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  The Chrome Horn - Racing With Jesus Ministries

   11/04/2011

WEATHER THAT WON’T QUIT!
by Rev. Don Rivers

   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 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***
 

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.


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Tolland, CT, 06084


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SourceRev Don Rivers / Racing With Jesus Ministries
Posted: November 4, 2011

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