It has been a rough season weather wise and we still find ourselves in the
midst of another challenging storm. For the third time this year it looks
like I will have to say goodbye to the contents of our fridge. Anyone for a
Chicken BBQ? It is only October yet instead of celebrating our youngest
daughter’s birthday with the family, we spent it digging out of six inched
of snow! I guess race season is over. Greeting in the name of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
As I sit here in the dark on limited battery I was thinking about
the challenges we face to weather the storm. When the going gets tough our
real character shows. Is our beauty only skin deep?
What you see on the outside is not always what you get. I have seen
some good-looking racecars that don’t have what it takes to be competitive
on the track. There is an easy way to find out if what you see is what you
get. You have to put it to the test.
Tech inspection exists for the purpose of making sure the seen and
unseen components conform to the rules. The necessity of having to check
gives us an indication of our human nature, if no one catches you it is not
cheating. I can think of many sayings we have, in and out of racing, which
help us rationalize bending the rules.
“We get paid to cheat and they get paid to catch us”
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them.”
“No one will ever know”
“Everyone’s doing it.”
Many times we rationalize doing something based on the risk of
being caught. Is the reward worth it if you received it by doing something
illegal, immoral or deceitful? Some would say yes, win at all cost. Some
would say yes, as long as no one was hurt. God’s word says, no.
We bend the rules in our favor. We try to have everything work out
to our benefit. We spend time trying to figure out how we can get the upper
hand and not get caught. We tend to be self-centered and do everything in
our power to achieve the best outcome for us!
I have been known to golf a little bit. Golf is a very interesting
sport. There are no officials out there checking to see if you are following
the rules. You and you alone are responsible for enforcing the rules on
yourself. Call your own penalties. That’s when it gets interesting. How many
of us are ready to turn ourselves in for something that violates the rules?
They say someone’s true character shows when you watch them play golf, will
they cheat themselves or will they hold up the integrity of the rules. What
does it matter it’s only a game right?
In Luke’s gospel he tells us that the blessings we receive from God
are contingent on how we handle the things of this world. Do we handle them
with the moral character that will honor God? Do we view these resources as
someone else’s not to be squandered?
Luke 16:10-13;
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,
and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will
trust you with true riches?
And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will
give you property of your own?
No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will be devoted to the one
and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
God doesn’t need tech inspection.
He knows all that we do, seen and unseen. He knows the secrets that hide in
each one of our closets. We cannot hide them from Him. God honors those that
honor Him in all they do. It comes down to a choice. Who will we serve?
We love to sit on the fence. When we evaluate a situation we choose
which side of the fence we want to jump down on and live accordingly. God
says there are no fence sitters. You either are going to please Him or not.
I would like to encourage you to live with integrity in all your
ways. Whether seen or unseen we should not need to explain our motives; they
should be plain to see. We shouldn't have to live our lives always looking
over our shoulder wondering if anyone is watching. It is difficult to move
forward if we are always looking around. In all we do we should not be
ashamed if it is exposed for all to see. Only when we live like this do we
experience the presence of God in our lives.
THOUGHTS FROM THE
ROAD
IN THE DARK - With the
regular season behind us, the champions crowned and the local scene quite I
was looking forward to a few days of recharging before I headed south for a
few races. How could I have known that recharging batteries would be like a
scavenger hunt looking for an electrical outlet that is connected to some
juice.
I found one! And WiFi too! In an all too familiar place, the Golden
Arches. Let me explain, Lynda and I met at McDonald's 33 years ago and
haven't been separated since, both our relationship and McDonald's. It is
like coming home.
For the third time this year we found ourselves basking in the
artificial light, enjoying breakfast together and reminiscing about how much
this chain has woven through our lives. It is always good to come to a
comfortable place in a storm.
I am sure sometime this week we will get our power back and life
will return to some semblance of normal, but for now it will have to be the
comfort of a familiar place to weather out the storm.
If things return to normal before I am scheduled to head south I'll
see you at the 9th Annual John Blewett III Memorial North-South Shootout
presented in memory of Charles Kepley, if not, I'll be home taking care of
my family until things get back in order.
PARES FAMILY STILL PRAYER NEEDS CONTINUE - I just received a
note from Carol that their adopted daughter Rachel's father died suddenly
from a heart attack. Her mom, Shelia, is in difficult circumstances also,
engaged in a battle with inoperable cancer. I am sure Michael and Carol were
reunited with their daughter to help her through this difficult time. Mike
and Carol know a little about dealing with challenges. Please lift them up
in prayer as they support one another.
Hope this finds you well and focused on the blessings of God we can
find in every situation.
Until next time, 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
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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
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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***
November 3
DINO & CHRIS LAWRENCE- The former Artworks proprietor in Danbury, CT, now
heading up his Carolina Signworks in Rockingham, NC along with his lovely
wife Chris, are friends of RWJM. They share their 20th anniversary.
BOB & LISA KLUKAS- Whelen mod tour crewman and wife celebrate 21 years
November 6
RICK & DONNA SCHAFFER- The Woxall, PA Grandview Speedway based all-time
winningest Mod driver and wife celebrate their 20th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
November 2
JULIE POST- The light that makes her husband shine, he says. She is the wife
of Steve Post the Track Announcer for Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte,
NC.
LARRY PEARSON- Spartansburg, SC NNS retired driver.
STAN GREGER- Retired Modified driver famous at the now closed Riverside Park
Speedway.
BILL KUZMA- Wall Township Speedway driver.
JOHN TAGG- Dad of Webster, MA CT Mod driver Tom.
November 3
GREG SACKS- Mattituck, LI,NY NASCAR driver.
DERRIKE COPE- Spanaway, WA NASCAR driver.
WAYNE OKULA- Charger Driver for #67 - Riverhead Raceway.
November 4
JAMES BROWN- Barrington, VT NASCAR KNPSE driver.
BRIAN ROSS- Retired Ballston Spa, NY Modified/NASCAR KNPSE driver.
DON DAVIES- New York "Area Auto Racing News" dirt columnist.
JERRY VENNE- Bow, NH racing media personality.
DOTTIE PARK- Wife of Bob and mom of Todd and KNPSE's Steve.
November 5
PETE RONDEAU- No. Waterboro, ME NASCAR crew cheif.
November 6
GEGE GRAVEL- Groton, MA ProStock/KNPSE driver.
GLEN BREHIO- Templeton, MA NASCAR KNPSE driver.
ANDY HOUSTON- Hickory, NC CwTS/NNS driver.
BRUCE KLINE- OCFS dirt Mod driver.
ROY HANKS- Somers, CT ProStock driver.
DENISE BARKER- Wife of Legends 8NY team owner Bob "Mad Dog" Barker of Staten
Island, NY.
CASEY LaJOIE- One of NNS Randy's and Lisa's children.
BARBARA SMITH- Wife of Setauket, LI,NY Marco.
November 7
KELLY YANETTA- This New Jersey Powder Puff Go-Kart Club driver.
JOE LARSEN, JR- The son of Linda and NASCAR Mod tour official Joe, SR.
November 8
ED BERRIER- Winston-Salem, NC NNS driver.
RUSS BROWN- Mannsville, NY NASCAR KNPSE driver.
KERRY ANDERSON- Scarborough, ME occasional NASCAR KNPSE driver.
HOMER KEINERT- Mahoning Valley Speedway driver.
DEDE HAYES- Wife of NH photographer Rich.
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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