The 700 Club: October 23, 2009

UnderWing Transcripts PO Box 16282 Clearwater, Florida 33766 540 455-2333 / UnderWing@underwingtranscripts.com ________________________________________ The 700 Club Daily Broadcast Friday, October 23, 2009 GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, welcome to The 700 Club. Congress has passed a new hate crimes bill, one that critics say could threaten the freedoms of religion and speech in America. KRISTI WATTS: And, Gordon, Democrats got the bill passed by tacking it on to an important defense spending measure. Jennifer Wishon has the story. HATE CRIMES JENNIFER WISHON: Gay, lesbian and transgendered crime victims will soon have greater protections under federal law. At the urging of Republicans, the bill was amended to add protections for religious leaders who preach their biblically held beliefs against homosexuality. But some lawmakers say with or without protections, the law will only serve to muffle religious speech that is protected by the Constitution. Rep. Louie Gohmert ([R] Texas); We're going to take away the freedoms of people of faith to stand up and read Romans 1 in public; because if you read Romans 1 in public, and you get to verse 25, and some nut hears that and goes out and commits an act of violence, you can be arrested because you induced him. JENNIFER WISHON: The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group, is celebrating the bill as the nation's first major piece of civil rights legislation for gays. Brian Moulton (Sr. Counsel, Human Rights Campaign): It's been more than crystal clear throughout this process that there is no effort here to control people's thoughts or beliefs or to restrict the ability of religious people to say what they believe about homosexuality. JENNIFER WISHON: But opponents point to other countries with similar laws. Swedish pastor Ake Green knows first-hand what can happen. Ake Green (Swedish Pastor): What I said was that sexual abnormality was like cancer of the society. JENNIFER WISHON: Pastor Green was sentenced to one month in jail under Sweden's hate speech law before the verdict was eventually overturned on appeal. Outside of infringing on religious speech, opponents also argue adding sexual orientation to hate crimes laws will do nothing to prevent violence against gays, and that current law already protects all crime victims. Sen. Jim DeMint ([R] South Carolina): It suggests that violence committed against certain kinds of victims is worse, more in need of federal intervention and swift justice. JENNIFER WISHON: President Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law. At a recent speech delivered to members of the NAACP, Mr. Obama compared discrimination against gays to that of black women facing pay discrimination at work. Jennifer Wishon, CBN News, Washington. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice joins us now for more on the hate crimes bill. GRAPHIC: HATE CRIMES BILL Jay, what’s your view on this? We’re hearing a lot of commentary. It’s sort of this is the end of freedom of religion. This is the end of freedom of speech. Do you agree with that? Jay Sekulow (American Ctr. Law & Justice): Well, I’ve got concerns. Actually, our office in conjunction with the General Council of the National Religious Broadcasters drafted the language that was mentioned in the piece to protect religious freedom. That language is in there, although it was modified somewhat, and not in a positive way. But it is in there. So there is a sense of protection. But the real problem here, Gordon, is what does this mean down the road and does a thought become a crime? And does an act of discrimination, as the Attorney General Eric Holder said, that acts of discrimination now constitutes violations of the statute; and is an act of discrimination, something like a pastor in a sermon talking about sexual orientation? Look, if someone is killed or murdered or robbed, because they’re gay, it’s called “robbery, murder,” whatever it might be. It’s a crime, and they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The idea that you give an enhanced criminality to a group based on who they are or a practice they’re engaged in really doesn’t make a lot of sense. The existing laws on the books need to be enforced. What this really is, and I think that the report is absolutely correct, this really isn’t anything about crime. It’s really about approving the sexual orientations statutes to now include that within the context of civil rights. So what you’ve got now is sexual orientation becomes a civil rights issue. It happens to be in a hate crimes bill that’s attached to a defense appropriations bill. But it’s really a kind of stamp of approval from Congress and ultimately by the President to sexual orientation being equated with a civil rights issue. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, the cynics among us may say this is just a political move to solidify a voting block. Let’s look at what Holder is saying, and I’m not sure that’s being widely reported. He’s now saying he’s going to actively, as the attorney general, he’s going to actively pursue crimes of discrimination. What used to be civil cases, he’s now elevating into a crime. Jay Sekulow: That’s right. And discrimination, while unlawful, is not a crime. Now it’s being made into under Eric Holder’s analysis, and he gave this in a public forum. This was a public speech he gave. He’s equating an act of discrimination, which is unlawful, to a crime. And that’s very different. And that’s the slippery slope, Gordon, of all of this. Like I said, if someone commits murder, I don’t care who the person is that is the victim of that crime, that person should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, period, gay, lesbian, straight, transgendered, it doesn’t matter. You commit murder, and if that happened to be gay, they should be—the victim was gay, the person who actually did the crime should be prosecuted fully. What does this really do? Does this add anything to the prosecutorial weaponry, so to speak? Not really. What it does do is change a social structure. And that’s really what they wanted to do here. And then you’ve got the attorney general of the United States saying, “Well, we’re going to vigorously enforce criminal laws against discrimination.” And somebody needs to be saying, “Wait a minute. Discrimination is unlawful activity, sure, under civil statutes. But it’s not a crime, and that’s very different.” GORDON ROBERTSON: Any chance of this ever being repealed? It seems like it’s going to be sort of set in stone from this point forward. Do you think it could be revealed? Jay Sekulow: Hey, look, elections have consequences, but it would take a major act of the House and the Senate, a big shift politically, because this thing has pretty much sailed through. And take it a step further. I think, Gordon, what we’re looking at is where the challenge will be. Is this statute, is some prosecutor going to try to apply this to a pastor giving a sermon? If they do, we’re going to be in court immediately on that. Now, my sense is they’re not going to do that, because they realize, as what happened in Europe in the Ake Green case, that that is not going to go anywhere. That kind of prosecution, even in Europe, was overturned as a violation of European human rights law under free speech. So they can’t win there. We do have the religious freedom language in there. It’s not as strong as I would have liked, but it’s better than not having anything in there at all. We’re prepared to defend if necessary. I think this was a political move. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, I don’t share your optimism on this. I actually think that this is something that will be pulled out. We probably won’t see it in the near term, but sort of just like Rico, the broad sweep of that thing then being applied to abortion protestors was sort of mind boggling to me. I see this being pulled out. It may not happen next year. It may not happen in five years. But certainly ten years from now I could see it being used. Jay Sekulow: Well, look, I did the Rico cases in the Supreme Court of the United States. We had three of them. And ultimately, as you know, we won. But you’re right, 20 years later, it did in fact apply. They applied it to pro-life protests. We ultimately prevailed in the Supreme Court of the United States. I think that, look, the trend is not good here on this. The idea that’s it on the books now or about to be on the books is not a good trend. We have to be vigilant, though, and we have to look at the right case and the right law and make the determination then. My thought is that this in the percolation stage, even as a bill, even when it’s signed into law. But you’re right. When you look down the road on these, and you don’t have to look that far—in the Rico case it was 20 years. These could be five or ten, because there are going to be more of these. Here is the problem, Gordon. There are going to be more of these laws put in. It’s not going to just be within the criminal statutes. You’re going to see a change within the civil legislation as well. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, I tell you, I think we’re into a whole brave new world. I first started hearing this about ten years. Hate speech is not protected speech. That started getting into the lingo. We now have a hate crimes bill. I don’t see it too far. All you have to do is look at this Rico. What was intended to stop the Mob then being used against organized protests. We’re not going to see this legislation, I view it as something dangerous and something we need to be watching. Jay Sekulow: Look, it’s on the books. It gives the prosecutors something to utilize, and it could put fear into it. It will serve as a muzzle, because what happens is if people think they might be violating the law, pastors especially, they’re going to tend to not address these issues. And that thought alone chills free speech. So whether they enforce it as a criminal statute or whether they just use it as a muzzle, either way it is a very dangerous trend and actually very dangerous in its implementation. GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes, we’ve already seen what prayer—I hear it again and again, “Prayer is illegal. You can’t pray to Jesus in public. It’s illegal.” So the chilling effect of this is going to take . . . . Jay Sekulow: That’s what you’ve got to watch out for. Absolutely. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. Jay, thanks for being with us. Jay Sekulow: Thanks. GORDON ROBERTSON: Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. PHILIPPINE TYPHOON LEE WEBB: Gordon, another major typhoon may be threatening the Philippines. Typhoon Lupit has been zigzagging off the northern coast of the Philippines, but no one is sure if or when it will make landfall. It could become the third storm to hit the Philippines this month, though. Back-to-back typhoons killed nearly a thousand people, most of them buried in mudslides. This is the worst flooding the Philippines has suffered in 40 years. PADANG LEE WEBB: It’s been nearly a month since the devastating earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Survivors have already started to rebuild their lives there, but some residents have delayed those plans in order to help other survivors. George Thomas has that story now from Padang, Indonesia. GEORGE THOMAS: Lenny Tanusubandri was in the kitchen of her restaurant the day the ground shook. Lenny Tanusubandri (Earthquake Survivor): I ran out of the building screaming, “God, help me! God help me!” The building began to shake. At first, I thought it was an airplane that had crashed nearby. And then, in a matter of seconds, my kitchen was on fire. GEORGE THOMAS: Lenny believes that if it hadn't been for God's protection and the kindness of strangers, she and her family would not be alive today. Lenny Tanusubandri: I know Jesus was helping us. He used many people, not just Christians, to help put out the fire. GEORGE THOMAS: Almost a month after a deadly earthquake struck Indonesia's West Sumatra province, killing over 1,000 people and leaving more than half a million people homeless, Lenny Tanusubandri and countless other Indonesian Christians have been working around the clock to help survivors. Lenny Tanusubandri: So many people here are still suffering. I can't bear to see others suffer. So I help by cooking, preparing meals for them. I love to cook. GEORGE THOMAS: Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation. About eight percent of the population is Christian, a number that's even smaller here in West Sumatra. There are just a handful of churches in the entire province. And now many of them, like the Batak Protestant Church, lie in ruins. The earthquake could not have happened at a more inopportune time for the members of this congregation. You see, in the last few months, they spent thousands of dollars renovating this church. Siringo Ringo (Batak Protestant Church): Since this is a Muslim country, it is very hard to get permission to start or for that matter to build a church. Many of our members cried when they saw the damaged church. GEORGE THOMAS: But after a few days of clean up, the church gathered to worship for the very first time since the earthquake. Siringo Ringo: God has not called us to live for ourselves, but to live for others and to serve others. GEORGE THOMAS: And so Lenny’s church, members of the Batak Protestant congregation are reaching out to earthquake victims. Siringo Ringo: We, too, have opened an outreach center primarily to take care of our church members, but it’s also open to the public. GEORGE THOMAS: Recently, CBN's Operation Blessing partnered with several churches here to deliver much needed relief supplies to some of the hard-to-reach areas of the disaster zone. For Operation Blessing, it's not just about getting to the hardest hit areas in a particular devastation, but also the hard-to-reach areas. So we’re heading to this village at the top of this mountain, and the only way to get there is on a motorbike or walk. And in this case, we’re taking the motorbike. Some 1,500 people live in this village that is evenly split between Christians and Muslims. Several of the homes up here where destroyed. The village elder, who is a Muslim, tried repeatedly to get local government officials to bring aid to the people. They refused, and instead asked the villagers to make the trip down the mountain to an area hospital. Karim Mohammed (Village Chief): That's why I am so glad that Operation Blessing is here today. Nobody else wanted to come up here since this village is very difficult to get to. It means a lot to us that you are here. GEORGE THOMAS: Local Christian volunteers joined the Operation Blessing team to deliver food and water. Several Operation Blessing doctors were also on hand. It's all part of what believers here say is the quiet heroism of survivors reaching out to fellow survivors and giving them the strength and courage to move on. George Thomas, CBN News, Padang, Indonesia. LEE WEBB: What a blessing they are, Gordon. But even as we report this story, there was a report this morning of another earthquake in another part of Indonesia, a 6.0 earthquake that struck the west Papua province. It is in a remote area, so hopefully the damage is not too bad there. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, when disasters strike, we want to be there to strike back. There is yet another typhoon threatening the Philippines. There was flooding right here in America, north and west of Atlanta. There was flooding right here in Norfolk, Virginia. And when disasters strike, we want to be there to strike back. If you want to make a designated gift to help with disaster relief around the world, here in America, around the world, to help with these earthquake victims, to help with the typhoon relief, ongoing typhoon relief in Manila, it is their version of Katrina. The flooding is absolutely devastating. GRAPHIC: Disaster Relief CBN Center Virginia Beach, VA 23463 OB DISASTER RELIEF FUND 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM They’re talking about three months before people can even visit their homes in some areas. If you want to be a part of it, just call us: 1-800-759-0700. You can log on to CBN.com. There is a place on the web site where you can give a designated gift or you can write to the address that was just on the screen: Operation Blessing Disaster Relief, CBN Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Whatever way you feel led to participate, to say, “Yes, I want to be a part of helping. When disasters strike, we want to strike back. We want to bring in hands of love and compassion to people in need.” There is no religious test for how we give out humanitarian aid. Muslim, Christian, unbeliever, it doesn’t matter. We want to help God’s children, God’s people, and we’re all God’s children. So if you want to be a part of it, call us: 1-800-759-0700. Kristi. KRISTI WATTS: And you know what’s so cool, Gordon? I was listening to that piece, and the gentleman said, “No one else was willing to come up the hill, but Operation Blessing came.” GORDON ROBERTSON: And that was a Muslim. KRISTI WATTS: Exactly. Right? And it’s like that’s the reoccurring theme that I’ve heard more and more and more, when we go and report different stories, is that no one else but Operation Blessing did. And that happens because of you. So anyway, well, coming up, the economy has forced thousands upon thousands to flee Detroit. But these residents are staying put. Man: We couldn’t move anywhere. And we decided we wanted to be here. Man: We’re here for the rest of our lives. We’re not going anywhere. KRISTI WATTS: So see why they have stayed, up next. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 1: GOLDLINE Jay Johnson (Former Director US Mint): All you have to do is read a newspaper or watch TV to know that millions of us have seen our investments and our nest eggs lose value in these tough economic times. And no one knows how long this will last. Hi, I’m Jay Johnson, former director of the US Mint. I supervised our nation’s gold supply, including Fort Knox. Let’s look at three popular investment choices: stocks, real estate and gold. Stocks have declined. Housing has crashed. Yet, gold has tripled in value since 2001. Some experts, like me, believe gold may reach new record highs due to inflation and the falling dollar. Gold is a safe haven asset that has never dropped to zero. Make gold part of your portfolio. Call Goldline now, a company with nearly half a billion dollars in annual sales. Goldline has been helping investors acquire gold for nearly 50 years. Call Goldline now. Ask for your free investor’s kit and learn why gold should be a part of your portfolio. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: RUNNING AWAY LEE WEBB: Next week, she was daddy’s little girl . . . . Woman: Whenever I knew my mother was going to leave, my stomach just sunk, because I knew that something may happen. LEE WEBB: . . . . with a price. Woman: My father began to smash my head against the fireplace. LEE WEBB: How she escaped . . . . Woman: I just ran from man to man. LEE WEBB: . . . . and why she returned. Woman: For the first time in my life, I saw my father just begin to sob. LEE WEBB: Next week on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: High crime and unemployment are driving people away from Highland Park, Michigan, but one church is on a mission to pull the city out of crisis one house at a time. Efrem Graham has the story. FOCUS: DETROIT MINISTRY EFREM GRAHAM: Highland Park, Michigan, only three square miles in the middle of metro Detroit, and like the Motor City, makes headlines for its troubles. Unemployment is more than 30 percent, the population is dropping and more than half of the people here earn below the poverty level. Tim Dilena: The city in the ‘40s was the cleanest city in America, number two school district in America. This is where it happens. EFREM GRAHAM: Tim Dilena left a life of corporate finance in New York City in 1982. He ended up in Highland Park with a heart to change the city. Tim Dilena (Pastor, Revival Tabernacle): I kind of have a degree that should put me on Wall Street, and I am on Woodward Avenue in a pornographic district. EFREM GRAHAM: Dilena purchased Krim Theater, the city's biggest triple X movie house, shut it down and started Revival Tabernacle where he is now pastor. Tim Dilena: In the beginning I would have men come in and ask me, they’d say, “When do the movies start?” And I would tell them Sundays, ten and six. EFREM GRAHAM: He moved his ministry and family to the struggling largely black city more than 20 years ago. It was uncommon then, and city leaders tell him it’s even more uncommon now. Tim Dilena: In a mile in a half square, there are 38 churches, 38 churches, and this what they said: “We want to bring all the pastors that lived in Highland Park, that are here.” And then they found out of the 38 churches, only one person lived here, and that was me, the white guy that lives in Highland Park. We felt like we needed to make a commitment. EFREM GRAHAM: A commitment stronger than just Sunday morning worship and Tuesday night prayer. Pastor Dilena wanted to spread that passion to his congregation of young professionals. He not only urged them to join him in Highland Park, Dilena offered to help with a down payment on future homes. Tim Dilena: Why not go to a place that we can literally affect the city? And to do that, Efrem, you’ve got to live in the city. EFREM GRAHAM: Out of the 400 members of Revival Tabernacle right now, 75 live right here in the Highland Park area. One couple lives right here in this home on Rhode Island Street. Jeffrey O’Farrell: We had a house on the west side of Detroit, but we could move anywhere. And we decided we wanted to be here. EFREM GRAHAM: Jeffrey and Dana O'Farrell live two and a half miles from the church. Dana O’Farrell (Highland Park Resident): I have volunteered in soup kitchens. I have done all the door to door, taking prayer requests. And your heart begins to have a place for the city, and that is what happened in our heart. Jeffrey O’Farrell (Highland Park Resident): And then coming into the city, a lot people, “Are you scared?” I said, “No. People are people.” There is good and bad in everybody. And we just want to share the Gospel and be a witness here on Rhode Island. EFREM GRAHAM: These days, the O’Farrell’s stage to share the Gospel has blossomed into a Highland Park tourist attraction. It was Clint Eastwood’s home in the hit film Gran Torino. Dana O’Farrell: I would have never thought that my home would be in a movie, much less a Clint Eastwood movie. I think that was pretty huge. Jeffrey O’Farrell: Clint Eastwood took a bath in my bathtub. EFREM GRAHAM: The film was a high point for Highland Park and the Revival Tabernacle congregation. But there were also some low points. Tim Dilena: We have just gone through probably one of the biggest trial of crime that we’ve ever experienced as a church. EFREM GRAHAM: The church's executive pastor was home alone when a robber broke in and savagely stabbed him 37 times, leaving him to die. Tim Dilena: The miracle, Efrem, was that of 37 stabbings, not one of them hit a vital organ. Kevin Ramsby (Exec. Pastor, Revival Tabernacle): He was here, because he said he wanted the keys to my car and he wanted the money. EFREM GRAHAM: Kevin Ramsby moved his family to Highland Park less than a year ago. His faith in God, his church and his community remained strong, even as the victim of one the city's most violent crimes. Kevin Ramsby: I began to then pray for my son, and I wanted my son Noah to never, ever blame God for this. EFREM GRAHAM: Now on the road to recovery with the help of his family, Ramsby’s prayers are for Highland Park. It’s home, and it’s where his heart is, even in the face of adversity. Kevin Ramsby: We love it here. Our kids can walk down the streets. And we play. We know our neighbors. We’ll cook out with them. We’ll have them over. It's a great place to live. EFREM GRAHAM: Revival Tabernacle is committed to making it greater, one house at a time. Tim Dilena: You can be anointed and never touch a city. I think that comes from longevity. I think when you commit yourself to a city and say, “We’re here,” and I would just tell you, Efrem, we are here for the rest of our lives. We're not going anywhere. EFREM GRAHAM: Efrem Graham, CBN News, Highland Park, Michigan. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: Every once in a while, you start feeling down and you hear a story like this, and you just go, “Wow, what an incredible witness of Christ in action.” KRISTI WATTS: I was thinking about the father, who said, after being stabbed, what, 36-37 times, he’s praying that, “Lord, just don’t let my son ever blame you.” And you’d think, if I was in that situation, I would be like, “Lord, why did that person do that?” Or, “Lord, heal me.” It would all be me, me, me, me, me. GORDON ROBERTSON: “God, why are you letting this happen to me?” KRISTI WATTS: Yes, right? I tell you what. You’re right. That was an extraordinarily inspiring story that makes us take the image off of us. GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. GORDON ROBERTSON: What’s next? KRISTI WATTS: Up next, a Muslim man takes an unplanned trip. Man: I felt like I left my body, and I kept going up and up like through the roof, and I feel like the Lord took me to Heaven. KRISTI WATTS: Hear the promise he received in Heaven, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** SPOT 2A: BRADFORD Announcer: “I am with you always.” This comforting thought was the inspiration for acclaimed artist Greg Olsen’s dramatic portrayal of Christ in quiet reflection, gazing down at the city at dawn. And now by special arrangement with the artist himself, this dramatic image can inspire you and your family. Sent in an exquisitely crafted crystalline sculpture, “Always With You” is a brilliant reminder of the power of prayer. Now, for a limited time, this heirloom quality sculpture is being offered at two payments of just 19.95. Each sculpture is individually hand numbered and each comes with a matching certificate of authenticity. 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Dr. Joyce Brothers: I’ve been giving advice for many years, and I believe Alert USA provides the best emergency support and value for your dollar. Call now for a free brochure. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: When Khaleed Matmati’s toothache went away, he had mixed emotions. On one hand, he was thankful to be free from pain. On the other hand, Khaleed knew his life as a Muslim would never be the same. KHALEED MATMATI Khaleed Matmati: I always felt different being a Muslim, but it was kind of a good thing. It always gave me the confidence that I was following the right faith. I always believed that Allah was god, but growing up in high school, I wanted to have fun like I saw everybody else having fun. And it’s like, what’s fun about not smoking pot? What’s fun about not drinking? What’s fun about not partying? It’s like what everyone does to have fun, and it’s fun. So I wanted to do that, and later on when I become a parent. and I’m raising children, then I’ll be a good Muslim. I always had a love for music, and I had a passion for music. I really, really wanted to just do something in the music business. I just had a love for it. The day that Eddie met me, the Lord spoke to him and said, “I want you to take Khaleed on the road with you. I’m going to save him.” And it’s kind of funny, because it was right after 9/11 had happened, and Eddie was not trying to take no Muslim into his ministry. I thought this was my big break. I thought it my chance to be—I couldn’t care less about Jesus. But I wanted to learn what I could from Eddie and then just go and do my own thing. First place we went to was Nashville, Tennessee. My friend David got bitten on his hand by a bug or an insect or something. And his hand starts swelling up, and I was thinking maybe we need to get some type of cream or go to a doctor or something. It didn’t look like it was getting any better. The mother of the house we were staying with came up to David and said, “I’m going to pray for you. I want to believe that God will heal your hand, that Jesus is going to heal your hand.” And I thought, “This lady has got to be out of her mind. Jesus healing a hand?” I said, “That’s the stuff they do on TV.” It’s like, give me a break. Who believes that? And right in front of my face, the swelling goes away. And you couldn’t even tell he had anything wrong with his hand. I had an infection in my mouth. My wisdom teeth were growing in crooked. But I also had an infection around my wisdom teeth, which is like pain on top of pain. I didn’t get any sleep ever. It had been going on for a good two weeks of just nonstop pain. So I walked up to her and I said, “Can you do for my mouth what I saw you do for his hand?” And when she started praying for me, it was gone. I knew it was gone. I just needed a minute to come to grips with what just happened. I remember sitting in the chair after she prayed for me. I sat down and I go, “Oh, my God, my whole life is going to change.” Of course, everybody says, “Do you feel any pain? Are you healed?” I said, “I’ve been having medicine all day long. Just let me go to bed. I’ll just sleep on it and I’ll tell you in the morning.” So I ran downstairs, and they had these sugar molasses cookies. And I started shoving them in my mouth, letting them marinate and trying to push it around in there, trying to agitate it and get the pain working. And there was absolutely no pain. And I began to really start freaking out. And I started punching myself in my face, trying to make some kind of pain in my teeth and my face. And I realized that Jesus was God. I never knew that God would be involved in a human life so personal that He would set them free and deliver them and that He would care enough to do that and intervene. It was a month after I got healed. We went to this conference in Alabama. And it was the first time I heard the voice of the Lord. And the Lord spoke to me and said, “If you want to know if this is real, get up and see for yourself.” I just lifted my hands and I closed my eyes and I just said, “Okay, Lord, just show me whatever you want to show me.” And they began to pray for me, and my knees just turned like rubber. And I just fell and hit the ground. I couldn’t stand. I said, “Okay, Lord, for real, God, Jesus, whoever,” I said, “I really want to know you. I really want you to give me all that you got.” And so I just raised my hands, and with nobody touching me, I just, nobody laying hands, I just fell over like a ton of bricks. I felt like I left my body, and I kept going up and up through the roof. And I feel like the Lord took me to Heaven. The best way for me to describe was that if love had a color, it’s all that I saw. I’ve never experienced or felt a love and a peace that I felt in that moment. I just had an encounter with Him, and it didn’t matter to me what He was. I knew I wanted to live for that God. He gave me a promise when I first gave my life to Him that He was going to save my whole family. He was going to start with my sister, my mother and then my father. So since then my sister has come to the Lord. And a couple years after that encounter, my mother came to Christ. And so now they’re both serving the Lord, and we’re just believing the Lord to fulfill what He said He was going to do and go ahead and save my dad. I’m just so happy that I found Christ and that I have a Heavenly Father, who even today, to be honest, I’m not good enough. But I have a Heavenly Father who loves me even in my weakness. And that makes me good enough. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON MINISTERS GORDON ROBERTSON: He loves you in the middle of your weakness. Do we ever get good enough for that love? No. No. You don’t earn it. You can’t be good enough. Then you start thinking about how many times you’ve sinned, just on the basic two. Are you loving God with all your heart? Are you loving your neighbor as you love yourself? Are you doing those? And you start looking at that and examining your life. And you go, “No, I’m not doing that. I’m not doing that every moment of every day.” You don’t earn it with Him, because you can’t. But the amazing thing is, He still loves us. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He loves you so much. He wants a relationship with you so much that He was willing to die for you. And He wants to impart that love to you. He wants to fill you with it. He wants you so enveloped in His love that you start to understand there is no disease He can’t heal. There is no problem He can’t solve. There is nothing too hard for God. And then when you understand that that’s His will, that His will is all about love, that Heaven is all about love—“If love were a color, that’s what I saw.” That’s what Khaleed just revealed. He was transported to another place, and he saw things. And he’s delivering that message to you. Look at how Jesus prayed and how He taught us to pray. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” He had seen the Father. He had been with Him. He knew what it was like there, and He wanted that on earth. And He wanted it so much He was willing to die, so that you and I could have it, that we could experience it, that we could be with him. Now, some of you are watching and just like Khaleed, you’re going, “Well, I want to do my own thing. I want to experience all the world has. I want to have all of that. Maybe later, when I grow up I’ll have kids. I’ll come back, and I’ll be a good Christian.” Khaleed said, “I’ll want to be a good Muslim.” It’s not about that. It’s not about how good we are. It never has been. It’s all about how good Jesus was, how much He loves us, how much He’s willing to forgive anything, cleanse away anything. He loves us so much, He says, “Anything, whatever it takes, whatever they need, I’ll do it. I’ll supply it. I’ll be it, so that they can be with Me for all eternity.” That’s God’s great plan. It’s been that way since the Garden of Eden, where He wanted Adam and Eve to be made in His image, so that He could come down and talk with them. He would be their God. They would be His people. They would be His children. And that’s what He’s offering you, His great dream, His great plan, that you would be His child, that you would know His love, that you would know Him, that you’d be with Him forever. Do we ever get good enough? No. But with Him, we understand it’s okay. His love can cleanse away anything. So for you right now, are you willing to pray the same prayer that Khaleed prayed? “God, Jesus, show me. I want to know you. I want to be with you. I want to experience you. I don’t want to read about it in a book. I want to have that direct relationship. I want to hear your voice. I want to know you.” If this is for you, if this is what you want, all you have to do is ask. All you have to do. It’s not a question of getting cleaned up first, getting right first, doing the right thing. No. It’s all about asking. All we have to do is humble ourselves and pray, turn, seek Him, ask for Him. Then He comes in. Then He fills you. Then He shows you how much He loves you. If this is for you, if this is what you want, bow your head with me. Pray a very simple prayer. Let Jesus do all the rest. What He has done for others, He will do for you. He loves you so much, He was willing to die for you. And if you were the only one, the only one to ever believe, to ever ask, to ever want to be with Him, He still would have done it just for you. Pray with me. “Lord Jesus.” That’s right. Say it out loud. “Lord Jesus, I come to you, and I want to know you. I want to experience the love that you have for me. So Jesus, I open my heart to you, and I ask that you come in. I ask that you speak to me. I want to have a relationship with you. I want to know your love. And Jesus, I ask right now that you forgive me, that you set me free, that you cleanse me from all the things that I’ve done wrong. And if you’ll do this, if you’ll come in right now, I promise to follow you all the days of my life. Hear my prayer. Come into my heart, for I ask it in Jesus’ name.” Father, for those who just prayed, I pray a baptism in your love. I pray that right now you would just fill them to overflowing and let them know how much you love them and accept them and want them to be with you. Do it now, for I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. If you just prayed with me, the Bible says that if you’ll believe in your heart and then confess with your mouth, you shall be saved. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM What I want you to do is make a toll free call: 1-800-759-0700. And just say, “I prayed with that guy on TV. I asked Jesus to come into my heart.” When you call, we’ve got a free packet for you. It’s called “A New Day,” and yes, you just took the first step in a new day. GRAPHIC: OUR GIFT TO YOU 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM Inside this packet, there is a booklet with Bible verses. There is also a CD teaching on how to live the Christian life, what it means, the meaning of what you just did. We also encourage you to get a Bible, read it every day. It’s through that constant infilling of His Word that you change, the renewing of your mind. We also encourage you to join a local church. It’s in the fellowship of likeminded believers that you grow and you become a true disciple of Jesus. Whatever way you’ve made that decision, right now I just want you to make that phone call, just to let somebody else know, “I just asked Jesus into my heart. I just want to declare I want Him. I want a relationship with Him.” Make that call right now: 1-800-759-0700. Kristi, over to you. KRISTI WATTS: Thanks, Gordon. Well, I am outside and in my hand I’m holding an ordinary basketball. But let me tell you about this basketball. This basketball is actually helping to build schools in Africa, and I’m going to show you how when we come back, so don’t go away. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3: SIMPLE SAM 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. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GLOBAL WARMING POLL LEE WEBB: And welcome back to The 700 Club. Americans are cooling off to the idea of global warming. A new Pew Research Center poll indicates only 57 percent believe there is solid evidence the world is getting warmer. That’s down from 77 percent just three years ago. And only 36 percent believe human activity is behind a temperature increase, down from 47 percent last year. OB HIGHLIGHT OF WEEK LEE WEBB: Parasites are one of the leading causes of disease in the third world. One of the poorest and hardest hit nations is the small island country of Haiti in the Caribbean. CBN's Operation Blessing is on the ground in the city of Jeremie. The aid organization has recently distributed more than 1,700 anti-parasite pills to children in schools and orphanages across the country. Operation Blessing plans to distribute about a million pills in Haiti this fall. The effort is part of a worldwide campaign to hand out more than 18 million anti-parasite tablets to little ones. You can find out more by going to Operation Blessing’s web site. It’s OB.org. GRAPHIC: FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO OB.ORG Gordon and Kristi will be back with more of The 700 Club, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4: SYNVISC Announcer: If you have osteoarthritis knee pain, Synvisc One treats it right at the source and helps you get back to doing the things you love. Synvisc One is the only treatment that can give you up to six months of pain relief with just one injection. It’s a natural substance similar to healthy joint fluid that lubricates and cushions your joint and relieves pain without the serious side effects that pain pills can have. For your free information kit, call 1-800-211-9223. Synvisc One may not work for everyone. Before beginning treatment, tell your doctor if you are allergic to products from birds, such as feathers, eggs or poultry, or if your leg is swollen or infected. The most common side effects are temporary pain, stiffness, swelling and fluid buildup in and around the knee. Synvisc One has not been tested in children, pregnant women or women who are nursing. To learn more, call this number, go online or ask your doctor about Synvisc One. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * KRISTI WATTS: Welcome back to The 700 Club. Well, Austin Gutwein, he has never played in the NBA, and he has never played college basketball. In fact, he’s never been to college, because he’s only 15 years old. However, he is still an international basketball star. Check him out. SET-UP PIECE SHAWN BROWN: Austin Gutwein is an ordinary teen who is doing extraordinary things. He’s the founder of an international charity, Hoops of Hope. It’s raised over one million dollars for AIDS orphans in Africa, and he started it when he was only nine. Austin saw a DVD by World Vision about a young African girl named Maggie. She lost her family to AIDS and had no food, home or education. He was so touched he wanted to do something. He took his favorite sport, basketball, and started shooting baskets to raise money. Now, almost six years later, Hoops of Hope has thousands of participants all over the globe, and Austin wants you to know you can do something bigger than yourself, too. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GUEST: AUSTIN GUTWEIN KRISTI WATTS: So please welcome to The 700 Club, Austin. Man, you are the bomb! Austin Gutwein: Thank you so much. KRISTI WATTS: And you are the author of Take Your Best Shot. Austin Gutwein: I am. Yes. KRISTI WATTS: First of all, I’ve got to tell you, I’m kind of impressed. Fifteen years old, already an author of a book. So, tell me, what inspired you to write this book? Austin Gutwein: Well, basically, I’ve just been encouraged to take my best shot through shooting hoops. And I wanted to let everybody else out there know that they can make a difference, and that they don’t have to wait to do something like that. KRISTI WATTS: I love that. All right, let’s talk about how this really, really, really got started. Your parents brought home—what did your parents do that inspired you to do this? You tell me. I don’t want to tell your story. Austin Gutwein: It was a DVD from World Vision that just talked about a girl who had actually lost her parents due to AIDS over in Africa. And at the time, I was nine years old. I didn’t know what AIDS was. I just knew that I couldn’t imagine living life without my parents. I knew that I had to do something. So I was just encouraged to use my favorite sport to make a difference. And so I decided to shoot hoops to help change the world. KRISTI WATTS: And you did. Now, when you first started, tell me what you did. You shot some hoops, and how much money did you make, and where did it go? Austin Gutwein: That very first year, it was just me shooting hoops, and I raised about three thousand dollars to help support eight kids over in Africa. And now it’s grown to over 20 different countries, and we’ve had 25,000 people participate. And we’ve been able to raise 1.5 million dollars to build a school and two medical clinics, as well. KRISTI WATTS: That’s so cool. And you’ve actually been over to Africa. What is it, Zambia? Austin Gutwein: I have, yes. Zambia. KRISTI WATTS: What was that experience like for you? Austin Gutwein: That was just completely incredible. I never dreamed of being able to actually go over there. But being able to see these people and how excited they were for things like a school and a medical clinic was just incredible, because, you see, for us, sometimes we take things like that for granted. But for these people, it completely changes their outlook on life now. KRISTI WATTS: That is so cool. All right, now when you first started, you said, “All right, I’m going to throw some free throws. In fact, I’m going to throw 2,000 in 57.” Right? Austin Gutwein: Yes. KRISTI WATTS: That’s an odd number. What was the significance to that number? Austin Gutwein: The significance of that number is how many kids were actually orphaned by AIDS during my school day. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. In one day? Austin Gutwein: In one day. Yes. KRISTI WATTS: Wow. So there are a lot of kids out there who are suffering. And you realized that you have just a lot where you are and that you wanted to be able to help. Austin Gutwein: Absolutely. I just knew that I wanted to be able to help others that were less fortunate. And the Bible definitely tells us to care for the orphans and the widows in their distress. And that’s what I decided to do. KRISTI WATTS: Well, it’s so interesting. When I was reading your information, the thing I kept thinking of was it’s one thing to be interested in something for a season, but you’ve actually been interested in this for a while. It’s part of your heart’s desire. Why do you think God has kind of placed this on your heart as your mission, at least for now in your life? Austin Gutwein: I just think that God has placed this on my heart because He knows that we can’t change the world. And I believe that my generation and others out there can change the world. I’ve just been so passionate about sharing that. KRISTI WATTS: That is so cool. Okay, so next year you’re going to be doing something big. You’re going to be performing in an all star game. What’s that? Austin Gutwein: Yes, it’s actually called the Hoops of Hope All Stars. And you can check it out on our web site at HoopsofHope.org. And basically what we’re doing is having this big tournament with, we’re going to try and have 15 million free throws actually shot and raise 15 million dollars to transform 12 communities over in Africa. KRISTI WATTS: Cool. All right. So here is the last question. What would you say to encourage someone else to really share the same heart that you have? Austin Gutwein: Definitely. I would just encourage anybody else out there to not wait to make a difference, to know that you can start changing the world now, and you can take your best shot. KRISTI WATTS: You know what I think is so cool? What started with one person has turned into how many? Do you know? Austin Gutwein: Twenty-five thousand. KRISTI WATTS: Isn’t that crazy, man? Austin Gutwein: Yes. KRISTI WATTS: What does it feel like, seriously, to know that you started something with a simple idea, and 25,000 people to date have said, “You know what? I want to do this, too.” What does that feel like? Austin Gutwein: It feels awesome, but it continues to have that thought in my mind that everybody wants to change the world. And when you give them a way to do that, it blows everybody away. KRISTI WATTS: I love that. Well, listen, I’m going to be quiet, step out of the way, because we’re going to do something really fun. You ready? Austin Gutwein: Okay. I’m ready. KRISTI WATTS: All right. We’re going to put a clock on. And in this clock, we’re going to give you 60 seconds. And for every basketball or every hoop, every shot—you can tell I was a cheerleader. I don’t know even know what I’m talking about—every shot that you make, there you go, we’re going to give you 100 dollars. Austin Gutwein: Awesome. KRISTI WATTS: And this is going to be sponsored by Orphan’s Promise. So is the shot clock on? I’m going to get out of the way. Do you need any pointers from me? Austin Gutwein: No. No, that’s all right. KRISTI WATTS: Good. I’ll be your cheerleader. That’s what I’m good at, Austin. Austin Gutwein: Okay. Sounds good. KRISTI WATTS: All right. Where’s the shot clock? Are we ready? Austin Gutwein: We ready? KRISTI WATTS: On your mark, get set, rock your stuff. You can do it, Austin. Woo, there you go! I tell you what, look at that wrist. I need to learn from you. Amazing. Keep it going. We’ve got 41 seconds left on the clock. We’re going to make it. I feel like a sports commentator. Woo! That was the bomb. Good eye. Good focus. You’ve got it. You’ve got it. You can do it. Fantastic. Austin Gutwein: There you go. Thank you. KRISTI WATTS: Rock your stuff, man. You’ve got it, man. You’ve got it. Keep it going. Keep it going. Come on, basketball men people here. Hustle up a little bit. Help him out. Here we go, five, four, three, two, one. Woo hoo! That was the bomb, man. Austin Gutwein: Awesome. Thank you. KRISTI WATTS: You totally rock. Okay, let’s see. In 60 seconds, we got 13 baskets, which is dynamic. And so technically, I’m not good at math, but I think that’s like, what, 1,300 dollars Austin Gutwein: That’s awesome. KRISTI WATTS: Yes, but I’ve got to tell you something that’s even cooler. Orphan’s Promise, because you’re such a rocking awesome guy, Orphan’s Promise said, “You know what? Thirteen hundred dollars, that’s not enough. But you know what is? Five thousand.” Austin Gutwein: Awesome. KRISTI WATTS: So today on behalf of Orphan’s Promise, we are going to give you 5,000 dollars. Austin Gutwein: Very cool. KRISTI WATTS: And you know why? Because we know that that money is going to go for dorms in Zambia, so congratulations. Austin Gutwein: Thank you so much. KRISTI WATTS: You rock, man. Keep up the good work. Austin Gutwein: Thanks. KRISTI WATTS: And remember, if you want any tips or pointers on how to shoot a basketball, ask one of the guys. I don’t know. Austin Gutwein: Oh, okay. KRISTI WATTS: Thank you so much for being with us, Austin. Austin Gutwein: Someday. Thank you. KRISTI WATTS: I appreciate you. For more information on Austin and his phenomenal, phenomenal, phenomenal book, check out his book, Take Your Best Shot. It’s available nationwide. We’re going to be back with more of The 700 Club after this, so don’t go away. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5A: ORPHAN’S PROMISE Zina (Ukrainian Orphan): I know how it feels to be alone. Tarkeshwar (Indian Orphan): To be hungry. Eduard (Ukrainian Orphan): To be afraid. Rungnapa (Thai Orphan): I haven’t had a birthday party. Denys (Ukrainian Orphan): My own room. Rima (Ukrainian Orphan): Or a family to call mine. Zina (Ukrainian Orphan): I’m an orphan. Ruslan (Ukrainian Orphan): An orphan. Katya (Ukrainian Orphan): An orphan. Yi (Chinese Orphan): And there are a hundred million more like me in the world today. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Together, you and I can make a tremendous difference to someone today. We can change the lives of orphans. I’m asking you to get involved. Give to Orphan’s Promise. From Asia to Africa, from Latin America to Europe, you’ll be providing housing, food, education, job training and hope to children who are alone and at risk. Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me.” Please give to Orphan’s Promise and love a child today. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5B: CANCER CENTER Laura Brokow: The doctor came in. I was still waking up from anesthesia. He leaned over my bed and he said, “Laura, you have cancer,” and he walked out of the room. The first thought is, “What’s going to happen to my children?” I knew I was ready to fight this, and I just wanted this cancer out of me. I wanted to take care of it and move on. Then my mom called me. She had seen an ad on TV for Cancer Treatment Centers of America. It was just a tremendous experience from the minute that I walked in the door. Their bedside manner, you just can’t even describe it. It takes a very special person to do what they’re doing. Announcer: Hope is alive at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Call us now to have a real conversation about you and your treatment options. We’ll send you this free DVD that shows you how this very special group of people put you at the center of everything they do. Laura Brokow: I wanted to live to see my kids grow up. That’s what gave me the drive to fight cancer. They supported that in me. They gave me choices. They made me realize that every life is worth saving. You can’t fight cancer if you don’t have hope. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: When a flashflood damaged her home, Zena Hankins was devastated. Zena had no money, no way to repair the damage, until a crew from Operation Blessing showed up at her door. ZENA NORFOLK FLOOD Zena Hankins: It was really pouring down rain, and the water was rising. And within minutes, I started seeing water coming in my house. And the water just kept on rising. It just kept on rising. TIM BRANSON: Flash flooding in Norfolk, Virginia, this summer left people like Zena Hankins with a water soaked home and no way to clean up the mess. Zena Hankins: At one point, I just sat and I cried. And I said, “Lord, I work every day. I did everything that I was supposed to do. I have insurance. I work hard. I don’t know why is this happening to me and what is happening at this point. I don’t have money to do the work that I knew that was going to be required.” TIM BRANSON: The next day, Operation Blessing’s Disaster Relief Team showed up to help Zena and the other residents clean up their homes. We’re in Zena’s kitchen right now, and I just want to show you something. We’re going to tilt down here, and I want to show you how saturated this rug is. This rug is history. It’s no longer usable. We’re going to go in here. And Operation Blessing guys are in here taking up the carpet, cutting out the drywall. Now, I want to show you something. Right here is the water line. That’s how high the water got in Zena’s house. Now, it needs to be taken out as quickly as possible, because if they don’t, the results could be disastrous. Man: The mold is definitely a huge issue, and we make that we explain to the homeowners what we’re doing and how we want to protect them and get that carpet and drywall out. TIM BRANSON: Zena was grateful for the help cleaning up, but Operation Blessing wanted to finish the job. So through local partnerships and the financial support of 700 Club partners, they restored all of the flooded homes in Zena’s community. Now, we’re back in Zena’s kitchen, and I want you to look at this brand new linoleum. We’ve got brand new carpet in the dining room and through the hallway, all the way into the living room. Now, this has all just been installed, so Zena is still settling in. But I want you to see something: brand new drywall. You can’t even see where the water was. So there is no mold and no problems. Zena Hankins: I want to thank Operation Blessing and The 700 Club for coming to my rescue, because you are the only people that came to my rescue. You’re the only ones. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: “You came to my rescue. You were the only one.” If you want to be part of what we do around the world, whether it’s in Indonesia, in the Philippines or right here in Norfolk, Virginia, if you want to be a part of it, all you have to do is join The 700 Club. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM How much is that? Well, it’s just 20 dollars a month, 65 cents a day. A portion of every gift to The 700 Club goes into the work of Operation Blessing. Another portion goes into the work of CBN WorldReach to establish outreach centers around the world where we teach Christians how to preach the Gospel in their own language, how to do a testimony on air, how to lead people to Jesus. If you want to be a part of it, if you want to be a part of everything we do, join The 700 Club. When you join, we’ll send as our gift back to you Right on the Money, a special CBN partner audio edition of a portion of my father’s latest book. GRAPHIC: YOURS WHEN YOU JOIN 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM It can be yours when you join right now: 1-800-759-0700. Or you can log on to CBN.com. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BRING IT ON GORDON ROBERTSON: We’ve got time for some e-mail. KRISTI WATTS: Yes, but very little, so I’m going to rock it with my question. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. KRISTI WATTS: You ready? GORDON ROBERTSON: You rock it. KRISTI WATTS: Here we go. Bambi writes in and says, “I’ve been divorced for almost two years now, a divorce that I did not want, but he did. We were married 23 years and he’s the only man I’ve ever been with. Should I ask the Lord to give me someone new or am I to be alone since I’ve already been married?” GORDON ROBERTSON: Bambi, you’re raising a question that I know has been sort of troubling the church for at least since the days of Jesus. Why were certificates of divorce allowed? In Matthew 19, Jesus says, “Because of your hardness of heart was this given to you.” And then he adds on to it that unless the divorce is for sexual immorality, if you remarry you commit adultery. So I know that Jack Hayford has called for there to be a gathering of Protestants to how do we get through this and how do we have blessings for second, third, some fourth marriages? And how do we get through this problem? Within the Catholic Church they have an annulment process where that’s the process in order to bless another marriage. So you’re asking a very significant question. It’s one that can’t be answered in 60 seconds. If there was sexual immorality, then you can remarry under Matthew 19. If there isn’t, you need to go talk to your pastor to see if you can get permission to remarry. We leave you with these words from Psalm 34, . . . . GRAPHIC: Psalm 34:9-10 “There is no want to those who fear Him . . . Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (NKJV) . . . . “There is no want to those who fear Him. Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” God bless you. GRAPHIC: COPYRIGHT 2009 CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END SPOT: PLEDGE EXPRESS Announcer: While Mary feeds her two young daughters, she also helps feed needy families around the world. While Bob hands a drink out to a co-worker, he helps give water to villages with new wells. And while Carl builds a house for his son’s new puppy, he helps rebuild homes in disaster areas. TERRY MEEUWSEN: These people all have something in common. They’re CBN partners who have joined Pledge Express. It’s easy to sign up. Just give us a call, log on to CBN.com or return the Pledge Express form you receive in the mail. Then each month, we’ll send you “Power for Life,” and you’ll receive this powerful CD called Overcoming Stress. So join us and change the world for someone today.