.
Talk to me, not about me. We live in a world that provides many different
ways to communicate with one another, but have we really stopped to talk
with someone lately? Do we depend on electronic devices to take the place of
face to face communication? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
We say many different things about many different people but are we
really communicating? We have many different ways to contact someone but are
we really making a connection? Have we considered the best way to
communicate, face to face?
One thing I like about racing is that there is so much face to face
communication. Having said that, one thing I dislike about racing is there
isn’t enough face to face communication. That may seem like a contradiction
but it really isn’t. There are those of us who prefer talking face to face
and then there are those who do not.
Let’s face it racing is all about being able to communicate with one
another. From the crew chief to the driver, spotter to the drivers, teams to
the officials, officials to the teams, officials to the safety workers,
announcer to the fans, fans to the competitors, the list goes on. Racing is
about being able to communicate.
I am reminded of a scripture passage that helps us understand the best
way to communicate is face to face. John writes;
3 John, 13-14 (NLT); I
have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink.
For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.
We live in a society that has given up the art
of talking with someone. We say a lot but we do it in such an impersonal
way. We talk to many people in a day but what we say doesn’t always convey
what we mean. The way we communicate with each other leaves something to be
desired.
The neighborhood is gone, we see our neighbors only through the car
window as they enter and leave their garage. I remember a day when many of
our neighbors would come and sit together in lawn chairs and talk. They
would look forward to that time of day when the chores were done and they
could sit on the porch and talk about the day.
This past weekend a friend came to visit. He was from the neighborhood.
We grew up together and were best friends. Oh the stories we could tell. It
had been a while since we had gotten together, he lives in Georgia now, so
he drove u to spend a few days. We drove through the old neighborhood and
remembered those days, the friends, the fun and the mischief. The neat thing
was that we didn’t want to talk over the phone, we do that sometimes several
times a day, no this was about being together, spending time together, just
talking.
In the scripture that John wrote he shows us the inadequacy of pen and
ink. You can be the best writer in the world but your written word can only
go so far. You need to see the emotion with which the story is told. You
need to feel the passion. You need to see the excitement, you need to
understand the sincerity, feel the angst. You need to see the pain, the
hurt. All these emotions loose themselves if we do not communicate face to
face.
Let me ask you is it better to read a story or watch a storyteller? I
remember watching a storyteller recently retell a situation that I was an
integral part of. I lived it, but yet I could not have communicated it as
good as this fellow did. He added so much life and emotion to the recounting
of the event. I remember saying, here listen as he tells the story, he
retells it so much better than I could.
That is why they make movies from books, visually we can see so much more
than our mind can read. I think of the movie that was made about the
crucifixion of Christ. I knew the story, I read and preached on it countless
times, but after watching it play out before me, I was speechless. I could
only sit in silence and struggle to understand why Jesus would endure that
for me. The graphic portrayal of what those words really meant changed my
life.
Looking into someone’s eyes and talking with them makes all the
difference in the world. It solidifies our relationship. It also works that
way with God. We need to come together face to face to honor him. Our
relationship with God suffers if we do not. We need to see others walking
the same road we are.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT);
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,
for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate
one another to acts of love and good works.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but
encourage one another,
especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
We cannot encourage one another,
forgive one another, comfort one another and worship without coming together
face to face. We need to be with people. We need to have close relationships
with people. God created us in such a way that our personal relationships
are what gives our life significance, first with Him and then with others.
We are built in such a way that we need others; we need face to face
relationships.
I want to encourage you to take the time and go to someone, meet them
face to face and talk. Don’t get so caught up in technology that you fail to
communicate what someone really means to you. Don’t get so complacent in day
to day activities that you lose sight of how important it is to take the
time and meet someone face to face.
Christ came to give his life for us. We can see the cost written in his
face. He showed us how much he cared for us. He came, face to face, he
endured the cross, and he provided salvation for our souls. He didn’t do it
from Heaven, he did it right here on Earth, face to face.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
MODIFIEDS COMING AT YOU -
We enter a great stretch of modified racing this week, Stafford, Thompson,
Bristol and Riverhead. Four weeks of racing at four historic and very
different tracks. Looks like a great time. Throw in a couple of road courses
for the K&N and we will be busy! Please help support our efforts and keep
our travels in your prayers.
MANY NEEDS IN THE RACING COMMUNITY - It has been a difficult week
and our community has suffered some loss. Please join us as we remember
those families that are dealing with the shock and grief of a lost loved
one.
MIKE BAILEY - Mike lost his life in a crash at Grandview this
week, Keep his family and the Grandview community in your thoughts and
prayers.
CARNIE FRYFOGLE - Carnie was killed during the All American Outlaw
feature at Susquehanna Speedway. Please keep that community and family in
your prayers.
JOAN FELLER - Joan was critically injured in the legends feature
at Hawkeye Downs. Please keep her family and that community in your thoughts
and prayers.
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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