It is that time of year in which there are banquets and the season trophies get handed out. They are always a fun time to get together with the racing community.

As I reflect on them this year, I think about two things, first the trophies. During the race season I have seen guys give away their trophies. Bobby Wilberg often does that at MIS. I happen to have the fun of winning a faster pastor race this year and I gave my trophy to the guy that finished second (maybe should not have doored him coming to the line).

We go into high schools and see the trophy cases filled with those “days of glory”. Successful individuals but mostly filled with teams that succeed as a group. Racing is a team sport and that is where the credit lands at banquet time. Many names are mentioned not just the driver.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? I am not one to set them. I used to but most times they would only last a short time and I would fall back into the habit or action I was trying to stop. That was where the problem was that I was trying to stop something on my own. Now I set goals which are slightly different then a resolution. In setting goals they are realistic, attainable, timed, and measureable. It is said that goals should be SMART.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011, Part 1

Think with me. You are mostly going to be giving and receiving gifts this week and next. I want to look at both sides of that with you. It is better to be the giver, right? Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" There is a thrill to have picked out that great gift and to watch the person open it. How would you feel if they would just keep it under the tree and when they packed up the tree they packed up the gift too? That would not make me happy, how about you? What if you have a son that races and you get him a fire suit or a cool new helmet? How about a new engine? Instead he just ran around in last year’s tired motor when he could have a bunch of new, fresh power. You might even get a little ticked off at him wondering why he didn’t open the gift up and he just replied, “I didn’t want to and I may or may not get around to it later, or maybe not at all.”

Let’s turn the table and think about being the receiver of a gift. Someone took the time to think of you and get a gift you wanted. Like a sponsor buying gas or tires for a season and instead of receiving, opening it you just say, “no thanks.” That would be ridiculous. Teams are begging for money to get on the track. Instead we look forward to grabbing that wrapping paper and ripping it open to see what is there.

At work there is a lady that shares a story once a year or so. It is called “Keep Your Fork, The Best is Yet to Come”. She tells it in a way that is supposed to be motivational for the change coming. I have often thought, “Wow there must be more to the story. This has to have a spiritual meaning not just some poorly done work motivation.” I looked it up and found two things and had one racing thought of my own.

First, as we think about racing and this story, we think about the next race. It is the best because it is next. There is hope of a win, a top five, something special, that best finish ever, the stepping stone to a championship, the first pole win, that checkered flag and trophy, the start of a new season, a new opportunity, a new team or shaking down a new car.

Please stop with me for a few moments and reflect on the country we live in. It is a great nation with much freedom. Today and this weekend we give thanks to those that have served this nation. Thank you to those that are serving right now. Our prayer is for safety and for your return to your family and home.

One of the keys for great athletes is slowing down, pausing, breathing, gathering their thoughts. We see it in a lot of sports. In racing the adrenaline rushes through the body. However, it is not just sports, it is in many different things in life. We can feed off of the drug. Those that can slow the adrenaline down and gather in their thoughts, their breathing, and reflexes, can have success. It takes focus. I remind the kids of this often in their sports and it is a small part of their success (credit really goes to God). Think about the racer that does not control it. They go out and just mash the gas and fly into the corner and wad up the car. Even worse is they pile up others with them. If they just slowed down, breathe, think and then find the hole they could have passed a bunch of cars. Think about guys that make the move from the back to the front. They are patient. They know when to move forward and pass and when to wait in line.

Here we are at the 10 year anniversary of the 911 attack. It has been a difficult 10 years with great loss of life. As I think of this anniversary, I must first think of the families that lost loved ones. O Lord would You provide them comfort as this weekend comes upon us.
Second, I think and pray for the soldiers, firemen, police and others that had friends and family they lost. I also thank them for their continued service.
Next, I think of Scripture that tells us to stand firm and to be united. 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Galatians 5:1 Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Colossians 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

We said goodbye to a faithful friend last night, Bob Schmelzer. Bob meant alot to a lot of people and you could hear that echoed. I want to reiterate some of what I said and a little more I was thinking about.

Many of us got to enjoy Bob giving us a nickname and the friendly smile as we came to the pit gate. That seemed to be followed by stories which we enjoy together. The other thing I liked to watch was Bob’s interaction with others as they came to the gate. He knew some many and so much about racing that he had something to share with all. I liked how he taught, such as with the OTC kids. He would be giving them a hard time but he was teaching.

That can change our lives today.

Psalm 40:1-3

"I waited patiently for the LORD;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD."

Last week I shared this with those attending chapel at MIS and thought it would be good to share again. Hopefully it is as insightful to you as it has been to me while I continued to think about it.

So I was writing, praying and thinking this morning and trying to think of a way to communicate the desperate need of those needing salvation in the racing community. Here is what God laid on my heart.

Have you even had just a bad day at the track? Like you unload and find out you forgot the war wagon (tools). Ok, more realistic something you need. You get out on the track for practice and you break, you fix it, go out for qualifying and slide up into the wall, fix it and start the race and wreck again. I know there have been guys that have had this kind of day/night. I just witnessed one like that.

So think of it like this. What if you wrecked and just kept on wrecking over and over and over like in a bad dream. It just did not stop. What if it was not a dream? What if it was a reality? No escape. Of course with that kind of wrecking there would be physical pain too, and no escape from it either. You would want to go tell others not to follow in your footsteps.

Do you have a clear picture? Does it make you uneasy?