“Sometimes you have to do what you don’t have to do.” I love encountering this sort of quote. I’ve been ruminating about it for a few days, trying to figure out what I might say. I came down to this question: What’s something I have to do, that I don’t have to do? Before I […]
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72. Done!
Well, we did it! Becky and I had a lot of fun “riding my age” on Tuesday. That doesn’t mean it was easy to do 72 miles on my 72nd birthday, but easy wasn’t the point. We did a big loop around Loveland/Fort Collins and then a smaller loop around Fort Collins to finish the […]
Continue readingWrecking A Classroom
Isaac Newton invented calculus in isolation. Newton was a student at Cambridge University in 1665 when students were sent home in fear of bubonic plague. Studying privately, Newton developed the basic ideas of calculus…as well as gravitational theory and optics. Most of us are not Isaac Newton. Perhaps the most powerful lesson I learned in […]
Continue readingScattering Seeds
A few more comments to follow up on the last two posts about legacy & making a difference. After my talk on Saturday, people were gracious – as always. All sorts of comments about the impact of the story and how I’ve touched so many people along the way. I appreciate the kindness. But comments […]
Continue readingMore About Legacy
I met this gentleman in 2011 when I spoke to a group of homeless people at a church in downtown Jackson, Mississippi during the Mississippi River ride. This picture was taken a year later. We were invited back to speak to some members of the congregation and this fellow walked up and told me a […]
Continue readingAnyway Video 2013-2023
For 11 years, our friend Kristen Orphan has generously allowed us to use her beautiful version of ANYWAY as the FREEDOM TOUR theme song. The first time I heard the song, one particular line struck me: You can chase a dream that seems so out of reachand you know it might not ever come your […]
Continue readingRemembering Rolling Fork
In 2011, near the end of our 1500-mile Mississippi River bike ride, we were invited to visit the small community of Rolling Fork, Mississippi. The wonderful people we met there have always been a special memory. So our hearts were broken by images of the horrific storm that devastated Rolling Fork last week. Like so […]
Continue readingAccountable Or Responsible
Lots of conversation these days about accountability. To me, though, most of this “accountability” is just about pointing fingers and blaming. There’s nothing wrong with holding people accountable when they’ve done something wrong, but I think we confuse it with a bigger idea. What we really want, I think, is for people to take responsibility. […]
Continue readingService And Perspective
I believe we were created to serve. God. Other people. The Creation. When we serve, we’re being Christ-like. “The world looks vastly different when on one’s knees washing someone’s feet. I think that is why Jesus chose this for the disciples’ final group act before the cross. Is there a relationship in your life where […]
Continue readingI Don’t Wanna
“I have to do this,” I’ll say. Becky’s response: “No, you get to do this.” It’s a half-serious, half-joking conversation that runs on a loop in our house. I suppose we could write it off as background noise, but I think there’s more to it. I’m pretty privileged. There are some things I have to […]
Continue readingMake Disciples
Last time I talked about the idea that it might take 300 touches, 300 impressions or interactions, for some people to really encounter Jesus. It got me thinking about the great commission, Jesus’ commandment to go and make disciples. And it seems like we’ve turned that into an entire industry of mission trips and church […]
Continue readingQuid Pro Quo
We’re sort of conditioned into a quid pro quo idea of generosity. Want great service? Tip generously. It’s odd, because the link implies there’s no point to giving generously if we don’t get something in return. At the FREEDOM TOUR, we’re surrounded by one-way generosity, by people who give time, talent, and money – expecting […]
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