Jesus Did It Anyway

by Kent M. Keith

The author of Anyway presents inspirational illustrations of the Paradoxical Commandments through bible stories, personal anecdotes, and verse, explaining how the examples of Jesus and other biblical figures can teach modern Christians how to achieve deeper levels of happiness, personal meaning, and faith. 100,000 first printing.

Genres: Religion, Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Inspirational

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2005

About the author

Kent M. Keith was born in New York and studied at Harvard, Oxford University, Waseda University in Tokyo, the University of Hawaii and the University of Southern California. He is a Rhodes Scholar.

Dr. Keith is known nationally and internationally as the author of the Paradoxical Commandments, which he wrote and published in 1968 in a booklet for student leaders entitled, The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council . His books, "Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments," "Do It Anyway: The Handbook for Finding Personal Meaning and Deep Happiness in a Crazy World" and " Jesus Did It Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments for Christians" discuss these concepts.

Dr. Keith practiced law and worked for the State of Hawaii Department of Planning and Economic Development. For six years he served as President of Chaminade University of Honolulu, and for five and a half years he was Senior Vice President for Development & Communications for the YMCA of Honolulu. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. He is the author

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting little book. Subtitled "The Paradoxical Commandments for Christians," it was launched by the authors booklet that he created for high school student leaders when he was a nineteen year old Harvard sophomore. At that time, it was simply called the Paradoxical Commandments. Over the next 25 years, unknown to Kent M. Keith, that little booklet traversed the world, even to the point of landing on Mother Theresa's wall in Calcutta! Eventually, people began asking Mr. Keith to come up with Biblical examples of these "commandments." So this book was born. For each of the commandments, he gives an Old Testament example and a New Testament example. He illustrates how Jesus lived these commandments through his short life on earth.

Truthfully, a life lived by these commandments would be a well-lived, and probably very influential life. They are as follows:

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway. (Scott Adams simply says that we're all idiots)

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

As far as "motivational" type books go, this was one of the better ones that I have read. Short and sweet, but very inspiring.

[Ted Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story, he writes this poem as part of a student leadership booklet back in college in the 60's, and somehow it spreads world-wide. People use it in business and church groups and schools, in the U.S. and Asia and Europe. Eventually the poem winds up on the wall of Mother Theresa's mission in Calcutta.

Keith goes on about his life as a teacher, a lawyer, a state official and a college administrator. And people keep asking him to expound on the ideas in his little booklet and famous poem. So book is the result.

This is a positive message of how God can use you if you just do your best to do the right thing- not for any reward, but just because it's the right thing- even (maybe especially) when it's hard to do the right thing.

[Michael Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light, quick read with two sub headings: "Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments" and "D0 it Anyway: The Handbook for Finding Personal Meaning and Deep Happiness in a Crazy World".
In this book Keith identifies ten Christian actions that we should regularly engage in, that follow the precepts of Jesus, that are "good" and that will likely cause us grief, that however we will find deeply rewarding and make us deeply happy. One example is "The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway."
He uses the example of Moses from the Old Testament. After years of whining over their slavery in Egypt, with the help of God, Moses is able to get his people free of slavery, out of Egypt, and across the Red Sea. Soon they start complaining that they have not enough water so, with the help of God, he finds water. Shortly they start complaining that they have not enough food so, with the help of God, he finds food. This goes on and on. Yet as many times as the people have needs, Moses, with the help of God, helps them again and again. This is the attitude the author is promoting. He calls this living IN the world not OF the world.
Living this way is well beyond my current practice. However, I have followed some of these paradoxical commandments some of the time. These have typically been the most rewarding, enriching occasions of my life. I am not sure that this book should need 160 pages. However the footnotes into the Bible would be useful for anybody who wishes to use some of this material as part of a sermon or presentation. Also they are useful to ensure the reader that the quotes have not been cherry-picked out of context. In my opinion they are all appropriate. Also, the examples can be useful to identify how uncomplicated and figuratively close to home these situations can be.
Four stars for those who are looking for a way of living to deepen their faith and enrich their life.

[Joy Leek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read, shared, and posted copies of Jesus Did it Anyway, but thought it was penned by Mother Teresa. I'm certainly among many, who had no idea that Kent M. Keith was the original writer, and he did so under God's direction. Because he was obedient, these verses have traveled the world, and influenced many lives. This is short, and a must read for all Christians.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago, as a student, Kent Keith wrote a set of "Paradoxical Commandments"-- such as "People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway." and "The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway."-- which took on a life of their own, getting passed around the world unattributed. Years later, he has written a few books expanding on the concepts; this one gives examples from Jesus's life and shows how the commandments can be applied to a Christian life. So you could say that the author is sort of shoehorning Jesus into his own framework of principles rather than coming up with a set of rules based on studying Jesus's life. And you'd be right. Nevertheless, the examples Keith relates are for the most part on-point, and they support the idea that the "commandments" are pretty good rules after all.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent nightstand book. Each chapter teaches what it means to follow Jesus' example in daily life in our modern culture, despite the "anyway" things that can hold us back. I've given this book as gifts to friends and acquaintances. If there is someone you know who is struggling to stand up to negative forces, to do somthing important and good in life, this book may be a good resource.

[Ruth Ann]

This is a book that will inspire you to continually strive to become more like Christ. I have read it several times and each time is as powerful as the first. If you want a meaningful life, value the things that last. Don't strive for power, fame, or wealth, but rather show love and help others.

[Blake Kanewischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was amazed to discover that the "paradoxical commandments" had been written by the author of this book in 1969! It's meant as a devotional type of book rather than a book whose depths can be plumbed, but I hope people take the messages to heart.

[J Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, the author speaks of the illogical parables. Things that we should do, but are difficult. Often we want to follow the example set by Jesus, but we feel that we cannot live up to His examples. This book suggests simple (but not easy) ways that we can follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet. Lots of food for thought. I hadn't heard of 'the paradoxical commandments' by that name, but I feel like I recognized several of them... even if I can't recall from where. Posters? Throw pillows? They are just 'around'.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It had some profound thoughts on living a Christ-like life and lots of stories to illustrate from the scriptures and modern life. It was a very good, quick read.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Kent Keith and discussed this book with him.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat facile writing on Jesus' paradoxical mission and how we can follow him in that.