THOMAS, Gary 1961-
(Gary L. Thomas, Gary Lee Thomas)

PERSONAL:

Born October 24, 1961, in Olympia, WA; son of Ether J. (an engineer) and Geneva Nancy (a homemaker) Thomas; married June 3, 1984; wife's name Lisa R.; children: Allison, Graham, Kelsey. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Western Washington University, B.A. (cum laude), 1984; Regent College, M.C.S., 1988. Religion: Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: Running marathons.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Bellingham, WA. Office—P.O. Box 29417, Bellingham, WA 98228-1417; fax: 360-647-1364. E-mail—glt3@aol.com.

CAREER:

INN Campus Ministries, Bellingham, WA, associate director, 1987-88; Care Net, Sterling, VA, director of public education, 1989-95; writer and public speaker, 1995—.

MEMBER:

Authors Guild.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Gold Medallion, CBA, 2003, for Authentic Faith; honorary D.Div., Western Seminary.

WRITINGS:

Seeking the Face of God: Strengthen Your Walk with God by Exploring the Faith of Our Spiritual Ancestors, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1994.

Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul's Path to God, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1996.

(With Duane Miller) Out of the Silence: A Personal Testimony of God's Healing Power, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1997.

(With Norma McCorvey) Won by Love: Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe of "Roe v. Wade," Speaks Out for the Unborn As She Shares Her New Conviction for Life, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1998.

(With John Ashcroft) Lessons from a Father to a Son, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1998, published as On My Honor: The Beliefs That Shape My Life, 2001.

The Glorious Pursuit: Embracing the Virtues of Christ, NavPress (Colorado Springs, CO), 1998.

Sacred Marriage: Celebrating Marriage As a Spiritual Discipline, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000, also published as Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?, 2002.

(With Michael W. Smith) This Is Your Time: Make Every Moment Count, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2000.

(With Michael W. Smith) I Will Be Your Friend: The Value of Friendship for a Lifetime, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2001.

Contributor of dozens of articles to periodicals, including Marriage Partnership, Northwest Runner, Homelife, Men of Integrity, Life in the Spirit, Knowing and Doing, Pastoral Integrity, Psychology for Living, Moody, and Discipleship Journal.

UNDER NAME GARY L. THOMAS

Jeff Gordon: An Unauthorized Biography, Renaissance Books (Los Angeles, CA), 1999.

Authentic Faith: The Power of a Fire-Tested Life; What If Life Isn't Meant to Be Perfect but We Are Meant to Trust the One Who Is?, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2002.

Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2004.

Not the End, but the Road: The Journey toward a Virtuous Life, NavPress (Colorado Springs, CO), 2004.

Devotions for Sacred Parenting: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Parents, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2005.

Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2005.

Sacred Influence: What a Man Needs from His Wife to Be the Husband She Wants, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Gary Thomas told CA: "My primary motivation for writing may sound like a cliché, but for me it really is to glorify God and build up his church. I ask two questions of every book and article that I write. The first questions is 'Is this true?' not 'Will it sell?' 'Is it original?' 'Can I market this?' The second question I ask is 'How will this glorify God?'

"What particularly influences my work are the great classics, first and foremost—beginning with the Bible, of course, but stretching out to include writers from various Christian traditions. I trust most those books that have been read over the centuries. They help to take off my cultural blinders, and they stimulate my own thinking more than anything else.

"I read a lot of history and novels for fun, but when it comes to stimulating my thinking, in addition to the classics I've greatly enjoyed Elton Trueblood, C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Susan Howatch.

"Before I begin writing a book, I'll have made notes on it, often for several years. As I read magazines, newspapers, and other books, I'll note relevant stories, facts, and anecdotes and then drop them into a file so that, when I start to write, I have a lot of material to begin with.

"My favorite time to write is early in the morning, when I first wake up. That's when the thoughts are freshest and my energy level is highest. I do a lot of rewriting—before anyone sees it, the manuscript usually goes through at least half a dozen rewrites. Then I usually send the book out to seven or eight readers, who provide their comments. This results in another rewrite. Next, I'll send the book to my acquisitions editor, and then rewrite again to incorporate his comments.

"What inspired me to write on the subjects I have chosen? The perspective I like best actually comes from recording artist Bono, who said, 'The music has to come out of a life. If there's no life, there's no music.' What is true for Bono's albums is true for my books. The books are journeys that God has taken me through, which I re-live as I write them for fellow pilgrims along the way."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Publishers Weekly, February 14, 2000, review of Sacred Marriage: Celebrating Marriage As a Spiritual Discipline, p. 194.

ONLINE

Center for Evangelical Spirituality,http://www.garythomas.com (December 13, 2005).