rebelling against low expectations
Doing hard things is hard. The words aren’t just the catch-phrase for a movement, but a reality. Doing hard things takes determination, grit, and die-hard commitment to push through the pain. Right now, I’m on the brink of the biggest hard thing I’ve ever done. Throughout my journey as a rebelutionary, I’ve done things that terrified me. I’ve grown stronger and braver. I’ve tested the limits of...
“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:…to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” — James 1:27 Have you ever wondered what it means to keep ourselves unspotted from the world? I do, all the time. How do we live in the world, yet not be of the world? Is it a list of rules? A kind of behavior? Certain “do’s or don’ts”? Some Christians seem to believe so. They have an...
Gen Z is facing an unprecedented identity crisis. Every time I ask a youth pastor or Christian leader what they think is the biggest struggle teens are facing today, the answer is the same: identity. I’ve observed this myself. Teens are struggling to know who they are and if they matter. I hear their questions and as an early-twenties Gen Z, I can relate. Who am I? What determines my identity...
Forty-nine years ago, when Roe became law, my grandparents were the same age I am today. In one generation, we’ve witnessed the beginning and end of Roe. Within the span of that generation, millions of lives have been lost, countless battles fought, and now the casket containing Roe v. Wade has been nailed shut. Abortion is no longer the law of the land and an unconstitutional ruling of forty...
Most Christians would say they believe the gospel. But not all Christians live like they believe the gospel. The gospel—the good news—isn’t like any other news in the world. The gospel hits deep into the core of a person and flows through every part of life. It shows us the true condition of ourselves—sinners who deserve God’s judgment—and provides the only way of salvation. Most of us who are...
When I was a little girl, I dreamed of one day being Cinderella. I would sit riveted in front of the TV as I watched my favorite Disney princess experience her happily ever after. Castles and fairytales, glass slippers and princes took up my five-year-old brain space and I was lost in the innocence and wonder of it all. The power fairytales have upon young minds is nearly as strong as the power...
Raise your hand if you enjoy being on the hot seat. No one? Really? I get it. Neither do I. It’s awkward and uncomfortable when you find yourself in the middle of conversations about, frankly, really awkward and uncomfortable topics. Yet as followers of Jesus, we’re called to share the gospel and share God’s total truth about all of life. That’s bound to make for some...
“Just save sex for marriage” is often the sole encouragement offered in conversations about sex and purity, but there are many other more specific struggles in this area. Countless teens battle pornography addictions, wrestle with masturbation or erotica, or deal with lustful thoughts. Introduce these topics and the conversation about purity gets more complicated. How do we biblically handle...
Today’s generation of teens is facing challenges no generation before has dealt with. We’re navigating a culture of smartphones, social media, on-demand TV, gender fluidity, same-sex marriage, abortion, and rampant addiction. We face hard questions that our parents and grandparents didn’t have to answer when they were growing up. How should I respond to #BlackLivesMatter, gender...
Over the past few years, as I’ve talked to hundreds of Christian teens, there’s one thing that I’ve learned. They want to follow God…but they’re not always sure what that looks like. They’re hungry for more…but don’t know where to find it. They long to make a difference with their lives…but staying motivated is hard. In short, they deeply need...
rebelling against low expectations
