There are times in each one of our lives were we have to take a stand. It is
said if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything. Knowing
where you stand is important, especially as it relates to God. Greetings in
the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The racing world is built on standings. We use them to crown our
champions, to set the starting field, to determine who gets a provisional
and just about everything we do in racing. Most importantly we use it to see
who gets the money from the prize fund. We are always trying to figure out
where we stand.
Life is the same way; several years ago companies developed a new
way to decide which workers were beneficial to the company. They rank the
workers and let a predetermined percentage at the bottom go. That works
great for the first time, but soon you start cutting into the good workers.
It doesn’t add up, especially when as workers leave they are not replaced.
You end up with an overworked staff that is in danger of losing their job
because they are the lowest rated among the three employees you have left.
These standings do not reveal what is truly going on.
Many times standings can be misleading. I finished in the top ten!
But there were less than ten cars in the field. I finished all the races I
started this year. I only competed in four of the 20+ that were run.
Some stands we take are not beneficial. When we can get caught up
in the emotion of a situation and are drawn into it; we end up standing up
for something that is wrong. We need to guard against that. We need to
always be aware of what we stand for.
I have heard the statement, “A hill on which to die.” What that
means is there are some things worth standing up for, even if it means
death. We need to know what those things are. We need to focus our efforts
on such things and avoid getting caught up in things that do not matter.
I am thankful for Jesus and his willingness to stand in my place,
pay the price for my sin and give his life as a sacrifice foe me. His stand
allowed me to live. His stand also allowed everyone who believes in Him to
live also.
Where we stand and what we stand for makes all the difference in
the world. When we make a stand we have to do it with the right motives. We
don’t do it to attract attention to ourselves. We make a stand because it is
the right thing to do and it will provide guidance to others. Taking the
right stand involves courage and encourages to others to do what is right.
I was reading Psalm 1 recently and it illustrates the two options
we have in life to make a stand.
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
We may
think there are many different stands we can take, but the truth be told,
there are only two; you are either for God or against Him. Those that stand
for Him have a responsibility to represent Him as his Spirit directs them.
God will bless that.
One of the things we see today is that too many are claiming to
stand for God when, in fact they are really wanting to draw attention to
themselves. Their motives are not right. They are selfish. Standing up for
God means putting him in first place. Sometimes we get our standings
confused.
We need to ask ourselves, where do we stand? Do we stand, walk and
sit with the wicked, those against God? Do we live our life in such a way
that we break God’s moral law? Why?
Or
Do we stand by the stream of living water, replenished, refreshed,
nourished by God and His Word? Do we stand up for what is right in God’s
eyes, even when it is not popular? Do we fight against the presence of
things that lead us away from God? Are we willing to make the sacrifice that
comes with standing with God?
It can be difficult to know where someone stands. We are not sure
what some people represent. Too many times the messages are confusing. Too
many times what we see does not match what we hear. This should not be.
We need to work on where we stand. We need to make it clear to
others what we stand for. We need to be ready and willing to pay the price
and stand up for what is right, true and honoring to God.
My prayer for each one of us is that we would stand up for Jesus.
That we would not leave any doubt in people’s minds about who we belong to.
That our actions and words would match. That others would see the love,
compassion and mercy that God has for them. That we would reach out to those
who are lost and dying, doomed for destruction, and help them find the solid
rock to stand on.
Where do we stand? Who do we stand with? What do we stand for?.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
WATERFORD HOLDS THEIR YEAR END CELEBRATION - It was my
pleasure to join the Waterford Speedbowl family this past weekend as they
celebrated the accomplishments of the 2010 season. Lynda and I want to thank
Terry, Tom and their entire staff for inviting us to celebrate with them.
Let me add that of all the banquets I attend this one was the first
to get things in the right order. Many times we are asked to come and ask
for God’s blessing but they put it in the middle of things. Thanks to the
organizers of Waterford’s Banquet they had the order of things correct.
Before the salad, before the meal, before any introductions, we prayed,
thanked God for a wonderful season, asked his blessing for this night and
meal, and his continued blessing on 2011. Then we ate and celebrated.
MOTORSPORTS 2011 THIS WEEK - We are looking forward to
seeing many of you in Philadelphia this weekend. We are always excited to
meet and greet the fans, catch up with the drivers and team members. Plan on
stopping by and saying hello.
BUSY WEEKEND NEXT WEEK - Next week finds us spread out
across the country. Dan and I will join Gary on the West Coast for the
Toyota All-Star Showdown. Scott and Ray will be meeting and greeting folks
at Frank Maratta’s Auto Show in Hartford, CT and Ricky Maddox will be in
Atlantic City with the indoor racers at the Boardwalk Hotel.
We are thankful for the opportunity to serve the racing community.
We are also thankful for all of you who make that possible with your prayers
and contributions. We are looking forward to a wonderful 2011 racing season. 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***
January 20
JOHN & SANDY LEGER- This CT based LM driver and wife have their 20th
anniversary.
GERG & VENETTA NARDUCCI- This FL based couple celebrates 33 years together.
January 21
ED & LINDA SANSEVERINO- This AARN/RWJM photographer and wife from
Hillsborough, NC have their 36th anniversary.
January 22
IRA & KIMBERLY HARTOUGH, JR.- Long time fans of Bob Park, NASCAR Modified
driver, have their 11th.
January 23
KERRY & RENE' EARNHARDT- This Kannapolis, NC ARCA/NNS driving son of the
late Dale share their 13th anniversary.
BOB & LOIS MARTI- This Watertown, CT Modified Team crewman and wife have
their 43rd anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
January 19
BOB McCREADIE- Watertown, NY winningest ever NY dirt Modified drivers.
GARRETT EVANS- Ardenvoir, WA NASCAR West driver and NASCAR Truck team owner.
JOE HEATH- Northridge, CA NASCAR West driver.
TOM HESLIN- Plainville, CT spotter for the Ted Christopher driven WMT team.
JONATHAN WAWRZONEK- Son of Fonda Speedway fans, Ron and Gloria Hanna.
January 20
KENNY BRIGHTBILL- Sinking Springs, PA legendary and active dirt Mod driver.
DONALD SMITH- NC Modified driver.
BARRY BABB- Beech Ridge Speedway LM driver.
RICHIE GALLUP- Springfield, MA Modified driver.
JERRY CATANIA- A son of CT Mod owner, Joe.
MIKE ADASKAVEG- "Speedway Illustrated" photographer.
GORDY KILLIAN- Reading, PA Sprint writer/photographer.
ROSE TEETER- Wife and NSC fan with husband Paul of Ithaca, NY.
January 21
ERNIE SAXTON- Fellow AARN columnist and Motorsports Marketing President of
Langhorne, PA and president of Eastern Motorsports Press Association.
GARY "BUGS" HAIRFIELD- Chesterfield, VA LMSC driver.
BUD KUEHNE- Clinton, CT Waterford LM driver.
HARRY SOLT- NH based NASCAR KNPSE crewman.
BILLY SOLT- Lehigh Valley, PA NASCAR WMT crewman and Harry's twin.
BOB RUDNE- Brother of Norwich, CT race car letterer Alan Coulle.
LINDA BROWN- Riverhead Raceway fan.
January 22
DAVE STACY- Enon, OH former Dash Series driver.
JACK CARUSO- Former New Jersey dirt Sportsman driver and crewman, also proud
dad of Micro sprint driver Angela Caruso.
January 23
HERB DRUGG- Troy,NH NASCAR KNPSE driver.
BRAD HIETALA- Ellington, CT Modified driver.
January 24
BRETT ROUBINEK- Chicago, IL born, Lakeville, CT occasional Crystal Rock
Water NASCAR KNPSE driver and lead sports car driving instructor.
GARY SPENCER- Shickshinny, PA NASCAR KNPSE driver from the famous Berwick,
PA racing family.
AUSTIN CAMERON- El Cajon, CA NASCAR West driver.
TINA CAMPBELL- Wife of Busch Sport Scene editor and organizer of the Annual
Busch Sport Scene Snowmobile Poker Run for Charity, George
JENSEN PICARDL- Riverhead Raceway crewman/ driver.
JEFF SANDT- Gainseville, GA All Pro/ UDTRA photographer and writer.
JAMES CASEY- Seekonk Speedway fan.
ALEXANDRIA TWINEM- The daughter of Brookfield, WI fans Tom and Carita.
January 25
JOE PLAZEK- Caistor Centre, Ontario D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
DALE QUARTERLY- Westfield, MA KNPSE owner, crew chief and part-time driver.
BUDDY BAKER- NASCAR Cup retired great, now race commentator.
BRIAN BOISSONNEAULT- Windham, CT ProStock team owner with brother Brad as
driver.
BRIAN DANKO- Southington, CT famous AARN Modified Series columnist.
LYNDA HEDGER- Wife of NASCAR Sprint Cup Official, Randy.
ROBERT BLAISDELL- Champaign, IL 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
|
