Enjoying the Harvest
The season is over for most of us. There are a few special events to run but for the most part our champions have been crowned. How did this season work out for you? Did you take time to enjoy all you have been blessed with? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
One of the great things in racing is that we get to race. Not everyone gets a chance to do what they have a passion for. There are many that don’t have the opportunities we have been blessed with. Have you ever stopped and thanked God for all he has provided?
One of the thoughts that comes to mind this time of the year is how thankful we need to be for what we have been blessed with. We need only to look around and see others who do not have what we have.
Earlier this season I was blessed to accompany the Alex Kennedy Racing Team to Dartmouth Hitchcock Children’s Hospital in New Hampshire. We were given a tour of the facility that was set up to minister to the special needs of children and families that face challenging times that come with sickness. We then met with some of the patients and had the chance to brighten their day. We always need to remember that no matter how difficult things seem for us there are others who are dealing with more challenging days.
One of the things that we cannot let escape our attention is that we are truly blessed to be able to go out and race. The freedom to do what we enjoy doing. I remind you not to take it for granted, give something back.
As Christians we have been blessed with a Lord and Savior. We are reminded of the love that God has for us and the provision he made for our salvation. Paul reminds us how we should live our lives.
Ephesians 5:1-2; Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
We should live a life of love, but what does that mean? It means we should have compassion in our hearts for those who are less fortunate. We should be kind and forgiving. We should be willing to make some sacrifices to help others out. We need to be willing to serve.
Let me encourage you to take this time to reflect on all that you have been blessed with. If you need to be reminded, take some time and serve those who are less fortunate. Make a sacrifice this harvest season and you will enjoy it more than you ever have before. Show others the love that God showed to you. Remember; but for the grace of God there go I.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
GOOD NEWS FOR DICKY DOO- Dick’s son Todd Ceravolo gave us some good news about his father’s recovery. He is out of sedation and has been awake and alert for about a week. He is in recovery re-hab and on the road to recovery. Things are going well. Cards and well wishes can go to Dick Ceravolo, 1348 Baldwin Hill Rd., Gales Ferry, CT 06335.
HEADED SOUTH- Dan and I will make our annual pilgrimage to the center of racing. We are headed to the John Blewett Memorial North-South Shootout at Concord Motorsports Park. With the WOO also in town at the dirt track we may need to see if we can fit a trip over there in our schedule. It would be good to see but our first love is asphalt modified racing. Most of the modified community has made this event a must attend. It is always good to catch up with old friends and see what the plans for next year have been made.
MOTORSPORTS 2009- With the season over and the champions crowned we will be putting together our display for the show in Valley Forge. We should be able to bring the Camping World East and Whelen Modified Tour champion’s cars along with Dan’s newly wrapped pace car that has the commemorative hood. We are also looking at some additions that will enhance our booth. We are looking forward to seeing you there.
FAMILY TIME- One of the benefits that come with the end of racing season is the extra time for friends and family. Take the time and spend it with those who are important to you. Let them know how much you miss them.
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***
November 6
RICK & DONNA SCHAFFER- The Woxall, PA Grandview Speedway based all-time winningest Mod driver and wife celebrate their 18th anniversary.
November 10
BOB & DOTTIE PARK- This Northport, LI veteran NASCAR WMT driver and wife, also parents of NASCAR driver Steve, share their anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
November 4
JAMES BROWN- Barrington, VT NASCAR CWES driver.
BRIAN ROSS- Retired Ballston Spa, NY Modified/NASCAR CWES driver.
DON DAVIES- New York “Area Auto Racing News” dirt columnist.
JERRY VENNE- Bow, NH racing media personality.
DOTTIE PARK- Wife of Bob and mom of Todd and CWES’s Steve.
November 5
PETE RONDEAU- No. Waterboro, ME NASCAR crew cheif.
November 6
GEGE GRAVEL- Groton, MA ProStock/CWES driver.
GLEN BREHIO- Templeton, MA NASCAR CWES driver.
ANDY HOUSTON- Hickory, NC CTS/NNS driver.
BRUCE KLINE- OCFS dirt Mod driver.
ROY HANKS- Somers, CT ProStock driver.
DENISE BARKER- Wife of Legends 8NY team owner Bob “Mad Dog” Barker of Staten island, NY.
CASEY LaJOIE- One of NNS Randy’s and Lisa’s children is 14.
BARBARA SMITH- Wife of Setauket, LI,NY Marco.
November 7
KELLY YANETTA- This New Jersey Powder Puff Go-Kart Club driver.
JOE LARSEN, JR- The son of Linda and NASCAR Mod tour official Joe, SR.
November 8
ED BERRIER- Winston-Salem, NC NNS driver.
RUSS BROWN- Mannsville, NY NASCAR CWES driver.
KERRY ANDERSON- Scarborough, ME occasional NASCAR CWES driver.
HOMER KEINERT- Mahoning Valley Speedway driver.
DEDE HAYES- Wife of NH photographer Rich.
November 9
DICK DISBROW- NJ asphalt Mod driver.
TERRY MARCOVIC- PA/NJ asphalt Mod driver.
RICK CARELLI- Arvada, CO CTS driver.
CHRISTINE STEFANIK- The second of Mike and Julie’s girls has turned 18.
WILL WRIGHT- Godson of CWES#84 Driver Dion Ciccarelli and son of Glidden
Motorsports Marketing Dir. Gerry Wright has his 5th birthday.
DANA MAE KOST- Daughter of NSC crewman Mike is 14.
MICHAEL “Bonzi” BOZZUTO – Head tech inspector at Oswego Speedway, former ESS sprint car driver and “wanna be” dwarf car driver
November 10
DAWN DIPPEL- AARN “Third Turn” columnist.
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