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Tolstoy was born again at a communion service and he said the problem with [his understanding of Christ as a boy] was that his aunt (who he calls Metinka) would start telling him the story of Jesus. She would get down to the time of Jesus dying and he'd say, "Metinka, tell me more. Tell me why he died. Tell me why those men hurt Jesus." And then she would say, "It's time to go to bed." And he said that he had the most unfulfilled feeling. She was doing a very adult thing. He, as a child, wanted to know about the Cross.

One of the things that I loved in the book is you talk about the ego and letting go of "me."

I don't think we ever find out who we are until we let go of it. I think this is the purpose of Christ saying that you sacrifice everything to gain the whole world and the path to that is self-denial. I say in the book that God and ego are both three-letter words and they both mandate our attention. And whichever one we give it to ultimately tells the world what kind of person we were.

When you talk about God creating a better "me," you talk about becoming more like the identity of Jesus.

I think that it's a beautiful day when we come to look in God's mirror and staring out at us is our alter ego and he's always Jesus. I think this is what all the great saints have longed for, this union with Christ, and the desire to be one with him. And that's where ego is finally lost and self is gobbled up in something noble.

It's amazing to me to read about the great heroes of the faith. All of them wanted one thing. They wanted to be one with Christ. They wanted to merge their identities until they and Jesus were inseparable. And we don't have enough pictures of that now. We have pictures of how to succeed, vision, how to grow a church or set up a program. What we don't have are credible pictures of people like Mother Teresa who really do hunger to be united with Christ.

In this song you have the wonderful promise that he will stay close beside you all the way.

The real benefit of being a Christian, for me, is that he is in the moment right here with me. I don't have to go through this alone. That's the great thing about Jesus.

My father-in-law right now, even as we speak, is in the hospital and could die. He's 85. He's lived a good life in Christ and it's okay [that he's dying]. He's going to heaven. But, man, I like knowing that Jesus Christ is going to be with him on both sides. You know, Jesus will walk him right up to the gate and then he'll die and Jesus will meet him right inside the gate.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Visit DickStaub.com for audio and video of his radio program (4-7 p.m. PST), media reviews, and news on "where belief meets real life." The full text of this interview will be for sale on the website soon.

An excerpt of Jesus Loves Me is available at the Warner Books site.

Earlier Dick Staub Interviews include:

Kathleen Norris | The author of The Virgin of Bennington talks about being found by God in the midst of sex, drugs, and poetry. (July 16, 2002)

Thomas Moore | "To really live a secular life and enjoy it is part of being a religious person," says the author of Care of the Soul and The Soul's Religion (July 9, 2002)

Os Guinness | Whether we're seeking or have already been found, we're all on a journey. (July 2, 2002)

Oliver Sacks | The physician author of Awakenings talks about his Orthodox Jewish upbringing, order in the universe, and testing God. (June 25, 2002)

David Myers | People say they know money can't buy happiness, says the Hope College psychology professor. But they don't truly believe it. (June 18, 2002)

Richard Lewis | The comedian, actor, and author talks about his humor, addiction, and spiritual journey. (June 11, 2002)

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July (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46