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Chapel Service

Portland International Raceway

July 18, 2010

“Racing Rhythm”

Bob Butcher

Today’s Chapel:  “Racing Rhythm”

You’ve all been to the track and seen the Drivers race. Everyone races; one wins. Race to win. All good Drivers train hard. It takes years of seat time & practice to gain that sweet rhythm.  They do it for a trophy that tarnishes and fades. However, You and I are after one that’s eternal.

 

(That is nothing more than 1 Corinthians 9:24, Gospel by Bob)

 

Life is like racing too.  We love being in a rhythm and running well.  You got it all down, confident.

 

Then,…BAM! … just like racing; we get rattled big-time when we get knocked a bit off track or something happens that  rattles us even if it isn’t our doing like a crew mistake on a pit stop.

 

Life was fine a moment ago, and now God allows or brings a test that you did not foresee.

 

Okay, you are way off rhythm now  …off the pace, focus interrupted or maybe mad and ready to do something stupid…

 

Stop here a moment and turn to the person next to you and tell them:

“you look pretty good for what you have been through!”

 

Often we need a calming influence like our Crew Chief on the radio, to catch our breath and get back focused and restore our rhythm.  That is totally, where God comes in during a life crisis.  An Owner, Crew Chief, Friend, Family cannot ever give you back the focus that requires the peace that ONLY God can bring because He knows the end from the beginning. (see Philippians 4:7)

 

Let me use this analogy:  “ You are here at Portland and everything is going great when all of a sudden out of turn 11 you are sideways, backwards, heading for the wall …

…blind in the dirt, tight grip on the wheel, knowing this is gonna hurt.

…this cars gonna be totaled…

…all the work the Owner, my Crew have put in is gonna be wasted…

…I might be out of a ride…

 

When you hear “ Let go & trust Me”…

“Who are you?”

“God” …just let go of the wheel and trust Me”

Your response?…

“Is there anybody else up there?”

 

Have you ever found yourself in a position where:…

…Your control is in question?

…Your faith is in question?

 

How many times have you prayed “My life is in your hands Lord”

…Then, how many times have you taken it back?

…Well, you are in good company …so did the Disciples …and me!

…consider them in the boat in the storm & He calmed the sea.

 

Or …consider kids when you are washing their hair & tell them…

…”Now …DON”T open your eyes …over & over, yet…”

What do they do? …They open their eyes & the whole deal goes south.

 

Isn’t that what we do to God?

 

John 14:1 says: “Don’t let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me…”

The wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs 3:5-7 says:

“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and do not lean on you own understanding.

…In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

…Do not be wise in your own eyes!”

 

Proverbs is full of scripture that alludes to the fact that…

“If you trust in yourself, then you are a fool…

…But those who trust in God will never be disappointed”

 

So today…

Let me express Philippians 4:7 this way (In The Gospel by Bob):

“When your rhythm gets broken …don’t fret or worry. That only leads deeper into fear.  Instead, …pray!  Let God know your deepest concerns with petitions and then praise. Before you know it, God will settle you down and bring peace that defies all comprehension and put you back in rhythm, …maybe not the way you see it; but bringing everything together for good in His big picture. This peace will control the way you think and feel and guard your heart against worry and fear.  This kind of trust will allow God to do something beyond anything you ever expected”

Get in a rhythm today

&

Have a safe and prosperous race today!

Bob ♥ Kathy Butcher

Chaplains / Pastors to:

NASCAR K & N Pro Series West

Bob is not paid by NASCAR or by MRO.

Bob is a volunteer and pays his expenses by donations received.

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7085 Battlecreek Road SE, Salem, OR 97317