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Yesterday I ran a contest to see if people knew the significance of this photo. I was surprised so many of you did. Way to know cycling, or random facts, or geek trivia, whatever fits you. And then we opened it up for a second contest to see if anybody could come up with a funny explanation of the photo. Out of more than 200 entries, in which on more than one occasion I looked at Lucy and rolled my eyes, and on a singular occasion she did the same to me, we actually got one that came with a surprise chuckle. Mostly, perhaps, for the visual payoff. Sorry to keep you from working. It really is wrong, you know, to read this stuff while you’re supposed to be selling paper. Regardless, the winner is, after much of the day spent reading the entries, Mr. Shane Bertou, an appropriately French sounding name. Congrats, Shane. The book is in the mail. His entry: ShaneBertou said, July 14, 2009 @ 3:41 pm · Edit He’s this guy’s cousin! http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/upload/2009/04/weekend_diversion_do_tinfoil_h/tinfoil_hat_antenna.jpg

Okay, the first person who can correctly say why this photo is significant, on this day, wins a free book. Here is a hint, today is Bastille Day. Have fun! ••••POSTED LATER*****BUT YOU CAN STILL WIN. READ ON****** We have a winner. Joanna gets the Yellow Jersey, and a copy of A Million Miles. The answer: In todays running of The Tour de France, cyclists were not allowed to wear radios. Race organizers did this to make the race more exciting. There will be two stages in which radios are not allowed. Most riders don’t think it’s a big deal, but in the absence of controversy, controversy is made up. This rider is “protesting” the ban. If you aren’t paying attention to the tour, this is, perhaps, the most fascinating race in TDF history. Team Astana boasts three potential winners in Levi Leipheimer, Alberto Contador and, of course Lance Armstrong. I’m pulling for Lance, but it’s honestly hard not to pull for Levi, who is an awesome rider who has supported many other winners. The reason this is so exciting is a team will normally have one potential winner, and a supporting cast to get him through the race safe [...]

  My friends Chase and Mellisa Reeves are, as I type, bringing their son Aiden into the world. We are all following Chase’ twitter updates as though they were weather forecasts. It’s like being around a radio in the forties or something. So tonight I went on a walk and said a prayer for Aiden, and for Chase and Mellisa, who have had a hard labor. I also wrote Aiden a “welcome to the world” poem. Welcome, Aiden, to your family, to your community, and to God.   The Proper Grieving of a Fallen World A Poem for Aiden Reeves   Do you remember, Aiden, when we were naming animals, and the serpent fooled that ignorant couple with a trick, and then all the birthing came with screaming, and the fields were filled with weeds?   Perhaps the memory will come back slowly like it has for the rest of us, brushing our teeth, counting fifty strokes, looking through the mirror wanting more.   I don’t want to bother you, I know you’re busy but is He as good as we want Him to be? Did you speak to Him or look at Him as he shoved you through the [...]

A few months ago I wrote about my roomate, Justin Zoradi who started an organization called These Numbers Have Faces, a non-profit providing scholarships for students in South Africa. Many of you jumped in and supported his work. We actually hired Justin at The Mentoring Project as our Director of Communication. He works for us part time, and still manages These Numbers as they grow and provide more scholarships. I wanted to share something of a celebration video with you regarding one of their students, Anda Sozawe. Anda is the organizations first student to graduate! Congrats Anda, and congrats These Numbers Have Faces. Great work!

I won’t follow anybody who can’t admit a mistake. I led a college group at a church once, and as part of a series I created I asked all the pastors at the church to address the college group regarding mistakes they made when they were the age of my students. The pastors agreed, save one, who, as humbly as he could, explained he hadn’t made any mistakes. As the years went on, I noticed something about this pastor, I noticed he never admitted he was wrong, about anything, and I also noticed a trail of bodies behind him. He literally fired or marginalized anybody who did not agree with him. His church succeeded to some degree, because people do follow strong, confident leadership. But it suffered too. It was, and remains, a revolving door, impressive at first, but not so impressive up close and personal. Christian leaders who can’t admit their mistakes place a wall between their congregation and God, rather than a window. They paint an image of Christ on themselves, as they feel this is their job. People like the painting of Jesus they see on the wall, but in the end, the painting isn’t the real thing, [...]