The neighborhood is gone, we see our neighbors only through the car
window as they enter and leave their garage. I remember a day when many of
our neighbors would come and sit together in lawn chairs and talk. They
would look forward to that time of day when the chores were done and they
could sit on the porch and talk about the day.
In the scripture that John wrote he shows us the inadequacy of pen
and ink. You can be the best writer in the world but your written word can
only go so far. You need to see the emotion with which the story is told.
You need to feel the passion. You need to see the excitement, you need to
understand the sincerity, feel the angst. You need to see the pain, the
hurt. All these emotions loose themselves if we do not communicate face to
face.
Let me ask you is it better to read a story or watch a storyteller?
I remember watching a storyteller recently retell a situation that I was an
integral part of. I lived it, but yet I could not have communicated it as
good as this fellow did. He added so much life and emotion to the recounting
of the event. I remember saying, here listen as he tells the story, he
retells it so much better than I could.
That is why they make movies from books, visually we can see so
much more than our mind can read. I think of the movie that was made about
the crucifixion of Christ. I knew the story, I read and preached on it
countless times, but after watching it play out before me, I was speechless.
I could only sit in silence and struggle to understand why Jesus would
endure that for me. The graphic portrayal of what those words really meant
changed my life.
Looking into someone’s eyes and talking with them makes all the
difference in the world. It solidifies our relationship. It also works that
way with God. We need to come together face to face to honor him. Our
relationship with God suffers if we do not. We need to see others walking
the same road we are.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT); Let
us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be
trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to
acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as
some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of
his return is drawing near.
We cannot encourage one another, forgive
one another, comfort one another and worship without coming together face to
face. We need to be with people. We need to have close relationships with
people. God created us in such a way that our personal relationships are
what gives our life significance, first with Him and then with others. We
are built in such a way that we need others; we need face to face
relationships.
I want to encourage you to take the time and go to someone, meet
them face to face and talk. Don’t get so caught up in technology that you
fail to communicate what someone really means to you. Don’t get so
complacent in day to day activities that you lose sight of how important it
is to take the time and meet someone face to face.
Christ came to give his life for us. We can see the cost written in
his face. He showed us how much he cared for us. He came, face to face, he
endured the cross, and he provided salvation for our souls. He didn’t do it
from Heaven, he did it right here on Earth, face to face.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
CLASSIC SUMMER WEEKEND - A storm front that
washed out the show at Thompson ushered in some perfect weather for the
weekend. With the arrival of August the racing schedule heats up. This past
weekend we made it another doubleheader, Friday night saw the Whelen
Modified Tour make it's midsummer visit to Stafford Motor Speedway. We then
headed north for a long over due visit to Beech Ridge with the Modified
Racing Series.
We always look forward to joining the Friday night card at
Stafford. The weather was perfect as the tour rolled into town. This night
would prove to be a good showing for some teams that could use some
encouragement. Todd Szegedy snapped a long winless streak as he found
Victory Lane. Szegedy led the most laps on his way to ending his victory
drought, this team may have hit their stride in time to make a run at the
championship.
Speaking of the championship the race tightened up as the Mystic
Missle team experienced some misfortune in the engine department. I am sure
this team will take this as a challenge and come back even more dedicated to
securing another title.
Erick Rudolph also continued his recent success as he led the first
fifty laps and came home in forth. Ronnie Silk set fast time and and
followed runner up Mike Stefanik home in third.
After the action at Stafford we headed up Beech Ridge. It has been
a few years since I have had the opportunity to see the action there but it
has always proved to provide a great venue for modified racing. Dan and I
joined MRS Chaplain Scott Martin for the event.
The entire Beech Ridge Staff did an excellent job and ran an
efficient program in spite of a major pile up in the featured division. I
was talking to one of the locals about getting the track's second groove to
come in. He shared that it was treated with a substance similar to what they
use in indoor racing to provide extra grip, they treat it on a weekly basis.
Whatever they are doing it is working because we witnessed some of the best
side by side action yet this year. It reminded me of what I saw at Lee
Speedway and the great action we saw there last week.
The MRS race returned Ken Barry to victory lane for the second time
in his career. This was another encouraging win just looking at the way his
dad, Art, lifted him off the ground with a congratulatory hug.
All in all we saw some pretty exciting modified racing at two
tracks we love to visit. The road continues this Thursday night with a trip
to Thompson Motor Speedway for the Whelen Modified Tour and the MRS will
make a visit to Waterford. I may have to sneak in a trip to Knoxville, but
we'll see.
Oh, by the way, we hung out at the beach for a few days in Maine,
remember to take some time to relax a little, the challenging schedule this
time of year can wear you down.
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.
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Please remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful
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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***
August 13
RON & GLORIA HANNA- This Amsterdam, NY Fonda Speedway fans have their 11th
anniversary and were wed as an early birthday present for Ron who celebrates
on the 19th.
August 14
BOB & DEBBIE YURKO- This couple can be seen recording the action at
Waterford and Thompson weekly have their special day. As I heard one
anouncer put it "she must be a saint"
August 15
JOHN & DENISE DURLING- This Grandview Speedway Late Model driver and wife
from Reading. PA share their 8th anniversary..
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
August 11
FRANKIE SCHNEIDER- The "Master of Dirt Modifieds" from the 1950's through
early 80's is now retired. God Bless, Frankie.
ED ZWICKEL- "Bubba" drives the late Model #1 at Riverhead Raceway and is
said to have the best BBQ in town; at least in the pits.
KEN WALLACE- Dallas, PA SCCA driver.
August 12
CRAIG Von DOHREN- BARTO, PA dirt Modified driver.
JERRY YOUNG- Plainfield, CT LM driver.
RICHIE GALLUP- Agawam, MA Modified driver.
RON HUMES- Islip, NY Modified driver.
LONNIE RUSH, JR.- Pickerington, OH CTS driver.
SCOTT GAYLORD- Lakewood, CO NASCAR West driver.
LENNY CHANDLER- Windham, CT fan and friend of Jimmy Broderick.
August 13
DAN COLEMAN- Griswold, CT former Modified championship owner and expert
carpenter.
LINDA BRADY- The wife of Stoughton, MA legendary NASCAR WMT 00 owner, Joe
Brady.
WILLIAM WOOD- Son of Tammy and Steve. Tammy is the daughter of Doris
Bradley, sister to Judy and Sally.
August 14
RUSTY WALLACE- St. Louis, MO retired NSC driver now ABC commentator.
LAURA DENNIS- Ocean, NJ long-time Jamie Tomaino NASCAR WMT fan.
MERL BREHM- Mechanicsburg, PA Sr. Champ Kart driver.
August 15
JOHN DURLING- Reading, PA championship Grandview Speedway Late Model driver.
A.J. ROMANO- Johnstown, NY dirt Modified driver.
SAM SCHMIDT- Las Vegas, NV part-time IRL driver.
MARIO FIORE- The famous Agawam, MA NASCAR Modified Team owner.
DICK CLARK- Long Island occasional NASCAR WMT driver.
MARCEL DUSSEAULT- Somerswoth, NH former NASCAR KNPSE Marc Motorsports team
owner.
GEORGE FOSSETT- Gray, ME fan.
KENNY HOLLIS- No. Easton, MA AARN race fan.
ADAM LEE O'BRIEN- Kyle Petty's biggest fan and son of Tammy from Boyertown,
PA is 8.
August 16
DR. JERRY PUNCH- Cornelius, NC much loved ESPN/ABC racing announcer, but
most importantly, Joni's husband.
ERIC BEERS- Northampton, PA WMT Modified driver.
LOU PRIOR- CT former ProStock driver.
BILL KISER- Concord, NC NNS writer.
MARK BOURCIER- CT based veteran racing writer.
DAWN SANSEVERINO- A daughter of Hillsborough, NC photographer Ed and wife
Linda.
MICHAEL JIVANELLI- A son of Hampton Bays, NY Riverhead Raceway driver Dan is
19.
August 17
PHIL RONDEAU- Baltic, CT Hooters Cup/LM driver.
JIM MAVLOUGANES- CT based ProStock driver.
JIM ROSENFIELD- MA ProStock driver.
JIM TERWILLIGER- Bloomingburg, NY 1956 Sprint URC Rookie of the Year, now
retired.
CHRIS ROMANO- AARN's "Midget Magic" columnist, now down south.
SHERIL PERRY- She writes about Seekonk Speedway from Rehoboth, MA.
ARLENE HARD- Wife of Vill, race car fan since 1958 from Clifton, NJ.
RON HANNA- Amsterdam, NY Fonda Speedway fan..
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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