'This book is the story of my formation as a pastor, and how the vocation of pastor formed me. I had never planned to be a pastor, never was aware ...
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May 25, 2011
Josh
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Drawing from 30 years of experience as the pastor of a small 300 member church in Maryland, Peterson shares the tough times and the good times, the happy times and the not-so-happy times. And even better, he calls pastors to be pastors instead of managers or councilors or entertainers.
“I was not primarily dealing with people as problems. I was a pastor calling them to worship God….Congregations is a company of people who are defined by their creation in the image of God, living sou More...
“I was not primarily dealing with people as problems. I was a pastor calling them to worship God….Congregations is a company of people who are defined by their creation in the image of God, living sou More...
Apr 27, 2011
Josh
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This review first appeared on my blog, Jacob's Café (jacobscafe.blogspot.com).
A couple of weeks ago, I posted an initial review of Eugene Peterson's memoir, The Pastor. I have finally finished it and absolutely loved it. While I am not in the role of professional clergy, this book hit home to me. If you want to know what my heart is as a psychologist and where I find meaning in life, read this book.
Peterson's book is a perfect example of how amazing of a writer he is. His pro More...
A couple of weeks ago, I posted an initial review of Eugene Peterson's memoir, The Pastor. I have finally finished it and absolutely loved it. While I am not in the role of professional clergy, this book hit home to me. If you want to know what my heart is as a psychologist and where I find meaning in life, read this book.
Peterson's book is a perfect example of how amazing of a writer he is. His pro More...
Apr 10, 2011
Demetrius
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One of my favorite quotes is by Amos Bronson Alcott. He once said, "That is a good book which is opened with expectation, and closed with delight and profit." Well, I found a book that thoroughly meets that description. Although I had never read any of his stuff, I had heard that Eugene Peterson's books were excellent. The moment I heard of this one, I knew I had to pick it up, and boy, I'm glad I did. Peterson held me spell bound for the last couple of weeks. I am in the process of fi
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Dec 14, 2011
Ben
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Eugene Peterson is well-known in the Christian world, and is probably most famous for translating The Message. He is also the author of numerous books, and for most of his life, has been a pastor.
The Pastor is Peterson's memoir, along with insights on what it means to be a pastor. From his childhood in Montana to beginning his career in New York to a pastorate in Maryland, we are treated to the thoughts and memories of Peterson throughout his life.
This is like two books More...
The Pastor is Peterson's memoir, along with insights on what it means to be a pastor. From his childhood in Montana to beginning his career in New York to a pastorate in Maryland, we are treated to the thoughts and memories of Peterson throughout his life.
This is like two books More...
Aug 04, 2011
Bethany
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I can't say I've ever before considered the distinction between an autobiography and a memoir. But reading them simultaneously, I can see the difference and fell in love with memoir style. It's more heart than head, more process than fact.
The only thing I really knew of Eugene Peterson before this book was his role in translating The Message. Through this book, I got a glimpse into the person and the process, the things that formed him and prepared the way.
I love that he sta More...
The only thing I really knew of Eugene Peterson before this book was his role in translating The Message. Through this book, I got a glimpse into the person and the process, the things that formed him and prepared the way.
I love that he sta More...
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Aug 08, 2011
Sean
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Having read a few of Peterson’s books already I picked up an understanding that being a pastor was different than what I and a lot of other people have experienced with pastors. Peterson doesn’t worry about all the glitz and the glamour, though he was tempted with it at times early on. He focused on what being a pastor meant to a specific group of people that he would be sharing his life with. Learning that there were going to be gives and takes but that his main goal was to create a space and t
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Dec 01, 2011
Nicki
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I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio, there is so much depth to it that it can be listened to many times. I loved hearing the stories from Eugene Peterson’s childhood in Montana and as he got to grips with becoming a pastor. I love his honesty with the things he’s struggled with in his vocation, I also liked the way he described the changing face of the church in America through the years he was pastoring.
I had only heard of him in connection with ‘The Message Bible‘, so its been a More...
I had only heard of him in connection with ‘The Message Bible‘, so its been a More...
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Apr 19, 2011
Tom
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Comfort food for the pastor's soul; challenging fare for a would-be messenger of the gospel. Peterson, best known as the translator of The Message paraphrase of the Bible, writes a beautiful memoir of life as a pastor.
Invisible six days a week; Incomprehensible the seventh - what exactly does a pastor do (and be)?
Peterson is our sage mentor, as his life of service strove to keep the vocation of pastor inoculated against the individualizing, consumerization of the pastoral calling (a More...
Invisible six days a week; Incomprehensible the seventh - what exactly does a pastor do (and be)?
Peterson is our sage mentor, as his life of service strove to keep the vocation of pastor inoculated against the individualizing, consumerization of the pastoral calling (a More...
Jan 29, 2012
Joostnixon
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There is something really... good about Eugene Peterson. He has an aversion to pastoral primping and preening that makes me want to stand on a chair and shout "Glory!" He seems very God-centered--at least devotionally. But unless I misunderstand him badly, I wouldn't want him for my pastor. There are discernment issues, and then there are certain of the more distasteful parts of pastoring that he finds...distasteful. But those parts are necessary for spiritual health. He seems a man of
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Sep 09, 2011
Jeremy
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As the title suggests, this is more a vocational autobiography than a straight memoir, and that leaves gaps in parts of Peterson's personal story that beg to be filled in (l kept waiting for more about his own children, discussion of struggle in his marriage, etc). But the overall arc of Peterson's discovery of his pastoral calling is beautiful, encouraging and incredibly instructive for anyone thinking about calling and vocation, including, especially, pastors or those thinking of pursuing voc
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Nov 27, 2011
Tom
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Every summer while on vacation, I find a book "by accident." In 2011, this was the book. I had read other material by Peterson and liked it, but reading his memoirs makes his other works come more alive.
Some have complained that there is some repetition, but I think that is bound to happen when you write as much as he has.
I like his down to earth style and the "realness" of this book. As a pastor who needed encouragement, this book spoke to me. If you serve in lea More...
Some have complained that there is some repetition, but I think that is bound to happen when you write as much as he has.
I like his down to earth style and the "realness" of this book. As a pastor who needed encouragement, this book spoke to me. If you serve in lea More...
Aug 07, 2011
John
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This is a fine, beautifully written memoir by Eugene Peterson, best known for his "The Message" translations of the Bible. But it gets a little boring. Peterson has lived a meaningful, impactful life, but not one that necessarily makes for interesting reading. It is more interesting reading about his life BEFORE he settled in as a pastor than about his life AFTER.
Actually, his childhood in Montana is the most interesting part. Here's an excerpt from when he was in first grade. He More...
Actually, his childhood in Montana is the most interesting part. Here's an excerpt from when he was in first grade. He More...
Sep 14, 2011
J.E.
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As expected, this book was excellent. Peterson’s honesty about his own humble path to becoming the pastor he was and is, in his simple description of how it came to pass, makes it seem that God could guide any pastor along a similar path. And in fact, that’s the point: our work and vocation as pastors is not all that different from one another, and Peterson’s portrayal of the life he has lived, and the lessons he has learned, as a pastor is not meant to be self-aggrandizing, but affirming of oth
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Sep 14, 2011
Ryan
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It is hard for me to contain my excitement about this book. From Pentecostalism to Presbyterianism, Eugene Peterson's memoir about life as a pastor is fantastic. He shares so much about what a pastor is, his own journey of becoming one, and how he learned to slow down, becoming attentive to the Scriptures and the people's lives, living in the present with them. Peterson's writing style is beautiful, and his book is an invitation for pastors do just that—pastor. This is a book that is definitely
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Mar 28, 2011
James
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Absolutely beautiful. Years before I went to seminary, Eugene Peterson was already shaping my imagination of what the Pastoral vocation looks like and his books imparted to me, his particular brand of earthy spirituality. What I loved about this book, is that while many of the stories were new, some were familiar from other parts of his corpus. Here, I saw a fresh the soil in which Peterson was formed. There are parts of this book that I want to read and re-read.
Apr 13, 2011
Adam
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Short review: I love Eugene Peterson. I think he is a voice to this generation that is unmatched in its sense of understanding of scripture of a story that is intended to speak to the average person. This is his memoir of how he became a pastor and what he learned about being a pastor. He was a pastor of one church that he started for 29 years before he retired to work full time on the Message Bible. I have read a lot of books about being a pastor, my whole family is basically pastors, but t
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Apr 04, 2011
Dave
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Finally! I've been waiting for Peterson to write this book for a long time, hoping to get more insight into his work as a pastor. Knowing what I know of him, I'm guessing he deliberately waited to do this so that no one would try to copy him. There are no dittos in pastors, either, I suppose.
I would never have guessed, for example, that Christ Our King Presbyterian Church had small groups. Seems way too faddish for Peterson. And yet they did (and perhaps still do). I find this affi More...
I would never have guessed, for example, that Christ Our King Presbyterian Church had small groups. Seems way too faddish for Peterson. And yet they did (and perhaps still do). I find this affi More...
Jan 09, 2012
Katy
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This book is a simple, beautiful meditation on spirituality. It's a book by a pastor, about pastors, but to say that it's only for pastors would be a shame. His stories illuminate God and our relationship with him in a way that is worshipful and brings us closer to holy ground.
Aug 25, 2011
Sean
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Pastor Peterson speaks with the voice of God as he shares his 30 years of experience in pastoring. He is a sage, weathered and wise and challenges today's pastors and churches in trutly what it means to follow Jesus. Read this book. It will change your life.
May 02, 2011
Luke
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Sometimes it seems like people read things that entrench what they already think and encourage their own natural tendencies. This book was great for me precisely because it is outside my normal reading. No strategy. No fully framed opinions or arguments. It is simply a series of reflections and stories from life as a pastor. That simplicity leads to a beautifully humble picture of life for the 'average' pastor. Peterson brilliantly weaves his own narrative into probing questions for any pastor.
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Feb 22, 2012
Julie
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This book was very inspiring yet also told the story of Petersons journey in a very real way - the good and the bad. I passed it along to a pastor friend forming a new church. I think it is a must read for anyone on a ministry path.
Feb 14, 2012
Just began the book for our clergy group down on the farm. Good beginning about wanting to be a professor and becoming a pastor. Also, the description of the cabin in Montana and the sacredness of place - good stuff so far.
Dec 01, 2011
Kirstin
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This was a great memoir. I loved reading his story. It was a treat to go "behind the scenes" of this author of The Message Bible translation. I LOVE how he puts words together!
Aug 06, 2011
Drew
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Not particularly well written but an excellent book nonetheless. His model of being a pastor is inspirational--a wonderful example of faith in action.
May 12, 2011
Angela
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Excellent memoir, especially for pastors. Talks about his struggles with working in the church and how he grew into the role of pastor and writer.
Aug 07, 2011
Patrick
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A treasure trove of insight regarding the pastoral vocation. Should be required reading for pastors; it could help to counter the success- and numbers-driven mentality that plagues so much of the American church. This is a book saturated with wisdom.
Sep 27, 2011
Teri
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I loved how easy this was to read. I loved the trip down nostalgia-lane about the days when starting a new church would go the way it did for him. I loved the reflections on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, to be a member of a church, to be a pastor. Of course, his understanding of "pastor" is in some ways bound to his generation and to the ways of being church that were common 50 years ago, but many of his reflections are as current now as they would have been when he first st
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May 19, 2011
Chris
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Excellent memoir from Peterson. Challenging and inspiring for those trying to live the call of pastor.
Feb 20, 2012
Jan
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A pastor's life when the church was at it's Constantinian best. As always Eugene Peterson rocks.
