The 700 Club: October 7, 2009

UnderWing Transcripts PO Box 16282 Clearwater, Florida 33766 540 455-2333 / UnderWing@underwingtranscripts.com ________________________________________ The 700 Club Telethon Broadcast Wednesday, October 7, 2009 GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, welcome to The 700 Club. A cross has stood over the Mojave Desert for 75 years. Today the Supreme Court hears a case that will determine if it can stay. TERRY MEEUWSEN: And their decision could affect memorials from Anaheim to Arlington. Paul Strand has that story. PAUL STRAND: The Supreme Court focuses today on a man sized cross hundreds of miles out in the desert, a tribute to fallen soldiers in World War I. But it offended a Mojave Desert preserve employee, and because it was on federal property, the ACLU asserted it violated separation of church and state. Lower courts have agreed, ordering it be covered in plywood so as not to offend. But those who want the cross to stay say this case shouldn’t even be in court, because no one has been hurt. Colby May: The courts have universally said merely being offended is not enough. Otherwise, everybody would be in court. PAUL STRAND: Other backers of the cross say if the Supreme Court won’t allow this cross to stand . . . . Wendy Wright: It will then have to bulldoze Arlington Cemetery, put plywood around our coins and eliminate and erase the religious symbols throughout not only our nation’s capitol, but throughout our country. PAUL STRAND: That’s the argument for leaving the cross alone. But there are those who feel there are legitimate reasons for ripping it down. Rob Boston: Is the cross really an appropriate symbol to memorialize all war dead? Does it memorialize non-Christians? PAUL STRAND: Reverend Rob Shank just returned from visiting the cross and says he was shocked just how tiny and humble it was, hardly worth a federal case. He ran into a British tourist, who loved at the covered cross and said: Man: Things like this, meaning the boxing of this cross, the covering of it by court order, he said, “Things like this make you Americans look ridiculous.” PAUL STRAND: Paul Strand, CBN News, Washington. GORDON ROBERTSON: This is your tax dollars at work. It costs money to litigate this kind of stuff, and when you start taking this to its logical conclusion, what are they going to do with Arlington National Cemetery? That is public land. That’s government land. And if you have all those rows and rows and rows of crosses, is that a government endorsement? You look at these kinds of things. This is a World War I memorial. Veterans got together to put that up, to say, “We want to remember our dead, our fallen comrades.” And here we are decades later arguing about is this permissible under the Constitution, which says Congress can pass no law respecting the establishment of religion. It’s talking about a state run church. It’s not talking about these kinds of symbols, and particularly something of this kind of historical nature. I hope the Supreme Court reviews it on the merits and we can stop this nonsense. They may have to reverse some previous decisions, but I hope they look at the merits. There is an easy out for them to say that the park official who brought the case doesn’t have standing, because there is no real offense to him. If they take the easy way out, we’re just going to have more cases come down the pipe. Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. DC SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEE WEBB: Gordon, same-sex marriage could be legal in the nation's capital before the end of the year. A gay member of the Washington, DC city council has introduced a bill permitting those marriages. Ten of the 13 council members support the bill, and DC’s mayor has pledged to sign it. US Congressman Jason Chaffetz, though, is the ranking Republican of the House subcommittee that oversees DC affairs. He tells CBN News, “It’s time for people to stand up for traditional marriage and get involved.” Rep. Jason Chaffetz: One of the best things that can happen is that the residents of Washington, DC, can sign enough petitions and actually force it to a vote. We’re going to try to force it for a vote on the floor in the House of Representatives. We also need to have that fight happen here in Washington, CD and as it comes up in other states as well. LEE WEBB: But we’re told that Congress probably will not overturn the bill. But a group led by Bishop Harry Jackson wants the people of DC to be able to vote on the issue. PADANG LEE WEBB: Nearly 90,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged in last week's earthquake in Indonesia. Entire villages were wiped out by landslides. With thousands homeless and needing food, Operation Blessing rushed to the scene to help survivors. Many of them are still hoping to find their missing loved ones. Yuhelmi believes her 13-year-old daughter is still here, buried under the rubble of this school. Days after a powerful earthquake shook this place, Yuhelmi and her relatives are hoping against all hope that rescue teams will find Yosa. Yuhelmi: My heart is so broken. She's my only daughter from all my children. My feeling is almost indescribable. Or maybe, like this rubble in front of me, is what my heart is like now. I will stay here. I won't go until my daughter is found. LEE WEBB: Yuhelmi is not alone. Across this area, families are still searching for loved ones amidst the death and destruction. More than a thousand people have died, but thousands more are thought to be missing after a massive 7.6 magnitude quake struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a week ago today. This is what remains of a three-star hotel in Padang. The hotel was full of guests attending seminars the day the quake struck. Septinang was fortunate to make it out. Septinang: Because we never expected that a disaster would happen, now I am grieving over the loss of my friends. I am so sad. I felt the bonding already happened among all of us. On the second day of the seminar, the atmosphere was full of happiness. We felt the closeness. LEE WEBB: The city of Padang is slowly coming back to life. But the situation is more dire in many of the remote villages. The epicenter of this devastating quake lies 60 kilometers north of Padang, in Pariaman, where hundreds of villages lie in ruins and hundreds of families now live or sleep outdoors with no place to go. And it is here that Operation Blessing has come. Thousands of food packages to help families make it to the next week are pouring in, as well as blankets, tents and emergency medical treatment. Labai Siri, an Islamic teacher, lost six members of his family. The bodies of three of them have been found, and he took us to a small mosque where they were waiting for proper burial. Because he no longer has many relatives who are able to take care of him, Operation Blessing gave him medical treatment and provided him with food and shelter, just one of the many victims Operation Blessing is here to help. And, of course, Gordon, this is just one of three tragedies that has struck the south Pacific in recent days. You had the tsunami in the Samoan Islands and the hurricane, or the typhoon, in the Philippines. So they’re really dealing with a lot there. GORDON ROBERTSON: They are. And when disaster strikes, we want to be there to strike back, to have hands of compassion and love for people in need. If you’re a member of The 700 Club, thank you, because you’re helping those people in Indonesia. You’re helping the people in the Philippines. We have disaster teams working in both countries. Pray for both of them. The magnitude of this earthquake, it’s been about a week since it happened, and we’re now just coming into a full understanding. And the government of Indonesia is literally talking about whole villages that don’t exist anymore, and there may not be any survivors because of the magnitude of this quake. So be in prayer for those who are survivors in their time of grief. And if you want to help, all you have to do is join The 700 Club. 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 to bring help to people in need around the world. If you want to make a difference, all you have to do is join The 700 Club. We’re a lot more than just a TV show. Well, Tony and Nancy Morehouse were in big financial trouble. They had no job, no income and no idea how they were going to pay the bills. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NANCY AND ANTHONY MOREHOUSE DORY NISSEN: Tony Morehouse owns a kitchen remodeling business that brings in more than enough to provide for his family. He believes God has blessed his business because he is a faithful tither, although when he first learned of the concept, it was hard to do. Tony Morehouse: Ten percent, that’s a lot of money. I said, “There’s no way.” When you’re coming from a kid growing up when your parents would put five dollars a week in the plate, that’s what I thought you were supposed to do. DORY NISSEN: But years ago, his faith in tithing was tested. The distributor for his company went bankrupt, and he had thousands in deposits with no way to fill the orders, and his boss told him to keep taking deposits. Tony couldn’t do it and quit. Tony Morehouse: I remember coming home and telling Nancy that I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I mean all of a sudden you go from having expense accounts, a good income, to nothing. DORY NISSEN: Tony admits stopping their giving seemed like the logical thing to do. Tony Morehouse: That’s something that has no formal signed obligation to. It’s just your word against God’s, so that’s the first thing that you want to think about cutting. DORY NISSEN: Nancy said, “No way.” Nancy Morehouse: I had learned that giving to God and the blessings that could come from that just outweighed the scariness of watching the checking account go down and figuring out how we’re going to pay the mortgage. It just never was an issue. DORY NISSEN: Nancy helped Tony call every client and explain what had happened and together devised a plan. Tony had just gotten a job with a competitor, and he prayed that the new company would help him fulfill his backorders. The new boss was thrilled that he came on board with 200,000 dollars in deposits, and they were happy to fill the orders. But during the months Tony was trying to clean up this mess, Nancy was getting a message: “Give more.” Nancy Morehouse: I felt like every time I turned around, it was like somebody, Gordon, or Terry, or one of the hosts, or the story was, “You’ve got to do this. You’ve got to do it. You’ve got to do it.” GORDON ROBERTSON: The good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s message and produce a huge harvest. Tony Morehouse: I remember Nancy coming to me and saying, “I think we need to increase our pledge to CBN.” And I looked at her. I thought that, “You’ve gone off the deep end.” I said, “There’s no way.” And she said that, “I think we need to become Chairman’s Circle members.” DORY NISSEN: By now, Tony had fulfilled his backorders and felt God was telling him to open his own business with a showroom. The pieces fell right into place. Today the Morehouses have two showrooms, and their kitchen renovation business brings in a million-and-a-half in sales yearly. They feel strongly that God has blessed them so much, because they have stood firm on listening and obeying in all areas of their lives, including their finances. Tony Morehouse: You just can’t be afraid. You’ve just got to just step out in a leap of faith and put all your trust in Him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON TEACHES GORDON ROBERTSON: These are words for these times. We can’t be afraid. We just have to step out and trust God. Here is what it says in Proverbs 11, “One scatters, yet increases more. And one withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” You reap what you sow. These are principles that God has laid down. And the amazing thing is that in God’s economy, nine is greater than ten. When you give away a tenth, He takes the nine remaining, and He multiplies it over and over. If you keep the full ten, He says, “Okay, you want to do it your way, you can do it your way.” But please start realizing that nine is greater than ten in His economy, that when you start to give, when you start watering others, then in turn you will be watered. Well, JT and Diane Williams did everything together. They went into business, opened a restaurant, and they even got deep in debt together. Then JT and Diane learned a principle that turned their failing business into a solid success. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * JT AND DIANE WILLIAMS JT Williams: Our bills were more than our income. We actually sat down together, Diane and I, and figured out what our monthly outgoing money needed to be and what our potential incoming was, and it didn’t match up. DORY NISSEN: No one asks for a financial train wreck, but that’s just what JT and Diane Williams got. They thought opening a brand new restaurant would be the perfect way to start their marriage. They borrowed money and lots of it, but the restaurant failed, the doors closed, and the Williams had a whopping 90,000 dollars to pay back. JT began working 12-hour shifts seven days a week as a security guard with overtime. The money was barely enough. Diane Williams: I was scared. I was sad. I was worried, not sure what the future was going to bring. We had a lot of debt. It was just a scary time for us. DORY NISSEN: But Diane’s outlook was about to take a dramatic change. She started watching The 700 Club, and it taught her that no problem was too great for a big God. Diane prayed to receive Jesus Christ. Diane Williams: The joy for me came from knowing that I had somewhere to turn, that the Lord was there and would listen to me. And I had somewhere to go, someone to talk to. Even though it was a lot of money and a big problem, it didn’t feel overwhelming anymore. DORY NISSEN: Diane continued to watch her new favorite TV show and quickly learned a valuable lesson. Diane Williams: I learned that you can’t out-give the Lord, that even though, on paper we weren’t making it, that the more I was giving, the more money seemed to appear. JT Williams: I started putting two and two together and realizing that maybe the giving that we’re doing is why we’re getting these blessings from the Lord, and He’s taking care of us. DORY NISSEN: It wasn’t long before JT, too, accepted Jesus Christ. He was grateful to God for changing his heart, but had no idea He was about to change his financial situation, too. Diane decided to sell a concession stand trailer left over from the restaurant business to pay off some debt. The trailer sold immediately and more people wanted one. So: Diane Williams: I decided to start an Internet business. It just started building, and we got a lot of calls, and we started designing our own kitchens for the trailers. And hence came Custom Concessions, so we customize all our trailers. JT Williams: Okay, what type of equipment are you looking to put in it? DORY NISSEN: JT quit his security guard position and the Williams opened an office and a warehouse. Custom Concessions immediately turned a profit. In the first three years they sold 65 trailers, including landing a lucrative NASCAR contract. And the most exciting part of all? The Williams paid off every penny of their 90,000 dollar debt. They were so excited about their new debt free status, they joined CBN’s Chairman’s Circle. JT Williams: You could track from the first six months the business was open. She opened it in the summer of 2002. And if you track the sales and the amount of trailers that she sold, it has increased steadily just as our giving has increased. DORY NISSEN: JT and Diane love to track where they’ve sold their trailers. To them it’s a reminder of how faithful God has been and how far He’s seen them through. Diane Williams: When you give money when you have no money, you put your faith in the Lord. He’s going to take care of you. And what He did was awesome. JT Williams: I would be scared not to give, because I just know that all these blessings are coming from the Lord. I know they are. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON TEACHES GORDON ROBERTSON: Here is what Hebrews 11 says about this, “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” And one of the ways that we can show faith is in our finances. Faith is always an action. It’s not just the words that you say, but it’s an action. What do you do, and are you in your action showing you have faith in God and faith in God’s ability to bless you. When you do that, when you have that, then you please Him. And one of the ways to do it, and the only way that’s permissible in the Bible to test God, is to test Him in our tithes and offerings. Now, if I can get a drum roll, I’ve got some great news. Some partners, existing CBN 700 Club members from Kansas, say, “We like giving. We like the blessings so much, we want to challenge others to give.” And for the next 30 minutes they’re going to challenge you for 75,000 dollars. What that means is that if you join The 700 Club now for the next 30 minutes, they will match you dollar for dollar up to 75,000 dollars. So we’re inviting you to join, to say, “Yes, I want to join The 700 Club.” How much is that? Well, it’s just 20 dollars a month. That’s only 65 cents a day. So call the number on your screen: 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “Yes, I want to be a part of it.” Some of you say, “I can join at a higher level. I can join at 700 Club Gold.” That’s 40 dollars a month. The 1000 Club is 1,000 dollars a year, and that equals 84 dollars a month. Whatever level God is speaking to you to test Him, do it today and do it right now. Call us: 1-800-759-0700. Let’s pray. “Lord God, for the partners in Kansas who made it possible, we ask for blessing for them. We ask for encouragement. We ask that you would open their ears and speak to them. Give them a heart of understanding. And, Lord, for those watching right now, I just ask that you would lift up your countenance upon them. Shine on them, Lord God, and give them your peace, for we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.” You heard it, a 75,000 dollar challenge, 29 minutes and 55 seconds to go. We need to hear from you, so give us a call: 1-800-759-0700. Let’s go over to Wendy at the phones. Wendy. WENDY GRIFFITH: Thanks, Gordon. Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ve been asking God for help with your finances. Well, the good news is God loves you so much, He cares about you and your money, and He wants you to prosper. That’s what the Bible says. We want to help you do that with Pat’s new teaching called Right on the Money, financial advice for tough times. And here is Pat to tell you a little bit more. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAT ENDORSEMENT PAT ROBERTSON: The world’s financial landscape is rapidly changing. Each of us needs to understand the new economy and how we can survive and thrive amid such sweeping change. That’s why I’ve compiled a special CBN partner audio edition of my latest book, Right on the Money. ANNOUNCER: In this special CBN partner audio edition by Pat Robertson, you’ll discover the biblically based principles that can help you get out of debt, create a road map to wealth, protect your investments and much more. Get Right on the Money, our gift to you when you join The 700 Club. PAT ROBERTSON: Above all, I want you to remember that God is greater than any economic downturn. He knows who you are and every circumstance in your life. He has provided opportunities all around you. Get the wisdom you need today and build a secure financial future. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * WENDY GRIFFITH: I love that. God is greater than the economy. And Right on the Money, this is Godly wisdom for your financial success. We want you to have this today when you call right now and join The 700 Club: 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “Hey, I like what you’re doing, and I want to partner with you.” Hey, it’s just 65 cents a day, 20 dollars a month, to change the world. Also, we are in the middle of a 75,000 dollar challenge right now. That means every dollar that you pledge right now will be matched dollar for dollar. So please, don’t delay. Go to your phones right now. Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, today Kris Gardner is a busy hairstylist with her own salon, but not long ago she had nothing but a failing business and a growing debt load. Then Kris made a decision that turned her finances around the very next day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * KRIS GARDNER Kris Gardner: If we give, we receive. I like the fact that He tells us if you give, you’ll be paid back in full measure, pressed down, shaken up, spilling over. I love that. I love that, and He proves Himself to me all the time. KRISTI WATTS: Kris Gardner of Boardman, Ohio is a woman with a mission. She’s driven to give to God’s work and to CBN. Wearing several hats, Kris is a mother, a business owner, a hair stylist and has her own hair care website. But not long ago, her businesses were far from successful. Kris Gardner: My business was failing. I had been suffering for two-and-a-half years. And I was taking the blunt end of all the bills, and I just couldn’t do it anymore. KRISTI WATTS: In her business, Kris rented out space to other hairdressers. Shortly after buying the business, she lost all her renters. To try to make ends meet, Kris started her own website, revupthevolume.com. She sells hair care products. Kris Gardner: I own a website that has not had any sales, none. I worked on it for months. I got it up and running. KRISTI WATTS: For four months, there was not one order on her site. But Kris made an unusual decision while watching The 700 Club. She decided to give out of her need, and the results were amazing. Kris Gardner: And this is March, and I had not had one sale. And March 22nd, I gave 20 dollars. And March 23rd, I received my first order. And it was plenty enough to cover the 20 dollars. Three days later, I received another order. And I decided, after a couple months, I was going to up my giving, and I was going to give 40 dollars. And the Lord continued to bless me enough to give whatever I was giving. KRISTI WATTS: And now, not only has her website seen a turnaround, but her beauty salon has several new hair stylists. Kris Gardner: Just recently in my business, I went from one person, and me having to take care of everything, all of the bills, to five people. And I have tripled my income, tripled in less than a year. KRISTI WATTS: Kris loves to raise her giving level during a 700 Club challenge. Kris Gardner: Other members call in, and they’ll give like a hundred-thousand-dollar challenge. And what they’re asking for is, if enough people call in and give a hundred-thousand, they’ll match it, so it’s 200,000. And that’s why I like to give during the challenges, because it’s not as if I’m giving 84; it’s 168, and I love that. KRISTI WATTS: And now, as a 2500 Club member, Kris truly believes in the power of giving. Kris Gardner: And He tells you to give, and we will receive. And He’ll make it so that the windows of Heaven open up, and we can’t contain His blessings. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON TEACHES GORDON ROBERTSON: That can happen to you. Here is the promise from Psalm 37, “Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Here is Kris. She was desiring success in business. and she took an adventure in faith. She took an adventure in giving, and immediately God responded. You can do that. What He has done for others, He will do for you. Realize He wants to give you the desires of your heart. This is His heart for you. He wants to do this for you. So if you want to get on the plus side of giving, give us a call: 1-800-759-0700. We’re asking you to join The 700 Club. How much is that? It’s just 20 dollars a month, 65 cents a day. And you join with tens of thousands of other people that want to make a difference in the world today. We encourage you to join via CBN.com. When you do it through the Internet, you automatically sign up for Pledge Express, electronic monthly giving. There are no stamps, nothing to mail in. It’s all done automatically by the bank. We save so much on the processing, we’re able to send as our gift to you “Power for Life.” If you want monthly teaching CDs, power to change your life, sign up for Pledge Express. Well, Bruce McElwain was out of work, and his wife Bobbie had a job she didn’t like. Between them, they could barely pay their bills, so they put their heads together and found a way to quadruple their profits. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BRUCE AND BOBBY MCELWAIN Bruce McElwain: We just didn’t make enough to make ends meet year-round. DORY NISSEN: Bruce McElwain couldn’t make a living as a subcontractor installing gas fireplaces. Bruce McElwain: It was feast or famine. It was very busy during the early fall, and then as soon as everybody got their units installed, it was famine time. It was very frustrating. DORY NISSEN: Bruce spent his days trying to drum up business, while his wife Bobbie worked long hours at a job she didn’t like. Then Bruce’s priorities dramatically changed after he discovered The 700 Club and Pat Robertson. Bruce McElwain: Pat was teaching on the principle of tithing. And up to that point, we had just given God tips like a dollar, maybe two. It really awakened me to a completely new principle. DORY NISSEN: Bruce told Bobbie what he learned about tithing. Bobbie McElwain: I didn’t feel it was right to give ten percent of that money I’d worked so hard for in a job that I really didn’t care about doing much. DORY NISSEN: Bobbie says God began changing her mind through Scripture on tithing and through a new church with the same message. Meanwhile, while Bruce was installing fireplaces, an idea started forming in his head about opening a new business. Bobbie McElwain: He would come home frequently and tell me that the customers would complain to him that there was no one that did it all, who would sell the product, install the product, run the gas line, and do the electrical. Bruce McElwain: So we decided to open a retail shop. It was a very big step. We prayed endlessly about it, because I wanted to be sure we were doing what God wanted us to do. DORY NISSEN: They both agreed to tithe faithfully to CBN and their church, and their new business called Hearth and Home immediately turned a profit. As their profits increased, so did their giving. They rapidly moved up the different levels of CBN until they joined the Chairman’s Circle, and their business continues to grow. Hearth and Home’s profits have quadrupled since they opened in 2001. Bobbie McElwain: I’ve seen our business go from here to here, and there is no other explanation for that, other than God. Bruce McElwain: You can’t out-give God. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON TEACHES GORDON ROBERTSON: You can’t out give God. Here is the promise from Deuteronomy 28, “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” If God is telling you to give, take the adventure. Take the challenge. Go for it and say, “Okay, God, I’ll trust you. I’ll trust you with my finances.” I know it’s difficult times, the economy. What is the forecast for tomorrow? Everyone is concerned, “Do I still have equity in my home? Has my 401 turned into a 201?” But with God, realize all things are possible. He is able to bless His people. He is able to produce streams in the desert. And what He has done for others, He can do for you. He can give you a new creative idea. He can give you new avenues to find wealth. All it takes on your part is to trust Him, to believe Him and to be listening for His voice. If you want to take an adventure in giving, give us a call: 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “Yes, I want to join The 700 Club.” How much is that? Twenty dollars a month, 65 cents a day. Some of you say, “I can give more. I can give 700 Club Gold.” That’s 40 dollars a month. The 1000 Club is 1,000 dollars a year, and that equals 84 dollars a month. The 2500 Club, 2,500 a year. Founders is 5,000 dollars a year. If you want to make a significant gift, Chairman’s Circle, 10,000 or more a year. At whatever level God is speaking to you, call us right now: 1-800-759-0700. Let’s go to Kristi at the phones. Kristi. KRISTI WATTS: Thanks, Gordon. Well, if you need direction on finances in terms of the current finances that you have or the finances you’re hoping to make, then we want to help you out. That’s why Gordon and Pat have put together this wonderful CD called Right on the Money. In fact, check out this spot, and it will tell you more about it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GPS SPOT ANNOUNCER: There you were, on your way to financial security . . . . GPS: Continue straight ahead to reach your financial goals. ANNOUNCER: . . . . when suddenly everything changed. Your road to financial freedom, gone. Traditional ways of investing no longer work. You need direction. GPS: Recalculating. Turn here. ANNOUNCER: Discover a biblically based way to navigate your financial future. Pat Robertson’s teaching, Right on the Money, shows you what works and what doesn’t. Establish a budget. Get out of debt. Build your savings. Learn how to invest. Get Pat Robertson’s Right on the Money when you join The 700 Club and get on the road to a more secure future. Available now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * KRISTI WATTS: There you have it. Right on the Money. It’s yours when you call in right now to become a 700 Club partner. We want to encourage you to call in. We’re in the middle of a challenge. We’ve got 17 minutes and 43 seconds left on this 75,000 dollar challenge. You can either pick up the phone or get on your computer, whichever works best for you. We are here for you. And in that process, don’t forget, when you become a 700 Club partner, we’re going to give you this. Ooh, here’s a thing, too. Maybe you’re already a 700 Club partner. Why don’t you consider taking it to the next level, like 700 Club Gold or just take it up a notch, because I tell you, when you throw out that extra blessing, extra blessings come back to you. So speaking of blessing, don’t forget, when you call, we want to give this to you. Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Thanks, Kristi. And when you call, you’ll know that you are touching the world right away, just like that, touching lives around the world with the powerful love of Jesus Christ. I want to show you how that works. Let’s go to Vietnam to meet a young girl whose name is Phan. She loves going to school, loves playing with her friends. But not long ago, this Vietnamese orphan had no place to live and no one to take care of her. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PHAN FINDS A FAMILY TERRY MEEUWSEN: There was only one thing that Phan wanted in life: to have a family. Her challenges began when she was only one. Her mother abandoned her, and her father raised her until he died in a motorcycle accident. Phan was only eight at the time. She went to live with an uncle for a while, but he was too poor to keep her, and she had to drop out of school. Phan: I knew that I was an orphan and wondered who would take care of me. TERRY MEEUWSEN: So Phan came to live here at this home for children sponsored by CBN’s Orphan’s Promise. Phan: I was actually looking forward to coming here. I was not scared. The other kids helped me feel at home right away. TERRY MEEUWSEN: And that has made all the difference for Phan. With her new brothers and sisters and new house parents, she feels like part of a family. Phan: It’s beautiful here. I have found my home and my family at last. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Phan is back in school. She’s eating three meals a day and shares a beautiful bedroom with her new friends, a room decorated thanks to another special gift from CBN’s Orphan’s Promise. Phan: Thank you to the people who helped make this happen. Thank you, CBN. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: Phan said, “I knew I was an orphan, and there was no one to take care of me.” Children know when there is no one, there is nobody that cares about that, nobody that stands with them, nobody that they belong to. But God says that He puts the orphans in families, the lonely in families. You help us do that when you join The 700 Club. We’re working with orphans around the world right now and making an amazing difference in their lives. Will you be a part of that? Help us to be there for children like Phan who need a family. Join The 700 Club, 65 cents a day, 20 dollars a month. It may not seem like a lot to you, but when we all join together, we become an army of people reaching out to hug the world with the love of Jesus. So call now: 1-800-759-0700. And you can log on to CBN.com and give online if you prefer to do it that way. But do something right now to make a difference. Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right, if I can get a drum roll, here from Columbia, South Carolina, they’re taking the Kristi challenge. They’re doubling. They’re going from 2500 Club to Founder, 5,000. And they’re doing it through Pledge Express. That gets matched and doubled, because we’re in a 75,000 dollar challenge. What a challenge means is existing CBN partners like giving so much, they want to challenge others to give. And so they’re challenging you. They will match you dollar for dollar for every dollar you pledge over the next 13 minutes and 54 seconds. They will match you up to 75,000 dollars. So call us: 1-800-759-0700. Or you can log on to CBN.com. When you give on the Internet, you automatically sign up for Pledge Express, electronic monthly giving. There is nothing to mail in, no checks, no stamps. We’re able to save so much, we’re able to send as our gift back to you “Power for Life” monthly teaching CDs, so if you want it, sign up for Pledge Express. Well, over the past year, millions of Americans have been laid off. But Brian and his wife didn’t see unemployment as a crisis. To them, it was a test of faith. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ANNIKA AND BRIAN SMITH ANDREW KNOX: Brian and Annika Smith love living in Wyoming, where they raise their three kids. A few years ago, they were struggling to keep up with bills. That’s when they began watching The 700 Club. Brian Smith: I always loved the way Pat connected with his audience, and I knew I had to be a part of it. ANDREW KNOX: Pat’s teachings on tithing convinced Brian to give ten percent to God. Annika wasn’t so sure it was a good idea. Annika Smith: It was a different idea. And I hadn’t been familiar with the Word. Brian Smith: She thought I was crazy, like, “Give money away?” Annika Smith: As we began to tithe, I started seeing Brian begin to get raises at work and different opportunities began to present themselves to us. ANDREW KNOX: Annika got her real estate license and also began tithing ten percent from every sale. Soon she was able to realize her dream of working from home, so she could be with her children. But even then, business kept booming. Annika Smith: And the phone kept ringing off the hook. ANDREW KNOX: The next year, the Smiths purchased some rental property which enabled them to start building their new home. Brian took a job as a field tech for an oil business, which doubled his income. But after two years, he was laid off because of the bad economy. Brian Smith: When we lost that job, we just prayed and got together and just put all our faith in Jesus Christ. ANDREW KNOX: The Smiths say their faith was being tested. At one point, they considered cutting back on their giving. Annika Smith: The Lord spoke to me and He said, “You’ve trusted Me this far. This is when you need to have your faith.” ANDREW KNOX: God sustained the Smiths for six months while Brian searched for a job. Brian Smith: During those six months, we saved more money than we did when we had a job. ANDREW KNOX: Today he works in sales for a construction company. Brian and Annika are excited about what God is doing in their lives. Annika Smith: Be faithful to the Lord, and He will be faithful to you. Brian Smith: He says, “I’ll pour you out a blessing you cannot contain,” and He did. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: And He’ll do that for you. If you want to take the adventure in giving, give us a call. Just say yes. If God is speaking to you to give, now is the time to call us: 1-800-759-0700. We need to stop this challenge clock. Some partners from Georgia have weighed in. They say 75,000 isn’t enough. They want to add 150 to it, take us all the way to 225,000 dollars. And we get to the end of the hour. “Lord, for those partners in Georgia who made it possible to increase this challenge, we just ask for blessing for them. Pour out blessings they cannot contain. And for those watching right now, I just ask that you would speak to them. Encourage them, for we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. And amen.” You heard it, 19 minutes left, 225,000 on this challenge. Please go to the phone and call us: 1-800-759-0700. We’re asking you to join The 700 Club. That’s just 20 dollars a month, 65 cents a day. And you reach out around the world with hands of love and compassion. 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 preach the Gospel around the world. If that’s you, if that’s what you want to do, call us right now: 1-800-759-0700. Let’s go over to Wendy at the phones. Wendy. WENDY GRIFFITH: Thanks, Gordon. Giving is really all about the heart. Did you know that? The Bible says, “Where your heart is, there your treasure will be.” God doesn’t really need your money. He’s after your heart. And I encourage you today to take that step of faith and show God that you want to give, because you know what, you can’t out give Him. And when you join The 700 Club, we have a free gift for you. It’s called Right on the Money, free advice. It is free advice. It’s financial advice for tough times. And here is Pat to tell you more. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAT ENDORSEMENT PAT ROBERTSON: The world’s financial landscape is rapidly changing. Each of us needs to understand the new economy and how we can survive and thrive amid such sweeping change. That’s why I’ve compiled a special CBN partner audio edition of my latest book, Right on the Money. ANNOUNCER: In this special CBN partner audio edition by Pat Robertson, you’ll discover the biblically based principles that can help you get out of debt, create a road map to wealth, protect your investments and much more. Get Right on the Money, our gift to you when you join The 700 Club. PAT ROBERTSON: Above all, I want you to remember that God is greater than any economic downturn. He knows who you are and every circumstance in your life. He has provided opportunities all around you. Get the wisdom you need today and build a secure financial future. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * WENDY GRIFFITH: We want to help equip to get back on the road to financial recovery. That’s why Pat has put together Right on the Money. And we want you to have this. It’s our free gift to you when you join The 700 Club: 1-800-759-0700. Or you can log on to CBN.com. It’s another great way to give. And I’m going to throw it back to Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Thanks, Wendy. Well, since 1978, CBN’s Operation Blessing has helped more than 202 million people in 105 countries all around the world. We’re also bringing hope and help to people in our own backyard, right here in Norfolk, Virginia. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SHEREE – NORFOLK FLOOD TIM BRANSON: It was a heavy summer rain that brought flashfloods to parts of Norfolk, Virginia, this past August. Some homes took in over a foot of water. Sheree: Before you knew it, water was in the front and the back of my house, all over. TIM BRANSON: Sheree Lee is a single mom with three kids. Floodwater destroyed her furniture and floors. And she had no idea how she would clean up the mess. Sheree: Because there was no way that I could financially take care of any of this. There was no way. TIM BRANSON: The next day, she noticed a group of people in her neighborhood. It was the Operation Blessing Disaster Relief team. And they had come to help. Sheree: I just happened to look out the door. I saw people with shovels, wheelbarrows, all in white t-shirts, Operation Blessing with their masks on. I didn’t know what to say. I just started crying. TIM BRANSON: The Operation Blessing team went to every house, ripping out wet carpet and removing water-soaked dry wall before harmful mold could set in. Later, Operation Blessing returned to finish the job. In partnership with local merchants, they restored every home. First, they repaired the dry wall. Then they installed new carpet and linoleum. Sheree: All of us, all we can do is just say thank you. We don’t know what we would have done if Operation Blessing hadn’t stepped in. TIM BRANSON: Then we learned that Sheree’s kids lost all of the back to school supplies Sheree had just purchased. (To Sheree and kids): Come on in, guys. It’s time for school Tuesday and check it out. Look at that. This is yours. (Reporting): Now the kids have everything they needed to get the school year off to a great start. Sheree: Operation Blessing, you have outdone yourself. TIM BRANSON: But there were more surprises. First, we showed Sheree her new dinette set. Sheree: Thank you! TIM BRANSON: And then . . . . (To Sheree): It doesn’t stop there. Sheree: Oh, goodness! TIM BRANSON: It was a big day for the Lee family, with new living room furniture, school supplies and a restored home, they couldn’t be more grateful. Sheree: I can’t express enough gratitude. I’m telling you, I can’t. I’ll thank them forever. I couldn’t fathom what they’ve done. There are not enough words to show my gratitude, to say thank you. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: When disaster strikes, you can feel so alone, so hopeless, no ability to see how you’re ever going to get out of that situation. Into the middle of that comes Operation Blessing. And if you’re a 700 Club member, that means you’re a part of everything that Operation Blessing is doing, because a percentage of every gift that you give to The 700 Club goes to Operation Blessing. They’re reaching out to people like Sheree, changing their lives, bringing hope, bringing joy back to what is such a desperate situation. Help us be there for folks, won’t you? You know yourself, every time you turn on the news, there is something happening around the country that’s a disaster for someone. OB is at a lot of those events. They are sometimes first on the scene, sometimes last to leave. And you allow us to do that. Operation Blessing is what you help us reach to others with when you join The 700 Club. Call right now: 1-800-759-0700. Or log on to CBN.com. But help us make this kind of a difference in lives around the world. Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. It’s happening. Here from Richmond, Virginia, a new Founder, 5,000 dollars. That gets doubled to 10,000, because we’re in a 225,000 dollar challenge, 13 minutes left to go. Give us a call. We’re asking you to join The 700 Club. That’s just 20 dollars a month, 65 cents a day. And you join with so many people that want to make a difference in the world, not just around the world, but right here at home. So if you want to be a part of it: 1-800-759-0700. Well, water is supposed to be a source of life and health. But for children in a boarding school in China, the water they had to drink was toxic. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PURE WATER ANDREW KNOX: Seven-year-old Hui of the Hunan Province in China never slows down. He lives in a boarding school for the hearing impaired, where his teachers all describe him as the most energetic student in his class. Hui: I like to run. I like to play with airplanes. And I like to play basketball. ANDREW KNOX: Recently, Hui began to slow down and no one could figure out why. This is the school’s principal, Mrs. Yang. Mrs. Yang: Then he got a really bad stomach ache, and he was in the bathroom all night. I took him to see the doctor, and he just said Hui had a problem eating too much. ANDREW KNOX: The doctor prescribed some medicine, but it didn’t help. Then the principal noticed that other children were starting to have the same symptoms. Mrs. Yang: I kept on thinking about how much water Hui drinks. So I began to wonder if something might be wrong with the water. I took a sample of the water to the lab. The results showed that the groundwater was polluted. That was causing the children to develop kidney and gallstones. ANDREW KNOX: The principal realized the school needed to begin filtering the water they drank, but they had no extra money to do it. Mrs. Yang’s budget barely covered the school’s basic bills. She didn’t know what to do, so she prayed. Then a friend told her about CBN. Mrs. Yang: The CBN staff came out to our school and looked into all of the conditions. They decided to provide a water filtration system for us. ANDREW KNOX: And that proved to be exactly what the kids needed. Now, they’re all healthy again, and Hui is back up and running. Hui: I like the water now. It tastes much better. ANDREW KNOX: And to help the children learn more about God, CBN gave the kids a brand new TV set and copies of CBN’s Superbook series. Hui and his classmates love to watch. Hui: I like David. He loves God and is very brave. I want to be like David. Mrs. Yang: I thank God for the love that CBN has for these kids. You have brought health and hope to them. I’m so happy that there are people like you stretching out their hand to help the weak. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: And thank you. If you’re a member of The 700 Club, thank you. You’re part of that. You’re stretching out with hands of love and compassion around the world, all the way to an orphanage in China that needed fresh water. If you’re not a member, now is the time to join us. We’re in the middle of a 225,000 dollar challenge. We just have under ten minutes to go on it. We need to hear from you. We want to go way over the top. There are so many open doors for CBN these days. It’s absolutely incredible the opportunities we have to preach the Gospel on television, to preach the Gospel in very tangible ways to children in need, to people in need, to respond. When disasters strike, we want to strike back with love and compassion. A variety of things, and you join with all of them when you join with The 700 Club. So if that’s you, if that’s what you want to do and if you want to make a difference in the world today, call us right now: 1-800-759-0700. Or you can log on to CBN.com. When you give via the Internet, you automatically sign up for Pledge Express, no checks, no stamps, no hassle. All you have to do is let the bank take care of all the work. We’re able to save so much on the transaction costs, we can send as our gift back to you “Power for Life” monthly teaching CDs. If you want them, sign up for Pledge Express. Let’s go over to Kristi at the phones. Kristi. KRISTI WATTS: Hey, Gordon. I’ve got to tell you about something that’s really, really exciting. When you call to become a 700 Club partner, and say you go through Pledge Express, there is also another thing that we want to bless you with, and that is Right on the Money. It is a phenomenal resource when it comes to your finances to help you figure out what to do with your current finances or how to make even more finances in these troubling times. Pat has put it together just for you. In fact, I want to show you a little clip. Why don’t you take a look real quick? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GPS SPOT ANNOUNCER: There you were, on your way to financial security . . . . GPS: Continue straight ahead to reach your financial goals. ANNOUNCER: . . . . when suddenly everything changed. Your road to financial freedom, gone. Traditional ways of investing no longer work. You need direction. GPS: Recalculating. Turn here. ANNOUNCER: Discover a biblically based way to navigate your financial future. Pat Robertson’s teaching, Right on the Money, shows you what works and what doesn’t. Establish a budget. Get out of debt. Build your savings. Learn how to invest. Get Pat Robertson’s Right on the Money when you join The 700 Club and get on the road to a more secure future. Available now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * KRISTI WATTS: Right on the Money. It’s yours when you call right now to become a 700 Club partner. Hey, listen, you know how you’re looking underneath the bottom of the screen, you see all those names scrolling by, like John from Chicago or Linda from Texas with 20 dollars a month? Those are people who have wonderfully, wonderfully stood in the gap for those folks who couldn’t stand on their own. So we want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m going to throw it to you, Terry, because that’s what they’re telling me to do. Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, thank you, Kristi. We want to take you to India. Religious violence in Orissa, India, has left hundreds of Christians dead and thousands more homeless. But for Sadhana, just walking down the street meant risking her life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SADHANA TERRY MEEUWSEN: Sadhana grew up as a pastor’s daughter in Orissa, India. She studied hard, so she could become a doctor. But one day, on her way to class, she was attacked by a group of men who hated Christians. Sadhana: Some people knew that my father was a pastor. When they saw me they yelled, “Catch her!” I was so afraid. They told me to give them my bicycle and books. I did, because if I didn’t, they would have set me on fire, too. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Sadhana wasn’t the only one attacked. In December 2008, more than 120 Christians were killed in Orissa, while 50,000 fled to refugee camps. When Sadhana’s home was set on fire, she and her family ran to hide in the jungle. For five days they lived without food or clean drinking water. Then they heard about an Operation Blessing refugee camp. Sadhana: We were left with nothing. But Operation Blessing took us in and cared for us. They gave us clothes, food, everything. TERRY MEEUWSEN: More than 300 families were given shelter, food and medical treatment at the camp. While there, Sadhana spent most of her time teaching the younger children reading and math. But she was worried that she would never be given the chance to continue her own education. Sadhana: I was very upset, but my father told me that I could leave everything behind, except Jesus Christ. I remembered that in John 16:33, Jesus said that we will have suffering in this world, but we need to be of good courage. Even if we have problems and the world laughs at us, we shouldn’t be afraid, because He has won the world. TERRY MEEUWSEN: After the violence subsided, her family decided to move back to Orissa. But through your gifts to Operation Blessing, Sadhana was relocated to a college in a safe area. They also paid for her tuition, books and other school supplies. And they gave her one more special gift, a new bicycle. Sadhana: When I was in trouble, Operation Blessing helped me. If not for them, I would have not been given the chance to follow my dreams. I will never forget what you have done. Thank you so much! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: Orissa, India, is a dangerous place for a Christian to live. This young girl’s family went back, because they believe that God has called them there. She has gone on to school, and one day God will continue to use her in her country. But you’re allowing us to come alongside of Christians who are being severely persecuted and be there for them at a time of need. Will you help us do that around the world? That and so much more. This is just one story of the difference your gifts can make. Call now. Join The 700 Club at whatever level God speaks to your heart about. A general membership, 65 cents a day, 20 dollars a month, but there are many club levels. Ask God if He’d have you go up to the next level. There is great need in the world, and God wants us to reach out in His name to touch people. So call now. Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right, I can get a drum roll, we’ve got some great news from Hackensack, New Jersey, a wonderful partner saying, “I want to give a special gift of 10,000 dollars.” TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wow! Awesome! GORDON ROBERTSON: That gets added to this challenge total. We want to go way over the top on a 225,000 dollar challenge. Three minutes and 13 seconds to go. We need to hear from you. In parts of Nigeria, it’s hard to find even the most basic necessities. People in one village battled bees, wasps and even worms just for a drink of water. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * HALIMA AND THE BEES DAN REANY: Every day, Halima had to walk more than a mile to her village’s only water source, a stagnant stream. Halima: The animals also drank there. The water smelled like cow urine and worms growing in it. But we had no choice but to drink it that way. We never had enough water for drinking, cooking or bathing our babies. DAN REANY: What made the problem even worse were the wasps and bees that covered the area around the stream. They tormented everyone who came through. Halima: Getting water was terrible. The bees attacked and stung us all the time. The stings make you swell up, give you a fever and cause a bad rash that goes all over your body. DAN REANY: A local missionary contacted Operation Blessing, and before long, Halima and the others had a new well. Now they have plenty of fresh, clean water right in the middle of the village and away from the bees and wasps. Halima: We suffered so much that we cried out to God for help, then He sent you. Our joy knows no bounds. We’re grateful to God for what He has done through Operation Blessing. We will always be grateful. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: “Our joy knows no bounds.” You can be part of that. You can be part of bringing joy to people in need. Now is the time to join us. If you’ve been watching and waiting, now is the time. Pick up the phone and call us: 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “Yes, I want to be a part of everything you’re doing around the world. I want to be a part of The 700 Club.” A portion of every gift goes into the work of Operation Blessing. Another portion goes into the work of CBN WorldReach, preaching the Gospel around the world. If I can get a drum roll, we’ve got some great news. Elkin, North Carolina, a 1000 Club member saying, “I’m going to Chairman’s Circle,” 10,175 dollars. That is awesome. Let’s go to Wendy at the phones. Wendy. WENDY GRIFFITH: All right, Gordon, when you join The 700 Club, we have something that will revolutionize your financial life. It’s called Right on the Money. It’s Pat’s new teaching. Take a look at this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ANNOUNCER: There you were, on your way to financial security . . . . GPS: Continue straight ahead to reach your financial goals. ANNOUNCER: . . . . when suddenly everything changed. Your road to financial freedom, gone. Traditional ways of investing no longer work. You need direction. GPS: Recalculating. Turn here. ANNOUNCER: Discover a biblically based way to navigate your financial future. Pat Robertson’s teaching, Right on the Money, shows you what works and what doesn’t. Available now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * WENDY GRIFFITH: Right on the Money. It’s yours when you call right now. Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right, we’re counting down to victory. There are 18, 16, 15 seconds left on this clock. Go to the phone. Whatever is on the phone gets counted into this challenge: 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “Yes, I want to be a part of everything you’re doing. I want to join The 700 Club.” We had an incredible time this morning, 225,000 dollars on the challenge. And against that, you gave 286,000. We leave you today with these words from Psalm 136, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” God bless you. We’ll see you again tomorrow. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END SPOT A: 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. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END SPOT B: RIGHT ON THE MONEY ANNOUNCER: Here’s what people are saying about Right on the Money. Woman: Right on the Money helped me to be mindful and be prepared for the future for retirement, as well as college for my children. ANNOUNCER: Get Right on the Money and discover how to get out of debt, how to build your road map to wealth and how to prepare a solid financial future. Man: This teaching will give you a whole new start on how to manage your money. ANNOUNCER: Right on the Money. Available now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, welcome to The 700 Club. A cross has stood over the Mojave Desert for 75 years, and today the Supreme Court hears a case that will determine if it can stay. TERRY MEEUWSEN: And their decision could affect memorials from Anaheim to Arlington. Paul Strand has that story. CROSS PAUL STRAND: The Supreme Court focuses today on a man sized cross hundreds of miles out in the desert, a tribute to fallen soldiers in World War I. But it offended a Mojave Desert preserve employee, and because it was on federal property, the ACLU asserted it violated separation of church and state. Lower courts have agreed, ordering it be covered in plywood so as not to offend. But those who want the cross to stay say this case shouldn’t even be in court, because no one has been hurt. Colby May: The courts have universally said merely being offended is not enough. Otherwise, everybody would be in court. PAUL STRAND: Other backers of the cross say if the Supreme Court won’t allow this cross to stand: Wendy Wright: It will then have to bulldoze Arlington Cemetery, put plywood around our coins and eliminate and erase the religious symbols throughout not only our nation’s capitol, but throughout our country. PAUL STRAND: That’s the argument for leaving the cross alone. But there are those who feel there are legitimate reasons for ripping it down. Rob Boston: Is the cross really an appropriate symbol to memorialize all war dead? Does it memorialize non Christians? PAUL STRAND: Reverend Rob Shank just returned from visiting the cross and says he was shocked just how tiny and humble it was, hardly worth a federal case. He ran into a British tourist, who loved at the covered cross and said: Man: Things like this, meaning the boxing of this cross, the covering of it by court order, he said, “Things like this make you Americans look ridiculous.” PAUL STRAND: Paul Strand, CBN News, Washington. GORDON ROBERTSON: It’s your tax dollars at work on this one. It costs money to litigate these kinds of cases. It costs a lot. And it’s not just the private parties picking up the tab. We pay for this. And you look at it, and you just start shaking your head, “What in the world is going on?” If you’ve got to take the cross down in the middle of the desert, in this kind of remote area—how many people go there—aren’t you going to also have to take down all the crosses in Arlington Cemetery? And when you start imagining that, yes, you’ve got a little bit of a political problem on your hands. We’ve got to understand that the Constitution never imagined this kind of judicial activism to remove every vestige of any religious symbol from public life. The Constitution just has that Congress shall pass no law respecting the establishment of religion, which means an established state run church. It doesn’t mean this kind of thing, that you’re worried about crosses standing up in the desert. Anyway, this is one of those where I hope they decide it on the merits. I hope they take it full on. They may have an easy out saying that this particular plaintiff doesn’t have any standing. If they do that, we’re going to see more and more of these cases. Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. DC SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEE WEBB: Gordon, same-sex marriage could be legal in the nation's capital before the end of the year. A gay member of the Washington, DC, city council has introduced a bill permitting those marriages. Ten of the 13 council members support the bill, and DC’s mayor has pledged to sign it. US Congressman Jason Chaffetz is the ranking Republican of the House subcommittee that oversees DC affairs. He tells CBN News, “It’s time for people to stand up for traditional marriage and get involved.” Rep. Jason Chaffetz: One of the best things that can happen is that the residents of Washington, DC, can sign enough petitions and actually force it to a vote. We’re going to try to force it for a vote on the floor in the House of Representatives. We also need to have that fight happen here in Washington, DC, and as it comes up in other states as well. LEE WEBB: Congress probably won’t overturn that bill. But a group led by Bishop Harry Jackson wants the people of DC to be able to vote on the issue. PADANG LEE WEBB: Nearly 90,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged in last week's earthquake in Indonesia. Entire villages were wiped out by landslides. With thousands homeless and needing food, Operation Blessing rushed to the scene to help survivors. Many of them are still hoping to find their missing loved ones. Yuhelmi believes her 13-year-old daughter is still here, buried under the rubble of this school. Days after a powerful earthquake shook this place, Yuhelmi and her relatives are hoping against all hope that rescue teams will find Yosa. Yuhelmi: My heart is so broken. She's my only daughter from all my children. My feeling is almost indescribable. Or maybe, like this rubble in front of me, is what my heart is like now. I will stay here. I won't go until my daughter is found. LEE WEBB: Yuhelmi is not alone. Across this area, families are still searching for loved ones amidst the death and destruction. More than a thousand people have died, but thousands more are thought to be missing after a massive 7.6 magnitude quake struck the Indonesian i