What Wondrous Love

Kory Cassell
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What wondrous love is this that calls the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

When I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great I Am. While millions join with thee I will Sing.
And When from death I'm free, I'll sing and grateful be. While millions join with thee, I will Sing.
O What a wonderful love!

This is a song by Alexander Means written in 1835... and it's truth transcends time and generations. It truly is a wondrous love that turns an enemy into an heir. If we look fully into the scope of our depravity we can't help but find ourselves in stupor when we attempt to fathom the restoring, rescuing, and ravishing love of the Father. Like Alexander, I too will be grateful when from death I'm free. But even now, on this side of eternity, I send my gratitude and praise to a worthy King. What a wonderful love. What a wondrous love!

Here I raise my... ebenezer?

Kory Cassell
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What the frick is an "ebenezer?" I've heard it explained several times but never did I remember where it was in the Bible and why we, "raise it" in the famous hymn "Come thou fount." I heard everything from, it is a cup we raise to be filled by God, to, it is a sanctuary for worship.


So what is it really? It's a... rock. Ha, a rock! I know, what the heck right? Why would we raise a rock? Why do we sing about raising a rock? Because that is what Samuel did.

I was reading 1 Samuel and sure enough that is where you find it. In 1 Samuel chapter 7, Samuel calls all of Israel to gather at a place called Mizpah to fast and pray. Israel had pretty much jacked up by losing the arch and worshiping other Gods and just being sinful. So Samuel gathered them together to repent and ask for forgiveness. While there, the Philistines heard they were all together and pretty much sitting ducks. So the Philistines said, let's go kill those dumb jokers and finally conquer Israel. When Israel found out the Philistines were coming they freaked out and went to Samuel to ask him to pray to God that he would forgive and protect them. So long story short, Samuel prayed and God sent a "thunderous noise" down and frightened the Philistines so that Israel's army could go down fight off the Philistines. From then on the Philistines didn't enter the territory of Israel.

So to remember how God forgave and protected Israel, Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He called the stone, Ebenezer, and said, "till now the Lord has helped us." It's simply that. A symbol to remind Israel and help them remember that God has been with them and helped them. So when we raise our "Ebenezer" we're just saying, "God we remember you and how you help us." It's in a way a confession to the protection we've had in the past and a reminder of the protection we'll have in the future.

So if life sucks right now, look at a rock. If life is really good right now, look at a rock. Haha, for real though. Look at a stone, or a symbol in your life that reminds you that God has you and we will always have you. And remember that there is no better place to be than in God's grace, favor and protection. There is NO better place to be in life, in eternity than in God's family, in the Kingdom of Light.

A real small group:

Kory Cassell
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"Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then daniel blessed the God of heaven." - Daniel 2:17-19


That is a connect (small) group! That's what it looks like, that's what I want and that's what I want to cultivate.

The King had a dream and wanted it interpreted, so he gathered all the wise men, magicians, fortune tellers, etc. and asked them to prove themselves by not only telling him the interpretation but by telling him what he dreamed. What?! Impossible! And it was for all of them. So the king said, "fine then, you are all fakes and now your gonna die." Or something like that. But then word reached Daniel, who was also one of the wise men of the kingdom along with his three friends. He made an appointment with the king to tell him the interpretation, and then what's the first thing he did? He went to his small group, his friends, the guys he did life with and asked them to PRAY. And they did! And guessed what happened... God showed Daniel what the kings dream was and gave him the interpretation. Wow! It really works! Community and prayer.

There are only a couple things I want to point out about this situation. First, Daniel's problem was their problem and they shared the burden together. That is a small group plain and simple. When one is hurting or in need, you share the burden and take care of them. It's a beautiful thing. Second, God showed up! God really does answer prayers when you humble yourself and pray. When your heart is burdened for your brother or sister and you seek Him relentlessly He does what He promised He would do. Third, Daniel got the credit. He became a big-shot in the kingdom because God answered THIER prayers. But here's the beautiful thing. Just like Daniel's boys had his back when he came to them asking them to pray, Daniel had their back. The first thing he did when he received his promotion was to appoint his three bros as big time officials in charge of a lot of stuff. Sweet deal.

If we really love God, and love each other, a real, powerful, effective connect (small) group should be attainable. One where we do more than study the Bible, where we do more than read a book together, where we do more than socialize, where we do more than catch up on life. No what I'm looking for is "a fellowship of the burning heart." One where we do life together. Where we seek the Lord together with passion. Where we have each other's backs. Where we grow and multiply. Where we take care of each other and serve in and outside the group. Where we know how to have a good time together and we know how to cry with one another. That is the kind of group Daniel and his boys had.

Guatemala

Kory Cassell
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Spring break in Guatemala was... AMAZING!


5:00 AM we woke up in Gainesville, FL, packed Seth’s car and drove to pick up Nathan at the airport and Noah from his house.  After a 5 hour drive down to Miami we were joined by our friend Czar and driven to the airport by his girlfriend Cindy.  Just after 2:00 PM we were on the plane on the way to Guatemala.


On the plane Noah made friends with an Israeli girl named Tsiel who was traveling to Gmala to meet up with her friends who had been traveling up through South America for over 6 months.  When we landed I met a girl named Andrea who was from Orlando, FL but was visiting her family in gmala.  Both of them ended up being great great connections and friends to have as Andrea helped us bargain for a shuttle to Antigua and Tsiel introduced us to her friends who hooked us up with a hostel in Antigua.


To make a long story short, because I just realized how long I could really talk about this trip, I will summarize and just give highlights from here.


Day 1

-Land and drive to antigua

Day 2

-Wake up and explore antigua

-Hike up to a cross on a cliffside for a great view of the city

-Hike a volcano Pacaya (one of the most active volcanos in central america) where we roasted marsh mellows over lava and ate them while watching a beautiful sunset.

-Bus back to Antigua where we cleaned up and went out to eat at the Crazy Monkey bar and grill.

Day 3

-7:00AM shuttle to Panajachel

-Explore the town, find a hostel, connect with local missionary Loyd

-Eat lunch at Sandra’s (incredible meal!)

-Lead worship at coffee shop church

-Run to the lake to catch the sunset

-Dinner on the town

-Rooftop chilling and star gazing to end an incredible day

Day 4

-Morning private boat ride around the lake Atitlan

-Swim in hotsprings

-Jump off boat in the middle of the lake

-Explore local village and play basketball with some school kids

-Shop at the local markets in Pana, lunch with Loyd, and then take shuttle to El Paredon

Day 5

Surf at sunrise

relax all day in hammocks on the pacific coast

Surf

Eat

Surf

Play cards with fellow bungalowers, eat, chill on the beach and sleep

Day 6

Enjoy last morning on the beach

Boat and truck to Sipicate

Chicken bus to Gmala City

Get in crazy taxi for 2 hour scavenger hunt for a hostel

Meet some more awesome Israeli people and just chill at the hostel for the night

Day 7

-Fly home


Music is nothing short of a gift from God.

Kory Cassell
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How can you deny the power that has been placed in music.  “Secular” or not it moves us... drives us to feel something... evokes emotion.  No matter the tempo, rhythm, key, tone there is always a reaction.  God himself finds it so important, so paramount that he surrounds himself with creatures that do nothing but SING praises to him.  The most powerful being he created, the one who turned against him, was in charge of the songs of heaven.  When I think about this power, this gift he has in-trusted us with, I can’t help but be humbled.  His word calls us to make a distinction with our words... with our sounds.  I want to make a distinct sound with my life... with the music of my life.  One that evokes emotion, one that inspires, one that brings joy, and ultimately glory... but not to me.  To Him.


“Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?  Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?  So it is with you...”

                                                     I Corinthians 14: 7-9

/KC