rebelling against low expectations
“As goes the will of the students, so goes the will of the nation.” On February 6th, 1943, the students of Amsterdam were forced to make a life-altering decision: sign a declaration of loyalty to the Nazi regime, or be subjected to forced labor for the glory and advancement of the Third Reich. Hans Poley—teenager, student, Rebelutionary—was one of the few to stand strong. He refused to sign...
Living through bruises, scrapes, dislocated shoulders, cavities, chemistry corrections, flat tires, airport delays, toilets that need cleaning and carpets that need vacuuming, diets when cakes (sadly) have too many calories in them… The moments I just described aren’t fun, romantic, or beautiful — not like the things I usually like to write about. All these things are annoying. A...
I was 18 when I asked a girl out — the first date for both of us. We went out once, she moved away, and I never texted back. In hindsight, the flirtation, drama, and heartbreak we went through was senseless. Embarrassed by my foolishness, I wanted to leave it behind and move on. A few years later during a trip to the mountains, a friend started talking to me about his past relationship. Should he...
I don’t know about you, but I love the feeling of a clean room. It’s so nice to have things organized and for my space to be clutter-free. However, it’s always been difficult for me to keep it clean. My room has, unfortunately, looked like a tornado more than a couple of times. My sixteen year old brother, Preston, however… He’s kind of the resident “clean-freak” at our house. He actually enjoys...
When I was younger, I remember everyone being held to the same rules. My classmates, for the most part, went to church, whether or not their families were actually believers. Their parents made sure that they didn’t cuss and that they finished their homework. Modest dress codes were rarely broken. Nobody thought it was cool to smoke or drink. As nice as it would be if this stayed the same...
During the Good Friday service, our pastor gets up and quotes Elizabeth Barret Browning. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways… “Although there are many ways that God shows His love towards us,” he tells the congregation, “tonight is a time for us to reflect on the Way He loved us.” What he said stuck with me. It is true: God shows His love towards us in so many different...
Slime and Beauty. Not two words we would usually associate together. Because slime is gooey and sticky and messy and bleck. But you know what, I saw beauty in it. I caught a glimpse of the delight of paradoxes the other day. The rain steadily drummed off the porch, constraining the energy of the kindergarteners inside. But taking such simple ingredients as cornstarch and water, a magical portal...
Most of us struggle with sharing our faith. Sometimes, it’s because we’re too shy or too embarrassed. Other times, we just plain don’t know how or are unsure of what we actually believe, so we hesitate and often remain silent. I bring this up because last summer I had the privilege of attending the reMind Conference hosted by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Detroit. Being an RZIM...
“I just think you’re wasting your energy. I know Jesus means a lot to you, but you need to face reality.” Those words are several months old now, and spoken by someone who really thought he was helping, but knowing he feels like that still cuts me. Some days, it makes me want to give up. And in those moments I desperately look to Scripture for something to hang on to. Something...
My grandma is a quilter whose sewing resume stretches over three decades. The patience and perseverance necessary to maintain this skill of intricacy amazes me. Precise measuring and cutting. The hum of a sewing machine joining fabric together. An iron, hissing steam – pressing underside seams into smooth, neat lines. Undoing mistakes. Repeat, repeat. And in the end? A masterpiece of colors...
rebelling against low expectations
