Many times looks can be deceiving. Sometimes it is intentional, we don’t
want to spill the beans and let everyone know what we have. But our
commitment to Christ and service to him has to more than skin deep. We need
to be willing to lay down our very lives for the sake of others. Greetings
in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
To say there is some gamesmanship at the racetrack is an
understatement. No one goes out for practice and runs full tilt; they always
keep something in reserve for when it matters. I remember a recent practice
session where a driver turned a quick lap. After talking with one of the
team members I learned that there was more where that came from.
“Wait until we tweak it and put stickers on, we’ll post a number
they all can shoot at.”
They did; fast lap of the day in the last practice session with no time for
the others to do much but scratch their heads and wonder, what’s in there?
If you have seen our display at Motorsports you know we bring
championship cars from the WMT and KNPSE for display. It shouldn’t surprise
anyone that the setup and equipment on those cars is not what they use at
the track. Most racers are very careful about what they let others see.
In the dirt late model ranks you see it all the time, a drape
covers the back end of the chassis or they back the car in so no one can see
what’s in there. Maybe there is something, maybe not. The question remains,
what are they trying to hide? What’s in there?
People can be the same way; we can act differently depending on the
situation and location. On certain days of the week we are fine upstanding
members of the church community; on others you would never know we graced
the doors of a church. We leave other’s wondering what’s in there.
James 3:9-11; 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.
It is important that we, as
followers of Christ, are genuine, what you see is what you get. Some call it
transparent, our motives should be clear to all. As James writes, we should
not praise God in one moment and curse man in the next.
Lack of consistency is a problem we face; when we change our
behavior depending on the situation we cause people to wonder who we really
are. I remember an old saying, if being a Christian was a crime, would our
life show enough evidence to be convicted? I hope so.
Think about the people you know; how many of them are genuine? We
can break the people we know down into two groups, those we can trust and
those we can’t. Let’s face it, there are some people we know that when they
tell us something we wonder about whether it is true or not.
There are people we can count on; when they give us their word and
make a commitment we can plan on them doing everything in their power to
fulfill it. These are the people that we can depend on. These are the people
we spend our time with.
As Christians we should lead people to God. We should live a life
that honors God. We should follow God’s lead wherever it brings us, putting
our trust and faith in Him. People should not wonder, what’s in there?
When others see us as two faced, one time we do this another time
we do that, we create doubt. When they doubt us, they doubt God; they doubt
He can help them. We do a great disservice to our Lord when we confuse
people with our words and actions.
We need to think about the example we set. Is it consistent with
what we claim to be? Are the things we say and do honoring to God? Not just
in certain places at certain times, but everywhere, all the time.
Let us make a commitment to one another to work on being a more
genuine reflection of the character of Christ, every moment of everyday, let
others see Jesus in us.
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
VMRS OPENS THE MAD DOG
- Bobby Somers sent in this report from the action at Monadnock Speedway.
It was opening night for the high banks of Monadnock Speedway. The
Valenti Modified Racing Series was in town for their second event of the
season and the fans didn't have to wait long for some great racing action.
The regular divisions put some incredible “racing” together to warm
up the crowd. The new division called "thunder stock" had a great car count
to start 2012. The division is your entry level V-8 late model cars. I think
the drivers wanted to give the fans a reminder of what each color flag
represented. When the green flag dropped the race was on! In the end, after
three red flags, all the drivers walked away but their cars didn't fair as
well.
In the Monadnock Mod heat race two cars decided to go full throttle
down pit road in turn one. The opening isn’t that wide. With the two side by
side one made it and came back out. The other had heavy left side damage.
The MRS pulled into the high banks with 29 cars with only 24
qualifying for the feature race. It was the 06 of Les Hinkley holding down
the lead for 27 laps before handing over to #53 Jim Boniface. Every lap saw
position changes throughout the filed, a very busy night to try and keep
score. There was a lot of aggressive racing, sticking a nose into spots too
close but yet somehow managing to hang on. No one was holding back! They
made some moves that you would have thought they were driving full body
cars! One driver who made the biggest move of the night was the 2 of Jon
McKennedy starting 18, moving eighteen spots to take the checkered flag
first. That made it two for two for the Art Barry, Jon McKennedy team this
year. Stormin Norman Wrenn was 2nd followed by the 06 of Les Hinkley. The
next stop for the VMRS is Thompson on Sunday, May 20th. Thanks Bobby for the
great report!
RICHMOND AND STAFFORD - This week sees us headed down to
Richmond International Raceway for a Thursday night affair for the K&N Pro
Series East as part of the Cup weekend. Sharing the card with the K&N is the
Denny Hamelin Charity Race; a Whelen All American Series Late Model Race.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which raises
funds for individuals and families suffering from cystic fibrosis,
supporting organizations like The Children’s Hospital of Richmond, St.
Jude’s Hospital and Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Then it is off to Stafford for the Greatest Race of the Spring, The
Sizzler. We are looking forward to the second event on the Whelen Mod Tour
schedule. We are looking for good weather, close competition and a great
event.
TIME FOR SOME GOLF - Speaking of Stafford and Benefits I
would like to invite you to join me for the Bill Tamburro Jr Memorial Golf
Tournament, May 21 at Lyman Orchards. The tournament is in honor of Lisa
Arute’s brother Bill who succumbed to pancreatic cancer. The proceeds go to
the Lustgarten Foundation to further the search for a pancreatic cancer
cure, a cause near and dear to the hearts of RWJM. There are many ways to
support this event and be involved. Check out the details on Stafford Motor
Speedway’s website.
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.
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***
April 26
MIKE AND SHARON TALLMAN- proud parents of SK Light modified driver Troy
Talman have anniversary #26.
April 27
GEORGE AND BEVERLY BOULEY- The family that races together stays together.
This family that includes children Kim and SK Mod driver Scott. The team
started at Danbury Arena and have become a common sight at tracks throughout
the East. They always have a smile and a laugh despite what the
circumstances may be. Let us wish them a blessed anniversary as they
complete 57 laps in the family camper.
May 1
BILL & KATHY COTROFELD- The couple who haul and display the Featherlite Show
Trailer have their 36th.
RON & SUE CORNELL- AARN and Maine based "Racin' Paper" columnists from
Westport, MA have their 35th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
April 25
BOB KLUKUS- Crewmember on the WMT and at Stafford Motor Speedway.
BILL HENDERSON- Owner of a KARS Sprint team at Williams Grove.
MIKE LENMAN- Driver of Bill Henderson's KARS Sprint.
RAY MILLER- Former driver of the Henderson KARS Sprint.
JOHN MICHALOWSKI, JR.- From Riverhead, NY, now driving LMSC in NC.
CHET THOMPSON- Former Wall Township Speedway driver, now G.S.U.S.C.E. member
and race fan.
SHAWN PODZIEWSKI- KNPSE crewman.
CHRISTINA CASAGRANDE- Sister of Riverhead Blunderbust driver Bob.
AARON MICHAEL COX- One of Rev. Pat's cousin Bob and wife Tracy Cox' children
down in Boyertown, PA.
BILL DIMMICH- Slatington, PA Former Pocono 500 chief announcer and TV host.
April 26
JIMMY KITCHENS- Birmingham, AL NNS/NW driver.
JUNIOR MILLER- Winston-Salem, NC WSMT 2005 Championship driver.
RON SHEPHERD- From NY, now in NC driving Modifieds and Concord Motorsports
Park Super LMSC.
ROGER GODIN- Maine LM driver.
ALLEN MONETTE- NH Pro Stock driver.
RON & ED PROVOST- Oxford Plains Speedway official and son.
April 27
BOBBY SUMMERS- The owner of Hosier Tire East in Manchester, CT and provider
of the racing rubber for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and proud dad of
Super Modified and Modified driver Rob.
RICK KNAPP- Scotland, CT retired Waterford Speedbowl Modified driver.
JIM PETERSON- CT LM driver.
AUSTIN DILLON- A son of Mike and Tina and driver of the famed #3.
April 28
KIRK BRYANT- Thomasville, NC LMSC driver.
MARK GEER- Waterford Speedbowl former Chief Tech. Inspector.
JUDY MARTIN- Concord, NC NSC photographer.
NATHAN DIAS- Son of Westport, MA Seekonk ProStock driver Tony and wife
Elizabeth.
April 29
CHAD LITTLE- Spokane, WA lawyer and now Whelen Modified Tour Director for
NASCAR.
JIM LOWREY, JR.- NH SuperModified driver.
DAVE FAIR- Oaks, CA SCCA driver.
BRUCE THOMPSON- Newtown, PA Len's dad.
MARK MOCKOVAC- Modified fan and famed Media Coordinator from Danbury, CT
BOB MORRIS- Auburn, ME racing columnist.
JOHN SZERENCITS III- Whitehall, PA brother of AARN subscription sales rep.
Don.
LINDA & NICOLE BRUNO- The wife and daughter of Jim, from Absecon, NJ both
celebrate today.
DAVE JONES- Driver of the #76 sprint car at Lernerville and other West
Pennsylvania tracks and a member of the "old guy race team".
April 30
CHRISTIAN JAWORECKI- Younger son of JAWS has his special day.
MICHAEL WALTRIP- NAPA's NSC team owner for Toyota's entry into cup racing.
ANDY HILLENBURG- Indianapolis, IN NNS/ARCA/Sprint driver.
JASON MANAFORT- Plainville, CT former NASCAR KNPSE driver.
FRANK KIMMEL- Clarksville, IN ARCA Series driver.
JEFF KAUFMAN- Red Bank, NJ Modified owner/driver.
CHRIS GRADY- Son of Lebanon Valley Speedway photographer John.
JACKIE HENDRICKSON- Wife of Lawrenceville, NJ Modified driver Wade.
DAN SERRANO- The grandson of Rusty Farrar, who is also the mother of Kathy
Van Norde, wife of Wall Truck Division driver Bruce. Danny is the general
manager at the New Egypt Speedway and often writes special stories for Area
Auto Racing News.
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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