The 700 Club - August 9, 2011

I thought that since my dad drank that every guy that was a man should try it. Confessions from Newsong singer Russ Lee. I still had a big garbage bag full of every kind of drug you can imagine in the trunk of my car, in the church parking lot. And the one song that changed his career. Plus, make your dollar go farther. Radio host Clark Howard shows you how to buy smarter and save money, on today’s 700 Club. Well, welcome to The 700 Club. The stocks were slaughtered yesterday. Hedge funds are having to liquidate. People who had derivatives are having to rewrite contracts. It’s chaos in the financial world. And our president stood before the cameras and said absolutely nothing, and after he got through talking the Dow plunged another 200 points. It is simply incredible that those in leadership don’t have a clue. Terry. Well, what people want to hear is not just, “It’s going to better.” That’s right. Many, in fact, at this stage of the game, are hoping that the Federal Reserve and other government agencies will step in and try to boost the economy. Charlene Israel has the story. Asian markets plummeted today, but then stabilized by the end of trading. Investors around the world are fearful about the weak global economy and the continuing massive sell off on Wall Street. It's a complete meltdown. It's like the financial crisis or the financial tsunami. There is a complete loss of confidence. China's leaders want their voice to be heard more by policymakers in the US. China is the United States' largest creditor, and there has been a lot of, I think, disappointment over the way the US has handled its financial situation in the past. Weak economic growth is also a major worry. The first half of 2011 was the slowest since the end of the recession. Pressure is growing for the US Federal Reserve to act. Investors are watching Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke to see if he has any new plans to boost economic growth and prevent a double-dip recession. President Obama tried to reassure markets. He downplayed the Standard and Poor's downgrade, which lowered the US credit rating to a AA+. No matter what some agency may say, we've always been and always will be a triple-A country. But the Dow kept falling. On Monday the Dow closed at its lowest level in 10 months. The 634-point plunge was the sixth biggest drop ever. That capped a 12-day sell off that erased more than 15 percent from the Dow, more than two trillion dollars of stock market wealth now wiped out. Right now there's no confidence. With investors worried about the economy and the future of the dollar, many are still running to the safe haven of gold, which hit still another record high today above 1,770 dollars. Charlene Israel, CBN News. I told you it was going to 1,800. We’re only 30 dollars away from seeing gold at 1,800. But you know something, we have a president. What did he do? He ran up enormous deficits, spending for this program, spending for the other, spending two years on an incredible health care program that the American people didn’t want, which saddled us with another trillion or so dollars of expenses. And then he gets on television, and he said, “Well, the fault is the tsunami in Japan. The fault is the Standard and Poor’s. The fault is the Tea Party, the fault of the Republicans. The fault is everybody except me.” And you just wish that somehow the president had taken responsibility. He had before him a plan from Congressman Paul Ryan. It was an excellent plan. The House passed it. It would have been a wonderful solution to our problems. He said it wasn’t even worthy of discussion. He has a Simpson Bowl study, his own people. He put together this commission to study it. They came out with an outstanding plan, a reform of the taxes, reform of entitlements. It was comprehensive. He didn’t even acknowledge it. And then he comes out, and he says, “Well, in a little while I may have a plan for you.” In the middle of this crisis, he wants to soak the rich, and he spent all this money. And he says, “Well, I’m going to get taxes from the rich,” the, quote, “rich.” Everybody who makes over a couple hundred thousand dollars in his view is rich. And they’re going to pay the bills for his profligate spending. And if they don’t, they’re dragging their feet and they’re not cooperative. It’s incredible what we’re hearing out of Washington. It’s incredible what’s being done. And I don’t know what to do except to start writing your congressman. Stiffen the backs of those in Congress. And it may be that there will be enough Democrats to go along with the Republicans to say this orgy of spending has got to stop. But what are they thinking about now? More stimulus, more money. And, by the way, I do think that the secretary of the Treasury should resign. We ought to get another one. This Geithner, again, doesn’t have it. It’s discouraging to see the people so despairing and knowing there’s no hope with this crowd in Washington. That’s the terrible thing. Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. Pat, the riots raging across London have spread to three major cities in England. Police have called for reinforcements and armored vehicles in Birmingham, Bristol, and Liverpool. Angry mobs have vandalized streets and broken into buildings. The disorder that we’ve seen is at a level that hasn’t been seen for many years in this country. It is totally unacceptable. It is criminal behavior that we’re seeing, the looting, the violence, the arson. This is sheer criminality. One police officer was hit by a car and hospitalized. Three people are now behind bars, accused of trying to kill that officer. This is the most serious unrest in England since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s. These protests started last weekend over a fatal police shooting, but some involved say they’ve spread because of anger over government cuts in public spending. But others say the riots are not really unified by any particular cause. The American servicemen killed in Afghanistan Saturday make their final trip home. Their bodies arrive today at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The nation grieves their loss. Family and friends find comfort in each other, and as Mark Martin reports, local churches are stepping in to help. Families and close friends are still in shock. He died doing what he wanted to do. Just eight weeks ago, 30-year-old Aaron Vaughn witnessed the birth of his daughter. Now his wife Kimberly is left to raise her and a two-year-old son. His last words to me were, “I love you. I'll talk to you later.” And one day in Heaven we will. She told CNN that Aaron was man with a deep Christian faith. He was a wonderful husband, and fabulous father to two wonderful children. He was a warrior for Christ. Like the Vaughns, most of the 22 Navy SEALs who died lived here in Virginia Beach with their families. SEALs like Kevin Houston and Lou Langlais, who attended the church behind me. Churches are working around the clock to minister to and to pray with the grieving families. These guys are all men's men. They are strong, and Kevin’s a lot of fun and full of life, and in fact, recently accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. Kyle Wall is lead pastor at Atlantic Shores Baptist Church. He spent the day praying with the families. It's going to be an inner process of inner healing from the Holy Spirit working in their lives. He is the only one that can bring true healing. CBN News Military Correspondent Chuck Holton was recently embedded in Afghanistan with some of the SEALs who died. They are some of the most lethal human beings on the planet, but they are also very compassionate. And I think that's because they know that to be a good warrior they have to suppress the emotions of fear and anger and that sort of thing, but they never suppress the emotion of love, because the best characteristics of love bring out the best characteristics in a warrior. But even today I heard stories about them sharing their faith, sharing what God was doing in their life with their peers. And while the families are finding comfort in God, they also find comfort knowing these men died fighting for America, a country they loved. These Navy SEALs, they don't do it for the medals or for TV interviews or anything. They do it because it's the right thing to do. Mark Martin, CBN News, Virginia Beach. God bless their families. The U.S. Army has approved an atheist-themed concert at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The director of American Atheists calls it a great opportunity for troops who are not religious. A Fort Bragg spokesman says the post will offer the same support for this event as it did for a Christian concert last year. That event was organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This atheist concert is scheduled for March 31st on the eve of Palm Sunday. Well-known atheist Richard Dawkins will be among those appearing. The excavation of an ancient tunnel beneath Jerusalem has uncovered relics from a war fought 2,000 years ago. It’s believed the tunnel was used by rebels hiding from Roman soldiers during the Jewish revolt in 70 AD. Archaeologists found a sword, oil lamps, pots, and coins. The tunnel is part of an expansive network of passages under the city of Jerusalem. It was intended to drain rainwater. A group affiliated with the Jewish settlement movement is funding this excavation. Palestinians criticized the work, though, calling it a disruptive force and politically motivated. Local bureaucrats are cracking down on children’s lemonade stands in cities across the country. One city in Iowa shut down several stands, because they tried to sell it during a statewide bicycle race. Authorities wanted all the vendors, including the children, to pay 400 dollars for a permit. An officer came by, and he was very nice, apologetic, and he said, “I really don't want to do this, but we've been told we need to shut down any lemonade stand.” That was only a two-day crackdown in that town, but cities and states like Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas, and Pennsylvania have been enforcing tough long-term restrictions. Children who do not jump through the right bureaucratic hoops are even getting a visit from police. And the cities have been citing health code concerns and demanding children buy expensive business permits. Pat, can you say “bureaucracy?” Lee, I tell you, America is terrified of the dangers of children selling lemonade. It’s just unbelievable! Why don’t we fire these bureaucrats? Why do we let them harass us? Isn’t that absurd? If we encourage the children, they could hire some others to work with them, and we could decrease the unemployment rate. Oh, my heavens. That’s one of the things that kids do. They sell lemonade. Oh, mercy. In the summer, and people are hot. They’ve got to have a 400-dollar business license to sell a little lemonade? Oh, please. Aren’t you sick of bureaucracy? Aren’t you sick of being hassled by people who are supposed to be protecting you? These people are supposed to be servants, not masters. Well, the poor police officers. Yes, well, they’re embarrassed. But they have to do what the city council tells them to do. So, whoo! All right, what’s next? What a day we live in! Well, if you’ve got a question for Pat today, log on to CBN.com. We’re going to open our chat room up, and later on we’re going to bring it online with your questions on today’s show. Coming up later . . . . . . . . Mark Howard shows you what to do and what not to do . . . . You should not do one ever in your whole life. . . . . to make the most of your money. If you’re over 50, getting life insurance can be tough. How can you get the coverage you need at a price you can afford? I have good news. With AARP Level Benefit Term Life from New York Life Insurance Company, you can apply for up to $50,000 in affordable Term Life insurance without a medical exam. That's right, your acceptance is based on your answers to three, simple health questions, and most who apply are accepted. Underwritten by New York Life this coverage is affordable, and can be easy to get; and it's the only life insurance program endorsed by AARP. If you're an AARP member between 50 and 74, call New York Life now to receive free information by mail plus a rate quote. Not an AARP member? We’ll tell you how to join. Call New York Life at 1-800-916-1773 for free information by mail. You'll also receive this free gift just for calling. That's 1-800-916-1773. Certificate benefits and limitations should be carefully examined prior to purchase. Tomorrow . . . . These women raise white children. We love them and they love us, but they can’t even use the toilets in our houses. Go behind the scenes of the hit movie The Help. She realized just how much this could really change, how much of the world this could really change. Plus . . . . . . . . NFL quarterback Colton McCoy on losing the big game and finding the strength to come back. Tomorrow on The 700 Club. Well, we need his help today, don’t we? This is a man who is very popular. He’s got a wonderful radio program. And he’s written a book, Clark Howard’s Living Large in Lean Times. He’s a self-made millionaire who likes to be called cheap. And on The Clark Howard Show he shares a wealth of money saving tips. Take a look. “Save more and spend less” is more than just a motto for Clark Howard, it’s a way of life. Clark is a successful entrepreneur, with a nationally syndicated radio talk show, a popular TV show, and bestselling books, where he gives valuable money saving tips. You should not do one ever in your whole life. How’s that? And in these tough economic times, he wants to show you how you can live large. Well, the book is called Clark Howard’s Living Large in Lean Times. Clarks’ here with us. Welcome to The 700 Club. Thank you very much for having me. How’d you get started on this road of saving money for people? It all happened when my dad lost his job when I was a teenager. Yeah. It turned out that even though we were living a very fancy lifestyle, but my parents hadn't saved any money at all; and when my dad lost his job, we were in a heap of trouble. What was his job? What was he doing? He worked for, this is funny, he worked for my mother's father. So he thought his job was secure. His mother’s father fired him? Well, he had passed away, and then his brothers-in-law sent him away. I was a freshman in college, and my dad told me there was no money for me to go back in the spring. So I switched to being a night student, got a full-time job during the day and worked my way through undergraduate school and then graduate school. Greatest thing that ever happened to me; and thank goodness, knock on wood, my mom and dad got back on their feet financially after a couple of years. But I learned the lesson. And you learn something as a teenager; it can stay with you the rest of your life. I learned at that point, you save, save, save, because the rainy day eventually comes. But your book says “living large.” It sounds like it’s spending. Isn't that an interesting concept? The idea is that with so many things we do, you can stretch the dollar. It's the idea that you can live a very nice life without concentrating on getting the latest, greatest, the hottest whatever. Okay. You can live a pleasant life. You can provide for your family, and you can still have money left over at the end of the day. Give us a few of the tips of what you tell people when you're on the radio. You know, this is one of the bigs right now. Cell phones are an area where so many of us overpaying so much. And there are wonderful deals on cell phone service if you go with a noncontract company. As an example Wal-Mart has become a big player in cell phones, and generally their plans are about half the cost of going with one of the majors; and you get all the minutes, all the texting, all the web, e-mail and all that. One verses how much? How much on either end? If someone goes with a fancy-dancy, Smartphone, they're going to typically pay a hundred or so dollars a month for cell phone, believe it or not. That’s huge. The most you can pay in a Wal-Mart store for unlimited everything, $45 a month. Enormous savings! Big difference. That’s $600 a year. That adds up after a while. That’s right. There are so many things like that, that one step at a time we can make a difference. Let's take pay television. People spend on average, about $1000 a year for pay TV, cable or satellite. But because we have the two satellite players, we have cable, even if you want to stay with traditional television, you can put them all in competition with each other. And they will bid for your business if you ask. They actually—in other words, Dish, Direct TV will bid? They will compete with each other and the cable operator. You put them into a three-way fight, for your dollar, and suddenly maybe you were paying a dollar, you get that for 50 cents. So the idea is you make them want you more than you want them, and then you get a deal. And let me tell you one of my goofiest things. What’s that? Simple razor, right? That is the cheapest you can get. So typically a guy will replace a razor; maybe once a week, twice a week, you go to a new razor. My last razor lasted me a year. Was your face full of cuts? It was not full of cuts, although, I probably should've bailed on the razor after about 10 months. I was starting to get nicked a little. But if you dry a razor after every use, whether you use a fancy blade or you use a simple blade, you dry it after every use, it will last for month, after month, after month. Because razors don't degrade from the shaving, they degrade from moisture. So if you take this simple extra step of drying the razor after you use it you stretch the buck. What do you try it with? Do you dry it with a towel? Do blow-dry it? Well, I do it with a towel, but the most effective way is if you blow-dry it, but you use up energy to do that; that costs you money. So just do the simple towel, and you can reuse it again and again. Big numbers of people spend on is their mortgage and car payments. What do you tell them about that? Well, the car is one of the areas that really eats up our wallet. A lot of times we get tired of a car before it's tired out. So, if I can get people to make one change with automobiles, it’s that when you feel like you're done with it, don't be done with it. Keep driving it. Especially once you've finished your loan, because most people take out a loan to buy a car. Keep driving it year, after year, after that. The goal: drive a new car 10 years minimum. Drive a used car four years minimum. Most people ditch a car in three years or so. Bad idea, because cars cost a fortune. But if you drive one for 10 years or longer, they're so reliable now. That one change will make a huge difference in your life over the long-term. People put thousands of dollars into that, maybe tens of thousands. A fortune, fortune. A typical car payment, let's say somebody is spending five grand a year on car payments. You eliminate that, suddenly, magically, there's $5000 back in your life. And one thing people should not do right now is ditch a perfectly good car to get one that's more fuel efficient. In spite of what were paying at the gas pump, it's better to keep driving a car, because the biggest cost of a car isn't the gasoline, it’s the cost of that vehicle itself. I totally agree. Talk about mortgages. Because of all the financial turmoil, mortgages are a steal right now. Unbelievable deal. If you in any way can get yourself to the closing table, on a refinance, the deals are the best of our lifetimes. Phenomenal deals, especially if someone will look at a credit union ten-year mortgage, or traditional lender, 15-year mortgage, the deals start with a three, three point something percent which is really great. The problem, one in five Americans are upside down on their mortgages. So, it means that you have to go to the closing table with cash to be able to refi your loan, and right now that's worth it. Remember the thing used to be that you needed to stay in your house another five or six years or something like that? What do you tell people about that? Generally, I want someone to make back the closing costs in 30 months or less. If you can't make it back in 2-1/2 years, it's probably not a good idea for you to refi. You know who has the best opportunity? Who’s that? Young people buying a first home. Amen. Home prices are depressed in most of the country. And with mortgage rates at the lowest they've ever been, there has never been a better time to buy a home. You can get a mortgage at three percent now? Is that what you said? At 15-year, about 3-1/2 percent or a little less. That’s unbelievable! Isn't that amazing? Yeah. Thirty years, about 4-1/2. Unbelievable. It’s a deal. Clark, “Living Large.” Ladies and gentlemen, this man will tell you how. I mean, you could save, you’re talking about 5, 6 thousand dollars a year in somebody's pocket. That’s my goal. Yeah? Even if someone just takes a few tips, the goal is to get $3000 more in your life each year. Which a lot of people, living on the edge or past, you bring $3000 back into your wallet; it changes your financial picture completely. Well, ladies and gentlemen, change your financial picture and Live Large, Clark Howard’s book. Where do you get this by the way? Well, the best way to get it is at the library for free. But otherwise shop around on the web, local bookstores. Okay, thank you so much for being here. Thank you. God bless you. Wonderful! Well, we also have more tips from Clark in a web exclusive interview. To watch that, go to CBN.com. Click on to “In the Green Room,” link. And here's Terry. Well, coming up, some good news for business owners and their customers. The businesses that are successful, they're the ones that are connecting with the community and their customer, and they're staying alive today amongst all the bad news in the economy. It’s something called the “double bottom line.” Find out all about it right after this. For more money-saving tips from Clark Howard, we have a fact sheet available online. It's called, “Buy Smarter, Spend Smarter, and Save Money.” To download your free copy, log on to CBN.com. Coming up later . . . . I thought that since my dad drank that every guy that was a man, should try it. . . . . confessions from Newsong singer, Russ Lee . . . . I still had a big garbage bag full of every kind of drug you can imagine in the trunk of my car in the church parking lot. . . . . and the one song that changed his career. It was like the truth slapped me in the face. Look, like I to read and all but who has the time? It was killing me that I didn’t have time to read the new book everyone was talking about. So, about a year ago a friend told me about audible.com. At first I was like, “Are you kidding me?” My grandmother listens to books. I just couldn’t see myself doing it. 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All the video you love in one, easy-to-use location. * Well, even during these tough economic times, some businesses are still successful. Many of them are paying attention to more than just how much money they're making. As Mark Martin shows, they're focused on what's called “the double bottom line.” Jay Graves is the owner of Bike Gallery, a highly successful chain in Portland, Oregon. He may be the top dog, but that doesn’t mean he’s above helping those who come in to his stores. One of the things my dad taught me was that you treat, not just your customers, but your co-workers like you would like to be treated. Jay’s father, Bob, opened the first Bike Gallery back in 1974 during the 10-speed craze. He became interested in bicycles during the big gasoline crisis, but his initial experience wasn't a pleasant one. When he went into the local bike shops, he felt like people, the staff, the owners, were just interested in his money. They didn't care about really answering his questions. It was more, “What do you want? Give me your money. Get out.” Believing he could do a better job, Jay said his father built Bike Gallery on a customer service foundation that remains secure nearly 40 years later. Money only motivates certain people so far, but we're in this business because we love what we do. We're getting to help people who are here because they want to change their lives. Jay follows what’s called a double bottom line. Not only is he concerned about crunching the numbers and making a profit, but he also upholds a social bottom line, placing a premium on taking care of his employees, customers and the community. One of my favorite mechanics is Andrew; the guy is an awesome, awesome mechanic. I had a problem with an older bike that is kind of my regular rider, and those guys just stuck with it and worked it out and fixed it and never had any other problems. People know you around town, and it makes it cool to take a city, which Portland isn't a huge city, but to take a city rather than a small town and give it kind of a small-town feel, which comes a lot from that community involvement. Giving back is a mission of Bike Gallery. Over the years, the company has supported many community organizations. Jay works with numerous non-profits and encourages his staff to do the same. We are rewarded for that, and that is something from the top down that is valued highly. Studies show that valuing people and building a loyal customer base, internally and externally, in turn increases the value of a company's conventional bottom line. Jay believes paying attention to the double bottom line absolutely benefits the financial profits of Bike Gallery in these tough economic times. Experts say it makes sense. It’s not about sales. It's not about flashy things. It's about giving people a value and being consistent, and standing behind what you do, and letting them know that you care about them, and that they mean something to you. If you look around at the businesses that are successful, they're the ones that are connecting with their community and customer, and they're staying alive today amongst all the bad news in the economy. Tim Redmond of the Redmond Leadership Institute says attaining success in business by developing client and community relationships is a biblical principle. If you only have a focus on growing your business, to grow your profits, to stack your bank accounts, you're not seeing the whole purpose of business, which is to operate in God's nature of what I call “extravagant generosity,” that you are blessed to be a blessing. One marketing strategist called being socially responsible the differentiating strategy for 21st century businesses. When I'm done with this business, I want people to look back and say that Jay Graves made a difference in many people's lives, and it wasn't just because he wanted to make money, it's because he cared about people, and he wanted to help as many people have a happy, healthy lifestyle. For Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves, a double bottom line is all he has known, business lessons passed down from his father and lessons he's passing along to his children. Mark Martin, CBN News, Portland, Oregon. The way you like to be treated, treat others, and whatever you do to others, have them do unto you, you do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That’s what it says. Terry. Boy, in today's crazy disconnected world, that kind of personal service really matters to people. It’s nice. Well, when the recession hit, Oscar knew he needed to expand his business to survive. There was just one problem, he was already deep in debt. Oscar Banos owns a sewing and vacuum shop outside of Sacramento. But with the tough economic times, he got behind on his rent. He owed his landlord $9,000. How am I going to pay it? I mean if I really don’t have the money, if I am going month to month. It kept me awake at night. Oscar knew business had to increase if he was going to survive, but nothing he tried brought in more business. It was just frustrating to do so much, and then you go home. It’s like you scratch your head. It’s like, “Okay, what’s next? What am I doing?” Then Oscar found The 700 Club. He learned about giving 10 percent back to God. They make it understandable. They make sense. This is why I should be tithing. This is why I should be giving. So Oscar started giving to CBN and immediately saw a difference. In one day we sold two machines worth 30,000 dollars in one day. After business picked up, he talked to the landlord about expanding, but he wondered if he could afford the extra $900 a month. I wanted to sign that lease, because I knew we needed the space. It’s like something told me hold on. And I said no, I’m just going to wait. His landlord eventually offered the additional space for just $200 a month. Then as a good will gesture, she cut his $9,000-dollar debt in half. Oscar quickly paid off the balance and continues to watch his business grow. Tithing is the only way. There is no other way. It just makes you feel like I am really doing God's will. I tried it on my own. It doesn't work, period. It doesn't work. We are created to live in relationship with our Creator. And no matter how much we try to do it on our own, it just doesn't work. Even if it's nothing more than not having the satisfaction and the peace of heart and mind that comes from a personal relationship with Christ. You know, if you're a 700 Club member, you're helping us bring the Gospel around the world. But you're also helping us to teach biblical truths right here at home, truths like tithing. Why is it important? What does the word of God have to say about it? How does it change the way we live? We want to live by God's principles and we want to teach you the value of doing that too. If you're a 700 Club member, you're helping us do that all across the United States and around the globe. If you're not a 700 Club member, get on board. We would love to have you be a part of the family of ministries that's reaching out to the whole world in the name of Jesus Christ. It's 65 cents a day, $20 a month. When you join, it makes you a world changer. So, call right now. Our number is toll free. It's 1-800-759-0700. Just call and say, I want to join the 700 Club. And when you do, by the way, we want to say thank you by sending you, Life Beyond the Grave. This is an amazing DVD with personal accounts from people who have had death experiences and some have gone to Heaven, some to Hell, and they've come back to talk about what they’ve seen on the other side. And then, as I mentioned, Pat teaches what does the Word of God have to say about all of that. What's the truth that we can learn about this? So, call now, and then we'll get this out to you right away, and we say thank you in advance for caring about others. Pat. Fantastic. Well, still ahead, the lead singer of Newsong, talks about his first gig. Things that drug dealers say. “Hey, if you're looking for some good pot, I've just got this stuff, this is Colombian, and it is amazing, and I'll give you a great deal on it.” See why Russ Lee changed careers, after this. Our world moves at an incredible pace, but there is a destiny that awaits each one of us, and all of us will face life’s ultimate question: where will I spend eternity? In Life Beyond the Grave, you’ll meet real people who’ve experienced Heaven and Hell and have a powerful witnessing tool to share with others. I want you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your destiny is sealed forever in Heaven. My name is Roger Stump, and I’m a cancer survivor. The surgeon said it's inoperable. “It's already in your liver.” My wife, Brenda, sat there and cried; and I'm thinking, “I can't die right now. I'm only 52 years old.” I was so distraught. I've heard Cancer Treatment Centers of America have experience with pancreatic cancers. It was like night and day. The hospital just breeds an environment of hope. You get a CT scan, and the next morning the results were read to you. We’d go up there; I just knew it was going to be a good result. You could just see the joy on Dr. Granik’s face. Call now and we’ll show you how the most compassionate people anywhere put you at the center of everything we do. Together, we'll explore real treatment options you may not even know exist. Cancer Treatment Centers of America. It is such a different place, because they give you hope. I would strongly urge you to call them and get a second opinion. Please call today. Welcome back to The 700 Club. China is trying to deal with a huge gender gap. It's restricting sex selective abortions. China has a one-child policy, so some Chinese parents abort female babies. That's left China with many more men than women. So it wants to restrict the nonmedical use of ultrasound tests, and doctors will no longer be allowed to abort babies solely because of their sex. China has 119 boys born for every 100 girls. House leaders are ending a program that allowed high school students to serve as messengers and learn more about Congress. The House Page program has been around for nearly 200 years. Technology like the Internet and e-mail leaves the students with very little to do these days, and speaker John Boehner and minority leader Nancy Pelosi say they cannot justify the $5 million expense any longer. The program will end August 31st. The Senate will continue a similar program, though. They have pages to answer phones, hold doors open, and run other errands for lawmakers. 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 after this. TCBY, the country's best yogurt has a new franchise model, and ownership opportunities have never looked better. The heritage of TCBY is fantastic, because the company's been around for 30 years. Now with the new self-serve platform, it's the same great product; it's just a different way to get the product. Frozen yogurt is more popular than ever, especially at the new TCBY where busy customers love to create their own unique treats. It's a good business model, and it’s what the customer wants. It's a win-win situation. With an exciting new look in multiple ownership options, TCBY is fueling the growth of the frozen yogurt industry. Add a proven system that supports franchise success, and it's clear that TCBY is one of the hottest franchise opportunities today. I feel that TCBY is the past and now the future of frozen yogurt, and I'm just so excited that I can be a part of that future. With TCBY franchise ownership, your future can be bigger and brighter. Visit buyatcby.com to learn more. I can’t imagine a better job, a better brand, a better company to be a part of. Tomorrow . . . . These women raise white children. We love them and they love us, but they can’t even use the toilets in our houses. . . . . go behind the scenes of the hit movie, The Help She realized just how much this could really change, you know, how much of the world this could really change. Plus . . . . . . . . NFL quarterback Colt McCoy on losing the big game and finding the strength to come back. Tomorrow, on The 700 Club. To listen to our top songs of the week go to CBN Radio at CBN.com. Russ Lee was 18 years old when he heard a song by the Rolling Stones that changed his life. At the time he was dealing drugs, but Russ went on to become part of one of the biggest bands in Christian music. For the past 20 years, Russ Lee has been one of Christian music’s signature voices. Throughout most of the '90s, Russ sang lead vocals for CCM super group Newsong. He then pursued a successful solo career before returning as front man for Newsong in 2009. I think now than ever, from the depths of my soul, I have things to say about reality and about life, and I can also understand people that I’m singing to and ministering to a lot better than I could before. Russ’s passion for spreading the Gospel through music is the result of his own painful journey to become a Christian. When Russ was growing up, his mother suffered from severe manic depression. His father struggled with alcoholism. Like most boys, Russ looked up to his dad and followed his example. I thought that since my dad drank that every guy that was a man should try it, and so I started drinking. I didn’t drink at my house. I didn’t want my parents to catch me, but I had other opportunities to find alcohol. And so as a 13-year-old boy, I did. But I didn’t really drink to get drunk. I did get drunk, but I didn’t drink to get drunk. I just thought it was the grown-up thing to do. Once he reached high school, Russ desperately wanted to “fit in” with the older kids. There were two or three boys at my high school who played guitar. They were in a band, and I thought they were unbelievably cool. And they drank and they smoked pot and they did drugs. And I began to do whatever they did, because I thought what they did was cool, and I wanted to be them. Russ smoked his first joint at 15. Two years later, he started selling speed and marijuana out of the trunk of his car. I didn’t try to make any converts. I just looked for people that I knew were that were involved in that culture. And I would say things that drug dealers say, “Hey, you know what, if you’re looking for something that’s really good. If you’re looking for some good pot, I’ve just got this stuff. This is Columbian, and it’s amazing, and I’ll give you a great deal on it.” Russ enjoyed the money and sense of danger that came from dealing drugs, but what really drove him was his anger toward God. I resented the fact that if He was a God who loved me, why would He put me in this situation and give me parents like this? He must love other people more, because their parents don’t do this, and they have nice things, and they don’t have to do what I have to do. Russ also played guitar in clubs around town and was often paid in drinks from the bar. After graduation, however, he felt that his life was headed in the wrong direction. While driving home one night, he heard a song on the radio that opened his eyes. I was listening to Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones sing “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” and it dawned on me that that was my problem. I was looking for satisfaction. It was like the truth slapped me in the face on my way home. The reason I was so uncomfortable and dissatisfied was because I was looking for something to just satisfy me, and I had never found it. And so that night, I said, “God, I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know if you know who I am or you even care. I just would like to know. I want to know. If you’re there and you care that I’m alive, I just want you to show me. I don’t know how to find you, but if you’re God, you certainly can find me.” Two days after that prayer, someone paid Russ an unexpected visit. It was a friend of mine I had grown up with, that I had always envied, who had a perfect family and a perfect girlfriend and, I thought, a perfect life. Well, he had never been to my house, not ever. He never wanted to. His parents wouldn’t let him. He told Russ that he had also felt dissatisfied and was now a changed man, because he had surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Well, I was overwhelmed. I was floored. That was the last thing I expected. Billy Graham at my door would have been less of a surprise as this guy saying these things to me. And I couldn’t believe it. And I knew that God had sent him to my house. I had no doubt in my mind. Russ went with his friend to church that Sunday, and before the pastor could issue the invitation, Russ hurried down the aisle and gave his life to the Lord. That day, my parents still struggled with the things they struggled with. I still had a big garbage bag full of every kind of drug you can imagine in the trunk of my car in the church parking lot. I still had questions. But what changed that day was not my surroundings. Me, I changed that day, my whole outlook. I felt forgiven and I felt free, and I felt like a man who had the world in front of him and a great opportunity and a Savior whose arms were open wide who wanted me to know me to know Him, and He wanted to know me. And it was just the greatest day of my life. Russ and his wife Mary have been married 26 years and have three beautiful children. Every day I realize that my whole life is just a gift of His mercy, because I know what I deserve and I know what I’ve been given instead. Over the years, Russ has shared his story around the world and has helped thousands make the same decision he did to follow Christ.  It’s amazing because when you become a Christian, you just surrender your life to Jesus. And if you think about that as a non-believer, you say, “Surrender my life to someone? No, no, no. I guess I won’t get to have any fun anymore.” You know what, it’s amazing how much better God’s plans are for you then your plans are for yourself. The truth is knowing Christ. I just want people to know Him. Knowing God and letting Him love you the way He wants to and then giving Him your life and loving Him back is the greatest adventure you’ll ever embark on. You see, God created you with a plan and a purpose in mind. He had you on His mind before He ever created the foundation of the earth. He loves you beyond what you can imagine. There’s so much to know about Him. It’s endless. His love is endless. His willingness to do something in your life is endless. And so you can live with anticipation and expectancy for good things. The Bible says He’s good. He’s good and He loves His children. It’s His good pleasure to give us blessings. God also wants to move on our lives and shape us and teach us and show us who He is by some of the things He does in our lives. Are His ways different than ours? Absolutely. Absolutely. But you heard Russ say he was afraid that maybe he was going to have to let go of something. Maybe life wouldn’t be fun anymore. But it’s so much better than it was before. It’s hard to explain that to someone sometimes on the front side of that. But the back side of it is what you were created for, a relationship with the Creator of the universe, something deeper and better and more fulfilling than you can imagine. And all those things that have happened to you before, all of the things that have had a hold of your life, whether it’s drugs, like it was in his case, or alcohol, cigarettes, relationships, whatever it might be that has held you in some kind of bondage to a lifestyle that’s less than what you were created for, all of that goes away when you come to Christ, and you get a brand new beginning. He comes into your heart and your life. Forgiveness is where He starts. You need to ask Him for forgiveness, and then He extends it to you. And you get that fresh beginning. You get that clean start that you thought you could never have again. All those mistakes you’ve made, you get a do over with God. You get a do over. And then, that’s not all. Then He begins to fill you and teach you and use you, even as He used Russ’s friend that came to the door in Russ’s life. Let God show you what you were created for. Come to Him. Let Him forgive your past and give you a new beginning. It’s an amazing, amazing adventure, and you don’t want to miss out on it. And it begins by just surrendering, by acknowledging to Him that you need Him. Just pray with me right now. Let’s do it together. Just ask Him to come into your life the same way Russ did in that car that night. Let’s pray. “God, I want to know you this way. I want to know you. I realize that I’ve been living my life settling for less and thinking somehow that I was in charge of everything and realizing now that everything around me has impacted me and in ways I would never have wanted it to, couldn’t have foreseen. I need a start-over, God. I need a start-over, not so I can keep doing it on my own. I need to start over with you. So I’m coming to you today saying ‘I am a sinner. I am a sinner, and God, I need a Savior.’ Thank you for sending Jesus. Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to die on the cross before I had ever given my life to you. That kind of love is hard to understand, but I want to know you more. I want to love you more. I want to give you more of me, so take my life, all that’s left of it. Teach me your ways. Show me how to follow you, how to live for you, how to hear your voice when you speak to me, and give me a heart that’s willing to say yes to everything you ask of me. I want to live full out for you the same way I gave my life to all that junk before. Thank you for waiting for me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for giving me a new beginning. I receive it all today, and the gift of eternal life. I love you, God. Teach me your ways. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” If you’ve just prayed that prayer, the Bible says that right this moment, angels in Heaven are rejoicing, because you’ve become a part of the family of God. We want to send you something that will help you grow in that relationship. It’s called “A New Day,” and this was put together with you in mind. It’s filled with information from God’s Word, and also some wisdom and advice on where do you go from here. It’s absolutely free, and so is the number to call to receive it. It’s 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “I prayed that prayer, and I’d like the ‘New Day’ packet.” We’ll get it out to you right away. Pat. Thanks, Terry. People are calling. People are on the phone. You call. Well, still ahead, your questions from our chat room. Eugene wants to know, quote, “Can you explain the true meaning of separation of church and state?” Indeed I can. We’ll bring it on with that question and more, later on today’s 700 Club. Come on and cross over to the all new Cross Country radio from CBN.com. Cross Country, where Country meets the Cross. You'll hear real Christian Country from great Country artists. The all-new Cross Country radio where Country meets the Cross. Cross Country. It's only on CBN.com. Her story touched us. When can I surf again? Her comeback inspired us . . . . I don’t need easy; I just need possible. . . . . and showed us what it takes to be a true champion. Soul Surfer, now on Blu-Ray combo pack. Well, we invited you to come into the chat room and submit your questions. Some of you have, and we’d like to answer those today. Pat, this one is from Eugene, who says, “Can you explain the true meaning of separation of church and state?” I appreciate that, because I heard somebody talk about that “Rick Perry rally.” He said, “This violates separation of church and state.” First of all, Rick Perry is not a church, nor is he a state. He is a private individual, and they were out at a prayer rally, and it was not a formal church. Now, here is what was meant. The First Amendment says Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. What is an establishment of religion? Well, in the days when that was written, there was an established church in Virginia, in Massachusetts, and other states, which actually was supported by the government. It was like the Church of England. It was an established church. And the framers didn’t want the national Congress to set up a national church, so they said Congress shall not do that, because they didn’t want one, because if they had one nationally, it would counterbalance the ones they had in their states. What is separation of church and state? Well, it means that. It means that the church shall not interfere with government and control it as an institution. The government will not control the church. That’s what it means. But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have acknowledgement of God. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray. It doesn’t mean that children can’t pray in schools. It doesn’t mean any of those things. Well, that’s separation of church and state. The church is an institution, and the state as an institution will be separate. And I applaud that. Okay. Okay, this is Debbie, who says, “You said God told you things were going to get bad in two years. Is there anything we can do to prepare ourselves for this time? Can it be turned around, or is this God’s will?” Well, in this thing, it can always be turned around, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. The Lord said basically that we didn’t have the political will to make it happen, and that’s exactly what we saw with this disgraceful spectacle. We have a president who wants to spend money and doesn’t want to give up on any of the spending. We have one branch of Congress that feels the same way. We have another branch that is saying, “Let’s cut and cut deeply.” But in order to get this thing under control, we have got to take drastic measures, in terms of social security, Medicare, and government spending, including defense. We’ve got to say there are certain things we can’t do anymore. For example, how can we give 300 million dollars a year to Planned Parenthood? We can’t. We can’t out of taxpayer’s money. How can we give money to National Public Radio, this apparently left wing organization? We can’t do that any longer. There are certain things we cannot afford, but the people in Washington say, “That’s our pet. That’s our pet. That’s our pet. We won’t give it up.” So we’ve already seen the first of it. S&P took us down, Standard and Poor’s. They lowered our rating, and it sent shock waves throughout the whole world. Well, it’s going to get worse. When we continue, and we can’t bring ourselves to do what’s needed, we’re going to find the Chinese won’t buy our bonds anymore. The Japanese won’t buy our bonds. They’ll start dumping our bonds, and then chaos is going to begin. And as I said, the main thing is that the United States reserve currency is the reserve currency of the world. And it won’t be. Is there anything we can do? Well, we can elect some people to Congress, but it may be too late. That’s the thing that worries me. We haven’t got time for the next election. All right. Well, here is a question you’ll chuckle over. This is from Harold. He says, “If the government shuts down a kid’s lemonade stand, do you think they’ll let him draw unemployment?” That’s good. Well, he can draw it, but the trouble is he’s had to work for a wage first of all. Yes, let him stand in line. “They just shut down my lemonade stand.” He ought to try just to make a statement, right? All right. Okay, this is Mel, who says, “I know gluttony is a sin, but is anorexia a sin as well? My youth group leader says yes, but a popular Christian answer site says no. What do you think?” Look, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we abuse our body, we are violating the temple of God. And anorexia, which is a form of starvation, you are killing your body. Your body belongs to God. Yes, it’s a sin. It’s finding the answer in something other than Christ. Well, the anorexia is a mental problem that’s much deeper than that. This is Louise, who says, “I understand that God is a healer, so does taking medication mean you’re not trusting God?” I don’t think so. I think God uses doctors. He uses medicine. He uses the wonders that have been given to us. The trouble is that it’s a question of what do we trust? And the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.” We should trust in the Lord for our healing, but the Lord will use medicine, doctors, other things to get us well. Thanks for being with us. That’s all the time we’ve got. Tomorrow, the Cleveland Browns quarterback, Colt McCoy. He was famous at Oklahoma. You remember? He talks about football and faith. And today, we leave you with these words from Philippians 4:19. . . . . . . . “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus.” We’ll see you tomorrow. Bye, bye. The material provided on this Program is for general informational and educational purposes only. No information on the Program is intended as investment, tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, or as an endorsement, recommendation or sponsorship of any company, security, or fund.  You alone are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, security or strategy, or any other product or service, is appropriate or suitable for you based on your investment objectives and personal and financial situation. Seek the advice of a qualified securities professional before making any investment. Dr. Robertson; The Christian Broadcasting Network; Regent University and other persons appearing on this Program may hold an investment position in one or more of the stocks or commodities discussed on this Program. Tomorrow . . . . These women raise white children. We love them and they love us, but they can’t even use the toilets in our houses. Go behind the scenes of the hit movie The Help. She realized just how much this could really change, how much of the world this could really change. Plus . . . . . . . . NFL quarterback Colton McCoy on losing the big game and finding the strength to come back. 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. 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