“Nobody goes there any more, it’s too crowded.” Yogi Berra offered, in his unique style, a humorous review of a popular nightspot. As holiday shopping begins in earnest, Yogi’s upside-down analysis reminds me of my impressions of the crowds, lines, and occasional confrontations connected to the Great American Tradition known as Black Friday. “Nobody I know […]
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Fruit Salad
Are you a plum…or a banana? Oscar Wilde once said, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” Great advice for you and me as we navigate a world of often-picky fruit lovers. If you are the world’s finest plum and someone you love does not like plums, you have the choice of becoming a banana. But you […]
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Freedom And Fun?
The FREEDOM TOUR is a lot of fun. People sorta mock my personal tagline: It’s gonna be a blast! That’s okay. We work and train earnestly. We’re serious about our mission because it’s literally life-and-death for our kids. We care deeply about doing well as we follow a God-inspired dream. Lots of folks invest (time, talent, treasure) […]
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Seven years ago this week, we thought we crossed a finish line. After eight incredible weeks, Becky and I completed our 1500-mile journey along the Mississippi River. Countless friendships and stories. Forty speaking gigs. $60,000 raised for Convoy of Hope. We were ready to celebrate, rest, and head home. Done. God clearly had other thoughts. […]
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As Simple As 1, 2, 3
How are we supposed to choose? I think about that a lot as we plan the FREEDOM TOUR. Seems like I’m always wondering what God wants from us as we figure out how to pursue this crazy dream. I’ll bet I’m not alone. Even if you’re not riding a bike, I’ll bet you’ve wondered the […]
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The Cross On The Sleeve
We literally wear our faith on our sleeve. FREEDOM TOUR jerseys intentionally display the cross of Jesus on each sleeve. Of course the cool colors, the designs, words, and logos are important. The cross is the focus. We want to be clear about who we’re following on this adventure. The cross is partly a sign […]
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Justice. Truth. Love.
What does it mean to seek justice? I think about that a lot. We spend a big chuck of our time working to support a group of kids rescued from a life of sexual slavery. What does justice look like for those kids? “Justice is what love looks like in public.” – Dr. Cornel West […]
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Two Kinds Of Obedience
I’ve always bristled at the notion of “obedience.” Obedience, to me, meant, *Shut up and do as you’re told!* No space for questions. Or nuance. Or the possibility of compromise. Obedience involved unquestioned alignment with some collection of rules, an ideology, or a set of beliefs simply because somebody with power says so. This sort of obedience conjured images […]
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Preaching To The Choir
Turns out, preaching to the choir is the only way that makes sense. The folks in the choir already signed up and bought in. They’re curious about your ideas. They’re willing to listen, might even want your advice and guidance. Your ideas and input can be of incredible value. But only those in the choir, […]
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About Dreams And Music
We’re all about dreams. The FREEDOM TOUR is all about following a big, crazy, God-sized dream. We believe following dreams is what God has in mind for each of us. The idea of dream-following is at the heart of our theme song. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to enjoy a look back at […]
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Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
“We just got passed by Mary Poppins!” Her bike was a cruiser. Upright position, wide handlebars, even a basket in front. The only thing missing was the funky hat. Our FRONT RANGE TOUR team was cranking up the Palmer Divide, a fairly stout climb on the way to Colorado Springs. Our riders were a bit […]
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But…
Half-full? Half-empty? The answer is supposed to reveal one’s level of optimism. If I answered honestly, based on how I feel, most of the time I’d offer a third option. Half-empty…and leaking. Chronic depression distorts the lens through which I, and lots of others, view the world. My feelings tell me to interpret most circumstances […]
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