Reconciliation
What makes a person good? How do we determine what makes someone good? We look at their actions. We listen to what they say. We look at how they influence those around them. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This week we dig a little deeper in the passage we have been studying. Here it is to refresh our memories;
Matthew 5:21-26, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ‘ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
We are all pretty good at determining what someone’s motives are. We can observe them and usually figure out what they are up to. Some are deceitful and it takes careful observation but eventually their motive shows through. We see two kinds of people in life, those who have the interest of others on their heart and those who only care about themselves. We call the ones who care for others good.
What happens when you are the cause of an on track incident? Do you take responsibility? Do you reconcile things with the others involved? Do you make the effort? We are involved in many altercations in our lives, some are intentional and some are not. It is the ones that we do intentionally that we need to deal with. Guilt is the byproduct of intentionally doing harm to someone.
I have heard it many times at the track, “I don’t get mad, I get even.” Do you ever stop to consider the intent of others? Many times we don’t, we just figure they did it on purpose. And if they did then there needs to be payback. We need to take a little more time and think things through before we decide to get even.
The middle passage talks about offering a gift to God and the condition of our heart. Our gift is not acceptable to God if our heart contains guilt. Our gift is not acceptable if certain things are present in our heart. Galatians 5:19-21 helps us identify those things;
Galatians 5:19-21; The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
These things in our heart separate us from God. Jesus tells us that we need to take care of the condition of our heart before we can approach the altar and make an offering. Think of it this way, God doesn’t want our gifts if he doesn’t have our hearts. We cannot harbor animosity in our hearts toward our brother and expect to be right with God.
When we compile this with our lesson last week we start to see a pattern. Jesus said we don’t have the right to devalue what God values. He then said if we have, we need to straighten it out before we can come before God. God wants our heart to be in tune with His.
It can be difficult to reconcile things, but follow me on this. God doesn’t ask us to change the heart of someone else, He asks us to change our heart. He asks us to recognize that we have harbored sin in our heart. He asks us to take responsibility for that sin and do something about it. He asks us to reconcile it. We do that through the process of seeking forgiveness for the things in our hearts that don’t agree with God and seeking forgiveness from those we have sinned against. God doesn’t require that they forgive us but that we seek it. When we humble ourselves to seek forgiveness we move closer to God.
Let us take a look around and in our hearts. Are there some things we need to reconcile? We need to if we have any hope of being close to God and experiencing His blessing. Do some house cleaning this week, get right with God.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
IRWINDALE REVISITED- Rev. Dan filed this report about the weekend in LA.
The word for the weekend was rain. All day Friday it rained on and off – the Camping World cars had about 1/2 hour of practice from 10:30pm till 11:00pm on Friday night. Saturday we were greeted with rain again, rained all morning and early afternoon. After the drivers meeting and Chapel service, it began to let up and started to clear. I have to give the Irwindale Speedway management and track crew a lot of credit for their perseverance in getting the track ready. At every break in the rain, they would be out there drying the track. It paid off as late Saturday afternoon they were able to dry the track and the Camping World Series took 5 short practice laps and qualified.
The race featured a lot of great racing, a few hard wrecks and much disappointment. John Salemi and Jamie Hayes crashed out early and were severely disappointed that they did not do better. Eddie McDonald was making his push towards the front when he tangled with a lapped car. All of these drivers deserved better.
Peyton Sellers had an early spin and crash but after several pit stops to fix cosmetic damage he was making his way to the front. With only a few laps left he battled Joey Logano and Matt Kobyluck and took the lead. Logano won the battle with Kobyluck for second with 2 laps left and set his sites on Sellers. With Sellers leading into turn 3 on the last lap, Logano went low. They met at turn 4 – with Sellers spinning and crashing his car and Logano crossing the finish line in first. Joey was penalized by NASCAR for rough driving and sent to the rear of the field. Kobyluck was the 2nd car across the finish line, but received the first place trophy with Trevor Bayne coming in second. Congratulations to Matt Kobyluck on winning his second Toyota Showdown.
Both Joey Logano and Peyton Sellers were disappointed with their finish. If you get a chance, listen to their television interviews. Even though it was a tough situation for both drivers as they were battling their disappointment, both interviews were handled with maturity and class. Special mention to Peyton Sellers with the first words out of his mouth being to thank God for bringing him here – because he makes all things possible, His Christian witness came out – even though his race did not turn out the way he wanted it to. We pray God’s blessings on both Peyton and Joey as Peyton will be driving in selected Nationwide races next season and Joey driving for Joe Gibbs in the cup series.
SHANEBOWL 1- We have all heard of the Super Bowl, the Chili Bowl but here it is The SHANE BOWL. Bowling was Shane’s off season sport of choice besides watching racing and football. This is the FIRST annual “Shane Bowl” charity event. It’s all in the name of Fun for Safety. The Shane Hammond Believe Foundation has been established to provide safety education to drivers old & new. There is no limit to the laughs that this event will bring. Bowling brings out the best and the worst in our athletic abilities. Bring your neighbors, your bowling team, your kids, just be there.
There is still room available for more bowlers!! Please email me if you plan on coming and have not yet sent your form in, so I can try to get a final head count by the February 3. Please check out the website which is under construction www.shanehammond.org
WHEN: February 7, 2009, Saturday
TIME: 3pm – 6pm
WHERE: Westgate Lanes
65 Westgate Dr
Brockton, MA 02301
COST: $37.00 per person
FAST TRACK- Speaking of safety it is the time of year to renew your membership for your Safety Bracelet. If you are racing in a touring series or at a track that uses the Fast Track Medical Response system you need to renew for 2009. This system makes the most current medical information available to safety personel at the track. Don’t underestimate the value of having the information available immediately.
WALL RELEASES A SCHEDULE- Wall Stadium took additional steps toward returning to full operation. Jim Morton has put it all on the line to bring the racing back and now they have a schedule for 2009. Jim has shown everyone that it can be done, Turkey Derby 2008 was the best ever. Make an effort to pick at least one date on the schedule and support Live, Local, Racing.
Hope things are going well for this off-season, remember we are here if you need us. 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***www.speed51.com.
February 6
PAUL GENTILOZZI- Lansing, MI IMSA GTO driver.
BOBBY BROWN- Farmingdale,NJ based Dwarf Car driver/owner.
GLEN FLACK- President of AutoWorks Performance, Inc. in Sewell, NJ and Atco Raceway SuperPro drag racer.
STEVE FULLER- One of the seven brothers in the famous Auburn, MA racing family including NNS’s Jeff and Rick and NASCAR WMT team owner Bobby.
PETER SNOW- Southbridge, MA NASCAR WMT Team crewman.
GRACIE RYAN- Holyoke, MA racing photographer and WMT Scorer.
February 7
CLAY CAMPBELL- President of Martinsville, VA Speedway.
WILL HOBGOOD- Winnsboro, SC former Dash Series driver.
BOBBY GAHAN- Barrington, NH NASCAR CWES/LM driver.
DICK KLUTH- Lancaster Speedway Modified driver.
DONNA SCHAFFER- Wife of Woxall, PA Sportsman Modified driver Rick, Grandview Speedway’s all-time winningest Modified driver.
MICHAEL HOPKINS- Son of CT based flagman Chris.
LORI D’AMORE- New Jersey fan.
February 8
MIKE OLSEN- No Haverhill, NH 2006 NASCAR CWES Champion Little Tree Air Fresheners driver and now car owner.
RON LAMELL- Essex Junction, VT NASCAR CWES driver.
KYLE MICHEL- Wife of Wall Township Speedway excellent Modified driver Dave. She is also NSCS driver Martin Truex’ sister.
SUE MENTEN- Wife of Stony Brook, LI’s Vinny.
CAROLYN BLAISDELL- Champaign, IL fan.
JUSTIN WAWRZONEK- Son of Amsterdam, NY dirt fans Ron and Gloria Hanna.
CHUCK McNEIL- RWJM Anderson Indiana Track Chaplain and RWJM officer.
February 9
BILLY PENFOLD- Yarmouth, ME NASCAR CWES/LM driver.
STEVE SELLERS- Sacramento, CA CWWS driver.
DUNK RUDOLPH- NH based Modified driver.
LAURA SAVERY- Wife of Plymouth, MA Seekonk Speedway Street Stock driver Dana.
EARLINE WAGNER- Schwenksville, PA Leonard’s wife, both Grandview Speedway and NSCS fans.
February 10
DAVID OLIVER- Riverhead Raceway’s Steve Tooker LM/NASCAR CWES Crew Chief.
February 8
TOM & CAROL HOWARD- This Waterford Speedbowl/Kobyluck team couple have their 17th anniversary.
February 9
TERENCE & CHRISTINE FITZGERALD- From Rocky Point, Long Island, this Riverhead Raceway enduro driver and wife share their 8th.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
February 4
TOM BOLLES- Vernon, CT NASCAR WMT driver, of the Bolles Motors family; sponsor of the RWJM Dodge Intrepid Pace Car.
FREDDIE QUERY- Kannapolis, NC All Pro, NASCAR Truck driver.
JOHN BARBER- Buss, NY NASCAR CWES driver.
BILLY KANN- NASCAR CWWS driver.
ERIC PALMER- New England Pro Four Mod driver.
SUSAN STRUPP- Wife of former Long Islander, now in Charlotte, Jimmy.
TAYLOR BRIAN CUMMINS- The daughter of New Jersey fans Brian and Lori is 15.
February 5
DARRELL WALTRIP- Former NSC driver, turned TV race commentator, from Franklin, TN.
JUSTIN LABONTE- NNS/ARCA driving son of Kellogg’s NSC driver Terry and wife Kim.
RICKY PEARSON- NNS Crew Chief, one of retired driver David’s sons.
PAULA AUBE- Wife of Charlotte, VT NASCAR CWES driver/crew cheif Jamie.
MATT DILLNER- Long Island brother to Speed’s Bobby check him out on
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