The sky isn’t falling. Contrary to post-election paralysis-by-analysis, “the next four years” will not be the most crucial, difficult, trying period in US history. It will not be the longest four years we’ve experienced. In fact, the next four years will most likely be just about four years long. Certainly we face challenges, but when […]
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Your Mission Needs A Mission
Okay, that’s an odd title. A while back, Pastor Mark Orphan made a powerful statement about a project we were discussing. “We don’t have much long-term success when we do an activity for ourselves. People respond when there’s a cause, a reason for what we’re asking them to do that’s bigger than us or them.” […]
Continue readingMilestones
Okay. I’m officially a little bit excited. Last week, we reached an important milestone in the publication process of the new book. I’m really pleased with the design of both the cover and interior layout. As a writer, it’s humbling when artists use their talents to interpret the words graphically. I think these folks did […]
Continue readingMilestones
Okay. I’m officially a little bit excited. Last week, we reached an important milestone in the publication process of the new book. I’m really pleased with the design of both the cover and interior layout. As a writer, it’s humbling when artists use their talents to interpret the words graphically. I think these folks did […]
Continue readingChange
Happy Monday! I’m right in the middle of today’s word-of-the-week… CHANGE In thirty-five years as an educator I worked with some incredibly creative individuals. We discovered that, like any large organization, systematic change was often easy to talk about but difficult to accomplish. I developed my own semi-sarcastic adage: The only problem with change is […]
Continue readingJesus Reminds Me To Look Deeper
Yesterday I told you about my personalized version of the bible. I think God speaks to me through RUV—Rich’s Unstandard Version. Sometimes He uses the RUV to help me see the big picture, put things in context, and see more than just one isolated verse. That happened the other night when our small group looked […]
Continue readingHow Many Times?
I have this personal version of the bible. It’s called RUV—Rich’s Unstandard Version. Occasionally I encounter a conversation with Jesus in RUV when I’m trying to make sense of words from the real bible. Jesus and His friends are hanging out around a fire. Peter leans over and says, “Don’t you ever get tired of […]
Continue readingMission: Share
Fear makes it easier to wish you could than to hope you can. The second part of the RICH’S RIDE mission statement says: Speak to a variety of audiences about hope, possibility, and God’s faithfulness. But “speak” is really the wrong word, and words matter. Using the wrong word in a mission statement can get […]
Continue readingWhat Can We Do About It?
Ever feel overwhelmed by a social justice issue? Ever ask yourself, “What can I do?” (I see all those heads nodding. Mine too.) My friend Jon Swanson made this video last year before our Mississippi River trip. It’s one great answer to, “What can we do?” Can’t see the video? Click here. What can you […]
Continue readingThe Orphan Puzzle
Yesterday I used our church’s weekend focus on orphan care as an example of a large, complex puzzle to which many of hold a piece. I suspect most of us may not be called to adopt a child. That’s a huge commitment and ought to be considered carefully and prayerfully. But worldwide orphan care does […]
Continue readingPuzzle
Happy Monday! My lovely wife inspires today’s word-of-the-week… PUZZLE Becky likes doing jigsaw puzzles, and she talks a lot about life’s issues in “puzzle” terms. This weekend our church focused on the issue of orphan care. With such an enormous, multi-faceted problem, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Afterward, as we talked about the huge numbers […]
Continue readingBaseball And Football
Happy Saturday! Sometimes you just need a little fun, right? In honor of this season in which baseball and football seasons overlap, here’s a classic distinction between the two games. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmXacL0Uny0 Can’t see the video? Click here. Have a great weekend!
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