Rich's Ride

A New Teammate

Perhaps you’ve noticed…no posts this week. I’d like to introduce you the newest member of our family, and the reason I’ve done no writing for a few days. This is Ernie. He’s 8 weeks old. He has more energy than Becky and me, as well as being quicker and more persistent than we are. And […]

The Children’s Sermon

(I wrote this a few years ago. In the aftermath of yet another mass shooting, this time just miles from our home, it seemed good to revisit.) A while back Becky and I visited a church that does a children’s sermon during worship. The kids gathered around the leader, poking and squirming and trying to […]

What Is It?

What’s the FREEDOM TOUR? Honestly, our team asks ourselves this question frequently. Are we a bike ride? A fundraiser? A mission event? It’s not that we’re forgetful. It’s important to remind ourselves what we’re trying to accomplish. We do spend a lot of time riding bikes, and seeking justice by supporting the kids at the […]

Hope & Freedom

Last time I suggested serving might be better than helping. I’m thinking about the kids at the HOME OF HOPE. I don’t want to help them, because helping implies some sort of superiority. We’re not better, bigger, or stronger. I hope we’ll all agree to serve them. Those kids are precious children of God. Every […]

Don’t Help

Kids ask great questions. They’re honest and curious. They get past the stuff most adults are afraid to talk about. Whenever I talk to a group of students about issues related to abilities and disabilities, some version of this question often arises. “How should we approach someone who appears to need help without offending them?” […]

What’s It Cost?

“What’s it cost?” It’s a fair question. This is sign-up season for the FREEDOM TOUR, so it comes up occasionally. I’m learning, though, to look through the lens of a different question. What’s it worth? What’s it worth to see 22 children, once destined for a life of sexual slavery, now living in freedom? What’s […]

The Gap

I wrote most of this a few years ago. I’m thinking about the gap between what we know and what we really believe. We know outcomes don’t depend on the size of our efforts. We know God asks us to do what we can, where we are, with what we have and then trust Him […]

The Cool Kids

Jesus asked me to love others, not to be in love with them. I wrote that a few years ago. Maybe I copied someone. I’m not sure, but it’s a good thought to ponder as our FREEDOM TOUR team takes shape. I tend to gravitate toward people I like. Most of us are prone to […]

Listening Rather Than “Izing”

A few months back, I made a commitment. People spilled into streets across the nation. Frustration born of long-held pain and anger boiled over. As always, many folks retreated to their corners and tossed out familiar talking points. It was an exercise in “Izing.” Politicizing, dichotomizing, polarizing, demonizing, and spiritualizing. When things become “Ized,” nothing […]

All God’s Children

Music has a way of expressing things. I can write lots of words to try to tell you about human trafficking and why we do what we do. I don’t think I could say it as powerfully as this short video. I invite you to watch, listen, and remember our 22 kids at Project Rescue’s […]

When It’s All “Ized”

I spend too much time staring at a screen. Lots of advantages to this online revolution, but we all know there are downsides as well. I’m pretty good at blocking and scrolling past most of the really negative stuff, but I’ll admit that I get kind of sad when I see the angry, divisive comments […]

Half A Million

500,000. Individuals. With faces and names and families who grieve their loss. Half a million precious children of God. When they told Him of His friend Lazarus’ death, Jesus wept. Lots of our friends and neighbors are weeping right now. I hope they know we grieve with them. I hope they know Jesus holds each […]

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