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.

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.