Do Hard Things: Introduction
Guess what book arrived in from my holds list at the library yesterday?
I'm so excited to have an opportunity to read Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. I've long appreciated Alex and Brett Harris's passion and zeal for the Lord. In an age where teens are expected to rebel and be a disgrace to their parents, it is high time a generation of young people steps up to the plate and denounces this corrupt thinking in our culture!
And it's not only teens who need to be challenged to go against the flow of modern mediocrity; we adults aren't fairing much better these days. There are 40-year-old adolescents mindlessly wandering, seeking ease and comfort, and living for nothing greater than themselves.
Have we, as adults, also bought into the low expectations of our cultural surroundings? Are we pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone, outside of a life of ease, beyond the slums of selfishness?
I struggle with this daily so I am especially thrilled to hold a book in my hands which, according to Randy Alcorn, "Will prove to be one of the most life-changing and culture-changing books of this generation."
Join me over the next few weeks as I read through this book and share what I'm gleaning from it. If you have your own copy, feel free to read along with me and comment with your own thoughts.
Let's step outside of the mire of mediocrity and boldly set out on a journey to become world-changers willing to "do hard things".
I'm so excited to have an opportunity to read Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. I've long appreciated Alex and Brett Harris's passion and zeal for the Lord. In an age where teens are expected to rebel and be a disgrace to their parents, it is high time a generation of young people steps up to the plate and denounces this corrupt thinking in our culture!And it's not only teens who need to be challenged to go against the flow of modern mediocrity; we adults aren't fairing much better these days. There are 40-year-old adolescents mindlessly wandering, seeking ease and comfort, and living for nothing greater than themselves.
Have we, as adults, also bought into the low expectations of our cultural surroundings? Are we pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone, outside of a life of ease, beyond the slums of selfishness?
I struggle with this daily so I am especially thrilled to hold a book in my hands which, according to Randy Alcorn, "Will prove to be one of the most life-changing and culture-changing books of this generation."
Join me over the next few weeks as I read through this book and share what I'm gleaning from it. If you have your own copy, feel free to read along with me and comment with your own thoughts.
Let's step outside of the mire of mediocrity and boldly set out on a journey to become world-changers willing to "do hard things".
"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." -William Carey
Labels: Do Hard Things, For the unmarried, Self discipline
posted by Crystal Paine at 8:20 AM
23 Comments:
One thing I don't like from the parts I've read (haven't gotten hold of the actual book yet) is that they teach that a young man or woman should NOT be staying in their parents house...they see it as loafing. :-( Apart from that it does sound pretty good but that is a big down for me.
Mrs. W: I'm sure there will be things I won't agree with (do I ever agree with any book 100%?!), but I would encourage us all to wait to pass judgment until we've actually read the book.
I'll definitely be addressing issues that come up that I'm in disagreement with and will be curious to see if your assessment is correct.
I have read the book - and tho' I don't agree with everything in it, it is a message that the young people (the all people) of today need to hear. Get off the floor! The standards have been dropped to the floor when they should be above the ceiling.
As far as what Mrs. W said, there was something I remember about that. I think in particular they addressed about one man (late 20s or 30s I think...) who basically just lived off his parents, not really being a help to his parents, and feeding off of them. (basically living a video game, lazy life...) I agree - THAT is not right.
On the other hand - I am totally for it that children should stay at home until they are married. Without a shadow of a doubt I believe that because under the protection of parents is the safest and the best place to be. But at the same time, those staying home should be actively working to help their parents, siblings, and family as a household. It's not right to live your life on-your-own and just be sucking the benefits from your parents.
So...as anyone can - people can pull apart what another says and say "because you share this then you're totally against this.." We must be careful in our judging of others that we understand their point.
That in particular is something I believe is right - no question, we should be home, under protection. Alex & Brett themselves are almost 20 and live at home, I believe. They are planning on going to Patrick Henry College this fall. The world as a whole looks at those of us who are staying home and say "WHAT are you doing?" They think helping with grocery shopping, laundry, housework, etc,... is worthless. I digress. They think that it is a waste of time and a thankless task to even hope to be a keeper-at-home - a wife & mother. That mentality has creeped into the church - and the church is now full of people with this mindset. (I know, because I have relatives who don't know why I'm not doing 'anything' and think I need something to 'fall back upon' for "just in case.")
So...I was charged & blessed by the book. But again - just as "what would Jesus do?" started off as a great thing, where people realized the commitment of that phrase - and now it is a mere flashy catchy ringy phrase that 'sounds good' in people's ears yet doesn't carry the same weight & conviction....so we should take the message of "do hard things" but not water it down by just saying it because it sounds good.
Crystal, I reallly look forward to hearing you discuss the book. I'm going to try to read it again as well. A problem for me is that they use versions of the Bible other than KJV. That however is a common problem in most "Christian books" of today. I wish more people would realize that value & true authenticity of the KJV because that is THE Bible. So I would look up verses as I read so I could get the full meaning.
Thanks again, and I look forward to this discussion! We are all human, and we must not ever just agree with anything anyone says. This is a great message that 2 young people have decided to write - and so doing have challenged this generation to get out of this lazy mentality and be willing to rise up and do 'real, hard things.'
~ Ruth Ann
Just stumbled across your post and wanted to clarify our views for Mrs. W. =)
I'm not sure what part of the book you've read, but we never ever advocate that young adults shouldn't live with their parents. We do comment on the rising trend around the world of young adults in their mid-to-late twenties who are still just living at home, hopping from job-to-job, relationship-to-relationship, and from toy-to-toy. In other words, they've never grown up past adolescence. They're avoiding responsibility.
Even in this commentary we do not say that the solution is for all young adults to leave home. Alex and I personally advocate living with your family (especially for young women) and think the idea of moving out as soon as possible is harmful. However, living at home for the wrong reasons is wrong. Not growing up is wrong. Does that make sense?
Anyway, sorry for hijacking your blog with this explanation! I just wanted to make sure that people weren't getting the wrong impression of what we're advocating through the book.
May God richly bless each of you. It is humbling for Alex and I that God would use us to spark a conversation on this crucial topic. Our prayer has always been that He'd work through us despite our weakness and inadequacy. May He redeem any errant words.
Thanks for the clarification, Brett. I appreciate it.
I especially encourage young women to live at home under the protection of her parents until marriage whenever possible. However, I don't believe we can make a hard and fast rule to say there is only one way for every individual to live their life after graduation; God calls different young people to different things.
The most important thing is that a young person is loves the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength; that they are living for something greater than themselves--to glorify the Lord in all they do, say, and think.
I believe the message encouraging young people to "Do Hard Things" is a direly-needed message and heartily applaud Alex and Brett for taking a stand and doing the hard thing of writing such a book!
Thanks Brett for the clarification. What I read was an article that was apparently derived from the book. I still want to read the book, it is on my "list" that when I can afford it, I'll most certainly be reading it. I never agree with a book 100% either, and although I'm KJB only I will still read them if they aren't KJB only books even though I wish they were LOL.
Lady Ruth Ann...I read that you are KJB only and I would like to read your blog but your blogger profile doesn't give a link to it.
I just bought this book last week and am looking forward to reading it. I bought it specifically for my three teens to read, but it seems like a book that all Christians could benefit from reading. My first question upon reading the forward is, is Chuck Norris a Christian?
That's fantastic that your library carried this book! I'm pleasantly surprised to heart that.
Let me tell you. . .Do Hard Things has rocked my world. My 30th birthday is only a couple of months away, so I'm certainly not a teenager anymore, but this little book is not just for teens.
My life has taken a dramatic turn since I stumbled on www.therebelution.com a couple of months ago. Reading the book has solidified in my mind many of the thoughts from the website.
We gave these as graduation gifts this year and I earnestly hope each student reads them--I think we gave around ten or so.
I know I sound like a bit of a broken record here, but the book was absolutely life transforming for me and I'd love to see God use it in the lives of others as well.
I'll definitely be following along with your thoughts on the book, Crystal!
Ack! I typed out a long comment and just lost it all!
Basically what I said was that this book has changed my life--and that of my husband. I'm nearly 30, so I'm not a teen anymore, but this book is absolutely not just for teens!
It's message is needed for many of us who have allowed ourselves to "settle". I've realized through the biblical truths so eloquently presented in this book that even in my "little" role as a wife and homemaker God is calling me to "do hard things" for His glory.
Right now I'm seeing that primarily in the "small hard things" that Brett and Alex talk about. Mothering, being a wife, managing a home--all of these roles consist of one small hard thing after another.
Because of this book, I'm seeking more and more to do hard things for God and working to share the truths with the young people at our church.
I will definitely be following along as you make your way through the book, Crystal, and may I highly recommend that others pick up a copy themselves.
That is. . .if you're ready to have a flame lit under you. :)
Mrs. W, the one article that I'm aware of where the authors talk about that is "Addicted to Adultescence" from the Boundless Webzine. This is what they write:
You can't read very far in your Bible before God addresses two things at the very heart of the kidult controversy: living with your parents, and getting married. In Genesis 2, we read, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (ESV). The biblical pattern is for young people to leave their parent's household in order to begin their own.
This strongly implies that living with your parents before you get married can be a very good thing; provided you're doing it for the right reasons. If you haven't found Mr. or Mrs. Right, and it's more helpful to you and your family for you to remain at home, it's not just fine, it's biblical! Unfortunately, most kidults "stay-and-delay" not out of biblical conviction, but out of self-indulgence and sloth. And even more unfortunately, many of us tend to think and act more like kidults than biblical young adults.
For kidults, Mom and Dad's house just means easier access to Mom and Dad's checkbook and credit card. With the 'rents paying for food, electricity, and insurance, the kidult's limited income can be funneled into more "important" things, like clothes, eating out, lattes, flat-screen TVs, and video games. As one columnist put it, "I'll bet Mom does a great load of laundry and makes a mean lasagna."
Sarcasm aside, the kidult mentality that uses Mom and Dad to subsidize an extravagant lifestyle is blatantly unbiblical. It directly violates the Fifth Commandment: "Honor your father and your mother." Sometimes we need to be reminded that this commandment doesn't expire at age 18.
Kidults aren't using their time at home to prepare for marriage or to serve others; they're using it to stall and to serve themselves.
Sounds pretty balanced and biblical to me!
This sounds like it could be the makings of an interesting discussion. I'm going to see if my library can get me a copy to borrow. When do you anticipate the discussion will begin? (You are a much faster and more efficient reader than I!)
Merrilee
Merilee: I'm planning to begin discussing this next week. I'll likely be covering 2-3 chapters at a time and do two posts per week so that we can go through it in a month or less. Should be an interesting discussion!
Hi Crystal!
This isn't related to your post about Do Hard Things, although I think the book seems like it's well worth reading. I'm from Sweden and just wanted to tell you that the TV-show you participated in will show on TV here on Monday! I really wanted to see the show and am so glad they are showing it here. Sadly(but not unexpectedly) the show is advertised in a very negative way, talking about Pepita mostly, a woman who even dresses her husband and puts the tooth paste on his tooth brush. The only other woman mentioned is you(I assume, unless there was another Crystal in the documentary) and it says that you think women who work are selfish and that a good woman knows when to keep her mouth shut...Not that bad, huh? ;)
Anyway, sorry for hijacking, please don't publish this comment if you don't want to, I just wanted to tell you that I'm excited about seeing the show! :)
Sofia in Sweden
My 21-year old just read this book after hearing great things about it. She said it applies to all Christians, so I can't wait to read it myself. It's in the queue!
I have recently read this book and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. :) I know for myself it gave me much food for thought. I think everyone who reads this can be blessed and encouraged to do hard things. :)
Sofia: Thanks for sharing; I didn't know that!
Just a note before you watch it: I was very disappointed in the outcome of the show. Despite the promises made to us, they removed almost all of our references to God and also removed all of our references to how a good marriage is based upon the premise that a husband and wife both selflessly give to each other. It's not just about the wife seeking to honor and reverence her husband and be a helpmeet to him, it's also the husband giving of himself and laying down his life for his wife.
I also wish I would have smiled more on camera. :) Oh well, it was an interesting experience and we learned a lot through it. We just pray that the Lord uses it for His glory, despite how men tried to twist it.
I am a young mother to two children, and even though I'm not the "target audience" for Brett and Alex's book, I have been greatly encouraged by their message. I tend to want to remove the hard aspects of raising little ones, instead of embracing difficulties and doing them unto the Lord! I also happen to attend the same church as the Harris family, and know them personally and can say that they are the real thing! They are an amazing, humble family that earnestly wants to see God glorified in their lives!
Hi again!
I remember you writing about the show and how different it was compared to what you had hoped. I know how media can twist things to make a show more scandalous or provocative. In my congregation several people have been asked to participate in TV-shows about their faith and believes and opinions. My uncle was one of them and he said he would agree on the condition that he could get on paper that he would get to look at and approve of the show before it was broadcast. They didn't agree to that so he declined. I only know of a couple of people who did participate in a show who were not portraied in a negative way. One of them was the sweetest, humblest, kindest and most joyful woman that I have ever met(my fathers cousin) and I don't think they could have made her look bad however hard they tried. As for myself, I'd never dare do something like that because I know I don't always seem very humble and nice when I express my opinons, especially not if a TV-team would spend more than an hour with me...
Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I'll watch the show mostly to see and hear you and your family!;) I've been reading your blog for a very long time- it's one of the first ones I check everytime I get online. I respect and admire you very much and don't think I could ever think badly of you, no matter how they edit the show. :)
Sorry, I forgot to write my name, I'm Sofia from Sweden again if you didn't understand that from my previous post!:)
I'm hoping to join the "read-along" as well. Our library system has several copies in it, too, much to my surprise, and happiness!
Krista
I am currently reading this book. There are a few issues I have with it already. I will hold my comments until I have finished the book. I do look forward to your comments Crystal!!
Holly
Crystal
I just saw your comment that you will be doing a read along postings on the book. Cool!! I do want to clarify my comment earlier though.
Even though there were a few things that I wasn't sure about in the book, I still feel comfortable for my kids to read it anyway. It is very thought provoking. All adults can benefit from this book. I just need to hurry up and finish the book so my oldest son can start reading it. We will discuss a few issues that I wasn't sure about (kind of a scratch your head moment ).
Holly IN
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