Randy has a message to share on his
journey
Straight From the Wilderness.
Randy traveled throughout the US for almost twenty years as a successful speaker, trainer, author and consultant. Then, late in his career, and as he entered semi-retirement, a cascade of events, including two life-threatening illnesses, a divorce, and a relatively short but eventful bout with active alcoholism, caused people who knew him to ask the question: How does a man who has enjoyed an above-average career, working in honorable roles; who had a beautiful wife and a wonderful son and daughter-in-law; who lived in a spacious home on thirteen wooded acres, then find himself divorced, living in a travel trailer on the Texas coast, perpetually drunk, and physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually wrecked? Randy now says that "wrecked" was exactly where and how God wanted him.
Today, Randy shares insight he gained during his sojourn in the wilderness, and he describes for audiences how God can retrieve us, "straight from the wilderness." But his message isn't about getting sober. Instead, it's about discovering a relationship with Christ that extends well beyond the "911 Jesus" we call on in a crisis or time of need. And it's about how that relationship can reshape a future in ways we never dreamed possible.
As Randy faced his own mortality for the third time in his life, he found life-saving hope in a Savior he had known since the age of fifteen. Randy now admits that, for fifty years, his walk with Christ had varied between being in close step to being on the far side of the road, his spiritual blinders on and his fingers jammed firmly into his spiritual ears.
But a new relationship was established as he lay in a hospital bed in Corpus Christi, Texas, just before Christmas in 2021. A staph infection in his lungs and bloodstream was defying the treatment team's efforts. Their concern was for the development of sepsis, which is what killed his father. Randy now jokes that they were concerned he was going to die, and he was a bit concerned that he wouldn't. That flippant, cavalier mindset would melt away in short order.
"I didn't know Christ the way I came to know Him in the weeks and months following that series of events," Randy says. "I was praying to God to remove the pain, resentments, hardships, hopelessness, and despair I was feeling. Instead, I was being taught to prayerfully face all that negativity with the assurance that God was working His plan, and I needed to be patient, stay close to Him, stay in His Word, and let Him do what only He could do. My disobedience led me into a wilderness. God led me out of that wilderness. Straight. That journey continues today."
Quite a bit, actually. He'll explain.
Randy's one-hour presentation is ideal for regular services, evening services, special events, and other gatherings. His presentations are fast-moving, informative, scripture-based, and always laced with Randy's unique, appropriate humor. Randy is happy to field questions following his presentation, and will work with worship leaders to coordinate prayer times and altar calls.
As an experienced keynote speaker, Randy works with organizational leaders to craft a presentation that coincides with event themes, conference subject matter, learning objectives, and other facets of the event. Randy has also served as a master of ceremonies and knows how to keep audiences engaged and programs moving forward.
As with other events, Randy will work with coordinators to customize a presentation that fits the theme or overall objectives of the event. Randy has a special appreciation for events in which men come together in their efforts to sharpen one another (Proverbs 27:17), or to lead non-believes to salvation through Christ. He welcomes the opportunities to be a part of your effort.
First, thank you for dropping by my temporary website. The new website is under construction, and will allow me to share more information, media, resources, and materials. I'm glad you're here!
In the weeks and months after God grabbed hold of me and shook me in December of '21, I was struck with the notion of writing another book. This time, I prayed about and explored the concept of the "late-bloomer" alcoholic. The term refers to those, like me, who's addiction to alcohol didn't come about until late in life. My plan was to incorporate my experiences and the scriptural support necessary to convey a message of hope and direction, as well as a cautionary message about staying out of that "wilderness." As I sketched out the framework, God had a different take on the notion. It needed to be about how He loves us so much that He will allow us to be deposited in a wilderness for His disciplinary purposes. The manuscript began to take shape at a significant pace.
A little back story
About a week before Christmas in 2017 (notice the recurring theme here?), I suffered what's referred to as a Stanford Type A aortic dissection. In lay terms, the largest vessel in my body ripped open, and not just a little bit. I discuss this event in my messages since God was working miracle after miracle throughout the ordeal. This type of event proves fatal for a large percentage of people.
During a neurological follow-up exam, a CT scan of my brain showed that I had experienced three strokes during the ordeal. This seemed to have have effected my short-term memory more than anything else.
IN 2022, I was diagnosed with dementia, and in the summer of 2023, as the manifestations increased, a follow-up neuro-psych evaluation narrowed the diagnosis to "vascular dementia." Although they ruled out Alzheimer's disease, it is nonetheless progressive, though I thank God every day that it is not progressing at a rapid rate.
My work on the manuscript had slowed considerably due to my inability to focus on writing, and I was having some word-finding difficulties as well.
So, not wanting to abandon the effort to share what God is capable of doing in the life of a wandering, selfish, unhealthy, undisciplined drunk, I decided that if I couldn't write it, I would simply tell it. In essence, my messages are the spoken CiffsNotes® version of the manuscript, and I welcome the opportunities to share them with you.
My intentions in this endeavor are not to become the next "big-deal" Christian speaker. But, given the nature of my diagnosis, the time I have remaining to be cognitively healthy is limited. I don't dread this for me, as I am confident and secure in the fact that God has this. Obviously, I would have preferred that I not become a burden for my son and daughter-in-law. But I thank God for the opportunity to, as the song says, live like I was dying. Granted, I'm not dying, per se, and I don't see me bull riding or Rocky Mountain climbing. But skydiving was already on my bucket list, so I went ahead and took the plunge (pun intended).
While I still have the time and the cognitive wherewithal to share the Gospel via my testimony and presentations, I want to publicly give God the glory for the amazing and miraculous things He's done in my life.
I don't require the fees I was capable of collecting when I was a big-deal trainer/speaker. Generally, I'd like to recoup any travel expenses, but I'm working on a "sliding scale," and I'll allow my hosts to suggest a fee that works for their church or organization. The old-fashioned "love offering" will work, too.
I look forward to serving Him in serving you!
"And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."
Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Psalm 118:17 ESV
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