Okay, that’s an odd title. A while back, Pastor Mark Orphan made a powerful statement about a project we were discussing. “We don’t have much long-term success when we do an activity for ourselves. People respond when there’s a cause, a reason for what we’re asking them to do that’s bigger than us or them.” […]
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Milestones
Okay. I’m officially a little bit excited. Last week, we reached an important milestone in the publication process of the new book. I’m really pleased with the design of both the cover and interior layout. As a writer, it’s humbling when artists use their talents to interpret the words graphically. I think these folks did […]
Continue readingMore TagMission: Share
Fear makes it easier to wish you could than to hope you can. The second part of the RICH’S RIDE mission statement says: Speak to a variety of audiences about hope, possibility, and God’s faithfulness. But “speak” is really the wrong word, and words matter. Using the wrong word in a mission statement can get […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat Can We Do About It?
Ever feel overwhelmed by a social justice issue? Ever ask yourself, “What can I do?” (I see all those heads nodding. Mine too.) My friend Jon Swanson made this video last year before our Mississippi River trip. It’s one great answer to, “What can we do?” Can’t see the video? Click here. What can you […]
Continue readingMore TagMission: Demonstrate
In a thirty-five year teaching career, I learned many lessons from my students. Among them: Kids may be reluctant to believe what you say, but they’re always ready to believe what you do. It’s a life principle. Talk is cheap. Words matter little until you’re willing to “walk the talk.” When I share the story […]
Continue readingMore TagVenture, Benefit, Discover
Happy Saturday! We’re proud of our connection to Venture Expeditions. Here’s a chance to meet the Venture guys and see a small part of their amazing work. If you–or somone you know–loves the notion of combining adventure with doing something about social justice, I encourage you to check out their opportunities. VENTURE EXPEDITIONS: Benefit the […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat’s The Mission?
I’m looking at routes across South Florida from Miami to Naples. All options seem to lead through the Everglades. Does anyone know how fast an aligator can run? Today I’d like to look at a different sort of issue surrounding routes and destinations. Whenever I talk to someone about getting involved with RICH’S RIDE the […]
Continue readingMore TagA Year Ago…
…we were in the middle of the adventure called RICH’S RIDE. Hard to imagine. Our hectic culture is all about the demands of now and the pressures of what’s next. Too often we forget to look back and recall the gift of our story. A whole year? Life moves on, but it’s hard to believe […]
Continue readingMore TagA Bigger Picture
Ever forget you’re not the center of the universe? My discussion with a spinal injury support group left me pondering the whole notion of An Able-Bodied World. The audience was folks who are relatively new at figuring out how to navigate life with some level of paralysis—and their spouses. Becky pointed out afterward that the […]
Continue readingMore TagFailure
How do you know when you fail? Today, I failed. My team disagrees. They tell me I did my best, so I can’t fail. This isn’t the heart rhythm of someone who’s about to have a heart attack. It’s the elevation chart for my ride today. I rode well, felt strong, and didn’t succumb to […]
Continue readingMore Tag4 AM
It’s mid-week, so I thought I’d give you an update on our progress. Who know Ohio had this many steep hills? My team on the IJM Freedom Ride is an amazing group of dedicated people. We’ve completed two days and two hundred miles. Nearly everyone has done every mile—that’s two century rides in two days, […]
Continue readingMore TagFor Or Against
Today we learned a lot about the work of International Justice Mission. That’s Karen from IJM during her presentation. It’s not a fun topic. The stories are difficult and dark. It’s hard to listen without becoming outraged and angry. Even the stories of victory and rescue tear at your soul as you look into young […]
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