ann kiemel

chuck colson died over the week-end.

he was in president nixon's inner circle,

and went to prison for several years.

he found Jesus, and started what is, today, a

giant ministry in prisons.

 

will and i named our 3rd-born son 'colson'

after this great  an.  chuck wrote to colson multiple times,

and we discovered that we each had been named

for two daughters in an alabama family.  four children

who are accomplished violinists.  kiemel and kolson.

first names.  chuck and i loved that.

 

in a blink, Jesus called.

and chuck stepped from earth right into Heaven.

as if he was taking a walk in the park. 

or was asleep, and awakened in the arms of God.

he doesn't have to shave anymore.  or take vitamins.

or attend dinners that he wished he could just stay

home instead.  God gave chuck a window of HOW fallen

the world  is.  he lived in the cesspool of hollow and

evil and dark the world really is.  and Jesus knew He

could count on chuck to change his world when he

was released.  and change the world he did!! 

 

years ago,

he would ask me to speak at different

prisons.  that experience of time and time again,

standing and looking into all the faces that Jesus

truly loved and gave His life for are moments i'll

always treasure.    i was much younger, and the all-male

prisoners would start trying to distract me because

they didn't see women very often.  but my message

was pure.   i knew God's love was real; His salvation

able to cleanse  any and all.  i didn't smile.  i was

simple..  one woman with a giant God and the BLood

of Jesus that can deliver ANY and all.  and each time,

Jesus would quietly slip into the large rooms.  and it was

as if i could physically see Him touching one...and another...

and another.

 

of all the Christian leaders in the world, there was

NONE who encouraged me more.  who was ALWAYS

a faithful friend..  and utterly believed in me.  always.

and when he spoke publicly, i was spell-bound.  a servant

after God's own heart.  chuck colson....i am REALLY going to

miss you.  and i know that the millions you have impacted

will continue with his message and love.

  

redeem.