Where Are the Heroes?

A meeting with parents, teachers, and administrators.  Talk about bullying.  No solution.  Silence.  

"We need some heroes."  

Their noiseless stares betray their thoughts:  Where can we find some of those?  Surely not at our school.  There are no heroes among us.

   No heroes?  Are there none courageous and admirable?  No one is brave or strong enough?  This is what the adults seem to think.  Are they right?  Could no teenager be a hero?

   But we know that is what it will take.  The teachers can lecture, the administrators can make new rules and policies, and the adult world can bemoan our situation, but none of it really makes a difference.  We have to realize that there is a problem, and that we can fix it.  We have to stop deceiving ourselves.  We have to stop thinking that it's not our problem, that someone else will take care of it, that we can't really make a difference.  We have to be the heroes.

   Will you take a stand?  Will you be strong and courageous?  Are you worthy to be admired?  Will you defend the weak and confront evil?  Will you be a teen with character?  Will you stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone?  Will you risk it all to gain everything?

   Will you be a hero?

Passion and Purity

   You may be wondering how "passion" and "purity" even belong in the same title together.  Can one love passionately and still remain pure?  The answer is a resounding yes.
   In Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under Christ's Control, Elisabeth Elliot tells her own moving love story.  Mrs. Elliot teaches us about finding Mr. Right, how far is too far, and surrendering our desires to God.  Using letters, diary journals, and memories from her five-year courtship with Jim she shows us an example of what it means to love Christ more than each other, and to give His plans priority over yours.  Elisabeth Elliot has been there, done that, and offers time-tested advice and wisdom that applies to all of us.
   I just finished reading Passion and Purity for the second time, and it was worth every minute.  I read a lot of books, and enjoy most of them, but few are special enough to read over and over again.  This is one of those special books.  I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.  You will be blessed when you read Passion and Purity.

Love. Such a Simple Word

   Love.  Just a simple, four-letter word, but with such intricate and confusing meanings.  We love our families, love God, love our pets, love chocolate, love our enemies.  We take "love" and apply it to almost any thing, place, or person.  But what about love love?  You know, the kind for that significant other of the opposite sex?
   The word love is being tossed around so much that it's lost its value.  It seems like everyone's telling everyone else that they love them.  Do they?  Is this what love really means?  What about the guy who has had nine girlfriends, saying "I love you" to each of them?  Did he love them all?  Does he still?
   I want to take love back to its deepest, truest meaning.  Love for that one other person; passionate love reserved for them only.  More than physical attraction.  More than short-lived infatuation.  Perfect, Christlike love shared between one man and one woman.
   So young man, don't you dare tell me you love me.  I don't want to hear it.  Don't let those three words come out of your mouth unless "Will you marry me?" is on its way next.  And don't pop the question unless I know that you do love me.  Save "I love you" for the one woman you marry.  Make it passionate and pure.  Let your love be true.

Desire...Fulfilled

   That want, that need, that desire in every girl's heart.  To know that someone cares.  To be called beautiful. To hold and be held.  To be chosen.  To be loved.
   We look for it everywhere.  It drives what we say, how we dress, the way we act.  We look to our dads to fill this need, and they fail.  We try to get other boys to fulfill our desire, only to have our hearts broken over again.  Deep down there is a hole in our hearts and we try everything to fill it, falling short every time.
   But there is One who can fix the problem.  One who desires you.  Who will hold you, treasure you, love you.  He fills the void.  He is the only One who will never leave, never fail, never disappoint you.  He is the ultimate Father, the perfect Guy.  He knows who you really are, what you really need.  He says you're beautiful despite it all.  He loves you.

   Turn to God.

Say It

   I had to ride the bus today.  On the way home, with my knees propped up on the next seat, I thought, People really to expand their vocabularies to include words that don't start with "f."  And then I thought, So why don't you tell them? I've struggled with that question the rest of the day.
   It may surprise you amazing blog-readers, but I can't share my heart and tell it like it is.  I may seem confident and outspoken here in bloggy land, but my lips can't form the words when I'm face-to-face.  I hold it all in and hide it beneath my quiet, nice, good-girl rep.  There is so much I want them to know, to understand, but I can't just say it.  I contain my feelings and pour them out on paper.  I can share it with the whole world on the web, but not with the one person I need to tell.
   Why is it so hard?  Why can't I let it out, show them the truth?  Why can't I say the words running through my head?  Why can't I show them what God is telling me?  Why do I hide my true self?

   I need to make a change.