Pass the Salt
The season is in full swing and we are on the road for most of the month of August. The championship races are shaping up and there is plenty of racing left. Now we enter the time of the season where the heat is turned up. How do we perform under the microscope? People will see our true character. When they do will they see the love of Jesus? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Many times in life and racing we find ourselves in pressure packed situations. We need to perform better to retain a sponsor or we need a good finish to secure our point standings. There are many opportunities at this time of the racing season to forget about everything and focus on our on track performance. Crunch Time!
Sometimes when that pressure is put on us we do not represent God well. We lose site of what we have been called to become in Christ. We revert back to being self-focused and self-serving. We forget to look around and see what others are going through. That is not the way we should live. We should be looking around for the opportunities that God has for us. When we turn our focus to ourselves we do not see or hear the voice of God. Jesus encourages us to remember who we are called to be.
Matthew 5:13-16: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Jesus uses two analogies, salt and light. Let’s take a look at salt first. Do you use salt? We use it for different things such as to season food or melting ice. When we use it as a seasoning we do so to enhance the flavor. Take a look around and see if you are enhancing those around you. Are you making things better or worse?
We also use salt to change things. When we put salt on ice it melts and makes it easier to get around. Salt can also be corrosive, when used in the wrong way we can tear thing apart. We are encouraged by Jesus to use the love of Christ that is in our hearts to improve the situation. Jesus cautions that if we lose our focus and our “salt” is no longer affective we become useless.
Let me stop here and explain. We have the opportunity each moment we live to affect those around us, either for good or evil. We decide how we will use our influence. When we choose to be destructive our ability to claim the love of Christ and help others is gone. Our witness is no longer respected. When we find ourselves under pressure we need to be aware of how we are demonstrating our faith. We need to remember who is in control. We need to avoid losing our saltiness, our credibility, our witness.
Think of it this way. You can be an egg, a carrot or coffee beans. Let me explain, when we place each on of these in the heat of the moment, boiling water, they react differently. An egg becomes hard-boiled. Its insides change from liquid to solid. Our heart gets hard. Carrots on the other hand get soft and mushy. They start off rigid and strong but end up all mushy, no backbone, no firm foundation to stand on. Now coffee beans on the other hand do not change, they remain the same. They do however change the water. The water becomes aromatic and tasty. The water becomes desirable. The coffee beans do not change but they improve the water. Which one are we. When pressure comes do we harden our heart, loose our foundation or add to the situation in a way that improves it? Don’t loose your saltiness.
Jesus put in each one of us a light that will dispel the darkness. Don’t hide your light, let it shine. Have you ever been in a cave and the lights went out. You cannot see your hand in front of your face. Then you light a match, a little flame and you are amazed at how much light it provides. You are the same kind of light. We, as Christians, have the same opportunity to light the darkness others are experiencing. When all hope is gone the light of one who knows Jesus can bring hope to the world.
Have you ever tried to stumble around in the dark? Even in your own home, you think you know where things are, but you still stub your toe and stumble. When we hide our light we cause others to stumble around in the darkness. When we keep the love of God to ourselves and do not share it we leave others to find their own way in the darkness. Let you light shine! Put it on a lamp stand and help others find their way.
Jesus used these two analogies to demonstrate two important functions we have as Christians. We need to improve the lives of others and shine our light to help them find their way. Have we improved the lives of those around us or have we been an obstacle? The first lesson Jesus taught us in this passage is that we have a responsibility to lead others. Whether we realize it or not we are leading. Make sure you are leading people to what is right. God Bless, Rev. Don
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
ON A HOT SUMMER NIGHT- A true gem of a day was on tap for us as the Whelen Modified Tour visited Stafford Motor Speedway. With spectacular weather in place we were looking for a classic mid-summer race. We were in for a few surprises.
First, local driver and sometimes tour driver Eric Berndt decided to focus on his tour effort this night and it paid off with his first career Whelen Modified Tour pole. In accomplishing the feat he had to beat the winningest driver at Stafford, TC and the hottest driver this August, Ryan Preece. It was great to see Eric’s enthusiasm as he collected his award. I spoke with him about his lap and he said he had to burp the throttle coming out of turn four and didn’t expect much from the lap. It proved to be the best lap of the day.
I mentioned young Ryan Preece, he would prove the victory at Riverhead was no fluke. He measured his laps as he waited to take his turn at the point. He made the pass for the lead on lap 104 and led the rest of the way to secure his second victory of the season. This win was special for Ryan as Stafford was the place where he learned about racing, he grew up around the sport there.
The Championship Race saw another change at the top with TC moving back into the number one spot. August may prove to be the month that solidifies a front runner but for now less than 100 points separate first from forth. TC, Szegedy, Preece and Lia make up that foursome. Preece is the only one without a championship to call his own. Maybe this will be the year for the young gun to wrestle the title from the veterans.
EAST TO WEST- This week has us traveling from the far eastern part of Connecticut to the far western part. We will be at Thompson International Speedway Thursday night when the Whelen Modified tour joins the Thursday Night Thunder series and then head to Lime Rock Park for the annual visit by the Camping World East series. Although they are both in the same state there is no easy way to get there from here. I can drive to Maine easier and quicker than driving from Thompson to Lime Rock. No matter, we will find our way.
Spending these last few weeks close to home have allowed us to get some new folks involved in what we do. Friday night at Stafford we were joined by Kathy Rottino and this weekend at Lime Rock Ray Pavkov will be along side to help out. We are always looking for those who God has called to this ministry. We have many opportunities to serve here in Connecticut and around New England. If you think this might be something God has called you to, drop us a line.
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***
August 13
RON & GLORIA HANNA- This Amsterdam, NY Fonda Speedway fans have their 10th anniversary and were wed as an early birthday present for Ron who celebrates on the 19th.
August 14
BOB & DEBBIE YURKO- This couple can be seen recording the action at Seekonk and Thompson weekly have their special day. As I heard one announcer put it “she must be a saint”
August 15
JOHN & DENISE DURLING- This Grandview Speedway Late Model driver and wife from Reading. PA share their 7th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
August 12
CRAIG Von DOHREN- BARTO, PA dirt Modified driver.
JERRY YOUNG- Plainfield, CT LM driver.
RICHIE GALLUP- Agawam, MA Modified driver.
RON HUMES- Islip, NY Modified driver.
LONNIE RUSH, JR.- Pickerington, OH CTS driver.
SCOTT GAYLORD- Lakewood, CO NASCAR West driver.
LENNY CHANDLER- Windham, CT fan and friend of Jimmy Broderick.
August 13
DAN COLEMAN- Griswold, CT former Modified championship owner and expert carpenter.
LINDA BRADY- The wife of Stoughton, MA legendary NASCAR WMT 00 owner, Joe Brady.
WILLIAM WOOD- Son of Tammy and Steve. Woody works for Ray Evernham, R & D Development. Tammy is the daughter of Doris Bradley, sister to Judy and Sally. August 14
RUSTY WALLACE- St. Louis, MO retired NSC driver now ABC commentator.
LAURA DENNIS- Ocean, NJ long-time Jamie Tomaino NASCAR WMT fan.
MERL BREHM- Mechanicsburg, PA Sr. Champ Kart driver.
August 15
JOHN DURLING- Reading, PA championship Grandview Speedway Late Model driver.
A.J. ROMANO- Johnstown, NY dirt Modified driver.
SAM SCHMIDT- Las Vegas, NV part-time IRL driver.
MARIO FIORE- The famous Agawam, MA NASCAR Modified Team owner.
DICK CLARK- Long Island occasional NASCAR WMT driver.
MARCEL DUSSEAULT- Somerswoth, NH former NASCAR CWES Marc Motorsports team owner.
GEORGE FOSSETT- Gray, ME fan.
KENNY HOLLIS- No. Easton, MA AARN race fan.
ADAM LEE O’BRIEN- Kyle Petty’s biggest fan and son of Tammy from Boyertown, PA is 7.
August 16
DR. JERRY PUNCH- Cornelius, NC much loved ESPN/ABC racing announcer, but most importantly, Joni’s husband.
ERIC BEERS- Northampton, PA WMT Modified driver.
LOU PRIOR- CT former ProStock driver.
BILL KISER- Concord, NC NNS writer.
MARK BOURCIER- CT based veteran racing writer.
DAWN SANSEVERINO- A daughter of Hillsborough, NC photographer Ed and wife Linda.
MICHAEL JIVANELLI- A son of Hampton Bays, NY Riverhead Raceway driver Dan is 18.
August 17
PHIL RONDEAU- Baltic, CT Hooters Cup/LM driver.
JIM MAVLOUGANES- CT based ProStock driver.
JIM ROSENFIELD- MA ProStock driver.
JIM TERWILLIGER- Bloomingburg, NY 1956 Sprint URC Rookie of the Year, now retired.
CHRIS ROMANO- AARN’s “Midget Magic” columnist, now down south.
SHERIL PERRY- She writes about Seekonk Speedway from Rehoboth, MA.
ARLENE HARD- Wife of Vill, race car fan since 1958 from Clifton, NJ.
RON HANNA- Amsterdam, NY Fonda Speedway fan.
August 18
DAVEY JOHNSON- Imperial, PA S.T.A.R.S. Late Model driver.
DOUG DIDERO- Oswego Speedway/ISMA SuperModified driver.
SAM STERN- MA ProStock driver.
BETH SEMINARA- Originally from Brewster, NY now Mt. Holly, NC, wife of “Area Auto RAcing News” Nextel Cup photographer Ted.
AMANDA VECCHIO- The daughter of Syracuse, NY former NASCAR CWES team owners Tony and Debbie is 11.
*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***
DAN BETZ- Here is the address to send condolances to his wife and family at; 1548 N 27th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
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