Walk The Walk
There are many who can talk a good story, but the numbers thin out when the time comes to walk the walk. Actions speak louder than words. As we head toward Easter I wonder if you are ready to stop talking and start walking? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We have all heard them, the talkers, they can tell stories with the best of them. But when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is their performance is less than advertised.
Are we someone others can count on? Do we talk a good game without following through with actions that are consistent with our words? When other people watch the way we live do they see a life that matches what we say we believe?
In racing it is pretty hard to hide behind your words. At some point you have to start the race. During the race it will be apparent to all if you were just blowing smoke or you really had something for the other teams.
This has been on my mind this week as I remember the walk that our Savior took that Friday long ago. He came and taught us who he was. He showed us many miracles, healing the sick, raising people from death. He asked only one thing; believe in me.
Many have followed that walk, dedicating their lives to His teachings, meeting the same fate, death for the cause of the Gospel. None of us are willing to die for something we don’t believe and few of us are willing to die for the truth. Look around and ask yourself, what am I willing to die for? The list is probably pretty short, if there is a list at all.
One thing that amazes me about Christ is that he was willing to die for you and me regardless of whether we accepted Him or not. He walked the walk foretold by the prophets so long ago. Listen to the word Isaiah writes;
ISAIAH 53, NIV
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah tells us of the suffering and death that Christ would experience for our transgressions. He told us this some 500 years before Christ walked on the earth. As you read and reflect on the verses they reveal the difficulties Christ would face as he revealed to us the will of the Father. Do you know what is the most amazing thing about this? Christ knew this also and he came anyway.
Christ knew the road that needed to be walked so that our sins could be forgiven. He knew the pain and ridicule he would face. He knew the death he would endure. He came anyway. I asked a question earlier, what do think is worth dying for? Christ considered you and me worth dying for.
The most amazing words in the Gospel are “He came”. Christ didn’t run and hide, he didn’t refuse to walk the road that needed to be walked. He came, He suffered, He died, and He rose again.
I would ask you to read these words of the prophet Isaiah this week and consider all Christ has done for you. Ask Him for forgiveness, ask Him to come into your life and show you the walk that you need to be taking. He will give you the strength and courage you need to accomplish what He has planned for you. Don’t just talk about it, start walking the walk.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
MOTOTOWN- PLAYING IN THE DIRT- What do you do on a cold and rainy Friday night in the winter? You head to the track, the indoor track that is. I took the opportunity this past Friday to head up to Windsor, CT. and play in the dirt. The proprietors of an indoor motocross track got the idea that they could carve out a ¼ mile dirt track to add to the fun. They have listened to the competitors and have made improvements to improve the racing. I saw some old friends, Polly Reid, Howie Hodge, Ron Mentus, among others. My main reason to go was to see Bubba Brodrick run a 1200 sprint car. In addition to Bubba; Jackie Arute, Keith Rocco and Glenn Sullivan were some of the drivers I knew. Keith swapped his Championship Sunoco Modified #6 for a full-bodied Chevy and ran in the 8cyl street stock Division. He put on a great show getting past the reigning front runner, Jonathan Routhier, and drove on to victory in only his second visit to the track. I wonder how the Modifieds would do on dirt?
I did also run across Walter Elliot. We need to send out congratulations to him and his bride, Naomi. Married last fall, Walter smiled from ear to ear as he told me about his new family, he is not only a husband, but a dad and grandpa. Walter and Naomi accept our congratulations and we hope that your marriage will truly be blessed.
All in all it was a good time. I enjoyed the competition even with the small car counts. The building wasn’t heated, so if you go, dress for the temperature. They have a few weeks left and do most of their racing on Sunday afternoon. Take the ride, it is a neat way to spend the afternoon.
HOSSFELD RETURNS TO THE MYSTIC MISSILE- It was announced this week that Chuck would return to the Troyer chassised #4 where he had some of his greatest runs on the Whelen Modified Tour. I remember his victory at New Hampshire. I was standing in Victory Lane next to his mom. She was shaking. The last laps of the race involved five lead changes between three drivers with Chuck taking the victory home. I asked if she was alright and she replied, “I wish he took up golf.”
He has the talent and the equipment. I look for the #4 team to contend for championship #2. Chuck has finished as high as second in the point standings and he should have his best opportunity to improve on that this year.
We’ll be back on the road soon, enjoy the last few weeks on the “off-season”. Take in a race at MotoTown. We’ll see you at the open practice sessions at Thompson and Stafford. Have a great week.
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.
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***
March 14
MARK & AUDREY MOCKOVAC- The Danbury, CT based True Value Modified Series Media Coordiantor and wife/ Claremont Modified driver (Audrey Stevens) share their 11th anniversary.
March 17
JEFF & JENNIFER ZUIDEMA- The North Brookfield, MA ProStock driver and wife share their 18th anniversary.
ERIC & CHERIE BEERS- The Northampton, PA Flemington and WMT driver and wife have their 16th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
March 12
BOB HABERSTICK- Wall Township Speedway driver.
TODD MASSEY- Haw River, NC LMSC driver.
March 13
GREG COVERDALE- Milford, DE URC Sprint driver.
JEFF SPRAKER- Latham, NY NASCAR NASCAR/ARCA Owner.
LYN ST. JAMES- Willoughby, OH born, now Daytona Beach, FL IRL driver.
SCOTT BONNEY- Lee Speedway (NH) LM driver.
RANDY KANE- Selinsgrove and Clinton County Pit Steward.
JASON KOHLER- Fleetwood, PA MicroSprint driver.
CRYSTAL SANSEVERINO- A daughter of Hillsborough, NC photographer Ed and wife Linda.
March 14
JACK BATEMEN- NH True Value Modified Promotor/driver/team owner.
PAT PUNCH- In Newton, NC, the wife of Brewco BGN Team manager, Dennis, who is the brother of TV’s Dr. Jerry.
ERIN & KARRI LARSEN- The twin daughters of NASCAR Mod Tour official Joe are 15.
March 15
DEVIN HILTS- Brushton,NY go-kart driver.
PAT D’ANTONIO- Tuscon,AZ NASCAR West driver.
ROBBY PAGE- A new quarter midget driver turnes 6.
March 16
ED FERREE- Pennsylvania Motor Speedway multi-time dirt big block LM champion, proprietor of Frankland Racing Supply racing rears and Clincher Gears.
JERRY CRANMER- Semi-retired NJ asphalt Modified and ARCA driver.
SHERRY BLAKELY- San Antonio, TX driver.
DAN MESERVEY- Chatham, MA Mini Modified driver, dad of Mod/NASCAR CWES drivers Dan, Jr. and Doug.
BOB CASAGRANDE- Riverhead Raceway Blunderbust driver.
KATRINA SPENCER- Daughter of former NNC driver Jim and wife Pat is 19.
BRANDON LEHMAN- A grown-up son of AARN columnist “Doc” from Smithville, OH.
March 17
DAVID BLAIN- No. Grosvenordale, CT LM driver.
KATHY ATTAYA- Wife of Tim, Producers of the Augusta, ME annual Motorsports show.
March 18
ROGER LAURENO- Ivyland,PA multi-time Bridgeport(NJ) Speedway dirt Modified champion.
*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***
STANLEY STEFANIK – Father of Multi-Tour Champion Mike and husband of Patricia passed away March 2 at the age of 95 at his home in Tennessee. His close friend, Father Chris, performed a private service in Tennessee on March 4 and his final resting place will be in Florida. A charity in his honor to assist in building a Church on Tennessee has been set up. Contributions can be made to; Saint Albert the Great Parish, 7200 Brickey Lane, Knoxville, TN 37918, in honor of Stanley Stefanik. Cards of condolence can be sent to; Michael and Julie Stefanik, 60 Whitman Road, Coventry, RI 02816 and Patricia Stefanik, (Mike’s mom) Theresa (Stefanik) Nardi and Dean Nardi, 322 Richland Road, Blaine, TN 37709.
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY. SEND THEM TO RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084.
Sources: Rev. Don Rivers/RWJM