One of my favorite things is hearing from readers, especially when they have questions! Today, I'm answering a few more of them, and there are still plenty to come. I hope you enjoy getting to know me a little better through my answers!
I believed in God even as a child. I never questioned His existence. I grew up in a church that taught people they had to be members of that particular church to go to heaven. Every Sunday was just a list of the things we weren’t doing well enough. Even so, I went to church every time the doors were open, even when my mother and brother didn’t go. On Sundays, after I learned to drive, I carted my friends to different churches. I was searching for God.
When I was in my twenties, a friend of my mother’s loaned her some books by Hal Lindsey. Then she passed them on to me.
First, I read The Late Great Planet Earth. I found it fascinating. After that came Satan Is Alive and Well on Planet Earth. That was mind-blowing. My church never, ever talked about the devil.
Then came The Liberation of Planet Earth. This one was mind-numbing. Every chapter seemed to say the same thing: Jesus came to earth to die for our sins. We could exchange our unrighteousness for His righteousness.
I was incredibly bored and ready to stop reading it.
One afternoon, on my way to work, I stopped at a red light and prepared to turn left toward the building where I worked. The book was on the seat next to me. I looked over at it and thought, This is it. I can’t read another chapter. Every single one says the same thing. Jesus came to earth to die for our sins so we could exchange . . .
And then I stopped.
I’d been taught that Jesus was the Son of God. I knew He died on the cross. When I was baptized in the church I’d attended for so many years, I was asked if I believed Jesus was the Son of God. I said yes, and that was it. Supposedly, I was saved.
But at that moment, for the first time in my life, I understood the cross—that I could trade my sinful life for His righteousness.
If I were a cartoon, there would have been a light bulb over my head. This sounds nuts, but I swear I could see that light bulb!
That night, when I got home, I got down on my knees and accepted the great exchange.
When I stood up, I was a different person.
Eventually, I found another church where I heard the Word and discovered who God really was.
I never turned back.
Mary Gessner asked: I'd like to know how you got the (brilliant) idea to put the names of your fans in your books. It makes reading them feel a little like reading your own story, not to mention feeling somewhat immortalized. But most of all? It's FUN!
I honestly don’t know what made me do that. I might have seen another author do it. But it really is a blast. I use the names of readers and friends in my books—but only with their permission. I’ve never made any of them the bad guy—even though a few thought it might be fun!
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