Nov

Kiss My Frog

Fri Nov 25th 2011 @ 4:55 pm

First, Peggy Lee asks, “is that all there is?” in my life. Then, Uncle Remus tells me that “plenty of sunshine is coming my way.” Next thing I know, I’m talking to someone I’m not sure exists and offering him my life. Whoa! Talk about your world turning upside down! I was thrilled and bewildered at the same time. Its one thing to know that your life is going to be changed forever…it’s quite another to figure out what that will look like and what you need to do.

Remember the story of the Frog Prince? It’s a fairy tale written by the Brothers Grimm. In the tale, a spoiled princess reluctantly befriends a frog, who magically morphs into a handsome prince when the princess kisses the frog. In my case, no one kissed a frog… as far as I know…but the transformation was almost as dramatic. In the frogs’ case, no one tells you how he was able to function after the magic kiss. After all, he had spent a big chunk of his life wallowing in pond scum, hanging out with lizards and eating bugs with his tongue. Yuk! Suddenly, he’s a prince. Now what? What does a Prince do? How does he make a living? Is there a job description for Prince’s? How does he use a knife and fork?

I faced similar challenges. While I already knew how to use a knife and fork, everything else was pretty much a mystery. Am I a Christian now? Don’t I have to sign something? What about a church? Do I have to join one, and if so, which one? Good Grief, there must be fifty Bible versions in the book stores…which one is the right one. What’s the story on this baptism thing? My head was spinning: being a frog seemed to be a lot simpler.

This was the part where I must have driven Ken nuts. Ken, you’ll recall, was the guy who led me to Christ; and at this point I was clinging to him with all my strength. Questions, questions, questions…Answers, answers, answers. I haunted his office because I didn’t know who else to talk with. I don’t know how he got any work done. What can I say? Without Ken to lean on I might well have thrown in the towel. But he put up with it. I began reading my newly purchased bible incessantly; I chose the version written for fifth graders…just my speed. I listened to Christian radio teaching shows.

At the same time, I became aware of something odd: I knew stuff that I didn’t know I knew. And I didn’t know how I suddenly knew this stuff that I hadn’t known before. I later learned that the Holy Spirit had begun the process of imparting wisdom and changing the way I thought about everything. I began to see things through God’s eyes and I didn’t like what I was seeing. I had always considered my lifestyle…parties, women, gambling, anything-for-a-buck, running with gangsters…was not only acceptable, it was something to admire. I thought I was super cool. Now, with this newfound knowledge from God, I immediately recognized my life for what it was: a monument to pride, greed and selfishness. My pond was actually a swamp and if I didn’t get out it would suck me under.

I also knew now that Jesus had thrown a lifeline to pull me out - I simply needed to grab it and start moving toward a new life. Sounds easy enough, but thoughts of all the money I would be leaving on the table kept popping into my head…I guess my inner frog was trying to get out. Then God would remind me of the emptiness that came with the money and I would actually laugh out loud. Apparently inner frogs don’t like being laughed at…he went away.

Ribbit

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Thought for the Day

It's human to err--but it's stupid to continue.

Turn the radio on

Listen to God & Ed’s Excellent Adventure on the Radio. Monday through Friday at 4pm on “The Word,” 98.5/99.3 FM. Or listen on-line at KLGO.net. It’s the place for Christians of all varieties to hang out and be loved, entertained and uplifted.

Semi-interesting fact

The human eye can distinguish between some 10 million shades and hues.

Joke du Jour

There was this Texan who died and went to heaven. Upon arrival, the Texan could nothing but complain how much smaller things were in heaven than they were in Texas. After days of complaining, God took the Texan and said "follow me." He took the Texan to the Gates of Hell and said: "Have you ever seen anything like that in Texas?"
The Texan, replied...."No…but I've got a some buddies in Houston who can put it out!"

Cool Music

We’ve added more cool songs you’ve never heard on radio. Check the player on the upper right, click and brighten your day.

Questions I ask myself:

Why are they called apartments, when they're all stuck together?

Really?? Actual News Stories

Jesus #15 The ever-passionate fans of Tim Tebow,

have found a new way to adore the Bronco's pray-and-run QB and God, too. According to The Denver Post, they're ponying up nearly $100 a pop at the NFL shop to customize Tebow's No. 15 jersey by replacing his name on the back with Jesus instead. That's way beyond emulating the outspoken evangelical Christian player's prayerful stance -- Tebowing -- because, says the Post: It's viewed by some Christians as a clear transgression of the first commandment that prohibits idolatry. But others say that instead of the more common "John 3:16," fans are honoring their faith in the Son of God by using the jersey of Tebow, an unabashed believer, as sort of a billboard. Is it blasphemy, as some Christians are saying? Says Tebow : “Judge not. If their heart is to honor the Lord, then it's a good thing. Only God can judge because only God knows what's truly in a person's heart."

Church music wars battle for souls with song In many U.S. churches today, worship musicians bang the drums for God and singers croon as if Christ were their boyfriend. Bye-bye to “Be Thou My Vision,” a sixth-century Irish hymn with century-old English lyrics. Godspeed, “Amazing Grace.” Nearly 50% of Protestant churches now say they use electric guitars or drums in worship, up from nearly 35% in 2000, according to the recently released Faith Communities Today study of 14,000 congregations. But just because you don't like the tune doesn't mean it's theologically incorrect, says Rick Muchow, music pastor for the Saddleback Church founded by evangelist Rick Warren. "The Bible does not have an official soundtrack." The nation's fifth-largest Protestant church, with nine satellite locations, runs several concurrent worship services Sunday mornings at its main site in Lake Forest, Calif., each with a different genre of music.

Are two Heads Better than one? A rare two-headed albino Honduran milk snake was

hatched a few days before Halloween in an incubation chamber by University of Central Florida biologist Daniel Parker. Now, just in time for Thanksgiving, the extraordinary snake has taken its first meal: a baby mouse.
The right head of the snake ravenously engulfed the small mouse soon after it was offered, Parker said. The snake consumed its meal in the typical serpentine manner, other than the extra head on hand to watch. Parker, owner of reptile enthusiast site Sunshine Serpents, also announced that he was putting the rare creature up for sale -- at a whopping $25,000 (a bargain at $12,500 per head).
The eye-opening price tag would put the sale of this unusual creature on a par with reports of past sales, Parker explained, noting that this particular two-headed snake was quite the beauty. “Not only is it insanely colorful, but the two heads are perfectly formed. The snake appears to be very healthy,” Parker added.

What Is 'Leisure Time? An Australian study says that the influx of smartphones, email, and other technological advances has resulted in work encroaching on people's leisure time to the extent that we're never really away from work. I think that's true, but that's been happening for about a decade. Is there a way for workers to get back to the idea of time off, or are we doomed to a future where the job is always with us?

Ahhh… Vanity A transgender woman from Miami is facing charges of practicing medicine without a license after police say she injected a woman's rear with a homemade concoction. According to police, the victim was injected in her buttocks with a substance consisting of cement, tire inflater, mineral oil and super glue.

The amateur incision was then sealed with super glue, police said. The victim was later hospitalized with a serious medical condition as a result of the injections. The fake doctor Morris, who police say is a man but appears to look like a woman was being held on $7,500 bond. When the woman complained of severe pain, Morris assured her not to worry, that "it works itself out." The woman who received the injections put off going to the hospital because she was embarrassed, but after suffering from pneumonia-like symptoms, she reported the incident. Doctors say the woman could have died after the toxic substances injected into her butt began to spread throughout her body.The Miami woman reportedly paid Morris $700 for injections.

Are you kidding me???

The Bible was written on three continents - Asia, Africa, and Europe

Groaner
A man shows up for his doctor's appointment with a piece of celery in each ear and a carrot in each of his nostrils. He says to the doctor, "Doc, I'm not feeling well." Whereupon the doctor replied," Perhaps you're not eating right.

Point to Ponder

An employee at DollyWood was driving through the parking lot after closing time when he spied a car all alone. The hood was up and a family was examining the engine. This employee discovered that their starter was bad. He was driving a similar car. He crawled under his car, took off his starter, then slid under their car and replaced their bad starter with his good one. He said he’d catch a ride home with a fellow employee and pick his car up the next morning. And he wouldn’t accept any money. This stunned family was back on the road again.

In Mark 12:31 Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Love is a verb.

Somewhere there's a family that may not remember the rides they rode at DollyWood, but I bet they remember the sacrificial love of a stranger.

Remember, Christianity is more about walking than about talking