“Why don’t we just listen?” Heard that question a lot lately. Someone has a difficult story, and others wonder why simply listening seems beyond our cultural capability. I get it. Even in ideal circumstances, deep, non-judgmental listening takes a great deal of effort. Put the story in an emotionally-charged (or politically-charged) situation and one has […]
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Road Trip!
When I was 16, my best friend and I took a brief road trip. My uncle gave me a car, a ’51 Chevy. It was a pile of junk – I think he did it mostly to irritate my dad. Anyway, my buddy and I hopped on a bus, excited about 500 miles of open road […]
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Leading Horses To Water
“What’s the secret to motivating students?” Parents wanted to know – and still do – how to get their kids to study harder, learn more, and perform better. My answer was never all that popular. External motivation doesn’t work. It’s science, backed by data and now by neuroscience and brain research. External motivation, punishments or […]
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The Time For Justice Is…
Working on the FREEDOM TOUR gets me thinking a lot about urgency and justice. In an ancient story with modern applications, Paul and Silas were beaten and tossed into prison illegally. God intervened and used the opportunity to convert the jailer and his household. The following morning, officials try to get Paul and Silas to leave without […]
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He’s Already There
Jesus wept. The bible’s shortest verse doesn’t describe a miracle. It’s not part of a sermon or a parable. His friend Lazarus died. Others grieved. Jesus wept. Tears weren’t really necessary, because Jesus knew Lazarus was about to rise. He knew the final result, knew there would soon be joy… and still, in the presence […]
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Just In Case We Forget
Once in a while I need to remember – maybe you do, too. On December 10, 1986, Elie Wiesel delivered one of the truly influential speeches in history. The occasion was his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. Wiesel looked back to himself as a small boy entering the Holocaust and asked, “Can this be true? […]
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What If FDR Was Wrong?
In his first inaugural address to a country mired in the depths of the Great Depression, FDR struck a note of optimism. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Nothing to be afraid of…except being afraid? I’m not so sure. Lots of fear these days, related to all sorts of issues. Much […]
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Cliffs Notes
Two academics want to speed up baseball games. Steven Brams and Aaron Isaksen proposed a fairly radical rule change. They claim their idea, tested on 100,000 games over the last 50 years, would reduce the average game time by nearly 30 minutes and make games more competitive by limiting one-sided “blowout” affairs. I love baseball. […]
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What Happens When We’re Done?
Well, we’re not done. As I reflect on the wonderful experiences of FREEDOM TOUR 2018, I can’t escape the nagging notion of not-done. Women and children are still trafficked. Millions still labor under the yoke of modern-day slavery. The HOME OF HOPE still needs our support. Ending this horror is a huge task. Our little […]
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Video: Colorado Mountain Tour
We have a lot of fun on our tours. Yeah, it’s lots of work. We get tired. And sore. And even a little cranky at times. But I suspect most of our teammates would tell you it’s worth it. Here’s a video to give you a small view of the beauty of our 2018 Colorado […]
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Why All The Stories?
“Why spend so much time telling stories?” It’s a common question, for the FREEDOM TOUR and most endeavors. What’s the big deal with the pictures, the videos, the constant effort to share the memories? It’s not a flashback to Glory Days. Storytelling, it seems, is essential for community. “Where common memory is lacking, where people […]
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When Will I Learn?
There’s a lesson I keep learning. Okay, maybe “learning” is the wrong word, because learning = behavior change. If I learned, I wouldn’t keep bumping into the same issue. I know it’s not about numbers. I know I should trust God to bring the right people into the circle, that He knows who should be […]
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