Posts in 2003
north dakota, south dakota

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, God of the Universe. I am writing this from Sioux Falls in the bottom southeast corner of South Dakota. How we got here is a long and somewhat frustrating story, at least from a human perspective. Then, what we were greeted with here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city, was just plain sad. But first, here is how we ended up here.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
a reminder of HIS grace

Enroute to Rosseau, the next town, the Lord gave me a great reminder of His grace at a time when I really needed such a reminder. Lying on the side of the highway was a cross someone had constructed with two solid sticks and some string. Oh, the cross …

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
a little stint into Canada

After penning the last report, we crossed the border at International Falls, Minnesota, and I pedaled approximately 30 miles to Barwick, a very small Canadian farm town. There, we camped alone for the night in what was basically a large field. Monday’s weather was absolutely incredible. Temperatures climbed into the 70’s, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
ely to international falls

It has been almost a week since I penned our last report, and some of you may be wondering what has become of us. Well, I am sitting in the front seat of my truck typing this update on Sunday night, October 5th in International Falls, Minnesota … Let me go back and recap the past week.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
into the north woods

Greetings in the name of the Most High God and the fellowship of Jesus Christ our Lord. All praise to the Maker of this wilderness in the midst of which I now sit. But, more about that later. The last couple of days have been an amazing chapter in this journey, and there is much to say.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
one-way and out-of-the-way

I am penning this brief from a public library in downtown Iron River, Wisconsin. The facility is actually closed, but this kind lady let us come inside to use the computers anyway. Last night, after the email from Washburn, I pedaled up Hwy. 13 another 12 miles north.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
nothing spectacular

It has been almost a week since our last correspondence, and we apologize. Much has happened, and there has been no access to the internet. The last epistle was penned, as you might recall, in a high school library in Munising, Michigan. Immediately after I walked outside to resume pedaling, I noticed a group of high school boys from a shop class looking at my bicycle.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
gifts from the Creator

Since my last report penned in Green Bay, Wisconsin, much has occurred. Presently, I am sitting in a high school library in Munising, Michigan on the shore of Lake Superior. The weather is absolutely gorgeous, albeit quite windy . . . God also gave us an amazing gift.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
changing latitudes

Greetings in spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the only message of any real eternal value: I am penning this email at the public library in the quaint seaside town of St. Ignace on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After some thought wrestling and prayer last night, the dawn brought confirmation that it was time to move on. So, we drove the 250 miles NNE to the Mackinac Bridge, crossing over from the mitten to the U.P.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
not so fast!

This morning, we awoke and begin packing stuff up. But, the Lord put roadblocks in our path to hinder things. Before long, I knew that He was prompting us to remain another day. The message became clear: NOT SO FAST! Knowing that we were so close to another major metropolitan area, my conscience just would not let me press on without getting the Gospel out onto such streets.

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God-ordained delay

It has been several days since I penned the last post, and since, the lay-over has continued. However, we have come to understand that this “leaky camper shell” delay, like the first “leaky camper shell” delay, was God-ordained for the glory of His Word and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
oh no, not again!

We are stranded here (not necessarily a bad thing other than the fact of an encroaching winter). On Sunday, we were pelted with much rain. At this point, I noticed that our new camper shell (i.e. truck cap) shared something in common with the previous one (formerly replaced back in Raleigh, NC)—IT WAS LEAKING BADLY.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
chicago

Yesterday I took 8 young people down to the Windy City. We left around noon, and it took 4 hours to make the 90 mile drive. I thought Los Angeles held the "most annoying and frustrating traffic" award in this country. I guess I was wrong. Chicago takes the cake hands down. By the time we found parking for two vehicles and gathered all our stuff together, it was 5:00pm before we got onto the streets. Nevertheless, the work began and continued for hours.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
a thousand miles

About 6 miles outside of Bourbon, I hit the 1000 mile point of my bicycle trek. Only Jamie, the planet Mars, the stars, and a couple of cows were there to share in this milestone. And, the Lord God presided. He deserves all the credit.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
changed plans, unexpected blessings

Forgive the recent lack of news; I have not had access to the internet. Earlier today, I was at a public library in Muncie, Indiana, intent upon sending out an email, but when I sat down at the computer, I suddenly realized that I simply did not have the strength. Since last time, the adventure has continued.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
the flying drink club

Early on in the 55-mile ride from Hillsboro to Monroe, I was indoctrinated into the "hit by a flying drink while biking across the country" club. I have heard this is common and to expect it. I was riding down state route 124 when this "Uncle Buck-mobile” rode up behind me and began to incessantly beep its horn.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM
southern ohio

Well, it is back to just Jamie and me. Yesterday at 5:00am, we put Chad on a Greyhound bus in Portsmouth, OH bound for North Carolina. By God's watchful protection, he arrived safely home last night. The parting was somewhat depressing; his presence was truly a blessing.

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2003, bicycle journeysFPGM