This is one amazing story you will fall in love with. I wish I had written it! It starts out with a homeless person stumbling into a church service which, of course, is very unusual. The smooth-talking preacher is ruffled, but he keeps going on and ignoring him. Finally the hobo faints in the aisle and the service pauses to aid him. What do you imagine happens next? What do you want to happen to that stranger? It is obviously a cry for help and the church people understand that. The preacher and his wife take the starving man home with them to take care of him and the next Sunday the same preacher with a new heart challenges his people to dedicate a year of their lives to this goal: to make all your decisions based on what you know Jesus would do.

Folks, this story is based on real events! I'm not kidding. I was blown away by this late 19th century book that is in like its 100th reprint. Next to the Bible, it is the most popular Christian book of all time, I believe. To think that a Chicago preacher actually challenged his congregation to walk in Jesus' steps for a whole year and that they took him up on it. Wow. They do take his challenge seriously in this book by a Kansas preacher, too. I highly doubt this could ever happen again, but only back then when people still believed they could change society for the better and were willing to take a stand. That's very sad.

I don't know, though. With a new century, who can tell? If more people read this book, and not just Christians, maybe we'll be inspired to take this challenge. I surely would like to think I base my decisions on what Jesus would do in my place, but that's a tough one. I have not been so excited about a book in a long time. The author grips you from page one with his crisp, yet descriptive style so reminescent of that age. I really felt like I was back in history as a participant. I'm not giving away any of the challenges faced by the congregation, but they certainly did not have an easy time of it. It made the news in a big way. So I suggest you take my challenge and read it...if you dare! Your life will never be the same.

Recommended: Yes