Category: Living On Purpose

Do you think God wants us to compete with other religions? I’ve read some stuff recently lamenting Christianity’s waning influence. One article claimed we’re “losing the battle” with Middle Eastern religions, atheism, and humanism (the god of “me”). The author suggested that those who believe in the God of Abraham need new strategies to compete […]

We’ve completed our latest tour. I’m eager to get back on a regular schedule, but for today I want to offer a simple image. One of the RICH’S RIDE traditions is Helmets Up. Before each ride we raise our helmets and pause in prayer. It’s a simple acknowledgment that we ride in Jesus’ name. We began the […]

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) Who, me? And where, exactly, am I supposed to go? Pretty good questions—I’ll bet you’ve asked them a time or two. I know I have. I’m asking them a […]

I used to joke that a school would be a great place to work if it weren’t for all those pesky kids. Same thing’s true of serving in communities—it would be easy, if it weren’t for all those messed-up people. The problem is that God seems to like using messed-up people to accomplish His work. […]

Jesus stopped at a well to speak to a Samaritan woman. (John 4) He shouldn’t have associated with someone like her. She was a Samaritan, a woman, and woman with a sordid past. No Jewish rabbi would be seen speaking to her. She was an outcast. The woman herself recognized the inappropriate nature of the […]

Yesterday I wrote about memorials. I referenced a special memorial, a pile of stones God told the people to leave at the place they entered the Promised Land. “In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark […]

Ever wonder what might happen if you didn’t wait for someone with authority to tell you it’s okay? Seems like a lot of folks say, “I’d like to do something like that, but _____ won’t approve it.” Fill in the blank with my church, my boss, my family, whatever. It’s a convenient excuse for failure, […]

This passage came up in our small group this week. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into […]

Our big church meets in a big building. I suppose there are goods and bads to that, but one thing about a big church is there’s a lot happening in the building during each service. This weekend I met with some people during parts of the services and had the opportunity to observe some of what […]

Do you have a good working definition of “what matters” to you? I like to think and write in terms of metaphors and analogies. I heard a comparison a while back that helped me think about money in my own hierarchy of what really matters. In life’s journey, money is like gasoline for a car. […]

I’ve decided to stop saying, “I’m blessed.” I suppose I ought to explain, because I believe I’ve been blessed in many ways far beyond my ability to comprehend. “I enjoyed great health in 2013. I’m blessed.” “Lots of people are getting behind FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR ’14. I’m blessed.” “RICH’S RIDE has wonderful sponsorship support. Our finances […]

What’s your personal enduring image of the whole Easter story? Of course the cross and resurrection reside at the center of history, but for me a smaller, more intimate moment captures the essence of what Jesus was trying to tell me. In the midst of the chaos and turmoil and fear, He stopped to wash His disciples’ […]