In this book Peterson clarifies the pastoral vocation by turning to the book of Jonah, in which he finds a captivating, subversive story that can help pastors recover their "vocational holiness". 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.
Under the Unpredictable Plant
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More About the Author
Peterson, now retired, was for many years James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. In addition to his widely acclaimed paraphrase of the Bible, The Message (NavPress), he has written many other books.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I have been in lay leadership for over 20 years and this is the most accurate description of Christian ministry I have ever read. How can we avoid being shaped by a congregation's longing for comfortable religiosity yet value lay spirituality? Peterson poses the question then gives us his story, his guts and his heart. I was deeply moved by his challenge to all Christian leaders to form a rule of life equal to our vocations. I plan to read this book again and again.
33 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am pastor of a United Methodist two-point charge. Two churches. Many headaches. I've been here three and a half years. I am told numerous pastors "start-out" in smaller, typically rural or town churches as mine are. Then we get noticed and we get moved on up the ladder. Better appointment--better pay--more prestige--better location. How many pastors buy into "the ladder"? More than you think. But Peterson does not. This book planted my feet deeply within my call. I wanted to move into bigger, better, different pastorates. Peterson would tell me, "You wanted to go to Tarshish instead of Ninevah." His book forced me to recognize that the grass is not greener in a different parish. Comparing me to Jonah, Peterson left me no excuse of any theological integrity to leave my two-point charge. So here I stay. But Mr. Peterson, if you read this..."Under the Unpredictable Plant" is a horrible title. Few of the dozens of people to whom I have recommended your book can remember that crazy thought.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
If you are: (a) a minister, (b) considering
becoming a minister, (c) preparing to preach
through the book of Jonah and/or(d)make up any
combination of the preceding, this book should
be required reading for you.
As you read, prepare to be challenged ("The
religious leader is the most untrustworthy of
leaders: in no other station do we have so many
opportunities for pride, for covetousness, for
lust, or so many excellent disguises at hand to
keep such ignobility from being found out and
called to account." - page 15).
As you read, prepare to glean insights ("The
primary task, the pastor's primary task, is not
communication but communion." - page 192)
As you read, prepare to add substantially to your
quote file ("Prayer is the most deeply human action
in which we can engage. Behavior we have in common
with the animals. Thinking we have in common with
the angels. But prayer - the attentiveness and
responsiveness of the human being before God -
this is human." - page 111) As you read this book,
prepare to be shaped by it!
becoming a minister, (c) preparing to preach
through the book of Jonah and/or(d)make up any
combination of the preceding, this book should
be required reading for you.
As you read, prepare to be challenged ("The
religious leader is the most untrustworthy of
leaders: in no other station do we have so many
opportunities for pride, for covetousness, for
lust, or so many excellent disguises at hand to
keep such ignobility from being found out and
called to account." - page 15).
As you read, prepare to glean insights ("The
primary task, the pastor's primary task, is not
communication but communion." - page 192)
As you read, prepare to add substantially to your
quote file ("Prayer is the most deeply human action
in which we can engage. Behavior we have in common
with the animals. Thinking we have in common with
the angels. But prayer - the attentiveness and
responsiveness of the human being before God -
this is human." - page 111) As you read this book,
prepare to be shaped by it!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good for Pastors
This book is among the handful of books that Peterson has written for pastors, and I am not a pastor. Read more
Published 8 days ago by TodPkg
5.0 out of 5 stars
great read. Very helpful
Loved the way he writes as we processes his own personal journey and how it correlates with the story of Jonah.
Published 1 month ago by Derek and Bonnie Burnett
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Jonah Analogy seemed strained
In reading what Eugene Peterson thought of Pastor;s when he was growing up, I wondered why he would ever even consider a Call into the ministry. Read more
Published 2 months ago by K. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Poignant and Important Book for Pastors
Eugene Peterson is known most for his paraphrase of the Bible, The Message, but to many pastors it is his work on pastoral ministry that forms his true legacy. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Wyman Richardson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Pastor's Look at Christian Living from Outside the Box.
He grew up in Montana in the same church as I did, and contemporary with me. He makes a real distinction between religion and a life commited to Christ. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Raymond Vath, MD
5.0 out of 5 stars
Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness
Eugene Peterson is one of the best exponents of practical christianity. For a church leader and pastor he is always challenging.
Published 4 months ago by Jimb
3.0 out of 5 stars
Under the predictable plant
This book did not really appeal to me, even though I like Eugene Peterson's works, this is not one of my favourites.
Published 5 months ago by Barry rice
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book to discuss with other pastors
The author's conclusions do not agree with many but it brings good discussions for a group of pastors to discuss.
Published 5 months ago by Gary Mohr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy 10 copies!
As a pastor, I highly reccommend this book to not only pastors, but any one who is tired of the status quo. Read more
Published 22 months ago by 5watchman5
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Book for Religious Leaders
From the story of Jonah Peterson draws rich and profitable challenges to pastors in particular, but there are significant applications for anyone in Christian work. Read more
Published on October 19, 2010 by rfleming
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 35
books:
See all 35 books this book cites
16
books
cite this book:
See all 16 books citing this book
- The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky on 5 pages
- The brothers Karamazov (Barnes & Noble classics) by Fyodor M. Dostoevsky on 5 pages
- Home Economics by Wendell Berry on 4 pages
- A Raw Youth by Fyodor Dostoyevsky on page 49, and page 50
- James Joyce (Bloom's Modern Critical Views) by William Golding on page 124, and page 126
See all 35 books this book cites
- Telling the Old, Old Story: The Art of Narrative Preaching by David L. Larsen on page 201, and Back Matter
- The Futures of Evangelicalism: Issues and Prospects by Craig Bartholomew on page 218
- Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality of Imperfection by Wil Hernandez in Back Matter
- The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence (Lyman Beecher Lectures on Preaching) by Richard Lischer on page 28
- Explorations in a Christian Theology of Pilgrimage by Craig Bartholomew on page 215
See all 16 books citing this book
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