When I co-wrote my book Why We’re Not Emergent, I thanked everyone under the sun. I didn’t know if I’d get published again, so I figured I’d better give a shout-out to as many people as possible. This time I’ll be briefer, not because there are fewer people to thank, but because I kind of shot my wad the first time around.

The folks at Moody Publishers have once again been a pleasure to work with. Thanks for getting excited about yet another book on the will of God.

Andrew Wolgemuth has been a great help and encouragement to me in this project. His edits and suggestions were invariably helpful. My colleagues in ministry, Doug Phillips and Jason Helopoulos, read through an early draft of the manuscript and offered good encouragement and several helpful suggestions as well.

I’ve spoken on the will of God a number of times in a number of different church settings. I’m grateful to the folks from FRCOC, SCF, URC, and the OPC for listening eagerly (or at least faking it), asking probing questions, and engaging me in good conversation about this topic. I wouldn’t have thought to write this book except for the encouraging responses I’ve received in teaching through this material.

If I weren’t a Calvinist, I would say I am a very lucky man to be at such a good church. But I know it is only by God’s grace and favorable providence that I can serve as pastor at University Reformed Church. To cite just one example, I am thankful for the generous time off I get each year to read and write.

As always, my wife, Trisha, has been my constant support, cheering me on and freeing me up. She is a smiling delight. My children—Ian, Jacob, and Elizabeth—deserve to get their names in another book too.

Finally, I’m thankful for my grandpa DeYoung, along with his new wife, Jo Ann, and my grandpa Vanden Heuvel, along with his wife, Pauline, for agreeing to be interviewed for the book. I gladly dedicate this book to my grandfathers, remembering with gratitude also my deceased grandmothers, June DeYoung and Mildred Vanden Heuvel.