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Born and raised here in Antioch. No plans to move.I love racing and Golf.
Antioch
Once in awhile someone arrives at the race site on Friday and feels like they have done everything possible. The check list has been gone over several times, extra parts are in the rig, the strategy for winning has been discussed, and every team member knows their responsibilities and is ready to do them. Some possible obstacles have even been anticipated and a plan has been laid. All is well, it seems.
Yet, for some reason, things just don’t seem to work out as expected. Disappointment, anger and sadness may result as expectations are dashed.
We saw a big example of this on Saturday as the cameras zeroed in on Tim Tebow’s tearful face after the Florida loss to Alabama ! Well prepared, but the results are disappointing. It has happened in many an event, from boat racing to bowling!
Many times this is our experience in the holiday season. Expectations are high! The magical season of good food, good friends, family, beautiful decorations inhabits our minds. We work hard at finding the “right gift”, decorating “just so,” and including our favorite people for special gatherings.
No matter how well we plan and execute our plans, the results just may not be what we expected. Expectations dashed by traffic jams, illness, or others not aligning with our expectations. We simply cannot anticipate all the disruptions that may occur!
So as the season begins, do your best to make the holidays bright! Give! Love! Receive! Then remember He is with all who ask, seek and knock! Allow Him to be the honored guest in your heart and in all that you do.
“Be content with what you have. God affirms us, “I will never let you down, never walk off or leave you.” God is there, ready to help. We need not fear (be disappointed) for who or what can get to me? Hebrews 13:5, The Message
Father, I know some moments won’t be as I expect. May I trust in Your presence as the expectation that cannot be dashed!
Laurie Vidal
Legacy Ministry | Legacy Powerboat Ministry
PO Box 373, Evinston , FL 32633
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ONE MINUTE GUN!
I Am Thankful For… 11/25/ 09
Well, here we are on the eve of Thanksgiving! I hope many of you will be able to rendezvous with family and friends. I hope you are able to celebrate with the traditional American feast (usually a whole lot more food than any of us need to eat).
All my children will be with us for a few days along with my son-in-law who is a third son to us. It will be great!
But for just a few lines of the ONE MINUTE GUN! I want to thank God for the privilege Jan and I have enjoyed being a part of the national scene of tunnel boat racing for 15 years as your chaplains. You all have been so gracious through the years to allow us to hang out with you.
It has been a joy to get to know the competitors, crews, sponsors, their families and all the other various people who make up our entourage! We feel privileged that we have met grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins of many of you. We have been a part of many a celebration from weddings to funerals to baptisms! We’ve been to your homes and you to ours…we’ve been a family.
You are often in our thoughts and prayers. We recall many a shared experience, casual and intense conversations, and meals at the site or in a restaurant. We think of laughing, crying and moments of fear. We think of the times when we have prayed together. We think how God has met us in all of these times. We are thankful this year for you, for our shared history and for the times to come. God bless you! And Happy Thanksgiving!
“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make requests for all of you with joy.” Philippians 1:3-4
Father, thanks for the great richness added to our lives from the time we have spent with the racing community. Bless each and everyone for Your name’s sake. Amen.
We will take a break for the Thanksgiving weekend and be back with you Monday, November 30. Laurie and Jan!
Laurie Vidal
Legacy Ministry | Legacy Powerboat Ministry
Jan and I always try to support the race committee at the various race sites by staying to the very end of the race weekend which is the podium presentation to the top three finishers in each class.
We have heard a ton of podium speeches through the years which have included some good speeches and some really, really bad speeches.
A podium speech is not a long speech, and it is not really that complicated, but let’s just say most drivers are much better driving the boat than speaking to a crowd: some exceptions, but not many.
Crucial components in any good speech are thanking the team that got you on and around the course. Names are important to mention. Sponsors, if they have them, must not be forgotten. Thanks to the local committee is always smooth. When in doubt lace the speech with tons of thanks to all!
Thanks are always in order and appreciated, and this is true in our relationship to God as well. Thanks are certainly in order when we take the time to remember the good things we have in this life.
Life is tough for many at this time. Even at that we are all blessed to be able to race like we have for these many years. Speak to God and recount your blessings He has provided for you during this season of Thanksgiving.
“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:18
Father, help us remember You are our Great Provider. May we speak words of thanksgiving to You throughout the year. Amen.
ONE MINUTE GUN!
Refreshment Creates Passion!: 11/20/09
How good it must feel to be the guy on the boat who gets to do a few laps in front of the crowd with his canopy open and a checkered flag in his hand knowing he has just won a race.
The details of the race came together. All the equipment was dialed in. The right decisions were made on the water by the driver and spotter. The head was clear enough to get a good jump on the start…everything just came together.
And it doesn’t have to be a win that invigorates. It can be a quality race, a best finish, a satisfying save or finishing in one piece with a check in hand for the weekend.
For good things to happen at a race it has to come as a result of orchestrating lots of details over a weekend…a team of people making it happen the right way. You have to be sharp!
Being sharp is a result of being refreshed enough to perform. Being refreshed creates passion for the task ahead…and it brings the reward of a very satisfying experience.
So, why do we neglect refreshment? Why do we find it hard to re-create ourselves through rest, relaxation and stimulation from people who make us better?
Passion for life is such a good thing and it is created through refreshment!
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-24
Father, this refreshment idea is really serious business. You want us to be passionate people and we can’t be when we are washed out. Help us take refreshment seriously enough to not take ourselves too seriously! Amen.
Laurie Vidal
Legacy Ministry | Legacy Powerboat Ministry
PO Box 373, Evinston , FL 32633
352.591.2001 Home Office
352.278.0009 Mobile
ONE MINUTE GUN!
Equipment Fatigue: 11/18/09
Names are rushing through my head as I think about drivers who were given the opportunity to drive better equipment and saw performance improve dramatically because their new equipment was not suffering from equipment fatigue.
I have also seen drivers experience dramatic wrecks when their fatigued equipment simply gave up and came apart! Not a pretty sight to witness.
The same is true with people. We tend to suffer from equipment fatigue. How does the description go? “He was rode hard and hung up wet!”…or “He has more miles on him than he does years!” I might be misquoting the truisms but you get the point.
We often times let the pressures of life wear us down to the point of “equipment fatigue!” How do we keep from allowing our equipment to get fatigued?
God’s design was pretty simple, and he laid out His answer to equipment fatigue when He created the world. God put together our world in six days and then rested on the seventh. It is the principle of one-seventh: take one day in seven to get caught up on your fatigue factor.
It doesn’t have to be a legalistic thing of one whole day each week, but we must schedule times of rest on a regular basis to eliminate fatigue. Consider one-seventh as a good model.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” Exodus 20:8-10
Father, help me creatively incorporate rest into my life to eliminate fatigue and failure because of overwork.
Laurie Vidal
Legacy Ministry | Legacy Powerboat Ministry
PO Box 373, Evinston , FL 32633
ONE MINUTE GUN!
I remember my first race in Marietta , Ohio . From the top of the levee, there is a great view of the course, making it easy to watch the action in the heart of the front and back stretches.
Turns 3 and 4 are somewhat out of clear view from near the Dairy Queen…yes, I said Dairy Queen, right in the middle of everything!
This particular race weekend in the SST 120 competition my good friend, Gary Pugh, was competing for the weekend win. In one particular portion of the race, he was attempting a pass on another top notch competitor (who will remain unnamed).
As Gary attempted to pass on the outside, the competitor attempted to put him on the bank on the far side of the river. He did this by slowly and steadily drifting to his right, what we call “bearing away.” This procedure in racing is usually executed with great subtlety, but this particular incident was about as subtle as being hit with a sledgehammer!
Gary, always the wise one on the water, made the decision to keep his Pugh hull in one piece. So he took his time making the pass…eventually completing it several laps later.
So much of life is about trying to keep things on course. Maintaining balance in life is difficult. When life pressures us to “bear away,” be patient to stay the course.
“Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.” Proverbs 15:21
Father, so much of life is a matter of dealing with the pressures of life that tend to push us off the right course. Give us grace to hold our course. Amen.
Laurie Vidal
Legacy Ministry | Legacy Powerboat Ministry
PO Box 373, Evinston , FL 32633
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