by Lon on September 10, 2009
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?
See here for a lot more online resources by rob bell
I was lining up for the Tuesday special at Taco Bell, and overheard the lady next to me making her order with what seemed like forced extra-polite English. I looked over and noticed she was an older Asian lady, and figured she must have immigrated here not too long ago, and imagined what a difficult life it must have been integrating into a new country.
Then I realized she was with her daughter who was probably in her late twenties… with very obvious Down syndrome. It hit me that I had no idea just how hard her life has been and the disappointing realities she must have struggled with.
The lady was gently guiding her daughter though the ordering and payment process at the Taco Bell.
My heart just broke for them.
Not because of the situation they were in, but because I could see the decades of care and concern her mother had for her.
The daughter’s core identity was not that of a Down syndrome sufferer, but a child deeply loved and adored.
Ain’t that the truth about God and all His children?
by Lon on September 30, 2008
I know people in incredible pain right this moment.
What do you do besides being broken along side of them?
How is it that we can talk so much within the church about how to love, without also sharing about how to grieve?
How is it that there can be such a fine line between tremendous joy and deep mourning? Life can turn on a dime and the whole world seems upside down.
what do you do, and who are you to be, in crazy times like these?
by Lon on February 8, 2008
Do you believe in Beincarnation?
I heard this creative term a number of years ago and it’s never left me.
Similar to my post on tantric preaching, beincarnation co-opts another traditionally ‘Eastern’ term – Reincarnation. I’ll assume that’s okay since Jesus was an eastern teacher…
Reincarnation is driven by the cosmic judgment of your deeds in this life. Every person is in karmic bondage with a soul that longs for liberation from this world. It is cyclical in nature until you are disconnected from all desires and reach nirvana. In this heaven-like state you are finally transformed, at peace, and no longer subject to human suffering.
Be-incarnation is a response to the incarnation of Christ. Transformation begins in this life, not the next. Beincarnation is where followers of Jesus become the hands, and feet, and voice of Christ. Beincarnation is where our own unique identity and the character of Christ converge.
With Beincarnation the goal is not to leave this world, but to bind ourselves to it, as we take upon human suffering and become bringers of peace in this life. Beincarnation is not a suppression of desires, but an unleashing of passion, shaped by Jesus.
Be Incarnation. Be.incarnation. What are you waiting for?
