That, says Baldwin, got his attention.

“God knew if she just sought the face of the Lord Jesus and pretty much ignored me… You know what happens with macho guys when they get ignored,” Baldwin said and laughed. “I said, ‘This Jesus Guy is not any cooler than I am!’”

Baldwin began sporadically attending church and reading Bible passages to feed his curiosity. The more he learned, the more questions he had. He even took the step of asking God to direct his life.

Nothing really changed, however, until the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. When airplanes slammed into the Twin Towers in his native New York City, Baldwin fretted over what would have become of him if he had died that day.

He realized there had to be more to living than this earthly life.

He surrendered to God with a warning: If he was going to live for Christ, he was going to give it his all – to the extreme, like he did everything else.

In the book, he pokes fun at himself for having the gall to challenge God and shares God’s humbling response.

Through a series of unexpected encounters, Baldwin found himself creating Livin’ It, a skateboarding and extreme sports ministry to reach young people with the Gospel.

He considers his new book a vehicle to reach youth and adults.

“There are so many people that, somewhere in their heads, they’re eager to have an experience with the Lord, but in their hearts, they’re not committed to doing what it takes,” he said.

“Some people are telling me, ‘Don’t force your spiritual opinions on me,’ and I’m praying for those folks,” Baldwin said.  “It’s important for me to communicate with people what I believe God wants me to say.

“I believe all the success I’ve had and the platform God has given me in Hollywood has been created by Him so it could be used at this time for the work he has for me now.”

Stacy Hawkins Adams is the author of the Christian fiction novels Nothing but the Right Thing and Speak To My Heart. She is also a freelance writer and inspirational columnist. Stacy often speaks to audiences about the blessings that come with authentically living one's faith. She and her husband, Donald, have two children.