Love Them Anyway

These ten principles were first articulated by Kent Keith as a student at Harvard in the 1960s. Since then, unbeknownst to him, they were quoted, circulated, and appropriated by countless people around the world and back again. They even served as a source of inspiration for Mother Teresa. Now, here are his commandments, the philosophy behind them, and the stories that bring them to life. The first five Paradoxical Commandments: People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

Love breaks through defenses and destroys walls that divide us. Love demands more of you and me than we often want to give. It’s easy to love a lovely person, but what about...them? What about that stereotype, that race, that person or group of people in a political, cultural, or socioeconomic class who don’t behave like you, don’t believe like you, and if you are honest...make you uncomfortable? What is love in this context? We read that Jesus broke boundaries to love the people that many detested. His love was transformative because His love saw past disagreement, indifference, and offense. Loving them? Like this? That’s hard. If you consider yourself a Christian, then love should be your primary characteristic. But it seems that division defines us in our society where rage and anger abound. Today, many people see Christians as angry followers of God who are more interested in winning political arguments than loving people. If we say we follow Jesus but are not loving like Him, then what’s the point? There is a better way. Using the incredible story of how Pastor Choco chose to “love them anyway” to transform the crime-ridden community of Humboldt Park in Chicago, Love Them Anyway will inspire you to love in a way you never have. This book will pave a compelling path for you to both express and experience a truly transformative love on a deep level. It will tap into your deepest desires, expose your hesitations, connect you deeper with God’s love, and help you take bold steps to love the people around you—and your love will change lives. When you learn to Love Them Anyway, your passion will be redirected, your purpose will be refined, and you will see God use you in ways you could never have imagined. Love is hard. It’s not convenient, and it’s not always safe. But love is beautiful. Love is contagious. It breaks through defenses and destroys walls that divide us. Love is the answer. So, love them anyway. Redirect your passion, refine your purpose, and see God use you in ways you never imagined.

One night can change everything. Abby Banks put her healthy, happy infant son to sleep, but when she awoke the next morning, she felt as though she was living a nightmare. Her son, Wyatt, was paralyzed. There was no fall, no accident, no warning. A rare autoimmune disease attacked his spinal cord, and there was no cure. In an instant, all her hopes and dreams for him were wiped away. The life she envisioned for her family was gone, and she was frozen by the fear of a future she never imagined. As she struggled to come to grips with her son’s devastating diagnosis and difficult rehabilitation, she found true hope in making a simple choice, a choice to love anyway—to love her son, the life she didn’t plan, and the God of hope, who is faithful even when the healing doesn’t come. In Love Him Anyway, Abby shares her family’s journey from heartbreak to triumph and reminds us that hope and joy can be found in life’s hardest places.

Dr. Kent Keith published the Paradoxical Commandments as part of a book he wrote for student leaders in the 1960s when he was an undergraduate at Harvard. These maxims for finding meaning in the face of adversity took on a life of their own, making their way into countless speeches, advice columns, books, institutions, and homes around the world. They were even found on the wall of Mother Teresa’s children’s home in Calcutta. They became the basis of Keith’s bestselling book Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments. Do It Anyway expands on the vision behind the Paradoxical Commandments. It includes forty stories of people who live the commandments each day and gives you the examples, tools, and encouragement to find personal meaning and deep happiness, no matter who you are or what your circumstances, even when times are tough.

Don't fight the culture. Transform it. When Pastor "Choco" De Jes s was twelve years old, his Chicago neighborhood erupted in gang violence for three terrible days. On the third day, the mayor called in the National Guard to restore order. When the smoke cleared, only burned-out cars, broken store windows, and hatred remained. Choco felt vulnerable and helpless, and soon he turned to the only source of security, life, and purpose--the love of Jesus. Pastor Choco leads out of this deep well of experience. He knows what it's like to wonder if you'll live through the day, and he knows how it feels when someone cares enough to step in and provide care and hope. His church is known for showing compassion to people who are often overlooked--or worse, despised--in our culture: prostitutes, gangbangers, the homeless, and others who feel abandoned. And Pastor Choco's bold love for people has opened doors and allowed him into the highest offices in the land, including at the White House. Love is contagious. It breaks through defenses and destroys walls that divide us. Love is costly. It requires time, focus, and intention. Love is uncomfortable. It pushes you beyond your preconceived limitations and understanding. Love is hard. It's not convenient, and it's not always safe. But love is beautiful. Love is transformative. Love is the answer. So love them anyway. The message of this book will tap into your deepest desires, expose your hesitations, connect you more deeply with God's love, stimulate your creativity, and help you take bold steps to love the people around you--and your love will change lives. Love Them Anyway is designed for individual study, small-group interactions, and church-wide applications that reach every corner of a church's local community. This book will help you confront your prejudices, remove fences, and get the gospel to the marginalized.

Cannonball! By: Cara Martone Cannonball! is a fun tale of Jason and Brooke, two children who embark on an unexpected adventure when a normal day of swimming in their pool turns into a journey they never knew was possible! They get to see and learn about new places and at the same time learn what is truly meaningful in life.

The founder of the Preemptive Love Coalition (PLC), an international development organization based in Iraq that provides lifesaving heart surgeries to Iraqi children and trains local doctors and nurses, presents a firsthand account of lifesaving and peacemaking in the world's most notorious war-torn country.

BIBLE VERSE NOTEBOOK Use this customized and beautiful blank lined Christian journal / notebook / diary to write in, creative thoughts, plan your schedule, write 'TO DO lists, ' write your grocery lists and MUCH MUCH more! Makes an excellent birthday gift, anniversary gift, graduation gift, or any special occasion. Perfectly sized at 108 pages 6x9 size with a white interior and dark lines Softcover book binding Flexible paperback Check out my other planners, guest books and more by clicking my author name 'DP Productions.'