Jesus called eight fishermen to be among his first disciples, Grassi reminds us. There are over 62 million people in the U.S. hooked on fishing today -- and a lot of them are Christians. National fishing instructor Grassi lists many ways that fishermen and disciples are alike, but he gives a 1946 quote from Peter Marshall that highlights a key difference in the two: "Fishing for fish is pulling fish out of life into death. Fishing for men is pulling them out of death into life." Grassi knows the difference and he is good at communicating about both.
This book is as much a handbook on evangelism as a collection of devotional meditations around the fishing theme. That's not surprising since Grassi heads the LetÕs Go Fishing Family Ministries and the Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society. He speaks to nearly 400,000 people annually.
Grassi starts each chapter with a story or information around some aspect of fishing; for example, seines and nets in the chapter "Fishing with the Disciples." He concludes with a direct section on "Determining the Spiritual Temperature," which is also shown in pictures. Grassi leaves no doubt that he is interested in "harvesting the fish," even if it takes multiple casts. He is also eager for the ones doing the fishing to experience personal growth, and includes questions under this heading at the end of each chapter.
Maybe you'll find some hints you need to catch bass or pike or salmon or marlin in Promising Waters; maybe you won't. But youÕre certain to find a lot of good discipleship principles for following the Master Fisherman.
Wayne Gunther is a reader and a fisherman from Cedar Key, FL.
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