A few years back my friend Tim talked about a church strategy he called Y’ALL COME. The notion seemed simple. Open the doors wide, put up a sign, have people at the doors with big smiles, and we’ve done our part, right? Not so much. Tim claimed Y’ALL COME wasn’t good enough. He said we […]
Continue readingAuthor: Rich
Something I Learned By Riding A Bike
RICH’S RIDE has taught me a great deal. I thought the whole crazy notion was about me doing a big handcycle ride. My friend Dick Foth helped me understand that Rich riding a bike wasn’t worth the investment of time, money, and effort. He knew I’d reach the end and feel the sense of emptiness […]
Continue readingDiversity
HAPPY MONDAY! A friend’s reluctance to attend church prompts today’s word-of-the-week… DIVERSITY I know a man who loves Jesus with all his heart. He also happens to have black skin, and has reached a place where he doesn’t feel at home in church. I’ve had a difficult time understanding, but I think recent events in […]
Continue readingWhy Spinning Faster Isn’t The Answer
How do you get the most from life? The headline promoted another foolproof strategy for identifying what you want from life—and getting it. Who wouldn’t sign up for that? I’m certain God didn’t create us to spin the hamster wheel that for many has become the American dream—we go to work to get the money […]
Continue readingWhat Will You Pursue?
How important is happiness? Thomas Jefferson apparently thought it was a big deal. He listed its pursuit, along with life and liberty, as three basic rights with which God endowed us. Yesterday I did a training ride, and frankly it wasn’t a happy experience for several reasons that don’t really matter. I likely would’ve avoided […]
Continue readingAre You Disabled?
“How do you avoid repeating the cycle of despair?” It’s perhaps the most insightful question we heard on our recent tour, and it came up several times. Like most really good questions, I’m not sure I had a simple answer. Makes sense, though. When you describe a journey that resonates with so many folks, a […]
Continue readingHow To Live Out Hope
Hope means we approach God with a sense of expectancy. That’s what the pastor said yesterday at the church where we spoke. I love that notion, the idea that we’re excited to see what God’s up to. (I’m posting this on both blogs today. Apologies to those who received it twice.) RICH’S RIDE is all […]
Continue readingExpectancy
HAPPY MONDAY! A fresh term for a familiar concept is today’s word-of-the-week… EXPECTANCY Hope means we approach God with a sense of expectancy. That’s what the pastor said yesterday at the church where we spoke. I love that notion, the idea that we’re excited to see what God’s up to. RICH’S RIDE is all about […]
Continue readingWhat Happens When Things Get Real?
I love talking to kids about dreams. I love telling them about hope and possibility and being what God made them to be. But yesterday when I looked at a group of eager young faces I had this crazy thought. I’m encouraging them to take risks, step out in faith, avoid taking the safe path. […]
Continue readingWhat Happens When Comfortable Changes?
Monte and I took a morning ride yesterday. Dreams evolve. Yesterday’s risky might be today’s safe. Come along and share some thoughts about what happens when comfortable changes. Can’t see the video? Click here. Please leave a comment here.
Continue readingWhen You Jump To Conclusions
I have this terrible tendency to form on-the-spot judgments. I don’t always engage with grace and an open mind before instantly staking out a position. I believe that’s what they call “being judgmental.” A while back we met a young, energetic leader. In the course of our conversation he made what seemed to be a curious […]
Continue readingHow A Dog Starts Conversations
“That’s a great-looking dog.” You’d be amazed at how many conversations begin like that. So we talked a bit about Labrador Retrievers and dog hair, but this guy in the hotel lobby had deeper questions. It wasn’t long before he asked about the wheelchair, my injury, and the recovery process. He wanted to know about […]
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