rebelling against low expectations
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...
I’ve always wanted to time travel. In my opinion, there would be few things more awesome than going back in time and experiencing historical events first-hand. I’ve always been a history nerd, devouring biographies and historical fiction and daydreaming about days gone by. Life seemed simpler back then. Easier. Or at least not so confusing. When life gets crazy, I sometimes find myself longing to...
Years ago, we had an idea. Maybe we should start a podcast. A few ideas were tossed around, but eventually it was pushed to the back burner as we decided to focus on creating articles and books for our readers. Until now. After months of planning, recording, and praying, we are so excited to announce the launch of our brand new podcast Do Hard Things with The Rebelution! Here at The Rebelution...
Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy. It’s what all the Hallmark movies tell us, with their over-the-top decorations and picture-perfect events. It’s what all the songs talk about (It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right?) It’s advertised on every commercial and ad: if we just buy this or do that or decorate just so, we’ll be happy and we’ll have the best Christmas ever. Yet rather...
I still remember submitting my very first article to The Rebelution. I was 16 and had started writing less than a year before. I sat in front of the computer, obsessively re-reading every word and staring nervously at the “send” button. I was positive it would be rejected. Absolutely positive. I nearly started screaming when I received the response: “We’d love to publish this!” That moment...
I drove past a rainbow on my way home yesterday. Stripes of color fluttered in the breeze, the flag displayed in my neighbor’s front yard more proclamation than decoration. It’s interesting how a simple piece of fabric woven with a certain pattern of color can make such a bold statement. It’s a symbol of solidarity and inclusion. Of embracing one’s “true self” without shame or reservation. It’s a...
When I graduated five years ago, I didn’t have a life plan. I remember wrestling with uncertainty, trying to figure out what was next as I attempted to answer the bombardment of What’s next? questions. I felt the suffocating pressure to have my life plan mapped out by graduation day. I’m sure many 2021 graduates can relate. In the five years since I received my diploma, I’ve experienced numerous...
Editors Note: Today we’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of The Rebelution’s latest book Love Riot: A Teenage Call to Live With Relentless Abandon for Christ! Below is one of our favorite excerpts from Love Riot taken from Chapter 6: Everything Means Everything. Jim Elliot could have done anything he wanted. Well-liked and respected among his fellow college students, he was...
How can I encourage my peers to follow Jesus? Have you ever asked this question? I know I have. Throughout my years of following Christ, I’ve struggled with watching many of my peers slowly drift away from God. It’s hard to see friends make unwise decisions and watch them struggle in their relationship with God. It’s painful to see them leave the church. It’s lonely when your friends don’t share...
rebelling against low expectations
