rebelling against low expectations
I live in a country where I am not persecuted for my faith. I can read my Bible in public, pray wherever I want to, and talk about my faith to anyone. Worst case scenario: someone gives me a strange look. Chances are, your country is the same. You probably live in a country that has religious freedom. You can probably worship God wherever and whenever you want to. If that is the case, then this...
“So, what do you want to do after high school?” I asked my co-worker as we sat at the edge of the courtyard, our backs against the cold concrete wall. It was a hot summer day and cooling off in the shade was the perfect thing to do after a Wednesday at day camp. The last few children that hadn’t been picked up yet scampered around, playing four square or catch. “Well,” she said, “I want to be a...
To the one who grew up in a Christian family . . . To the one who memorized chapters of the Bible . . . To the one who wears T-shirts that read “child of the King”. I am speaking to the one who never rebelled against their parents, never went partying late at night and never shoplifted. I am speaking to the Christian who grew up with a false front marked “goodness.” I am speaking to people like...
Have you ever been in the middle of telling someone something important when you suddenly felt like the other person wasn’t listening? Perhaps it was their eyes that darted away or the absent-minded “m-hmm” that gave you that impression. We’ve all experienced this. In those moments, an uncomfortable feeling always settles deep-down inside of me. A feeling that implies that the other person isn’t...
It was in the darkest moments that I understood the power of music. Since I grew up in a musical family, I’ve always been around music. Until a few months ago, however, I never truly valued music. Only recently I understood what a gift it is. I have seen what it can do to my mind and my heart. I have seen how God can use it. In the last year many songs have helped me speak truth into my life when...
If you’ve never read the Bible before, getting started can seem daunting. Overwhelming, even. It’s easy to have no idea where to begin. A while ago, someone asked me that very question. “Where should I start reading the Bible? What book of the Bible can you recommend?” The question caught me unprepared. There were so many books to choose from! So many that I love and would recommend. I started...
It is undeniable that Easter is the center of history. All the Old Testament points to the death and resurrection of Jesus. All the New Testament is based on it. Often, however, we talk only about one part. The cross has become the symbol of Christianity. We emphasize the death of Jesus (which is good), but in doing that, we often forget to emphasize His resurrection as well. Most of us know the...
I’ve been through more church hurt than I would wish on anyone. To put it plainly, church hurt hurts. There’s no way around it. And while many areas of life can break us, church is perhaps the place we least expect or wish it to happen. What I Wish Church to Be (and Why It’s Not Like That) In an ideal world, church is a community of perfect people who love and support each other no matter what...
“You’re strong enough to get through this.” I hear and read that comment often, and each time it makes my heart hurt. Sometimes it stops at that – a little hurt. But sometimes, in those dark moments for which “you are strong enough” is intended, it doesn’t just make my heart hurt. No, it makes it rip open and bleed. “You’re strong enough to do this. You’re strong enough for this trial. You’re...
One year ago, I made a different kind of new year’s resolution. My resolutions used to look like “Get healthier” and “Be more consistent at practicing my instruments.” Last year, I shared on theReb my decision to forget about those resolutions (which I never manage to stick to anyway) and do something more like a challenge I challenged myself to write down one thing every evening for which I was...
rebelling against low expectations
