Eugene Peterson's latest series of books have been the perfect blend of theology and spiritual formation. Unfortunately, this book lacked some of the quality that marked first three in the series. Here's why:

* He's more dependent on his sources in this volume (N. T. Wright, Kenneth Bailey, etc). If you've read Bailey in particular, Peterson's book becomes superfluous.
* The book is under-edited. Peterson's prose is unique, but left to itself it can become repetitious. One time I thought I had lost my place in the book only to find that he repeated the same phrase verbatim from a couple pages back.
* While the form of the book was the same as the earlier one, but the content felt lacking. Maybe because the parables and prayers of Jesus are so well known, it was hard for Peterson to bring new insights to life.

It's tough to write a review like this for Peterson—he's one of my favourite authors. Still, just like the best goalie can let in a few too many pucks on any given night (a better but more obscure metaphor: even GSP can get TKO'd by Serra), the best authors can put up the occasional lackluster performance.

I'll be looking forward to volume 5. ( )

NCLA Review -This is the fourth volume in Eugene Peterson's spiritual theology series. Cumulatively, the series resembles a systematic theology, but Peterson places his unique stamp on the genre, offering a spiritual theology grounded in the close reading of biblical texts, and practiced in prayer. Like all of Peterson's work, it is beautifully written, winsome, and precise. This book has two parts. The first part, Jesus in His Stories, examines ten stories in Luke 9:51-- 19:27 that are unique to the gospel of Luke. Although Jesus was a preacher and a teacher, Peterson believes Jesus spent much of his time (as do we) in conversation, addressing his disciples and others in the quiet dignity of everyday speech. So these ten stories of Jesus offer an opportunity to learn from the conversational Jesus. Peterson devotes the second half of the book to six prayers of Jesus. Peterson believes story and prayer are the core languages of humanity, and he wants to get the prayers of Scripture, especially these prayers of Jesus, onto our lips and into our hearts. Peterson begins, appropriately, with the Lord's Prayer, but then moves on to identify five other Jesus prayers that collectively remind us that it is Jesus who first prays for us--then our prayers are prayers prayed in a language that is "answeringly attentive to God" (159). As always, it is a joy to keep company with Eugene Peterson, and the book is highly recommended. Rating: 4 —CS Eerdmans 2008, 287p, 978-0-8028-2954-2, $24.00 [226.06] ( )