Most things in life worth attaining take dedication and commitment to
achieve. Our level of dedication and commitment will determine if we are
successful in our quest to attain the most important things life has to
offer. Where does that drive and dedication come from? Greetings in the name
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
You have heard it said that you can do anything you put your mind
too. That is true to some extent, especially when it comes to sports and
learned behaviors. We can all attain a certain level of proficiency
regardless of our personal limitations. In some cases we can overcome our
personal limits and attain more than people thought we could.
Overcoming physical limitations takes a special level of dedication
and commitment; you have to be driven by something inside to put out the
effort to retrain your body to overcome its limitations. I am reminded of my
friend Billy.
Billy has no legs. His hands are his feet and his arms become his
legs. I first met Billy when he “walked” into McDonalds one day with his mom
back in 1977. I thought to myself how difficult it must be to go through
life without legs. Why would you even try? Billy didn’t see it that way; he
valued every day and enjoyed the fact that he was alive to experience it.
That perspective didn’t come by itself, it was a learned behavior.
His adopted parents taught him how to appreciate life for what it was after
his biological parents cast him aside. Billy lives life to the full and has
a unique perspective on things. I enjoy the time I spend with him learning
to see the world a little differently. Billy likes to joke about coming down
to his level; you get a whole new perspective on things.
I remember another man I met who was without legs; this fellow was
a race car driver. He gave me a ridealong at Lime Rock Park for
Accessibility Racing; a company that helps disabled people experience the
thrill of racing. Imagine my surprise when I looked down to see the legs of
his firesuit swaying in the breeze, no feet to watch and see how he was
pedaling the car as we headed into Big Bend. His hands not only clutched the
steering wheel they had to control the brakes and accelerator. Four things
with two hands!
The desire to overcome, the dedication to prevail, the commitment
to change has to come from somewhere. Someone inspires us to develop that
dedication and commitment. When it is not there it is all too obvious.
My dad was one thing, a hard worker. He may not have been the
smartest or most talented but when he gave his word he would follow through
and get the job done. I learned from him what that meant and how important
my word was. My ability to get things done comes from him.
How many racers are racers because that is what they grew up doing?
How many of us do what we do because that is what we learned at our parent’s
knee? Parents have a great degree of influence, good or bad, on the
direction their children’s lives take. Many of us have learned from our
parents and followed in their footsteps. When we set a good example for our
children and they see our dedication to living that way they are compelled
to follow.
We have to do the same for our children in regards to following
Christ. If we do not set a good example, teach them about Him and provide
the right environment for them to learn and develop then we will handicap
our children. We will take from them the hope of living an abundant life. It
is one thing to tell them right from wrong and another altogether to show
them by example.
This past week I have had the opportunity to dedicate two young
lives to the Lord. One in particular is very important to me, my
granddaughter, Madeline Ann Verrastro. She is a blessing from God and we
have a responsibility to help her know God and trust in Him.
Truth be told the child has very little to do with the process, it
is the parents, grandparents, family and friends that make the commitment.
The commitment is very simple but very significant; this verse from Proverbs
helps us understand;
Proverbs 22:6
(NLT) Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older,
they will not leave it..
It has
it roots at the very beginning of time, back in the book of Genesis; we
learn that God is faithful to His people. As a result His people honored God
by committing and dedicating the raising of their children to him. Think of
it like this, if you want you child to be proficient at something, you get
them training in that activity.
The greatest gift we can offer our children is to help them
understand who God is and the life he has to offer us. When we give that to
our children life is an open book for them to write on the pages. Jesus
confirmed for us the importance of bringing the children to him;
Matthew 19:13-14 (NLT), One day some parents brought their children
to Jesus so he could lay his hands
on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for
bothering him.
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them!
For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
We
open a world of possibilities to our children when we commit to dedicate
ourselves to raising them up in the way of the Lord. Think of the difference
it makes when your child has the qualities of God; love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, trust,
integrity and hope.
Contrast that with what we see all too often in the world we live;
sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of
rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness. These
things just tear apart lives and cause pain, suffering, death and
destruction.
Why would we want to handicap our children by withholding from them
the blessing of God? Why would we not want the best life possible for them?
We should and do when we dedicate ourselves to bringing them up in the way
of the Lord. If they do not learn it from us, who and what will they learn
from others?
I want to encourage you to make every effort to let your children
know that you love them, let them know that God loves them and help them
understand the most excellent way to live;
1Corinthians 13:1-8a, (NIV); If I speak in the tongues of men and of
angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of
prophecy and can fathom
all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but
have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not
delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails
Unconditional love is the
greatest gift God gave us and the greatest gift we can give our children. We
must first learn to love unconditionally and then dedicate ourselves to
raising our children in the same way. That is the only hope for the world we
live in; the hope that comes from a loving God.
I hope your Easter was a celebration of new life; the hope that
comes from a Risen Savior! Have a great week; we’ll be back on the road this
week, down in Richmond, up at Monadnock and Stafford. Please stop by and
encourage us as we travel the highways and byways proclaiming the Good News.
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***
April 27
GEORGE AND BEVERLY BOULEY- The family that races together stays together.
This family that includes children Kim and KNPSE driver Scott and the entire
#26 team started at Danbury Arena and have become a common sight at tracks
throughout the East. They always have a smile and a laugh despite what the
circumstances may be. Let us wish them a blessed anniversary as they
complete 56 laps in the family camper.
May 1
BILL & KATHY COTROFELD- The couple who haul and display the Featherlite Show
Trailer have their 35th.
RON & SUE CORNELL- AARN and Maine based "Racin' Paper" columnists from
Westport, MA have their 34th anniversary.
May 3
WOODY & ELAINE FEBRIELLO- This former NASCAR Modified team owner and wife
from Waterbury, CT share their 39th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
April 27
BOBBY SUMMERS- The owner of Hossier Tire East in Manchester, CT and provider
of the racing rubber for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and proud dad of
Super Modified and Modified driver Rob.
RICK KNAPP- Scotland, CT retired Waterford Speedbowl Modified driver.
JIM PETERSON- CT LM driver.
AUSTIN DILLON- A son of NNS driver/spotter Mike and Tina and driver of the
famed #3.
April 28
KIRK BRYANT- Thomasville, NC LMSC driver.
MARK GEER- Waterford Speedbowl former Chief Tech. Inspector.
JUDY MARTIN- Concord, NC NSC photographer.
NATHAN DIAS- Son of Westport, MA Seekonk ProStock driver Tony and wife
Elizabeth.
April 29
CHAD LITTLE- Spokane, WA lawyer and now Whelen Modified Tour Director for
NASCAR.
JIM LOWREY, JR.- NH SuperModified driver.
DAVE FAIR- Oaks, CA SCCA driver.
BRUCE THOMPSON- Newtown, PA Len's dad.
MARK MOCKOVAC- Modified fan and famed Media Coordinator from Danbury, CT
BOB MORRIS- Auburn, ME racing columnist.
JOHN SZERENCITS III- Whitehall, PA brother of AARN subscription sales rep.
Don.
LINDA & NICOLE BRUNO- The wife and daughter of Jim, from Absecon, NJ both
celebrate today.
DAVE JONES- Driver of the #76 sprint car at Lernerville and other West
Pennsylvania tracks and a member of the "old guy race team".
April 30
CHRISTIAN JAWORECKI- Younger son of JAWS reaches his 11th.
MICHAEL WALTRIP- NAPA's NSC team owner for Toyota's entry into cup racing.
ANDY HILLENBURG- Indianapolis, IN NNS/ARCA/Sprint driver.
JASON MANAFORT- Plainville, CT former NASCAR KNPSE driver.
FRANK KIMMEL- Clarksville, IN ARCA Series driver.
JEFF KAUFMAN- Red Bank, NJ Modified owner/driver.
CHRIS GRADY- Son of Lebanon Valley Speedway photographer John.
JACKIE HENDRICKSON- Wife of Lawrenceville, NJ Modified driver Wade.
DAN SERRANO- The grandson of Rusty Farrar, who is also the mother of Kathy
Van Norde, wife of Wall Truck Division driver Bruce, has favorite drivers we
must mention including the Hoffman brothers, Jimmy Blewett and Darren
McCaughey and a writer for www.newjerseydirtracing.com
May 1
JOHNNY SAUTER- NASCAR Sprint Cup/ NNS driver.
May 2
BUZZ CALKINS- Denver, CO IRL driver.
DAVE MEDLER- Auburn, NY Steve Paine and Mark Martin fan.
May 3
TONY HIRSCHMAN- Northampton, PA Whelen Modified Tour five time champion.
WALTER CHARETTE- Linwood, MA Mike Stefanik/Dale Jarrett fan.
DAVE DORNBLASER- 270cc Micro-Sprint driver at Borger's Speedway and Kutztown
Fairgrounds.
CAROL EVONSION- Wife of former Riverside Park Mod driver S.J.Evonsion.
***NEW BEGINNINGS***
KELLY SMITH - This past Monday, the 18th, a member of the
Paul Frantz Racing Team and also Paul’s co-worker was killed in a school bus
accident. Kelly was 42, married, and had a 19 year old daughter, Jennifer,
who was the greatest love in her life. The students on her bus loved her and
terribly miss her. Thankfully, no one else was hurt. The bus was empty at
the time of the crash. Would you please keep her family in prayer. Notes and
cards can be sent to; Kenneth Smith, 6035 Vola Court, Slatington, PA 18080
and Mr. & Mrs. Herman Williams (parents) , 6032 Colmar Court , Slatington,
PA 18080
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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