We love the work Austin Gutwein is doing to empower our generation to make a difference for the glory of God. Check out his latest project: Hoops of Hope All Stars — a twelve-city tour taking place this summer.
We’ve made a rule not to share things with you we have not personally read, watched, or experienced — and we broke that rule. We recommended you follow Maddy Curtis on American Idol even though we’ve never watched it ourselves. Based on your feedback, there are aspects of the show that should have tempered our recommendation. We apologize for not doing our due diligence.
But if this is a learning experience, it is also a teaching moment. We can certainly do a better job evaluating what we promote, but we will never do a good enough job to excuse you from practicing biblical discernment. Please take everything we say back to Scripture. God’s Word is the only source you should trust to always be right.
With that in mind, we want to offer the following observations:
1) You don’t have to watch American Idol to follow Maddy. Thanks to YouTube you can watch Maddy’s segments without having to experience the rest of the show. This is probably the approach we’ll take because we don’t own a television.
2) You don’t have to watch American Idol to pray for Maddy. She needs our prayers and support to navigate the treacherous waters of success. 30 million people watched her story and heard her sing. Regardless of what you think of the show, pray that God would help her to use her platform for His glory.
Finally, seek to understand people who are different than you. Most of us can’t relate to people with a special gifts, like Maddy. To some people her desire to sing could seem like self-exaltation. But God made her to sing. This comment from her mother helped us understand Maddy better, and we pray it will help you as well:
With Maddy, it’s all about performance. When our family took the Meyers Briggs test, she and her older brother had the personality type “performer” - and it is very true. He studies opera at Liberty University. Maddy has been asking visitors to our house since she was a toddler to listen to her sing. She has a definite gift.
It’s hard to explain to people who aren’t wired the same way. As Eric Liddell said in Chariots of Fire, “When I run I feel His pleasure.”
When Maddy sings, she feels His pleasure. She sings all day long because she loves singing and God has put such joy in her heart. It’s not about money or attention — it’s just about what she was meant to do.
I don’t see her winning the competition at all. Even if she had the best voice (which I believe she has, and I’m pretty objective about my kids because I have 12 so my ego isn’t invested in them), she doesn’t dress, act or choose the songs that would win her the title.
So it’s not about winning, not about money, not about inconsistency. Just following the setup they’ve provided so that she can sing [another] time.
Maddy’s next appearance on the show will take place Monday,
February 8th, at 8:00PM (EST) during “Hollywood Week.”
We have a confession to make. We have never watched an episode of American Idol. Ever. It’s nothing personal. Our family doesn’t own a television and we’ve never had a good reason to keep up with the show online — until a few days ago when Mike Spielman of Abort73 let us know about Maddy Curtis.
Maddy, a 16-year-old Christian (former homeschooler), won over Simon Cowell and the panel of judges in auditions with the song “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen and with her incredible back story as the ninth out of twelve kids (including four brothers with Down Syndrome — three of whom were adopted).
We love Simon’s comment after she’s done singing: “Amazingly, for sixteen — because we get a lot of 16-year-olds that come in here — you’re not annoying. That’s rare.” All the other judges then chime in, “Yeah! You’re not annoying!” Which means Maddy is already breaking through low expectations on the show.
It gets even better. Since discovering Maddy through American Idol, we found out that she and her family live just a few minutes from Patrick Henry College, and many of our friends here know her. Everyone we’ve talked to testify to Maddy’s incredible heart for the Lord and amazing singing ability.
Suffice to say, we’ll be following American Idol this year. More specifically, we’ll be following Maddy Curtis, voting for her if she makes through, and praying God would keep using this young lady as a bright light of faith in Him and love for family.
Maddy’s next appearance on the show will take place Monday,
February 8th, at 8:00PM (EST) during “Hollywood Week.”
The same God who fed five thousand people with one little boy’s five loaves and two fish, took the desire of a seven-year-old boy from the UK to raise £500 for the people of Haiti and turned it into much more (three hundred times more, to be exact). We hope Charlie’s story will encourage you that starting small is better than doing nothing. Whether it is raising money for Haiti, witnessing to friends at school, or volunteering to help out at church, remember that God can do great things when we make ourselves available. So, stop making excuses, and step out in faith!
Boy, 7, raises $240,000 for Haiti appeal
by Agnes Teh • CNN World • Tuesday, January 26, 2010
London, England – He’s no Wyclef Jean or George Clooney, but that hasn’t stopped seven-year-old Charlie Simpson from raising more than £150,000 ($240,000) for the Haiti earthquake.
Simpson from Fulham, west London had hoped to raise just £500 for UNICEF’s earthquake appeal by cycling eight kilometers (five miles)around a local park.
“My name is Charlie Simpson. I want to do a sponsored bike ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives,” said Simpson on his JustGiving page, a fundraising site which launched his efforts.
“I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti,” he said.
And with that simple call, messages of support flooded the site. (cont’d below)
“Such a big heart for a young boy, you’re a little star!” wrote one supporter. “Well done Charlie. A real celebrity,” said another.
More donations began pouring in after the story caught the attention of the British media — with many cheering Simpson past the £100,000 mark.
Even British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is spreading the message. His “Downing Street” Twitter alias said: “Amazed by response to the great fundraising efforts of 7 yr old Charlie Simpson for the people of Haiti.”
David Bull, UNICEF’s UK executive director described Simpson’s efforts as “very bold and innovative.”
“It shows he connects with and not only understands what children his own age must be going through in Haiti,” Bull said in a press statement.
“The little seed — his idea — that he has planted has grown rapidly and his is a place well deserved in the humanitarian world.
“On behalf of the many children in Haiti, I thank Charlie for his effort.”
Money raised by Simpson will go towards UNICEF’s Haiti Earthquake Children’s Appeal which will provide water, sanitation, education, nutrition as well as support child protection.
A little more than a month ago we asked you to show the world what really matters to teens this holiday season. You came along side Joshua Guthrie and helped Dollar for a Drink raise nearly $10,000 to bring this year’s total to $19,185.
Just recently, Joshua made it on FOXNews Memphis to share his vision for the project. Watch the video (above) and consider making a contribution. It is not too late to donate! Dollar for a Drink is suspending the Christmas deadline. Let’s make one last push to help Joshua reach his goal of $24,000 and three wells for Africa.
Twenty-year-old Lila Rose and her pro-life student group, Live Action, have been hard at work the past three years uncovering the medical lies and manipulative counseling offered at Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion chain.
“They will do or say anything in order to sell more abortions to more women, whether it is covering up sexual abuse or lying to women about medical facts,” says Rose. “Our team has visited dozens of Planned Parenthood clinics undercover. Planned Parenthood, while claiming to support patient self-determination, operates with an ‘abortion-first mentality.’”
The video is the first in Live Action’s “Rosa Acuna Project,” a multi-state undercover audit documenting Planned Parenthood’s abortion counseling. Planned Parenthood has come under fire recently after Live Action’s investigations found them willing to conceal sexual abuse and accept donations targeted to abort African-Americans only. Videos of abuse cover-up prompted state investigations of Planned Parenthood and diversion of the abortion giant’s public subsidies.
Take the time to watch the video (above), share it with others, and support Lila and her team with your prayers as they continue their new media movement for life!
Whether it is making the cover of ESPN Magazine or garnering attention in local papers, rebelutionaries are helping make teens good news again. Joining those ranks are Kelsey Jurewicz and Liz Matthews from Pennsylvania — who raised $2,500 to provide clean water to third world countries. In the process they demonstrated care for others, effective collaboration, and perseverance in the face of discouragement. That breaks quite a few stereotypes about teens. Take that, low expectations!
Dinner for two. Two teens that want to do hard things.
Kelsey Jurewicz, 17, and Liz Matthews, 17, both of Harleysville, broke away from the typical teenage stereotypes and served up a fundraising spaghetti dinner at Zion Mennonite Church to raise money to help bring clean water to Third World villages.
“To know that people don’t have clean water is just horrifying,” Liz said about the two girl’s motivation to give back.
The two Souderton seniors held the Saturday, Nov. 14 dinner to raise money for World Vision’s Clean Water Fund, which uses the funding to provide 18-foot wells in villages that do not have clean water and can not afford to dig their own wells.
Liz and Kelsey held the dinner as part of their senior projects for Souderton High School, but said that they were originally inspired to run a charity event by the book “Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectation.”
What do you think of Kelsey and Liz’s project? What is stopping you from doing something similar? Your cause might be clean water, or abortion, or slavery, or AIDS, or missions, or poverty, or Bible translation, or anything. Have you been involved in a fundraising project before? If so, share your story in the comment section.
Also, don’t miss an exciting opportunity this holiday season to help Josh Guthrie raise $24,000 to dig three wells in Africa. Other rebelutionaries and their families are giving away their Christmas money, organizing fundraisers, and spreading the word at church and at school. Check out the story here and consider getting involved.
One of the most exciting stories last year was Dollar for a Drink — a campaign by 16-year-old Joshua Guthrie to raise $10,000 to build a well in Sudan. With a big response from rebelutionaries, youth groups, and young people around the country, Joshua met and exceeded his goal. Now the well that he (and you!) paid for is providing clean water for over 6,000 people in the Darfur region of Sudan.
This year Josh is back with an even bigger goal. Once again, he needs your help to achieve it. You’ll be tired of your $20 Christmas present in a matter of weeks or months. That same $20 would provide several African families with clean water for years. Please watch/read the following challenge carefully, take it seriously, and pray about what God would have you do. Don’t keep it to yourself, either. Pass it on.
A Challenge for This Holiday Season
With just over a month before Christmas, Josh has raised $10,343 — but needs $6,000 more to dig two wells and $14,000 more to dig three. And as we enter the holiday season, most people expect us to only care about stuffing our faces and getting the latest games and gadgets. They don’t expect us to care about the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, or the oppressed. Let’s join Josh and prove them wrong.
Anyone can give a dollar. Most of us can give more. To get us started, the Rebelution has decided to match your donations, up to a total of $1,000. Whatever you give, we’ll match it — doubling your contribution! $5 becomes $10. $25 becomes $50.
As you give or raise funds for Dollar for a Drink, leave a comment to encourage your fellow teens and let us know so we can match your donation. If you’d rather not comment, you can just shoot an email to brett [at] therebelution [dot] com.
Let’s see how fast we can raise $2,000 for the people of Sudan, not just to provide clean water, but also to share the gospel — the mission of Baptist Global Response. This holiday season (and beyond), we’ll show the world what really matters to teens.
We love coming across stories of young people who are making a difference — at home, at school, in their local community, or on the other side of the globe.
This evening we came across a story in the Hernando Times (a publication of the Tampa Tribune) of a 14-year-old rebelutionary named Jordan Baker who — along with his friends — is making a difference in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Baker takes on Washington
By Jeff Schmucker
BROOKSVILLE - Whether it’s debating with members of U.S. Congress, inspiring youth to become involved or establishing call centers for candidates in the 2010 elections, Jordan Baker is ready to make a difference.
His main obstacle at 14 years old — he still needs his mother to drive him.
But Jordan, who for years has harbored an interest in history and debating, won’t let age keep him from speaking out… And if he could find his voice, why couldn’t others?
Jordan called to arms his fellow home schoolmates and this summer formed the Conservative Christian Teens of America, which includes himself, as president, and 29 others.
While many teens enjoyed the outdoors during their summer vacation, [the Baker] living room was filled with teenagers who were discussing government and national issues, crafting arguments and practicing their public speaking.
This past Saturday, Jordan and his friends met for a public debate with a sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The topic? The proposed Parental Rights Amendment to protect the rights of parents to raise their children.
At one point during his speech, Jordan made the following argument:
I know that you are not suggesting to me or my peers that we should not do “Hard Things”. Someone worked really hard at both creating and passing Amendments 13, 15, and 19 so that race and gender would have equal value and the right to vote. Do you not agree that those Amendments were worth fighting for, no matter how long the process took?
Politics is one area where most people don’t expect young people to be involved, but Jordan and his friends are turning those low expectations upside down.
What do you think about what Jordan and his friends are doing? Have you ever been involved in a political campaign to support a candidate or issue that you care about? If you have, what are some ways other teens can get involved?
The title was inspired by a shirt Zac wears as he makes his way around the world — and the phrase that has come to serve as a motto for his great adventure.
ESPN journalist, Chris Jones, explains the inspiration in this excerpt:
Zac has a brown T-shirt that reads “Do Hard Things,” and mile after mile, ocean after ocean, he pulled it over his head to remind himself why he was wending his way around the world at six knots.
While the article doesn’t make the connection between “Do Hard Things” and the book or the movement, Zac does — as he shared on his blog a few months ago.
Connection or not, Brett and I are excited to see “Do Hard Things” reach a national mainstream audience through the exploits of a true rebelutionary. Let’s show the world what it means to “do hard things” through and for Christ.
