"Kissing A FROGG"

(Romans 4:1-5; 13-17)

Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

INTRODUCTION:

I was looking through the theological section of the paper the other day and one of the comics really struck me as funny. Broom Hilda, the ugly little witch created by Russell Myers, is walking by a pond and hears a frog who says: "Kiss me and I'll turn into a handsome prince." Broom Hilda says, "Deal!" and plants a big old kiss on the frog sitting there on his lily pad. The frog doesn't change. Broom Hilda says, "So TURN already."

In the last panel you see a whole bunch of frogs sitting there laughing like crazy. Broom Hilda is making 'I think I'm going to be sick' noises and going "Yuck!" And the frog says, "Hey! Another dummy fell for it!" (1)

What is it about frogs and princes or even princesses and frogs? Why do they go together so well? I know it goes back to the old fairy tale. But why was that such a good fit. Probably because there was such a contrast between the beautiful princess and the ugly, green, squatty, wart covered, fly eating little denizen of the pond. What could be worse than eating flies all day? Anyway a kiss from a beautiful princess could turn the frog into a handsome prince.

This has even been used as an analogy for the Church and evangelism. The idea being that inside we're all princes and princesses just waiting to get out. We've slapped the skunk and are covered with the stink of sin. As a consequence the image of God in which were created has been broken. And we've become nothing but a bunch of frogs and toads. We're covered in warts and we can't do anything about it. We're all just waiting for our handsome King of Creation, Jesus to come by and kiss us so we can be transformed back in to the princes and princesses we were meant to be.

That was one of the first parables of the faith I heard, years ago, when I first accepted Christ and got involved in Church and Sunday School. I thought it was a pretty good analogy. I even taught it to my Junior High Sunday School class. They liked it, too. And it IS good but as I read this passage about Abraham I realized that we're not frogs waiting to be turned into princes and princesses. We're actually princes and princesses waiting to become FROGGs.

I. PRINCES AND PRINCESSES:

A. Let me explain. What are some of the characteristics of princes and princesses? In all the fairy tales, they are the beautiful people of the world. Everyone else is haggard or plain in comparison to them. Their beauty or handsome features shine brighter than the sun. Some of the princes are so handsome that their very presence makes women blush and swoon. Or a princess is so beautiful that her beauty makes men's hearts stop beating.

Not only are they handsome or beautiful they are usually wealthy. That means there is no need that goes unmet. They've never experienced hunger or want (except for those few who have been enchanted by a witch). New clothes are the order of the day. They are used to having servants do what they say. People try to please them. They are the center of their universe.

Now there are exceptions in the fairy tales but by and large the princes and princesses are everything the advertising world want us to want to be. They have power, prestige, money and position. Most princes and princesses in the fairy tales are pretty self absorbed. They are worried about how pretty they are or who will marry them. For the most part they are self-centered, selfish, self sufficient and could care less about the plight of the people.

In other words, they are everything advertising panders to. They are everything consumerism wants us to be. They are everything the world wants and calls us to be. But they are also, everything Jesus told us NOT to be.

B. Shel Silverstein in his book FALLING UP, has a poem entitled "Sharing" which sort of sums up the whole idea of a prince,

I'll share your toys, I'll share your money,

I'll share your toast, I'll share your honey,

I'll share your milk and your cookies too—

The hard part's sharing mine with you. (2)

You see, in this analogy, a prince or a princess is simply people whose Primary Response Is Not Christian Exclusively. God doesn't want us to be PRINCEs. God wants us to act not just primarily but always in a Christian manner. Our Goal is to become Christ-like in every aspect of our lives and in all of our actions. We can't do that unless we become FROGGs in God's Kingdom.

II. TOADs:

Now some folks think they have become FROGGs but they've really only become TOADs. You see a TOAD looks like a FROGG but it's really a PRINCE in disguise. They're phony FROGGs or fake FROGGs. They look like FROGGs but they act like PRINCEs. A TOAD is someone who Talks Or Acts Divinely but on the inside is still the same. They talk the talk but don't really walk the walk.

There was a great cartoon I saw years ago. I don't remember who drew it or where it came from. But it showed two frogs sitting on a lily pad talking. One of them said: "You know, I tried that Prince thing for awhile. But to tell the truth, I missed eating flies."

A TOAD is really someone of the faith who misses eating flies and keeps reverting back to the life of a PRINCE while trying to look like a FROGG. But on closer inspection they're just a TOAD. They still eat flies. They are still slimy. And they still stink from slapping that skunk.

As TOADs they try God's patience. They remind me of a true story I read in the Kids Of The Kingdom section in the Christian Reader. In one issue, a mother shared this: "The praise chorus 'We Exalt Thee' took on a whole new meaning when I heard my three-year-old daughter singing her version: 'We exhaust thee. We exhaust thee, O Lord.'" (3)

The FROGG-like looks and PRINCE-like actions of the TOAD have to exhaust God's patience.

III. FROGGs:

A. God doesn't want PRINCEs, people whose Primary Response Is Not Christian Exclusively. And God doesn't want TOADs, people who simply Talk Or Act Divinely but on the inside are still the same. God wants us to be just like Abraham and be FROGGs. God wants us to be people who Fully Rely On God's Grace. Now, I can't take full credit for that acronym. I took one that someone else told me about F R O G, which stood for Freely Relying On God and converted it to F R O G G, Fully Relying On God's Grace. I helped it grow from a tadpole, into a FROGG.

I've had fun putting all of these acronyms together but I think they hold some deep truth. Use see Abraham really was a FROGG. There was nothing that really made Abraham stand out. He wasn't a prince by worldly standards. He wasn't a king or a regent or even an important figure in history. He was simply a nobody. A nomad.

And nobody would have paid any attention to him. In the eyes of the rich and the famous of the time, he was just like the real frogs and toads, without much worth. They probably even considered him to be as unsavory to touch, afraid they'd get warts. They wouldn't have even noticed or been bothered in the least, if he'd up and croaked. Yet, God called this nobody to a noble undertaking.

The Lord of all creation; the one who fixed the stars and hung the planets; the one who took a handful of dirt and breathed life into it, creating Adam; called Abraham into relationship. The Lord of all created a covenant of love with this nobody. A covenant so strong, so filled with love, that Abraham was able to accept it without question and rely totally on God.

B. Can you imagine Abraham calling Sarah from the office, to tell her the good news? It might have gone like this.

Hi, dear. No, everything's OK.

No, I won't be working late tonight, as a matter of fact I thought I'd come home early. No, there's nothing wrong. No, I didn't get fired. No, honey, they didn't tell me I had to retire. They don't have a mandatory retirement age here. Remember Methuselah, he worked all the way up until he was 875. That means I've got another 800 years. Well, no, I didn't get a raise. And Yes, you're right. I would be putting in some overtime just to prove I earned it. You sure know me after all these years.

No, I really don't feel like going out tonight. I'd really like a home cooked meal. I know I don't take you out very often but all of that's going change, I promise. We'll be eating out a lot.

No, I didn't get the regional sales position. If you'll just hush, I'll tell you. Do you remember when I proposed and promised that we'd travel and see the world?

Well, I got a call today. I got a call from "Him" .Yeah, the Lord. God wants us to move.

No, not California. No, not Mesopotamia. No, I don't think he'd send us to Sodom or Gomorrah. Well, to be honest, I really don't know. The Lord, God didn't say. He just said to pack up, leave our home and our family and he would lead us and show us where to go. I know it sounds crazy but he meant it.

That's not all, dear, that's not all. You know how you've always wanted children? The Lord, God took me outside and said, "Count the stars, if you can. That's how many descendants you'll have." I asked Him if he meant through Eliezer and He said no. I guess this means you're going to have a baby. Sarah. Sarah. Sarah would you quit laughing, I know you're 75. But that's what He said.

I know dear, I know it sounds absurd. But He promised. He promised and that's good enough for me. This is right, Sarah, I can feel it in my heart. Nothing has ever felt this right since the time I first met you. That's why I'm coming home early, so we can start making plans. No, the Lord, God didn't say when exactly but I got the impression he wanted us to leave soon, real soon. Yeah, I think we'll have time for a garage sale. Love ya, I'll be home soon.

C. Abraham was a FROGG. Through God's presence in his life, through his faith in the covenant and his faith in God, Abraham was able to Fully Rely On God's Grace. Abraham trusted God explicitly and exclusively. He knew he hadn't earned a thing. It was all a gift from God. He relied on God's grace. We're called to do the same.

There is an old fable about a frog who wanted to go south with the geese. He had overheard them as they discussed the wonderful southern climate and the fall migration. And he became obsessed with wanting to go. Now the geese liked him and they wanted him to go with them, but he was a frog and he couldn't fly. So, they told him, "If you can figure out a way to go, we'd be delighted to have you down there with us."

The frog put on his thinking cap and eventually came up with a plan. He talked two of the geese into holding a stick between them in their bills. He clamped his mouth on the middle of the stick and they took off. It worked! They began flying south, and they were doing great; but several other geese flew by and one of them said, "Isn't that a clever idea? I wonder who thought of it?" And with that, the frog told them — and wound up in the ocean. (4)

The frog turned into a PRINCE. He was never really a FROGG. He was a TOAD because he couldn't stand not letting everyone know it was his idea. That's what happens when we rely on self.

Abraham on the other hand, had faith in God. He relied on God and God's grace. He knew he couldn't do it alone or even really take any credit for whatever happened. He was being lead by the hand of God. And he Fully Relied On God's Grace.

B. Two lady frogs were sitting and looking at a male frog. The first lady frog says, "You're lucky, Frances. Your husband is so handsome." Frances turns and says, "Handsome ?Are you kidding? He's a FROG!"

There's something to be said about dealing with reality, knowing who you are and what your limitations are. Abraham certainly did. But, I also think that we can go too far and deny the God given gifts which we have. I don't think that frogs are handsome or cute but don't you think that they might think each other are. When we deny that we are created in God's image we deny God and the relationship which God has created with us through creation. We have to be careful. We may not be handsome or cute or strong or smart but we can be what God created us to be. And we can Fully Rely On God's Grace and be everything God created us to be.

Marsh has Down's Syndrome. At ten, one might mistake his actions for those of a five-year-old. And just like a five-year-old does, Marsh accepts whatever people tell him.

Marsh loves his parents, his three sisters, and his friends. He loves everyone he meets. He even loves his speech therapist, who won't let Marsh drag his tongue when he speaks. Marsh loves everybody.

Marsh accepts anything anyone says. If his parents ask him to do something, he does it. If his sisters ask him to get something, he will get it. He loves being helpful and loves to be loved by his family.

Abraham loved to be loved by God. God called Abraham "my friend" in the book of Isaiah. Abraham, of all the people presented to us in the Old Testament, was the most upright, virtuous, and obedient. And God called Abraham "friend."

Marsh has a lot in common with Abraham. Even though Marsh occasionally gets in trouble, Abraham and Marsh love God totally and unconditionally. They react with kindness without promise of reward. And they love God without hesitation. (5)

Marsh and Abraham and everyone of us have the opportunity to receive the grace of God, not through works, but through faith. It's not based on deeds or actions, it's all based on faith and grace. That's why I used this little acronym, FROGG. God wants us to be like Abraham and become a FROGG, one who Fully Relies On God's Grace

CONCLUSION:

Even "Sesame Street" illustrates this story and the point I'm trying to make. On one episode they did a skit of the old fairy tale where the beautiful princess kisses an ugly frog and the frog becomes a handsome prince. However, in the Sesame Street version, when the princess kissed the frog, there was a loud "Poof!" and a puff of smoke and the princess turned into a frog herself."

We're called to be FROGGs; people who Fully Rely On God's Grace. And we're not called to be FROGG kissers. We're called to kiss Princes and Princesses with the Gospel of Grace so they can become FROGGs too. So let's hop to it.

A cartoon greeting card showed a picture of five frogs sitting on a log and there was a caption which asked, "If there were five frogs on a log and one decided to jump, how many would be left on the log?" A fold in the cartoon formed a pocket from which the curious could draw out the card containing the answer. It read, "Five would be left. Deciding to jump is not the same as jumping." (6)

Don't just decide. Get off your lily pad or your log. Jump into it with both feet. Make a radical change. Become like Abraham, become a FROGG and Fully Rely On God's Grace.

One of the simple truths of God's love that we learn from Abraham is that there is not enough money in the world that you could give, there aren't enough good deeds that you could do or enough prayers that you could say to MAKE God love you.

Nor is there anything that you could do to make God stop loving you. Our best is not enough to make God love us; our worst is not enough to stop that love. God loves you no matter what. That's called Grace and all you have to do is Fully Rely On God's Grace.

So hop to it, decide and jump fully into the life of Grace.

This is the Word of the Lord for this day.

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Bibliography

1. Feb 20, 1999 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

2. FALLING UP: Poems and Drawing by Shel Silverstein,

(HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. New York, NY, 1996) p. 50.

3. Tammy Lindsey, Utica, New York ( Christianity Today, Inc./CHRISTIAN READER July/August 1996) Vol. 34, No. 4, Page 33

4. The Pastor's Story File (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), Feb. 1986

5. Emphasis, January-February 1999, Sermon Prep Version. (CSS Publishing, Lima, OH)

6. Joy P. Gage, When Parents Cry, p. 101

Other References Consulted