rebelling against low expectations
Last Sunday, I was sitting by myself after church and observing the people around me. I found that I could look at almost each person and find something that I knew about them — the part of themselves that they displayed the most, something that defined them. Some of my friends stood in a circle and I instantly picked out the popular girl who quickly became everyone’s best friend. I noticed...
AMANDA WRITES: School is winding down, and I’m getting bored. I feel like I should be doing something other than sitting around doing nothing! I have a fairly busy summer planned, but I also have a lot of hours when I’m just home. Reading books and playing games with siblings isn’t enough to fill all that time. Do you guys have any ideas on how to keep busy during the summer...
My dad is going to help me pick out a husband. He’s not the shotgun-toting type, and we don’t believe in arranged marriages. I’m not from another culture or planet and I’m not a crazed fanatic. Yet my dad is helping me choose my husband. In fact, he’s already done that. No, I’m not getting married yet. I’m not even eighteen. But over my childhood and teen...
This post is part of a series of articles asking and thinking deeply about hard questions. For more information about the series and where I’m coming from you can read the introduction. The Holy Spirit is one of the most controversial aspects within Christianity. Even great men disagree about the Holy Spirit, so I definitely do not claim to have a complete answer. However, this will not...
EMILY WRITES: What do you spend your free time on, and your not-so-free time? How do you think a Christian teenager should manage socialization, productivity, and recreation? I want to hear your thoughts on how I should manage my time, and what to spend it on. Thanks! Share Your Thoughts in the Comment Section! There are currently 7 Comment(s) Have something else you’d like to discuss? Just...
For a laugh, I bought a clearance t-shirt that says, “No Boyfriend. No Drama.” My dad thought it was hilarious. And brilliant. I’m seventeen and I don’t date right now. That’s intentional. I am too young to be looking for a spouse and thus if I dated now, it would be strictly casual and totally for fun. I don’t want to do that right now. But it’s not just because of...
K. WRITES: Okay, so I’m the newest member of my youth group (the only 8th grader and homeschooler). I’ve gone to this church my whole life. I was really excited to finally move up into the tight knit youth group. Unfortunately when I moved up I realized three things: 1. My youth group of 12 people is made up of really popular kids 2. They aren’t that welcoming and are...
Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? You know, when all the athletes and celebrities dumped buckets of ice water on themselves to raise funds for ALS research? Well, there’s a new challenge in town — the Lyme Disease Challenge. And instead of dumping ice water on your head you take a bite out of a lime. As many of you know, my dear wife Ana has been very sick with Lyme Disease for over two...
Do you ever wonder at the world? Not in a tired way. Not like you’re upset or frustrated. Like you’re in awe. We live in a world of marvels, glorious complexities and breathtaking beauties. Every day we are surrounded by them. Yet we drink them all in without a shred of wonder or an ounce of awe. We are bored. How poignantly G.K. Chesterton assesses our condition: “We are...
ALANA WRITES: Lately, I’ve been in a slump where I know I have to do something, but in the end nothing is usually done. I want to want to do hard things, but I’m backsliding on this commitment. How do I get out of this? What tricks have you discovered for staying motivated? Share Your Thoughts in the Comment Section! There are currently 7 Comment(s) Have something else you’d...
rebelling against low expectations
