Pastor Max Lucado

PASTOR MAX LUCADO

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I appreciate the indulgence of the majority leader, the bill's managers, and Senator Nelson and Senator Reid. Before we get on to the business of the day today, I wish to say a couple of words about our guest Chaplain, Max Lucado, who opened the Senate with prayer this morning.

Max is a longtime friend of mine and our family and is the minister of the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. He has a wonderful wife, Denalyn, and he is a loving father to their children: Jenna, Andrea, and Sara.

Most people will know Max because of his best-selling books. Currently, he has more than 33 million books in print, and is America's leading inspirational author.

A half century ago, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote about the difference between "cheap grace" and "costly grace" when it comes to our faith. Cheap grace, he said, requires nothing of us but vague sentiment—but costly grace requires a lifetime of faithful sacrifice and service.

Someone who understands and embraces that kind of costly grace with a whole heart is a true disciple. By that definition,
Max Lucado is a man who exemplifies what a disciple is and can be.

I thank Max for his service to Texas, to America, and today to the Senate, and also to his Creator who chose to set a disciple like him among us for such a time as this.

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.