Chaplain's Corner!

My warm up weekend at Gateway on April 5th didn't go at all the way I expected it to. The race was the opening for the Mid-states/M.A.R.R.S. series. I was particularly interested in the good turn out of 16 karts in Yamaha Sportsman SBX. The weather went from warm and sunny to rain on Friday, cold on Saturday, and a rain-out on Sunday.

One of my purposes for the week-end was to get together with my Racers for Christ Regional Director, Glenn Kreider. He was serving as Chaplain at Gateway's dragstrip, an NHRA Sportsman event, I believe. Both of our wonderful wives were with us, mine was the pit crew engine starter. The unexpected part was that my get together with Glenn took place at St. Louis University Hospital. He was in the emergency unit with the fiancee of a drag racer. The driver, in his Corvette bodied dragster, had gone through the traps at 155mph and after that never slowed down. He went through the barriers and ended upside down in the channel at the end of the strip. He was lifted up by flight for life and taken to the hospital where he died with multiple internal injuries. This is one duty a chaplain never looks forward to, but Glenn served his Lord well, offering his presence and comfort.

At the hospital I was led to the bedside of two injured karters. They had been injured in a crash at Gateway in the 6th race on Saturday. Their crash occurred in the carousel. Mike Hoff was slowing with engine problems and Scott Schrimpf, in a shifter in tight competition, maneuvered to get around him, but they got together and I wish that was the end of the story. Both drivers were taken to the hospital. Mike had two deep lacerations on his back and later that evening was taken for a M.R.I. to see if he had any back injuries. Thank God he was alright. I was with Scott when the nurse informed him of a possible implication of his two broken ankles. She told Scott, who was a marathon runner besides being a racer, that he might never be able to run again and that his recovery could take from 18 months to two years. It was bad news for Scott and really got to me. I'm glad to announce, however, that God has answered prayer and the expectation now is that Scott should be jogging by July 4th.

I close this article with this thought: I hate crashes resulting in racers being injured. In my own lifestyle as karter and chaplain I dislike bad surprises, becoming agitated or out of control, and most of all Satan's works of death and destruction. John 10:10. I like being prepared as a racer and for chapel services and for whatever the Lord leads me to. I love God's peace and His presence. The presence of the Holy Spirit in scripture is associated with a dove. Matthew 3:16. There is a true story of a missionary couple who, upon arrival in the field, noticed their home had a resident dove. Whenever they argued or slammed the door, the dove would leave. They associated the dove as the presence of the Holy Spirit and determined to keep his presence with them.

May I suggest that at this year's races we determine to recognize God's presence by using self control in our actions and language. God's peace, I believe, will result in His blessing us with joy, good fun, good relationships, and even safe racing, if we put our trust in Him and ask for these things. To begin with, we gain peace with God in only one way. Romans 5:1, says,"Therefore, since we have been justified(the punishment we deserve because of sin, was taken by Jesus) through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Chaplain Ken