In memory of our very good friend, Rev. Pat Evans

HE HAS RISEN

April 3, Tolland, CT--- One of my favorite hymns is “Because He Lives” The song contains many reasons why we can draw on the fact that Christ is alive to encourage us, strengthen us and enable us to live. This life is not just any life but the abundant life that Christ offers us in His Word. Are you rejoicing this Easter because Christ lives? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Luke 24:1-8, On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: `The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words. 

Why do we look for the living among the dead? A good question; why do we continue to search for the meaning of life among things of the world that will lead us to death? We all want to live life to the fullest. We all want everything life has to offer. We all want. Listen to what David wrote in Psalm 23:1 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. NLT            

Is Jesus Enough? Is He everything you need? Can He provide everything we need? YES! 

Let me ask the question, are you living or surviving? Most people I know are just trying to get by. They are just trying to make ends meet. They work from one paycheck to the next hoping that nothing happens that will upset the delicate balance of their lives.

We know that is false hope. We know that life is full of circumstances that can put us into a tailspin at a moments notice. What we fail to realize is that we have made the choices that put us in those circumstances. We are the ones that guide and direct the things we do. We are responsible.

It doesn’t have to be that way. God provided guidance for us. God promised to care for us and provide for us. God gave us a free will to choose. We decide and God honors our decision. Which way should we choose? Which way leads to the best life? Which way leads to life everlasting?

Let’s explore that a little. Who should know best how to live the best life possible? The creator of life, Himself, God. When our car is broke, we don’t bring it to our lawyer. When our taxes need to be done, we don’t bring them to our mechanic. When we want to live an abundant life, we need to go to the source, God. He alone can provide what we need. He alone will guide us in the right direction. He alone cares enough to give His life for us.

Ask yourself, what am I willing to die for? Remember Christ was willing to die for you. However, he not only died for you but he rose again, victorious over death. He offers us forgiveness and life everlasting and He demonstrated to us that He has control over those things.

What one thing do we fear the most? Death. We fear not being here anymore. We fear our loved ones not being here with us. Christ offers victory over death. He is ALIVE!

As you celebrate Easter this week, think about God’s love for you. He loved you so much that He sent His son who gave His life for you, not to condemn you but to save you. You will find that promise in John’s Gospel, chapter three, verse 16-17. Truly celebrate this Easter with a new life, one provided for you by Jesus and His death and resurrection. I leave you with these words from the Hymn “Because He lives” God Bless. 

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

~ William and Gloria Gaither ~

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD 

Drivers, Start your engines! I kicked off the local racing season at THE NEW Waterford Speedbowl. I was welcomed with open arms at Waterford last weekend for the running of the Budweiser National SKmod 150. While the renovations are not complete, you can see the improvements taking place. I won’t go into details but suffice to say the old is going and the new is here. Part of that newness was our presence. We usually only went to Waterford when the NASCAR touring divisions were in town. To be honest we never really felt welcome. That too has changed and I think it will be the start of something great. I was honored to invoke God’s Blessing on the new endeavor and I hope that all the hard work going into the renovations will pay off and the oldest track in Connecticut will survive and flourish.

I had the opportunity to play deliveryman as the company that absolutely, positively has to be there overnight got Joey Payne’s new Design 500, Arbitel Convenience Stores, uniform to their Norwich depot in time for me to pick it up on my way to the track. Remember the guys in purple also deliver. Some of you remember the fate of his previous uniform, it was cut off him after a crash last season. Our prayers are that this uniform won’t face the same fate. Joey won his heat race on Saturday and but came home Third on Sunday. Liquid Lou Cicconi won the NEMA race.

I also had the opportunity to pray with Marylyn Angelillo, car owner Gene’s wife who this week found out she has a medical condition that requires immediate surgery and additional treatment, see the note in Checkered Cheers. It was a great opportunity to meet them and offer to help them through the challenges they face.

Local driver Jeff Pearl outdueled Matt Hirschman for the last few laps to win by a foot in one of the closest finishes ever at the Bowl. All in all the weekend was a great success. Make plans to head to the shore and take in the action at The New Waterford Speedbowl.

Thompson Speedway had 20+ Whelen Modified Tour cars show up for open practice last weekend. They have another one scheduled for this week and the Icebreaker to follow on the 14^th and 15^th of April. Stafford follows that up with an open practice on April 21 for the Spring Sizzler.

NASCAR announced the changes for the 2007 edition of the Toyota All-star Showdown. It will return to Southern California and Irwindale Speedway. The qualifying procedure changed quite a bit. Only the champion and winners of the Grand National division will be automatically qualified. The top fifteen in the standings will qualify for bonus money. They also extended guaranteed starting spots to the Whelen Modified Tour, Whelen Southern Modified Tour and the Whelen All-American Series National Champion. It remains to be seen who will provide the equipment for them when they come. It should be interesting with open qualifying and a last chance 50 lapper for those who don’t time in. I’ll see you there to see how it works out.

Have a great Holiday and we’ll see you in a few weeks at Thompson. Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and apparel. See them at the Online Apparel Store at www.RWJM.org. Call us with your prayer and counseling needs and list all your prayer needs, no matter what part of our racing family you are in, with the Racing Family Prayer Request Page www.rwjm.org/page/prayers.php also send your prayer request by mail. Until next time, remember that God loves you, we love you and

Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.

Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries, PO Box 586, Tolland, CT 06084. Check our weekly printed pages in "Area Auto Racing News", the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper" See our on-line Apparel Store for subscription information. Check our home page www.rwjm.org for past articles. We invite you to input your thoughts as you sign our Guest Book. Please remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful financial support.

Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

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

CHECKERED CHEERS

***WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES*** 

            April 4

MARK & LINDA GEER- The former Waterford Speedbowl Mod Inspector and Speedbowl Office Manager wife have their 37th anniversary.

            April 7

HARRY & PEGGY SOLT- This NH based NASCAR BES GRAND NATIONAL crewman and wife share their 34th anniversary.

RED & MARGIE RAYNOR- The former Long Island Freeport Speedway driver and wife from Deer Park, LI have their 38th.

            April 8

DOC & CAROL LEHMAN- This Smithville, OH AARN and RPM columnist and wife have their 29th wedding anniversary.

PAUL & HEATHER FRANTZ- RWJM Chaplain at Mountain Speedway and celebrate their 7th wedding anniversary.

            April 10

DENNIS & DARLA SETZER- The Newton, NC CTS driver and wife have their special day.

JOE & BRENDA RIOLO- This BNS driver and wife have their anniversary. 

***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS*** 

            April 4

BILL FRANCE, JR.- The leader of the NASCAR pack in Daytona.

TOM PECK- McConnelsburg, PA BGN and Dirt Big Block LM driver.

BOB BAKER- Sharon, VT ProStock driver.

HEATH TOMAR- Son of Greensboro, NC track GM Larry.

CINDY SAVLUK- Wife of Lisbon, CT's Roger at Savluk Service Center.

DONNA HANKS- Wife of Somers, CT LM driver Scott.

ED PERRY III- Seekonk Speedway Prostock driver.

            April 5

SIERRA JESANIS- niece of RWJM President Rev. Don will be 11.

KATIE STANDLEY- proprietor of Lady Eagleware and the wife and number one partner of James, proprietor of the famous Design 500 in Seattle, WA, and maker of the RWJM Chaplain Uniforms and Driver Uniforms in partnership with ASI Racewear, also the Ministry Northwest Coordinators, has her special day. Praise the Lord!

MIKE BLISS- Milwaukee, OR USAC Midget and NASCAR NNC/BGN/Truck driver.

DAVE ASHLEY- Riverside, CA LM driver.

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER, JR.- The son of Plainville, CT Modified driver Mike and wife Jennifer is 7.

ROSE FRYE- The wife of Ferrell,NJ Team owner Warren "Jeep" and grandmother of Glenn, JR.

DAVE PETFIELD- Brother of Dan and treasurer of Racing with Jesus Ministries.

            April 6

AFFONSO GIAFFONE- Sao Paulo, Brazil IRL driver.

KEVIN REX- Pennsy asphalt Modified driver.

WAYNE PATTERSON- Richmond, VA LMSC driver.

KEN BOUCHARD- Fitchburg, MA NASCAR BES/WMT driver, and proprietor of the Thompson Speedway based Modified driving school.

FRED ROSNER- Agawam, MA ProStock/NASCAR BES fabricator.

DAVE ST. JOHN- The military career son of Henry St. John, proprietor of Jewett City Service.

JORDYN ROSE BENNETT- The daughter of Stamford, CT born BES/CTS driver Brad and wife Diane is 6.

            April 7

LOY ALLEN, JR- former NNC driver.

VINNIE GREEN- Wall Township Speedway retired Modified driver.

WENDELL LEE MINTER- Ridgeway, VA host of the "Uncle Wendell's Gospel Music Show aired daily on Martinsville's WODY.

LISA ERM- New Jersey based NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Head Scorer.

JOHN SZERENCITS- Whitehall, PA dad of AARN subscription salesman Don.

JOSEPH ROBERT COX- Rev. Pat's third-cousin son of Bob and Tracy Cox in Boyertown, PA is 9.      

            April 8

ROBERT PRESSLEY- Asheville, NC NNC/BGN/CTS driver.

BILLY MIDDLETON- Germantown, NC Modified driver.

MARK GREEN- Owensboro, KY NBSGN driver; middle brother with David and Jeff.

JEFF CROWLEY- NH ProStock driver.

JOE LARSEN- Former Riverhead Raceway Chief Steward, now an official on the NASCAR whelen Modified Tour.

TOMY MEMBRINO III- Son of Waterbury, CT ProStock driver Tony is 16.

            April 9

DALE SHAW- Center Conway, NH NASCAR BES driver/ fabricator.

ROGER HILL- Westfield, NC NASCAR WMT Hillbilly Racing Team owner.

BOBBY RUSS WOOD- Richmond, MO All Pro Series driver.

JOHN "PEACH FUZZ" JONES- This fan and son of Fuzzy Pete and Ro from Shirley, NY turns 9.

            April 10

KASEY KAHNE- Enumclaw, WA NNC team driver for Evernham Motorsports Dodge.

WARREN KUHLTHAU III- Wall Township Speedway Modified driver.

PAUL McELEARNEY- Riverhead LM driver from Commack, NY

JOHN GEORGIADES- Stafford Speedway staffer and dad of the well known CT racing family.

SHIRLEY HIETALA- Enfield, CT mom of Mod driver Brad.

DEBORAH ZURAWSKI- Wife/car owner for husband Riverhead LM driver Robert. 

*** CREW ADDITIONS ***

CALEP EVAN WILSON- Newborn son of Janai and Jimmy Wilson, Daughter and Son-in-law of our own Bob Menschner, Wall Stadium Chaplain. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 1oz. and 19" long. In honor of Rev. Pat. Evans, who married them, they used the Evan as a middle name. Let us all rejoice at this new addition and pray that God’s mighty love would shine upon this child and his family.

*** IN THE SHOP ***

CAROL PARES- Carol, wife of WMT photographer Michael, had a growth removed from her Brest recently and is going through some additional test. The preliminary results are not promising. Please keep Carol, Michael and the boys in your thoughts and prayers as they stand together as a family through this. Also keep the doctors and medical technicians in your prayers as investigate, diagnose and treat Carol’s medical condition. 

MARYLYN ANGELILLO- Wife of NEMA Midget car owner Gene was diagnosed last week with a medical condition that requires immediate surgery. The details are still in the discovery stage, but she is in need of our prayers. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers as the doctors investigate and determine treatment options.

*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***

LOIS WALKER- Wife of AARN Ohio/Indiana Region Photographer Gerald went home to be with the Lord this past weekend; she battled courageously and will be remembered fondly. Please keep Gerald in your prayers during this difficult time. If you remember it was a few short months ago that Gerald and Lois lost their daughter to cancer. Cards of sympathy, condolence and encouragement can be sent to Gerald Walker, 1261 N. 475 E., Columbus, IN 47203

SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY. SEND THEM TO RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT  06084

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