The FREEDOM TOUR supports kids. There’s a song that means a lot to me and to many folks of my generation. I encourage you to listen to The Steeple Song by Don Francisco. In light of current events, I’m mindful of the last line: Lord, when were You a prisoner, that we did not come […]
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Community
I’m fond of the phrase, “The FREEDOM TOUR is a community.” It’s my way of emphasizing that we’re followers of Jesus and relationships matter. It’s also a way of clarifying that fundraising is not our primary focus, which is a curious thing to say since we raise funds to support a group of kids who’ve […]
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Next Year
Ever notice how quickly “next year” seems to show up? We just completed FREEDOM TOUR 2023, and 2024 deadlines are already creeping up on us. FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC, COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR, HOPE & FREEDOM CHALLENGE. Altogether, our team will donate more than $115,000 to the kids at the home of hope, enough to support the […]
Continue readingA Break
Not much happening, including writing, right now. After being SO careful, COVID invaded our house. Becky recovered quickly, I’m slogging along more slowly. Hopefully I’ll be back to whatever normal means in a day or two. Stay safe. Have a great weekend.
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Healing
I spoke last week via zoom to a class of undergrad students preparing to be chaplains, pastors, and other sorts of care-givers. To prepare, I read a book by Amy Kenny: My Body Is Not A Prayer Request. Curious title, huh? Got me wondering if other people see me and my injury as a prayer […]
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One Mile At A Time
Our Hope & Freedom Challenge concluded Saturday. Since the beginning of the year, more than 80 people have run, walked, and cycled, and recorded their miles in our tracker. Thanks to a generous donor, those miles are matched $1-per-mile. We began with a lofty goal, hoping to accumulate 60,000 miles. When the dust settled on […]
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2023 Classic Video
The FREEDOM TOUR is a lot of fun. It’s serious work, because we’re always mindful of the kids we support. But when we finally get together, everyone has a blast. Here’s a short video to give you an idea of what FREEDOM TOUR CLASSIC 2023 was about. I hope it makes you smile, and I […]
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“Independence”
People do a lot of kind things so I can be “independent.” My bike has a unique brake, similar to an old-school coaster brake on a kid’s bike. It allows me to pedal backwards to stop without removing my hands from the cranks. Very cool. The drawback – I can’t reverse the cranks or roll […]
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Hope In The Mirror
“You often find hope by looking back.” I talked a while back to a guy whose life took an unexpected turn. He was scared, and asked how I dealt with uncertainty in the aftermath of my injury. I told him I dealt with it very badly – 10 years of anger, depression, denial. Basically lost […]
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Roundabout
Northern Colorado is great place to ride bikes. Miles and miles of wonderful trails, great climbing nearby in the foothills, and lots of bike lanes. For the most part, drivers are aware of, and courteous toward, cyclists. For the most part. On Saturday, my route took me through a semi-busy roundabout. I waited my turn, […]
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Free!
Except…freedom isn’t really the goal. Freedom implies a lack of constraints or consequences. Sounds great, right? Do whatever you want with no repercussions. In the grown-up world, that’s not how it works, because actions have consequences. Those who declare absolute freedom are really claiming they should be free from the consequences of their choices. They’re […]
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How To Pray
American teenager Coco Gauff won the US Open Tennis Tournament on Saturday. A wonderful accomplishment, for sure, but most impressive was her post-match interview. After kneeling briefly to pray, this articulate young woman skipped the typical platitudes and spoke clearly about faith, family, and overcoming adversity. When the interviewer inquired about the prayer, Ms. Gauff […]
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