Billy Graham is now 86 years old with Parkinson’s disease. In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte , North Carolina , invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, “We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.” So he agreed. After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, “I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century.

Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger.  When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him.  He still couldn’t find it. The conductor said, “Dr. Einstein, I know who you are.  We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.”  Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car , he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, “Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.” Einstein looked at him and said, “Young man, I too, know who I am.  What I don’t know is where I’m going.’” Having said that Billy Graham continued, “See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit.

My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this:   I not only know who I am .. I also know where I’m going.”                                                                    – sent in by Jon Potter

As you look at the Panther Racing National Guard Car No. 4 with Dan Weldon at the controls please remember our men and women of the United States Armed Forces serving through the world.  May we be thankful for them and the protection they provide.

1. The  scoring pylon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, built in 1994 (original pylon was built in 1959), is 90 feet, 4 inches tall (97 feet to top of strobe on wind sock), that the advertising banners at the top each measure 5 feet by 5 feet and revolve every 30 seconds, that it contains 6,496 bulbs, weighs 20,000 pounds, and is anchored in 22 feet of concrete.   –from Noggle’s Goggle
2. Bob Ledbetter, former IRL member is quite ill and in the hospital.  Please pray for Bob and his wife.
3. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is doing some interesting remodeling in the race shop.  Stay tuned for some pictures!
4. Since travel is pretty light over the next 3 months lets be thankful for some consistent time at home.
5. Praise God it seems things are fairly quiet on the health front for our racing family.
6. With so many that have lost their jobs at the IRL and IMS please pray for them and their families.  Also remember the many team members that are seeking as well.  Many will have to wait through the Holidays before knowing of the jobs for 2010.
7. Sarah Fisher Racing has moved into a facility — a few doors down from its current Indianapolis shop — that will triple its space to 15,000 square feet.
8. Force India will give J.R. Hildebrand, Firestone Indy Lights, a chance to test for a full-time role with the F-1 team.

Those were the words from Nick Marson, IS Technician of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, after telling me that my hard drive on my laptop was shot.  Nick was trying to be funny in reminding me that I should have used the external hard drive to save my documents on my computer.  I reminded him that Jesus also performs miracles and I wanted Jesus to work through him to perform a “miracle” get the files from my crashed hard drive to “come forth” and be “saved”.  Right now some of you know the feelings I was having after hearing this news.  Well Nick was able to get most of my documents from the crashed hard drive, “AMEN”, and now I am saving to my external hard drive.  So what does this have to do with anything.  I am reminded of some things through this experience.

First only Christ saves us.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life!”  Too often we want to rely on ourselves or others to save us when really in the end it is Christ.  Secondly we often think “it” won’t happen to me.  It happens to others but not to me.  I’m not speaking of crashed hard drives but the many painful events of this life.  It is hard but bad things do happen to good people, even God’s followers.  And lastly I am reminded to be thankful to so many things.  People like Nick who are so helpful.  The fact that we have so much even while we loose some things.  I am thankful for all of you that care about the IRL Ministry and our presence.  Thanks especially for your prayers.  As we enter the holidays with Thanksgiving may we appreciate all we have and celebrate Christ!

Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation announced a multi-year agreement with the Indy Racing League for its IZOD brand to become the title sponsor of the newly renamed IZOD IndyCar Series.  This mark’s the IRL’s first title sponsorship since 2001.   A part of the announcement involves introducing a new logo and key partnership details, with additional activation, promotional plans and marketing initiatives to be revealed in the coming months. As we look to the 2010 Season we can be thankful for this good news!