Things don’t go the way we plan. Things don’t play out the way we hoped. Making adjustments is a necessary part of the deal. How do we respond, what adjustments are we making? 

Things can get heated up at the track. At times we don’t respond in a way that honors God. We need to remember, even in the heat of the moment, that we belong to God. We need to remember that we need to reflect his character not ours. 

One of the most challenging things to do in racing is to keep your composure when everything around you is going crazy. When we develop that composure we go a long way toward responding in a way that honors God. 

What does it take to win a race? It’s hard to put your finger on it. You need a fast car, but the fastest car doesn’t always win. You need a car that can get out front and lead, but the car that leads the most laps doesn’t always win the race. You need the skills and talent to drive a racecar, but the most skilled driver doesn’t always win. Surely a skilled team that can make the necessary changes during the race would win, but the best team doesn’t always win. As you can see, putting your finger on the necessary ingredients to win is a difficult task. 

What does it take to win? I guess that depends on the race you are running. It helps if we stop and remind ourselves of the race that we are running. Remembering that there is always a bigger picture.

In racing all the things mentioned above are necessary, we need them to come together on race day but that still doesn’t guarantee victory. We need to run the race. Things happen during the race that will have a significant impact on the outcome. Running the race properly involves responding to situations in a way that honors God. If we do not handle ourselves correctly we do not run the race properly. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

I am reminded of the story of David and Goliath. If we look at the two competitors the race was over before it began. On one side we have the giant Goliath, an experienced fighter and intimidating. On the other side we have a shepherd boy with no armor, just his sling and staff. There was however something that tipped the scales in David’s favor, God. Goliath fought with his own strength and power. David fought not only with his strength and skill, but also with the blessing of God. You see, to run the race in a way as which to win, you must race within the will of God.

God’s blessings are realized when we follow His direction. When we choose to take things on with our own strength and understanding we are not running in a way as which to win. Paul points out three things that are important.

Don’t run aimlessly. In order to win the race we must know where the finish line is and the way to get there. God provides a direction for us. Seek Him out and follow His guidance. He is the best crew chief going.

Don’t fight against things that are not there. Too many times we spend our energy worrying about things that haven’t even happened. We get anxious and try to predict the future, don’t get caught up chasing the shadows of things that are not there. Deal with what is real and rely on the wisdom and strength of God.

Don’t be disqualified. We reason our way out of doing the things that are right. We find excuses to justify the choices we make. We cannot let ourselves give in to our selfish desires, but instead we must do what is right. We can justify anything we do with many reasons, but that doesn’t make it right. We must do what is right in the eyes of God. Paul adds that there is a way to respond that honors God. We need to reflect the character of God when we run the race. Only then can we have victory even in defeat.

Ephesians 4:1a-3, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

Some of those we race against are full of themselves. They strut around like they are so great. They are full of pride and arrogance. I am here to tell you if you get drawn into that thought process you will never win the race. Don’t get me wrong you can be competitive and a tenacious combatant and still honor God. The secret is not to think more of yourself than you ought to. Look at David and how he was able to be victorious over Goliath. 

Goliath laughed at him when he walked on the battlefield. Goliath insulted him and the nation he represented. Goliath didn’t take him seriously. David wasn’t defeated by the arrogance of Goliath. He placed a rock in his sling and flung one stone striking Goliath in the forehead and killing him. 

We need to remember what we have been called to and run the race in a way that will honor God. We will not wilt when the circumstances seem to be overwhelming, the pressure seems too much. Whatever we do will prosper, we will taste victory. Look forward to experiencing God’s blessings. 

 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.

Lynda and I have been stretched by God when we traveled to Haiti. God challenges us in the effort to grow our faith. That isn’t comfortable or even welcomed. Many of us would rather sit where we are instead of stepping into the unknown and depending on God.

We see it at the track, maybe a new car, new division, new driver/crewchief combination. Whenever we attempt to move up or move forward we step into the unknown and have to put our faith in someone or something. Most times we put it in ourselves.

Then there are times when we have to come to grips with the choices we make and how they affect others. On Track Incidents make up some of the most challenging times in racing. A difference of opinion, contact, and the like provide opportunities for growth and maturity.

RWJM attempts to help the drivers we minister to through those times. Especially when there is an incident on the track and it is necessary for the parties involved to get together and work it out, we encourage them to do it. Sometimes we actually get them together and walk alongside them through the process. It isn’t comfortable but it is necessary to move forward and grow. 

God desires to stretch us, challenge us, test our faith. I remember the story of Jonah; God had a task for him. Jonah decided not to do it and ran the other way. God didn’t let that happen. 

Jonah 1:1-3a, 17; NLT; The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.

Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

Are we ready to let God guide us as we persevere through the trials that will mold and shape us?

James 1:2-4; NLT; Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

We have the final say on whether we do the wise thing, follow God or the foolish thing, depend on ourselves, our understanding and knowledge. Jesus tells us of two different responses to His teaching.

Matthew 7:24-27; NLT; “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Look at the similarities of the two men and you see three things. One, they knew the words of Jesus. Two, they both wanted to build a life that would last. Three, they both experienced storms. 

We all face storms, some of our own doing and some from God.  Don’t think for a moment that God is not with us in the storms of life, even the ones we create, He is with us in them and uses them to help us grow and mature. It is in these times that we learn to depend on him and him alone.

Most times we live a shallow life. The outside looks great but when you dig a little deeper the foundation is weak. Our character hasn’t been tested and given a chance to mature. We take the shortcut and think no one will see. It reminds me of a man that built a sailboat.

There was a man who wanted to build a fantastic sailing ship. He used the best of materials and bought the finest sails. When he was finished, the boat looked awesome. It sparkled and shone in the sunlight. There was not another ship its equal. However, below the waterline he wasn’t as diligent. He skimped; when it came time for the ballast, he didn’t have much of anything in the hold. 

Do you know what happens when your sailboat doesn’t have any ballast? When the boat met its first big wind, it toppled over. The shiny new part of the boat was now underwater and what the man thought no one would see was exposed for all to see. When you build a sailboat it is what you have below the waterline that determines the magnitude of the storm you can endure.

Life is much the same way. It matters how firm and stable our foundation is. We cannot endure the challenges of life without the right foundation. We cannot survive the storm without being anchored in Christ.

Difficulties and challenges will come in life. There are three ways we can respond to those difficulties and challenges.

Despise; we can hate God and be angry with him. Like throwing a temper tantrum when we were children and our parents corrected us or made us do something we didn’t want to do.

Discouraged; we can be depressed and think that no one loves us. We have no self-worth and doubt if God even knows we are alive.

Learn; we can choose to be proactive and teachable. We know that God is in this, he is in control and he knows what is best for us. Through this situation we need to learn and mature. We open up our hearts and heads to the teaching of God and strive to learn everything there is to learn from the situation, knowing all the while God walks alongside to guide us.

How have we chosen to face life? Are we wise and build on the solid foundation of Christ? When the storms of life come will we have what it takes on the inside to get through? Or will everything we have built in life come crashing down around us. God stretches us, molds us, shapes us to develop the moral character we need to still be standing when the storm passes.  

We have the choice to make. Do we follow God as he helps us through the stretching process or do we take the path of least resistance. One will lead to a life that is strong and able to withstand the storm. Let God stretch 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.

On an asphalt modified, the right rear is usually the critical tire. It’ll wear out the fastest, but it gives the car the bite off the corner to power down the straights. The grip on that tire is vital. When well-managed, a driver can overpower the field at the end of the race. How are we addressing the struggles in our lives? Do we have a grip on things, or are we spinning out of control? When we are struggling, it is essential to know that we aren’t alone. Let’s look at some of those in the Bible that faced difficult times and how they got a grip on their situations.

            First, let’s look at David.  David was called “a man after God’s own heart.” While not without some significant flaws, David knew where to go in his many times of trouble.  

“Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught.”

Psalms 55:1-2 NIV

            David was wrestling with people chasing after him, trying to kill him, and add on top of that, trying to honor God while knowing all the while he would become king of Israel. Here is one of the most extraordinary men in the Bible struggling.  Imagine going to a track, and the best team there suddenly is running at the back of the pack and can’t find speed.  We all have struggles.  We all have times when we feel like life is out of control, and we have no grip. It’s not something to be ashamed of, and it’s an opportunity to turn to God.

If we keep reading Psalm 55, we see how David’s tone changes in a few short lines.  He goes from “Hey God, don’t ignore me!” to “You got this God.”

“As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalms 55:16-19, 22 NIV

I love how he says in verse 22, “Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” God loves us so much he wants to help us through our struggles, and he’s given us all we need to do that.

            We’re not always going to struggle.  Sometimes we may go out on track, and things just click, and the grip is there.  Our lives again will be the same.  Does that mean God loves you less when things are tough? Is he ignoring you?  Did he forget about you? No.  God is unchanging.  He loves you and wants a relationship with you.  David recognized that God was with him always, in both the good times and the bad.

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Psalms 139:8-10 NIV

            The Apostle Paul is another person to look at when we think of having a handle on things.  He also was someone who didn’t have a lot of freedom to control his own life, spending a good portion of his last few years in prison. Yet, he managed to see that despite all his circumstances, that God was in control. When our lives feel out of control, we need to remember who controls everything.  Do we trust that during the chaos that God is still in control? Are we trying to grab onto anything we can, or are we trusting in God’s plan? We need to look ahead to the plan that God is setting before us.  Are we trying to run our lives in our way, or are we trying to honor Him? Ultimately our focus should be on becoming more and more like Jesus.  Paul writes about this in his letter to the Philippians. 

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:10-14 NIV

Maybe you’ve felt out of control lately. God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s already won the battle. Take the time to seek after Him in the same way David did. Take time to trust His plan the way Paul did. Hold on to God with a firm grip and press on to the prize that He has for you. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! Remember that your prayerful support and donations help us continue this ministry. Thank You.

Struggle is not an unfamiliar word in the racing community. It is something all teams endure on their way to figuring things out. Some teams it seems are in a constant struggle to just get on the track. Other teams it is just a momentary bump in the road as they sort things out. Given the current situation this race season has introduced a new kind of struggle, when are we racing.

Most seasons the schedules are released, plans are made, dates are circled on the calendar and we prepare the cars for the races we will run. Not this year, for the touring series it has been all bets are off. Take the Whelen Modified Tour, we have run three races. None of the races we have run were on the original schedule. Add to that the tracks we ran the opener at hadn’t been run for several years and the other track, White Mountain Motorsports Park had never been run by the tour. Talk about a change in plans.

Other racing schedules have seen the same transition. As I talked with a couple race directors they shared how challenging it has been to find places to race, put plans in place, and prepare to go only to have the rug pulled out from under them. Nothing is certain these days until you are at the track and you hear the sound of race cars!

Local tracks have had to find their way through this same mire of ever changing restrictions and protocols just to run with reduced fans or no fans at all. Some tracks have given up and canceled the season. Other tracks have just now started racing. While some have been able to get things rolling they have had to make adjustments for weather and schedule conflicts. It has been a struggle.

How are you dealing with the challenges of the current situation? Have you been able to cope with the struggle of figuring out what you can do, where you can go and what type of PPE is required? I have had my moments. I am not the only one. Many are frustrated with the struggle to sort things out, who to believe, what figures are accurate and how to move forward and get some normalcy back in our life.

John 16:33; NLT; I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

As Jesus sat with his disciples around the table for the Last Supper, the Passover feast, he shared with them an important thing that we need to remember when we struggle with the circumstances that surround us. Jesus has overcome the world.

He shared that with his disciples the things that would happen over the next few days and not to be worried he would overcome it all. That met with disbelief and uncertainty. The events of the next few days would be something no one had ever seen or would see again. The disciples had struggled with grasping the entirety of it all. They refused to accept it and even fought back saying they wouldn’t let it happen.

When things happen that we have never seen or experienced we resist, it is only natural. We fight back and try to put things back the way we think they should be. We struggle with change, especially change that we cannot understand or grasp. Remember the words of Christ, we will find our peace in Him.

Peace is an interesting thing, you can only experience true peace when you have the power and authority to change things. We tend not to think of it that way but the fact remains anything short of that allows for something to disturb your peace. Think of someone who has stepped beyond the bounds of accepted behavior, they are detained and cited for disturbing the peace. In the absence of the authority and power to keep the peace there is no peace.

Jesus has the power and authority to make peace and keep the peace. We need to embrace that, believe it and live our lives in the peace that Christ provided in His death and resurrection. Resting in the peace that Christ provides is easier to say then do. Especially when the things that provide comfort and security are being threatened. The truth is we are searching for peace in those things and not Christ.

Christ shared with us some important words from His first public speech, the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 6:31-34; NLT; “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

For peace to take hold in our heart we need to focus on the work of Christ and not on our own abilities. We find peace in Him alone. Giving our life over to Him means trusting our future and wellbeing to Him. He and he alone can give us peace.

Matthew 6:27; NLT; Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

John 14:27; NLT; “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

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

It is no secret that many think the rules exist in racing as guidelines. Nothing is wrong until you get caught. Many have said, “It isn’t cheating if you don’t get caught.” Well that’s not true. As much as we would like to get away with something, have an advantage over others, we still have our own conscience to deal with. We may try to rationalize it away but the fact remains, we know what we have done.

One of the results of acting that way is a lack of peace in our lives. We can never relax. We always have to concern ourselves with getting caught. We are always on the lookout for those who are watching us. We live our life looking over our shoulder wondering who is watching.

Our life in Christ should be one where we don’t have to keep looking behind and wonder if someone saw us do something wrong. We should be confident that our motive for everything we do is done with integrity and honesty. Everything we do should be done in a way that would please God. 

I must confess, like everyone, there are some areas of my life that need some work. When I receive an email and it starts out saying that they saw the pace car somewhere I immediately think about how I was driving and whether I was polite and gracious. There are many times I would like to get even with a driver who drove in a way that bothered me or put me in danger, but I must remember that getting even isn’t a fruit of the Spirit, self-control is.

We have these two natures in us. The second one appears when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. The first is there, in us since the fall of Adam. We are predisposed to be selfish and we try to manipulate every situation to our advantage. We want to satisfy ourselves without any thought of what is best for those around us. You can see it even in young children; we have to teach them to share, tell the truth and be nice to others.

When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in John’s Gospel, he talked about being born again, a spiritual birth. We all have a physical birth, but this spiritual birth is when we acknowledge the fact that we are sinners and ask God to forgive our sins and accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We invite the Holy Spirit into our lives to guide and direct us in the ways of God. The conversation is in John 3, verses 1-19, I encourage you to read it. In it you will find the familiar passage John 3:16.

John 3:16-17; (New Living Translation) “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

This conversation is the basis of how we understand the new life we have in Christ. It also helps us to understand the battle that rages in us between good and evil. If we have accepted Christ there are two natures, our old one of sin and our new one of the Spirit. As I spoke before about the how God prunes us and shapes us into the person he created us to be, this process plays out in our lives as a struggle between what we were and what we are in Christ.

Let me ask you, are you complete? Have you had both a physical birth and a spiritual birth? If you have, you know the internal struggle we face. If you haven’t there is no time like the present to ask God for forgiveness. We are always available to help you with that decision, call on us and we can help. 

Think of trying to stretch your car to the end of the race? Avoiding the pit stop and hoping you had enough to make it. Sometimes we don’t make it. Sometimes we fall short of the finish line. We need to take the proper steps to finish the race in such a way as to win. We need to make the right adjustments in our lives.

For some, we think we can just forgo the decision and not participate in this spiritual birth. We think we can just do our best and try to be good people and that will be good enough. It won’t, if we do not accept Christ, we are destined to destruction. Our sinful nature will lead us down a road that makes life meaningless. We will wake up one morning and regret the path we took and wonder if there is still a way out. Our only hope comes from accepting Christ and securing victory over the struggle.

Romans 6:12-14, (New Living Translation); Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Living without the anxiety of looking over your shoulder is a wonderful blessing. Getting there takes some practice. We have to overcome all those desires that are in us with the character of God. The Holy Spirit that now dwells in our heart will help us learn what decision is right. Paul compiled a list in Galatians for us to compare the two natures so that we can understand to difference.

Galatians 5:16-22 (New Living Translation) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

We need to change the direction our lives are going. If we stay on the path of self-fulfillment, satisfying our own selfish desires, we will find out sooner or later we missed the boat. We will find ourselves living a life without meaning or substance. We will find ourselves lost; looking for the turn we missed, wanting to move our lives in a different direction.

As I am know to say “If you woke up this morning and they weren’t throwing dirt on you, there is hope.” As long as you are still here there is hope. Hope that comes in the form a Savior, Jesus Christ. Take time to consider how many times you have to look over your shoulder and see who is coming up behind you, wondering if you treated them right. Accept the hope that Jesus offers and start your life down the road that leads to security, satisfaction, fulfillment and life.

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