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  The Chrome Horn - Racing With Jesus Ministries

   07/13/2012

SAFETY IN NUMBERS
by Rev. Don Rivers

   I was looking for something I lost recently and it occurred to me that I have been doing that more and more as the years go by. How you ever lost something? Maybe you didn’t lose it; you just can’t remember where you put it. Have you been searching for something you lost? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

   I now know why everyone in racing has a tool box on wheels that they take with them everywhere they go; that helps them remember where their tools are! This past week I was on vacation up in Maine and I was helping my father in law do some repairs. Every time we needed a tool I would offer to go get it. His response was interesting; I’ll go, you won’t find it.

   After hearing that response several times I asked him why he thought I wouldn’t find it. He explained that it was where he used it last and there is no way I could know where he had used it. The flaw in the system is remembering where you used it last. I think we all could use a toolbox on wheels!

   Even when we know where most of our tools are, sometimes some of them come up missing. What do we do? How do we respond? I know that to some folks tools are like members of the family.

   I have been reading in Luke’s Gospel chapter 15 about some things that were lost. I wanted to spend a few weeks looking at how important lost people are to God. We need to value the things that God values and search and save the lost.

   One of the important things to learn is the danger we face when we are on our own. Many of us think we can make it on our own. We can be independent. We do not need anyone else. Nothing could be further from the truth. Isolation equals death, without others around us our lives will be less than what they could have been.

   The Lonely Ember

   A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going.

   After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

   Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.

   After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.

   As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail."

   Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.

   Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

   As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.


   Think about the things that tie us together as a racing family. Think about how we are connected to one another. Think about how much we rally around each other when one of us is in need. Whether we realize it or not, we have surrounded ourselves with others.

   Not only do we know those around us, we know when one of us is missing or hurting. We search and ask and try to find out where they are and what’s going on. God does the same thing.

   Let’s jump off here; read this passage and think about someone you haven’t seen in a while. Do you need to reach out to them? Do you need to go and help them find their way back to God? Do they need someone to pick them up and help them find their way?

Luke 15:3-7; NLT, So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost,
what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one
that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.
When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because
I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner
who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
 

   THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

    As I took some time off last week, Booby and Vinetta Somers took my place traveling the highways and byways. Join them as they share their adventures:

   Last week Rev. Don talked about taking some time for R&R in Maine. Prior to the July 4th holiday and with no racing on the schedule for Vinetta and I; we headed to the Green Mountains of Vermont for some R&R ourselves. We have been married just over a year and found some time to enjoy one of our wedding gifts, a hot air balloon ride. Things look different from up above, as we looked over the farm country and forest a Scripture came to mind. When we arrived back home I looked it up.

Psalm 104:10-14(NIV) “He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth.”

   Taking the time to look at things from a different perspective was a blessing. To see our Savior’s work in creation from high above was a contrast to when we are just driving along the highway in a hurry to make it to the next track!

   With the end of our visit to Vermont Vinetta and I set out to handle three tracks after the holiday. Our first stop is always the thrilling 5/8 mile, high banks of Thompson Speedway. The Vintage cars were on hand and I am amazed to see the Mods of yesteryear and the current Modifieds and how they have changed. It is a great treat for every race fan.

   The Sunoco Modified’s were running twin features this night and the crowd seemed larger than most times as when I have visited this season and the car count seemed decent after the holiday. After the Vintage cars took some laps on the track the features were on. The twin Mod features being the headliner, they started things off. But it was the second feature that turned this into another head scratcher.

   With some of the many top names up front to start the race you figured a lot of great passing and battling for position. Malone and Perry led the field to the green flag with Preece and TC next in line. There was certainly lot of passing with TC using his many years of skills driving around the 5/8 mile oval. Throughout the race it seemed that some drivers thought they had full bodied cars and not open wheel Modifieds. At different moments of the race it looked like some decided just to sit back as things unfolded while others followed the racing philosophy of Mr. Excitement and hit everything in sight. On the final lap in turn 2 it was #00 pushing #13 TC high to take the lead and dropping TC back to 3rd place. With #31 Preece in second and Pitkat taking the checkered it only lasted a few moments and the win was giving to Preece as the #00 of Pitkat was DQ’d for aggressive driving, Once again the drivers held their tempers and let the officials handle the final outcome.

   On Friday night it was off to Lee USA Speedway. It didn’t take long for the crowd to make its way in to take in the 100 Lap Late Model Race that headlined the schedule. The Friday Night under the Lights crowd was getting back to a good size. With temps in the high 90’s there wasn’t as many Late Models as anticipated for the big feature. Some drivers instead of racing, decided to take out drivers once they became noncompetitive throughout the race. It caused a great deal of cautions and with temperatures already hot outside the car that just made it worse inside the car. On the final lap it was the #92 of Grant Aither taking the checkered flag. His patience paid off as many teams used up their tires in the early laps.

   The Modified race saw another red flag as the #22 of Sparky McIver hit turn one hard tearing up the right side of the car. He did walk to the ambulance under his own power. Proving that early season car troubles are behind them, back to back feature wins for the #98 of Tommy Tombarello has them headed in the right direction.

   Well the final race of our weekend trip and the Valenti Modified Racing Series was in town, Winchester, NH that is! Once again an excellent car count of 30 cars registered at Monadnock Speedway. This Series is surely growing each week; is it possible to see 50 cars at one track at anytime this season?

   The excitement of the fans was energizing during the driver introductions anticipating the call to start the engines. John Spence Sr invited the crowd to countdown along with him! Holdridge and Mechalides led the field to the green. Holdridge held down the lead until lap 49. After a couple restarts with these two challenging each other for position they both ended up on the outside looking in. Pasteryak moved to the point and held the lead for 11 laps before a challenge from Szegedy. With Szegedy making Pasteryak work for the lead it didn’t take long before Pasteryak got loose on the back straightaway and Szegedy taking the checkered flag. This was the second event for Szegedy running with the VMRS and it looks like we may see more of him as the season goes on.

   Thanks Bobby and Vinetta.

   NHMS AND PENNSYLVANIA ON THE SCHEDULE - For the first time in many years the K&N will not make the trip to NHMS for the first of two Sprint Cup races. Instead they are headed to CNS Bank Raceway Park in Clearview, PA. I’ll miss having Dan by my side at NHMS but Scott will be filling in.

   I am looking forward to serving the folks at NHMS as they have asked me to officiate a wedding in Victory Lane after the Nationwide Race on Saturday. That will make us a little late getting over to Canaan for the VMRS but we’ll get 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***

July 11
BILL & PHYLLIS BALSER- The Norton, MA photographer and wife have their 61st anniversary.

July 16
KEITH AND DEBBIE KRODEL- These former Jan Leaty NASCAR WMT team members now living in Pensacola, FL have their 19th anniversary.

July 17
MARK & STELLA BURNS- This New Hampshire SuperModified team owners have their 28th anniversary.

***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***

July 11
BOBBY DOTTER- Chicago, IL NCTS driver.
JOE BEAN- San Diego, CA NASCAR West driver.
DONNA LITTLE- Wife of former NSC driver now WMT director Chad.
KYLE BELMONT- Langhorne, PA ARCA driver Andy and wife Jennifer's youngest.

July 12
TOM CAREY- Former New Salem, MA NASCAR KNPSE driver/crew cheif.
KRISTA ROEHRIG- The lady is the best friend and wife of former Big Diamond Speedway owner/promoter Fritz.
ED SPENCER II- Berwick, PA former Crew Chief for Jim Spencer in his Modified days.
BILLY STEBBINS- Former Jim Broderick Modified Crew Chief, now living in NH.
TOM BALDWIN III- Grandson of the late NASCAR WMT driver Tom and son of NNC Car owner Tommy Jr.
MENA FELTENBERGER- Wife of Grandview/Big Diamond flgamn/photographer Mike.

July 13
BOBBY BABB- Maine based LM driver.
JEAN DEBOIS- Mom of Pam Krause, wife of AARN Ass't Editor/Columnist, Earl.

July 14
RICH SENDZIK- NJ asphalt Modified driver.
BOB NORTHRUP- D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
MIKE EDDY- Veteran ASA driver.
BOBBY MASON- Former Riverhead Raceway Figure 8 driver.
KAREN TURBUSH- Long Island Hut Stricklin fan.
BILL HUNEKE- Auto Sports columnist for the New Brunswick, NJ "Home News/Tribune."
MICHELE CONWAY- Newfoundland, PA Micro Sprint driver at Lake Moc-A-Tek Speedway.
AUSTIN GLEN BREHIO- Son of NASCAR KNPSE driver Glen and wife Teri.

July 15
LARRY MURDOCK- "Urkel" is a crew member on the Later Model 14 Team, driven by Mike Mortimer, at Riverhead Raceway.
JOHN GEORGIADES, JR.- CT based ProStock driver.
CARRIE SHUBA- From Syracuse, NY, she was the 1997 Ms Miller Motorsports.
ANTHONY MARVIN- son of Sunoco Modified driver Bert Marvin.

July 16
"BOOTS" TOMAINO- The mother of WMT career driver Jamie Tomaino.
MIKE FIELDS- From Long Beach, NY and close friend of the ministry has his day.
WAYNE ANDERSON- Wildwood, FL NASCAR Modified driver.

July 17
DOUG WOLCOTT- NJ asphalt Modified driver.
BRANDON ASH- Umpqua, OR NASCAR West driver.
ERNIE COPE- Spanaway, WA NASCAR West driver.
MICHAEL LEATY- Mod Tour Jan's adult son.


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SourceRev Don Rivers / Racing With Jesus Ministries
Posted: July 13, 2012

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