It is important to fit some time in our busy schedules to explore and relax.
Lynda and I needed to head to the pacific northwest for some meetings and
while there we spent some time exploring. From Whistler, BC to MT. Rushmore,
SD we saw many wonders of God's Creation. Greetings in the name of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sometimes we don't take the time to look around and see the things
that God has created for us to enjoy. With our racing schedule we sometimes
forget to take in the scenery, we forget that the journey is the best part
of the ride. My wife reminded me of that this week.
Genesis 1:31a,
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
I tend
to be of a finish line mentality, get to the line first and everything will
fall into place. Most racers I know live life in a similar way, it helps us
accomplish things that, to others, seem overwhelming. We can focus on what
needs to be done, do it and then move on.
That is not a good way to be, we miss so much when we forget to
enjoy the journey. I would not have experienced many of the wonders of God's
creation this week if I didn't have my wife alongside to help me slow down
enough to look around. I am still a work in progress.
Allow me to share some thoughts from a previous column.
Racing for fun or for a living is stressful. The nature of the deal
is that our life is on the edge. When you are at the track everything seems
to run at 100 miles an hour. It is racing after all. It is supposed to move
fast.
The racing world does not corner the market on stress and
frustration. The world we live in has been described as a rat race. Did you
every find yourself wondering why you do what you do? Many times in life the
thought crosses our mind concerning our motivation. Why do we do this? Why
am I here? When we get to that point it is good to step back and take a look
at things. Take a step out of your routine and look for a place to rest and
collect your thoughts. Jesus is that place.
Jesus came to save us. From what you ask, from us. We fill our
lives with so much stuff that the stuff starts to win out. We develop a
lifestyle that feeds off itself. We start finding ourselves needing to do
this, this and this in order to maintain our lifestyle. It becomes
overwhelming and we just keep on going trying to stay one-step ahead, for
what? So we can live?
I am not sure many people would classify what they do as living.
They may say surviving, but not living. We all have a vision of what living
is and we are not there yet.
In his poem, The Station, Hastings talks about the vision, “when we
get there”. Where? A new house, car, home, kids through school, promotion,
win a race. We never get there. Our vision is never satisfied. He writes
further to say it is not the destination, but the journey that we must focus
on. That is why Jesus makes this offer in Matthew:
Matthew 11:28-29, Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are
weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I
am humble and gentle,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Is
your soul restless? Is your life upside down? Jesus provides for each one of
us the security of a destination. If we accept Him we will be with him for
eternity. Destination settled, now about the journey.
When we take a step back from the challenges of our lives, we
realize that we do not have to win the race, our Savior has already won that
race. We can adjust our focus and look around us and participate in the
journey. Along that road we need to reach out and help one another. We need
to guide and direct people to the source of life. We need to, as Jesus said,
be humble and gentle as we demonstrate how to live.
Psalm 23 1-3, The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He
lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength..
In Jesus we have everything we
need. Rest in Him, walk with Him and let Him renew your strength.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
NEW HORIZONS - As part of my trip out to Seattle I was able
to meet with Steve Fowler. Steve, along with his son Mark are the force
behind Jesus First Racing in Montana. Our paths crossed at Volusia in
February and his interest in what we do was part of my motivation to head
west. Lynda and I met with Steve and his wife, Alesia, in their home in
Townsend, MO. Steve is a racer, Dirt Late model and his son races a Dirt
Modified. He also has a heart to serve God and uses his presence at the
track to help those find a saving relationship with Jesus. We are looking
forward to partnering with Steve and Mark. God has great plans for the that
part of the country and we are looking forward to seeing what He will do.
Not much racing action this week, Dan and I will be back at it in
New Hampshire, hope to see you there.
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***
July 16
KEITH AND DEBBIE KRODEL- These former Jan Leaty NASCAR WMT team members now
living in Pensacola, FL have their 18th anniversary.
July 17
MARK & STELLA BURNS- This New Hampshire SuperModified team owners have their
27th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
July 13
BOBBY BABB- Maine based LM driver.
JEAN DEBOIS- Mom of Pam Krause, wife of AARN Ass't Editor/Columnist, Earl.
July 14
RICH SENDZIK- NJ asphalt Modified driver.
BOB NORTHRUP- D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
MIKE EDDY- Veteran ASA driver.
BOBBY MASON- Former Riverhead Raceway Figure 8 driver.
KAREN TURBUSH- Long Island Hut Stricklin fan.
BILL HUNEKE- Auto Sports columnist for the New Brunswick, NJ "Home
News/Tribune."
MICHELE CONWAY- Newfoundland, PA Micro Sprint driver at Lake Moc-A-Tek
Speedway.
AUSTIN GLEN BREHIO- Son of NASCAR KNPSE driver Glen and wife Teri.
July 15
LARRY MURDOCK- "Urkel" is a crew member on the Later Model 14 Team, driven
by Mike Mortimer, at Riverhead Raceway.
JOHN GEORGIADES, JR.- CT based ProStock driver.
CARRIE SHUBA- From Syracuse, NY, she was the 1997 Ms Miller Motorsports.
ANTHONY MARVIN- son of Sunoco Modified driver Bert Marvin.
July 16
"BOOTS" TOMAINO- The mother of WMT career driver Jamie Tomaino.
MIKE FIELDS- The Publisher/Editor of www.LONGISLANDMOTORSPORTS.com from Long
Beach, NY and close friend of the ministry has his day.
WAYNE ANDERSON- Wildwood, FL NASCAR Modified driver.
July 17
DOUG WOLCOTT- NJ asphalt Modified driver.
BRANDON ASH- Umpqua, OR NASCAR West driver.
ERNIE COPE- Spanaway, WA NASCAR West driver.
MICHAEL LEATY- Mod Tour Jan's adult son.
July 18
STEPHEN LEATY- Jan's next son.
RON CORNELL- Westport, MA AARN columnist and candle maker.
MAGGIE WOODS- The daughter of Tammy and Woody living in Mooresville, NC.
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
|
