I think I like Wisconsin. On a lot of our tours Rich rides on roads with traffic. Becky worries about that, but what bothers me is that I don’t get to run with him. When Rich gets ready to ride, I get excited. At home I always get to go along, so it’s really sad […]
Continue readingAuthor: Rich
Mine
HAPPY MONDAY! A casual compliment prompts today’s word-of-the-week… MINE When you visit a church with a trailer and an 80 lb. people magnet, a lot of people ask what you’re up to—usually after they pet the dog. After I explained the basics of RICH’S RIDE to one guy he exclaimed, “Your ministry is really cool.” […]
Continue readingDoors: Knocking Down Or Knocking?
I believe God keeps His promises. Jesus said, “Knock and the door will be opened to you.” So yesterday we spent much of the day trying to get through a door we were sure should open, and I was a bit disappointed when it remained firmly shut. Clearly, the gatekeeper didn’t get the memo. In […]
Continue readingWhat’s Hope Look Like?
How do you talk about hope without talking about God? It’s a common question as we travel and tell our story to audiences that aren’t always church-based. How do you tell a faith story without faith words? I think the answer lies in one of my favorite admonitions: Always preach powerful sermons. If absolutely necessary, use […]
Continue readingUnexpected Places, Unexpected People
We encounter some of the nicest people in the coolest places. We met these folks in Elroy at a quaint little converted railroad depot that’s now a bike trail stopover. They listened to our story and talked about friends who have quit trying. This story resonates wherever we go. People respond to the promise of […]
Continue readingA Place Where Messy Is Welcome
We spent Monday evening with the staff and some friends at Bridgepoint Church in Wisconsin Dells. Actually, we met in their newly-opened and still-under-construction coffee house, Bella Goose. It’s located next to their ministry center in a strip mall. They have the unique opportunity to work with more than 4000 international students who descend on […]
Continue readingChurch
HAPPY MONDAY! We’re on the road for today’s word-of-the-week… CHURCH We spoke at a church yesterday—at least they said it was a church. It used to be a house, before it was an office. The address? First building south of the gas station. We had to ask for directions. No pews, no stage, no fancy […]
Continue readingWill You Be An Ironman?
We were honored to speak on Friday to a roomful of folks preparing for Sunday’s Ironman Triathlon. These people are following a God-sized dream. On Sunday we watched as they hit the water at 7:00 am for a 2.6 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. The first […]
Continue readingWhen You Do The Simple Stuff
Some problems are complex. Want to end world hunger, stop human trafficking, or wipe out poverty? I wouldn’t know where to begin. But feeding a hungry child? That’s pretty simple—you provide some food. Hal Donaldson, co-founder of Convoy Of Hope, tells of meeting Mother Teresa in the early 1990’s. She asked him what he’d done […]
Continue readingHow Many Showed Up?
How do you measure success? For many speakers, lots of people = success and two people = not so much success. Yesterday we scheduled a speaking gig, sort of last-minute, at Crossroads Coffee House in Cross Plains. Everyone was invited, and we spent the evening with the owner and one of her baristas. Failure, right? […]
Continue readingDo You Need A Big Audience?
(I’m posting this on both blogs today. Apologies to those who received it twice.) How do you measure success? For many speakers, lots of people = success and two people = not so much success. Yesterday we scheduled a speaking gig, sort of last-minute, at Crossroads Coffee House in Cross Plains. Everyone was invited, and […]
Continue readingYou Can’t Plan Friends
Most people begin a bike ride by riding a bike. So today we begin Wisconsin Hope Tour with two speaking engagements. Bikes will have to wait until Thursday, unless we sneak in an early morning ride today. # # # Yesterday we remembered the balance we need between planning and trusting. When we did our […]
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