Playing Frisbee with Jesus

I ran into a friend today who was with one of his developmentally disabled clients, a guy we'll call Alex. Alex kept saying over and over again, "Want to play frisbee? Want to play frisbee? Want to play frisbee?". He has pretty severe OCD among a suite of other serious mental issues. But when I said that I didn't have a frisbee, Alex took off his hat to use as a frisbee. And we "played frisbee" for a few minutes, throwing his hat back and forth.

He was just bursting with joy! Huge grin on his face! Alex was so happy and also super intent on the simple game.  It seemed to be a sacred time for him.  

My friend said that Alex will be talking about this for days. And in a strange way, I got a huge joy out of it too. As if God were present, enjoying the action, thrilling in the joy as much or more so than Alex. In a manner that is difficult to explain I felt that I was playing frisbee with Jesus.

This is another "chicken suit for the soul" moment. Using the lowly, seemingly useless stuff of the earth for a blessing in somebody's life. In this case a knit hat that became a frisbee.  

The calculus of God's kingdom is not the same of this world's. Because today I experienced this equation:

2 minutes + 1 hat = HUGE joy

We have so much stuff, are often overwhelmed with blessing, that we commonly loose sight of the value of the things around us. We tend to focus on what we don't have and so always walk around with a deep sense of need.  Who knew that chucking a hat a few times would purchase days of joy for somebody?  And not just Alex. But me too. And I sensed that Jesus was present and smiling big.   

Jesus taught that even giving a simple cup of water can have eternal value (Matt 25:34-46).  Is throwing a frisbee hat much different?  And what else can be used for God's glory?  But lately I'm thinking that perhaps that's even the wrong question. Maybe the right question is, which tiny speck or insignificant morsel of his creation can't be used for God's glory?

How much do we need to remember that the Almighty God of the Universe powerfully uses the perishable stuff of the earth for blessing, and some of that blessing will last for an eternity!  Even the very little stuff we do have, or stuff that is everywhere and all around us always,  can be multiplied by the Creator a thousand  fold.  Loaves and fishes style.

At Pastor Grant's suggestion I've been reading Jean-Pierre de Caussade who teaches that God is ever present in each moment (his book "The Sacrament of the Present Moment" is a game changer). But I also get the sense that God is also always at the ready to partner with us as we use even the simple things of this earth to magnify His glory and bless others way beyond the typical earthly value. 

So was I playing frisbee with Jesus?  Perhaps. If so, why not hacky sack with the Holy Spirit? Or flag football with our heavenly Father?  Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill, talks about eating chicken wings to the Glory of God.  And why not?  I think Driscoll is exactly right about that.

So let everything we do, in word or deed, all be done in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

Have you ever had a similar experience?  Ever seen something simple used for great purposes? Ever seen God use something ordinary in an extraordinary way?  Do tell!

Chicken Suit for the Soul: Book One

I might have discovered an idea for a book series that could displace the juggernaut of Jack Canfield's series Chicken Soup for the Soul on the NYT bestseller list. (I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin').

I'd call the series "Chicken Suit for the Soul" and book number one would feature lessons learned in the last week of middle school youth ministry. The common thread through all of the stories is how God uses the mundane, the odd, the everyday, the lowly stuff of this earth for His eternal, life-changing, majestic work of building His kingdom.



Chapter 1: Chicken Suit for the Soul
A few weeks ago the middle school youth group found itself in the (un?)enviable position of having a short fall of finances to run a 4 day camp on Lake Samish. So we ran a carwash with proceeds going to the camp. We ended up raising hundreds of dollars that went to sponsoring students unable to pay. The very generous owner of the carwash facility also provided some wacky costumes to attract attention of passing cars including: a grape costume, musical instruments, clown shoes, and, I believe, most importantly a chicken suit. Who can resist a 13 year old dressed up in a chicken suit? It is a recipe for a financial windfall. Having just returned from camp only a few hours ago, I'm blown away by the impact of that weekend in the lives of students. And some of those sponsored students whose lives are now eternally changed can trace the path of salvation of their souls to a chicken suit at a carwash.

The Almighty Sovereign Lord God of the universe used a chicken suit for His glory to build His kingdom. Thinking about this brings me to a question that is sobering:

If God can use anything for His good will, how am I using what He's entrusted to me for His kingdom? All that I have, even things I consider of little worth, might be of eternal value. Am I being a good steward of my stuff?

Colossians 3:17 says:

And what ever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This weekend at the camp I saw two cans of sardines used in the name of Jesus for a food eating contest. I even saw Spam, arguably a creation of the devil, used to build the kingdom of God in Jesus name.

I spoke to a mom of one of the campers who sponsored two other students to go to camp. She spent $240 and one of those students gave his life to Jesus and his eternal destiny is now changed, his sins completely forgiven. $120 dollars! The "filthy lucre" ascribed to so much greed and ruin in this world was used in the name of Jesus for the salvation of a soul.

I'm reminded of Liam Niessen's character in the movie Schindler's List who realized only too late that more of the stuff of his world could have been used for the ransom and salvation of Jews from Nazi atrocities. He looked at the ring on his finger and was horrified when he understood that it could be used to save a few more people, but the realization came too late. I'm often convicted that I'm not fully using what's been entrusted to me in the name of Jesus for the glory of God to advance His kingdom. How many hours have I wasted on the couch before the TV. How many dollars have been spent on things that ultimately left me empty? How many things have I discarded as junk? And how many souls might have been ransomed by God using that stuff as His means? I know I don't bear the responsibility for anyone's salvation, but I also know that I've missed opportunities to play even a fractional role of eternal worth in people's lives.

Ultimately all of this is good news, if God can use the chicken suit for a soul, he can use you and I as well.

Reflecting on the camp this weekend, here's a possible outline for the rest of the first "Chicken Suit" book:

Chapter 2: Hacky Sack for Holy Lamb
Chapter 3: Slip and Slide for the Savoir
Chapter 4: Culligan Water Bottle for Christ
Chapter 5: Blobbing for the Bright and Morning Star
Chapter 6: Acoustic Guitar for the Alpha
Chapter 7: Oatmeal Fight for the Omega

Do you have any ideas for other chapters? The possibilities are truly endless.