“Generosity is insufficient. The real goal of giving should be justice.” Darren Walker is president of The Ford Foundation. He oversees grants worth $500 million annually. His career took him from New York attorney to Wall Street banker to Harlem community development prior to his work with The Ford Foundation. In a wonderful interview, Walker […]
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What Happens Next?
I’ll bet you’ve experienced it. The runup to the big event, the excitement, the rush as the day finally arrives, and then – it’s over. You stare at the aftermath as the adrenaline drains away and the cleanup crew sweeps the confetti and dumps the trash. What happens next? For followers of Jesus, that’s the […]
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A New Teammate
Perhaps you’ve noticed…no posts this week. I’d like to introduce you the newest member of our family, and the reason I’ve done no writing for a few days. This is Ernie. He’s 8 weeks old. He has more energy than Becky and me, as well as being quicker and more persistent than we are. And […]
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The Children’s Sermon
(I wrote this a few years ago. In the aftermath of yet another mass shooting, this time just miles from our home, it seemed good to revisit.) A while back Becky and I visited a church that does a children’s sermon during worship. The kids gathered around the leader, poking and squirming and trying to […]
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What Is It?
What’s the FREEDOM TOUR? Honestly, our team asks ourselves this question frequently. Are we a bike ride? A fundraiser? A mission event? It’s not that we’re forgetful. It’s important to remind ourselves what we’re trying to accomplish. We do spend a lot of time riding bikes, and seeking justice by supporting the kids at the […]
Continue readingThe Gap
I wrote most of this a few years ago. I’m thinking about the gap between what we know and what we really believe. We know outcomes don’t depend on the size of our efforts. We know God asks us to do what we can, where we are, with what we have and then trust Him […]
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Listening Rather Than “Izing”
A few months back, I made a commitment. People spilled into streets across the nation. Frustration born of long-held pain and anger boiled over. As always, many folks retreated to their corners and tossed out familiar talking points. It was an exercise in “Izing.” Politicizing, dichotomizing, polarizing, demonizing, and spiritualizing. When things become “Ized,” nothing […]
Continue readingAll God’s Children
Music has a way of expressing things. I can write lots of words to try to tell you about human trafficking and why we do what we do. I don’t think I could say it as powerfully as this short video. I invite you to watch, listen, and remember our 22 kids at Project Rescue’s […]
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When It’s All “Ized”
I spend too much time staring at a screen. Lots of advantages to this online revolution, but we all know there are downsides as well. I’m pretty good at blocking and scrolling past most of the really negative stuff, but I’ll admit that I get kind of sad when I see the angry, divisive comments […]
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Half A Million
500,000. Individuals. With faces and names and families who grieve their loss. Half a million precious children of God. When they told Him of His friend Lazarus’ death, Jesus wept. Lots of our friends and neighbors are weeping right now. I hope they know we grieve with them. I hope they know Jesus holds each […]
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I Don’t Know
Three simple, powerful, humble words. As a new teacher I thought I was supposed to know it all. Nothing terrified me more than a question I couldn’t answer quickly, immediately, on-the-spot. Students wouldn’t respect a teacher who didn’t know stuff. That’s what I thought, so I did everything I could to pretend. Because nobody knows […]
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Personal Responsibility
It’s all about making good choices. Personal responsibility, right? You and I are responsible for our choices and their consequences. Have you ever thought about the sense of privilege embedded in that so-called truth? I think a lot about the kids at the HOME OF HOPE. They, and their mothers, weren’t enslaved and abused because […]
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