The Beckoning

“Encouraging to fellow believers and a revelation to skeptics . . . a fascinating read.” —Jerry B. Jenkins, #1 New York Times–bestselling coauthor of the Left Behind series

I’m often asked to describe what happened during the months I spent researching these issues. They want to know what facts were so persuasive that an atheist attorney would become a believer in God. But I never felt I could respond in a way that told the true story. No short answer seemed sufficient. So now, in the following pages, I’ll describe for the first time the specifics of what jolted me out of my atheism . . .

Michael felt he was living the American dream. For a number of years he’d been reaping the professional and financial rewards of being a commercial litigation attorney. To him, life was great and getting better all the time.

He first gained notoriety around his hometown as a nationally ranked tennis player. But now, years later, he was becoming known for his skills as a lawyer and as the youngest elected official in the area. And then, in his late twenties, Michael unexpectedly discovered something that turned his world and his entire idea of life upside down.

In response to a challenge from a friend, Michael agreed to investigate issues relating to science, philosophy, and the Scriptures. Comfortable with his life as an atheist, he began reading with an indifferent attitude. But what started as a casual inquiry soon turned into a time of intense research. This is the story of Michael’s journey in his own words, his thoughts and reactions to the evidence he discovered—and the new life that soon followed.