You and me. I’m thankful for us. Together, on this remarkable journey of hope.
Continue readingCategory: Rich’s Ride
The Police Were Waiting
After a long, hot day of cycling, the La Junta police were waiting. That sounds a bit ominous. Perhaps I should back up. Pueblo-to-La Junta should have been an easy day. No climbs, just a nice steady 62-miles, mostly gently downhill through high desert ranching country. After two days of hills, everyone looked forward to a chance to […]
Continue readingWhen It’s Worth The Risk
Stepping out in faith is risky. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Trusting God to commit to the climb without knowing where it leads–that’s a risk. Actually climbing the staircase probably isn’t that hard. On the other hand, a well-marked, well-planned climb to the […]
Continue readingGrace In Unlikely Places
We encounter grace in unexpected places. Four years ago this month I was cranking my bike on a 1500-mile journey along the Mississippi River. We found Grace at a Mississippi crossroads. It was an unlikely story, one worth re-telling. We spent last night in a hospital. It’s not what you think. Nobody’s sick or injured. […]
Continue readingThings We Didn’t Try
Occasionally a question hits the sweet spot in a particular group. “What do you think you’ll regret more in ten years–your failures or the things you didn’t try?” Man, you could have heard a pin drop in the room across the hallway, that’s how silent it got. You could see the wheels turning for a […]
Continue readingWhere Do You Begin A Big Dream?
Our FREEDOM TOUR team is discussing a big dream for 2016. Can we raise enough money to cover the entire budget for all of the kids at Project Rescue’s HOME OF HOPE? Can a project that’s raised about $65,000 in 3 years jump to $100,000 in a single year? Every time I consider an outrageous goal I’m reminded of a […]
Continue readingWhy We Should All Throw Stones
The FREEDOM TOUR has a tradition regarding stones. At the beginning of each tour we ask each rider to select two stones. On one they write something they’d like to leave behind at the end of the ride. On the other, a lesson they want to carry with them after the tour concludes. Each team […]
Continue readingHe’s Always Been There
From Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert: When Helping Hurts We are not bringing Christ to poor communities (or other communities victimized by injustice). He has been active in these communities since the creation of the world, sustaining them “by his powerful word” (Heb 1:3). Hence, a significant part of working in these communities involves discovering and […]
Continue readingHaters Gonna Hate, Right?
We should be careful with the word hate. One of my relatives recently became somewhat famous (details here). This week his home town had a “day” for him–mayor read a proclamation, key to the city, the whole cool small town deal. And of course there was an article in the local newspaper. So someone just had to jump […]
Continue readingWow, That Looks Hard!
People said that a lot at our table this weekend. It was “Missions Weekend” at our church, and the lobby highlighted a whole bunch of missionaries and missions projects. People stopped, talked, and learned about incredible work happening around the corner and around the world. Most of these folks are doing difficult, often dangerous work. […]
Continue readingA Parable
Once upon a time, a teenager acted out and made some bad choices in rebellion against a lifetime of abuse. One group of people felt bad for her and resolved to pray for her. One group felt bad for her but didn’t want her around because they feared she’d be a bad influence on their […]
Continue readingA New Year And Seeds Of Hope
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Have you ever considered the tiny size of a seed? These geranium seeds nearly disappear in the palm of a hand. One seed, by itself, seems inconsequential. You purchase them in packets, partly because it’s difficult to imagine that much could come of a single seed. If you dropped one seed, I don’t […]
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