If I could pick one word that I think best describes this generation it would be the word distracted. I debated whether or not I really needed to take the time to argue my case, so instead of me writing about it, just look up at the people around you. What are they doing? Where are they looking (or not looking)? The next time you're at a restaurant, watch the people at the tables around you. The next time you're in class, at work, at home, or at the airport, take a minute to notice what the people around you are doing. Between … [Read more...]
Do Something
We live in a word-saturated world. We don't have to look far to find opinions; they find us. Glance through a blog, read a wall-post, scroll through your tweets, or flip through a textbook and you'll hear hundreds of voices clamoring to persuade you. Friends, professors, authors, coworkers, and the media argue controversial issues. Don't misunderstand; communication is great—we're wired for it. But something powerful happens when we replace talk with action, debating with doing, and speaking with serving. So, how do we do this? … [Read more...]
How to Set Goals That Make a Difference
New Year’s resolutions. Love them or hate them, they reappear every year. Laden with good intentions each January, many of us start on a litany of goals with a desire to change ourselves. We vow to work out, get out of debt, spend more time studying, and so forth. The thing about New Year’s resolutions — they’re often all about us. Culture tells us to focus on ourselves, but God tells us the opposite. He wants us to focus on Him and His agenda. The most significant changes can happen when we’re not focused on ourselves but on … [Read more...]
Advent: Expectation
When I think of the season of Advent, the four-week part of the church calendar that immediately precedes Christmas, the word that comes to mind is “expectation.” Indeed, Advent is a season in which we wait hopefully for that which is promised but is not yet fully formed. It is during this time of year that those of us who are Christians receive the startling news that Christ is being formed in us; that Christ is being born. The question is this: What will we do with such strange, wonderful news? Will we receive it as if for the … [Read more...]
How To Reach The Unchurched In A Postmodern Culture
It was a cool winter morning as I made my way through the door of my favorite getaway. I was the first person to enter, carrying my computer bag packed full of books. The Jatema Coffee sign hadn’t even been turned on yet. The chill in my bones began to melt when I caught the scent of scones, bagels, and fresh-brewed coffee. In only a few seconds, I felt right at home, greeting my friend behind the counter and mentally preparing for another morning of serious writing at my favorite place. “What would you like today, Bryan?” Jason … [Read more...]
Why Gray Areas Can Be Good
It's obvious that Christianity and culture have never been "best friends." Actually, it's usually quite the opposite. The Christian community often finds itself in a war with culture that results in damaging consequences on both sides. Culture gets an inaccurate view of Christianity that's wrapped in anger and closed-mindedness, while Christians begin to make culture into their number one enemy, separating themselves from sometimes valuable content, conversations, and relationships. Such thinking can be especially damaging to young … [Read more...]
Do You Need Help Finding Balance?
Welcome to the rest of your life: finding balance. I'd be lying to you if I said I had mastered this in college, or even that I'm a master of balance now. Business Insider recently posted an article about 9 things everyone should be able to do by age 30. (Personally, I think you should be able to accomplish the first 7 by the time you're 25, if not before then.) But #9 was work/life balance. The article claimed that the key to finding balance is less about work-life balance than work-life purpose (prioritizing what's important to you … [Read more...]
3 Things To Consider “As We Go”
Have you ever wondered how your dentist really learned how to fill a cavity? Or how about the guy that roofed your house last summer? How did he learn how to perfectly align the shingles so that your roof would not leak? Likely, these practitioners learned by watching someone. Sure, they took some classes, watched a video, and maybe took some tests, but the real learning came from watching a real-life practitioner do the job. They watched them do it perfectly. And they watched them mess up and start over again. It was on-the-job … [Read more...]
How To Help Young Adults Make Good Decisions
Decisions. During the course of a single day, we make decisions from the time we open our eyes in the morning until the time we go to sleep. We make all kinds of decisions--as insignificant as what color socks to wear to healthy lifestyle decisions like choosing between a chocolate cupcake or a banana to more significant decisions that affect the course of life such choosing to take the job or stay where you are. Some significant decisions are made during our young adult years that will substantially shape the direction and course … [Read more...]
3 Ways To Help Yourself Move Forward
Youth can be both a gift and a curse. In our youthful days, most of us are in good health with endless opportunities before us. But this season of life is also a time in which we make mistakes--sometimes really big ones that can lead us down the wrong paths. Even more, our decision-making abilities are not quite up to par, and it's easy to be led astray by bad influences, impulsiveness, and a sense of invincibility. But there's good news: You have plenty of time to get back on the right track and still have a wonderful life. Your … [Read more...]