“Captivating stuff”–Bell on this Podcast

So, I was on the Christ and Pop Culture Podcast again this week. If you haven’t already done so, go ahead and subscribe to it iTunes. Though I’m not on it every time, it’s always good stuff.

On this episode “Managing Editor Alan Noble is joined by staff writers Derek Rishmawy, Kevin McLenithan andWade Bearden to discuss hoping for the best from Rob Bell’s new show, whether Christian films as a genre are a bad idea, and if moviegoers are starting to favor storytelling over special effects.”

I’m the point guy on the Rob Bell getting a TV Show on Oprah Winfrey Network thing. I’ll say that I may have been a bit cranky as I recorded.

So, you can go listen to that here: CLICK ON THIS LINK.

Beyond that, you can go read my review of Rob Bell’s last book:

So does God keep up with the modern world? Bell thinks so, and I’m inclined to agree. The question remains how does God do so? Is it by trading in our rusty old concept of God, and wheeling out the new, shiny one, finely-tuned to fit postmodern sensibilities, that Bell presents us with?

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s by dusting off the broad tradition of reflection about God’s self-revelation we find in the Fathers, the Medieval Doctors, and Reformation scholars who gave us a God both “with” and “above,” both “for” and, yes, complexly “against,” both “ahead” and yet “before.” Just a thought.

Also, this is the excerpt from the interview with Rob Bell and Oprah that increased my sense of dread about the show:

Oprah: What is the soul?
Bell: It’s the thing that keeps telling you there’s more.

Oprah: Your definition of God?
Bell: Like a song you hear in another room, and you think, “wow, that sounds beautiful but I can only hear a little bit.”

Oprah: What does prayer mean to you?
Bell: Prayer to me is usually one word, which is, “Yes. I’m open. What’s next?” That’s what it is.

Oprah: What’s the lesson that’s taken you longest to learn?
Bell: There’s nothing to prove … All that’s left to do is enjoy.

Oprah: What do you know for sure?
Bell: That you can say “yes” to this moment, and you can experience a joy that can’t be put into words.

Oprah: The world needs…
Bell: … All of us to wake up.

Oprah: I believe…
Bell: … That we’re all going to be fine.

So, there you go.

Soli Deo Gloria