Certain people in my life have had an incredible impact. One of them is Craig Gross of XXXChurch.com. He and Jason Harper have written a book to remind us of a simple, but of the utmost importance, fact that Jesus loves YOU.

Through “Jesus Loves You…”, Craig and Jason look at how Jesus loves over 10 kinds of people (I’m sure they could have written more, but they chose) who are the:

Bitter & Betrayed, Disconnected, Broken, Forgotten, Skeptic, Glutton, Crook, Outcast, Porn Star and Religious.

The book takes several stories from each author (included Gross’ wife, Jeanette) and highlights Scripture introducing the point that Jesus loves each type of person.

While reading through, the most difficult and challenging chapters for me were “The Outcast,” which brought up previous statements of my former Chancellor at Liberty University, Jerry Falwell, that stirred me to wish he never spoke them (p.134-135), to the chapter on “The Religious.” Sadly the most damage for the communication of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been through the hands of the ones who have received it first. While I loved Jerry Falwell and all he did for me, it seems the most divisive of words are the strongest words that people remember, particularly by the ones that need to know Jesus loves them and died for them.

If you want to start engaging yourself in a on-going process of knowing the people that Jesus loves, go check out Jesus Loves You and look into getting the book and Small Group DVD curriculum for you and your group or just follow the “Jesus Loves You Tour” featuring visits to Westboro Baptist Church, a Las Vegas buffet stop and a house give-away.