The Fourth Fisherman: How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage

By: Joe Kissack

WaterBrook Press / 2012 / Hardcover

Product Description

While drifting 5,500 miles across the Pacific in their disabled boat, three fishermen survive on raw fish, rainwater, and hope-filled passages from their Bible. Across the ocean, Hollywood producer Kissack is barely treading water as his career sinks. Discover how two stories from opposite shores intersect in a stunning saga of physical and spiritual salvation.

It was the subject of headlines around the world: three Mexican fishermen in a small open boat without any supplies, drifting for over nine months and 5,500 miles, across the pacific Ocean to Australia. They battle blistering sun, threatening storms, and paralyzing hopelessness. Their sustenance consists of rainwater and raw fish. Their one lifeline? Faith... and a bible, read until tattered.

Thousands of miles away, Joe Kissack, a renowned and wealthy Hollywood executive, personifies the American dream. Yet the intense pressure of his high-powered career sends him into a downward spiral, replete with suicidal depression, insidious addictions, and alienation from his family. His lifeline? A friend, with his Bible on the table between them.

In a remarkable way these two stories connect and become one- The Fourth Fishermen is the true account of four men in peril, desperately needing hope and faith in God.

My review:

This book is about a man who seemed to have it all, fame and fortune,  but instead was a hollow man with no true peace or happiness in his life. Even though he had all the material goods one would ever want, his life was empty, marriage was in trouble and he was suicidal.

The other half of the story is about three fishermen who seemed outwardly to have nothing but had faith in God. With God given strength they survived over nine months at sea with nothing but God and each other. They all meet to tell the fishermen story but instead we read about all of their life experiences and how different but so familiar they really were.

We are reminded of what is truly important in life and how God is always there whether we believe it or not.

I would recommend this book to my friends, especially those who enjoy reading true life stories.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

An Amish Wedding

By Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, & Kelly Long
Published by Thomas Nelson 

Book Description

Three Amish women yearn for the perfect wedding.
"A Perfect Plan" by Beth Wiseman
Priscilla King has been planning to marry Chester Lapp since she was sixteen years old, and when Chester proposes on Priscilla’s nineteenth birthday, wedding plans begin immediately. What wasn't planned was all the problems the couple encounters as their big day approaches. A house disaster, a ruined wedding dress, and a sick attendant all make the couple wonder if God's sending them signs to call things off.
"The Perfect Match" by Kathleen Fuller
Naomi Fisher has had great success at matchmaking her family members and friends. Now with her sister’s wedding right around the corner, Naomi wonders why she’s able to find husbands for her friends and family, but not one for herself.
"The Perfect Secret" by Kelly Long
Rose Bender has recently become engaged to handsome but somber Luke Raber. She agrees out of a sense of duty and a willingness to settle for solid friendship as a basis for the engagement. But as she watches her friend's excitement over her soon-to-be wedding, Rose wonders if there shouldn’t be more to her relationship with Luke. She begins to examine Luke and his life more closely and is amazed when she stumbles upon an exciting, secret side of him that engages her mind and heart.

My Review:
This is a good book to read during the cold days of winter. With three stories in one that mingle together the characters from each story. This book gives you a chance to read the works of three different Amish fiction writers. I have to admit that I do prefer Beth Wiseman over the two other authors. If you enjoy reading Amish romance books , give this book a chance.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Christmas Singing (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

We wanted to let you know about a great giveaway happening over at the New Living Translation Facebook page, and also give you a chance to enter a Tyndale Blog Network exclusive giveaway.
Here are the NLT Facebook page giveaway details:
Starting on November 29^th until December 24^th at the New Living Translation Facebook page we're giving away lots of great prizes and something free for you just for singing up.
By visiting the giveaway entry page (located on the NLT Facebook page, the link is under the profile picture) and entering your name and e-mail address you'll be entered to win the following prizes:

• One random person each day will win a Life Application Study Bible Family Pack (Guys Life Application Study Bible hc, Girls Life Application Study Bible hc, Student's Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible Large Print hc).
• One Random person each week will win an Apple iPad 2!

Everyone that signs up gets a free download copy of the Life Application Bible Study – Book of Luke!
There's more!
Here's how you can win by helping us promote this giveaway:
The first 100 people to post about this giveaway on their personal blog will win a free Life Application Study Bible. We'll also choose one person from all the entries to win a free Life Application Study Bible Family Pack (includes 6 Bibles!). You can earn extra entries by posting about the giveaway in multiple places.

For more details and to enter fill out this form with the link to your blog post (Click Here)

As Silver Refined

Answers to Life's Disappointments

Written by Kay Arthur

 

About This Book

What Can You Do When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned?

How do you respond when your husband or wife tramples your emotions? When your boss fires you unexpectedly? When you lose your life’s savings? When the child you’ve loved and prayed for turns his back on you and your values?

When disappointments like these smash their way into your life, you may want to scream, “How could God let this happen?”

But what if God didn’t just “let it happen”? What if the things you call disappointments are really His appointments—events He is using to make you more like Christ? What if your circumstances are actually the flames of His grace, intended to melt and burn away the undesirable elements in your life, leaving you pure and radiant—like refined silver?

You can be defeated by life’s unavoidable disappointments, or you can become stronger because of them.

Life’s disappointments can send you on a dangerous downward spiral into discouragement, depression, or even despair. But in this eye-opening book, Kay Arthur guides you to biblical truths that will help you break that cycle and instead embrace disappointment as the cleansing fire God uses to make you—as silver refined—a reflection of His goodness.

Now includes a 16 week Bible study!

My Review: 

Kay Arthur writes great books! This books is an encouragement to us all not to let discouragement take over us when life doesn't happen like we think it should. When we question God why and don't receive the answer we are urge to continue to have faith.  The author uses her own life experiences as well as others to show us that it is the way we respond to disappointments in life that can either make us or break us. Most importantly she includes the examples found in God's Word to back up what she shares from these life experiences.

This book contains chapter on such things as Facing Stress, The Gift of Meekness, Facing the Pain, Peace Amid the Pain, A Call to Courage, and A Message of Hope. The book also includes a 13- Week Companion Bible Study that can be used for groups or personal bible study. I would recommend this book to everyone!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.