Chapel Service
Special Edition
All American Speedway
October 17, 2015
“Did You Know?”
www.BeyondCheckeredFlags.com
Bob Butcher
Calling this a “Special Edition” seems a logical thing to say when today we really have no options for any kind of Chapel Service due to the tight time constraints this event brings.
The message I planned will hold for Phoenix where the time frame is generally looser and I should be able to have time to personally share part of the story out of my past. Those days that the message comes from are precious memories of my wild and crazy twenties, …and no, I never at the time figured that someday it would be a chapel message, but only a good belly laugh among buddies when we got together and reminisced. So keep Phoenix Chapel time directly following the Driver and Crew Chief Meeting open on Race Day November 12th.
I figured that this might be a good time to completely change a format, and even name it differently. So let’s branch out together and try something new. Who knows? …maybe we all might like the format!
I also have another reason for trying this. Very often there just isn’t time to have a face to face, spoken Chapel. It’s just a time issue and we need to remind ourselves that we are all here with the K&N Pro Series West to serve the track that invites us to entertain the fans. They are first and foremost. It’s show business. So, whether the spoken Chapel is done in by the schedule or a last minute autograph session is fine. We are all here to serve, period. And, Kathy and I are here to serve all of you; the Race Teams, the Officials, the Owners and that is the why of these printed messages.
Kathy and I are always open to adjust any way we need too and try to bless you the way that fits you and your team best… hence today’s method. Let us know what you think.
Now let’s get down to business. I wanted to make sure that you have some “reading material” to fly home with. I also want to try being very brief at the same time. Exactly what does that mean however? How much is too much? How little is too little? Can I simply point to one scripture or one brief subject and talk about it? All those questions and more have been sort of bugging me as I thought about this. But, here goes:
Did You Know?
Hmmm… maybe I will turn this around and come at it a different way. Instead of commenting right off the bat, let me ask a question instead:
Do you know how many scriptures in the Bible directly relate to God telling you not to be afraid or be in fear because He is in control? Got a guess?
- 100?
- 255?
- 300?
- 422?
- Another Number?
Okay, I have strung you along long enough, haven’t I? Would you believe there are three hundred sixty-six? (366). Stop and think about that a moment…
Yes, it’s true. I researched it of course. I have heard it before but I always do my own research also.
Now that you had a moment to think about that, then I will make the fact known that that means there is exactly one for every day of the year, …AND one for a Leap Year too!
That’s amazing to me that God thought of that kind of statistic. BUT… wait a minute, …that’s just a coincidence of course. How would God plan that? …IF there IS a God that is.
Personally, I just snicker at stuff like this. God never ceases to amaze me! It’s one thing like this, after another, throughout all the years of Bible College and all the years following it. And, I keep finding new “coincidences that amaze me… so much so that it just reinforces my trust in God and the Bible.
Since there are 366 scriptures to dwell upon when it comes to fear or becoming afraid in life, please allow me to mention a few:
Psalms 27:1-3 – “The Lord delivers and vindicates me! Why should I fear? The Lord protects my life! I am afraid of no one! Even if I am attacked and all hell breaks loose I will remain calm as a baby and be cool, collected and confident in God to handle it all so my heart will not be afraid.” (GBB)
Hebrews 13: 6 – “Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down or never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote: God is there, ready to help me; I can be fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?” (GBB)
1 John 4:18 – “God is love. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love and forgiveness.” (GBB)
2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self controlled discipline that can overcome all things that come against us.” (GBB)
Those are only four of three hundred sixty-six. You can delve into the other 362 on your own. On a last thought I would say that if we simply took one a day and learned about it, memorized it and committed it to our “tool bag” that’s ready for problems; then we would throw the enemy right out the door of our mind every time he shows up to intimidate us.
After you consider this allow me to add a couple more considerations to your thought “toolbox.”
Romans 5:3 says: “We can rejoice and continue to shout our praise, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop a passionate endurance.”
That is because of what God says to us in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.”
Because of this we can “Praise Him in this Storm” according to the song by Casting Crowns:
“I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
Chorus:
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm”
In conclusion then, we can be sure that God is by our side throughout it all, no matter what, and that His loving plan is to make us into a far better person, stronger, and more like Himself every time we face what ever the issue may be. Therefore, do not be afraid or fear anything that comes our way!