I was born a tie-breaker. With 8 older siblings — 4 brothers and 4 sisters — I seemingly came into the world wanting to make a difference. Like most of my family and friends in our Canadian prairie village, I loved sports and was very competitive: hockey in winter, baseball in summer, and every sport in-between. During my teenage years I added partying to my athletic pursuits, but I never felt satisfied. The same was true of my faith. I went to church every Sunday, but I couldn't seem to unlock the mystery of religion, so I quit going when I was about 15, not long after my dad died suddenly of a heart attack. After completing high school and telling my buddies that "I never have to take another exam for the rest of my life", I received letters of interest from hockey and baseball coaches. I decided to go to a community college in the USA to play baseball. Arriving before the semester started to train, my partying and reckless living left me feeling lost and empty. I quit the team, dropped out, and returned home, feeling like my opportunities had passed me by. By that time, several family members had joined my Mom in becoming followers of Jesus, and I began to take notice. Through several unique circumstances that I would consider to include divine intervention, I realized my need for forgiveness and turned to Jesus. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. Soon after, I found myself back in university and pursuing God more than anything else. Ironically, the teenager who thought he was done with school took many more exams, culminating in my becoming a professor. I still consider myself to be a "tie-breaker", but now it is by seeking to make a difference in the spiritual lives of others.