Bibles Ordered & Vision Study!!

The Bibles for the crew care packs have been ordered thanks to the donations of our Small Group Class at Indian Creek Christian Church! Praise God! We are still raising funds for the backpacks and other items. Our Daily Bread donated 500 devotinals which have already arrived! Pray that God will bless this project and it will work to further His kingdom!

The Vision Racing Winners Circle study is going well. Some of the topics related to Joe Gibb's book Racing to Win that have been discussed are, trials, spiritual trasnformation, God's plans for your life, prayer, and the desires of your heart. Pray that God will continue to lead the subject matter every Wednesday at 11:30!!!!

Crew Care Pack Project!!

We are moving forward with a project for next year!!! We are raising funds for a “care package” for each of the crew members for next year…. I am getting’ excited about this…. The pack would include:

New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs Bibles with the IRL Ministry logo imprinted on the front cover, drawstring backpacks with the IRL Ministry logo on it, 60 day devotionals, tool box decals, IRL Ministry 3 fold flyers, beef jerky packs, trail mix, gum, mints, a bottle of water, etc. to fill out the packs.

If you would like to be a part of this project, please let me know! We still need money to order the Bibles and bags and are looking for the rest of the supplies to pack the bags!

A bible in each IRL crew member's hand. How cool is that!!!!!!!!! God Bless!

Vision Study Update

We covered the first two chapters of the Joe Gibbs "Racing to Win" book yesterday. We had 6 guys attend and two more that showed some interest! I believe the Holy Spirit was present as we had great interaction and discussion. Please pray as we continue this study next week!

Also pray for the other studies at the IRL offices, Panther Racing, and one "in the works" at Andretti Green Racing.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas season! Let's keep Christ first in our lives this year! I have been working on my schedule and budget for next year. I have submitted them to my church, Indian Creek Christian Church (http://www.thecreek.org/), who partially supports me in my involvement in the IRL Ministry. I will be attending approx. 13 races next year! I am so excited to be led by the Holy Spirit in this effort!

I will be running the Vision Racing Winner's Circle this Wednesday. We are going through the Joe Gibbs book "Racing to Win". Pray that God will be present and actually leading the study (not me).

Please pray for those who have lost their jobs in our racing community. These are difficult times for the teams and team members. Also pray for George Del Canto and his family from Kingdom Racing (http://www.kingdomracing.net/). His wife recently went home to be with the Lord. Pray that they will see God's control and direction in this difficult time.

Vision Study Going Well!

God was moving last week during our study at Vision Racing. We finished the study on Coach Dungy's book. We are researching our next study subject. Please continue to pray for the men in the study. Pray for the safety at the testing next week in Homestead. Thanks for your support!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Take this week to reflect a bit on just what God has done for you.... We often immediately think to "earthly blessings". Which this past year I am thankful for the opportunity to serve Him in the IRL Ministry and the ability to walk again! That is all great stuff, but stop and think about the sacrifice that God made with Jesus on the cross.... Now that is worth shouts and praise of thankgiving!!

2008 IRL Ministry Pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(CLICK ON PIC then CLICK ON "SLIDESHOW BUTTON" on UPPER RIGHT CORNER of photobucket page!)

Photobucket Album

Vision Study going Great!

We continued with the Vision Racing study, that we have named "Winner's Circle", last Wednesday. We are a little more than half way through the Tony Dungy book study. There was a lot of participation from everyone in the study. We discussed "your security". Neat conversations which many opening their hearts... We want to get to where our faith in God is our security, no matter what. Based on our humanness, that is sometimes easier said than done. Pray that we keep that focus. Pray for the study this week. Pray the Holy Spirit will move mightily.

Praising God on the Recovery Road!

Yuh know, sometimes during our prayer time we spend all our time asking God for things. We ask Him to be with others, help us with this or that, what should we do in this situation, etc. I have been walking a mile a day for the past 3 weeks! 2 weeks ahead of schedule! I have spent that time (roughly 20 minutes) to pray. I ask God for nothing during that time. I use it specifically to give Him praise and glory and thank Him for all he has done for me and my family. I thank Him for healing me and allowing me to walk pain free! I thank Him for blessing me so much. I thank Him for Jesus and what He did for me on that cross.

My recovery is going well. The back and teeth pain are subsiding. My range of motion is increasing. Thank you for all your prayers and support! Take time today to pray. During your next prayer time, thank God this time..... and don't ask for a thing.....

Back to Work!!

I start back to work on a part-time basis on Monday! I am looking forward to "getting back in the groove". I know many of my coworkers have been greatly concerned about my condition and have been praying for me. Those prayers mean more that they will ever know! I started physical therapy last week and am walking a mile a day! I use that time to specifically praise God for having even the ability to walk again pain free! We take so much for granted in this life. Don't let a major event or tragedy in your life force you to thank God for every thing you have and every breath you take. Take time to thank Him right now........

Recovery Update

Well, it has been an interesting road to recovery... The teeth pain I was experiencing led me to an endodontist who discovered a cracked tooth! They did a root canal on the spot! So, I am trying to get over all that on top of the back pain. I have to have a crown installed next week. I am still experiencing teeth pain and not sure what is causing that. The pain has decreased, however, since the root canal. The back is coming along nicely. I see the surgeon today to remove the stitches and a general checkup. I walked a mile yesterday with no walker or cane!!! I was praising God the entire time for even the ability to walk!

We take so much for granted.... Take time today to thank your Lord and Savior for life, your health, and even the breath you breathe! Thanks for your prayers and support!

IRL Ministry in Australia

Pray for Bob Hills and Father Phil as they are making the trip to Surfers Paradise to represent the IRL Ministry for the race this weekend. Pray for safety and that during the long trip that new relationships will be established, existing ones enhanced and the Christ will be glorified in all that they do. Thanks!

Recovering after Second Surgery

I had to go back in last week to reopen the back incision to get it "cleaned out" and test for infection. After the cultures came back, they discovered I had a COAG negative staff infection. The good news is it is treatable by oral antibiotics. So, praise God for that. We were being coached to get ready for a 12 week, at home, IV antibiotic.... yikes....... I am back home and working hard on recovery... I am walking less with walker and more with just a cane....

Pray that God's healing touch will continue. Pray for my patience during the process....... I remain faithful and trusting God expectantly. I am excited about walking without pain..... soon.... Also pray for my angel wife that continues to care for me 24/7!! Thanks for your support and prayers!

"Winners Circle" Underway at Vision

The "Winners Circle" has had its first two meetings at Vision Racing! This is a study held at the shop during lunch. We are currently going through Coach Dungy's book as a basis for the study. So far, there have been good turnouts at the studies. Please pray for continued interest!

I am continuing to recover at home from my back surgery. Things are going well. I am walking a little with a goal to complete a mile by the 6 week mark! Please pray for a speedy recovery and patience, as this is usually a fairly long recovery. Thanks!

Home never felt sooo good!!!!

I am home from my surgery! I returned home Sunday (9/28) afternoon after a 5 day stay at Ortho Indy Hospital on the NW side. Dr. Riina and his staff did a great job and I thank God for gifting those those people! The hip pain and numbness in my right leg are gone! I obviously have lots of pain from the surgery, but I am excited about the other pain being gone!! Pray for patience and a quick healing process. Also pray for my wife as I will be her patient (or testing her patience) for the next few weeks. She has been great! I could ask God for anything more!

Surgery - 9/24

I would covet your prayers as I will be having a spinal fusion surgery done on Wednesday, 9/24/08. The great people at OrthoIndy will be doing the surgery, but the greater physician, our Lord God Almighty, will be overseeing the surgery. Please pray that everything would go as planned, that God would be glorified through this process, and that I may be an effective witness as I go through this journey. As always, thanks for your prayerful support!

Radio Show Features IRL Ministry

Don Kay's Autosport radio show featured the IRL Ministry during the live show last Tuesday's night at McGilvery's Pub. Check out this link for more info.............. http://www.autosportradio.com/current_show.aspx

2008 Food Totals Are In!

Throughout the season, the IRL Ministry coordinated food pick up and delivery from IRL team hospitalities to shelters local to the tracks. This food was either extra unused food or left over prepared food that would have been thrown away... The total food collected was 63,000 pounds of food!!!!! Praise God!

We also collected between 25-150 pounds of soap each week.

Miami – Community Outreach - 2500 pounds
St. Pete - St. Vincent Depaul - 9200 pounds
Kansas – Kansas City Rescue Mission - 3500 pounds
Indy – Seed of Hope and Wheeler Mission - 4500 pounds
Milwaukee - Family House of Milwaukee and St. Benedict's (www.stbensmilwaukee.org) – 3800 pounds
Texas - Meals On Wheels - 4500 pounds
Iowa - Hope Ministries (www.hopeiowa.org) – 7000 pounds
Richmond - Good Samaritan Ministries – 3500 pounds
Watkins Glen – Salvation Army - 3800 pounds
Nashville - Nashville Rescue Mission – 4500 pounds
Mid Ohio – Bulter Clearfork Nutrition Center, Crossroads Center for Change & Mt. Herman Baptist Church, Harmony House, Salvation Army, Freewill Baptist Church, Heartland Alliance Church – 2500 pounds
Edmonton – Our House - 1200 pounds
Kentucky - Heavens Helping Hands - 1500 pounds
Sonoma - The Christian Help Center in Vallejo Bread of Life Ministries in Vallejo and Casa de Vallejo this is a shelter for the homeless and City Ministries International in San Francisco that feeds the homeless on the streets of SFO - 4,000 pounds
Detroit - Detroit Rescue Mission – 5000 pounds
Chicago – Morningstar Rescue Mission – 2000 pounds

Thanks!!!

To everyone who supported me this past season......
Deatra, Tyler, Reid, Doug, Pingnan, David, Mark, Bob, Hunter, Father Phil, Chris, Sally, William, Andy, Dizmas, IRL Ministry Supporters at Indian Creek, Geoff, Zane, George, Carry, Jimmy, Sarge, Laura, Eddie, Linda, Dan, Amy, Darren, Pam, Rex, Crysty, Rose, Bryan, Henry, Doretha, Kelly & all those of you who prayed and donated!

God Bless you all!

Wow! What a season!

Awesome day today! We had Chapel services in Victory Circle this morning. God gave us an awesome day! We had Andy Schroeder and his family providing the special music. Andy is from my home church, Indian Creek Christian Church (www.thecreek.org). Special thanks to Andy! Jim Evans from Windy City Raceway Ministries (www.wcrm.net) coordinated the food pickup from Morningstar Mission in Joliet (www.morningstarmission.org). We had a great time of prayer before they took the final shipment tonight!

We had a great prayer time with the teams on the grid. I had the opportunity to prayer with some of the safety workers and officials prior to the race. I also had a chance to talk to Len today. Len is the guy who wants to convert me "the other way". I just offered to have the conversation with him at sometime and gave him one of our Racing Daily Bread books. to look over. God will take it form here or provide another opportunity at a later date.

We will have a food ministry updates soon. I will list all the donation weight and locations. Continue to pray for the upcoming study at Vision Racing. Thank you all for your prayers and support this year! Check back for regular updates!