As I look back at the events that dominated the time when they occurred, time passes and we write new chapters. It is hard to comprehend how much time has passed since they happened. It has been 40 years since Richie Evans left us. Dale Earnhardt Sr. left us 24 years ago. Joe Brady and Ron Bouchard left us ten years ago, 8 years for TC and 6 for Mike Stefanik. Time has a way of passing and new chapters are written.

I think of the stories we share when we remember friends and family that have left us; significant events, races, and efforts made to help others. Our lives are written on the hearts of the lives we touch while we are together. That makes you think, what story am I writing?

Aware or not, we write our story every day we are here. We record in the minds of people how we treat them, the things we say, the things they see us do. We make an impression on those we encounter each day. 

We would all like to be remembered with fondness and appreciation. We all want people to see the good in us. We want to be appreciated for the things we have to offer. Trouble is it is not ours to say, the impression we leave is written by those around us. The people that we leave  will determine our story.

Take a look at the political arena. Candidates are trying their best to convince people who they are and what they stand for. They spend millions to get the word out. It becomes a full-time effort with a large staff to help reshape their story.

In the end is the effort worth it? Do they really change people’s minds about who they are and what they stand for? Maybe, the successful ones. No matter what is said or done, people are going to believe what they want to believe. That leaves me wondering; how can we write the story we want others to read and remember?

There are two types of biographies; authorized and unauthorized. They tell different sides of the same life. One is what we want people to remember. The other sheds some light in our closet of things we wish were kept hidden. Somewhere in the middle is the true story of our life. Our story will always be filtered through the minds of others, whether they knew us well or not. My hope is that people will see the presence of God and His work through me.

Luke 9:18-20; nlt, One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”

Jesus posed an interesting question; “Who do you say that I am?” 

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself that question? Have you ever took the time to investigate the answer? What is the truth? Who is this one they call Jesus? Lee Strobel did. His website, leestobel.com, shares this;

“Lee Strobel, the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune. Lee was educated at the University of Missouri (Bachelor of Journalism degree) and Yale Law School (Master of Studies in Law degree). He was a journalist for 14 years at The Chicago Tribune and other newspapers, winning Illinois’ highest honor for public service journalism from United Press International. He also led a team that won UPI’s top award for investigative reporting in Illinois.”

An accomplished investigative reporter at the top of his game, Lee was an Atheist, he didn’t believe in God let alone Jesus. With the pursuit of an investigative legal reporter, he set out to prove once and for all the errors of the Bible and the myth it purported. He ended up in a very different place.

His website says, “After investigating the evidence for Jesus, Lee became a Christian in 1981.”

Where will our story lead people? Will people who investigate our lives find their way to God? Will they find evidence that leads them to conclude we lived to please God? Will they share with others how our efforts helped them see the love found in no one else but Christ?

During the last days of His life Jesus had some company, a contingent of Roman Guards. They arrested Him, brought him to the chief priest, before the Roman Governor, back to the religious leaders, and back to the Governor. They brought Him to be flogged and led Him through the streets carrying His cross. Then they nailed Him to it and raised it up. When Jesus uttered His final words, “It is finished” they looked upon his dead body and came to this conclusion.

Matthew 27:54; nlt, The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

In the words of the anonymous author of One Solitary Life; “I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the Navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that ONE SOLITARY LIFE!

What’s our story? How has our life affected those around us? How have we made a difference in the lives of those we encounter every day?  Have we shared the Good News and love of Christ?

Run the race in such a way as to win, throw off everything that hinders and focus on Jesus. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

We jumped right in and learned that as we live we need to live differently. We read the words to describe the life we should live; holy and sacrifice. Live a life that is set apart, different. A life that puts the consideration of others above our own, sacrifice. The writer reminds us that we are accountable to God. This life he talks about must be acceptable to God.

We then learned that we not only need to live differently, we need to think differently. God is the only one who can transform the way we think. We don’t see or understand all things. Only God has a complete picture and if we allow him to, He will guide us, He will transform us.

God promises we will have what we need. He will not guide us in a direction He hasn’t already equipped us for. He will provide the faith and knowledge we need to walk the path He has prepared for us. Don’t buy into the lie that we know it all.

We add the concept of teamwork to our understanding. In the same way as knowledge and the fact that we don’t know everything helps us learn to let God guide us; the reality that we cannot do everything ourselves prompts us to let others join us on the journey.

When we do what God has called us to do and equipped us to do then and only then do we feel like we fit. God prepared each of us to have a certain spot on His team. He equips us to accomplish the task He prepared for us. He offers us the satisfaction and fulfilment that comes from being in His will. The blessing of God is realized when we are in the place that God wants us, not the place we think we want to be.

The challenge for us is that our attitude matters. We don’t always understand that we choose the attitude we face the day with. While the circumstances that surround us can sway us one way or the other we decide how we face the day. Will we look at the things that have been provided for us and be grateful? Maybe we will only see the things we don’t have and be resentful. Maybe we are somewhere in between. 

Romans 12:9-13; NLT; Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Attitude is a funny thing, there are so many ways we can process the activities and circumstances of life. Perspective and interpretation lead us to how we are going to act. We don’t always feel like acting in a way that honors God.

On Saturday there was an incident at the track and a driver was transported to the hospital. His condition required further medical attention. Because of the incident he will have to alter his schedule and activities for the next few months. Now we can process that a few different ways. 

The grateful heart recognizes it could have been much worse and is thankful the outcome wasn’t more devastating. The safety equipment functioned properly and the hand of God kept the driver safe. 

The other perspective looks at the car that needs to be rebuilt, the time lost in recovery and all the alterations to the next few months this incident caused.

As we learned last week, God has this and will walk with us through it. We really do not have the capacity to figure out why and how come. We need to trust that God has us and in the event of unforeseen circumstances He is still with us.

As we look at this passage we receive some guidance to what the right attitude looks like. First, don’t be lazy. Having the right attitude is work, you can’t fake it. Put aside what is wrong and cling to what is good. Be genuine with the thought of honoring each other. That attitude will change things. 

We can get caught up in the toxic environment of pointing fingers, tearing things down, cutting up on each other, but that doesn’t help us have the right attitude, one that honors God. The contrast is in these verses and it is hard work; serve enthusiastically, rejoice, be patient and persevere. That focus will get us through any of the challenges we face, big and small.  

When we have the right attitude our focus is on the things we can do to influence the environment around us. One of the questions we need to ask ourselves is, how is my attitude affecting others?

We are going to continue our discussion on attitude next week. There are some other components to it. When we can display the right attitude on the outside, it means the Holy Spirit resides on the inside. I use this passage in my wedding ceremonies because it reminds us of how we can build the best kind of relationships with each other. Take some time this week to read it and wrestle with it. You just might find a change in attitude is required.

Romans 12:9-13; NLT; Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

I was thinking back to the opportunity I had to bring someone to a NASCAR race for the first time. Not just a NASCAR race but any race. I had the pleasure of bringing my friend, Jean Daniel Antoine, GoGo, to his first race. GoGo is from Haiti; he is a survivor; he survived the earthquake in Haiti by jumping out a second story window just before the building collapsed. He brings a different perspective to the life we live. He puts racing into focus.

GoGo didn’t know who anybody was; their reputation and past accomplishments meant nothing to him. He could have been standing beside Richard Petty or the track custodian, he didn’t know. But he treated everyone like they were the most important person there. Living through the things he has endured in Haiti helped him see things from another perspective. He lives life differently than we do. Because he has lost so much, he cherishes every moment. Listen as he shares his experience.

Gogo shared; “If you asked me about racing, I would have never thought it was that much fun. I am a crazy Haitian who drives the mountains of Haiti on dirt roads with no guard rails, that’s fun and dangerous. Attending my first ever race ignited a passion I never thought I had. I am thankful for one of my best friends, Mr. Don Rivers, for inviting me. I had a great time at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and can’t wait to go to another race.

“I knew nobody but was welcomed into the family with open arms and big smiles. I felt so welcomed by the driver’s and teams of the Whelen Modified Tour. I went to the Autograph Session for the Whelen Modified Tour and met every driver, got their card and made lots of friends. I had the opportunity to pray with some before the race, that was great. One driver became my best friend, #99, Jamie Tomaino, he is so much fun. He calls me the crazy Haitian driver. Jamie credited my prayer with helping him finish 10th, that was great also.

“I also went to a dinner and shared the same table with Darrell Waltrip. I had no idea who he was and how big of a racer he was. I learned when they introduced him, Wow. I was just having fun talking with him, that was great.

“Those two days were the ones I was waiting for; they were the best days in my life and I want more. I know from these simple seeds sown, the harvests will grow, grow and more, so that a dream can be followed. I can’t wait for the next time.”

Gogo helps us see with our eyes wide open. We need to take note of this and make every effort to appreciate the time we spend together. We need to leave no doubt in the minds of others that we love them and care about them. We must make the most of every opportunity because life is too short not to appreciate every moment. 

In the Gospel of John, chapter 21, we find the story of one who made some adjustments to his perspective. We read about Peter and his encounter with Jesus that restored his relationship with him. You see Peter was a fisherman and one day….

Matthew 4:18-20; As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. 

Peter began his relationship with Jesus that day and it grew until they were very close. So close in fact that Peter proclaimed his commitment to Christ this way. As Jesus explained to his disciples about his pending crucifixion…

John 13:36-3; Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! 

Peter said the words but when it came to the test he failed. He denied Christ three times just as Jesus said he would. As Peter heard the rooster crow he fell to his knees and wept bitterly. Peter had denied his relationship with Christ. But there is hope and Jesus represents that hope. 

Jesus came to restore our relationship with God. He comes willing to meet our spiritual and physical needs. In John 21 we read about a breakfast that took place on the beach. Jesus was there waiting and willing to accept and restore Peter. 

Peter didn’t waste any time getting there when he knew it was Jesus. His perspective was changed. The relationship was restored. Peter went on to live a life dedicated to serving God and yes, he did eventually lay down his life for the cause of Christ. So where does that leave us?

We need to have the right focus. We need to appreciate the things that are truly important, our relationship with God and our family. We need to look at each situation with our eyes wide open.

I think we can draw some guidance from a common source, our dogs. After all, dog spelled backward is God and dog is an acronym for Depend on God. Here are some things we can learn from dogs that will help us make the right adjustments;

• When a loved one comes home, run to greet them.

•            Never pass up the opportunity for a joy ride.

•            Never pretend to be something that you are not.

•            No matter how many times you are scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout, run     back and make friends.

•            Run, romp and play daily.

•            Stop and lie down in the grass under the shade of a tree.

•            Be Loyal.

•            When you are happy, dance around and shake your entire body.

•            Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

•            Most of all…when someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Seeing things as they are and having the right priorities in life makes all the difference. Jesus came with the purpose of restoring our relationship with God. It cost him his life. He didn’t consider that a price too heavy to pay and paid it.

We must ask ourselves the same question. Is it worth it?  Are we willing to make the necessary adjustments to demonstrate our love for others? Having an influence in the lives of others is a responsibility we are given by God. Let them know how much they matter by taking the steps to show them how much you love and care for them. 

Thanks, GoGo, for your genuine excitement for each day, it is an inspiration. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

We tend to look at things in snapshots, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, temporary glimpses of the total picture. We look at the situation that is right in front of our eyes and adjust it to what we want others to see. When we take a picture with our phone we rarely just post it without some adjustment. Most of the Social Media platforms make it easy and provide ways to improve what we see. Everything is not always whet is seems.

We consume ourselves with the here and now. More and more every day all around us our focus is narrowing. We are tuning our focus internally. We refuse to see things as they are or as they were. I remember back in the day when we had actual pictures you physically had to cut someone out of your life by trimming the photos with scissors. Now we just crop them out and save the new picture. We want to see the world the way we want it not necessarily the way it is.

There are racers who race that way, focusing on only that one moment, focusing only on their perspective. They race one way, wreckers or checkers. If they don’t win the race you better be on the hook because if they aren’t they must not have been trying hard enough. That type of thought process can be a self-fulfilling prophecy; you end up in the place your mind focuses on.

I remember being taught accident avoidance techniques. They teach you to focus on where you want the car to go, not the danger. When you focus on the danger that is where it will end up. Your body and mind work together to direct the car to the spot you are focused on. It can be difficult to focus away from the danger but many times that is where our focus is and guess what, that is where we end up.

The big picture also applies to the end of the season championship. When we are making decisions during the race we have a goal in mind. We may not be conscious of it but we do. What is our goal? Is it to get back at the guy who just bumped us out of the way to pass you? Is it to do anything and everything to win this one race? Is our goal to get the best finish possible and let the little things that happen in the race go? Remember our focus indicates where we end up.

Too often our focus is narrow, we do what it takes to win the race but lose the championship. Same in life, we do what we need to and get through the day but lose sight of the purpose of the journey. The car with the most victories doesn’t always win the championship. The person who lives the longest doesn’t necessarily have the most memories. We accomplish our short term goal but lose out in the long run. Maybe it would be good if we to look at things differently.

We need to look at a larger view of life, in the grand scheme of things what really matters. Do we pick each other apart? Do we try to police everyone’s actions and make sure justice is done? Do we spend so much time focused on the little things that we don’t see the big picture? When we live this way we get distracted from what really matters. We spend our time focused on things that really are not that important.

I am reminded of a passage Paul wrote to the Church at Colossi. He reminded people that they now belonged to Christ and their focus should be on things above. Here are a few verses to refer to;

Colossians 3:1-2; Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:12-14; Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:17; And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

It is easy to get caught up in the moment. It is easy to lose sight of what is truly important. It is easy to react to a situation out of frustration and anger. It isn’t always easy to forgive and show patience. We have to work to display that kind of response.

Maturity comes when we can follow the instructions of Paul and show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We learn to look at the big picture when we value people the same way God values us, when we can forgive the way God forgave us.

Let me ask, are we looking at the big picture? Or are we so focused on every little detail that we cannot see the forest through the trees? I find it a little amusing that we have so many sayings that remind us to take a step back and look at things from a different perspective. We must all need to be reminded in some way that everything isn’t always what it seems.

Please take the time to broaden your viewpoint. Take a step back and look at things from God’s perspective. You belong to Christ and His Spirit lives in you. Show the world what that means. You will be amazed at what you see.