In 1896, Charles Sheldon wrote a book which had an enormous influence in its day, and for generations of Christians, In His Steps. It led to the phrase, “What would Jesus do?”, which a generation ago was turned into a bracelet worn by young Christians bearing the initials WWJD. The social issues Sheldon addressed included concern for the poor and corruption in railroads and boxing.
The social issues of this day are abortion, adultery, government involvement in child-care in natural families and foster homes, corruption in government and media bias. (Some of these things were issues in 1896 as well.) Author David Heeren decided to address these serious issues two decades ago (indeed, his first edition was endorsed by the late Dr. James Kennedy, prolific author and pastor.) Now the book is being released again, because the issues have not been resolved.
In “Year of Our Lord”, Rev. Charles Morgen is a middle-aged pastor (whose wife Beth has gotten very jaded about church and faith). He challenges the membership of his twelve-hundred-member church in central Florida: what if followers of Christ really took the obligation seriously to follow Jesus with determination for one year? How would the church be affected, how would the community be affected, and how would their individual lives be affected? A handful volunteer.
Ellen Backster is an angry middle-aged woman with a husband and two young daughters (who constantly fight with each other). Another is Percy Johnson, an older African-American who lives alone, yet he can’t ignore the power of the challenge. He will become a critical part of the story of Buck Markbreit, a wealthy but corrupt middle-aged man who passed out in a swampy area only to be awakened by an alligator who bit off his right arm Rev. Charles Morgen is shocked when he discovers that the head of his Deacons is openly committing adultery and asks the Board of Deacons to remove him. Instead, he lies and claims the preacher is just out to get him, and almost succeeds in removing Morgen from the pastorate! Even more terrible, Charles’ jaded wife Beth leaves him for the head deacon! Now he’s divorced, which turns some of the church against him, despite his innocence in the whole matter.
Ellen is accused of bombing an abortion clinic where she had been leading a peaceful protest against the business and the abortionist Dr. Desmond Durgeon. He manages to twist it against her, and makes a secret call to the Dept. of Family Services. They promptly arrest her and force the children to testify that she is a cruel and unfit mother! This results in her being sent to prison to await trial, but the inmates almost beat her to death. Her daughters are sent to foster care, where they are terrified. They are learning that standing up for Jesus makes them targets of Satan. However, God has not abandoned them, and He’s got many surprises awaiting the faithful believers.
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