The 700 Club: December 11, 2009

The 700 Club Daily Broadcast Friday, December 11, 2009 GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, welcome to The 700 Club. An unusual event is taking place in Vietnam this week: a public worship service. In the past, the communist nation cracked down on religious freedom. TERRY MEEUWSEN: But now the country wants to step onto the global stage, so they’re opening the door towards human rights. George Thomas has that story. VIETNAM CHURCH GEORGE THOMAS: This is a sight seldom seen in Communist Vietnam: Christians publicly worshipping Jesus Christ. It happened when the government allowed more than 13,000 Christians to hold a public concert last April. Church leaders say they are benefiting from the government attempting to become a world player. Pastor “Deborah” requested that we hide her identity for security reasons. Pastor Deborah (Event Organizer): Our government signed many policies when it joined the World Trade Organization, like freedom of religion, freedom of human rights. GEORGE THOMAS: Organizers hope to keep the momentum going with an even bigger worship concert this weekend. An estimated 30,000 people are expected to attend. Pastor Deborah: Very seldom do we have freedom to sing and pray together like this. After 20 years of facing many difficulties, many tears and all the persecution, now the church is slowly emerging. The Lord is promising us that a great revival is coming to Vietnam. GEORGE THOMAS: CBN News visited several churches and found everyone praying earnestly for the big celebration. Prayer teams even mounted up on motorbikes to ride around the city and saturate it with prayer. Our CBN News Asia correspondent Lucille Talusan went along for a ride. Lucille Talusan (Asia Correspondent): This team is made up of the intercessors of a Christian church, and now Van is taking me on what they call the Vietnamese-style of Jericho walk. This is called the Jericho motorbike prayer ride, and everybody here is proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ over Vietnam. Van: We bind the evil spirit, the king of the darkness. We are praying that our people will be open for the Gospel. GEORGE THOMAS: That prayer was desperately needed, because two days before the event the government still had not issued a permit for the celebration. Then officials canceled a pre-event prayer rally, so organizers went back to their house churches and prayed. Soon after, the government granted the permit, opening the door for what these Christians believe will be a great blessing to their country. George Thomas, CBN News. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, that’s a report you’re not going to see anywhere else. And what good news is that, to bring in Christmas with a prayer meeting in Vietnam. The persecution of that country has been unbelievable over the past 20 years, 25 years. And to see it finally opening up for public worship is wonderful, and we rejoice in it. Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. SAN DIEGO CROSS LEE WEBB: Gordon, the 20-year battle over a veterans memorial cross in California went to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, but it is not clear how or when the judges will rule. The 43-foot cross sits atop San Diego’s Mount Soledad. It was built more than 50 years ago as a memorial to Korean War veterans. The ACLU has fought to have the cross removed, though. They say its display on public land is unconstitutional. Last year a judge disagreed and ruled that the cross is more of a secular memorial to war veterans than a statement promoting religion. NJ GAY MARRIAGE VOTE LEE WEBB: A much anticipated vote on legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey has been put off indefinitely. State senators there were supposed to vote Thursday, but they canceled that vote amid speculation that the bill would have gone down in defeat. Gay marriage supporters in New Jersey hope to pass the bill, though, before Republican Governor-Elect Chris Christie takes office in January. He has vowed to veto any same-sex marriage bill. ISRAEL BIOMETRIC PLAN LEE WEBB: Israel’s Knesset has approved a law which creates a biometric database for every citizen. Critics have called it, quote, “the Big Brother bill.” The plan only goes into effect for a trial period of two years and participation is voluntary. The Jerusalem Post reports that if the trial is successful, though, the government will create smart identification documents for every Israeli. They will include a microchip containing two fingerprints and a picture of the person’s face. And they could be used in smart cards. A final decision on the program may not be made, though, for at least four years. Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, the amazing thing about this kind of technology is fairly soon, and it’s available already, so it’s not fairly soon, but fairly soon governments may be looking at this, that you actually have an implant. And you were seeing that, that little microchip, that thing, you could actually have an implant, and they could put it on your body. And that way when you run through government checkpoints, it knows exactly who you are, and then it lines what you’re chip is saying up with your retina scan or with some kind of facial scan or with fingerprints. All an illusion to get security. That’s what this is all about, and this is why Israel is one of the first countries, is the first country, to adopt this kind of thing, is they’re trying to keep terrorists out of Jerusalem and protect innocent civilians. TERRY MEEUWSEN: But you’re not putting the chip in the terrorists. You’re putting it in Israeli citizens. What’s the point? GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, if someone comes through who is not ID as an Israeli citizen, they are . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: If you’re chipless, you get . . . . GORDON ROBERTSON: Right. If you’re chipless . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wow. Wow. GORDON ROBERTSON: . . . . you now get enhanced scrutiny. But can you forge these things? Can you make it look—it’s one of those things, an illusion of security. And let me underline this one. And the other part of it is you’re starting to see things that are written in the book of Revelation 2,000 years ago that you used to scratch your head, “How can this ever happen?” And, yes. TERRY MEEUWSEN: On multi fronts you’re seeing that occur. Very fascinating. Well, up next, he knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. GRAPHIC: THE REAL SANTA CLAUS We’re going to tell you about the real St. Nick, right after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: BREAKFAST WITH THE 700 CLUB GORDON ROBERTSON: Coming up later, how to make a gourmet meal. GORDON ROBERTSON: When you learn how to do it, it actually gets quite easy. GORDON ROBERTSON: A soufflé that’s perfect for Christmas morning . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: That is like an explosion of taste. GORDON ROBERTSON: . . . . or any other holiday. GORDON ROBERTSON: If you want to make a Christian joke, you can say, “He is risen.” TERRY MEEUWSEN: Great Easter dish. * * * GRAPHIC: CHRIS TOMLIN LIVE GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus . . . . Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Joy to the world . . . .” GORDON ROBERTSON: Chris Tomlin joins us live. Chris Tomlin: I love taking these songs and really capturing songs of worship. Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Emmanuel, Emmanuel . . . .” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 1: NEWSMAX SARAH PALIN Announcer: Sarah Palin has captured our attention and electrified America. Her new book, Going Rogue: An American Life, is a runaway national bestseller. Newsmax.com has an incredible offer for you. Get Sarah Palin’s new book Going Rogue for just 4.97. That’s a savings of 24 dollars off the cover price. Plus, you’ll get four months of award-winning Newsmax magazine absolutely free. Newsmax magazine covers the tough stories the media just won’t report. It has great writers like Bill O’Reilly, Dick Morris, Mike Reagan, Dr. Laura and Ben Stein. Dick Morris calls Newsmax his “favorite magazine . . . . a must read for every American.” Get Sarah Palin’s new book Going Rogue at an incredible price, for just 4.97. Save 24 dollars. Plus, get award-winning Newsmax magazine absolutely free. This is a no risk, no lose offer. But we have a limited number of copies. This offer won’t last long, so you must act today. Call 800-NEWSMAX, 800-NEWSMAX. Call today. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: STEVE FORBES GORDON ROBERTSON: Next week. America’s financial mess. Publisher Steve Forbes reveals what caused it and the one thing that can end it. * * * GRAPHIC: KURT WARNER GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus, NFL gunslinger Kurt Warner goes for the Hail Mary . . . . Kurt Warner: Short, brown, spiky hair with the miniskirt on and the red boots. GORDON ROBERTSON: . . . . and fumbles. Woman: Seriously, I’m not playing a game. GORDON ROBERTSON: Meet the teammate that got him back in the game. Next week on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: We all know about Santa Claus. What you may not know is where St. Nick really comes from. And here is a hint: it’s not the North Pole. SET-UP ANDREA GARRETT: The Santa Claus that is familiar to us today bears little resemblance to the original St. Nicholas, a real person who lived 1,700 years ago in Myra, a city in modern-day Turkey. Nicholas was a bishop in the early Christian church, and his generosity was well known. As one story goes, a man with three daughters fell on hard times. He didn't have enough money for a dowry for any of his daughters, so they couldn't marry. Legend has it that Nicholas secretly visited the family at night, dropping a bag of gold through the window. There are many other stories of the generosity of Saint Nicholas, particularly to children. Nicholas always insisted that no credit be given to him, but to God only. In his new book, The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas, author William Bennett tells the story of this saintly man who has influenced our most beloved holiday through the years, why he's evidence of God's love and why he does, indeed, matter to Christmas. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS FOCUS GUEST: BILL BENNETT GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, Bill Bennett joins us now from our Washington studio. He’s the author of The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas. Bill, welcome back to The 700 Club. Bill Bennett: Thanks, Gordon. Good to be here. That was a nice little picture essay you did. You didn’t leave much for me to say. GORDON ROBERTSON: Oh, we left plenty for you to say. Should we write our letters to Santa Claus and address them to Asia Minor now? Bill Bennett: No, no, no, because he has moved around a good bit. One of the great things you find out in this story, the true story, is just how far this story went and how far this legend went. There are churches to St. Nicholas in Greenland. He went up into Viking territory, over into Russia. His legend and his story extended everywhere. At bottom, it is the story of a good and faithful man. And the essay had it exactly right. Three bags of gold dropped into this man’s house as dowries for his daughters. But one interesting detail, they say that the first bag of gold, when it was dropped, went into a stocking. So that should give people an idea of where some of this came from. GORDON ROBERTSON: Is that where we get the tradition of giving gifts and putting them in stockings, or is there more to it than that? Bill Bennett: Yes, we think it is. We think it is. And, in fact, the three bags of gold, Gordon—I didn’t know this until I was doing the research—the three bags of gold are still the symbol for the pawnbroker, out front, when you see that little triangle. And so that comes from Nicholas. But he really was a very impressive guy. And on the third night, after he drops the third bag of gold, the father of the three daughters, who were dowryless until that time, runs after him to see who it is, and says, “I think you are great. I think you are wonderful. Let me kiss your feet.” And Nicholas says, “No. Only love God. Worship God. And always give without any expectation of getting anything in return.” The real spirit. GORDON ROBERTSON: What’s the reason that he tried to be secret with this? He really wanted to not let the family know what he was doing. Bill Bennett: Well, let the left hand not know what the right hand is doing. He wanted to be sure that he did not get any credit and that the man would praise God. The less he was in the picture, the more likely the man would praise God for his good fortune. A good man. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, St. Nicholas a significant member of the early saints, and certainly the Greek Orthodox Church reveres him. There is a church of St. Nicholas right here in Virginia Beach. And what role did he play in the early church? Bill Bennett: Well, he gave those to the famous counts of Nicaea there in fourth century AD, fifth century AD, and confronts Arias. You remember the Aryan heresy about the divinity of Jesus. And he gets so angry when he hears Arias, he slaps him. Nicholas as a result gets slapped in prison. But again, this was a man who took great offense when anything was said against the Lord, which he took very personally. GORDON ROBERTSON: Why did he take such offense? What about his life would lead him in that kind of meeting to slap somebody? Bill Bennett: Because the man was questioning the divinity of Christ, and this is the central belief of Christianity, the central belief for Nicholas that had made him change his life. His parents died when he was young. He decided to dedicate himself to the Lord. And so when he heard this, and this being propagated as doctrine, he just couldn’t stand it. I feel similarly sometimes in Washington, Gordon, when I hear some things. I try to control myself. But I have my brother to pull me back. But one understands when you hear some of the stuff that goes down why you would want to react at a council. GORDON ROBERTSON: Didn’t he go through the great persecution? Bill Bennett: Yes. Oh, he sure did. And he was thrown in prison and tortured and had a horrible time. People took him for dead, but when he came out he was fine. Another interesting story, and the more you do this whole history you find this stuff, a battle between the people of Italy from Bari, and the Muslims for possession of his bones. And I’ll tell you, you find difficulty with Muslims throughout the history of the west. The Baryons went and rescued the bones, because they were afraid they would be destroyed or despoiled by these Muslim marauders. That’s an interesting story. Then, of course, the reformation comes, and your team gives my team a very bad time, we Catholics. And then so Nicholas falls on hard times. The idols are destroyed and so on. But he makes a comeback. And the end of the story, at least as I’ve told it here, is he gets a kind of fame resurrection in the 18th century, 19th century New York, when people start to talk about the Dutch tradition of Sinter Klaas, which was the name for St. Nicholas. And then, thanks to the work of Washington Irving and the great Thomas Nass, the illustrator, and one has to credit a little bit to Coca Cola company, he emerges as the Santa Claus we know. It’s a long and complicated story, but it’s a great story. It’s a fun story. GORDON ROBERTSON: Have we sort of confused it? I know for me, I traveled Asia a great deal, and I was in Beijing. And they had a Nativity scene, and it was in the middle of the mall. I was just kind of amazed. Here I am in China, and they’re celebrating Christmas more than we can here in the United States. You’ve got Mary and Joseph. You’ve got the baby Jesus. You’ve got the wise men. You’ve got the shepherds. There is this big, huge celebration of the birth of Christ. But it’s also fascinating to actually talk to the Chinese about it. And this one gal in a shop was confused, and she thought that Santa Claus was somehow the father of the baby Jesus. So have we mixed the messages so much that you’ve lost the true meaning here? Bill Bennett: Maybe. And there are things going on, I would say, in our society that confuse the children. I don’t know if you heard, but they had a little dust up here in Washington. There was a rumor that there would not be a manger scene at the White House this year. GORDON ROBERTSON: No, I hadn’t heard that. Bill Bennett: But that was soon put to rest. Apparently, there will be. The Obamas overruled somebody’s bad idea here. Yes, it can confuse the children. And what I try to do here is sort out the story. It’s not the greatest Christmas story, the story of St. Nicholas. We know what the great story is, the only one great story, the birth of our Lord and Savior. But it’s a good story, and it has the same point: giving to give without any expectation of getting anything in return. And on that, there is no reason for children to be confused. GORDON ROBERTSON: There are also significant stories in his life about giving to the poor. Bill Bennett: Yes, absolutely. GORDON ROBERTSON: And contending for the poor, and contending particularly in times of great economic distress. Bill Bennett: Yes, that’s right. And there’s this mythology built up around him that he could look at the grain that came in from a ship and by his prayer this grain would be multiplied threefold or fourfold, very much of the stories of a biblical nature. But, again, what’s at the heart of Nicholas is the goodness, the passion for the Lord and the message of giving without an expectation that you will get anything in return. His parents died young. He decided to dedicate his life in this way. And everything suggests that he was a good and holy man, if a bit passionate and cantankerous. But that’s okay. That’s okay once in a while. It’s okay once in a while. GORDON ROBERTSON: It’s okay. When you’ve been through the persecution, when you’ve been through what he went through, it’s okay. You can say, “Okay, I understand you would do what you did.” Bill Bennett: That’s right. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, from our side to your side, Bill, Merry Christmas. Bill Bennett: Thanks. Thanks. Thank you very much. No point in doing that again. GORDON ROBERTSON: We can all celebrate Christ’s Mass together. Bill Bennett: Yes, we are all really in this one together now, aren’t we? All those differences can be forgotten given what we’re facing out there. GORDON ROBERTSON: It’s the amazing thing about persecution, how it really tends to remind us all what we share and to defend the faith together. Bill Bennett: “The soul of man can endure persecution,” but can he endure kind of being spoiled and made dependant on government? That’s the question. That’s one of the things we’re looking at and thinking about right now. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, one of the great lessons I learned in China, not just about Nativity scenes, is the Chinese Christians telling me, “Oh, don’t pray for us. We’re praying for the Christians in America, that the cares and concerns of this world will not choke the Word.” And I’ve carried that word with me for a long time. Bill Bennett: Wonderful. Wonderful. Thank you. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. Thanks for being with us. Bill Bennett: My pleasure. GORDON ROBERTSON: Bill Bennett’s book, The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas, I encourage you to get it. Get in touch with the tradition of the church. Many of us on the evangelical Protestant side of things don’t know the traditions. And I encourage you to read the church history. It’s fascinating. And you run into some wonderful characters like St. Nicholas. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It’s a great story, isn’t it? Quite a story that when his parents died that a young guy, a young man, would choose to dedicate his life to the Lord like that, compared where we’re at culturally today. GORDON ROBERTSON: And he had wealth and position and power and land, and he gave it all away. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Amazing. GORDON ROBERTSON: And gave it to the poor, gave it to those in need. An incredible story. And then suffered persecution for all of that. After he’d done that, he then gets thrown into prison, in a Roman prison, not a happy place, and tortured for the faith. TERRY MEEUWSEN: And continues to inspire us today. GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes. TERRY MEEUWSEN: A life well lived. Well, still ahead, one of the most popular Christian singers in the world almost became a doctor. GRAPHIC: CHRIS TOMLIN LIVE See what changed his mind, later on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST GORDON ROBERTSON: Up next . . . . GORDON ROBERTSON: Ready to start cooking? TERRY MEEUWSEN: I’m ready to start. GORDON ROBERTSON: Breakfast is served. GORDON ROBERTSON: Smell the nutmeg. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I can. That’s wonderful, isn’t it? GORDON ROBERTSON: Recipes that can make you a master chef. GORDON ROBERTSON: Now comes some technique time. And soufflés are all about technique. GORDON ROBERTSON: Next on The 700 Club. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Oh, wow. Melt in your mouth. GORDON ROBERTSON: You see how easy that is? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 2: GOLDLINE Man: Everywhere I turn, people are talking about gold prices. Gold has risen to new records. Gold prices have tripled in value since 2001. Gold is up almost 40 percent in the past two years. That’s right, 40 percent. 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So I went into the kitchen with Gordon and I got his recipe for making a great morning an unforgettable one. And you’re going to want these recipes, too. GORDON COOKS CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST GORDON ROBERTSON: Today, we’re going to teach a family tradition from the Robertson household that I learned from my mother. And we on Christmas morning will have Christmas breakfast. And Mom will make a soufflé. And so she taught me how to make a soufflé. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Brave woman. That lady . . . . GORDON ROBERTSON: But when you learn how to do it, it actually gets quite easy. TERRY MEEUWSEN: What kind of soufflé is it? GORDON ROBERTSON: Mom tended to make the cheddar cheese. I make the Gruyere with Parmesan. What we’re trying to do, though, is not have it overly complicated or a huge amount of work. We’re going to try to get this down to where within an hour’s preparation time, you’re going to be able to cook a marvelous soufflé for your family with all the other trappings that we’ll show you. And late Christmas morning, take a break and have a wonderful brunch together and enjoy the day. TERRY MEEUWSEN: That is great. That’s the best part of the whole morning time. GORDON ROBERTSON: Ready to start cooking? TERRY MEEUWSEN: I’m ready to start. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right, first you have to make the soufflé base. Start off with half a stick of butter. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: You put that in a warm pan. You’re not trying to make this too hot. You’re trying to make this never brown. You just want this melted and slightly bubbling. The temperature control on this is really crucial. If you’ve got an electric, my recommendation is take it periodically off the heat, so you’re not overheating it. TERRY MEEUWSEN: You simply want it melted. GORDON ROBERTSON: You simply wanted it melted and slightly frothy and bubbling, like you see there. Any wonderful butter. It needs to be whole butter, not margarine. And I prefer the unsalted. That way you can control the amount of salt. You then take five tablespoons of flour, and you gradually add this in. You’re not trying to do it all at once. And you let the flour come into the butter, and you take a whisk. And when all one tablespoon is incorporated, you come back at it again. And this is a gradual thing. What you’re trying to do here is cook out all the flour, so you don’t have a flour taste. You just want the effect of the flour, which is sort of the binding agent that allows things to come up nice. TERRY MEEUWSEN: So you’re just smoothing that in with each couple of tablespoons that you put in there. GORDON ROBERTSON: Right. We love this blond color. All right. And then you just sort of let it sit and get happy. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Really? GORDON ROBERTSON: And just be in there. TERRY MEEUWSEN: For how long? GORDON ROBERTSON: Just for about a minute or so. And all you’re trying to do is cook the flour . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Down. GORDON ROBERTSON: . . . . so it doesn’t have that sort of chalky flour taste. And it has this wonderful golden butter taste. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Awesome. So that kind of dissolves it a little bit. GORDON ROBERTSON: Okay. Now, you add some flavor components as it’s cooking, and just a pinch of fresh nutmeg. You’re not looking to make it real nutmeg-y, but just a pinch of that. And then a pinch of cayenne pepper. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Cayenne pepper? GORDON ROBERTSON: Oh, yes. TERRY MEEUWSEN: That looked like a little more than a pinch. GORDON ROBERTSON: That’s my pinch. A little pinch of salt. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: Salt just brings out flavor. And then you mix all that together. The next ingredient is the milk. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Here you go. GORDON ROBERTSON: Is that warm? TERRY MEEUWSEN: It’s warmed. GORDON ROBERTSON: You need it warmed. And then you gradually add this in, and you’ll see something that happens with it. With the milk, you’re trying to get the sauce to boil. And you see it coming together? TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: And for you at home, this is what you kind of do. It looks like kind of like . . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Mashed potatoes almost, or like a . . . . GORDON ROBERTSON: That’s a good one, mashed potatoes. And you just keep gradually adding in the warm milk and stirring. And the reason you gradually add is if you do it this way, it won’t lump. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: And you can smell the nutmeg. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I can. That’s wonderful, isn’t it? Just that little pinch. That’s amazing. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, the freshly grated is the key to nutmeg. And now it’s starting to look like real thin mashed potatoes. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It stays smooth. That’s really great. GORDON ROBERTSON: And now you let this come to a little bit of a boil. And you just take it easy, and you’re having a nice Christmas morning. If there is any milk or flour on the side, you can always scrape it down in. One of the biggest secrets for making a soufflé to rise is let your eggs be at room temperature, which means leave them out the night before. A room temperature egg will fluff a lot better . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Than something that’s cold and refrigerated. GORDON ROBERTSON: . . . . than cold. It does something to the egg whites that is not healthy. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. Now comes the cheese. This is about a cup of Gruyere. TERRY MEEUWSEN: That’s your favorite. GORDON ROBERTSON: That’s one of my favorites. And this like a quarter cup, half cup, of . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Like a Parmesan? GORDON ROBERTSON: . . . . Parmesan, all freshly grated. And you just let the heat of the sauce come into that. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Oh, okay. The fragrance of that is pretty good. GORDON ROBERTSON: You’re getting hungry already. All right, now turn the heat off. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay, completely. GORDON ROBERTSON: Completely, completely, completely. And we’re going to do something that is sort of a nice little trick. You’ve got six egg yolks. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Egg yolks. GORDON ROBERTSON: You’re going to need eight egg whites, six egg yolks. And you put your whole cheese mixture in here, because you don’t want to create scrambled eggs. So you use a little bit of the warm sauce and you mix this together and stir it. And this is called tempering. And you do this, because you don’t want scrambled eggs. Make sure everything is proper temperature, matching temperatures. You want to use a spatula for this stuff, because it really helps make sure you get it all. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay, so you’re just mixing that now all into one sauce. GORDON ROBERTSON: Right. No heat. This is all on its own, and we’re all good. This is now a soufflé base. And you’re done. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I’m done. GORDON ROBERTSON: And that’s easy, isn’t it? TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, yes. What are those egg whites for? GORDON ROBERTSON: Those egg whites are for this mixer. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. Oh. GORDON ROBERTSON: Now, the secret to egg whites is again make sure your eggs have been out all night, that they are room temperature. And you gradually bring it up to speed. When it gets to be a stiff peak, turn it off. Okay. Now comes some technique time. And soufflés are all about technique. You take about a third of this, a quarter of this, and you just plop it right into that. TERRY MEEUWSEN: So gradual is kind of the name of the game of this, right? GORDON ROBERTSON: It’s gradual incorporation, gradual whisking. And then the ultimate is how to fold at the end of the game. And this, you just want to fully incorporate these egg whites into this using a whisk. You’re not trying to keep the egg whites. You’re trying to add fluff and volume. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Really? GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. You’ve got your egg whites. You pour directly into the middle. And you scrape all that wonderful sauce into the middle. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Boy, that just grew about four times the size. GORDON ROBERTSON: It’s going to grow some more in the oven. And the whole goal with a soufflé is to keep the air in. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Inside. Okay, now. GORDON ROBERTSON: You put your spatula in this, directly in the center, and you fold. You turn, fold. TERRY MEEUWSEN: So you’re just going to . . . . GORDON ROBERTSON: Turn, fold. And you see how that process cuts up the whites, mixes in the sauce. TERRY MEEUWSEN: But doesn’t take the air out. GORDON ROBERTSON: But at the same time, you keep the air. And at the end, you still have your egg whites. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wow. GORDON ROBERTSON: You still have all that wonderful goodness, but they’re surrounded by sauce now. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Awesome. GORDON ROBERTSON: And that’s the key to a soufflé. Now. TERRY MEEUWSEN: And that’s going to fit in there. GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes. If you have left over, it’s okay. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. Now, what did you do to that? GORDON ROBERTSON: Butter and then Parmesan grated. And that creates a nice layer where it won’t stick to the pan, and the Parmesan will get nice and crusty. And the crusty parts of her soufflé are the best parts of the soufflé. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wonderful. Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: Just pour. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Just pour. GORDON ROBERTSON: And now all the stuff that’s at the bottom comes out, and you want that sort of in the middle on top. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Because that will get a sort of a crust to it as well? GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes. You can take your spatula and sort of smooth it over. You don’t want stray things. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Don’t push down the air, right? GORDON ROBERTSON: Just smooth it over, edge it over. And then the final trick. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: And that gets the . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Settling it in there. GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes. I do caution you that because these are so good, one will not be enough. Now, if you do two and you’re using eight egg whites and six egg yolks, you’re going to have four egg yolks left over. And you don’t want to waste them, do you? TERRY MEEUWSEN: No, I don’t. GORDON ROBERTSON: That would be bad. TERRY MEEUWSEN: That would be very bad. GORDON ROBERTSON: Especially when you can make a wonderful sauce. So I’m going to teach you another sauce. This is called a sabayon. It’s a very, very simple recipe. This my homemade double boiler. You put that on top, and it traps the steam inside. And you add a quarter cup of sugar to four eggs. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Really? GORDON ROBERTSON: And you stir it around. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Is that it? GORDON ROBERTSON: And you allow the heat to start to change it. And over time as it cooks, it starts to get blonder. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Really? GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. As the heat starts coming to it . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Want me to do that? GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes, you can. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Whoa, hello. Stay there. GORDON ROBERTSON: As you do that, you then take your cider, and you’re waiting for those eggs to start to turn a little more yellow. Then our soufflés are done. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Oh, my goodness. Yay, you! You get the award. Wow. That is unbelievable. Don’t drop it. GORDON ROBERTSON: If you want to make a Christian joke, you can say, “He is risen.” TERRY MEEUWSEN: Great Easter dish. Great Easter dish. GORDON ROBERTSON: He is risen, indeed. Let’s just turn that off and just let it . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: It’s getting there. GORDON ROBERTSON: It’s good now. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: Just let it—it needs to thicken up a little bit more. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right, the second is a trick for bacon. It’s just real easy. You take any kind of baking sheet that’s raised, cover it in tin foil, and you just lay the strips out and bake it for 20 minutes in an oven at 350. TERRY MEEUWSEN: This is beautiful. GORDON ROBERTSON: And it comes out like this every single time with every one straight and perfectly cooked. And it’s a great way to cook a lot of bacon for a lot of people. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Forty minutes, did you say? GORDON ROBERTSON: Twenty minutes. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Twenty minutes and 350. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, just watch it and see. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. The proof is in the pudding, and oh, yes. Oh, yes. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Unbelievable. GORDON ROBERTSON: Oh, this is—yes. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Perfect. GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes, this is a good one. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Thank you. I’ll take this. You take one. GORDON ROBERTSON: I’ll take one now. The crusty part is my family’s favorite. How did I do? TERRY MEEUWSEN: Oh, wow. Melt in your mouth. GORDON ROBERTSON: You see how easy that is? TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wow. That is like an explosion of taste, isn’t it? Well, you all need to do this. GORDON ROBERTSON: We’re going to take a break. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes. We’re going to eat here while you write down the ingredients. GORDON ROBERTSON: I’m going to go back and check on the sabayon. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Oh, Gordon, that’s wonderful. GORDON ROBERTSON: We should be—oh, yes. Here we go. It’s like a custard pudding. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Not thick, but body. It has body. GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes. All right. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Gosh, this is so good. GORDON ROBERTSON: Now, this is a wonderful fruit topping. You can use it on any kind of desserts. There are plenty of creative ways. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I’m just going to keep eating while you do that. GORDON ROBERTSON: You can take it directly out of this bowl. TERRY MEEUWSEN: While it’s still warm. GORDON ROBERTSON: And you put it on top of—I like it on strawberries and all those wonderful ruby red grapefruits you can get. This makes a, once you have the soufflé . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Oh, it’s so beautiful. Okay, can I taste? GORDON ROBERTSON: Absolutely. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It’s fabulous. GORDON ROBERTSON: And you can have a very Merry Christmas. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I’m having a very Merry Christmas right today. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: CHRISTMAS WITH CHRIS TOMLIN GORDON ROBERTSON: Still ahead . . . . Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Joy to the world . . . .” GORDON ROBERTSON: Christmas music with award winning singer Chris Tomlin. Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Emmanuel, Emmanuel . . . .” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3: LOVE FINDS A HOME Announcer: From bestselling author Janette Oke . . . . . Actor: Can you see it? Actress: A cabin, with curtains in the windows. Announcer: . . . . and acclaimed producer-director Michael Landon, Jr. . . . . Actor: Don’t leave. Stay with me. Announcer: . . . . comes the inspiring and heartwarming movie series that will captivate the entire family. Now available through this special TV offer, the Love Comes Softly DVD collection. Katherine Heigl, Dale Midkiff, Erin Cottrell and January Jones star in this original series that explores one family’s journey from heartbreak to triumph in the rugged heartland of America. Actress: I hope to be a doctor someday. Actor: Why would a lady want to subject herself to such a taxing line of work? Actor: Oh, boy. Announcer: Eight unforgettable stories you and your family will enjoy together. And the series continues with a new release, Love Finds a Home, starting Haylie Duff and acclaimed actress Patty Duke. Actress: The Lord says we are to forgive if we expect to be forgiven. Announcer: Call now to order Love Finds a Home on DVD for 17.95 and ask how you can get free shipping. Plus, find out how you can own the complete Love Comes Softly collection. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FLAGPOLE VICTORY LEE WEBB: And welcome back to The 700 Club. A medal of honor winner will be able to keep an American flag flying over his home. Retired Army Colonel Van Barfoot lives in Richmond, Virginia neighborhood that bans stand alone flagpoles in the front yard. The Homeowner’s Association threatened to find the 90-year-old veteran unless he took it down. The controversy triggered a public outcry. Even Virginia’s governor, a US senator and the Obama Administration spoke out against the move. So the association finally dropped its demands. THIS WEEK IN OB LEE WEBB: World AIDS Day is an annual December event to raise support and awareness for the fight against HIV/AIDS. This year Operation Blessing organized a special even to help more than 500 children in India who are HIV-positive. Nutritional packages as well as school bags were provided to the children. In Hyderabad, Operation Blessing International provides support at a local clinic. Residents received free care, counseling, vitamins and supplements. And you can find out more about the work of Operation Blessing at OB.org. GRAPHIC: FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO OB.ORG Gordon and Terry will be back with more of The 700 Club, right after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4A: BOSE Announcer: These are the new Bose QuietComfort 15 noise canceling headphones, engineered to make air travel quieter, more relaxing, and to make listening to music more enjoyable. Bose was the first to introduce noise canceling headphones over 20 years ago. And now QC15 headphones set an entirely new standard. Seth Porges of Popular Mechanics states that, “Compared to the competition, the QC15s are vastly superior.” Mark A. Kellner of the Washington Times says they “reproduce music with extreme clarity, fidelity and definition.” And with a very comfortable fit, you won’t find any other headphones like them. When you fly, engine roar fades away. You’ll also hear a lifelike music reproduction you may never have experienced. Try QC15 headphones for 30 days risk free, with free shipping. Compare them to any other headphones and judge for yourself. New Quiet Comfort 15 headphones. Performance that’s only from Bose. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4B: REGENT ANNOUNCER: All over the world, there are minds to inspire and opportunities for change. At Regent University, we prepare you to become a Christian leader and guide others in all walks of life. And with online classes from Regent, you can change the world from anywhere in the world. Regent University. Online education with a solid foundation. Visit anywhere.regent.edu. Or call 866-REGENT-U to request your welcome kit. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: Chris Tomlin has been called the most often sung artist anywhere, and with good reason. Worship songs like “How Great is Our God” and “Holy is the Lord” have become literally church staples. He has released several chart topping albums, and now the one he has always wanted to do. SET-UP PIECE Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Joy to the world . . . .” SHAWN BROWN: Chris Tomlin is one of the most well known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. He’s won numerous awards and continues to inspire millions of people around the world. His latest CD, Glory in the Highest, is his first Christmas album. Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Emmanuel, Emmanuel . . . .” Chris Tomlin: I’ve always wanted to do an album of Christmas songs. I love that Christmas season where you get to sing these songs, some of the greatest songs, to me, ever written. And I loved taking these songs and really capturing them as songs of worship. Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Emmanuel, Emmanuel . . . .” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GUEST: CHRIS TOMLIN TERRY MEEUWSEN: Please welcome back to The 700 Club acclaimed singer and songwriter, Chris Tomlin. It’s great to have you back here with us. Chris Tomlin: Thank you so much. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I hear that you almost became a doctor. Chris Tomlin: Well, thankfully, for all the people who are sick in the world, that did not happen, because, yes, when I went to school and I started premed, and I realized that I had just finished 12 years of school and didn’t want to do another 12. TERRY MEEUWSEN: And that’s what it would be. Chris Tomlin: And that’s what it would be. And then I thought, “Well, I’ll go into sports medicine, go into physical therapy.” And so I was on my way to physical therapy school, trying to get into grad school. And at the same time, God was just opening all these doors with music in an incredible way. I was just like, “This is incredible.” I would be in my apartment. I’d be studying chemistry, and I’d be looking at my guitar, be studying chemistry, looking at my guitar. I was like, “I think I’d rather play this guitar.” TERRY MEEUWSEN: I was just going to say, what’s the question? Chemistry, guitar, chemistry, guitar. Chris Tomlin: Yes. Yes. And really, really, it was one of those moments, though. I really sensed from a young kid that—I don’t know what it was, but I always had kind of a sensitive heart to God, wanted to follow Him, wanted to do whatever He wanted me to do. And God reminded me of that all through these years in college. And so I’d be sitting there thinking, “Okay, I need to get a real job. This music thing is a hobby. What am I really thinking? How do you do this?” TERRY MEEUWSEN: But you know what, that’s when God can trust you with it, is when it’s not like, “I’ve got to have this.” Chris Tomlin: Right. Oh, no. And I prayed as a young kid, “God, whatever you want me to do for the rest of my life, that’s what I’ll do.” And I didn’t pray, “I want to be a songwriter. I want to be on stage. I want to play concerts.” That was not my prayer. And I think that’s such a good, honest prayer as a kid, of like, “Lord, this is not what I want you to do for me.” It’s like, “I will do whatever you want.” TERRY MEEUWSEN: It’s a good, honest prayer every day. Chris Tomlin: Yes, exactly. TERRY MEEUWSEN: For your whole life. Chris Tomlin: Exactly. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It’s a good, honest prayer. Chris Tomlin: Exactly. TERRY MEEUWSEN: So then God takes you into the music business. And Chris, you have written so many songs that have led all of us right into the throne room for worship. What inspires you? Like when you write a song, what happens between you and God? Chris Tomlin: Well, I’ve tried to sit down at my piano or guitar and think, “I want to write a song today that the whole world is going to sing.” And you’ve never heard any of those songs, because it doesn’t work that way. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes, it’s true. Chris Tomlin: It’s those times where you’re just really pouring your heart out to God, because worship music is this music that’s really, it’s just amazing to see how this music has been the language across the world, really, in the church, especially in younger generations. It is the language of the generations. And this music is incredible, what God is doing with it. And those songs don’t come from thinking, from a formula. Those songs come from your heart and come from scripture. So many of my songs just come from reading scripture. I remember reading Isaiah 6, and it said, “They called forth one to another, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is full of His glory.’” I start singing this song, “Holy Is the Lord.” I start reading Psalm 104:2, and, “O Lord, how great you are. And you’re clothed with splendor and majesty.” “And How Great Is Our God,” I just start singing that out. I don’t even know where those come from, really, but worship in its essence is response to God for who He is and how great He is. And so that’s kind of where the songs come from. And then if I could just, I started thinking, I have a responsibility. God has given me this responsibility for people. And so I don’t want to just take this to myself in just the way I like it, but I started thinking about the people out there and how can I write a song that they can sing and that they want to sing and that they need to sing, a song that means something, a song that has some depth to it that teaches them about God. But also it’s a melody they can sing. And so that’s what I’m always thinking about when I’m writing these songs. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Do you know when you’ve found it? Chris Tomlin: Sometimes. And sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I have a feeling about a song, but every once in a while they catch me by surprise. TERRY MEEUWSEN: You said in that little video clip that we saw that you had always wanted to do a Christmas CD. Why is Christmas music special? Chris Tomlin: I love it. It’s some of the most beautifully written songs. And there is something amazing about Christmas music, too. And I know you know this. What’s incredible is that it transcends our culture today. You walk in the mall right now, and you’ll hear songs about Jesus. It’s the only time you’re going to hear it. TERRY MEEUWSEN: You can’t say Merry Christmas, but you will hear songs about Jesus. Chris Tomlin: I was in the mall in New York, and I was in this mall, and I’m hearing, “O Come All Ye Faithful.” I’m hearing, “O come let us adore Him,” sung all over this mall. And I’m like, “This is pretty amazing.” And there’s something special that this season transcends culture. And people get it whether they really know they’re getting it or not. And I’ve always wanted to do a CD like this, because I love these songs. I love leading these songs. And I love capturing the spirit of worship that’s in these songs. Some of the greatest lyrics I think ever written on some of these songs. TERRY MEEUWSEN: They really are. Chris Tomlin: You start singing “O, Holy Night,” and I can barely get through it. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Powerful. Chris Tomlin: It’s just so powerful. “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “Come All Ye Faithful,” all these amazing songs that have been passed down and made it for generations and generations. Can you imagine writing a song and 300 years from now someone singing it? TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, you won’t be here to hear it, but I highly suspect some of yours will still be sung. Chris Tomlin: I don’t know about that. But that’s amazing. TERRY MEEUWSEN: What are you going to sing for us today? Chris Tomlin: I’m going to sing this song I’ve written on there. It’s an original for the record. It’s called “Emmanuel: Hallowed Manger Ground.” TERRY MEEUWSEN: Awesome. I’m going to let you go set up to sing while I tell folks how they can get a hold of this. As Chris goes over to the music set, we’d like you to know that you can get a copy of his new Christmas album. It is called Glory in the Highest. You are going to want this. It features old classics, some of the ones we’ve just talked about, as well as new favorites. And this is available to anyone who wants it nationwide. Plus, if you’re in the Hampton Roads area, Chris is going to be performing live tonight at Rock Church. GRAPHIC: CHRIS TOMLIN’S “GLORY IN THE HIGHEST” TOUR 7:00 P.M. ROCK CHURCH, VIRGINIA BEACH You pick up tickets at the door. Without further ado, here is Chris Tomlin, singing the new release, “Emmanuel.” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SONG: “EMMANUEL” Chris Tomlin (Singing): “What hope we hold . . . .” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5: HUMANA Announcer: Over the last several months, we’ve been talking with everyone who has Medicare about the money-saving health plans from Humana. These are all-in-one plans that combine medical and prescription drug coverage, all with an affordable monthly health plan premium that may surprise you. If you have a separate drug plan with original Medicare or with a Medicare supplement, you could be getting more benefits and saving money with Humana’s Medicare health plans. Could Humana be a better value for your health care dollar? Call 1-888-411-8607. Or go online to HumanaFreeBook.com and get this free booklet that will help you decide if our all-in-one plans are right for you. More than one million people have made the call and are enjoying Humana’s all-in-one Medicare plans. The facts you need are in the book, and it’s totally free. Call 1-888-411-8607. Or go to HumanaFreeBook.com. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: In one part of India, more than 300 people die every month from malaria. Not long ago, entire families were in danger of being wiped out, until a medical team from Operation Blessing arrived in their village. DASU AND BODRI TERRY MEEUWSEN: The Araku Valley lies in the eastern mountains of India. The landscape is beautiful, but inside the valley are hundreds of people who are quickly dying. Dasu, Bodri and their three children were among them. Their entire family was infected with cerebral malaria, a fatal disease that's carried by mosquitoes. Dasu and Bodri had few options. Until recently, there were no roads into their village, so they were cut off from the rest of the world. Bodri: The only person we could go to for help was a witch doctor, but we refused to go to him, because we believed in Jesus. We prayed with our pastor and believed God for a miracle. TERRY MEEUWSEN: That miracle came when a new road made it possible for vehicles to reach their village for the very first time. Operation Blessing came in and conducted a medical camp. Bodri: I heard about the medical camp and walked all the way through a dense forest with my kids. After we were diagnosed with cerebral malaria, the doctors wanted to go to our home and test my husband as well. So we rode back in the medical bus. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Dasu also tested positive for malaria. Each member of the family got a three-day course of medicine that saved their lives. Dasu: This is the first time doctors from outside have come to our village and our home. You came and found out about us, and then gave us medical treatment for free. I have never seen this act of kindness in my life. TERRY MEEUWSEN: On this medical mission, the team treated over 500 people with cerebral malaria. They also gave out mosquito nets and taught families how to prevent further outbreaks. Bodri: I was afraid, because we see people dying all the time. But by God’s grace, you gave us a blood test and medicines right away. I am really happy that you came to help us. Dasu: Our family would have died if you had not come here and treated us. We are grateful and thankful for your help. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: And thank you. If you’re a member of The 700 Club, you’re part of that. You’re part of bringing medical care to people who have no access to medical care. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM And I know from personal experience what it’s like to have cerebral malaria. And if you’re in the hills of India with no access to medical care, the end result of cerebral malaria is usually death. So to reach out with hands of love and compassion, to bring that to them free of charge, is just wonderful. It’s a wonderful thing to do. What an expression of love. If you want to be a part of what we’re doing, all you have to do is join The 700 Club. How much is that? Well, it’s 20 dollars a month. It’s only 65 cents a day. And you join tens of thousands of other people that want to make a difference today, that want to do something about all the terrible things you hear in the news and the things that are going on around the world, to say, “Okay, we can make a difference. We can help people in need. We can be a part of it,” just by joining The 700 Club. A portion of every gift goes into the work of Operation Blessing to do that, to have medical teams that go out to the hillsides of India to treat people. Another portion goes into the work of CBN WorldReach to preach the Gospel through television, through the Internet, around the world, in so many languages I can’t keep track of it anymore, 12 regional centers all preaching the Gospel. And if you want to do something significant, some of you say, “Well, 20 dollars a month, that’s fine, but I can do more.” I encourage you to join 700 Club Gold. That’s 40 dollars a month. There is also 1000 Club. That’s 1,000 dollars a year. Some of you can say, “Yes, I can make an even larger contribution.” GRAPHIC: CALL NOW TO JOIN! 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM This Christmas season, whatever level God is speaking to you, do it now. Call us: 1-800-759-0700. I also encourage you to join via Pledge Express. You can do that automatically on CBN.com. GRAPHIC: FREE WITH PLEDGE EXPRESS 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM When you join that way, you get “Power for Life” monthly teaching CDs. But do it now. Whatever way you want to join, whatever level God is speaking to you, do it now. Don’t wait. Take the phone now and call us: 1-800-759-0700. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BRING IT ON GORDON ROBERTSON: We’ve got a little bit of time for some Bring It On questions. TERRY MEEUWSEN: We do. GORDON ROBERTSON: What have you got? TERRY MEEUWSEN: The first one is from Theo, who says, “Sometimes when I walk into a room, I feel a sense of darkness and pray against it. How can I tell if my prayers are making a difference?” GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, Theo, the darkness should leave. And that’s how you tell when you have impact, when you have something tangible that happens. That’s why when I pray for people, particularly for healing, I always encourage them, “Now, do something that you couldn’t do before.” And so it’s that change. It’s that change in time and space, where you understand that yes, your prayer was answered, and you act on that answer. And so if you’ve got a sense of darkness in a particular room, go in that room, pray, command it to leave, take the authority given to you, and it will leave. And the darkness has to go away. And I learned this in Asia long ago. What can darkness do to light? Nothing. Nothing. You’re bringing the light. Darkness has to leave. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay, this is Kaitlyn, who says, “King David committed adultery and murder, yet in the Bible he is called a man after God’s own heart. I don’t get it. How could an adulterer and murderer have God’s own heart?” GORDON ROBERTSON: That’s a good question. And I’ll try to give you a short answer, because I’ve only got a minute. You look at what King Saul did. King Saul didn’t kill another king in his livestock when God commanded him to. And then in the aftermath when the prophet came to him, he tried to make light of it, “Oh, I’m bringing all these animals to give sacrifice to the Lord.” And he first tried to cover it up, and then he tried to make excuses for it, and then he tried to do other things to say, “Well, what I did wasn’t so bad.” Well, the prophet spoke to him and said, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” You have the same king, the next king, David. What he does is a whole lot worse in my eyes. He committed murder and adultery and tried to cover all that up. But when the prophet came to him, his first reaction was, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And he went into fasting and prayer, and he repented. And that’s the difference. And that’s why his heart by God was judged to be better than the heart of Saul. We leave you with these words from Psalm 37 . . . . GRAPHIC: Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” (NKJV) . . . . “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” GRAPHIC: COPYRIGHT 2009 CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: STEVE FORBES GORDON ROBERTSON: Next week. America’s financial mess. Publisher Steve Forbes reveals what caused it and the one thing that can end it. * * * GRAPHIC: KURT WARNER GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus, NFL gunslinger Kurt Warner goes for the Hail Mary . . . . Kurt Warner: Short, brown, spiky hair with the miniskirt on and the red boots. GORDON ROBERTSON: . . . . and fumbles. Woman: Seriously, I’m not playing a game. GORDON ROBERTSON: Meet the teammate that got him back in the game. Next week on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END SPOT: HOLIDAY OF HOPE Announcer: It’s Christmastime, the wonderful season when we remember the birth of Jesus Christ. 700 Club partners, this is the perfect time to make your celebration complete, by helping people who are in desperate need. Your donation to CBN’s Holiday of Hope will provide gifts that will help support families all year long. You give food and clothing, sewing machines, and water wells, livestock for milk and cheese, job training and medical supplies, even scholarships and school materials that bring the promise of a better life. Most importantly, you preach the Gospel to people lost in darkness. You can bring glad tidings of great joy this year. Your life changing kindness will be remembered long after the ornaments and decorations are packed away. Give to CBN’s Holiday of Hope. It’s like inviting the world to your Christmas morning.