Garth Brooks, You, and Jesus By Greg King Tuesday was a real eye opener for me. I was studying the Bible with two young boys, Robbie and Bill, both of whom were wanting to be baptised like their mom had recently. During the course of the study I mentioned that, "You'd better watch who you choose as heroes, because you'll become like the people you admire the most." At that, Robbie, in his smirk, innocent little nine year old grin, said, "I have three heroes." "Oh, who might that be," I asked (thinking I'd hear something like Hulk Hogan, Arnold, or Raphael, the Ninja Turtle). "Garth Brooks, you, and Jesus!" "Oh, that's really interesting..." All the time I was thinking to myself, Wow, quite a crowd to be included in; what should I say now!? Garth Brooks, me, and Jesus?! Sort of takes the wind out of your sails for a minute or so. But then I thought, wow, what a responsibility! Here's a young heart, searching and hungering for eternal life, and he sees me as a real life hero! Doesn't he know how short I fall of the glory of God? Certainly he must be mistaken. Didn't he just hear me when I warned him, "Choose your heroes carefully, because you'll become like the people you admire the most?" Then I thought, hey, isn't this the way its supposed to be? "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith" (Hebrews 13:7). Young hearts can challenge us in ways no one else can. As adults and as teenagers, we need to realize that all those young hearts are tuned in to our lives and watching us carefully! Imitating us, putting us on the pedestals as their heroes. I think that's OK! If not us, who? "Pay close attention to your life and your doctrine, for as you do this you will ensure salvation for yourself and for those who hear you" (1Timothy 4:16). Next time you ask a young heart who their heroes are, you might just hear what I heard, "Garth Brooks, you, and Jesus!"