rebelling against low expectations
“Everybody wants to go to heaven. It beats the other place, there ain’t no doubt. Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wanna go now.”¹ So declares the old country song, and we may find ourselves unconsciously nodding along to those lyrics. Most of us really don’t want to go to heaven–at least, not right now. We know we should, and we know it’s better than the other place, so we do...
Guy/girl relationships can be confusing, can’t they? Guy/girl relationships online can be even more confusing. Does she like me? we wonder. Why is he emailing me? Why does she always comment on my posts? I think he’s flirting . . . is he flirting? Does she private message other guys . . . or just me? We stalk, we scroll, we like and comment, and before we know it, we have a full blown crush on...
Hey, you—dude in Vans and denim, brushing paint across canvas and concrete—I want to talk to you. You—the girl sipping coffee, spinning stories across your laptop screen—listen up. Teen brimming with inspiration, searching for outlets to spill yourself—let me enter your world and offer a hand. Because you and I have something in common: We’re kindled by the passion to create. We’re who culture...
In today’s world, coveting isn’t given a second thought. We often covet without remorse, perhaps without even conscious thought. It has become such a common part of our daily lives that we don’t even notice it. We buy our cars and eat our expensive dinners, but we rarely stop long enough to think of what the Bible says about coveting. So, what is coveting? We all know the classic “Thou shalt not...
Recently in my youth group, my pastor gave three criteria for examining our actions to see if they are what God would call good: “What kind of actions do you think God would call good?” • Those done in obedience to God’s command • Those done in reliance upon God’s power • Those done for God’s glory But as I thought about them, these three criteria really convicted me. Can we honestly...
If you could ask for anything in the world, what would it be? Tough question, isn’t it? Just think about it for a moment. Maybe money, video games, or a new phone with the latest update…? Whatever you would ask for likely mirrors your heart’s deepest desire, first priority, and ultimate goal in life. But there’s one thing–besides salvation through Christ alone–that every person...
My feet pounded the track, and I was out of breath. I was struggling, pushing hard…and then someone lapped me. Track is hard. I’ll be honest with you and tell you I was not a runner when I joined the middle school track team last spring. I got 16th place in a mile race with only 16 runners, and I was lapped quite often. I tried hard, but I was frequently discouraged. Still, I’m thankful...
What is it about vacations that make them so wonderful? Depending on who you are probably determines your favorite vacation, but I think we love them so much because we crave rest. We crave a break from our normal routine. My vacation was extra sweet this summer. Not because I got to read three books in one week (what a dream!), but because I left my phone in my room and took a week long hiatus...
“Tell the world these things we are going through in Nigeria.” A twenty-eight-year-old mother of three, Aisha was raped–just because someone saw a Bible in her home and assumed her husband was a pastor. Her story and plea on the Open Doors website broke my heart. We hear these horror stories every once in a while in our Christian circles when someone feels the need to remind us of how good...
Dear Teenagers, You are daring and fearless and bold. You have an undeniable sense of justice and you’re ready to fight for it. You dream big and step up to the plate. You are doers. You love with no reservations. You take risks. You forgive. You are accepting and empowering. You laugh and enjoy and create. You are energetic and adventurous. You give yourselves away. You are relationship-driven...
rebelling against low expectations
