The new season has started. The hopes and dreams of
success become reality. Questions have started to be answered. Who will have
success? Who will be successful? Two similar questions but with very
different answers. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
A successful season is different for each team. Some will judge the
season a failure if they don’t end up with the championship. Some are
looking just to improve over last year’s performance. Some are looking for
seat time and finishing the race in one piece is judged a success. Whatever
our standard, having success is different for each one of us.
Being judged successful however is a different thing altogether.
You know there are two different ways of looking at things, our way and
God’s way. When we judge success in earthly terms we focus on
accomplishments and status. We look at awards and recognition. When we look
at success from a Biblical viewpoint we focus on those who have submitted
themselves to God and have chosen to do His will.
Will you be successful? That depends on the standard you use. Many
thought Jesus a failure as he hung on the cross. They challenged Him to save
Himself. They hurled insults at Him and questioned His claim to be the Son
of God. In the end Jesus accomplished what He came to do, He gave His life
so that we might have life.
Being successful isn’t about what we attain; it is more about what
we do and how we do it. In a passage of Scripture from the Gospel of Luke we
can find some help in our quest to be successful.
Luke 5:1-11; One day as
Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,
with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw
at the water's edge two boats,
left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of
the boats,
the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.
Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished
speaking,
he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a
catch." Simon answered,
"Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But
because you say so,
I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large
number of fish that their nets began to break.
So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and
they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon
Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I
am a sinful man!"
For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had
taken, and so were James and John,
the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be
afraid; from now on you will catch men."
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
In this passage Luke tells us of the
calling of the first disciples. We read about the calling of Simon Peter. He
had just finished a night of fishing and was cleaning up his nets. Think of
it like the end of a race. You had trouble and didn’t finish, a DNF. You and
your crew are cleaning up and along comes this guy who wants to use your
hauler as a pulpit. After he is done speaking he starts to tell you how to
set up your car and how to win the next race. You look at him as if to say,
“What do you know about racing?” He says trust me and do what I tell you.
Reluctantly you agree. You set the car up and sure enough you run the
fastest you have ever run. Maybe there is something to this guy? Maybe I
should follow him?
Let’s examine what has taken place. First we have to let Jesus in.
Whether it’s our boat, our hauler or our life, success cannot happen without
Jesus being a part of it. Once he is a part of our life we have to let him
have control. He will guide and direct us to what is right and just. He will
guide us to places we would not go on our own.
The best time to fish was at night and in shallow water. Jesus
instructed Simon Peter to put out to deep water in the middle of the day.
Peter, like us, questioned if Jesus knew what he was talking about. Jesus
did and proved it with a large catch of fish.
Let’s review what we have talked about;
1) The first step to being successful is including
Jesus. He must be a part of our life.
2) We must allow Jesus to have control of the direction and decisions in our
life.
3) Jesus will guide us to people, places and things that we wouldn’t have
met, gone or done if we didn’t follow Him.
I would
encourage you to spend some time this week reading and reflecting on this
passage of scripture. Next week we will look at this passage again and see
what further application we can find. Until next week keep the Son in your
eyes.
God Bless, Rev. Don
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
MOURNING THE LOSS - Saturday at
Thompson was a difficult day for many. When Jimmy Smith parked his car at
his hauler, removed his helmet everything seemed fine. In a moment that
changed. My heart goes out to his wife and family as they morn their loss.
There was another family affected on Saturday, the racing family.
When it was clear things were not alright they jumped into action. Cam
McDermott and his crew immediately started to remove the roof, an EMT from
another team jumped in to assist; the emergency personnel from the track and
NASCAR came to cut the roll cage and get him out of the car, the entire time
life saving treatment was being administered. Sometimes every effort to
change the course of things isn’t enough and in this case that was the fact.
Jimmy died enjoying a sport that he loved. Looking back the
situation could have been much worse if the timing of things was a little
different. Those who helped and did what they could are to be commended. We
have lost a fellow competitor and a member on our family. Rest in Peace
Jimmy.
Saturday was also the day that the Modified Community said goodbye
to Chuck Montville. In a service held Saturday afternoon it seemed somehow
appropriate to talk about the timing of things. My thanks go out to Bobby
and Vinetta Somers who represented RWJM at the service. At times we don’t
understand why God places us in certain locations at certain times, but He
knows where we need to be. It is never easy to see someone’s life end but I
am thankful for the hope we have in Christ.
THOMPSON KICKS OFF THE WHELEN MODIFIED SEASON - As part of
the opening weekend at the Icebreaker the WMT kicked off the season in
style. The end of this race was one of the best I’ve seen recently. A red
flag at lap 136 set up the dash to the finish, different pit strategies had
shuffled the field and we saw some great moves as the faster cars moved back
through the field. In the end Pole sitter Mike Stefanik outlasted the charge
from Rowan Pennink and Ryan Preece to take home the victory. I think this
may be an indication of things to come as we see these three challenge for
victories and the championship, but Ron Silk and TC might have something to
say about that as they rounded out the top five.
LEE USA OPENS THEIR SEASON - Sunday also saw Lee USA
Speedway in action as the ACT contended for the Governor’s Cup. Bobby and
Vinetta sent in this report.
This weekend Vinetta and I started off heading to Connecticut , not
to a track but to the service of Chuck Montville, owner of the #06 Valenti
Modified. The #06 Mod was located in the rear parking lot with a great
picture of Les Hinckley and Chuck resting on the car. The five hour service
saw lines out the door with people waiting to share their condolences with
Deb, Les and the family. The beginning of this season has started with many
heavy hearts, the loss of Chuck and at Lee USA Speedway official Jay
Merryfield.
Sunday Vinetta and I returned back to Lee USA Speedway for the Late
Model Sportsman and ACT Tour event. Prior to anything getting going Vinetta
and I walked the track, chatting about moments spent with Jay last season;
at times knowing that as I looked up I could see Jay in the push truck
wanting to carry on a conversation with us. The weather at the track
certainly wasn’t the feel of spring, but with the amount of fans in the
stands the weather didn’t stop anyone from being at Lee USA Speedway.
The ACT Tour brought along a very strong car count and some
incredible racing for the open of their 2013 season. The honorary flag
person for the start of the race was NH Governor Maggie Hassan. This was her
very first race and I think Lee USA made a new fan. There was plenty of side
by side racing and even three wide all over the 3/8 mile track for 150 laps.
Several drivers Helliwell, Hoar and McDonald, past winners of the Governor’s
Cup and were showing today they wanted the 2013 bragging rights. In the end
2012 American Canadian Tour Rookie of the Year Jimmy Hebert started his
sophomore season by earning his first-career ACT victory. North Haverhill ,
NH ’s Travis Fadden and Rowley , MA ’s Eddie MacDonald finished out the top
three for the season opening event.
K&N GOES TO KENNEDY - Rev. Dan was down at Five Flags
Speedway in Pensacola , FL with an assist from Jason Rosarius. They enjoyed
some warmth while we struggled with the temperatures up here in the
Northeast. The inaugural visit to this famed late model track saw a first
time winner in Ben Kennedy. Kennedy dominated the day winning the pole,
leading every lap on his way to his first series victory.
With a break in the action this week I think I’ll do a little
fishing on Saturday morning before Waterford gets going. Maybe I can catch
another million dollar fish! Enjoy your week and we will see you at Stafford
on the 27th and 28th.
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
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