Category: Freedom Tour

Jesus wept. The bible’s shortest verse doesn’t describe a miracle. It’s not part of a sermon or a parable. His friend Lazarus died. Others grieved. Jesus wept. Tears weren’t really necessary, because Jesus knew Lazarus was about to rise. He knew the final result, knew there would soon be joy… and still, in the presence […]

Two academics want to speed up baseball games. Steven Brams and Aaron Isaksen proposed a fairly radical rule change. They claim their idea, tested on 100,000 games over the last 50 years, would reduce the average game time by nearly 30 minutes and make games more competitive by limiting one-sided “blowout” affairs. I love baseball. […]

Well, we’re not done. As I reflect on the wonderful experiences of FREEDOM TOUR 2018, I can’t escape the nagging notion of not-done. Women and children are still trafficked. Millions still labor under the yoke of modern-day slavery. The HOME OF HOPE still needs our support. Ending this horror is a huge task. Our little […]

We have a lot of fun on our tours. Yeah, it’s lots of work. We get tired. And sore. And even a little cranky at times. But I suspect most of our teammates would tell you it’s worth it. Here’s a video to give you a small view of the beauty of our 2018 Colorado […]

“Why spend so much time telling stories?” It’s a common question, for the FREEDOM TOUR and most endeavors. What’s the big deal with the pictures, the videos, the constant effort to share the memories? It’s not a flashback to Glory Days. Storytelling, it seems, is essential for community. “Where common memory is lacking, where people […]

There’s a lesson I keep learning. Okay, maybe “learning” is the wrong word, because learning = behavior change. If I learned, I wouldn’t keep bumping into the same issue. I know it’s not about numbers. I know I should trust God to bring the right people into the circle, that He knows who should be […]

Bike tours have unexpected side benefits. Spectacular scenery. Community. Solitude. And (at least on the FREEDOM TOUR) lots of great food. You think you’re showing up to ride bikes, but all these crazy, cool things happen and you almost have to look at the pictures to remember there was a bike ride in the middle […]

My dad was a railroad man. Lots of cool perks for the son of the roundhouse foreman. Ride with the engineer and drive the train. Operate the turntable. Special times for a little kid. The biggest benefit, though, was free tickets. Train travel was dependable, clean, safe (and fun!). We rode any time – no […]

Camera pans and zooms out…cue Julie Andrews. Climb every mountain Ford every stream Follow every rainbow Till you find your dream While you’re reading this, the Colorado Mountain Tour team is claiming their third mountain pass. This morning it’s Fremont pass, following Vail Pass and Independence Pass. Our team is following a big dream as […]

Today begins the final episode of FREEDOM TOUR ’18. Our cyclists will ride from Buena Vista to Aspen. During the next 4 days they’ll climb 3 passes (Independence, Vail, and Fremont) and stop in Aspen, Eagle, and Breckenridge. 20,000 ft of climbing (and descending) in some of Colorado’s most iconic and stunning surroundings. I’m anticipating an […]

I’m grateful for wise friends. I’ve been thinking about Shared Sacrifice and teamwork. I got focused on each person’s individual responsibility to the team, a commitment to sacrifice personal comfort to accomplish a bigger mission. One of my wise friends suggested it’s a two-way road. He’s right, of course. Teams are relationships, and one-sided relationships don’t last. […]

In two days the COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOUR blasts off. Four days. Three passes. 280 miles. 20,000 ft. of climbing. It’s going to be a beautiful loop through four iconic mountain towns. It’s going to be a lot of fun. And it’s going to be hard. A dream is the God-inspired desire to share your unique gifts and […]