If you have any heroes left in today's world you may want to lock them away in your heart. But if you are an adult about my age with any remaining heroes in your constellation it may just be because there is something true and enduring in their examples. Something no one can rip away. Guard them and cherish them. They are rare beings.

The past few weeks has been hard on heroes. Baseball writers failed for only the second time in history to vote anyone into the Hall of Fame, baseball's Valhalla of legends. In a year where two retired players, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, would normally have been shoe-ins on the first ballot. But because the alleged use of steroids helped them achieve the records they set they have been denied, at least for now, access to the hallowed shrine. Heroes with feet of clay.

Then last week it was Lance Armstrong. The seven time winner of the Tour de France was stripped on his titles and for several years vehemently denied using drugs to give him the strength and endurance to win all those events. Finally, in the private confessional of what some call the "Church of Oprah", Armstrong admitted to not only using drugs to enhance his athletic performance but to deliberately lying and covering up. Even the name 'Lance Armstrong' conjures up All-American status. Now, it all lays in the dust.

At the end of all this attention to fallen sports idols came news over the weekend that Stan Musial died. Stan Musial was a baseball player from another age. He played the game in as honest a manner as anyone. No hint of scandal either personally or professionally. Some of his records still stand. His memory in St. Louis where he played his entire career is impeccable. At the end of his career he was called "baseball's...perfect warrior…baseball's perfect knight". In all the eulogies and memories I read of the man called The Man no one disputed this description. In his death is a reminder that once there were men who played at sports and managed to keep the balance between real life and that which is after all is said, only a game.The memory of akan like Musial encourages me that honesty and integrity need not be discarded.

Today, I began teaching a class on The Book of Acts to a group of young adults. I told them that as we go through this story of the early Church in the days following the death and resurrection of Christ they should look for the men and women I like to call "Luke's Heroes". Acts is full of heroes worthy of emulation. It will be refreshing to turn these pages and read these epic stories of common people infused by God's Holy Spirit who went out into a hostile world and lived the truths of the coming Kingdom of God.

If you are looking for a hero for your life I suggest you look into this story. You'll find any number to choose from. And none will let you down.