Jakab - Culture rebel because the world has enough desperate housewives

Connie Jakab is honest. In this book, shes honest with herself and with you, and she points to the culture around us and calls it what it is: empty. Will you accept her challenge to rebel against this emptiness and choose to live for what really matters? To be a rebel with a cause?

Amy Simpson Editor, GiftedForLeadership.com

Culture Rebel , is refreshing, engaging, motivating and honest. Yes, an honest look at life, at our values that control us. It puts the mirror right in our faces and helps us to stop pretending and start doing something worthwhile with our lives. Tired of the ordinary, needing new impetus to make your world better? Culture Rebel will get you on the path.

Ian Green, executive director of Proton Foundation,
www.protonfoundation.com

Grab a homemade coffee and put on your comfy-pants before sitting down to read this book. In Culture Rebel , Connie takes you on a journey away from the status quo and into the world of dissatisfaction with what is normal. Its not a particularly easy process, but the move from status quo to culture rebel and then on to culture-maker is the only option when we get a grasp for the heart of God. Read this book and your world just might change!

Jeremy Postal, missional leader of Whistler, BC

If you are happy with being a success-crazed, comfort-seeking, status-hungry consumer, then you better watch out: Connie Jakab has some strong words for you. But if you struggle with the temptation to be that kind of person and you desire instead to live a life of purpose and meaning, then read Culture Rebel , because Connie Jakab has some strong words for you. This bold, honest, spirited book will challenge you toward a life that more deeply resembles the greatest culture rebel of allJesuswho knew a few things about saying strong words. Connies words may not always be easy to read as they target those areas in your life that need stretching. But go with the stretching, and be prepared to be transformed into a culture rebel yourself.

Helen Lee, author of The Missional Mom
and founding member of Redbud Writers Guild

Culture Rebel is like sitting down with Connie Jakab over a cup of coffee and having her passionately share the insights that come to a young women who is determined to seriously follow Jesus and impact her world. Engage in the conversation and be encouraged to be the culture rebel Jesus calls us to be.

Dave Wells, superintendent of the Pentecostal
Assemblies of Canada

This book is fierce; its fiery and will inspire you to change your life for the greater good! I believe it will challenge and redefine culture as we know it. Culture rebel will become a new term in the dictionary, and Connie has effectively and powerfully described what it takes for people to go from being part of a society that continues to dominate our consumer mindsets to becoming an ultimate culture rebel and being who we are really meant to be. This account is personal, refreshing, and will encourage you to be BRAVE and really LIVE your life to the fullest!

Marika, recording artist

Culture Rebel

Copyright 2012 Connie Jakab

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-5738-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-5737-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012912853

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/02/2012

Contents

To my husband for being brave enough to marry a culture rebel and for supporting yet another crazy idea.

I like to live on the edge. Im a brave, gutsy, ADD type of gal who cant sit still. The problem is that Ive lived on the wrong edge for the last twenty years. Since my first full-time job, I have lived a life with me at the center of my attention, and now I have nothing to show for all my years of work, college, and career. Coming close to forty, this has caused much introspection. What Im discovering isnt nice to look at.

Ask me how much Ive saved in twenty years? Zip. Well, thats not entirely true. Thank goodness I have a savvy hubby who saves money in places I wouldnt want to mention for fear of making you blush. So yes, I have some savings through him.

Even more pressing, ask me how much Ive given in twenty years? Okay, that I can brag about a bit; I love to give. I consider myself to be pretty generous. I love taking people out and giving lovely gifts; its nothing, really. I just put it on this shiny silver card that I carry in my wallet, and I dont feel a thing. The problem with this shiny card is that they send letters to my hubby, and hes never in a good mood after he opens their mail. Whats that about?

Ask me where Im sitting right now writing this book. Starbucks, but isnt that where all the cool writers write? Yup, Im pretty trendy sitting here with my five-dollar coffee thats already cold. I think I must own stock in this place. Oh, no, I dont mean their bean stock, which Ive heard great things about. Ive decided to go a more modest route: If I buy one five-dollar coffee per day, lets see Im not so great at math, but thats got to be around 1,625 dollars a year. (Pretty impressive estimate, eh?) Okay, I totally used my calculator, but getting back to my investment, with all that five-dollar coffee inside me, I should be heading toward becoming a part owner of this place one day! Or maybe not

Are you wondering where else all my money has gone in the last twenty years? Me too, but I have some ideas. I love movies. Actually, I really just like the popcorn; the movie is an added bonus. I also love clothes and bling. Not Tiffanys bling, but bling nonetheless. Im not a show off, but I really like those big rhinestone earrings that hit the shoulder (from their great length) and make my head go lopsided when Ive put one in one ear. Ive lost my wedding ring twice. Ive owned some great clothing too, but I dont know where half of it has gone. I did see one of my items in a local Salvation Army store, and I almost bought it again; it was beautiful!

Im not a shoe person. I dont fully understand those people. I mean, what a waste of money. Not to mention, what a clutter nightmare! Dont get me wrong. I do own a pair of heels that I bought in three different colors to be sure that I could match all the basic wardrobe essentials. I have boots with both heels and without (because sometimes you just dont want to wear heels while you are grocery shopping), and each of these are in three different colors. But thats all just practical, isnt it? I have runners for dance (naturally in every color to match my hip-hop Adidas jackets). And of course, I purchase new runners every six months for running because I dont want to injure my coming-up-to-midlife knees! Nope, Im definitely not a shoe person; I think Im more of a coat person. Now that makes more sense to me. I have a coat in every shape, color, size, and style you can imagineleather, tweed, fleece, down. I consider this shopping addiction more practical, as I live in a winter city. Keep warm and stylish. Win-win.