CentralParkBible.com

Craig and John took the gloves off this week. John came out of the corner swinging by accusing Craig of not seeing the world for what it truly is but being blinded by his faith. He also accused Craig of evading direct questions instead opting for less polarizing stances - spinning Christianity so that it’s easier to swallow. They moved on to an interesting discussion on the humanity of Christ and Christianity in America. The discussion was honest and at times tense with John volleying the tough questions Craig’s way and Craig letting many slip by unanswered. At first I was disappointed with Craig’s relative passivity, but after thinking on it a bit and discussing the film with Scott, our most excellent film facilitator, I realized that Craig wasn’t trying to win an argument. In fact such attempts in the face of John’s cynicism would have likely been answered with more questions and an even more aggressive, anti-Christian John.

Throughout the movie, John claims that Craig was instrumental in pushing him away from Christianity because of a naive statement he made during his first year in the faith. I contend that John is being a bit disingenuous since one offhanded comment alone is unlikely to rattle the foundations of someone who has been raised in the church. There was much more going on in John’s heart and head when he decided to walk away from Christ. It is interesting that John consistently demands firm answers from John when it is precisely such and answer that he states pushed him away from God and Christianity.

Near the end of the film John tells a tragic story from his time as a war reporter in the Balkans, pointing to it as the instant he lost his belief in God. It’s the classic example of man not accepting a God that can allow pain and evil in the world. Contrast that with Craig’s story from last week of his sister dying in a car accident and his testimony that God helped him and his family through that difficult time.

There’s too much to cover on this blog. So if you missed out, I encourage you to get a hold of the film and watch it yourself. For those who were in class, I recommend sharing your thoughts by commenting on this blog.

In fact, the creepy wonder twins here DEMAND that you comment.

Announcements

• July 1, Tuesday - Dinner at Humperdink’s - Come dine and drink with other Central Park people at 6:30pm at the Humperdink’s near I-35E and Northwest Highway.
• July 18, Friday - Murder Mystery Dinner - The first showing was such a hit that people demanded a second. Tickets are on sale before after services on July 6 & 7 for $15. There are only 200 tickets.

Several Central Parkers turned up Saturday to help Habitat for Humanity build a house. We put on the roof (minus the shingles), installed the windows and much more. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with 15 or so energetic and eager young adults being bossed around by two or three crusty but experienced older gentlemen. Paul summed up the day nicely, “We pwned that house. w00t!!” Please enjoy the pictures below:

In 1982 Craig Detweiler and John Marks were roommates during their junior year at Davidson College. It was Craig’s first year as a Christian and John’s last. Twenty-five years later they got together to discuss their spiritual journeys, and Craig, being a film-maker, brought along cameras.

You can find out more about the film at its official website.

We watched the first half of the film and then discussed. People appreciated the candor that both men show in the film. There is a trust present despite the fact that the two had not kept in touch very well over the years.

We will be concluding the film next week.

Announcements

• June 27, Friday - Rangers Game! - Meet at the Commons entrance to the church at 5:30pm OR at the 1st base entrance at 6:30pm.
• July 1, Tuesday - Dinner at Humperdink’s - Come dine and drink with other Central Park people at 6:30pm at the Humperdink’s near I-35E and Northwest Highway.

Folks, here is a link to all the information you need for this weekend’s service project - habitat_info_20080621.doc - directions, what to bring and a waiver that you should print out, fill out and bring with you. See you Saturday at 8am.

Scott brought us to the end of our 5 week study on Jonah by leading us through chapter 4. Jonah is in true form at the beginning of the chapter, preferring his own death to God showing the Ninevites mercy. Whether he literally wants to die or not, his selfishness is clear in the narrative. He leaves the city and withdraws to a spot where he can be alone yet keep an eye on Nineveh. God interacts with Jonah several times using nature: sending a vine to provide share; sending a worm to eat and wither the vine; sending a scorching east wind and the blazing sun to make Jonah grow faint. Jonah continues in his anger and bitterness until God says, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand form their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

God shows his mercy and grace to the Ninevites and continues to talk with Jonah despite his selfishness. Jonah is certainly an imperfect person, but God is patient with him despite his faults just as he is with all of us.

Observations from the Book of Jonah:

• God will not abandon us even if we turn from His will.
• God is patient and compassionate.
• God uses unlikely and imperfect people.
• Jonah’s relationship with God (though seemingly a bit dysfunctional) was intimate and authentic. Jonah truly wrestled with God even in his anger.

Scott wrapped up the lesson and the series by comparing God’s response in Jonah to Jesus’ charge to “Love your enemies” - a scandalous and beautiful message.
Announcements

• June 18, Wednesday - Dinner at Champs - Meet at the Champs in Irving (114 and MacArthur) at 6:30pm to hang out with fellow Central Parkers.
• June 21, Saturday - Habitat for Humanity Service Project - Mark your calendars. More details to follow.
• June 27, Friday - Rangers Game! - Meet at the Commons entrance to the church at 5:30pm OR at the 1st base entrance at 6:30pm.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Murder Mystery Dinner and made the evening great.

Tonight’s musical adventure at the Dallas Arboretum is no more…at least not for Central Park. I presume it’s still going on, but nobody from Central Park will be there unless of course they failed to read this late posting. So if it sounds like loads of fun, feel free to still go, but you might sit alone.

Nobody is better at telling a big fish story than Brent. And so Brent continued our series on Jonah. We talked about how Jonah probably expected to die when he was thrown out of the boat. God sent a great fish to swallow Jonah whole, saving his life. From within the belly of the fish Jonah called out to God in distress with repentance, and the fish spat Jonah up onto the shore.

Did Jonah deserve to die? Why was Jonah saved? Again we should be introspective about our own lives. Jonah is the every man. Like Jonah we often run from God or rebel against His plan. We all sin and yet God spares our lives. We also often fail to cry out to God until we have no other options.

At the end of Chapter 2, Jonah confesses that salvation comes from God alone and vows to make good on his promises.

Upcoming Events

• June 21, Saturday - Habitat for Humanity Service Project - Mark your calendars. More details to follow.
• June 27, Friday - Rangers Game! - We are going to meet up at the game to purchase our tickets. HOWEVER, if you go to Wendy’s this Father’s Day Weekend and purchase a Frosty you can get a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for the Rangers game. Go buy a Frosty!

Clint capitalized on Brent and Scott’s introductory inertia to lead us farther into the book of Jonah. “Few people know that Jonah started the Emo movement,” Clint began. “He was sort of the Chris Carrabba of his day, always whining about how tough he had it even though he came from a middle-class, suburban family. The only difference is that he didn’t have MySpace to project his message.”

Jonah was the poster child for people who lacked faith -  a slacker, doubter and sinner just like all of us are from time to time. Why did Jonah flee from God after such a clear calling? It’s a question that we should all ask ourselves. God’s calling is one of the central themes of the Book of Jonah. God’s sovereignty naturally follows.

Jonah lived during the time of Jeroboam II in the mid to late 8th century BC. God called him to “Arise and Go” to Ninevah to preach to them of God’s coming judgement. God was giving the Godless Assyrians an opportunity to  turn from their wicked ways. During this period, Israel and Assyria were at odds, and Jonah had little sympathy for the Ninevites. He decided to board a ship and sail the opposite direction so that God’s call to repentance would not reach them. God didn’t like this, sent a storm to show Jonah what’s what, and Jonah fessed up to his rebellion.

Jonah was extremely selfish, wallowing in his own self-pity and rebelling against God’s desire to show the Ninevites mercy. While it’s easy to dismiss Jonah as a jerk, these tendencies are a part of all of us.

Upcoming Events

• June 21, Saturday - Habitat for Humanity Service Project - Mark your calendars. More details to follow.
• June 27, Friday - Rangers Game! - We need 20 people in order to get 1/2 price tickets ($12.50 in the lower, reserved section). If you are interested PLEASE bring your money to class (to give to Natalie) by Sunday, June 1s

Brent and Scott tag-teamed it to kick off a short study on the book of Jonah.

Brent began by putting on his professor cap and giving us an overview Assyrian politics from 1300 BC - 600 BC. While few have Brent’s pedagogic skills, I will try to summarize as well as possible:

The ancient world was divided into city-states. By the year 1300 BC, Salmanazar, the king of Assyria is helping his nation rise to prominence. Babylon, another powerful city-state adjacent to Assyria, is also powerful and a common source of conflict with Assyria. By 1100 BC, Assyria stretches its empire to the Mediterranean Sea under the leadership of Tiglath-Pileser I. Assyria continues to gain strength up to 911 BC when Babylon is subdued under the rule of Adad-Nirari. The only other empire of comparable power in the region is Egypt. The comparably small nation of Israel is caught in between these two ancient empires. The Assyrian empire lasts about 300 years until Babylon conquers Ninevah in 612 BC.

The Assyrian empire reaches its pinnacle in 745 BC under Tiglath-Pileser III. Ninevah (located near modern-day Mosul, Iraq) is the most important city in the region has eventually becomes the Assyrian capital in 700 BC.

In the 9th century BC, Israel is a divided nation with 10 of Israel’s 12 tribes comprising the Northern Kingdom and the remaining tribes of Benjamin and Judah making up the Kingdom of Judah. (Israel’s split occurs after King Solomon’s death in 930 BC.) Assyria first attacks Israel around 850 BC. In 722 BC, the Northern Kingdom finally falls to Salmanazar V.

This is the political setting for the events that take place in Jonah around 795 BC. Jonah is a Hebrew prophet during Jeroboam II’s reign (793-753BC), and he is believed to be from a place near Nazareth. Assyria has not yet conquered the Northern Kingdom but has already established itself as an enemy to Israel. Assyria is known for its cruelty towards prisoners of war.

Scott wrapped up the lesson by leading a discussion on our purpose for studying Jonah. Could it be to demonstrate how God uses imperfect people? Maybe we’ll find out this coming Sunday!

Upcoming Events

• June 21, Saturday - Habitat for Humanity Service Project - Mark your calendars. More details to follow.
• June 27, Friday - Rangers Game! - We need 20 people in order to get 1/2 price tickets ($12.50 in the lower, reserved section). If you are interested PLEASE bring your money to class (to give to Natalie) by Sunday, June 1st.