Straight Line
Have you ever heard the phrase“ God’ s Country?” If you have, did you give it much thought as to what it’ s referring to? Where is God’ s Country to be found … probably not on a pitcher’ s mound … or out on the Puget Sound … doubtless while prison bound … not in a beloved old hound … can’ t be bought with an English pound … not even winning a round … simply look towards heaven’ s prodigious ground.
The“ God’ s Country” term is used loosely in casual conversations. Most frequently it’ s mentioned by people who’ ve recently come back from a vacation, or someone’ s vivid thoughts of their favorite hangout or activity. Possibly someone who longs to be in a place they believe is more beautiful than where they currently are.
It could be a mother holding her baby, a father watching his son play Little League Baseball, or a child adoring his or her parents.
Books, articles and stunning photos describe wonderful places many of us would love to visit( or live). These explanations tell why it’ s believed this must be God’ s Country because of its majestic scenery or appearance. Picture what comes to mind when you hear talk about places like Alaska, Switzerland, Tahiti or Yellowstone National Park.
Most racers— especially drivers— feel they’ re in God’ s Country when they’ re comfortably in the seat. Picture your favorite track: Surrounded by mountains, a lush green forest, a serene river, or a picturesque desert setting.
“ God’ s Country”
Some of natures finest creatures like fish in the water, a deer in the woods, or birds flying overhead may accentuate your feelings. How can you experience this and not feel you’ re in your own little part of God’ s Country?
Nature truly reflects our Creators power, His greatness, and His artistry. And this is only the first chapter in the Book of Life for a follower of Jesus. God created our environment and designed it with a purpose for people to inhabit, maintain, and enjoy to the max. It may even make you want to party to the max!
The scene now changes: You’ re strapped inside the capsule of a Top Fuel Hydro sitting out on the holding rope with a 10,000 horsepower nitrofed motor cackling right behind your head ready and willing at your command— of stepping on the throttle— to blast down the racetrack. This can be like God’ s Country to anyone brave enough to venture to this far off land of volatile motorsports.
These machines are incredibly fast … after the warm-up where fans were gassed … fear is now a thing of the past … if on the loud pedal your foot can last … only a brief shadow on the water will be cast … a record run will be a heck of a blast.
By Jim Jack
Biblically speaking, when you think of God’ s Country, most would likely try to describe Paradise [ heaven ] and how they imagine it would look. A place peaceful and soothing to the heart, pleasurable and appealing to the eye, restful and gentle to the soul, no problems or worries to be burdened with, an incredible sense of unconditional love surrounding you, and comforting to your spirit.
Right now at this very moment, heaven can be found in your personal surroundings. It’ s as close as your own heart. Even is the midst of this hectic, crazy, volatile, and mixed up world; your treasure can be found where your heart is. The Bible tells us not to store up treasures on earth, because everything we see won’ t be here forever.
I recently discovered God’ s Country in another interesting location. I was doing a memorial service for a good friend on a boat out in the Pacific Ocean off Oxnard, CA. While closing the service in prayer, I was sitting at the back of the“ Sunfish” boat as it was slowly swaying out in the blue Pacific. An incredible peace came over me: No noise, no commotion, and no distractions, just a beautiful time of enjoying God’ s presence and peace out on the water on a warm Saturday morning. It was a heavenly time of talking with God. I honestly could have prayed all day. I prayed for the family whenever they felt ill at ease in the coming weeks or months, to bring to mind today’ s perfect peace out on the Pacific Ocean for any needed comfort!
This world is in the process of decaying [ entropy ]. It is slowly passing away( quite different from an engine exploding in a mille-second). The honest truth is we’ re just managers of all the natural wonders on this planet. We’ re given the responsibility of stewardship of God’ s property, including your entire racing program.
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