“I’m not sure what I can do to help. All I can do it pray.” I’ve heard that dozens of times in conversations about Rich’s Ride. I’ve said it myself—I’ll bet you have as well. The implication is that we’d like to do something real, something that would actually help. But if we can’t think […]
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Is It Supposed To Be This Hard?
This ride we’re doing has me wondering: what if it’s not as complicated as we make it? What if God doesn’t mean for life to be all about frustration and fear? What if He wants calm and peace? We’re trying to get down the road and talk to folks about hope. And everything we’re focused […]
Continue readingMore TagNot What I Deserved
Am I the only one who feels like I don’t get what I deserve? I showed up for a speaking gig this morning with a totally negative attitude. We spoke at a church last evening. The conversation afterward was great, but it lasted longer than I planned. I got to bed too late to be […]
Continue readingMore TagIs God Risk-Free?
If you’re not doing something that scares you, you’re not living life to its fullest. Do you agree with the statement above? I do. It’s a new perspective for me. I always figured God was about being careful, safe, and secure. The Christians I knew seemed to be the most conservative, cautious, risk-averse folks around. […]
Continue readingMore TagGod Surprised Me
He does that occasionally. Just when I think I have the infinite creator of the universe figured out, He does something other than what I expected. My eyes popped open at about 4:45 this morning. My brain immediately began swirling with about a million things I need to be doing at once to get ready […]
Continue readingMore TagMy Hand Cycle And My Best Friend
I’d like to tell you a story about my closest friend. It’s been on my mind a lot lately because it’s directly related to RICH’S RIDE. In March of 1999 I wanted to try hand cycling; Wayne went along to help. I got on the demo bike and tottered along like a little kid riding for the […]
Continue readingMore TagA Time To Let Go (Repost)
This article originally appeared on August 11, 2009. I’m reposting it in honor of Father’s Day. # # # # # I like the way we released my dad last weekend. (To Everything There Is A Season) We created an unusual memorial; Dad would have liked that. A small family procession toured his old childhood […]
Continue readingMore TagTrying To Trust God
Is trusting God different than trying to trust God? I had to dictate yesterday’s post (This Morning …) to my lovely wife. At one point I said I was “trying to trust God.” Becky said, “Why ‘trying’? Why not just trust Him?” Good question. I do trust Him—intellectually. I believe He’s in control, that He […]
Continue readingMore TagHow Do You Talk To Jesus?
How do you picture your relationship with Jesus? Yesterday I wrote about God In Ordinary Things and my conviction that God has worked in my life mostly through ordinary events and people. Today I’m thinking that He sent Jesus as an ordinary man. I understand that theologically He was the most extraordinary man who ever […]
Continue readingMore TagIdols
What do you value most? I’m not really big on fancy religious words. They’re fun to toss around, but I mostly think the words make it easy to dismiss a deeper issue. Idolatry is a word like that. For me, the word evokes images of golden calves and ritual sacrifice. Idols are statues of snakes […]
Continue readingMore TagForgetting About Grace
Do you ever make life too complicated and forget the basics? Last week I spoke to a pastor about leading a men’s retreat. He asked me to outline my vision for the sessions. So I talked about stories and testimonies and adversity. I traced a path from storm through darkness to hope and light. I […]
Continue readingMore TagA Question About Service
Has a question ever told you something important about yourself? Last time I said I love questions (God And Tough Questions). That doesn’t mean the questions are always comfortable or that I’m happy with my responses. Encouraging real questions means embracing uncertainty and imperfection. When you work with adolescents you learn that you often have […]
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