Minister and author Max Lucado has written a lot of books. Well, that's an understatement. According to his publisher, he now has 100 million products in print, making him the most widely-read Christian writer on the planet. But behind the publishing juggernaut is a gentle man with a quiet voice, a pastoral heart, and a tender affection for the local church. His latest book, Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions (Nelson, 2010), is a series of questions and answers gleaned from his years at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Drew Dyck talked with Max about responding to tough questions and the best uses of a pastor's authority.

Your new book, Max on Life, is intensely pastoral. You're responding to people's problems and fielding their questions. How have the questions you've received over the years shaped you?

They've been extremely formative. I can't overstate their importance. I love the church. I honestly do. I love this little pond that God's given me ...