HE'S THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST
LOSER.
PETE THOMAS SHARES HOW HE
DROPPED MORE THAN 180 POUNDS
AND HOW HE KEPT IT OFF AFTER
THE CAMERAS STOPPED
ROLLING.
*
[APPLAUSE]
Pat: WELCOME, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN, TO THIS
EDITION OF "THE 700 CLUB."
I GUESS THE LIBERAL PUNDITS
ARE SHELL-SHOCKED AT THE
PERFORMANCE OF THEIR
CHAMPION LAST NIGHT IN THAT
DEBATE.
GOVERNOR ROMNEY CLEANED HIS
CLOCK, AS THE SAYING GOES,
AND IT WAS EVERYBODY THAT IS
JUMPING ON THE PRESIDENT,
BUT IT IS DEBATE NUMBER ONE,
LIKE THE FIRST QUARTER.
Terry: PEOPLE ARE
SAYING THAT ROMNEY WENT ON
THE DEFENSIVE AGAINST THE
PRESIDENT, AND OBAMA MADE A
POOR JOB OF MAKING HIS
CASE.
DAVID BRODY HAS THIS LOOK AT
THE DEBATE AND WHERE THE
RACE GOES FROM HERE.
Reporter: THE DEBATE
HERE IN DENVER TURNED
QUICKLY FROM SMILES AND
HANDSHAKES TO A PASSIONATE
AND AGGRESSIVE MITT ROMNEY,
LAYING OUT THE CASE THAT THE
LAST FOUR YEARS UNDER
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAVE BEEN A
MAJOR FAILURE.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT TOOK
OFFICE, 32 MILLION PEOPLE ON
FOOD STAMPS, 47 MILLION ON
FOOD STAMPS TODAY.
ECONOMIC GROWTH THIS YEAR,
SLOWER THAN LAST YEAR, AND
SLOWER THAN THE YEAR
BEFORE.
GOING FORWARD WITH THE
STATUS QUO IS NOT GOING TO
CUT IT FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, WHO ARE STRUGGLING
TODAY.
Reporter: THE PRESIDENT
SEEMED ON THE DEFENSIVE ALL
NIGHT, BUT SAID THAT
ROMNEY'S TAX PLAN CALLS FOR
A TAX CUT THAT FAVORS THE
WEALTHY THEE.
WHAT I SAID IS I WOULDN'T
PUT IN PLACE A TAX CUT THAT
ADDS TO THE DEFICIT.
President Obama: FOR 18
MONTHS HE HAS BEEN RUNNING
ON THIS TAX PLAN.
NOW, FIVE WEEKS BEFORE THE
ELECTION, HE IS SAYING HIS
BIG, BOLD IDEA IS NEVER
MIND.
Reporter: AND ROMNEY
SAYS UNDER THE PRESIDENT,
TRILLIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO
THE ECONOMIC DEBT,.
I THINK IT IS A MORAL
ISSUE.
I THINK IT IS NOT MORAL FOR
MY GENERATION TO SPEND MORE
THAN WE TAKE IN, KNOWING
THAT THE BURDENS WILL BE
PASSED ON TO THE NEXT
GENERATION, AND THEY'LL BE
PAYING THE INTEREST ALL
THEIR LIVES.
Reporter: THE PRESIDENT
BLAMED THE MESS ON THE
ECONOMIC MESS HE INHERITED.
WHEN I WALKED IN THE OVAL
OFFICE, I HAD MORE THAN A
TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT.
WE KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM,
TWO WARS PAID FOR ON A
CREDIT CARD, TWO TAX CUTS
THAT WERE NOT PAID FOR, AND
A WHOLE BUNCH OF PROGRAMS
THAT WERE NOT PAID FOR.
AND THEN A MASSIVE ECONOMIC
CRISIS.
Reporter: AND THEN
THERE WAS THE DEBATE OVER
OBAMACARE.
ROMNEY PICKED THE NEW HEALTH
CARE LAW APART ON A NUMBER
OF LEVELS, AND SAID ONE
MAJOR PROBLEM WAS HOW THE
PRESIDENT RAMMED IT THROUGH
CONGRESS.
Reporter: INSTEAD
BRINGING AMERICA TOGETHER,
YOU PUSHED THROUGH SOMETHING
THAT YOU AND NANCY PELOSI
AND HARRY REID THOUGHT WAS
THE BEST ANSWER.
President Obama: THIS
WAS A BIPARTISAN IDEA, IN
FACT IT WAS A REPUBLICAN
IDEA.
AND MITT ROMNEY SAID WHAT WE
DID IN MASSACHUSETTS COULD
BE A MODEL FOR THE NATION.
Reporter: ALL THE
TOPICS HAD ONE THEME
THROUGHOUT THEM: WHAT THE
ROLE OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE.
ROMNEY WAS ARGUING FOR A
LIMITED APPROACH, AND THE
PRESIDENT MAKING THE CASE
FOR A LARGER ROLE.
President Obama: WE
WANT TO GIVE THESE GATEWAYS
OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
AMERICANS, BECAUSE IF ALL
AMERICANS ARE GETTING
OPPORTUNITY, WE'RE ALL GOING
TO BE BETTER OFF.
LOOK BEHIND US, THE
CONSTITUTION AND THE
DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO
PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE
PRINCIPLES.
Reporter: WITH DEBATE
NUMBER ONE WRAPPED UP, THE
ATTENTION NOW TURNS TO THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
THE PRESIDENT WILL BE IN
COLORADO ON THURSDAY.
COLORADO IS A STATE THAT
MITT ROMNEY HAS A SLIT LEAD
IN.
AND MITT ROMNEY WILL BE IN
VIRGINIA, WHERE THE
PRESIDENT HAS A SLIGHT
LEAD.
TIME NOW OF THE ESSENCE, AS
EARLY VOTING HAS STARTED IN
MORE THAN HALF THE STATES.
DAVID BRODY, CBN NEWS IN
DENVER, COLORADO.
Pat: YOU CAN ALWAYS GET
DAVID'S LATEST POLITICAL
REPORTS ON "THE BRODY FILE"
ON cbn.com, AND YOU CAN
WATCH "THE BRODY FILE" ON
FRIDAYS AT 9:30 A.M. ON THE
ABC FAMILY CHANNEL.
TERRY, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED
WITH MITT'S PERFORMANCE.
BUT HIS HANDLERS HAD SAID,
LOOK, TONE IT DOWN.
DON'T GO AFTER ANY MAJOR
THRUST.
HE WAS GIVEN A SOFTBALL
QUESTION BY JIM LEHRER, THE
MODERATOR, TELL US ABOUT
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.
TH REGULATIONS OF THE
COMMERCE.
BUSINESSES ARE BEING
REGULATED TO DEATH.
ROMNEY, INSTEAD OF ANSWERING
THAT QUESTION, SAID, I THINK
WE SHOULD HAVE REGULATION.
OF COURSE, IF YOU'RE GOING
TO PLAY A FOOTBALL GAME, YOU
NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES,
AND YOU NEED TO HAVE
REFEREES WHO NOW HOW TO CALL
THE DOWNS AND THE BALLS AND
ALL OF THAT.
Terry: UH-HUH.
Pat: SO HE DUCKED IT.
BUT DOES THAT MEAN AS HE
GOVERNS, HE IS GOING TO BE
AS QUICKLY MODEST.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO
SEE A ROBUST RONALD REAGAN,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN
INTELLIGENT, HONORABLE MAN
TAKE OVER THE REINS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE
STEP HE NEEDED TO
BREAKTHROUGH ALL OF THE
MIASMA THAT WAS CAUSED BY
ALL OF THE NEGATIVE
COMPAIGNS OBAMA HAS PUT ON
THE AIRWAVES.
I THINK IT ONLY TAKES A
COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS
AND YOU'RE OVER THE TOP.
Terry: HIS EXPERIENCE
AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND
REALLY CAME THROUGH LAST
NIGHT.
EVERYONE SAYS THE NUMBER ONE
TOPIC ON EVERYONE'S MINDS IS
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, AND HE
SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN.
Pat: OBAMA HAS NEVER
CREATED A JOBS IN HIS LIFE.
LIFE.
HE DOESN'T NO HOW.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE,
AND HE CAN RECOVER AND MAYBE
COME BACK MUCH STRONGER, BUT
NEXT TIME WILL BE ON FOREIGN
POLICY, AND I THINK OBAMA IS
QUITE VULNERABLE IN THIS
AREA AS WELL.
BUT MITT HAS TO BE CAREFUL
THAT HE DOESN'T START
TALKING ABOUT BASHING
CHINA.
BIG, BIG MISTAKE.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL
THAT YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE
YOU'RE GOING TO START
ANOTHER WAR.
THAT IS WHAT THEY DID TO
GOLDWATER, HE LOVES ME, AND
BOOM.
HE WANTS TO AVOID THAT
MANTRA.
IF THINGS CONTINUE TO GO AS
THEY ARE, THE POLLS ARE IN
HIS FAVOR, THE MOMENTUM IS
IN HIS FAVOR, AND THIS
DEBATE DID IT FOR HIM.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS THIS
ELECTION, POLITICIANS IN
WASHINGTON WILL HAVE TO MAKE
SOME VERY, VERY TOUGH
DECISIONS ON TAXES AND
SPENDING BY THE END OF THIS
YEAR.
LEE WEBB HAS THAT STORY FROM
THE CBN NEWS ROOM.
HERE IS LEE.
Lisa: PAT, MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS ARE WORKING ON
LEGISLATION TO AVOID A
BUDGET CRISIS.
THE "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTS
SENATORS ARE PURSUING
OPTIONS, LEGISLATIVELY, TO
KEEP MASSIVE TAX HIKES AND
GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUTS
FROM HAPPENING NEXT YEAR.
JOHN WAGGI HAS MORE ON THE
IMPACT ON WHAT SOME ARE
CALLING TAX MAGDEDDON.
CURTIS DEBAY IS WITH THE
HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
A TAX HIKE THAT HIGH IN
ONE YEAR IS SIMPLY
UNPRECEDENTED.
IT WILL TAKE AN ENORMOUS
CHUNK OF MONEY OUT OF THE
FAMILIES THAT EARN THE
INCOME AND GIVE IT TO
CONGRESS TO SPEND.
Reporter: NOT ONLY WILL
THE BUSH TAX CUTS END, BUT
MUCH MORE.
THE PAYROLL TAX WILL JUMP
FROM 4.6% TO 6.6%.
THE REPAIR OF THE MARRIAGE
PENALTY WILL DISAPPEAR,
MEANING MANY MARRIED COUPLES
WILL SUDDENLY HAVE TO PAY
MORE TAXES.
MIDDLE INCOME AMERICANS WILL
BE TREATED THEY'RE RICH IN
THE EYES OF THE I.R.S. AND
TAXED MUCH MORE.
70% DIRECTLY FALLS ON
MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME
TAXPAYERS.
Reporter: BUT NOT
EVERYONE SEES HIKING TAXES
NEXT YEAR IS A BAD THING.
RAISES TAXES IN THE
SHORT-TERM, AND SPENDING IT,
PARTICULARLY AT THE TOP END,
WILL PRODUCE MORE JOBS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WEALTHY
PEOPLE SITTING ON THEIR
MONEY.
Reporter: BUT DEBAY
SAYS IT IS THE THREAT OF TAX
HIKES THAT KEEPS BUSINESSES
FROM INVESTING.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER
TO ADD NEW WORKERS OR MAKE
NEW INVESTMENTS, SO THEY'RE
HOLDING BACK AND WAITING.
Reporter: HE WORRIES
WITHOUT NEW TAX CUTS, IT
WILL DEVASTATE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND
MORE.
FOOD STAMPS, AND AID FOR
THE VULNERABLE, SENIORS AT
THE END OF THEIR LIFE --
WE'RE TOO RICH OF A SOCIETY
TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF
CUTS.
Reporter: CONGRESS AND
THE PRESIDENT TOGETHER COULD
STOP TAX MAGGEDDON, BUT WITH
THE STAKES SO HIGH BEFORE
THE ELECTION, NOTHING IS
LIKELY TO HAPPEN.
Lee: THE REAL QUESTION
IS: DO WE HAVE POLITICIANS
IN WASHINGTON WITH THE
POLITICAL BACKBONE TO DO THE
RIGHT THING?
Pat: YOU SEE HOW THEY
DEMOGOGUE ON ANYBODY WHO
BEGINS TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
REGULATING THE FLOW OF
SPENDING.
IMMEDIATELY THE ADS HIT THE
AIRWAVES, THEY WANT TO TAKE
AWAY THE LIGHTS ON THE
NATIONAL MONUMENT, AND IT
GOES ON AND ON.
THEY'LL TAKE YOUR SCHOOL
LUNCHES AWAY.
THE POOR LITTLE KIDS ARE
GOING TO STARVE, AND YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY
TEACHERS.
IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
THE LIBERAL PEOPLE SAY WHY
SHOULD WE STEP INTO THAT
VORTEX.
IT HAS GOT TO BE BIPARTISAN
AGREEMENT.
THE PRESIDENT HAD AN
AGREEMENT, BOLES/SIMPSON,
AND HE IGNORED IT.
THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT
SUBMITTED BUT ONE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET WAS
OVERWHELMINGLY -- I THINK IT
WAS 97% VOTED DOWN BY THE
DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED
CONGRESS.
THEY SAID THIS IS
RIDICULOUS.
WE CAN'T EVEN CONSIDER IT.
SO THE SENATE HAS NOT PASSED
A BUDGET IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS.
NO BUDGET.
NO BUDGET TO RUN THE
GOVERNMENT ON.
AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE
A STAND ON ANYTHING.
AND THE PARTISANSHIP IS SO
SO RANCOROUS, AND THERE HAS
GOT TO BE SOMETHING ABOUT
PUTTING THE NATION FIRST,
AND WE DON'T HAVE IT.
ALL WE HAVE A PARTY
INTEREST.
COMING OUT OF THIS ELECTION,
IF ONE PARTY WINS A DECISIVE
VICTORY, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A
CHANGE.
WE'RE IN FOR A REALLY ROUGH
PATCH AS A NATION BECAUSE A
HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF
CANNOT STAND.
THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS,
AND IT IS TRUE.
IT IS A GREAT TRUTH.
A KINGDOM DIVIDED AGAINST
ITSELF CANNOT ENDURE.
LEE?
Lee: PAT, IRANIAN RIOT
POLICE HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED AT
KEY INTERSECTIONS IN THE
CAPITAL CITY OF TE TEHRAN.
THAT COMES AFTER POLICE
CLASHED WITH PROTESTORS
ANGRY WITH THE IRANIAN'S
ECONOMY.
THE ECONOMY PLUNGED BY MORE
THAN A THIRD IN LESS THAN A
WEEK.
MANY LOW INCOME IRANIANS CAN
NO LONGER AFFORD IMPORTANT
FOOD ITEMS, LIKE CHICKEN AND
LAMB, AND AUTHORITIES ARE
TRYING TO CLAMP DOWN ON
BLACK MARKET MONEY
EXCHANGERS.
MANY ANALYSTS BLAME IT ON
THE SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN'S
NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
AND SOME SAY POOR GOVERNMENT
POLICIES HAVE MADE THE
CRISIS WORSE.
MAYBE THERE IS A PEACEFUL
WAY, INTERNALLY, OF DEALING
WITH IRAN AFTER ALL, PAT?
Pat: LEE, I'VE BEEN
SAYING THIS FOR SOME TIME.
THERE ARE MANY IRANIANS WHO
ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
THEY LOVE AMERICA.
THEY LOVE GOD.
THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE.
AND THEY HATE THE MALAHS,
AND THE MALAHS HAVE PUT IN A
REGIME THAT IS NOT GOING TO
WORK.
WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?
BEGINNING A WAR WOULD BE
COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE
IT WILL MOBILIZE THE
DISSIDENT PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF
THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF A
WAR.
THE LABOR UNIONS WOULD
STRIKE, GO ON A PROLONGED
STRIKE, AND MOVE TO
OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.
THE COLLEGE STUDENTS WOULD
BEGIN TO STRIKE AND
OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.
IF THERE WAS A CONCERTED
EFFORT TO MOBILIZE THE
DISSIDENTS, THAT WHOLE
COUNTRY COULD SEE A REGIME
CHANGE.
BUT WHEN THEY HAD A CHANCE,
AFTER THE LAST ELECTION, AND
THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE
STREETS AND THERE WAS A REAL
MOVEMENT TO DO THAT, WHAT
DID OUR PRESIDENT DO?
NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING.
BUT NOW IS A CHANCE.
NOW IS WHY I HAVE NOT BEEN
IN FAVOR OF A BOMBING
CAMPAIGN IN RELATION TO
THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITY
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE FAR, FAR
BETTER TO SEE A PEACEFUL, OR
EVEN A VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF
THEIR GOVERNMENT AND A
REGIME CHANGE.
LEE?
Lee: THE PRESIDENT OF
CHICK-FIL-A HAS VOICED HIS
SUPPORT FOR BIBLICAL
FAMILIES.
HE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAIN.
SOME LIBERALS CRITICIZED DAN
CATHY THIS SUMMER WHEN HE
SAID THE FAST FOOD CHAIN IS
GUILTY AS CHARGED FOR
SUPPORTING PRO FAMILY GROUPS
THAT OPPOSE SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE.
CATHY SAID FAMILIES ARE VERY
IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTRY.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF
US WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO HANG ON TO OUR
HERITAGE.
WE SUPPORT BIBLICAL FAMILIES
WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PART OF
THAT.
THE NUMBER OF SEVERELY OBESE
AMERICAN ADULTS HAS
SKYROCKETED IN THE LAST
DECADE.
RESEARCHERS FROM RAND
CORPORATION FOUND 6.6% OF
ADULTS WERE 100 POUNDS OR
MORE OVERWEIGHT.
UP FROM 3.9% IN 2000.
THAT IS NEARLY A 70%
INCREASE IN JUST 10 YEARS.
MORE THAN 15 MILLION PEOPLE
ARE NOW CLASSIFIED AS
SEVERELY OBESE.
RESEARCHERS POINT OUT THIS
LEVEL OF OBESITY OFTEN
EFFECTS QUALITY OF LIFE AND
LEADS TO OTHER MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, TYPE 2
DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, AND
CERTAIN TYPES OF CANCER.
70% INCREASE IN 10 YEARS,
PAT, IT'S AMAZING.
Pat: IT IS HORRIBLE.
BUT THE FOOD WE EAT -- I
DON'T EAT FAST FOOD.
DO YOU EAT THAT STUFF?
OH, CHICK-FIL-A, YAY, WE'VE
GOT TO SUPPORT THAT.
Terry: I THINK THAT IT
IS INTERESTING THAT THAT
STATISTIC IS WHAT IT IS
BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH
MORE INFORMATION OUT TODAY
ABOUT HOW TO EAT HEALTHY,
AND I THINK A LOT OF
MANUFACTURERS ARE TRYING TO
GIVE US THINGS THAT MEET
THAT STANDARD.
Pat: YOU'VE GOT TO MEET
THE LABELS.
THEY'RE LOADED WITH SUGAR.
WHEN YOU SEE HIGH FRUCTOSE
CORN SYRUP, AND ALL OF THOSE
OTHER NAMES FOR SUGAR, THAT
ARE PUT IN ALMOST
EVERYTHING, THAT SETS UP A
CRAVING.
AND THE FAST FOOD
MANUFACTURERS KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THEY USED TO CALL CERTAIN
SNACKS -- THEY CALLED THEM
BEER SNACKS BECAUSE THEY
WERE LOADED WITH SALT AND
MADE PEOPLE THIRSTY, AND
MADE THEM WANT TO EAT THE
PRETZELS AND THEN DRINK A
BEER.
IT WAS DELIBERATE.
Terry: YES.
WE'VE HAD LOTS OF EXPERTS ON
THIS PROGRAM WHO HAVE TALKED
ABOUT THE DELIBERATE MOVE TO
THAT END.
Pat: SURE.
BUT NOT ONLY ARE WE GETTING
BLOATED WITH FINANCES, WE'VE
GOT A BLOATED DEBT, BLOATED
FAT PEOPLE -- IT JUST SHOWS
THAT WE HAVE LOST OUR SENSE
OF SELF-CONTROL IN OUR
NATION BECAUSE WE'RE --
WHERE THERE IS NO KNOWLEDGE
OF GOD, THE PEOPLE RUN
AMUCK.
THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN THERE IS
NO VISION, BUT IT MEANS A
VISION OF GOD.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT SENSE OF
SELF-RESTRAINT THAT IS
ATTACHED TO A HEALTHY
SOCIETY.
IT'S A SHAME.
WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU
TO A MAN WHO BEAT THE ODDS
AND WON THE BIGGEST LOSER.
IT'S A FANTASTIC STORY, AND
TERRY IS GOING TO TELL US
ABOUT IT.
Terry: THAT IS COMING
UP.
BUT, ALSO, THIS FEATURE: HE
MAY HAVE LOST HIS LEG IN A
WAR, BUT THAT HAS NOT
STOPPED HIM FROM RUNNING FORz6
HOPE.
WE WANT YOU TO HEAR HIS
STORY, AND THAT'S COMING UP
NEXT.
Pat: WELL, WELCOME
BACK, THE DAY AFTER THE
DEBATE, AND PEOPLE ARE STILL
IN THE DEBATE MODE.
YOU KNOW, TERRY, I USED TO
DRIVE AROUND -- WHEN I WAS
IN COLLEGE, I SOWED MY SHARE
OF OATS.
Terry: I HEARD.
Pat: WILD OATS, LOTS
AND LOTS OF THEM.
AND AS I DROVE AROUND IN THE
HILLS OF THE SHENANDOAH
VALLEY, THERE WERE THESE
BILLBOARDS, "PREPARE TO MEET
YOUR GOD."
I MEAN GREAT, BIG ONES.
AND YOU WOULD THINK --
Terry: BETTER GET MY
ACT TOGETHER.
Pat: GET RID OF THAT
BEER.
BUT IF YOU WERE TO DIE,
WOULD YOU BE READY TO FACE
GOD, PREPARED TO MEET YOUR
GOD?
WELL, THAT QUESTION BECAME
VERY REAL TO A SOLDIER IN
LEBANON WHEN A LANDMINE
EXPLODED UNDER HIS FEET.
DURING A WAR.
GARY LANE SHOWS US HIS LIFE
WAS TRANSFORMED AND WHAT HE
IS DOING WITH IT TODAY.
Reporter: LEBANESE
AMERICAN ELIAH HISPANI NEVER
DREAMED HE WOULD LIVE IN
MILWAUKEE, AND HE NEVER
IMAGINED HE WOULD BE RUNNING
A MARATHON.
MY MAIN INSPIRATION IS
JESUS.
THIS IS WHY I'M DOING THIS,
BECAUSE OF HIM AND HE
CHANGED MY LIFE.
Reporter: HIS LIFE
JOURNEY BEGAN HALF A WORLD
AWAY IN LEBANON.
THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY,
MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE MANY
TIMES.
AND TO SEE THIS LEBANON,
GORGEOUS.
AND THIS COUNTRY IS REALLY
IN MY HEART.
Reporter: RAISED IN A
CHRISTIAN CULTURE, HE GREW
UP PEACEFULLY WITH HIS
MUSLIM NEIGHBORS.
THESE PEOPLE, THEY WERE
MY -- THEIR CHILDREN WERE MY
BEST FRIENDS.
WE JUST LOVED TO BE TOGETHER
AND HAVE FUN.
Reporter: SOME WERE
PALESTINIAN, NOT LEBANESE.
PALESTINIANS CAME TO OUR
COUNTRY AS REFUGEES.
WE HOSTED THEM.
WE LIKED THEM.
WE SYMPATHIZED WITH THEM.
AND NOW THEY TURN AGAINST US
AND THEY WANT TO KILL US.
Reporter: CIVIL WAR
BROKE OUT IN 1975, WHEN THE
PALESTINIAN LIBERATION
ORGANIZATION AND ITS MUSLIM
BACKERS ATTACKED ISRAEL AND
CHRISTIAN VILLAGES IN
LEBANON.
I'LELI JOINED THE SOUTHxyxy
LEBANON PARTY.
I WANT TO PROTECT MY
IDENTITY AS A CHRISTIAN AT
THAT TIME, AND THE PEOPLE OF
MY COUNTRY.
Reporter: THE LEBANESE
CIVIL WAR TOOK ITS TOLL,
SURROUNDING HIM WITH DEATH
AND DESTRUCTION.
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WILL DIE TODAY OR TOMORROW.
SO I START HATING MYSELF.
NOT ONLY HATING MY ENEMY.
SO I START DRINKING TO
FORGET.
I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT LIFE.
I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT IF I
WILL DIE OR LIVE.
Reporter: ELI'S
THINKING CHANGED QUICKLY,
AFTER HIS COMMANDER ORDERED
HIM TO DISARM ENEMY
ROCKETS.
THAT'S WHEN A LANDMINE
EXPLODED RIGHT BENEATH HIS
FEET.
I START THINKING, I'M
GOING TO DIE.
HOW CAN I FACE GOD RIGHT
NOW.
HE IS GOING TO JUDGE ME.
I WAS SO AFRAID.
JESUS, IF YOU ARE ALIVE,
SAVE ME.
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HELL.
Reporter: ELI'S LIFE
WAS SPARED.
HE LOST HIS LEFT LEG, BUT
GAINED SALVATION.
CALLED TO MINISTRY, HE
EVENTUALLY JOINED "YOUTH
WITH A MISSION."
AND HE LATER ATTENDED BIBLE
CEMETERY IN BEIRUT.
AND IT IS HERE WHERE HE
STUDIED AND LEARNED IT WAS
NO LONGER SAFE FOR HIM TO
REMAIN IN LEBANON.
SO HE PACKED UP HIS FAMILY
AND LEFT THE COUNTRY OF HIS
BIRTH AND HEADED FOR
AMERICA.
HE NOW SERVES AS A NATION'S
PASTOR AT MILWAUKEE'S EAST
CHURCH.
HOME TO CHRISTIANS FROM 60
COUNTRIES.
I WANTED TO EQUIP THE
CHURCH, HAVE THE CHURCH
UNDERSTAND MORE HOW TO WORK
CROSS-CULTURALLY, HOW TO
LOVE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT
COUNTRIES.
Reporter: ELI SAYS GOD
GAVE HIM A MISSION TO DO
SOMETHING BIGGER, TO SHARE
HIS HEART WITH THE NATIONS.
NOT ONLY WITH THE PEOPLE
FROM EAST VILLAGE CHURCH,
BUT WITH THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY OF MILWAUKEE.
EACH YEAR HE SPONSORS AND
PARTICIPATE IN A CHARITABLE
MARATHON RACE CALLED
"RUNNING FOR HOPE."
THE IDEA CAME AS HE PLAYED
SOCCER WITH HIS SONS.
WHY I DON'T RUN?
WHY I DON'T START AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED "RUNNING
FOR HOPE?"
Reporter: RAISING MONEY
TO SHIP WHEELCHAIRS AND
PROSTHETICS TO PEOPLE IN THE
MIDDLE EAST.
CBN NEWS TALKED TO THIS
YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS.
I WANTED TO RUN WITH ELI
BECAUSE HE RUNS WITH ONE
LEG.
Reporter: HE TELLS HIS
STORY IN THE BOOK "THE GOOD
SOLDIER."
HE HOPES TO RETURN TO
LEBANON SOME DAY TO BRING
WHEELCHAIRS AND OTHER
THINGS, BUT THAT IS UNLIKELY
TO HAPPEN AS LONG AS
HEZBOLLAH DOMINATES THE
COUNTRY.
I WANT TO SHARE MY STORY
AND HELP PEOPLE, BUT THESE
PEOPLE NEED GOD MORE THAN
ANY BECAUSE WE HAD WAR.
THESE PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND
BROKEN AND SUFFERING.
AND THEY ARE STILL
SUFFERING.
THERE IS A LOT OF THE HATE
AND REVENGE.
AND WE NEED GOD.
Reporter: IN THE
MEANTIME, ELI SAYS HE
CONTINUE THE ANNUAL
MARATHON.
AND HE WANTS TO ENCOURAGE
OTHERS TO WIN LIFE'S
SPIRITUAL RACE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE
INSURANCE AND HAVE THIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST IN
ORDER TO WIN THE RACE.
AND I KNEW IN HEAVEN MY LEG
WOULD COME BACK.
AND I CAN RUN AND I CAN
FLY.
I CAN ENJOY THIS BODY.
THAT'S MY HOPE.
Reporter: GARY LANE,
CBN NEWS, MILWAUKEE.
Pat: THANKS, GARY.
WHAT A STORY OF HOPE AND
VICTORY.
AND HE'S AN INSPIRATION TO
ALL OF US.
RE TALKING
ABOUT THE OUTRAGEOUS
PERCENTAGE OF OBESITY IN THE
COUNTRY, AND I THINK OUR
NEXT GUEST HAS SOME
ANSWERS.
HE WON $100,000 BY LOSING
185 POUNDS.
PETE THOMAS SHARES HOW HE
KEEPS THE WEIGHT OFF SEVEN
YEARS AFTER "THE BIGGE
LOSER."
Pat: HE'S HERE.
Terry: WELL, WHEN PETE
THOMAS WAS A KID, FOOD WAS
HARD TO COME BY IN HIS
HOUSE..
BY THE TIME HE STARTED
BOUNCING AROUND FOSTER
HOLES, PETE WAS WOLFING DOWN
FOOD WHENEVER IT WAS
AVAILABLE.
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A
LONG STRUGGLE WITH HIS
WEIGHT.
ONE THAT DIDN'T REALLY END
UNTIL PETE BECAME A
CONTESTANT ON "THE BIGGEST
LOSER."
Reporter: PETE THOMAS
WEIGHED MORE THAN
400 POUNDS, HAD A 60-INCH
WEIGHT AND WAS 50% BODY FAT
WHEN HE LANDED A SPOT ON
"THE BIGGEST LOSER."
AFTER TWO AND A HALF MONTHS,
PETE WAS VOTED OFF.
BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP HIM.
PETE STUCK TO HIS PLAN AND
LOST A TOTAL OF 185 POUNDS,
MAKING HIM THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL BIGGEST LOSER OF
ALL TIME.
IN HIS BOOK "LOSE IT FAST,
LOSE IT FOREVER," PETE
SHARES HOW YOU CAN THROW OUT
GIMMICK DIETS AND FROZEN
FOOD FOR THE REST OF YOUR
LIFE.
Terry: PLEASE WELCOME
BACK TO "THE 700 CLUB," THE
AUTHOR OF "LOSE IT PAST,
LOSE IT FOREVER," PETE
THOMAS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
Terry: YOU WERE HERE
SIX YEARS AGO.
TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON IN
YOUR LIFE.
?
IN THAT TIME, I HAVE KEPT
IT OFF BY LOTS OF STUDY AND
WITH THE PHYSICAL SIDE THAT
IS REQUIRED TO LOSE THE
WORK, AND THE SPIRITUAL
SIDE.
I HAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE
LORD WANTED ME TO BE HEALTHY
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN
COMBINED INTO THE BOOK.
Terry: AND SOME OF IT
IS TAKING CARE OF EMOTIONAL
BUSINESS.
ALMOST EVERYBODY I KNOW THAT
STRUGGLED WITH WEIGHT,
WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL LOSING IT OR NOT
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT FOOD
REALLY ISN'T THE ISSUE.
IT IS THE ISSUE BEHIND THE
FOOD.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR
LIFE GROWING UP.
BECAUSE YOU CAME THROUGH
SOME DIFFICULT THINGS?
ABSOLUTELY.
MY MOTHER STRUGGLED MENTAL
ILLNESS, AND BECAUSE OF
THAT, WE WERE TRANSIENT,
GOING FROM ONE CITY TO
CITY.
AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I
ATE 10 TIMES OF FOOD
WHENEVER IT WAS AVAILABLE.
AND AS AN ADULT, I THOUGHT
IF I'M GOING TO KEEP THE
WEIGHT OFF -- I CALL IT
MASTERING YOUR MIND.
WE KNOW THAT SCRIPTURE
TALKS, AS A MAN THINKS, SO
IS HE.
SO I HAD TO CHANGE THE WAY I
THOUGHT ABOUT MYSELF, AND
REALLY THAT CAME -- I
REALIZED THAT THE LORD CAN
REDEEM US FROM ANYTHING.
HE CAN ALWAYS REDEEM ME FROM
THE WEIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I TRY TO SHARE
WITH OTHERS TODAY.
Terry: IS IT ODD WHEN
YOU LOOK -- THERE IS THE
PICTURE OF THE YOU NOW, BUT
BEHIND IT IS THE PERSON THAT
YOU WERE BEFORE.
IT DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE
THE SAME PERSON.
IT IS BIZARRE.
I SAID TO MY HUSBAND, WOW,
IS THAT TWO DIFFERENT
PEOPLE.
IS THAT WEIRD FOR YOU TO
SEE?
IT'S NOT TOO WEIRD.
THAT'S THE REDEMPTIVE POWER
OF CHRIST.
WE CAN HAVE THIS HORRIBLE
UPBRINGING, AND WE CAN
STRUGGLE WITH THE WAY WE
WERE, BUT GOD CAN DEEM
REDEEM US.
I LOOK AT THAT AND SAY THERE
IS THE INNER PIGGY IN ME
TRYING TO GET OUT, BUT I'M
GOING TO KEEP HIM AT BAY
BECAUSE OF THE PRINCIPLES I
PUT IN THE BOOK.
Terry: HOW DID YOU GET
TO "THE BIGGEST LOSER?"
I REALLY BELIEVED THAT MY
PURPOSE AND DESTINY IN LIFE
REQUIRED ME TO BE HEALTHY,
AND I'M SAYING THIS WHEN I'M
OVER 400 POUNDS.
I SENT IN A VIDEO, AND I
BELIEVE IT WAS IN GOD'S PLAN
THAT I WOULD END UP GOING ON
TO THE SHOW.
I TOOK ALL OF THESE BEFORE
PICTURES IN 2001 AND 2002,
BEFORE THE SHOW WAS EVER
AROUND, BECAUSE I SAID I'M
GOING TO LOSE THIS BEAT
WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF.
WHO WOULD EVER GUESS I WOULD
HAVE ENDED UP ON "THE
BIGGEST LOSER," AND SHEDDING
THE WEIGHT IN FRONT OF
THOUSAND.
Terry: THAT'S A HARD
JOB.
I WATCH FOLKS AND I THINK,
WOW, THAT TAKES A TREMENDOUS
COMMITMENT, A TREMENDOUS
EFFORT.
AT ONE POINT, YOU'RE OFF THE
SHOW BUT YOU HAVEN'T LOST
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO
LOSE?
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
Terry: HOW DID YOU DO
IT WHEN YOU WEREN'T BEFORE
SOMEBODY HOLDING YOU
ACCOUNTABLE?
HOW DID YOU LOSE IT?
THE BIBLE SAYS TWO ARE
BETTER THAN ONE.
I USED THOSE BASIC
PRINCIPLES.
I HAD A TEAM AROUND ME ONCE
I GOT HOME.
I MADE SURE PEOPLE WOULD
MEET ME AT THE GYM, AND HOLD
ME ACCOUNTABLE WITH MY
NUTRITIONAL PLAN.
I DID SOME OF THE SAME
THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE
SHOW AND I LEARNED FROM THE
SCRIPTURES, AND I APPLIED
THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND I LOST 200 POUNDS ON
MY OWN AT HOME.
AND KEPT IT OFF FOR SEVEN
YEARS.
THAT'S A TESTAMENT OF THE
WORK I PUT IN, AND THE FACT
I'M ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH
OTHERS AND TO HELP THEM GET
THE WEIGHT OFF AND KEEP IT
OFF.
THAT'S A TESTAMENT.
Terry: PEOPLE I KNOW
THAT HAVE LOST LARGE AMOUNTS
OF WEIGHT, THEY YO-YO.
YOU DIDN'T DO THAT?
YES.
AND PART OF THAT IS WE HAVE
SO MUCH INFORMATION.
AND WE JUST HAVE TIPS.
I HAVE THIS THEORY, TIPS ARE
FOR KIDS.
ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I
TEACH IS NEVER, EVER START A
DIET OR NUTRITION PLAN THAT
YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN FOR THE
REST OF YOUR LIFE.
IF YOU THINK OF THAT, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO DO THE COOKIE
DIET, THE DIET THAT REQUIRES
ME TO DRINK JUST SHAKES.
YOU DEVELOP A PERSONALIZED
PROGRAM THAT WILL FIT IN FOR
ALL PEOPLE.
Terry: YOU SAID YOU HAD
TRIED PRIOR TO THIS TO LOSE
WEIGHT.
YOU ALMOST BUILD UP EVEN
MORE DISCOURAGEMENT ONCE
YOU'VE HAD A FAILURE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE
WHO TRIED AGAIN AND AGAIN.
HOW DO YOU GET THEM ON THE
WAGON THAT GETS OVER THE
FINISH LINE?
I SAY MOTIVATION NEEDS
EDUCATION.
YOU HAVE TO SAY I'M GOING TO
EDUCATE MYSELF ON BASIC
NUTRITION.
I'M 6' 5" AND I'M A MALE, IF
I WERE TO GIVE YOU MY
PROGRAM WOULDN'T FIT IF YOU
WERE A WONDERFUL HOUSEWIFE
HERE IN TOWN.
SO WHAT I TRY TO DO IS GUIDE
PEOPLE THROUGH DEVELOPING A
PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO
THEIR WEIGHT LOSS, AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THEIR WEIGHT
MAINTENANCE.
THREE-QUARTERS OF THE BOOK
IS ON WHAT I CALL DEVELOPING
"FOREVER HABITS."
AND YOU APPLY THEM
AGGRESSIVELY AND THAT ALLOWS
YOU TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF
FOREVER.
Terry: DID YOU SEE
YOURSELF THE WAY YOU REALLY
WERE AT THE PEAK OF YOUR
WEIGHT GAIN?
I WAS ALWAYS VERY
POSITIVE.
I SAW MYSELF AS BEING BIG.
BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH
MISINFORMATION ABOUT SHOULD
I DO THIS OR THAT?
I TRIED EVERYTHING, AND
NOTHING STUCK UNTIL I GOT
SOME BASICS ON THE BIGGEST
LOSER AND BEGAN TO STUDY ON
MY OWN AND REALLY RESEARCH
THE PSYCHOLOGIST OF CHANGE.
THE NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
AND EXERCISE SCIENCE AT
HOME.
THAT ALLOWED ME TO KEEP THE
MOTIVATION GOING AND THEN IT
BECAME HABIT.
Terry: YOU'RE A BIG
GUY --
YES, MA'AM.
Terry: AND YOU CAN
REALLY PUT THE WEIGHT ON
BEFORE YOU EVER KNOW IT.
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU SAY,
WOW, I'VE GOT A PROBLEM?
I SAID IT ALL ALONG.
I REMEMBER SAYING AT 30, IF
I'M THIS WEIGHT ALL ALONG,
I'M IN TROUBLE.
I WALKED FOR 30 MINUTES A
DAY AND LOST 10 POUNDS.
IT WAS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I
WEIGHED 400 POUNDS.
THE INFORMATION IS SO
SCATTERED.
THERE IS SO MUCH
MISINFORMATION.
I'M A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
THE PERSON THAT MOST OF US
SHOULD BE LISTENING TO IS
SOMEONE WHO HAS WALKED THE
PATH WE HAVE WALKED AND THAT
WAY YOU GET THE INFORMATION
YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
Terry: TELL ME WHAT
YOU'RE DOING TODAY.
BECAUSE THIS HAS CHANGED
YOUR LIFE NOT JUST IN A
PHYSICAL FORM, BUT YOUR
WORK.
WHICH IS ANOTHER
TESTIMONY IN ITSELF, BUT WE
DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT.
I TRAVEL THE COUNTRY AND
TALK TO EMPLOYEES, AND I
SPEAK TO CHURCHES.
MY REAL DESIRE IS TO
MOTIVATE SAINTS, CHRISTIANS,
TO REALLY LIVE OUT THEIR
PURPOSE.
YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT
YOUR HEALTH IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT IF YOU'RE GOING TO
BE LONG-TERM SUCCESSFUL.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO
COMPLETELY FULFILL YOUR
DESTINY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE
YOUR HEALTH IN ORDER.
THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO
MINISTER.
Terry: YOU TALK ABOUT A
FOUR-POINT HEALTH PLAN TO
GET THERE.
IT'S YOUR POWER, YOUR
PLAN, PURSUIT, AND YOUR
PURPOSE.
SO YOUR POWER DEALS WITH THE
MENTAL SIDE OF IT.
AS A MAN THINKS, SO IS HIS
HEART.
HAVE YOU TO HAVE FOCUS.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO,
YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH
EVERY WIND.
YOU NEED TO BE SPECIFIC.
AND THEN YOU NEED YOUR
PLAN.
A PLAN THAT FITS YOU AND
YOUR INDIVIDUAL LIFE.
HOW EXACTLY DO YOU WORK
OUT.
AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT YOUR
PURSUIT.
ONCE YOU KNOW THESE OTHER
THINGS, YOU CAN REALLY APPLY
IT AGGRESSIVELY.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR
PURPOSE, WE NEED TO REALIZE
WE HAVE UNIQUE PURPOSE IN
CHRIST, EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF US.
AND YOU NEED TO BE HEALTHY
TO FULFILL THAT UNIQUE
PURPOSE.
WHETHER YOU'RE AN EXECUTIVE
MOMMY OR AN EXECUTIVE IN A
CORPORATION.
YOU HAVE TO BE HEALTHY.
Terry: I THINK OF HOW
DIFFERENT YOUR LIFE WOULD BE
HAD YOU NOT PURSUED THIS
WITH GUSTO AND PASSION?
PETE, WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
LISTENING TO THOSE
STATISTICS ON OBESITY, IT IS
OBVIOUS THIS IS SOMETHING
THE WHOLE COUNTRY NEEDS TO
KNOW.
THE BOOK IS CALLED "LOSE IT
FAST, LOSE IT FOREVER."
IT IS NOT ONE OF THOSE
QUICK, EASY FIX BOOKS.
IT IS WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
IT IS AVAILABLE IN STORES
NATIONWIDE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
TERRY.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Terry: PAT?
Pat: WHAT AN
INSPIRATION FOR EVERYBODY.
THIS IS AN INSPIRATIONAL
PROGRAM, ONE AFTER THE
OTHER.
COMING UP LATER, WE'RE GOING
TO BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS
FROM OUR IN-BOX.
CONNIE SAYS, "EVERYONE KEEPS
TALKING ABOUT A WORLDWIDE
FINANCIAL RUN.
I ALREADY LIVE PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK, SO HOW CAN I BE
PREPARED?"
STAY TUNED AS WE BRING IT
ON.
PLUS, WE'LL BE PRAYING FOR
OUR COUNTRY.
SO DON'T GO AWAY.
Reporter: WELCOME BACK
TO WASHINGTON FOR THIS CBN
NEWS BREAK.
ANOTHER CHRISTIAN-OWNED
BUSINESS HAS FILED A LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE CONTRACEPTIVE
MANDATE TIED TO OBAMACARE.
THEY SAY PROVIDING PILLS
THAT INDUCE ABORTION WOULD
VIOLATE ITS RELIGIOUS
VALUES.
THE ALLIANCE DEFENDING
FREEDOM FILED A SUIT CALLING
IT, QUOTE,"RIDICULOUS AND
ARBITRARY FOR A COMPANY TO
DECIDE A COMPANY ISN'T
ELIGIBLE FOR AN EXEMPTION."
THE GROUP SAYS BIBLE
PUBLISHERS SHOULD BE FREE TO
DO BUSINESS ACCORDING TO THE
BOOK THEY PUBLISH.
A CHRISTIAN GROUP IS TRYING
TO OVERTURN THIS NEW LAW.
STARTING JANUARY 1st,
PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS CAN
NO LONGER TELL ANYONE UNDER
THE AGE OF 18 IT IS POSSIBLE
TO CHANGE SEXUAL
ORIENTATION.
THEY NAMED A PLAINTIFF WHO
SAYS HE BENEFITED FROM THE
THERAPY, AND A PSYCHIATRIST
WHO IS ALSO A THERAPIST AND
A CHURCH PASTOR IN SAN
DIEGO.
THE INSTITUTE SAYS THE LAW
VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT
AND EQUAL PROTECTION
RIGHTS.
CALIFORNIA IS THE ONLY STATE
TO BAN CONVERSION THERAPY.
WELL, YOU CAN ALWAYS GET THE
LATEST FROM CBN NEWS BY
GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AT
CBNNEWS.COM.
PAT AND TERRY WILL BE BACK
WITH MORE OF "THE 700 CLUB"
RIGHT AFTER THIS.
Terry: WELL, RONALD
REAGAN ONCE SAID, IF WE EVER
FORGET THAT WE ARE ONE
NATION UNDER GOD, THEN WE'LL
BE A NATION GONE UNDER.
SO WE HERE AT THE CHRISTIAN
BROADCASTING NETWORK HAVE
LAUNCHED A "PRAY FOR
AMERICA" CAMPAIGN.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PRAYING
FOR OUR COUNTRY ALL THROUGH
ELECTION DAY, AND WE'D LOVE
TO HAVE YOU JOIN IN WITH
US.
GIVE US A CALL AT
1-800-759-0700, OR REGULAR
NUMBER, AND TELL THE PERSON
ON THE OTHER LINE THAT YOU
WANT TO PRAY, TOO.
AND THEN YOU'RE REQUESTS
WILL BE ADDED TO THE PRAYER
FLAG THAT YOU SEE BEHIND
US.
SO WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU
A COUPLE THAT WE HAVE
TODAY.
I HAVE SOMEONE HERE WHO IS
ASKING FOR HELP FOR THE
HOMELESS, FOR FOOD, FOR
SHELTER, FOR JOBS.
THAT IS CERTAINLY NEEDED.
SOMEONE ELSE SAYING MY
PRAYER FOR AMERICA IS
PROTECTION FROM HARM BY
SEVERE WEATHER.
Pat: WE HAVE ABOUT
119,000 PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY
WILL BE PRAYING.
IT IS A WAY FOR OUR NATION
TO RETURN TO A BIBLICAL
FOUNDATION.
FOLKS, I DON'T WANT TO SEE
US GET TO BE LIKE GREECE OR
SPAIN OR ANY OF THESE OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT ARE GOING
INTO DEEP DEPRESSION AND
CHAOS.
THIS IS A GREAT NATION.
BUT PART OF THE WORLD IS IN
FLAMES, WITH BITTER, BITTER
RANCOR.
AND WE NEED THE POWER OF
GOD.
IF WE COME BACK TO THE
BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS, WE CAN
RECEIVE THAT BECAUSE GOD
WILL BLESS US IF WE OBEY
HIM.
TERRY AND I ARE GOING TO
JOIN HANDS TOGETHER.
PLEASE JOIN WITH US FOR THIS
MOMENT BECAUSE WE'RE PRAYING
ALL THE WAY TO THE
ELECTION.
FATHER, WE CALL TO YOU THIS
GREAT LAND.
IT WAS ESTABLISH BY PEOPLE
WHO LOVE YOU AND IT WAS A
COVENANT THEY MADE WITH
YOU.
WE ASK YOU TO HELP US RENEW
THAT COVENANT, FORGIVE THE
SINS OF YOUR PEOPLE, AND
BRING US TO A PLACE WHERE WE
WILL BE PLEASING IN YOUR
SIGHT, SO THAT YOU WOULD
BLESS THIS LAND.
GOD, WE NEED A REVIVAL.
SEND A POWERFUL REVIVAL TO
THIS NATION, WE PRAY.
IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.
AND AMEN.
TERRY?
Terry: WELL, COMING UP,
WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING
PAT ON THE SPOT.
HE WILL BE ANSWERING YOUR
E-MAIL QUESTIONS, AND LATER
WE'LL HEAR HOW "OPERATION
BLESSING" WOULDN'T LET A
HURRICANE RAIN ON ONE
COUPLE'S WEDDING DAY.
THAT'S ALL WITH US, SO STAY
WITH US.
Pat: WELL, WE'RE
CONTINUING THIS THURSDAY
POST-DEBATE EDITION OF "THE
700 CLUB."
WHEN HURRICANE ISAAC SLAMMED
INTO THE GULF COAST, IT
DESTROYED THE HOME OF GLORIA
AND COLLIN COLIN.
BUT "OPERATION BLESSING" WAS
ON THE SCENE.
AND "OPERATION BLESSING"
HELPED THEM START A WHOLE
NEW LIFE.
Reporter: THERE WEREN'T
MANY MEMORIES FOR GLORIA AND
COLIN ARSAMOND.
THEY LOST THEIR HOME WHEN
HURRICANE ISAAC HIT
LOUISIANA.
SOME OF THE WALLS HAD
CAVED IN, THE CEILING HAD
FELL IN FROM THE RAIN.
THERE IS A LOT OF MUD -- YOU
HAVE THAT IN THE HOUSE.
EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE IS
SATURATED WITH FILTTH.
Reporter: THINGS WERE
ESPECIALLY HARD FOR COLLINS,
WHO HAS STAGE FOUR CANCER.
HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO
THE INTERVIEW BECAUSE THE
MOLD AND BACTERIA ARE A
THREAT TO HIS SYSTEM.
HE CAME ONE DAY -- HE HAD
TO PHYSICALLY SEE IT TO
BELIEVE IT.
I TELL YOU WHAT, WE DIDN'T
KNOW WHERE TO TURN.
Reporter: GLORIA AND
COLLINS HAD BIG PLANS TO
RENEW THEIR MARRIAGE VOWS.
THEN THE HURRICANE HIT.
THEY HAD BEEN MARRIED BY A
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND
WANTED A CHURCH WEDDING, BUT
THE STORM PUT THEIR PLANS ON
HOLD INDEFINITELY.
WHEN HURRICANE ISAAC HIT,
THEY GRABBED WHAT THEY COULD
AND EVACUATED.
WHEN "OPERATION BLESSING"
HELPED THEM, COLLINS HAD ONE
REQUEST.
I LEFT OUR WEDDING RING
SITTING ON THE NIGHT STAND.
THE ONLY THING HE ASKED THAT
WE GET OUT OF THE HOUSE WAS
OUR WEDDING RING.
Reporter: THEN THE
"OPERATION BLESSING" CREW
BEGAN THE WORK OF HELPING
THEM PIECE THEIR LIFE
TOGETHER.
WE GUTTED THEIR HOME SO THEY
COULD REBUILD IT.
AS THE VOLUNTEERS CLEANED
OUT THE DEBRIS, THEY FOUND
THE RING.
I'M SO GLAD WE FOUND
THAT.
Reporter: THEN
"OPERATION BLESSING" HAD
ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR THE
COUPLE.
WITH HELP FROM MANY LOCAL
BUSINESSES, WE GAVE THEM A
WEDDING TO REMEMBER.
MY FAVORITE MOMENT WAS
HEARING HIM SAY "I DO" AGAIN
FOR THE SECOND TIME.
LAST NIGHT WAS MORE THAN I
EVER COULD HAVE DREAMED OF.
THE PERFECT WEDDING.
I WANTED SOMETHING VERY
SIMPLE.
JUST MY WEDDING, THAT'S ALL
I EVER WANTED.
AND LAST NIGHT WAS LIKE A
FAIRYTALE.
IT IS A BLESSING JUST TO
KNOW "OPERATION BLESSING."
IT IS HEART-WARMING TO KNOW
THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT
THERE TO DO THESE KINDS OF
THINGS.
Pat: IT IS SO GOOD WE
COULD HELP THEM.
TERRY, THEY WANTED SUCH A
SIMPLE THING.
TO RECONFIRM THEIR VOWS,
THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.
AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.
Terry: UH-HUH.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE
STORMS AND HURRICANES, THE
THINGS THAT HAPPEN, NATURAL
DISASTERS, ARE SO LIFE
INTERRUPTING.
CERTAINLY LIFE IN LOST IN
THEM, BUT THE DEVASTATION OF
BEING LEFT WITH A HOME LIKE
THAT --
Pat: WE WORKED VERY
MUCH DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS
AFTER KATRINA, AND WE STAYED
THERE WITH "OPERATION
BLESSING" MONTH AFTER MONTH,
AND I WAS IN ONE OF THE
HOUSES WE WERE REHABING, AND
I HAD A MASK ON AS WE WERE
TAKING OUT THE MOLD.
BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER.
THAT STUFF GETS TO YOU AND
GIVES YOU A HEADACHE AND IT
IS TERRIBLY SICKENING.
THEY CAN'T LIVE IN IT.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE
WORK -- IT IS VERY HARD FOR
THEM.
BUT WE GUT THOSE HOUSES AND
TAKE ALL OF THE MOLD OUT AND
PUT UP DRYWALL AND ALL OF
THAT, AND THEY WERE
HABITABLE HOUSES AGAIN.
WE HELPED A NUMBER OF THEM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, BUT
IT WAS QUITE A FEW.
WELL, WE HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS, AND SO I AM
SITTING HERE ON THE HOT
SEAT.
Terry: YOU ARE ON THE
HOT SEAT.
YOU READY?
Pat: GO.
Terry: THIS IS FROM
CONNIE, PAT, WHO SAYS,
"EVERYONE KEEPS TALKING
ABOUT A WORLDWIDE FINANCIAL
RUIN THAT COULD HAPPEN
SOON.
I'M SINGLE, AND I LIVE
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH IN
SAVINGS.
HOW DOES SOMEONE IN MY
SITUATION PREPARE FOR THIS?
HOW DO YOU PREPARE IF YOU'RE
ALREADY BAD OFF NOW?"
Pat: WELL, YOU
SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN IN
THIS CONDITION.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAVING
ALONG THE WAY.
Terry: THAT'S SUCH A
HARD THING FOR PEOPLE TO DO
WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT.
Pat: I KNOW IT IS
HARD.
BUT YOU HAVE TO SAY THERE
ARE CERTAIN THINGS I CAN'T
AFFORD.
I DON'T WANT TO SEEM
JUDGEMENTAL, BUT CABLE TV
COST $40, $50 A MONTH.
WE'VE SEEN INTERVIEWS OF
POOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
SLUMS IN NEW YORK WHO HAD
CABLE TV AND SEVERAL OTHER
THINGS.
AND PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO SAY,
I MAYBE CAN'T AFFORD THE
CAR.
MAYBE I CAN'T AFFORD THESE
OTHER THINGS.
OF COURSE, GOD WANTS PEOPLE
TO HAVE GOOD THINGS LIKE
THIS, AND THERE IS NOTHING
WRONG WITH IT.
BUT YOU'RE ASKING ME HOW TO
GET BACK IN SHAPE.
DO NOT GO INTO DEBT, IF YOU
CAN POSSIBLY HELP IT.
GET OUT OF DEBT.
PAY OFF YOUR DEBTS AS BEST
YOUR ABLE, OR HAVE ENOUGH
CASH RESERVES THAT YOU CAN
TAKE CARE OF THE DEBTS IF
YOU HAVE TO.
I REALLY THINK GOLD OR
SILVER, BUT THE BIBLE SAYS
THAT GOLD AND SILVER CANNOT
SAVE YOU IN THE DAY OF GOD'S
WRATH.
THE BIGGEST THING IS TO
TRUST IN THE LORD AND BEGIN
GIVING TO HIM.
I DO THINK TO CUT BACK ON
YOUR SPENDING TO THE POINT
WHERE YOU'RE AHEAD OF OF THE
GAME.
EVEN HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS
INITIALLY, IT WILL BE MORE
EASY AS YOU GET ALONG THE
WAY.
START BUILDING UP SOME KIND
OF A SMALL NEST EGG.
Terry: A LITTLE BIT AT
A TIME.
Pat: A LITTLE BIT AT A
TIME.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU MAY
HAVE TO CUT BACK ON THINGS
THAT YOU THINK ARE
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT,
BUT YOU CAN DO IT.
IT WILL HAPPEN FASTER THAN
YOU REALIZE.
AND THEN YOU BEGIN TO GET
AHEAD.
BUT DO NOT GO OUT WITH SOME
BIG PURCHASES.
DON'T GET YOURSELF DEEPLY IN
DEBT BECAUSE THE HEAVILY
INDEBTED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
GET HURT THE MOST.
Terry: IAN SAYS, "AS A
CHRISTIAN, I'VE BEEN DOING
MY DUTY BY GIVING TO CHURCH,
AND I'VE BEEN REPORTING
THOSE OFFERINGS ON MY
TAXES.
BUT I WONDER IF THAT MEANS
THAT I AM, QUOTE,"CLAIMING
MY REWARD HERE."
"AS CHRISTIANS, SHOULDN'T WE
BE GIVING IN SECRET, BUT
KEEPING IT SECRET IS AN ACT
OF FAITH.
I WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE ON
WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO
HERE."
Pat: THE BIBLE, IT'S
NOT A BOOK OF RULES.
WHAT IT IS -- IT SAYS
WHATEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS
A SIN.
IF YOU FEEL IT IS WRONG TO
CLAIM DEDUCTIONS, BY ALL
MEANS DON'T CLAIM THEM.
I THINK YOU SHOULD.
I CLAIM -- IF THE GOVERNMENT
MAKES IT AVAILABLE, I DO
BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOU'VE
GOT MORE MONEY TO GIVE AWAY
AND USE FOR IMPORTANT
THINGS.
Terry: WHEN THE BIBLE
TALKS ABOUT THE RIGHT HAND
NOT KNOWING WHAT THE LEFT
HAND IS DOING, ISN'T IT
TALKING ABOUT BRAGGING --
Pat: OF COURSE IT IS.
BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT
THIS IS A MEANS OF GETTING
ADDITIONAL INCOME WHICH YOU
CAN USE TO DO WORTHWHILE
THINGS, I WOULDN'T FEEL BAD
ABOUT TAKING AUTHORIZED
DEDUCTIONS FROM TAXES.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE NOT
PAYING TAXES.
YOU'RE NOT BRAGGING ABOUT
YOUR GIVING.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS I AM
DOING THIS IN LIEU OF PAYING
TAXES FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO
WASTE.
Terry: THIS IS NICK WHO
SAYS, "DO YOU THINK IT IS
POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO HOLD
BACK OR CANCEL A BLESSING.
I KNOW SEVERAL PREACHERS WHO
WENT INTO THE MINISTRY
BECAUSE THEY SAY GOD WAS
CALLED TO THEM.
BUT AFTER YEARS OF BEING
ADDED, THEY HAVEN'T SEEN A
BLESSING IN THEIR CHURCHES.
IS IT POSSIBLE GOD IS
HOLDING BACK BECAUSE OF SIN
IN THEIR LIVES?"
Pat: ONLY GOD KNOWS.
BUT I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY
ABOUT THE MINISTRY.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN
DO TO MAKE YOU HAPPY,
BESIDES GOING INTO THE
MINISTRY, DON'T GO INTO THE
MINISTRY.
Terry: REALLY?
Pat: UNLESS THERE IS A
CALL OF GOD.
PAUL SAID I AM CONSTRAINED.
I HAVE A CALL OF GOD TO DO
THIS.
IF YOU DO, THE DIFFICULT
DAYS, YOU JUST GO THROUGH
THEM.
I HAD A CALL OF GOD ON
TELEVISION, AND IT WAS HELLA
CIOUOUS IN THOSE DAYS, BUT
THE CALL WAS DIFFICULT, AND
PROSPERITY AND BLESSING
CAME.
AND IT WILL COME IF YOU'RE
IN THE WILL OF GOD.
BUT I CAN'T --
Terry: ONLY YOU CAN
JUDGE THAT.
Pat: I CAN'T SAY WHAT
IS IN SOMEBODY'S HEART.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS PROGRAM.
TOMORROW, A LIVE PERFORMANCE
FROM ISRAEL HOTEN, AND TODAY
WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE
WORDS FROM PSALMS: "YOU LOVE
LORD, AND REACH TO THE
HEAVENS, AND YOUR
FAITHFULNESS REACHES TO THE
SKIES."
