Independence or Interdependence
A little over 200 years ago we declared our independence from England. I wonder if we realize that we also declared our dependence. We succeeded as a nation because of our ability to join together and depend on one another. That is what secured our freedom. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Happy Fourth of July! I hope your picnic went well. I also hope you took some time to remember what it took for us to break away and become an independent nation. It took our willingness to work together, agree on one common purpose and sacrifice everything we had to make it work. Sound like a race team?
Racing, in many ways, reflects the same character it took our great nation to break free from England. We first and foremost need to have a common goal. In most cases that is winning. When everyone is committed to making that happen the team starts to gel and become a cohesive unit. The chemistry is right. We all do our part for the good of the team.
What separates the best teams from the rest? The ability to work together, do what needs to be done and not pick apart the work of others on the team. Think of the teams that are always on the top. They are prepared to race; everyone has a job and does it. They can depend on each member to pull their weight. The end result can be a championship, or two.
When we develop the trust in one another, learn what our task is and focus on doing that we will succeed. When we are more concerned about nit picking and finger pointing we do not succeed. Let me ask a question, are we dependable? Can people depend on us to do what we are supposed to do? Are we doing what we were created to do?
That last question may seem a little out of place on a race team. You may be asking the question, was I created to be a tire specialist? Yes, God created each one of us unique and equipped each one of us with special talents. What would happen if the tire guy wanted to drive or tune the engine? The members of the team would be out of place. If you are the tire guy, be the best tire guy possible. Let me explain.
Paul wrote about the topic, one body, many parts, let’s read what he says;
1Corinthians 12:12-26: The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
God created us to be different and unique. He gave each of us a task to do and put in each of us the necessary abilities to accomplish those tasks. If we seek God out and ask Him to show us the tasks He wants us to accomplish He will. This is called being in God’s will. The blessing we receive from being in God’s will is tremendous. It includes inner peace, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment and hope. Take a look inside your heart. Do you have those blessings there?
We were created to depend on one another. God didn’t create us as Lone Rangers. We will never experience the fullness of God’s blessing if we live life alone. Yes, there are times to be alone, but God created life to be lived together, depending on each other and helping one another.
The United States of America exists today because we learned and practiced that. Race teams win championships because they practice that. You too can have that in your life. First, seek God out and ask for His presence in your life. He will come and show you the way. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us;
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12; Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
I encourage you to find your place in God’s Kingdom and seek His will for your life. Find those who you can depend on, those who help make you the person you need to be. Accept God’s will for your life and seek to please him. God Bless, Rev. Don.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
Well the week started out with the anticipation of officiating the wedding of Tim “The Flagman” and Robyn at Thompson Speedway during the nights racing action. As the season has gone this year so this night would be no different, the weather had other ideas and put a wet blanket over those plans. Not to be deterred even with the nights racing action postponed I donned my uniform and headed to the track. We moved the ceremony up to the clubhouse and carried on regardless of the weather. Tim and Robyn are now happily married.
With that accomplished and no touring races on the schedule I headed for the coast, the west coast that is. Lynda and I took a long awaited vacation. I did mix a little business in and James and Katie at Design 500 didn’t mind adjusting their schedule to show us their neck of the woods. We enjoyed a wonderful Fourth of July with them, had a chance to see their shop and review some designs and make plans for the future.
You may have heard of the liquid sunshine that falls quite frequently in that part of the country. We figured that with all the rain we had received in the Northeast we were ready, wrong. The skies parted and the sun shone more than we had seen in a month back east. We were delightfully surprised and wondered where the reputation came from. Things got back to normal on Monday though. I guess God had that blessing for us while we were there, thanks.
After the weekend in Seattle we head south to San Francisco. I’ll fill you in next week on that leg of the trip. We plan on being back in the Northeast on the weekend and are looking forward to getting back in action next week. I will be headed to Spencer with the Whelen Modified Tour and Dan will head to Thompson to be with the Camping World East Series. Look for local Super Late Model driver Derek Ranstom to make his Camping World debut as a teammate to Steve Park. Derek has shown some skill behind the wheel but we’ll have to wait and see if that can transfer to the bigger and heavier cars of the CWES.
Stafford Motor Speedway ran on Friday night with our West Coast Coordinator, Gary Dionne, filling in for Phil and Kyle who were participating in the wedding of Phil’s sister Krista. It was a happy moment for the family who as you may remember lost their father, Rick, last November. Gary was happy to fill in as he was in town to help us at NHMS last week. TC nailed the SKMod victory beginning his charge to two hundred.
CURT STEIN RECOVERING- At the beginning of the CRA Late Model Race on June 16th at Anderson Speedway, Curt Stein was severely injured when a tire he was filling exploded. He will face several surgeries and a long rehabilitation. Please keep him, his family, and the Eckoff Team in your prayers. Contributions to offset medical care may be sent as follows.
This account has been established to help pay for the ongoing medical expenses that Curt Stein, a crew member with Ecoff Motorsports who was injured on June 16th, will have throughout his lengthy recovery. Any donations will be greatly appreciated. Checks can be made out to the Curtis M. Stein Contribution Account and mailed directly to Greenfield Banking Co.
Curtis M. Stein Contribution Account
Greenfield Banking Co.
1920 N. State St.
Greenfield, In. 46140
317-462-1431 Attn. Debbie
TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN DATE SET- once again it looks like a pre-season trip to the west coast for the Camping World Series. January 29-30 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. Matt Kobyluck looks to repeat as champion. Make your plans now to join the action live, if you can’t be there remember it will be carried live on Speed.
We are looking forward to getting some racing in this week. Let me encourage you to get out there and enjoy some live racing action. 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 8
JOHN & LAURIE UDES- This asphalt Modified driver from white Plains, NJ and wife celebrate
their anniversary.
July 9
GARY & KARIANN HARTSON- The proprietor of Clinton, CT G&H Trailer/ Waterford LM driver
and wife have their 13th anniversary.
LEW & JOANN PARKS- This Glen Aubrey, NY Indy 500 tire specialist and wife make it 48
years together.
July 11
BILL & PHYLLIS BALSER- The Norton, MA photographer and wife have their 57th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
July 8
TOM ROSATI- Agawam, MA former CWES/ProStock driver and husband of Kristy Bennett Rosati,
CWES driver Brad’s sister.
SPIKE MATTATALL- Beech Ridge Speedway driver.
JENNIFER & PAULA ZUIDEMA- The wife and mom of Brookfield, MA ProStock driver Jeff.
NICOLE STEFANIK- Daughter of NASCAR WMT/CWES multi-time champion Mike and wife Julie,
head of Koszela Speed.
LORI CANNEY- Wife of Meriden, CT AARN photographer Frank.
BEV MAVLOUGANES- Mom of Springfield, MA photographer Dave and ProStock driving Jim.
KEVIN MORGAN- Son of Maryland fan Forrest.
JACOB MILLER- Son of Camp Hill, PA fans Ron and Arleen is 11.
JAKE MILLER- A son of Ron and Arleen in Camp Hill, PA is 12.
July 9
CARLTON ROBIE- Candia, NH dad of CWES/Al Pro driver Jarod Robie.
July 10
STEVE LOMBARDO- CT Modified driver.
CHUCK WELCH- Vacaville, CA NASCAR West driver.
TED PARKER- President of Praker Trucking in Avon, MA. Legends driver.
GEORGE MARTIN, JR- Wernersville, PA writer.
BRIAN SACKS- Son of NSC driver Greg.
SAL MAGLIO- Scranton, PA fan.
INGRID D’ALESSANDRO- Race fan from Agawam, MA
July 11
BOBBY DOTTER- Chicago, IL NCTS driver.
JOE BEAN- San Diego, CA NASCAR West driver.
DONNA LITTLE- Wife of former NSC driver now WMT director Chad.
KYLE BELMONT- Langhorne, PA ARCA driver Andy and wife Sue’s youngest is 14.
July 12
TOM CAREY- Former New Salem, MA NASCAR CWES driver/crew cheif now Charlotte based
fabricator.
KRISTA ROEHRIG- The lady is the best friend and wife of former Big Diamond Speedway
owner/promoter Fritz.
ED SPENCER II- Berwick, PA former Crew Chief for Jim Spencer in his Modified days.
BILLY STEBBINS- Former Jim Broderick Modified Crew Chief, now living in NH.
TOM BALDWIN III- Grandson of the late NASCAR WMT driver Tom and son of NNC Car owner Tom
II.
MENA FELTENBERGER- Wife of Grandview/Big Diamond flgamn/photographer Mike.
July 13
BOBBY BABB- Maine based LM driver.
JEAN DEBOIS- Mom of Pam Krause, wife of AARN Ass’t Editor/Columnist, Earl.
July 14
RICH SENDZIK- NJ asphalt Modified driver.
BOB NORTHRUP- D.I.R.T. Modified driver.
MIKE EDDY- Veteran ASA driver.
BOBBY MASON- Former Riverhead Raceway Figure 8 driver.
WARREN KUHLTHAU- Point Pleasant Beach, NJ Ryan Seamon CWES driver team supporter and
former Wally D crewman.
KAREN TURBUSH- Long Island Hut Stricklin fan.
BILL HUNEKE- Auto Sports columnist for the New Brunswick, NJ “Home News/Tribune.”
CAROL WEISS- Fiance of Don Szerencits, Northampton, PA AARN Field Subscription Rep.
MICHELE CONWAY- Newfoundland, PA Micro Sprint driver at Lake Moc-A-Tek Speedway.
AUSTIN GLEN BREHIO- Son of NASCAR CWES driver Glen and wife Teri is 11.
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