Rob Bell's Blog, page 2

Hi friends,a few things I’d love to tell you about…Apri...

Hi friends,

a few things I’d love to tell you about…

April 29/30 I’ll be doing another CraftLab, a 2Day event focused on becoming more compelling communicators. I’ll be teaching on everything from how to memorize an outline to figuring out how to take the ideas rattling around in your head and heart and put them into words. 

And then in June I’ll be doing a 2Day event for those in business, medicine, education, law, and creative fields. A number of you have asked for basically a nonpastor 2Day so here you go!

One more thing: I’ve been doing a writing series on tumblr called What is the Bible? since November. I generally post a new writing each day, here’s the first one and if you want to jump in, here’s the latest one.

enjoy. 

grace and peace,

rob

What We Talk About When We Talk About God Now in Paperback

Hi Friends,

Thanks so much for your support of my book What We Talk About When We Talk About God. It was released a year ago and now it’s coming out in paperback. I’m struck with what a year it’s been-from all the conversations I’ve had with people like you to sitting down with Oprah to talk about the book. If you haven’t read the book, or you have and you want to share it with others, here’s a free excerpt. Enjoy…

Grace and Peace,

Rob

New 2Days Dates Added

We’ve added more 2Days with Rob Bell leadership events on: 

January 13/14

and

February 10/11

Find out more at robbell.com/2days

Register now at robbell.com/events

Today is my birthday, let’s do some good together.

Hi friends,

Today is my birthday. (I’m 43, for those keeping track at home) and I’m writing to ask you to give a donation to help people get access to clean water who don’t currently have it.

http://my.charitywater.org/robbell 

Every penny of what you give goes to directly fund clean water projects in developing countries. And then later charity:water will show us exactly which projects we funded when they’re completed.

My goal is to raise $43,000 which will provide clean water for several communities.

Now I know there some of you who always enjoy adding a little competitive prodding, so for the record the singer Adam Lambert raised $323,000 on his birthday, the actress Alyssa Milano raised $92,000 on hers, and Depeche Mode have currently raised $20,000 for their birthdays…if all of you I’m writing today donated we could do something massive together-i’m just sayin’…

As many of you know, Kristen and I have been passionate about getting people access to the clean water they need for a while now, and through our support of charity:water we’ve seen the extraordinary things that can happen when we all get together to do some good.

Because water changes everything, and you’re only 43 once.

Grace and peace,

rob

UK Tour Dates

Hello UK!

I’m heading your way 10 days from now. I will be speaking in London (Monday 15th), Manchester (Tuesday 16th) and Edinburgh (Wednesday 17th). 

Find out more at:

https://www.facebook.com/whenwetalkaboutgod

New books available today.

Hi friends,

I have two new books that are being released today, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOD and LOVE WINS : FOR TEENS. Tonight we’re doing a launch event and you can join the conversation live, via Ustream. (4pm PST / 7pm EST)

For details visit: robbelllive.com

grace and peace,

rob

New Book Trailer

Hi Friends,

In the last update, I linked to a behind-the-book video for my new book WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOD. That clip was more about the creative process of bringing a book to life and less about what the book is actually about. So today I’d like to share with you more about the content of the book with this new trailer, which you can check out here.

Also, I’ll be doing a number of events when the book is released and I’d love to see you there. If you want tickets to the launch event at Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn, you can purchase them directly here. And if you want to watch the Brooklyn event online, you can do that at: http://www.robbelllive.com



The book goes on sale March 12, and you can preorder now.

I can’t begin to express to you how much your support has meant to me over the years. I’m really passionate about the content and message of this book, and as I get ready to go back out there, it puts a smile on my face to think of so many of you and your encouragement and love. Hopefully I’ll see you soon…

grace and peace,

rob

What We Talk About When We Talk About God

Hi friends,

I’m thrilled to let you know that my new book will be releasing soon. March 12, to be more precise. It’s called What We Talk About When We Talk About God. I’ll be doing a number of events in a number of cities surrounding the release, including:

Grand Rapids, MI

Brooklyn, NY

Nashville, TN

San Francisco, CA

Berkeley, CA

Highlands Ranch, CO

Beaverton, OR

Seattle, WA

Los Angeles, CA

Until then, here’s a little film on the background of the book:

http://www.robbell.com/newbook

See you soon,

rob bell

More CraftLab Dates Announced

We’ve just announced a second set of dates for CraftLab with Rob Bell. Join us on January 22/23 or 28/29 for two days specifically designed around the creation and crafting of compelling content for talks/speeches/sermons/lessons/scripts and messages.

Click here to register

Click here for more information

CraftLab with Rob Bell

Introducing CraftLab with Rob Bell

What is it?

CraftLab with Rob Bell is a two day event specifically designed around the creation and crafting of compelling content for talks/speeches/sermons/lessons/scripts and messages.

How does it work?

You bring whatever ideas, outlines, series, scriptures, research, word studies, commentaries, hunches, topics, and stories you’re working on with you, along with some way for you to take lots of notes very quickly.

At 9am on the first day Rob will start by picking the first person who will give a twenty to thirty second overview of whatever it is they’re working on (A talk on suffering, a series on the Gospel of John, a story that might turn into a short film, a theme in the book of Exodus, a month of sermons on faith and doubt, how to grieve, etc.) and off we go. Rob will ask questions, push back, suggest, poke, probe, pull ideas from the group, assign different people to find different things online, and gradually, right there on the spot, a talk/message/script/outline/something will grow before our eyes. Then on to the next person and then the next person and then perhaps back to the first person for a minute because we’ve realized that some common themes have emerged and then on to the next person-for the next two days. 

How long are the sessions each day?

9am to 9pm with proper breaks, of course, for surfing, tacos, and sleep.

Will we get to your specific talks/outlines/ideas?

There are no guarantees that we will get to whatever talks you are working on specifically, but there is the guarantee that the communicating principles, insights, and truths that will be flying around the room will be totally applicable to your content.

What’s the goal here?

The goal is three-pronged: One, that you leave at the end of the second day loaded to the gills with significant content, outlines, structures, notes, ideas, and specific directions and questions to work on to more fully flesh out your talks.

Which leads to the second goal: This isn’t just about the series/talks/messages that you have coming up, it’s about the art and craft of communicating. It’s about developing muscles and routines and practices to consistently generate compelling messages that first move you deep in your bones so that you then have something worth telling others about. The intended result, then, is that you leave with your bucket full for months and months and months to come so that six months after participating in this event people who listen to you on a regular basis will be asking you “What happened? You’ve been on fire for a while now!”

Which leads to a third goal: That you never, ever, ever again have that dreadful, clammy, panicked feeling the night before you are going to be speaking because you don’t have anything to say. 

So this is just for pastors?

The bulk of the work we will be doing will be geared to pastors giving talks in local churches, but the principles, insights, and truths about communicating will quickly take us into universal lessons about spirituality and the creative process that will be applicable to all kinds of people who create all sorts of different content in all kinds of settings.

Is there anything we should do to prepare?

Yes, it’s highly recommended that you watch Rob’s Poets, Prophets, and Preachers film series, which you can get here: http://www.robbell.com/pppdvd

So when is it?

Join us for two full days on either:

January 22/23, 2013

or

January 28/29, 2013

How much is it?

$500. You can register here: https://www.robbell.com/craftlab-register

How many spots are there?

50 at each event.

What if I can’t make this one?

There may be more…

Where is it?

The Pacific Edge Hotel

Laguna Beach, California, USA!!!

Where do we stay?

At the Pacific Edge, here’s the link to get you the special rate for this event (do not register for surfing through the hotel):

https://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?groupID=891826&hotelID=15292

What’s the closest airport?

Orange County Santa Ana John Wayne airport is about 20 minutes away. LAX, Long Beach, and San Diego airports are around an hour with no traffic, half a day if traffic is bad. Best bet is to take a shuttle/taxi/car service to your hotel, eliminating the need for a rental car.

Where do we eat?

There are countless restaurants in either direction within easy walking distance, from the pricey to Taco Bell to Wahoo’s, which you have to eat at if you haven’t before. There’s also a Whole Foods a few blocks away and a Ralph’s grocery store across the street from the Pacific Edge.

Hold on, did you say breaks for surfing?

Yes. On the second day we’ll go surfing. We’ll bring in some pro surfers to give lessons for those who’ve never been–bring $50 for instruction and board/wetsuit rental. If you already surf, there are lots of shops that will rent you a board so you can join us. And yes, it will be as great as it sounds.

What if I get a spot but then something comes up and I can’t make it?

You can get a refund up to ten days before the event, at which point it becomes a credit towards a future event.

This sounds like it will be a blast.

Yep.