O Canada!

Edmonton this weekend for Star Mazda....  Chapel is at 7:30am on Sunday morning. The message is "Why Pray" and is part of our sermon series "Faithful to the Finish".
Thanks for your continued support!

Come near to God

In chapel today, we talked about James 4:7-10 - ⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

There are a couple interesting points about this section of scripture...   look at the action words in these verses... Submit, resist, come, wash, purify, grieve, change, humble.... Those are all things that we are to do as believers!

Imagine you are standing at a door. Imagine that on the other side of this door stands Jesus Christ. Let’s look at those actions we just talked about….

1. Submit - take a step towards the closed door. Your heart races as you realize you need to surrender your life.
2. Resist – we take a step back in human fear. We fight the notion from satan that God will not accept us as we are.
3. Come – you approach the door and raise your hand to knock. We think about how He will see us.
4. Wash – we consider that we are about to stand before a Holy God. You ask yourself, “What is the condition of my heart?”
5. Grieve – we drop to a knee and confess our sinfulness and short comings.
6. Humble – when nothing is left of us; no pride, no selfishness, no attitude. We knock…

The door opens slowly and we see Jesus on the other side of the door. We look up and he smiles at us. He holds out his hand and says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Luke 11:9.
Humble yourself and God will lift you up. The more you move toward God, the more you can count on God moving toward you. Where do you stand? It's your move...

Whatever you did for one of the least of these...

....you did for me. - Jesus
Many of our Star Mazda drivers visited a local Toronto children's hospital. They signed autographs and showed the kids an Indy car....  But one of our drivers, Gabby Chaves, got autographs from the kids! He had them sign his driving shoes! He also placed 3rd in today's race! Nicely done Gabby!

Be faithful in......

I was excited today to have one of the drivers, who has never prayed before, requested prayer before practice today!! Paul says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12. I will continue to be joyful in the hope, the hope of glory, patient in any affliction that comes my way, and will always be faithful in prayer. Will you?

It's 4:33am and......

I am sitting in the kitchen doing my daily devotions and prayer. My flight leaves at 6:55am to Toronto for the INDYCAR event this weekend. I just had a great weekend getaway with my wife. I am a little tired and and for some reason, a bit discouraged this morning. In the devotion is a quote from John 14:1, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me."

My phone buzzed with a new message and I think, "Who sends an email at 4:33am?" God does. The email read:

David,

I hope all is well with you, your family and your ministry. I have not seen you lately, but was wondering how your return to school was progressing. I admire your dedication to speading the Word of Jesus and taking the necessary steps to a full-time ministry. My wife and I pray for you often. Take care & God bless.

This was from a brother in Christ from my church! God used him to send encouragement my way when I needed it the most! When it's 4:33am and dark outside, let not your hearts be troubled. God provides. God inspires. God does.

Thanks Mark for letting God work through you!

What you did was....

amazing.... That is what a fan said to me last weekend in Iowa after I had finished offering prayer to each driver in the Star Mazda series. He said, "You went to every one of them, every car." I thanked him for saying something and I said, "You must be a Christian?" He replied, "No, I am not". Much to my surprise I asked if he believed in God. He was not sure where he stood on the topic, but he said again what you did there was amazing.
I was reminded by my pastor that this encounter parallels what John wrote in John 16:8-9 says, "When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me."
Even when people see our actions; our response to the call of God on our heart, God can use that to convict those who are not yet in Christ.
Act...

Who's your boss?

This is what we discussed at the morning's chapel. Paul wrote in Colossians, that we are to do everything as if the Lord was our boss. Paul wrote to Timothy to tell him that Christian slaves were to respect their masters especially if they were believers. So what is our attitude? How is our work ethic? Who are you working for? Could it be that the way present ourselves has a profound way that non-believers see God? Absolutely... Live as if Jesus himself was signing your daily timesheet...

There's more than corn in Iowa!

Racing! Neat track. Very nice people. Safe day today! Chapel tomorrow at 9:00!

Iowa this weekend!

I will be at Iowa Speedway this weekend with the Star Mazda series. Chapel is Saturday at 9:00 am at the Star Mazda transporter. If you are at the track, stop by for the service!

Pray for a safe weekend and that Christ will be honored and glorified!

Can you pray while you drive?

Can you pray while you drive? I was asked this question as I was driving to Methodist Hospital with a family member of a driver who was injured in a scary crash at Lucas Oil Raceway last Saturday night. During that anxious moment, we did not know the condition of the driver. So as I drove, I prayed. Out loud.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to do just that; "pray continually". This does not have to be a verbal prayer, but an attitude of prayer; a constant dialogue with our heavenly Father. Lifting our thoughts and requests to Him and laying them at the feet of Jesus.

We thank God that this driver was released later that evening with no injuries. God wants to hear from you. Have you prayed today? Are you praying now. Do you pray continually?

Lucas Oil Raceway Pics!

You don't know me, but....

I had an older gentleman with a cane approached me after one of our chapel services on Indy 500 race day. He said, You don't know me, but you picked me up on your golf cart at the Indycar Nashville, TN race a number of years ago. Since then, I have prayed for and financially supported your ministry. I just wanted to say thank you".

He was correct, I did not remember him. Hopefully, I was simply being obedient to God's prompting. So when was the last time you drove by, walked by, or acted like you did not see someone that needed help or a word of encouragement. This reminds me of the good Samaritan story in Luke 10:33 where Jesus said in a parable, " But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him." Jesus then said in verse 37, “Go and do likewise.”

You never know when God will use you. Will you be obedient to the call? Go and do likewise....

Night before the 500!

Both the USF2000 and Star Mazda series are racing tonight at Lucas Oil Raceway. Special thanks to the Rocklane Christian Church praise and worship team who lead worship today in our chapel service! It was an awesome time of sharing and worship! "What shall we do" was the title of today's message. When Peter spoke just after the Holy Spirit dwelt among the people, they were moved to the point of action... What shall we do?, they asked. Repent and be baptized.....  Thousands surrendered their life to Christ that day. What shall we do? What will you do?

Thank you for your service....

Someone told me that today. I had just listened to the story of his cousin who had died today. I was there to listen. I did not have any prophetic words to offer. No real advice. Just listened.

How often do we do that. In the middle of our day, stop, listen, and share the compassion of Christ. How often should we do that. How often did Christ do that. Listen. Care. Love.

Soap is Hope!

INDYCAR Ministry was excited to present over 20 pounds of soap and shampoo products to Lee Ladd, Director of Extended Hand Ministries yesterday. Lee ministers to inmates in prisons in the Indianapolis area. Lee explains that some of the inmates are indigent and have no means to purchase additional soap at the commissary. As a result, the soap that is issued by the prison is used quickly and they have nothing to shower with. This soap is shared in Jesus name to inmates and Jesus provides eternal hope to all! Pray for Lee as he shares this message of hope to those who are incarcerated.

What are you doing?

You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. - Ozwald Chambers

Indy Lights J.V. Horto - Chapel Guest this Sunday!

Indy Lights driver, J.V. Horto will be the guest of the INDYCAR Ministry at this Sunday's (5/13) chapel service. J.V. will talk about his faith in Christ and how that has played a pivotal role in his racing career.

The chapel is on the first floor of the media building at IMS, just north of the Pagoda. It will be held at 8:30 AM. We hope to see you there!

Lonestar "JR" Johnny Rutherford Award

The trophy for the Lonestar "JR" Johnny Rutherford award was unveiled today at a press conference today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The trophy will be handed out to a person who represents character, integrity, and leadership at the annual Indy 500 Breakfast held on 5/26. More details are available at www.Indy500breakfast.com!

Words do Matter

We all face obstacles in our lives. Most of us are able to walk and communicate without giving it a second thought. Kevin and Marla Pace are an exception to that rule. I met this lovely couple this morning and had a time of fellowship and prayer with them. Despite huge challenges in their lives, they have the resolve to move forward for the glory of Christ. Their attitude reminds me of what Paul said in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Take a moment to check out the story of Kevin and Marla Pace on their website below. Be sure to watch the special that was done by an Indianapolis TV station. If you feel led, support their ministry by purchasing some of their work.

http://www.wordsdomatter.com/Home.html

They have graciously donated one of their framed prints for the INDYCAR Ministry silent auction to be held later this year at our golf tournament.

Thanks Kevin and Marla. You are truly an inspiration led by God Himself!

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus!

This is an excerpt from the sermon message yesterday at Barber Motorsports Park....

When Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he was set out resolute for the cross. His triumphant entry into the city was followed by his last supper with the apostles. He went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane and was captured there. He was taken to the house of the high priest Caiaphas for his mock trial. Pontius Pilate then handed him over to be flogged. He carried his own cross to the hill on Golgotha where he was crucified for us.

Jesus set his eyes on the cross. Jesus was faithful to the finish. He was faithful to the finish for us. Will you be faithful to the finish in your life? The only way to insure that you are is to look to the author and perfecter of our faith. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do it today.