A River Tale

This film was way too long in coming.
Their were many challenges in producing the film.
I stated over five times for various resigns. This was a process, when I started taking the footage of my trip I had no intention of making a documentary film but that is what happened.

Thank you and enjoy.

I made it!

Late posting, but I made it to New Orleans on Thursday, October 27th! More pictures and posts to come when I can get a reliable internet connection...

Brian

The Gospel

I want to share more about the inspiration for this trip. I have found the freedom in Christ to take on tasks that scare and overwhelm me. I am not a thrill seeker, at times I would rather have a more normal life but the special filling that comes from God is the most comfortable and reassuring place on earth and in heaven. If you have read the mission statement you know the goals are lofty and I pray they are more than just rhetoric. I desire to see change and I know I might fail but transforming hearts by the blood of Christ never fails and therefore I can cycle to the Golf boldly.  What follows is a little more of the specifics of what I believe.


Salvation: Salvation comes through knowing Jesus Christ and understanding his death at Calvery and his ressurection. To gain salvation, one must recognize why they need salvation and ask for forgiveness and ask the Lord to lead their life.

Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the name of God that became flesh to redeem a sinful world. He became the propitiation for our sins. He lived in the world and was tempted, worked, and loved perfectly. Through the spirit, we become sanctified, but I believe our sinful nature will always have a grip upon us which creates the separation between man and God. This is the reason we need salvation.

The Holy Spirit and Gifts: Both the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts are present in our every day lives. The Holy Spirit is our guide and comforter. The Holy Spirit has the power to teach us and transform our lives. The Spirit can unlock our spiritual gifts and allows us to use them in powerful ways.

The Bible: The Bible is divinely breathed of God and therefore we must strive to understand a literal translation in a modern world. The Bible is a cornerstone of Christianity. I am still working on understanding many subjects in the Bible, such as the historical perspective of creation, suffering, and being a part of "The Elect" (followers of Christ). I am looking forward to God opening up more understanding of these important subjects, either on this earth, or in eternity.


Home Church: Bethany Baptist - gunnison CO

The Mission

Everyone faces struggles: it is not your abilities, rather it is your choices that constitutes one's being. So I have chosen to make a cycle trip from the headwaters of the Mississippi River to the Gulf my mission. The mission objectives are: 1) to meet others with  mental and physical  disabilities, and 2) to use this medium as a ministry ( to be an inspiration, to be inspired and share the gospel). Through my short comings, it has left room for empathy and compassion which has given me the desire to push myself and others to their best. I hope to utilize my love of stories and the people whom the stories belong to enter their lives and affect a tangible improvement. I cannot estimate the amount or type of change, but I do know we all are looking for more joy and fulfillment that I believe only the Lord can provide.



View my route on Google and see if I will be passing through your town.

Financial Support

Financial:

I want to thank God and all those who generously gave to support this trip for meeting all of my financial goals.

To my financial backers: I want to thank you for your interest and taking the time to read and follow my blog. The average cost of a day on the road is about $25.The money is to cover; 1) food: a hardy breakfast, power bars, snacks for lunch, and easy-to-prepare food/fast-food for dinner, 2) fees: trail and camping/shower fees in state parks, and 3) bike: maintenance and repair.

This is a ministry, and by sponsoring me you are sharing in the furthering of the Kingdom. The focus of the ministry is to share the Gospel Message throughout the Mississippi River basin. I love to interact with new people and hear their stories. When you are on a bike, the uniqueness helps open the door to speak loving truth into others lives. From my experience, this is one of the hardest jobs on the planet. I will need your prayers to stay strong - cycling is the easy part! The other part of the ministry is to share life with people with disabilities. By recording their stories, "I dream of bringing hope" to this group of people through the trip and the completion of the book describing the journey.

I hope you will commit to praying for the trip and possibly even join me for a portion of the adventure.

My commitment to my financial supporters is to follow the Lord's will and be receptive to where he might take the trip. My job is to do the leg work to bring the spiritual to the physical realm. I am committed to following through and seeing the calling to completion. If you have any suggestions to ensure success of this trip, please post them.

Thank you.

(You can type the amount you desire in the amount field)

sponsors

Thanks to my local national sponsors, we are going to see the venture to a successful completion.

Thanks to Bikes and More.
Guys you Certainly are more!
Hopkinsville KY



LISTEN HERE

Preparation

Preparation Objectives (goals to be met by July 1st): 1) finalize the route, 2) contact people with disabilities and schedule a time to meet with them as I travel through towns along the route, 3) have 60 sponsors, 4) have my Peugeot tuned up and the bob (bike trailer) aluminum box made and packed, 5) practice using my Garman GPS, 6) become proficient with my audio recording device, 7) be physically ready by sticking to the training plan (includes stretching daily, cycling when possible during the winter, and intensive training on the road two months before the trip).

Post Trip

Post trip: after completing the trip, I plan on writing a book. It might be some time in the future when it is finished: the plan is to work and write on the side. The book will highlight different disabilities Americans face on a daily basis. In addition, I want to look at the coping mechanisms and support structures that may or may not exist for people with disabilities. By telling these stories, I hope to inspire a large number of people. The book's mission will be to share the message that disabilities pose problems, yet we should offer the abilities we do have. Rather than letting life pass us by because you, or others, think you cannot accomplish a task (or it might take too long), we should offer the world our best.

I also hope to capture the cultural diversity that occurs from the headwaters of the Mississippi (Lake Itasca, MN) to the Gulf (New Orleans, LA). I am looking to create a few survey questions that I will be asking along the way. So, if you have any sociological experience, please post your questions in the comments box after clicking on today's post.