NASCAR

Never before have I joined in on any kind of event in which 100,000+ people are captivated for three hours by 43 cars moving at speeds of up to 125mph in a counterclockwise direction. Honestly, attending the Last Race Before the Chase at the Richmond International Raceway was pure culture shock. Yet, it was ripe opportunity to connect with people on a common ground that would have been otherwise impossible.

Oasis was blessed with NASCAR tickets and we were able to mesh with people from Amherst on a new level. Lindsi and I crammed in the car with some new friends, Norman, Kimmie, and Ashley for the two hour drive to Richmond. It was good to hang with them and get to know them better. I was continually impressed by Norman's automotive knowledge. He is a senior at ACHS and it will be cool to see where God takes him in his pursuit of diesel and all it has to offer.

God is teaching me what it means to "know the condition of your flocks" (Prov 27:23). It is hard to develop people when you do not know who they are, what their lives are like, and what their needs are. Pray that God will continue to open avenues into meaningful relationships with junior high and high school students, even if they are as ordinary as through the fanaticism of a perpetually left-turning sport.