Friday, April 26, 2019

Spring Semester finished!

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Springtime sight: Dogwood blossoms against the new leaves on the Japanese Maple
 
Of the ten or so folks who started the Bible Study for Beginners class back in February, 3 were still there on the last class.  Which is about par for the course for these kinds of things.  It was a good first go at Wednesday nights studies...we were setting records for Wednesday night attendance...until we went to Daylight Savings Time and the days got warm, lol.   Plus, we had two weeks in which we didn't have classes...not back-to-back, but almost, due to other events on the church calendar.  It's funny how many folks didn't make it back after that breaky bit.

But I enjoyed the class; it's so refreshing to introduce folks to the scripture and see the lightbulbs go on as they realize that they CAN sit down with a Bible, a pen and a notebook and the right attitude and actually get a personal revelation.  I don't know how many times I've studied...even taught...the book we were using as the basis for the studies, Ephesians, and I still saw stuff in there I'd never noticed before.

God's word really IS living and active...and it WILL divide soul and spirit, if you give it the chance.

I have three Fridays left now before I head to Israel.  I'd like to do some preparation studying...maybe spend some more time in the Psalms...before I go.

I may or may not unearth/ make connections on anything blog-worthy...we'll see.

Meantime, I'm trying to figure out how light I can pack.  I have two sizes of suitcases...probably too small and way bigger than I need.  I really don't want to take the big one.
Decisions, decisions, lol...

Friday, April 19, 2019

Holy Week 2019: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! - Ps. 118

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

The last and longest Psalm of the Hallel is Psalm 118. If Psalm 117 is a sweet little praise chorus, Psalm 118 is the hymn with five verses squeezed in between the treble and the bass clef in the hymnal.
'His steadfast love endures forever' is repeated five times...4 of those in the first 4 verses.  And, notice we are repeating the pattern of Ps. 115 here..

Let Israel say,  'His steadfast love endures forever'
Let the house of Aaron say, 'His steadfast love endures forever'
Let those who fear the LORD say, ''His steadfast love endures forever' (v. 2 - 4)

The nation of Israel, the priests and...anyone else who fears the Lord.

Then, we have a revisit to the theme of  Ps. 116...the Lord delivers those who trust him.

And, one little bit that is often considered Messianic:

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.  (vs. 22 & 23)
(Just for grins, look at Matthew 21:42 to see Jesus quote that very passage...and note that Paul writes in Eph. 2:20 that Jesus is the cornerstone of the household of God).

But it seems a fitting thing to conclude the Hallel...and enter into the Passover ritual:

The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.  Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!   - vs. 27 - 29

And it is unique this year in that Passover coincides with Good Friday.   As my Jewish friends were settling into their celebration of the Seder, we were commemorating the pronouncement of  'Tetelestai!'... 'It is finished!'


Thursday, April 18, 2019

Holy Week 2019: Praise Ye the Lord! Ps. 117

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi.





I can honestly say...I have really not paid much attention to Ps. 117.  It is, after all, only two verses long.

I kinda think it must've been like, the favorite worship chorus that folks would sing.  Sort of like "I Love You, Lord" today...which, if I counted right, is actually 6 words longer than Ps. 117.

It's packed with praise. 

Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
And the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

This actually puts me in mind of something that happened at work last week...our church building was, in years past, a large high school.  What was the cafeteria was kind of a sunken living room, if you will...down about 8 steps from ground level and big enough to put tables for a good chunk of the student body (which was nearly 3,000 kids in th '70's).  A picture is worth 1,000 words, right...

The wall on the left just cuts one corner of the triangle off -- there's a wide walkway that wraps around, with classrooms off of it.  This picture was taken about a month before we started having services there; we joked we could have an All-Skate there, but I digress...Anyway, we call that space 'The Commons', and it functions as the church fellowship hall.
We have a daycare for church employees and pastor's kids, and at some point in the afternoon they load the toddler class into the six-seater buggy and they take them a couple of laps around the Commons.  Last week, during one of those weeks, the kids just started singing, and little treble voices rang out at the top of their lungs, with no help from the teachers:

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord!

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord!
Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah! 
Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah!

Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah! 
Praise ye the Lord!

It echoed all around the big empty space and into my office and was seriously the cutest thing.  

I think that was a good reminder...that sometimes, a little praise chorus is just what you need.
Kinda like Psalms 117.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Holy Week 2019: Praise God for Deliverance - Ps. 116

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

This Psalm is 19 verses long.

Verse 3 describes a crisis in the psalmists' life:

The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of  Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.

But in verse 4, he does the only thing he can do:

Then I called on the name of the LORD; "O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"

The rest of the psalm...17 verses... is praise for that deliverance.

I dug out the lexicons and found that 'deliver my soul' is the primary translation, although 'save my life' (which is how the NASB translates it) is also valid, based on other shades of meanings.

'Deliver my soul' just seems so...deep.

Because what threatens a soul is so much more elusive and destructive.  Life can be, to all appearances, just the bee's knees, going well, and then...boom, Something in the individual breaks in spite of all the success and comfort, leaving folks wondering what happened.

O, LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!

Mental, spiritual, emotional anguish that doesn't show...or that is tamped down and hidden until it can't be any more.

People look to lots of solutions for that kind of torment.  Few truly trust it to God.

The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.  Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.  (vs 6-7)

Look at what God did: delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.   (vs 8  - 9)

I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.  (v. 14 and v. 18).

And the summation is in the first two verses, before he even begins:

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.  Because he inclined his ear to me,  therefore I will call upon him as long as I live.

 I think I am going to be pondering one line, though, from this psalm... 'Return, o my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.'

That is a good thing to ponder in the evening.


Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Holy Week 2019: Trust in the LORD! - Ps. 115

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

I am late with this post today...but I think I can squeak it in....


This Psalm points out something that I feel often...God, act, for your name's sake!  Bring glory to your name!  Don't let the heathen look at those who call your name and scoff, 'Where is your God?'

I look at situations and see SO MANY opportunities for God to show his might, his power.

But you know, the psalmist reminds us...God is in the heavens, and he does everything that pleases him.

Look at those folks who are scoffing, he says.  Their gods are wood and metal, made by men.  They can't do anything...and neither can the folks who put their trust in them.

But not so for those who put their trust in God.

Oh, Israel, trust in the LORD!  He is their help and their shield.  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD,  trust in the LORD!  He is their help and their shield.

The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.  (vs. 9 - 13)

 
See what he did there?  The parallel thoughts?  Israel-house of Aaron- those who fear the Lord?  That emphasis will show up again.  The pagans don't have that kind of assurance.

We will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.  Praise the LORD!


Monday, April 15, 2019

Holy Week 2019: Let the Earth Tremble - Ps. 114

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Let's see...what DID happen when Israel left Egypt?

Just off the top of my  head...

The Pillar of fire protected them from Pharaoh's  army
The wind blew all night and dried off the sea floor between walls of water
Bitter, undrinkable water was turned sweet and fresh
Manna appeared on the ground every morning
Water gushed from a rock
Quail dropped from the sky
The Mountain shook and thundered
The ground opened up and swallowed a bunch of rebels
A stick that had been dead and used for a walking staff suddenly flowered and produced almonds
The Jordan ceased flowing and dried up at flood stage

...I'm sure there's more that I'm not recollecting.

Nature itself came alongside the Hebrews as they journeyed from slavery, from 'a people of  a strange language' to the promise.

'Why?' the Psalmist asked.

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. - vs 7.

And [the Lord] said, 'My presence will go with you...' -- Ex. 33:14a

How could the earth itself not react to the very presence of the Creator who was accompanying His people?  Such a thing has not happened at any other time...not before or since.  God moving with and through and around and for His people, visible in the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud.

Yes, let the earth tremble.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Holy Week 2019: Hallelujah! - Ps.113

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi



Just out of curiosity, I googled 'The Hallel' and came across this recording:

ETA: HM.  The Youtube video icon was there when I hit post...dunno why it went away.  Here's the LINK

Very interesting! Listen and follow along in your favorite translation. This is the full text of the song sang at the opening of the Passover meal. There are several renditions recorded here, read by different readers.


I thought I'd take one Psalm each day of Holy Week and have a little look at it.  Just, you know, for focus.

So the first one up is Ps. 113.


It's just pure praise. 'Praise the LORD!' (in the recording, it's 'Hallelu Jah!')

Vs 1 - Who is to praise him...servants of the Lord

Vs 2 - 3  - When he is to be praised... from this moment throughout eternity...from sunrise to sunset

Vs 4 - 6  - Why he is to be praised ...He's above all nations, his glory is above the heavens; he is 
                 seated on high and looks down on the heavens and the earth; who else does that?

Vs. 7 - 9    What he has done that is praiseworthy...He raises the poor, lifts the needy, gives the barren
                woman her home and the joy of motherhood

Praise the Lord!


Friday, April 12, 2019

A Pause in the Busy

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

When you work in a church office, the holidays have a different impact on your life than the average church goer.

Logistics.  Plans.  How can we best facilitate folks who make a decision for Christ receiving encouragement and discipleship in their new journey?  How can we keep straight the dozens and dozens of folks who chose to be baptized in the massive baptism service two weeks later?

Nobody really cares about the numbers - and that is the truth - but we can't do any kind of meaningful follow up without some kind of tracking process.

Enter the data base admin.

That would be me.

As the church has grown and changed locations, what we used to do won't work.  So we need to tweak and adjust to accommodate growth.  It's a good problem to have, but it does need consideration and work.

And it's really, really easy to get consumed by the logistics and processes that are meant to help people...and lose sight of why we're doing it at all.

So this week, I got a bit of a blessing.  My friend Suzanne, who was my teaching leader years ago when I was going through Bible Study Fellowship,  has started doing monthly Bible studies.  She limits the size to fifteen...the number of ladies who can squeeze around the very large table at the venue she has found...and it's first come, first served on the sign ups.  This month's study was on the 4 cups of Passover...specifically, the four cups of the final Passover meal Jesus ate with his disciples, and I happened to see the sign up link shortly after she posted it.  It was during lunch and I hesitated, but then I decided I could just take a bit of a long lunch (the benefits of being a part-timer; my hours are somewhat flexible) and go, and I signed up.

I did not know how badly I needed to break away and take some time to focus on the whole point of the season. It was a wonderful, refreshing reminder of that last night and how it all played out.  Suzanne brings all the tools she learned in the years of leading the BSF class to her presentation and it's deep, provoking, and satisfying.

I did learn some things.  For one thing, the history of the  afikomen (I have referenced that before) wasn't quite how I had learned .... it appears that it was a much later addition to the meal, commemorating the Passover Lamb after the ritual sacrifices were no longer able to be done due to the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.  But...Jesus did the same thing with his bread that now happens with the afikomen; he broke it and everyone had a bit, and it was likely at the same place in the ritual of the evening...after the completion of the meal.    'Remember me when you eat this bread,' he said....and it is now eaten to remember the Passover Lamb.

Also, I learned that the meal began with singing psalms...specifically, Psalms 113-118, collectively known as 'The Hallel'...as a preparation of mind and spirit for the night.

Suzanne challenged us to spend some time in those Psalms during Holy Week, and I thought that was a great idea.

I am even going to try to blog it as I go.  We'll see if I can keep the Busy at bay enough to do coherent posts.

Friday, April 5, 2019

Oh, the Poor Neglected Beer Blog....

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi



I have thought often of posting in the past...month, gulp...but I have so many irons in the fire at the moment that I just couldn't capture the thoughts at the moment.

So I thought I'd give you a little update on something that started well over a year ago...

I am going to Israel at the end of next month.

Can I just pause a moment and let that sink in?  It just doesn't...compute....

It's another DIVE trip.  I went to the DIVE School back in 2014, when I was in a rather limbo spot.  It was an amazing week and was the first time I'd been away from home for that long without really feeling like I'd been gone forever. It went by so fast and I was getting so much poured into me that it felt like it existed outside of time.  And I got encouraged that I had songs to write.

So I came home with a personal challenge...there was a DIVE songwriting conference happening  about a year later, so I told myself if I could come up with one song a month in the next year I could go to that conference.

And I did it.  I had twelve songs on paper by the end of September 2015.  Some were pretty lame...er, needed more work...but there were two or three that I really thought had potential.  I went to the conference, shared the last song I wrote, really badly as 1)it's nearly outside of my vocal ability anyway and 2) it was a cappela and I need help staying in the same key and 3) I'm not accustomed to singing solo.  And the song, which I had such belief in, was judged 'dated'; someone said it sounded like an 80's rock opera.  ONE solitary person said she could imagine Jesus Culture doing it.  So it wasn't entirely shot down, lol, and there was an acknowledgement that there were some good phrases and word pictures in it.  But overall the result was, well, I can't sing good enough to share a song and I don't play an instrument and so, I need help.

I was encouraged to pick a few of the songs...maybe even just one...and share them with some folks on our ministry team at church.  Maybe even purchase some time from one of them in order to get a good critique on the song and some solid help in developing it.

But I'm not after writing songs for the Christian music industry; I wanted to write songs for our house.  What would be the point of investing money in a song that I'm not going to peddle elsewhere?  But I did share some of the songs with folks on our ministry team.

Crickets, y'all.  Crickets.

The songwriting, lacking any kind of demand on it, has kind of faded, although I have written one or two more and have bits and pieces of potential songs in my notebook.

But I was writing this thing on the blog about Transitions...and found myself wandering off into fictionalized versions of the stories.  I edited that out, well edited MOST of it out, of the posts and put it into files on the computer.

Then I started writing a piece about Sarah and Hagar.  I saw it as a two-woman play, with them each relating bits of their story in turn, but the rough story arc took on its own life and I'm not sure I have a play now.

And that's what I was working on in fall of 2017, when Rita announced she would take a tour group to Israel in May 2018.  I watched the promo video and thought, oh, in my dreams... and promptly forgot about it.  About 6 weeks later, in the choir room between services, one of the young ladies who had also been to Dive caught me. 'Are you going with Rita?' she asked.

Well, our head intercessor's first name is also Rita, so my immediate thought was that she was taking a group somewhere...maybe IHOP or something...but I hadn't heard about it.  Seeing my puzzled expression, my young friend added, 'To Israel?'

Oh, yeah.  That.  Ha, ha, I wish.

But it made me think and I came home and watched the promo video again.  And this time, when I watched it, Rita's vision of doing creative things rather than just jumping on the bus to go to the next spot hit me.  What if...I could stand where Abram stood looking over the Jordan Valley when he saw it full of sulpherous  smoke, wondering if Lot made it out alive?  Something jumped inside of me and I thought...this is my trip. And I signed up.

Well, it got postponed from last year to this year...but it's paid off, I have all my plane tickets and...it's going to happen.  The night before I purchased my tickets to get from the Rocket City to our departure point at JFK, I went through my DIVE cards again...the results of the prophetic exercise all DIVE classes do on Sunday.  I had forgotten the details of them, but there was one that had made us all laugh when I got it.




I quipped, 'Oh, maybe that's a date night w/ my hubby at PF Chang's,'  but the young lady that wrote that card caught me later and said, 'No.  I saw feet on the tarmac.  It's a trip.'

So after I booked the tickets I looked to see which continent Israel is considered to be in; the Middle East is 'Intracontinental' and is in Europe, Asia and Africa.  But Israel is considered to be in ...you guessed it...Asia.

So.  I'm going with no agenda, really, except to re-ignight the creative, which has fallen kind of asleep. And this is my prayer, which are the lyrics from the song I sang so badly at the songwriter's conference:

Can these dry bones live?  Can these dry bones live?
It's such a dismal sight -- bones all bleached and white
But the question comes to light, can they live?
Lord you know, Lord you know, Lord you know.

We prophesy to the dry bones, we prophesy to the dry bones
We prophesy, we prophesy, 
'Live, in Jesus' name! Live, in Jesus' name!  Live in Jesus' name!'
 Oh, oh, oh -- oh, oh, oh- oh, oh, oh, oh.

Can these dead dreams breathe?  Can these dead dreams breathe?
The spark has long grown cold, they're all stale and old
We have not been told, can they breathe?
Lord you know, Lord you know, Lord you know.

We prophesy to the dead dreams, We prophesy to the dead dreams
We prophesy, we prophesy, 
'Breathe, in Jesus' name!  Breathe, in Jesus' name!  Breathe, in Jesus' name!'
 Oh, oh, oh -- oh, oh, oh- oh, oh, oh, oh.

Can this mute hope sing?  Can this mute hope sing?
Its voice has long been gone, shutters closed and drawn
Forgotten every song, can it sing? 
Lord you know, Lord you know, Lord you know.

We prophesy to the mute hope, we prophesy to the mute hope
We prophesy, we prophesy,
'Sing, in Jesus' name!  Sing, in Jesus' name!  Sing, in Jesus' name!'
Oh, oh, oh -- oh, oh, oh- oh, oh, oh, oh.

We will live, we will breathe, we will hope in You
With Your life, Your breath, Your song!   (repeat ad lib)

Oh, oh, oh -- oh, oh, oh- oh, oh, oh, oh.