Category: Freedom Tour

Most of you aren’t disabled. You don’t need the ramps, the wider parking spaces, the bathroom grab bars. You don’t need most of the stuff marked by “the little blue guy.” Perhaps you don’t even know anyone who needs those adaptations. So why should you care? Why should you care about an issue that doesn’t […]

What’s the big idea? Maybe it’s all those years creating curriculum, writing exams, and crafting lesson plans. I seem to look for the big idea, the underlying principle, the notion that ties things together. As long as I’m not doing brain surgery, I figure I can Google the details if I understand the basic ideas. FREEDOM […]

I’m faster than I used to be. If you’ve followed along for a while you’ll know my handcycling has been a long process. In my book RICH’S RIDE there’s a chapter titled Exordio Somnii (The Beginning Of The Dream) that describes the 2-block, 30-minute ride that started this whole thing. (read excerpt here) Yeah–2 blocks in 30 minutes in […]

On this year’s FREEDOM TOUR I learned a lot about different. You might think that’s odd, that a guy who’s lived in a wheelchair for 28 years shouldn’t need to learn about different. You might think that after all those years of navigating a world mostly designed for able-bodied folks I’d have a pretty good […]

Visitors to Colorado love to stop at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Designers restored and modernized this majestic treasure, including remarkable accessibility, while maintaining its unique charm. In one spot a small patio sits at the bottom of a steep slope with stunning views of surrounding landscapes. At the top of the slope, […]

Today’s Friday, and I would like to give us all a break. We talk here about intense issues–God-sized dreams, building community, human trafficking, long distance cycling, following Jesus. We try to do it all with joy and passion, but during my bike ride yesterday it struck me that we might need a break. So today […]

How can I add value to others? ~ John Maxwell One theme dominated Global Leadership Summit. More than worthy goals, efficient processes, streamlined organizations, and effective feedback/accountability systems, true leadership values people. Effective leaders are servants. Authentic servant leaders come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They operate in lots of different ways, and […]

If you can accomplish your vision by yourself, your vision is too small. ~ T. D. Jakes At Global Leadership Summit (GLS) I heard some themes woven into many of the messages. Last time I said Keeping stuff safe isn’t God’s plan.  The second theme dovetails with the first. Enlarge Your Vision Over and over, in different […]

Keeping stuff safe isn’t God’s plan. I attended the Global Leadership Summit (GLS) last week, an amazing opportunity to learn about leadership from a few influential leaders. Two days, far two much information to absorb, there’s only one way to avoid feeling overwhelmed. In such circumstances, I look for patterns. If you believe God’s involved […]

Service, if it’s truly service, must involve humility. Do you agree? The problem is, like most folks I struggle with humility. I’m not sure I understand it, or know when I have it. And just when I think I might be getting close, I start feeling good about being humble and that’s pride and I […]

How does an idea grow? We’re in reflection mode at the FREEDOM TOUR, wrapping up 2016 but already looking at 2017 and beyond. As I wonder where we’re we’re going, I find it helpful to look at where we’ve been. God seems to mostly operate long-term and big-picture. Events that appear senseless and disconnected in the […]