Page 10 - Sanger Herald 7-19-18 E-edition

Lifestyles
SANGER HERALD • 2B • THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018
Ole racer Jackson will be missed
Sanger
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Race car driver Robert Jackson and his son Ray had just gone to Fresno for a bottle of oxygen for the welding torch. They headed east on McKinley Avenue on the way back that morning.
The stretch of road has few stops and is little traveled after commuters get where they’re going. But Jackson, owner of Crazy Bob’s motorcycle and automotive repair shop, didn’t make it back to work that day. By chance, another vehicle blew a stop sign at Del Rey Avenue and slammed into his modified 1951 Ford pickup.
Jackson, 49, died that morning on June 26. His son continues to recover from serious injuries.
Jackson’s trademark luck, the kind that got him through so many scrapes as a teen driver and later in his 30s as a flat-track motorcycle racer and motocross competitor, evaporated. Jackson discussed a litany of broken bones in an interview earlier this year that he collected over the years.
That luck also got him his first first-place finishes — something he was especially proud of — recently at Merced Speedway. Jackson and his nephew and shop partner Tyler Jackson had just completed converting a yellow 2002 Chevy Cavalier with a Lotus-designed 2.2 Ecotec engine into the newest budget “four- banger” race car. And it treated him well. It was very fast.
Tyler Jackson talked about his uncle last week. A memorial for Robert is planned at 11 a.m. July 21
Togetanitemintothe calendar, email details to nemethfeatures@gmail. com or call Mike or Sharon at 559-875-2511.
HOPE Sanger has a Drive-Thru Spaghetti Fundraiser from 10 a.m. tonoonJuly21at502LSt. Cost is $8 for main course, salad, roll and drink. Details, 559-875-7677.
Calvary Fellowship Church plans an ice cream social and Singspiration
A Word About Forgiveness — Ask for Forgiveness Part 7
We are in a series about forgiveness. So far, we have discovered that burying, blaming and beating ourselves up are not successful ways of dealing with guilt.
So far, we have dealt with admitting it, accepting responsibility for your sins and, this week, ask for forgiveness.
One of the great promises in the Bible is 1 John 1:9, “If we freely admit that we have sinned, we find God utterly reliable ... He forgives your sin and makes us thoroughly clean
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Tyler Jackson and Tank will continue to operate Crazy Bob's repair shop at McKinley and Academy avenues. Below, Robert Jackson, left, in happier days.
ago,” Tyler said. “He said if anything happened to him, he’s mine.”
Tank, who was lying in front of the rolling swamp cooler, looked up at that moment. He appeared to realize the conversation had drifted his way. His tail thumped.
Robert Jackson was pretty well liked. He had folksy, everyman quality and treated everybody around him with respect and kindness. The Herald published a short notice on his passing accompanied by a photo of Robert with his beloved old Ford Pickup, and the comments stacked up from friends and relations.
“I was lucky to call him friend,” wrote Shawn DePriest, a fellow racer who also recently pulled down his first first-place.
“R.I.P. my friend,” wrote Martin Cabrera. “You will be missed.”
“Gone too soon,” wrote Sean Sangha. “I will never know a person nicer.”
Jason Lugo illuminated another side of Robert’s past accomplishments. “Don’t forget his musical talent on the drums,” Lugo wrote. “I remember he played drums in a band called Instigator in the 90s with my brother-in-law. We called him Bam Bam because he hit the drums so hard. RIP brother.”
Tyler said many of Robert’s friends have stopped by to express concern. “I have people showing up daily, asking things like, ‘You OK?’ ‘Need anything?’”
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
Hall, 1502 O St. Cost is $6. Cub Scout Pack 322 and Boy Scout Pack 322 will assist. The VFW breakfast is usually the first Saturday of the month.
The Sanger Family Resource Center plans a Kinder Camp, which provides support for incoming kindergarten students. The dates are to July 27. Details, 559-524- 6310.
The Sanger Community Task Force meets at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at Tabernacle of Praise, 1919 N. Academy Ave. Details, 559-250-6433.
has done for you.
That’s what the cross is
all about. That’s the central truth of Christianity. It’s not what you’ve done or how bad you’ve done it. It’s what Jesus did on the cross and has already done for me, when on the cross he said “It is finished.” It is done. I’ve paid for all your punishment. And no matter what you’ve done, you can be forgiven today.
Next Week: Part 8 — The Way God Forgives
Pastor Sam Estes is city advance director and facilitates the Sanger Community Task Force that meets the first and third Tuesdays every month. He can be reached at pastorsam51@gmail.com.
at Choinumni Park, 26501 Pine Flat Road. Robert’s dad, who is also Robert, said the event will offer a chance to celebrate the life of his son.
“He thought it was a fluke,” Tyler said of the first win. “Then he beat them again.”
Robert Jackson loved pushing a car, anything with an engine really, to its limits. But he especially liked the controlled environment of the race track, where things like all-out acceleration are encouraged. He urged younger enthusiasts to try the sport, which requires just a stock car minus all the frivolities of windshield, interior and electronics of a daily driver. He was also
at6p.m.Aug.5at737 Church Ave. Singers and musicians are encouraged to come and perform. RSVP requested. Details, Phyllis 559-875-2414.
The Apache Football Boosters plan to start the 7th Annual Kick-Off Dinner at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour Aug. 11 at the Case residence, 3700 S. Newmark Ave. There will be music, silent auction raffle and a photo booth honoring the 1998 championship team.
from all that is evil.”
You come to God about
that sin he’s not going to scold you. He doesn’t rub it in. He rubs it out. Makes you thoroughly clean from all sin.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to ask for forgiveness. Here’s the wrong way. One, don’t beg. You don’t beg God to forgive you. “God, please! Pretty please with sugar on it!”
God wants to forgive you more than you want to ask for it. You’re not waiting on God. He’s waiting on you. You’re the one who’s carrying the burden, not him. You’re the one who’s carrying the guilt, not him. He’s waiting on you. He likes to forgive. You don’t ever beg God.
quite safety conscious, as he was already aware of the consequences of an accident.
Robert was so proud of his firsts, one April 28 and the other May 19, he put the trophy, which looks something like a plaque and attached it to the back window region of the Cavalier. The Cavalier, with trophy, sits in front of the shop on McKinley near Academy Avenue.
“I said, ‘I don’t know if you’re allowed to,’” Tyler recalled.
Robert probably mounted the trophy to the car while chuckling. If race officials had insisted, he would likely have removed it without question.
Tyler said he will
Details, Amanda Pittman 559-246-7559 or Jessica Jones 559-696-6280.
The Sanger branch of the Fresno County Library has a lot going on despite not being open. The Sanger Library Outdoor Fun shows are planned at 10 and 11:30 a.m. directly outside the library in the park. On July 20 the Discovery Center explores the worlds of different kinds of animals by looking at skeletons and skulls in this hands-on class. And Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the mobile or pop-up library services will
continue to operate the shop. The iconic Crazy Bob’s name will remain. “That was one of the stipulations from Ray,” he said. “And that’s fine with me.”
Business continues. “Work is coming in pretty much daily,” Tyler said. “I actually had to put a couple (jobs) off until next week. I don’t have any room in here.”
be available. The library is at 1812 Seventh St. Details, 559-305-7130.
Sanger’s Movie Night in the Park continues this summer. Show times are 8:45 p.m. Here’s the lineup: July 21 “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” at City Annex, July 28 “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” at City Annex, and Aug. 4 “Coco” at Community Pool.
The Sanger Woman’s Club plans its Annual Rummage Sale from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 11 and 12 at the club, 1602 Seventh St. There will be clothing, household
Tyler said he will continue to take most automotive and motorcycle repair work. But stuff like the 1940s Ferguson tractor engine rebuild that Robert liked to challenge himself will be a thing of the past, he said. Nope.
“It depends on what needs to be done,” he said.
And Tank, the shop dog, will stay. “Me and Robert had a deal a long time
goods, books and treasures. Proceeds go to community service projects. Details, Doris 559-875-7563.
AMVETS will have a fish fry at 5 p.m. Aug. 3. Its chili dogs will take a hiatus until Aug. 15 when they return from 5 to 8 p.m. Chili dogs will continue the third Wednesdays of the month. The Fish fry will be the first Wednesday of every month. Details, George 559- 286-5667.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Community Breakfast is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 4 at the American Legion
Bible puts it. “Yet God declares us ‘not guilty’ if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his mercy freely takes away our sin.” God declares us not guilty if we trust. It’s not begging, bargaining or bribing. It’s believing.
If we trust in Jesus Christ, he in his mercy freely takes away our sin. That’s what Jesus did on the cross. I know what some of you are thinking, “Sam, you don’t know what I’ve done.” And you’re right.
I don’t need to know what you’ve done, because I want to tell you this: It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. Your forgiveness is not based on how little or much you’ve sinned. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. What matters is what Jesus
Sanger News & Community Calendar
PASTOR’S CORNER
Two, don’t bargain. Bargaining is:
“God if you will
forgive me I will
never, ever do
this again!” That’s bargaining. The problem is if
that’s your area
of weakness, you
back in that area of sin in a matter of hours or days. Understand this: Confession does not change the future. Confession forgives the past. Confession doesn’t say you’re never going to do it again. Confession forgives you and cleanses you from the past. You don’t bargain with God and say, “I’ll never do it again,” because you will.
Don’t beg, don’t bargain. Third, don’t bribe.
Bribing is when you say, “God, if you’ll just forgive me for this I will ...,” and then you add in something. “I will go to church every week.” “I will read my Bible every day.” “I will
Pastor Sam Estes
will be
go on a peace trip.”
You can’t bribe and you
can’t bargain and you don’t need to beg. So what do you do?
You don’t beg, bargain, bribe. You just believe.
You believe the many promises of God where God has promised over and over that if you confess your sins, he will forgive your sins. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
I love how the Living