Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness

The book is what I expected and worked well for me.

A great work bringing out the communal moments being expressed through a man who had it all, but found himself on a unusual journey to open his mind to the heart of vocation in the unseen, unpredictable, and communal moments we share. A great reminder for a spiritual leader.

This is the third Peterson book I've read, and one of the five books he has penned for pastors. As the title suggests, this book is developed around the story-line of Jonah whose disobedience and running from God parallel similar sins in pastors. Peterson confronts pastors who do not stay rooted in one place, succumb to the lusts of "ecclesiastical pornography" (see the quote in a review below), and serve up religion to parishioners by making golden calves. His playful prose explores multiple dimensions of the pastoral vocation including prayer, spiritual direction, and cultivating (as a farmer cultivates a field, as opposed to a developer excavating land to build a shopping mall) the top-soil of the congregation. A chapter which meanders through the works of Dostoevsky, gleaning numerous insights into the soul-work of pastors, was especially helpful. I found myself rebuked, refocused, revived, and refreshed in my reading of this book over vacation this year. Just what I needed. The exegesis in Jonah may be strained at a few points, but the pastoral theology is sound and I'm grateful for what I gleaned from this book. I plan to return to it again in the future.

Absolutely essential resource for facing the unexpected and pastoral ministry. Well written, insightful, and exuding wisdom. I highly recommend this book for anyone in pastoral ministry or anyone who is mentoring younger servant-leaders of the local church

You will not find a better character study on Jonah, or better exegetical and pastoral commentary on the book of Jonah than this book, Under the Unpredictable Plant.Eugene Peterson gives you the fruit of his soul in this book, and you will be nourished and helped to nourish others by it as well. I have bought this book for a friend, but i have read this several times and have used it in my own teaching through Jonah at my church.

The constant push on pastors from parishioners, from denominations and from their own egos is to build a growing church. Though much effort is made to say that numbers are not what is most important, the current management and leadership of the vast majority of churches indicates otherwise. Peterson challenges pastors to be forthright in repenting of their own idolatry and to be willing to step into the "mess" of ministry to help people become partners with God's work in them and in their church family. I can hardly think of a more important and helpful challenge for pastoral leaders today.

Peterson writes to pastors providing them spiritual direction and guidance. He addresses vocational holiness and uses the story of Jonah as an analogy for pastoral leadership in a delightful, humble way. He draws from Dostoevsky’s story of the Brothers Karamazov to reflect his growing understanding of God’s hidden passion which lives within each individual. Finally, Peterson discusses the issue of pride and how it often hides behind virtue. Peterson encourages a quiet, unscheduled life that makes time for God. This is an impactful book.

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. He maintains that we have substituted job descriptions for true pastoral vocation. "...a call from God exchanged for an offer by the devil for work than can be measured and manipulated at the convenience of the worker." Peterson is calling Christian leaders back to their true profession of vocational holiness.In my view every pastor and his/her staff could find much to guide them from Under the Unpredictable Plant.

Gets better each time I read it. Peterson has revealed a pearl of enormous price here, revealing what is truly worth expending energy on in ministry

The more that I read this book, the more I thought “Eugene Peterson gets it...” he understands the nuances and complexities of pastoral ministry and the intersection of the Word of God (and God’s invitation to us as faithful ministers) into that vocation. This book is filled with an invitation... to lay aside the need to be program and ‘results’ driven and take up the amazing invitation to faithfully minister to our congregations. This book is just as relevant now as when it was written.

A phenomenal book for those in the ministry seeking to regain the heart of the pastoral calling. Well worth it.

When you're feeling like you'd like to flee the parish read Eugene Peterson's richly grounded and wise reflection on the book of Jonah. He writes with warmth and humour, and his own long years of pastoral experience shine through. This is the only book I've ever started re-reading as soon as I finished it.

Excellent advice for today