Where Do We Turn
It’s been a pretty tough stretch for our racing family and this week was no exception. We have lost many over the last few weeks and this week we added to those losses. Where do we turn when we have to deal with the loss of someone we care deeply about? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I stayed pretty close to home this week. My Grandmother went in the hospital last Thursday and went home to the Lord on Tuesday. She was 85. Her children came in from California and Vermont along with her sister. We pulled together as a family and supported one another. We will get through this as we reach out to one another.
As I was walking through the garage area at Stafford Friday night I received word of two others that we lost. Brian Pack, Whelen Modified Southern Tour driver was involved in a motorcycle accident and lost his life.
Another, Bobby Thomas, involved in IROC and helped shut the doors and was also the father of a driver who drove at Wall Stadium. The changes in life overwhelmed him and we lost him a few weeks ago.
Sometimes it feels overwhelming and we search for answers. Where do we go when life presses in on us? Who do we turn to when we cannot find the answers to the questions in our hearts? We turn to God the creator of life Himself. The writer of Ecclesiastes helps us understand that in life there is a time for everything;
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
With every birth comes the announcement of another death. Death is veiled mystery, covered in sadness, grief and mystery. Death is an unknown to each of us, a reality that we would rather not experience. Death comes to everyone, every day, every hour; every moment death comes to someone. Death brings broken hearts, empty homes and vacant chairs. It doesn’t matter the stage of life we are in, child, youth, adult, death comes.
The time is not known. Jesus determines our time, like a gardener that tends to the crops and determines which ones are ready. He may pluck the most fragrant flower. He may remove the choking weeds. We are here for only a moment. We need to use that time to reach out and touch the lives around us.
The world we live in is performance based. How we are treated depends on how we perform; what we say, what we do. People only accept others that perform up to their standards. But God is different, His love for us is not based on what we say or do. He loves us regardless of our performance. We read in Scripture that nothing can separate us from His love.
Romans 8:38-39, For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, n neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The key is to be ready and watching. While God’s love for us doesn’t change, our usefulness to Him depends on how we respond to that love. We must live a noble life, reflecting the fruit of the Holy Spirit that we read about in Galatians 5:22, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. We must remove the hatred, discord, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, divisions and envy, those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. We must prepare to live a long life, but be ready to go at any moment.
The choice is ours. As we grieve the loss of these lives we need to reflect on how we are living our own life. We need to evaluate how our living has helped or hurt those around us. We need to decide to live differently. Don’t let this moment pass in vain. Search your life, turn to God, He can and will have mercy, compassion and love for you.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, n I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
MATT MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW Matt Kobyluck continued his march to the championship that has eluded him with a victory at Adirondack. He closed to within five points of series leading rookie, Austin Dillon. Matt again let his experience guide him. He led only three laps, the three that counted. DEI continues their team dominance again placing all three teams in the top ten. The Camping World Series returns to the track at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, one of Matt’s favorite tracks. Could he make it three in a row? Stay tuned.
CARQUEST 150 FOR SK’S AT STAFFORD- Woody Pitkat seems to have hit his midsummer stride as he won the extra distance event from two laps down. This makes three SK wins in a row for Woody as he tries to overcome early season difficulties and catch Keith Rocco in the Whelen All-American Series National Standings. Keith finished third and still holds onto the lead in the WAAS Standings.
ANOTHER MATT CONTINUES HIS ROLL- Matt Hirschman added to his recent victories with a win at All-Star speedway in a modified open race. That makes one WMT race, one ROC race and two open modified events, one at Seekonk and now at All-Star. Who knows where he will strike again but watch out, he is hotter than the dog days of August.
RETURNING TO THE ISLAND- This week the Whelen Modified Tour returns to Long Island for its mid-summer visit to Riverhead. I will be joined by Ricky Maddox, a youth pastor from Atlantic City and Pastor Scott from Centerreach Church. It should be another classic as Donny Lia comes home to run with the Modifieds at the track he calls home. Wayne Anderson will be honored at the event for his Tour Championship.
Please keep our racing family in your thoughts and prayers as we deal the challenges that we face in the coming days. We are here for you, let us know if there is anything we can do for you.
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***
July 31
ED & FRANCIS SPENCER- This Berwick, PA retired LM driver and wife, proud parents of the famous racing clan headed-up by TV commentator/driver Jimmy have their 54th anniversary.
August 2
PAUL & ROSE TEETER- From Ithaca, NY, this NY Antique Race Car enthusiasts have their 16th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
July 30
MICKEY YORK- Asheboro, NC NASCAR driver.
PENNY DEGRE- Whitinsville, MA NASCAR CWES writer.
July 31
BILLY RUSSELL- Hudson, NH long-time crewman on the Dion Bros. NASCAR CWES team with driver Dave Dion.
TAMMY O’BRIEN- Boyertown, PA crewman for the Grandview Late Model X4 driven by Lou Egrie.
SONYA CLAY- The lady who heads up the Dale JR Pit Board Charity out in Gustine, CA. Visit the site at www.dalejrpitboardcharity.com
August 1
BOB KESELOWSKI- Rochester, MI CTS and ASA driver.
ALAN CHAPMAN- Elmira, NY NASCAR CWES driver.
FIL MARTOCCI- NSC’s FiLmar Racing Team owner.
GLORIA HANNA- Amsterdam, NY Fonda Speedway fan.
LISA ROMANO- This lady is in Appomattax, VA, the sister of Laura Dennis and another huge Jamie Tomaion WMT fan.
CONNOR McELEARNEY- The son of Riverhead LM driver Paul and wife Michelle of Commack, NY IS 8.
JIM BARNES- This Long Island Kyle Busch fan celebrates his big day.
August 2
ROBIN LaHUE- Wife of Northfield, VT White Mountain Motorsports Park (NH) driver, Don.
August 3
GREG RAY- Plano, TX IRL driver.
BOB MARTI- Crewman on the 57 WAAS Modified at Stafford.
CAROL SAVLUK- Wife of former Modified driver, Wayne, of Lisbon, CT.
JOANN SCHERER- Sister of Northampton, PA NASCAR WMT driver Eric Beers.
DILLON ZACHARIAS- The son of Modified driver and part of the track management team Rick and wife Pam is 8.
BRENDA VENTH- Daughter of former Harbach X90 Modified crewman George Venth is 9.
August 4
BILL SLATER- “Wild Bill” of East Hartford, CT Stafford Motor Speedway staffer and retired great NASCAR Modified Sportsman driver in the 60’s and 70’s of the famous CT Valley Rocket “V-8.”
Oh yes and also…
JEFF GORDON- Multi-time Nextel Cup champion driver of the Hendricks Motorsports Dupont Monte Carlo’s.
JAMIE AUBE- Charlotte, VT NASCAR BES driver and three-time NASCAR CWES champion.
SHAWN PARKER- NH driver, son of Parker’s Express Trucking owner Ted.
August 5
DON SCERENCITS- Northampton, PA AARN Subscrition Sales Field Rep.
KIP STOCKWELL- Vermont based NASCAR CWES/late model driver and now farmer.
RICH WOODLAND, JR.- Templeton, CA NASCAR West driver.
KEVIN LITTLEFIELD- Salem, NH fabricator/crewman on the former #77 NASCAR BES team.
JACK FLOWERS- Charlotte, NC NSC writer.
KYLE GUENNETTE- Son of Fairfield, CT fan “Fast Eddie” is 17.
ELISABETH MINTER- A daughter of Martinsville, VA WODY Radio’s “Uncle Wendell” and wife Deloris is 16.
***NEW BEGINNINGS ***
BRIAN PACK- Brian lost his life this past week in a motorcycle accident. Brian was 34 and drove on the WSMT and at Bowman Gray Stadium. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
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