Rich’s Ride – Page 9

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 […]

All 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Losing A Hero

I don’t use the word “hero” casually. Especially when referring to professional athletes, it’s easy to become hyperbolic when describing our favorites. In one case, it’s nearly impossible to overstate a man’s impact. Hank Aaron was a hero. Certainly among a small handful of the greatest baseball players of all time. Civil rights icon. Humble. […]

An Unexpected Sermon

Sermons come in many forms. Sometimes they’re in church. This week we all got to hear a wonderful message from Amanda Gorman, America’s first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate. Ms. Gorman read her poem THE HILL WE CLIMB at President Biden’s inauguration. If you didn’t hear her recitation, I recommend looking it up. The poem included […]

Good And Bad Things

I may have a new philosophy of life. Okay, maybe that’s a bit over the top. But I heard a statement that stopped me in my tracks. I’m not even sure about the specific topic, but that’s not important. We don’t do bad things to stop bad things. We do good things to stop bad […]

The End

Actually, it’s the beginning, but you and I don’t need another rant about how 2020 was the most horrible year ever so the next one has to be better. The calendar has no agency. The past year didn’t do anything to us, and whatever was happening yesterday will continue, unless we do something about it. […]

What’s In A Name?

It’s one of those old-timey songs. I’ve heard it dozens of times, but when it popped into my head this morning – things just stopped. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s something about that name… Honestly, I know the melody but I’d have to look up the rest of the lyrics. That’s okay, because that one line […]

Learn What I Already Know

I’m waiting, preparing for FREEDOM TOUR 2021 and the birth of Jesus. In His Advent journal, my friend Jon encouraged us today to “listen” as part of waiting. I thought about a guy who came up to me after a presentation a while back. After thanking me, he said something quite profound. “You taught me […]

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