Today we learned a lot about the work of International Justice Mission. That’s Karen from IJM during her presentation. It’s not a fun topic. The stories are difficult and dark. It’s hard to listen without becoming outraged and angry. Even the stories of victory and rescue tear at your soul as you look into young […]
Continue readingMore TagAuthor: Rich
A Costly Offering
Wow! Thursday was an intense day. I started with a twenty-five mile training ride on a great bike trail. Then we met our team for the IJM Freedom Tour. What an amazing group! These folks converged from all across the U.S. with a common purpose: to gain rescue and justice for victims of violent opression. […]
Continue readingMore TagThat’s Just Crazy
Today we met our team for the IJM Freedom Tour. It was an intense experience, meeting twenty-seven people from all across the country who came together for a whole variety of reasons. But one thing became clear: this group shares a passion for battling the issues of human trafficking, slavery, and forced sexual bondage. One […]
Continue readingMore TagA Lamb Among Wolves
There’s something about riding in unfamiliar places. This morning I took off from our hotel on a training ride through the countryside south of Indianapolis. I had a general idea where I was headed, but didn’t know what the roads would be like, how much traffic I’d encounter, or what kind of terrain I’d face. […]
Continue readingMore TagAn Able Bodied World? (from the archives)
Today we meet our team and start getting organized for next week’s ride. I thought you’d like to re-visit this article which originally appeared on December 1, 2011. Rich’s Ride provided countless rewards and a few challenges. One significant test arrived in the form of a question. A Christian disability-advocacy group invited me to a meeting. I […]
Continue readingMore TagThrough A Farmer’s Eyes
We stopped to see Becky’s parents on our way to Cincinnati. Becky’s dad is always interesting to talk to. He’s a farmer, lives on the same land his dad and grandfather farmed. When you listen to his comments, you immediately notice that he has a long-term perspective on most situations. He observes the current hot, […]
Continue readingMore TagRevisiting Our Theme Song
Music touches me–not really the music as much as the lyrics. I’m always amazed by the range of emotions that can bubble up when I hear the words of a familiar song. Since we’re about to embark on our next ride, I thought we ought to revisit our official theme song. It sends chills down […]
Continue readingMore TagWe Need Us
As we prepare for our ride, I have a question for you: Do you underestimate what you have to offer? Most of us tend to discount our potential to contribute. Someone else can do it better, so we leave it to them. I used to tell students to get used to an inescapable fact: nobody’s “best” […]
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Happy Monday! A quote from a favorite author inspires today’s word-of-the-week… DEPEND We’re on the threshold of a new adventure, completing the final stages of traveling and preparing to meet our team and get going on the ride from Cincinnati to DC. You know what that’s like. Anticipation, excitement, wondering if you’re ready and what […]
Continue readingMore TagNo Lone Rangers
Do you ever stop and think about how much other people do for you? Americans are enamored with the image of the lone ranger, the one-person success story. We love the myth of doing it ourselves. But it’s mostly a myth. The truth is that most success is the result of community. RICH’S RIDE is […]
Continue readingMore TagStrange Noises
Hi. It’s Monte, resuming my role as guest blogger. It’s been a while since we chatted, so maybe I should introduce myself since some of you might be new here. I’m Rich’s service dog, the one everyone always pets while they read the sign on my vest that says “Please don’t pet me.” I don’t mind. […]
Continue readingMore TagFires, Floods, And Storms
Fires char thousands of acres and destroy hundreds of homes in the western U.S. Deadly storms in eastern states leave millions without power in sweltering heat. Floods displace entire communities. It’s enough to leave us wondering when the frogs and locusts will show up. Where’s God? Ever asked that question? I have, and I’ll bet […]
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