Have you ever taken the time to observe the challenges others are facing in
life? Many times we get so wrapped up in our lives that we don’t. Sometimes
we see the difficulty but pull back from helping because we determine they
are only getting what they deserve. Pray that God doesn’t give us what we
deserve. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
What goes around comes around. Life is a circle and sooner or later
things have a way of balancing out. What would you think if I challenged you
to break that chain? What would you think if I challenged you to forgive and
make peace with those who offend you? What would you think if we made a
decision to build things up instead of tearing them down?
Let’s face facts we are better at pulling things apart than putting
them back together. We feel more comfortable getting even than we do
forgiving and forgetting. Our desire is to set things straight as we see
them instead of letting God take care of the consequences for us.
There I was, standing in the infield, the race had just finished, I
asked one of the drivers, let’s call him Joe, about the problem he had late
in the race and his words rang in my ears. “I’m not going to forget that, he
ran me up and cut my tire down. I don’t know when I’ll see him again or have
the opportunity, but I won’t forget, I’ll get even.”
An hour later I spoke with another driver, a friend of the first. I
asked him what he was up to and he shared, “I have to go talk to Joe, he’s
on the edge and I need to talk him down.” Knowing the two are friends and
came up through the ranks together I knew that was a good thing. I was
hoping he could help Joe get past his disappointment and not let it eat him
up inside.
Let me ask you, who are the people you remember most from the past?
Charles Schultz, the creator of Peanuts, had a little quiz, take a look.
Here's the first quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Daytona 500 winners trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor
and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do? The facts are, none of us remember the headliners
of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their
fields. But the applause dies, awards tarnish, achievements are forgotten
and accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and
special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life
are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most
awards. They are the ones that care.
As we start the last part of our Winter Bible Study we take a look
at how we view and interact with one another. It will help us learn how to
help each other. Here are verses 15-17;.
Colossians 3:15-17;
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body
you were called to peace.
And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and
admonish one another with all wisdom,
and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your
hearts to God. And whatever you do,
whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him.
Being at peace despite the
challenges of life cannot be achieved alone. We could not be at peace with
God if Christ didn’t give his life as a peace offering to God. Likewise we
cannot be at peace in our lives without someone there by our side to help us
see things in the proper perspective. Peacemakers take the risk of stepping
into a situation and doing whatever is necessary to bring two parties
together.
As you can imagine, we have many opportunities to be peacemakers at
the racetrack, not everyone sees things the same way. I had that chance this
last race at Bristol. A team member wanted to approach a driver and ask him
what was going through his mind when he spun out their driver. He asked me
to go along with him so that things didn’t get out of hand. I was there to
keep the peace. I am sure they still see things differently but the burden
of sharing their point of view is relieved and now the steps of
reconciliation have a place to start.
If we allow the burden of getting even to fester and grow in our
lives then we rob ourselves of the opportunity to be at peace. As long as we
have something burning in us, our desire to get even, we cannot be at peace.
I don’t need to tell you how destructive that burning desire can be; it will
eat you up until it consumes every part of your life.
Peacemaking starts with encouragement, someone has to come along
side us and help us through. Encouragers are people willing to take the risk
and help us to see things from a different perspective. Peace making isn’t
about agreeing with someone, it is about bridging the gap between reality
and what we understand. Most times for us to be at peace requires a leap of
faith. Encourages help us make that leap.
Encouragement and accountability are the cornerstones of
peacemaking. We need to be proficient at those skills if we are going to
help others find the peace that God offers through Christ. Christ encouraged
us to make peace with God. He gave his life to make that possible. As my
friend Steve Brown says, “You think about that.”
As we come to the Easter Season we have a few more lessons in our
study, next week we will talk about accountability, the necessity to invest
the resources it takes to set the record straight. We will talk about what
Christ was willing to do for us to set things straight.
God Bless, Rev. Don
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
BRISTOL, WHAT MORE CAN YOU
SAY - There is only one place in the world like Bristol and racing there
is on the bucket list of every driver you can name. Having the opportunity
to race there widens their eyes and puts a smile on their face. It was neat
to see the excitement in the eyes of the competitors as they came on and off
the track during practice.
I talked with Derek Ramstrom, PASS Driver and Super Late Model
Champion at Thompson Speedway, on the test day a few weeks ago. You could
see it in his eyes, he wanted to get out there and run some laps. He
couldn’t quite put it into words I can print, but I understood exactly what
he was trying to say, “Is this place for real?” He learned well and couldn’t
wait to get back there for the race, hoping he didn’t wake up and find it
all to be a dream.
It wasn’t a dream and Derek didn’t disappoint. Going out second in
qualifying after the Nationwide race proved a little challenging but he made
the best of it. He qualified third despite tagging the wall and chasing the
read end through turn four coming to the checkered on his run. With no time
to repair the car before the main event he had what he had. He wasn’t too
sure that would be good enough to compete and would have liked the
opportunity to at least try to fix it.
Compete he did bring it home in fifth, he was running as high as
third in the closing laps but a late race red flag to clean up a wreck that
involved his car owner, Dale Quarterly, cost him two positions on the
restart. I talked with Derek after the race and he knew on that restart the
inside line wasn’t going to go. All race long the third place car lost a
couple of positions on the restart. Although he was disappointed at not
coming home third, he was thrilled with a top five. He probably still has
the smile on his face; great job Derek.
We had another first timer with us for the trip, Bobby Somers, Lee
USA Speedway and Valenti Modified Racing Series Chaplain. Being a short
track racer he had always wanted to make the trip to Bristol but never had
the opportunity. Dan and I explained to him that Bristol is difficult to
describe, you just have to see it. As we rounded the corner and the track
came into view he got real quiet, taking it all in.
The awe continued as we walked out of the tunnel to the infield,
there just isn’t anything that can describe standing in the infield and
looking up at Bristol Motor Speedway. This is the Coliseum of Racing. I took
him over to the corner to stand there and watch a little of the action. You
cannot get a good feel in pictures or on television for how steep the
banking is until you stand there and look up at the cars as their roofs
flash by. “I can’t believe I am standing here” is all he could say.
Like Christmas morning, the anticipation of seeing the complete
picture, dressed in all the splendor and glory of the moment, Bristol
doesn’t disappoint. The challenges of logistics are small when compared to
not having the opportunity to race there. I am glad the K&N Pro Series had
that chance; they put on a great show for the folks and I hope this becomes
an annual trip to the spring race at Bristol.
Now it is time to take a deep breath, tighten up the belts, ask the
Lord for His blessing and protection and go racing. The season has begun and
before too long we will be out and about helping the racing community get
through another season. We are looking forward to seeing you along the way.
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.
Check our weekly printed pages in "Area Auto Racing
News",
the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper.
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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***
March 21
JACK & BETTY DENNIS- These Appomattax, VA Jamie Tomaino fans and parents of
JT fan Laura make it 52 years.
March 22
ALAN & JEANN COULL- The Norwich, CT race car paint graphics designer and
nurse wife celebrate their 41st.
JIM & BERNICE GOLEMBESKI- The brother of Steve, Wall Stadium's winningest
Sportsman Modified driver, and wife have their day.
March 24
DAVE & KYLE MICHEL- This Wall Stadium Modified stand-out and wife share
their 20th lap together.
March 25
J.R. & JASLYN WILLIAMS- This Carson City, NV Midget driver and wife share
their 25th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
March 21
ROBERT HUFFMAN- NC Dash Series driver.
KENNY BRACK- Karlstadt, Sweden IRL driver.
DAVE & MIKE KIMBALL- These brothers are both Oxford Plains (ME) Speedway
drivers.
LARRY McCLURE- NSC team owner.
March 22
EDDIE BELLINGER- ISMA SuperModified driver from NY.
MIKE CASTERLINE- Tioga/Chemung Speedway driver.
BILLY HAGAN- NSCS team owner.
JEFF GADA- Of the famous Niantic, CT racing family.
SHIRLEY DENSIESKI- Wife of Riverhead Raceway's Sonny and mom of Riverhead
Modified driver Ed.
MIKE GEER- Waterford Speedbowl announcing team member.
March 23
WILLIAM ALLEN- Crewman on the Jim Hawkes Wall Township Speedway Mod.
CALAB WILSON- Grandson of Wall Chaplain Bob Menschner.
March 24
MARTIN TRUEX- Mayetta, NJ former NASCAR KNPSE driver now biggest fan of both
his son's efforts.
SCOTT PRUETT- IMSA/IRL driver.
ROGER MEARS- Bakersfield, CA NASCAR Truck Series driver.
JIMMY MAKAR- NSCS Crew Chief.
CHRIS WOODS- Mass. native, now a driver at Concord Motorsports Park.
KENNY VANASSE- Son of Pensacola, FL fans Keith and Debbie Krodel.
HEATHER AUBE- Daughter of Charlotte, VT NASCAR KNPSE driver & crew cheif
Jamie Aube and Paula Barry.
March 25
KEVIN CULVER- Portland, OR NASCAR West driver.
TONY SISCONE- Hammonton,NJ retired asphalt Modified driver.
DAVID TOWNS- 3 time Sportsmen Champion 2007,2008 and 2009 at Fonda Speedway.
KURT SCHAFFER- Son of Gradnview Modified driver Rick and wife Donna.
AMY BROWN- A daughter of Farmingdale,NJ Dwarf Car driver Bobby and wife
Carolyn.
TRACY COX- Dirt and NSCS Mark Martin fan from Boyertown, PA, wife of Rev.
Pat's cousin Bob.
JASON THOMPSON- Maine native spotting this year for EPR Motorsports.
March 26
JOHN MARKOVIC, JR.- Mountain Speedway and ocasional NWMT driver.
DOROTHY BEERS- Mom of Northampton, PA NASCAR WMT driver Eric.
JODI PAPALE- Wife of Meriden, CT ProStock/Modified driver Tony.
SHAYNE GEIST- Son of Wescosville, PA Mahoning Valley Speedway driver Todd
and wife Karen.
NATALEE JARRETT- One of Hickory, NC based NSC's Dale and wife Kelley's
children.
March 27
GLEN DAVIS- This Maine based sports photographer has his special day.
ANDY HALL- Formerly of NASCAR, now with the Indy Racing League.
CALE YARBOROUGH- Retired NSC team owner, retired champion and one of the
founders of the very first NSC ministry.
RODNEY COMBS- Lost Creek, WV NNS driver.
JEFF FULLER- Auburn, MA born NNS driver.
BOSCO LOWE- Retired Southern Virginia NNS driver.
NICKI STOUT- Neptune,NJ Jamie Tomaino NASCAR WMT driver and NSC's Dupont
driver Jeff Gordon fan.
MACKENZIE MICHEL- Daughter of Wall Township Speedway Modified driver Dave
and wife Kyle.
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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