Max on Life

Common Questions

What type of questions are you asked, Max?

One of the most common questions, as you can imagine, are questions about being published or how to write. Just today there were two letters like that.

Then, you know, there are questions about hope. Is salvation secure? Can I “out-sin” God? Questions about hurt. What do I do when someone lashes out at me? Questions about home. Questions about divorce and raising children. The best way to raise your children. Is God in favor of discipline or against discipline?

One of my favorite sections in Max on Life we simply call “Him/Her.” It’s about relationships between men and women. About dating. About marriage. We have a pretty extensive section about sex. Pre-marital sex. Questions on the whole area of sexuality. There’s a pretty extensive section at the end of the book called “Hereafter.” Questions about heaven. Questions about hell. Questions about who’s going where.

Unique Letters

What are some of the unique letters you have received?

One of the most meaningful letters was written by a homeless man on a Dunkin Donuts placemat. We’ve received letters written on the back of a paper sack. One time a family whose son had died in a military helicopter crash sent us a copy of the book Six Hours One Friday that had been retrieved from his suitcase from the crash. I will never forget the letter they sent along with that book. We received a letter from a kid once with coins taped on the page asking if he could buy a book for his mom for 26 cents.

It is a privilege being on the receiving line of the many questions that people have. People just have questions in life. I never tried to position myself as one who has all of the answers, but I can sure give some thoughts. That’s what this book is about.

25 Years of Publishing

You have been published for 25 years now. What does that mean to you?

The 25th year of our publishing gave us an opportunity to reflect back [on] all the different ways God has used our books. There are many things that excite me about 25 years. If there’s one that works its way to the top, it would be number of languages and translations for these books. My earliest desire, after I became a Christian, was to become a missionary, and God allowed me to work in Brazil for about five years.

When I felt the call to come back to the States, I remember wrestling with the desire I had to go into the whole world. Over the last 25 years these words have gone to far more places than my feet could have ever gone—all around the world.