Crossing the Waters - Leslie Leyland Fileds

Following Jesus through the storms, the fish, the doubt, and the seas.  The author takes us into a world that most of us know just about nothing about. She has been a commercial fisher woman for four decades, and works with her husband and six children in a salmon-fishing operation on their own island off the coast of Kodiak Island, Alaska. It may sound glamorous to some, but she describes the hard work, dangers and uncertainty that they face every day. Relating her vocation with Jesus's call to his disciples to be "fishers of men" this book is full of analogies to fishing. The author has written ten other books and is a speaker and a popular radio guest. This book comes with recommendations from Jim Daly from Focus on the Family and Mark Galli, Editor of Christianity Today.
Some may find it hard to relate to the stories that she tells on her fishing journeys, but we can all relate to how Jesus can bring us through any storm.
I have received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review.

People of the Second Chance - Mike Foster

A guide to bringing life saving love to the world. The author's official title is chief chance officer at People of the Second Chance. His personal story is one of a boating accident in which he had injured someone and it has haunted him but did not need to define him. All through out the book are stories of people who received second, third and fourth chances through God's forgiveness and grace.
Website is secondchance.org, for free resources and e-courses. I enjoyed this book and found it encouraging. For anyone who is in need of a second chance, or knows someone who does, this would be a good book to recommend. And really, doesn't that include everybody?
I have received a complimentary book in exchange for this review.

Befriend - Scott Sauls

Create belonging in an age of judgement, isolation, and fear. This book comes with the endorsement of Matt Chandler, who says, "I couldn't be more grateful for Scott's voice on this topic." and since Scott served along side Timothy Keller also, these are glowing recommendations. The author asks the question, Is real friendship too risky? In an age of facebook and digital social media "friends" are we becoming too isolated and "self made digital worlds?" I enjoy a book with a challenge, and this one certainly will challenge you. Within the 21 chapters there are challenges to befriend the one in the mirror, the wretched and restless, the one's you can't control, the poor and empty handed, and strangers and refugees. Also included is a chapter on Befriending the rich and powerful, which is a group that needs genuine friends sometimes more than any other group. Each chapter ends with a summary sentence, scripture, and questions to consider.
One of the most honest personal stories comes in the chapter Befriend the ones you can't control, in which the author talks about his fighting with his wife and children about the Bible. He admits his own pride and wanting to be right and controlling all the time, and states, "That's what happens when we become right in our own eyes and then try to impose our rightness on others." There are many stories such as this throughout the book, from the author and others.
I found it to be a challenging book, and I am sure you will too. There is a free online discussion guide at www.bookclubhub.net. that can be used for individual or group study. As a bonus, Chapter one of another book by the author, Jesus Outside the Lines is included in the back.
The author currently serves as senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN.
He blogs at www.scottsauls.com and twitter @scottsauls.
I have been provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The Illustrated Book of Sayings - Ella Frances Sanders

Curious expressions from around the world. This is an interesting book that attempts to explain unusual sayings from around the world such as When the crow flies away a pear falls off from Korea, and Some days are honey some days are onions from the Arabic language. Each expression features an illustration by the author also. This book features over 50 of these sayings, some you may have heard of before, and many I'm sure you have not. The author claims she is writer out of necessity and an illustrator by accident. She can be found at ellafrancessanders.com. Some of the more interesting ones are the Norwegian phrase to be caught with your beard in the mailbox and the Japanese phrase to wear a cat on your head. Overall, not exactly what I was expecting, but an interesting book none the less. Anyone who is into linguistic study would find this especially interesting. Published by 10 speed press and www.crownpublishing.com. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review.

Taste and See - John Piper

Savoring the supremacy of God in all of life. 125 daily meditations. The title of this book is based on Psalm 34:8 - Taste and see that the Lord is good. The book consists of 125 meditations that are about 2 pages long each, but packed full of Biblical wisdom. The author states. "I hope what pervades all the readings is a savoring of the supremacy of God." and it does. The author packs more theology into 2 pages that a lot of authors have in 200 pages. I am a big John Piper fan and I really enjoyed this book. In the back there is a subject index, a person index and a scripture index. The reader can easily find a subject that is addressed. I have to mention www.desiringgod.org that contains more than 30 years of sermons and articles free of charge.
John Piper needs no introduction to most people in reformed circles. He is the author of more than 50 books and this is his latest, and it is definitely worth recommending. These are meant to be daily readings, but you may find yourself reading more than one at a time. John Piper is one of the authors that I enjoy and can recommend without question.
Published by Multnomah and a copy of this book was provided for this review.