Life is full of challenges. Sometimes we lose sight of what is truly
important. This off-season I have been helping my Uncle Al put things in his
life in order. He has a terminal illness and his time is short. When we are
faced with challenges God promises us that He will deliver us through them.
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving, a holiday we celebrate in the fall, is a wonderful
time of year; a time when we come together and acknowledge the blessings
that God has provided. We give thanks for our friends and family. We take
time to realize just how much we have. Why is it we wait until that
appointed time to give thanks?
I was listening to Trevor Bayne as he traveled around the country
this week, taking a victory lap, celebrating his historic victory in The
Great American Race. You could hear it in his voice; you could see it in the
way he handled himself, he was truly thankful for the opportunity, no matter
what the outcome, to drive in this years Daytona 500. Winning was just icing
on the cake.
The racing community embraced him; he was a breath of fresh air.
You could feel the emotions he expressed, the genuine appreciation for the
opportunity he had been given. He was not some cookie cutter figure groomed
to look right and say the right things, He was an excited kid who had just
won the biggest prize at the carnival. Life doesn’t get any better than
that.
Life can also deal us cards that are not so wonderful. The reality
of life is that it ends. I know that all too well. It is one of the most
difficult things we deal with and also one of the things that we fear the
most. With each life comes the challenge of dealing with its end.
In between the highs and lows we find everyday, we find the chance
to determine how we will look at things. How will we respond to the events
of the day? How will we show others the thanksgiving we have in our hearts?
Psalm 100 is a passage of Scripture that encourages us to be
thankful everyday for who God is, what he has provided and what he has
promised.
Psalm 100; A
psalm. For giving thanks.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
This
Psalm reminds us of a few things we need to focus on. Each day we should be
thankful, joyful, singing songs of joy because of who God is and what He has
done for us.
I know it isn’t easy to be in a joyful mood everyday. Sometimes we
just don’t feel like it. Sometimes the challenges of life just seem to
overwhelm us and we feel the burden of life, squarely placed on our
shoulders. I am here to tell you that even in those moments there is reason
to give thanks.
As I shared earlier, my uncle is facing the last days of his life
here on earth. But I have reason to be thankful. A few weeks ago, while we
shared a pizza at lunch, we talked about eternity and what it holds for us.
I shared with him God’s plan for us to spend eternity in heaven with him. I
explained that God provided a gift for us and we need only accept it with
all our heart.
I am thankful that my uncle received that gift. You see Al is just
not my uncle, he is like a father to me. When I was fifteen, my dad passed
away and I really didn’t see eye to eye with my mom, but that is a story for
another day. So at fifteen I left home and my Uncle took me in. He provided
a home for me and made sure I had the necessary things to get through life.
I was thankful to have the opportunity to share with him the
necessary things he needed to have eternal life in heaven with God. His
destination is secure, he will be there waiting for me when my life here
comes to an end. We will be together.
I want to encourage you to look at each day and give thanks to God.
Learn to appreciate what we have been given. Learn to understand that
regardless of what we are going through there are others that need the grace
and peace that comes from knowing God. Learn to set aside our own wants and
desires and reach out to those who are lost and dying.
I promise this, we will look at life with a brand new perspective.
We will start to see the joy we can give others. We will change the way we
understand the situations we are faced with. We will be thankful for every
moment of everyday.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
THE RACER’S EXPO - I spent the weekend up in Marlboro,
MA at Bobby Seymour’s show. It was a great success. As I mentioned before
the show is small enough to meet and talk with folks, but big enough to find
the things that you need to go racing.
I was excited to hear the plans of those returning to compete, new
drivers starting out for the first time and drivers that you helped out last
year coming back to thank you for making their first season a success. I am
thankful for new opportunities to contribute to the racing community.
While there I was able to continue the discussion of my debut in a
NEMA Lite. We haven’t nailed down which race yet but watch for an
announcement coming soon. You will have a chance to watch The Rev get out
there and run with some of you. I am excited about that opportunity. Thanks
to Paul Scally and Randy Cabral for allowing me to have it.
The next few weeks we will have a little down time leading up to
the kickoff of another season. Remember we are here for you, don’t hesitate
to call or write. We are looking forward to seeing you at the track real
soon.
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.
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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
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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***
March 2
BILL & SUZANNE STIVASON- These fans from Kittinang, PA share their 20th
anniversary.
March 3
TIM & BRENDA STEELE- The Coopersville, MI ARCA 3-time champion now car owner
and wife share their 18th anniversary.
KIP & JENNY CHILDRESS- This KNPSE Race Director and his special girl
celebrate taking the green flag.
March 4
VIC & SANDY KANGAS- The WC/BGN Crew Chief and wife have their 48th.
March 6
WARREN & ROSE FRYE- "Jeep" is a well-known team owner of the Bunky Higbee
No. 26. He and wife Rose share their 60th anniversay down in Delaware.
ROY & DONNA HANKS- This Somers, CT LM driver and wife share their 34th
anniversary.
March 8
JAMES & KATIE STANDLEY- This dedicated Christian couple are the proprietors
of Design 500 and Lady Eagle Safetywear in Seattle, WA, racing's leading
uniform and team wear maker. Visit them at www.design500.com as they
celebrate their 19th.
BARRY & KIM BABB- This Maine LM driver and wife have their 23rd.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
March 2
LAURIE UDES - Wife of Morris Plains, NJ asphalt Modified driver John.
TAMMY SUE WOODS - The wife of New Jersey born Steve "Woody" Woods on the R&D
staff at Evernham NNC racing.
March 3
CHARLIE SAVAGE - From Portland, CT now driving a Modified at Charlotte
County Speedway in Punta Gorda, FL.
DANNY JOHNSON - Phelps, NY D.I.R.T. Modified champion.
FRED RAHMER - Pennsy based international sprint car driver.
GREG RHEN - Sinking Spring, PA dirt catcher and fan of Kenny Brighbill.
MARGARET DAVIS - Manassas, VA writer.
MARY LOUISE HODGE - Racing photographer from Manchester, CT; photographer
Howie's wife.
MELANIE DEWARE - From Easton, MA, the bubbly wife of Mosler Automotive/Jilbrit
Wheels GT Team driver Scott.
March 4
BILL GREENE - Ellington, CT crewman of the Bobby Georgiades CT Modified
team.
GARY MYERS - NC Modified driver.
NANCY LaBONNE - East Hartford, CT wife of Stafford LM crewman Rich Caouette.
RICK MAST - Virginia NNC retired driver.
March 5
GARY DIONNE - Former Dave Dion NASCAR CWES crewman, now Acton, CA movie
stunt car driver and RWJM West Coast Coordinator.
LUKE WILLIAM BOEHLER - This future team owner is the son of BRE Racing WMT
Team owner Mike and Sarah, was born in 2004.
PAUL CLAPROOD - 2000 Championship NASCAR WMT Co-Crew Chief now in NC with a
NSC team in final assembly.
PHIL BARIL, JR. - Son of NH LM driver, Phil, Sr.
RON HEDGER - NY based NSS writer.
March 6
BETTY FEARN - Spending the winter in Florida with husband Dick, the mom of
ProStock driver Tom from Feeding Hills, MA.
JACK ELY,JR. - NJ asphalt Mod driver.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER MANIX - Judy's son and nephew of Plainville, CT twin
drivers Ted and Mike Christopher, was born in 1997.
JASLYN WILLIAMS - Wife of Carson City, NV Midget driver J.R.
LINDA TAGG - Wife of Webster, MA retired Thompson Speedway Mod driver Tom.
PAT WARD - NY D.I.R.T. Fonda Speedway Modified driver.
RONNIE THOMAS - Christiansburg, VA LMSC driver.
March 7
JEFF WITHEY - From Clifton Park, NY, Jeff writes about Fonda, NY Speedway
for "Area Auto Racing News."
RYAN DALE HUNSINGER - Son of dirt late model and IMCA modified driver Ricky
Hunsinger and wife Nakeisha. He is also the little brother of AJ Hunsinger
mini stock driver, based in Northeastern PA, was born in 2003.
March 8
DONALD J. WORTH - NJ loyal fan of retired Wall Township Speedway Modified
great, Gil Hearn and NSC's Jeff Gordon.
KIRK SHELMERDINE - Welcome,NC ARCA/NASCAR driver; NSC/NNS Crew Chief.
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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