We have been studying in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 15, about things that are
lost. One of the realities of losing something is that you can no longer use
it. We are in the middle of a project looking for something that we know we
have and if we had it in our possession it would make things easier. But the
fact remains, if we don’t possess it we can’t use it. Greetings in the name
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I have seen so many resourceful people at the race track. Some have
all the special tools needed to do every job, but some don’t. It is
intriguing to me to see how some get around not having everything they need
but still get the job done. Sometimes you come up with a better way of doing
things.
I remember one of the most resourceful race teams ever; Dion
Brothers Racing. I watched them win a Busch North Race with a 13 year old
chassis that just a few weeks earlier had been twisted beyond recognition. I
remember talking with Dave Dion about it. He said when they originally built
the car they didn’t have a frame jig but they did take some measurements. We
rebuilt it to those measurements and we’ll see tonight if we got it right.
As they stood in Victory Lane celebrating the answer was yes, they got it
right,
One of the most unique innovations they came up with was the
radiator tie down strap. Yes, that is what it was, an old leather strap.
Reminded me of the ones we used down on the farm to hold the milking machine
on the cow. Quick change before quick change was cool! Undo the strap, slide
the radiator out, put the replacement in and cinch it up. Good to go!
Notice I didn’t say new radiator, that was another trait of Dion
Racing, why buy new when you can make due with reconditioned. They recycled
everything they could, long before we all started to think about it. Getting
full use out of something was a hallmark of their team. I am sure they had
at least one of every piece of their race car in their hauler; it just
needed some freshening up.
How useful are we to God? Are we ready and willing to take on any
task He requires of us? There are two important components of usefulness,
possession and willingness. This passage from Luke talks about a woman who
lost a coin. The coin still had value, but she couldn’t use it until she had
it in her possession.
Luke 15:8-10;
Parable of the Lost Coin, “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses
one.
Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until
she finds it?
And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way,
there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Money is an interesting thing;
you can’t use it unless you have it. I know about credit cards and loans,
but did you ever notice the main requirement for getting those is not
needing them. Before they give you money, they want to know you have enough
to pay them back! If I had the money I wouldn’t be here asking for a loan!
We can’t use other people’s money unless they give it to us and are
willing to let us use it. I know there is the whole identity theft thing,
but that is a topic for another day. To use it you have to have it.
To be useful to God He needs to have possession of our lives. Have
we given our life to Him? I mean really allowed him to fill us with His
Spirit?
Think of it this way, there are two water bottles, one full, one
empty; if you are thirsty which one is more useful? The one filled with
water. But what if you don’t have one? What if the only one you have is
empty?
We can be like these water bottles, one is full and one is empty.
Let’s see what happens when we put them under pressure. The empty bottle
with no integrity inside is easily crushed under the pressure.
Just like that bottle those of us who are not filled with Living
Water, the Holy Spirit; without that integrity we will be crushed under
pressure. Everything that is not filled with the fullness of God can be
destroyed. Look at it, its shape and usefulness is no more.
But the full bottle, full of the Spirit will be able to resist
pressure effectively. Look at what happens when we put it under pressure. It
can withstand the pressure, even if we drop it, it will bounce back. It’s
full on the inside of "the good stuff" so the outside does not cave in.
We need to decide which condition we want to live our lives in,
filled and useful or unfilled and useless, strong and resilient or crushed.
This passage teaches us some important things. While we all have
the same value to God, we are not useful to Him if we are not His. It is
necessary for Him to possess our entire lives; just having His presence
isn’t enough.
We must allow Him to fill us with His Spirit and be willing to let
Him lead our lives. God will not force us; He will patiently wait for us to
invite him in. Just like the crushed bottle can be restored so can our
lives. God can restore us, fill us and use us for His Glory.
Are we lost, are our lives of no use to God?
We need to remember that just because it is lost doesn’t mean it
has lost its value. Everyone has value in God’s eyes. We need to find that
which is lost. That was the mission of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; he
came to seek and save the lost.
Find your life, allow God to restore it, fill it and make it whole.
Then be willing to let God use you. The fullness of the Holy Spirit will
allow you to resist the pressure and maintain your integrity. Don’t go
through life empty and crushed. Be filled with the good stuff, the water of
life.
Let God use you!
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY -
What a weekend, it seems everything was washed out but there were a few
races that managed to get in between the raindrops. Stafford was able to run
Friday night and the rescheduled VMRS race from Thursday was able to sneak
in on Sunday afternoon at Thompson; everything else needed to be
rescheduled.
I was on Long Island for the WMT race Saturday night at Riverhead
but boat races would have been more the order of the day. I went over to the
track on Saturday and checked things out. Banners were torn down from the
wind and a pond prevented me from even getting down the driveway. I watched
a dually drive through and when the meatball disappeared in the water I
figured I would just turn around and find something else to do.
Lynda and I came down on Friday to celebrate my birthday along with
the race. With the race postponed to September 15, we had all the time in
the world to enjoy ourselves. After a birthday dinner at Elbow East, a
sponsor and good friend of Buzz Chew Racing, we relaxed and enjoyed some
time at the beach courtesy of the Goodale family. Thanks goes out to Nancy,
Edgar, Eric and Amanda for coming up with a great plan and allowing us to
use the beach bungalow. We had a great time regardless of the weather.
Sunday I spoke at Mattituck Presbyterian Church at both the 9 and
11 o’clock services. I was received well and very encouraged by all that
attended. What a way for a racing pastor to spend his birthday, preaching
God’s word and sharing his passion for the racing family. God is good!
This week Rev. Dan with be with the Whelen Modified Tour at
Stafford and I’ll be making the trip to Iowa for the K&N guys. I may get
sidetracked and head down to Knoxville for the nationals, but we’ll have to
see about that.
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
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Check our home page
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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
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***
August 2
PAUL & ROSE TEETER- From Ithaca, NY, this NY Antique Race Car enthusiasts
have their 20th anniversary.
August 6
RICH and PAT DURANTI - This LM driver from the Waterford Speedbowl and his
wife celebrate 35 years of marriage.
August 7
SCOTT & HEATHER PUNCH- This NNC crewman and wife in Claremont, NC have their
12th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
August 1
BOB KESELOWSKI- Rochester, MI NSCS & NNS driver.
ALAN CHAPMAN- Elmira, NY NASCAR KNPSE driver.
FIL MARTOCCI- NSC's FiLmar Racing Team owner.
GLORIA HANNA- Amsterdam, NY Fonda Speedway fan.
LISA ROMANO- This lady is in Appomattax, VA, the sister of Laura Dennis and
another huge Jamie Tomaino WMT fan.
CONNOR McELEARNEY- The son of Riverhead LM driver Paul and wife Michelle of
Commack, NY.
JIM BARNES- This Long Island Kyle Busch fan celebrates his big day.
August 2
ROBIN LaHUE- Wife of Northfield, VT White Mountain Motorsports Park (NH)
driver, Don.
JOHN FITZGERALD- Happy Birthday to the son of Riverhead Enduro and demo
regular Terrence and Christine.
August 3
GREG RAY- Plano, TX IRL driver.
BOB MARTI- Crewman on the 57 WAAS Modified at Stafford.
CAROL SAVLUK- Wife of former Modified driver, Wayne, of Lisbon, CT.
JOANN SCHERER- Sister of Northampton, PA NASCAR WMT driver Eric Beers.
DILLON ZACHARIAS- The son of Modified driver and part of the track
management team Rick and wife Pam.
BRENDA VENTH- Daughter of former Harbach X90 Modified crewman George Venth.
August 4
JAMIE AUBE- Charlotte, VT NASCAR Former KNPSE driver, three-time champion
and now crew chief.
SHAWN PARKER- NH driver, son of Parker's Express Trucking owner Ted.
JEFF GORDON- Multi-time Nextel Cup champion driver of the Hendricks
Motorsports.
August 5
DON SCERENCITS- Northampton, PA AARN Subscrition Sales Field Rep.
KIP STOCKWELL- Vermont based NASCAR KNPES/late model driver and now farmer.
RICH WOODLAND, JR.- Templeton, CA NASCAR West driver.
KEVIN LITTLEFIELD- Salem, NH fabricator/crewman on the former #77 NASCAR
KNPSE team.
JACK FLOWERS- Charlotte, NC NSC writer.
KYLE GUENNETTE- Son of Fairfield, CT fan "Fast Eddie".
ELISABETH MINTER- A daughter of Martinsville, VA WODY Radio's "Uncle
Wendell" and wife Deloris.
August 6
EDDIE MARSHALL- NY D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
CRAIG RAUDMAN- Redding, CA NASCAR West driver.
JEB BURTON- Son of former NSC driver Ward and wife Tabitha.
DEBBIE DIONNE- Wife of Gary, both of Acton, CA RWJM Counselors and Gary a
Hollywood car stuntman and RWJM West Coast Coordinator.
August 7
BRUCE D'ALLESANDRO- East Hartford, CT former Riverside Park and NASCAR WMT
driver.
AL HANNA- CT based alchohol Funny Car driver.
RICHIE YANETTA, Sr.- Of Bridgewater, NJ, the father of Go-Kart drivers Rich,
Jr. and Jeff.
***IN THE SHOP***
MARIA PARES - Mom of photographer Michael was admitted to
the hospital last week for pneumonia, she will be 94 on August 4th. Please
keep her and the entire Pares family in your thoughts and prayers.
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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