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Winn Collier

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A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson, Translator of The Message Kindle Edition

by Winn Collier (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.8 990 ratings

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This essential authorized biography of Eugene Peterson offers unique insights into the experiences and spiritual convictions of the iconic American pastor and beloved translator of The Message.

“In the time of a generation-wide breakdown in trust with leaders in every sphere of society, Eugene’s quiet life of deep integrity and gospel purpose is a bright light against a dark backdrop.”—John Mark Comer, author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

“This hunger for something radical—something so true that it burned in his bones—was a constant in Eugene’s life. His longing for God ignited a ferocity in his soul.”

Encounter the multifaceted life of one of the most influential and creative pastors of the past half century with unforgettable stories of Eugene’s lifelong devotion to his craft and love of language, the influences and experiences that shaped his unquenchable faith, the inspiration for his decision to translate The Message, and his success and struggles as a pastor, husband, and father.

Author Winn Collier was given exclusive access to Eugene and his materials for the production of this landmark work. Drawing from his friendship and expansive view of Peterson’s life, Collier offers an intimate, beautiful, and earthy look into a remarkable life.

For Eugene, the gifts of life were inexhaustible: the glint of fading light over the lake; a kiss from his wife, Jan; a good joke; a bowl of butter pecan ice cream. As you enter into his story, you’ll find yourself doing the same—noticing how the most ordinary things shimmer with a new and unexpected beauty.

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378 pages
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March 23, 2021
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A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson, Winn Collier

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“Winn Collier captures Eugene Peterson’s sense of wonder over the presence of God and the radiance of Scripture. Through A Burning in My Bones, you’ll learn to experience life through Eugene’s eyes: dig deep, look for what is real, find the sacred in the rough and ordinary, and live like God is real.”—Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker and lead pastor of National Community Church

“How do you reduce into words the vital reality of this man, scholar, searcher, teacher, and faithful friend? Eugene was a man who brought Scripture to fresh life for me and millions of others—who else would invite the phrase Holy Luck into a retelling of the Beatitudes? Winn Collier’s skilled storytelling weaves the threads of Eugene’s life into something fitting, like the prayer shawl he wore in his study every day.”—Luci Shaw, Regent College writer in residence and author of The Generosity poems

“I knew Eugene Peterson for thirty years, or at least I thought I did. He didn’t talk much, especially about himself. I knew nothing about his mouse tattoo, his Pentecostal mother’s radio program, the abysmal failure of his first church plant attempt, his friendship with a young Pat Robertson, or his square dancing prowess. Somehow Winn Collier ferreted out the little known facts about Eugene that, taken together, complete the picture of a humble, gentle giant who brought the Bible to new life for millions and became an inspirational model for beleaguered pastors everywhere.”—Philip Yancey, author of What’s So Amazing About Grace

“Captivating from the first page, Collier’s artful storytelling immerses us into the life of a spiritual sage. With a gentle hand, he weaves together moments and words and letters and prayers, drawing out themes like threads in a tapestry, never imposing a narrative. In these pages, we go beyond The Message and the pastor, and meet the human in all his earthiness and holiness. This is a work of art worthy of the man who wanted to be a saint.”—Glenn Packiam, associate senior pastor of New Life Church and author of Blessed Broken Given

“In the time of a generation-wide breakdown in trust with leaders in every sphere of society, Eugene’s quiet life of deep integrity and gospel purpose is a bright light against a dark backdrop. For years his life has been the North Star for my life and pastoral call. This seminal biography is an unmistakable call to quiet resistance against the way of the world and, when necessary, the way of the church. Only read this book if you’re ready to live differently.”—John Mark Comer, pastor for teaching and vision at Bridgetown Church and author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

About the Author

In addition to A Burning in My Bones, Winn Collier has authored four books (Restless Faith, Let God: The Transforming Wisdom of François Fénelon, Holy Curiosity, and Love Big, Be Well) and contributed to numerous other volumes. He has written for multiple periodicals including Christianity Today, Christian Century, Relevant, and the Washington Post.

A pastor for twenty-five years, Winn was the founding pastor of All Souls Charlottesville in Virginia. He now directs the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary in Michigan. He holds a PhD from the University of Virginia, where he focused on the intersection of religion and literary fiction. Winn and his wife, Miska, a spiritual director, live in Holland, Michigan, with their two sons.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

1

Montana

There was nothing but a mercantile and a saloon, one building on either side of the street, and a slow winding river working through the valley (a cow moose and her calf standing in the river behind the mercantile)—and still no sign of life, no people. . . . We knew immediately that this was where we wanted to live, where we had always wanted to live.

We had never felt such magic.

—Rick Bass, Winter: Notes from Montana

In 1902, Andre and Juditta Odegard Hoiland loaded their pots and pans, a bundle of clothes, and a few family heirlooms into a trunk and a couple of canvas bags. After wrapping their nine children in heavy coats to shield them from Atlantic winds and the spray of icy salt water, they boarded a steamer in Stavanger, Norway, and watched the coastland cliffs fade to mist. Andre had made this voyage once before, working in the steel mills in Pittsburgh two years earlier to save enough money to move his family. Eugene’s maternal grandparents sailed, perhaps on the Norge or the Thingvalla, to Ellis Island and entered the harbor under the welcome gaze of Lady Liberty. New York City pulsed with the mass of humanity, and the family was immediately exhilarated and unnerved. Pulled by the westward migration, they cobbled together train passage from New York to Saint Paul, Minnesota, maneuvering multiple connections. Finally, they boarded the Great Northern Railway, that massive feat willed into existence by James Hill, “the Empire Builder.” Crammed into their tight compartment, the eleven Hoilands churned past the lakes of Minnesota, across the plains, and then through the badlands of North Dakota before they finally stopped fifty miles from the Canadian border in Kalispell, Montana.

Only a decade old, young Kalispell boasted a train depot for the Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Raiway, the Mill Creek sawmill, the West Hotel (rooms for two dollars per night), a livery, and the Conrad National Bank. Harry Stanford,

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B083RZKZSB
Publisher ‏ : ‎ WaterBrook (March 23, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 23, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 24008 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 378 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #112,698 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #29 in Biographies of Christianity
- #126 in Christian Inspiration
- #422 in Religious Leader Biographies

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Winn Collier

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Winn is a husband, dad, friend and writer. He is the author of Love Big, Be Well: Letters to a Smalltown Church, Restless Faith: Holding on to a God Just Out of Reach, Let God: Spiritual Conversations with Francois Fenelon and Holy Curiosity: Encountering Jesus' Provocative Questions. Winn has also written the authorized biography of Eugene Peterson: A Burning in My Bones.

Winn and his family live in Holland, Michigan where he is the Director of The Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary as well as Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology & Christian Imagination. Winn received a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia where he focused on the intersection of theology and literary fiction.

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Collier’s Biography of Eugene Peterson is a Masterpiece

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2021

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Many biographies present a nice clear picture of the person they chronicle ... a good account of the life, background and accomplishments of their subject. Biographies are often very good, but most are forgettable.

Not so with Winn Collier’s authorized biography of Eugene Peterson, A BURNING IN MY BONES. Winn has given us a treasure in this warm, insightful, compassionate, and engaging portrayal of the translator of The Message and so many books which have become classics of the Christian faith. Peterson is truly one of my favorite authors, and I could hardly wait to get this book in my hands.

Winn’s inspiring and engaging narrative will draw you in and keep you there, as he portrays in beautiful prose the influences that shaped and motivated Eugene. Having met Peterson once at a Renovare Conference in 2009, Collier’s writing tells the stories which explain and deepen our understanding of this humble, deeply spiritual, approachable, unpretentious, intelligent man we met. This accomplished theologian became a winsome pastor/servant and an engaging storyteller whose writing offered a deep dive into the Christian faith that drew you in, making complex theology understandable, practical and deeply personal.

Collier’s book and writing style will envelope you, inspire you, and leave you enriched. This book is well worth your time.

Roberta Simmons
Tennessee

6 people found this helpful

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A Powerful Witness to Inspire Our Journeys with Others

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2021

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You don’t have to be a pastor to be on a purposeful journey with other souls. This biography provides real insight into how to navigate those journeys with grace. I embrace a deep spirituality that infuses my work in higher education, and I found Collier’s biography a powerful witness and testimony to the work of accompanying others in their life journeys.

I’ve read and loved Eugene Peterson’s work, particularly his spiritual theology series. I too was raised in a Pentecostal preacher’s home and resonate with Peterson’s desire for a deepening, mystical spirituality that wasn’t possible for me in the church of my youth. Peterson’s work attracted me too because of its intellectual and academic rigor. He was not afraid to study and plumb the depths of a biblical book or passage; he knew the Truth could stand the test of academe.

Collier’s biography is true to Peterson’s spirit; he doesn’t talk over Peterson’s own words from journals, letters, and other writing. He gives a wide berth to Peterson’s own perspective on his life’s work. Due to this acquiescence to Peterson’s voice, the book clearly portrays Peterson’s personality, pastoral style, and priorities. I could feel the silences in the way his friends described sitting with him in deep, spiritual conversation. Collier didn’t feel the need to over-explain these nuances of relationship but allowed the interviews and Peterson’s lifestyle to paint a picture of what it’s like to have an intimate, spiritual friendship with another soul.

Collier’s access to the whole of Peterson’s archive as well as his closest family and friends provides a deep insight into a man who was clearly not perfect but who faithfully responded to his vocational calling. This was particularly true for his marriage relationship with Jan, where Collier was given access to their personal journals. I was inspired by his willingness to allow that kind of access to his life story, knowing it would reveal his shortcomings. Collier doesn’t paint over these fallibilities but welcomes them as part of the story of a true steward. This too is heartening for those of us engaged in similar work: we’re given permission to be imperfect and yet to embrace our vocations wholeheartedly.

The firestorm Peterson navigated in evangelical circles over his loving and graceful response to same-sex marriage provides a tragic coda to his influence and his voluminous writing. The ordeal seems prescient as we nationally reflect on the last four years of a presidency that was not only embraced by evangelicals but endorsed by them. Peterson’s experience underscores the foundational issues that many of us have encountered in the past decade as evangelicalism increasingly has become synonymous with white, Christian nationalism.

I found myself dreading the end of this book and Peterson’s impending death…I wanted to keep him alive, if only in my reading, for a little longer. Peterson longed to be a saint, prayed to be a saint, and I think he was. Saints are not perfect; saints are disciples who never allowed their own mistakes, or those of others, to get in the way of their intimate communion with God. And thanks to this biography, Peterson’s example will live on; his faithful attention to the souls of others is practice and vocation I will emulate in my own life’s work.

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Nathan Drye

Gritty and Hopeful- an Authentically lived life leaps from the pages- Inspiring

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2021

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Many people recognize the name Eugene Peterson and immediately think of his translation work with The Message. And, rightfully, so— it is magnificent. But do they know why Eugene wrote The Message in the first place? The story behind that is pretty amazing. He wanted to make the Bible accessible using the local language of his congregation, a suburb north of Baltimore, MD. So, he used the scriptures to shape, spark creativity and imagination. The unseen, mysteriously gritty work of pastoring took shape as he translated Philippians and Psalms, Ephesians and Mark. The Message is the local work of a local pastor.

This story, and many others, are but glimpses into the life of a man who never really sought after a spotlight. In a world where the pastorate is marred by scandalous rapport, we need Eugene’s story. On March 23, the authorized biography will be released! I’ve been fortunate to have read it and I’m all too excited to share with you some of my feedback in this review (actually, I am mostly giddy— I’ve been affectionately drawn to the pastoral imagination that’s been give to me by Eugene Peterson— I wouldn’t be a pastor, at all, without God’s work through Eugene).

A Burning In My Bones gets all the stars I have to offer. Winn Collier is a masterful storyteller, capturing not only the beautiful arc of Eugene’s story, but also the crevices, the wrinkles and, with grace, a few warts. He's focused a lens into this contemplative pastor's life and made it accessible— peeled back the curtain for us all.

But I wondered, outside of folks like me, who would read it? How compelling could the life story of a pastor be for someone who has never heard about him? Even someone who has little interest for the life of religion or faith? After a first reading, it was clear to me that this is a story that needs to be read by more than admiring pastors like me. This is a story that is human, gritty and hopeful. This is a story that buttresses imagination with a well lived life of faith— with all the complexities and beauty and agony and joy.

The honesty of Eugene's story leaps off the first pages: from a struggle to live out the Pentecostal experiences of tongues, to the backyard fights that lead to salvation, to the physical and emotional complexities of intimate marriage. I found myself laughing and in tears. The flow of the chapters made it easy to imagine walking beside Eugene, a silent companion tagging along in his life. Winn immerses us in personal ways, but never intrudes on Eugene. There is a clear respect, a reverence even, in the storytelling, and also an intimacy. Maybe that is a lesson learned in these stories, of what it means to be intimate: full of respect and reverence while remaining transparently honest.

Winn's description of Eugene serves as a particular description of this book: "...an insatiable desire for the real, the concrete. Past any pretenses. Deeper than the surface. Beyond everything trite or theoretical." I believe we all have this desire deep inside— for the warmth that only comes from the real. One doesn’t need to be (or become) an expert in religion, or church, or Barth in order to dive into this biography. But they will emerge from the reading more curious, with a new (or refreshed) desire to explore the depths, likely even a sense of the divine at work. Winn provokes that curiosity.

Approachable- that is the word that I'd use to describe Eugene, this biography and the people that encounter him. It is certainly the way he lived and the way that people like me (an admirer- a pilgrim) want to become more like. Thank you, Winn, for including us.

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Nancy Marin

Great Book

Reviewed in Mexico on October 18, 2021

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My first approach to Eugene was on his books, but this biografy is great because you will know the man, quite honestly I was so inspired and encourage through his life.

Wingham

More to the story than The Pastor

Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2021

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I first read Eugene's autobiography (or memoir) and it was very good. This book covers much of the same material but makes Eugene a little more human, even more fallible than The Pastor. It made me appreciate Eugene even more seeing that he had struggles and weaknesses like everybody else. I liked The Pastor because its written in Eugene's own words and I like Burning in my Bones because it tells a bigger and more honest story. Both are very good.

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Amazon Customer

A good read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2024

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Given as a gift and so far reading "well"

Amazon Customer

Levensverhaal van Eugene Peterson

Reviewed in the Netherlands on August 7, 2021

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De biografie van Eugene Peterson is het lezen waard -- zeker als je ook andere boeken van hem zoals "A long obedience" of The Message hebt gelezen.

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John H.

Excellent Biography

Reviewed in Canada on May 27, 2022

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The author goes behind Peterson's accomplishments and reveals the man and is personality, warts and all. Covers his life from early childhood through the influence of his Pentecostal mother through his ministry in the Presbyterian Church to his poignant death as described by his son. A worthwhile read to get the background of the man behind "The Message"

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