My Testimony is in Colson’s New Book

by Randy on June 1, 2005 · Comments

Over the past 6 months or so I have dropped about three hints about a “big ” project. Well… here is the press release to the local Orlando area:

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2005
CONTACT: Julie Neils
P: (321) 279-8965
E-mail: jneils@exodus.to
or David Fountain
P: (407) 599-6872


Former Watergate Figure & Bestselling National Author Features Local Ex-Gay in Book Released This Week

Orlando, FL- Bestselling author, syndicated columnist and former Watergate felon, Chuck Colson, has released a new book this week that devotes an entire chapter to the issue of homosexuality and highlights the life story of Randy Thomas, Membership Director for the Orlando-based ministry, Exodus International. Thomas details his own story as a child raised in an abusive home who grew to struggle with homosexuality and eventually made a decision to leave it more than 13 years ago.

Colson, who has written over 22 books on a variety of topics considers his newest one, The Good Life, the most personal since writing about his own search for God following the Watergate scandal in the best seller, Born Again. His latest book uses powerful life stories; some from his Watergate years and others, like Randy’s, that are intended to illustrate principles that will help readers find answers to their own search for meaning, purpose and truth. The Good Life, published by Tyndale House Publishers, is available in bookstores this week.

Thomas commented on his part in the book, “My story is not unique. There are thousands of individuals, like myself, who experienced loneliness and heartache that led us into an empty pursuit for wholeness in gay life. Instead, we found more of the same.

“Through Jesus Christ, we found not only the strength to leave it, but ultimate healing, truth and purpose,” said Thomas. “I am grateful for the opportunity to share my journey in this book and trust that it will bring inspiration and hope to others.”

Exodus International is the largest Christian resource and referral organization dealing with the issue of homosexuality in the world today with over 125 member chapters across North America that offer help to the over 400,000 people who contact the organization each year.

To read a review of the book, go to: www.goodlifethebook.com.

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Viewing 14 Comments

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    Well ... I know his co-author well enough for him to write about my testimony :). Chuck was very involved but all of my dialog and direct interaction was with the co-author Harold Ficket.

    Of course Colson did have to approve, give direction and helped write the narrative around my story but the man is *EVERYWHERE* all the time. He had to have a co-author help with the personal stories.

    And your family doesn't have to be jealous. Tell 'em to get online :)
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    In all the news coverage yesterday about "Deep Throat" being revealed I saw an interview with Chuck Colson...I can't for the life of me remember on what channel.

    Anyway, I thought to myself with a silly little grin, "I'm so special! I know someone who knows that man well enough that the man wrote an entire chapter about him in his new book!" And as I thought this out loud to myself a couple of sets of eyes were rolled in my direction by my family.

    I think maybe they were just jealous cause they couldn't say the same... Maybe?
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    have you followed up on likethelanguage's life lately? more details to come.
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    Yes I have and please feel free to discuss that in the discussion forums. I would like for comments on blog posts to at least try to remain on topic.

    Thank you.
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    Contratulations, Randy!
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    Thanks TA!
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    Rae the Real here.

    I have absolutely know idea who that cryptic imposter is up there, but it most definitely isn't me.

    So, back to business....
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    Rae That's weird. ::: keeping an eye out :::

    Anita You are too kind. The Lord has been very faithful and without Him I wouldn't be anywhere near the great life I live in today.

    Jesus is da' Man! :)
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    This is definately COOL!
    Cooler than cool!

    It will boost his book sales!

    You the man! The Lord has brought you many a good place!
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    I purchased the book yesterday and like any devoted fan =) I went straight to Chapter 21, Randy's Chapter. Colson entitled it "Morality and the Natural Order" and man does he ever deliever on the argument of natural order.

    He begins with a story about a 1950s malaria outbreak among Boreno's Dayak people. In response to this outbreak the World Health Organization (WHO), sprayed the people's thatch-roofed huts with DDT, which is a pesticide. The pesticide did its job in killing the mosquitoes but it went one step further and "killed a parasitic wasp that kept thatch-eating caterpillars under control." With the wasps gone and the caterpillars rampant the roofs of the people's houses caved in. This was the beginning of a devastating chain of events that the WHO could not have anticipated. Lizards gorged themselves on the dead mosquitoes, cats gorged themselves on the fattened lizards that had eaten the infected mosquitoes and the cats died. Then the rats ran wild threatening the people with the bubonic plague which, as Colson addresses, is much worse than the malaria they started off with. Just one example of what happens when you interfere with the natural order of life.

    Colson then parallels the natural order, which prompts our behavior, with the moral order. He states that moral order begins, "in a sense, with trying to understand that human behavior is first a response to the natural order." He also employs a definition of morality that I have never considerd. "Morality, remember, is choosing to cooperate with nature's directions." And so he moves into the subject of how our sexual lives should take their cues from the natural or moral order.

    Enter Randy: Center Stage

    Colson: "I've thought long and hard about choosing to tell the following story of a man beset by same-sex attraction - a man who in the midst of living the gay lifestyle came to see the inherently disordered nature of the condition and chose to recover. It's a difficult story to tell and one that contains so much brokenness that it may be challenging for some readers. :::this is where I grabbed the nearest box of tissues, for if it would be challenging to "some readers" it would be heart wrenching for me, for I have certainly risen about the title of "some readers" simply by knowing this man::: I've decided it's an important story to tell however, precisely because this is the place where our culture's blindness to the natural order has become the most willful. It's not a story you'll find being told in today's mass media. To the media, people like Randy Thomas do not exist - or shouldn't. But they do. Thousands of them. And if the placards our culture is plastering in our minds are to change and if the lies are to lose their power over us, then I must tell this story."

    And what a story it is...Such a story that I cannot even begin to retell, for it is not mine to share (You'll just have to get the book!) and Colson did a much better job than I ever could.

    Enter Christ: Center Stage, in His arms He carries Randy

    I shared with Randy in an e-mail yesterday that as he has shared pieces of his story with me I have remained in awe of our God. I believe others remain in awe of our God through his story as well. This chapter is not about Randy and I think he would want me to state that for the record. As a godly man, Randy treasures his humility, because true intimacy with Christ breeds true humility (thank you Beth Moore). He also holds fast to the knowledge that without Christ he would not be living the glorious life of freedom he is living.

    At this point several scriptures come to mind...

    Ecclesiastes 8:1 "Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance."

    This is what the Lord has done for Randy because as I read his story I did not recognize the man that Colson was referring to. He is so different from the Randy I know.

    2 Corinthians 3:7-18 "7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, THERE IS FREEDOM (emphasis added). 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

    God Almighty, in all His glory, placed Randy "in a cleft in the rock", covered him with His hand and has "passed by" him (Ex. 33:18-23). And because of that Randy bears the radiance of Christ's Glory. His story shows that. As does every Christian's story.

    While I was at the bookstore yesterday I picked up a CD that was on sale by a new artist, Andy Chrisman. The last song on the CD is entitled Love Remains and the lyrics are so fitting...
    Randy, I hope this touches your heart.
    Note: I added the stuff in the parenthesis =).

    "With all the changes in my world
    You're still the same
    When all my hope has gone away
    I still see you everywhere around me
    In every way I've found, You still remain

    All the words that I could say
    They're not enough to tell You just how much I love
    How I see you in everything around me
    In every way I've found, You're love remains

    You have been my Abba Father (before I knew what Abba meant)
    When You've held me in your arms (as I cried out "Why?" on my bathroom floor)
    The touch of Your hand
    The smile on Your face (as you smile over my bravery in sharing my story)
    Always lets me know everything's okay

    So I will never let one moment go by
    That I forget Your gift of grace
    Or share the love you've given in abundance
    And pour it out 'till nothing remains

    The day will come when I will take a final breath
    And leave behind all that I've known
    When all that's left are memories of a lifetime
    And pictures of a love that will remain

    You hve been my Abba Father
    When You've held me in your arms
    The touch of your hand
    The smile on your face
    Always lets me know everything's okay

    When there's nothing left to say, no more to do
    The hands of time have lost their way
    I will find my Destiny inside You
    Forever in a love that will remain."

    So...I know I have been long winded and if you have made it with me this far, I thank you for sticking with me.
    I'll close with this... I am fully aware that there are those of you who frequent Randy's blog who are not going to agree with anything I have said. That is okay! And if by some chance I acquire some fans from the NNFC for my promotion of this book and my support of Randy, that's okay too!

    Be blessed!

    For His Glory in ALL things,
    Kathryn
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    Wow. That is an amazing review of the chapter. I am all not knowing how to respond ... except with appreciation and gratitude. Thanks Kat.
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    It was my pleasure...and again, just calling it like I see it.
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    You know, we're all broken vessels, healed and made whole by His hand, His life, His mercy, His grace. Thank you, for daring to be real, to be vulnerable, to be meek . . . and in so doing, He shines.
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    Thanks Editorgal. :) God is very good.
 

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