In the aftermath
What can I say. I want to communicate what a great time I had at Poets, Prophets and Preachers and how grateful I am to Rob Bell for not only inviting me to speak but standing side by side with me on the stage in an act of solidarity. In the battle for what Christianity will look like in our current epoch Rob Bell is an important figure and one who I hope we heed. For, as I hinted at in one of my talks, some of the alternatives are frightening in their impotent violence.
Anyway, there were a couple of practical things that I wish I had mentioned at the conference but totally forgot about. The first concerns the album I mentioned called ‘Hymns to Swear By’. Lots of people have been asking me about it. I am hoping that Pádraig Twomey (the singer/songwriter) will have it recorded by October and that we will be launching it during my pub tour. However ikon has produced a CD called ‘Dubh‘ (Irish for ‘Black’) on which Padraig has a couple of songs. Here is a taste of Pádraig on the CD (it is not by me, despite what it says on soundcloud),
The second thing i wanted to remind people of is that I am running a parable competition as part of the launch of my new book, ‘The Orthodox Heretic‘. There is still a few weeks for you to write something before the deadline so please do get writing. More information here.
Tags: Dubh, impotent violence, Orthodox heretic, Pádraig Twomey, Parables, Peter Rollins, Poets, priests, prophets, Rob Bell
July 9th, 2009 at 7:30 am
Love the song. I have been playing it over and over while pretending to think about the possibility of working at my desk. …maybe.
Mark
July 9th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Pete,
You weren’t the only one who had a great time. I was incredibly glad to see the way in which your words were received. It was very encouraging, and I hope it leads to truly substantive change within churches around the world.
I look forward to seeing you again on your pub tour
Cheers
July 9th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I’ve heard rumors that there’s gonna be a DVD of PP&P? Please let it be true!
July 9th, 2009 at 9:32 am
thanks for taking the time and effort to be at PPP. your vision for faith is intriguing and inspiring and connects with some deep longings i’ve never heard articulated. can’t wait to read your books.
bring your pub tour to Raleigh, NC!!! plenty of Irish pubs to choose from and we’ll get lots and lots of people there. the NY Times recently described us as occupying ‘a happy place between slow-paced Southern charm and urban cool.’ this is where you want to be, Peter!
July 9th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Pete,
I had a blast at the conference.
Your second session was incredible.
I was moved to tears when you read that hymn.
And there was woman to my right and a couple in front of me who literally broke down crying when you closed with “I deny the resurrection every time I…” and “I affirm the resurrection every time I…”
That was a powerful and awesome close.
Well done, brother, well done.
I am enjoying your first book and have submitted two parables to the contest.
Shalom
July 9th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Pete, I’ll echo that. Amazing, powerful moving three days. The last ten minutes of your second talk constructed a moment I will never forget. My center was “blown apart” and I’ll never be the same. Thank you for going and thank you for all your words. Grace and peace…
July 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am
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July 9th, 2009 at 11:52 am
@Aideen, yes the DVD of PPP is true.
@Peter, At the conference I said to you, “Thank you and peace be with you” after your second conversation with us. There was so much to say, but too much at the same time. I still feel that way.
You said, “In the battle for what Christianity will look like in our current epoch Rob Bell is an important figure and one who I hope we heed” — that is how my husband and I feel about you. Jim is a pastor at Mars and I am a pastor at another church in Grand Rapids. We both looked at each other and said, “We aren’t alone in these thoughts and feelings.” You breathed freedom, sensuality, exploration, belief, hope, doubt, courage, fear, and adventure – this is the story I belong too.
An excerpt from one of Mary Oliver’s poems for you:
“One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice”
Begin again and again,
Jes
July 9th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
great song. love it. can’t wait for the rest.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Let me echo how great PPP was and how much I appreciated all that you had to say and they manner in which you say it. I saw a tweet from somebody who said, essentially, “I wish I hadn’t read Shane Hipps’ book before this conference because I’m bored listening to him now.” I bring that up because I had the opposite experience with your presentations, Pete.
Having read your three books (but I promise I’m not a stalker!) I don’t think I heard much content from your presentations that I hadn’t read at some point, and yet it was still fresh and encouraging and challenging and…I can’t even describe what else.
And of course the climax was your denying the resurrection story…I knew exactly what you were about to say and yet was still moved to tears. For me that little story is the perfect illustration of getting past ironic gestures, of hearing and heeding…of what we’re trying to do in this Kingdom movement.
Thanks for your work.
Now, make sure you come to the Chicago area on your pub tour! There are tons of great Irish pubs here. Heck, one is even out here in the ‘burbs: Quigley’s in Naperville. Make it happen!
July 11th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Oh, If only I could put into words what took place at Poets, Prophets, and Preachers. Here’s an attempt anyway… It reeked of the aroma of resurrection! Trying to take in all the wisdom and insight that was shared was like trying to take a drink from fire hose. Don’t worry I think I left with all of my teeth in place.
Peter, I am so glad I got to hear from you and even chat with you briefly. I really like the way you think. Like I said at the conference, “I never knew I needed you, until I met you!” No, truly, when I hear from people like you and Rob there is such energy, such life in the message that I can’t seem to get enough of it. It is indeed true, like Rob talked about, that “…words can create worlds.” I look forward to hearing and reading more from you!
“… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
-Jesus
Grace and Peace!
Eddie
July 11th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Pete, catching up with you once every four years is not enough though it was wonderful! It was great to see you receive the very long, standing ovation. That’s when you truly know they are heartfelt and real. I left after that as there was no way I could sit through another presentation by Shane when I could head back home with you in my heart.
Hope there are pictures somewhere of you on that Segway! What an unexpected laugh that brought.
I’d love to have a private email with you about future presentations. I have some positive-based constructive feedback– the kind we all crave for. You have my email right here.
Now may God give you rest from the jetlag so you can continue with all the motivation you gained from the conference.
Linda
July 11th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Hi Peter,
Wow, that is a profound song. I am stuck on the lyrics in the second verse, the one beginning with “Sat for a golden afternoon…” I just can’t make out the very next line – can you (or someone else reading this) help me out?
Sounds like the PP&P conference was heartening and challenging for all that were there. I haven’t actually read any of your books yet (!), but I like the gist from what I can gleam here. So I plan to delve in and share them with my community in my summer break.
Oh, and if you’re ever in Adelaide, Australia, we have a host of Irish pubs!
May light and courage continue to guide and mind you.
Becca
July 16th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Pete,
Hey buddy, I need to ask you a question but don’t seem to have your email address. Will you shoot me an email so I can reply?
Thanks buddy.
Dan
July 19th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Thanks for the positive feedback on PPP – I had such a great time!
Hey Becca – the line, I think, is ‘up on Thomas Ryan’s Balcony’
Dan – my email is down at the moment. Best way to get me is via facebook at the moment.