Meet Brad. He stands on the banks of the Mississippi River in Gateway Park under the shadow of the iconic Gateway Arch. He stands here EVERY Sunday, between 10am to 2pm. He’s been doing that every Sunday since 2010.

He doesn’t speak unless spoken to. Once prompted, he tells onlookers that he is “standing for Yeshua or Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” He is not obnoxious or over-the-top with fanaticism. He holds the Christian flag. He plainly answers, with a focus and a smile, those who ask. He will not argue or debate, he says, because “the truth stands on its own.” Amen. That it does, Brad.

I admire Brad for his courage, dedication, and zeal. I can’t imagine what it’s like in frigid cold with snow on the ground and no one milling about. Yesterday, while we were visiting the Gateway Arch on our motorcycle trip, there were thousands of passers-by, some curious, some oblivious.

He stands because he feels called to do so. It is, as a mentor and pastor once said, “an outward sign of an inward condition.” That’s what Pastor Jeff Griffith calls baptism. It is a proclamation of what’s happened inside. When Christ changes you, you are compelled to show it.

I think we’re all called to show it. Brad chooses to stand. Not all are called to do what Brad does.

What is it that you’re called to do? If you’ve been changed, how do you show it.

My buddy, Gregg, and I are taking a 16-day motorcycle trip covering 16 states and over 4700 miles and we will see some beautiful scenery and visit National Parks such as Rocky Mountain National Park and the Grand Canyon.

That is wonderful and the lure of the open road is something that draws me year after year, but the scenery and the  highway solitude is never the highlight of the trip.

The high points of these long trips are always the people we encounter along the way. Yesterday confirmed that.

During our first stop at the West Virginia Welcome Center we were just about to get back on the road when this couple happened by.

Thomas and Bermice were from Virginia Beach and were on their way to Logan, WV where a revival has been going on since early March. They commented on my trailer which has stickers from all over the country from previous trips. Thomas had a huge smile on his face from the time we saw him, and after finding out that they were going to the revival, I asked if we could pray with them. He was excited at the prospect of that and we circled up in our parking spot and prayed for them to encounter God in a powerful way at the revival and for us to have safe travels and for more “divine appointments.” After our prayer, he said that he wanted to pray with us even before I asked.

In the days before leaving, I’ve been praying for divine appointments. God showed up yesterday, answering that prayer.

I can’t wait to see what (or who) He has in store the rest of the trip!

This morning I leave for a 16-day journey which I’ve traveled before. In fact, I took this trip four years ago. I’m heading to Colorado and the Grand Canyon with a buddy of mine on our motorcycles. Many of the sights will be familiar, but te journey will be as fresh as the morning dew.

This is my ninth year in a row of taking a long motorcycle trip. What started as a sabbatical from ministry has blossoms (my wife would probably say ‘ballooned’) into a yearly adventure to meet people who need hope in their lives. The first five years of these trips were just motorcycle trips, designed to see the country on the most scenic roads available. Now, in addition to that, the emphasis is on those we run into at our various stops along the way. And for the past five years, I come prepared to pass out God’s Word of hope and the Good News.

To follow us on the trip, click HERE. I’ll be posting regularly so you can hear about those we meet. Pray that God would bring people across our path that need hope.

That’s what my prayer is this morning.