Reviewed by Rev. Jane Spahr
Like a good story-teller, Paul Peterson invites us to a time and life that might have been in a very small town in Wisconsin -- Greenapple, Wisconsin, to be exact. How early I was drawn into the rural settings where pageants, people, animals and pastures came alive steeped in values, character, and truth telling. In The Bull Ridin' Preacher, Paul has done his homework from honoring differences to history lessons researched in such a way that their parable-like qualities take us into multi-level meanings.
It seems Paul is speaking to a rural audience, a country people of days-of-old, as he settles us in for a long winter's nap kind of musing. Yet, we are suddenly awakened into today’s paradigms-- power struggles of economic injustice, racial prejudice, scapegoating, and challenging systems of domination. From a talking mouse, a farm boy, a freed slave, to a Sputnik blast the stories ignite in us how the scriptures call us forth to live by love and justice.
I find myself days later reviewing in my mind and psyche the characters and the lessons of the stories. Paul Peterson, what a story-teller preacher you are!! You rode right into my comfort zone and did as a good preacher dares to do -- you made me uncomfortable in an inspiring life giving way. You gave me hope, courage, laughter and tears to continue this liberation journey we call life. These stories are no "bull" brother, but filled with "good news" for today.
Jane Spahr is the Minister/Director of That All May Freely Serve - National
