Heroes?

I'm listening to Chris Rice's song, "Need a Hero".
This weekend, I talked to 2 girlfriends about making a list of my favorite people.
These two influences, conbined with some other stuff, has cause me to wonder:
What is a hero?
as defined by princeton.edu-
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength;
champion: someone who fights for a cause
(classical mythology) a being of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits; often the offspring of a mortal and a god
So, I guess I was thinking more of role models...
someone worthy of imitation;
Who are your heroes(role models) and why?
Do your heroes (role models)change?
Are your favorite people your heroes (role models)?
Why/Why not?

Tell me your thoughts!
I was talking to some of my personal role models this weekend, and thinking about my heroes over the past couple of years. my mom is one of my heroes. The people I love and respect are my role models. how about you?

How are you today?

This morning I was talking to a friend of mine before school. I asked how she was, and she said, 'tired', and proceeded to give me an explanation of why. She then asked me how I was doing. Having just heard her honest answer, I replied with an honest answer.

Simple, right? Not really. Think back on your week, how many times have people asked you, "how are you?" or "how was your day?" or even, "what's up?"

Were you honest? or did you give the non-commital, "I'm good" (which, by the way, is awful grammar), "It was fine", or "nothing much, you?".

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with these answers, occasionally there really isn't anything to say. But rather then just responding to them without thinking, try to think about what you are saying. Even if you don't realize it, you are conveying to that person that you don't really want to talk. You may even be hiding from yourself by saying that you're fine when you know that you aren't. When you think before you speak, look at what a difference it makes!

I know I am guilty of not truly answering these questions, and of asking them without truly caring. But I think that this is a societal ill, one that needs to be remedied. People will genuinely care about you, especially if you care about them.

Here's an example:
A few days ago I recieved a really bad grade. (Don't ask what it was, I won't tell) I got this test back early in the day and was dejected for the rest of my classes. Here's the silver lining - people noticed. My teachers cared that I was down, noticed when they took attendance, and asked my what was wrong. A few students asked me as well. Even though I wasn't all that excited about talking about it, I was happy that people cared and so I resonded with honesty. And they listened. They resopnded with thier own truths. I was greatly blessed by it.

Last night at Navs we talked about why people might hide thier true identity. But we didn't talk about how people hide thier true identity. I think this is one of the ways of hiding, and we have let it become a ritual.

Break the mold. Ask how someone is and REALLY WANT TO KNOW. When they ask you, give a short, but HONEST answer.

Then tell me how it turns out. I hope to be sharing more stories with you!

My cousin David

My cousin David is ....
~ sarcasticly amusing, especially when we're playing a game
~ a pianist, like all the rest of his family
~ a student at Bob Jones
~ going to be a good father some day, he's wonderful with small children
~ very deep voiced
~ currently in ICU due to blood clotting.
Yeah, you read that last one correctly. He's probably going to be OK, but pray for him.

Quotes to ponder

I found this GREAT thread on the Rebelution site with these quotes (Sorry for not posting my own thoughts this month, I've been really busy, I promise I will soon!)

"Friendship is a golden thing only if it be kept from undisciplined attachment. We are not here to enjoy each other. We are here to do the will of God."
-Amy Carmichael

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone."
-Audrey Hepburn; she called them her "beauty tips."

Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot; but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.’
-Unknown

"Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see."
-Corrie Ten Boom

Don't cry because it's over, laugh because it happened.
-Doctor Seuss

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday at Calvary. Face it, friend. He's crazy about you.
-Unknown

A set-apart young woman is one marked by the imprint of Christ, one italicized by a lily whiteness and punctuated by a feminine mystique that leaves the world about her astounded. Yet there is something more that characterizes her life. There is another gem that she possesses that causes her to sparkle like a princess-cut diamond amidst a world full of coal. She possesses a placid calmness. Like an oak tree in the midst of a raging storm, she remains unruffled and unmoved by life’s curveballs and cares. She possesses a confidence that is otherworldly. She smiles at trials, laughs at challenges, and is undaunted by the thought of dying. She cares not whether the world applauds her life; her ears are attuned heavenward as she listens for her Prince’s cheers.
– Leslie Ludy

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
- unknown

Small Fundraising Project

http://thetruckproject.wordpress.com/

I'm trying to think of ways I can help this project - one of them is raising awareness!