Don’t miss this…let me know in the comments if you want to get your tickets before the event.

watch this if you need to be sold…

So have you ever thought…I would love to ride my bike across the country? Literally from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean on a bicycle. Well, that’s what a team of brave people started doing three days ago. It’s called the Ride:Well Bike Tour and they left the Califorinia coast yesterday and will be riding across this great country for the next 8 weeks. 

Thanks for wondering why…It would have to be for a pretty serious reason…and it is.

They are raising awareness and money for Blood:Water Mission. Blood:Water Mission is a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crisis. It’s core purpose is to build community through creative social action. They are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded by the members of the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning band, Jars of Clay, to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.

Blood:Water Mission exists to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression. Blood:Water Mission is building clean water wells, supporting medical facilities, and focusing on community and worldview transformation, both here in America and in Africa. If you would like to know more, check them out here.

For me…this is an intersection of a passion (giving to those in need of clean water and freedom from AIDS) and something I have begun to gain an appreciation for (road biking). I have signed up to help and want to invite you to help too. You can join us in the cause, pray for and track the team, and/or donate.  Go to HERE  and click the donation page. Select me from the “local cyclist” drop-down list and make your donation. Then lets support and track the team as they make their way across the country this summer.

Thanks…be blessed by blessing others.

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate to be a spectator at the Master’s golf tournament. You see, I have been to a number of professional golf tournaments…multiple US Opens, the amazing 1999 Ryder Cupmatch…but never to the Master’s. I was actually invited twice this year but had resigned myself, after declining the first invitation (due to a prior commitment) to the fact that I may never get to see, in person, one of the greatest sporting events in America. Then I received the second invitation…I had to find a way to go! We spent a day a half driving back from Texas so I could get to Augusta Saturday morning…and what a beautiul day it was. As I sat at Amen Corner I started to build this list…10 reasons why I love professional golf.

10. They play outside…at some incredibly beautiful places.

9. It humbles me to see the talent of these men (and women).

8. It helps me stay sharp with the simple math I learned in school.

7. They call penalties on themselves…what other professional sport does that?

6. They don’t have salaries…they have to play well to get paid.

5. Everytime I play…I hit at least 2 shots that make me think “I could play on tour”.

4. They have to play well everyday for four days straight.

3. The relationship between the player and his caddy.

2. The incredible control they display both physically and most importantly…mentally.

1. Momentslike the one above with Phil Mickelson and his wife.

The tour will be down the road from me this week, in Charlotte for the Quail Hollow Championship. Hope to see you there…it is shaping up to be a pretty cool field of players. Did I miss the reason you like professional golf?

It never goes away.

The fear I get as we are driving to the river…the fear getting ready to put on a river I have never paddled before…the fear as I approach the next rapid on the river. For some reason that fear never goes away.

Kayaking is a sport that only a few people seem to have a spirit for. Whitewater kayaking narrows that small group even more. I love the outdoors and I love the water. A flowing river for me means a lot of things. Its kind of an intersection of the beauty of God’s creation and the challenges of the life that we live in that created world (geez that was deep). For some reason…that is way down in my soul…I am drawn to that intersection.  

I have paddled “flatwater” for about five or six years. But I started kayaking “whitewater” about a year ago. The best way to explain the difference between the two is like the difference between checkers and chess. On flatwater you simply paddle around. Which can be very relaxing and enjoyable. In a whitewater kayak your success comes from knowing what the water is doing (primarily under the surface), pre-planning your position, and executing the skills. Oh yea…there are some split second reaction requirements too.

There are many parallels that can be made between paddling a river and living this life. Most of us love to paddle around and soak in “consume” the things around us. Whitewater paddling on the other hand has shown me how to overcome my fears and do something bold, scary or uncommon. Truly living for Christ in this world is uncommon. Many of us call ourselves Christian…but few are bold enough to break through our fears and live it.

Let’s go paddling together this weekend!