A new season brings with it new opportunities; a chance to take our lives in
a different direction, a better direction. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut.
We continue to make the same decisions and wonder why things don’t change.
With every new season is a chance to with a clean slate. Greetings in the
name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Ah, a clean slate, no bones to pick, no scores to settle, so axes
to grind, sound too good to be true? It isn’t, we hold the key. We can
decide how we move forward in life. We can decide how long our memory is. We
can decide what burdens we will let weigh us down.
A new race season presents the perfect opportunity to wipe the
slate clean. It presents the opportunity to turn over a new leaf, to handle
things in a better way. It is a goal but one that can be difficult to
achieve without some help.
We are creatures of habit and return to the comfort of the way we
have always done things. Changing is something we consider and even
proclaim, but the real test comes in the heat of battle. Are we able to
follow through on the words that come out of our mouth?
History has a way of repeating itself; our history to be exact. I
have heard many a driver proclaim how this season will be different, how
they are going to run everyone clean and let the chips fall where they will.
Then temptation comes, that little hole on the bottom heading into the turn.
You know you can only get in there so far before you wash up. Decision time,
did you really mean what you said?
Short sighted thinking and our ability to rationalize everything
has a way of getting us into situations that we shouldn’t be in. Oh, I am
sure I have heard every explanation for moving someone out of the way. Funny
thing is none of them hold water when compared to the respect we should have
for each other.
I was reading this week about driver respect and remembered the
words of Bugsy Stevens about the code of ethics for position, if they have
the position and you couldn’t pass clean you didn’t make the move. You
didn’t like it, but you lived to race another day and over time things would
balance out.
The opportunity to change our perspective on things not only
applies to racing but to our lives also. We can use the opportunity of a new
season to change the direction our life is going. We can seek out God,
accept His invitation of forgiveness and begin living to please Him.
God provides an opportunity for us to start with a clean slate. I
remember Paul, before he accepted Christ his name was Saul, he was a
persecutor of Christians. In fact he had the final say as to whether they
lived or died, many he sentenced to death. Then one day on the road to
Damascus he had the opportunity to wipe the slate clean.
Acts 9:1-6; Meanwhile,
Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples.
He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in
Damascus, so that if he found any there
who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as
prisoners to Jerusalem.
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed
around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Acts 9:17-22; Then Ananias went to the house
and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said,
"Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were
coming here - has sent me so
that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately,
something like scales fell from Saul's eyes,
and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some
food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to
preach in the synagogues that
Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked,
"Isn't he the man who raised havoc
in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to
take them as prisoners to the chief priests?"
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus
by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Paul’s life was changed by meeting
God on the road that day. He turned his life around and lived to serve God.
We too can start with that clean slate. Paul shares from later in his walk
with Christ.
Philippians 3:13-14;
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul tells us two important things
about beginning with a clean slate. First, forget the past. What happened
yesterday is done. No matter how hard we try we cannot change it. Don’t get
caught up trying to change things you cannot change. Ask for forgiveness and
move forward. Commit to do things in a way that honors God.
Second, persevere. Don’t let yourself get caught up in self pity.
Don’t let yourself get caught in the trap of holding grudges against other.
You only imprison yourself. Instead forgive and forget, move on and make
every effort to let the peace of Christ reign in your life.
We need to live a life focused on the honoring God. Do not look
behind, but persevere through the challenges of today. If you make a
mistake, ask for forgiveness, learn from your mistake and move on. Your
eternity is secure in that Christ gave his life for you. Press on toward
that goal.
If you haven’t made the choice yet, you can do that today. Today
can be the day that you decide to start with a clean slate.
Romans 8:23, There is
no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
And the penalty is the same;
Romans 6:23a, For the
wages of sin is death,
But look at the rest of that verse
and we start to see what God intends for us.
Romans 6:23b, but the
gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God said I will give you the
opportunity to start with a clean slate; I will send My Son, Jesus Christ to
pay the penalty for you.
John 3:16-18, "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.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe
stands condemned already
because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
God provided this opportunity for
forgiveness and we can receive it by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and
Savior. When we do, we make peace with God, we restore our relationship with
Him, and our sins are forgiven, remembered no more. We start with a clean
slate!
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
LONG TRIP TO SAY GOODBYE
- I thought I traveled great distances but I was reading this week about
someone who has me beat. Pete Britton, driver of the #21A Big Block
Modified, A native of Brisbane, Queensland, in Australia, traveled 9,455
miles to New York to race last Saturday night in the Jan Corcoran Memorial.
He has made the trip before but this one was the most difficult.
Last month he lost his biggest supporter, his father, Paul. I can’t imagine
how difficult that must be, being so far away, having to make that trip and
also being separated from the family that includes his brothers, Kevin and
Daniel, and his mother, Jane. His father was a popular figure in Australian
modified racing, and he was Peter's biggest fan.
"It is a huge effort to get back and forth and all that stuff, and
it's a lot harder now that dad's not around," said Britten, 24. "I obviously
wanted to keep going and keep improving, keep pushing myself, but he was
always there in my corner, helping me get there. It's definitely going to be
pretty hard without him, but all we can do is keep going and try to make him
proud. I'll be doing what I can, that's for sure."
We lift Peter and his family up in prayer, not only for their loss
but for the miles that separate them.
GEORGE SUMMERS - George has been hospitalized with
pneumonia. Please keep Maggie and George in your thoughts and prayers. Cards
can be sent to them at P.O. Box 8001, Upton, Ma. 01568
ICEBREAKER WEEKEND - Well, there isn’t exactly ice to break
this year, but none the less the Whelen Modified Tour roars into action this
weekend at the big “T”. There have been a few changes, some returning
champions and always the perennial contenders. I am excited to see what the
2012 version of the tour will look like. Look for chapel to begin around
11:15, right after the driver’s meeting on Sunday. Hope to see you there.
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
http://www.rwjm.com/store. 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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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***
April 11
TONY & DEBBIE VECCHIO- This NASCAR KNPSE team owner couple from have their
25th anniversary.
April 13
TED & BETH SEMINARA- The Brewster, NY, now in Mt. Holly, NC proprietor of TS
Racing Photo and Sprint Cup "AARN" photographer and lively wife share their
21st anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
April 11
MIKE EWANITSKO- North Babylon, NY WMT driver.
DON LaHUE- White Mountain Motorsports Park (VT) driver.
RUSSELL WOOD- Son of Pelham, MA ISMA SuperModified driver Russ and wife
Lisa.
ED D'HONDT, JR- Son of Long Island, now in Mooresville, NC, NSC Team Manager
Ed, Sr.
KARSYN JARRETT- NSC's Dale and wife Kelley's youngest.
AIMEE FERREE- A daughter of Pennsylvania Motor Speedway Big Block LM driver
Ed and wife Gayle.
April 12
JIM HAILEY- Manager of the Richard Childress Show Car Teams out of Welcome,
NC.
DAVE MICHEL- Wall Township Speedway star Modified driver.
TIM DWIGGINS- NC Modified driver.
BOB STRAIT- Mokena, IL ASA/ARCA driver.
TOMMY FOX- Plainfield, CT Former NASCAR WMT/NASCAR KNPSE driver and
fabricator.
ELAINE FEBRIELLO- Wife of retired Waterbury, CT Modified team owner, Woody.
MARK FEBRIELLO- Elaine and Woody's son.
April 13
RUSS HERSEY, JR.- Keene, NH NASCAR KNPSE driver.
CHRIS AMAN- NC based, Interlaken NY Mod Series/NASCAR KNPSE driver.
MITCH GIBBS- Norwich, NY dirt Modified driver.
DARRYL CARL- Voorheesville, NY occasional NASCAR KNPSE driver.
JAY STUART- Preston, CT proprietor of JDM Chassis and accomplished LM
driver.
KEITH WHITE- Higginsville, MO All Pro Series driver.
KEN DIPPEL- Upstate NY photographer.
MARK GEER, JR.- A son of former Waterford Mod Tech Inspector Mark and Office
Manager wife Linda.
JEAN SMERIGLIO- Brookfield, CT wife of retired Danbury driver Dave.
DEAN DeBOIS- El Monte, CA dad of Pam Krause, wife of AARN's Ass't to the
Editor, Earl.
April 14
JOHNNY RUMLEY- Winston-Salem, NC NNS driver.
JEFF ANDRETTI- Bethlehem, PA Indy Car/NSC/NNS driver; Mario's youngest son.
PAUL SACKS- Son of NSC driver Greg.
DICK FEARN- Feeding Hills, MA dad of ProStock driver Tom.
April 15 TAX FILING DEADLINE
BOBBY HUTCHENS- NC Modified driver.
JIM RAYMOND- Earlville, NY crewman on the Mitch Gobbs dirt Mod.
April 16
JERRY HIGBIE- Orange County Fairgrounds Speedway Modified driver.
ROCKY DeMATO- Brookfield, CT Mod crewman.
April 17
JOHN FLACH- Lebanon Valley based Mod driver.
MIKE CHASE- Concord, NC NASCAR West 1994 champion/ NASCAR Truck and LMSC
driver.
RICH DeLONG- North Hills, Ca NASCAR West driver.
JOEY KOURAFAS- Retired Mass. NASCAR KNPSE driver.
TONY GLOVER- Sprint Cup Crew Chief.
DANIELLE HEDGER- NY based NASCAR KNPSE Brown Racing Crew Chief Ray's wife.
HOWARD & CAROL LARSON- This Stafford Springs, CT NASCAR WMT couple share the
same birthday.
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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