Here’s One Way To Do Good

My friend Phil takes a little boy fishing occasionally. They eat sandwiches and laugh and talk about stuff. I’m sure they even catch a few fish, though I don’t think that matters so much. What if Good isn’t a big, overwhelming, impossible-to-achieve abstract notion? What if Good isn’t something for God to accomplish in the grand sweep of […]

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Give Good Instructions

“I couldn’t do something like that!” When you talk to people about extended cycle tours, you hear that sort of thing a lot. It’s the kind of focused place where folks tend to argue for their limitations. But there are lots of situations in which people seem defeated before they begin. So many folks are absolutely […]

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It’s More Than Fun

“Wow, this looks like fun!” It’s probably my favorite comment when people walk up to the FREEDOM TOUR table. They see the photos, the jerseys, the maps, and the whole thing looks like a big, crazy adventure. Who wouldn’t want to be part of the smiles, the sunshine, the friendships and the sense of accomplishment that […]

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Are You Sure?

Truth or certainty? Isn’t true also certain, and vice versa? Are they not the same thing? Turns out–not so much. Certain is often a simplistic, watered-down place of political slogans and bumper stickers. It’s great for platitudes and song choruses. Certain rarely describes how the world works, how relationships work, how we can move the ball down the field. […]

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Failure Isn’t Optional

I know I’ll fail. Don’t know when, where, or in which direction, but at some point I’ll mess it up. That’s a given. No one likes to fail. I’d like to be the guy who always makes the right choice, always sees the big picture, always looks ten steps ahead. Sadly, I’m not. You probably aren’t, either. Failure […]

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At The Center

What do you want at the center? I confronted that question during the last few days in a totally unexpected set of circumstances. Had to answer What really matters? as I concurrently smile and tremble in fear. Took the first step on a journey with no clue about what the path looks like. And I’m supposed to be […]

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Because I Said So?

Every parent and teacher wrestles with Why? As a new teacher my go-to response to Why? was Because I said so! After all, I’m the teacher. I make the rules, right? End of discussion. Took a lot of years for me to realize that Because I said so! was simply coercion. I have more power and control, so you have to […]

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Reversing The Question

What’s the heart of service? Helping those in need? Doing good? Supporting worthy causes? “I imagine that the first question the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I […]

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Old Wineskins (And Ideas)

I love new ideas. I can’t imagine anything better than building something brand-spanking-new composed of fresh, original notions. Built from scratch, all original ingredients, hand-designed from the ground up. Reflecting yesterday on lessons from MLK Day, I realized my ideal might not be the way things actually work. Of course we need new ideas, new relationships, new […]

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