Wake-Up and Smell the PizzaTodd & Jeff Hafer
Authors of Wake-Up and Smell the Pizza: 40 Tasty Readings for a Super Supreme Life

You write that Christian teens need to think about sex more, rather than less. Care to explain why?

First, the main reason that so many “good kids” get into trouble sexually is that many adults are uncomfortable talking about the subject in-depth. They simply say, “Don’t have sex!” and think that will suffice. Teens and young adults need to understand that sex is a God-given gift, but it can’t be fully and safely enjoyed if it’s misused. Teens need understand this fact, and they must think about the situations they might find themselves in and how they will react. If you don’t prepare yourself beforehand, you might not have the will-power or knowledge to resist sexual temptation and pressure.

Residents at The Children’s ARK, where Jedd works, have been, on the average, kicked out of four other schools or programs; how did they respond to the content of Wake Up and Smell the Pizza?

We have been gratified by the very positive response that ARK teens have shown toward the book. We vowed to write a book that would connect with church kids, kids on the fringes of organized religion, and tough street kids with tragic life stories. God loves them all, and we are trying to help all of our readers appreciate that fact. We wrote from our hearts – not trying to be super-spiritual for the church teens or ghetto-tough for the street kids – and so far readers seem to be responding well to the sincerity.

Was it difficult for you to find virgins (and non-virgins) to interview for this book?

It was somewhat of a challenge. We wanted to find people who would be candid with us – and we also needed to find people we knew were being honest about their sexual pasts. Fortunately, the right people were accessible during the time frame we had to complete the book.

You take a hard line against teens’ partying–what brought you to this stance?

More than anything else, it was the death of a college student named Jenna Cooper – whose story we share in the book. She was an innocent bystander at a party and was shot and killed by stray bullet, fired by one party-goer at another. This incident got us thinking about all of the tragic things we had seen at parties during our high school and college years. We know that some Christian teens might say they can be a good influence by attending a party but not drinking, doing drugs, or hooking up with someone sexually. We maintain that the best way to be a positive influence is by taking a stand and refusing to attend parties where there is an abundance of alcohol and drugs – and an absence of parental supervision.

You reference Christian music a lot in this book–how has your friendship with artists like Superchic[k], Nichole Nordeman, and Steve Taylor influenced your life and your writing?

Jedd and I are grateful for the chance to answer this question, because music from artists like these inspires us, comforts us, and challenges us every day. Some of the most profound truths we have learned have come from Christian songs. “Wake Up and Smell the Pizza” wouldn’t be what it is, for example, without the insights that Stacie Orrico, Nichole Nordeman, and the members of Superchic(k) shared with us – both through their songs and conversations with them. And to have someone like Steve Taylor, who is a true creative genius, say positive things about your writing – that’s a blessing beyond belief. I am sitting in a hotel room in Nashville as I complete this interview, and I just had a great conversation with Nichole Nordeman, who has been a friend of our family for many years. She has been such an encouragement to Jedd and me, and we’ve tried to be the same for her. We see ourselves as partners with Christian artists – trying to convey God’s love and grace in a memorable and compelling way. (If only we could write as beautifully as Nichole, Stacie, and the Brock sisters can sing . . .)

Why does this book place such a heavy emphasis on having a proper perspective?

Perspective is key to a fulfilling life. Perspective determines how you perceive what happens around you – and to you. More important, it determines how you will respond. We want our readers to know that the almighty God of the universe loves them like crazy and that nothing – NOTHING – can separate them from his love. Everything that happens in life needs to be considered and dealt with in the warm light of God’s love.

Why are you so angry at TV shows like “The Swan” and “Elimidate”?

We bust on shows like “Elimidate” because they reflect contemporary society’s obsession with turning everything into a competition. It’s not enough to be smart, attractive, funny, resourceful, or athletic; you must be better than everyone else. You must be the last person standing. This is completely antithetical to Jesus’ teaching: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26).

As for “The Swan,” it reflects an unhealthy obsession with physical beauty. (And, like “Elimidate,” it turns artificially supplied beauty into a competition. It’s not enough to correct one’s physical flaws, you have to show that your artificial beauty looks more authentic than the other Brides of TV’s Frankensteins.)

We’re not saying there is anything wrong with taking some NON-EXTREME steps to improve one’s appearance, but no matter how many times you have your skin tucked, sucked, and plucked, it’s still going to wrinkle, and crinkle, and sag someday. So, instead of transforming their skin, we urge everyone to let God transform their spirits – because those spirits will last forever.

You write that 4 million teens contract an STD every year; with the proliferation of information about contraception, why aren’t teens being more careful?

This question loomed large during the writing of the book. We learned a lot by talking to teens and reading various surveys. We discovered some troubling facts. First, teens are bombarded with sexual images and titillating information everyday. However, they get precious little information that reflects God’s perspective on sex. Thus, they know a lot about the “hows” of sex, but not about the “whens” and “whys and why-nots.” It’s like giving a kid who’s never driven a car before the keys to a vehicle and saying, “Have fun – and, by the way, wear a seatbelt!” Now, this kid might have seen a lot of car ads in the media, so he knows that cars are cool and fun. He wants to enjoy himself just like all the people he sees in the ad. But he doesn’t really know how to operate the car. He doesn’t know the rules of the road. And he doesn’t appreciate the power he has control of – and the danger he puts himself and others in if he abuses that power. He has a false sense of security, thinking, “Hey, I have a seatbelt – there’s no way I can get hurt!”

The second reason millions of teens still get STDs is that so many of them think they are bullet-proof. Just a week or so ago, we saw some teens interviewed on a TV special. A group of students from North Dakota were talking about sex, and one guy said, “I don’t have to worry about condoms; the girls in North Dakota don’t have STDs.” It’s that kind of attitude – ignorance mixed with denial — that puts teens at risk.

What advice do you have for teens and their parents during these difficult years? Is there a way to avoid conflict?

There’s really not a way to avoid conflict, but there is a way to handle it with maturity, wisdom, and love. Parents and teens must talk openly. They can’t clam up – or freak out – when uncomfortable subjects like sexuality come up. Parents might need to be more open about their past mistakes and how their kids can learn from them. It’s more important for a parent to be honest and vulnerable than to put up a façade of perfection.

Also, parents and teens need to follow God’s guidelines – regardless of how the “other party” is treating them. Teens can’t say, “Why should I honor my parents – they don’t respect me, and they ignore me.” And parents can’t say, “I know I’m not supposed to exasperate my kids, but they are disrespectful and doing poorly in school, and so on, and so on.”

God didn’t say “Do what you’re supposed to – as a parent or a teen – only if you’re being treated the way you want to be.” His directive is unconditional. If parents and teens fully committed to living up to their responsibilities – regardless of the response – their relationships would improve significantly.

A final word on this topic: Adults and teens need love and understanding more than they need criticism.

Thank you Todd and Jeff for your timee. Purchase your copy of Wake Up and Smell the Pizza at Christianbook.com.