Frogsicles
Each winter in Alaska, the common wood frog freezes solid. It quits breathing, and its heart completely stops beating. If you picked one up, it would not move. If you bent one of its legs, it would break off. But when the warm weather returns, its tissues thaw— and it miraculously comes back to life!
The wood frog has even been revived after being frozen for seven months at temperatures dipping as low as three degrees Fahrenheit.
These "frogsicles" can endure multiple freeze-and-thaw cycles in a season because the fluid in their cells contains high levels of glucose, a natural antifreeze also known as cryoprotectant, that lowers the freezing temperature of tissue. Scientists are interested in learning from these frogs in order to increase the shelf life of human organs for transplants by a process known as cryopreservation. Reviving organs after freezing them for a short period would enable them to be shipped around the world and save many more lives.
Did you know that God is an expert at organ transplants?
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26, 27).
I'm Converted But Not That Far
In his book Conversion, E. Stanley Jones—a spiritual confidant of Mahatma Gandhi—tells of his experiences as an evangelist in a Christian community in India. "Everyone," explains a blogger for Developmental Associates International, "including the sweeper, enjoyed one day off each week. The sweeper’s work included cleaning the latrines, because this was before the days of flush toilets. Typically, only the “untouchables” would touch a job like that."
“But,” writes Jones, “we each volunteered. One day, I said to a Brahmin convert who was hesitating to volunteer, ‘Brother C., when are you going to volunteer for latrine duty?’ He shook his head slowly and said, ‘Brother Stanley, I’m converted, but I’m not converted that far.’”
E. Stanley Jones, 1884-1973, was a Methodist preacher and teacher. He traveled and ministered extensively throughout India. A friend and confident of both Ghandi and Nheru, he was often dubbed the Billy Graham of India and was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work of reconciliation in that country. He authored many theological works and devotionals.
"Many of us are converted," says author Kent Crockett, "but not that far. Godly slaves aren't choosy about their jobs. They simple obey whatever the Master tells them to do. Godly slaves don't say:
- "I'm not going to do that."
- "I don't do windows."
- "No one's going to tell me what do do!"
- "I don't have to put up with this."
- "They don't realize who I am."
- "They don't appreciate all I do around here!"
- "I don't get any respect."
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8, NLT).
Kent Crockett graduated from Texas A&M University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is the senior pastor of the Church of Living Water in Prattville, Alabama. He is the author of The 911 Handbook, Making Today Count for Eternity, and I Once Was Blind but Now I Squint, and has been published in a number of Christian magazines.
Flipping The Script
On the famous tv show "The Fresh Price of Bel-Air," Will Smith was always portrayed as a troubled youth with a dismal future, in contrast to his acting counter-character, Carlton Banks, who was destined for greatness. Carlton was accepted into Princeton, while Will had no college acceptance letter, no job, and no plans. But fast forward a decade or so and step over into real life. Will Smith would become Hollywood's top-paid actor while Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) is lucky to get a minor acting role every now and then.
I realize its a tv show, but it's amazing how God has a way of flipping the script in our lives!
"All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" (Acts 9:21).