Good Intentions
We have all heard the excuse about having good intentions. We want to do the right thing. We have every intention of doing the right thing. We just, for some reason, don’t follow through. When we set out to do what is right it will take courage to accomplish the task. How are we doing in following through on our intentions? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I have heard it said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Do you know why that is true? It is true because we don’t follow through. Somewhere along the line our actions create a different result than our intentions.
We have heard it several times in a post race incident interview, “I didn’t do it intentionally. Now I should point out here that I have heard drivers say they did it intentionally. That doesn’t make it right but they do get points for honesty.
When we have the intention to do something and it is the right thing to do what causes us to choose to do the wrong thing or something different? I can think of a few things, pride, getting even, anger, fear, etc. The list is long. Sometimes we reason it out and feel that people will forgive us for this one little lapse in judgment. You know the saying, “it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission.” We spend too much time thinking how we can do the wrong thing and get away with it. We should be focused on doing what is right and treating people right.
It takes courage to do the right thing. It also takes faith in God. Let me explain, when we choose to do what is right we expose ourselves. We open ourselves up for other to see and for ridicule for being gracious and merciful.
Look at this scenario, Your are on the track racing as hard as you can, peddling for all your worth. You make a mistake and drive it in too deep. You have two choices, the right one is to lift and brake, keep the car low, allow the outside cars to pass and then regain your position by racing back through the pack. The wrong thing is to keep your foot in it, wash up the track, hit the guy outside of you and cause all kinds of carnage in your rearview mirror as you drive away, saved by the car on the outside.
The postrace goes something like this, “I thought I could make it, washed up a little, but that’s racing. The truth be told, you made a mistake and you refused to do the right thing with the hope you could deal with the consequences of you actions. It happens all the time. One thing is true about people, we will not change until we can’t deal with the consequences of our choices. Let me put that a different way, racers won’t respect each other until they realize that the consequence for their actions cost them the race. There are many options officials have to change a driver’s tactics, a black flag, sending them to the rear, suspending them and even requesting that the get professional help before they return to the track to race. The responsibility for using these options fall on the race officials and I would hope their intentions are right when they administer these penalties. Let it be said though that unless discipline in enacted the competitors will not change. I believe it has to cost us something before we are willing to admit our actions need to be changed.
I have seen all these work to varying degrees. I would prefer that we could all act and drive in a manner that is right, but I know that is wishful thinking. Read the driver’s prayer many of you have in your cars. In it we ask God to direct our actions so that those actions would honor him. In many cases our actions only honor ourselves and God isn’t even in the picture. I can assure you of one thing, God will not bless actions that do not honor Him. When we start acting on our good intentions and we respect and value those we compete with then and only them will the blessing come.
I was reading a passage this week from the book of Acts that demonstrates that acting on good intentions will bring not only blessings but also, miraculous changes in someone’s life.
ACTS 3:1-10, One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer–at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
A couple things to note, Peter commanded the attention of the lame beggar; he intended to help him, not in the way the beggar expected but in a much more substantial way. Peter reached out and touched the man, having faith that if he reached out and helped him up that God would do the rest. God proved faithful and healed the man.
This is pretty dramatic and you may say that’s great but God doesn’t perform miracles like that today. I would disagree. I know, in fact, of several lives that have been changed because we reached out and helped someone up. I know of a racer on the modified tour who was headed in the wrong direction. He was disciplined and we were asked to step in and help. We did. We put our trust and faith in God that we would do the right thing and honor him. We reached out and helped that driver out of the situation that crippled his diving ability. He responded by winning the rookie of the year and now is contending for the championship. He, like the beggar, had faith to get up and stretch his legs. His new found strength supported him and he soon learned to run and jump with joy.
When we are motivated by the right intentions and we have our faith in God that He will work things out, we will receive His blessing. Not every day will be glorious, we will still need to learn how to use our new legs, but God will walk with us, guiding us through and letting us lean on Him when we need strength, encouragement and love.
Let’s take a look at our intentions this week, are they honoring to God? If so, do we have the courage and faith to act on them? Do we even have a relationship with God to know what the right intentions should be? My prayer for you this week is that you would have the best intentions in mind in every decision that you make, to please God. Let that intention guide your thought, words and actions this week, God Bless.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
This week we made the quick trip to
I remember the phone call I received from Dan when he traveled down to
“Don this is a totally different series. I only know a few of these teams. This is going to be interesting.”
It has been just that. As we left the track Friday night Dan and I talked about how God enabled us to touch the lives of so many in this series in just a few short months. We are excited about what the future holds for some of these young drivers. We are more excited about the opportunity we had to introduce them to Jesus and help them learn how He can help them through the challenges they will certainly face as they work their way up the ladder.
We felt honored that God chose us to reach out to these teams and care for them. It hasn’t always been easy and the road can get long and demanding but with the help and guidance from above we have finished the race. Thank you so much for letting us serve you.
I have a question for you, who can change an engine with one leg tied behind his back? Paul Andrews. Paul was at
Let me take a moment to mention someone I have come to respect very much, Bobby Labonte. A few years ago when David Green won at NHIS I stood in victory lane next to Bobby. He stood back in the shadows, not wanting to attract attention away from David. He came to congratulate his good friend on his win, not to be the center of attention. I am sure he had other things to do on a busy weekend but this was important and he made time for it. This past weekend at Dover Bobby has the same busy schedule but just before the BES driver’s meeting started he stuck his head in the door and made eye contact with Paul Andrews, his former crew chief, and indicated that he cared for him and wanted to talk a little later. Again, something that could have been overlooked during such a busy time but made important by the caring relationship that Bobby had with both these people.
We can lean a lesson from that, take time to show people you care for them no matter how busy you think you are.
Dan and I wanted to say thanks to the Seaman family and #06 racing team for letting us share a meal with them. We consider it a privilege to be a part of your team.
A quick update on WMT driver Danny Sammons, upon further review by a specialist Danny suffered a fracture of one of the bones in his foot. The initial swelling hide this on the x-ray. He has his foot in a cast and missed the race at Thompson. He will see the specialist again this week for further evaluation. Keep his healing in your thoughts and prayers.
What a day for a makeup for the WMT at Thompson. Ronnie Silk made the most of it bringing home his first WMT win. He came close at NHIS and finished the deal this week. Look out as another young gun shows he has the stuff to win.
This week finds the Whelen Modified Tour helping to close out the weekly racing season at Stafford Motor Speedway with The Fall Final. Stop by and say hello.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and apparel. See them at the Online Apparel Store at www.RWJM.org. Call us with your prayer and counseling needs and list all your prayer needs, no matter what part of our racing family you are in, with the Racing Family Prayer Request Page www.rwjm.org/page/prayers.php also send your prayer request by mail. Until next time, 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
CHECKERED CHEERS
***WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES***
September 27
BRAD & LINDA HIETALA- The proprietor of Reliable Welding in
JEFF & JENNIFER PEARL- This Waterford Speedbowl Modified driver from
September 30
BILL, JR. & MARY BRICE- This New Jersey couple serve as the (he) Chief Tech. Inspector and she the Registra for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series. They celebrate their 45th anniversary.
October 2
JEFF & JULIE WINSOR- This Waterford Speedbowl staff couple from
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
September 26
JOE NEMECHEK-
PAUL DURANT- Manteca, CA IRL driver.
LINDA AUSTIN- Scorer for the NASCAR BES #5 team owned by Barney McRae.
SHERI FULLER- Wife of No.
CLAY PURVIS- Son of
MARY BETH WIBBELSMAN- The grown-up daughter of RWJM Advisor Dick and Counselor wife Judy of Gainesville, FL.
September 27
WARREN ALSTON- A friend of RWJM and Christian brother.
BERT MARVIN- Colchester, CT Modified driver.
DAN ORBST- Potland, OR NASCAR West driver.
BRUCE TAYLOR- Seekonk, MA NASCAR WMT and ProStock driver.
JOE TRUDEAU- Chaplin, CT retired Modified driver.
DOREEN COLSON- Wife of
JUSTIN CUSACK- Son of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway President Glenn is 19.
KRISTEN MONTVILLE- The daughter of Solhem Racing NASCAR BNS/NASCAR WMT crewman Chuck is 17.
PAM KRAUSE- The wife of AARN’s Assistant to the Editor/ Columnist, Earl.
September 28
KIM BAKER- Road Racer, part-time NASCAR BES driver from
JACKIE ARUTE- The President of Stafford Motor Speedway and TV Sports announcer.
TYLER LEWIS- The son of Holland Speedway Charger Driver Mark and brother of Mark’s Crew chief son Christopher.
September 29
PAUL RADFORD- The legendary “Ferrum Flash” Modified and LMSC driver from
TIFFANY BRODERICK- The youngest daughter of
BREND BLAIN- Wife of South Killingly, CT ProStock driver David.
September 30
RICHIE RESNER- Team owner and brother-in-law of Riverhead Late Model #60 and driver Paul McElearney.
J.J. BRANSCOMBE- A grown-up son of Northwood, NH NASCAR BES driver Babe and wife Deb.
October 1
STEVE NOWAKOWSKI- “Stevie Wonder” of East Hampton, CT NASCAR BES and dirt Modified driver.
MARK SIMO- Carlsbad, NC NASCAR BES/ LMSC driver.
KEVIN HODGE- Crewman son of
October 2
CARL PASTERYAK-
JOE BARNES- Scranton, PA NASCAR BES driver.
JOE INGLIN, JR- Three time most popular driver at the former Flemington Speedway.
RICHARD LASATER- CTS Crew Chief from
VICTORIA ROMANO- This West Long Branch, NJ Wall Township
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