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Chapel Service

 

Stockton 99 Speedway

 

May 3, 2014

 

 “What’s In 2014 For Us?

 

www.BeyondCheckeredFlags.com

Bob Butcher

 

When I am at home in Salem, Oregon I belong too and attend the “Salem Net” meetings which is the Pastors in Salem meeting once a month with local community ministry leaders like Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission and others.  The last four months we have met together to attempt to recognize how we can impact and change our Salem community as a church and as an individual.   What do we need the most in order to see that change happen?  That became our question and last week we took our summary and began the first of many meetings to work upon how we accomplish this in Salem.  As Pastors and ministry leaders around Salem we daily see and touch the pain and the terrible results of life today and desire to change the effects upon each person we come in contact with, …whether it is one by one, …or groups and communities.  As I thought about this more I easily recognized that our K&N Pro Series West in almost all respects is a community also and we certainly relate to the other NASCAR Series “communities” also.  We may be operating within a competitive and business world setting, but if I look at Salem or any other community it is every bit as competitive in the business world, housing, traffic, and most all other community life.  As our Series begins the 2014 season this is the time where we all need to set our goals to live well and operate and respond in all situations with class and honor.  So, what did we find that relates to our racing family & community?  In no particular order, here is our findings and prayers for them:

  • First, wisdom to seek unity in our community, teams, leadership, and especially as the Good News is revealed in our community.
    • As Kathy & I pray, we pray the Lord will lead us as a people to grow, to converge, and move into a wholesome diversity for growth & deeper connectedness in our series
  • For more patience in driving thus encouraging competiveness, respect, fan attendance from fewer caution laps, & livability with and among each other within our community. Do in our NASCAR community what God desires to be multiplied in all nations.
    • Let’s be realistic here, we CAN cut each other some slack.  We can save it until the run to the Checkered Flag.  We can become famous when we race clean also.  It’s a far better reputation folks to be known as a class act and join some of the greats that were.
  • We each learn to become mentors and then spiritual fathers & mothers for the widows, orphans, and those injured & suffering in our racing community and each of our home cities also.
  • Strengthen marriages in our community.
  • Wash the church in our racing community with the water of the hearing the Word.  Romans 10:8-17*
  • Let us help each other to nurture spiritual maturity.
  • Let’s seek to see God redeem broken marriages and families.
  • Have our NASCAR K&N Pro Series become a lighthouse for God by families, teams, and competitors that live godly lives.
  • Even though we are a small community; let’s see our church and racing community move into supportive relationships with excellent small and large ministries to feed, clothe, train, & help the hungry in our home communities & ones we race in.
  • See deep & greater unity among our NASCAR racing series Pastors. – That has been a goal of Kathy & myself since the very beginning of our ministry in racing & YWAM ministry.
  • Bridge church and community.
  • Have Courage & Humble Boldness as we partner with the particular ministry God has given us through our gifting.  Let us do that within our NASCAR Series, other NASCAR Series, plus our home communities also.
  • Be a conduit of peace to those who have no peace.
  • Strengthen families.
  • Disciple young men & women to be leaders.Build Love & Unity by reducing and/or resolving conflict.
    • Mentor the next generation whether NASCAR Drivers, Crew, Teams, Officials, or in our home community.
  • Walk in Obedience to the will of the Father
    • To always be a role model for others.

 I could have commented upon each one of these points we discussed in Salem, however, I believe that all of us can certainly process our own part that we must play in each of these subjects whether NASCAR or our home life between race tracks.  As 2014 unfolds let each of us stop and think what our tongue, our next action or response will produce.  Each one of us set an example before our K&N community, teammates, fans, and sometimes it even goes a lot farther if the media gets to witness some poor choice of response on our part.  So hello 2014 …we welcome you and we are going to dedicate ourselves to be a class act in all we do or say this year. *Here is what Romans 10: 8 – 17 says:  “ 8 For salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is what we preach—is already within easy reach of each of us; in fact, it is as near as our own hearts and mouths. 9 For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that a man becomes right with God; and with your mouth tell others of your faith, then you are confirming your salvation. 11 For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed. 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect: they all have the same Lord who generously gives His riches to all those who ask Him for them. 13 ” It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. “Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.” Once again, …Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 But how shall people call for help if they don’t know who to trust;  or ask Him to save them unless they believe in Him?  And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them unless someone sends him? That is what the Scriptures are talking about when they say, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace with God and bring glad tidings of good things.” In other words, how welcome are those who come preaching God’s Good News! 16 But not everyone who hears the Good News has welcomed it, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed me when I told them?”  17 Consequently,  faith comes from listening to this Good News—the Good News about Christ.

Have a safe and prosperous race today!