Drag Boat Review Magazine - Team RFC Straightline - A Straight

RFC header narrow

Human life—as we now know it—isn’t destined to be a bed of roses. Just like in racing, things don’t always go as planned, and a lack of win lights or checkered flags can become frustrating when things aren’t going the way you would like. Losing races or incurring serious health issues can be disheartening while thinking; will this situation ever get better?

Romans 8:28 in the New Testament says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The apostle Paul was writing to the Christians in Rome giving them a sample of his message before he arrived in Rome proclaiming salvation is available to everyone—as an organized and carefully presented statement of his faith—and telling them about how God takes unique care of His children, along with the freedom of no condemnation we have in Christ.

ADVERTISEMENT - GOOD VIBRATIONS MOTORSPORTS

In life, we’ll all have some physical, mental or emotional issues that are painful and don’t seem to make sense, but we still must trust God to see us through in our life’s personal story…so try not to worry…as our faith and salvation are predestined for His eternal glory.

In May, I had a painful kidney stone removed in the hospital. These stones are small (3cm), but painful: A tiny rock that causes such big problems for the human body, and I, like most people who have to deal with this situation, didn’t like it, but made it through to tell the story. “Our truest form of worship can often be in trusting and praising God even in the storms of life and uncertainty of certain times in our life,” (Randy Graham).

ADVERTISEMENT - T and D MACHINE PRODUCTS

There was ample time during the four day stay in the hospital to think— “through the watches of the night”—contemplate, and of course pray about what was happening inside this seventy-seven year old body. Four days in the hospital was not a vacation. Poked, prodded, IV’s, drugs (hallucinating on fentanyl), tests, very little sleep, and thankful for insurance easing the mental discomfort.

Being in the hospital with an IV in each arm, and those air things squeezing your lower legs, is not the most fun way to spend Memorial Day: As I lay there thinking about the situation, my heart communicated to my brain “As long as you have God’s IV of the Holy Spirit running through your body, you’re in God’s Good Hands whatever the situation may be.” “A merry heart does good, like medicine,” (Proverbs 17:22). God’s peace brings cleansing and refreshment.

With an internal combustion engine, the fuel pump—whether it’s a four cylinder daily driver or a 12,000 horsepower nitromethane fueled motor—is like an IV for the fuel that feeds the engine its life sustaining nourishment and keeps it running on all cylinders. Without the IV—bodily, spiritually, or mechanically—discharging its fluid, disaster could be looming around the corner for your physical health, your racing engine’s health, and your eternal spiritual health. We must be injected with God’s truth speaking to us loud and clear.

ADVERTISEMENT - ALKYDIGGER

Music has been a big part of my life, and in those lonely hours in the hospital bed during the nights—Linda was with me during the day—after the surgery, different songs were going through my mind. One in particular was an old Beach Boys song “Help Me, Rhonda.” I was singing to myself, “Help me Jesus, help, help me Jesus, yeah, get me out of this place.” This song brought some comfort during the night…no need to fight…in a room with little light…it must have been a dreadful sight…but praying with all my might.

I got to thinking and realized, it’s never good to neglect any small discomfort or pain in our bodies (like a pain in the lower left abdomen), as these are warning signs of something our body is trying to tell us—like the red warning light in your car—as a caution sign something’s amiss within our body, and we should do something. Duh! Go to the doctor!

In the racing world, it’s never good to neglect a little warning sign with even the smallest thing within your engine, like the wearing out of a small part that may cause a big problem on the race track. A part—like a rod or main bearing or maybe a bare or singed wire—wearing out could cost you a race or worse in a high-powered racing machine.

"Sports can open doors, but only Jesus can open hearts, and that’s the only win of eternal significance."

Therefore, on the spiritual side of things, it’s never good to neglect a calling from God that in reality goes out to everyone on earth. Like the Tom Petty song, or maybe God singing it to us, “Don’t do me like that, don’t do me like that, listen honey can’t you see, you were in the public eye, giving someone else a try, someone’s gonna tell you lies, cut you down to size, and you know you better watch yourself.”

To ignore our bodies little warnings, to ignore our racing machines little warnings, and of most importance, to ignore the Gospel is to face a different set of consequences. It’s a greater message with greater cost. Why ignore the greatest message with the greatest reward? Living life to the fullest for Christ on earth—His will be done—and with an eternal heaven thrown in for good measure is the best of both worlds. Warnings allow us to evaluate the risk!

ADVERTISEMENT - STAR CARDS

Isn’t life strange that God would build a self-sacrificing highway to eternity through a cross—the cross of Christ. This narrow pathway is easy to find, yet few desire to find their way on it. Many people profess Christ, go to church, and maybe even get baptized, but few undertake the total surrender of salvation under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The narrow way must be entered through the narrow gate—and that one lane has sufficient room for everyone.

Isn’t racing strange too: It takes a lot of time, effort, dedication, wisdom and money just to field a racing machine: Then the narrow way to the winners circle is not easily found by everyone who competes. Only a few find the winners circle, by surrendering to the assignment.

ADVERTISEMENT - JESEL VALVETRAIN INNOVATION

In Christianity, the winners circle is a free gift to those who receive it from the checkered flag Christ is waving right in front of all of us: Can you see that checkered flag? Do you want to hold that flag in your hand for eternity? Do you desire all of your family and friends to be holding that checkered flag? We’re called to view life from a God-centered perspective.

God’s hand is involved in all things in this world, including our individual lives (and racing too), as He’ll work it out for our good. “Faith is seeing things (or people) as God sees them…the immeasurable value He sees in me and everyone else, as well as envision His capacity to accomplish the impossible,” (John Simon).

“Sports can open doors, but only Jesus can open hearts, and that’s the only win of eternal significance. In the world of sports, it’s easy to chase glory, the headlines, the stats, the trophies. But those things fade,” (Melissa Motes). God can use racing, or sports, not to make someone famous, but to make Him known. Don’t experience Christianity without experiencing Christ!

ADVERTISEMENT - BILL MILLER ENGINEERING

The potential in the world of motorsports is limitless. I’ve been around drag racing for six decades, and I’ve witnessed incredible progress in the horsepower of engines and the incredible speeds that have been attained during this time period. How do we harness the horsepower? More importantly, how do we humans harness the incredible power of God the Father who raised His Son Jesus Christ from the dead, and use it in our lives for His glory?

My heartfelt prayer straight from the heart is that you get to meet the One who has given you the ability to shine in your little part of the world: The One who gave you the wisdom and skill to become a champion in your given endeavor of motorsports and life. When we use our God-given gifts to point others to Christ, we’re building a real championship team and legacy. The racetrack may bring you to the pinnacle of your chosen class in racing, but it’s the Lord Jesus who brings you to glory! “I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God,” (Allen Gardiner).

ADVERTISEMENT - GRP CONNECTING RODS

It’s possible to see God’s goodness more clearly in the hardest of times—even in a hospital. You’ve heard and read of my previous way of life, but God was pleased to reveal his Son to me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles (non-Jews): God who has set us apart from the time we were born, has called us by His grace, and has revealed Jesus in our hearts.

A person’s deep longing for God reflects a profound awareness of their need for His divine presence and intimacy all day, every day. God’s presence is essential for our spiritual wellbeing. Therefore, nothing else can satisfy this inner spiritual craving…in this sin corrupted world we’re all braving…along a way we’re hopefully paving…at times maybe waving…about His children God is always raving…as the Good News is for your and my eternal lifesaving.

ADVERTISEMENT - IMCO MARINE