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11/13/08

GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION

Where do we turn when the road ahead presents challenges? Where do we turn when we cannot see the end of the tunnel. We turn to someone we trust. We turn to someone we have faith in. Are you one of those people others seek out when they need guidance and direction? You should be. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We all have people around us that we trust. They are the people we turn to when we have a difficult decisions to make. Think about it, who do you turn to to ask for guidance and direction? We should turn to God for that but most times we wait until we get ourselves too deep. Wouldn't it be nice if we would just go to the source before we try to fix it ourselves.

In racing we have a crew chief who provides direction for the crew. Their job is to guide everyone to prepare the car for the race. If the car is not prepared then the fault lies with them. If a decision needs to be made they collect all the data and make a decision.

Sometimes the driver doesn't think the crew chief knows what he is talking about and tries to convince the crew chief to take another direction. The driver's understanding of the situation isn't always right. I heard of a recent test session where the driver thought he understood what the car was doing but only when he saw the actual data did he start to believe the crew chief.

Let me try to help in our understanding of how our mind, experience and traditions leave us with the wrong perspective. We have things that we fall back on when we are making decisions, the things we see and experience, the things we are taught and the traditions we grow up with. They formulate the way we make decisions.

Let's take a look at what we see and experience. Why do they have officials at sporting events? Because we don't always see things the same way. Have you ever talked with the crews of two teams that just got together on the track and caused a wreck? You will soon see what I mean. I remember on a recent restart when a driver didn't come up to speed and caused a pile up behind him. Everyone had their own theory about what happened but the truth was the shifter came off in the driver's hand. What we see and what we experience do not always tell the true story. Only when you take a little from each perspective will you be able to piece together what actually happened.

Knowledge is an easy one, whoever knows everything raise your hand. No hands up, I guess we each could learn something. You see we don't know everything, we learn as we go. When we face things that we don't understand we find someone who does. We are limited by what we know. Our limited knowledge limits our understanding of the truth.

Tradition also falls into the same category, we are taught only what our parents were taught. If we only use the traditions of the past to make future decisions we will be limited. Let's look at something simple like the phone. Do you still have a rotary dial and cord on the head set? Why not? It was good enough for your parents or grandparents. Traditional phones have gone the way of many traditional things. If we limited ourselves to what our parents or grandparents used think of all the things we would not have. Tradition tells us where we have come from but not where we are going. To make the right choices we need to know where things are headed.

That leaves one source to draw from, God. God knows the truth, He is truth. God knows everything. God knows where tomorrow will lead us. He is the only true source for us to turn to when we need guidance and direction.

The writer of proverbs tells us that our understanding its not right, the way we see things is not the way God sees things.

This is a verse we read frequently but for some reason we have difficulty putting it into practice. Part of the problem is we don't recognize the answer God gives us. To some of us God is a stranger. We first need to take the time to build a relationship with God before we can expect to recognize His voice. Next week I will spend some time talking about how we can build that relationship. For now let me encourage you to turn to the one true source for guidance and direction, God.
For those of us who are asked to help others make life decisions, lead them to God. It is the only way for us to find the right path.

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

JBIII-NS SHOOTOUT - We had a great trip down to Concord, met up with some old friends and watched some great racing at Concord Motorsports Park. Dan and I want to thank Jerry Babb for being our driver and picking us up on Friday. Actually he was free because of the tight economy and the cutbacks the racing industry is undergoing along with the rest of the nation.
We visited Andy Santerre Motorsports and got to visit awhile before we headed over to the track on Friday.
At the track we made our rounds and were thrilled at the number of Northern folks that made the trip. The car count for the Mods was good enough to have a non-qualifiers race. The SK’s had enough to fill the field and no one was sent home.
New to the SK ranks was Jeffrey Earnhardt. He met with the owners when he was up at Stafford for the Fall Final and after he sat in a modified he said he had to drive one. The arrangements were made and he was in a Glen Johnson/ Sean Cassells prepared SK Mod. Preliminary talks are underway to have Jeff in the car weekly at Stafford next year.
It took a little time to get this relationship started as the car had some mechanical issues during practice on Thursday and Friday. After a few quick laps it was time to qualify and run heat races. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as Jeff had one comment after his heart race, “I like this front bumper thing.”
We are hoping to have Jeff join us in Atlantic City for the Motorsports show, keep your eye here for the lineup.
The long distance award went to Keith Rocco who commuted back and forth to Las Vegas during the weekend. He accepted his award for winning the Connecticut title in the Whelen All American Series and then hopped a jet to Charlotte. It was rumored that crew chief Shane Hopkins was impersonation Keith during the pit party while Keith got some extra rest.
The glow of neon lights usually means pizza or beer but in Concord it meant Neon Woody Pitkat as a distinct neon glow emanated from his Don King Racing entry.
We were joined in Concord by Whelen Southern Modified Chaplain Kyle Froming. It was great to be together again and share a chapel service.
Thanks also go out to Warren and Denise who opened their home to us and kept us well fed. We are looking forward to heading back soon. I think maybe it might be a good location for the All-Star Showdown. Maybe that other track in town, you know the one it is by that dirt track.

WALL IS READY - I received word this weekend that Wall Stadium is ready for racing to return. Bob sent me a note and pronounced the work done and cars were on the track. What a great word to receive. A track saved, at least for now, from the developer’s blade.

WORTHY OF PRAISE - Bob also reported that his Son-in-Law Jimmy Wilson was recovering better than the doctors expected. Bob contributes that to the many prayers said during his recent surgery. Jimmy is doing well but still could use our encouragement. Card can be sent to him at Jim Wilson, P.O. Box 1095 Ocean Gate, N.J. 08740.

Have a great week and we will see you on the Jersey Shore for some Modified racing.

Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and apparel. See them at the Online Apparel Store at www.rwjm.com. 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/prayer 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.com/store 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.

May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don

CHECKERED CHEERS

***WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES***

November 15
DON & ROBIN LaHUE- This Vermont couple, he a driver at NH's White Mountain Motorsports Park, have their 31st anniversary.
November 16
BILL III & JANET BRICE- This NASCAR WMT official and wife (aka Mother Goose) have their 16th anniversary.
JERRY & LINDA VENNE- This Bow, NH media person and wife have their 38th anniversary.
November 17
BERT & DEBI MARVIN- This Colchester, CT Mod driver and wife have their 9th anniversary.

***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
  
November 12
JOHN ANDERSON- Southington, CT retired Mod driver.
RYAN OLSEN- Son of No. Haverhill, NH CWES Owner Mike and wife Vicki is 10.
November 13
KENNY TREMONT, JR.- West Sand Lake, NY Lebanon Valley Speedway based Modified driver.
TRACY GORDON- Strong, ME CWES driver.
RICK MILLER- Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Mod driver.
RENE CHARLAND- "Da' Champ", retired four time NASCAR Sportsman champion and dad of Fonda driver Rick.
TOMMY PORTER, JR.- Savannah, GA All Pro driver.
LOUIE MAIETTA- Brother of multi-time Beech Ridge LM champion Mike, Sr.
ROGER SAVLUK- Lisbon, CT Savluk's Service partner.
November 14
DAN MESERVEY, JR.- West Chatham, MA NASCAR CWES/NASCAR WMT driver.
CHRIS CARLSON- Modified crewman from Danbury, CT.
LEE HENDRICKSON- Former Mod driver/owner dad of Lawrenceville, NJ Wall Township Speedway Modified driver Wade.
BENTO WILLIAMS- Wall Township Speedway co-announcer Lee Greenwood's great nephew is 18.
JIM YOUNG- The proprietor of www.RACESONGS.com and the writer of all those famous theme songs for tracks and drivers and divisions, including Racing with Jesus Ministries.
November 15
DICK THOMPSON- Martinsville Speedway VP of Public Relations.
JAMIE MILLS- Milford, DE Bridgeport Speedway Modified driver.
TIM MANGUS- Tioga Speedway based NASCAR WMT driver.
STEPHANIE BAKER- Daughter of Baker Carburetion's Steve and Sue.
DELORIS & ELISABETH HOPE MINTER- The wife and daughter of Martinsville, Va WODY Gospel Radio's "Uncle" Wendell.
LAUREN GEORGIADES- Daughter of Steve, Crew Chief for brother Bobby's CT Mod turns 15.
JEFFREY MAHER- East Windsor fan "Chipper" turns 15.
November 16
TERRY LABONTE- Corpus Christe, TX Retired Hendricks NSC driver.
MIKE GROFF- Los Angeles, CA IRL driver.
ROBERTO GUERRERO- San Juan Capistrano, CA IRL driver.
BO GUNNING- Bethlehem, CT WAARS Modified driver and '98 and '02 Stafford champion.
FRED DUMACHOWSKI- Neshanic Station, NJ East Windsor, NJ Modified driver.
PHILIP SMITH- NC Modified driver.
GEORGE KENT- Horseheads, NY Modified asphalt driver.
PHIL BARIL- NH ProStock driver.
BOB SCHERER- Mahoning Valley Speedway driver.
RAY PENFOLD- Yarmouth, ME retired LM great driver and proud father of driver Billy.
CORINE SCHAFFER- Grandview Speedway Mod driver Rick and wife Donna's daughter is 18.
November 17
BRAD BENNETT- Stamford, CT born, now in Cornelius, NC NASCAR driver.
LAUREN LADOUCHER- D.I.R.T. NY Modified driver.
GARY LUSCHER- D.I.R.T. NY Modified driver.
JIMMY BELLISLE- Lisbon, CT retired Strictly Stock driver.
KEN CASSIDY- Canterbury, CT Strictly Stock driver.
BRYAN DUNBAR- NJ Street Stocker.
LEE CAMPFIELD- Wife of former Tioga Speedway, then named Shangri-La, promoter Dale in Apalachin, NY.
DAN SUKUP- Son of Schodack Landing, NY retired Midget team owner Joe.
November 18
SCOTT WALTERS- Louisville, KY NASCAR driver.
RICH BURGDOFF- NASCAR Cup official.
ELISEO SALAZAR- Santiago, Chile IRL driver.
JOHN KATANIA- Crewman/son of CT Mod owner Joe, and graphics artist.

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