Getting More Than You Expect
I was a little under the weather this week and am taking the opportunity to have Rev. Dan share some thoughts with you. We’ll get back to our Study next week. For this week take some time and listen to Rev. Dan.
Did something ever good happen to you that you never expected? Did you ever receive something that you never asked for? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Not too long ago, I purchased a used car from a dealer. I had some trouble with it while it was still under warranty so I drove it back to get fixed. I couldn’t believe that they had it for over 4 weeks – it’s a good thing that this dealership had free loaner cars available. When it was done, I picked it up and drove it home – but to my dismay, the problem was still there. They tried a number of times to fix it, but couldn’t. After the third time that I took it back to them, the salesman said they would buy it back and I could purchase a different car. I did and was completely satisfied. A few months later, I received a check in the mail for $500 from the dealer – just to say sorry for the problem that I had with the first car. I never asked for it or expected it, but it came.
Bonus deals give you more than you expect or deserve. Sometimes at gas stations you get a free car wash with a fill-up, or some restaurants give you free refills on your soft drinks. It kind of makes you feel better to get something extra. In racing, most of the time we don’t win, but sometimes we get contingency money for using certain stickers on our car. Sometimes we get the move of the race award, or the highest finishing rookie or… well you see, the list can go on and on. You get something extra even though you didn’t win.
This is like the help of the Holy Spirit. When we ask Jesus into our hearts we get to go to heaven. We also get something extra when we make that choice – a Bonus Deal – God gives us the Holy Spirit to live within us.
Acts 2:38 says “Peter replied, each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
What is the Holy Spirit going to do for us? The Holy Spirit instructs us, helps us make decisions, tells us what is right and what it wrong, helps us understand the Bible when we read it and comforts us when needed. Without the Holy Spirit, we couldn’t make good judgment calls. As it says in;
1 Corinthians 2:14-15 “But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s spirit, It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. “
This is sort of like when you are first getting involved in racing and you have to build or buy a car – but you don’t understand the rule book. The smartest thing to do is to get someone with experience to help you. This person will help guide you in your decisions. When you become a Christian, you have a personal tutor to help you understand the Bible.
The Holy Spirit is a part of God – imagine that – having a piece of God living within us! He speaks to us, searches our hearts, knows our thoughts and teaches us. He gives us strength to stand firm in our faith and to share it. He helps bring us closer to God and guides us to live the way that God wants us to live. He comforts us, helps us through trials and gives us wisdom. But the most important thing that the Holy Spirit does is to give us the opportunity to receive salvation. The Holy Spirit is the bonus deal in the plan of salvation. We should thank God for what this means to us. If you have already received Christ as your savior – use your bonus deal. If you haven’t yet, maybe this will give you a little incentive! Have a great week and may God bless each of you.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
GIVE AND TAKE? You hear it all the time but it didn’t take long for the patience to wear thin. Why is it that we all know you cannot win the race on the first lap but we don’t factor that into our decision making process on the track? In the first few races already this year and on several occasions impatience was the rule of the day. So much racing left only to end up in a heap because someone wouldn’t cut some slack to someone else.
I will bang the drum one more time; to be in the hunt for the win you have to be running at the end. None of the cars that end up on the hook have a chance of winning. I am sure one of these days we will see someone lift to avoid turning the field into a parking lot.
I was impressed with what I heard from Ricky Carmichael as his goal for the truck race in California. He is a rookie in the series driving for KHR. He said he wanted to be patient and learn. He wanted to make sure he finished the race.
It worked well for him, he finished in the top ten in eighth. I have had the pleasure of talking with Ricky and talked with him about the change from two wheels to four. You might think that with the number of championships he has on two wheels that it might make him impatient to get to victory lane. Quite the opposite, he is willing to be patient and learn. He is a fast learner and I don’t think it will be long before he visits victory lane.
DID YOU NOTICE? In the first race of the year, The Budweiser Shootout, NASCAR tested a new start after yellow; doublefile. Many of us familiar with the Camping World and Whelen tour are used to the doublefile, but the big three have shied away from using the fan favorite way to restart the race after a yellow flag. I for one was pleased to see it and I hope it will be instituted soon. I think this will improve the product for the racing fans out there.
DAKOTA C. GALUSHA MEMORIAL FUND- Dakota was the 12 year old nephew of Eric and Cherie Beers who passed away in an accident in January. They are having a Basketball Tournament to support his memorial fund. The First Annual Basketball Tournament will be held March 27th, 28th & 29th, 2009. Go to http://www.thechromehorn.com/news/2009/news/news022009.pdf for more information.
In addition please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
HEADING SOUTH- The Bristol test is this week and will include three Northern Modifieds; TC, Todd Szegedy and Ronnie Silk. It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments will need to be made to the chassis of these ground pounders in order to run the high banks of BMS. Next week is the Frostbite Modified Winter National at Orange County Speedway. Charles asked if we could make the trip in support of the event and we will be headed down. It will be great to see the Modifieds run and if this is anything like the North South Shootout I am looking forward to some great racing.
SPEEDWAY EXPO THIS WEEK- Racing moves to center stage in New England this week as the grounds of the Eastern States Complex roar to life with the annual right of spring. I’ll be there helping out our friends from Design 500 and Race Depot. I’ll have time to wander around a little and I am sure our paths will cross. If you were wondering what to do for chapel service on Sunday morning I invite you to join me at Emmanuel Baptist Church in West Springfield, about 2 miles from the Big E. I have been filling in there since the passing of Rev. Rick. Service is at 10:00 a.m. and you can be at the show before 11:15.
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***
February 27
DENNIS & ELLEN MURRAY- This Mike Weeden LM fans from NH have their 43rd.
March 2
BILL & SUZANNE STIVASON- These fans from Kittinang, PA share their 18th anniversary.
March 3
TIM & BRENDA STEELE- The Coopersville, MI ARCA top driver and wife share their 16th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
February 25
NORM HOLDEN- Seekonk Speedway ProStock driver.
T.J. CLARK- Chandler,AZ NASCAR West driver.
BUTCH GILLILAND- Anaheim, CA NASCAR West driver.
PATTI BETTS- Show horse riding Wife of former Long Island now Salisbury, NC engine builder John.
NESTER Q. KRAMER- Riverhead, NY Billy Pauch fan.
February 26
GLENN FITZCHARLES- Pottstown, PA URC Sprint driver.
KEN LAVOIE- Massachusetts driver.
ZUNILDA ROCCO- Wife of the world famous Plainville, CT Modified driver “Rocket Ronnie.”
ELIZABETH DIAS- Wife of Seekonk Speedway ProStock driver Tony.
February 27
GARY GOLLUB- Mohnton, PA Mod/Sprint driver.
DENNIS SETZER- Newton, NC NNS/CWTS driver.
TODD BODINE- Chemung, NY CWTS Champion driver.
GEORGE INGOLE- Lakeland, FL All Pro driver.
TY DILLON- A son of Welcome, NC NNS driver/ Crew Chief Mike and wife Tina is 17, Richard Childress’ grandson.
February 28
MARIO ANDRETTI- This Nazareth, PA World Class retired driver really does think he’s Mario Andretti.
JAY HEDGECOCK- High Point, NC NSC fabricator and LMSC builder; Modified driver.
JOE GAERTE- WoO sprint driver.
BUTCH LEITZINGER- State College, PA NASCAR CWES and World Class driver.
RICH GARDNER- Late Model Stock Car driver from Waterford, PA; “Eriez Speedway” 5-time Dirt Late Model champion.
LIZ STRICKLER- Susquehanna Sportsman driver Randy’s wife.
JUDY MANIX- The sister of Plainville, CT drivers Ted and Mike Christopher.
February 29
BRIAN HOAR- His day is really February 29, but we can’t have this Goss Dodge driver miss his day.
March 1
ALEXIS SZEGEDY- Wife of former WMT champion Todd, AKA George.
BOBBY SEYMOUR- Well known midget driver and partner of Seymour Enterprises Performance Products Inc.
QUINN CHRISTOPHER- Wife of well known multi-talented driver TC.
DAVE MARCIS- Skyland, NC Retired NSC driver/RCR research driver.
BILLY PAUCH- Frenchtown, NJ driver of the Williams Grove based Zemco Sprint.
RANDY HEDGER- Nextel Cup official from Williamson, NY.
TIM STEELE- Coopersville, MI ARCA driver.
JERRY CAMINITO- Jackson, NJ NHRA Funny Car driver.
GLENN FRYE, JR- Grandson of Warren “Jeep” Frye and 1/4 Midget driver of Blackbird, Deleware.
DONNA KOCHER- Bethlehem, PA AMRA Microstock member.
KATHY TEMCHAK- Wife of Canterbury, NH NHIS victory Lane Staff Member John.
March 2
TAMMY SUE WOODS- The wife of New Jersey born Steve “Woody” Woods on the R&D staff at Evernham NNC racing.
LAURIE UDES- Wife of Morris Plains, NJ asphalt Modified driver John.
March 3
FRED RAHMER- Pennsy based international Sprint car driver.
DANNY JOHNSON- Phelps,NY D.I.R.T. Modified champion.
CHARLIE SAVAGE- From Portland, CT now driving a Modified at Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda, FL.
MELANIE DEWARE- From Easton, MA, the bubbly wife of Mosler Automotive/Jilbrit Wheels GT Team driver Scott.
MARY LOUISE HODGE- Racing photographer from Manchester, CT; photographer Howie’s wife.
MARGARET DAVIS- Manassas, VA writer.
GREG RHEN- Sinking Spring, PA dirt catcher and fan of Kenny Brightbill.
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