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

NO GREATER LOVE

May 29, Tolland, CT--- Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13. Our country is built on this premise that God established at the foundation of creation. This past weekend we remembered those who selflessly gave their lives for our freedom. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
 One of the basic concepts of life is give and take. Life is much more rewarding and fulfilling when we learn the balance of giving and taking. When our life seems out of sorts, it can be traced to this concept.

Think about it in racing terms, when we have a race where there is some give and take the racing is better. When someone is out there and all they are doing is taking, the racing gets heated and sloppy. The other drivers are frustrated and the results are not the best. Conversely, when all someone does is pull over and let everyone pass the racing isn’t very exciting either. When there is a balance there is better racing.

The concept of giving ones life for the benefit of others is not new. This is the greatest gift someone can give. The problem arises when we take it for granted. When we do not remember and say thank you we become the takers. We need to be motivated to give because of the opportunity we have been given.

Think about times in your life when you have been given something, something of great value. If your first feeling is that you don’t deserve it, that is good. Then if you are motivated to give back that is great. It is when we have the attitude that we deserved it that we falter. Compassion has its roots in our willingness to give when we have been provided for.

Our country is based on the right response to the gift of freedom we have been given by those who gave their lives for us. If we respond with an attitude that we deserve this we are wrong. The right response is to express a deep appreciation to those who have given so much. This appreciation should motivate us to give as we have been given to.

God gave us the opportunity to overcome our shortcomings. He loved us and didn’t want us to live our lives in vain, separated from His guidance and wisdom. He provided a way for us to receive forgiveness. Out of love for us, He provided Jesus. 

John 3:16-18, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 

As you read these verses you can see how the proper response is one of believing and accepting this gift. Without a proper response to the gift we have been given we condemn ourselves to living life and eternity separated from God.

I would encourage you to develop the right spirit in your heart. Recognize the gift of freedom we have been given by those who have given their lives for us. Go out this week and drive through a cemetery, look at the American Flags that adorn the graves of the veterans who have paid the ultimate price. Take a moment to say thank you and pray for the family that lost this person. Let them know that you appreciate their sacrifice.

Likewise, remember the gift of forgiveness that has been provided for us by God, and say thank you to Him. Let Him know how much you appreciate His sacrifice for our freedom from the consequences of sin.

After we have said our thank yous, commit to live a life that demonstrates that appreciation. Live like you have been given a tremendous gift, the gift of freedom to live.  

1Peter 3:8-12,  Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  For, 

  "Whoever would love life

    and see good days

  must keep his tongue from evil

    and his lips from deceitful speech. 

   He must turn from evil and do good;

    he must seek peace and pursue it. 

  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

  but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."  

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

As I drove up to the gate at Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday I was welcomed by a sight I had come to take for granted, Wild Bill Slater was once again at the gate. He told me it was his first day out since he had bypass surgery. It didn’t take long for Bill to be his feisty self again. Great to have you back Bill.

We debuted last week on the new Modified website, The Chrome Horn, www.thechromehorn.com . We are excited to have the weekly column available on a website that reaches the Modified Community. Please stop by and take a look. While you are there take a look at the new Ford Fusion ministry pace car. Howie and Mary took photos of it at SMS last Friday night. The photos are in their photo gallery for the Connecticut Classic WMT race.

We had some extra curricular activity after the race on Friday. Jon McKennedy spun hard into the first turn wall while running eighth late in the race. They transported him to Baystate Trauma Center in Springfield as a precaution. After some tests and some treatment he was held overnight for observation. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready to race soon. I think he will be ready before his car is. They are a one car, one motor team with a tremendous amount of work to do before the next race at Thompson.  Keep his recovery in your prayers. Jon has shown he has the ability to get his car in the show and run up front and if you can help them get back on the track, I am sure they would appreciate it.

NASCAR returns to Vegas with the Banquet for the Whelen All-American Series. I heard the reports from last year’s event and it was a very popular choice. Maybe we’ll have to make the trip out there and celebrate with the champions from the Northeast.

Thompson Speedway got into weekly action this past Thursday. I look forward to being out there this week before I head out for South Boston to take in the Busch East Series Race on Saturday night. Take time to get out to the track and watch the racing action live and in person. Have a great week.

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*** 

            May 30

BOBBY & MEREDITH DILLNER- This Long Island native, now a Charlotte based SPEED CHANNEL reporter and wife share their 14th anniversary.

TOM & CARITA TWINEM- These Brookfield, WI fans share their 26TH anniversary.

DON & MARY ANN MOYER- This Delaware race writing couple have their 14th anniversary.

JOE & JULI ANN DEVOLVE- This Plainfield, CT fan couple shares their 8th anniversary.

            June 1

RANDY & LYNDA HEDGER- The Tioga Speedway/NASCAR WMT driver and wife from Morrisville, NY share their special day.

BOB & TRACY COX- Rev. Pat's cousin in Boyertown, PA and wife, both NNC and Sprint car fans, share their 10th anniversary. 

***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS*** 

            May 30

BOB NEWBERRY- Schenectady, NY Alchohol Funny Car driver.

GLEN MEISENHELDER- Springfield, MA occasional NASCAR BES driver, son of Ken of KGM Video.

PAUL HEARD- Lisbon, CT LM driver.

TED SEMINARA- This "Area Auto Racing News" Nextel Cup photographer from Brewster, NY is now turning "Rebel" down in Mount Holly, NC and loving it.

LISA ORR- Daughter of Orlando, FL LM driver Pete and wife Terri.

PATRICK SHANLEY- Bethel, CT Lebanon Valley fan turns 16.

            May 31

GENE WEIDMAN- Big Diamond Speedway dirt NASCAR Modified driver.

ED SANSEVERINO- Hillsborough, NC Orange County (NC) Speedway and AARN photographer.

STEWART LEHMAN- Former longtime staff member at Wayne County Speedway, Orville, OH.

THOMAS PURVIS- Son of Clarksville, TN BGN driver Jeff is 18.

            June 1

NORM PATRICK- Publisher of NY State's "Gater Racing News."

JAY SAUTER- BGN/Craftsman Truck Series driver.

DAVY JONES- Lake Tahoe, NV Offroad and CTS driver.

DARRYL LEWIS- New York Southern Tier asphalt Modified driver.

LORRAINE SYLVESTRI- The wife of Rich, retired proprietor of Sylvestri's Auto Care World Center of Speed in Canterbury, CT.

LEW MARDEN- Onwer of Air Transport, Inc in Concord, NH and Jamie Tomaino NASCAR WMT fan.

DAVID BAKKER- NASCAR BES Race Director

MARY ANN MOYER- Delaware writer.

MATTHEW THOMAS- Son of northern New England's "Racin' Paper" Publisher Mark.

DALE BEERS- Dad of Northampton, PA Modified/NASCAR WMT driver Eric.

            June 2

KYLE PETTY- Randleman, NC Petty Enterprises NNC driver.

SATCH WORLEY- Rocky Mount, VA driver.

SAMMY BEAVERS- Glen Gardner, NJ retired famous dirt Modified driver.

STEVE KINSER- Bloomington, IN  World of Outlaws superstar.

LISA LILLQUIST- The daughter of former Thompson Speedway Late Model driver Jerry and wife Debbie, now living in Myrles Inlet, SC.

JOHN UDES- Wall Township speedway/RoC Modified driver from Morris Plains, NJ.

            June 3

SCOTT NICKEL- The Thompson Speedway based photographer and brother of photographer Dale.

            June 4

BETTY ANN EVANS- The wife of Racing with Jesus Ministries founder Rev. Pat Evans.

BOBBY HILLIN, JR.- Midland, TX BGN driver.

MICHAEL DOKKEN- St. Petersburg, FL LM/CTS driver.

JENETTE SMULLEY- Daughter of Big Diamond owners Fritz and Krista Roehrig.

            June 5

BUTCH MILLER- Coopersville, MI NASCAR CTS driver.

MIKE & TED CHRISTOPHER- Plainville, CT twin drivers, both talented in open and closed wheel competition.

EUGENE SENA- Middletown, CT Mike Christopher and NASCAR WMT crewman.

GARY NELSON- NASCAR Managing Director of Competition.

TONY SYLVESTER, JR.- The son of semi-retired Lebanon, CT Mod/NASCAR BES driver Tony and wife Diane is 17.

LISA NICKEL- The daughter of Thompson Speedway photographer Scott and wife Joan is 16. 

*** IN THE SHOP *** 

JON McKennedy- Keep Jon in your prayers as he recovers from injuries he received in a crash at SMS last Friday night.He had his head scrambled a little bit but his prognosis is for a full recovery.  

JACK ANDERSON- This request comes from the Chaplain at Knoxville Raceway, Troy Miller of Team 316 Speedway Ministries. Troy writes, Jack is one of our car owners and a father of one of our drivers, he is beginning a chemotherapy regimen to treat a small cell lung cancer that has spread to other organs in his body.  A website that has been set up to send encouraging words to him and his family is www.caringbridge.org/visit/jackanderson.  Please take a moment to pray and write a brief word of encouragement to their family.  Please encourage others to do so as well.  We want to flood this family with Christian love! 

NICHOLAS MARGIOTTA- Nicholas’ daughter Nicole writes and tells us the doctor’s have found a large mass on her father’s larynx and they believe that it is cancerous.  They  will be receiving the results of the biopsy late next week.  She asks that we join with her in prayer for a mighty healing!  

*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***

CHRISTINE ERREDE FLEMKE BOWEN- Christine, Eddie Flemke and Paula Flemke Bouchard's mom, went home to be with our Lord on Saturday, May 19. Born on Christmas day she was a lifelong resident of New Britain, CT. Christine enjoyed many things, ceramics, gardening, sewing, reading and recently volunteered her time comforting people in the hospice program. Christine is survived by her three children, Paula Flemke Bouchard and her husband, Ron, of Fitchburg, MA, Edward D. Flemke of Southington, and Kenneth P. Bowen, Sr. and his wife, Lois of Sturbridge, MA. She also leaves three beloved grandchildren, Chad E. Bouchard of Fitchburg, MA, and Jordan Leigh and Kenneth P. Bowen, Jr., of Sturbridge, MA. She also leaves her brother, Nicholas J. Errede of New Britain; one nephew, Donald J. Errede of Coconut Creek, FL; and one grandniece, Heather Lynn Errede, also of Coconut Creek. Christine was predeceased by her son, Russell Scott Flemke. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eddie, Paula and the entire family. To extend condolences or to share a memory of Christine, please visit the website at www.shakerfuneralhome.com.

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

Long Island Motorsports News encourages you to patronize our fine sponsors---

Disclaimer:  Views expressed by columnists and all others on this website are strictly their own, and may not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of the management of Long Island Motorsports News.