Category: Freedom Tour

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. […]

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 […]