 Do
you know what is going on around you? Sometimes we get tunnel vision. When
we focus so much in one direction we can lose our sense of what is going on
around us. We need to be focused but not so much so that we lose our
sensitivity to what is going on around us. Open Your Eyes! Didn’t you see
me? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever gone to look for something in your shop? You know where it
is supposed to be but when you look there you don't find it. Now lets be
honest some shops are more organized than others. For you guys with the not
so organized shops this is not a problem, you are used to not finding things
where they are supposed to be; but for the guys who have everything in its
place it can be very frustrating when you cannot find something. The first
response is to “ask” who didn't put it back where it belonged. Then you
start to look for it only for someone to find it very close to where it
belonged. You never saw it. Open your eyes! We call this syndrome proximity
blindness.
Let me explain. This is what happens when we are looking for something
that we expect to be in a certain place and fail to see what is around it.
This doesn't only happen when we are looking for something but it also
happens when we expect things to happen a certain way. When things don't
happen the way we think they should we fail to figure out what is really
happening. We don't always look or see everything that is going on around
us.
In the same way, when Jesus came the people didn’t recognize Him; He
wasn’t what they were looking for. Isaiah the prophet explained to us who
the Messiah would be. But the Israelites wanted something different and they
failed to recognize the Son of God. In Isaiah 53 it is explained what we
needed to be looking for.
Isaiah 53; Who has
believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry
ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance
that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with
suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him
not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered
him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he
was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are
healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led
like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his
descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my
people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though
the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD
will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be
satisfied; by his knowledge
my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the
spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the
transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
When Jesus came not everyone recognized Him. Many
thought he was a good man. Others thought he was a prophet and still others
thought he was someone else. Jesus posed this question to his disciples,
“But what about you, who do you say that I am?”
What a great question. Who do we say Jesus is? You see that goes a long
way in how we respond to him. If we do not think he can heal us or forgive
us than what do we think he can do? Most times we look to Jesus when we have
gotten ourselves into a difficult spot that we can no longer deal with. We
turn to Jesus when we have no other option. We turn to Him as a last resort
instead of a first option. Is it because he is not who we are looking for?
Maybe.
We may be looking for someone to set things right; someone to right the
wrongs that others have committed toward us. In Isaiah 53 it says that even
though Jesus was falsely accused He did not open His mouth. Jesus took the
false accusations. Jesus didn't argue or retaliate. He let them say what
they wanted. He suffered and died for our sins.
Christ took the blame for you and me to restore our relationship with our
heavenly Father. We must open our eyes and look upon the provision God made
for the forgiveness of our shortcomings. Do you see Him?.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
THOMPSON
SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK - The red carpet was rolled out and Josh
Vanada and staff deserve a pat on the back for getting the track ready to
race despite the rough, long cold winter. I was certainly surprised and
impressed with the transformation. From the garage area to the flow of
traffic, new pit gates and tech areas I would say things flowed very well.
It was a pleasure to have chapel in the driver’s meeting room. Our heartfelt
thank you goes out the entire crew at Thompson for their efforts. With the
next event scheduled for May 15, it will be great to see the progress.
WHELEN MODS PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF - With a brand new pole
winner, several different leaders and a race winner that hasn’t been to
victory lane in a while; this proved to be great way to start off the
season. Both the pole winner, Woody Pitkat and race winner Justin Bonsignore
made off season changes that proved to be successful right out of the box.
Pitkat took over the driving duties from Bryon Chew and piloted the #88
Buzz Chew Racing Chevrolet to his first Pole. He followed that up with a
second place finish. The teams best performance. After the race they felt
they could have finished one spot higher, as the Crew chief was rethinking
the adjustment they made during the pit stop. Look for this team to visit
Victory Lane soon.
Bonsignore was in his familiar #51 but underneath everything was new. In
the off season he hooked up with Spafco Chassis and Ken Barry made sure he
had everything he needed to get back to Victory Lane . They didn’t waste any
time and put themselves in position to contend for the championship. This
team will also team up on the Valenti Modified Series. That will only help
the chemistry and make for a true title contender in both divisions.
Third place finisher Doug Coby didn’t want to be left out of the new team
on the podium. Doug took over the MSR racing duties from former champion
Todd Szegedy. All Doug has done so far this year is finish first in Daytona
and third at Thompson. It looks like they are ready to contend for the title
also.
Rookie contender Timmy Solomito and Cousin Eric Goodale rounded out the
top five. If Sunday is any indication this should be a wild race for the
championship. The hard luck award goes to Rowan Pennink, after leading the
most laps and having a strong car something broke and he hit the turn three
wall. The crew wouldn’t let that end his day, repaired the car and he was
running at the end. They are also another strong contender for the title,
but have a little hole to dig out of.
What a great Icebreaker, we are looking forward to the next one, Spring
Sizzler, at Stafford Motor Speedway. Thompson has upped the ante for short
tracks with the facility they provided; thanks to everyone for a job well
done.
WATERFORD SPEEDBOWL BLAST-OFF II - One more time! We head to
Waterford this week for the Valenti Modified Racing Series and the
Northeastern Midget Association as they kick off the season at Waterford .
Racing season is here, drivers start your engines!
Until next time, be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals
and apparel. See them at the Show Your Faith Apparel Store at
http://www.rwjm.com/store. Send us your prayer and counseling needs no matter
what part of our racing family you are in, or give us a call. Remember that
God loves you, we love you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
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Tolland, CT 06084.
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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
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