As we continue our look into Colossians 3:1-17 and move on to the next topic
of discussion we see that not everything we are engaged in is beneficial for
our lives. We find it in the NASCAR Rulebook section 12-4-A, “Actions
Detrimental to Stock Car Racing.” Greetings in the name of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
When you don’t have a specific rule covering an infraction, you
have a rule that catches all the things that are undesirable; harmful,
unwelcome, objectionable, unwanted. A catchall if you will. This is
necessary because we will bend and twist the rules to our advantage. We are
a people who can manipulate anything until on some level we can justify it.
I can think of another rulebook, the Jewish Law. There are 613
commandments for the Jewish people derived from the Torah, the first five
books of the Bible. In addition there are thousands of laws which are
recorded in the Talmud, the most significant collection of the Jewish oral
tradition, interpreting the Torah and are the equivalent to the laws of any
modern country. They have laws covering everything. Why, because if there
wasn’t a law against it then we would engage in that behavior.
This week we are going to take a look at the things we need to
remove from our lives, the actions that are detrimental to living a life
that honors God.
Colossians 3:5-10; Put
to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual
immorality,
impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these,
the wrath of God is coming.
You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must
rid yourselves of all such things as these:
anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie
to each other, since you have taken off your old
self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed
in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Put to death, strong words are used
here to drive home the point. Putting something to death means removing it,
digging a hole and burying it, never more to be a part of our lives. That is
the only way to overcome things in our lives that lead us away from God.
We need to remove anything and everything in our lives that will
lead us back to the person we were before we met Christ. We need to “put to
death” the things of this world, the list is there, we need to take it
seriously and follow it. Listen to how Jesus put it.
Matthew 18:7-9;
"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such
things must come,
but woe to the man through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes
you to sin cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to enter life (Heaven) maimed or crippled than to have
two hands or two feet and be thrown into
eternal fire (Hell). And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and
throw it away. It is better for you to enter life
with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
Funny
thing is each and every one of us thinks we can handle it. We think that we
can have enough control to know when to stop. We think we can have a little
fun and then ask for forgiveness. After all God is forgiving, right?
It is not that simple, James said…
James 3:9-16;
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men,
who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and
cursing.
My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow
from the same spring?
My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither
can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life,
by deeds done in the humility
that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition
in your hearts, do not boast about it
or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is
earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and
every evil practice.
Paul, in
his letter to the Church at Corinth also helps us understand,
1Corinthians
10:23-24; "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is
beneficial.
"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. Nobody
should seek his own good, but the good of others.
He quotes
from an earlier passage in 1Corinthians, take a look at chapter 6 and we’ll
have to talk about that someday.
The point being we need to remove the things from our lives that
dishonor God, we need to put them to death, bury them, never more to be a
part of our lives. Then and only then can we receive the blessing God has to
offer. When our lives honor God, His blessing is with us. That is the only
source of true peace and fulfillment.
I am concerned when modern psychology wants to dig up our past and
deal with the things of yesterday that cannot be changed. Don’t live your
life as a victim. We can learn something here, put to death those things,
and bury them never more to be visited. Accept the new life we have been
given in Christ and move forward, toward the future with hope, peace, and
joy through the love of Christ. We do not have to live in the past; in fact
it does not honor God when we do. Let it go, release it and fill your heart
and mind with the things of God.
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
LEGENDS HELPING LEGENDS - I
was truly blessed by being a part of this year’s event down at Memory Lane
Museum in Mooresville. To see the racing family come out in support of one
another was truly inspiring. The stories they shared, the smiles on their
faces, this was truly a time for them to remember fondly the challenges they
faced and the blessings they received. This is what makes racing great,
family.
As I walked around the tables set up for the guests of honor my
mind went back to a special time in my youth. The names brought back so many
memories of how my love affair with racing was formed; men and machines from
a bygone era, testing their courage against all odds. Trickle, Gant, Wilson,
Marcus, Jarrett, Miller, Bodine, Carter, Moore, Moody, Parrott, Allison and
the family of honor today, the Flocks, the list goes on, check it out at
memorylaneautomuseum.com.
Miss Frances Flock, there in the seat of honor alongside the Hudson
Hornet driven by her husband Tim. Those were special times and she was a
special lady. I enjoyed hearing the family stories that help us understand
it hasn’t always been this easy.
The word is out, this is a must attend event, folks lined up at
7:00 in the rain for the coveted first spot in line. They brought photos and
personal items, significant to their own memories to share and have
autographed. A steady stream of fans for four hours.
I think the over forty celebrities on hand, drivers, media, crew,
family, had more fun than the fans. Smiles and laughter were the order of
the day. It was neat to see that twinkle in a driver’s eye as he recalled an
event that a piece of memorabilia brought to mind. Anyone of these drivers
would take a ride at Daytona this year; you don’t lose that desire, no
matter how much you age.
I want to thank the Beam Family for extending an invitation to be a
part of this event. We will be there next year and every year this event
takes place. Alex had me park the pace car right at the front door. “God
needs to be first and everyone needs to see that” he said. It is a blessing
to be associated with such good people.
Thank you all for rekindling that fire in my soul. I am sure each
visitor and guest left with more than they came with. One of the neatest
things was watching the guests of honor line up to say thank you to the Beam
family for doing this. They are truly grateful.
We need to keep Judy Allison, Bobby’s wife in our thoughts and
prayers. Bobby had to bring her into the emergency room Friday night. Please
join us as we lift them up.
SPEEDWEEKS - A little dirt, a little asphalt, a little sun,
a little sand and maybe a mouse or a manatee, doesn’t sound like a bad way
to spend a few weeks in February. I will be headed down to Florida next week
and I am looking forward to spending some time at Volusia, New Smyrna and
maybe that other track, what’s its name again? If you are down there, track
me down and say hi.
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. 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.
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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***
February 8
TOM & CAROL HOWARD- This Waterford Speedbowl/Kobyluck team couple have their
20th anniversary.
February 9
TERENCE & CHRISTINE FITZGERALD- From Rocky Point, Long Island, this
Riverhead Raceway enduro driver and wife share their 11th.
February 11
WENDELL & DELORIS MINTER- The Martinsville, VA WODY Gospel Music host and
wife from Ridgeway, VA celebrate their 35th anniversary. Congratulations and
Praise the Lord!
February 14 *** VALENTINE'S DAY
***
ROY & DORIS DEALL- Riverhead Raceway's Neal Fiola Crew Chief and wife
celebrate.
WAYNE & MARY BLAKE- Of Norwich, CT, the Ass't Infield Coordinator at
Waterford Speedbowl and wife celebrate their 14th anniversary.
KIRK & PAM WISE-Kirk and his wife share their 30th wedding anniversary..
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
February 8
MIKE OLSEN- No Haverhill, NH TWo-Time NASCAR KNPSE Champion and now Fadden
Motorsports car owner.
RON LAMELL- Essex Junction, VT NASCAR KNPSE driver.
KYLE MICHEL- Wife of Wall Township Speedway excellent Modified driver Dave.
She is also NSCS driver Martin Truex' sister.
SUE MENTEN- Wife of Stony Brook, LI's Vinny.
CAROLYN BLAISDELL- Champaign, IL fan.
JUSTIN WAWRZONEK- Son of Amsterdam, NY dirt fans Ron and Gloria Hanna.
CHUCK McNEIL- RWJM Anderson Indiana Track Chaplain and RWJM officer.
February 9
BILLY PENFOLD- Yarmouth, ME NASCAR KNPSE/LM driver.
STEVE SELLERS- Sacramento, CA KNPSW driver.
DUNK RUDOLPH- NH based Modified driver.
LAURA SAVERY- Wife of Plymouth, MA Seekonk Speedway Street Stock driver
Dana.
EARLINE WAGNER- Schwenksville, PA Leonard's wife, both Grandview Speedway
and NSCS fans.
February 10
DAVID OLIVER- Riverhead Raceway's Steve Tooker LM/NASCAR KNPSE Crew Chief.
February 11
WADE HENDRICKSON- Lawrenceville, NJ Modified driver/owner.
KEN KUHLMAN- Veteran AARN columnist/ Bridgeport, NJ Speedway scorer.
KRISTI CAMERON- Alfred, ME Jeff Gordon fan.
"DAKOTA" RAY KOHLER- Son of Micro Sprint driver Jason from Fleetwwod, PA.
February 12
TED CHALMERS- Riverside Park Hall of Famer and 1998 Track Champion in the
truck division reaches 70.
JIMMY CHESTER- Newfield, NJ Bridgeport driver.
RICK HOCTOR- D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
HARMON "BEAVER" DRAGON- Milton, VT Thunder Road based LM driver.
STEVE BIRD- NNS Crew Chief from Massachusetts.
LORI BEERS- Sister/Team member of Eric Beers Northampton, PA Modified team.
February 13
FRANK VIGLIAROLO, JR.- Medford,NY driver.
February 14 *** VALENTINE'S
DAY ***
JERRY MARQUIS- Karen's Valentine husband, Enfield, CT KNPSE and WMT driver,
2000 WMT Champion.
BILL VENTURINI- Wife Kathy's Valentine, Chicago, IL ARCA driver.
SCOTT SHARP- Norwalk, CT born, now Jupiter, FL IRL driver.
JESSICA WATTS- Daughter of Riverhead/NASCAR WMT Mod driver Danny and wife
Vivian.
JOHN PAUL TEMCHAK- This son of NHIS Victory Lane Staff Member John and wife
Kathy from Canterbury, NH.
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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