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The 700 Club - August 30, 2011

Dayna Lovelady made some dangerous decisions to feed her addictions including stripping and prostitution, and author David Cook shares about his book that inspired the new Robert Duvall movie, Seven Days in Utopia.

Transcript

Back from the battlefield, America's vets embark on their next challenge. Show them that they have abilities to live life, not look at the disability. To the summit of a mountain and the adventure of their lives. When you see guys with one leg stomping to the top, it really is humbling. Well, welcome to this edition of The 700 Club. For those of us used to hurricanes, the recent hurricane seemed like a non event. But that wasn't true in Vermont. The death toll and the floodwaters are still rising in the aftermath of that hurricane. At least 40 people now are dead. And more than a dozen towns in Vermont and New York are underwater with severe damages from the Carolinas to New England. Insurers are estimating up to 10 billion dollars in losses. Dale Hurd has the story. For all of the talk that Hurricane Irene was weaker than expected, she has brought a terrible toll to parts of the mid-Atlantic and New England. From New Jersey to Maine, massive flooding has cut off whole communities and washed away bridges. And in New Jersey, it's not over. We're still going to see some major flooding in some parts of the state over the next 24 hours, because in some places the waters are still rising. Folks in the South might be used to this kind of flooding from hurricanes, but it is unprecedented in Vermont. It was really scary, people coming in chest deep in water. At least three of Vermont's treasured, covered bridges have been washed away. At least five million homes and businesses are without power, some until next week. Parts of Vermont received a month of rain in one day. At New Hampshire's Plymouth State University, this is the football field. This is your ice skating rink on the right. This is all parking right here, all the way over to that building that's submerged. And while New York City dodged a direct hit, upstate New York got walloped. Flashfloods swept through this small town. Make sure nobody is in the water. We were watching dumpsters, refrigerators, big huge propane tanks shooting off propane. In Windham, New York, more than 2,000 were trapped as the waters rose. In Manchester, New Hampshire, this dad and his two daughters were found clinging to buoys to avoid plunging down deadly waterfalls. Irene also hammered farmers in North Carolina already suffering from a drought. The storm left behind hundreds of millions of dollars in crop damage, weakening the state's economy. The storm also hurt retailers and auto businesses in the east by keeping people home instead of out shopping. And news that the government's main disaster aid account is running dry as the Obama Administration confronts damages from yet another natural disaster. Dale Hurd, CBN News. Well, we need the blessing of the Lord. And we need to do what we can to help those people, because you figure Vermont, well, it's way up, and it's high. There are mountains. A flood is not going to hurt them. Well, surprise. It's been the storm of the century, they say, 100 years. Well, folks, Operation Blessing is speeding up the recovery for victims of Hurricane Irene. Relief workers received some unexpected assistance Monday. Regent University classes were closed, and some students decided to help out with Operation Blessing. Efrem Graham has that story. A chainsaw's buzz is answered prayer for 75-year-old Rosetta Johnson. The tree was over top the house. But when God got ready for it, He busted that tree right open and put it into an L. Hurricane Irene's winds split this massive tree in her backyard, and she had no idea how she was going to move it until Operation Blessing rolled in. God blessed me. He answered my prayer. I will tell anybody, "God will answer your prayer," and I know that," she said. It would have cost her at least 1,000 dollars to get the tree moved, even with insurance. The resources that Operation Blessing offers for free is so substantial and helps people in such a big way. So while you're looking at chainsaws, going, "Well, is that really substantial?" Yes, it's substantial if people have to take that out of their bank account. Virginia Beach is home base for Operation Blessing, so its staff didn't have to travel very far to answer the calls from people needing help after Irene. They also didn't have to look far from home to find volunteers willing to help. Hurricane Irene forced Regent University to close its doors for an extended weekend. And students like Timothy Chaisson decided to use his time to help people in need. The first year law student has firsthand hurricane experience. I've been through storms myself in Florida, been through Ivan. I helped out with Katrina in New Orleans. I know what it's like to have tree damage, to have flooding damage, to have all that. And I figured that there are people that needed help. And it doesn't take experience to have a heart to serve. Andreas Bienert is an international student. I'm from Austria. I am here as an international student. We don't have hurricanes or other natural disasters where I am from. I am blessed because I had no damage. And it's a blessing to serve others who have damage and just help them out and make the best out of it. And while these students helped chop a massive tree down to size, others fed people in need at a church pantry across town. And I just think it is pretty awesome that Regent University students, instead of sleeping in or vegging out or going to the beach, they decided to come out and help people, starting at eight o'clock this morning. And so they are giving back to their community. And I think it says a lot about the heart of the students and the heart of the school. It's an unforgettable gift for Rosetta Johnson, who has now survived Hurricane Irene and the storm that killed her dad in 1942, when she was only six. I had a big knot here. My father died. My uncle got hurt real bad, and his sister, she was shook up. My brother didn't get a scratch. He was on a pillow, and he went down the road on a pillow, had the pillow in his hand. I know God is good. And He is at work here in Rosetta's back yard. Efrem Graham, CBN News, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Well, working for you, ladies and gentlemen. That's what your contributions do. They help people like that lady. She had no hope. What would happen? Her house is all ruined, trees falling down, and suddenly a crew shows up and does it all for free. Now, if you want to help, the disaster still goes on in upstate New York, Vermont, and other places. And there's another hurricane forming out in the Atlantic Ocean. Disaster Relief Fund, CBN Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23463. Write a generous check, because these disasters keep on coming. It's a shame, but they do. Well, Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. Yes, you're right, Pat. We hate to be the bearer of bad tidings here, but weather experts do say that a new hurricane could form in the Atlantic by Wednesday or Thursday. Tropical Storm Katia, as they're naming it, is still far out at sea. Right now it only has sustained winds of 40 miles an hour, and it's too early to tell if it will approach the U.S. Hurricanes make headlines, but a weather story in the southwest has largely been ignored, and it could have a far greater impact than Hurricane Irene. We're talking about the drought in Texas. Some parts of the Lone Star state have not seen rain since last fall. The soil, as you can see, is parched and cracked, and crops are failing. The lack of water has kept farmers from growing hay, and the hay shortage is forcing them to sell off much of their livestock. It's just tough. It's financial and it's emotional at the same time. We've probably got half a million to three-quarters of a million dollar impact of loss of sales. This goes right down the food chain into the grocery store, and to the people in Houston that live in the condos. The agriculture industry makes up almost nine percent of the Texas economy. the drought has cost five billion dollars there, and experts say it will take years for farmers to recover. It is the worst drought in that region for a single year. Pat. Well, I think it's also going to be the worst heat wave in Dallas and Houston. I talked to a friend yesterday in Houston. He said they came out of a church and just this blast of hot air on Sunday hit him. It was just so terrible. It's been running 105, 106, 107 degrees in Dallas and Houston day after day after day. I think they're setting records. A few more days of over 100 degree temperatures, and it will set an all time record. So not only is there drought, but they're sweltering down there, and they can thank God for air conditioning. If air conditioning ever went out, those big cities in Texas would be in a heap of hurt. Lee. Turning overseas, Pat, Libyan rebels are trying to capture Moammar Gadhafi before he's able to mount revenge for their overthrow. Gadhafi's wife and children fled to Algeria Monday, we're told. But the Obama Administration says there is no indication that Gadhafi has left Libya. NATO military advisers are on the ground in Libya. They're using electronic intelligence to aid the rebels in their search. A Libyan businessman has reportedly offered a two million dollar reward for Gadhafi. For years, cholesterol numbers have been used to determine a person's risk for heart disease. Doctors typically say the lower the number for bad cholesterol, the lower the risk. But as Heather Sells reports, a recent study suggests otherwise. On paper, she was healthy. Carmela McMullen was active and a former division one athlete. Her cholesterol number was below 200, a healthy number. But at the age of 40, Carmela had a heart attack. I was having some slight symptoms, and I didn't even recognize what that was about. People with a lower cholesterol level have a lower risk of heart disease, but it's not zero. Everybody has cholesterol. It lines every cell in the body. Cholesterol numbers measure the cholesterol in your blood, but not the bad cholesterol that can be building up plaque in your arteries. Studies show that 50 percent of people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels. But even good cholesterol doesn't prevent plaque buildup. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and obesity all play a role. Doctors suggest that people start making changes to help their heart, not to lower cholesterol. I've changed a lot of things in my life. Yes. It's a new me. I feel great, actually. Yes. A CT scan shows if plaque is building up around your heart, and calcium tests are proving accurate when it comes to determining a person's risk for having a heart attack. Heather Sells, CBN News. And, Pat, the amazing thing about Carmela McMullen, featured in Heather's story there, she's physically fit, not overweight but still had a heart attack. Remember that book by a guy named Jim Fixx. It was called Running. It was one of the popular bestsellers, and everybody was running. Fixx was 46 or 47 years old. He died of a heart attack. While running. Wasn't he running at the time? Yes. It was genetic. And he was running, good grief, 10 miles a day, that kind of thing, and more. He ran marathons, 26 miles. But it didn't matter. He had predisposition for this. Yesterday, I had a little home remedy, which I shared with you, delicious dark chocolate. It's one of your tastier home remedies, I'd say. Thank you very much. Today I've got one that's even tastier. My dog Blue loves it. It's fish oil. Tasty? Well, they're in the little tablets. You don't taste them. I know. Well, yes, sometimes. I wouldn't drink it by the spoonful, but anyhow, fish oil is extraordinarily good for lowering cholesterol. It is good for you. I do not like the statin drugs. Doctors all prescribe Lipitor like crazy, but it leads to untoward consequences, and a lot of people have aches and pains and suffering from Lipitor. A doctor prescribed one of those other statins for me, and I wouldn't take the stinking thing. I just wasn't going to do it. Wouldn't you like to be his doctor? I did it naturally, and my cholesterol came right on down. Fish oil, chocolate. Well, natural is always better. If it works, it's always better. Whole grains, fruit, like berries and things like that. Do it naturally. And Lipitor, man, it's been a moneymaker for the drug companies. The side effects of so many of those things are really worse than the malady. They're really bad. They hurt your liver and so forth. So you need cholesterol in your brain. You have to have it. So it's just a question of—well, anyhow, so much . . . . So what time is breakfast tomorrow? I have the most delicious breakfast. I eat almonds. I eat walnuts. I eat pecans. I sometimes eat peanuts. Then I eat blueberries, raspberries, other kinds of berries, all mixed up together. It all sounds good. Skim milk. And now I also eat oat bran and oatmeal all together. Wonderful. And when you get through that, you're not hungry the rest of the day. No wonder he's so pleasant. Oh, it's so wonderful. That's why I'm so pleasant. I'm going for 100, honey. Yes, there you go. I'm going for 100. All right, 19 more years to go. All right. Well, up next, wounded warriors take on a new challenge. When you see guys with one leg stomping to the top, it really is humbling. Since raising that bar again, to show them that they have abilities to live life and not look at the disability. Watch these American heroes make it to the mountain top, when we come back. And then we're going to bring it online with your questions for Pat. Just log on to CBN.com. Coming up later . . . . . . . . she was a college girl by day and a stripper by night . . . . The very first night I danced, I made about 1,500 dollars. . . . . until a stranger confronted her . . . . As he came into the very dark club, the light stayed with him. . . . . and then vanished. He looked at me, and he said, "You're not supposed to be here." Tomorrow . . . . I got this criminal thing wrong. . . . . locked up in Leavenworth . . . . I've got to deal with the craziness. I've got to deal with the bars closing. . . . . a smalltime thief tries to make his escape . . . . I was really tired of it. . . . . the only way he knows how. Make it into a makeshift noose and prepare for my last night on earth. Tomorrow, on The 700 Club. Our troops have suffered so much. They talk about the cost of freedom, and I tell you, some of these wars, you wonder; the politicians put our brave men and women in harm's way, and they come out scarred, losing limbs. The physical and mental scars can last a lifetime. But one group of veterans is treating those scars in an unusual way by pushing themselves to the limit. Lee Webb brings us this remarkable story of wounded warriors from Mount Rainier. They put their lives on the line for our safety and freedom. Military men and women make a tremendous sacrifice on the battlefield, and many return home wounded and broken. More than two million disabled veterans live in the U.S., and that number grows every day. It started off like any normal day. I was with a recon platoon. Derrick Ford served with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan where an IED changed his life forever. The entire floor of the Stryker had bubbled up from just the energy and heat that tried to penetrate through. Derrick lost his leg in the explosion. An injury like this can be debilitating, but not for this soldier. He's focused on proving it's only a wound and not a disability. That's why Derrick pushed himself to the extreme. I've jumped out of perfectly good airplanes. I've scuba dove in the Caribbean. The next on the list is climb a mountain. Mount Rainier or as the folks around here simply call it, "the mountain," provides one of the most challenging mountaineering adventures anywhere in the U.S. About 13,000 people attempt to climb it each year. Only about half that many make it, and on average about two or three die trying to make it to the summit. It is a challenge even for the most able bodied climber. Derrick, Here you go. Two other vets joined Derrick in taking on this active volcano including another amputee. Camp Patriot organizes the climb. The group specializes in taking disabled veterans on outdoor adventures. That's the beauty of Camp Patriot. You get them out trying something new, or doing something they used to do, not knowing if they can actually do it. Micah Clark founded Camp Patriot. He's a veteran himself who is strong, Christian faith gives him a heart to help heal returning vets. Hopefully show them through our love and compassion that, one, we're Christians; two, we are patriotic Americans, and that somebody loves them and that's the base to start from, and then you can open the door to possibly witness to them. And God we lift up Eric, and Derrick, and Mag to you, Lord, and just ask you to surround them with your Angels and protect them as they climb this mountain. The trek up the mountain is grueling. Custom-made prosthetic limbs help the men gripped the snow-covered terrain. You don't carry them to the top of the mountain. They've got to do it under their own steam. It's raising that bar again, showing them they have abilities to live life and not look at the disability. A support team that includes active duty Rangers and Green Berets is on hand to help with the climb. Others are volunteers who just want to say, "Thank you." I believe it's my responsibility to do it, that I am my brother's keeper, that when guys come back wounded, it's not the governments job to find them and to assist them. I think every Christian has a responsibility to be our brother's keeper. Retired Green Beret Gil Magallanes is one of the disabled vets making the climb. He says these extreme adventures help overcome the mental wounds of war. One of the biggest factors keeping me from becoming a couch potato, depression, PTSD, I've got to keep challenging myself. In this loose snow, you quickly realize it's best to find someone else's footprint and literally follow in their steps. We're a little over an hour into the climb, and even though this is a fairly steep ascent here in loose snow, this is the easy part we're told. The summit attempt is the most demanding section of the climb. The men must wear ropes and harnesses. Facing below freezing temperatures, the team navigates steep volcanic ridges, crosses over moving glaciers, all while fighting the high altitude for every breath of the thin air. The team eventually makes it to the top, 14,411 feet to the summit of Mount Rainier. These wounded American heroes beat the odds, reigniting their fighter instincts and proving to themselves that anything is possible. When you see guys with one leg stomping to the top, and then you think about can't do in life, and you see that, it is really humbling. And that's what allows them to earn back that which was taken from them on the day that that bomb exploded, or they got shot. I'm really glad that I'm out here, and I'm really glad I got to meet the guys that I've met. I'm definitely hoping to build and sustain some relationships with these guys. Relationships Camp Patriot uses to heal the wounds of war while showing these American heroes the love of Christ. Lee Webb, CBN News, Mount Rainier, Washington. It's beautiful. Just think of those guys. I understand, Lee, he's probably not online right now, but he got halfway up. He's got both legs, but he wasn't trained for it. You have to train for that. It is tough. Oh, man! Just the oxygen issues are difficult. Brave, brave men. God bless them! Ladies and gentlemen, whatever your disability, ignore it, I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me. Terry. Well, up next, a college girl moonlighting as a stripper, and more. I found out that if you had sex, you would make more money. I wasn't like a typical street walker. I was a college girl doing this and had a pretty high GPA, had a scholarship, was a classically trained musician. Watch what happens when her two worlds collide, after this. Wow! College is supposed to be a happy time. Unfortunately there's an awful lot of sex, and an awful lot of drinking, and an awful lot assault on faith. But Dayna was a typical college student. She just partied with her friends at first. Nobody forced Dayna into the sex trade, but when she needed money to pay her college bills, Dayna signed up with her eyes wide open. Dayna Lovelady grew up in Detroit's inner city. The violence of the neighborhood streets often hit home. As a child growing up in Detroit, there were a lot of difficulties. I also had a lot of family members who were addicts, from alcoholics to people who were on drugs. I saw that as the norm. Dayna search for an escape from the chaos around her. She found it in school. She was a straight "A" student and a classically trained musician. But Dayna lived a double life. My other escape was the alcohol, and sex, and partying, and I was very young when I started the process. Also I didn't grow up in the church constantly. To me God was very far away. God was not personal. He was a God that set up high and looked down low, but he wasn't a God that was going to sit down low with me. When she finished high school, Dayna earned a music scholarship to Tennessee State University. But when the semester started, Dayna found it difficult to pay for her living expenses. She decided to take a friend's suggestion and work in the modeling industry. I talked to a friend of mine who told me about a guy who had a dance company if I wanted to make more money. And I found out that it wasn't modern dance. It wasn't Tap dance. It was actually exotic dancing. But I said, well, I do need the money, and so I decided to go ahead and do it. The very first night I danced, I made about $1500 dollars, and to be very young and make that amount of money in just a couple of hours was pretty interesting. After a short time as a stripper, Dayna was drawn deeper into the sex industry. So I found out if you had sex, you would make more money. So I started having sex for money as well, and I wasn't like a typical streetwalker. I was a college girl doing this and had a pretty high GPA, had a scholarship, was a classically trained musician. So I had really two sides to me. By her second year in college, Dayna was tired of the sex industry but couldn't see a way out. I saw a lot of broken people. I saw a lot of women who really didn't see any other way out. There were many cases where people would say to me, "You just don't belong here." And I felt also that I didn't belong for a long period of time, but they would say, "Even now you just seem different." Also there was one specific instance that I remember very vividly. There was a man that came into the club, and I remembered the light that seemed to be around him on the outside. As he came into the very dark club, the light stayed with him. And he walked directly up to me, and he looked at me and he said, "You're not supposed to be here," and he walked back out. Several months after her encounter, Dayna quit dancing and never returned to the industry. But unfortunately more trials were ahead. Dayna was diagnosed with severe cervical disease. During that time I was going through sicknesses as well and was in and out of the hospital, and going back and forth to the emergency rooms and surgeries, and as I started thinking more about the possibility of death, I really started to evaluate my life and the things that I was going through. Also my hair started to fall out. But I started to look at myself differently. In desperation Dayna found a childhood Bible she had hardly ever read. I came across the Scripture that said that our beauty shouldn't come from the outward adornment such as braided hair, fancy jewelry, and all the clothes, but it should come from the inner and quiet spirit that God doesn't despise. So, during that time I started to realize that it wasn't about how my hair looked. It wasn't about the jewelry that I wore, but it was about the inner spirit of what God was seeing. I do remember just sitting there with the Bible and saying, "I want Jesus to be real to me. I want to know about this Jesus that the Bible is talking about." I just remembered from that time it didn't mean that problems all went away, but I had a new sense of hope. I had a sense of, "I'm not living just to please people. I'm not living just to make money. I'm not living just to get a degree. I'm living with something that's more meaningful." I knew that there was a new story starting to be written by God in my life. After she graduated in the spring of 2005, Dayna went to work at one of CBN's prayer centers and was completely healed of her illness! She's also a freelance writer and has earned her Master's degree. Today she shares her story at every opportunity. Jesus is my everything. He is my friend. He is my Counselor. He is my Savior. He is my Guide. The fact that Jesus died for me, this is all very personal to me that He would do something like that for somebody like me, somebody who was a prostitute, somebody who was a stripper. I would say to any person that is in a predicament like I was in that Jesus died for your sins as well. He can do the same things for them no matter what their sin is, no matter what the mistakes have been, that God still loves them and that He can clean their slate. He can give them a brand-new beginning. You know, as you look in the Bible, you find one of the people who was the closest to Jesus actually had the thrill of seeing Him right after the resurrection. Mary Magdalene goes down in history. He cast seven demons out of her. It's thought that she was a prostitute. The Bible isn't terribly clear about it, but it's believed certainly that in legend, and in history, and tradition that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Of course, you go way back in the bloodline of Jesus, and you find Rahab in the city of Jericho who was a prostitute, who lived in a house that she led the Israeli spies, and she was one of the forebears in the line of Jesus Christ the Messiah. You see, the sin you've committed is not something that God turns His back on. Jesus is compassionate to those who have fallen. He understands your suffering. He understands what was happening with Dayna. He understood she made a mistake, but he sent a messenger to her. An Angel obviously came and said, "You don't belong here. Get out of this place. You don't belong here. This isn't where you're intended to be. " Those of you who have gone into some kind of sinful relationship, you say, "I can't go back, because I've sinned so badly." No you haven't. No you haven't. Jesus will reach out. Jesus will forgive you. Jesus will give you the fullness of the Spirit. He did it for Mary Magdalene. He certainly did it for Rahab, and He did it to Dayna, the fact that she was a prostitute, sold her body to men, danced in a semi-naked condition in front of men to earn money, enticed them sexually, did all that kind of stuff. But God forgave her and gave her a new life. Do you want a new life? What is that you've done? What is that you've done? You say, "He won't forgive me." Yes, He will. Yes, He will. If you just come to Him and ask Him and say, "Lord, I'm sorry. You know what I've done. Forgive me." You're not keeping anything from Him, so go ahead and tell Him anyhow. He knows exactly what you've done. He knows exactly what's in your heart. And right now He's speaking to you, and says, "I want to forgive you. I want to give you a brand-new start and a new life." If you want that, I'd like you to pray with me right now. Right now. Stop what you're doing, right now. This can be your moment when you meet Jesus, and He washes all your sin away. Pray these words with me. Will you do that? "Lord Jesus." Pray with me. "Lord Jesus, you've been with me. You've looked down from Heaven. You've seen the kind of life I've lived. You know exactly what's going on in my life. And, Jesus, at this moment I come to you, and I say, 'I want to live for you. I want you as my Savior. And right now Lord, I take you as Lord of my life. I take you as Savior from my sin. I take you as the one who will live with me forever. So right now Lord, I turn away from sin. I renounce the old life. I renounce satanic ways, and from this moment on I am yours. Thank you, Lord, that you've heard my prayer. Thank you that you come into my heart.'" And for those who prayed with me, I went to pray for you. "Father, let the power of the Holy Spirit come upon them now. Break the bonds of sin, and give them the fullness of your spirit. In Jesus' name, amen, and amen." If you prayed with me the Lord has done a miracle in your life. I want to help you now. You say, what's next? I have a little packet here. It's got a CD in it, and a book of Scriptures. It'll tell you precisely what that prayer means, and what will happen in your life, and if you sin, what happens, how the Lord forgives you. All this is in here, the fullness of the Spirit, how you can be baptized in the Spirit. It's all here. So, please call. Say, "I prayed with Pat. I gave my heart to the Lord." 1-800-759-0700. Somebody's at the phone right now waiting for your call, 1-800-759-0700, toll-free number, no financial obligation whatsoever. Please call right now. Phone counselors are waiting right by the telephone. Terry. Still ahead, he wrote a best-selling book that's become a major motion picture. The story starts with a failure, with a meltdown. Spend seven days in Utopia. You'll find your game. Author David Cook talks about Seven Days in Utopia, later on today's 700 Club. Hi, I'm Terry Meeuwsen. At CBN we're here to pray for you all year long, but each autumn the entire staff of CBN sets aside a special week of prayer to pray for your needs. We care about you and the things that are happening in your life. No matter how big or small your requests, we want to pray for you. Please mail your prayer requests today. It's our privilege to pray for you. Welcome to Washington for this CBN Newsbreak. A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new Alabama immigration law. Supporters and opponents say the law is the nation's toughest against illegal immigration. It would require schools to verify whether students are citizens among other standards. The judge said she needed more time to decide whether the law was constitutional, and she will rule on the issue by the end of September. A deadly strain of the bird flu virus may be on the rise again. The United Nations is warning of the possible resurgence of a strain called H5N1. A six-year-old Cambodian girl died from bird flu earlier this month. She's the eighth person to die from the H5N1. Health officials say this virus can sidestep the defenses of existing vaccines, and the UN Food and Agriculture organization says it is spreading in China and Vietnam. Problems with poultry farms may be to blame for the spread of the virus. Well, you can always get the latest from CBN News by going to our website at CBNNews.com. Pat and Terry will be back with more of The 700 Club right after this. Tomorrow . . . . I got this criminal thing wrong. . . . . locked up in Leavenworth. I've got to deal with craziness. I've got to deal with the bars closing. A smalltime thief tries to make his escape. I was really tired of it. The only way he knows how. Make it into a makeshift noose and prepare for my last night on earth. Tomorrow, on The 700 Club. Seven Days in Utopia is a new film starring Robert Duval and Lucas Black. It's a story of a young golfer; but as Tim Branson shows us, the movie is about much more than golf. Utopia is a peaceful out-of-the-way town in the west Texas Hill country. If you've never heard of Utopia, you're not alone. Three-hundred-seventy-three people. Three-hundred-seventy-five. Megan Munro had twins last week. The town is the setting for the new film Seven Days in Utopia. It's based on the best-selling novel, Golf's Sacred Journey, by noted performance coach Dr. David Cook. It stems from his 25+ years experience as a sports psychologist. The story starts with a failure, with a meltdown. This young man who is a aspiring mini-tour professional golfer in San Antonio, Texas, has the meltdown of the century. He just has to leave the scene of the accident. So he begins to drive out of the town, frustrated, upset, knowing he's going to be the butt end of a bunch of jokes for the rest of his life. That's when the golfer, played by Lucas Black, finds his way to Utopia. You hurt, son? I'll get over it. He meets a rancher named Johnny played by Robert Duvall. It turns out the old cowboy knows a thing or two about golf and offers a young man a challenge. Spend seven days in Utopia, you'll find your game. So, for the next week, Johnny uses some unconventional methods to teach him the essence of the game. Johnny understands the kid doesn't have a performance problem; he's got a heart problem. And Johnny uses all sorts of things around this little community of Utopia to draw the truths of the game out for him. We want you to know that Seven Days in Utopia, opens in theaters nationwide this Friday, September the 2nd, and if you'd like to read the book that the movie is based on, it's called, "Golf's Sacred Journey," by David Cook; and this is available where ever books are sold nationwide. Robert Duvall is great. Any time he's in any movie, he is just absolutely, unbelievable, and in this one . . . . Worth going to see. He's terrific. They showed us advance copies. I'm sorry we had a little technical glitch on the thing. I don't know what was happening. It's an interesting movie, and they have one of the well-known pros doing the golf scenes in it. So it's for real. I think you'll find it very interesting, especially if you like golf. But the whole thing, well, I won't spoil the movie. Don't tell. Don't tell the movie. All right. Well, still ahead, we'd like to take your questions from our chat room. Bob says, "Will we know each other in Heaven? If so, how can we face the ones we've hurt?" Well, we'll answer Bob's question and more on your e-mail later on today's show. Saw you on TV. Got to say, it was as painful to watch. Try living it. Spend seven days in Utopia. Wow! You'll find your game. First you have to see it, feel it, trust it. Reminds me of someone else I used to know. That, he does. Young I think spending time here might do you good. Sure is beautiful. I don't think that your coming here was an accident. Seven Days in Utopia. Rated G. It's our 50th Celebration, and you're invited. Free concerts all day long, plus family fun, studio tours and fireworks. Go to CBN.com/50 for details. Well, as you heard, we're having a party, and when we have them they're pretty good. We know how to do parties. Something for everybody. Well, Reinhard Bonnke is going to be preaching. We've got a group called Mercy Me, and another group called Diamond Rio, and we've got another one called Annie Moses Band, a lot of music . . . . . . . . antique cars, balloon rides, the whole schmear. It's going to be something for the whole family all day long, and culminating with Boom Boom Zambelli and one of the greatest fireworks displays you've ever seen. The whole thing is free! Of course it's free. It's free! It's free! It's like salvation; it's free folks! But it costs a lot to get it. So that's October 1st, right here at the CBN headquarters. Terry. Well, the daughter in our next story was abandoned by her father after he left her mother for another woman. This young girl was devastated until she found health and hope at a summer camp. For years, Xiao Ming walked around with her head down in shame and a deep sadness inside. My dad left my mother for another woman when I was 12 years old. He had a son with her, so he disowned us and took everything we had. Ming tried to find a job to help with the family finances, but no one would hire the young girl. She knew she had to drop out of school, because her mom could no longer afford to pay for her school fees. We barely had enough money for food and clothes. Then Operation Blessing came to Ming's class with a summer camp. One of the Operation Blessing counselors took a special interest in her. She was so loving, I felt I could trust her, so I told her about my father and how I was going to have to quit school. Operation Blessing offered to pay the few dollars a month it takes for Ming to stay in school and told her about someone who could change her life. She told me how Jesus died for my sins and that, even though my father left me, I could have a Heavenly Father would always be there for me. I had never heard about this God before. Ming prayed to become a Christian, and today is full of hope for the future. She is always smiling. I never thought there would be someone to care for us like Operation Blessing does. Ming is no longer the broken girl she used to be. Now she has friends, and a confidence she never had before. Thank you to Operation Blessing for everything. Without you I would not have this great life, and I never would have met my heavenly Father. Thank you so much. We were talking about reaching out to people right here at home when there is a disaster, but the truth is we're doing that for people all around the world every day. If you're a 700 Club member, you're the reason that's possible. If you're not a 700 Club member, we want to invite you to join with us, and today is a great day to do that. It's a commitment of 65 cents a day, $20 a month, and you can make it so simply happen by calling chef toll-free number that is on your screen. It's 1-800-759-0700. Just say, "I want to join the 700 Club." And you'll have the privilege of knowing that you are out to change your world with the love of God. So, please partner with the rest of us. Become part of the solution rather than the problem. Sometimes just sitting there and watching other people's need, or hearing about it is just so ineffective. So, we're really inviting you to become a world changer, to make a difference. Call now, 1-800-759-0700. And by the way, when you call, we want to send you this gift for caring about others. It's called, Life Beyond the Grave. These are real life accounts on DVD of people who have had death experiences. Some went to Heaven, some went to Hell, and then they returned to give their first-hand account of what they've experienced. You'll be impressed with what you see and hear on this DVD, and we want you to have this. So, please call now, 1-800-759-0700, and we thank you in advance for what you're doing. We're going to be back with your questions and more after this, so stay with us. We asked CBN.com users how we could make our website easier to use, and we listened. There's family. There's health. There's everything I'm interested in right here. The click of a mouse, and I'm there. The information opens up a whole lot quicker. Yeah, it's much faster. It really is. Check this out. Okay, so you can see all the different things that I have "done." Anyone can enjoy this site. It's very easy to find anything. The new CBN.com has been redesigned with you in mind, making it faster to find your favorite 700 Club stories, musical guests, or online community or special features. You can find what you're looking for, and then you can just go to it. It's really easy to read and move through. I will use this site as a whole lot more now. And it's really easy on the eyes, so you can spend a lot of time on it. This new Home Page is wonderful, so thank you. It's so easy to use. Oh, you're welcome. I did it myself! Well good, because I love the new look and feel of it! Visit the new CBN.com today. Well, we've asked you to submit your questions for Pat, and many of you have done that. We want to take some time to answer those questions right now. Pat, this first one is from Bob who asks, "Will we know each other in Heaven? If so, how can we face the ones we have hurt? I believe that God can forgive us. But, Aunt Nellie, not so much." If Aunt Nellie is in Heaven, she's going to be so thrilled to be there that she's going to forget anything that happened. All the bad stuff in her life is going to be eclipsed with the joy of Heaven. So don't worry about that. Now the question is getting Aunt Nellie there. You want to make sure she's there. Well, and if you've hurt Aunt Nellie, she might have a pleasant surprise seeing you there! We're not going to hold grudges. There will be no more tears, no more sorrow, no more dying. The former things are going to be passed away. All that's gone. Yes, you'll remember them but only with joy and love, not with recriminations. Why would anybody who is in the joy of Heaven—they're spiritual beings. They're like Jesus. Why would they hold a grudge from something that some slight somebody said, "Aunt Nellie you're too fat." I mean, why would she care? Really. I don't know, I might hold a grudge on that one, but . . . . Terry! Go on. Darla says, "I'm 72. I don't take meds, and I eat fruits and take vitamins and minerals. I exercise, and I'm in good health. But I want a healthy mind to go with a healthy body. What's best for that?" Okay . . . . You asked Darla; here it comes. All right, the biggest thing about healthy mind is to make sure you've got your arteries in your blood vessels open. So, if you don't have high blood pressure, that thing we were talking about, chocolate, and fish oil, good quality fish oil. But if you write something down phosphatidylserine complex. Wow, say that again slowly. P-H-O-S-P-H-A-T-I-D-Y-L, Phosphatidylserine, S-E-R-I-N-E, complex. The other thing is vinpocetine. But if you can remember Phosphatidylserine complex, it'll help your memory. And is that available over-the-counter? What is that? Is it just a tablet? Yes sure. A vitamin store. A vitamin store. Okay. Well Liz says, "I want to start a college savings fund for my grandson who's about to turn one. What are some good options for me? Well, you ought to open up a tax sheltered savings fund and then begin to put regular money in it. See if you can find things that pay interest, because you want to have a compounding effect. You just don't want the money to sit there, and so you want something that will grow. I'm a great fan of stocks. I don't know too much on bonds, but they are some stocks I've been pushing, and I'll continue to push. What do they call them? Master Limited Partnerships. They don't pay taxes, and therefore the money they pass out is taxable to the people who get it, but if you're in a tax sheltered account, it won't hurt you. Those things can pay dividends of 12 percent, 8 percent, 7 percent, and it goes all the way up. All right. Okay, this is Erin who says, "I've had a wonderful relationship with my girlfriend, but she and I have gone off to separate colleges. Can long distance relationships work?" Now, this is a man with a girlfriend? They're going off to separate colleges, and they really had a wonderful relationship, and he's wondering can a long-distance relationship in separate colleges work? They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. It's one of the two, right? It will depend on how many young ladies you get hooked up with while you're in college. Yes, they can last if you really are in love. They'll last. But the temptation to draw apart is very, very strong. This is Jakira, who says, "I'm 23 years old, and I live in India. What's the right way to evangelize people of other religions? I've tried the direct approach, but they've gotten really offended and say I've disrespected them. I'm worried that I push them further away from Christ by trying to reach them." Just enjoy Jesus. I've been over to India and spoken to Indians, big crowds, and they were so willing to accept Jesus. They need to fall in love with Jesus. When they realized that there was somebody who took on flesh, that God Almighty, the God of the universe took on flesh, lived among us, and He died on the cross, and then He rose again. This is so powerful, and Jesus Himself is so much loving. You don't have to push somebody into that. You just say, "I'm in love with Jesus. Let me tell you what He did for me. He talks with me." She has an advantage, too, because she lives there. So, she can really love them . . . . Of course. . . . . on a regular basis. People get offended if you tried to say, "Well, look, you're a Hindu, and your stupid, or you are Muslim, and you're stupid." That's not going to win anybody. What you have to do is just say, "Listen, I'm in love with Jesus, and let me tell you what He did for me, and last night He said . . . . and He's coming again, but He died for me and for you." All right. Okay, this is Christine who says, "I know there are parts of the Bible that are meant to be taken literally, and there are parts that are meant to be taken metaphorically. My question now is how can I tell the difference between the two?" Well, you have to learn literature. How can you tell if somebody says his love is as deep as the ocean, for example. That's a figure of speech. That's a metaphor. Sure, it's as deep as the ocean, but at the same time that doesn't mean you've got to go swimming. All right, what else? Okay, this is Joe who says, "Can our loved ones see us from Heaven? I don't think so. I really don't think so. I think we talk about that there are angels and demons that see us, but I don't think the loved ones. Who are the cloud of witnesses, then, do you think? Well, we're surrounded by a cloud of witnesses of those who have lived for the faith, and they are witnesses to Jesus, and witnesses to the goodness of God, and we're surrounded by that cloud of people, not witnessing us so much, as witnessing the glory of the Lord. I think that would be the better interpretation. This is Melissa who says, "My mother abused me when I was a child, and now she is emotionally abusive. I know we're supposed to honor our parents, but how do I do that when she has repeatedly hurt me?" You honor her because she is your mother. You give weight to her, the fact that she's the one who bore you. But, if I were you I would stay as far away from her as you can, because you're asking for continued hurt. But you never stop loving. You just ask God to bless her as God is blessing you. So you begin to pray, "Lord, bless my mother." But don't expose yourself to that abuse over and over again. All right. Well, that's all the time we have for your questions today. We want to thank you for taking the time to submit them, and I hope you do that again in the future when you'd like Pat to answer something. We'll try. I hope my answers are okay. Tomorrow, meet the woman who holds the record for the fastest Appalachian trail hike. Today we leave you with these words from Number 6 . . . . . . . . "The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace." That's a great prayer, the Lord bless you and keep you and cause his face to shine upon you. That's all the time we've got, we'll see you tomorrow. Bye-bye. Tomorrow . . . . I got this criminal thing wrong. . . . . locked up in Leavenworth. I've got to deal with the craziness. I've got to deal with the bars closing. . . . . a smalltime thieves tries to make his escape . . . . I was really tired of it. . . . . the only way he knows how. Make it into a makeshift noose and prepare for my last night on earth. Tomorrow on The 700 Club. Here at CBN, we see amazing things happen when we stand together. That's why we want to say thank you to the thousands of you . . . . . . . . who recently pledged to join the 700 Club. Your monthly gift makes it possible to bring crucial help to those who need it most. You help heal the sick, feed the hungry . . . . . . . . and preach the Gospel across America and throughout the world. You've brought health and hope to people in desperate need. And changed their lives forever. When Kitty was abandoned by her parents, she went to live with her grandmother in the middle of a garbage dump. They ate scraps of food from the dump and tried not to get bitten by the rats. That's when you built them a new home and set up a small clothing business near the market for Kitty's grandmother. You rescued them from hunger and fear. So please watch for this mailing and send in your pledge. This year millions will know . . . . The love and saving power of Jesus Christ. And that only happens, because you were there.

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