It took me a while to get around to reading this. I had read A.J. Jacobs brilliant and hilarious The Year of Living Biblically and found it an interesting look at how an otherwise secular Jew could approach the Bible, in part to debunk biblical literalism and in part spiritual exploration (and of course to sell books and entertain). I wasn't sure I wanted to read the Christian spin off version. But I like Ed Dobson and have respected the way he left a public position in the Moral Majority to pursue a pastoral vocation which connected with people on the margins (before every other Evangelical was talking about this). So I read and was pleasantly surprised by this.

The tone of this book is different than A.J. Jacobs. Dobson has long been a follower of Jesus, so he embarks on this journey as a religious insider. He also is not as stringent as Jacobs was in how he lives out his biblical year. Dobson keeps kosher, but not well. He practices the Sabbath, but not every week and not a total Sabbath in the Jewish sense. He commits to reading through the four gospels every week and fails. Some of his adjustments are do to the fact that Ed Dobson suffers from ALS (Lou Gerig's disease) and thus could not embark on as radical a change as the younger, spryer Jacobs could. But he may not have had the follow though Jacobs did anyway, I don't know.

But there are some interesting surprises here. Dobson's year like Jesus happened in the last election year (2008) and he found himself voting for a Democrat for the first time in his life because he saw Obama's views cohered with Jesus' teaching more than the other candidates (despite the fact that Dobson is staunchly pro-life). He also began drinking (after being a teetotaler) because being like Jesus meant eating and drinking with sinners. So he drank light beer and went to bars and talked to people about God. He also explores the prayer traditions of other Christians which focus on the Biblical Jesus. As an evangelical, for the first time in his life he begins praying the rosary (despite initial angst about praying 'to' Mary), the Jesus prayer and using the Orthodox prayer rope, and Episcopalian prayer beads.

Dobson learned a lot about how Jesus had a heart to reach those who wouldn't come to a church and got in some great conversations. He also identified with Jesus when some of his choices 'to live like Jesus' were misunderstood by Christian friends and religious insiders.

This is quick thought provoking read and I liked it a lot. Jacob's book is more entertaining but this is a little deeper and Dobson has a warm, easy way about him.

One small detail I particularly enjoyed was Dobson's appropriation of the Jesus prayer for intercession. Never finding it easy to pray for healing, Dobson began praying the Jesus prayer for people saying, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on _______." Kind of a short, easy way to pray, when words escape you. Good stuff. ( )

NCLA Review - This is the often bizarre, albeit fascinating, story of a devout Christian who chose to spend a year living like Jesus, much as a small boy might mimic his daddy. Ed Dobson’s conservative church background influenced the way he did it, but his childhood in Ireland and freethinking personality occasionally ruptured his literalist crust. He daily steeped himself in the gospels and prayer. He consulted a rabbi for Jewish perspective, and participated in Jewish holy days. His long untrimmed beard and his quest provided opportunity to talk about Jesus with nonbelievers. Sometimes his literalist bent irritated me; sometimes I cackled with laughter. I share his desire to live more like Jesus, and his experiences broadened my vision of how that goal can play out in our day. I also appreciate his openness, his candor and his humility. It was a yearlong experiment, and he was glad to stop trying to live like a Jew of Bible times. Dobson concluded that living like Jesus is difficult. He also showed that we can make it harder than it really is. Rating: 4 —DKW ( )

When Ed Dobson, an evangelical pastor truly dedicated to the following of Christ's teachings, learned that he had ALS, a radical idea came to him. He decided to live for one year as Jesus would have lived, and what he learns is chronicled in his new book The Year of Living Like Jesus. Of course, adhering to the values of Christ's life involves eating only kosher foods, reading the Gospels with a certain degree of regularity, and observing the Sabbath, but Jesus had a very distinct approach to existence from many in our own time and his own, as Dobson discovers through his remarkable journey.

It is Christ's approach to the treatment of those who suffer that was integrated into Dobson's own life and allowed him to receive many insights into what it is like to live just as Jesus would have lived. Those insights are communicated with sincerity, humility, and a touch of humor by Dobson throughout this surprising and genuine struggle to understand what it takes to embody the values and principles of Christ's teaching. The Year of Living Like Jesus comes highly recommended for those who wish to better understand their own faith and what ways we can incorporate Christ's teachings into our own lives to better serve him and one another throughout our life's journey. ( )

When Ed Dobson heard a radio interview with A.J. Jacobs, author of the bestselling The Year of Living Biblically, he was inspired. Touched by the dedication of someone whom isn’t a believer digging into the Word and literally living it out sparked a desire to do the same thing in his own life – only this time with a New Testament perspective. The Year of Living Like Jesus – Ed planned on taking ‘What Would Jesus Do’ to a new level for one entire year – while living with ALS.

From January through December Dobson sets off on a course to examine Jesus’ life and to do his best to follow in His footsteps. Written in an accessible, personal diary format, Dobson chronicles his journey and his reflections. He vulnerably shares both his triumphs (few) and his shortcomings and all-too-human shortcomings (many).

As a relatively new believer it was actually comforting in a sense to read of another’s struggles to follow Jesus as Lord while living in the flesh. Jesus is perfect, we’re not, and thankfully Dobson explores the deeper aspects of heart attitudes and temptations rather than leaving things at growing a beard and celebrating Jewish holidays.

Of course, there is a certain amount of that. Dobson sets out to do some fasting, dress modestly, keep the Sabbath, and much more, while aiming to read through the Gospels each week in an effort to more fully understand Jesus’ life here on Earth. His focus on keeping the Old Testament laws might be disconcerting to some, but Dobson is clear in his writings that believers are saved through faith and not through any obligation to keep the Law.

There is a groundswell of interest in the Church to recover her Hebraic roots. Believers are seeking to understand Jesus’ life as a Jewish man, the cultural understandings which shaped His parables, the setting in which Jesus fulfilled His calling. If you’re interested in doing the same I recommend Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus over this work.

Dobson seeks to live like Jesus in a modern setting – instead of wearing a long robe and sandals, washing his feet when he arrives at work, he wears clothing similar to that of an Orthodox Jew. He seems to do little research into actual first century Judaism and refers to modern texts on Judaism, and the advice of a local Rabbi, Orthodox priest, and Roman catholic priest for advice on a range of spiritual issues. Both the included aspects of his written journey and the closing notes and bibliography prove this out. Being admittedly inspired by The Year of Living Biblically, I was expecting a more literal adherence to first century practices in this regard.

Oddly while he neglects some of the ‘easier’ topics he could have addressed during his “Jesus Year”, Dobson veers off into a strange journey of using ritual, repetitive prayers. Picking up the rosary, Orthodox prayer rope, and Episcopalian prayer beads, this new technique of praying stays with Dobson throughout most of his book. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what any of this had to do with living like Jesus apart from a tenuous connection to praying the scriptures. His preoccupation with the rosary was even somewhat disturbing to me, as Jesus never indicated that any believer should pray to anyone other than God.

After reading The Year of Living Like Jesus I feel like I know Ed Dobson in some small way. His transparent confessions and struggles with sin display a great deal of humility on his part to be able to share these tender parts of his life openly. As a slice of life spiritual memoir, it’s a great read. However, if you’re looking for a good deep digging into first century Judaism, or a spiritual journey that is limited to scripture alone (sola scriptura), this likely isn’t the book for you.

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com ( )