Category: Freedom Tour

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]

“What are you doing for our kids?” Five years ago. He was curious about the handcycle and our crazy ride around Florida to raise funds for Convoy Of Hope. Wanted to help us feed hungry children, but he hesitated when I mentioned the program was *international.* Five years later I can’t tell you what he […]

Success or Failure? I’ve been creating a Review of FREEDOM TOUR 2018. Throughout the process I’ve felt this nagging question looming over my shoulder: Was it a success or a failure? Crazy, isn’t it? A year-long project involved several hundred people in a complex effort to foster relationships and support kids rescued from the horrors of […]

What’s the “free” in FREEDOM TOUR? It’s kind of a loaded word. Freedom might mean USAmerican freedom, the right to live our lives without unreasonable government interference. Or it might simply mean freedom of movement; “not in jail” = “free.” The FREEDOM TOUR works toward an end to human trafficking, freedom from slavery. But I […]

“What’s the secret to motivating students?” Parents wanted to know – and still do – how to get their kids to study harder, learn more, and perform better. My answer was never all that popular. External motivation doesn’t work. It’s science, backed by data and now by neuroscience and brain research. External motivation, punishments or […]

Working on the FREEDOM TOUR gets me thinking a lot about urgency and justice. In an ancient story with modern applications, Paul and Silas were beaten and tossed into prison illegally. God intervened and used the opportunity to convert the jailer and his household. The following morning, officials try to get Paul and Silas to leave without […]

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. […]