handsful

Randy, wearing the t-shirt that he designed himself and had printed up for the guys to wear…

The BIG bike ride begins tomorrow! Randy, Gregg, the five 8th grade boys in their Real Life Group (bible study), and Jacob’s dad, Phil will all ride in a van to the gulf coast early tomorrow morning. After having their picture taken with their feet in the gulf, they’ll unload their bikes from the trailer and start heading east. The plan is to go at least 60 miles tomorrow, and stay in a hotel in Gainesville Saturday night – rest and devotion time there. They’ll wake up Sunday and go another 80 miles to reach Mickler’s Landing beach – where the parents will be waiting to cheer them home while they have their picture taken again with their (tired) feet in the Atlantic :)

The course is COMPLETELY mapped out, down to where sidewalks drop off and exactly where each 10 mile rest stop will be. Thanks to Gregg! The guys have had several training rides preparing for this trip. There will be a van, driven by Chris, that will follow along with them stocked with water, gatorade, first aid, and bike supplies. He’ll drive ahead to the next rest stop and wait for them. I hope he’s bringing lots to read to occupy the time!

I’m excited for this opportunity and praying that God uses it to build these boys up and bring Him glory. What an accomplishment it will be for these guys, and a lesson in endurance. The verse for the weekend is Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The lesson isn’t in winning…it’s in staying in the race.

I’ll be posting updates to the blog about how it’s going, and you can also follow Gregg’s Twitters on his blog – http://greggfriend.wordpress.com/