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The 700 Club

The 700 Club: September 2, 2009

Prevention Magazine's Liz Vaccariello talks about recipes for a flat belly. CBN News reports from the Iowa high school where a coach was murdered. Also, a woman lives out of her car and finds salvation in a church parking lot.

Transcript

________________________________________ The 700 Club Daily Broadcast Wednesday, September 2, 2009 GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, welcome to The 700 Club. The attorney for Rifqa Bary warns that her safety is at risk if she is sent back to her Muslim family in Ohio. Bary is the 17-year-old girl who fled to Florida after her family learned that she had become a Christian. KRISTI WATTS: She says that her Muslim father actually threatened her after her conversion. Now her case is in court. Wendy Griffith has the story from Orlando. RIFQA BARY WENDY GRIFFITH: The attorney for 17-year-old Rifqa Bary filed court documents Monday, citing strong ties between her parents’ mosque, the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Columbus, Ohio, and radical Islamic activities. He says there is clear evidence that these people are devout Muslims and their threats to take their own daughter's life for becoming a believer in Jesus should be taken seriously. John Stemberger (Rifqa Bary’s Attorney): The Noor Islamic Center has extensive ties to terrorist activities. Their current CEO is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. You may not have ever heard of that name before, but the Muslim Brotherhood is responsible for birthing practically every terrorist organization, including al Qaeda. So this is the grandfather of al Qaeda. WENDY GRIFFITH: The leader of the mosque disputes the charges. For now, Rifqa is living with a foster family at an undisclosed location in Florida. But she keeps in touch with Pastors Blake and Beverly Lorenz who first took her in when she told them she had to flee Ohio or end up the victim of an honor killing just as she says others have. Rifqa Bary: This is not just some threat. This is reality. This is truth. WENDY GRIFFITH: Rifqa's father, Mohammed, denied the threats and said he wants his daughter to come home. A call to the mother's attorney was not returned. (Interviewing): How is she doing? Rev. Blake Lorenz (Cared for Rifqa): She’s doing really well. She's excited that she is able to express her Christianity now. She doesn’t have to hide it. Beverly Lorenz (Cared for Rifqa): And she quoted the scripture of Revelation, “They overcame Satan by the blood of the lamb and the word of the testimony.” And that is what just blew me away, when she was talking about that. “I will not deny Jesus Christ in the face of death.” WENDY GRIFFITH (Reporting): Jamal Jivanjee is a former Muslim who became a believer in Jesus when he was in high school. He and Rifqa became friends back in Ohio, where Rifqa used to tell him how she could never let her parents know she had become a Christian. Jamal Jivanjee (Rifqa’s Friend): She said very clearly that her life would be over the minute her parents found out she was a Christian. WENDY GRIFFITH: Jamal says Rifqa had to pray and worship in secret. Jamal Jivanjee: She said, “I get up in the middle of the night when nobody sees. I go into my bathroom. I shut the door and I read the scriptures and I just cry out to God. And that is what sustains me. And He meets with me. And when He meets with me, it's okay. Everything is fine.” WENDY GRIFFITH: But Jamal says Rifqa knows this story is not just about her, but about giving hope to other Muslim girls around the world. Jamal Jivanjee: Rifqa is a symbol of hope that there is freedom. You don't have to live this way. John Stemberger: I tell Rifqa all the time, “This case is about you, and this case is about what is in your best interests.” And she turns to me and says, “No, Mr. Stemberger, this case is not about me. This case is about thousands of other people like me all around the world.” And she said, “That's why I want my story known. That’s why I want the situation I’m in to be known by everyone, so we can stop this in the future.” WENDY GRIFFITH: Her attorney says this case is far from over, and Rifqa Bary’s life is still in jeopardy. The 17-year-old will be back here at Orlando’s Juvenile Justice Center on Thursday, where once again her future and whether or not she stays in Florida could be decided. Wendy Griffith, CBN News, Orlando. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, CBN news terrorism analyst Erick Stakelbeck is with us. Erick, you’ve done a story on radical Islam in Columbus. What did you find? GRAPHIC: RADICAL ISLAM IN COLUMBUS ERICK STAKELBECK: Well, Gordon, a very interesting case, Columbus, Ohio. Number one, the Al Noor mosque where Rifqa Bary’s parents attend, it’s a very beautiful facility, I have to say, Gordon. It just opened in 2004, very modern. It takes up a whole city block right outside Columbus. The other key thing to know about that Al Noor mosque community, it’s a very affluent neighborhood: doctors, lawyers. This is not some impoverished Muslim ghetto, to say the least. Now the radical Islamic network in Columbus, Ohio, really the lynchpin of that network, was a guy by the name of Salah Sultan. Now he was a Muslim Brotherhood operative. The Brotherhood is the offshoot of al Qaeda, of Hamas, or I should say the granddaddy of al Qaeda, Hamas, radical Islamic network. Salah Sultan was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, number one, appeared at Hamas rallies with Hamas leaders just in 2007 and appeared on Egyptian TV blaming the US government for being behind the 9/11 attacks. Now, Sultan was a regular at the Al Noor mosques, at several other mosques in the Columbus area, as well as Islamic schools and Islamic centers throughout Columbus, Ohio. So that gives you an idea of the flavor of the Muslim community in Columbus, and it’s a radical one. GORDON ROBERTSON: Erick, forgive me, my general impression is Muslims in America tend to be the moderate. But to hear you say we’ve got Muslim Brotherhood here, it kind of staggers the imagination. ERICK STAKELBECK: Gordon, absolutely. The Muslim so-called “civil rights groups” here in the US, you think of CARE, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, ISNA, the Islamic Society of North America, who, by the way, had one of their members appear at President Obama’s Ramadan dinner just last night. Both of these groups have been identified in a terrorism financing trial last year, the Holy Land Foundation trial, which we covered closely here on CBN News. They have been identified as US fronts for the Muslim Brotherhood. And these are arguably, Gordon, the two most influential American-Muslim organizations going today. GORDON ROBERTSON: Back to the story of Rifqa Bary, is her life in danger? Is she subject to an honor killing? Would that happen? ERICK STAKELBECK: It’s a great possibility, Gordon. This is a growing threat here in the west. Now, in America, we haven’t seen it on the scale that we’ve seen it in Europe, but in Europe I can tell you this is becoming a real epidemic, and European authorities, who were pretty much asleep at the wheel on this honor killing phenomenon at first, are now beginning to catch on. Now, in the US we had a high profile case last year. A Houston man killed his two teenage daughters. An Egyptian native killed his two teenage daughters because they were acting too western, dating young western Christian boys. So the Rifqa Bary case, judging by the track record of honor killings in the west, judging by some of the beliefs at the Al Noor mosque and in the Columbus radical Islamic area, which, by the way, Gordon, an al Qaeda cell was broken in Columbus a few years ago, and also the FBI is investigating the Somali community in the city right for links to terrorism. Considering all these factors, I’d say that Rifqa Bary could be in some danger. Absolutely. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. Well, thanks, Erick. ERICK STAKELBECK: Thank you, Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: Lee Wee has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. NO PUBLIC OPTION? LEE WEBB: Gordon, President Obama may drop the public option from the health care bill. Politico.com is reporting the President’s team is working on a new strategy for a compromise on the bill. Although liberal members of Congress will push for the public option, the President himself will not insist on it. But Mr. Obama is going to become more aggressive in his efforts to get some type of plan passed. But his stand on the public option could mean a battle with members of his own party. CLASSROOM BIBLE BATTLE LEE WEBB: An Idaho charter school is suing state officials after they barred the school from using the Bible. The Nampa Classical Academy wants to use the Bible as a literary and historic text, but not to teach religion. The Idaho Public Charter School Commission ruled against the school last month. It says the state’s constitution expressly limits the use of religious text. But David Cortman of the Alliance Defense Fund tells the Idaho Press Tribune, “The Bible shouldn’t be singled out for censorship in public schools, especially since the US Supreme Court has consistently held that it is entirely constitutional for it to be studied objectively as an educational resource.” CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES LEE WEBB: California fire officials say they’re making progress against the massive wildfire burning near Los Angeles. The US Fire Service says the fire is 22 percent contained, and the number of homes under mandatory evacuation is down to 4,000. The blaze does cover 199 square miles and has destroyed 62 homes. Audrey Majares (California Resident): Until we get the final okay and see if anything is actually standing for us, we don’t know what we have yet. Robert Majares (California Resident): We have our kids, and we’re just thankful that God is watching over us and we had a place to go. LEE WEBB: The wildfires have also produced some amazing pictures. This is what they call a fire tornado. They’re created when the flames become so intense they generate their own wind patterns. HURRICANE JIMENA LEE WEBB: Hurricane Jimena, weakened to a category two storm as it bore down on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula this morning. That’s down from a category five earlier this week. But the winds still packed a punch at 105 miles per hour. Mexican officials ordered everyone living in shantytowns like this one in low lying areas to leave their meager belongings and head to higher ground. No word yet on how those homes fared. MARKET CORRECTION? LEE WEBB: Tuesday’s big drop in the stock market is just more confirmation of what many analysts have been expecting: a correction. Stocks have shot up nearly 50 percent since March, and investors have been waiting for a pullback. September and October have historically been the worst months for stocks. Analysts aren’t sure how low stocks might go before they turn up again. Some say it depends on how strong the economic recovery will be. Any predictions from you, Gordon? GORDON ROBERTSON: Boy, if you can predict this market, you’re better than I am. I participated in that rally, March, April, May and end of June. I said, “I can’t figure this thing anymore.” It seems to have been a little top heavy, and I went out and bought a bunch of bonds, just because I just didn’t want to deal with it. You spend every day worrying about what your stocks are doing. I missed out on the big run up again in July, but now I’m going, “Boy, I’m suddenly smart again for buying bonds.” You’ve got me. Is this going to turn into a W as opposed to a B and go back down again and retest the March lows? I don’t know. I’m very worried about the amount of our government debt, and what’s that going to do to the dollar and to inflation? And if all of that happens, then even bonds aren’t going to be safe. This is a time where you really need direction from God. And boy, some of this stuff on the stock market looks more like lottery tickets and gambling than investing. So be wary. Kristi. KRISTI WATTS: Absolutely. Well, Gordon, coming up, a town in mourning actually copes with tragedy the only way they know how: through high school football. GRAPHIC: FAITH & FOOTBALL See their story after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 1: CURVES Announcer: So you finally decided that it’s the right time for you to lose weight. That’s great. And maybe you’re considering going to Weight Watchers. Woman: Weight Watchers? Woman: Oh, no, girl. Woman: You’re going to try something new. Woman: I am? Woman: We’re clear. Go, go, go, go, go! Announcer: Introducing the new Curves 30-day diet plan. It’s clinically proven and a brand new way to lose weight and keep it off, without counting points forever. There are diet classes every month, which are free to everyone. No membership required. Curves’ exclusive 30-day diet is designed to help you retrain and sustain your metabolism. That way you can reach your goal weight and stay there. Want to get started? Woman: Let’s try something else. Announcer: Learn a whole new way to take off the weight. Call your local Curves club about the 30-day diet plan and find out when you can try a class near you, free. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: PHIL STACEY LIVE GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow. A live performance from American Idol’s Phil Stacey. * * * GRAPHIC: AMERICA’S DUMBEST CRIMINAL GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus . . . . Man: It’s the America’s dumbest criminal story. GORDON ROBERTSON: An in your face heist and a high speed chase. Man: This particular gas station was directly across the street from the Boone County Jail and Sheriff’s Department. GORDON ROBERTSON: But did the punishment fit the crime? Man: I knew I was never going to see freedom again. GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: For more than three decades, Coach Ed Thomas was the heart and soul of his high school football team. He led them to two state championships and 19 playoff appearances. He also coached four players who are now in the NFL. And as John Jessup reports, Thomas didn’t just lead the team, he led a community. FOCUS: COACH JOHN JESSUP: This high school football game has all the trappings of the average all American hometown game: the band, the fans and the drive to dominate on the gridiron. But make no mistake, this is no ordinary game, in part because of what the hometown has survived in the last two seasons. Last year, an F-5 tornado leveled the high school and left the football field in ruins. The district rebuilt, and last week Aplington Parkersburg students started classes in their brand new high school. This past June, another tragedy. Head football coach Ed Thomas was working in the high school weight room when he was shot and killed by former player Mark Becker. Many questions still surround Thomas’ slaying, including a clear motive and the suspect’s mental stability. Immediately after the shooter, Becker reportedly was overheard saying, “The devil made me do it.” Coach Thomas' death left the school without its celebrated coach, who guided this winning team for 34 years. But it also left the town without one of its beloved leaders, who through his platform as a championship coach with four players on the NFL brought national attention to the town’s recovery. For those just learning about Ed Thomas and his story, his story may seem limited to just being a football coach. But for this Iowa community, he was more than just a coach. He was a man of integrity and character, perhaps best summed up in the words that he would say to his players on the practice field, words commemorated on this plaque: “If all I have taught you is how to block and tackle, then I have failed as a coach.” Jon Thompson (Superintendent): During the school day, he was in the lunch room. He was a social studies teacher. He was a driver's ed teacher. Sure, you can replace some of those things, but the biggest footprint, as you asked, is what he meant to us as just a role model and a leader. JOHN JESSUP: Last Friday night, the team played the season opener against rival Dike-New Hartford, broadcast on ESPN, the state’s first nationally televised high school football game. It was also the first time in 35 years the NFL High School Coach of the Year wasn’t calling plays on the sidelines of the so-called “sacred acre” that bears his name. Jerri McCracken (Parent): They've got their hearts out there, because they loved Coach Thomas, and they miss him. I know my son, both my sons, this is tough. This is a tough one. Aaron Thomas (Son): He really wanted to teach young men life lessons and prepare them to be good husbands, good members in their community, and God-fearing men. JOHN JESSUP: Sons Aaron and Todd Thomas have picked up where their father left off. Aaron resigned his position at a nearby school district to take over his father's athletic program. And Todd is now an assistant coach for the Falcons football team. But it was immediately after the shooting when the coach's family made a lasting impression, asking others also to pray for the family of the man who killed their father. Aaron Thomas: Everyone in this community is going to have to get through this. And thus far, we haven't had a lot of animosity towards the Becker family from others, and nor should there be. JOHN JESSUP: And that lesson of forgiveness is spilling over to the school, where the accused shooter’s brother is a senior on the football team. Aaron Thomas: I'm proud of his teammates, the way they've embraced him and made sure he knew none of this was his fault. For him, I think he knows my brother and I and our mom have no resentment towards him. He had nothing to do with this. And we hope for him that he can just have a great senior year and move on and just somewhat enjoy himself. Man: So let’s take a moment, stand silent and remember the man, the coach, Mr. Ed Thomas. JOHN JESSUP: The first home game was a memorial to Coach Thomas. Under the glare of the national spotlight, former Falcons football players lined the end zone to support the young players. The band played “Amazing Grace,” and the team played with grit and heart, winning the game 40 to 13. Austin Ryan (Kicker): He would have been proud. He was looking down, and he was proud. He has a big smile on his face right now. Alex Hornbuckle (Running Back): I would hope he's proud of us. I hope he’s proud that we came out and gave it our all and did everything we could to win. Todd Thomas (Son): It's been a hectic two months. There's no doubt about it. It felt nice to get out here, play a game and see the kids having fun out there. JOHN JESSUP: Those who knew Coach Thomas say it wasn’t as much about winning or losing as it was in how you played the game. But what was most important to him was how one lived life, summed up best by his motto, “Faith, family and football.” Now in death, the lives he touched are also learning about forgiveness. John Jessup, CBN News, reporting in Parkersburg, Iowa. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: What an amazing legacy. And the shining moment is for his two sons to coach that football team and have the brother of the suspect, the brother of the man accused of murdering their own father, and receive him with open arms and saying, “Yes, you’ve got a place here.” That is an incredible story of redemption and an incredible story of Coach Ed Thomas’ legacy, what he instilled in his own sons and in his players. What an amazing story. KRISTI WATTS: Absolutely. It warms my heart, Gordon. It hurts my heart, but warms my heart as well. Well, up next, she was living in her car and looking over her shoulder. Woman: I had a screwdriver in one hand, a hammer in the other. I had to defend what I had, because I had nothing else but my car. KRISTI WATTS: How one girl found refuge in a parking lot, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 2A: AMMED DIRECT Nicole Johnson: Hi, I’m Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999. I’ve had diabetes since 1993, and I hate boring food. Don’t you? Well, I got these three free cookbooks with fantastic tasting recipes for people with diabetes. If you have diabetes and have Medicare or qualified insurance, you can get these cookbooks free. Announcer: Call now to qualify for not one, not two, but three free cookbooks. Call 1-800-746-6449. Nicole Johnson: You’ll love this rich, chocolate cake. It makes my mouth water. Plus, oven fried chicken and nachos. Yum! You’ll also get this free meal planning guide and this free diabetes magazine. So call now for your free Better Care kit with three free cookbooks. Announcer: To qualify, call 1-800-746-6449. That’s 1-800-746-6449. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 2B: ALERT USA Dr. Joyce Brothers: Hi, I’m Dr. Joyce Brothers. Those of us who are independent and live alone shouldn’t do so without having emergency protection. And for reliability and peace of mind, I recommend Alert USA. Announcer: With Alert USA, if you ever need assistance, just press your pendant to be connected to an operator who can summon help to your home 24 hours a day. 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: For years, Sandra Butler didn’t have a home, and none of her family members would take her in. Sandra was a self-confessed mean drunk, until the day she took refuge in a parking lot. SANDRA BUTLER Sandra Butler: I started parking in the park, where I had a screwdriver in one hand and a hammer in the other. I had to defend what I had, the only thing that I had, because I had nothing else but my car. DEBBIE WHITE: Sandra Butler’s home leaked oil, had broken windows, and an interior daytime temperature of 104 degrees, but it was home. The streets were all she’d known for years. Sandra ran away from home in her early teens. Sandra Butler: That’s when I started going off in the wrong direction with other friends. The surroundings around me, like the drugs and alcohol and all that. I was hooked, addicted. I loved it. It was my life. DEBBIE WHITE: Sandra’s single mother didn’t look for her runaway daughter. Her absentee father showed little interest either. Sandra Butler: They didn’t come look for me, because the truth is that I had said I did not want to go back with my mom. So my mom said if I didn’t want to come back, she didn’t want me to come back. DEBBIE WHITE: At 15, Sandra stole a car with a friend and was put on probation. When the probation officer called Sandra’s mother . . . . Sandra Butler: I heard her. She said, “I don’t want her to come back.” And that right there pierced my heart. DEBBIE WHITE: Sandra’s next big mistake came several years later. Sandra Butler: I ended up getting married to this guy that I thought I loved. I’m thinking, “Well, this is somebody that will take care of me,” but it was a very abusive relationship. DEBBIE WHITE: They divorced within two years. So Sandra began looking for another caretaker. She married again. Her second marriage was not as abusive, but it ended the same way. Sandra Butler: We got into an argument about my skimpy clothes that I was wearing. He got onto me about it, and then I just told him to get out of my life. And he did. So I just said something like, “Let the party begin.” And I was doing some real heavy partying and drinking and smoking and cocaine. DEBBIE WHITE: Sandra found it more difficult to find friends or family who would take her in. Sandra Butler: I was like some people would say, a mean drunk. I was bad. I was really bad. And when I say bad, not just bad in doing bad things; but bad and like hateful, angry, get in your face. I could shoot you, stab you. My family, they were frightened of me, because they knew me. I was an alcoholic, a drug user. And so I said, “I’m not going to drink anymore,” but they said, “No. No, we don’t have any room for you.” DEBBIE WHITE: That’s when Sandra’s car became her home. She spent sleepless nights clutching weapons to defend herself. Sandra Butler: That’s when I started parking outside the church, because I remember the church. And so I said, “I’ll be safer there.” DEBBIE WHITE: At night, Sandra slept in the church parking lot. By day, she pawned her remaining jewelry and clothes. She picked up pennies on the ground to buy food. Sandra Butler: And I’d get 25 cents to get a bag of potato chips, and that would be my food, because I was hungry. DEBBIE WHITE: One day, Sandra sent inside the church for refuge from the heat. Sandra Butler: And I’d go in there with my daisy dukes and my provocative tops. And I’d go in there. I wouldn’t care who was looking at me, why they were looking at me. I just would walk in there for one thing and one thing only, because I remember I said, “I’m not going to be out there on the corner begging. If I’m going to beg anybody, and if there is a God, I am going to beg Him.” DEBBIE WHITE: Sandra had heard about God in her childhood. She had even prayed the sinner’s prayer. Now, with no friends or family and a broken down car as her sole possession, Sandra was ready to get serious with God. Sandra Butler: I would go up to the altar and fall down on the stairs, and just look beyond that little statue on the cross and just cry and cry to God. I remember just asking the Lord to save me and to forgive me. DEBBIE WHITE: Sandra says she knew her salvation was sure. Her addictions disappeared. Sandra Butler: When He saved me, He took away everything. I didn’t want to drink. I didn’t want to do drugs. God took it away from me instantly. He healed me from all my past hurts and my bad relationships. DEBBIE WHITE: In the next several months, Sandra found a minimum wage job. She started attending church with an old friend, still dressed in her daisy dukes. Sandra Butler: We were embraced by the church, the pastor, his wife, the staff, the congregation. Everybody just received us very well and loved on us. DEBBIE WHITE: Sandra was reconciled with her mother before she died and the family that used to close the door on Sandra: Sandra Butler: When before they would close the door when they’d see me coming, now they open the door. They roll out the red carpet. They prepare food, and they want to hear what I’ve got to say about the Lord. And they listen now. But it’s not because of me. It’s all because of Him. DEBBIE WHITE: Sandra has been happily married for ten years to a man she calls her best friend. Sandra Butler: I look at my husband and I think God must really, really love me for giving me such a wonderful man, just the best man in the whole world. No matter if you are homeless or a drug user or no matter if you’re the top executive in a tall building, if you don’t have Jesus, you don’t have nothing. You are empty inside. And that’s the way I was. I just pray that the whole world will come to know Him, and just not know about Him, but truly know Him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON MINISTERS GORDON ROBERTSON: It’s what Jesus wants. He wants to know you. He wants to change you. He wants to set you free. He wants to make you new. Maybe you’re like Sandra. For whatever reason, you got mean. Maybe dad wasn’t there for you either. Maybe you felt rejected, and you thought to yourself, “Well, if I’m rejected, then I’m going to reject others. I’m going to get back. I’m going to get what’s mine.” And maybe that led you down the same path it led Sandra down. Because you started rejecting everybody around you, they did it back to you. And then there wasn’t any place to go. There weren’t any friends anymore. There wasn’t any family anymore. There wasn’t any marriage anymore. You can do exactly what Sandra did. You can beg God. She said, “I wasn’t going to stand on the street corner and beg. If I was going to beg, I was going to go beg God.” You can do that. You can do that. You can have that same turn. You can have that same change. And before, when you were trying to change yourself and then you thought, “Well, I can’t. I can’t change. I can’t change what’s inside me.” Maybe you’ve even stopped hoping you could. You can have assurance that Jesus can change it. He can take away that rage. He can take away that anger. He can give you joy. He can satisfy the longings of your heart. He can find a place for you. He can find family for you. And He does all these things for free. All we have to do is ask. His longing from the beginning of time was that we would be His people, that you would be His child, and He could be your God, He could be your Father, He could be your all and all. And any need, all you had to do was come to Him, and He would provide for you. Now, if this is you, if this is what you want, you want to change—maybe you’re even laughing at that, “I’m too hard of a case. There’s no way I can change. I’ve gone too far.” Listen to Sandra. Listen to her. Yes, you can change. Yes, you can be tenderhearted again. Yes, you can have peace. Yes, you can have joy. And it can be all yours if you’ll just ask. So if you want it, bow your head with me. Pray that same prayer that Sandra prayed. Ask Jesus into your heart and let Him do what He has done for so many others. Pray with me. “Lord Jesus.” That’s right. Say it out loud. “Lord Jesus, I come to you, and Jesus, I want to change. I want to be new. I want to be forgiven. I want to know how much you love me and how much you will be with me and be there for me. And Jesus, if you’ll do this, if you’ll cleanse me, if you’ll forgive, if you’ll make me new, I want to follow you all the days of my life. Hear my prayer. Make me new. Give me joy. Give me peace, for I ask it in Jesus’ name.” Father, I just speak acceptance over your children right now, that your Spirit would just come to them and give them acceptance and love and let them just know that you will never turn them away. You’ll never reject them. But you’re receiving them right now with open arms. Do it now, for I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. The Bible says that if you will confess Jesus before men, He will confess you before the Father. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM And what I want you to do is make a toll free call: 1-800-759-0700. And just say, “I wanted to tell you that I prayed and I asked Jesus to come into my heart. And I want to confess right now I want Him to be Lord of my life.” When you call, we’ve got a free packet for you. In there is a CD teaching on how to live the Christian life. GRAPHIC: OUR GIFT TO YOU 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM There is also a packet of scriptures. We encourage you to get a copy of the Bible. Read it every day. If you don’t have a copy of the Bible, we’ve got one for you online. All you have to do is log on to CBN.com. You can find it there. Read it every day. Let those words renew your mind, renew your whole thought process. We also encourage you to join a local church. Get into fellowship with other believers. Go through water baptism. Do all of these things. But start right now. Make that phone call. Say, “This is the first day. I want to just confess I made Jesus Lord of my life,” 1-800-759-0700. We’ll be back with more of The 700 Club, right after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: THE FLAT-BELLY DIET GORDON ROBERTSON: Still ahead, cook your way to weight loss. Learn the secret ingredient you need to get the flat belly you’ve always wanted, later on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3A: WEEK OF PRAYER TERRY MEEUWSEN: During the autumn each year, the entire staff of CBN sets aside a special week of prayer. Each day we pray for you and your family. We care about you and the things you need in your life right now. Whether it’s large or small, we want to pray with you. We believe in a miracle-working God who answers prayer, and we want to see the Lord accomplish miracles in your life. Please call us or mail your prayer request today. It’s our privilege to pray for you. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3B: HUMANA Spokeswoman: After 65 years, one thing I know is you need to protect your health and your finances. With Humana, our family has the protection we need to enjoy life. Announcer: Whether you want secure health benefits in retirement, are raising a family or just starting one, Humana can provide protection for all the stages of your life, like Medicare plans that offer more than original Medicare and health insurance plans, so your family can get the coverage they need even if you’re self-employed or don’t have health benefits at work. Dental and vision plans are available, too. And Humana has an affordable way to get the children you love the security of guaranteed life insurance. Spokeswoman: Knowing you’re covered, that’s the peace of mind we all need to enjoy life more and worry less. Announcer: To find out which Humana plans fit your needs, call to get a free personal needs assessment. Call 1-877-257-9395. That’s 1-877-257-9395. Or go online to ExploreHumana.com. There is no risk and no obligation to buy, so call now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * RAMADAN DINNER LEE WEBB: Welcome back to The 700 Club. President Obama praised American Muslims for their contribution to society. He made those remarks at a Ramadan dinner at the White House last night. The two Muslim members of Congress were there, along with ambassadors from Muslim nations. Israel's ambassador to the US also attended. Mr. Obama noted the achievements of Muslims in business and sports, and he said their achievements are too long to list. President Barack Obama: Tonight, we celebrate a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress. We honor the contributions of America’s Muslims and the positive example that so many of them set through their own lives. And we rededicate ourselves to the work of building a better and more hopeful world. LEE WEBB: Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan, breaking the fast at the end of the day with a feast. The White House began hosting the dinners during the Bush Administration. NIV REVISION LEE WEBB: The New International Version of the Bible is set to get its first revision in more than 25 years. The revision could re-open, though, a heated debate about changing gender terms in the scripture. One version, today’s NIV, changed some phrases like “sons of God” to “children of God.” Supporters say that’s closer to the original language, but critics say it twists the original meanings of scripture for the sake of political correctness. The scholars promise that they will review every gender related change closely. The revised NIV is set to be released in 2011. You can always get the latest from CBN News by going to our web site at CBN.com. GRAPHIC: FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO CBN.COM Gordon and Kristi will be back with more of The 700 Club, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4A: CBN NEWS CHANNEL SPOT WENDY GRIFFITH: CBNNews.com. News you want, when you want, 24/7. Stay current with up-to-the-minute stories. DAVID BRODY: David Brody, CBN News, Capitol Hill. Woman: I don’t have to wait for my news anymore. WENDY GRIFFITH: CBNNews.com at your fingertips all day long. Man #1: I only watch the stories I want to see. Man #2: I find the story; I click on it, and, boom, I’m there. CHRIS MITCHELL: I’m Chris Mitchell reporting from Jerusalem. WENDY GRIFFITH: The source for your news, CBNNews.com. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4B: 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: PHIL STACEY LIVE GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow. A live performance from American Idol’s Phil Stacey. * * * GRAPHIC: AMERICA’S DUMBEST CRIMINAL GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus . . . . Man: It’s the America’s dumbest criminal story. GORDON ROBERTSON: An in your face heist and a high speed chase. Man: This particular gas station was directly across the street from the Boone County Jail and Sheriff’s Department. GORDON ROBERTSON: But did the punishment fit the crime? Man: I knew I was never going to see freedom again. GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * KRISTI WATTS: Welcome back to The 700 Club. Okay, so whether you call it your gut, your breadbasket or your spare tire, the bottom line is it’s still belly fat. And if you’re like most Americans, it’s hanging over your belt right now. But I’m not pointing fingers to anybody. So we’re going to show you how to watch your waistline with just three simple steps. Take a look. SET-UP PIECE KRISTI WATTS: Anyone who has struggled to zip up jeans knows about belly fat, fat you can see and feel. Despite their best efforts, Americans just can’t seem to do enough sit ups to lose that jiggly waistline. Prevention magazine editor Liz Vaccariello has the skinny on belly fat. With the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook and pocket guide, you can finally win the battle of the bulge without doing one single crunch. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GUEST: LIZ VACCARIELLO KRISTI WATTS: Love this. So please welcome back to The 700 Club the editor of Prevention magazine and the author of the Flat Belly Diet books, Liz Vaccariello. I mispronounced your name. I’m so sorry. Liz Vaccariello: It’s okay. KRISTI WATTS: It’s Vaccariello. Liz Vaccariello: It’s Vaccariello. It’s okay. KRISTI WATTS: Well, welcome. Thank you so much for coming back. Liz Vaccariello: I’m thrilled to be here. KRISTI WATTS: Okay, so everybody wants to know, okay, what these three simple steps are. So let’s jump right in, and you tell me, Liz. Liz Vaccariello: Okay. The secret of the flat bell diet, there are three rules. You eat four 400 calorie meals a day. You eat every four hours, so you’re keeping cravings at bay. And you have a MUFA at every meal. That’s the magic. That’s the science behind the diet that’s targeting belly fat. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. So I know everyone out there is thinking, “What’s a MUFA?” I think of Musafa. Remember The Lion King? Musafa! But MUFA. Liz Vaccariello: Okay, MUFA. MUFA stands for monounsaturated fatty acid. These are the healthy fats found in many plant oils. So we have olives. There are five categories of MUFAs. Olives, black and green, oils, avocado, nuts and seeds, so sunflower seeds, peanuts, peanut butter, and the final MUFA is dark chocolate. KRISTI WATTS: Now, Liz, you just made me happy. Liz Vaccariello: That’s what we do at Prevention. We make people happy. KRISTI WATTS: A few things make me happy. Okay, so here’s the deal, because I find it very fascinating that those are fats, would be considered fat. And a lot of times when we think of how do we lose fat is to eliminate fat. And you say . . . . Liz Vaccariello: It’s counterintuitive, but there is so much research out there that shows that the good fats, not saturated fat, trans fats, but healthy fats found in plants and fish do so much for our body. They develop energy. They prevent disease. They lower our risk of heart disease, certain kinds of cancers. And this is why the flat belly diet is so exciting, because belly fat is the most dangerous fat you can have on your body. Even if the rest of your body is a normal weight, if you have excess fat here, it can raise your risk for all sorts of diseases. So we found a way to eat that targets this body part particularly. KRISTI WATTS: Well, cool. Before we talk about what to eat, I do have one really quick question. Liz Vaccariello: Yes, ma’am. KRISTI WATTS: Now, I know it’s the flat belly diet, but what if you don’t have an issue with your belly and it’s like your hips or your glutes? Liz Vaccariello: Okay, well, like any weight loss plan, this is a calorie controlled diet. You’re going to eat the Mediterranean way. So you’re going to lose weight all over. KRISTI WATTS: All over. Okay. Liz Vaccariello: People lose. We have a four day anti-bloat jump start. You lose up to five pounds in the first four days. Some people lose seven pounds. In 28 days, you’re going to lose 15 pounds. You’re losing it all over your belly, all over your body. And you lose about anywhere from two to four inches in the belly. So you’re going to slim up everywhere. KRISTI WATTS: I’m all about. Liz Vaccariello: All right. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. Let’s talk about the food, because it looks so yummy. And these are actually from your cookbook? You have a new cookbook out? Liz Vaccariello: Yes. The Flat Belly Diet Cookbook is just out. It’s 200 brand new recipes for people who like to cook. And again, every recipe is easy to make. It doesn’t take a lot of time, family friendly. And we wanted to take you through a sample day. Breakfast starts with a peanut butter stuffed French toast. GRAPHIC: FOR RECIPES LOG ON TO CBN.COM KRISTI WATTS: Now, can I tell you, chocolate makes me happy, but when you talk about peanut stuffed French toast, Liz . . . . Liz Vaccariello: I see the sparkle in your eye, Kristi. KRISTI WATTS: Do you see the glow? Do you see the glow? Liz Vaccariello: It’s fun to make with the family. You spread some peanut butter on it. You bake it. The MUFA is the peanut butter. So the specific amount. For lunch, we’re going to have a spicy olive and turkey pita. So this is taking your normal turkey sandwich up a notch. We’re going to chop up some black olives and spicy green pimiento olives, too. There are some red pepper flakes as an option if you like that. Again, you could just buy a turkey sandwich at the deli and bring some olives with it, and you make it a flat belly diet turkey sandwich. KRISTI WATTS: Got you. Liz Vaccariello: Dinner, salmon burger. Here we have a zesty aioli mayonnaise here made with canola mayonnaise. That’s the MUFA, the canola. KRISTI WATTS: Now, here is a question for you, because when I think of canola, I don’t think that that is—now, this is just me—is that the best fat? Or like now, you can get mayonnaise with olive oil. And isn’t olive oil better than canola? Liz Vaccariello: Both of them are MUFAs. Both of them are healthy fats. So in this recipe, we chose canola mayonnaise because of the taste. The taste went a little better with the salmon in this case. KRISTI WATTS: Got you. Liz Vaccariello: And every recipe in the book has been taste tested, not only tested to make sure it worked, but make sure that it tasted as good as it can. Because none of this looks like or tastes like diet food. We want people to eat the flat belly diet way forever. KRISTI WATTS: I’m just curious. Not that I want to backtrack, but going back to the French toast with the peanut butter in it, is that like the Jiffy kind of—should I say Jiffy? Is that the good kind of peanut butter or the all natural peanut butter? Liz Vaccariello: Okay, so I’m the editor of Prevention magazine, okay? So we recommend that you eat organic foods whenever possible and that you buy natural peanut butter, if you like the taste. Normal peanut butter is okay, but natural has fewer preservatives and processing. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. Just curious. Okay, let’s talk about this yummy, yummy stuff. Liz Vaccariello: Okay. Well, here we have a couple of examples of 400 calorie snacks. These could be snacks, or these could be entire meals if you want. We have a granola parfait, so it’s fruit and this rich, that Greek yogurt that’s so creamy. And the MUFA here is in the granola. In the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook, there is a recipe for the granola. It takes five minutes. But if you want to just buy store bought granola, make sure it has walnuts in it. That’s the MUFA. KRISTI WATTS: Because that’s the MUFA. I keep going ba, ba, ba, ba. It’s hard to say MUFA like three times each. All right. Go. Liz Vaccariello: And then here we have a chocolate zucchini cake. So we have a very lean cake that as it’s cooling, it’s still warm, you melt a quarter cup of dark chocolate chips, just the semisweet kind you buy in the grocery store. You melt them over, and then you take a small spatula, and it locks in the moisture in the cake. And my girls love this cake. So I’m feeding the whole family flat belly diet foods, and they don’t even know it. KRISTI WATTS: Exactly. It’s like I was thinking about my son, and it’s very deceiving, because it kind of looks like a chocolate bar, but you’ve got the vegetables in there, the zucchini. I like that, girl. Kind of sly, but I like it. Liz Vaccariello: This diet was developed by a nutritionist, so we’re not telling you to eat anything that’s unhealthy. KRISTI WATTS: Exactly. Okay, so a lot of times in the afternoon, like many of us, we get hungry, and we get munchy. And all we have in front of us is a vending machine. Liz Vaccariello: That’s right. KRISTI WATTS: You say that there are actually options even at a vending machine. Liz Vaccariello: Well, we were inspired. We did the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook, but we also came up with something called The Pocket Guide. And this is examples of three vending machine choices. We want people to be able to eat this way when they’re out of the house as well. And you’re looking at a vending machine. And here, this is a Nature Valley oat and honey granola bar. And you’re going to make the selection, but if you’re going to start to eat the flat belly diet way, you have to start bringing the MUFA with you. In this case, you bring pumpkin seeds. So I always keep little baggies of nuts and seeds in my purse, so I get the granola, and I have two tablespoons of pumpkin seeds and an apple. That’s a 400 calories snack. That’s a lot of food. KRISTI WATTS: That is a lot of food. Liz Vaccariello: I would normally just buy the granola bar. KRISTI WATTS: Now, here is a question for you. A lot of times they have granola bars with the almonds or whatever in them. Would that be considered as your MUFA? Liz Vaccariello: You can. That’s what’s in the Flat Belly Diet Pocket Guide. It walks through the specific amount of MUFA in each thing, and you have to make sure that it adds up to 400 calories. All right. KRISTI WATTS: Got you. Okay. Liz Vaccariello: So here is another example. You can have a 100 calorie pack in the vending machine. You can have animal crackers. Sometimes I’ll have half my girl’s bag of animal crackers. But I’ll have a couple tablespoons of dark chocolate chips with it and a piece of fruit. That’s a very filling snack. That’s one of my favorites. KRISTI WATTS: I’m with you on that one. I do these all the time. Liz Vaccariello: Potato chips. KRISTI WATTS: Yes! Liz Vaccariello: Like this is a diet where you can have not only peanut butter and chocolate, but potato chips. Baked Lays here. You’re going to have about two ounces of them. And again, a piece of fruit and some peanuts. KRISTI WATTS: I tell you, I’m happy, Liz. Liz Vaccariello: Oh, I’m glad to make you happy, Kristi. You’re happy and you have a flat belly just looking at it. KRISTI WATTS: I know! I know! I really, really do. Okay, what camera am I looking at? I’ll look at this one, because it’s fun. Okay, Liz Vaccariello—I said it correctly this time—thank you so much for being with us. If you’d like the recipes to what you’ve just seen, all you need to do is just head over to CBN.com. Or if you actually want—okay, now they’re switching me. I’m going to switch to this camera. And if you want more flat belly foods, just check out her books. They are called Flat Belly Diet Cookbook and The Flat Belly Diet Pocket Guide. That’s a lot. Liz Vaccariello: That’s a lot of flat bellies. KRISTI WATTS: Okay, now I’m going to hold it up. I should have done it when I said it. Here’s the book. Here is the pocket guide. And you can pick up a copy of these nationwide. Thank you so much again for being here. GRAPHIC: FOR RECIPES LOG ON TO CBN.COM Liz Vaccariello: I’m happy to be here. KRISTI WATTS: I appreciate you. Me, too. Gordon, back over to you. GORDON ROBERTSON: All right. Up next, we’ll Bring It On with your e-mail questions. Michelle writes, “I’ve been praying for a job for months, but I’ve gotten nothing. How can I pray more effectively?” GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, we’re ready to answer that question and more, so stay with us. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5A: CURVES Announcer: So you finally decided that it’s the right time for you to lose weight. That’s great. And maybe you’re considering going to Weight Watchers. Woman: Weight Watchers? Woman: Oh, no, girl. Woman: You’re going to try something new. Woman: I am? Woman: We’re clear. Go, go, go, go, go! Announcer: Introducing the new Curves 30-day diet plan. It’s clinically proven and a brand new way to lose weight and keep it off, without counting points forever. There are diet classes every month, which are free to everyone. No membership required. Curves’ exclusive 30-day diet is designed to help you retrain and sustain your metabolism. That way you can reach your goal weight and stay there. Want to get started? Woman: Let’s try something else. Announcer: Learn a whole new way to take off the weight. Call your local Curves club about the 30-day diet plan and find out when you can try a class near you, free. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5B: SUPERBOOK Announcer: CBN presents Superbook for a new generation. Now, re-imagined from the classic CBN cartoon, a new series featuring amazing Bible stories brought to life using state of the art animation. Character: That’s pretty cool. Announcer: Your kids will love being entertained while they learn biblical values, like courage, loyalty, humility and faith. As they join Chris, Joy and Gizmo in their travels through time. In the first episode, A Giant Adventure, Chris and friends land in ancient Israel, where they meet David and witness his fierce battle against the giant Goliath. Character: You come to me with sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts! Announcer: Your gift of 25 dollars or more will help create future Superbook episodes. As our thank you, you’ll receive a special edition DVD of the first episode and our brand new Superbook trading cards. Give your child the advantage of learning God’s Word. Superbook. Super power to change your life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: Kim Kerstetter worked for the same company for seven years, but when that company started to fold, he knew it was just a matter of time before he lost his job. That’s when Kim decided to become his own boss. KIM AND JUDY KERSTETTER Kim Kerstetter: My whole life, I’ve been an electrician, and that’s what I knew. KEN HULME: Kim Kerstetter hadn’t planned on leaving his job; but, financially, things were pretty unstable where he worked. So six years ago at age 53, Kim decided to start his own electrical contracting business. After praying with his wife and a CBN prayer counselor, the couple moved forward. But things were tight financially, very tight. Kim Kerstetter: We didn’t have two nickels to rub together to start the business, and we owed 150,000, and then we had two 15,000-dollar credit cards to live off of and get the business going. KEN HULME: All together, the Kerstetters now owed more than 180,000 dollars with no money coming in from the new business. That’s when Judy says they began to realize they had been doing something wrong. Judy Kerstetter: We hadn’t been tithing. We would give, but we would give as we could. KEN HULME: So taking some advice from a favorite television program, Judy and Kim decided to become more faithful in their giving. Judy Kerstetter: We committed to tithing, and then we learned about giving offerings. KEN HULME: For the first six months, Kim says financially, they began to plant seeds, giving sacrificially to places like CBN. Kim Kerstetter: It’s giving when you don’t have anything to give, but you find it and give it. KEN HULME: That’s when Kim landed his first big job, a 1.2 million-dollar contract to build an electrical plant at a coal mine. Kim remembers why getting that first job really was a miracle. Kim Kerstetter: We bid it, but we didn’t get it. So Judy and I prayed. They called back and said, “The other people didn’t get the job. You got the job.” The biggest job I ever had. KEN HULME: Since that time six years ago, Kim’s start-up electrical company is doing about three and a half million dollars worth of work a year. And their 12 employees now cover five states. Today, all of Kim’s debts are paid: the mortgage, the credit cards, the bank loans. And the company’s new trucks, trailers, equipment and even the office were all paid for with cash. Kim Kerstetter: Everything is paid off. We don’t owe a man anything. Judy Kerstetter: It’s so exciting for us to give. And what is so interesting is, is we see God increasing, and you just wonder what the Lord’s going to do next. Kim Kerstetter: I would encourage people to give to CBN, to give where God is telling them to give and how much He’s telling them to give. Giving works. You can’t out give God. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: Giving does work. And when you just test God in it, you find just incredible benefits, that He does open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings upon us. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM He cannot deny Himself. He wants to help His kids. That’s you. That’s you. Realize God wants to help you. “If you’ll only let Me help you.” That’s His cry to you. If you want to get on the plus side of giving, give us a call: 1-800-759-0700. What we’re asking you to do is join The 700 Club. Join in everything we’re doing around the world. A portion of every gift goes into the work of CBN Worldreach to preach the Gospel around the world. Another portion goes into Operation Blessing to bring help and hope to people around the world and also right here in America. So if you want to be a part of everything we’re doing, join The 700 Club. How much is it? Twenty dollars a month. That’s just 65 cents a day. And you join with tens of thousands of people that want to make a difference. When you join, we ask you to join Pledge Express. It’s electronic monthly giving. GRAPHIC: FREE WITH PLEDGE EXPRESS 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM There are no stamps, no checks, no nothing. No hassle. And we save so much on the processing we’re able to send back as our gift to you “Power for Life” monthly teaching CDs. So if you want it, log on to CBN.com. You sign up for Pledge Express automatically that way. Or you can call and ask for it: 1-800-759-0700. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BRING IT ON GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, Kristi is over here busting out, ready for Bring It On. So Bring It On, Kristi. KRISTI WATTS: I’m going to Bring It On, Gordon. Okay, let’s just jump right in with Michelle, who writes, Michelle. I mean, who writes, “Dear Gordon . . . .” GORDON ROBERTSON: She writes Michelle? Are you all right? KRISTI WATTS: See, can I just say this? GORDON ROBERTSON: Yes. KRISTI WATTS: All right. I need to tell you why we’re laughing, because if not, I’m not going to be able to get it straight. I’m sitting here, and I have stockings on. And Gordon looks down, and I have a hole in my stockings on my toes. So he looks at it during the commercial break, and he’s like, “You’re busting out.” So now, that’s what I’m thinking about when I should be thinking about the Lord. Okay, Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: Just think about the question. That’s all you’ve got to do. Focus. KRISTI WATTS: Okay. “Dear Gordon . . . .” GORDON ROBERTSON: I like teasing Kristi. It’s fun. It’s like having a younger sister all over again. KRISTI WATTS: Totally. Totally. All right. Here we go. “How can I have a better prayer time? I have been praying for a job for months, have filled out applications or resumes until I’m blue in the face. I’m very discouraged. How can I pray more effectively?” GORDON ROBERTSON: Michelle, the key to effective prayer is the Bible says, “Those who know God shall do great exploits.” The key to effectiveness in prayer is to get to know Him better. And it’s not about how energetic your prayer is or how earnest your prayer is or how true your prayer is. It has to do with do you know His heart and do you understand how much He wants to bless you, how much He loves you, how much He wants to work through you. I love what TL Osborne says, “God has voluntarily limited Himself to your unlimited potential.” And when you get that picture, when you get the explosive power available to you, that God wants to do this through you, then it really radically changes things. The other part of it is love, that when you understand His love to you, and then that love is given to you to give to others, when everything is motivated in love, then love never fails. It’s one of my favorite Bible verses, “Love never fails.” And so if your prayer is motivated in love, then yes, you get answers. So try those two things. And to get to know Him is just spending time with Him and asking Him to speak to you and then just being quiet before Him. “Be still and know that I am God.” And let Him just talk to you as a Father talks to His child, and you’ll get it. KRISTI WATTS: And, too, Gordon, one of my struggles, and Michelle probably had, is we’re like a “I want it now” generation. So when we pray for something, “Lord, do it now.” And if it doesn’t happen now, then we think that there is something wrong with us. GORDON ROBERTSON: There’s something wrong. KRISTI WATTS: Yes. GORDON ROBERTSON: “I didn’t pray right. I didn’t fast right. I didn’t read enough Bible. I had a bad thought,” or whatever it is. “I joked Kristi too hard today.” All the things we do wrong. And we focus on the wrong. Focus on Him. And that’s the key. KRISTI WATTS: Exactly. Exactly. Okay, Kristal writes in, and she says, “My sister is troubled by a shadowy being, possibly a demon, whose presence often frightens her at night. She has frequent nightmares, wakes up crying and can’t sleep unless my mom stays with her. It’s been a burden on all of us, and we’ve prayed over her often, but she refuses to pray herself. She says it hasn’t worked before when she did. How can we rid our home of this harassing spirit?” GORDON ROBERTSON: Kristal, you’re praying over the wrong thing. You shouldn’t be praying for your sister as much as resist the devil and he will flee. This thing, it needs to be bound and cast out. This isn’t something that your sister needs to—so often, people who are oppressed by demons, they really get to the point of being helpless in their own strength. And we come alongside them and say, “Okay, we’re going to do this for you.” And you can do that. You just come into agreement. The family can come into agreement. And just do that now. Just start praying over your house, praying over your sister, “We bind this. We resist the devil. You must flee.” KRISTI WATTS: Absolutely. I totally agree with that. And I think a lot of times, too, that we feel like Satan has all this power over us, but God has given us power and authority. He is underneath our feet. GORDON ROBERTSON: The only power he has is the power to bluff. KRISTI WATTS: Come on. Exactly. GORDON ROBERTSON: And the power to lie. If there’s anything good about the devil, he’s a good liar. And just don’t believe it. Just believe it. He’s just bluffing. We leave you with these words from Proverbs . . . . GRAPHIC: Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” (NKJV) . . . . “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” For Kristi and her stockings, for all of us here, God bless you. GRAPHIC: COPYRIGHT 2009 CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: PHIL STACEY LIVE GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow. A live performance from American Idol’s Phil Stacey. * * * GRAPHIC: AMERICA’S DUMBEST CRIMINAL GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus . . . . Man: It’s the America’s dumbest criminal story. GORDON ROBERTSON: An in-your-face heist and a high speed chase. Man: This particular gas station was directly across the street from the Boone County Jail and Sheriff’s Department. GORDON ROBERTSON: But did the punishment fit the crime? Man: I knew I was never going to see freedom again. GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END SPOT: YOU WERE THERE TERRY MEEUWSEN: I have the privilege of traveling all over the world and seeing firsthand the life changing things you make possible through your partnership. Thank you for joining The 700 Club. Here in India, you’re demonstrating the love of God to such wonderful people, most of who are in great need, both physically and spiritually. You’re bringing hope and joy to millions around the world, just like you did for Chen Yu. Born with a serious heart defect, doctors said he would soon die. His parents couldn’t afford surgery. That’s when you provided the operation that saved his life. Your monthly gift makes it possible to heal the sick, feed the hungry and preach the Gospel, both at home in America and throughout the world. So please watch for this mailing and send in your pledge. Imagine lifting someone’s life out of despair and filling it with hope instead. That’s what you make possible every day, and it only happens because you were there.

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