Crossing the Waters

The gospels are dramatic, wild, and wet―set in a rich maritime culture on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’ first disciples were ragtag fishermen, and Jesus’ messages and miracles teem with water, fish, fishermen, net-breaking catches, sea crossings, boat-sinking storms, and even a walk on water. Because this world is foreign and distant to us, we’ve missed much about the disciples’ experiences and about following Jesus―until now. Leslie Leyland Fields―a well-known writer, respected biblical exegete, and longtime Alaskan fisherwoman―crosses the waters of time and culture to take us out on the Sea of Galilee, through a rugged season of commercial fishing with her family in Alaska, and through the waters of the New Testament.

You’ll be swept up in a fresh experience of the gospels, traveling with the fishermen disciples from Jesus’ baptism to the final miraculous catch of fish―and also experiencing Leslie’s own efforts to follow Christ out on her own Alaskan sea. In a time when so many are “unfollowing” Jesus and leaving the Church, Crossing the Waters delivers a fresh encounter with Jesus and explores what it means to “come, follow me.”

I thought that this book was an interesting mix, part memoir, part scripture. I enjoyed the correlation Leslie draws between her adventures as a professional fisherwoman who has raised her family in the business and the fishermen-disciples in the scripture. I've always been drawn to the thought of visiting Alaska, so I found it engrossing to read what it is like to be a fishing family. The book is set during the course of one fishing season, which made things interesting. I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts into words on this book!
One of my favorite things about this book is the study guide at the back.
Leslie's style flows well and is to the point. If you are interested in Jesus' call to the disciples to leave their nets, then this is an excellent book for you to pick up.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.