Post by Richard on Jan 17, 2006 23:39:04 GMT -5
Week 1 Talledega, AL 15th Annual "Ice Bowl" 1-6,7, and,8-2006
2006 has started with the 15th annual Ice Bowl in Talledega. We headed down Friday morning to find hundreds of drivers who had been practicing already. We walked a couple times around the pits praying over the grounds and talking with drivers, crew members, and many folks we had seen along the 05 tour. Saturday brought twice as many cars in achieving an Ice Bowl record 402 cars. We walked the entire grounds which spread out at least a mile around the facility. We invited each team to church service on Sunday in the grand stands and hung flyers about the service on all the restrooms, concessions, haulers, and campers. At the drivers meeting I spoke on the "Ice cream man", at the Ice Bowl to grab their undivided attention. I told of little Jeff who was trying his best to save his money to buy his mother a present. For Jeff it was a terrible struggle because he gave in so easy to the temptation to buy goodies whenever the brightly colored van came through the neighborhood. One night after his mother had tucked him into bed she heard him praying this, "Please, God, help me run away from the ice-cream man tomorrow. Even at his young age he had learned one of the best ways to avoid temptation was to run away from what appeals to our weaknesses. I explained that we all are tempted to sin. Yet we need not give in. The Lord provides the way to be victorious over evil enticements. I read I Corinthians 10:13 which says, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man: and GOD is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will provide a way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." But we must do OUR PART! If possible we should never let ourselves be in the wrong places or with the wrong people who will tempt us to do the things we should be avoiding. I explained that things look good until you are there, or you have them and closed with the saying, "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, Keep you longer than you want to stay, and will Cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. I prayed for requests given in the pits and stands and for God's protection for all.
Sunday we arrived early to set up the sound equipment in the grand stands. As hundreds poured in to see the race Rusty (Southern All Star official), gave his testimony then Perry, (Announcer), gave his and then Mike, (Driver), gave his and each talked of before, during, and after their life changing experiences. I spoke on faith and stayed in the book of Luke showing these three statements to be true:
Faith, Always does the unexpected
Faith, Always gets God's attention
Faith, Never believes what circumstances tell you to believe.
We gave the invitation and 12 people had invited the Lord into their lives and accepted him as their personal Savior. I cried, of course, but I would have if one accepted Jesus. Almost three weeks later, I can't remember the racing action, but can see those hands going up as clear as when I was there. Praise be to God for using a sinner such as I. Buckle up! For God is planning great things for the racing communities and their eternities.
Eric and Robin Mowers
In Awe of Him
2006 has started with the 15th annual Ice Bowl in Talledega. We headed down Friday morning to find hundreds of drivers who had been practicing already. We walked a couple times around the pits praying over the grounds and talking with drivers, crew members, and many folks we had seen along the 05 tour. Saturday brought twice as many cars in achieving an Ice Bowl record 402 cars. We walked the entire grounds which spread out at least a mile around the facility. We invited each team to church service on Sunday in the grand stands and hung flyers about the service on all the restrooms, concessions, haulers, and campers. At the drivers meeting I spoke on the "Ice cream man", at the Ice Bowl to grab their undivided attention. I told of little Jeff who was trying his best to save his money to buy his mother a present. For Jeff it was a terrible struggle because he gave in so easy to the temptation to buy goodies whenever the brightly colored van came through the neighborhood. One night after his mother had tucked him into bed she heard him praying this, "Please, God, help me run away from the ice-cream man tomorrow. Even at his young age he had learned one of the best ways to avoid temptation was to run away from what appeals to our weaknesses. I explained that we all are tempted to sin. Yet we need not give in. The Lord provides the way to be victorious over evil enticements. I read I Corinthians 10:13 which says, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man: and GOD is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will provide a way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." But we must do OUR PART! If possible we should never let ourselves be in the wrong places or with the wrong people who will tempt us to do the things we should be avoiding. I explained that things look good until you are there, or you have them and closed with the saying, "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, Keep you longer than you want to stay, and will Cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. I prayed for requests given in the pits and stands and for God's protection for all.
Sunday we arrived early to set up the sound equipment in the grand stands. As hundreds poured in to see the race Rusty (Southern All Star official), gave his testimony then Perry, (Announcer), gave his and then Mike, (Driver), gave his and each talked of before, during, and after their life changing experiences. I spoke on faith and stayed in the book of Luke showing these three statements to be true:
Faith, Always does the unexpected
Faith, Always gets God's attention
Faith, Never believes what circumstances tell you to believe.
We gave the invitation and 12 people had invited the Lord into their lives and accepted him as their personal Savior. I cried, of course, but I would have if one accepted Jesus. Almost three weeks later, I can't remember the racing action, but can see those hands going up as clear as when I was there. Praise be to God for using a sinner such as I. Buckle up! For God is planning great things for the racing communities and their eternities.
Eric and Robin Mowers
In Awe of Him
