Rob Bell’s latest book Drop Like Stars explores the relationship between creativity and suffering.
If you’re familiar with Bell’s sermons, tours, and previous works, it won’t be phenomenally new content. In fact, the book almost stands in defiance of content, as I’m guessing if all the text was put into a Word document it’d be about five pages worth.
It’s really an over-sized coffee-table style book, and it’s visually beautiful. You’re not paying for content but an guided tour on some of Rob Bell’s best thoughts. In typical fashion he shares intriguing off-beat research and stories to draw you in.
Two things I think we can learn from the book. One being that he’s able to convey deeply biblical concepts in a language that anyone could understand. He speaks on very core issues of suffering and creativity, which is something everyone stumbles through in some way or form.
Secondly, I think we can all learn a bit about the packaging. I think it takes serious guts to fill two pages with only three words. Bell really practices the less-is-more paradigm here, and it’ll definitely irk plenty of people who pay for the book.
If you truly believed that less-is-more, how might you be doing things differently?
Wifi was severely limited Limited at the conference so no live blogging – plus I didn’t bring my laptop around with me for the first time in my life… the iPod touch did just fine.
This isn’t really a recap, I can’t sum up my thoughts well at the moment, other than it was very good.
Two images that stuck with me… below is the bucket of cash collected for a pastor who was fired in the middle of the conference – just for attending it.
This is a biking video that was shown that I think depicts the beauty that can be created with just about any art-form taken seriously, including preaching.
A seminar for teachers, preachers, speakers, leaders and pastors serious about reclaiming the art of the sermon.
I’m really not big on conferences at all. But I’ll be at this one.
I’ve got someone looking to share half a ticket with (one registration gets two people in). Let me know ASAP if you’ve got one or know of someone with one.
My cheap cell phone plan doesn’t work in the States – but I’ll try to get some online access if possible. Contact or twitter me if you’re in the area. Would love to connect with some real people while I’m there.
Here’s a taste of what’s on the schedule:
The Original Guerilla Theatre (Rob Bell) The Story We’re Telling (Rob Bell) Returning to the New: An Introduction to Tranformance Art (Peter Rollins) How Technology Shapes the Sermon (Shane Hipps) The Fig and the Failure of Language (Rob Bell) Fumbling Around with Your Radar (Rob Bell) For Those With Ears to Hear: Parables and the Lost Art of Provocation (Peter Rollins) You are the Medium (Shane Hipps) The One Thing I’ve Never Heard Someone Talk About That Has Changed Everything For Me (Rob Bell)
Update: I think our ticket situation is taken care of thanks to the glory of twitter. You can also follow the twitter hashtag #ppp09 to follow along as well.
Love him or hate him, Driscoll’s quite the preacher.
Josh Harris did a series of posts on preaching notes and managed to get Driscoll to share a bit of what he does. Below is a scan of his notes.
I actually do the same thing with the sticky notes. Sometimes I have a small page with a typed outline inserted, sometimes nothing at all.
I never have a problem with content, but it’s the transitions if there’s multiple passages or ideas being conveyed that I need supporting notes for. I have no idea how guys like Erwin McManus or Rob Bell go for hours without peeking.
Rob Bell’s released Nooma #20. I heard him share this one four years ago and always knew it would one day become a Nooma video. Watch it on facebook for free until wednesday.
Rob Bell’s latest book Drop Like Stars explores the relationship between creativity and suffering.
