Post by Bama on Jul 19, 2006 17:11:49 GMT -5
Week 20 Crossville, Cleveland, Rome GA 7-21,22,23-06
It was one tiring weekend of ministry. The three day, three race week-end started at Crossville Speedway USA. There I began a three part devotion on, “Why bad things happen to good people.” The first devotion started with a “What then?” test. I was talking with a young boy at Dixie Speedway a few weeks ago standing at the fence overlooking the track. He said, “I’m gonna get me one of those 4 cylinder race cars!” I said, “Then what?” He said, I’m gonna get good and win some races maybe a championship.” I said, “Then what?” He said, “Then I’ll get a crate car!” I said, then what? He said again, “Win some races and a championship!” I said, then what? He said, “I’m going to get a Super Late Model and run with you guys!” I said, then what? He said, “I’m going to get rich winning races and championships for a long time. Then I’ll go to NASCAR and be set for life, with a beautiful wife, a big mansion, and nice cars. I’ll live happily ever after.” I said then what? He paused, and after a moment realized he would get old and eventually die. He said, “I never even considered God, did I?” I told him that riches and fame are not wrong. But, if they become the central goal, we are ignoring eternity and trusting in money and not God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “It’s impossible to love both money and God, and he warned, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up treasures in heaven” (vv. 19-20). Young and old alike must make important life-plans. Lets keep eternity in mind by always subjecting them to the “what then?” test. In the pits we gave each team a “Keys to Success” tract-booklet, while taping flyers to each hauler inviting all to church service at Rome on Sunday.
Saturday it was off to Cleveland Speedway. There we gave part two in the drivers meeting. I started with the fact that drivers all put catchy slogans on their spoilers. I saw some that said, “Follow Me”, or, “Follow me to second place” and the best was “Follow God, not me”. I also mentioned the first 7 astronauts that were chosen for the first trip to space in 1958. They were selected to go where no man had gone before. Yet, as astronauts they knew they would face unforeseen dangers, challenges, and trials. Each knew that the thrill and excitement of being chosen was tempered with the fear of the unknown future. The same with the 12 disciples Jesus chose one day by the Sea of Galilee. I read mark 1:17-18 and told them that these men too left behind their occupations, families, and friends to dedicate themselves to this new teacher. They didn’t know what kind of political, religious, or financial challenges they would face. Yet they “Followed Him” immediately. Jesus is still asking his people to follow Him, love Him, obey Him, and tell others about Him. Like the disciples, we don’t know what our commitment to Jesus might bring. I encouraged each to follow Christ and trust Him completely with our futures. In the pits we passed out “Is it working for you?” tracts, while taping flyers to each hauler inviting all to church service at Rome on Sunday.
Sunday morning we arrived at Rome Speedway in Georgia. We set up church in the turn 4 bleachers and taped flyers everywhere for people to come to church. We were to have two drivers give testimonies and on driver to sing pending their evenings and travel from three different tracks the night before. Five minutes before the service we had nobody in the stands and none of the three drivers yet. After a four minute prayer over 55 people arrived in the church section and Derrick Rainey walked up to give a powerful testimony of how God has been answering prayers in his and his son’s lives. Both were facing life threatening injuries from separate wrecks one on the track and one in a personal vehicle. Each prayer was answered miraculously. Derrick then shared how he was not putting God first and how this has grown him to do so. I preached on the “Secrets of the Vine” for John chapter 15. I opened with, the question have you ever been with someone you loved who was going to die? Come, closer. You lean in, listening, the best you can knowing that you will remember this for life. This is what Jesus told his 11 disciples on the eve of His death, His last message. Jesus is the vine, God is the Vinedresser and we are branches. God’s goal for each of us is to produce fruit, much fruit. I took them for a walk into the vineyard where 4 baskets sit under 4 branches. The first empty, the second had some fruit, the third more fruit, and the last much fruit. As Christians we represent one of these 4 baskets. Sometimes a vine will find its way down to the ground and pile up with dust and dirt which causes mildew and unproductiveness. God, the vinedresser, picks us up and washes us off and ties us up to the trellis to be able to get sonlight, air and be easy to reach. When we wallow in sin and separation, God wants us to be productive and show fruit in our lives that will Glorify Him. So He prunes us with trials, troubles, and tribulations. God disciplines us as a father would a son, Duet. 8:5, never out of anger, never out of impatients, but always out of love. And in our weakness He makes us strong Phil 4:13. His goal is for us to have a higher yield of fruit. To avoid “bad things”, we should keep eternal things on our minds, we must put God first in all we do trusting Him with our future, and we must avoid sin and be fruitful. Otherwise, He will rebuke, chasten, or scourge us as a “wake up call”. I closed with repentance the joyful turning, taking them down the Roman road (we were in Rome LOL) and offering salvation to those who wished to give their lives to God. Many seed were planted, many were comforted, and two were saved. Praise be to God for those added and those drawn closer to Him. We prayed twice at each track and God blessed each with safety and protection.
This message was given by God for many below who we are praying for, PLEASE JOIN US.
Melissa, Wanda, Ed, Mike H., Al, Roger H, Earl, Rusty, Mike D., Kelley, Josh, Jeff C., Chris, Ray, John, Dusty, Duayne, Jeremy, Mr. Rogers, Sandy, Douglas, Freddy, Jeff S., Kim, Mike S., Sam, and Tim, are either facing cancer, disease, sickness, injuries, re-hab, and worse, the unknown. Father sees and would love for two or more agree that He be glorified.
Rusty, Kelley, The Knowles, The Reeds, The Duggans, the Rogers and others;
Have lost dear loved ones recently and are grieved.
Many are stricken with; marital, financial, residential, family, and career challenges
We have a three day-3 race weekend which will have a church service on Sunday in Rome, Ga. We desire prayer for strength, wisdom, finances, obedience, and to be in God’s will not His way. Pray that God send those He wants to touch in many ways.
As always, our thanks for prayer, encouragement, support, and funding.
Eric and Robin Mowers
P.s. Forgive me if you get this twice- Mail Glitch
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