Christianity Today

What would you say to people who don't have a particularly dramatic testimony, someone who might be like the older son in the Prodigal Son story?

First I would say, thank the Lord. I have three children, and my hope is that they will know him and love him from the youngest of ages and that they would be spared from the grief of life apart from him. There is nothing great or glamorous about life apart from God. My sons both came with me to Haiti, and my little son was challenged to share his testimony. Afterwards, he said, "I feel kind of bad because I have my own little experience but it's nothing like a great story to tell." And I told him that his story has made him who he is and given him the relationship he has with God. You know, it's not so much about your story as it is about the relationship you have with God now and the greater good news.

You quoted from sources as varied as the Scriptures, David Bowie, and W. Somerset Maugham. How do you enter into a life with God where you're cultivating that secret life but still learn from secular thinkers and artists?

Many ideas people gravitate towards have a measure of a deeper spiritual truth in them—perhaps just a sliver or a thread to the real meaning, but you can see that people are stealing little snippets of deeper realities. You can see this in how people love nature. God has told us that there will be a measure of revelation in nature. People mistake the created for the Creator, but people will invest their lives in this little idea. It can open doors if we can help them understand the greater idea.

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Related Elsewhere:

The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey from Shame to Grace is available from ChristianBook.com and other book retailers. CT also published an excerpt of Palau's book.

The Luis Palau Association site has a section on Andrew and his evangelistic ministries.

Worthy Publishing also has a trailer, audio interview, and first chapter from the book.

Laura Ortberg Turner has written for Her.meneutics about being the daughter of a pastor.