“Are you better because of your injury?” It was the question of the evening at the Teen Challenge Home of Hope in Casa Grande. So finally I asked my own question. “Are you asking if I believe my injury was a good thing?” They all nodded. Since they’re in recovery, they want to believe there’s […]
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Did You Ever Cram For A Test?
You can’t cram for life. We all did it at some point. We put off studying for the exam and deluded ourselves into believing we could cram it all into an all-nighter. It doesn’t work. Learning, training, and following Jesus are long-term deals. Building character, growing communities, developing relationships, accumulating wisdom—the things that matter are […]
Continue readingWho Guides The Dream?
Dreams are pretty resilient. I think God wants us to try stuff with our dreams. He wants us to take risks, push boundaries, and face fears. Following dreams isn’t about being safe. But there’s one thing about your dream that needs to be carefully guarded. Biking time is thinking and listening time for me. I’ve […]
Continue readingThe Same Old Story
“Do you ever get tired of telling your story?” As we begin our week in Arizona, I was reminded of this great question from a group we spoke to last year. The young woman told me she was studying to be a teacher and she worried she’d become bored covering the same subject matter year […]
Continue readingAre You Disabled?
“How do you avoid repeating the cycle of despair?” It’s perhaps the most insightful question we heard on our recent tour, and it came up several times. Like most really good questions, I’m not sure I had a simple answer. Makes sense, though. When you describe a journey that resonates with so many folks, a […]
Continue readingHow To Live Out Hope
Hope means we approach God with a sense of expectancy. That’s what the pastor said yesterday at the church where we spoke. I love that notion, the idea that we’re excited to see what God’s up to. (I’m posting this on both blogs today. Apologies to those who received it twice.) RICH’S RIDE is all […]
Continue readingWhat Happens When Things Get Real?
I love talking to kids about dreams. I love telling them about hope and possibility and being what God made them to be. But yesterday when I looked at a group of eager young faces I had this crazy thought. I’m encouraging them to take risks, step out in faith, avoid taking the safe path. […]
Continue readingWhat Happens When Comfortable Changes?
Monte and I took a morning ride yesterday. Dreams evolve. Yesterday’s risky might be today’s safe. Come along and share some thoughts about what happens when comfortable changes. Can’t see the video? Click here. Please leave a comment here.
Continue readingHow A Dog Starts Conversations
“That’s a great-looking dog.” You’d be amazed at how many conversations begin like that. So we talked a bit about Labrador Retrievers and dog hair, but this guy in the hotel lobby had deeper questions. It wasn’t long before he asked about the wheelchair, my injury, and the recovery process. He wanted to know about […]
Continue readingYou Find Hope In Unlikely Spots
Yesterday we encountered a small pocket of hope. Becky and I talked over lunch with staff members at Freedom House in Green Bay. Tucked away in an out-of-the-way corner on the edge of the community, this amazing organization is changing lives one family at a time. We see this everywhere we go on our journey […]
Continue readingHave You Tried Farming?
I’ve decided this tour might actually be a farming expedition. I know—bike riding to farming might be something of a mixed metaphor. I’m pondering Jesus’ words. Jesus said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, […]
Continue readingJuvenile Detention Center: Kids In Jail
Do we really need to put children in jail? Becky and I visited a Juvenile Detention Center yesterday. We talked to boys about hope and dreams. The discussion was no different from dozens of others with kids in schools all across the country. The boys were sometimes distracted and probably more curious about the bike […]
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