Saw a wonderful movie last week. Godspeed:The Race Across America follows Jerry Schemmel and Brad Cooper on a remarkable 7-day, 3000-mile cycling journey. In a Q&A afterward, Schemmel reflected on Now, what? What do you do once you’ve completed such an epic adventure? “I want to use this project to give God the glory.” Nothing about Look at […]
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Following A Trusted Guide
We’ve had our share of route misadventures. If you’ve been here a while you know about our trek through an open field, the encounter with a fence, and a portage around a flood. When you follow a God-sized dream, stuff happens that makes for great memories and around-the-campfire stories. Since Phil joined our circle, we […]
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What A Mess!
Every dream starts as a fairy tale. That’s how you imagine it, beautiful blue skies and smiles, nobody sweats, pictures turn out perfect. Then the people show up. Aunt Clara still hasn’t forgiven Uncle Charlie for that thing (whatever it was) way back when. One little boy gets muddy, another has his finger stuck up […]
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About (More Than) Numbers
“More people equals more success…right?” Andy said that, tongue firmly planted in cheek, in the quiet beauty that is Breckenridge, Colorado. As we waited for folks to arrive at Breckenridge Christian Ministries, he described BCM’s unique structure. Andy’s sort-of a leader. I say that because BCM operates with no paid staff. No pastor, no youth […]
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Fear And Distractions
Five years ago Becky and I toured the perimeter of Florida. When I tell the story, someone always asks, “Weren’t you scared?” Intense traffic. Rude, inconsiderate drivers. Few (and narrow) bike lanes. Lots of old people. It’s true, Florida’s generally not all that bike-friendly. But scared? Seriously? Cycling. Coast of Florida. February. I was having […]
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Not Doing Whatever It Takes
A while back a friend told me he’ll do “whatever it takes” to promote and attract people to his event. He believes in the cause it supports, so good results apparently justify “whatever it takes” to achieve them. I get it…when you’re passionate about feeding hungry children, rescuing orphans, or some other desperate cause, the overwhelming […]
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How To Avoid Alligators
Five years ago I cycled Tamiami Trail through the Everglades across southern Florida. Incredible experience riding through a unique, primeval environment. Even got attacked by a mythical skunk-ape (“mythical” story here). Tamiami Trail is a great place to Keep It Between The Ditches. The road’s bordered by deep canals. Several times I saw a single […]
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“Stay out of the ditches” – generally good advice for driving or riding a bike. All sorts of bad stuff happens when a cyclist veers off the road, but simply avoiding the ditch isn’t much of a goal. I can stay on the pavement and still be a terrible rider. In fact, just sitting still, […]
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Hope In Hopeless Places
I love Alycia’s story of finding hope. Grew up in a somewhat unconventional family, not much support or stability, found her own way to Jesus as a teenager, left home after graduation. As she tells it, almost as an afterthought, she did her first mission trip at age 21. Again, without much support, simply because […]
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What’s Your Opinion?
Tom’s my go-to guy for bike mechanics. Lots of knowledge, years of experience, incredible patience, great attention to detail…I trust his judgment and wisdom. Jut as important, Tom won’t pretend to know what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t fear not having every answer. Lots of folks know about bikes, but when Tom offers an opinion I […]
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The Next Right Thing
“I wonder why it turned out so differently?” I’d just finished telling my story to her students. Tears welled as she described her injury – broken vertebrae, paralysis, halo brace, details eerily reminiscent of my experience – yet this vibrant young woman stood in front of me and pondered our very different paths. I shook […]
Continue readingMore TagLess Than Or Equal?
“19% of a whole person.” In the aftermath of my injury I received all sorts of information. Some diagnostic, some clinical, some legal…some helpful, some not-so-much. I can’t recall a details any more devastating than the neurologist’s report on the extent of my injury. From a functional standpoint, on an impartial, clinical scale, I was […]
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