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Jonah Is One of My Favorites
1 Comments | Submitted: 01/19/2010 12:00 PM
Jonah has to be one of my favorite books of the Bible.
It was the first book that introduced me to prophetic criticism. Sounds fancy, right? Rather than just a book about a guy who runs from God, gets swallowed whole by a large fish, and then finally goes and does what God asks, it's really a book that serves as a counterpoint to traditional wisdom.
For example, traditional wisdom might say that one reaps what one sows. Or if you do bad things, bad stuff will happen to you. And if you inflict deep harm on a neighboring people, your people will suffer.
The book of Jonah sort of takes a different stance to this traditional wisdom. Of course, it does not say that doing bad things to people is okay or that you will not suffer consequences for bad actions. Rather, Jonah is a prophet sent by God to preach and witness to an enemy people. Jonah wasn't being sent over to a random foreign city - Jonah was being sent to the one city and one people that had never done anything to deserve any ounce of goodness. They deserved no compassion in the eyes of many of God's people.
So first, the very fact that Jonah was being sent there meant that Jonah knew the consequences for showing up in that city. He might be killed on the spot. He might be tortured. Who knows what those people would do?
The second thing was that Jonah may have had a sense that God was up to something else. Jonah thought God should be more interested in smiting Ninevah, not sending preachers in their midst. And smiting could happen from long distance.
In the end, everything goes wrong in Jonah's mind. Rather than being smited into ash, the people of Ninevah begin to repent, including their wicked king. Rather than ignoring Jonah's words, they take them to heart. The enemy of God's people becomes a friend to God.
The final section of Jonah is often ignored, but it reiterates the deeper point of the story. (Not that if you disobey God that God will get you.) Jonah sits outside of Ninevah and gets more passionate about the fact that a little tree wilts away in the sun than the realization that thousands of people had turned to God. Jonah's heart, like many of the people of his day, believed God was their personal God and not the Creator of all people.
The book of Jonah reveals that God is interested in far more than just doling out punishment - God is interested in redeeming people and the world.
That's why I love the story. God's character is sharply revealed against the often distorted views that many hold. Later, when Jesus would command his followers to love their enemies, the pieces fall into place.
I hope to see you Sunday and continue this conversation - or drop your own comments in the new comment section below!
- Rev. Nathan
Best Places to Eat Around EDCC
1 Comments | Submitted: 01/13/2010 01:05 PM
East Dallas Christian Church is in an awesome location here in Dallas. We are close to the historic Swiss Ave filled with beautiful homes. We are near Baylor Hospital, one of the best hospital systems around. We are minutes from downtown Dallas. We are minutes from Uptown. And shouldn't we also mention FairPark and Deep Ellum, right?
Yes, it's an awesome neighborhood.
And you know what? You don't really have to leave the neighborhood for some good grub. Here are an unofficial five top places to eat in our neighborhood right around the church:
1 - Taco Joint. Two blocks from EDCC and quite literally some of the best tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and tex mex you can find. The breakfast menu is killer. Great prices, great atmosphere, awesome owners. This is probably the top fave of our office crew - it's just reliably delicious, though the long lines during the lunch rush can be daunting.
2 - The Garden Cafe. Another great place with a variety of fresh vegetables, sandwiches, and home cookin' available. Today, for instance, I had their Chicken n' Dumplings with two sides (carrots & oven roasted potatoes). They have a great atmosphere including an awesome backyard area where they grow some of the vegetables in their dishes. Just a unique place in our neighborhood.
3 - Bangkok City. This is just a few blocks northwest of us on Peak St, and it has a great mix of Thai food. Their pad thai and green curry are awesome. They have good owners too. Great atmosphere, great service, and good people. We are lucky to have a place like this in the neighborhood.
4 - Bryan St. Tavern. One of our church members claims that this is the newest and best neighborhood spot. I haven't been yet, but their pizza is supposed to be legitimate. I have this on the list of places to go soon. It's next door to Bangkok City.
5 - Divino's Pizza. I don't know if this is a chain or not, but it is a simple, super inexpensive pizza place two blocks away from the church. A cheese slice is like $1.50 there. And the slice is big! I like their pizza, though it ain't the best I've ever had. A great quick place if you want to get full on the cheap.
And finally, a best mention goes to the venerable Subway. Sure, it's nothing special, but it is also an oft-visited spot by our staff and church members for a quick, reasonably healthy, and cheap meal.
There are plenty of others I could have mentioned too, like Chapman's Chili Kitchen, Joe's BBQ, Smokey John's, Frullati at Baylor, Mai's Vietnamese, and Victor's Cafe.
If you are coming by the church sometime and want to drop in for lunch, let us know, and we might just take you to one of the aforementioned spots in our awesome neighborhood!
- Rev. Nathan
Chili Cookoffs Make Me Proud
0 Comments | Submitted: 01/10/2010 07:41 PM
Our rejuvenated Disciples Men group pulled together a Chili Cookoff at church today, and what a darn cool event it was!
There is something very Texan about chili. Something very American in a way. And on a day with the tempature in the morning around 40 degrees or so, chili was the perfect way to get fired up a bit.
Why I am so proud of the Disciples Men? Well, there was a ton of chili of all variations, including Tex Hilliard's famous chili beans. There was imagination in the chili we had displayed before us. And yet, above all, the venue's purpose was the most important. The Chili Cookoff wasn't just about the chili - it was about our youth group and their plans to engage in mission this summer.
We raised a nice chunk of money so that our youth can make a difference in this world.
Now, if you can't get passionate about that... or the chili, then you might be in trouble.
And if you are a man interested in lending your skills and gifts, no matter what they are, to this group, drop me a line.
We'll fix you up.
- Rev. Nathan
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