Faith and a Fast Moving Bull (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

That bull was moving on!

It happened about the time everyone was headed back from lunch. The bull, lighting out for the territory ahead, was giving it his all as he sprinted down a very busy street. Behind him, lasso and whip at the ready, raced a man in a red pickup truck—followed by four police cars.  

 

It was a sight.

 

Drivers pulled to the side as that parade headed toward the roundabout. Folks finishing their burgers and fries at Health Camp were entranced. But an even more interesting part of the story was about to come.  

 

That's when two "animal control cowboys" rode up. Their job was to corner the fella and wrangle him into a trailer. They made it look easy. His flirt with freedom at an end, the bull was returned to his owner, only a little worse for the wear. The whole spectacle was a thing of a few minutes, but it gave us all something to talk about for a long time after. 

 

Later, when it was written up in the newspaper, a police sergeant was quoted as saying, “The good thing about living in Texas is that it’s not too long after you call a cowboy that you get one coming to you.”

 

That brings us to this week's scriptures from Exodus and Psalms, passages that focus on a time when the children of Israel tested God. At this point in the story, they had experienced the wonder and power of God again and again…and again: the plagues on Egypt, the miracle of the Passover; the pillar of cloud and the pillar of flame; the dry crossing at the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army; undrinkable water cured; free meat every evening to feast on and manna every morning.  

 

And yet, after all of that, when they grew thirsty, they insulted God by complaining as if they had never witnessed a single miracle. They had seen His power—lived it—but acted as if none of it had ever occurred.

 

The police in my community called on animal control cowboys when faced with the need to round up an errant bull. They made that call because they knew those cowboys were available and ready to accept the challenge. There was every confidence that a cowboy would soon be coming to do what needed to be done.

 

That's because we live in "cowboy country." 

We know they exist, that they’re capable, and that we can depend on them. We’ve seen their abilities and have no concern about them handling such things. Our experience with cowboys has led to our faith in them to address our cowboy needs.

 

The Israelites lived in "God Country." They had been living there for some time. Yet, when the need arose, they couldn't trust God for their need. We can extend a little grace to these folks. After all, they had recently come out of generations of enslavement. Trust can be a very difficult thing under such circumstances. 

 

Our circumstance is different…or is it? Some of us have trust issues, even with God. Maybe especially with God. 

 

If you have seen the power of God in your life, consider imitating our local bull chasers. Trust that when you need God's help, God already knows and has an answer on the way.

 

You have a cowboy coming to you.

 

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PHOTO (Waco Police Department and a story about that bull-on-the-run):

https://www.keranews.org/2014-03-19/officers-with-lassos-chase-an-angry-bull-through-the-streets-of-waco?_amp=true

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There is no Lectionary Breakfast this week. We’re all off somewhere on Spring Break. See you next week!

 

Blessings,

Steve 

 

 **Here’s the Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=26

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/pdf//Ax_ThirdSundayinLent.pdf

 

Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm 95

Romans 5:1-11

John 4:5-42

Third Sunday in Lent (March 12, 2023)

 

Blowing In the Wind? (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

Lately I’ve been hearing Queen songs in advertisements. I heard parts of “I Want to Break Free” behind a commercial for a cruise line. I also heard “Don’t Stop Me Now” in an ad touting the joys of a California vacation. (“Having a good time!”) I feel certain there are others. That kind of thing happens a lot with well known rock anthems. Hearing them reminded me of the fact that, while some songs remain popular for so long they end up in advertisements, many a song never makes it out of the recording studio. 

 

“Bohemian Rhapsody,” arguably the greatest achievement of rock group Queen, was almost killed before the public ever even heard of it. 

 

Record producers just could not wrap their heads around it. The song seemed to whirl about like one of its lyrics: “any way the wind blows.” Some sections seemed to be going somewhere, but never actually arrived. Some seemed to spring up completely out of context to what was happening around them. Plus, there were several interjections that didn't seem to relate to anything. 

 

And most unforgivable of all: It was six minutes long!

 

No one can tell you the meaning of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Many have tried. But we’re missing an essential piece: the author’s explanation. As far as we know, Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991, never gave anyone a good explanation of its meaning—or even if it meant anything at all. 

 

What we do know: It was a piece of rock music intended to evoke a sense of opera—You try to condense an opera down to six minutes and see what you come up with. Despite going on to be recognized as one of the greatest pieces of rock music ever recorded, people are still confused by it to this day. 

 

Listen to it here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=jFKBR1ggTMY

 

It is only through the lens of time that some coherent theme has emerged. When it was released in Iran in 2000, long after Freddie Mercury's death, the band told that audience the song was about a young man who accidentally killed someone, sold his soul to the Devil in a Faustian bargain, cried out to God for help, and was finally redeemed by way of intercession. 

 

So, “Bohemian Rhapsody” might—might—be a redemption story.

 

That same kind of confusion crops up in this week’s scripture from the Gospel of John. Nicodemus, a leader in Israel, sneaks out to meet with Jesus under the cover of darkness. He’s looking for some straight answers. And he gets them—sort of. They are straight answers. They’re just not answers Nicodemus understands. 

 

He wasn’t alone in his confusion. People were often confused by the words of Jesus, including those closest to Him. Some messages seemed to go in one direction, but never actually ended up where expected. Some of the things He said seemed to spring up completely out of context to what was happening around them. Sometimes, He said things that didn't seem to relate to anything.

 

And all, likely, for the same reason. 

 

It would be easy to scoff at their confusion, now, two millennia after Jesus walked the Earth. But how might it go if we tried to condense into a few words all the hope of heaven, the long-laid plans for human redemption, and the wisdom of using self-sacrifice to defeat an evil enemy?

 

See what I mean? Unenlightened people would likely be confused by what we said. 

 

So, what brings us that enlightenment? 

Jesus told Nicodemus how he (and we) would come to understand: the Holy Spirit. Like the wind, the Holy Spirit has no human restrictions, its beginnings and endings cannot be discerned. While, like the wind, we can’t control it, the Holy Spirit is essential to our understanding of Jesus, His message, and His actions. Without the Holy Spirit, the whole thing looks and sounds like foolishness. 

 

Without the Holy Spirit to guide us, our spiritual journey would take us—any way the wind blows. 

 

_________________________

PHOTO 

(Steve Orr, “Pacific, Mid-Ocean Moon”)

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Join us Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast at Our Breakfast Place and on Zoom.** We start at 8:00 and enjoy an hour of scripture, discussion, prayer, and whatever we order off the menu. Clarity is always sought (if not always achieved).

 

Blessings,

Steve 

 

 **Contact me for the Zoom link

NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=25

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/pdf//Ax_SecondSundayinLent.pdf

 

Genesis 12:1-4a

Psalm 121

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9

Second Sunday in Lent (March 5, 2023)

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The Temptation of Odysseus (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

If you haven't read The Odyssey or seen one of the films made about it, recently, then let me sum it up: Odysseus (also known as Ulysses) and his crew have been fighting in a terrible war. As they sail home, they have several adventures. One of those adventures involves some Sirens—human like sea creatures who sing a song which, legend held, seduces sailors to their death. 

Before meeting those bewitching females, Odysseus had everyone's ears sealed with wax. But he had himself—minus the earwax—tied securely to the ship’s mast. Then, even though Odysseus could hear the Sirens' song, he could not respond to it, despite having a great desire to do so. He was seduced, but his constraints kept him from succumbing to the Sirens' Song. It was a clever work-around. 

Perhaps you, too, have been tempted and hoped something would hold you back. if so, you will want to spend some time in this week’s scriptures. The theme running through them is temptation and what might happen when nothing and no one keeps you from giving in. 

The Genesis and Matthew selections allow us to contrast Satan‘s temptations of Eve and of Jesus. Satan tempted Eve with appetite, attraction, and hidden knowledge. Satan tempted Jesus with hunger, ego, and wealth/power. The temptations were similar, but definitely “tailored” to the person being tempted. And, as we know, there were decidedly different outcomes. 

 

The Romans passage describes those outcomes. Eve's fall led to Adam's fall (not that he put up much of a fight). By resisting Satan’s temptations, Jesus paved the way for our redemption. Jesus, in effect, "reversed the curse" resulting from Eve's (and Adam's) sin. We can now be reconciled to God because Jesus resisted Satan's temptations.

What we learn is this: The problem with temptation is not the temptation. 

 

Temptations are going to come our way. In that sense, neither Eve nor Jesus differs from us. Different people are tempted by different things. I think the real problem is summed up in Psalm 32: "Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you." In other words, we are expected to control ourselves, regardless of the temptation. 

But, as we all know, we are not always able to exert that level of control.

 

In the Hebrews passage, we learn that Jesus was tempted in every way we are, and yet, He didn't sin. That's what we should take away this week: not that we don’t sin, but that He didn’t. The things that tempt you—people, foods, gossip, ego, revenge, inappropriate sex, wealth, power, etc.—Jesus not only understands, but has withstood them.

 

Take your concern to Jesus. He knows what you’re going through. Whatever is tempting you, Jesus is the answer.

 

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PHOTO (Ulysses and the Sirens): 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_and_the_Sirens_(Waterhouse)

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Join us Friday morning at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. Food, fellowship, scripture, prayer, the occasional "Eureka!" and some of the best laughter you could find anywhere. Now, that is a good kind of temptation! 

 

We start at 8:00 and begin the exodus around 9:00. We're in the back at Our Breakfast Place. Ask, if you don't see us.

 

Blessings,

Steve

 

 **Contact me for the Zoom link

NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=24

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/pdf//Ax_FirstSundayinLent.pdf

 

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

Psalm 32

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

First Sunday of Lent (February 26, 2023)

 

Table of readings for Lent

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/lections.php?year=A&season=Lent 

Even the Mighty Fall (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

Nothing in this life lasts forever. 

Even the mighty fall. Whether it’s a corporation, a political leader or a superstar, there comes a day when they are no longer on the top of the heap. 

 

Do you recall when you first realized this? For me, it was in my teens. That’s when I read Shelley’s little poem about the fate of mighty Ozymandias.* 

Later in life I encountered the work of Jim Collins who made a career of exploring the rise of the mighty. He started tracking the life cycles of corporations with his groundbreaking bestseller Built to Last. He investigated why some companies (e.g. Disney or Procter & Gamble) continued at the top of their respective fields decade after decade, while comparable others came and went. Following this was a second bestseller, Good to Great. There he sought to know why some companies (e.g. Gillette or Walgreens) made that leap from “good enough” to true greatness while others did not. 

Finally, it seemed only appropriate Collins should turn his searchlight on How the Mighty Fall. The results of that research? Turns out that, like mountain climbing, there are only a few ways to the top. Alternately, there are all sorts of ways to reach the bottom, ways that are painful, bruising and—often—fatal. A "company can indeed look like the picture of health on the outside yet already be in decline, dangerously on the cusp of a huge fall..." 

 

In other words, the seeds of our destruction are usually sown long before the harvest. Are there ways to see that fall coming? Collins and crew found there are some usual stages through which the mighty descend on their way to the bottom. If brought to their attention, knowing these stages might allow them to reverse course before they are too far gone. The first three are particularly instructive:

 

Stage 1: Hubris Born of Success 

Stage 2: Undisciplined Pursuit of More 

Stage 3: Denial of Risk and Peril 

 

In the Old Testament, these three are all present in the nations that surrounded Israel and were constantly conspiring to bring about its downfall. But God sent warnings to those nations. God showed them their hubris, their unbridled appetite, and the risks they were incurring by conspiring against His will.

 

This week's scriptures, especially Psalm 2, tell of God's sovereignty and the authority He has conferred on His Anointed One (Jesus). God makes it clear, to those nations and to us: He is the authority and He has anointed His chosen. Kings, rulers, judges, and everyone else must recognize both His sovereignty and His anointed. 

 

Collins discovered how corporations can avoid an early decline by bringing wisdom into the equation. Likewise, everyone—both mighty and otherwise—can be wise by recognizing God’s sovereignty over our lives. 

A decline in position and power is part and parcel with living this life and, no matter what corporations do, is something every human faces. But how we navigate life, the quality of our experience as we ride it’s ups and downs, rests in our relationship with God. 

And that does last forever. 

 

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BONUS MATERIAL

*PHOTO (plus all the words to the Ozymandias poem and a funny take by humorist Ogden Nash): 

https://muddlet.wordpress.com/2018/01/07/ozymandias-ogdeniasis/

 

A very brief piece about the real Ozymandias (Ramses II of Exodus fame):

https://vahshatedil.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/ozymandias-…-two-versions-ii/

 

 

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Join us Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We will meet on Zoom** and at Our Breakfast Place at 8:00 to chew on and digest some scripture while chowing down on some great food.

 

Blessings,

Steve

**Contact me for the Zoom link

NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=22

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/pdf//Ax_TransfigurationSunday.pdf

Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm 2 or Psalm 99

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

Transfiguration Sunday (February 19, 2023)

More Rocket Science (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

He knew what he wanted to be—and it wasn’t this. 

 

At the start of Robert Heinlein’s science fiction novel, Starman Jones, young Max lives on a small farm in the Ozarks with his stepmother. Once a week, after finishing his chores, he makes his way down the hill a bit where he stretches out and waits. Soon, he hears the roar and sees the bright flame that lifts the weekly Moon Shuttle off the Earth and on its way to space. The light of that rocket flame is a beacon to Max Jones; the roar, a siren’s song. They call to something deep within him, a great desire unfulfilled by his daily life. 

 

But wanting something is not the same as achieving it.

 

Legend has it that NASA scientists considered two different methods of moving a rocket from the Earth to outer space: 

         Method 1 - "constant acceleration" meant a slow launch, increasing the speed a little more each second until breakthrough velocity was achieved. It would be easy on the Astronauts, but lacked the certainty of the other method. Plus, and this is key, constant acceleration was much slower to achieve Earth orbit. 

         Method 2 - “quick thrust" or “intense acceleration” meant a faster launch. This would be harder on the Astronauts. They would be subjected to several gravities of force "pressing" on them. This high “g-force” could, if endured too long, injure or kill them. 

 

NASA chose Method 2. 

 

That excessive G-force the Astronauts would have to endure during takeoff was one of the reasons our astronauts needed to possess the "right stuff," physical and mental attributes essential to their success. This exclusivity was necessary. Almost anyone could handle the takeoff using the gentler "constant acceleration" method. Only a few could handle the intensity of the other.

 

And that brings us to this week’s 1st Corinthians passage. The more influential Corinthians who were part of that church had the idea that only those with the "right stuff" (like them) could be a follower of Jesus. They believed their way was the only way. Paul's letter to the church confronts them with the truth: they are not the spiritually gifted Pneumatikoi ("Spirit People") they imagined themselves to be, far from it. 

 

They were so far from maturity, they were more like babies, only able to stomach the "milk" of Paul’s teachings. Their superiority complex and exclusivity were tearing apart the church at Corinth. Paul needed to remind them: God is the one who "gives the growth." 

 

Spiritual maturity comes about when we submit to the shaping of our creator. It doesn’t happen just because we say so. Max Jones didn’t become Starman Jones just by desiring it. The transformation from farmer to Starman took time. He went through a process, experienced several life challenges. These, eventually, shaped him for a job on a starship.

 

We must have faith that God has invested each of us with sufficient "right stuff" for our respective spiritual journeys. God will honor our constancy with a spiritual growth pace and trajectory that is right. 

 

God knows which launch method is best for each of us. 

 

_______________________

PHOTO: 

https://biblio.sg/book/starman-jones-heinlein-robert/d/644177082

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Join us Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We continue to meet at 8:00 at Our Breakfast Place and on Zoom.** The scriptures and the fellowship are great. 

 

No excessive G-force will be applied.

 

Enjoy the week!

Steve

 

**Contact me for the Zoom link

NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=18

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/pdf//Ax_SixthSundayafterEpiphany.pdf

 

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Psalm 119:1-8

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Matthew 5:21-37

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 12, 2023)