Do Hard Things, A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

by Alex & Brett Harris, Multnomah Books, 2008, 256 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-1601421128, $16.99

Until the early part of the 1900's, teenager wasn't a dictionary word, and family groups were defined as babies, children, and adults. Youth from earlier times were expected to make significant contributions to society, and they did.

The Harris twins, Alex and Brett, hold similar feelings. Teen speakers and authors they wrote Do Hard Things to help other peers recognize how low the bar of expectations for them really is. Homeschooled, and encouraged by their parents and older brother Pastor Josh, they launched an Internet blog in 2005, at age sixteen, to attack what they called the "myth of adolescence."

They combined "rebellion" and "revolution" to coin their blog name, The Rebelution. Within a short time, their Google-hosted blog became the most popular Christian teen blog on the web, and later grew into a full website for teen interaction.

Their first postings questioned teens' rights to "goof off" during adolescence. They asked why teen years should be a "vacation from responsibility," instead of "training grounds for future leaders." Historical and biblical examples supported their views, as did teens' responses. The Harris brothers had struck a deep chord.

Three weeks later, the New York Daily News featured their blog in a column. That drove additional traffic to their site, and the ranks of "rebelutionaries" continued to grow. They give God credit for what happened next.

After Justice Tom Parker read their Internet blogs, in October 2005, they were invited to apply for internships to the Alabama Supreme Court. Positions normally reserved for law school students, and exceptional college undergraduates. They filled out applications and Justice Parker waived the age requirements. Soon after their acceptance they traveled to the Alabama capitol and spent two months as aides. They received on-the-job training, edited opinions, and drafted press releases using their homeschooled skills. Their accomplishments amazed Justice Parker.

This refreshing story of two teens that raised the bar of expectations for themselves and accepted the challenge to do hard things will amaze you. Formatted into three segments, of four chapters each, part one defines the rebelution, how it came to be, and where it's going. Part two describes hard things that challenge teens, and why they need to reach beyond requirements and expectations. Part three contains personal stories and anecdotes of "rebelutionairies" with transformed lives. An appendix, notes and acknowledgements complete the book.

This amazing book crosses all cultural and age boundaries and calls our youth to their god-given destinies and responsibilities. I believe it's meant to change lives, families, churches, and the very culture of those who read and implement it.