Category: Freedom Tour

Ever watch the sprint at a track meet? The starter gives three commands. ON YOUR MARK! Runners settle into the starting blocks. A few moments, until everyone’s completely still and relaxed. SET! Runners rise into takeoff position. Muscles tensed, waiting, anticipating… BANG! The race begins. “SET” can only last a second or two. Once everyone’s […]

It’s more comfortable when the shepherds stay in their fields. When they’re out of sight, I can ignore how we’ve isolated them, made them outcasts, treated them as less than. I can pretend it’s okay that they’re unwelcome at our gatherings, our neighborhoods, our homes. But then God does something crazy. He chooses these guys […]

For some reason, I’m listening to more Christmas music this year. And I’ve noticed the shepherds. We idealize them. Kids play the shepherds in the church pageant. But they were the lowest, outcasts doing a stinky job no one else would do. When God decided to announce the pivotal moment in all of human history, […]

I thanked a friend for a generous donation to the kids at the Home of Hope. I said I appreciated his support of such a worthy cause. He replied, “There are lots of worthy causes.” My friend’s right. There’s no shortage of worthy causes. His comment got me wondering why people choose to support our […]

A weird thing happens as we plan for next summer’s FREEDOM TOUR. We look back and realize hundreds of people had a great time, nothing but praise and encouragement. And one or two folks were disappointed because something didn’t meet their expectations. Guess which one I obsess over? Guess which one tempts me to change […]

“Your responsibility equals your reach.” What’s your first response? I’ve been chewing on that idea since I read it a while back. The notion, I think, is that folks with bigger platforms have a bigger responsibility to consider the potential consequences of their words and actions. We understand the principle. It’s one thing if a […]

Students taught me to be wary of absolutes. Once you say never or always, you can pretty much count on two things. First, people will test the boundaries. So you have to decide how invested you are in the rule, how much time and effort you’ll spend enforcing the lines. Second, no matter how carefully […]

Last time I asked a question. What will it be like to meet Jesus face-to-face? I don’t know what that heavenly greeting will be like, but I don’t have to wait to talk to Jesus. He and I have conversations, especially when I’m cranking my handcycle. And I think He’s telling me the kingdom is […]

What will it be like to meet Jesus face-to-face? I imagine a big smile, a hug, and “Welcome Home.” I know that moment will be more glorious and awesome than anything my human brain can imagine. Still, it feels good to create a script of how the meeting might happen. I picture a conversation, a […]