F.R.O.G.

Fully Rely On God.

Cheesy acronym? You betcha.

Truth in it? You betcha.

Jess told me a story earlier a while back about something she'd read in a book called Christianish. Upon hearing it, we've begun telling it at our concerts because of its sweet message. So I thought I would share it here also!

The author tells about his experience, while leading these preparation/team-building camps for mission teams.

He spoke about one team he was leading through the team-building exercises, and the unique experience this one team had. One of the exercises was for each member of the team to climb onto a platform, probably 3 or 4 feet off the ground and for their team to stand below them with their arms outstretched, making a sort of net. The person was then to turn their backs to their team and fall into their awaiting arms, trusting that their team would catch them. A classic 'trust fall'. The author highlights one of his teams' members, a young man who climbed up onto the platform, and as he was falling, turned as white as a sheet and let out a blood-curdling scream. Though his teammates were successful in catching him, he was pretty shaken up. He decided to confide in his teammates about his terrible fear of heights.

It originated when he was an infant, and in a moment of mischief, crawled out of his cradle and got his ankle caught between the bars rendering him hanging off the ground for about half an hour before his mother showed up to help him down. This traumatic experience had left its mark: a serious fear of heights.

This young man's team was very understanding and encouraged the young man for taking that step to do the 'trust fall'. However, the next task for the team was a ropes course- up in the trees. Each participant in the course would be entirely alone, possibly 15 feet or higher in the air, and would only have one person encouraging them from the ground. The mission team had compassion on the young man, telling him he could sit out from the next exercise if he wished; but the young man was adamant- he wanted to conquer his fear.

The next day the team went up to the ropes course, and soon came the young man's turn. As he went through, he was speaking continuously: quoting Scripture and praying. What was normally a 45-minute course took this young man 3 hours. But upon completion, the whole team was in tears, so moved by the experience of this young man's faith in action, as they watched God help him conquer his fear, and complete the task before him.

I pray the same for you all, that as you turn to God and ask Him for strength and help in situations that are tough, that He will hear you and show you His power, His strength, His comfort, His encouragement and His love for you in a practical and tangible way.

Out.