#Celebrate2300

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi


I looked and looked through online albums and actual books of pictures, trying to decide what the FIRST photo I took at our current (for another 9 days) church location.

As near as I can tell, the first photos I took were for the sewing blog in 2004, documenting the costuming for our inaugural production of  'The Gospel According to Scrooge':

We actually began attending church at The Rock Family Worship Center in spring of 2001.  The building they were meeting in then was a former Sheraton Inn...a very nice hotel in the early 80's, but it had been sold and split up and re-sold and...the previous occupant was Joe's House of Entertainment.  But the church was just renting the space, and in spring of 2003 the owner sold the building.

Through a series of amazing events, we ended up purchasing a building at 2300 Memorial Parkway that had housed a genetics company...but prior to that, it had been as shopping center that featured a Service Merchandise.

We actually have stuff in our house that was purchased from that Service Merchandise back in the 80's.

We moved into the 2300 Memorial Parkway in July of 2003, literally right before we had to be out of the previous location, squeezing ourselves into a small auditorium they had, with a stage that was probably no more than 8 feet deep.

Why did a genetics company have an auditorium?  Who knows?  We had three services a weekend there to get everyone in while they gutted a series of labs/clean rooms and converted them into the current sanctuary.

We got the Certificate of Occupation from the Fire Marshall for the sanctuary the day before our annual Women's conference.  The fumes from the carpet glue, which had been laid that week, were so strong that one of our speakers had a serious respiratory reaction and almost ended up in the hospital.   She did end up spending one of the sessions doing breathing treatments in her hotel room.
There's an amazing testimony from that...we stopped the service and had special prayer for her, and literally at that time something shifted and she found herself able to breathe.

The sanctuary seemed huge.  It seated about 1000 folks, had three cameras running and amazing lighting.  I remember walking in and having to remind myself that this was my church...not a special conference event somewhere.

And the church grew. 

We outgrew that huge space at least 3 times.  We converted large spaces into smaller offices, moved the main doors, added windows, refurbished and updated, cramming classrooms and offices wherever and however we could.

We launched satellite campuses to hold overflow.  We added services back...once more, we're doing three services a weekend to accommodate everyone.

So many memories.  So many adventures.  So many encounters. We did The Gospel According to Scrooge twice, we did several Bible-based costumed Easter productions.

We're being encouraged to post photos and memories, with the hashtag Celebrate 2300 to link them all together.

I commented that I could go through the photos in my Facebook Albums and hashtag Celebrate 2300 to about 2/3 of the pictures.  But I don't have pictures that really document the history of our sojourn there.

We've been in that building nearly 15 years.  I can't begin to list the significant moments, the wonderful people, the blessings.  I've been on staff since 2009; I can tell you that it ain't a perfect church.  But it is a church that loves God and loves people and is making a difference in our city.

We have one more Sunday set of services there...and we'll be boxing up stuff the rest of that Sunday.  The last moving trucks will pull up on 1/29 and 1/30 to haul the remaining goods to the 'new' building...a retired high school.  2300 has already been sold to another church...who has already started some renovations in the areas that we moved out of in December.

We'll stilll be holding three services a weekend in the theater to accommodate the folks while the gymnasium is converted into a sanctuary that will seat somewhere around 1,600.  It should be done late in the spring.

I need to take more pictures.  Someday we may want to review what it looked like back in 2018 when we moved in to the work in progress...

What's My Motive?

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

(The back cover of the journal I customized at DIVE in 2014...that I use to record original song lyrics and other poetic stuff...)

One of my Blogging Buddies (and former BSF Teaching Leader), Suzanne Matthews, recently posted a question:

What Bible verse or quote impacted your life in 2017?

When I first read that, I paused, but came up with a blank.  I couldn't really think of one that stood out.

But, as these things go, one verse that caught my attention last year has resurfaced again and again in the time since I first read that question.

How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?  - Jn 5:44

I've just started reading David Binon's book The Invisible Worshiper, and, even though he hasn't mentioned that verse (at least not in the first two chapters, lol), I keep hearing that question over and over again.

Am I making an effort to obtain the praise that comes only from God...or am I looking for approval/praise from other people?

See, at the turning of the year I have become keenly aware that my creative self has all but shut down.  Oh, I'm puttering away here and there, but there's nothing consistent.  The urgency that had me writing even just three years ago has pretty much evaporated.  I sit down to write and...nothing.

I'll be honest; a lot of the reason I found myself floundering to write/create is...it went nowhere.  I began to feel like I was spending a lot of energy...not just creating, but anticipating and hoping that the work was worth doing, could make a difference...and, by and large, it was met with a 'Oh, that's nice.'...and then, nothing.

Case in point...not meant to be a complaint or a whine, just a statement of fact...I went back and counted the comments I've gotten on the blog in the past year.  Not counting my own...seven.

I shouldn't have counted.    Am I trying to gain the praise that comes from God...or praise from people?

I pulled out my songwriting notebook and read through some of the lyrics.  And I honestly think at least some of them are good.  But my attempts to turn them into something have just hit brick wall after brick wall.  So I'm pretty sure turning them into something isn't my calling.

That's trying to get praise from people, right?

Then... the Passion and Purpose post challenged me...I realized that another reason my creative unction had failed was that I failed to spend time in the presence of the Creator.  He is the SOURCE.

A wee bit squeezed in here and there ain't gonna cut it.  Not if I want to move forward.

I had given up on writing because it was going nowhere.  And I'd stopped spending quality time with God because the creativity that came from those meetings drove me to write...but the writing was going nowhere.

Looking for praise from people ultimately shuts down not only the output of creative but closes off the source of creative.

Ya'll, I am having my clock cleaned good at the start of the year.

So here's a paradigm shift...a challenge for 2018...become a person who seeks to please God...

Step One...no commitments...yet...

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi.

If you're contemplating a once-in-a-lifetime adventure,  start with the simple steps.

Go to the post office and get your passport renewed.

It doesn't obligate you...yet...

And you know time's running out; you might not make the deadline once all the discussions are completed and the finances laid out and all lights turn green.

But you might.

So you do the simple step.

And then know you've got to commit within a week if you're going to do it.

Because you really, really want to do it.

But it scares you a little.

Ok, a lot.

It's just that there's all those stupid niggling health issues...what if one of them (or more) decides to blow up at the worst possible moment on the other side of the globe?

And you know you don't fly well.

But you also know if you don't at least try you'll be disappointed in yourself.

So find the just-expired passport. Fill out the paperwork. Get the photo.  Pay the fee.  Send it in.

And trust that if God means for you to do it, there will still be a space available once all agree on 'go'.  And He's got all that health stuff covered.  And if it's a bad idea...well, the deadline will pass and that will be that.

And...truth...that's better than my drivers' license photo...

The Epiphany Challenge

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  (Matt. 2:1-3; all scripture today from NIV 84)


While we have many traditional ideas of the Christmas story that don't really line up with scripture; the Magi's part is probably the most distorted.  My little china nativity set underscores the errors...first, that there were exactly 3 (they have even been given names somewhere along the way...Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspar.  According to this CNN Story,  Bede the Venerable listed their names and descriptions in the 8th century, but no one knows the exact origin of the tradition); secondly, that they came to the manger with the shepherds.  Nowhere in scripture is the number of Magi stated; given the stir they caused when they arrived in Jerusalem, disturbing the whole city with their quest, I rather think it was somewhat more than three.  And as to them coming to the manger, that's pretty much disproven later in the second chapter of Matthew.  It was somewhere in the neighborhood of two years later when they came to the house in Bethlehem where Joseph and Mary and Jesus were living.

But, be that as it may, it still is an astonishing bit in the story that wealthy learned men (again, not kings...nowhere in the narrative are they referred to as kings) understood the signs in the heavens and undertook the journey to worship the one they called the King of the Jews.  They had to also have understood the significance of that King...that His coming was for the nations, not just for the Jews.  Why else would they undertake such a journey? 

All Jerusalem was disturbed.

Herod called in the chief priests and the teachers of the law and asked them where the Messiah was to be born.

"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "For this is what the prophet has written:  But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."  (Matt. 2:5-6)

Now, if you were a Jew, living in Jerusalem,  hearing the news that a troupe of foreigners, well-dressed and well-mounted, had arrived looking for the long-prophesied king...who was to have be born only about 5 miles away...what would you have done?

The Jews of that day did...nothing. Not one of them is recorded as going to see for himself if the story the Magi told was true.

Of course, perhaps they reasoned that it had been two years and there was certainly no guarantee that the family hadn't left the area, but still.  They had been looking for the coming of the Messiah for CENTURIES.  Would you not have been a little curious?  Would you not have taken a day to check the story out?

But Herod instructed the Magi to go and find the child and then come back and tell him...and everyone else, I suppose...where to find him.

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

I have heard critics of the gospel state that the sum given to Mary and Joseph should have set them up to be wealthy; I think it just financed the urgent flight they undertook probably less than 24 hours later.  Joseph had a dream warning him to go to Egypt; he got up and took his family and left in the middle of the night.   Herod, in his fury that the Magi did not return and tell him where to find anyone, sent his soldiers to kill all boys two and under in the entire area around Bethlehem.

The Jews had missed their opportunity to see their Messiah.  Of course, He would appear to all of them later, but that blessing for that time was gone.

So, here's the challenge to me from the story of Epiphany...Jesus is near to us today.  We can encounter Him just by taking the time to seek Him.   Every day is a new opportunity...but when that opportunity is gone, it's gone.  How many days do I let go by without spending some time with Him?  Why do I let the busy of life stop me from the very little effort it takes to hear a word or two for that day?  How can I shake my head over the Jews who wouldn't interrupt their routine for a 5 mile journey if I won't interrupt my activity for 30 minutes?

Purpose and Passion

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

 (the sunset photo really doesn't have anything to do with the post; but sunsets in general are good for a reflective mood and it gives Facebook a nice photo to post instead of the CWO button...lol)

I actually made it to the beginning of staff prayer today; many days I come in right at the end of the 'quiet personal prayer time'  and catch the corporate prayer and the exhortation from one of the pastors.

But today, I got there early enough that I could do my Jericho march around the sanctuary.  I like to walk and pray...number one, it keeps me alert and, number two, it keeps me warm, lol.

As I was walking and praying, there was one particular face that came to mind and I found myself praying that God would put a passion and purpose into that life...someone who's in need of a bit of direction and motivation to get out of a rut.

When enough folks had arrived that the aisles were beginning to be congested (many other staffers like to walk and pray as well), I sat down, and the following thoughts just ran out of my pen onto my notepad (slightly edited for clarity and coherence, I'll admit...)....

Passion and purpose are essential for a satisfying human existence.

Folks who have neither move aimlessly through life, ineffective and invisible.

Folks who have purpose but no passion lose their sense of value, living under the drudgery of duty.

Folks who have passion but no purpose burn out on frivolity.

A God-given passion for a purpose will change the world...for someone.

But each of us have to CHOOSE to pursue the passion and purpose of God; it is tailored to fit each individual life and will go unclaimed if the person for whom it was fashioned...or, perhaps, who was fashioned for it...doesn't rise up and possess it.

Because the enemy will provide a counterfeit; passion can be twisted and purpose can be misdirected.  It needs an intentional choice to live in the passion and purpose of God.

And choice is never just a decision; choice is an action.

What am I doing today to choose to pursue the passion and purpose of God in and for my life? 

A good ponder for the start of a new year...

Through the Bible in 2018

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Gonna start from the top again with a different translation; I read the NIV '84 in 2017; this year, I'm reading and marking my ESV.

I think I've mentioned before that one of the best ways to get a fresh revelation of a passage of Scripture is to read it in a version that is not familiar.  The ESV is getting familiar...and it has a very King James feel to it without the archaic language, but I think it will be good to get into it just the same.

I've decided to modify the  3 + 1 format a bit; instead of doing it daily, I'm going to do it 6 days a week.  I'll still finish with, like, 3 weeks to go, but that should take some of the pressure off of it as I'll have one day a week for catch up if life gets busy.

But it's going to be hard to track where I am in the schedule.

So I sat down and made a weekly plan for the year, just so I have something to reference if I miss a few days so I can see what I need to do to catch up.

I'm following the same plan I used last year...grouping authors but going semi-chronological.

Starting with Genesis (2 chapters a day), Psalms (1 chapter a day) and the Gospel according to John (1 chapter a day).

The weekly plan looks like this:
Week 1 - Gen. 1 - 12; Ps. 1 - 6; John 1 - 6
Week 2 - Gen. 13 - 24; Ps. 7 - 12; John 7 - 12
Week 3 - Gen. 25 - 36; Ps. 13 - 18; John 13 - 18
Week 4 - Gen. 37 - 48; Ps. 19 - 24; John 19 - 21, 1 John 1 - 3
Week 5 - Gen.49 - 50,  Ex. 1- 10; Ps. 25 - 30; 1 John 4 - 5, 2 John, 3 John, Rev. 1 - 2
Week 6 - Ex 11 - 22; Ps. 31-36; Rev 3-8
Week 7 - Ex. 23 - 34; Ps. 37-42; Rev. 9-14
Week 8 - Ex 35 - 40; Lev. 1-6; Ps. 43-48, Rev. 15-20
Week 9 - Lev. 7 -18; Ps. 49 - 54; Rev 21-22, Matt 1 -4
Week 10 - Lev. 19-27; Num. 1-3;  Ps, 55 - 60, Matt 5-10
Week 11 - Num. 4-15; Ps. 61-66; Matt 11-16
Week 12 - Num 16-27; Ps. 67-72;  Matt 17-22
Week 13-  Num. 28-36; Deut. 1-3; Ps. 73-78 Matt 23-28
*End of March

Week 14 - Deut. 4 - 15; Ps. 79-84; Mark 1-6
Week 15 - Deut 16-27; Ps. 85-90; Mark 7-12
Week 16 - Deut. 28 -34, Josh. 1-5; Ps 91-96; Mark 13 -15. Lk. 1-3
Week 17 - Josh. 6-17; Ps. 97- 102; Lk 4-9
Week 18 - Josh. 18-24, Judges 1-5; Ps. 103-108; Lk 10-15
Week 19 - Judges 6-17; Ps. 109-114; Lk 16-21
Week 20 - Judges 18-21, Ruth 1-4, 1 Sam. 1-4; Ps. 115-120; Lk 22-24, Acts 1-3
Week 21 - 1 Sam 5-16; Ps. 121-126; Acts 4-9
Week 22 - 1 Sam 14-28; Ps. 127-132; Acts 10-15
Week 23 - 1 Sam 29-31, 2 Sam 1 - 9;  Ps. 133-138; Acts 16-21
Week 24  - 2 Sam 10 - 21; Ps. 138-144; Acts 22-27
Week 25 - 2 Sam 22-24, 1 Kings 1-9; Ps. 145-150; Acts 28, James 1-5
Week 26 - 1 Kings 10 - 21; Job 1- 6; 1 Thess.1-5, 2 Thess 1
*End of June

Week 27 - 1 Kings 22, 2 Kings 1 - 11; Job 7 - 12; 2 Thess 2-3, Gal 1 - 4
Week 28 - 2 Kings 12 - 23; Job 13-18; Gal 5-6, 1 Cor 1-4
Week 29 - 2 Kings 24-25, 1 Chron. 1 - 10; Job 19-24, 1 Cor 5-10
Week 30 - 1 Chron. 11 - 22; Job 25-30, 1 Cor 11-16,
Week 31 - 1 Chron. 23 - 29, 2 Chron 1 - 5; Job 31-36; 2 Cor 1-6
Week 32 -  2 Chron 6-17, Job 37-42, 2 Cor. 7-12
Week 33 -  2 Chron 18 -29; Prov. 1 - 6;  2 Cor. 13,Rom. 1-5
Week 34 -  2 Chron 30-36, Is 1-5; Prov. 7-12; Rom. 6-11
Week 35 - Isaiah 6 -17; Prov. 13-18, Rom. 12- 16, Eph. 1
Week 36 - Isaiah 18 - 29,  Prov. 19-24, Eph. 2 - 6, Philippians 1
Week 37 - Is 30-41,  Prov. 25-30; Philippias 2- 4,  Colossians 1 - 3
Week 38 - Is. 42 -53,  Prov. 31, Ecc. 1 - 5, Colossians 4,  Titus 1-3, 1 Tim 1-2
Week 39 -  Is. 54 -65; Ecc. 6 - 11; 1 Tim 3- 6, 2 Tim 1-2
*End of September

Week 40 -  Is. 66, Micah 1 - 7, Joel 1- 3, Hos. 1  Ecc. 12, SoS 1-5, 2 Timothy 3, Heb 1-5
Week 41 -   Hos. 2-14, Amos 1-2 ; SoS 6-8, Heb. 6- 12  (Books of Wisdom completed)
Week 42 -  Amos 3- 9, Jonah 1-4, Nah. 1-3, Habbakukk 1-3, Zeph.1 ;  Heb 13, 1 Pet. 1-5
Week 43 -  Zeph. 2-3, Jer. 1 - 18;  2 Peter 1-3, Jude (New Testament Completed)
Week 44 - Jer 19 - 42
Week 45- Jer. 43 - 52, Lamentations 1-5, Ezekiel 1-9
Week 46 -Ezekiel 10-33
Week 47 - Ezekiel 34 - 48, Obadiah, Daniel 1- 8
Week 48 - Daniel 9 - 12, Esther 1-10, Ezra 1-10
Week 49  -Neh. 1-13, Haggai 1-2, Zec 1-6
Week 50 - Zechariah 7 - 14, Mal 1- 4

That *ought* to finish up sometime around the 2nd week in December.  I *think* it's all there; when I was typing it up I found some boo-boos in my handwritten schedule....which is a pretty scrawly mess.  (ETA - I discovered I completely omitted 2 Chronicles and Habbakkuk, and had the wrong chapter counts on at least two books and had to go back and refigure everything.    I THINK it's right now...)

So...anyone feel game to read along? :-)