I wanted to take a minute and recommend a book that I just read. That book is “Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are” by Alex and Brett Harris. “Start Here” is the follow-up on “Do Hard Things”, which Alex and Brett Harris released in 2008.  Alex and Brett Harris are teenage twins, who by the age of 17, had interned for the Alabama Supreme Court and ran multiple political campaigns, as well as starting a blog about teenagers who would “Do Hard Things” for God. The book ”Do Hard Things” described a teenage rebellion against low expectations, that they could be an example to believers described in 1 Timothy 4 . It tried to explain to teens, particularly Christian teens, how society had come to expect so little of them, but when we look to history, and looked to what God has called them to be, that they are able to break this self-fulfilling prophecy of low expections.  As teenagers began to break free of these low expectations and began to “Do Hard Things”, they faced a variety of obstacles and had trouble knowing where to start.

“Start Here” is the follow-up to “Do Hard Things” and is a great how-to guide on how to overcome common obstacles and offers many practical suggestions on what to do – taking the first step, putting an idea into action, handling change, keeping God in focus, perseverance, moving against the crowd, and how to finish strong. I recommend this for all young Christians (even if they may not technically be teens yet). It can be read by itself, or in combination with “Do Hard Thing” to give them the motivation and knowledge on how to go out and do those hard things that God has called them to do.

– Matt

More information about the book and a link to purchasing it through Amazon.com can be found here.