A Mix of Good and Bad

Eugene Peterson believes that the way we read the Bible is as important as the very fact that we read the Bible. "Do we read the Bible for information about God and salvation, for principles and 'truths' that we can use to live better? Or do we read it in order to listen to God and respond in prayer and obedience?" To address these questions, Peterson brings us Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading. It is a rather strange and wandering book in which Peterson meanders through a wide variety of topics having to do with the theme of Scripture. At heart, though, the book is an attempt to convince the reader of the importance of reading Scripture in order to promote life change. Peterson feels this is best done through the ancient practice of lectio divina. In many respects, then, this book is a beginner's guide to that practice.^M

transformational reading

Peterson has become my new favorite theologian. I wish reading him had been an option when I was in seminary. I have a suspicion that he's still not on the menu because he sees theology as something more than an academic exercise. Theology is ultimately about experiencing God and serving the Kingdom-goals that are not always in tandem with the academy.^M

Great eating!

I took Eugene Peterson to lunch at a Thai restaurant in Vancouver BC 12 years ago now when he in the middle of translating the "Message". In this insightful book he explains the task of spiritual reading so anyone can grasp it. His last 2 chapters on Bible translation and the challenge of making scripture sing in the language of the street are sensational. Peterson really knows who to eat -- Thai food -- and the Bible!