In order to have a successful season two words come to mind: Commitment, and Control. Some teams seemed to ‘mail it in’ and are just playing out the season. Still others have the attitude that says ‘We Won’t Wuit no matter what.’ A long time ago I learned that quitters can never win, and winners will never quit-even though the cost of continuing many times exceeds the perceived value of the prize. Quitting is never an option for those whose goal is to succeed in every area of life.

When God created this world He made a commitment. He will never give up on His creation, even when all around Him, people would quit on Him, ignore Him, betray Him and seek to destroy Him. His Love always endures. He never gives up, and never stops loving His creation, and that includes racers, teams, officials – in other words, all of us. God wants us to ‘keep on keeping on’, or in the words of St. Paul, “be not weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap” – If we don’t quit!

The other word is Control. The teams that are succeeding are those that never seem to be out of control. When it’s not right they take control and try to fix it. When tempers flare, and anger boils to the top, they don’t react, and when they perceive that they have been used, abused or wrecked they maintain conrol.

Throughout the scripture God uses ‘self-control’ as a measuring stick to determine leadership abilities, and requires that this be part of the life of those He uses.
These two words Commitment, and Control should become a part of all of our lives. God has committed Himself to us, and wants us to yield our life Control to Him.

Not often – but sometimes – things seem to get out of control at the race track. Suddenly folks enter attack mode, from which it’s difficult to emerge. Track conditions vary causing set up and handling issues. Getting it all just right appears to be an impossible task. And then, when you finally think you’ve got it all together, in comes the rain or cold or wind and you begin all over again, if at all.. Darlington is known as the track that is ‘Too Tough To Tame’, Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mi. is one of the most unique and difficult to find a controllable and fast line to race. Winchester Speedway in Indiana as a high banked monster. If you’re part of the dirt track community you know that these tracks are even more difficult to get and maintain control. It is at these points that tempers are likely to flare and the day’s frustrations come spilling out.

However, as difficult as controlling a race car is – and as impossible as it seems – there’s an even more insidious control problem we all must face. The Tongue. Yep, that’s right, the tongue. I continually tell my grandchildren: “Your words can be a sword or a band aid. Which do you choose?” It’s a question I’d like to ask you today. Do you craft your conversations to build and uplift the people around you, or is your goal to hurt and tear them down? Good food for thought, isn’t it?

Check out these verses from the Bible, Luke 6:

44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. [Emphasis mine.]

It seems that so much of life is out of our control. But here’s something we CAN control – it’s not easy, but the rewards are great. Want to learn to control your mouth? Control your heart. Take a look around you. Who are your friends? What do they talk about? What do you listen to? What do you watch on TV or the internet? What do you read? It’s as true in life as it is in the computer world – garbage in, garbage out. If there’s garbage going into your heart, is it any wonder that garbage comes spewing out?

My challenge for all of us today is this: Guard your heart and mind. Determine to be kind and build up the people in your life. Let’s band together to protect our loved ones and friends from the ‘swords’ they might feel from others and apply the band aids of gentleness and patience. If that concept rules in our lives, we will definitely have “tamed the untamable!” And you can know that God will be pleased!

As surely as the sparks fly upward, man is born to trouble….Pro. 5:7. If you are a part of the racing world you realize that there is never a week that we don’t encounter trouble. Very few racers can look back and see a week when some kind of trouble doesn’t follow them. Wrecks, mechanical trouble, engine problems, team disagreements to name a few. That being true, it would be an understatement to say that many times during the season frustration reigns.

All of our lives are much the same. How many days out of a week run perfectly smooth, days when there are no unexpected delays, or difficulties? NOT MANY, and that in turn leads us to frustrations that can get us down. That’s just one reason that God has commanded us to help one another in whatever need that we see. It is one of God’s ways of spreading His love for us, and through us. You can be sure however, that we are all about to have some trouble. Pro. 14:1 says. “man born of women is of few days and full of trouble.” How we handle it is up to us. Can you use your trouble to help someone else? Can we learn from someone else’s trouble? What ever the trouble, God’s Word says that whatever we face, someone has had it before, others will have it again, but He promises that there is a way through it. Perhaps you may be the one to help another to be encouraged.

In 1 Peter 5:7 God tells us to ‘Cast all our cares upon Him, because He cares for us’. Because He cares, we can too. So pay attention! Maybe your trouble may be the opportunity to show someone else You Care! God does, and so should we.

Remember, race season is here. The opportunity to help in someone else’s trouble is just around the corner.

“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 12:35

For the average race fan that’s what a race looks like. There are some really passionate drivers, and team members, spending hundreds of hours, thousands of dollars, using gallons and gallons of expensive fuel, tires that last for a week or less, and taking a beautiful race car and it’s engine one step closer to catastrophe. In fact many make jokes about the fact that racers do all of this to end up where you start, and have never been anywhere.

But on the other hand the same could be said of our jobs, hobbies, and most other sports. In the end the rewards for all of the time and effort are usually quite short lived. Trophies get dusty, and broke, money gets spent and has been put into a pocket that has no bottom.
Soooooo. We go back reload, and do it all over again.

In the Word of God, Solomon wrote about this very issue in the book of Ecclesiastes.
He had it all: fame, power, riches, women, friends, and incomparable wisdom, and of course he acknowledged that it all came from God. Historians tell us that he was the richest king in Israel’s history and few, if any other in history, came close to his power and influence. Yet he too found himself in the same situation that we are, and asked pretty much the same questions we do. ‘What in the world is truly worth doing?’

After a life time spent seeking wisdom on this very subject he came to this conclusion.
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 When all is said and done, the conclusion to the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

In the same book Solomon said that there is ‘a time for everything under the sun’ including competing, loving, working, entertaining, being entertained, and even racing.
So because that is true, the apostle Paul’s words in Colossians 3:17…whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

As ‘Nike’ says ‘JUST DO IT’. Just do it because IT IS before the Lord

Why then do we become fanatical racing maniacs who count down the days to Daytona? Why do we burn precious vacation days to devote to race events. Who pays us to advertise our favorite colors/ logos/ numbers/ drivers on shirts and pants and hats – and whatever else we can find to show our loyalty? In fact, sometimes we get a little offended at those who call us ‘fans.’ We don’t want to be thought of as simple “fans.” We go way beyond the lower-level of fans – we want to be known as FOLLOWERS. Ask us anything about NASCAR, about our driver, about any race team – Roush, Hendrick, Gibbs, about any track or series, and we know. We KNOW the stats and figures and late breaking news. We know their families and their history and chances are, we even peer into their lives on Face Book. Why do we do that? Because we’re not just FANS, we’re FOLLOWERS of this amazing community we call motorsports! And we’re proud of it, thank you very much.

That being said, when you choose a crew chief, you’re probably not going to want to call any of us. We may know a little bit about set-up/tire pressure/wedge adjustments, etc. but when you’re in a race and you need expertise to put you to the front, there’s just nothing like someone who knows cars from front to back and has the experience to tell you what’s going on and what you need to do to go faster and stick in the corners. We would all mean well, for sure; but, when it comes to the important stuff that really puts you at the front, you gotta have someone who knows his stuff. There’s absolutely no substitute.

That’s why when it comes to spiritual matters, I don’t trust anyone but God. There’s no one like Him anywhere. He designed and made us and sent His Son to show us how to live – not for His benefit, but for our own. Check out this paragraph from the scripture, and see if you don’t think Jesus is the One who can help you through this life, too.

Hebrews 4 – 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The Bible says that one day, our life…in fact, this whole world will be FINISHED – DONE – ENDED – COMPLETE – CONCLUDED – HALTED – CLOSED – HISTORY – KAPUT – TOASTED.  And once that happens, there will be nothing left to do but face Eternity.  Each of us will take the checkers and move toward our final tech, into a life without end.  Where shall we spend that endless expanse of existence? If you can’t answer that question with certainty, we need to talk!

Toward the end of his life, the Apostle Paul wrote these words: “7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (II Timothy 4, NIV)  He sounds pretty confident of his future, doesn’t he?  He IS confident, and you can be, too.

Ask Christ into your life today. Then let this be the day you think about the finish line and the trophies that await those who love and serve God.  Life isn’t about winning and losing.  It’s about loving and giving.  Ask the Lord to fill your heart with those desires today.  Ask Him to give you the strength and wisdom to put others first.  Wrap your life around the needs of friends and family, and watch your own worries disappear.  That’s the way to finish well.  That’s the way to seal the deal on your coming ‘end’!  It’s the only way to peace and happiness.  Do it now.  Really – how about right now!

…There are 168 hours in a week.  Every week.  All summer long.

…A lot can happen during those hours.  Most people work 40 hours during the week.  Most people sleep at least 50 hours during the week.  We have games and practices to attend with the kids. We have chores to do at home – mowing the grass, weeding the garden, cleaning the garage – that all take time.  And mostly during those intervals, we really don’t care what the weather does.  In fact sometimes, we’re GLAD when it rains during the week and we get a reprieve from scheduled work / activities.  For the most part – we can adjust to a little rain.

But if I ran the world, it would NEVER, EVER rain on a Friday or Saturday night!  Think about it…it can rain any day of the week from midnight– 3:00 AM. In fact, it can rain EVERY day of the week, April through September, midnight to 3:00 AM.  Who would care – in fact, who would even know?!  Lakes and rivers would be refreshed, the grass would get watered, we’d get to go racing every week-end all summer long and never once worry about the weather. Isn’t that a great plan!? Yep, that’s exactly how it would happen if I ran the world.

Interestingly however, no one consults me regarding running the world or controlling the weather.  In fact, God even lets us know why He’s chosen to remain in charge.  Evidently the Lord thinks He knows exactly what we need and when.  And, to tell you the truth, I take great comfort in that.  It takes the pressure off.  The stress isn’t on me – it’s on Him – and we can completely trust Him with it all!

Check out this verse from Isaiah, Chapter 55…

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.

⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Or how about this one from Jeremiah 29…

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Worried about rain this week-end? Well, just realize that if it comes, a loving God is behind it and He’s promised to work it all out for your good!

The Bible says that God has a plan designed specifically for you. In Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord tells you all about it… “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” That’s gotta be the best deal ever. God knows you. God loves you. God plans for you. And all He asks is that you receive the blessing and love Him for it.

Like any plan, though, it’s only good if you work the plan. Why would anyone turn that down? We get to prosper and know that we have a hopeful future – because none of it depends on us – it depends on the Word of an Almighty God. There aren’t many can’t fail propositions in this life – but this is for sure one of them!

Our prayer here at F.T.M. for you is that YOU will prosper, and be successful and prosperous in all you do. And when that happens, remember the One who made it all happen. He loves you so much. Why not take a moment right now to ask Him to make His plan for you clear, and then choose to follow that plan and trust Him completely.