One day I was talking to an engine builder about engine building, not because I wanted to build one, but I wanted some understanding about the process. Before I came to RWJM I worked in manufacturing, I made things work, so I have always been intrigued about engine building. He and I talked about a spec engine or “recipe” engine. If I understand it correctly there is a list of parts you can use and from those parts you build an engine.

To some it sounds easy but he explained that picking the right size parts to go together can make all the difference in the world. Some of the parts, although the same, don’t match up right and wouldn’t work well together. You have to keep the right ones and discard the wrong ones. When you put the right ones together you produce more horsepower and isn’t that what it is all about.

Now that I think about it that must be why some chocolate chip cookies taste better than others. The ingredients are pretty basic, but some cooks just know how to put the ingredients together in such a way as to make them irresistible. I must confess though, there aren’t too many chocolate chip cookies I don’t like, but I digress.

Our lives are a lot like tending a garden, building a motor or even making chocolate chip cookies, some things are desirable and some things don’t belong. Only the right combination of things produces the desired effect. We can only live a life that honors God when we remove the things that drain our resources and fertilize the things that grow us into the people we need to be. Jesus talked about it in John’s Gospel.

John 15:1-8; “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Gardening is a constant process of pruning, cutting out things that are not useful, so that the things that are useful can grow and flourish. It seems counterproductive but if you let something grow without some pruning it gets unruly and out of control. It really parallels our lives, if we live without someone pruning us and shaping the decisions we make, our lives would become chaotic and unproductive. We would destroy ourselves. No one can live a long and productive life without some maintenance.

While we need to trim some branches, we also have to keep connected to the main vine. Once something is cut from the main vine it loses its source of living power, withers and dies. We need to stay connected to the source of life, true life, Jesus Christ. He provides the life we need and apart from Him we can do nothing, nothing worth doing that is. All we become if we are not connected to God through Jesus is deadwood.

To lead productive lives that honor God a few things have to take place; first we need to be connected to the Father through Jesus. Jesus is the vine that brings to us the essential elements for life. We need to accept Christ and allow him to provide for us the very source of life. He will lead us to the Father.

Second, we must allow God to prune, mold and shape us into the person He created us to be. Let’s face it, that is not a comfortable process, cutting things off, changing things, thinking differently, but it is a process that is necessary if we are going to live an abundant life. Some of the things we think and do are not beneficial to us, they just don’t belong. God will remove those and help us to grow in the right direction.

“A lady studied the art of bonkei: she learned how to place curiously shaped rocks and bonsai plants on a tray spread with sand to create a miniature landscape. But … the final secret eluded her: no matter what she did, her sand never held together in the perfect waves and ripples of the master’s precisely arranged grains. Finally, after many years …she was told the answer. She bowed at the feet of the master, and he spoke. ‘Use glue,’ he said”

Jesus is the glue that holds our life together, he keeps us connected to God. Without that connection we will wither and die. God is the master gardener that shapes our lives into the life He created us to live. God uses the Holy Spirit to communicate to us the things that have to be removed, adjusted and encouraged for our lives to honor Him. Remember that passage?

1Corinthians 10:23 “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive.

We sometimes think we can handle it when, in fact, we shouldn’t even try. We need to turn our life over to God and let him prune and shape us into what He created us to be. We need to stay connected to Jesus, without that connection we will wither and die. We need to call on the name of Jesus and seek God while He can still be found.

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 help us continue this ministry. Thank You.

I remember the Harvest Festival we had at Emmanuel Baptist Church where I was the Pastor back in the late 90’s. We used the occasion of Thanksgiving to come together as one body in Christ. Let me explain. Emmanuel Baptist Church reached out to several different people groups, Deaf, Hearing, Romanian, Moldavian, Korean, Central Asian, Nepali, Bhutanese and the list goes on. Most times we meet at different times because each service was in a different language. The Harvest Festival was different; we would all come together for one worship service and to partake of the Lord’s Supper as one congregation.

That event was special, standing room only. We enjoyed worship together as each group brought something to share. No one understood all that was said, but God did, it was just a snapshot of heaven, all people from all nations together worshiping one God.

It reminded me of a family reunion of sorts, when the in-laws and outlaws come together to celebrate. They celebrate for one reason, they are family. I guess the Northeast racing family has a thanksgiving celebration of sorts also. For the last Fifty+ years it has been held at Wall Stadium. It is called the Turkey Derby. When we gather this Thanksgiving for the running of the Turkey Derby look around and you will see some diversity in the racing family.

It is good to be with family and friends; eating and drinking, catching up on each other’s lives, sharing special moments, relaxing as a family. We should feel at home with each other. We need, however, to define family. If this is a day to be celebrated, it should be with those who have become family, not necessarily our relatives.

While it should be a time to be celebrated there can be tension in the “family”. I don’t recommend including everyone because they are related by blood or marriage. I know that may sound odd, but it is necessary to understand that not every relationship is beneficial to us, even family ones. Sometimes we have to distance ourselves and protect ourselves from “family”. We each need to understand that and include those who we can truly relax around and celebrate.

Matthew 12; 46-50; NLT; As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”

Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

There is another family we can belong to also, the family of God. We enter into the family through faith in Christ. The goal of this family is to love one another as God loves us.

Paul writes to the church at Colossi how thankful he is to have them as family members;

Colossians 1:3-4; NLT; We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,

Paul’s comments bring to mind an interesting point, have we been a blessing to someone? Have we given someone a reason to be thankful for us? Many times we are on the receiving end of someone’s grace and kindness. In fact it is by the grace of God that we are saved from death and destruction. That should move us to be a blessing for someone else.

Think about those we are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Think about those who have loved us, supported us, provided for us, and encouraged us. Then think about what we have done for others. Have we done the same for someone else? God gives us the ability to reach out to those in need. Take the opportunity to give back something.

We have been blessed with a Lord and Savior, not everyone knows the peace that comes from knowing Christ. We need to rejoice in that; we need to live a life that shows the love of God; we need to be a blessing to others.

Philippians 4:4-7; Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

May the grace and peace of God be with you this Thanksgiving holiday. May the blessing of friends and family make this a special time. May the memories you share encourage you to be a blessing for someone. 

God’s continued blessings, Rev. Don

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.

I remember attending the Finale at the Fairgrounds, Syracuse, The Moody Mile, The Fairgrounds, Super Dirt Week. Syracuse has been called racing’s biggest party and if you have ever been there you know that is no exaggeration. The Finale at the Fairgrounds amped it up a bit. More people, more cars, more of everything. It seems everyone wanted to come and say goodbye. 

As I watched the people walk by I wondered if we had this many committed to honor God would our country and the world be having the difficulties we are? What would we be able to accomplish if we decided to live lives that honored God?

I talked with people who were there for this one last visit. People from the past that came to say goodbye. I talked with people who were there for the first time, and heard so much about it they had to come before it went away. For many it was a time of looking back, remembering the previous races, weather conditions, challenges they faced to get in the show. Oh, the stories they could tell.

Many wanted to burn this event in the memory banks, I was there the day they said goodbye! It would have been neat to have everyone sign a guest book. The sights and sounds raised a question in my mind; why is it we only respond when we see the finality of a situation?

I can think of so many times in life we wait until the clock strikes zero before we move. We push situations to the absolute last minute before we respond. We fail to see the writing on the wall and take the necessary steps to preserve what is important. We are here but for a short time. We make plans as though we have all the time in the world, but truth be told we are but a mist, a vapor that disappears quickly.

James 5-13-15; nlt, Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

We have many relationships in our lives. There are a few that are deep and meaningful. Those relationships take time to build. They take sacrifice and effort. They just don’t happen. A trust level must be established. Trust only comes when the words we say match the actions we take. Trust is built over time. Deep, meaningful relationships are built on Trust and Integrity.

Who do we trust with our lives? Who has the integrity to follow through and accomplish what they promised they would? I know of only one, Jesus Christ. That is who I put my trust and faith in. He is the only one with integrity to accomplish what He promised to do.

Romans 5:6-8, 11: NLT; When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. … So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Christ followed through, suffered and died to cover the sin that separated me from God. Not only that, but he rose from the grave, victorious over death. Through His efforts I can be called a child of God. It has nothing to do with my efforts, but everything to do with His. 

He accomplished what we cannot and offered it to us. Come accept the gift of life, freedom from the guilt and pain of sin, rest from the weariness of life, release from the burdens that weigh us down. Come receive the gift that Jesus offers us.

The finality of life is certain; it is a certainty that death will come. We do not have knowledge of the timing. We do not know how much time each of us has left. There will be a time when we do something for the last time. Realizing that isn’t something we like to face, but it is the reality of life. With every birth the certainty of death will come. The need to address our finality should be a priority for each of us.

Christ is the provider of salvation, eternal security. But His benefits don’t just help us in death, He is here to help us live an abundant life. He is able to provide courage, strength and wisdom that will help us through life. He is able to provide guidance to direct us down the right path, away from the things that lead to death and destruction.  He is able, we are not. I encourage you to seek him while He can be found.

Romans 8:1-4; NLT; So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

As I look out on the world we live and see the death and destruction caused by men’s selfish desires I wonder when we will decide enough is enough. When will we grow tired of living a life that ends without making an eternal difference? There is more to this life than we see. There is more life to live than we understand. God desires to bless us with so much more. When will we grow tired of living a short sighted, what’s in it for me, existence? 

When we do, God offers us a way out. God patiently waits for us to seek Him and receive Him into our lives. He desires to show us the abundant life He planned for us. I encourage you not to let this moment pass without reaching out to God, receiving the sacrifice Jesus made for you on the cross and inviting the Holy Spirit to enter your life and guide you.

Please share with us if you make that decision. We are waiting to walk alongside you and help you as you walk with God.

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.

The suddenness and finality of life’s end is extremely challenging. Don’t wait, there are no guarantees in life and tomorrow isn’t anything we can count on. When it is our appointed time to leave this earth we will. We question if we will have time to make things right with God before we go? I’d encourage you to do that before you see the end of your days. Don’t think for a moment that a relationship with God is something that can take a back seat. 

There are many in the racing community that influence our lives. I think of the old saying; “everyone makes me smile, some by coming, others by going.” There are those who make you smile the minute you see them. They always have that smile on their face. Now sometimes it was a mischievous smile, but most times it was inviting, welcoming and loving. They were truly glad to see you and welcomed you for a chat.

It is always difficult for us to grasp the sudden departure of someone we held close. The memories will always be there, but we desire to have more time together. Each life makes an impression on us. There are lives that leave a lasting impression, reminding us of two important lessons we can learn from God’s word. 

1Corinthians 13:1-3; 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.

Matthew 6:25ff; “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

There are things in life that matter more than knowledge, clothes, food or even our own body; We need to learn unconditional love, the same love we receive from God, is the only thing that matters. When we learn to value what God values then we are on the right road. These are the things that reveal unconditional love; joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These reflect the character of God.

When we lose someone we look back and remember the times they demonstrated these things to us. The times they looked past our flaws and smiled. The times they were there for us when no one else was. The times they were patient with us as we figured things out. Those are the things that make us smile as we remember.

We can get so caught up in the ways of the world that we forget to focus on the relationships we have with others. When we consume ourselves with worry and anxiety about tomorrow we miss the moment, we miss the company of friends and family. We need to embrace where we are, who we are with and enjoy all that God has provided. To do anything else is to waste the life that God has given us.

As I look at the memories recorded and shared by so many of how they were touched by the lives of others it reminds me of the opportunity we all have to touch the lives of those around us. We lose that if we consume ourselves with fear of tomorrow. We lose that if we forget to love unconditionally.

A truly satisfying and fulfilling life is one that is full; full of memories of places, people, family and friends. Stories about the journeys of yesterday, the companionship of loved ones, fill the void left by the sudden departure. I urge you to look at this from another angle. Look and see how this can inspire us to live differently.

As we reflect on how our lives are connected we must also remember to be thankful. Thankful for having those special relationships in our life, the lessons we learned, and the fun we had. Clare Jones writes; 

As we look back over time

We find ourselves wondering

Did we thank you enough

For all you have done for us?

For teaching us by your example,

The value of hard work, loyalty,

Good judgement, generosity,

Courage and integrity?

Did we thank you

For the simple things

Like love, laughter, smiles  

And fun times we shared?

For being by our sides with

Your help, encouragement, 

Knowledge and advice

For making a difference in all our lives?

If we have forgotten 

We’re thanking you now

And we are hoping you knew all along,

How much you meant to us.

We praise God for giving us people who remind us of how life should be. They are truly an inspiration and encouragement to us. We are blessed. They are now headed home, resting in the arms of our Lord. We are left with their memories, their influence and their love.

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 have a lot to talk about, but who are we talking to? We say many different things about many different people but who are we telling it to? Have we ever wondered if we are really communicating? There are 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 talk behind your back.

There’s a difference between “in your face” and face to face. I tend not to listen when someone gets in my face. I tend to pay more attention to someone who sits down and talks with me face to face. There is something significant when someone takes the time to meet you where you are and talks with you.

Our presence makes a difference. I can text you and even call you but when I talk to you face to face it is so much more significant. That is one reason we are encouraged by the scripture to not give up meeting together. 

So many more things can be communicated face to face. You can see body language, facial expressions, attitude and emotions. It is so much easier to communicate face to face, but at the same time it can be harder to face someone when you do not have good news. As we minister to others we find the most effective way is face to face.

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.

Let’s 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. But the world around us is different.

We live in a society that has given up the art of talking with someone. We send a text or an email. Because they lack emotions we have developed emojis. We send a smiley face or a frown, a thumbs up or maybe a face with a tear. We have to include how we are feeling when we send a note because they can be read very differently. 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. If we take the time to talk face to face all that goes away.

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. I think that is why Lynda and I like camping so much, it’s like the old neighborhood. 

Recently I had a friend come to visit. He was from the old neighborhood. We grew up together and were best friends. Oh the stories we could tell. It had been a while since we had gotten together, he lives in Georgia now. We drove through the old neighborhood and remembered those days, the friends, the fun and the mischief. The neat thing was that we didn’t want to talk over the phone, we do that sometimes several times a day, no this was about being together, spending time together, just talking.

 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 lose 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 well 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 meet us face to face. He 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, 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.

 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.

I reflect on this subject every time I have the opportunity to officiate a wedding ceremony. It is especially personal when the couple shares their own special thoughts to each other. The main theme is that they will be there alongside through thick and thin. That is what marriage is, a commitment to be together, forever, no matter what comes our way. To stand alongside one another with mutual respect and love. 

I was reminded of the role a spouse serves when I was standing behind the grandstands at the track talking with a friend. We were waiting for the Modifieds to take the track for practice. I wasn’t sure what the schedule was but when I started to see the stream of spotters walk by with the tools of their trade I knew the time was close. 

A spotter’s tools seem simple; a good set of eyes to be able to watch what is happening, good judgment about how to advise the driver, language the driver understands and a way to communicate to the driver. We can all watch the race but a spotter sees things differently, they see difficulty coming before it happens. 

Some things that happen need to be communicated to the driver, some don’t. A good spotter doesn’t overload the driver with information that they don’t need. A good spotter needs a way to communicate to the driver. Just having a radio and talking into the mike doesn’t qualify. The spotter and the driver need to speak the same language; they need to not only hear each other, but understand what the other means. 

Look at it this way, when the spotter says “inside” does that mean go inside or go outside? It could mean either, that is up to the spotter and driver. The driver and the spotter develop a language all their own and develop an understanding of each other so that they can communicate with each other. When that works, things go well. When it doesn’t it usually leads to a frustrating day at the track. 

Over the season I’ve heard it happen several times, a car runs into a wreck and the announcer says “the spotter didn’t warn them.” With our ability to listen to the driver/spotter communications, we know if it is true. It isn’t always that cut and dry though. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time. Sometimes the driver doesn’t listen.

One of the rules in racing is that when you are on the track you need a spotter. Wouldn’t it be great to have a spotter for life also? God provided that in our parents but let’s face it we really don’t pay that much attention to them sometimes; do we? When we find that special someone to share our life with we begin to see the benefits of having someone alongside.

When I agree to perform a marriage ceremony there is a requirement of premarital counselling. We spend the most time on communication, learning how to communicate to one another. It doesn’t come naturally. If you think it is, just ask your spouse where they want to go for dinner. As your relationship grows you start to be able to finish one another’s sentences.

With or without a spouse, we need someone who is in our ear, living inside us and guiding us in the right path. God has provided that someone for us all; his name is The Holy Spirit. Listen to what Jesus says about the Spirit;

John 14:16-18, 25-27, (Jesus answered) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 

   “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

In addition, we read in Romans

Romans 5:5, And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide our heart in the paths that are right. I am reminded of the cartoon with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other. This is a good illustration of what happens when the Spirit dwells in us. He guides us with the right advice, but there is that other voice. The voice inside us that is telling us something different, something not of God. Which voice do we follow? Which guidance do we take?

The answer is to have another person in your life. Someone who will hold you accountable to the choices you make. Someone trustworthy, someone who loves you. Someone who would lay down their life for you. We need this kind of person in our lives also. I hear so many couples describe it, I get to marry my best friend. Having that friend alongside will change everything.

We can ignore the voice of the Spirit and make wrong choices, but with a friend alongside our walk through life is much easier. They look out ahead and spot the trouble that we can’t see or are blind too. They talk to us and provide information to guide us around the difficulty. Ultimately it is our choice, but that friend alongside wants us to finish the race of life in the best possible condition.

Having The Holy Spirit as our guide helps us experience life to its fullest. We receive The Holy Spirit when we ask Jesus to come into our heart. When we seek forgiveness from God for our shortcomings and accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us. When we ask God for that He sends The Holy Spirit to live in our heart, to guide us in the paths that are right, to counsel us, to show us the truth. 

Do you have The Holy Spirit in your heart? You can. He will be with you and never leave you. Ask God today to send Him and God will honor that request and send Him. The key component is asking with sincerity in your heart; you have to want to. Seek out the guidance of The Holy Spirit today. Accept the sacrifice Jesus made for you and ask God to forgive your sin. If your heart is sincere then the transaction is done, your life has changed. 

I would ask that you share that with us so that we can rejoice with you. We will help and guide you along the road. We will come alongside you and walk with you through life. We will help you through the difficulties and celebrate the victories. We will do our best to help you figure out life and learn how to live it to the fullest.

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 are not truly independent? I think if we look at history what happened on Independence Day, a group of people banded together and relied on each other for the strength to declare their independence from British rule. What does it take to be independent? You must divorce yourself from everyone and everything. In the society we live in we have a term for that type of person, a loner. I am not sure that is how God created us to be.

Last week I talked about pursuits and quoted from the Declaration of Independence. Let’s continue on with the next couple of lines and see if that helps us with our understanding of independence.

“…That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

The key word is people, not an individual, but the people. We declare our independence as a group of people, not individuals. To take that a step further, the common view held today that I can do what I want is not the foundation this country was built on. We have drifted away from the understanding that we serve one another to maintain the freedoms we enjoy. While we have individual rights they should be exercised for the common good.

There are only a few things in life we do alone, most everything we do we do with someone else. God designed the family in that way. When members of a family focus on their own interests instead of the needs of the family there is stress, strain and destruction.

Look at our race teams. How many of us could race without a team? I don’t think there is one of us who could. You would at least need a gopher. Take a look around the shop and the pit area. Write a list of all the things that need to be done. There is no way anyone could go it alone. 

Look at our lives. How many of us spend our time completely alone? We don’t. We spend it with family and/or friends. If we don’t have any we go out and look for some. We spend a large part of our time searching for people to be with. I think we are people who enjoy being around other people.

We surround ourselves with people. We enjoy their company. We cannot live without it. One of the secrets to life is our interdependence on each other. The Body of Christ, those who belong to Christ through the acceptance of His sacrifice, is made up of people who depend on each other. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-20; The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 

Our lives are enhanced when we share them with others. When we work together we can build a life that reflects the love that God has for each of us. The question might be asked, how does this affect me? How does my life affect those around me? Am I a functioning part of the body or do I need some physical therapy to straighten things out? 

Let me suggest first looking around at the people you spend your time with. Do you add or subtract from the relationship? Are people better for knowing you or do they run the other way when they see you coming? Do people seek you out when they need help for support in their lives? 

Jesus lived a life as an example for us. People sought Him out because they knew their life would be better if they listened to Him. If you examine Scripture no one who sought Jesus out was turned away. It didn’t matter what their social or economic situation was, Jesus made time for them. In Scripture we learn that when people came face to face with the living God they never left the same way they came. Jesus changed them both spiritually and physically. 

We must ask ourselves, do people see Jesus in us? If they do, they will seek us out when their lives are not what they should be. It is in this process where we become interdependent. Our lives depend on those around us and their lives depend on us. So much is riding on the way we live; we should live in a way that is right. Paul writes in Philippians 2:5 that our attitude should be the same as Jesus.

That is a great goal, but most of us fall short. We give in to our selfish desires and put the concerns of others secondary to what we want. To overcome this we need to be accountable to someone. Who are you accountable to? Find yourself a faithful friend, one you can trust. One who cares enough about you to tell you the truth. With such a friend you can improve your walk tremendously. We will succeed more than we fail. And when we fail we will have someone there to stand beside us and help us get back on track.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12; “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! …. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

It is good to be dependent on someone and have someone depend on you. It is the basis on which strong fulfilling lives are built. Build your life on the foundation that will not only help you, but will help those who depend on you. Learn to depend on God, he will enable you to be dependable.

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.

The Declaration of Independence sought to give us the right to pursue happiness. “…that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (and racing).” 

As I have mentioned before, we have the freedom to race anywhere and everywhere we decide to go. I am reminded of that as I followed Andy J. and his pursuits a weekend ago; ARCA at Iowa Speedway on Friday, fifth place finish, all night ride to Buffalo to grab the Tour Mod then off to Chemung for the ROC Mod race, fifth place finish there, back to the shop, switch the Tour Mod for the Sport Mod and off to The Bull Ring, Wyoming County for the ROC Sportsman race. Ah, the sweet taste of Victory! 

Did I mention where he got the passion for his pursuits? His dad. When your last name is Jankowiak, racing is what you do, especially on Father’s Day Weekend!

We can do anything we want; pursue anything we want, but does that secure our happiness? I suggest that there is more to life than that. We cannot secure anything apart from God. Remember the passage from James 4?

James 4:13-16; NLT;  Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

The challenge for us is we do not know what tomorrow holds and all our hopes, dreams, plans and desires won’t make it’s coming any more certain. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us of the one pursuit that will make a difference.

Ecclesiastes 12:13; NLT; That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

What are we pursuing in life; riches, fame and fortune, acknowledgment from others, satisfaction, fulfilment? We can get lost in the pursuit of those things. When we do we lose sight of what makes a difference in this life. We need to take a closer look at our activities. We need to ask God to show us His plan, embrace it and follow it.

Some of the places God calls us to go are not for our benefit. He wants us in places and guides us to people for His purpose. We would do well to be obedient, not asking what is in it for us, but rather how can I serve God through this.

Paul adds this advice; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

We can lose focus on what really matters when we are overcome by trying to take care of ourselves. We focus so much time and energy on what we want that we fail to see the needs of others. Those needs are not just financial, they are spiritual, emotional, and physical. We do well to adjust our focus; take it off ourselves and look at the needs of others.

When we stop, take a step back and look around we start to see a bigger picture. We see what God is doing. We see how we can join Him. There will be a sacrifice for us to make, our comfort and security will be adjusted. The question remains; are we okay being uncomfortable and insecure in our efforts to follow God?

The lessons we find in James challenge us to change our focus, adjust our pursuits, and put value where God puts value. That isn’t always our first thought. We are predisposed to think of ourselves, our comfort and security before we consider that of others. James says that is not right. I am sure he heard that from Jesus.

Jesus reminds us; Matthew 6:33; NLT; Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

It is life changing when we get our priorities in line with God’s. Our pursuits will change. We will see things differently. We will act differently. We will see those around us respond differently. Let me encourage you to acknowledge God, praise Him and follow His leading.

Philippians 4:8-9; NLT; And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

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 remembered the first time I went to a racetrack, it was in the late 60’s, my dad brought me to Stafford Motor Speedway. I was your typical seven- or eight-year-old, I didn’t sit still, wanted everything the concession stand had to offer and watching the racing was secondary. I do, however, remember wanting to go back. 

The race that cemented my interest in the sport happened one summer night a few years later at Catamount Speedway in Vermont. Bobby Dragon and Jean Paul Cabana battled for the lead the entire feature. As they came out of turn four one car erupted in flames. Both hit the brakes coming to the checkers. They rolled to a stop just after the start finish line. They were still rolling as one driver was halfway out of his car with a fire extinguisher in his hand to help the other driver. They had just fought tooth and nail for the win but when it came to helping the other guy they were right there. I don’t remember who won, but I remember that image.

That was the hook, but it wasn’t set until I walked through the gate at the start finish line, down the front stretch and into the pits. I had a chance to see the drivers and their cars up close. I was in awe, these guys were larger than life and that night left an impression that has fueled my feeling about racing to this day.

I have my father to thank for that. My dad didn’t live too long, he passed when I was fifteen, but during the time we had together he taught me a tremendous amount about life and how things worked. He never had the opportunity to live life the way I have, but I still refer back to his lessons often.

I think every parent only wants that opportunity, the opportunity to pass on their passion to their children; the opportunity to teach them what life is and how this life should be lived. The desire of a father’s heart is to instill in his children the truly important things in life.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9; NLT; “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

We learn so much in dad’s house. Many of the lessons we learn we don’t realize until we get older and have children of our own. We learn how we want to live, but we also learn what we don’t want our life to be like. From those lessons our life takes shape. We are set in a direction by the lessons we learn in our homes.

In the same way Jesus came to show us how the life He created for us should be lived. He came to teach us and help us know the will of our Heavenly Father. He showed us the sacrifice we need to make for others. And he promised us a place in Dad’s house.

John 14:1-6; “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

There are many directions we can go in life. Not all of them are beneficial to living. We take many detours and chase many dead ends. Sometimes all we needed to do was listen to the lessons and follow the directions given us by our fathers. But we know better, at least we think we do. 

I am reminded of the prodigal son, he thought he knew the best way to live. He asked for his inheritance and set off to live. Soon he found out the reality of life, it isn’t all fun and games. He longed to return to Dad’s house. 

Luke 15:20; NLT; “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

We have two fathers to guide us, our earthly father, and our heavenly father. Between the two we find direction and meaning. Our heavenly Father will never leave us or forsake us. He will be there to guide us through the challenges that life brings. Trust Him. 

Jesus is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house; Heaven. He will come and claim what belongs to Him and we will be there with Him. We do not have to live here, separated from our heavenly Father. We know the way; Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 22:37; NLT; Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

Let Jesus instill a passion in your heart for living in a way that would please your heavenly Father. Learn from Him and submit to His authority. Jesus will be with us as we learn how to live the life that was created for us. Jesus is that way, that truth, that life. 

I miss my dad, but I will carry on with the directions he taught me. In the same way our heavenly Father teaches us the way home, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Until we meet again.

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.

It seems everyone in racing has a radio tuned into something. There are so many voices that come over the radio it is a wonder we can distinguish one from another. I thought about the drivers and the voices in their head; Spotter, Crew Chief, Crew Members, Race Director, oh and don’t forget their own thoughts. How do they figure out which one to listen to? How do they filter them out and pick the right voice?

I travel many miles and there are times I prefer silence. I make the car as quiet as possible. I try to tune out anything and everything. Why; so that I can focus on my thoughts and prayers to God and listen for His response. I spend many miles in prayer, communicating and listening to God. Prayer is less about our physical posture and location; kneeling in church and saying some preset words and more about the condition of our heart. Prayer is a conversation with God, any conversation.

I think we pray more than we think. I think we solicit God’s intervention in our lives more than we are aware. How much do we talk to God? What do we hope to hear from Him? How will His voice influence us and the decisions we make? We need to start a conversation.

Talking with God has a few parts to it. First we need to do it, develop a daily plan and talk with God. Much like we talk with our family and friends. We also need to look at content, what do we pray for. We can get caught up thinking God is just there to grant our requests. That is false and a prayer life that is just asking for things will not be much benefit.

That doesn’t mean God doesn’t answer prayers, but the purpose of the conversation is to listen to God’s direction and wisdom. We sometimes forget God has a plan for us and it is good, it will provide hope and a future.

Jeramiah 29:11-13; NLT; For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Are we seeking God wholeheartedly? Many times we are distracted by the things around us, the circumstances of life. We can get so caught up in trying to figure out what’s going on we never make a connection with God. When we become aware of it we offer up a quick prayer and then move along. The problem is, no connection was made.

I heard it put this way once; Some of our prayer lives are like picking up our cell phone and just talking into it, not dialing a number, thinking we just talked to someone, thinking they heard us. We have to make the connection. We have to make the connection with God. Is there someone on the other end?   

The good thing with God is we don’t have to worry where we are or how good our service is, God is always available to connect with. He is waiting for us to reach out to him. I’m going to date myself here, but I remember the old phone company tagline, reach out and touch someone. If there is no connection, there is no conversation.

The content of our prayer doesn’t have to conform to any formula, although Jesus gave us an example in the Lord’s Prayer. Our prayers can be short, long, anything that may be weighing on our shoulders at any given time. The main component that is important is we have to acknowledge who God is and who we are. We are there mostly to listen, not to dictate.

Sometimes we pray to help us get out of things, rather than get through things. Like we are banging on the door “get me out” instead of God “get me through.” There are times we don’t hear an answer and we think God is not listening to us. Remember the cartoon the Flintstones when Fred was locked out, banging on the door yelling “Wilma”! Does your prayer feel like that sometimes?   

Take a step back for a moment, reflect on what we have been burdened with, make that connection with God, then listen. God isn’t ignoring our prayers, he is answering, but we may be looking for a different answer. We need to allow God to lead us to His response, a response that will be beneficial to us.  

God does not provide answers to our prayers that are second best He provides the best. We need to listen and wait for His answer. We wait for many things in life, checkered flags, traffic lights, paydays, well, why not wait for God’s answers to our prayers. 

He will provide the answer, guidance and direction in his time. The timing that will be the best for us. We need to stop trying to find our own answer, or get aggravated because you think He isn’t listening to us.   

Mathew 7:7-8; NLT; “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

We think God isn’t going to listen to us because of the way we live our life, the mistakes we make. That is not true, He is waiting to hear from us. If you wonder about how to start your prayer, acknowledge Him as Lord and ask for His forgiveness. This is a perfect way to start praying right now; ask God for forgiveness for past things, let him know you’re ready for a relationship with Him.   

I talk with God many times during my day, especially as I’m driving. I pray about so many things. We don’t have to be standing still, wherever we are God is ready to listen. Here’s a way to get the family involved as well. When you gather to eat, before you begin eating ask around is there something we need to pray about today?   

Having that connection with God, listening to Him and following His guidance will change the direction of our lives. He will lead us to people and places we would never go ourselves. I remember a testimony of such a prayer.

A young boy came over to one of our chaplains in the garage area and asked if we would pray with his mother in the stands. As they were walking he shared that his mom has cancer and doesn’t have long to live. As they approached the woman, the woman in the stands broke down in tears. She has been trying to get her son back to church and didn’t think her son believed any longer. Her son knew the importance of prayer that it would help comfort his mom, and God knew her son’s request for prayer would relieve her burden. 

These are the moments in our travels that we see God working in many lives. How a prayer can bring comfort in someone’s life in just a few moments. Don’t hesitate to go to God in prayer, God is listening. Let God bless your day!

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.