I am always encouraging our chaplains to share what God places on their
heart. This week Rev. Ray Pavkov shares some of his observations from his
trip to the World Series of Speedway Racing. Greetings in the name of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
In Psalms 114:14 GWT, the
Psalmist David, writes,
“I will give thanks to you because I have been so
amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is
fully aware of this.”
As I was heading up I 395 to Thompson
International Speedway for the World Series of Speedway Racing, this verse
came to my mind- but as I was driving, something was different. What was it?
I had driven this same route several times this year during the
summer racing season, but something was different today. After a few miles
of looking right, left, and straight ahead, I saw the beauty of God’s
handiwork! There it was, all around me. The Maple trees had turned their
brilliant red, the Fire Bush was aflame, the Aspen trees were a gorgeous
golden yellow; all highlighted by the dark Pine trees. As I took in this
beauty with my eyes, I began to think about how God created each one of us
differently and with a beauty all our own.
In Ephesians we read:
Ephesians 2:10 NLT; “For we
are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do
the good things he planned for us long ago.”
How did the trees get this beautiful
today from the basic blah nondescript greens they were all summer? Under
stress and the changes of time, their true colors came out. We, as God’s
children, are also created to become what He has planned for us and wants us
to be. As we grow and mature in our walk with the Lord through the seasons
of life, we too become more brilliant and glowing, so that others will see
the creators hand, God, and what he made us to be. This will overshadow what
we have made our lives out to be. We were created in His image so that as we
use the Gifts and Talents He wired us with, we will be a blessing to those
around us. Many are looking for God’s presence in this dull world. They
should find it in His people.
When we trust Jesus Christ to be our Savior, He promises to fill us
with His new Spirit. The old self is gone and buried. The outer beauty
becomes the expression of the inner change which has taken place in our
life.
Are there some areas in your life of which you know are not so
pretty? Are there some habits and changes which need to be made? Ask the
Lord Jesus to prune and make over those areas that you know are not so nice.
He promises in His Word, that anyone who comes to Him, He will not turn
away;
John 6:37, NLT; However,
those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.
So why wait? Think of the people who you
will affect by giving yourself completely over to God’s re-creation. The
beauty others will see will not be you, but Christ shining through you for
His purposes.
The ride back home was equally beautiful with the late afternoon
sun setting through the autumn cloudy skies as I looked west along the
highway. But that is a message for another time.
God Bless! Rev. Ray
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
A WONDERFUL DAY AT THE TRACK - Rev. Ray wrote; the whole
day at Thompson was a huge blessing for me- the new people I met, though you
know me and remembering names! A couple NEMA guys thanked me for stopping by
their hauler to talk; Erica's mom thanked me for coming back to the pits to
pray for her as she was late getting out back to line up; praying over Brian
Cleveland's ankle in the ambulance with the EMT, talking with the Versus
people, they wanted to know if RWJM was like MRO; I gave them a brochure and
shared with them about what we do. It was a good ride home thinking about
all that had gone on. I thank God for the opportunity to serve Him.
HOW’S THAT POSTAL THING GO - Neither wind, rain, snow,
sleet, cold, or dark of night will keep them from their appointed rounds?
Well the MRS is right up there with the Postal service although I am told
some may have wanted to go postal. What was forecast to be a warm October
day turned into anything but. After a four hour delay due to many of the
weather conditions mentioned the MRS was finally able to complete what they
started and put a cap on the 2010 season. Steve Masse won the final event of
the season for his third win of the year while Jon McKennedy won his second
championship in a row.
LIFTING THE RACING FAMILY UP IN PRAYER - This past week we
have sent a few members home to be with the Lord and please lift their
families up in prayer.
CAROL JUNE SECHRIST BODINE - Matriarch of the Bodine racing
family, she was there for all the highs and lows. From the concession stand
at Chemung to the souvenir trailers that followed her son’s careers around
the NASCAR circuit, she was the glue that help it all together. Geoff, Brett
and Todd and the entire family will miss the place mom held in their lives.
Please lift the entire Bodine family up in your thoughts and prayers.
JEFF BYRD - the man who made Bristol Motor Speedway the
place to be ended his battle with cancer. Exceed Expectations was the battle
cry from the general manager who didn’t think it was above him to don a
ticket apron, take some cash and go out into the line and help people get in
quicker and have a more enjoyable Bristol Experience. Jeff’s son-in-law,
Jerry Caldwell talked about the impression that was left on him, “I got to
witness a life well-lived first-hand, Jeff loved to make a difference, and
he loved a lot of people.” Byrd is survived by his wife of 36 years,
Claudia, daughter Belton Caldwell, son Christian, and seven grandchildren.
PHYLLIS WHITE DONLAVEY - Wife of famed car owner Junie
Donlavey went home to be with the Lord, she was 85. Phyllis wasn’t much for
the racing thing but it grew on her. She vowed though that they would never
borrow any money for the “cars” and they didn’t. They handled everything on
a cash basis, to the point that if they had to write a check, they didn’t
need it. That served them well. They also resisted moving South with racing,
the Richmond area was home. They met when she was 14, fell in love and
married when she was 17. For over five decades the Donlaveys, Virginia’s
first family of racing, ran their race business in Richmond. Besides her
husband, Phyllis leaves two daughters, Linda Perkins of Williamsburg and
Beverly Swata of Largo, Fla.; a son, C. Richard Donlavey of Richmond; eight
grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Please lift the Donlavey family
up in your prayers.
HEADED SOUTH FOR SOME ALL-STAR ACTION - We are headed south
to the heart of NASCAR racing, Charlotte. We will be on both side of town as
we take in the World Dirt Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte and the John
Blewett Memorial North-South Shootout at Concord Motor Sports Park. We are
always excited to be in the heart of the racing world and take some time to
take in a race shop or two. Not sure who we will go see this year but I am
sure it will be fun.
Hope to see you on the road.
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***
October 27
RAY & PAULA ACKERLY- This Katonah, NY dirt Modified driver and wife
celebrate their 19th anniversary.
October 28
JOHN & KATHY TEMCHAK- This former NHMS Victory Lane staff member and wife
from Canterbury, NH have their 31st anniversary.
JOHN & DONNA HALL- This racing couple of Northeast Connecticut have their
14th anniversary.
October 29
WAYNE & KELLY HELLIWELL- This NH ProStock driver and wife share their 33rd
anniversary.
November 1
BRAD & DIANE BENNETT- This Reyben Racing NASCAR CWTS and ASA driver from
Stamford, CT and wife share their 12th anniversary.
TOM & SALLY CAVALLERO- These Wall Township Speedway fans from Farmingdale,
NJ have their 14th.
ALAN & KATE CLAFFIE- This mazda driving, pug loving, photographing couple
share their 8th year together.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
October 27
DICK TRICKLE- Fan favorite retired Wisconsin based NASCAR driver.
NEWT HARTMAN- Flagtown, NJ East Windsor Mod driver.
RAY HEDGER- Williamson, NY Bruce Driver WMT Crew Chief.
MARC OSWALD- Vineland, NJ based "Trackside" Magazine Field Sales Rep.
AMANDA PETFIELD- Thornwood, NY RWJM KNPSE Pastor & vice president Dan and
wife Debbie's youngest.
ALAN CLAFFIE- Mazda racing, Nationals promoting, Steve Park look alike.
October 28
JOE RUTTMAN- Upland, CA born, Brentwood, TN NASCAR CWTS driver.
RICK BELL- Poughkeepsie, NY NASCAR KNPSE Road Racing specialist with Merit
Motorsports.
BILL BRICE, JR.- Former NASCAR WMT Chief Tech. Inspector and Wall Township
Speedway Sportsman Modified champion from New Jersey.
TOM BALDWIN, JR.- Dad taught him all he knows. The son of Bellport, NY Tiger
Tom, Tom is now a car owner in the NSCS.
JOAN HOFFMAN- Mom of Allentown, PA dirt Mod star, Doug.
ALEXIS MICHEL- The daughter of Wall Township Speedway star Modified driver
Dave and wife Kyle.
October 29
KEN LENDA- Norwich, CT Waterford Speedbowl SS driver.
DENISE & LISA GUNNING- The twin daughters of Stafford Speedway championship
Modified driver Bo.
October 30
DOUG HOFFMAN- Allentown, PA top dirt Modified threat.
MICHELLE "SHELLY" BLEWETT- Daughter of retired Modified driving great John,
Jr. and wife Jessie.
DANIELLE RIVERS- Daughterof RWJM WMT Pastor and president Rev. Don & wife
Lynda.
October 31
KIP CHILDRESS- K&N Pro Series East Race Director and friend of RWJM turns
another lap.
LENNY SAMMONS- Character counts with people like this. He is the
Publisher/Editor of Area Auto Racing News.
BUDDY LAZIER- Vail, CO IRL driver.
GARY LILECK- "Area Auto Racing News" race results reporter/writer.
RACHEL & HEATHER MARTIN- The grown-up daughters of Batesville, AK Roush
Racing Valvoline team WC driver Mark and wife Arlene.
November 1
RICHARD BALSER- The grown-up son of Mass. photographer/PR Rep. Dave.
November 2
JULIE POST- The light that makes her husband shine, he says. She is the wife
of Steve Post the Track Announcer for Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte,
NC.
LARRY PEARSON- Spartansburg, SC NNS retired driver.
STAN GREGER- Retired Modified driver famous at the now closed Riverside Park
Speedway.
BILL KUZMA- Wall Township Speedway driver.
JOHN TAGG- Dad of Webster, MA CT Mod driver Tom.
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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