What a Blessing
This summer I have had the opportunity to perform several marriage ceremonies. I have performed weddings from Dover, DE to New Hampshire, from Victory Lane to Wedding Chapels, from Castles to Clubhouses, the venue doesn’t matter, the hearts of the two being joined does. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to be a part of so many wonderful celebrations. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This coming Saturday I have the tremendous blessing of performing the ceremony for my oldest daughter, Elisabeth and her finance, Joe. It is a blessing when you can be a part of such a wonderful event that honors God’s order of things. It is tremendous when one of those getting married is your own child.
Marriage is a wonderful thing when it is entered into with the understanding of what God intended it to be. Marriage by God’s design is for mankind to continue to grow and prosper. Marriage is a sacred institution that should be held in the highest honor among all. Marriage means giving up your life for the benefit of your spouse. Those who enter into this special relationship begin to form the foundation for all human society, the family unit. It honors God when a man leaves his home, joins with his wife and they become one to raise a family. Let’s take a look at what it means to be married under God.
Today we use the title of family for many things. Take a look at our racing community. We call the entire community a family. We also have a closer knit family that makes up the tour or series we participate in. From there we can break it down into the teams that compete, they comprise a family unit. The most basic of these is the homes that are represented on each team.
We belong to one another on the basis of the events and activities we participate in. We share a common language. We experience common circumstances. Those events bind us together and we call it a family.
Marriage is different, it is when we stand before God and make a lifetime commitment to submit to our wife or husband. We stand before God and give up all our personal desires and replace them with the wants and needs of the one we are marrying. We commit before God to maintain this relationship for the rest of our lives. Marriage forms the foundational unit of society that God describes in the Bible. Marriage is based on unconditional love. Paul helps us understand what that means.
1Corinthians 12:31b-13:8a, 13;
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Marriage is a relationship in which unconditional love is the foundation. We need to commit to uphold the values of love that Paul outlines for us. I encourage you to read them and apply them to your life. They will help make all our relationships better and blessed. Following these will help you know the love that God has for each one of us.
I am going to enjoy the celebration, the marriage of my daughter. Remember the significance that God places on this event, short on our relationship with him, marriage is the most significant relationship we will enter into. God Bless, Rev. Don.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
MEMORY LANE- I remember the races I enjoyed as a kid, back then the man making the moves was Richie Evans. I would watch him charge through the field making up ground lost in a late race pit stop or some other racing issue. Those memories were relived last Thursday night at Thompson International Speedway in the Bud 150 that was rescheduled due to rain a few weeks earlier. Donny Lia marched through the field after a late race spin to make it two in a row for the Bob Garbarino owned Mystic Missle.
Lia and TC were engaged is a classic side by side battle when things took a turn, actually Lia took the turn and ended up facing the wrong way in turn two. It looked like two drivers wanting to occupy the same real estate heading into turn one. That real estate was the fast groove and TC won the battle. Lia managed to keep his car off the wall and then blended in the field after the caution came out. The race was on!
Lia took ten laps to move from fourteenth to fifth. He stayed focused on that lead car and got some help from the seventh and last caution of the event. Now lining up in forth he took the green and then took the lead with ten to go. Lia never looked back on his way to victory lane. Bob Garbarino expressed the feeling of the entire team with his comment in Victory Lane, “What do you think of that!” with the emphatic determination forty plus years of racing produces.
TWO WEEKS TWO DIFFERENT RACES- In the last two weeks there have been two Modified touring series races at Thompson. I had the pleasure of being present for both. I know each division can put on both good shows and not so good shows. Of these two the Whelen Modified race was what ESPN would call an “An Instant Classic”. The True Value Series had some challenges getting used to the speed of Thompson Speedway.
What encouraged me was the fans and their willingness to come out in back to back weeks to support Modified racing and their local track. Both weeks the stands were full and indicated that there are folks who want to come out and see their racing live.
GOOD FOR TV- The numbers from the Bristol Modified race are in and they are good, 300,000 households tuned in to watch the action. That is just a notch behind the Camping World Truck Series audiences which is fantastic when you consider the Whelen Modified Tour was shown tape delayed. The show put the tour on the map and the folks at Speed Channel were excited about the event.
FIRST TAP OR THIRD- I am not sure what to make of the tap I received leaving the track last Thursday, you see I read somewhere that TC taps you three times before he is going to drive around. I was leaving the infield after the show only to look in my rear view mirror and see red, specifically the red #36 driven by none other than TC. I was following the ambulance and when they stopped not everyone did. Call it the delay from being the third car back or just letting me know he was back there, I received the Chrome Horn from TC himself. I looked in the rear view mirror again and could see that smile. I realized I was now a member of a select group.
SAFETY TRAINING AVAILABLE- I received a note and wanted to share it with you;
I just wanted to take a moment to say how blessed I feel to have been involved with Shane’s racing and all the amazing people who continue to support us and understand that in God’s hands he is free. I know RWJM travels all over and if you know anyone who is struggling, in need of safety equipment or wants a learning opportunity in midgets to contact me. I’ve been working with Fast Track Response, Safety Solutions & Bobby Seymour. The fund raisers have been successful and I’m here to share what I can to help any racer be safe.
Deb Marvuglio, Shane’s mom, Shane Hammond Believe Foundation, www.shanehammond.org.
Let me know if you or someone you know is in need of some safety equipment. I believe education is the way to go. I recently watched a Limited Late Model driver strap in for his feature without a head and neck restraint. I don’t think that should be allowed. We need to take every opportunity we have to race as safe as possible. Please help us get the word out and educate drivers on how to be safe.
I am headed to the chapel and I’m going to get my daughter married! Take time to enjoy the celebrations of life. See you at a track near you soon.
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***
September 10
LARRY AND CARLENE SHIVERS- This Mom and Pop team for #23 Modified celebrate 49 years on the road.
September 11
BOB & PEGGY KARBONIC- This CT Mod driver and wife have their 15th anniversary.
September 12
DAN & SHARON MESERVEY- The parents of NASCAR WMT/CWES drivers Dan, Jr. and Doug from Chatham, MA have their 43rd anniversary.
September 13
LARRY & CINDY NICEWICZ- This retired racing writer/ go-karter and wife from Vernon, CT share their 49th anniversary.
September 14
ED & GAYLE FERREE- Saxonburg, PA multi-time PA Motor Speedway Big-Block Late Model dirt champion and owner of Frankland Racing Supply and Clincher Gears and wife have their 32nd anniversary.
VILL AND ARLENE HARD- The Ford racing fans from Clifton, NJ have their 51st anniversary as a loving couple and partners in racing.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
September 9
JEFF HAMMOND- Former NSC/NNS Crew Chief now TV commentator.
AUDREY STEVENS MOCKOVAK- This Calremont, NH Speedway Modified driver is also the lovely wife of Mark Mockovak.
FRED VORDEMEIER, SR.- The father of NASCAR WMT driver, Fred, JR; “The Big Apple Kid” from West Hempstead, NY.
LARRY NICEWICZ- Vernon, CT retired racing writer.
CHAD MILLER- Son of NY photographer Chuck.
BILL CHANNELL- Proprietor of Epping, NH’s Channell 1 Video who has now gone digital.
ARLEEN SUKUP- Wife of Schodack Landing, NY former Midget owner Joe.
BILL WOODWARD- Big Ed Flemke Jr. fan and former NFM driver.
September 10
ROBERT JEFFREYS- NC Modified driver.
RALPH SOLHEM- Owner of the NASCAR WMT No. 0.
BILL CHRISTOPHER- In Plainville, CT, the father of well-known racing twins Mike and Ted.
PHIL SMITH- Veteran racing writer from Westerly, RI.
CARRIE KILCOLLINS- Sturbridge, MA fan of CT Mod driver Willie Hardee and her dad Wendell is Hardee’s Crew Chief.
AL HANSEN- Green Lane, PA former Modified team owner at Grandview and Bridgeport Speedways.
September 11
TERRORISTS STRIKE USA- It was not the first time, but on September 11, 2001, our country changed forever after 3,000 people were killed by terrorists.
GEORGE KENT- The veteran Tioga Speedway and NASCAR WMT driver from Horseheads, NY
LARRY CARON- Williston, VT LM driver.
DEBBIE VECCHIO- Wife of Syracuse, NY NASCAR CWES chassis specialist, Tony.
STEPHEN “GOODYEAR” BELLEROSE- NASCAR WMT crewman and Dave Lind Goodyear Tire technician.
CHERIE BEERS- Wife of Northampton, PA aspahlt NASCAR WMT driver, Eric.
September 12
RICKY RUDD- Semi-retired NSC driver.
CINDY NICEWICZ- Wife of retired Vernon, CT writer Larry.
September 13
JIM GUTHRIE- Gadsden, AL born, Albuquerque, NM IRL driver.
ED HERROLD- A former Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Starter, now living in Texas.
September 14
DOMINIC DOBSON- Mercer Island, WA CTS driver.
MARK PORCARO- Clinton, NJ occasional NASCAR CWES driver.
BILLY CLARK- Farmington, ME LM driver.
WES ROSNER- Famed Agawam, MA ProStock/NASCAR CWES builder.
DELORSE BOULET- The special woman in the life of Jewett City Service proprietor Henry St. John.
GARY MARTIN- Concord, NC Sprint Cup photographer.
September 15
BILL WILSON- Fuquay Varina, NC Dash Series driver.
VENETTA NARDUCCI- Wife of Greg, WMT fan.
RONNIE MILLER III- Son of Camp Hill, PA Susky fans Ron and Arleen is 17.
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