We have two major Midwest events coming up. Rockford hosts the National Short Track Championship this weekend. We will be there Saturday and Sunday and have been given a chapel time on Sunday morning. Pray for God to open hearts as His Word goes out. I am speaking on “Our Desperate Need”.
 
Then, next weekend is OctoberFest at La Crosse. Again we will be there Saturday and Sunday and will have a chapel service on Sunday. Pray for Pastor Andy Buhrow, the local chaplain who will share on Sunday.

Both of these events have the best drivers in the Midwest coming as well as others from around the country. If you have never been to either you need to make plans to attend some year.

Last week at Madison International Speedway we had The Classic with over 250 cars. There were many good opportunities to share and pray over drivers and teams. We are VERY thankful to have been given the time off work to fit the ministry in. It makes for long weeks so please pray for strength.

Thank you and have a great day racin’ in the SONshine,

Todd

We finished the season for Madison International Speedway this weekend. What a great season we had. God provide much undeserved mercy and grace to us this year. I know it was a struggle for some especially off the track. We had a high number of those that passed away and even at this time we are thinking of Mitch’s family.

As I thought about the MIS season ending I thought about a couple of Bible verses:

John 4:34, said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work and John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” Even Jesus had work to complete and He did that perfectly setting us an example. This year there was work done on the car and some even at the end of the season learned things that will carry over to next year.

As I thought about the season coming to an end I also thought about how we need to be prepared to finish life, for none of us know that day or hour that we will go into eternity, whether that be in heaven or hell. We have to have made the right choices. We have to finish with Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We cannot do it on our own. I pray that you have made that choice, to set aside self, and place your trust and faith in Christ.

Have a great day racing in the SONshine,

Todd

Also, if I can help at anytime in the off season, please do not hesitate to give me a call or e-mail me.

First, I want to thank the men and women that serve in this country of ours. From the armed service, to the police, firemen, rescue teams etc… Thank you for your serve and sacrifice. We pray for your safety and strength.

Second, as we remember 9/11 we are reminded that they are families hurting and in need of the Lord’s comfort, protection, strength and love. May God flow over them in a mighty way.

Third, we pray that God would bring an end to the wars and bring home our loved ones safely.

Fourth, I think of those that give their well-being and even their lives for the name and service of our Lord Jesus Christ. We may not think often enough about those who cannot openly meet together, carry a Bible or pray without great sacrifice. I would challenge you to think about it and if you don’t know about this let me introduce you to some. Just ask me about it.

I was able to serve at the Dells Raceway Park with ASA Sportsmen and Mid Am. There was also a group called Extreme Sprints at the track and WOW they are extremely fast! As I thought about it on the way home, I thought about how God is extreme and how He moves in some extreme ways.

God is extreme in the way that He has only one way and He is a jealous God. There can be none other. I have His word on it. Let me share some things I think are extreme:

Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

This is extreme – creating everything out of NOTHING! Giving life, every life, born and unborn. It is extreme that there is only one God, the triune God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit. He declares and others echo that there is just one God. He is jealous. There can be no other.

Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

This is extreme – God is the one unshakable Rock. We know the words, but think about being so solid nothing can move you! It is extreme that He alone is my salvation. There is no other and God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. It cannot be someone else, a church or a good deed. It has to be salvation His way.

Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.

This is extreme – Jesus declares His Lordship in the Old Testament and that there is NO savior apart from Him. We may think that it is only in the New Testament but it is echoed from Genesis to Revelation and creation itself declares it so.

Romans 1:18-20 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

This is extreme – God says there are no excuses to hide behind. Creation really does declare God. It is clearly seen. Even a blind man, like me, cannot miss it. I had NO excuse for those 30 years I lived DENYING God was GOD and that Jesus was the LORD GOD. His eternal power and divine nature is extreme. He is completely holy and perfect. That’s extreme. God is completely self-existent.  That is way extreme.

Isaiah 44:6 This is what the LORD says–Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

This is extreme – God is exclusive. He is the only true God. All others are just god (small ‘g’). The problem is we let the small ‘g’ god control. It can be many things including a drug, sex, money, job, a house, shopping, power, position, lying, tv, music, etc… The Lord is extreme in that He is first and last and all that is in-between.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This is extreme – No one comes to the Father except through me (Jesus). There is no other way, no other truth, no other life! We can try a man-made way that sounds really good but in the end it leads to death, separation from God for eternity in hell. But, our extreme God gives hope because a sinner as great as I, can turn to Him and have salvation. I just have to follow His rules, His way, His truth.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This is extreme! – Christ died for our sin. Wow! That is extreme love. That is extreme care, kindness, grace and mercy. Knowing my tremendous need, knowing I cannot save myself, knowing I do not deserve Heaven – He reached down and took me from the pit and pulled me out to life in Him.

John 3:16-21 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.  This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

This is extreme! – love that gave to the point of death. Again, it is extreme that God gives one way to salvation. We must believe and He promises eternal life. It is extreme that He is the only light and the world is clothed in darkness. There is an evil one that pursues us daily and wants to destroy us. Yet there is hope; a victorious King who is Jesus. It is extreme that we cannot live both for self and for God. It is extreme that we cannot be both in the light and in darkness and expect God to save us. We have to live by the truth.

John 4:50 The man took Jesus at his word

Will you take Jesus at His Word? Seriously. Stop. Think. Pray. Confess. Surrender. Repent. God’s way and for His glory and your life, true life.

This is just a few of the extremes of God. There are hundreds more we could look at. Maybe you want to start a list and keep it in your Bible as you read daily (hint).

Out of love for the Lord and you,

Have a great day racin’ in the Sonshine,

Todd

Wow, what a cool night last night (September 8, 2010)! I was able to hang out with the Whittens of Tanner Whitten Racing in Rockford, IL. We attended a church youth group and Tanner did an interview in front of about 250 kids. There was some great footage of video shown before and during the interview. After his interview, about 20 respond to the message in one way or another. To God be the glory!

It is our goal to clearly present the message that Jesus is Lord and the only hope for all, but especially to the youth. With Tanner being 17, he is able to reach a unique group. Last night, we set up the car (#85 Late Model) outside the church; placed the hood in the front of the platform, racing equipment in the background and had Jeff and Tanner in chairs for the interview.

One of the many special times happened after the presentation. A good number of the youth went outside and hung around. Tad, Tanner’s Dad, grabbed some Sharpies and gave them to the kids who started signing the hood of Tanner’s car. This gave Tanner some really good openings to share. It was fun just to stand in the background and watch.

We are looking for opportunities to share in other venues. Please contact the Whittens or myself if you have a group that would be open to having the team come and share.

Well, we got some of the Championship Night in on Friday. More to come. Invite your friends; the Classic is coming! What a good season we have had regarding safety on the track. We must thank God for the protection He gives week after week.

This week, my kids and I were lying on the floor reading from the Bible. I try to read, have them read and then talking about what we read a few times a week. We were in chapter 24 of Luke. Listen to this, think about it and I pray you stand, sit, or lay in the amazement as we did.

In Luke 24:13-16 we read, “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.”

The first thing we noticed was that they were having a conversation that was Spiritual in nature. I am sure they were trying to figure out truth. What really just happened? Then we notice, “Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.” Come on! WOW! Jesus, God, the Risen LORD walking along side of you. Can you imagine being one of the two? That thought blows me away. Then the chapter continues in Luke 24:17 to say He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” So now, not only is Jesus walking along side them, He is speaking with the two. Drink that thought in. Think about Jesus walking along side of you and speaking with you! Not just speaking, He says as quoted in Luke 24:27, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

So not only walking along side, speaking to them, He also explains all the Scriptures concerning himself. This is crazy cool! I almost tremble thinking about this again, as I did the other night. Then to top it off, Jesus says in Luke 24:31, “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.” OK think about that! Having your eyes opened by the Lord Himself, about Himself. Amazing! Fabulous! Astounding! Wonderful! Incredible! Staggering! Remarkable! Marvelous! Mind-blowing! Get the picture? This is a WOW moment both then and now!! Let me say, if this has not moved you at least a little you need your eyes opened like they had. Stop right now and pray, “Lord Jesus open my heart and my eyes without delay. I want to see you. I want to understand.” I guarantee that if you earnestly call out to the Lord, He will reveal Himself to you. Salvation is close behind and you too can be AMAZED.

So let me finish with this. The saved will have an experience like this. Ok, an eternity much like this. Walking the streets of gold, sitting at the table together with the Lord; grand worship in His presence. Please don’t miss it.

Did this touch you? Did this leave you with questions? Let me know.

Have a great day racin’ in the SONshine,

Todd