Stephen King and the Not-Good Shepherds (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

Stephen King creates some very intriguing characters. Most are captivating, drawing us ever deeper into his tales. Perhaps surprisingly, it is his lesser characters that often capture our interests and imagination. Consider King’s  “low men.” 

These low men usually show up to perform distinct, limited —almost always bad— actions. Then, fairly quickly, they move off the stage. They’re pretty horrible. In their true form, they appear as rat-like humanoids, complete with fleas, lice, and, sometimes, rabies. They dress in garishly colored, out-of-fashion clothing, and they drive what appear to be vintage cars —but might actually be something else, entirely. 

There is no question as to how King wants his readers to regard these creatures. 

If having the heads of rats isn’t frightening enough, the fact that they walk among us on two legs just ratchets up the creep factor. And in every scene, we always have the sense that things are about to go from bad to worse.

We don’t need fiction, though, to think of similar folk. We’ve all met some, haven’t we?

This week’s scriptures are all connected to the actions of shepherds. In the Gospel of John, Jesus contrasts himself (“the good shepherd”) with those who, by their acts of low character, have proved themselves to be not-good shepherds. Of those real life “low men,” He says that when “wolves” threaten the sheep, the not-good shepherds will run away and leave the sheep to the wolves. The result? Some of the sheep are “snatched” by the wolves, which will surely lead to their deaths. Others “scatter” in fear for their lives.

He says the not-good shepherd “runs away” because the not-good shepherd “does not care for the sheep.” By contrast, Jesus tells us that the good shepherd will do all he can to protect and save the sheep, even going so far as to lay down his own life for them. We are the sheep in this illustration and those claiming to be our spiritual leaders are the shepherds. 

The point: Jesus wanted everyone to understand that the measure of whether a shepherd is good or not-good is based on what the shepherd does for the sheep. Most importantly, He wanted us to know that everyone has a choice, Himself included. 

The main reason that King’s “low men” are the way they are is because of what they are. As King’s creation, they have no real choice to be anything other than low. By contrast, Jesus did not lay down his life for us because it was destined. He had the power and authority to choose.

He chose that because He is the good shepherd.

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PHOTO: https://radiopublic.com/stephen-king-cast-8jKVmv/s1!6eaa8

Join us Friday morning when we, once again, discuss this week’s scriptures. DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast meets at 8:00 on Zoom.

All are welcome.

Blessings,

Steve

Contact me for the Zoom link.

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

SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK

Find them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=89

Acts 4:5-12

Psalm 23

1 John 3:16-24

John 10:11-18

Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 25, 2021)

A Fable Inspired by Sin (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

A few years ago, I wrote a short fable to illustrate this week’s 1st John selection. It was based on the idea that the word “sin” is also an archery term meaning to “fall short” of the target or bullseye. 

Here’s the fable and the scripture is just below it.

Two Archers Meet in a Wood

An archer, dressed in brown, entered a vast Wood from the east. Another archer, dressed in green, entered the Wood from the west. The brown archer strode purposefully. He clearly had a destination in mind. The green archer ambled a bit, taking in the beauty of the Wood. 

Each moved on a path that brought them to the center of the Wood. At last, they saw each other and stopped. For a few seconds each just looked at the other. 

Finally, the brown archer said, "Hello friend. I see you, too, have come to use the King's archery range."

The green archer appeared surprised, looked about, and, for the first time, took notice of the targets off to the north. But, the brown archer missed this reaction, already setting up his gear for the shoot. 

The green archer said, "So, this is the King's range?"

"Oh yes!" replied the brown archer. "Do you not know? The King has set aside the whole of His Wood for the pleasure of His subjects. And he encourages us to use the range to improve our targeting."

The brown archer then nocked his first arrow, drew back, eyed the target, and let fly. The arrow flew swiftly across the vast clearing toward one of the targets. At first, the arrow was on course, but at the very last it appeared to lose speed. When it finally struck the target, the arrow rested well below the bullseye. 

"Sin!" cried the green archer, a bright grin splitting his face. He was suddenly awakened to the fun he might have here. 

Selecting an arrow from his quiver, the green archer quickly nocked it, drew deeply on the bow, and released. In no time, a loud "THUNK" heralded the arrow's arrival across the clearing. But it was not on the target. It wasn't even in the hay bales backing the targets. The brown archer finally saw it, buried to the fletching in a hollow tree.

"Miss," said the brown archer. 

"At least it didn't fall short like yours!" crowed the green archer. Then, he grabbed another arrow, set it to string, and pulled even farther back before releasing. This arrow flew even faster than the first, slicing past the targets, over the bales, past the nearby trees, and off into the forest. No sound of its landing was heard.

The brown archer watched, frozen, as the green archer lofted a third arrow high and to the left; a fourth high and to the right; then, turned and sent one through the woods behind them. Finally, shaken from his shock, the brown archer, cried, "What are you doing? You're not even trying to hit the target!"

"Of course not," replied the green archer. "How boring! The fun is in not aiming for the target! I so enjoy the feel of flinging the arrows off at top speed, the flexing of my muscles, and that sense of power! I really don't want to fuss with all that aiming."

The brown archer had heard enough. "Don't you realize there are others in the King's Wood? Your wild arrows could easily hit someone, could maim or kill. We come here so we can practice our aim. This clearing is set up for just that exercise. That's why there are targets. Certainly the King knows we will not always hit the bullseye. I tally many a sin because I am plagued with a weak pull; my arrow often falls short. But no one, not even the worst archer, comes here intending sin. And we never act in a way that might endanger others."

The green archer, not liking this lecture, was no longer enjoying himself. He spoke petulantly, "Well, you’re no fun." Gathering up his gear, he stalked away, continuing his original journey.

The brown archer watched the other bowman disappear to the east. He stood that way for a while, thinking of the wild abandon with which the other had launched his missiles, recalling when he, too, had been the thoughtless archer. Finally, he selected an arrow from his quiver, nocked it along the string, pulled deeply on the bow, eyed the target for a long while ...

And then let fly.

________________________________

"All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God’s order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They’ve got him all backward.

So, my dear children, don’t let anyone divert you from the truth. It’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways." (‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭4-8‬ The Message)

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PHOTO: Steve Orr

DaySpring’s Friday morning Lectionary Breakfasts are a true pleasure. Join us on Zoom at 8:00. We enjoy the treasures the King has shared with us, luxuriating in each other's company, and tasting the Word to see that it is good.

Contact me for the Zoom link.

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

Enjoy the week!

Steve

SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK

Third Sunday of Easter (April 18, 2021)

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=88

Acts 3:12-19

Psalm 4

1 John 3:1-7

Luke 24:36b-48

A Perfect Recipe for Chaos (a scripture reflection for Eastertide by Steve Orr)

An orchestra should be chaos.

Each instrument is unique; even those that are similar are not exactly alike. Not one of them makes the same sound. Oh, sure, some of them are intended to make the same sound —are designed to do so— but, even those are just similar, not really the same. 

Then, to compound it all, each operator is distinct from every other one. There is absolutely no way to guarantee cohesiveness in carrying out their assignments. And there are dozens of them, often a hundred or more. Every single one of them endowed with free will. That’s a recipe for chaos.

And yet.

They can make music to thrill the very soul. They blend their idiosyncrasies. They agree to be in a shared experience. They accept a script prepared by others. They are willing to be led. All of these, and a thousand other little acts of togetherness, result in something unlike anything that can be achieved alone.

All because they allow it; choose it; will it; do it.

An orchestra is a good way to describe  the disciples of Jesus in those weeks and months following His resurrection. We see them that way in this week's scripture from Acts. They show us a willingness to set aside, for a time, the needs and wants of the individual so that everyone may benefit mutually. They act like family. Psalm 133 sums it up, well: “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.”

What do we call this kind of orchestrated togetherness; this mutuality of caring? Over the millennia, people have given it many names, some good and some that are not complimentary by any stretch. I think it deserves a good name, and I think I have a come up with a good one. 

It's music; music to God's ears.

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PHOTO: part of the Paducah Tilghman High School Orchestra, circa 1969.

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DaysSpring’s next Lectionary Breakfast is this Friday morning. Join us on Zoom at 8:00. We enjoy a great discussion of the scriptures for this coming Sunday’s sermon. 

Contact me for the Zoom link.

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

Blessings,

Steve

SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK

Find them at:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=87

Acts 4:32-35

Psalm 133

1 John 1:1 - 2:2

John 20:19-31

Second Sunday of Easter  (APRIL 11, 2021)

The Motel of the Mysteries (an Easter reflection by Steve Orr)

My favorite work by David Macaulay is 

Motel of the Mysteries. 

He is famous for creating bestseller nonfiction books that visually educate us on all sorts of things.* In Motel of the Mysteries, Macaulay uses fiction to poke a little fun at archeology and our modern world.

The set up: 2000 years from now most of the American continent is covered in a thick layer of petrified material. It has become one giant archeological site; people from across the globe try to piece together what life was like before the not-fully-understood catastrophe made it uninhabitable. 

Macaulay uses humor to shows us how easy it is, despite best intentions, to get it all wrong. Absent any written record, there is plenty of room for misinterpretation. There are some pretty humorous parallels to Howard Carter's excavation of Tutankhamen's tomb. Every time something is discovered about life, before, it is assumed to have religious significance. And that's what happens when the ground gives way beneath an amateur archeologist. He drops several feet into what he concludes is a previously undisturbed "burial" chamber in one of the former civilization's mysterious "motels." 

A great part of the fun in reading through Motel of the Mysteries is that, due to Mr. Macaulay's remarkable drawings, we readers recognize everything and know it is not what they think it is. Some of my favorites are the Sacred Urn (commode), the Sacred Point (foil seal on the toilet paper roll), and the "Plant That Would Not Die." We know, though, that it's just a motel room and that each discovered item is not something of religious significance. 

If you have any interest in archeology —whether you read Michener's "The Source" cover to cover or are just a fan of Indiana Jones— you should find this an entertaining afternoon’s read.

And that brings us to this week's scriptures. Somewhat like Macaulay's future archeologists, we must decide what actually happened in the past. We read of a day many of us consider the most important in all of history, if not all eternity. It’s important we figure out what we are going to believe and why. History can be a messy process. Archeologists, scholars, and historians do the best they can with the resources available to them. Often, the only resources available are the reports of witnesses. In the end, though, it’s up to us to decide for ourselves how much of history we are willing to believe.

In the case of that long ago Sunday morning, we are lucky. Some people took the time to write down what contemporaries saw, thought, felt, heard, said, and did that morning. Sure, there are still many mysteries. But we can now be confident there really was a tomb ... and that it really was empty when they got there.

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*Books such as The Way Things Work, The Way We Work, Castle, and Pyramid

PHOTO: 

https://smile.amazon.com/Motel-Mysteries-David-Macaulay/dp/0395284252/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8JWYHG96H713&dchild=1&keywords=motel+of+mysteries+by+david+macaulay&qid=1617311850&sprefix=Motel+of+%2Caps%2C310&sr=8-1

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Friday morning is Good Friday. Join us at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast 8:00 to 9:00. Bring your favorite breakfast beverage to the Zoom call and enjoy an hour of scripture, discussion, and laughter ... a good Friday indeed.

Contact me for the Zoom link.

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

Blessings,

Steve

SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK

Find them on this Table of Easter Season Readings:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//lections.php?year=B&season=Easter

Easter (April 4, 2021)

Resurrection of the Lord

Acts 10:34-43

Isaiah 25:6-9

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

John 20:1-18

Mark 16:1-8

Swedish Death Cleaning and the Poor (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

The first time I heard the phrase “Swedish death cleaning,” I formed a mental image: people who cleaned up a crime scene after CSI had finished processing it for clues ... in Sweden. Weird as that sounds, there actually are such people; hired to make a crime scene appear as if no crime ever occurred. Hotel rooms come to mind.

The Sweden connection? Not so much. 

Still, that mental image remained for quite some time. Eventually, though, I discovered Margareta Magnusson’s bestseller, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, a book with absolutely no connection to CSI. 

Magnusson lives in Sweden and is aged, she says, “somewhere between 80 and 100.” Her little (very readable) book tells her story of how she thought about and then executed her plan to reduce her possessions. Her motivation was to lighten the stress on her children when she dies. By significantly reducing her possessions to what she truly needs and truly wants, she hopes to spare them much head-scratching and hand-wringing when the time comes. 

 

It is a lovely book, a truly gentle reminder (for us all) of an inescapable truth and how we can show we truly care ... somewhat like the comment Jesus made in this week’s reading about “the poor” in Mark 14.

 

Some have misunderstood what Jesus meant when he said, “For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me.” He was not telling his listeners (or us) to not care for the poor. On the contrary, Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 15:7-11, and He was saying it to a group of listeners who understood exactly what He meant.

 

Care for the poor was a fundamental part of Israel’s cultural fabric. It was incorporated in the early and most foundational parts of the Law given to them by God. 

 

When some expressed anger that the expensive perfume had been "squandered" on Jesus, He caught them in an attempt to sidestep their responsibilities to care for the poor. Not a single one of them said, "Seeing this expensive perfume used this way reminds me I need to spend some of my money on the poor." No, they just wanted to point out that someone else’s money had not been used to help the poor. [In John 12, the leader of these complainers is Judas Iscariot, the eventual betrayer of Jesus.]

 

So, here is the gentle truth: whenever you wish, you may take some of your resources and share them with the needy. In fact, you are encouraged to do just that. Should others direct some of their resources to the needy? If they want to follow the teaching of Jesus, they should. But you never need to wait to see if someone else does it. The poor surround us, and will continue to do so. You only need eyes to see and ears to hear.

 

You may or may not be ready to start death cleaning, but you can immediately start caring for the poor. Just apply the gentle art of truly caring. 

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 PHOTO: Steve Orr

Join us at 8:00 Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. What happens in the hour we gather is unique. We explore the scriptures on which the coming Sunday’s sermon is based. We read, we discuss, and we laugh. Truly, an hour like no other. 

Contact me for the Zoom link.

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

Blessings,

Steve

SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK

Find them on the table, here: 

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

March 28, 2021 - Sixth Sunday in Lent

Liturgy of the Passion

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16

Philippians 2:5-11

Mark 14:1-15:47 or Mark 15:1-39 (40-47)

Liturgy of the Palms

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16

Clear Eyes. Clean Heart. Can’t Lose. (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

The first time I heard Keith Green sing, he was already dead.  

I didn't know he was dead. I didn't know he had been somewhat controversial. And I certainly didn't know that he had written, co-written, and performed many best selling songs. All I knew at the time was what I heard on the radio that day. His voice was, well, not exceptional in any way. He just sounded like a guy singing. I found myself wondering just why this piece had made it to the radio, at all.

I considered changing stations. Something about the lyrics, though, held my attention. I felt I knew them from somewhere. 

Create in me a clean heart, oh God

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence, oh Lord

Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation,

And renew a right spirit within me.

In time, I realized the man was singing scripture: part of Psalm 51; and almost verbatim. I was used to songs about things in the Bible, but this —this singing verses without forcing them into some kind of rhyme— this was something a bit new to me.

King David wrote Psalm 51 after the Prophet Nathan told him a story. In the story, a man —a rich man; one with plenty of everything; power, wealth, accolades— stole, slaughtered, and ate a poor man's only lamb. Reacting, David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die!" (2 Samuel 12:5 NIV). Then Nathan, who knew that David had secretly had sex with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband to be killed in battle, turned on David and declared, "You are the man!"

Ever have one of those moments? That awful slice of time when it’s shoved in your face that what you’ve done is not only wrong (really, really wrong), but known! 

It was a shocking wake-up for King David. And it made an impact. Finally remorseful for his actions, David felt the full force of being cut off from God by his sin. He wrote Psalm 51 to express his remorse and his desire to be forgiven.

You may have done some terrible things in your life. David certainly did. Don't let those decisions and actions keep you from God. Embrace the words of Psalm 51 as your prayer of forgiveness and reconciliation. Yes, there are always consequences for our actions, and our bad actions can come with some pretty horrific consequences.  

David's did.  

By the time Keith Green finished singing his song, I began to grasp what he undoubtedly already knew. With that particular song, the words are far too important to let them be overshadowed by anything, even by the music ... even by the performer. What I learned is this: if I am willing to change, God is willing to forgive, to restore and renew. 

And even create in me a clean heart.

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PHOTO: Steve Orr

DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast is Friday morning. Our official start time is 8:00, but sometimes a few of us come a minute or two early. Our official end time is 9:00, but we’re having such a good time, it’s really hard to leave. Join us. 

Blessings,

Steve 

Contact me for the Zoom link.

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

SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK

Find them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=75

Fifth Sunday in Lent (March 21, 2021)

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-16

Hebrews 5:5-10

John 12:20-33

Snakes on a Plain (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

Poisonous snakes. 

Usually a problem. Almost always a problem in the Bible; whether they appear as serpents, vipers, or just plain snakes. 

There's the serpent in the Garden, the facilitator of man's fall. Snakes are part of the drama surrounding the exodus from Egypt. Snakes kill the Israelite complainers on the hike to Moab. A snake bites the Apostle Paul on the island of Malta. And, let's not forget the "great dragon" of Revelation. All total, the Bible mentions snakes over 80 times ... and not in the good way.

This week's scriptures include two about the same story: Numbers and the Gospel of John. Numbers tells the story. 

The Israelites are near the end of their journey (though they don't realize it, yet). On a long hike from Mount Hor to the Plains of Moab, they have to go around the country of Edom instead of walking a straight line through the middle of it. Being who they are, they once again begin to complain. God punishes the complainers by sending poisonous vipers to bite and kill them. When they repented, Moses made a bronze snake and, per God's instructions, lifted it high on a pole. Those who looked upon the bronze snake, lived.

Two things here: (1) even though God provides relief, scripture does not say he removed the vipers; just that, upon being bitten, the afflicted Israelite had to look up to the snake on the pole in order to survive the bite. (2) The methodology of the relief (bronze snake) was related to the mechanism of the punishment (death by viper). We saw this before with Noah: he and his family were borne upon the flood that destroyed the world.

However, when we get to the John passage, Jesus compares himself to the bronze snake. He, too, had to be "lifted up." And because he was, we can all be saved from the affliction of sin. He did it so the whole world might be saved through Him.

So, when the vipers of this life afflict you, look up to the one who is our salvation. You're likely to still experience vipers from time to time, but the cure has been lifted up so anyone can see Him.

_________________________

PHOTO: Flag of the World Healt Organization (Public Domain)

How the modern EMS symbol might tie to Moses: 

https://watchjerusalem.co.il/540-does-the-serpentine-symbol-of-healing-have-a-biblical-origin

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Don’t expect some dry, dull study at DaySpring’s Friday morning Lectionary Breakfast. Along with delving into scripture, we share our lives and our laughter. We start at 8:00-ish and wrap up at 9:00-ish.

Contact me for the Zoom link.

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

Blessings,

Steve 

_________________________

SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK

Find them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=74

Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 14, 2021)

Numbers 21:4-9

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21