ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I first and foremost want to sincerely thank my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ for birthing in me the desire to write this book.  Through the years of preparation and writing, and the times of excitement as well as discouragement, I continually felt His prompting to press on.  He began this good work in me and was faithful in helping me complete it.

My wife Kristine was also a great encouragement when I experienced doubt.  Many were the times that I questioned whether God was really in this project or not.  She reminded me regularly of the distinct calling I had felt to write the book.  And then I would continue on, once again assured that this was a task God had placed before me.

I thank my daughters, Stephanie and Valerie, for being precious gifts from God that softened my hard and selfish heart.  Through them, I learned many of the spiritual lessons that I am now able to pass along in this book.  They were also there to share treasured advice as I wrote. 

Deep appreciation is reserved for my parents, Tom and Shirley, for the priceless blessing of being raised in a Christian home.  They believed in me throughout the writing of this book and were there with the type of support that only loving parents can provide.

Finally, I offer my thanks to the staff at Xulon Press for their patient direction and encouragement.  They educated this novice author in the difficult process of creating a book from start to finish.  God used them as the conduit for bringing the important message He put on my heart to those who need to hear it.