In an age where things that used to make people gasp and blush are now commonplace in literature—especially, young adult literature—it’s great to see a thriving “clean” YA fiction market. This means enough readers still demand virtue and integrity in their media. And if you’re a Christian, you might be… Read More »The Problem With Clean YA Fiction For Christian Teens
Everybody’s doing it. I don’t want to be the oddball. You might not admit it out loud, but it’s in the back of your mind whenever you encounter pressure to do something. And it doesn’t even have to be something sinful. Everybody’s dating…going on the school ski trip…signing up for basketball…getting… Read More »“Everybody’s Doing It!” How to Overcome The Lie Behind Peer Pressure
I still remember the day when performance anxiety became a thing for me. I’d been taking piano lessons since I was eight. Something about the piano clicked with meI from the beginning. I ate up the lessons and devoured all the music my teacher could find. In fifth grade, I… Read More »Tame Your Nerves: How to Overcome Performance Anxiety
If you had a choice between great wealth or genuine confidence…which would you choose? I won’t make assumptions about anyone who’s reading this, but I would give up a lot for a lifetime supply of genuine, irrepressible confidence. Imagine what a person not lacking in confidence can face! Even the… Read More »What is Genuine Confidence—And Where Can I Get Some?
What’s the first image that comes to your mind when someone asks you to envision someone who’s tough? Someone with lots of muscles, right? Like the guy who can beat anybody in an arm-wrestling competition, or the football player who can take any hit on the field and give it… Read More »Real Toughness Redefined: How to Develop a Strong Mind
Ever feel like the world is stacked against you? Your day was fine until some jerk cut you off on the highway. Then an ornery cop pulled you over and slapped you with a speeding ticket, and on top of that, your ruthless chemistry teacher pulled a pop quiz. Goodbye,… Read More »No Excuses: A Challenge to Own Your Problems
Shameless disclaimer: The inspiration for this post came directly from the pulpit of my own church, in a sermon titled “Come, Lord, Save Us From God!” (See? This is why all Christians absolutely need to go to church!) It’s one of the most elementary of Christian teachings: Jesus saves. Even… Read More »Jesus Saved You From Sin, Death, Hell—And God
“Is it okay to live with my boyfriend? We’re planning on getting married anyway.“ Statistics show a staggering 70% of marriages begin with cohabition while anywhere from 50-65% of Americans believe living together before marriage will improve the likelihood of staying together in the long run. But is this true?… Read More »Is it Actually Wrong to Live Together Before Marriage?