Every great celebration has music. We’re grateful for our theme song. For 10 years the FREEDOM TOUR has enjoyed Kristen Orphan’s beautiful version of Anyway. We hope you’ll appreciate this wonderful music along with 10 years of memories. Can’t see the video? Click here.
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Yeah, But…
It’s a default setting in my internal vocabulary. Someone voices a statement I believe to be true; it creates some sort of internal circumstantial dissonance. Rather than pausing to honestly examine the conflict, I react with, “Yeah, but…” Love your neighbor. “Yeah, but he’s a jerk.” God so loved the world… “Yeah, but He never […]
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Couldn’t Care Less (More)
I couldn’t care less. Ever heard that? Ever said it? There’s a conversation. Someone’s passionate about a topic and some cynic reacts dismissively, “I couldn’t care less.” Seems like there’s a lot of I-couldn’t-care-less around lately. Unless the issue is right in our faces and impacts us directly and personally, it’s awfully tempting to turn […]
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The Best Ever
2022 – the 10th FREEDOM TOUR! So, let’s celebrate. Have a party. Get everyone together and do it up right. Hats, balloons, cake, the whole deal. Let’s make this THE BEST FREEDOM TOUR EVER! Bad idea. Not the celebration. The party, the hats and cake – let’s do it. But I hope we stay away […]
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A Jersey Parade
Everything’s a process. Like everything else about the FREEDOM TOUR, our jerseys and the design process have gone through quite an evolution. I hope you enjoy the memories as you look back at the jerseys and some of the amazing people who have worn them. Can’t see the video? Click here. + + + Want […]
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Pictures
Pictures serve lots of purposes. Right now it’s snowy and cold and we’re stuck inside. This FREEDOM TOUR photo reminds me it’s not long until warm sunny days and long bike rides. In just a few weeks we’ll get together in small groups to train. There’ll be lots of laughs and good conversation. And anticipation, […]
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Nobody Cares
“Nobody cares about the Uyghurs.” Billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya, co-owner of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, stated clearly that the genocide China is carrying out against Muslim Uyghurs simply isn’t a concern. He characterized them as “a segment of a class of people in another country.” Concern for global human rights, he says, is a “luxury […]
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Bad Timing
The time is always right to do what is right. ~MLK When planning the 1963 March on Washington, President Kennedy met with Dr. King and expressed concern that the event was perhaps “ill-timed.” Dr King responded, “Frankly, I have never engaged in any direct-action movement that did not seem ill-timed.” + + + Each year […]
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Seek Justice?
At the FREEDOM TOUR we believe we’re following Jesus when we advocate for victims of injustice. I’ve watched three recent high-profile court cases because I wanted to see what happened in an actual courtroom. Spoiler – it’s not much like Law & Order. In all three cases, victims’ relatives said guilty verdicts didn’t really bring […]
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Decisions
As the new year begins, we’re making decisions about summer bike rides. 2022 marks our 10th FREEDOM TOUR. Ten years of friends and community. Ten years of supporting the kids at the Home of Hope. As our team makes choices with ten years of background, I notice how easy it is for me to fall […]
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Most Days
Last time I talked about beginning with a question. “How can I be helpful?” seems like a good place to start. Maybe I’ll add a couple of others. This one comes from the reflections of my friend Jon Swanson. Jon’s a hospital chaplain who tries by example to help us learn to be a bit […]
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A Question To Begin
I’m starting 2022 with a question. Instead of a resolutions or goals, this old teacher prefers long-term, open questions that challenge me and guide my thinking. So I’ll begin 2022 by reminding myself of a question. “How can I be helpful?” It’s a difficult question for me, because this wheelchair guy often feels helpless. I […]
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