“Who’s Rob Bell?”

If you dwell in christian circles, there is no doubt that you know who Rob Bell is.

Chances are you have strong opinions of him as well.

Whether you love him, or write him off as a heretic,

You know who he is.

You have enough time to watch a nooma, read one of his books, podcast him, or even buy a ticket to see him on tour.

You know who he is.

You have talked about him positively or negatively, you have had arguments over theology, and you have judged him for better or for worse.

You know who he is.

With his upcoming book “Love Wins”  coming out, a lot of buzz is going around about Rob being a heretic and universalist.

You still know who he is.

And yet, I would venture to say you care more about your opinion of Rob Bell than you actually care about Rob Bell.

I once invited my brother (who is an atheist) and my friend Mo (who is searching and always open to new thoughts) to see/hear Rob Bell speak.

They both responded with the same question, “Who is Rob Bell?”

I loved it!

How refreshing it was to be outside of the circle with some people who have always looked at it from that perspective.

My brother wasn’t able to make it, but my friend Mo came with me to the event. It was in a concert venue in our town, and so the atmosphere was familiar to Mo. He didn’t feel like an outsider because the venue was chosen to be welcoming to all.

Mo loved it.

I loved it.

And I was thankful for the experience and the conversations that started that night.

But the issue is not Rob Bell, as much as the issue is theology.

Those being predestined to be correct in all matters tend to attack…attack like other experts in the law once did.

Three things:

1.The book is not out yet

2.You talking about him, is even better press for him. (Rob Bell would probably thank you)

3. If Rob Bell is not against you, what does that say he is for?

In the end you know who Rob Bell is.

You are talking about him.

And if you are talking about him…chances are Jesus and the scriptures will come up in that same conversation.

And that makes me happy.

Who is Rob Bell?

Someone that starts great conversations.

And one of my heroes.

Sincerely,

Alex Buchner

P.S.

Here are two endorsements from two people have actually read the book

“In the current religious climate in America, it isn’t easy to develop an imagination, a thoroughly biblical imagination, that takes in the comprehensive and eternal work of Christ in all people and all circumstances in love and for salvation. Rob Bell goes a long way in helping us acquire just such an imagination. Love Wins accomplishes this without a trace of soft sentimentality and without compromising an inch of evangelical conviction in its proclamation of the good news that is most truly for all.” – Eugene H. Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, and author of The Message and The Pastor

“Love Wins is a bold, prophetic and poetic masterpiece. I don’t know any writer who expresses the inexpressible love of God as powerfully and as beautifully as Rob Bell! Many will disagree with some of Rob’s perspectives, but no one who seriously engages this book will put it down unchanged. A ‘must read’ book!” – Greg Boyd, senior pastor at Woodland Hills Church and author of The Myth of a Christian Nation

 

Drops Like Stars…

I just got back from Kansas City with my good friends and staff members. While we were there we got to see Rob Bell’s Drop Like Stars…I found this guys notes online today, and thought they spoke much better than my own…

 

You can find all these images and more @ http://www.rohdesign.com/weblog/

 

Hope you are doing well and that your life is making you question more and more

-AB

What Matters More?

New Derek Webb song from Stockholm Syndrome

Lyrics:

You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
‘Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak

‘Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn’t be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn’t silently conceal when the liars speak
Denyin’ all the dyin’ of the remedy

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

If I can tell what’s in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it’s about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin’ the wind while the pendulum swings

‘Cause we can talk and debate until we’re blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he’s comin’ to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a s—
About 50,000 people who are dyin’ today

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

Apparently the “s—” line was taken from Tony Campolo: “While you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a s—. What’s more is that you’re more upset with the fact that I just said ‘s—’ than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”

Rumored that the album hits stores September 1.

Online versions probably sooner.

I still have not formulated a true opinion on the matter yet.

Sincerely,

-AB

Last Tweet from @Ssyndrome: THE END. 07/07 THE BEGINNING.

Sooner or Later…

Ben Linus: Thomas the Apostle. When Jesus wanted to return to Judea, knowing that he would probably be murdered there, Thomas said to the others, “Let us also go there and we might die with him.” But Thomas was not remembered for this bravery. His claim to fame came later when he refuses to acknowledge the resurrection. He just couldn’t wrap his mind around it. The story goes that he needed to touch Jesus wounds to be convinced.

Jack Shephard: So was he?

Ben Linus: Of course he was. We are all convinced sooner or later, Jack.

Gay.

“It’s easier for me to get gay sex on the street, than to get a hug in church”

-a broken man

I feel like every 4 months this topic comes up in the circles I run in. I used to cower and just try to listen…well as best as I could. But I have come along way and with the help of some of these articles and my own meditation I have come to actually have a view on the issue. But first you need to look at all these wonderful little links

Relevant Article from 2008 with some big christian thinkers.

Video of Jay Bakker. (this originally messed me up)

This book was pretty balanced….ish.

After viewing all these things, my hope is that you would not settle for these peoples views alone. That you would talk to friends and to homosexuals (who I hope are your friends too). That you would seek not right or wrong, but what is true. That you would recognize your own brokenness and that of others. Be reconciled.

Some questions and thoughts I would like you to ponder and discuss:

-What is sin?

-How do you know what sin is?

-Is homosexuality a choice?

-Define what a homosexual lifestyle looks like.

-Define what a christian lifestyle looks like.

-What is repentance?

-Where are your personal sins found in the scriptures?

Well I hope you enjoyed this little post and that it continues to keep you talking.

Sincerely,

-AB

What’s the big f***ing treasure, nephew?

My uncle asked me this after reading my status on facebook.

My Status: “Alex will sell himself to buy the treasure he found”

My Response

It is hard to define it exactly, I am still pondering selling myself to purchase this treasure. It is beautiful, it is offensive, it is everything I need and yet there are days I do not desire it. I have seen it many times and in those moments I would gladly sacrifice everything for it. But then my vision wares down and I forget of the beautiful sight of my treasure, but I long to remember

what it looked like,

what it felt like,

why I wanted it so badly.

What happens when I obtain it? I almost am afraid to see what will happen if I purchase the thing, and yet it has been given to me free of charge, the only thing it asks of me: my life. 

You say it is big, but I believe it is smaller than you think, it is like a seed I have been told, but not any ol’ seed, a mustard seed, that grows to be the biggest of them all, but for now it is small. This treasure is something that is here one minute and gone the next for it has advanced and has left me behind, beckoning me back to the front  line to join it once more, to return to my first love and remember the beauty of which I am fighting for. Not a war against flesh and blood mind you, but something completely different, an invisible war waging inside the hearts of men, that they feel too often, but cannot name. They long to see the treasure again, but settle for false images that crumble, the treasure I speak of is strong, it does not cower, it stands. 

 

But I still haven’t answered your question Uncle. 

Sincerely,

-AB