Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness - Softcover

Peterson, Eugene H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802808484 ISBN 13: 9780802808486

Publisher: Eerdmans, 1994

Synopsis

Like Eugene Peterson's other books on pastoring, Under the Unpredictable Plant is full of stimulating insights, candid observations, and biblically grounded prescriptions. Yet this book emanates with a special poignancy out of Peterson's own crisis experience as a pastor.

Peterson tells about the "abyss," the "gaping crevasse," the "chasm" that he experienced, early in his ministry, between his Christian faith and his pastoral vocation. He was astonished and dismayed to find that his personal spirituality, his piety, was inadequate for his vocation -- and he argues that the same is true of pastors in general.

In the book of Jonah -- a parable with a prayer at its center -- Peterson finds a subversive, captivating story that can help pastors recover their "vocational holiness." Using the Jonah story as a narrative structure, Peterson probes the spiritual dimensions of the pastoral calling and seeks to reclaim the ground taken over by those who are trying to enlist pastors in religious careers.

About this title

About the Author

Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018) was a longtime pastor and professor of spiritual theology at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. His many acclaimed books include Tell It Slant, The Jesus Way, Eat This Book, and the contemporary translation of the Bible titled The Message.

Edition details

• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802808484
• ISBN 13: 9780802808486
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 207