We debriefed the Florida tour with friends a few evenings back and someone asked an interesting question. “How do you keep from getting dragged down by all the pain and need you encounter, especially in the groups you spoke to on this trip?” Good question, and as usual I didn’t have an immediate response. I […]
Continue readingAfter
Happy Monday! Since yesterday was Easter, today’s perfect for this word-of-the-week… AFTER After the big event—the weekend retreat, the important conference, the big bike tour—what happens after? Have you had that feeling? You come home from the life-changing experience and there’s the laundry and the bills. The next morning the alarm clock goes off just […]
Continue readingWhat’s It Look Like When You Don’t Know They’re Watching?
It was an ordinary Monday morning—if there is such a thing—on the RICH’S RIDE Florida tour. I tried to look casual about the awkward process of climbing onto the bike. Monte watched, hoping for an invitation to grab his leash and join the morning run. Becky pumped tires, arranged equipment, and did a million things […]
Continue readingThe Days Before Easter
I have a difficult time with the days before Easter. For most of my life I think I minimized the suffering and death of Jesus. I figured it wasn’t quite as horrible for Him since He was God. I somehow thought that provided some sort of protection, as though He suffered but not really. Now […]
Continue readingFinding Friendly Eyes
When I speak to a group, I try to connect with eyes. No matter the size of the audience, I usually find a few sets of eyes that seem responsive and in tune with my message. When I need a little reassurance or a sense of how things are going, those friendly eyes become my […]
Continue readingShould I Laugh Or Cry?
One of my most profound childhood memories happened the night before my Grandpa’s funeral when I was twelve years old. A large collection of family and friends gathered in Grandma’s small apartment. There were enormous quantities of food and an endless supply of adult beverages. Elmer was a colorful character who lived a big, full, […]
Continue readingFred And Joan
RICH’S RIDE is about people, and we’re blessed to meet interesting folks in a variety of settings. Fred and Joan wondered about the trailer, the dog, and the odd-looking bike. We’d stopped by the beach for a food/water break on day 2 of the Florida tour. Monte was still trying to make sense of the […]
Continue readingEbenezer
Happy Monday! A tweet about a cool place inspires today’s word-of-the-week… EBENEZER One of the last stops on last summer’s IJM Freedom Tour was Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse in Washington, DC. Ebenezer’s is a very cool place, a symbol of hope in many different ways. It’s operated by National Community Church on the site of a former […]
Continue readingMeet Coach Rick
Even in the sprawling park, the SAINTS weren’t hard to locate. We didn’t have much trouble spotting a hundred kids in yellow t-shirts. As we pulled beside the picnic shelter, a big guy with a broad grin walked toward us with a half dozen munchkins in tow. He stopped to remind them about being safe […]
Continue readingAre You Watching THE BIBLE?
Are you following THE BIBLE series on The History Channel? I listened to an interview with a pastor who served as an advisor to the producers. He provided a helpful perspective. The series tries to tell the big, overarching story of the Bible in a relatively brief time frame. The challenge-which events, characters, and stories […]
Continue readingBetter Than I Expected
One common joke among guys of every age is “we’re trying to figure out what we want to be when we grow up.” The real joke, as any woman will happily tell you, is most of us never actually get to the growing up part. Once in a while I manage to chip away at […]
Continue readingWhat About Lent?
I’ve never really made internal sense of Lent. I get the symbolism, abstaining or fasting from something meaningful to honor Jesus’ forty-day wilderness temptation. I’ve tried the abstaining thing a few times, but honestly I’ve never noticed much change. I’ve talked to friends who observe Lent. It appears to mean a great deal to them, […]
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