Gary Chapman - Life Lessons and Love Languages: The Unexpected Journey of Dr. Gary Chapman

Gary Chapmans new memoir reminds us how God uses every experience, every turn in life to refine and equip us for usefulness in the kingdom. Be encouraged in your own life by seeing what God has done in Garys.

MAX LUCADO

Pastor and New York Times bestselling author

I can think of few men who have had a greater impact on lives and families than Gary Chapman. Now we have the benefit of an in-depth glimpse into the major influences by which the Lord has shaped Gary into a servant-hearted leader who ministers to others so effectively and faithfully.

JIM DALY

President, Focus on the Family

Like a chat with an old friend, you will love this behind-the-scenes peek at the life and ministry of Dr. Gary Chapman. In Life Lessons and Love Languages, Dr. Chapman shares the remarkable journey on which God has led him over the years, eventually becoming one of the best-known figures in Christian ministry. Ive known Dr. Chapman for a long time, and he is the real deala humble, caring, generous, and wise follower of Christ. This backstory is itself an inspiring lesson about what God can do with someone who says yes to His call.

SHAUNTI FELDHAHN

Social researcher and internationally bestselling author of For Women Only, Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages, and Thriving in Love and Money

Gary Chapman is like a brother to me, having known him for almost forty years. Yet its only after reading this book that I feel like I know the rest of the story, and more about this focused and flexible servant of God. We read in Psalm 71:17, O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds (ESV). The unnamed writer of this psalm, and Gary Chapman, have much in common. Read this short, powerful book to be inspired. I was!

GREG THORNTON

CFO, Moody Bible Institute

Who actually gets to sit down with their favorite author or speaker and really understand who they are? The events that shaped them? This incredible book lets us look under the hood at Gary Chapman, to begin to understand how he can be so humble and incredible at changing and impacting literally millions of lives. You and I get to read firsthand the stories, experiences, trials, and amazing life lessons that have shaped Dr. Chapmans life. Even more, reading his insights on all the places God has taken him can take us to a whole new level of trusting and loving Jesus and others. What a powerful, uplifting, inspiring look at someone who defines a life well livedand challenges us to go do the same for Jesus as well!

JOHN TRENT

Coauthor of The Blessing; founder of StrongFamilies.com

2021 by GARY CHAPMAN

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Edited by Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse

Interior design: Brandi Davis

Cover design: Erik M. Peterson

Cover photograph 2020 by Brooke Pennington/Grooters Productions

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Chapman, Gary D., 1938- author.

Title: Life lessons and love languages : what Ive learned on my unexpected journey / Gary Chapman.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, [2021] | Summary: Get to know Gary Chapman. You just might discover yourself along the way. Many people know Gary Chapman as the man who helped the world learn how to speak the five love languages. But the thing about Gary is hes just a regular guy from Small Town, USA, not all that different from you. And in the mirror of Garys life, you might discover your own story, too. In Life Lessons and Love Languages, youll discern the five influences that shape peoples lives: home, education, marriage, children, and vocation. Even if you dont experience each of these influences yourself, youll benefit from seeing how these pillars of human society work together to make productive people. Getting to know Gary will be a lot of fun. But getting to know yourself and how your world works is a gift that this small-town kid doesnt want you to miss-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020047532 (print) | LCCN 2020047533 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802423986 (paperback) | ISBN 9780802499790 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Chapman, Gary D., 1938- | Baptists--United States--Clergy--Biography. | Christian life--United States. | Conduct of life--United States.

Classification: LCC BX6495.C427 A3 2021 (print) | LCC BX6495.C427 (ebook) | DDC 286.092 [B]--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020047532

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020047533

Originally delivered by fleets of horse-drawn wagons, the affordable paperbacks from D. L. Moodys publishing house resourced the church and served everyday people. Now, after more than 125 years of publishing and ministry, Moody Publishers mission remains the sameeven if our delivery systems have changed a bit. For more information on other books (and resources) created from a biblical perspective, go to www.moodypublishers.com or write to:

Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60610

Dedicated to all those individuals who have cooperated with God in helping me learn life lessons.

Friend,

Thank you for choosing to read this Moody Publishers title. It is our hope and prayer that this book will help you to know Jesus Christ more personally and love Him more deeply.

The proceeds from your purchase help pay the tuition of students attending Moody Bible Institute. These students come from around the globe and graduate better equipped to impact our world for Christ.

Other Moody Ministries that may be of interest to you include Moody Radio and Moody Distance Learning. To learn more visit www.moodyradio.org and www.moody.edu/distance-learning.

To enhance your reading experience weve made it easy to share inspiring passages and thought-provoking quotes with your friends via Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, and other book-sharing sites. To do so, simply highlight and forward. And dont forget to put this book on your Reading Shelf on your book community site.

Thanks again, and may God bless you.

The Moody Publishers Team

M any of us are living so fast that we seldom stop to reflect on what we are doing, why we are doing it, and where it is leading. We are creatures of action, always doing something, but seldom taking time to talk to ourselves about the bigger issues of life. Entertainment, pleasure, and the pursuit of happiness have become the goals of many. Yet even when these goals are attained, the human spirit cries out for something more.