Racing for fun or for a living is stressful. The nature of the deal is that
our life is on the edge. When you are at the track everything seems to run
at 100 miles an hour. It is racing after all. It is supposed to move fast.
Maybe it is a good time to take a rest. Greetings in the name of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Resting with Jesus, sounds like a new name for a ministry? The
racing world does not corner the market on stress and frustration. The world
we live in has been described as a rat race. Kind of like a dog chasing its
tail, the faster you go the dizzier you get.
Did you every find yourself wondering why you do what you do? Many
times the thought crosses our mind concerning our motivation. Why do we do
this? Why am I here? When we get to that point it is good to step back and
take a look at things. Take a step out of our routine and look for a place
to rest and collect your thoughts. Jesus is that place.
We are entering the time of year when we can take that break and
relax. We can look back and reflect on the season past. Taking some time to
rest and catch up on the things we left behind as we ran our race. Jesus
gives up a place to rest.
Jesus came to save us. From what you ask, from us. We fill our
lives with so much stuff that the stuff starts to win out. We develop a
lifestyle that feeds off itself. We start finding ourselves needing to do
this, this and this in order to maintain our lifestyle. It becomes
overwhelming and we just keep on going trying to stay one-step ahead, for
what? So we can live?
I am not sure many people would classify what they do as living.
They may say surviving, but not living. We all have a vision of what living
is and we are not there yet. The challenges of the current economy take
their toll on us. There are many things that happen to us that are out of
control. I think of the challenges the folks in the Northeast have been
through this past week and my heart goes out to them.
In his poem, The Station, Hastings talks about the vision, “when we
get there”. Where? A new house, car, home, kids through school, promotion,
win a race. We never get there. Once we accomplish one thing there is
another to move on to. Our vision is never satisfied. He writes further to
say it is not the destination, but the journey that we must focus on. That
is why Jesus makes this offer in Matthew:
Matthew 11:28-29,nlt, Then Jesus said, "Come to
me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I
am humble and gentle,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Jesus
provides for each one of us the security of the destination. If we accept
Him we will be with him for eternity. Destination settled, now about the
journey.
At this past World Series at Thompson I made a trip to the Bench.
The bench was presented to Rev. Pat at Thompson Speedway by the Busch North
Ladies Auxiliary along with a plaque thanking him for twenty-five years of
dedicated ministry to the Whelen Modified and Busch North Tours. The bench
is located by the handicapper’s booth. The message is simple, come unto me
and rest. Park it on the bench, focus on the journey and not the
destination, spend some time with Jesus and seek His will for your life.
When we ask, seek and knock, it will be provided for us within the will of
God. RWJ takes on a new meaning, Rest with Jesus.
Matthew 7:7-12, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will
find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks,
the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he
asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your
Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything,
do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law
and the Prophets.
When we take a step back from the
challenges of our life and we realize that we do not have to win the race,
our Savior has already won that race. We can adjust our focus and look
around us and participate in the journey. Along that road we need to reach
out and help one another. We need to guide and direct people to the source
of life. We need to, as Jesus said, be humble and gentle as we demonstrate
how to live.
David writes in Psalm 23,
The LORD is my shepherd; I
have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
In Jesus we have a place to rest. Rest in
Him, walk with Him along those peaceful streams, and let Him renew your
strength.
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
RACING TAKES A BACK SEAT - Yes we traveled south
to cover the two races on our schedule, The World Dirt Finals and the K&N
Pro Series East at Rockingham, but our hearts and prayers were with the
folks back at home. It is heartbreaking to see those who have lost so much.
You see the destruction and feel the raw emotion of those who have lost
everything.
I was encouraged by the hotel manager on Staten Island who refused
to honor the reservations for those who came in for the NYC Marathon. He
explained this way, “these are my neighbors, they have lost everything, and
I am not going to throw them out to make room for a race.”
Yes, racing should have a place in our lives, but when events
dictate we should respond in a way that shows we care more about people than
racing. I struggle to get my hands around the losses people have suffered.
Even the challenges they face to survive each day.
My wife and I have a daughter that lives in Manhattan and she
shared with us her needs. My wife headed to the hardware store, picked up
some gas cans, loaded up the truck and delivered the most precious resources
to her and those she knew that needed it. They now have enough to make it
through another week with the hope things will return to normal.
I urge you to take the time to volunteer your time and join a
disaster relief team. People are in need of everything, make a commitment to
help them and restore their faith. My wife has already signed up to go back
with Samaritan’s Purse and continue the relief effort.
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***
November 10
BOB & DOTTIE PARK- This Northport, LI veteran NASCAR WMT driver and wife,
also parents of NASCAR driver Steve, share their anniversary.
November 11
MIKE & JULIE STEFANIK- The West Greenwich, RI multi-time NASCAR WMT and
NASCAR CWES champion and wife/GM of Koszela Speed Warehouse share their 28th
anniversary.
FRANKIE AND BOBBIE SCHNEIDER- The Old Master and his wife celebrate 24 years
together.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
November 7
KELLY YANETTA- This New Jersey Powder Puff Go-Kart Club driver.
JOE LARSEN, JR- The son of Linda and NASCAR Mod tour official Joe, SR.
November 8
ED BERRIER- Winston-Salem, NC NNS driver.
RUSS BROWN- Mannsville, NY NASCAR KNPSE driver.
KERRY ANDERSON- Scarborough, ME occasional NASCAR KNPSE driver.
HOMER KEINERT- Mahoning Valley Speedway driver.
DEDE HAYES- Wife of NH photographer Rich.
November 9
DICK DISBROW- NJ asphalt Mod driver.
TERRY MARCOVIC- PA/NJ asphalt Mod driver.
RICK CARELLI- Arvada, CO CWTS driver.
CHRISTINE STEFANIK- The second of Mike and Julie's girls.
WILL WRIGHT- Godson of Dion Ciccarelli and son of Gerry Wright has his
birthday.
DANA MAE KOST- Daughter of NSC crewman Mike.
MICHAEL "Bonzi" BOZZUTO - Head tech inspector at Oswego Speedway, former ESS
sprint car driver and "wanna be" dwarf car driver
November 10
DAWN DIPPEL- AARN "Third Turn" columnist.
November 11
BOB POLVERARI- Riverside Park Speedway multi-time Modified champion, retired
Modified Tour driver.
BRIAN WEBBER- Long Island NASCAR KNPSE driver.
BARRY BODINE- CWTS driving son of Geoff.
ROY PAYNE- Alvin, TX ARCA driver.
GEORGE SAVARY- Retired Massachusetts former Modified driver, and top Mini
Modified threat.
MIKE RYAN- Springfield, MA NASCAR WMT/NASCAR KNPSE crewman, brother of
photographer Gracie Ryan.
BOBBY CAVALLERO- Farmingdale, NJ Wall Township Speedway and Sprint Cup fan.
November 12
JUSTIN WILLIAMS, Crew Chief of Ronnie Williams SK light Modified Stafford
Speedway.
JOHN ANDERSON- Southington, CT retired Mod driver.
RYAN OLSEN- Son of No. Haverhill, NH KNPSE Owner Mike and wife Vicki.
MATT TALMAN- proud brother & biggest fan to SK light modified driver Troy
Talman.
November 13
KENNY TREMONT, JR.- West Sand Lake, NY Lebanon Valley Speedway based
Modified driver.
TRACY GORDON- Strong, ME KNPSE driver.
RICK MILLER- Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Mod driver.
RENE CHARLAND- "Da' Champ", retired four time NASCAR Sportsman champion and
dad of Fonda driver Rick.
TOMMY PORTER, JR.- Savannah, GA All Pro driver.
LOUIE MAIETTA- Brother of multi-time Beech Ridge LM champion Mike, Sr.
ROGER SAVLUK- Lisbon, CT Savluk's Service partner.
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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