The other day I got to run off with my good friend Adam and hear Rob Bell speak. We ended up having to go to the Indianapolis tour date because of other obligations but it was worth the five hour drive to go see him. Adam and I briefly got lost in Jackson county (honestly who wouldn’t get lost up there) but quickly found ourselves on the road again for the event.
It was a great trip. I have to admit I’m a little weird. I enjoy reading books that probably most of my peers are not the least bit interested in especially when it comes to theology and philosophy. On top of that I get a kick out of listening to sermons on either cd or tape. Fortunately my friend Adam isn’t bothered by that and enjoys sharing those times as well. So we spent the time listening to sermons on his ipod mostly Rob Bell and Randy Harris. Once we got there we were blown away at the size and demographic of the audience. The event was needless to say incredible in terms of presentation and content. Rob is an amazing speaker and engaging teacher. To try and summarize the event here would leave me with few proper words and a shallow description of what was otherwise a great experience. What impressed me most is the care and compassion that comes across from his words. Rob from all that I can tell speaks from a heart that is truly convicted about what he has to say. You know when you hear him that what he’s saying has come from months if not years of thought and reflection. It’s meaningful because he speaks from a life shaped by the character of the ideas he is sharing with you. If you get a chance to hear him you won’t regret it. I don’t think you have to agree with all that he says but I think you would be hard pressed to adequately criticize a great deal of what he brings to the table. I appreciate his desire to remain true not only to the text of what he shares but to the history from which the story emerges. I have grown up in a tradition that was very concerned with proper interpretation of scripture but for all of their effort few have attained such a level of biblical faithfulness in their teaching as Rob.