Suffering my way to a new tomorrow

Hey there. It's been a while. Frankly, just haven't felt like blogging much. Good to rest and recharge and let the well fill back up sometimes. I will share this great post Rob Bell wrote recently for CNN. Good stuff, as always.


My Faith: Suffering my way to a new tomorrow
Editor's Note: Rob Bell is the Founding Pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His latest book and DVD are called Drops Like Stars.

By Rob Bell, Special to CNN

One Friday evening in the fall of my senior year of college I got a headache.

I took some aspirin, laid on the couch, and waited for it to go away. But it didn't; it got worse. By midnight I was in agony, and by 3 a.m. I was wondering if I was going to die.

As the sun rose, my roommate drove me to the hospital where I learned that I had viral meningitis. A neurologist explained to me that the fluid around my brain had become infected and was essentially squeezing my brain against the walls of my skull.

So that's what that was.


The doctor informed me that it would take a number of weeks in bed to recover.

This didn't fit with my plan.

I was in a band at the time. We'd been playing shows in the Chicago area for a while and had just landed our biggest club dates yet in the city - all of them scheduled over the next several weeks.

We had to cancel all of them.

As this reality hit me, laying there in that hospital bed miles from home with a brain infection, I distinctly remember asking no one in particular "Now what?"

I was devastated. This was not how it was supposed to go. The band was my life, my future, my singular focus. We had just canceled our biggest gigs ever. Eventually I recovered enough to return to school but things weren't the same. Whatever had been driving us in the band wasn't there like it had been before and so we came to the mutual conclusion that it had been great while it lasted and now it was time for the band to come to an end.

I don't think I'd ever felt more lost. I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. I had all this energy and passion and I wanted desperately to give myself to something that mattered, but I had no plan.

I would walk around campus in a daze, muttering the same prayer over and over, which took the form of "Now what?"

Do you know that feeling when you're playing soccer and you lunge for the ball but you aren't fast enough and the player on the other team has already kicked it quite hard and the ball travels with ferocious velocity and force into your groin region and you keel over, gasping for breath, your voice several octaves higher?

It was like the existential version of that.

And then, things took a strange, beautiful turn.

In the days and weeks following the band's breakup, people I barely knew would stop me out of the blue and say things like, "Have you thought about being a pastor?" Friends I hadn't talked to in months would contact me and say, "For some reason I think you're going to be a pastor."

Me, a pastor? Seriously?

The idea began to get a hold of me and it wouldn't let go. A calling welled up within me, a direction, something I could give myself to.

I tell you this story about what happened to me 19 years ago because I assume you're like me - really good at making plans and plotting and scheming and devising just how to make your life go how it's "supposed" to go.

We are masters of this. We know exactly how things are supposed to turn out.

And then we suffer. There's a disruption - death, disease, job loss, heartbreak, betrayal or bankruptcy.

The tomorrow we were expecting disappears. And we have no other plan.

Suffering is traumatic and awful and we get angry and we shake our fists at the heavens and we vent and rage and weep. But in the process we discover a new tomorrow, one we never would have imagined otherwise.

I have interacted with countless people over the years who, when asked to identify key moments, turning points, and milestones in their lives, usually talk about terribly difficult, painful things. And they usually say something along the lines of "I never would have imagined that would happen to me."

Imagined is a significant word here. Suffering, it turns out, demands profound imagination. A new future has to be conjured up because the old future isn't there anymore.

Now I realize that what happened to me - the fluid around my brain swelling up and squeezing it against the walls of my skull – is nothing compared to the pain and tragedy many people live with every day.

But that experience irrevocably altered my life. Nothing was ever the same again. My plans fell apart, which opened me up to entirely new future.

This truth, about the latent seeds of creativity being planted in the midst of suffering, takes us deep into the heart of the Christian faith. We are invited to trust that in the moments when we are most inclined to despair, when all appears lost and we can't imagine any way forward - that it is precisely in those moments when something new may be about to be birthed.

Jesus hangs naked and bloody on a cross, alone and abandoned by his students, scorned by the crowd, and yet defiant, confident, insistent that God is present in his agony, bringing about a whole new world, right here in the midst of this one.

This is a mystery, and one we are wise to reflect on it, because of the countless disruptions we experience all the time.

God is in those moments, grieving with us, shedding tears with us, feeling that pain and turmoil with us, and then inviting to trust that something good can come from even this.

So keep your eyes and your heart open. Be quick to listen and slow to make rash judgments about how it's "all going to turn out," because you never know when you'll find yourself miles from home, laying in a hospital bed with a bad case of brain squeeze, all of your plans crashing down around you, wondering how it all went wrong, only to discover that a whole new life is just beginning.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rob Bell.

Resurrection: Rob Bell

Happy and blessed Easter to you and yours. Rob Bell's latest work was released for free today on his Facebook page. Do take a moment to check it out when you can.

Resurrection: Rob Bell from The Work of Rob Bell on Vimeo.

Rob Bell on power of Social Media

Here's an excellent interview w/ Mr. Bell as he takes break on his current tour. He talks about his next new project (post Nooma) and the power of social media. Good stuff.

Rob Bell 2.0

Here's a very cool interview with Rob Bell about what he's working on next. Sounds like there won't be any more new Nooma videos, but he's got some exciting ideas in the works. Can't wait!

First things First

The first command that Jesus gives in the Sermon in the Mount?

"Rejoice and be glad."

No matter how bad it seems or what's stacked against us, Jesus says that through him it is possible to rejoice and be glad, even in the face of tremendous adversity. Amazing.

Thanks and props to Rob Bell's Twitter pagefor this reminder. Man, I needed to read this today.

Awkward but Awesome

Genius interviewing skills on display here with a chat with Rob Bell at Catalyst in the ATL.

Favorite line: "All of your books have touched me.....in my hands." Classic!

Bring the Pain

I was bummed to recently miss Rob Bell's Drops Like Stars tour when it recently hit the ATL. I hear it was excellent. While not the same as being there live, here's a cool interview w/ Rob about the tour and his insights on personal suffering and pain.

Notes from Nooma

Had an amazing discussion in Sunday School class yesterday. I went back to do an "oldie but a goodie" - Rob Bell's 10th Nooma video, "Lump" If you've never seen it, visit the fine folks at flannel.org and order a copy today. (If you're a Church Streeter, you can check out a copy in the Church Library).

It's a great story about God's unconditional love and forgiveness. Two things we can really not be reminded of enough. Especially in these often dark, cynical times we live in. The discussion was powerful. The Holy Spirit was present. I'll never really capture it in words, but I'm just so thankful to have been a part of it.

I wanted to share the description of the video here on the blog. It really captures the spirit of the video, and is a good thought for us to kick off our week. Live blessed this week, my friend!


LUMP - NOOMA VIDEO #10
"A lot of us have done things in our lives that we're ashamed of. Some are small things, and some of us have really big and devastating things. some of us even have things that people close to us don't know about. Personal junk that we keep to ourselves so we don't have to deal with it. Because we don't know how to deal with it, do we? We're afraid that if we try it's just going to make everything worse. But no matter how big our junk is, no matter how much what we've done has impacted the way other people feel about us or how we feel about ourselves, it hasn't changed how God feels about us. God loves us, he always has and always will, and there's nothing we can do to change that."

Interview w/ Shane Hipps

I had no idea who Shane Hipps was. (First thought: That would be an AWESOME 70's Cop Show Character) But when I ran across my man Rob Bell interviewing him, I had to check it out. Shane is the author of a new book Flickering Pixels, about how technology is shaping our faith. Really insightful. I'm definitely going to run this one down...


Rob Bell Interviews Shane Hipps About Technology from Deadly Viper on Vimeo.

Rob Bell interview, info on Drops Like Stars tour

"MANY of the most significant moments in our lives come not because things went as planned, but because it all fell apart. It’s following these moments of difficulty — or sometimes tragedy — that we are freed to see life in a whole new way. ... And there's something divine in that.”

Rob Bell about his upcoming “Drops Like the Stars” tour and book

ReadtheSpirit.com posted a great interview with Rob Bell. Rob talks about the details of his new book/tour Drops Like Stars that kicks off in the Fall '09. Can't wait.

Drops Like Stars

An enormously tough, challenging week was made brighter for me with news that Rob Bell has a new book and tour coming out. Drops Like Stars I'm sure will achieve Rob's usually level of awesomeness. Here's his description of the new work:

We plot, we plan, we assume things are going to go a certain way
and then they don’t and we find ourselves
In a new place, a place we haven’t been before, a place
We never would have imagined on our own,

And so it was difficult and unexpected and maybe even
Tragic and yet it opened us up and freed us to see
Things in a whole new way

Suffering does that—
It hurts,
But it also creates.

How many of the most significant moments in your
Life came not because it all went right, but because
It all fell apart?

It’s strange how there can be art in the agony…

The Drops Like Stars tour is a two
Hour exploration of the endlessly complex
Relationship between suffering and creativity—
And I’d love to see you there.

I hope to see him there, either in the ATL or Nashville. Road Trip!!

In reading up on Rob's new work, I also came across this profile of the "hipper than thou" precher on Time.com. Good read.

Rob on Relevant.com

Check out this interview with Rob Bell on Relevant.com. Rob talks about his new book, the "New Exodus Perspective" and, as always, drops all kind of sound biblical knowledge. In his own awesome way. My fav was this quote:

"It's hard to enter the Kingdom of Heaven when you're content with the Kingdom you already have."

You rock, Rob!

Jesus Wants To Save Christians

Rob Bell's new book comes out in this Fall! It's a collaboration w/ Don Golden called Jesus Wants To Save Christians - A Manifesto for the Church in Exile.

The book's web site is chock full of goodies, including a mp3 of the authors interviewing themsleves, and the first 2 chapters of the book that you can download to read yourself, or have Rob and Don read it to you, if that's how you roll. Check out the web site for the full experience, but here's a few highlights.

Rob Bell and Don Golden interviewing one another about the writing of the book.

The Introduction to the Introduction.

Chapter 1

Nooma 021 | She | Rob Bell

Watch this one while you can. The always stellar Rob Bell is back with his latest Nooma (021 - She)...a look at the feminine nature of God.

It's premiering for a few days on Facebook, so check it out before it gets pulled down. Then go buy yourself a copy to keep forever (just $10) at www.nooma.com

Shells

Hope you had a relaxing and reflective Memorial Day weekend with you and yours. In the spirit of remembering those things that are truly important and worth fighting for (spiritually-speaking) this Memorial Day, I found the latest Nooma video from Rob Bell, Shells, to be especially relevant. Enjoy.

The Gods Aren't Angry

Rob Bell's second tour DVD, The Gods Aren't Angry, is now available for pre-order at TheGodsArentAngry.com.

You can also subscribe to the The Gods Aren't Angry podcast and see a new clip every week through June 6th.

And as fate would have it...this DVD was filmed at the same show I saw in the ATL. Can't wait to see it again!

What You Look For, You'll Find

I watched Rob Bell's "Everything Is Spiritual" DVD last nite. As usual, Rob brought the awesome.

It's a DVD from his first speaking tour, filmed in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan in July of 2006. (I blogged about Rob's second speaking tour, The Gods Aren't Crazy, that I caught in the ATL last Novemeber) This one features Rob on stage with a giant whiteboard that he fills with a dizzying array of facts and commentary, mostly based on the Creation Story from Genesis. From quantim physics to Spinal Tap references, it somehow all flows together. It's entertaining, informative and highly inspiring.

One of my favorite parts comes towards the end where Rob says "In this world, what you look for, you'll find." In other words, if you want to be a pessimist, you'll find plenty of things to be pessimistic about. If you want to be a cynic, you'll find plenty of things to be cynical about. But if you want to find God at work in our world and be in awe of his grace, forgiveness and plan for your life, well, you'll find that, too.

The other big idea was that everything, indeed, is spiritual. In the Hebrew Scriptures there is no word for "spiritual." And Jesus himself never uses the phrase "spiritual life." Because for Jesus and his tradition, all of life is spiritual.

To paraphrase the Psalmist, "Everything you do, do it for the Lord." What's so exciting to me about this concept is that everything means EVERY THING. So whether I'm playing with my kids, doing a job I don't want to do at work, listenting my neighbor complain about her mysterious ailments, rocking to the White Stripes, buying a $4 cinnamon dolce latte, blogging or b-balling, somehow it's all spiritiual when it's done with the right frame mind. Somehow God makes sense out of all the things I like to do, along with all my mistakes and messes (I give him PLENTY of material to work with) and incorporates it in to His masterplan. That is mind boggling. But I love it.

Everything is spiritual, indeed.

Rob Bell in the ATL!

Wow! Seeing Rob Bell last nite on "The Gods Aren't Angry" tour in Atlanta was awesome. Inspiring. Informative. Incredible.

Even the walk into the venue was entertaining, as some "religious protesters" were outside chanting that "Rob Bell is going to hell!" and "Amy Grant commited adultery!" among other things. Um, ok guys. Glad y'all have time for this impactful service to humanity.

Anyways, Rob spoke for about 1 hour 45 minutes straight, and I was riveted the whole time. Lots of ideas to chew on that I'll blog about later. In the meantime, here's a good synopasis of what the show's all about from a blogger who caught him opening night in Chicago at the Vic Theatre.

(Spoiler alert: If you're going to see the show and you're the type that doesn't want to know how the book/movie ends...don't read the link!!)

Back to Back: Jim Fleming and Rob Bell this weekend!

I'm psyched. I get to see two of the most intelligent, engaging and talented Christian speakers at it today back to back. Jim Fleming and Rob Bell. Awesome!

Dr. James Fleming is Director of Biblical Resources Study Center in Jerusalem, Israel, and the President of Biblical Resources, which produces audiovisuals for teaching Bible history. He is also one of the most informed and inspiring speakers I've ever seen. He's given an annual lecture series at my home church, Church Street UMC in Knoxville, Tennessee for like the last 8 or 9 years and he never disappoints. He's the type of guy who has forgotten more about the Bible than I'll EVER know, but comes across so down-to-earth. A truly gifted teacher.

Anyways, his next lecture series at my church is this Sunday-Monday (Nov. 18/19) at Church Street United Methodist. For more information about this year's series and schedule click here. If you're in the Knoxville area and have the chance, do try to catch him.

I will be at Dr. Flemming's Sunday lessons, but not Monday's, because I will be taking a road trip with some friends to the ATL to catch Rob Bell on his "The Gods Aren't Angry Speaking Tour."

I've blogged about how Rob's first book (Velvet Elvis) has inspired me. I just finished his latest book (SexGod) and it was just as outstanding. Evidently at this event, he'll be covering all-new material, so I can't wait.

I'll blog next week with updates and thoughts from both events.

Blessings

Velvet Elvis

I love that feeling when you read just the right book at just the right time. When the words somehow jump off the page and sink deep within your soul. When you truly grieve the moment that you turn the last page.

It's only happened to me a few times. When I read Wally Lamb's "I Know This Much Is True." The first (of many) times that I read "The Catcher in the Rye." And it recently happened again with "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell.

Two months ago, I had never heard of Rob Bell. Now I think he's probably the most inspiring, talented Christian preacher/teacher/evangelist of our day. Especially for us hipsters from Gen-X who have at some point bought into the myth that if you are a Christian you have to be boring. Wrong!

A 2006 article in the Chicago Sun Times predicts Rob may become the next Billy Graham. I'm not sure about all that. I am sure that he is onto something. Rob graduated from the same seminary school as Graham (Wheaton College) but says he never got good grades in his courses because "he was always more interested in coming up with creative ways to share the Gospel."

And man, is he creative. He used to play in an indie rock band. He looks more like he'd be hanging out at a coffee shop or a Cold War Kids concert than in a pulpit. And maybe that's (part of) what makes him so effective. He does those things. But he also posseses an incredible knowledge of the Bible and the Jewish traditions and world Jesus lived in. Most importantly, he knows how to translate all that into a way that's relevant for us today. His teaching style inspires without being judgemental. Brilliant!

In 1999, he and his wife founded Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. Today it attracts over 10,000 people per service and is one of the fastest growing churches in American history. Many people also download the weekly Mars Hill Podcasts which feature sermons and messages from Rob and other top notch speakers. I highly recommend you check them out.

I also recommend his work through Nooma.com. Nooma is a series of short films with a contemporary look that explore contemporary Christian issues and perspectives. They are beautifully shot and edited. The music is hip. The messages are powerful and inspire, uplift and really make you think.

In short, they work in ways that all other Christian "educational" videos don't. It's more like watching a Ken Burns documentary than Driver License safety video, if you get my drift. I recently did a 4 week study with my Sunday School class (to date there are 17 different Nooma films, each one is about 5 minutes long). It inspired awesome discussion and we are going to do the rest of the series in the near future.

It was during this study of these Nooma films that I picked up Rob's first book, "Velvet Elvis." In it, he explains his vision of the Christian life. "The challenge," he says "is to live with great passion and conviction, remaining open and flexible, aware that this life is not the last painting." He talks about how he became a preacher (he didn't see it coming) and some real struggles he's faced. It's packed with insights on how a story that's 2,000 years old can make sense in today's TiVo'd world.

It's funny. It's eye-opening. It's inspiring. It's one of the best books I've ever read. I hope you'll read it, too.

(Side note: This fall, Rob Bell is going on a speaking tour, called The Gods Aren't Angry It's described as "part anthropology, part history, part deconstruction - featuring new material that Rob hasn't taught before." I'm going to check it out Novemeber 19 at The Tabernacle in Atlanta. I'll blog about that road trip for sure!)