Talk to Me
Talk to me, not about me. We live in a world that provides many different ways to communicate with one another, but have we really stopped to talk with someone lately? Do we depend on electronic devices to take the place of face to face communication? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We say many different things about many different people but are we really communicating? We have many different ways to contact someone but are we really making a connection? Have we considered the best way to communicate, face to face?
One thing I like about racing is that there is so much face to face communication. Having said that, one thing I dislike about racing is there isn’t enough face to face communication. That may seem like a contradiction but it really isn’t. There are those of us who prefer talking face to face and then there are those who do not.
Lets face it racing is all about being able to communicate with one another. From the crew chief to the driver, spotter to the drivers, teams to the officials, officials to the teams, officials to the safety workers, announcer to the fans, fans to the competitors, the list goes on. Racing is about being able to communicate.
I am reminded of a scripture passage that helps us understand the best way to communicate is face to face. John writes;
3 John, 13-14 (NLT); I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.
We live in a society that has given up the art of talking with someone. We say a lot but we do it in such an impersonal way. We talk to many people in a day but what we say doesn’t always convey what we mean. The way we communicate with each other leaves something to be desired.
The neighborhood is gone, we see our neighbors only through the car window as they enter and leave their garage. I remember a day when many of our neighbors would come and sit together in lawn chairs and talk. They would look forward to that time of day when the chores were done and they could sit on the porch and talk about the day.
In the scripture that John wrote he shows us the inadequacy of pen and ink. You can be the best writer in the world but your written word can only go so far. You need to see the emotion with which the story is told. You need to feel the passion. You need to see the excitement, you need to understand the sincerity, feel the angst. You need to see the pain, the hurt. All these emotions loose themselves if we do not communicate face to face.
Let me ask you is it better to read a story or watch a storyteller? I remember watching a storyteller recently retell a situation that I was an integral part of. I lived it, but yet I could not have communicated it as good as this fellow did. He added so much life and emotion to the recounting of the event. I remember saying, here listen as he tells the story, he retells it so much better than I could.
That is why they make movies from books, visually we can see so much more than our mind can read. I think of the movie that was made about the crucifixion of Christ. I knew the story, I read and preached on it countless times, but after watching it play out before me, I was speechless. I could only sit in silence and struggle to understand why Jesus would endure that for me. The graphic portrayal of what those words really meant changed my life.
Looking into someone’s eyes and talking with them makes all the difference in the world. It solidifies our relationship. It also works that way with God. We need to come together face to face to honor him. Our relationship with God suffers if we do not. We need to see others walking the same road we are.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT); Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
We cannot encourage one another, forgive one another, comfort one another and worship without coming together face to face. We need to be with people. We need to have close relationships with people. God created us in such a way that our personal relationships are what gives our life significance, first with Him and then with others. We are built in such a way that we need others; we need face to face relationships.
I want to encourage you to take the time and go to someone, meet them face to face and talk. Don’t get so caught up in technology that you fail to communicate what someone really means to you. Don’t get so complacent in day to day activities that you lose sight of how important it is to take the time and meet someone face to face.
Christ came to give his life for us. We can see the cost written in his face. He showed us how much he cared for us. He came, face to face, he endured the cross, and he provided salvation for our souls. He didn’t do it from Heaven, he did it right here on Earth, face to face.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
CLASSIC SUMMER WEEKEND- A storm front that washed out the show at Thompson ushered in some perfect weather for the weekend. With the arrival of August the racing schedule heats up. This past weekend we made it another doubleheader, Friday night saw the Whelen Modified Tour make it’s midsummer visit to Stafford Motor Speedway. We then headed north for a long over due visit to Beech Ridge with the Modified Racing Series.
We always look forward to joining the Friday night card at Stafford. The weather was perfect as the tour rolled into town. This night would prove to be a good showing for some teams that could use some encouragement. Todd Szegedy snapped a long winless streak as he found Victory Lane. Szegedy led the most laps on his way to ending his victory drought, this team may have hit their stride in time to make a run at the championship.
Speaking of the championship the race tightened up as the Mystic Missle team experienced some misfortune in the engine department. I am sure this team will take this as a challenge and come back even more dedicated to securing another title.
Erick Rudolph also continued his recent success as he led the first fifty laps and came home in forth. Ronnie Silk set fast time and and followed runner up Mike Stefanik home in third.
After the action at Stafford we headed up Beech Ridge. It has been a few years since I have had the opportunity to see the action there but it has always proved to provide a great venue for modified racing. Dan and I joined MRS Chaplain Scott Martin for the event.
The entire Beech Ridge Staff did an excellent job and ran an efficient program in spite of a major pile up in the featured division. I was talking to one of the locals about getting the track’s second groove to come in. He shared that it was treated with a substance similar to what they use in indoor racing to provide extra grip, they treat it on a weekly basis. Whatever they are doing it is working because we witnessed some of the best side by side action yet this year. It reminded me of what I saw at Lee Speedway and the great action we saw there last week.
The MRS race returned Ken Barry to victory lane for the second time in his career. This was another encouraging win just looking at the way hid dad, Art, lifted him off the ground with a congratulatory hug.
All in all we saw some pretty exciting modified racing at two tracks we love to visit. The road continues this Thursday night with a trip to Thompson Motor Speedway for the Whelen Modified Tour and the MRS will make a visit to Waterford. I may have to sneak in a trip to Knoxville, but we’ll see.
Oh, by the way, we hung out at the beach for a few days in Maine, remember to take some time to relax a little, the challenging schedule this time of year can wear you down.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and apparel. See them at the Show Your Faith Apparel Store at www.rwjm.com. Send us your prayer and counseling needs no matter what part of our racing family you are in, or give us a call. 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” Check our home page www.rwjm.com for past articles. Drop us a note and share your input and thoughts. 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 11th 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
Waterford and Thompson weekly have their special day. As I heard one
anouncer 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 8th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
August 11
FRANKIE SCHNEIDER- The “Master of Dirt Modifieds” from the 1950’s through early 80’s is now retired. God Bless, Frankie.
ED ZWICKEL- “Bubba” drives the late Model #1 at Riverhead Raceway and is said to have the best BBQ in town; at least in the pits. KEN WALLACE- Dallas, PA SCCA driver.
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. 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 KNPSE 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 8.
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 19.
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.
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