First, we need to remember to pray for those in California with the wild fires going on. They are people being displaced form homes, losing homes and many that are fighting this huge fire. Next, let’s not forget to pray for the people of Syria and surrounding countries in particular those in Israel. Also let’s pray for the soldiers whose work is to keep this country safe and others protected. As we think about work let’s also remember to thank God for giving us work and providing the way He does in this country. He is the one that gives us the talent and ability to work and provide for our families. So there is a start and I know each of us have many more things to pray about. Know that my family and I pray daily for racers throughout the Midwest and the families, teams and fans around them.

Opportunities!

Wow what a great race at MIS with ARCA last week. What a great opportunity and blessing it was for Ross Kenseth and Travis Sauter to be able to get in one of those 3,400 pound beasts and drive.  What a fun and exciting opportunity it was for fans to enjoy watching them race. All of us are given opportunities that are unexpected and enjoyable.

Also in racing we are given opportunities to make changes with the car. Some of the opportunities improve the car and some do not. We need to be discerning and catch the ones that improve the car and pass on the ones that don’t improve the car. I know that is not easy but we have these opportunities in our daily life too.

The greatest of all opportunities is that one of salvation where God allows us to be with Him for eternity.  I would ask that you take your time and read this passage a couple of times and let it sink in deep into your heart and soul. It is life changing and eternity changing!

Titus 3:3-7At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

We can see here that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that the opportunity we deserve is to be separated from God but because of His love for us, His mercy and His grace we have the opportunity to be with Him if we will repent and turn from sin and turn to Jesus as LORD, calling out on Him and seeking His forgiven. He is the Master of heaven and our lives.

Do not miss out on the best and most important opportunity in all of life!

Have a great day in the SONshine and see you at a track soon,

Todd

A couple of weeks ago there was a driver who noticed a gas cap missing from another competitor’s car. He could have just not said anything but after I prayed with him he said, “go tell that guy he is missing his gas cap and it is around the corner at the end of the pits.” I told the other driver and he got it and put it on and off he went. I have heard of guys telling other guys about bigger issues then that.

So if you knew of another driver’s problem would you tell him or just let him find out for himself even if it meant he would crash hard? I think you would tell the other person. WHY? Because we don’t want to see anyone hurt.

That is why I have¹ to tell you that God made you and loves you² to the point of dying for your sin. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We need a Savior and only Jesus can provide that way. Will you turn to him right now?!

Just think about if someone warned the other driver about something that was going to cause a huge wreck and they ignored the warning. Wow, how silly that would be. Well, there are people that hear about Jesus and ignore Him. How sad that is. Don’t be one of those that are foolish. Repent and turn to Jesus even right now!

Have a great day in the SONshine and see you at a track soon,

Todd

¹Why I have to…

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: Psalm 40:9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. Psalm 71:15-16  My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.  I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

²What has to be told…

The gospel is John 3:16 “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.Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 10:9-11  That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.“

Most of the time when there is an incident on the track the fingers come out and pointing begins but some tracks and series have a rule involving tapping the roof of the car. It indicates that the other driver is not at fault. I am not a big basketball fan but I watch some and I see the guys throw their arms up and look to the referee like, “I didn’t do it”, when they hacked the guy. I like the roof tap rule because it gives a sense of ownership credit to the guys who use it. Too often in life we try to not take responsibility. We hear it in the news. We see it at work. Our kids do it (you know it is always the brother). Most importantly is in marriage. When we see it in marriage things really fall apart. All of those areas of life are much better when we take responsibility for our own actions.

In Psalm 51 we see one of the clearest examples of saying, “Yes it is I who sinned” and in verse 4 (Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,) it is clear where the sin is. For those of us that have repented and are saved this is important for us to know and act upon. We know there are consequences for sin. One of the consequences is fractured relationships. To mend them we have to admit to the sin, then say sorry, then ask forgiveness. God is faithful and just and will always forgive.

So we get a good example in racing of admitting to wrong doing, taking responsibility, and we need to live it out in our lives. I hope you are living this lesson out today!

Have a great day in the SONshine and see you at a track soon,

Pastor Todd