Today is About Gratitude

Posted on August 2, 2021August 2, 2021

Monday, August 2, 2021

By Jennifer Wells

So today was awesomely beautiful and fun. Great comradery amongst the team members of FCBA group! Today is about gratitude. To live with gratitude is like having a bit of heaven in our hearts. I am grateful for being alive, to be a part of the FCBA, to have the ability to cycle and fund raise, to have the privilege to know these other awesome cyclists, and finally to help those who are living in poverty housing. Living with gratitude means sharing the gifts and graces that God has given me with others. For some it means living minimally. Or living peacefully and gracefully. What does living with gratitude mean to you?

I am grateful for the beauty I saw today. I want to share some of what I saw with you.

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Joining for Worship

Posted on August 1, 2021August 1, 2021

Joining for Worship

Sunday, August 1, 2021

By Tim and Sandy Buscheck

We worshipped at St. Michael’s University Church in Isla Vista on Sunday morning. Pastor Scott greeted our team and shared that he took a carbon sabbath after seminary, cycling 11,500 miles in one year. He preached from Exodus 16, which tells the story how God provided manna to the Israelites, just enough for that day. Pastor Scott told us that living on a bicycle and relying on the kindness of strangers, reminds us that God is enough, like daily manna. St. Michael’s University Church extended hospitality, hosting us for three nights and two days, another reminder that God sustains us.

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Overcoming Adversity

Posted on July 31, 2021July 31, 2021

Overcoming Adversity

Thursday, July 29, 2021

By Bill Black

Each morning before our daily ride, we circle up as a group and discuss the ride ahead and finish up with “devotional” in which one of the riders shares thoughts, experiences or some other spiritual reflection. This practice keeps the riders focused on the purpose of the ride. This is my fifth ride and the last two days were the most powerful devotionals I have ever heard.

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5 Spiritual Lessons to Learn from Bike Riding

Posted on July 28, 2021July 28, 2021

5 Spiritual Lessons to Learn from Bike Riding

Saturday, July 24, 2021

By Rob Erskine

The following is a story by Mimi Patrick that I want to share:

The younger me adored bike riding. It’s an activity that I’ve gotten away from as I got older but some of my happiest childhood memories feature me on a bike. You remember the kid with the limp ponytail that cruised around on a pink bike with tattered plastic pom-pom handles? That was me! It wasn’t a good day unless I had swallowed at least one bug and skinned a knee or elbow. I’m sure I came home crying a few times but you know, I barely remember those accidents. I do remember the good times. Believe it or not, bike riding brought some spiritual lessons too. Just think, all that time God was teaching me these five important spiritual lessons.

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Mountains

Posted on July 21, 2021July 21, 2021

Mountains

Monday, July 19, 2021

Peter L. Hahn

Hilliard, Ohio

A long-time resident of Ohio, I have always enjoyed visiting or seeing mountains. During the big climbs on my bicycle in recent days, my thoughts about mountains have been more blended. I have experienced both the usual awe at their natural beauty and inspirational majesty, and simultaneously wondered why they have to be so darn tall!

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Our First Rest Day

Posted on July 21, 2021July 21, 2021

Our First Rest Day

Sunday, July 18, 2021

By Tim and Mindy Garvin-Leighton

Our first rest day after eight straight days of cycling is in the booming metropolis of Port Orford, OR. Population 954 as of 2019. We began the day worshipping with the wonderful folks of Port Orford Christian Center. The pastor reminded us that the church runs, or in our case rides, on the love Christ for all. A number of folks headed to The Crazy Norwegian for clam chowder, fish and chips, shakes and Marionberry Pie. The marionberry was developed by the US Dept. of Agricultural researcher George F. Waldo in the 1940s at Oregon State University. It is a cross between the Olallie berry and a high producing Chehalem berry.

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That Fuller Feeling

Posted on July 19, 2021July 19, 2021

That Fuller Feeling

Saturday, July 17, 2021

By Jackie Rouse

Bettendorf, Iowa

I’ve got that Fuller Feeling! It comes from a day spent on my bike with like minded comrades that want to change the world one mile at a time. Today we spent the day riding from North Bend to Port Orford, conquering the Seven Devils and following the gorgeous Oregon coastline for many miles, with rolling hills and serene mountain views, all to raise funds to end poverty housing worldwide. Challenging, yet rewarding in so many ways.

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When 50 Miles Feels Like a Cake-Walk

Posted on July 17, 2021July 17, 2021

When 50 Miles Feels Like a Cake-Walk

Friday, July 16, 2021

By Joe Schiff

Today was day 7 of riding. We have ridden a total of 400+ miles so far and it has been both amazing and very difficult. This is my first time on a big bike trip and I am definitely not very experienced. We have been going pretty hard basically from day one and it has been quite a struggle to keep up with both physically and mentally. Amazingly yesterday and today were both sub-50 mile days. It’s a wonder how far I have come in such a short amount of time. When I came on this trip the longest bike ride I had been on was 50 miles, after which I was usually pretty exhausted. After doing a couple 80+ mile days, 50 miles feels like a cake-walk.

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Newport to Florence

Posted on July 17, 2021July 17, 2021

A Family and Class Reunion

Thursday, July 15, 2021

By Mark Murphy

I’m amazed at how wonderful Fuller Center Bike Adventure trips continue to be for me even after logging more than 12,000 miles on them. The people are wonderful and it feels like a mixture of a family and class reunion with the added interest and excitement brought by the first timers.

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