Local Texas Bike Race: Just another Opportunity

As you may have heard, North Central Texas has been hit hard with rain lately.

LOTS of it. Rising waters have cost several lives and many homes have been

destroyed and lives turned upside-down. The creek in the woods nearby

sounds like a beautiful flowing river. We love the sound of it - so long as it

stays within its banks.

 

Despite the storm forecast, an annual event took place today and went without

a hitch. It’s called the Firecracker 100 Bike Ride & Race, as much a picture

postcard of Rockwellian Americana as you’d ever expect to see in a small Texas

town as the winner of the 100K goes home with the coveted “Bronze Boot,”

an idea I came up with in my first year where I actually took an old cowboy boot,

filled it with Plaster of Paris and spray painted it. Up until last year, I

coordinated, promoted and volunteered for this rally for 5 years straight. Last

year, I opened the event with a welcome and prayer. This year, I did the same.

Over 500 riders from as far away as Canada take part in this well-orchestrated,

very festive event, many using it a training race for upcoming, more prestigious

events.

 

Last night, as I worked on my speech, it dawned on me: “We’re about to have

a bike race when our nation is at war!” The image of Jimmy Stewart plowing a

field while the Union Calvary ran across his field came to mind, a scene from

the movie ”Shenandoah.” Life was going on as usual while men and women

laid it all on the line so that we can.

 

From that point, the words flowed from my pecking finger. After I read these

words to my wife, Barbara, she wondered if I’d be invited back. I responded

that I’m merely taking advantage of every opportunity.

 

When I walked outside at 7AM, the sun was shining and the breeze was cool.

Here’s what I said today from the stage alongside the colorful starting gate, the

college cheerleaders, the balloons and cowbells, the rock music over the PA

system now silenced as I was introduced as “Chaplain Mike Tummillo.” After

acknowledging that God has surely answered our prayers by blessing us

with this beautiful weather, here’s what I said. I hope it blesses you:

 

Good morning! Today, as we gather for this race, we are

exercising our freedoms of Assembly and freedom of Speech.

Let’s not forget that today, at this very moment, our nation is at war.

Soon, we’ll celebrate our nation’s Independence Day. Let’s bear in mind

that it’s our DE-pendence - our complete reliance - upon God, that matters

most. 

During the Civil War, a friend of Abraham Lincoln’s visited the White House. 

One night, he couldn’t sleep and from the private room where the President

slept, he saw a sight the he said he’d never forget. He wrote “It was the

President, kneeling before an open Bible… I shall never forget his prayer:

‘Oh, Thou God that heard Solomon in the night when he prayed and cried for

wisdom, hear me…. I cannot guide the affairs of this nation without Thy help.

Hear me and save this nation.’”

When our founding fathers gathered to write the Constitution, Benjamin

Franklin proposed that each session be opened with prayer. He said,

“I have lived a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing

proof I see of this truth: that God governs the affairs of men.”

Our nation is great because it was founded upon God’s Word and prayer

as a theocracy. But today prayer has been replaced by the mistaken notion

that our private and national affairs can be run WITHOUT him. Our nation’s

greatest threat has never been Tyranny, Communism, Humanism, or Terrorism;

our greatest threat is our own foolish fearlessness of God.

I’m glad to report that today, throughout America, more and more voices 

ARE being heard as individuals and groups begin to call on God in prayer.

So great are the dangers and perils of life in so-called “peaceful” America,

that it is imperative that we lay hold of the Lord in this hour - an hour when

more people are killed in car accidents, drive-by shootings, gangland killings

and homicides than have ever been killed in any of our nation’s recent wars,

including this one.

We can go around in circles, deceived into thinking that peace will come

if only we believe hard enough, but the Biblical truth is this: the only one

way out is up! If we do not turn to God, we will be overcome by

godlessness. It is either revival or ruin! It is now or never! The answer will

not be found by the one who rattles his sword the loudest or flexes the

biggest political muscles. The answer will be found only when we humbly

call upon the Lord God and obey Him. Spiritual values must be restored.

We must return to the faith of our fathers, to family prayer and to the Bible.

These are the foundational things that made America great!

But we cannot really lay hold of a holy God until we come to know Him

as our Father. The Bible says that we have all sinned and are separated

from God (Romans 3:23). By His death on the cross, God’s Son Jesus Christ

paid the penalty for our sins. Jesus’ death and resurrection make it possible

for ALL to have victory over the consequences - the wages - of sin and to

enter into a very REAL, personal relationship with our Creator. Only then

can He hear and answer our prayers… both for America as well as our own

personal needs.

 

Receive Him today, even as you ride your bicycle. The Bible says: “But as

many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on His Name” (John 1:12).

When we say “God bless America,” we are asking the Almighty to actually DO

something for us…to BLESS our nation. Yet, He says in Scripture, “If My people

who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn

from our wicked ways THEN - that is when - He will hear from Heaven, forgive

our sins and heal our land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

 

Let us pray:

 

At this point I prayed for: Safety, Divine Order and Peace, thanked Him for the

Good weather, the renewed annual Friendships, the work of The Kiwanis and

The Chamber and the Dozens of Volunteers.

 

Afterward, there were applause, several loud “Amen’s,” about a dozen

spiritual conversations, and the exchanging of three business cards before I ever

returned to my car. Two women met me with a hugs and smiles, saying, “I read

you every day!”

 

It was a great way to start the day.

 

I left the grounds at 9:30, passing many brightly-clad cyclists, squad cars with

flashing lights, festive rest stops, event route signs along the way.

 

It’s 11:00.

 

The rain just started falling again.

 

PLEASE FORWARD TO AT LEAST 5 OTHER PEOPLE!

 

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

A servant of God

www.YourTown4Jesus.com