The 700 Club: December 9, 2009

________________________________________ The 700 Club Daily Broadcast Wednesday, December 9, 2009 PAT ROBERTSON: Well, welcome to The 700 Club. And it is . . . . KRISTI WATTS: Your favorite day, Skinny Wednesday. PAT ROBERTSON: . . . . Skinny Wednesday. And today our good friend Sandra Lee from the Food Network is here. She’s going to show us some hassle free holiday meals. And best of all, according to Sandra, they are good for you. KRISTI WATTS: And they’re also really yummy, too. Plus, we’re going to meet a family whose house was actually killing them. We’re going to tell you how to check your home to see if you have the same problem. PAT ROBERTSON: And we’re also going to warn certain people about eating grapefruit. I love grapefruit, but there are certain medicines you take that grapefruit, you can’t eat. So I was going to bring you a grapefruit so I could give you some of mine. KRISTI WATTS: Did you bring me a grapefruit? PAT ROBERTSON: I didn’t, but I will. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. PAT ROBERTSON: Okay. But first in the news, the Senate has defeated a plan to keep tax dollars from being used to pay for abortions. In other words, the amendment said you can’t use tax dollars to pay for abortions, but the Senate said, “Oh, yes, you will.” Well, they may lose votes on account of that. Jennifer Wishon has this report. CARE JENNIFER WISHON: Fifty Democrats, two Republicans and one Independent defeated the pro-life measure 54 to 45 after hours of emotional debate. Sen. George Voinovich ([R] Ohio): I personally believe all children born and unborn are precious gifts from God, and we have a moral responsibility to protect them. JENNIFER WISHON: The amendment, sponsored by Democratic Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, would put the long-standing Hyde amendment into law. That is a requirement that blocks the use of federal funds to pay for abortions except in the cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother. Currently the amendment has to be attached to federal spending bills every year. The Nelson amendment also prevented insurers that receive federal subsidies from covering abortion, and that is what bothered pro-choice lawmakers most. Sen. Barbara Boxer ([D] California): What this amendment does is it says there's one group of people here who we're going treat differently here, and we're going to take one procedure that only applies to them and say they can't buy health insurance for that procedure, only if it's a separate rider.” JENNIFER WISHON: Outside of moral implications, Senator Sam Brownback argues paying for abortions is fiscally irresponsible; since the last time the federal government paid for the procedure it funded 300,000 abortions per year. Sen. Sam Brownback ([R] Kansas): And at a time of hemorrhaging debt that the federal government being supportive and funding of elective abortions flies in the face of our trying to restrain or bend the cost curve down in this legislation. JENNIFER WISHON: Meanwhile, Democrats have reached a tentative agreement with moderate senators who have been leery of any type of public health insurance option. Sen. Harry Reid ([D-NV] Majority Leader): This is a consensus that will help ensure the American people win in a couple of different ways. One, insurance companies will certainly have more competition, and two, the American people will certainly have more choices. JENNIFER WISHON: Reid must have the support of all 58 Democratic senators and two Independents to pass the legislation and overcome a Republican filibuster. Even then, the Senate legislation may still face hurdles in the House, where a coalition of pro-life Democrat and Republican lawmakers have promised to create problems for any healthcare legislation they believe does not protect life. GRAPHIC: SEPT. 8TH Rep. Bart Stupak ([D] Michigan): So I won't promise my vote on the final bill until I have a chance to read everything, look at it and make sure we're not doing anything to jeopardize the sanctity of life either at the beginning of life or the end of life. JENNIFER WISHON: Senate leaders still hope to take a final vote on their bill before Christmas. Jennifer Wishon, CBN News, Washington. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, the most merciful thing we can do to that bill is to stop it and kill it and then rewrite it. It’s iniquitous. It’s done wrong. It’s going to hurt people. It’s going to hurt seniors. It’s going to hurt poor people. It’s going to hurt wealthy people. It’s going to hurt the health industry. There are few groups in this country that won’t be damaged by this legislation. But once it gets in, it will be like cancer. It will be very hard to get it out of the system. So perhaps the abortion matter might be the thing that stumps it up, because there are enough people in the House that wanted some kind of restriction on abortion, that they didn’t want federal funding for abortion. And there might be enough in the Senate to block it. Well, Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee, what have you got? COPENHAGEN CONTROVERSY LEE WEBB: Pat, a new controversy at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit. Leaked documents show that poor nations will demand that wealthy countries pay for more of the costs of fighting so-called global warming; and those costs could be huge. Analysts expect it to run more than 10 trillion dollars in the next 20 years or so. That’s because trying to bring down the global temperature even slightly would mean huge changes in lifestyles, economic development and even agriculture. MASSIVE SNOWSTORM LEE WEBB: While delegates are debating global warming in Copenhagen, a massive storm is moving across much of the US. More than 20 inches of snow fell near Flagstaff, Arizona. In North Dakota, temperatures dropped to minus 14. Man: It's getting worse. The farther north you go, the worse it gets. Mike Caplan (Meteorologist, WLS-TV): You're going to have blizzard conditions, even after the precipitation stops falling from the clouds. You're going to have some snow on the ground that's going to be wind whipped at 40 to 50 miles per hour. LEE WEBB: Eight states have now issued blizzard warnings, and at least five deaths have been blamed on the storms. EU LEE WEBB: The European Union has endorsed a watered-down foreign policy declaration calling for Jerusalem to become the capital of two states. Chris Mitchell has that story from Israel. CHRIS MITCHELL: Israel invested top efforts to persuade the European Union to back off from the foreign policy declaration that in essence calls for the division of Jerusalem. The original Swedish draft called for a state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital. On Tuesday, EU ministers said they would “not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem other than those agreed by the parties.” From 1948 to 1967 Jerusalem was divided. Israel united the city under its control during the 1967 Six-Day War and considers the entire city to be its capital forever. But the EU declaration says, “If there is to be a genuine peace, a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states.” The EU also said it is seriously concerned about the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process. The 27-member states called for the urgent resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that would lead to a two-state solution. But Israel says the declaration would have the opposite effect. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Dani Ayalon says the declaration will not promote Israeli-Palestinian talks. Dani Ayalon (Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister): A one-sided declaration is not going to be helpful in bringing the sides together in order to achieve progress towards peace. And I do not think that one-sided resolutions, which have been consistently put against Israel, is the right way to move, and it's certainly not helpful. CHRIS MITCHELL: The declaration did take note of Israel's recent 10-month freeze on building in Judea and Samaria, the West Bank. But it said it didn’t go far enough. It urged a complete halt to all building, including natural growth in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Chris Mitchell, CBN News, Jerusalem. LEE WEBB: Pat, you knew Benjamin Netanyahu very well. I can’t imagine he’s going to let this stand. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, his first time running for prime minister, he said the status of Jerusalem is non-negotiable. And I think it’s still the truth. He’s got to stand that. Now, Lee, here’s what we’ve got to remember from prophecy: there is no such thing as a battle of Armageddon. That is not in the Bible. The Bible says that the forces will gather at Armageddon, and then they’re going to move on to Jerusalem. The fight is going to be over Jerusalem. That will be the fight, as the nations of the earth come against Israel. And God Almighty says, “I will defend you.” And it’s going to take divine intervention to rescue the state of Israel, because all the nations are going to be against her, and she’s going to say, “We will not move on this issue.” So we’re looking at important prophecy being set up right now. GRAPEFRUIT LEE WEBB: Pat, in other news, an important warning about a popular breakfast food. Many people eat grapefruit as part of a healthy diet, so it may come as a surprise to hear that the fruit can actually be hazardous to your health if you’re taking certain medications. Lorie Johnson explains. LORIE JOHNSON: This grapefruit make look perfectly safe, but it contains enzymes that, when combined with certain medications, can cause overdoses or underdoses, less of the drug you need. A Washington woman nearly lost her leg from a blood clot after the grapefruit she ate interfered with her birth control pills. Grapefruit interacts with many types of widely prescribed drugs. Candice Carino (Pharmacist): The main ones are called statins. Cymbastatin is one, which a lot of people know more of Zocor. Lobastatin is another one. Some other heart medications or blood pressure medications. Valium or Diazipam is another one, which can be used for anxiety or muscle spasms. LORIE JOHNSON: Grapefruit also interacts with some allergy pills. Check to see if grapefruit consumption is among the warnings that come with your drug. If you're unsure whether your medication mixes with grapefruit, talk to your pharmacist or doctor, because even small amounts can cause big trouble if combined with the wrong drug. Candice Carino: Even the slightest amount of grapefruit, the actual fruit or the juice itself, any other variations of grapefruit, like pink grapefruit, can actually affect absorption of your medications and can interact with that. LORIE JOHNSON: Fortunately, not all citrus fruits interact with drugs. Lemons, oranges and limes are okay. But use caution when consuming grapefruit while also taking certain medications. Lorie Johnson, CBN News. LEE WEBB: Pat, this was a huge disappointment to me a couple of years ago when I found about it. I take a statin for cholesterol. And I grew up in Florida eating Indian River grapefruit, and I love it. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I get the Texas pinkmeats from down in the Rio Grande Valley, the most delicious fruit. And the Florida fruits as well. I love grapefruit. But if you’re taking any of these blood thinners, it will accelerate the work of the blood thinners, and so I don’t know about all the interaction with the statins, but it’s terrible. KRISTI WATTS: It is. And I was actually surprised to learn that even women who are taking birth control pills, that this can affect that in terms of blood clots and other issues. PAT ROBERTSON: I’ve got a whole bushel of grapefruit in from Texas, and I’m going to have to give you some of them, because I can’t eat them. KRISTI WATTS: I have no problem with that. Bring them on over, brother. PAT ROBERTSON: You’re sure? You’re not taking any of those things? KRISTI WATTS: I’m not taking anything. PAT ROBERTSON: I don’t want to hurt you. Anyhow, Lee, it breaks our heart, but that’s the way it is. WEIGHT AND HEART DISEASE LEE WEBB: Yes. You might be able to tell what your chances are for developing heart disease just by measuring your waistline. In a 10-year study, Dutch scientists found that half of all fatal heart disease cases were linked to being overweight and a high body mass index, or large waist. One in seven non-fatal heart disease cases could be attributed to being overweight. Pat, back to you. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, thank you very much. There are just more things coming up. On Christmas, you’ve got to cut your—you can’t eat grapefruit if you’re taking certain medicine. I’m just heartsick. KRISTI WATTS: I know. But you can have other things. PAT ROBERTSON: I know. Oranges. KRISTI WATTS: You can have oranges and lemons. PAT ROBERTSON: And I can squeeze a lime in the morning. KRISTI WATTS: There you go. PAT ROBERTSON: I’m so happy. KRISTI WATTS: There you go. PAT ROBERTSON: Okay. All right, what’s next? KRISTI WATTS: Well, up next, an interesting story. A serial killer lurked in their house, and he was attacking their kids. Man: This was a child I had to literally carry to the bathroom, so he could throw up. Woman: And then it was all four kids, then every night was like that. KRISTI WATTS: Find out who this killer is and how to tell if he’s in your home, too. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: SANDRA LEE WENDY GRIFFITH: Coming later, give the holidays that homemade touch. The Food Network’s Sandra Lee shares her secrets to a happy and healthy holiday meal. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 1: GOLDLINE Son: So, Dad, I thought I was doing fine. And then we have a recession, and now people are talking about inflation. What’s next? Father: Well, no one knows the future. That’s why your mom and I have one basic rule. We never put all of our eggs in one basket. It’s one of the reasons why we have included gold as part of our investments. Son: Why is including gold so important? Father: Gold is important because it’s a hedge against inflation. It will help diversify your portfolio, especially if you’re saving for the future. We have owned gold for a long time. But unlike our other investments, it’s an asset that I can hold in my hand. Son: Those are great points you’re making. I should invest in gold. Who do I call? Spokesman: If you’re thinking about owning gold, but don’t know how, do what I did. Call Goldline, a company helping people diversify their investments with gold for 50 years. It’s easy to own gold. They’ll walk you through the steps to get started and answer any questions you may have. Call Goldline now. Ask for your free investor’s kit and make gold part of your future and your family’s future. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: BROKEN APART WENDY GRIFFITH: From a broken home . . . . Woman: A fit of rage. It was very scary. WENDY GRIFFITH: . . . . to a broken heart. Woman: He said, “You should just date other people. See you.” WENDY GRIFFITH: One spurned lover goes for revenge. Woman: I did everything I could do to not ever have to be left. * * * GRAPHC: CHRIS TOMLIN LIVE WENDY GRIFFITH: And on Friday . . . . . Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Joy to the world . . . .” WENDY GRIFFITH: A live performance from worship leader Chris Tomlin. Chris Tomlin (Singing): “Emmanuel . . . .” WENDY GRIFFITH: This week on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAT ROBERTSON: Hey, it’s a great day wherever you are. It’s a great day here. There is a place up in the mountains of Virginia called The Homestead. And you call up to try to find out what the weather is. And they always say, “It’s a beautiful day at The Homestead.” It can be pouring rain. It can be snowing. It can be thunder. But it’s always a beautiful day. So it’s a beautiful day wherever you are. Well, the federal government has developed protective guidelines for hazards such as radon, asbestos and lead paint. But another danger has been virtually ignored, even though it can cause very, very serious health issues. And as Heather Sells reports, it’s a problem that can be found in one out of every four American homes. FOCUS: FABRY FAMILY HEATHER SELLS: Andrea and Chris Fabry used to live in this beautiful 5,500 square foot home with their nine kids and two dogs. They had it all, Chris, a successful Christian radio host and author, and the kids thriving at school, home and church. But in 2007, they discovered mold in this bathroom. The Fabry’s cut into the wall, accidentally releasing spores and setting off a series of health problems. They ranged from rashes to diabetes, and then worse. Chris Fabry remembers 11-year-old Reagan's constant vertigo. Chris Fabry (Family Suffers From Mold Exposure): This was a child I had to literally carry to the bathroom so he could throw up. And no doctor would say—they would say, “You can't have vertigo all the time. That's not possible.” HEATHER SELLS: Ten-year-old Kaitlyn had to give up reading after her vision blurred. Next, seven-year-old Colin became sick. Andrea Fabry (Family Suffers From Mold Exposure): He would be doubled over with abdominal pain, sobbing, and migraines where he would scream. His headaches would be so severe that he would just literally sit there and scream. And then it was all four kids, then every night was like that. HEATHER SELLS: At this point, the Fabry’s had no idea that mold was to blame. Part of the problem, remediators used fans on the mold, spreading toxic spores throughout the home. Also, 30 doctors questioned the Fabry’s, but not one asked about their environment. Andrea Fabry: I would have doctor after doctor look at me and say, “Have you thought of a psychologist for him or her? Have you thought of just sending them back and giving them a little bit of tough love? I think that’s what they need.” HEATHER SELLS: Finally, a year later, an indoor air test confirmed Andrea's deepening suspicion: dangerously high counts of mold spores in several rooms. The toxicologist told the family, “Your house is killing you. Get out.” And so they left, leaving behind everything, even putting down their two dogs to prevent future contamination. It turns out there are only a handful of doctors in the country who specialize in treating mold, and so the Fabry’s decided to move to Arizona to seek the help of Dr. Michael Gray who specializes in treating mold and practices in rural Benson, just south of Tucson. Dr. Michael Gray (Mold Expert): And the Fabry’s have had a pattern of illness that reflects what we’ve been seeing with other patients. HEATHER SELLS: Gray says urine tests confirmed high levels of toxins in all 11 family members. But he doesn’t blame their doctors. He blames the medical system. Dr. Michael Gray: It is an area that is not well-taught, and it is not well-recognized. HEATHER SELLS: Dr. David Jacobs is a former HUD director and now leads research for the National Center for Healthy Housing. Dr. David Jacobs (Nat’l. Center for Healthy Housing): We are still struggling to understand which species of mold produce which specific health outcomes. HEATHER SELLS: Jacobs estimates that up to 25 percent of US homes have a mold problem. It’s a recognized hazard, going all the way back to Bible times. In Leviticus 14, the Lord commands Moses and Aaron to follow up on mold complaints: “The priest must go in and check it. He must look carefully at the mold that is on the walls.” Today, the World Health Organization says exposure to toxic mold can hurt the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems and even lead to death. The Department of Defense calls one type of mold “proven lethal agents in warfare.” A lengthy report cites symptoms, including vomiting, bleeding, shock and rapid death. Dr. David Jacobs: These substances that we’re talking about include amongst them the most toxic substances known to humankind that are naturally occurring in the environment. And because we use them for chemical warfare, we need to know how to protect our troops. HEATHER SELLS: But the EPA’s web site has just one paragraph on how mold can cause health problems. It emphasizes allergies and concludes, “Research is ongoing.” The trouble, says Jacobs, is Congress has failed to make mold a priority. Dr. David Jacobs: There is no uniform training curricula that's out there that all the states can use and adopt. We do have that for lead and for radon. David Collier (First Atlantic Restoration): We’re breathing mold right now. It’s not whether or not there’s mold in your home. It’s just whether or not there’s unsafe levels of mold in your home. HEATHER SELLS: David Collier’s company cleans up mold. The key, he says, is keeping your home dry. David Collier: There is a lot of opportunity for water to drip inside here, and it’s a dark area. HEATHER SELLS: Areas to watch for: leaking pipes under sinks, water coming around windows and unventilated bathrooms. For the Fabry’s, it's unknown whether their Colorado home will ever be livable again. For now, they are simply trying to recover. The goal: healthy eating and avoiding public places which trigger new-found chemical sensitivities. Inspired to share what they've learned, Andrea is chronicling their journey on the web. Andrea Fabry: We as people living in our homes don't know this. And I think we're going to wake up. I think it's coming, just like lead poisoning, tobacco. Chris Fabry: I want to get to the redemption side of this, but first tell me . . . . HEATHER SELLS: Chris Fabry is hosting his radio show in a make-shift studio in their rental home. Off-air, he tackles mounting medical bills that insurance won't cover, and is getting Reagan back on track with his new baseball team. Chris Fabry: We're together. My wife and I are closer than we've ever been. We have been able to go through this kind of tornado of the rollercoaster, the emotions and the loss, all of our stuff and the dogs and the illnesses of the kids. And we've really seen God work in all of that. HEATHER SELLS: It’s a long road to full recovery for the Fabry’s, but they’re armed with the grace of God and now a better knowledge of what they’re dealing with. That will help them recover and possibly wake more people up to the dangers of mold. Reporting in Arizona, Heather Sells, CBN News. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAT ROBERTSON: Well, thanks, Heather. And I hope people don’t have to move to Arizona in order to get free. But we were down in New Orleans, and the mold after Katrina was unbelievable. And I was working for a short time with a crew ripping out drywall. And we had masks that filtered that stuff. But even with that, you got headaches. And it’s a terribly toxic brew that those houses down there have. KRISTI WATTS: I think the thing that’s so challenging, Pat, is that once it kind of gets in your system, it also kind of lingers there for a little bit. And you would think that just kind of stepping outside in fresh will help it. To an extent it does, but you really need to be careful. PAT ROBERTSON: As was being said, though, they think, “Okay, you’ve got these symptoms. Well, we can’t diagnose it, so you must have to go to a shrink.” Man, it’s terrible. Not only are you sick, now people think you’re crazy. KRISTI WATTS: I know. PAT ROBERTSON: Okay. KRISTI WATTS: Speaking of crazy . . . PAT ROBERTSON: Yes, go crazy. KRISTI WATTS: We have the coolest, craziest guest. PAT ROBERTSON: Let’s go. All right. KRISTI WATTS: I don’t know if she’s going to beat me for saying that, but she is the queen of semi-homemade cooking. It’s Sandra Lee. GRAPHIC: SANDRA LEE I love her. And she’s going to give us some of her recipes for some mouthwatering, money saving meals. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 2: AMMED DIRECT Nicole Johnson (Miss America 1999): If you have diabetes, you could eat this. But wouldn’t you rather enjoy this? Hi, I’m Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999. I’ve had diabetes for over 15 years. I got all these yummy recipes in my Better Care cookbooks. And if you have diabetes and have Medicare or qualified insurance, you can get these cookbooks free. Announcer: Call now for not one, not two, but three free cookbooks. To qualify, call 1-800-765-8132. Nicole Johnson: Enjoy mouthwatering recipes like this rich chocolate cake, plus oven fried chicken, nachos and more. You also get this free meal planning guide and this free diabetes magazine. So call now for your free Better Care kit, with three free cookbooks. Announcer: To qualify, call 1-800-765-8132. That’s 1-800-765-8132. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAT ROBERTSON: There’s a secret to preparing a dinner that’s tasty, healthy, affordable and easy to make. It’s called semi-homemade. SET-UP PIECE KRISTI WATTS: Eating healthy at Christmastime without putting on the weight isn’t easy. And making food taste good without the extra fat and calories could be tricky, too. Sandra Lee is the host of Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee. And she offers savvy shortcuts with easy to follow tips, so you can serve a tasty holiday meal in minutes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GUEST: SANDRA LEE PAT ROBERTSON: All right, well, please welcome back to The 700 Club the host of the Food Network’s Semi-Homemade Cooking and Money Saving Meals, Sandra Lee. Sandra, it’s so good to see you. Sandra Lee: I know. I’ve got to kiss you. Nice to see you. PAT ROBERTSON: Oh, you’re such a sweetheart. All right. Tell me how you talk to people. What do you tell them to do to save money and have healthy . . . . Sandra Lee: Well, it’s very interesting, because about I would say 22 months ago, I presented the idea of money saving meals to the Food Network, but the economy wasn’t as bad as it is right now, so they didn’t think it was needed. And then you know me. If someone tells me no, it’s like wear red, right? PAT ROBERTSON: Yes. Go get them. Sandra Lee: So I went and I did a book. And the book was such a bestseller, in part thank you very much for having me on last year, Money Saving Meals. They called me and said, “Do you want to do the show?” And not only did I get to do a show, but I was given my own magazine. PAT ROBERTSON: You’re kidding. Sandra Lee: Yes. So this is my Christmas issue. PAT ROBERTSON: Isn’t that—Christmas. Sandra Lee: Isn’t that great? PAT ROBERTSON: That’s beautiful. Sandra Lee: I brought it on because it matches my sweater and it matches your tree. Your trees are so gorgeous. PAT ROBERTSON: Do you edit all that yourself? You have a staff, people working with you? Sandra Lee: We do. Our staff is in Birmingham, Alabama. And I’m the editor-in-chief. We have the most fun together. So the magazine has been out for a year. And God bless, it’s doing very well when other magazines are folding, because you have money saving meals in here. You have 20 minute meals. You have slow cooker. You have tablescapes and decorating. PAT ROBERTSON: Marvelous. Sandra Lee: So it’s my baby. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, you’ve got these other two books, Sandra Lee, Weeknight Wonders and Money Saving Cooking. Are these available? Do you get them through the Food Network? Sandra Lee: Yes, these are two brand new books. You can get them through the Food Network. You can also get them at any bookstore or online retailer. These are brand new. Money Saving Slow Cooking, we’re going to do some recipes a little later on, and Weeknight Wonders, too. But this is a way to save money, get good food on the table fast and use what’s in your pantry, because that’s the most important thing, not going out and buying fancy things. That’s what you don’t want to do if you want to save money. Everything is something that you already have or you already use, you already love and that’s in the grocery store. It’s easy to find. PAT ROBERTSON: Any housewife can do this. Sandra Lee: Any househusband, housewife. PAT ROBERTSON: The househusbands are supposed to be watching TV. The housewife—okay, the househusbands can do it, too. All right. Tell me about your grandmother. She had a great influence on your life. Sandra Lee: She did. And my grandma would be the first one to say, “Oh, my gosh, as cute as you are cooking, I’ll bet you’re just as cute cleaning.” That’s the way to get your husband in the kitchen, cleaning it up. PAT ROBERTSON: Yes. “Oh, you’re so cute. Go clean.” Sandra Lee: But my grandma was a wonderful, wonderful woman. She ran community services in her community, both Santa Monica and in Arizona when she moved there. PAT ROBERTSON: Okay. Sandra Lee: I would say she did it for 40 years. And she would clip the coupons. There’s a very limited budget when it comes to community service and food. She would do all the baskets for Thanksgiving and all the grocery bags for Christmas and all year long. She’d clip the coupons. She knew where to go in the store to get the special values. And she really taught me how to be smart about not only shopping, but she lived in LA and Arizona, and then I lived up in Seattle. And so I was the oldest of five kids, and we were on welfare and food stamps. And my mom was really sick and my dad lived out of the state. So I would have to take the food stamps to go to the grocery store. And so I probably know that grocery store better than any other Food Network talent. PAT ROBERTSON: Does that get obsessive after awhile, or not? Sandra Lee: I have to do my homework before I do something. So I will call. I will find out from the grocery stores what are the highest selling products, so I know what’s in your pantry. I will call the meat buyer at Costco, and I will say, “What’s going on with the price of whatever it is,” and I did do this. And he said, “You know, honey, when another country comes and buys our meat supply, our beef supply, our prices go through the ceiling.” And they do. They come and buy from our farmers and our growers. And those are kind of the things that destabilize your pricing in the grocery store. But semi-homemade is based on the 70/30 philosophy, as is the magazine. And the magazine is a great value for a gift, too. A subscription to the magazine for Christmas. It makes everybody happy. PAT ROBERTSON: Okay, here is a Christmas present. Sandra Lee: It keeps on giving. I have to say, if you were the Jolly Green Giant, and you were standing over a grocery store, and you peeled the roof off of the grocery store, and you just looked down into the outline, like the blueprint of the store, remember semi-homemade, 70 percent store bought, ready made, 30 percent fresh ingredients. Seventy percent of your grocery store and 70 percent of what we buy is in the aisles. It’s boxed, jarred, canned, pouched or packaged. The 30 percent perimeter is your fresh. So that’s your produce, your meat, your dairy and your bakery. Seventy percent store bought, ready made, 30 percent fresh ingredients, 100 percent semi-homemade. And you get to take all the credit. PAT ROBERTSON: Oh, that is so wonderful. All right, in the middle of all that, how do you keep from getting stressed out? It’s the holiday. You’ve got so many things going on. Sandra Lee: Let me see. When I cleaned out the attic last week I was a little stressed out. PAT ROBERTSON: You were cleaning out your attic? Sandra Lee: I did. PAT ROBERTSON: Man. Sandra Lee: I did. And I did five phone interviews simultaneously. PAT ROBERTSON: You’re a perpetual motion machine. Sandra Lee: Well, I’m only going to be here for a short time, so I’ve got a lot of work to do. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I guess you do. Sandra Lee: We all do. PAT ROBERTSON: You’re being very effective. I just love you, and I appreciate you. And so I hope, ladies and gentlemen, that you will watch what Sandra Lee has to tell you with—you look so good in these pictures. These are great pictures. Sandra Lee: Yes, that’s called airbrushing. PAT ROBERTSON: Surely, there’s got to be something for me. I need some help. All right. Well, whatever. Well, Sandra, God bless you. And keep helping ladies and househusbands this Christmas. Sandra Lee: Yes, absolutely. Merry Christmas. It’s nice to see you. You look amazing. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, so do you. Sandra Lee: You look so good. PAT ROBERTSON: They’ve been working on my heart, so I think I’m getting better. Sandra Lee: You’d never know. You’re running around here just like I would. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I’m like an old car. You keep putting some parts in. Sandra Lee: I think it’s probably the Energizer Bunny. PAT ROBERTSON: That’s it. Sandra Lee: They’ve just got the backpack in you. PAT ROBERTSON: It’s all there. Well, you’re going to join Kristi now and show us some of these wonderful house—wait a minute, what do we call them? Semi-homemade. Sandra Lee: We’re going to make Sweet Tea Brisket. PAT ROBERTSON: Sweet Tea Brisket? Sandra Lee: Yes. And then I have a Strawberry Cream Cake. PAT ROBERTSON: And all low calorie. Sandra Lee: Absolutely. PAT ROBERTSON: Yes, okay. Sandra Lee: Yes. No, I can even show you how to, and I’ll do that when I’m up there. If you want to substitute oil, what you can put it in lieu of that. There are a lot of substitutions in the magazine and also in the cookbooks. So if you don’t want to do something naughty, I’ll show you how to also do it nice. But there is a good blend between naughty and nice. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I’m nice. I don’t want to be naughty. That would just be terrible. Okay. Well, join Kristi. And we love you. Sandra Lee: I love you. Merry Christmas. PAT ROBERTSON: Thank you. Merry Christmas to you. You go right over there. She’s waiting for you. KRISTI WATTS: I tell you, you guys just make me laugh. Coming up, Sandra is going to come over here into the kitchen. She’s going to join me and she’s going to share some of her semi-homemade secrets. And we’re also going to answer the age old question: can food taste good and still be good for you? I believe the answer is yes. Why? Because we’re also going to let me taste some Strawberry Cream Cake, and it’s going to do all the talking. Woo hoo! So don’t go away. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3: DVD BIBLE Spokeswoman: And with us today, Emmy Award-winning narrator Stephen Johnston with his brand-new DVD Bible. Stephen Johnston: That’s right. And brand new technology has put the entire King James Bible on just one DVD. Instead of 29.95 for two discs, we’re passing the savings on to you, and all you’ll pay is just 19.95. Easy to see large text is displayed on your TV, while I read every word to you. Stephen Johnston (Narrating): “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Spokeswoman: Well, this would be great for someone like my mother who’s beginning to lose her vision. Stephen Johnston: With a touch of your remote, you can go to chapter and book. It’s easy. Stephen Johnston (Narrating): Chapter Four. Spokeswoman: I understand there’s a bonus section. Stephen Johnston: That’s right. There’s a tour of the Holy Land, gallery of photos, with all its rich history. Spokeswoman: Well, I’ve never seen anything like this. Stephen Johnston: We’ve sold over a million of the two disc DVD Bibles for just 29.95. But this new single DVD Bible with the Holy Land photo tour is yours for just 19.95. You save ten dollars. And when you order now, you’ll get the DVD Family Christmas Sing-a-long. (Singing): “Let earth receive her King . . . .” Stephen Johnston: A 14.95 value, free. Spokeswoman: The DVD Bible makes a great gift. Stephen Johnston: You’re right. And because the DVD Bible makes such a perfect gift, when you call in the next 20 minutes, we’ll send you a second DVD Bible to share with a loved one absolutely free. You get two complete DVD Bibles, a 40-dollar value, for just 19.95. Spokeswoman: Order your DVD Bible right now. Stephen Johnston: And God bless you. I know this will change your life. Announcer: To order your complete King James version of the Bible on one DVD with both the Old and New Testament, and get a second King James Bible free, along with your Family Christmas Sing-a-long DVDs, all for only 19.95 plus processing, call 1-800-418-7711. That’s 1-800-418-7711. Or go to BiblesonDVD.com. It makes a great Christmas gift for friends, family, Bible study, Sunday school or church groups. Order now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SUPREME COURT CASE LEE WEBB: Welcome back to The 700 Club. The US Supreme Court will decide if universities can force Christian groups to include nonbelievers. The case involves the Christian Legal Society and the University of California’s Hastings College of Law. The school told the student group its university funding was being cut, and it was no longer recognized a campus group, all because it requires officers and voting members to share its religious beliefs. SMOKING DEATHS LEE WEBB: Smoking kills nearly five million people a year worldwide. That’s according to a new United Nations report on tobacco use. And researchers say that second hand smoke kills nearly 600,000 people each year. The World Health Organization recommends more laws that ban smoking. It also suggests bans on tobacco advertising and raising taxes on tobacco products. You can always get the latest from CBN News by going to our web site at CBN.com. GRAPHIC: FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO CBN.COM Pat and Kristi will be back with more of The 700 Club, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4: REGENT PAT ROBERTSON: You and I are ordinary people, ordinary people who are capable of affecting the world in extraordinary ways. Come to Regent University. When you earn your degree from Regent, you become a vital part of the mission we all share. Christian leadership to change the world. For a free welcome kit, visit Lead.Regent.edu or call 866-REGENT-U. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SANDRA AND KRISTI DEMO HOLIDAY DISHES KRISTI WATTS: Yay! Do you like the music? Sandra Lee: I do. KRISTI WATTS: That was so festive. Welcome back to The 700 Club. Here with me is Sandra Lee. Don’t you like the rhyme? Sandra Lee: Yes. It was very good. KRISTI WATTS: I was trying. Sandra Lee: It took me a minute. I’m blonde. KRISTI WATTS: It happens. Well, she’s here. We’re going to talk about saving money, and weekend wonders. You’ve already got me verklempt. Sandra Lee: We are going to not only talk about cookbooks—and, of course, I brought you a copy of my magazine as well. Merry Christmas. KRISTI WATTS: Love it. Side note, I already have it. But I’ll take number two. Sandra Lee: Well, okay, give it back. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. Sandra Lee: No, I’m just kidding. All right. We’re going to make a great menu. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. Sandra Lee: We are going to do a Sweet Tea Brisket. KRISTI WATTS: I’ve never heard of that. Sandra Lee: Brisket? KRISTI WATTS: No. Sweet tea. I’ve heard of sweet tea, but not sweet tea and brisket. Sandra Lee: Yes. In the slow cooker. So what’s the great thing about semi-homemade? Whether it’s recipes from the magazine or recipes from the new books, it’s that we’re going to use things that are already in your pantry, and we’re going to combine them in unique ways to make something very special out of what you already have, so you don’t have to spend more money. KRISTI WATTS: And what I love is that we’re going to slow cook, because during the holidays when everybody and their mama kind of comes to your house, you don’t have time to cook. So this makes it easy and quick. Sandra Lee: The slow cooker is your friend. It’s actually my best friend. It’s I think the most fabulous appliance in the kitchen, and it costs something like one-eighteenth to run this as opposed to the oven or the stove. KRISTI WATTS: Really? Sandra Lee: In energy. Yes. KRISTI WATTS: Good to know. Sandra Lee: Best friend. So what’s also great about this recipe is that we are going to, while I do that, we’re going to start dumping. That’s barbecue sauce. KRISTI WATTS: Tell me what to do. Sandra Lee: Sweet tea mix. This is just some honey mustard. And this is a package of that onion soup in the package, you know that Lipton stuff? KRISTI WATTS: Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Sandra Lee: You do that. I’m going to put onions and lemons in my slow cooker. This is your base. KRISTI WATTS: So I’m just putting all this in here. Sandra Lee: You just put it all in there. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. Sandra Lee: Now, the reason why I am putting onions at the bottom is because slow cooking is kind of like braising. You can take the toughest cut of meat and put it in here—and that means it’s inexpensive, too, by the way, if it’s tough and you think it’s going to be awful, that means it’s also going to be cheap. KRISTI WATTS: But here’s my challenge, because I always thought when you slow cook things, like say chicken and vegetables, that it all starts to taste the same and mushy. Sandra Lee: No. KRISTI WATTS: That’s what’s happened to me. Sandra Lee: Yes. No, no, no, no. KRISTI WATTS: Maybe because I can’t cook, Sandra. Sandra Lee: Well, you also have to strain it. Remember, when you use vegetables like celery and carrots, they’re going to break down big time. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. Sandra Lee: Now, I’m supposed to have a beautiful piece of meat, a piece of brisket. And I don’t. KRISTI WATTS: Oh, we don’t have the meat. Sandra Lee: So let’s just pretend that the brisket is in here. We have a beautiful piece of brisket that’s right in here, and by the way, a very inexpensive roast. So what you’re going to do to our brisket is we’re going to sprinkle over the brisket, this is just some Lowry seasoning, steak seasoning. You know you use this when you grill, right? KRISTI WATTS: I’m all about that. Hey, side note, am I putting this mustard in here, too? Sandra Lee: Mustard in there, too. KRISTI WATTS: Now, does it matter what kind? Sandra Lee: And then Worcestershire sauce goes in here. You always need a liquid in a slow cooker. Remember, you’re almost braising it. And then over our beautiful piece of brisket, which, by the way, on this plate is already cooked. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. Sandra Lee: So someone took off with our brisket, but that’s good. Somebody needed it. Not us. KRISTI WATTS: All right. Sandra Lee: All right. So, now our brisket is in here. And it’s kind of fun to have an imaginary brisket. KRISTI WATTS: I know. Isn’t it funny? We’re cooking without the meat. Sandra Lee: Pour this over the meat. KRISTI WATTS: But we’ll pretend. Sandra Lee: The beautiful meat. By the way, you know what, if you don’t want to do brisket, if you want to do chicken, you can improvise these recipes. You can substitute the recipes. KRISTI WATTS: Really? Sandra Lee: It is just fine. KRISTI WATTS: Because I’m a chicken type of gal. I don’t really do a lot of red meat. Sandra Lee: Yes. No, you can do that. You just need liquid in your slow cooker. And I choose the onions and the lemon, because it gives it a nice, bright flavor. KRISTI WATTS: Got you. Sandra Lee: The lid goes on. This goes on low for 10 hours. So you can go to work. You can go shopping. You can wrap presents. You can have fun with your kids, with your grandkids, with girlfriends. We’ll go out and have fun while our imaginary brisket cooks. KRISTI WATTS: Hey, side note, Diane, can I have the brisket, so that people can see what it looks like? Sandra Lee: Oh, yes. KRISTI WATTS: This is what live TV is like. Sandra Lee: Yes, it is. KRISTI WATTS: We do all this stuff, and then we put the meat in. Sandra Lee: And look at that baby. KRISTI WATTS: It’s beautiful. Sandra Lee: And by the way, you want to, when you put your brisket in the slow cooker . . . . KRISTI WATTS: Yes. Should we really put it in? Sandra Lee: I’m going to. Do you mind? KRISTI WATTS: No, go for it. Sandra Lee: Okay. So when you put it in there, and I’m going to slide it because I can’t wash my hands. KRISTI WATTS: Yes. You don’t want to touch it. Sandra Lee: I want you to notice what I’m putting up. I’m putting the fat side up, right? KRISTI WATTS: Oh, that was smart. Sandra Lee: The reason why I’m doing that is because as this cooks, the fat will drip through the meat and make it even more juicy and tender and delicious. KRISTI WATTS: Oh, yum! Sandra Lee: Yes. But remember, all the sauce goes on the top, because you want that to bake in and also give it intense flavor, too. KRISTI WATTS: Oh, that’s a good idea. Now, what do we do with our butcher? Like how do we know, when it comes to . . . . Sandra Lee: We talk to him. KRISTI WATTS: We talk to our butcher. Sandra Lee: We have to talk to him. He’s our friend. KRISTI WATTS: And what are we asking him? Sandra Lee: What’s on sale this week? What makes the most sense? How many pounds is this? What would you suggest I cook it at? They are a wealth of information that is absolutely free. And they’re just dying to tell you what they know. Nobody ever asks them anything, other than, “Where’s the ground beef?” KRISTI WATTS: That’s true. Sandra Lee: And by the way, you want to do 80 percent lean ground beef, not 90 or 93. GRAPHIC: FOR RECIPES LOG ON TO CBN.COM Eighty percent lean is 2.99 a pound, nation average. Ninety percent lean is—no, it’s 2.19 a pound, excuse me. Ninety percent lean is 2.99 a pound. And then it goes up to 3.99 on 93. So 2.19, 80 percent lean. Get that. KRISTI WATTS: Girl, you’re a plethora of knowledge. All right. Sandra Lee: Seriously. I actually do the work. KRISTI WATTS: I know. I’m glad you do it for me. You go on that side. Sandra Lee: We have fun. KRISTI WATTS: We did the brisket. Sandra Lee: Here is the beautiful brisket, nice and done, beautiful, gorgeous. Anybody would be proud to serve that. KRISTI WATTS: Absolutely. Sandra Lee: Next to that, these are some fennel baked potatoes. Now, those are baked potatoes that have been tossed in just a little bit of salt and olive oil. If you wanted to, you can use canola oil. It’s half the price. It really doesn’t matter. It doesn’t add that much more flavor. But you can also put in here, I would put a little bit of garlic. Toss it up, bake it off in the oven. You just need about 20 minutes on that. And then what you’re going to do is you’re going to—I like to take the fennel and sauté it in a little bit of garlic and butter and put it over there. KRISTI WATTS: Now, what is fennel again. Fennel kind of confuses me. That’s not a vegetable that I know. Is it a vegetable. Sandra Lee: Where is our fennel bulb? KRISTI WATTS: Is it a root? Can you guys get us a fennel? Sandra Lee: It’s a root. KRISTI WATTS: Where’s the fennel? Sandra Lee: It’s a beautiful—we had fun. We just want you to all know we had so much fun in rehearsal. We were teasing each other. KRISTI WATTS: Because I really . . . . . Sandra Lee: I think we confused everyone. KRISTI WATTS: Because I really don’t know what a fennel is. All right, anyway . . . . Sandra Lee: It’s a beautiful bulb. It’s like a root vegetable. It looks kind of like celery, but it’s white on the outside, and it’s got these beautiful branches that look like dill. KRISTI WATTS: Yes. Sandra Lee: you know what dill looks like. KRISTI WATTS: I know dill. Sandra Lee: That lacy, beautiful—yes. KRISTI WATTS: Lacy. Fabulous. Sandra Lee: And that way, if you don’t want to use fennel, you want to use what you have, you can use dill. You can use chives. You can use whatever the heck you want to use and whatever you have. KRISTI WATTS: Love it. Sandra Lee: It’s going to be beautiful. KRISTI WATTS: Love it. There’s our fennel. Sandra Lee: That’s okay. Throw it on. Merry Christmas, honey. That’s fennel. KRISTI WATTS: Thank you. The reason why I want to show people fennel is because I personally have never seen this before. Now, maybe I’m not that astute at fennel. I don’t know. Why are you looking at me that way, Sandra? Sandra Lee: I don’t know. I don’t know. KRISTI WATTS: Do most people know fennel? Sandra Lee: Because you thought it was celery. KRISTI WATTS: I did think it was celery. Sandra Lee: She’s like, “Oh, it’s like celery.” KRISTI WATTS: It looks like celery. Okay. Sandra Lee: No, it has a much stronger flavor. It’s like licoricey. KRISTI WATTS: Is it? Sandra Lee: Yes. KRISTI WATTS: It doesn’t smell. Sandra Lee: And what you want to do is you want to peel this. The white is what you want, not the stems. Although I like to garnish with these. Whatever you want, baby. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. I’m with you. Sandra Lee: Okay, this right here is summer squash in the winter. How do we get our summer squash in the winter? Frozen squash, very simple to do. All the recipes, by the way, are available in the new cookbook. But I have a birthday cake for Jesus. KRISTI WATTS: Ooh, I love it! Sandra Lee: And we’ve already saved a piece for Pat. That’s Pat’s. KRISTI WATTS: Oh, that’s Pat’s? Sandra Lee: So we have to save that for Pat, a little piece. Okay, now, you, here, Merry Christmas. KRISTI WATTS: Thank you. Sandra Lee: And Merry Christmas. KRISTI WATTS: Praise God. Sandra Lee: Yay. KRISTI WATTS: Ooh! They’re telling me to wrap it up. Sandra Lee: Oh, I’m sorry. Merry Christmas, everybody. KRISTI WATTS: Okay, one more bite, and we’re going to wrap it. Sandra Lee: I hope you get the magazine for Christmas and the books. KRISTI WATTS: Now, shouldn’t you describe what this cake is, though, first? Sandra Lee: Oh, so sorry. KRISTI WATTS: We just started eating. Sandra Lee: Start with a cream cake, very easy to do. KRISTI WATTS: Very easy. Sandra Lee: A little bit of cake flour, some strawberry nectar, like a can of nectar juice instead of water. Eggs, a little bit of oil, some sour cream. But if you wanted to, you could even use something like a carrot or zucchini in this instead of oil. Like for Pat, if he doesn’t want oil in it . . . . KRISTI WATTS: He’ll eat it. Sandra Lee: You’ve got to be thoughtful of everyone. KRISTI WATTS: Praise God. Sandra Lee: Pat, you’re still eating this cake. KRISTI WATTS: Okay, well, listen, if you’re looking for some last minute dinner ideas for tonight, head over to your local bookstore and check out Sandra Lee’s Weekend Wonders. And while you’re there, you can also pick up a copy of Money Saving Slow Cooking. I think I have both of these things, once I put down my fork. Sandra Lee: Yes, I brought those for you. KRISTI WATTS: I’m so tacky. Oh, these are mine, too? Sandra Lee: Yes. You can have those. KRISTI WATTS: Fab, I’m going to keep them. All right, and you also have tomorrow night’s dinner covered as well. I’m going to throw it over to Pat, because we’re eating cake. Pat, back over to you. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, you girls can’t stay that thin and eat all that cake. That cake looks delicious. Well, up next, ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to Bring It On with your e-mail on health and fitness. Sharon asks, “I hear that movie theater popcorn made with coconut oil is bad for our health. But I thought that coconut oil was good for the heart. What do you think?” PAT ROBERTSON: We’ll tackle that question and more when we return. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5: 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. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * KRISTI WATTS: Welcome back to The 700 Club. Well, those lovable legumes are back. The VeggieTales are embarking on another adventure, and this time to teach us an important lesson about Christmas. And as reporter Mia Evans explains, they’re getting a little help. VEGGIE TALES Character: What’s Christmas about? Character: Santa! Character: Presents! Character: Big turkeys, juicy hams and sweet potatoes with those little marshmallows on top. MIA EVANS-SARACUAL: Junior Asparagus of the VeggieTales gang says what’s on the minds of most kids at Christmas: gifts and lots of them. Character: I’m so excited I can hardly stand it! Character: Me, too! Character: Me, three! MIA EVANS-SARACUAL: Kids make their lists, and check them twice. Then panicked parents race to retrieve the treasures in just the right color, shape or size and pray for simple assembly. But what if Christmas could be different in your home this year? That’s the powerful question being asked in VeggieTales’ new holiday DVD, Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving. Character: We have to help out others in need, Dad. MIA EVANS-SARACUAL: And in an effort to put the lesson of giving into action, VeggieTales is partnering with Operation Christmas Child. Kids watch the movie in church and then fill shoeboxes that go across the world to children in need. Mike Nawrocki (Veggie Tales Co-Creator): The mission that they have in terms of reaching out to kids, giving them gifts, in developing countries around Christmas time. Sharing the Gospel with them was such at the heart of what our story was about, what they do. And it just made so much sense just to link up. MIA EVANS-SARACUAL: Matthew West and Amy Grant contributed to the project with the original song “Give This Christmas Away.” (Singing): “Give this Christmas away . . . .” Matthew West (Singer-Songwriter): True fulfillment is not found in the things of this world, but when we look beyond our own needs and say, “Hey, how can I meet the needs of somebody else?” Man, that’s where you find fulfillment like no other. Mike Nawrocki: If I’m truly thankful for what I have, for what God has given me, then I can give that to others with joy. Character: Do you do that to feel happy? Character: Oh, no. I do it because I am happy. My love is a gift to them, because God’s love was a gift to me. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * KRISTI WATTS: What a great thing. And I’ve got to tell you, Pat, that VeggieTales is literally one of my son’s favorite, favorite video series. PAT ROBERTSON: It was brilliant. Is, was. I don’t know if they’re still doing it or not. KRISTI WATTS: It is. No, it’s still going on. PAT ROBERTSON: It’s still going on. KRISTI WATTS: It’s taking me every ounce of energy not to sing the song. PAT ROBERTSON: Thank you. Restrain yourself. KRISTI WATTS: Because it’s like, (Singing): “Veggie Tales.” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BRING IT ON KRISTI WATTS: All right, anyway, e-mail questions. Here we go. Sharon writes in and says, “I heard that movie theater popcorn made with coconut oil is very bad for our health. I thought that coconut oil was actually good for the heart. What do you think?” PAT ROBERTSON: It has 60 grams of fat and 60 grams of fat isn’t good for anybody’s heart. I don’t care whether it’s olive oil or coconut oil. The truth is, from what I gather, coconut oil is pretty good, especially for cooking. And it’s very delicious. KRISTI WATTS: It’s just the amount of it, I guess. PAT ROBERTSON: Yes. KRISTI WATTS: That’s a lot of fat in movie popcorn, Pat. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, they pour it on. If you get a double thing, and then they give you extra butter, and it pours in. KRISTI WATTS: Do you eat movie popcorn? Be honest. PAT ROBERTSON: Yes, I eat movie popcorn, but not the extra oil stuff. But I like movie popcorn. KRISTI WATTS: Do you know the best combination is you take a little bit of movie popcorn and a Milk Dud, and you chew it together, because the Milk Dud is caramel and chocolate, and then you put them in your mouth, and it’s like you have caramel popcorn. Fantastic. You should try it. PAT ROBERTSON: We’re telling people how to lose weight. All right. Next question. KRISTI WATTS: Just jump up and down while you eat it. PAT ROBERTSON: Next question. All right. KRISTI WATTS: Okay, Don writes in and says, “My daughter insists that she can study better with the music on in her room. Can kids really learn with all that distraction?” PAT ROBERTSON: Kids are amazing what they can do, but the answer is no. You can’t really focus and remember something unless you can focus and concentrate on that single thing. But if somebody is singing in your ear, they’re not going to do it. They think they can, but they don’t. But they’re amazing what they can multitask. It is extraordinary. But nevertheless, the answer is no. You can’t study as well. KRISTI WATTS: But doesn’t it depend on the child, though? I think. When I was younger, I used to love to have symphony music on. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, that’s different. KRISTI WATTS: Well, it’s music. PAT ROBERTSON: Yes, but it’s kind of background music. It’s different. KRISTI WATTS: All right. PAT ROBERTSON: And if you had the Rolling Stones jamming in your ear while you’re studying, come on. KRISTI WATTS: Well, that’s true. But, well, she just said music. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, they call that music. I would think it’s something else. KRISTI WATTS: All right. PAT ROBERTSON: Background noise. What? KRISTI WATTS: Background noise. I’ve got you. Robert says, “Dear Pat, I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and have absolutely no energy. Can you recommend specific exercises for people with limited lung function like me?” PAT ROBERTSON: Robert, I think you can build it up. It’s amazing what your body will adapt to. You can force your lungs to begin to have capacity. I recommend strongly that you see a doctor and get his or her okay before you start something. But just gradually build up. Slow exercises, walking, swimming, bicycling, that kind of thing. And then little by little, push it harder and harder, and your lungs, you can force them to begin to behave themselves. I know that’s hard, but it is very hard, and it takes awhile. But you can accomplish something. You won’t necessarily succeed like you were normal, but you can do the best you can. KRISTI WATTS: Absolutely. All right, Curtis writes in, and Curtis says, “I work with youth at our church, and I see the teens almost constantly text messaging each other on their cell phones. Are there any health issues associated with texting?” PAT ROBERTSON: Absolutely. Carpal tunnel syndrome, and this joint gets messed up. KRISTI WATTS: Yes. PAT ROBERTSON: It does. KRISTI WATTS: I believe it. PAT ROBERTSON: They get so that they get paralyzed in their thumbs. KRISTI WATTS: Not to mention texting while driving is a huge health issue. PAT ROBERTSON: Yes. That’s not a health—I mean, like you get killed. KRISTI WATTS: Exactly. Exactly. PAT ROBERTSON: But this text stuff, the idea that you’re doing this, your joints will go bad on you. You can get arthritis. It’s not a good thing. KRISTI WATTS: You know what, it’s interesting, Pat. I was thinking about this just yesterday. PAT ROBERTSON: What? KRISTI WATTS: Technology. We’ve got cell phones. We’ve got the text messaging. Blueberries. Blackberries. Whatever they’re called. We’ve got Internet, computer, digital television, all these things. And I was at my house the other day, and I was like, “Just turn it all off.” I wanted everything to be turned off, because I miss silence. PAT ROBERTSON: Amen. KRISTI WATTS: You know? PAT ROBERTSON: Amen. KRISTI WATTS: That was my little plug for that moment. PAT ROBERTSON: There is no silence. I stayed with my brother some time ago, and the minute he got up, he had the radio on jamming, all day long. Got in his car, jamming. You can’t think. You can’t let God speak to you under those circumstances. All right. KRISTI WATTS: Exactly. PAT ROBERTSON: What else? KRISTI WATTS: Maybe God needs to send us a text message for us to really get through to us. All right, Amber writes in and says, “I recently had gallbladder surgery. What kind of foods would you suggest I eat?” PAT ROBERTSON: Well, bland food. Stay away from any kind of grease, because your body won’t be able to process grease. It will make you sick. And I just think take it slow and easy, bland, bland, nonfat food. KRISTI WATTS: Good to know. PAT ROBERTSON: Oatmeal. KRISTI WATTS: All right. Barbara—say it again. What? PAT ROBERTSON: Oatmeal. KRISTI WATTS: Oatmeal? You love your oatmeal. PAT ROBERTSON: I love oatmeal. KRISTI WATTS: Listen, oatmeal I believe is the solution for all things. PAT ROBERTSON: It really is. KRISTI WATTS: It is. PAT ROBERTSON: Next to the soybean, it’s the most perfect food. KRISTI WATTS: Well, that’s the other thing I was going to say: beans. Beans are the other perfect food, I think. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, they are. Yes. I like beans. Beans are good. KRISTI WATTS: They have a little negative drawback every now and then. PAT ROBERTSON: My wife isn’t a great aficionado of beans. They affect her differently than me. We won’t go into all that anatomical detail. What’s next? KRISTI WATTS: I have so many jokes right here that I’m like bring them back, Kristi. Don’t say them. PAT ROBERTSON: Yes, please. KRISTI WATTS: Caroline writes in, “It’s the holiday season and sweets are my downfall. Do you have any suggestions on how to satisfy a sweet tooth without giving in to unhealthy habits?” PAT ROBERTSON: I recommend you get some of those health bars that are low glycemic. And they have high protein, and you get a certain amount of sweet, but you don’t get all kinds of fat. There are things that make sweets. You could put artificial sweetener in something, and it tastes sweet. Stevia. There are all these things they’ve got that are sweet that aren’t fattening. KRISTI WATTS: I hate all that fake stuff, Pat. You know I do. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, Stevia is not fake. KRISTI WATTS: Well, this is my thought process in life. If I’m going to eat sugar, let me have the real sugar. If I’m going to eat butter, let me have the real butter. God bless America for it. PAT ROBERTSON: And if