Pastor Randy

randmax@cableone.net

And the address for his church:

820 N Linder Rd.

Kuna, ID   83634

Phone: (208) 922-4686

Days 1 & 2

I’m sitting here in Bruneau Dunes end of day 2. We’ve ridden about 72-74 miles each day.

Let me introduce you to the team:

Support Staff:

Craig Nowaski – Ride organizer; RV driver; guy I pick on, etc. He was going to ride but has had some leg problems – and we ended up really needing him driving yesterday!

Steven and the twins Nowaski – These are our mascots. They are Craig’s kids who are along for the ride.

Linda Nowaski – cook extraordinaire – Craig’s daughter.

Jack Witt – Refreshment bus driver. Jack got called Sunday afternoon after our other driver bailed. He has been invaluable due to his knowledge of back roads in

Steven from Dirt Dart – okay, so he’s not really on the ride, but he came out yesterday to tune up the bikes. He’s such an amazing guy. Use him for any bike repair needs you might have. He trued up almost all the tires – they were messed up from being shipped, driven in a truck, and beaten on chip seal roads. He also adjusted derailers, shifters, and on and on. A great guy and incredibly helpful.

Riders:

Brian Yeager – that’s me. One of the people who initially developed this crazy idea last year.

Jeff Yeager – my brother from

Jeff O’Fill – Jeff used to work for Jeff Yeager. We call Jeff O’Fill Jeff #2 or Cowboy. He’s from

Darren Brimmer – He’s Jeff O’Fill’s riding buddy from

Armand Devoir – Armand is a buddy of mine from college. He came through

Daniel Lewis – Daniel is the best biker of the group. He’s a crazy biker who can kill anyone of this group. He is also infinitely patient with weak riders.

Sarah Lewis – Daniel’s wife. She’s pregnant and due December. She’s a great rider – but the pregnancy is starting to slow her down.

Jerry Lewis – Daniel’s dad. He’s just gotten into biking this summer. He and Sarah are taking turns driving the sag wagon behind the riders.

Lisa – Lisa’s a KTFY listener from Jerome. She started riding this year; heard about the ride and thought it would be fun.

Day 1:

We took off kinda late from the station. Getting Gatorade and ice and water and supplies packed and etc, etc, etc. We hit the road close to 10:00 – which means it was HOT by the end of the day – I think it was 102 degrees or so.

We had some great excitement as a couple different groups headed out in different directions and made some new routes. Jerry and I got lost – which was made more exciting by the spotty cell phone service near

Last night we stayed and Gibbons Hot Springs. Showers were never so welcome.

Day 2:

Today we left by 7:30 am or so. We rode in the cool of the morning and made great time. The last riders – myself, Sarah & Daniel, and Lisa came in at about 2:30 pm.

The crazy boys (Jeff 1, Jeff 2, Darren, and Armand) missed lunch – but Jack saved them. They actually thought they rode better with no lunch!

Tomorrow morning we head to Hagerman.

Random Thoughts:

One of the fun things about this ride is the variety of riders. It’s not a big ride (yet), but it’s fun. Jerry Lewis rides at a much more sedate pace. Lisa is pushing herself and is doing amazing. She’s on a commuter bike – heavier, etc – and is just doing awesome and has a great attitude.

Then there are the crazy boys – the 4 – who are trying to kill each other. Daniel has been riding tandem with Craig N today as well as Sarah; he’s ridden with Jerry L. I rode with Jerry L and Lisa today – it’s no fun to ride by yourself, so I hung out in the back. It’s just more fun.

I’ve been having fun posting to this blog. Are you having fun reading? Is it helpful?

Drop me a comment when you read something. Tell me you agree. Tell me you think I’m nuts!

Make a comment!

Sometimes being like everyone else is a bad idea. Last week the pew

Here’s the part where I have to step into the minority and invite you to do the same. More than 50% of people find their absolute sense of right and wrong from “practical experience and common sense.” Less than 1/3 – (29%) find their right and wrong from religion.

So, let’s break this down a little bit….

92% of people believe in a God. If there is a God, then by default, by definition God would define the ultimate right and wrong.

If God exists, then by logical deduction, we will not be able to understand the way He works – if we could, then He would not be God.

Which brings us to how do we determine right from wrong. Here’s where I must completely turn away from the majority. I cannot – and this one of the fundamentals of true spirituality – I cannot on my own determine what is right and wrong – or I would be God.

This idea of being able to determine right and wrong is becoming epidemic in our culture. I think Oprah, whom I have considered to be a very talented broadcaster, has deeply missed the mark. This is from a transcript of a webcast found on her website:

OPRAH WINFREY (HOST): And she [talking about an another author] talks about old spirituality versus the new spirituality, and she says the old was—the old way is—the hierarchy has the authority. Church authorities tell you how to worship in church and how to behave outside of church. The new spirituality is that you are your own best authority as you work to know and love yourself, you discover how to live a more spiritual life.OPRAH WINFREY (HOST): The old is, “God and the path to worship him have already been defined, and all you need to do is follow the directions.” The new is being able to listen within for your own definition of spirituality, your deeper longings are under search. And the old says exact here what Eckhart was saying. That there’s only one path. It’s the right way and all other ways are wrong. And the spirituality says that many paths lead to spiritual freedom and peace.OPRAH WINFREY (HOST): You have a rich array of gems from which to draw illumination. The world’s religious traditional, mythology, psychology, healing methods, scientific wisdom, your own experience and that you can begin to string a necklace all your own. Then she lists, you know, other old and new. And so it’s really a question of what you were saying to us earlier that this material strikes a chord within you.OPRAH WINFREY (HOST): Something in you opens up and wants, you know, feels alive and is awakened to that. And yet there is the ideology that says what to you? What is the conflict for you?KELLY (

Masterfully woven here is truth an error. It’s true that spirituality based on “church authority” is not true spirituality; the other extreme is just in error. The other extreme which is, “I get to pick what works for me – no matter where it comes from.”

This in essence makes each of us God. And if that is the case then God does not exist, or is irrelevant!

Make no mistake, despite what so many people say, there are radical difference between Christ based spirituality and other religious traditions – whether Buddhism, Islam, other Eastern Religions, mythology, or whatever.

I am deeply concerned for those of us who profess Jesus Christ, who call ourselves Christians… We often profess an ultimate right and wrong from God – but in our actions, are we making excuses, justifying, and rationalizing what we want to do, or what makes sense to us?

How many Christians do I know who are justifying:

• Having sex outside of marriage – whether married or un-married
• Spending money on the stuff of this world
• Watching and listening to things that defy the way God says to live
• Pursuing their career like it is their eternal future
• And more…

Now, I’m not saying we are saved by what we do… I’m saying if we really believe in God we might want to look to Him for the ultimate source of wisdom for our life. This is one of the ultimate questions of spirituality – is there a God; if there is, does He have authority in my life?

So, I challenge you to be different – to disagree with others and live like it… Live like there’s a God. And go to Him for truth.

PS. If you’ve been burned by people who are “religious” please remember that many people who claim the name of Jesus don’t speak or act for Him. Look at Him – not at those people.