Hey!  So this hit my inbox a few weeks ago, and I thought I would repost it here.... since I'm a superhero... Enjoy.  It's form those guys at Christianity.com.


How to be Someone's Superhero


He didn't leap across buildings or fly in with a cape trailing behind him; he just walked onto a playground. No speeding cars or bullets raced toward him; instead, it was a simple question. Facing an urgent need, would he choose to help? He didn't look like Superman, Spiderman, Batman, or any other cartoon character superhero. He was an ordinary man - a fellow church member who happened to be at the right place at the right time to respond to a call for action. But because he recognized Who was calling, and because he relied on that greater power working through him, he became a true superhero.

It was a cold, bleak day in January when I met Jody on our church's playground after talking with his wife Jen about my husband Russ' need for a kidney transplant. While our kids played, we discussed how Russ, who was suffering from end stage kidney disease, was unable to eat, sleep, or even walk normally anymore. Russ' doctors had said that if he was to live without dialysis (which involved serious health complications that many people didn't survive), he needed someone to give him a kidney. But everyone we already knew was either not willing to help us, or not medically qualified because of their age or incompatible blood types. Many people said they'd pray for us, and we were grateful for the prayers, but we needed more than that - we needed someone willing to be the answer to our prayers, to actually take action to help us. I'd asked Jen to pray for us, and she agreed. But then she did something more: She suggested that I ask Jody to help us.

So it was that when Jody walked over to us, he faced a superhero-sized challenge. Would he consider saving someone's life?

Thankfully, Jody did decide to consider it. And several months later, he gave Russ a kidney through a successful transplant - one that would never have been possible without an ordinary man on an extraordinary mission from God.

All Christians have a heroic spark inside, waiting to be set aflame. That spark can turn into a fire whenever they have the faith to invite God to work through their lives to do something great. So how can you follow 2 Timothy 1:6's advice to "fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you …"? Here's how you, too, can be a superhero:

Rely on strength from the ultimate Superhero.  Jesus is the greatest Superhero of all, the One who actually did save the world.  Connecting to Him will empower you to work with superhero strength, since Ephesians 3:20 declares that He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us". You may not fly through the air or stop speeding bullets, but with Jesus, you can do even more to change people's lives for the better. Be confident in the fact that God will empower you to do whatever work He has planned for you to do. Humbly admit your weaknesses, failures, and mistakes to God, and ask Him to heal you so He can work through you to help others. Surrender your own desires and plans to God so you can pursue what He wants for your life. Make spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, and getting together with other believers regular habits. Notice all the evidence that God has been faithful in your life so far, and count on Him to continue to be faithful in your future. Trust Jesus' promise in Mark 10:27 that: "… all things are possible with God."

Decide that you want to serve God and others.  Believe that God wants to use your life for great redemptive purposes in the world.  Recognize that your life's story is an important part of the greater story of God's work in the world.  Join God in His work in the world, helping to make it a better place.  Philippians 2:4 urges: "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."  Commit to pursue a lifestyle of service.

Accept the missions that God gives you.  God has created you to do great work in the world, and He has a plan to help you do it.  Ask God to help you recognize the abilities He has given you and notice the opportunities to help others that He brings to you.  Pray for the faith you need to overcome fearful feelings and say "yes" to God whenever He calls you to serve, and commit yourself to doing your best for Him.  Don't walk away from tough situations that God wants you to endure to complete a mission He has given you.  Pray for the passion you need to push through the challenges.  Remember that Jesus didn't quit - He carried out His work all the way through dying on the Cross - so as one of His followers, you shouldn't quit on the work He wants you to do.  Pray for the strength you need to remain committed to obeying God, no matter what.  Imagine meeting Jesus at the end of your life on Earth and hearing Him say to you what the master in His parable said in Matthew 25:23: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Original publication date: September 24, 2010

Windproof again!

Wow!  Has it really been almost a year since I wrote in my blog?  I guess time flies when you spend all your spare time running around helping keep the weaker kids safe on their way to school.  It finally is getting warmer here.  Nothing makes training easier than warm weather!  I went out for a run yesterday and when I was going along my usualy path I saw some kids playing keep away with another kid's lunch kit.  Really?  Does that still happen?

I just walked slowly through the park where they were and caught their eye.  The biggest one stood with the lunch kit behind his back... AS IF I DIDN'T SEE THAT!  I turned to him and said, "Is that yours?"

"What?" he says.  He had this look on his face that said that he needed to be slapped.... But I didn't want to do that.

"That lunch kit?"

"Yeah, this kid owes me some money."  One of the other ones laughs.

"How about you give it back to him?"

"Why don't you get it for him?"

Kid, you have no idea who you are dealing with here.  Do you really want to do this?  Do you really want to challenge me?  I can't believe he said that to me.

"Just give it back to him." I said.  He stand there and I see him look over my shoulder to one of his buddies.  They have surrounded me.  They think they have the upper hand.  They don't know what I have on the hand I have in my pocket.  I have one of my micro-turbine gloves on. 

His buddy is not exaclty quiet, I can hear him running at me so I spin and point my glove, and blast him over with air.  He is totally not expecting that.  The other three come running at me, and one by one I drop them to the ground.  They get scared and run away.  They leave the lunch box behind.  I hand it to the kid.  I hope they don't come back, but I know there is a good chance that tehy will.  I'll have to find a way to help them see what they are doing..... Maybe time for a costumeed appearance.

Getting warmer...

It’s getting easier to get out and do my early morning rounds since the temperature is getting warmer. Loved those few days last week when it was really warm… Now we are back to usual end of March/April beginning temps.

I was out one morning and with all the wind (love that stuff) the garbage cans along the street had blown over. I had a blast… actually, I used my gloves to blast the garbage back into the cans. SO FUN!

Then I saw a woman out for a morning run. I’m not sure what happened, but I saw her trip and fall. She ‘tucked and rolled’ so it could have been much worse. She still scraped her knee. Sort of cute I guess, but she was just sitting there whimpering in pain, but I stumbled her as I swooped in from the sky. Suddenly the whimpering stopped…. That is until I cleared up the cut and bandaged it. She was thankful though! It was amazing! I flew off as she watched me in awe. I had to get ready for school.

98 Km/hr wind gusts!

That was AMAZING!  Two days ago, we had some huge winds in the city.  I had all my containment devices going and collecting wind.  I had this fold-out wind collector in position right at the top of a hill.  It took all of my attention to just keep all of it organized.... and THEN I had to find a safe place to hide the canisters while I brought some of them home, but I found a great hole in the ground.  It was pretty deep and there were some tree roots that hung over it.   I have some idea for that place now.  AND it's not too far from my house....  Hmmmm.....

Rough night....

My baby sister woke me up a couple times last night.  Gabby seemed to sleep through the whole ordeal.  That girl would sleep through a bull horn.  I think it's because she snores louder than the bull horn... Oh, and the dog woke me up.... twice.  She had been sick lately so we try to make sure she gets a chance to go out rather than have more of that runny poop on the floor again.  I stepped in it last time.... just my heel.  I had to hop around so I didn't get any foot prints around the house.... I think there is one spot in the stairs....

Just finished my homework...

You know, some days it's not all that great being in junior high.  Going to be a rough morning getting up.  All I can do is learn the countries in Africa. Egypt is there... who knew?  :)

Muppets!

I love movies.... not all of them, but a lot of them.  Last night I treid to stay up to watch the Oscars.  Honestly it was more about the show. I haven't seen many of the films nominated.  Some might be interesting.  Love the Muppets.  Kermit and Piggy are always great!  Loved that the song from the Movie one!  None of the pop-culture stuff ever wins.  Just the "artsy stuff".  Might have to look more into Hugo... We'll see though.

Had to really push to stay up late.  Why do these things always fall the night before a big test at school?

Good news!  My English project can be a book report on any book I want!  There are a few I have been meaning to read... Pilgrim's Progress?  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?  In His Steps?  So many possibilities... Maybe I can witness to my teacher... again.  :)

Just past Valentine's Day

It is the day of love... for romantic love.  I'm not sure what I think of that yet, but I do get all nervous when "she" walks into the room.  She really is pretty.  Maybe this will be the month that I work up the guts to talk to her.  She's just so interesting.  She takes fencing lessons.   That would be SO cool!  Maybe one day.

But for now, I have been keeping an eye on Jenn.  She's new to the school.  She is really shy and people seem to want to make fun of her.  I don't know why.  Maybe when they find out that she is learning to be a drummer, they will think she is cool.

On her way walking to her lessons yesterday three boys were chasing her and yelling at her.  Good thing I was there quietly walking in the bushes. 

They manageed to surround her and she got really scared and strated to cry.  Then they made fun f her for crying.  It was like she could do nothing good enough for them.  And "you" my old, why did you do that to her?  People used to mock you for your special shoes.  Guess you have forgotten all that.

Using my glove turbines I burst into the air and into the middle of the group.  They were all stunned to say the least.. including Jenn.  I aimed my hand at one of the boys and with a quick burst I knocked him over.  I stepped in between the other two when they thought they had me.  Both of them came running at me.  One quick air burst from my hands and boots and I was into the air again.  The two boys slammed into each other and fell to the ground.

I grabbed Jenn around the waist and shot back into the air leaping over a house to land her on another street so that when the chasers got back up, she was nowhere around them.  I wasn't as stable in the jump because I needed to hold her.  She screamed the whole time.  When I landed she screamed and ran away.... Not exactly the impression I wanted to leave her with..... Oh, well.  She's safe, let's hope that cooler heads prevail when she goes back to school.

Day after Ground Hog Day...

I just have to wonder how a ground hog can tell us if the winter is going to be a short one, or if it will last for 6 more weeks.  The calendar says 6 more weeks.  I guess no matter how warm it gets, technically it is going to be winter until about 6 weeks from now..... silly.

Back to working on a new rubber compound to keep things quiet when I run.  Should make it easier to sneak up on someone... good or bad.  ;)

Fall

Fall is in the air, and soon I will be in the air too!  I love days like this where there are some clouds in the sky with lots of blue still showing.  I can use the clouds to hide in when I fly.  People can't see me all the time so I just look like something that saw out of the corner of their eye.  Love it!

Love this song....

Heard this song recently.  Had to listen to it again..... Being a super hero I just could identify with it, but realized how important Jesus is as the one that saves me.  Love how the song goes from being about Jesus being my hero, to me having Jesus living in me and motivating me to go out and impact others.



Hero -- By Skillet

I'm just a step away; I'm just a breath away
Losin' my faith today
JEN: Fallin' off the edge today

I am just a man; Not superhero
JEN: I'm not superhero
someone save me from the hate

[Pre:]
It's just another war; Just another family torn
JEN: Falling from my faith today
Just a step from the edge; Just another day in the world we live

[Chorus:]
I need a hero to save me now
I need a hero
JEN: Save me now
I need a hero to save my life
A hero'll save me
JEN: Just in time

[V2]
I gotta fight today; To live another day
Speakin' my mind today
JEN: My voice will be heard today

I've gotta make a stand; but i am just a man
JEN: I'm not superhero
My voice will be heard today

[Pre:]
It's just another war; Just another family torn
JEN: My voice will be heard today
It's just another kill; The countdown begins to destroy ourselves

[Chorus]

[Bridge:]
Who's gonna fight for what's right; Who's gonna help us survive
We're in the fight of our lives
JEN: And we're not ready to die

Who's gonna fight for the weak; Who's gonna make 'em believe
I've got a hero
JEN: I've got a hero

Livin' in me; I'm gonna fight for whats right;
Today I'm speaking my mind; And if it kills me tonight
JEN: I will be ready to die

A hero's not afraid to give his life; A hero's gonna save me just in time

[Chorus]

I need a hero
Who's gonna fight for whats right; Who's gonna help us survive

I need a hero
Who's gonna fight for the week; Who's gonna make 'em believe

A hero's gonna save me just in time

Nose hairs....

I hate nose hairs!  They are always sticking out of my nose.  They get really long too.  With it being allergy season I get lots of boogers stuck in there too.  Gabby keeps telling me when she looks in there it is like bats in a cave... snot stuck to my nose hairs.

Someone is lying to my friends....

I go to school and for some reason people are telling us that God is not real.  It is so hard because my friends are believing it.  I try to talk to them, but sometimes I just don't have the answers to give them.  More and more it is like we are speaking two different languages.

I guess I should expect this.  "The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God."

Have to pray for wisdom.... Sigh.

New costume idea...

Found some black fabric in the basement.  If I slice the cape down the middle and then add this as a liner, I can zip it up for the silvery, flashy cape, and I can unzip and fold out to hide in dark place.  Hindsight... Blue, Orange and Silver do not work well for staying inconspicuous.  :)

Coming back soon...

I went into training for the past 6 months... I have a few new things to add. I can't hold it in any longer though... I am seeing too many things going on in my school. The winds of change are coming soon!!!

2008....

Sorry to all of my loyal followers. I have not had the chance to write much in this blog since the beginning of the month. I have made a few accomplishments.

First, I have come to a decision. Superman had a Fortress of Solitude. Batman had the Bat Cave. (I guess he had to go with Bat cave because Bat Room just doesn't sound all that manacing... sort of like Bath room) I will have the Wind Tunnel.

Second, I am getting rumours at school that there is someone calling themself Whirlwind and running around in tights... I guess sort of like me.

Third, if I ever have to talk to anyone, they will probably recognize my voice of they know me.... I was watching Jingle all the Way on Tv the other night. You know, the one with Arnold Swartzeneggar (who knows if that is spelled right?) dressed as Turbo Man during the Christmas parade? He had some kind of voice changer on his helmet. Maybe I can scale down the one in my Darth Vader mask and use that in my suit..... Oh the things I go through to be a super hero.

School is on break for now... They call it winter break. I call it Christmas break... whatever! As it we had a "red and green day".

I'll get back to it soon. Hope you all had a good Christmas. Happy New Year..... Actually...

This new year feels like a WINDPROOF New Year!!!

WP

U-Reaka!

I got an idea for a cool gadget. It would involve these small micro turbines in between my fingers attached to gloves. If I can gain enough power, they could give me a short burst of flight, or maybe knock someone over, or turn them around! Maybe I could come up with a way to harness enough power in some form using my cape.

Could be neat?

WP

Not today...

Guess I'll have to try to talk to her tomorrow. I'm sick today. What a waste of time!

WP

The Big Plan....

Here I am in computer class. I can see Marcie hunched over her desk. She seems so sad since the laugh incident. I'll try to get her to talk to me again soon. I need a good idea. What can a guy like me do to get her attention long enough to encourage her, and not make it like I have crush on her?

Write a funny poem and put it in her locker? ... maybe

Try to find something that she is involved in and talk to her in a more natural way? ... maybe

Lock her in a room so she can't run away? ... DEFINITELY NOT!!!

More thinking to do. Windproof out... Before the teacher catches me blogging. :)

Talked to her....

I was just standing there after school and I saw her coming out the door. I wasn't sure what her name was... Anyways... I told her who I was and then she told me her name... Turns out it is Marcie (ok... I changed her name so that no one would know who she is. I just don't like calling her "her" and "she" all the time). I said that I wanted to talk to her about her poem in class. She cut me off and screamed that she wished everyone would just leave her alone about it. She started to cry, and ran off. I tried to call after her, but she kept going. I could hear her crying loudly as she ran. I guess lots of people made fun of her.... Why do people have to make fun when others try something new?

WP

The Jar...

Begun to fill a jar with finger and toenail clippings. This is going to take forever to fill. I'm hoping to be able to use them for a kind of irritant to stop someone from doing something wrong. Not sure how yet, but here I go a clipping.

... Maybe down someone's back will make them itch and stop what they are doing to go get rid of it.....

Further plans needed.

WP

Sad girl in the corner...

Today at lunch I saw a girl in the corner sitting by herself. She looked really sad. Earlier in English class I saw her try to share a poem that she wrote in front of the class. A guy at the back laughed, and then others joined in.

It wasn't a funny poem. I could tell she worked really hard on it.

I wish I wasn't so shy, or I would have gone to talk to her about her poem. I liked it. Maybe I'll get another chance to encourage her.

I hope.

WP

Stink Bomb Test 3....

Concoction of sweaty socks and dirty underwear did produce the desired scent, but upon attempt to deliver the bomb to intended targets..... Well, let's just say device failed... Need long shower. WP

Why Windproof???

Since I have started going by the name Windproof, people have been asking me what it means. I ran across this verse in the Bible, Ephesians 4:14 "Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth."

I guess I keep thinking in a different direction than some of my friends. They call me immature for not wanting to do some of the things that they do, but I think that choosing to do what is right, makes you mature.

Sometimes someone will say something in class that just doesn't make sense to me, but I don't know why.... Maybe I'll try to remember it and ask about it in Infuzion. WP

Ummmm.... Not sure...

Windproof's log... No, that's cheezy... been done to death... Umm... Ok, I'll have to think of a way to lead into all of my entries....

I have finally finished my suit. I think it looks AMAZING! Who would have thought that orange, blue and silver could go together so well? I just have to figure out how to keep my hood on. When I really get going, it falls off. There is too much of a chance that people will figure out who I am.... For now they should just know me as WINDPROOF! WP