Who are you and what do you want to be? When you were younger you wanted to "be like Mike." Or maybe you wanted to be a famous rock star or actress. But now you're "grown up" and have traded your childhood dreams for the harsher realities of life. And yet you feel so lost.

So here you are. You've got one life to live and plenty of people telling you what to do with it. You're trying the best you can. But something's missing. A spark. A destination. A dream. Tim Dowdy knows the feeling. When his dreams of a basketball scholarship were crushed, he was left wondering what he was going to do with his life. Others around him seemed so successful and happy in their life goals, but he was still sitting in a dorm room, lost. All that began to change one unforgettable night, and now, with honesty about his mistakes and lessons learned, Tim shares how God has a dream life for each and every person. By exploring five major areas of life — Decisions, Relationships, Enthusiasm, Aspirations, and Mission — you can start living that dream now. There is one decision you must make that supersedes all other decisions. It will determine whether any other decision you ever make is successful.

Young people will benefit from the truths recorded in these pages. — Mark Hall, Casting Crowns

Do you make sure to "be very careful" how you live? Being careful means habitually spending time in God's Word and prayer. Being careful means waiting on the Lord to make the picture clear. It means diligently examining circumstances and squaring them with Scripture. Being careful means seeking the counsel of godly friends and adults (but please make sure they're godly, and if anyone ever gives you counsel that goes against Scripture, ignore it — it's not from God). You may say, "I've turned to the Bible to help me with a decision, but I couldn't find anything that fit my situation." I've heard that one before. That's why effective Bible study is habitual Bible study. Over time, its deep truths, which apply to every situation, will sink in. It won't change your circumstances, but it will change you. For example, you may face the dilemma of whether to accompany friends to a party at Darrell's lake house. The Bible doesn't say, "Don't go to Darrell's party." Would the Holy Spirit be comfortable at that party? You need to answer that honestly, because you'll carry Him there. The Bible offers clear principles to demonstrate the wisdom of avoiding such scenes. The Bible renews your mind and steers your decision making. This is why regular Bible study is essential. The Holy Spirit will use God's Word to prompt you at just the right time, every time. He will help you stop and think, Because of who I am and whom I serve, I choose to make this decision. Operating within this framework helps determine who you are going to be. Then you can entertain questions like, "What am I going to do for a living?" These questions bear less gravity. They're not unimportant. They're just not as important. They don't define you. When someone asks, "Who are you?" you should not respond by saying, "Well, I'm a student" or "I'm a technician," or "I'm a stay-at-home mom." That's what you do, but it's not your identity. Your identity is forged by clawing down to the foundational decision of whom you serve — God or self — and what kind of person you're going to be. Ask yourself, "Am I going to live for myself or am I going to live for God? Am I going to be wholly devoted to Jesus or am I going to fit into the crowd? Am I going to be a leader or a follower?" The answers to those kinds of questions not only shape your decision making but also pave the only path toward living the dream God has in store for you. But beware... there is one kind of decision that is a dream destroyer. If you choose to live a self-serving life, then you're going to miss the dream. I don't care how "good" life may seem; you'll still fall short of the dream God has for you. You can be the CEO of the company, the star of the show, or the all-American athlete and still be outside of God's will and, therefore, unfulfilled. Everyone has heard the stories of men and women who have climbed the ladder and made it to the heights of success only to look back down at everyone and proclaim, "It's empty. It's not what I thought it was going to be." The reason is because they're living the American dream. People admire their lives and envy them. But they've missed the dream — God's dream — because they've missed God's design for them. Unfortunately, too many people acknowledge the emptiness of it all only when they're gasping for their last breaths. At some point, you indeed must answer the question, "What am I going to do?" But before facing that decision, you must answer more pressing questions: "Who am I going to be? Am I going to be someone who follows my own drumbeat? Or am I going to pursue God's heartbeat? Am I going to seek to discover God's desire for me and then commit to follow the path He has carved for me?"

Don't Forget to Dream: Pursuing a Life That Matters — Shaped by the Heart of God Inspiration to tear free from the worldly ideals of success to pursue the only dream worth living — a lifetime shaped by the heart of God. In his roles as senior pastor and academy board president, Tim Dowdy is able to keep in tune with the teens and twentysomethings of this generation. So when he saw a growing trend of overwhelmed and apathetic young adults in his church and school, his heart went out to them: he’d been there too… Written in a very candid and personal way, Don’t Forget to Dream meets teens and twentysomethings where they are at in life — even if they don’t know exactly where that is. Perfect for a recent high school graduate or a wandering college student, Don’t Forget to Dream offers simple direction and hope in a world full of misdirection and uncertainty. USA UK Canada

The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens The challenges teens face today are tougher than ever: academic stress, parent communication, media bombardment, dating drama, abuse, bullying, addictions, depression and peer pressure, just to name a few. And, like it or not, the choices teens make while navigating these challenges can make or break their futures. In The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make, Sean Covey gives teens the strong advice they need to make informed and wise decisions. Using real stories from teens around the world, Sean shows teens how to succeed in school, make good friends, get along with parents, wisely handle dating and sex issues, avoid or overcome addictions, build self-esteem, and much more. Jam-packed with cartoons, inspiring quotes, and fun quizzes, this innovative book will help teens not only survive but thrive during teen years and beyond. Building upon the legacy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, this is an indispensable resource for teens everywhere. USA UK Canada

There's too much to do and not enough time. You've got school, homework, job, friends, parties, and family on top of everything else. You're totally stressed out. You feel as if your life is out of control. How can teenagers deal with the pressures of every day life? The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teenagers

Most people think the average teenager isn’t capable of much beyond hanging with their friends and wasting time. But Zach Hunter isn’t your average teenager. He's only fifteen, but he's working to end slavery in the world — and he's making changes that affect millions of people. Be the Change

Hollywood has been quick to collaborate with the $10 billion-a-year electronic gaming industry, resulting in movies based on video games. This rapidly expanding industry is causing many concerned parents to ask — what are the negative impacts, or is it just harmless fun? What Every Parent Needs to Know About Video Games

Let's face it — parents don't get it. Or at least that's what many teenaged children think. Most teens think their parents don't know anything about life — especially not teen life. As a result, they stay quiet, ignore their parents’ advice, or argue and yell. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Stupid Parents: Why They Just Don't Understand and How You Can Help

We may never fully understand teenagers, but we can learn more about them with Youth Culture 101. Cultural analyst and adolescent expert, Walt Mueller, shares research and trends to help you better understand your students and minister to them more effectively in their ever-changing world. Understanding Youth Culture

The Internet has transformed the way that people research, shop, conduct business, and communicate. But the Internet can be a perilous place for minors. The dangers are real and parents and teachers today are confronted with many threats that they simply do not understand. Keeping Safe Online