Nothing I do would be possible without my wife, Alissa. She has believed in me even when I have struggled to believe in myself. She has demonstrated complete confidence in my abilities even when I so often question them. She has never laughed at my goals or told me to come down out of the clouds and be more realistic. Instead, however high I reach, she dares me to reach higher. However far I think I can go, she tells me to go even farther. She is my foundation and my purpose. A million thank-yous would never suffice, so I must apologize that this page can only fit one. Thank you.
I must thank my children, Luke and Julia (and Jeremiah, although he was safely tucked away inside his mother’s womb throughout this whole endeavor). They had to sacrifice some valuable Daddy time while I shut myself in my office and typed furiously. I hope I can make it up to them.
An incredibly insufficient thank-you must go to my parents, who gave me and my five siblings an incredibly unfair advantage in life. We were never a wealthy family, but our home was rich in love and faith. Perhaps if Mom and Dad had not armed us with the truth early on, and equipped us with the tools to defend it, I would have written a very different book. I cannot take credit for being one of the few to reject our culture’s lies. Mom and Dad would not have allowed anything else.
To Mary, Chrissie, Beth, Joan, and Joe: you’ve all influenced me in ways you’ll never know. Thank you. By God’s grace, let’s continue to do the impossible and be a family that isn’t torn apart by dysfunction, resentment, jealously, and competition. There aren’t many of those left in this country. We are fortunate. Let’s pray we remain so.
Thank you to Glenn Beck and TheBlaze. There aren’t very many companies that would allow a radical flamethrower like myself to write whatever I want, without ever attempting to censor any of it, no matter how controversial or inflammatory. Glenn was an early and consistent supporter, and he continues to offer praise of my writing that far exceeds its quality. Thank you.
Thank you to my agent, Amanda Luedeke, who approached me about writing a book several years ago and stuck with me even as I spent month after month hemming and hawing and going back and forth about what sort of book I wanted to write, or if I wanted to write one at all. None of this would have been possible without her.
Thank you to the team at the Crown Publishing Group: Mary, Dave, Julia, and everyone else. Thank you for taking a chance on me, and thank you for all of the time and energy you invested in this project. This being my first book, I don’t think I realized exactly how much work you guys would have to put into this thing. You have my sincere gratitude. Thank you.
Thank you to everyone I have not mentioned. Don’t feel slighted by the oversight. I’ve become forgetful in my old age. Please forgive me.
Finally, most important, all thanks ultimately must travel upward to Our Lord in Heaven. He loves us all in ways that we do not deserve and cannot ever deserve. And nobody deserves His love and fidelity less than me. I am constantly in awe at the blessings He has bestowed on my life. And I know that every day I’m given on Earth is another challenge from Him. “Do something good and beautiful with this,” He says to me, and to all of us, every morning. I know that many days have come and gone when I have not lived up to that challenge. But I must give Him all the thanks and praise that, so far, He has given me 10,000 more chances.