Iconocast Episode 34: Bob Ekblad, part one

July 21, 2011the Iconocast Collective

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In this episode Jarrod and Mark interview Bob Ekblad.

Bob Ekblad is executive director of Tierra Nueva and The People’s Seminary in Burlington, Washington. Tierra Nueva is an ecumenical ministry located in Burlington, Washington, that seeks to share the Good News of God’s liberation in Jesus Christ with migrant farmworkers, jail inmates, and Skagit Valley gang members. A minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Bob holds a ThD in Old Testament and is known internationally for his courses and workshops on reading the Bible.  Bob and his wife Gracie minister at Tierra Nueva and at their home-based retreat center New Earth Refuge. Bob is the author of Reading the Bible with the Damned and A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God. This is the first of a two part interview.

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Intro and bumper music for this episode is De Usuahia a la Quiaca by Gustavo Santaolalla.

Tagged as: bob ekblad, charismatic, holy spirit, Iconocast, interview, liberation, pentecostal, podcast

  • http://www.travismamone.net/ Travis Mamone

    Is it just me, or does Bob sound like he’s about to cry at any moment? Still a great interview, though.

    I used to go to a charismatic church when I was 17. It was your basic pro-America/pro-Israel/obey-everything-the-pastor-says church. But the good part was it was very mixed racially.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jocelyn-Perry/756049458 Jocelyn Perry

    I grew in a charismatic church. Altogether a great interview but Bob your characterization of the “evangelical church” is somewhat monolithic. As Christians we are called to be the Body of Christ. As different parts have different characteristics — we are called to appreciate them. J

    • Bekblad

      Hi Jocelyn,
      I never saw your comment until today– two months later. Sorry for not responding. I’m not sure what you mean by characterizing the evangelical church. I’m very aware of the diversity within evangelicalism and appreciate it. At the same time I believe we need to do far more than just apprciate the different characteristics. We need to adopt them ourselves whenever possible, letting ourselves become beneficiaries of diverse traditions/perspectives as gifts from God— yet always discerning aspects that are not from God and resisting those (ie. patriotism, moralism, ethnocentrism..)

  • WesHB

    Great to hear this piece with Bob, Mark and Jarrod. I think his point about seeing pentecostals as “the other”/enemy whom we need to cross over to encounter is very important.

    Travis, I didn’t hear Bob on the edge of tears. That’s just how he talks: reflective, listening for the word to offer.

    I don’t know anyone other than maybe Richard Rohr who crosses more internal “Christian” lines than Bob.

  • dannya54

    Looking fwd to part 2. I haven’t talked with Bob for many years, knew him in the Honduras years and shortly after. My wife and I were in Guatemala and Belize. I live not far from him on Whidbey island and I am eager to have some fellowship with him again up in Burlington (see you soon Bob). Obliged, daniel.

    • dan

      Didn’t know you knew Bob, Daniel. I took some courses with him and we attempt to get in touch with each other every now and again. I have a great deal of love and respect for Bob and the work that he does. I remember listening to him speak shortly after he experienced those things at TACF which ended up transforming him and the work that he does. It was beautiful to behold… made we eager for that day when the rest of us might experience something similar.

    • Bekblad

      Hi Daniel,

      I’m curious who you are as your last name isn’t mentioned here. I wish we still lived close enough to get together. What are you doing now? I moved to Paris for the next 12 months with my family.

      Bob

  • http://waysofresistance.com Jason Winton

    I enjoyed this first part very much. I too have some roots in the charismatic movement, which my dad is still currently involved with. And I’d be happy if something good could come of a radical Jesus praxis and charismatic spirituality. I’d feel a lot more connected to my dad…

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