Let me begin with a warning, fire is dangerous when not handled safely. Do not try anything with it without an adult present and perhaps a functional extinguisher and a cell phone with 911 on speed dial.

I was introduced to the dramatic flash and flame of Coffeemate Creamer powder when I was in Junior High, back in the 80’s. A friend of mine poured a little single packet over a lit match, and I was hooked. After that I experimented with many other flammable sources but I always came back to Coffeemate. I would take a handful and toss it over a well lit camp fire and FLASH, it would light up the night sky.

In my always and ever concern to include others in all things freaking awesome, I developed what began to be called, “The Community Fireball”. Basically I would take a canister of generic creamer powder and hand out handfuls to people who formed a half-circle around the fire- with the wind at their backs! (Oh the lessons learned when giving a metaphor to 30+ willing participants at a Freshman Orientation Retreat)

I would then begin with a devotional thought about what we can accomplish on our own in comparison to when we pour our resources in with others, a basic truth discovered back during the building of the tower of Babel, but when applied to Christians taps into the advancement of the Kingdom of God as Jesus prayed for in John 17. I know to think this way pulls at the fabric of many churches, and it should because I’ve seen flames stretch up 20+ feet in the air, reminiscent of the pillar of fire God used to guide His people with by night.

The highest I’ve gotten on my own is maybe 6 feet of flame. Jesus calls us the “light of the world”, and He prayed for us to be “one” just as He and His Father are One, so that, and here’s the kicker- “to let the world know that You have sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me.” So by being unified as Jesus prayed for, we are evangelizing to the world.

There’s a group called COGL (Churches of Greater Lansing) who are planning a food drop this February for families in need. I believe it is a group of more than 30 churches and I’m very excited to see the influence and effect this act of love will have on the surrounding communities. Who knows, it might just change the city as Jesus’ followers reach out in love to those in need. I betcha this flame will be so big it will be seen from Heaven.

Go ahead, grab a handful and come along. Let’s all throw in to that great consuming Fire and see how far the Light will shine.

-Brian