rebelling against low expectations
Americans spend $2 billion supporting 1.5 million participants in short-term missions trips each year. However, statistics show that up to three-fourths of these trips are poorly conducted, and teams rarely interact with unreached or unengaged people groups (you don’t have to travel far, for L.A. County alone has 400+ unreached people groups!). Although the church has recently exploded with...
Why is offering a genuine apology so difficult? It takes humility to go to someone and put ourselves in a vulnerable position by asking for forgiveness. Apologizing is an acknowledgment of our failure in a relationship with another person, and it’s embarrassing to admit that we were wrong, and acted or reacted out of line. When we offend or hurt someone, whether intentionally or unintentionally...
I couldn’t believe what I heard. In a room full of women, ranging in age 20-60, the speaker said not just twenty-somethings but also thirty and forty-somethings were not ready to, and therefore shouldn’t, disciple anyone. What they should do, according to this woman, is to seek to be discipled, sitting at the feet of the godliest older woman they can find at their church. As a twenty-something...
I was fourteen when God taught me a thing or two about real faith. It was a few months after I’d been baptised; my relationship with Him was growing and I was regularly aware of his presence in my life. I felt close to him. The change was so gradual I didn’t notice it at first. But one day I realised: I do devotions daily, but I don’t get much out of it anymore. And I can’t feel the Lord near me...
God got ahold of his life and he was never the same. God lit a spark in his soul, and his whole life blazed with passion for God because he knew his home wasn’t here. As he constantly said, “My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world.” He spoke to millions. Counseled US presidents. Befriended world leaders. And always his focus remained the same: the Good News. He reminded us...
We see it all over the internet. “OMG! So cute!” “OMG! I cannot wait!” “OMG! Seriously?!” We picture 13-year-old girls texting friends, pink polished nails, skinny jeans, messy top knots. We think “total millennial!” We roll our eyes and laugh and talk in that annoying voice where everything ends in a question, “OMG?! Like totally?!” We...
The stereotypical “youth group” is pretty sad. It usually involves a good helping of cliques, shallow relationships, and lots of drama. Of course there’s some Bible teaching, but that’s not the focus. The focus is massively and unrelentingly on us. Not every youth group is that way. Maybe most aren’t. But that’s the expectation. And that’s what we have to fight. What Are We Looking At? The...
Have you ever wondered why God made you the way that He did? I know I have. When I start thinking about all of my flaws and imperfections, it’s hard to imagine how He could possibly use me – or even love me, for that matter. I always think about how shy and awkward I am. I mean, what was He thinking? How on earth am I supposed to witness to people when I can barely hold a simple...
Imagine your nation has not had a king for hundreds of years. No king, no kingdom. But ancient prophecies from the past stir hope for the future: a king is coming, and he is bringing a kingdom with him. This is where the Jews find themselves when Jesus, the promised King, arrives. Throughout his three and a half year ministry, Jesus proclaims the kingdom of heaven “is at hand.” When...
“We are not human doings, we are human beings.” Sitting across from three leaders (having years more of life experience which I wanted to honor), I couldn’t help my visceral reaction: I wanted to gag. I know. I know I know I know. People realize that human busyness is an issue and we need to spend more time on soul-care. I’ve heard. I do know this need is valid (very...
rebelling against low expectations
