Come to Jesus

I did not go to the Texas race (it was not in the original budget for the year and I was scheduled to go to the Iowa race until 6/11/09. That was the day my wife's mother, Doretha Huffman, went to be with the Lord. Please pray for my wife and her father and brothers as they grieve the loss of this dear woman of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28. He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Doretha’s faith in Jesus Christ was consistent and non-negotiable. She did not like sin. She served Christ without wanting any human reward or recognition. As is says in Matthew 11:28, Doretha obeyed Jesus’ command. All her life, she came to Jesus………….. Recently, she was weary and burdened.

Oswald Chambers wrote:

“Come to Me….” Where sin and sorrow stops, and the song of the saint starts. Do I really want to get there? I can right now. The questions that truly matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by these words – “Come to Me.” Our Lord’s words are not, “do this, or don’t do that,” but – “Come to Me.” If we simply come to Jesus, my real life will actually cease from sin, and find the song of the Lord beginning in my life.

Have you ever come to Jesus? Look at the stubbornness of your heart. You would rather do anything than this one simple childlike thing – “Come to Me.” If you really want to experience ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.

Jesus Christ makes Himself the test to determine your genuineness. Look how He used the word come. At the most unexpected moments in your life there is this whisper of the Lord – “Come to Me,” and you are immediately drawn to Him. Personal contact with Jesus changes everything. Be “foolish” enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude necessary for you to come to Him is one where your will has made the determination to let go of everything and deliberately commit it all to Him.

After a day of loosing his wife, making funeral arrangements, and visiting cemeteries, Henry (her husband) and I embraced at the end of the day and he looked me in the eye and said, “Praise the Lord”. I replied, “yes Henry, praise the Lord”………. What an example of a selfless attitude.

While this selfless attitude was admirable, how could he say that after loosing his wife of 62 years? What was he thinking? Where was the sorrow? Where was the sadness? Friends, the grief was there, but it was replaced by the overwhelming joy of knowing that she is home in heaven with Jesus and their son Timmy, and that someday, he will join them in there.

I will miss her dearly. She loved me as a mother. She respected me as the husband of her daughter. Her generosity overwhelmed me. Her heart to serve the Lord encouraged me. Her selfless pride convicted me.

Do you have that overwhelming joy that Henry has? Can you say “Praise the Lord?” Doretha went to Jesus. Is it time for you to come to Jesus?

Milwaukee!!!!!

Busy day on the track.... one day practice and qualifications for both series! We had many little things to take care of today..... Chapel flyers, drivers meetings, food pickup coordiantion, etc. Bob picked up a nail in one of the trailer tires coming up here, so I took that to be repaiered today.... Hey, it's all for the Lord. Amen?

Talked with a lot of the team guys today as well.. Stanton Barrett crashed in practice, and they could not repair the car. So they are on they way home. I talked to a few of the guys to tell them I was sorry for what they are going through..... I pray that may help in some way.

Two chapels tomorrow - 9:00 & 10:30.... I am singing the special music tomorrow - they couldn't find anybody else ; ). So pray that the services are Holy Spirit led and that God would move mightily.

We are driving back directly after the race, so please pray for safety there as well... Thank you all for your support!!!!!

Do you have Faith? - Indy 500 Chapel Message & Pics!

We had 4 Chapels and 2 masses on race day! All were very well attended and Bob's message was concise. Do you have faith? Looking at Moses and how God sent him to tell the Israelites that I AM is who sent me! Moses said who am I that you would send me and he told God he was that he was not well spoken. God said go anyway and I will be with you! What is your excuse? Do you have enough faith to go and do what God wants you to do? Are you doing it now? Whatever is in your way, God can help you through that obstacle. God will be with you. Have faith. GO. DO. God is I AM.

Indy Lights Race on Carb Day

We had a great time of prayer before the Indy Lights Race on Carb Day. We also held a Chapel service for the Indy Lights the morning of the race!

BAPTISM!! - The Angels were Rejoicing on Saturday, 5/23!!!

One of the crew members from Vision Racing, Dan Rushing, was baptized on Saturday, 5/23 in Eagle Creek Reservoir! We had discussed baptism in one of our studies a few weeks ago, and Dan made the decision to submit to God and profess and demonstrate his faith by being baptized! He said "he wanted to do it in someplace like a creek", so Eagle Creek it was! It was witnessed by his wife, children, and his parents!

Pray for Dan as he lives out his Christian faith by the power of the Holy Spirit! Praise God. Give Him ALL the glory!

It's the little ways that God moves...

A few of us from the Hemelgarn team attended Chapel on bump day. After the service we went directly to the pits to set up to run that day. as we were moving tires and laying out air hoses, one of the guys came up to me and pulled me aside. As he starting to weep, he thanked me for inviting him to Chapel that day. He said he "really needed that".

Friends, it can be as simple as an invitation to Chapel that will allow God to work and move in some one's life. Do not hesitate. Reach out. Allow God to work through you!

Indy Practice/Qual Pics

Below are some pics from the practice and qualifications for Buddy Lazier!

Thank God Indy is not our Final Destination

Well, after a very long day on Sunday, Buddy Lazier in the #91 Hemelagrn entry did not make it into the 2009 Indianapolis 500. It wasn't due to the lack of effort. The entire team worked very hard from Thursday to Sunday to get the car up to speed. We went through 22 sets of tires in 4 days!!! Our top speed was just over 220 mph, but we could never get that for a consistent 4 lap qualification run. Technically, we did qualify on Saturday, but by the end of the day, we were bumped out of the field.

Thanks to Dennis, Lee and Gary for giving me the opportunity to work on the team. It was lots of hard work, but it is lots of fun running an Indy car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! Also, thanks to Dr. Riina from OrthoIndy, for putting my back together and Andrea from Body One Physical Therapy for training me. The back held up great!

The Indy 500 is a great event, but it does not even come close to the race we will win through faith in Jesus Christ when we reach our final destination with Him in glory!! Jesus said, " you will have trouble in this world, but take heart, I have overcome the world."

Trust Him - nothing else.

We need you back on our side......

While working on the Buddy Lazier car, one of our safety guys came up to me during practice and said, "be careful out here, we need you back on our side (with the IRL Ministry)". I thanked him for the neat comment and prayed with him there for his safety and protection..... Neat stuff....

First Practice, Chapel, & Bible Study ...

We have our first practice on the track tomorrow (weather permitting) with car #91, Buddy Lazier! I will be helping with the tire & pit set up. We have been working since last week getting everything in order! It has been fun and tiring all at the same time. My back is holding up well. There is some aching at night, but it seems to recover well....

We had the first Chapels of the year at Indy last Sunday. It was well attended in both services. I pray that God will continue to speak to those people's hearts.....

We had the Vision Racing bible study today at 7:00 in the morning! We held it in their hospitality tent at the track. We also had a couple of the Hemelgarn Racing guys attend! We had great conversation and I felt like God was honored by our study. Pray that we all learn from what we heard and we act on it!

Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

May is here - with Hemelgarn Racing!

WOW…. OK, so I get a call on Thursday afternoon from the team manager at Vision racing. He said he was told (that day) that he could not add any more personnel and that he has to “make due” with the people they have on staff for the 500…… (he had signed me three weeks ago) that means… I’m out at Vision (for the month of May)!

So, obviously, God did not need me there this month! (I will still be doing the Bible study with them at the track throughout the month) I prayed and made a few phone calls….. Hemelgarn called me back and said that people there had been “praying” that I would work for them! Wow.. I had a meeting with their team manager on Saturday and they hired me that day. I start on Tuesday!

So…. God is always more that faithful….. Pray that I will be an effective witness to those guys!

Root for Buddy Lazier #91 on 5/24!!!!!! Thanks for your support and prayers!

We are not in Kansas anymore!

Great day today! Lots of interactive prayer with the teams and drivers. Two chapels and a mass! Jessica Willey sang for us at both chapel services. What a wonder gift of song God has blessed her with! Thanks Jessica!

I hooked up with the hospitality worker that said he was "too far gone". He did not want to talk about it. I assured him that I (or we) am available whenever he is ready. He said, "I knew that even before we talked". Praise God! That is the type of presence ministry that needs to be evident!

Thanks to all for your support and prayers! I return home tomorrow!

Update from Kansas!

The first couple days have been good here in Kansas. We are currently looking out for tornado's (literally) as a storm is passing through! Peoples lives are full of storms. Some require weather alerts while others require just an umbrella. There are people in this community that are hurting. That are going through storms of life. Pray that we can help them weather those storms!

Made some great connections with many of the team guys the last couple of days. We have talked about everything from how the team is doing to funerals to planning baptisms in May! Pray that these conversations are God led and God honoring.

We have 2 chapels and 2 races tomorrow. Pray these go well and that God is in control of all! In my devotions this morning I read in 2 Timothy 4:2 , that we are to Preach the Word. In season and out of season; correct rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. Pray that I do that. I encourage you to do the same. Everyday!

Long Beach Sunday, Sunday Sunday!!!!!!

It was a long day that began with the alarm going off at 4:30 to get to the track and get set up for the 7:00 AM Chapel! We had American Idol contestant, Brandon Gill, to sing for us today! His worship was heartfelt and we thank him and his wife for sharing their gift with us. We were a bit rushed in pryaing with the Indy Lights guys this morning since the green flag dropped at the same time we started our second Chapel! The mass was delayed due to a drivers meeting and the second Chapel was cut short due to a press conference! The Indy Car prayer on the grid was even a bit rushed and confusing. This was just a lesson that God's timing is perfect and does not necesarily match up with our agenda!

The local Long Beach Salvation Army brought 6 guys and 2 trucks to take the food today! I helped them load the trucks and we ended shoulder to shoulder in prayer! We asked God to bless their efforts and that this food would be used to further the Kingdom of Christ!

The day ended with dinner with Dan and Linda Baker. They are wonderful Christian people that are former board members of the IRL Minstry. They offered me great encouragement this evening during our discussions and prayed for me and the IRL Minsitry (as they always do). Thanks Dan and Linda! Thanks to all who prayed. leave Friday for Kansas. Keep Praying!

Long Beach Update!

Made it safely to Long Beach! This is quite a venue.... A very diverse atmosphere and culture. We're not in Indiana any more!

The local Salvation Army will be taking the food form this weekend! I connected with many of the Indy Car and Indy Lights guys today! We are trying to arrange 2 baptisms in May for a ocuple of guys from the Vision study! Pray those arrangements go well.

It is not our job to push the God's timing. Today was an example of that. I did talk with the hospitality worker I mentioned in previous blogs. He was not ready to discuss God's grace. Keep praying....

I did meet a Christian lady on the plane coming out here that has been through some recent trials in here life that she shared with me. I offered words of encouragement that God gave me. Would you join me in praying for her? Pray she will find God's direction in her life.

Keep praying!!!!

St. Pete Food Donation & Long Beach!!!

4281 pounds!!!!!!!!!! That's how much food was donated from the St. Pete race to the America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay organization!!

Pray for the trip to Long Beach. Pray that the "seeds that were planted" with the "crew care packs" that were distributed at St. Pete will be watered!! Pray for opportunites to share Christ thi weekend!!!

God Bless!

St. Pete Pics!!!!!!!!

"CREW CARE PACKS" - God's Word DELIVERED!



"CREW CARE PACKS" EVERYWHERE!!!!!


PRAYING "ON THE GRID"

"FEEDING AMERICA" GUYS!

INDY LIGHTS CHAPEL!!!

St. Pete God Report!

We had a great race day! The chapel service went well!! We had country recording artist, Michelle Murray (http://www.myspace.com/michellemurraycom) lead us in worship. Thanks Michelle!

Neat prayer time on the grid for both the Indy Lights and Indy Car race! (pics to come... stay tuned!) Many of the Indy Lights drivers prayed and were excited that prayer was offered! Had some very God orchestrated prayer time with individuals as I was working my way through the grid to pray with the teams! These requested prayer times with individuals are absolutely precious.... God is amazing... The teams were very receptive to prayer on the grid. Some teams were actually excited when I approached the car! Praise God!

It was also very nice to have my wife along with me on this trip! She is a blessing from God!

Next race is Long Beach in two weeks..... Keep praying that God will work thru the crew care packs as people open them and read God's word. Pray also that we will be attentive to those who are searching.. As always, thanks for praying. May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Prayer, Chapel, Bags, Injuries, & Hope

OK... wow... what a busy couple of days in St. Pete! We handed out the rest of the crew care packs (600 total)! We actually ran out before everyone got one. I just prayed that God would just "take care of that" what ever "that" means. We have already had reports of how the contents are being used! One crew member told me that his children went thru the bag and were "fighting" over the contents. The compromise was the older child is now reading to the younger children from the Bible that was in the packs!!!!!! It is unimaginable how far these might reach souls for God's kingdom!

I met with the Feeding America http://feedingamerica.org (formally Second Harvest) people from Tampa. They are picking up the food this weekend and we are trying to establish a national partnership with them for all the tracks! Had a great time of prayer with these brothers that God would use every bit of this food to show his love to the less fortunate.

Chapel today for the Indy Lights series was held at the Tech semi in the garage area. We had a great turnout for the 9:00 AM service! We had great prayer time on the grid prior to today's race. There are many new teams and drivers this year. Most all wanted to pray. I was rejected by two drivers. We are still there, still present, still praying.

One of the IRL crew members was injured today in the garage area. After his brief stay at the infield care center, I transported him back to his garage. I had a neat time of prayer with him for his injuries.

Lastly, I was hanging up flyers for our Sunday Chapel services in the hospitality area today. One of the guys I met last year said to me, " there is no hope for me, I am too far gone". I replied that nobody is too far gone. That Christ will forgive the worst of sins. He said when he stands before God, that God will say "not this one". I told him that that is exactly why Jesus died on that cross for your sins. I said that if you trust Jesus, then He will say to God, "no, this one is OK, he is covered by my blood......... He did not say a word.... I gave him a couple of devotionals I had for him to read. I also told him, at the proper time, I wanted to talk further about his concerns. He agreed. Please pray. Please.

Tomorrow there are two races, a chapel and a catholic mass. There will be countless opportunities to exhibit Christ's love. Pray I do that.

This why I am here. To share Christ. Nothing else. Pray.

Over 500 crew care packs handed out today at St. Pete!

Wow.. The day began when the alarm went off at 3:00AM to catch an early morning flight out of Indy to St. Pete. At 10:00PM we got to our hotel room! It was a great day!!! Bob, me, Deatra, and Harriett (an IRLM helper) handed out backpacks full of God's word to crew members, officials, drivers, and hospitality workers! Some rejected the packs, but the majority were REALLY excited to get a free gift..... most did not know that inside that bag is truly a free gift.... God's grace through faith in Christ!

Some opened them up right away and looked at all the contents. Some asked who paid for them. Some were just thankful that we were giving them a gift.

Now its time to pray! Pray that the seeds get watered. That the soil will be fertile. That they will open the bags and read. That God will open their eyes..... Pray... Thanks to all.... more from the track tomorrow!