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Summary: this book is a call to action.
Review: Charles Sheldon did a wonderful job of challenging Chirstians to follow the example of Christ and to know Him better. He points out that in order to answer the question "what would Jesus do?" you have to have a ever deepening intimate relationship with the Lord. When you receive the answer you have to act on it. no matter what people think or what happens to you. It takes guts to asks "What would Jesus do?"
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Summary: Refers to an updated version that will be available 10/98.
Review: Charles Sheldon's best-selling classic In His Steps was first published over one hundred years ago. Now Joey O'Connor has updated and modernized this story for today's teens, college students, and adults. The setting is First Church, the most exclusive in Pasadena. Pastor Max Henry's routine is forever altered when a young street person raises some disturbing questions: "What does it mean to follow in Jesus' steps today?" and "What does surrendering all to follow Jesus mean?" When this homeless man dies, Pastor Henry finds himself deeply dissatisfied with his understanding of what it truly means to follow Christ. One week later, he challenges his congregation to make a one-year p! romise to ask themselves, "What would Jesus do?" in every situation. In a fast-paced, narrative style, In His Steps: The Promise traces the lives of those church members who accept their pastor's challenge. By following the story of these church members, who face contemporary problems in everyday settings, the reader is encouraged to accept the challenge to act as Jesus would act. Joey O'Connor is the best-selling author of several books, including Whadd'ya Gonna Do?, You're Grounded for Life, and Heaven's Not a Crying Place. He served in youth and family ministries for over ten years. A popular speaker for parents, teenagers, and families, O'Connor writes frequently for ! Focus on the Family's Breakaway magazine and other you! th publications. He lives with his wife and three children in San Clemente, California.
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Summary: Read and Re-Read
Review: Charles Sheldon's classic story of the pledge to do nothing until asking "What would Jesus do?" is still relevant today. Written at the last of the 19th century, the challenge of this story reverberates as we begin the 21st. While the writing will never be included among the great classics of our time, the message digs deep into our hearts every time we read it. This is definitely a book to keep and read over and over and over again.
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Summary: A Timeless Classic
Review: First published In 1896, this book stands alone as one of the simplest, yet most life-changing works of fiction ever written.
The question posed in the book has launched several generations of reechoing "What Would Jesus Do?" In the re-write by great-grandson, Garrett Sheldon, the story remains true to the original and just as life-changing.
The very simplicity of the story has blinded some to the depth of the message, but after more than 107 years and 50,000,000 copies, it continues to rank among the best books ever written.
A true Classic that has stood the test of time by any criteria.
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Summary: Wonderful classic reads easily and applies to everyone today
Review: Having read the original version of In His Steps, I am amazed at the quality of writing and editing in this new, updated version. The editor has maintained the integrity and vision of Sheldon's work, while making even the smallest details applicable to the modern reader. There are no obvious strays from our modern culture--so that the reader doesn't "trip" over references to an era that was very different from today. The characters come alive, and it is so easy to read this and say "I could do that in my work environment!" I would highly recommend this edition to anyone--but particularly to parents who would like to share this powerful work with their teenagers. A must read!
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Summary: this is not the original!
Review: I bought this book "...UPDATED IN TODAY'S LANGUAGE." and was convicted and inspired by it. But before I finished it, a friend, not knowing I had this book, gave me a copy which was in the original language. (Thomas Nelson Publishers) I was amazed at the difference between the two books. I believe the description "...UPDATED IN TODAY'S LANGUAGE" should be changed to "...UPDATED INTO LANGUAGE MORE BENEVOLENT TO THE NARCISSUSTIC CULTURE PRESENT IN MANY OF OUR TODAY'S CHURCHES. Here are some examples. Edited version (p14) "The members of the First Church of Raymond believed in having only the best music, and its choir this morning was a source of great inspiration." Original version(p 4). "The First Church of Raymond believed in having the best music money can buy, and its quartet choir was a source of great pleasure to the congregation. The anthem was inspiring." Both versions sort of say the same thing but the underlying flavor of the nature of this congregation appears substantially different, I think. In the first the choir was of great inspiration and in the last the choir was of great pleasure and the anthem was inspiring. That is different. Also, Sheldons descriptive writing should not be abbreviated. Another example: Edited version: "Rachel Winslow was beautiful as she stood behind the choir screen of carved oak, and a general rustle of expectation swept over the audience as she prepared to sing." Origial version: "Rachel Winslow looked very beautiful that morning as she stood up behind the screen of carved oak which was significantly marked with the emblems of the cross and the crown. Her voice was even more beautiful than her face, and that meant a great deal. There was a general rustle of expectation over the audience as she rose." The editing has nothing to do with "today's language" but has everything to do with making Sheldon's self-incriminating description of main stream christianity more palatable to today's evangelical christian culture. I am a christian and belong to a mega-church.
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Summary: Poorly written, naive and hypocritical
Review: I felt obliged to read this book because it was given to me as a gift by a friend, but after the first few chapters I had to force myself to continue. Aside from the archaic style (anyone who has ever waded through a novel by Sinclair Lewis will recognize the preachiness and stilted prose so characteristic of 19th century literature), the main problem I had was the novel's blatant hypocrisy. For example, the later chapters are set in Chicago, where several characters dedicate their lives to helping downtrodden immigrants in the "university settlement". In point of fact this settlement -- known as Hull House -- was founded by Jane Addams, an atheist and lesbian whose progressive ideas and "sinful" lifestyle would be roundly condemned by Christians of any era. Sheldon may have fantasized that such ideas originated from Christians trying to "do as Jesus would," but as we see time and again in history, social change usually comes about through the work of brave humanists like Addams. The churches -- Johnny-come-latelies on every major social issue from slavery to racial integration to women's rights -- then come trailing in behind, trying to claim all the credit. I can perhaps forgive Sheldon's naivete regarding "demon alcohol" (he's against it of course) since the novel was written some decades before prohibition turned millions of average Americans into criminals and fostered the rise of organized crime. But if the Bible is to be believed, Jesus himself was a fun-loving individual. His first miracle was to replenish the wine supply at a wedding feast in Cana. What would Jesus do? Perhaps instead of passing out prohibitionist tracts on street corners, he might have walked right into the saloons and downed a shot and a beer with the weary patrons.
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Summary: Excellent!
Review: I give this book a 10! I read this every year or so because its like a pep-rally for living like Jesus did. Everyone that wears a WWJD bracelet should read this. The people in this book are real "Christians." So many of our churches need this. God Bless You!
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Summary: In His Steps
Review: I haven't finished this book yet, so maybe I'll feel differently when I reach the end, but right now I don't think this is a very good book.
This books' main theme is about the choices Jesus would have made had he been on earth today.
The pastor of a church challenges the congregation to take a pledge. To being commited for a whole year asking the question 'WWJD?' before each decision is made. This is a great idea for a book. But the way it was written, it moves way too fast.
The author jumps from day to day, and it gets a bit annoying. He just isn't thorough at all. In my prespective, this book could have been a lot longer. With such a strong theme, he should have taken more time with it.
The author also focus's too much on big decisions. In example, one of the characters is blessed with a great voice. And she is asked to perform on broadway (or something similar to that). But realistically, how often are you going to get asked that? You'd be lucky if even your friend was asked to become a star. It just didn't really relate to me.
I wish he would have focused more on the little decisions that come up every day. Answers that we could use in our every day life. Like going to the grocery store and getting a clerk who was grouchy. Or trying to deal with your three year old son while your fourteen year old daughter is complaining that she doesn't get algebra. Those are the things we face every day. Choices that need to be made while at the end of your limit.
Overall this book gave me inspiration. It showed me that I need to have Jesus show through me in everything I do. In little decisions and big ones, He needs to be Lord of my life.
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Summary: The Next Step
Review: I picked up a copy of this book a few years ago, but I never finished it because it didn't hold my attention at all. In retrospect, I wasn't ready for it. This book challenged my thinking more than I wanted it to. You may have heard that "In His Steps" is the origin of the phrase "What Would Jesus Do?" That's true, but the book takes the question a step farther. The real question is "What would Jesus do if He were Gail Simmons?" (Ok, so you can insert your own name where I've put mine.) There's even another step after that which is implied rather than stated. Am I going to make the changes necessary to have my life come into line with my understanding of what Jesus would do in my place? The book is excellent, but don't read it unless you're prepared to examine your own life in ways you may have never imagined. I've heard it said that knowledge can condemn a person. Are you willing to take the next step to read this book? You'll either walk away changed or condemned.
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