Drops Like Stars; Review of Rob Bell's New Book

I received my copy of Drops Like Stars by Rob Bell recently and I have finally had some time to sit down and read it all the way through. The thing about this book is that you find yourself tempted just to thumb through it, in part because of the artistic layout in the way of a coffee table book. (Perhaps this can be my excuse in not reading it thoroughly the first time around even though I have had ample opportunity to do so.) My thoughts on this book are three-fold;

1) Layout - Rob Bell deserves props for the courage to author this sort of book. If you have read Bell's previous books Velvet Elvis or even Jesus Wants to Save Christians; A Manifesto for the Church in Exile, this is a departure of sorts from these types of books. The book itself is physically imposing (shaped like a high school year book) and it includes stunning photography. Some pages have minimal wording on them. The layout is in the way of Rob Bell's video series Nooma. If you were to translate a Nooma video into words and pictures, I believe this is what it would look like. The most important aspect of the layout is that it works!

2) Dialogue - Books that move from being just a monologue by the author into being a dialogue proves to be difficult to find. However, Drops Like Stars proves to accomplish dialogue in ways that I never felt that a book could accomplish. This is the case in part because of the unique layout, and in part because of the personal stories that Bell weaves in throughout the book. With the photography and personal stories married together throughout, the reading of Drops Like Stars proves to be a very interactive experience.

3) Substance - With what seemingly appears to be little said in Drop Like Stars because of the fact that there are many pictures and less words written, "Stars" may surprise because it is very deep in substance. Bell explores the relationship of suffering with creativity. The question that Bell explores is not "why we suffer?", rather the question he asks is "what now?". Rob Bell writes in a way that allows the reader to listen, to talk back, and to explore. I believe that this style leads to a deeper learning experience.

In many ways this book invites further exploration and further questions. Pat answers will not be found, and the ending does not provide any resolve with any modernistic satisfaction. If you are looking for a typical book experience, this may not be the type of reading for you. However, if you want to interact with something that invites a deeper learning experience this may be something to look at, if for no other reason that it does look very nice on a coffee table.

-Dan Jones

Book Review; Jesus Wants to Save Christians

First, I must say that I have very much enjoyed Rob Bell's past work with the Nooma series, and his two books that he has authored, Velvet Elvis and Sex God. I feel that Rob Bell is a fresh thinker and wants to dig deeper into preconceived notions that we often approach scripture with. Bell's latest offering is no different. Jesus Wants to Save Christians, A Manifesto for the Church in Exile challenges Jesus' followers to approach salvation humbly. To often we get caught up in reaching the world for Christ, when God's church can use some salvation as well.

Bell lays out an argument that the church is blessed to become a blessing, and that somewhere down the line, we have missed the mark. Our call to become a blessing has been lost in church programs, buildings, slick marketing, and politics for power.

Retracing the roots of the Christian narrative, Bell suggests that God has "heard the cry" of the oppressed. Since the beginning, God's purpose for His people is to be a blessed people so that they can be a "blessing" to the world, sharing in God's dream for this world. Bell moves through the narrative starting with Cain and Abel, moving to the Exodus and Sinai. Bell argues that the cry of the oppressed moved God.

When the oppressed becomes the oppressors under the "wisdom" and reign of Solomon, God moved to action.

To bring about a new kind of Kingdom, a true faithful marriage between the divine and humanity, Jesus is the promise for a better world through His death, burial, and resurrection. His followers have the opportunity to live out this blessing to the World.

However, more times then not, the church mission is lost in midst of many distractions. Bell reminds us of our purpose. He reminds us to move past the distractions. He reminds us that Jesus wants to save us from anything that can hinder His work in this world.

Rob Bell is not the first to point out this. You can finds similar work with Shane Claiborne and N.T. Wright. Bell does, however make this subject very accessible. Contrary to others, I am also a big fan of the format of Bell's books including this one. Jesus Wants to Save Christians is a short read, which is not a bad thing at all. I would recommend this to those that are looking at their Christian faith and wondering if there is more. I believe you will find more in this tangible calling to be a blessing to the world.

-dj

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