THE LORD HAS COME
by Rev. Don Rivers

Luke 2: 1-20, NIV

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David , because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there,
the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths
and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
"Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him,
they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

   This passage helps us understand the fulfillment of the promise that God gave Israel , a Savior. So significant was the birth of Christ that it split time. We stopped counting backward and started counting forward. BC and AD separate our calendar. Not taught in the Bible but decided on by man to reflect a turning point in world history, the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. BC means “before Christ”, AD is from the Latin phrase “anno domini” which means “in the year of our Lord”. So significant was the birth of Christ man decided to change the way they recorded history.

   Another unknown author contributed this for our consideration;

   One Solitary Life

   Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.
   He grew up in another village.
   He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty.
   Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
   He never owned a home.
   He never wrote a book.
   He never held an office.
   He never had a family.
   He never went to college.
   He never put His foot inside a big city.
   He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born.
   He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.
   He had no credentials but Himself.

   While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him.
   His friends ran away.
   One of them denied Him.
   He was turned over to His enemies.
   He went through the mockery of a trial.
   He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves.
   While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He
   had on earth – His coat.
   When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

   Twenty long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the Armies that ever marched, all the Navy’s that were ever built; all the Parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that ONE SOLITARY LIFE!

   Consider that one solitary life that was given to you for the salvation of your soul. Don’t let the significance of the birth of Christ pass you by. This holiday season look to the one who gave his life for you, rejoice in his love, find the hope, peace and joy that he offers. Acknowledge him in all that you do and he will guide you along the right path.

John 3:16-17; "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

   God Bless You and Merry Christmas.
 

   THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

   MOTORSPORTS LINEUP SET - It took a little longer than usual this year to determine the make up the cars in our booth at Motorsports 2012. We think we have a great lineup in place that will attract many. So, without further ado;

   We are proud to announce that along with one of our RWJM Pace Cars the Champions and runner ups from the Whelen Modified Tour and the Whelen Southern Modified Tour will complete the display. Four of the best Mod drivers, North and South; Ronnie Silk, Todd Szegedy, George Brunnhoelzl III and Andy Seuss will also be present to sign autographs for you. This will surly be a great opportunity to have four of the drivers of open wheel modifieds available to you sporting four NASCAR Championship rings between them.

   Put the dates on your calendar, January 20, 21 and 22, 2012 and make plans to see us at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center At Oaks for Motorsports 2012.

   BANQUETS IN CHARLOTTE DON’T DISAPPOINT - NASCAR knows how to celebrate and honor their champions. Every champion I spoke too shared how great it felt to be a part of the celebration. The weekend events also allowed many drivers from across the continent to meet and share their experiences.

   Seeing the championship cars lined up in the great hall surrounded by Glory Road in the NASCAR Hall of Fame was neat. I am sure it made each champion feel special.

   A funny thing happened on our way through the Hall, we were joined by a former Cup champion, Bill Elliot. Imagine those who came to the Hall that day to see the history only to find one of the drivers whose car sits on Glory Road right there with them. Again NASCAR has the most approachable stars of any of the major league sports. Bill didn’t run and hide, walk away from any request and looked very comfortable among the fans. I guess that is what made him the most popular driver for 17 years. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree as his son Chase won the same award as a driver on the K&N Pro Series East this year.

   After many awards, celebrations and diners it is time to sit back, take a break and prepare for the Holidays. Lynda and I have a tree to decorate, cookies to bake, and shopping to do. We may even take a shot at building some gingerbread houses.

   I encourage you to put your preparation for the holidays on the front burner and let racing take a back seat for a few weeks. Next year will be here soon enough. Relax and enjoy this holiday season, Merry Christmas.

   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. 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

***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***

December 14
HERSHELL McGRIFF- California's ageless driver/owner.
CRAIG ORMSBY- D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
MARK BYRD- Lebanon Valley Modified driver.
MIKE SCHANTZENBACH- Mahoning Valley driver.
JOHNY CHAPMAN- Stony Point, NC LMSC/BGN driver.
STEVE HMIEL- NSC/NNS Crew Chief.
GEORGE HARRINGTON- Lebanon Valley fan.
ALLISON BELMONT- One of ARCA driver/East Windsor Promoter Andy and wife Jennifer children.

December 15
JAN LEATY- Williamson, NY NASCAR WMT driver.
TOMMY MARKHAM- Son of Fredricksburg, VA NSC/NNS driver Curtis.
DANIELLE WAUGH- RWJM Challenger/Jennerstown Chaplain Bill and wife Dawn's youngest child.
JANAI WILSON- The daughter and fellow track crewman with her husbad and also dad RWJM Chaplain Bob Menschner at Wall Township Speedway.
BILL ROBINSON- Whiting, NJ NASCAR, Wall Township Speedway and New Egypt Speedway fan and the son-in-law of Doris Bradley, another WTS and Modified fan.

December 16
LISA JAMES- Canterbury, CT RWJM advisor and longtime assistant to Pat. Also the wife of RWJM advisor Scott.
TOM HAGER- West Easton, PA dirt Modified legendary driver.
TED DENSIESKI- Brother of Riverhead Raceway Mod driver Ed.
JUDY BRYANT- Wife of NC Modified driver Johnny.
LINDA VENEZIAN- Wife of Joe, Proprietor of Perth Amboy Springs.
TRAVERS CAMBRA- Former Wall Township Speedway photographer, now Sales Rep. for Overhead Doors.

December 17
JAY FOGLEMAN- Durham, NC LMSC/ProCup driver.
DARRYL BOBZIN- Holland and Spencer Speedways LM driver.
KEN MEISENHELDER- Springfield, MA KGM Video president.
MATTHEW MARTIN- One of Mark's children.

December 18
TED MUSGRAVE- Franklin, WI CWTS driver.
B.J. MACKEY- Rock Hill, SC NASCAR driver.
DENNIS VITOLO- Massapequa, NY born Golden Beach, FL IRL driver.
ANGELINA PERKINS- The neice of JDM Chassis propreitor/LM driver Jay and wife Angelina of Preston, CT.
JAMES WILSON- Husband to Janai and son-in-law of Wall Chaplain Bob Menschner.

December 19
MIKE BEAM- Hickory, NC NSC Crew Chief.
RANDY BUSSARD- Berlin, PA LM and Eric Corbett ProCup Northern Series team member.

December 20
BEN HESS- Wooster, OH ARCA driver.
SCOTT GOODYEAR- Toronto, Canada born, Indianapolis IRL driver.
ANDY BRASS- St. Charles, MO CWTS driver.
DANNY SNELL- Harrison, GA NASCAR driver.
TAYLOR NICOLE EARNHARDT- Theresa's and the late Dale's daughter.
KINSLEY RAE PARSONS- NNS/NSC's Phil and Marcia's daughter and Benny's neice.
STELLA BURNS- Wife of Haverhill, MA SuperModified team owner Mark.

December 21
SARAH CHILDRESS- Daughter of KIp, KNPSE Race Director and wife Jenny.
RENE DUPUIS- This lady drives a NASCAR Modified.
BRIAN CAOUETTE- Wolcott, CT LM driver.
MARK BAKER- NASCAR official.
WESLEY FOOR- Son of Path Valley Micro Sprint driver Kenny and wife Lisa from Everett, PA.

December 22
BRUCE VAN NORDE- Cathy's husband is a Wall Township Speedway Demo Derby and Truck Series driver.
JOHN CERBONE- Bronx, NY NASCAR KNPSE driver.

December 23
TOBEY BUTLER- Kirkland, WA CWTS driver.
JOE HENRY THURMAN- Rocky Moutn, VA retired NNS driver.
TOMMY EDMONDS lll- Naugatuck, CT WMT crewman.
ANDY CUSACK- President of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.
ALAN COULL- Norwich, CT race car paint graphics person and writer.
JOHN BARRY, SR.- The proud father of Jewett City, CT NASCAR KNPSE former driver Jeff.
LEE ORTICELLI- Griswold, CT fan.

December 24
SHELBY ZUIDEMA- Daughter of N. Brookfield, MA ProStock driver Jeff and wife Jennifer.

***December 25 CHRISTMAS***

LEO CLEARY- Retired to Florida, this former Hanover, MA Modified driver is listed among Stafford's all-time greatest 50 drivers.
JOE PEZZA- Glen Cove, NY NASCAR KNPSE driver.
BRUCE HALEY- Minot, ME LM/NASCAR KNPSE driver.
KAT TEASDALE- Toronto, Ontario NASCAR KNPSE occasional driver.
KEN KAGLE- Latham, MA LM driver.
LARRY KING- Burlington, NC Brian King driven Modified team owner.
ELAINE CALINOFF- Widow of Hauppauge, NY writer/editor Len.
STEVE STONE- St. Clairsville, OH fan and "RPM Racing News" writer.
BRYNNA NOELLE McCAUGHEY- The daughter and "Christmas Angel" of New Egypt Speedway Chief Tech Inspector John McCaughey and wife Cathi.

December 26
FRITZ ROEHRIG- Owner of the famous PA high-banked third miler, Big Diamond Speedway.
BECKY SADLER- Eliot, ME fan
JASON PARES- A son of Wall Township Speedway based Mod Series photographer Michael.

December 27
MIKE LAUGHLIN- Simpsonville, NC LMSC/NNS driver.
ANGELA CARUSO- This Micro Sprint driver from Phillipsburg, NJ.
WILLIAM LINK- Lexington, NC team owner with Modified driver Donald Lind.
RICH HAYES- NH photographer.
TRACY CHESTER- wife of Jimmy Chester and the Late John Schuman's granddaughter, a Lebanon Valley icon.

December 28
KENNY BURKS- Charlottsville, NC LMSC/NNS driver.
L.D. OTTINGER- Retired Newport, TN NNS driver.
JACK INGRAM- "The Iron Man," retired nine time NNS champion.
CHERYL TOMAINO- Howell, NJ NASCAR WMT driver Jamie's wife.
CATIE FERREE- A daughter of Saxonburg, PA PPMS multi-time big block LM champion Ed and wife Gayle.

December 29
J.R. WILLIAMS- Carson City, Nevada Midget driver.
DOUG WORTHING- Five Mile Point Speedway Mod driver.
LOU RETTENMEIER- Sherman, CT KNPSE driver and head of the New England Dodge Show Car Program.
SCOTT WALKER- Torrington, CT race fan.
PATTY MOISE SAWYER- Chesapeake, VA NNS driver, Elton's wife.
RAY "BUBBA" WILSON- NH Lee and Star Speedway fan.
KATHLEEN CHANNELL- Wife of Epping, NH Channell One Video proprietor Bill.

December 30
RAY SWINEHART- Bechtelsville, PA dirt Modified driver.
RICHIE PRATT- Huffville, NJ long-time Bridgeport Speedway Mod driver.
CHRIS DIAMOND- Hickory, NC LMSC/BGN driver.
BURT MYERS- Walnut Cove, NC Modified driver.
MIKE DaRONCO- A Hackettstown, New Jersey Modified statistician and a crew member Don Wagner Mahoning Mod #22.
GREG NARDUCCI- Former WMT crewcheif, known for his smile.

December 31
CHRIS ERM- Former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour official.
MARTY CONLON- D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
KEITH LAMELL- Essex Junction, VT NASCAR occasional KNPSE driver.
DOROTHY LYNN SCHRADER- He'll drive anything Ken and Ann's oldest.
RILEE CRAVEN- Daughter of Maine NASCAR driver Rick and Cathy.
PAUL WARREN- Longmeadow, MA fan and long time personal friend of Rev. Pat.

***HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2012***

January 1
KENNY GRAGG- Hickory, NC LMSC/NNS driver.
VIC KANGAS- NSC\NNS Crew Chief.
GAIL LOBO - CT ProStock driver John Jr.'s wife.

January 2
ROBBY GORDON - Cerritos, CA NASCAR Cup driver.
TOM MELI- Wall Township Speedway Modified driver.
PENNY HENDRICKSON - Lawrenceville, NJ driver Wade's mother.

January 3
FREDDY HAMM - Pennsy SMART Modified driver; Debbie's husband.
BABE BRANSCOMBE - Northwood, NH NASCAR KNPSE driver.
DANA SAVERY - Plymouth, MA Seekonk Street Stock Driver.
ROBERT DILLNER, SR. - On Long Island, proud dad of TV racing's Bobby and Matt Dillner.
DAWN WAUGH - The wife of Rev. Bill; RWJM Chaplain at Challenger and Latrobe Speedways in PA and Western PA/ Ohio RWJM Coordinator.

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
 

Source: Rev Don Rivers / Racing With Jesus Ministries
Posted: December 9, 2011