Chuck Norris once put a choke hold on me. While a pastor I went to jail for peaceful civil disobedience. I was sued by the ACLU for praying at City Hall. I love underwater photography, some of my favorite subjects being sharks. I sometimes pray with my face buried in the coat of my Golden Retriever.

Okay, let’s go with this: in 1985, I was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes. God has used this disease powerfully in my life. I have a built-in reminder every single day when I take blood tests and insulin injections: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b). Of all the months in my life when I could have gotten a serious disease it happened during the month when my first book was published. That was a reminder of something I’ve never forgotten: my life and writing isn't about me, it's about Jesus. And without his empowerment I can't accomplish anything that matters.