Going, going, gone! We’ll at least I can see the grass now. It is time to
put the final pieces together and go racing in 2011. We begin the season by
putting things in place, hoping this will be a season to remember. Are we
putting the same effort into our relationship with Jesus? Greetings, in the
name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Spring is here, officially it began this week. With the melting of
the winter cold comes the roar of the engines and the smell of rubber. I
always have the song, Here Comes the Sun, on my mind this time of year. The
warmth of the suns rays melt off the long cold winter. If spring is in the
air, racing cannot be far behind.
The local tracks open up in the next few weeks for practice and
racing, a time to allow us to get out there and make the final adjustments
before they throw the green flag. It is always neat to see the cars in the
spring, new paint, new graphics, shined up and ready to go. You always
wonder if they will be as fast as they look. You always wonder which ones
spent as much time making the things you don’t see as good as what you do
see.
I remember a car my Uncle Al and I had when we used to cruise
around, it was a sleeper. A 69 Chevelle, faded dark blue. It had a little of
the white undercoat bleeding through. The vinyl top was cracked and peeling,
so we removed it to reveal the tin roof in various shades of rust. This car
wasn’t much to look at, but man would it go.
Many a time a better looking, seemingly faster car pulled alongside
to test its metal only to face the fate of everyone that had tried before.
This Chevelle flew. What it lacked in looks it made up for under the hood.
You don’t always know what is on the inside.
What about you and me? Does what we have in our heart match what we
show to others? Do we live according to what we believe? Are we the real
deal or just window dressing?
All good questions; at the beginning of the race season you can’t
really tell who the contenders are; you have to watch them run out on the
track first. The same holds true with our lives, there are many of us who
may talk a good story, attend the right church, dress like we should, but
you really don’t know until you watch how we live our lives.
As Easter approaches I have been reading in John’s Gospel and
preaching about getting prepared for to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
But before that happens there are some things that have to take place. The
first of which involves Judas, the one who betrayed Christ.
Judas looked the part, he dressed like the other disciples, he
traveled with them, he ate with them; he was one of them. Anyone, including
the other eleven would not have known what was in his heart. Even when the
time came for Judas to turn Christ over to the authorities, the other
Disciples didn’t know..
John 13:21-24;
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified,
"I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he
meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to
him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he
means.".
It is
important that what we display on the outside matches what we have in our
heart. We need to understand that we cannot fool God. He knows what is in
our heart. Those around us may be fooled, but God isn’t.
Just like a shiny new racecar, it may look nice but it is not a
racecar until it can compete on the track. Likewise, it may not look like
much but it will run with the best of them. Some times people in life that
look the best have the emptiest hearts and the ones that look like they have
run a few laps have the most generous and gracious hearts.
Don’t judge things by their appearance; take the time to get to
know what is on the inside. Put things in place so that what you have in
your heart matches the grace you have received from Jesus. You can fool many
people, but when you meet God face to face, and you will meet God, he will
reveal to the world what is in your heart.
I am looking forward to being out there with you this season. There
is much that we need to learn together. Make a commitment, with me, that we
will spend our time together letting God prepare our hearts to honor Him.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
CELEBRATE SHANE! - I received this note from Deb
Marvuglio and wanted to share it with you. Each year people ask her what she
is going to do for Shane's anniversary. She shared, “I never have an answer
right away but it comes to me and below is what I would like to share with
all of you.”
Put on your Shane shirts, bracelets, stickers and remember my son,
your friend, NEMA driver, karter, brother, nephew, grandson, co-worker just
all around good guy. If you met him, I know he touched your life some way or
another; I hear it every day. So in his honor on Wed, April 6 we are asking
everyone to wear their Shane Hammond Believe Foundation Shirts! If you do
not have one and would like to join us in celebrating Shane's life, they are
available for a small donation of $12.00. Please pop us an email and we will
get them out the next day.
www.shanehammond.org
Celebrating Shane!!!!
Wednesday, April 6 · Location - Everywhere!!!
Year 1: We Prayed
Year 2: Balloons
Year 3: We Honor, Celebrate his life, Remember his smile, and
BELIEVE that he is watching over all of his friends old & new!!!
Where will Shane’s shirt show up???? Post your pictures and follow
the event on Facebook.
Thanks to all of you who have helped me & my family the past 3
years and continue to support us and our efforts with the foundation.
Remember, drivers and owners, think SAFETY first! And, as always,
Believe!
Deb
GREENVILLE PICKENS - Headed south this week to kick-off the
2011 K&N Pro Series East Schedule. Based on early indications there should
be many new faces to meet and teams to get to know. We are looking forward
to the opportunity.
From Greenville the season gets going in a hurry, Waterford,
Thompson, South Boston and the Hits just keep on coming. We are looking
forward to an exciting new season out here helping you get through the
challenges of life. 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***
March 24
DAVE & KYLE MICHEL- This Wall Stadium Modified stand-out and wife share
their 19th lap together.
March 25
J.R. & JASLYN WILLIAMS- This Carson City, NV Midget driver and wife share
their 24th anniversary.
March 29
BOBBY & DONNA LABONTE- The Corpus Christi, TX NSC driver and wife have their
19th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
March 23
WILLIAM ALLEN- Crewman on the Jim Hawkes Wall Township Speedway Mod.
CALAB WILSON- Grandson of Wall Chaplain Bob Menschner.
March 24
MARTIN TRUEX- Mayetta, NJ NASCAR KNPSE former driver now biggest fan of both
his son's efforts with the MWR.
SCOTT PRUETT- IMSA/IRL driver.
ROGER MEARS- Bakersfield, CA NASCAR Truck Series driver.
JIMMY MAKAR- NSCS Crew Chief.
CHRIS WOODS- Mass. native, now a driver at Concord Motorsports Park.
KENNY VANASSE- Son of Pensacola, FL fans Keith and Debbie Krodel.
HEATHER AUBE- Daughter of Charlotte, VT NASCAR KNPSE driver & crew cheif
Jamie Aube and Paula Barry.
March 25
KEVIN CULVER- Portland, OR NASCAR West driver.
TONY SISCONE- Hammonton,NJ retired asphalt Modified driver.
DAVID TOWNS- 3 time Sportsmen Champion 2007,2008 and 2009 at Fonda Speedway.
KURT SCHAFFER- Son of Gradnview Modified driver Rick and wife Donna.
AMY BROWN- A daughter of Farmingdale,NJ Dwarf Car driver Bobby and wife
Carolyn.
TRACY COX- Dirt and NSCS Mark Martin fan from Boyertown, PA, wife of Rev.
Pat's cousin Bob.
March 26
JOHN MARKOVIC, JR.- Mountain Speedway and ocasional NWMT driver.
DOROTHY BEERS- Mom of Northampton, PA NASCAR WMT driver Eric.
JODI PAPALE- Wife of Meriden, CT ProStock/Modified driver Tony.
SHAYNE GEIST- Son of Wescosville, PA Mahoning Valley Speedway driver Todd
and wife Karen.
NATALEE JARRETT- One of Hickory, NC based NNC's Dale and wife Kelley's
children.
March 27
GLEN DAVIS- This Maine based sports photographer has his special day.
ANDY HALL- Formerly of NASCAR, now with the Indy Racing League.
CALE YARBOROUGH- Retired NSC team owner, retired champion and one of the
founders of the very first NSC ministry.
RODNEY COMBS- Lost Creek, WV NNS driver.
JEFF FULLER- Auburn, MA born NNS driver.
BOSCO LOWE- Retired Southern Virginia NNS driver.
NICKI STOUT- Neptune,NJ Jamie Tomaino NASCAR WMT driver and NNC's Dupont
driver Jeff Gordon fan.
MACKENZIE MICHEL- Daughter of Wall Township Speedway Modified driver Dave
and wife Kyle.
March 28
BOB BREVAK- Ashalnd, WI ASA/ NASCAR Truck Series driver.
JAKE SMULLEY- Jake is the step-son of Big Diamond Former Promoter Fritz
Roehrig and son of Fritz's wife Krista. He was also Frit's right-hand man at
the track.
March 29
DOUG HEVERON- Liverpool, NY KNPS driver/spotter.
JEFF SCHMETZLE- PA Sportsman Modified driver.
JOE ROSENFIELD- Mass. ProStock driver.
RON FOX- Retired CT Modified driver, dad of Plainfield, CT Modified driver
Tom.
STEVE GEORGIADES- Crew Chief brother for brother Bobby's Stafford/Thompson
Modified team.
JOE CUDNIK, JR.- Crewman on the Enfield, CT Brad Hietala Modified team.
SHAWN HOULIHAN- KNPSE NASCAR flagman, son of retired WMT driver Dick.
THE REV. BILL WAUGH- RWJM Western PA Coordinator and Chaplain, also Pastor
at the Greensburg, PA Church of the Brethren.
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
|
