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  The Chrome Horn - Racing With Jesus Ministries

   10/25/2013


PERSEVERING THROUGH THE RACE
by Rev. Don Rivers
 

   How did we finish? A question commonly asked after the race is run. What determines how we finish? What determines how well we did? Our finishing position doesn't always indicate how we ran the race. In fact sometimes finishing last means victory. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

   “How'd you do?” is a familiar refrain. I remember the line from a popular movie, “the same as usual, I lost.” We determine how much progress we are making based on our finishing position.

   One of the biggest hurdles in any career is learning how to finish. Finishing the race is the first step in the development of any driver. Anyone can drive fast, many can handle a car, but only a few learn what it means to finish. They are the drivers that advance their careers.

   Funny thing about finishing is you have no chance of winning if you do not finish the race. Yogi Berra said “90% of the putts that come up short don't go in.” Oh, in case you were wondering the other 10% don't go in either.

   When you are learning how to finish the race your position doesn't matter as much as the fact that you finished. I always look at the laps completed in the race statistics along with the status of the car. They give me a good indication of who was prepared to finish and who wasn't. I know things happen that are out of our control, but to be running at the finish and take the checkered flag indicate a perseverance that marks a winner.

Hebrews 12:1-3, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

   We can learn many things that will help us learn how to finish. First we need those who know how to finish to show us the way. Those who have experience and knowledge about the cars, tracks and other drivers provide invaluable information for us.

   In life it means those who have come before us and have lived a life that honored God. Take a look around; is there someone who you can follow that is leading the right life, a life that honors God?

   We need to be wary of the traps that we can get caught up in. In racing we can be distracted and lose focus when we forget what the goal is; finishing the race. Someone bumps us or pinches us down and suddenly our goal is to get even instead of finishing the race. When we get caught up in getting even we fail to finish the race. We end up parked right next to the guy we thought we showed a lesson to.

   We can be easily distracted. We lose focus and we find ourselves entangled in situations and circumstances that God did not intend for us to experience. We let our selfishness get in the way and when we pursue what we want instead of what honors God we end up in places we should not be.

   How do we find our way out of situations that have distracted us? First, don't get discouraged. There is hope in Jesus. Adjust your thinking and turn to Him. He promises that when we turn to Him, He will be faithful and deliver us from our sin.

   We need to develop perseverance. That means it won't happen overnight. It will take time for us to get out of the entanglements we get ourselves into. It will take effort and prayer. We need to turn our focus to Jesus and learn from His example.

   What does that mean in our lives? Are we right with God? Do we live lives that honor Him? If we put focus on Jesus and accept the sacrifice He made for us we can be right with God. We can have hope. We will live a life full of joy regardless of the circumstances that surround us. We prepare ourselves to finish the race.

   The term joy escapes our grasp sometimes. We think it means being happy. Not so. Joy is an inner peace and contentment that we experience when we please God. When we are doing God's will and living the life He planned for us we experience joy. Joy is of the Lord. Paul wrote;

Philippians 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

   We must remember that Christ gave His life for us. We live lives that in many ways fall short of the life that God has for us. But Christ gave His life for us. Think about that, how easy is it to do something for someone else? Now add to that the fact that the person you are doing it for doesn't deserve it. It is very difficult for us to be generous to someone who we don’t feel is undeserving.

   God is different, He loves us unconditionally. God doesn't provide for us based on whether we deserve it, He provides for us in spite of our actions. When we consider the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the fact that God offers salvation to us in spite of our actions we start to see how we need to respond.

Hebrews 12:1-3, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

   I want to encourage us to look toward the finish, don’t worry about where we started but persevere through the race and finish well!


THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

   THOMPSON CROWNS NEW WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR CHAMPION - Ryan Preece wears the crown of NASCAR Champion as he closed out the season in spectacular fashion. Preece took the race for the victory as seriously as the race for the championship. Although he needed only to finish twenty-second or better to secure it that didn’t hold him back from competing for the win.

   Some could be excused for riding out the race and trying to avoid any chance of getting derailed on their way to the championship, but not today. The WMT race was a classic three way battle for the win between Preece, Lia and Pennink.

   Pennink won the race, his second, that ended a long drought and finished a championship season of his own. He took home the Valenti Modified Championship and a Whelen Modified Tour win. We look forward to having Rowan in our booth at Motorsports 2014 along with one of his Modifieds.

   Preece came home third but not because he didn’t want first. It was refreshing to see the champion in the heat of the battle for victory. I don’t think he knows any other way to drive. I am sure his crew chief, Sly Szaban, was pacing pit road with each side by side battle.

   Great job by a hard working team, congratulations; look for Ryan and his #16 Flamingo Motorsports Modified in our booth at Motorsports 2014 in January.

   NEMA CROWNS A FIRST TIME CHAMPION - After six seasons with NEMA John Zych Jr. nailed down his first championship with a dramatic victory Sunday at Thompson Sunday. John fought back two late race restarts from point leader Randy Cabral to dethrone Cabral as NEMA Champion.

   John said it was the last thing he wanted to see, yellow, but he was up to the challenge and finished 1.4 seconds ahead and 17 points ahead in the final standings.

   Congratulations To both John and His dad, who also won the owner’s title. This was a championship six years in the making and not the last for this talented, young driver.

   K&N PRO SERIES EAST CROWNS CHAMPION AT ROAD ATLANTA - Rev. Dan made the trip to Road Atlanta Friday for the final race on the K&NPSE schedule. With the point battle in single digits this was another championship that went down to the wire.

   In the end Dylan Kwasniewski, the 18 year old from Las Vegas , dominated the inaugural race at Road Atlanta and left no doubt that the title was his. This Rockstar Energy drink driver completed the double for the first time in history; he won the K&NPSW last year and added the K&NPSE this year. He proved his point; he can get it done on the West Coast and the East Coast, congratulations to Dylan and his whole team.

   PRAYER AND ENCOURAGEMENT NEEDED - It was learned this week that longtime Modified supporter and engine builder Norm Case was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He was in the hospital, receiving tests and treatment but should be at home shortly and will receive treatment at home if needed. Our prayers are needed.

   I’m sure many of you know Norm, Precision Automotive built engines for many of the racers at our local tracks especially Riverside and Stafford and also drag racing and hotrods.

   Join us as we lift Norm and Linda up in our prayers. If you’d like to send a note to Norm they can be sent to him at home. The address is Norman Case, 9 Dara Lane , North Granby , CT 06060 . I know he’d be happy to receive a card (especially a comical one).

   REACHING OUT - I spoke with Rick Raducha at The World Series and he is still looking for options that will help him be able to spend time in Florida this winter. As you may know with his brittle bone condition the cold weather is very hard on him. If you are willing to help out please give him a call at 860-796-7223 or drop him a note at rraducha@sbcglobal.net. I am sure he could use any help and encouragement we can offer.

   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.
 

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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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SourceRev Don Rivers / Racing With Jesus Ministries
Posted: October 25, 2013

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