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61st out of 67 books
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33 voters
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places reunites spirituality and theology in a cultural context where these two vital facets of Christian faith have been rent asunder. Lamenting the vacuous, often pagan nature of contemporary American spirituality, Eugene Peterson here firmly grounds spirituality once more in Trinitarian theology and offers a clear, practical statement of wha...more
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published
February 1st 2005
by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
(first published January 1st 1999)
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I am listening to this in audiobook. I think I would suggest reading. The narration is great, but I need to re-read sections. So it is taking a while to get through (and it is fairly long anyway).
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At first blush this seems very rambling and narrative. But he does a great job pulling things together to make a whole. It is fairly long, the next couple of books in the series are shorter. I am going to take a bit of a break before starting them.
Overall, this is a book I highly recommend. He take...more
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At first blush this seems very rambling and narrative. But he does a great job pulling things together to make a whole. It is fairly long, the next couple of books in the series are shorter. I am going to take a bit of a break before starting them.
Overall, this is a book I highly recommend. He take...more
Christian Spirituality for the Rest of Us: Looking at Eugene Peterson’s, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places
“…for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.”
With the evocative metaphor from Gerard Manley Hopkins’ remarkable poem, As Kingfisher’s Catch Fire, begins Eugene Peterson’s seminal exploration of what he calls spiritual theology. In positive terms, his purpose is that we may know just how truly the “en...more
“…for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.”
With the evocative metaphor from Gerard Manley Hopkins’ remarkable poem, As Kingfisher’s Catch Fire, begins Eugene Peterson’s seminal exploration of what he calls spiritual theology. In positive terms, his purpose is that we may know just how truly the “en...more
It's been a great joy to read this book.
Eugene Peterson's writing is chicken soup for your soul. I don't mean that this book is a brainless, feel-good rehash of Christian cliches (too many books fall into this category). Far from being so, Eugene Peterson makes you think, and think very hard. It's just that the profound ideas in this book are packaged in such elegant prose and are easily digested on a cursory read(and this book certainly deserves more than that).
The books defies easy summary,...more
Eugene Peterson's writing is chicken soup for your soul. I don't mean that this book is a brainless, feel-good rehash of Christian cliches (too many books fall into this category). Far from being so, Eugene Peterson makes you think, and think very hard. It's just that the profound ideas in this book are packaged in such elegant prose and are easily digested on a cursory read(and this book certainly deserves more than that).
The books defies easy summary,...more
In Peterson's words, God is nothing if not personal, nothing if not relational.
For me, this "conversation" was one of the most intellectually engaging, emotionally heart-rending and spiritually meaningful books I have ever read.
The book's central theme is, in a word, Jesus.
Peterson looks at the birth, death and resurrection of Christ as wholly real and immediately relevant to our lives at this moment. In his pastoral words, he takes God's action and words in history and puts "flesh" on them in...more
For me, this "conversation" was one of the most intellectually engaging, emotionally heart-rending and spiritually meaningful books I have ever read.
The book's central theme is, in a word, Jesus.
Peterson looks at the birth, death and resurrection of Christ as wholly real and immediately relevant to our lives at this moment. In his pastoral words, he takes God's action and words in history and puts "flesh" on them in...more
I was initially impressed with this book. But after reflection I believe that it was lacking clarity. Certainly had some highlights, but did present too much of a conversation that didn't go anywhere. I was left hanging - maybe that was the intention, our minds are meant to close on something other wise we'll just be left open to every idea that comes our way - which is what happened with the next book in his series and his favouring of lectio divina.
This took me over a year to read. I'm not exactly sure what my problem was - perhaps I find Peterson's writing slow at times, or more likely it's my lack of focus. There are moments in this so-called "conversation" that sent me reeling (in a good way), while other sections left me struggling to complete a paragraph. It's final epilogue sets up the rest of the series (5 books in the end), and anticipates the zenith of the series, The Jesus Way (book 3).
This is the kind of book you need to read several times in order to glean all the treasure it contains. I started it a second time as soon as I finished the first, but haven't gone back to complete the second reading. It is not an easy read, and I suspect that giving it some time to simmer will help me complete it again.
The one thing I consider daily is the way the author talks about congruence in our lives. I immediately applied the concept of congruence to the person we are in prayer and the p...more
The one thing I consider daily is the way the author talks about congruence in our lives. I immediately applied the concept of congruence to the person we are in prayer and the p...more
Many great concepts. This read invites the reader into a very thorough look at a lot of concepts and terms that we as Christians typically tend to gloss over in text or speech. Regular discussion with a fellow reader may help to develop/concrete some of these ideas. I don't know that I fully agreed with everything he said (but does anyone agree with everything anyone says?), but there was enough good content to cause me to keep reading. This is one that I think I would love to read again in 10-2...more
I listened to the audio book version. It truly does come off as a conversation in spiritual theology. Eugene was all over the map (hence the "10,000 places"), so writing a succinct review would take a tremendous amount of effort. I didn't mind his ramblings because he has so many great things to say. I may need to buy a hard copy of this book because it seems like the type of book that I would mark up cover-to-cover.
Worth reading for the 3-1/2 pages describing "unhindered" which is the last word in the book of Acts. I loved this part, so I immediately went to Peterson's paraphrase of the Bible (The Message) to examine the same passage. I found out that he does not use the word "unhindered" at the end the book of Acts, but instead says "His door was always open." Go figure.
Peterson is one of the few people who I can recommend, even if I have not read the particular book. Every book of his that I have read is uplifting, hopeful and a delight to read. This one is just that: a delight to read.
He is not fundamentalist, but takes the Bible as God's word and that we are to work with it and examine ourselves in its light.
He is not fundamentalist, but takes the Bible as God's word and that we are to work with it and examine ourselves in its light.
I really enjoyed this, even if it goes a bit too far into the "narrative" theology. Peterson is winsome and challenging though, and he always pushes you towards the basics of Christian spirituality: prayer and the word.
Probably the best, earthy, relational, and pastoral book on spiritual theology I've read. Bread, water, meals, neighborhoods - Peterson knows how to navigate these things theologically. It's also the only book I've read that is primarily about the *means*, the way, of lived spirituality rather than principles and doctrines, which is a very helpful corrective for the way my mind usually works.
May 18, 2012
Loyd Nolen
added it
Enjoyable, well written and insightful. Any christian who wants to develop and grow in his relation with Christ would benefit from reading and studying it. This is my third time to read it.
This was a wonderful book and I highly recommend it. I see that several reviewers have mentioned this isn't an easy book, and I might agree with them. However, I chose to listen to, rather than read, this book. The audio production of this work (much like the audio production of Eugene's The Message) is excellent and really helps with understanding what's being said. The phrasing of words and ideas can sometimes be communicated by voice more effectively than by written word.
The breadth of this b...more
The breadth of this b...more
Peterson's high water mark in saying what he has always wanted to say about the Christian life "lived." A book on spirituality worth reading and re-reading from now until . . .
this was nice. It's not a 'conversation,' though, it's Peterson's accounting for his understanding. Each of us could write our own, then maybe we could have a conversation.
This is a conversational book on theology and an easy read. It does not get bogged down in theological distortions and dogma's. I enjoyed it as I do all of Peterson's writings.
Read this as part of a Sunday School class. It was brilliant at times and too dense at other times. But all in all a very good and insightful book.
Maybe I will get around to a full review sometime, but for now, I did send this comment to a friend recently:
This book is not an easy or quick read (some of Peterson's other books are more anecdotal, using stories to illustrate his points - this is thick with Scripture and theology, but thin on other stories), but one that I found rewarding on almost every page.
An almost random quote from the book: "But holy living, resurrection living, is not a self-project. We are a people of God and cannot...more
This book is not an easy or quick read (some of Peterson's other books are more anecdotal, using stories to illustrate his points - this is thick with Scripture and theology, but thin on other stories), but one that I found rewarding on almost every page.
An almost random quote from the book: "But holy living, resurrection living, is not a self-project. We are a people of God and cannot...more
Why am I reading so much Petersen at the moment, one book right after the other? Because after years of learning *about* the gospel, he is teaching me to *live* the gospel-- that is, in relationship with God rather than just thinking vague ideas regarding God. Like a delicious meal, I start and want to devour it in great gulps, but force myself to savor it in small pieces so I can really think through the content.
This is the most marked book I own. It is underlined, circled, bracketed with parentheses, exclamation marked, question marked, starred. Peterson engages me like I hadn't been engaged reading theology and I read a substantial amount of it. Compared to the writing skills of other theologians he is a poet. Not an easy read by any means, but one you may find that on the other side of it you're not quite the same. "Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology" sits atop...more
This is the first of a five volume series on "spiritual theology." Peterson has developed a fantastic balance of the "spiritual" and "theological" or intellectual aspects of the Christian life. The book itself is structured according to the doctrine of the Trinity, and each chapter grows from two grounding texts (an Old and New Testament text). Each chapter further answers a potential problem within society. Throughout there is an emphasis on living out a theology that is explicitly Christian an...more
Jul 24, 2011
Brian Eshleman
added it
Wonderful book. Shows a broad appreciation for the Bible and the ability to apply it with insightful illustrations from everyday life. Peterson's vibrant phrasing keeps a work of scholarly depth engaging.
slow going - very intellectually driven. very thoughtful. a 'nibbling' book.
Nov 29, 2008
Leslie
is currently reading it
I hope I finish this book! I love Eugene Peterson.
There is a lot of good stuff in this book. Almost too much. One one hand, I like the way he expresses himself, but on the other hand, sometimes I feel he is working so hard to say something in a poetic, lyrical, creative way that he almost missed the point he was trying to make. I didn't agree with a few things he talked about, but 98 percent of the time I felt he could have been a conservative Lutheran. High praise indeed! An enjoyable book, one that has a lot of sections underlined, but most c...more
Fresh and really, really good.
One of my top ten books...
This book was not an "easy" read. The writing style is a little bit difficult. However, the content of this book was really good. Peterson's purpose in this book is basically to teach us "spiritual theology" -- basically, wholehearted following of Christ in the every-day lives we live. He looks at Christ "Playing" in Creation, History, and Community.
Overall, a though-provoking and nourishing book, but not the easiest "subway read."
Overall, a though-provoking and nourishing book, but not the easiest "subway read."
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Eugene H. Peterson is a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. For many years he was James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He has written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language a contemporary translation of t...more
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“We cannot be too careful about the words we use; we start out using them and they end up using us.”
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12 people liked it
“The Latin words humus, soil/earth, and homo, human being, have a common derivation, from which we also get our word 'humble.' This is the Genesis origin of who we are: dust - dust that the Lord God used to make us a human being. If we cultivate a lively sense of our origin and nurture a sense of continuity with it, who knows, we may also acquire humility.”
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11 people liked it
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