ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Someone once said, “The two most important dates in a man’s life are the day he is born and the day he realizes why he was born.”

For reasons beyond my understanding, I was born to be a storyteller. It took me a while to understand that, but the day I did changed everything.

I couldn’t love this calling more, but I couldn’t do it without an amazing team for whom I am deeply and forever grateful.

Scott Miller remains my rock-star literary agent and dear friend from the first days of my career as an author—he and the Trident Media Group are fantastic.

Tyndale House remains my rock-star publishing team for all but my first two novels and they are equally fantastic—Mark Taylor, Jeff Johnson, Ron Beers, Karen Watson, Jeremy Taylor, Jan Stob, Andrea Garcia, Maria Eriksen, the entire sales force, and all the remarkable professionals who make Tyndale an industry leader. Thanks to copy editor Erin Smith. And yet again my deepest gratitude to Jeremy Taylor, without question the best editor in the business, and to Dean Renninger, who keeps designing one amazing book cover after another.

Nancy Pierce remains my rock-star executive assistant after all these many years. She takes care of all my logistical needs, from scheduling and correspondence to flights and finances and so much more—always with good cheer, grace, and faithful prayer. God bless you and thank you, Nancy!

My parents, Len and Mary Jo Rosenberg, are a Rock of Gibraltar for me, as are all of my extended family and Lynn’s. Year after year, they love me, pray for me, encourage me, keep my feet firmly planted, and truly make me laugh!

Our sons and their wives are a treasure to me: Caleb and his lovely wife, Rachel; Jacob; Jonah and his lovely bride, Cassandra; and Noah.

And my wife, Lynn, is a saint to me—the wellspring of joy in my life and such a gifted teacher and storyteller in her own right. I love you so much, sweetheart! Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving me.