Have you ever looked all over for a problem? Be it with the brakes or the motor or steering. I have heard guys chasing those types of things for weeks and then they stumble on the solution. I remember one Christmas we were down at my Dad’s place and one of the kids dropped something small and Dad got a flashlight out and in a few seconds found it. Talk about teaching points!

A bright light finds the missing. 1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. I was lost, you were lost. The Light of Jesus Christ showed a) sin, but b) Himself as the only hope and only way to be found but we have to obey the light and live in it. Wanting change, His change, His way. That is a picture of salvation.

We can pray for help. We can pray that God opens are eye and our heart for have Him search us. Psalm 139 takes about God searching our hearts and knowing us. It tells us we cannot hide in darkness. Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; God knows our sin. He sees it. We CAN’T hide from Him knowing.

An older, wiser person came to help. In this case it was Dad. It could be a friend in Christ. It could be a wife or husband. It could be anyone that is studying the Word and is a praying obedient person. They cannot fix me or you but they can come along side and encourage or challenge us with the words of the Bible. The great work will be done by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 4:6 states, Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. And Psalm 31:16 says, Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. Then along side of this is Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light f or my path. See that God is light and His Word, the Lord Jesus being God Himself is light (see 1 John 5 above). It is clear that we can either try to live life in the darkness, in self; or we can give our life to God and live in His light, in glory.

There is a song in church these days that goes, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.” Have you prayed that? Listen to Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. And then Acts 16:14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

I hope that if you do not know salvation; if you are not sure where you would spend eternity you would call out to the LORD to open your eyes. If you are a believer why not join me in prayer, “LORD, open my eye so that I can repent of sin. I know it is distasteful to you and offensive.”

Have a great day racin’ in the SONshine,

Todd

Can I help you discover some truth? Let’s go searching together. Give me a call or drop me an email.

Too bad to lose another one to rain, but we know God is in complete and sovereign control. We continue to think about the ones that have lost loved ones lately. We are especially praying for the Lettow’s and their friends. It has been a tough season for losses to the race family this summer as we think about John and Sue McKarns, Jim Back, Howie Lettow and others. This reminds us how important it is for us to meet the Lord; both for those left behind, and what we pour into their lives, and also for where we are for eternity.

In racing there is a lot of safety equipment. There have been great improvements in the construction of seats and affixing them to the driver’s compartment. Also in the area of chassis and roll bars. Another of those improvements is the Hans device. It protects the driver from being thrown around in the car if there is an accident. It keeps the neck, head and helmet aligned.

Here is something to think about. If you know that the Hans can help you stay safe, that is head knowledge. It is good to have head knowledge but the big step is the action, the action of using the Hans. Like I said there is a difference between head knowledge and faith and trust followed by action (obedience).

It is the same with the Spiritual aspect of life. We can know that God is real. We can know that He is the one that saves. We can know that God sent His Son, Jesus. Even that Jesus is Lord and God as Thomas said in John 20:28. We can know that Jesus died on the cross for us and rose from the dead, but if we have not called out in surrender and brokenness; if we have not placed our faith and trust completely in the finished work of Jesus on the cross there is no salvation. We can see from Scripture below the importance of faith that has moved from the head to the heart and into our lives:

Ps 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

Rom 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Rev 3:3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.

I pray you have put on faith and trust and that you know salvation; your salvation.

Look at 1 John 5:10-15.

Have a great day racin’ in the SONshine,

todd

It is with great sadness we announce that Howie Lettow has passed away. We send out our condolences and prayers to Cheryl, as well as all of Howie’s family and friends.

Howie will always be known as one of the greatest crew chiefs in Wisconsin and the Midwest. He had major impact on many drivers’ lives and the racing community. He won numerous championships on different levels. As good as Howie was, he seemed to have time for anyone that asked him a question or just wanted to talk.

I leave with you Scripture as at this time we need to lean on the LORD and His strength.

Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Todd

We sometimes wonder why God is putting us through things and how can any good come out of it. Here is a good example of not seeing the good until a few months later. The Brinkman’s put together a truck for Kyle and did lots of work to get it ready for the 2010 season. They got to Madison for the opener and it was great to see their excitement. On the other side of the excitement was a nervous dad, knowing the reality of the sport and its dangers. One of the cool things about the guys that run in the truck is how helpful they are to each other. John Wood came over to talk to Kyle and take a look at the truck. He noticed right away there were some issues that needed to be fixed. He let Dave know and told Dave he had to promise him that Kyle would not run the truck. There was a problem with a pump and they could not find one which is unusual as it was a common pump. So Kyle and Dave were really disappointed they did not get it going for the race.
John also said to bring the truck to the shop and he would pick it apart and see what needed to be done for safety. The Brinkman’s followed through and John found a number of major safety concerns. He worked it over and got it safe and race ready.
Now, fast forward to WIR and think about the wreck Kyle had. It was not good to watch but God protected Kyle and the safety equipment did its part. Kyle walked away and was up and working on the truck in a couple of days. Now, go back to MIS. If God did not use John to look the truck over and if the Brinkman’s would not have followed through with him and to go through that wreck at WIR, Kyle may have been hurt badly or worse.
Can you see the hand of God? We pray for protection before each race and I have the privilege of praying over the guys and here is a time we see directly God guiding the situation and protecting. The honor and glory goes only to the LORD.
Psalm 92:5 How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!
1 Chronicles 28:9 for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.
What a testimony of God faithfulness and goodness!
Have a great day racin’ in the SONshine,
Todd

What a tragic accident in California yesterday where an off-road racer rolls his truck into crowd, killing 8. We can easily wonder “why”? Yet we know that that God knows even before He created life each day of our life from begin to end. He set the days.
Psalm 139:16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Romans 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”   For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers’ sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men.

todd