Exploring the uncommonly examined connection between sufferi ng and creativity, Rob Bell's Drops Like Stars seeks to examine artisty as it emerges through personal agony. Bell acknowledges that our sufferings are painful, yet it is through our ability to endure difficult moments that we experience significant insight. Discover how affliction can free you to see faith in a new and holistic light!
This book is an exploration of the complex relationship between suffering and creativity, driven by the belief that there is art in the agony.
While Bell's books Velvet Elvis and Sex God received generally strong reviews, this effort to understand the relationship between suffering and creativity feels superficial and overly self-conscious. Few readers will dispute Bell's gentle assertions: that life can be extremely difficult and capricious, that it is often difficult to find God amid suffering, that suffering has a great potential to unify disparate people, and that great bursts of creative energy can arise from pain. Bell explores these issues not by covert biblical exegesis—which was a surprising and welcome highlight of Velvet Elvis—but new-fashioned storytelling. Bell weaves inspiring stories of people who turned their suffering into something transformative, and many of these stories are memorable. They are certainly accessible: Bell draws from fiction, movies, real-life situations and his own life. These anecdotes do not make a book, however, and Bell's spare prose lacks original insights into age-old theodicy questions. Although the design and layout are first-rate, $35 is a lot of money for a 160-page book that is mostly white space. (Aug.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Brandon Vogt (Orlando, FL), August 22, 2009
Rob Bell is one of the best communicators of Jesus today. As a thirty-nine year old hipster, whom many see as the face of the emerging-church-movement--though he himself rejects the association--his teachings can be described with one simple word.
Cool.
In recent years, many pastors and churches have tried to become "cool", "relevant", or "new" to attract a younger, post-modern generation. To do so, many have chosen to squelch everything about God that they believe to be mundane, uncomfortable, and ancient--this unfortunately includes most of the Gospel. Many of these churches have services that seemingly blend self-help seminars with rock concerts.
But that isn't Rob. He's cool, but not on purpose. He's relevant, but only because he uses modern metaphors to describe ancient situations. And he's new only in the sense that he uses fresh words to convey old ideas.
In fact some of my favorite, humbling words of his include: "Every fresh and original thought you think you have, somebody smarter a long time ago in Europe said it."
Rob doesn't think what he says is cool, he thinks what he says is true.
His teachings clearly convey his belief that the Gospel, properly communicated, is relevant and provocative on its own. Rob's coolness exists because he swims into the depths of theology and comes up still breathing, able to communicate the experience in a provocative way.
0.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by MD (USA), August 17, 2009
I was uneasy about the information Rob Bell preaches. Rob Bell fails to mention that our only salvation is through the only begotten son of God, Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us to be discernful. I would not recommend this or any Rob Bell's teachings for it falls short to pointing his readers to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviuor. The bible said in the last days there will be many deceivers: 1 John 2:18,22; 1 John 4:3 and 2 John 1:17. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. I pray you will not be deceived.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Roz (Sterling Hgts., MI), August 07, 2009
My husband and I saw Rob Bell on his "Drop Like Stars" Tour this spring. When I found his book of the same title, I purchased the book immediately. It is a very timely read. Having a parent experiencing cancer has smashed the boxes in my life along with removing insulators...This book was oxygen to me! Starting a list of people I'll be giving this book to as gifts...
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Peter Tang (Honolulu, HI), July 24, 2009
“Drops like Stars” is Rob Bell’s newest book. It’s the biggest, heaviest, but the shortest read compared to his other books. This is not a book to rush but to sit and think.
Rob has caused people to question his theology. And it’s a valid thing to discuss but if you are reading this in order to prove Rob to be a heretic then I suggest you don’t read this. Because you will simply take art theory out of context and be making useless arguments that doesn’t do anything. We must remember that were not making statements about truth but rather discussing what is truth. You can’t simply accept truth unless you take time to think and wrestle with the issues.
As a graduate of an art school I can relate to many of points made in this book. What convictional Christian must understand that art is NOT math. Art doesn’t reproduce the same thing over and over again but art is something that is personable and imperfect but seeking perfection. I can reshoot a movie from start to finish but I will never get the same acting, shots, or feeling as the first.
If you’re going to read this from a legalistic point of view… you will not gain much from reading this book. But if you take time to read, digest, and see the meaning behind the words… you will have a bigger understanding of the human condition.
We are complicated creatures… art is a complicated thing… you can try to put things in a box but art has a life of it’s own.
Rob does an excellent job of linking God to art and art to our pain and suffering. That’s why we make art… to express the inner most pains. I personally won’t say that this is best book he wrote but it’s different. And I personally would recommend reading in a quite room. It only takes 45 minutes to read the whole book. It almost plays like a nooma video.
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