Do Hard Things

A week ago tomorrow our Do Hard Things Arrived in the mail. We pre-ordered our copies in the book bomb on Amazon.com. (Look at the side bar.)
After reading a post on the Rebelution we realized it has been a little more then a year since Alex and Brett first announced they'd be writing a book. You couldn't imagine our excitment when we found a box of books on our doorstep. After hearing the updates and praying for the book and it's message through the writing process it was so cool to see Do Hard Things on the shelf in Barns and Noble!
Do Hard Things contains a message that needs to be spread. The book is a challenge to go against what our culture defines as normal. Through the chapters we are encouraged to do things that are outside of our comfort zones, collaborate with other people to accomplish ideas that are too big for just us, do small hard things that don't pay off immediately like chores, and stand up for what we believe in even if it means going against the crowd. We are told throughout the book that our teen years are the launching pad for the rest of our life and we meet tons of other teens who have done hard things.

This is the Official Book Description:
The next generation stands on the brink of a "rebelution." With over 16 million hits to their website TheRebelution.com, Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge in a growing movement of Christian young people who are rebelling against the low expectations of their culture by choosing to "do hard things" for the glory of God. Written when they were 18 years old, Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential. Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment and eternal impact. Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of revolution already in progress challenges the next generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.

Even though this book is written "for teens by teens" I think anyone could learn from the lessons put forth in this book.
One of the reason I love Do Hard Things so much is because it introduces me to so many real life people that are going against our cultures norm. I am encouraged to do things that might seem hard but I know I'm not alone there are many more people...brothers and sisters in Christ!
So go and purchase yourself or someone you know a copy. You won't be disappointed.
-Victoria

Good Times With Good Friends

Yesterday we had the opportunity to go up to Indianapolis for a very special event...we got to see a good friend of ours Joshua Williams be baptized!
We all really missed not being able to see everyone at our church but this was a unique occasion. We got to meet a lot of new people and see the Williams again. To my disappointment none of the pictures from the baptism worked out since the sanctuary was so dark!
Also Hannah (Joshua's older sister) sang a song that she had written herself.
Joshua is 11 years old and he was baptized by his Dad, Jimmy Williams after accepting Christ. It was wonderful to see him following Christ in obedience in baptism! Mr. Jimmy and Mrs. Gina Williams have 5 kids
Hannah (12), Joshua (11), Rachel (10) , Micah (8) and

Elisabeth who is only a few months old.
So we got to spend most of the day with them.

(Above is an older picture of all
of us last December.)

Then on the way home we stopped at iHop right across the river from Louisville and to our surprise our friends the Dicks where there eating also! What providence since they live about a half an hour from Louisville! So we got to eat a yummy dinner with them and talk with and get to know all of them better. Yesterday we got to have lots of fun and lots of fellowship with friends!



(The manager kindly took this
picture so that everyone could be
in it.)

-Victoria

An Article That Inspired Us

Alex and Brett Harris just wrote an awesome post for Focus on the Family's Boundless Webzine. It is so encouraging to read! I think this article is a shortened and condensed version of everything the movement, the website, and the conferences are all about. Here's an excerpt:

And while it may sound more appealing to sign up for a less extreme version of the Christian life. Maybe instead of the platinum "do hard things" membership, we can tackle something more along the lines of the bronze "go-to-church-every-week" membership. Less benefits for less effort. Sounds good, right?

Unfortunately (or again, fortunately), God doesn't leave that option open to us.

Writes C.S. Lewis: "It is hard; but the sort of compromise we're hankering after is harder — in fact, it is impossible.... We are like eggs at present. And we cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."

In other words, we can't just go on being ordinary, decent Christians, giving God part of our lives while holding back the rest. Either we are hatched and learn to fly or we are a dud that will soon start to stink. The ironic thing here is that although the hardest thing — the almost impossible thing — is to hand over our whole selves to Christ, it is far easier than what we are trying to do instead.

So now that you've read some of the article go check out the rest!

-Victoria and Spencer

Examples

Whenever I was little I wanted a sister so bad! I wanted someone I could play dolls with and have tea parties with. As I grew older I realized God had given me brothers not sisters and I needed to be as much of an example to my brothers as I wanted to be to a sister.
I need to be an example of femininity and of patience and submission. (The last two I haven't quit conquered.)
After watching a very good documentary, The Return of the Daughters it occurred to me that I am helping to train up the next generation of men. One of the girls said something very good. I can't remember her exact wording but she said something like, "Whenever your talking to your brothers about men that you admire, either from the past or present. They will be looking to those men as examples. So you can study up on men of the faith and give them wonderful examples."
So I had to ask myself, what examples am I giving to my brothers? Do I have characteristics that they are looking at and will want in a future wife?
Before I came to Christ I had a hard time accepting it when Spencer knew something that I didn't know yet. I would put him down because he was 3 years younger then me. But I eventually realized that I was not in the least encouraging him in his masculinity and manliness by the way I was acting. So now I try to encourage my brothers in every way I can. It's hard sometimes but then I realize...Andrew wants to be the President! Hey, I could be helping to train up one of our future Presidents!
So what are you ladies doing to help raise up the next godly generation of men? I would love to hear anyone's insight and advice!

-Victoria

Quote from John Calvin

"God is pleased to hide all
future events from us, in
order that we should resist
them as doubtful, and
not cease to oppose them
with ready remedies,
until they are either
overcome or pass beyond
all care...God's providence
does not always meet us in
it's naked form, but God in

a sense clothes it with the
means employed."
-John Calvin

-Victoria

Braces

It has now officially been a week since I got my braces put on and I think it's high time I show you some pictures:

Before After

~Spencer

The White's Have a New White Van!

A few of our friends have requested pictures of our new van. It is so amazing how God provided this vehicle for us nearly two weeks ago when earlier in March our other van suddenly died. It was so amazing to see God take care of everything from the finances to leading us to a car lot that was christian owned and operated. May God have all the glory!


-Victoria