I was thinking the other day, how many times does it take to get things
figured out? How many times do we need to get things right? It doesn’t
happen too often that we figure things our on the first try. Greetings in
the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We are all searching for that one time when things line up,
everything comes together and for a moment in time everything is right. We
struggle to avoid making the same mistakes that have tripped us up in the
past. We try to learn from them and make better choices. We make every
effort to move forward, toward that time when everything is right.
We strive for that when we go to the track. We set up the car based
on what we know from passed experience. We practice and adjust it based on
how it responds on the track. We keep making changes until we have it right.
But having it right is elusive; sometimes we have to settle for what we
have.
We look at life the same way, most of us strive to get things
right. We want our life to be in order, have some meaning. We try to learn
from the past and make better decisions about tomorrow. Our life, like our
racing is a work in progress.
We can get frustrated when we make every effort to do things right
but we things don’t work out that way. Those efforts can lead us to get down
on ourselves. They can lead us to decide that nothing is worth the effort,
it is what it is.
That is not the case. As we reflect on the choices and decisions we
have made we can see which ones were right and which ones were wrong. It is
always easier to look back and see how things worked out. Everything is
clearer when you look back. Had I known then what I know now I would have
chosen differently.
We can lament the choices we made or we can move forward. The key
is remembering that we cannot change the past, but we can move in a
different direction in the future. God knew this; He knew that we were not
always going to make the right choice. He provided a way for us to remove
the guilt, a way for us to be forgiven, Jesus Christ.
In each of us there is a desire to do things right. We set up rules
to help guide us in doing the right thing. We try to live by these rules and
hope by living by them we will be alright. Obeying the rules cannot save us.
We cannot be good enough to stand before God.
I remember the words of the prophet Isaiah, “woe to me I am a man
of unclean lips in the presence of the Holy God.” He understood that no
matter how much good he did, he still fell short. He understood that in the
presence of God, he was something much less. That is something we all have
to learn. We may think we are alright when we compare our lives to the way
others are living but that is not the standard by which we are measured.
I have been asked, “How many time can the Lord forgive me?” “How
many times will he forgive my mistakes?”
“Once.”
The answer is easy yet hard to get our thoughts around. In the old
way of dong things the Priest would make an offering to God once a year for
the forgiveness of the people’s sins. That would have to be done every year.
But when Christ came and gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins no
further sacrifice needed to be made.
As Christ said from the cross, “It is finished.”
Unlike man’s sacrifice for sin and the need for continual
sacrifice, Christ’s sacrifice was only needed once, one time, covered
everything we ever did, everything we are doing and everything we are going
to do. Done, covered, one time.
Listen to the words of the writer of Hebrews as he explains.
Hebrews 10: 1-4, 10, 18(NLT); The old system
under the law of Moses was only a shadow,
a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves.
The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after
year,
but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to
worship.
If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have
stopped,
for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time,
and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.But instead,
those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.
For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of
Jesus Christ, once for all time.
18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more
sacrifices.
Think of
our lives as a list and each time we make a mistake it is recorded. When we
stand before God and he looks at our list, He will ask us one question, “How
do you answer for these?”
There is only one answer that will work; we need to claim the blood
of Christ. We need to have accepted the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the
cross. If that is our heart, God will forgive our sins, tear up the list and
remember it no more. We will enter into eternal life as a child of God and
reside in Heaven.
If we haven’t done that we will not be able to stay in the presence
of a Holy God and we will spend eternity separated form Him. The
descriptions in God’s word about how it will be to be separated from Him are
difficult to take. It is not a place we should look forward to going and
will not be a place of comfort and rest. It will be Hell.
As we strive to get things right in life we need to remember that
we cannot achieve perfection. There will be days when everything falls in to
place, but those will be the exception, not the rule. We need a way to deal
with the rest of our lives. Christ is the answer.
We cannot be good enough, do enough good things, help enough
people, or donate enough money to compensate for the things we mess up.
There is only one way to cover our sin and that is with the blood of Christ.
I encourage each one of us to get things right with God, once and for all,
accept the offer God makes for the forgiveness on our sins in Christ.
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.
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
FRIDAY NIGHT
CLASSIC - Stafford Motor Speedway was the place to be to kick off the
holiday weekend as the Whelen Modified Tour joined the local divisions on
Friday night. It would seem that 125 laps is a good distance for a tour
event. Short enough to try to make it without a pitstop but just long enough
for the tires to wear a little and put that choice in your head.
From the drop of the green the race was on and track position was a
key. You needed to get to the front and stay there. The way the cautions
fell in this one there was enough excitement to hold you interest for the
entire event. With lapped cars a non issue, the choice was a tough one, it
would be hard to come through the field with so many cars on the lead lap.
Bobby Santos proved he had this place figured out, setting fast
time and leading most of the laps, but he didn’t lead the most important one
and for that he apologized to his crew. Doug Coby got around him with eight
to go, running his fasted laps late in the race, and took home the victory.
This race was action packed from start to finish, With Coby adding
a second victory in this young season and the next race at a place where he
has a ton on experience, Waterford Speedbowl, he could be on his way to
winning his first championship.
BOBBY SOMERS CHECKED IN FROM LEE USA - We were blessed again
this week with cool temps Friday Night under the Lights at Lee USA Speedway.
The temps were cool but some drivers were still a bit over heated.
One of the highlights to hit the 3/8 pavement this night was the
Modifieds from yesteryear! The S.T.A.R. Cars are always a great crowd
pleaser remembering what Modifieds looked like some forty plus years ago.
This is where the Modified Tours of today got their start.
The car count is growing with some returning drivers and some new
drivers as well. One of the big names to make a return to Lee is Grant
Aither winner of a few championships in his day. He has returned in a new
car #92 but things didn’t go well as during the feature he went straight
into turn one wall.
The Hobby Stocks had a bit of overheating and it wasn’t in the
radiator! I guess you could call this the Good, Bad, Ugly Feature. There
were plenty of good racing to be had, but a few bad decisions, led to a few
ugly torn up cars.
All in all the racing was good and Lee USA is drawing cars from all
over. That is an encouraging sign. We are looking forward to great racing
action to continue, come join us. Bobby Somers
BOWMAN GRAY ON THE HORIZON - This week the K&N visits the
famed Bowman Gray Stadium. I heard things get a little rough down there and
was looking for some one to show me around, but Larry Solbo, Grub to most of
us, Crude to some, who will remain unnamed for fear of their life, informed
me that his is still not welcome there. I guess I’ll have to depend on Dan.
Anyway, we will see if this second visit plays out any different than last
year’s event, I heard it was the best race some had ever seen there. I’ll
have a full report next week.
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***
May 30
BOBBY & MEREDITH DILLNER- This Long Island native, now a Charlotte based
SPEED CHANNEL reporter and wife share their 18th anniversary.
TOM & CARITA TWINEM- These Brookfield, WI fans share their 31st anniversary.
DON & MARY ANN MOYER- This Delaware race writing couple have their 19th
anniversary.
JOE & JULI ANN DEVOLVE- This Plainfield, CT fan couple shares their 13th
anniversary.
June 1
RANDY & LYNDA HEDGER- The Tioga Speedway/NASCAR WMT driver and wife from
Morrisville, NY share their special day.
BOB & TRACY COX- Rev. Pat's cousin in Boyertown, PA and wife, both NNC and
Sprint car fans, share their 15th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
May 30
BOB NEWBERRY- Schenectady, NY Alchohol Funny Car driver.
GLEN MEISENHELDER- Springfield, MA occasional NASCAR KNPSE driver, son of
Ken of KGM Video.
PAUL HEARD- Lisbon, CT LM driver.
TED SEMINARA- This "Area Auto Racing News" Sprint Cup photographer from
Brewster, NY is now turning "Rebel" down in Mount Holly, NC and loving it.
LISA ORR- Daughter of Orlando, FL LM driver Pete and wife Terri.
PATRICK SHANLEY- Bethel, CT Lebanon Valley fan.
May 31
GENE WEIDMAN- Big Diamond Speedway dirt NASCAR Modified driver.
ED SANSEVERINO- Hillsborough, NC Orange County (NC) Speedway and AARN
photographer.
STEWART LEHMAN- Former longtime staff member at Wayne County Speedway,
Orville, OH.
THOMAS PURVIS- Son of Clarksville, TN NNS driver Jeff.
June 1
NORM PATRICK- Publisher of NY State's "Gater Racing News."
JAY SAUTER- NNS/Craftsman Truck Series driver.
DAVY JONES- Lake Tahoe, NV Offroad and CWTS driver.
DARRYL LEWIS- New York Southern Tier asphalt Modified driver.
LORRAINE SYLVESTRI- The wife of Rich, retired proprietor of Sylvestri's Auto
Care World Center of Speed in Canterbury, CT.
LEW MARDEN- Onwer of Air Transport, Inc in Concord, NH and Jamie Tomaino
NASCAR WMT fan.
DAVID BAKKER- Former NASCAR KNPSE Race Director
MARY ANN MOYER- Delaware writer.
MATTHEW THOMAS- Son of northern New England's "Racin' Paper" Publisher Mark.
June 2
KYLE PETTY- Randleman, NC NSC driver now TV commentator.
SATCH WORLEY- Rocky Mount, VA driver.
SAMMY BEAVERS- Glen Gardner, NJ retired famous dirt Modified driver.
STEVE KINSER- Bloomington, IN World of Outlaws superstar.
LISA LILLQUIST- The daughter of former Thompson Speedway Late Model driver
Jerry and wife Debbie, now living in Myrles Inlet, SC.
JOHN UDES- Wall Township speedway/RoC Modified driver from Morris Plains,
NJ.
June 3
SCOTT NICKEL- The Thompson Speedway based photographer and brother of
photographer Dale.
June 4
BETTY ANN EVANS- The wife of Racing with Jesus Ministries founder Rev. Pat
Evans.
BOBBY HILLIN, JR.- Midland, TX NNS driver.
MICHAEL DOKKEN- St. Petersburg, FL LM/CWTS driver.
JENETTE SMULLEY- Daughter of Big Diamond owners Fritz and Krista Roehrig.
June 5
BUTCH MILLER- Coopersville, MI NASCAR CWTS driver.
MIKE & TED CHRISTOPHER- Plainville, CT twin drivers, both talented in open
and closed wheel competition.
EUGENE SENA- Middletown, CT Mike Christopher and NASCAR WMT crewman.
GARY NELSON- NASCAR Managing Director of Competition.
TONY SYLVESTER, JR.- The son of semi-retired Lebanon, CT Mod/NASCAR KNPSE
driver Tony and wife Diane.
LISA NICKEL- The daughter of Thompson Speedway photographer Scott and Joan.
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SEND THEM TO:
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
PO Box 586
Tolland, CT, 06084
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