10 Pieces of Advice for Christian Teenagers

Just the other day I was speaking to a youth group and while looking out to the crowd I could feel how important teenagers are to Jesus.  I wish I would have learned that lesson when I was an actual teenager, instead of spending so many years making bad decisions that I now regret.  I know teenagers don't like to read, but please please please read this.

1. Your popularity doesn't mean squat.

The hours and hours I spent worrying about being popular were a big, fat, giant waste of time!  I use to get such anxiety over the fact that I couldn't shop at the popular stores because they were too expensive or when the beginnings of a pimple would surface.  God wants us to be selfless and humble and worrying about our popularity is the exact opposite of those things.  I've also found that when you lean into who you are people will love the authenticity of it.

2. Learn to love to read.

I still struggle reading the Bible and reading in general. However, I have really had to learn to enjoy it over the past years.  I wish I would have read more as a teenager and learned to love it like I do now.  I wish God would just call me up on my iPhone and tell me what He wants, and maybe someday He will, but until that moment all I have as a Christian is the Bible.  It's like a  really long text message that God is sending you and I.  Learn to dive into that message and soak it up.  Ask questions, highlight verses, dig deep.  I can't imagine how much deeper the truths of God would be in my heart if I had been reading all through high school.

3. Stay fired up!

Just recently I had one of my high schoolers in my small group tell me that he was feeling, "Blah about God."  And I told him that happens from time to time, but you have to push through it. Find things that fire you up and search those out.  I love listening to sermons and when I am feeling "blah" I look to some of my favorite pastors to reignite my fire.  I also am always looking for new and fresh worship music to keep me going.

4. Don't have sex until you're married.

A lot of heartache will be avoided if you follow this piece of advice.  I recently heard Levi Lusko describe sex as a piece of tape.  It's suppose to stick once and stick forever.  The more you have sex outside of marriage the more you are sticking and unsticking that tape.  When the time finally comes to say "I do" and you try to stick that tape to your spouse it won't have it's full power and could lead to a lot of pain.  I didn't wait until marriage to have sex and it's one of my greatest regrets in life.  I can never go back and undo it.  I can never give that to Brooke and I will have to live with that forever.

5. Learn how to talk to people.

To their faces, more specifically. I have noticed that kids don't even ask other kids to homecoming with actual words anymore! They use signs, t-shirts and food.  The art of a conversation has been lost in a world of Snapchat, texting, Instagram and so on.  But, when your friends are hurting and in pain a text message, Snapchat or Instagram won't be enough.  They will need to hear your words, feel your embrace and want real, authentic human interaction.  Learn how to talk to people so that at the moment someone needs hope you can be confident and tell them about Jesus and give them the ultimate hope!

6. Never stop inviting your friends.

While I was speaking at a youth group, I asked how many people invited someone to come tonight and I would guess that maybe 7% of hands went up. Just imagine if every week every single student at your youth group was inviting someone?  If 100 students are at your youth group and all 100 invited people... Even if only 10% came that is still 10 more people who will be presented with who Jesus is!

7. Pray more.

Praying is like a muscle.  The more you work at it the stronger it will become.  I think the only time I prayed as a teenager was when I wanted a girl to notice me or when I wanted to win at sports.  Things that I now realize don't matter.  Instead, I wish I was praying for my classmates, my heart and this broken world.  Prayer is important and the more we practice it the more we see what it can do.  It's powerful, beautiful and so important!  Instead of your only prayers being for your meals, you should start praying for hearts and minds to be won to Christ too!

8. Stop listening to crap.

I listened to metal, hardcore and screamo music in high school.  It was all about teenage angst and being broken hearted.  So guess what I did?  I walked around with my hair in my face being full of teenage angst and feeling all broken hearted.  And if all you listen to is rappers talking about how awesome and bad*ss they are, how do you think you going to walk around?  If all you listen to is Taylor Swift telling you how crazy and confusing love should be, how do you think you are going to feel about love?  I am not one of those people who think you need to listen to worship music exclusively, cause my wife and I certainly love rocking out to T-Swzzy from time to time, but I definitely would advise you to start adding worship music to your playlist.  Let your heart be uplifted with the music you listen to.  Listening to music that acknowledges the truths of God will help you acknowledge the truths of God.

9. Don't be afraid.

Our society will tell you that what you believe is stupid.  Your beliefs will be attacked, you will be persecuted and when you try to defend yourself you will be called a bigot, hater and judgmental. Stand firm in what you belief, respond with a loving heart and know that you will never convert someone to knowing who Jesus is -- only the Holy Spirit can do that.  Your job is to be there pointing someone toward Christ.  Sometimes you will do that with words and sometimes you will do it with actions.  However you do it, don't be afraid because God is on your side and He will supply all you need at the time you need it!

10. End with Jesus.

When you end with Jesus everything becomes a tool for His glory!  I don't care if you are a photographer, mathematician or chef.  God will use anything and everything to bring people to His glory!  Lean into the loves that He has put in your heart and let Him use those things to bring people into His loving embrace.  For me that's t-shirts, writing this blog and being goofy on Snapchat.  For you it might be totally different and that's okay!  God knows what you love and if you lean into Him, He will use those loves to give you a platform to glorify Him!

As a teenager I often felt like I would wait to follow Jesus.  That it was something that came with age and I would do all those things when I was older.  That's a lie!  Following Jesus starts the very moment you start following Jesus.  As a teenager you have unlimited potential and reach in your walk with Christ!  Lean into those things and allow Him to direct you.  Use your high school, sports team and whatever you might be involved in as a launching pad to proclaim His name!

Your Life Matters!

I had the pleasure of speaking to the Circl3 Youth Group last night!  I recorded it and it's not the best quality but it does get better as the crowd focuses in.  If you ever want me to come speak t your youth group, church or school just fill out the contact form!  I'd love to!

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Actually Do Something... That's the BIG Secret!

There is a this weird internet-blogger-businesd-owner taboo surrounding being transparent and showing the traffic to your site.  But I am breaking that silly "rule" to make a point. Here is a snap shot of my visits, page views and audience size from this June to September.

CAN YOU GUESS WHICH MONTH I MADE IT A PRIORITY TO CREATE CONTENT?

Business owners constantly say that they "want new business" and "will do whatever it takes" and yet their websites, Instagram and Twitter feeds, and Facebook pages stay blank for days and days.  You want to know the big secret to getting people to hire or buy from you? Give them a reason to look at your site.  And do you know how to get people to look at your site? Give them something to look at. Pretty simple.

I am tired of people talking about how they want their business and brand to grow and yet they don't grind it out every day to give people a reason to show up. If you don't show up, why would your customer/reader?

A digital website isn't much different than an actual store front.  Think of your website as a storefront on a street lined with dozens of other stores, too.  Why is a customer going to stop at yours?  Is your storefront fresh and new and inviting? Or is it covered in cobwebs, featuring out of date graphics and dirty windows?  Are there signs pointing people to your store?  Now back to the digital world, do you have signs in the right places ... Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook?

Retail stores that do really well are the ones that have really good foot traffic.  Think of your website/blog the same way.  You want as many people to stumble in as possible so you can sell to them.

It's time to dust off the cobwebs and create content to give them a reason to stop and shop!

There is no big secret that succeeding business' aren't telling you.  The secret is simple and I am telling you now.  Give people a reason to stop by your site and they will!

1 Out Of 35,000

According to multiple sources on the Internet, the average amount of remotely conscious decisions an adult makes each day is about 35,000.

35,000 choices every single day!  That is a lot of freaking choices!  It's kind of hard to wrap your head around that number.  For example, this morning, I chose to shut my alarm off. I chose to sit up in bed. I chose to put my feet on the ground.  I chose to pick up June. I chose to say good morning to her.  I chose the amount of cream I put it my coffee.  I chose what music to listen to as I walked into work. And I will go on choosing things like that all day long...

35,000 choices is a lot to think about in one day, so I want to challenge you to just think about just one.

Just think about one choice that you will make today.  Think about the power that one choice can have.  Think about it's potential and awesomeness! Think about all the good you can do with that one choice.

Maybe that one choice is to smile at someone who looks like they are having a rough day.

Maybe it's buying the person behind you a cup of coffee.  

Maybe it's telling your husband or wife that you really love them or that they look beautiful or handsome.

Maybe that one choice is not post some disgruntled comment on Facebook or choosing not to argue with a friend.

Maybe that choice is to be silent and listen instead of always talking about everything.

Maybe that choice is to not look at porn.

Maybe that choice is to open the Bible and ask God to show Himself to you.

Maybe that choice is to eat a healthy lunch... instead of two Big Macs.

Maybe today is the day that you choose to listen to your parents the first time they ask you to do something, and not the 12th time.

Or maybe that choice is to tell your mom or dad that you love them.

Maybe it's to put your phone down while you have a conversation.

It's easy to be overwhelmed by 35,000 choices.  It's like looking at an entire forest and not being able to focus on a single tree.  But, if we ignore the forest for just a minute and study one tree, we will actually be able to see it.  We will see it's uniqueness, it's beauty and all it's intricate details.  will see where it starts and where it's headed.  We will see it's color, shape, size and texture.

Today will bring on a forest of choices. You can think about all the things you have to choose today and very easily decide to turn on auto-pilot and coast..  Instead, try to ignore the forest of choices and just look at one. Really think about what you can do with just one thoughtful choice.  Think about where it will start and where it could end.  Think about it's beauty and power. Think about all God can do with just one choice and then use it for His glory.  And maybe, just maybe, that will start you on a path to start thinking about more of your choices and what they can do.  Maybe today you just think about one, but tomorrow it's two and the next day three.  Maybe in a month you are thinking about 10 choices you make everyday.  This new way of choosing can start today by just thinking about just one.

Because, when you start to think about the choices you make, the better your choices will become. And the better they become, the you will start to see God do amazing things in your life and the lives of those around you. 

Today, use 1 of your 35,000 choices to do something awesome! One is all it will take to make a difference!

"Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold." - Proverbs 8:10


    9 Albums That I Love Right Now! // V. 2

    I love finding new music and sharing it with friends, family and followers!  I am the type of person that really enjoys listening to albums in order.  I feel like that is the way the artist wants them to be heard.  Enjoy my suggestions and let me know if you have any of your own.  If you want to see my previous suggestions you can do so here - 9 Albums That I Love Right Now!

    I Don't Feel Like Writing This Blog Post

    Ugghhhh! Do I have to write something that people will like?  It will never be as good as my three most popular posts.  It won't get me as many comments, followers, views, likes or whatever other metric I check daily, therefore, I don't want to write.

    I just don't want to do it.  If I were a kid I would be throwing an epic tantrum.  I don't want to do it! I don't want to do it! I don't want to do it!

    I started five different posts this morning and they are either half finished or I deleted them, because I really don't want to write anything.  I feel uninspired and tired.  I want to drink coffee and watch Friends all day.  I literally would pick doing almost anything else today instead of writing.

    BUT ... If I want to be a blogger, writer, speaker, author ... I have to write.

    If you want to be a photographer you have to go out and take pictures.

    If you want to be a carpenter you have to measure, cut, nail and do carpenter things.

    If you want to be a teacher you have to teach.

    If you want to be a pilot you have to fly.

    If you want to be a "fill in the blank", you need to "fill in the blank."

    Get the picture?  If you want to be the best, or among some of the best, at what you do you have to show up even when you don't feel like it.  Even though I am not enjoying writing this blog post, I am here.  I am at the plate.  I am on the field. I am giving it my best today.

    So often we base everything we do on how we feel.  But lots of times our feelings are stupid and we need to put them in their place.  Sometimes I feel like eating a carton of ice cream even though I am lactose intolerant.  Just because I feel like doing something doesn't mean I should, and just because I don't feel like doing something doesn't mean I shouldn't. For those of you who are in the same boat as me today and want to throw the kind of temper tantrums where you smash your Cheerios on the floor, throw you head back and shout "NO!!!", I am here to encourage you!  You can do things you don't feel like doing!  Surprisingly, I am already starting to feel a lot better that I stuck it out at my computer and just kept writing!

    Push through the feelings telling you not to do it and do it!  Make it happen! Give it your best effort.  I know this post might only be a broken bat single, ground out or strike out, but at least I stepped up to the plate.

    I'll share with you one of my favorite quotes about just showing up from our 26th President Theodore Roosevelt.

    "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt // April 23, 1910

    Here is an image to use as your iPhone wallpaper or post to Instagram to encourage you to show up!