Do Hard Things - Chapters 1 & 2
By jmingee | May 9, 2008
Alex and Brett Harris set out to challenge teenagers to rebel against low expectations. They have succeeded. Their website, www.therebulution.com is well established and their new book, Do Hard Things, is sure to follow as a widespread and deeply effective call to teenagers. Randy Alcorn testifies that this book “will prove to be one of the most life-changing and culture-changing books of this generation.” Chuck Norris wrote the forward to a book that he calls a “battle cry to raise the cultural bar on teenage potential and to challenge young people to reach for their God-given best.” (xiv).
In this series of posts I hope to dig into the book, ask some (hopefully) thought provoking and action stimulating questions, and highlight the practical ways we can implement the challenges found in this book. I’ll do my best to be faithful to present the material the way it is presented in the book, exposing the content in three overarching parts divided up into smaller chapters. We’ll cover a few chapters per post, and see how it goes! So go buy a book, get reading, and Do Hard Things!
Summary
Part 1: Rethinking the Teen Years
What do most people think about the teenage years? Low-risk? Easy? Time to ‘sow your wild oats’ or ‘get it out of your system?’ Least likely time of your life you’ll ever read a book, especially a book about ‘doing hard things?!’
Part 1 of the book consists of a Chapter One in which the ‘difference’ of this idea is highlighted as ‘most people don’t…’ take the stand introduced in this book. In Chapter two they explain ‘the birth of the big idea…’ as their Dad took the opportunity of a summer to stretch the boys’ with a rigorous reading plan. Chapter three borrows its title from the revealing book by David Black The Myth of Adolescence and exposes the dangerous (and recent) perception of adolescence. Then in Chapter Four they introduce “A Better Way: Reclaiming the Teen Years as the Launching Pad of Life.”
Quotes and Considerations – Chapters One and Two
Ch. 1 - Most People Don’t…
“Most people don’t expect you to understand what we’re going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don’t expect you to care. And even if you care, they don’t expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don’t expect it to last. We do.” (3). 19-year old brothers Alex and Brett believe their generation is “ready to rethink what teens are capable of doing and becoming.” (4). Not only do they believe it, they’ve lived out that conviction in their own lives and have seen thousands of other teenagers step up to the plate as well. This book is saturated with inspiring stories, both from their lives and the lives of others, about teenagers doing things that most people choose to pass up simply because they are hard to do. It is a sad commentary on our culture, and church – especially student ministry, when so little is expected of teenagers who are already making decisions that will determine the direction of tomorrows church.
Ch. 2 - The Birth of A Big Idea…
“Then Dad took charge. ‘I’m putting you two on an intense reading program this summer…’ […] The stack included books on a huge range of topics: history, philosophy, theology, sociology, science, business, journalism, and globalization. […] We began to realize that even though the books we were reading were all written for adults, teens were the ones who most needed to wake up to what the books were saying.” (10-11). It was from this desire to raise awareness among teenagers of the direction that the world they would one day lead, that led to the blog: The Rebelution (a made-up word defined as: a teenage rebellion against low expectations). Teenagers should not have their hands clean of the dirty and difficult paths of politics or social justice or academic thought, but should be digging in alongside other generations.
This big idea has raised the bar on the teenage years, calling teenagers not only to get involved in seemingly segregated arenas such as politics, but to take leading roles. And this book issues the invitation – “to join with us and other teenagers who are serious about changing the world’s ideas about the teen years.” (25).
Your Turn
- In what arenas do you think the bar has been set far too low for teenagers? (Academics, sports, personal discipline, etc.)
- What makes you choose that arena?
- How can you, if you are a teenager, help raise the bar? And adults…?
- What part of Chapters 1 & 2 did you find most challenging and/or exciting?
- How does the idea behind “Do Hard Things” line up with the Bible? (Read 1 Timothy 4:12-16 and 1 Corinthians 10:31)
- In what area of your life could you honor God by ‘raising the bar?’
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Do Hard Things - Series Intro
By jmingee | April 29, 2008
Alex and Brett Harris have issued a call to all teenagers: Rebel against the low expectations that most of society has for you. They sum it up in the phrase “Do Hard Things.” Their website has taken off as an online meeting place for like-minded teenagers around the globe.
The idea of raising the bar of expectations is an encouraging one. As a student pastor I see a lot of potential that is not always used well. And this isn’t limited to teenagers! It includes parents and (believe it or not) myself! I know that by expecting more out of myself, I open up a world of possibilities. Who am I to either say that God is not capable of using me to accomplish great things; or to use my own laziness as an excuse not to do great things for God? Alex and Brett challenge us to take seriously the teenage years as a launchpad for the rest of our lives.
Whether you’re a teenager or not I hope this book encourages you to heed the apostle Paul as he calls us to do “whatever you do to the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:31).
If you’d like to buy a copy of the book, email me (jmingee@bbcyorktown.org) and let me know how many copies you’d like to purchase. We’ll be selling them for $12/book and I’ll place the order on Monday May 12th at noon! You can pay when you pick up the books on Wed May 14th.
Some helpful resources:
Tim Challies has a review of Do Hard Things here.
Dr. Alvin Reid’s (Prof. at Southeastern Baptist Seminary) book Raising The Bar: Ministry to Youth in the New Millennium is challenging.
Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN (where John Piper is the teaching pastor) has just begun a series on A Vision for the Next Generation.
Dr. David Alan Black’s book The Myth of Adolescence: Raising Responsible Children in an Irresponsible Society is an obvious influence on the Harris brothers.
19th Cent. Christian J.C. Ryle wrote a short collection of Thoughts for Young Men.
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Lessons Learned in NYC
By jmingee | April 22, 2008
Some of the many lessons we learned:
- Those of us in the county ought to have a burden to pray for those in the city. Jesus had a particular compassion for the city. He wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19). Paul highlighted Epaphras, who ’struggled’ in prayer for the city of Ephesus (Colossians 4:12). We also should passionately pray for the gospel’s influence in the city that influences the world.
- There is equal opportunity for sin in the county as there is in the city. City life is different from life in the ‘county.’ It is a faster pace of life. It is embraced by much more advertisement. But there is no more protection from sin in the county than in the city. Let us beware of sin in the county just as much in the city.
- Unity takes humility, intentional effort, and time. Our team in NYC crossed generations, and you could tell. Unity that rallies around serving under the banner of the gospel takes humility, intention, and time. It cannot happen among the proud. It will not happen on accident or naturally. And it does not happen quickly. We grew together, and we have much room to continue growing together.
- We have a responsibility to seek the wellbeing of our city, or county. Jeremiah 29:7, “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” I wonder how our students are encouraged to pursue the welfare of their city, schools, and families? I pray that they will take the gospel into all arenas of life and with it seek the peace of their communiites.
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Our New Logo
By admin | April 11, 2008
Logos give a visual expression to an organizations’ function, purpose, passion, or goal. Ours is to see students become like deeply rooted, immovable (in their convictions and beliefs), massive oak trees that will grow strong and bear the fruit of the gospel that has been planted in them.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up and him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7
He [the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked but delights in and meditates on God’s Word] is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. Matthew 12:33
Make Them Like Trees
A Poem by Jeff Mingee
Written in 2005
Make them like trees that they should grow
In faith that through their actions shows
As fruits which prove the seed was true
In trials that they would not move.
Make them like trees that they will stand
With strength that comes from the almighty hand
Of God whose purpose cannot fail;
Though storms in life bring rain and hail.
Make them like trees, with roots so deep;
In scripture, holy, they will seek
The Truth, and Jesus Christ they’ll find
The perfect Savior, love divine.
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