Gordon: COMING UP, THE
UNTOLD STORY OF THE VERY
FIRST THANKSGIVING.
THEY SAY AFTER TWO AND A
HALF MONTHS, THEY WERE TOLD
BY THE LONDON COMPANY, ONCE
THEY ARRIVED AT THE BERKELEY
SITE, TO KNEEL AND PRAY AND
GIVE THANKS FOR THEIR SAFE
PASSAGE, AND TO DO THAT
ANNUALLY.
Gordon: ON TODAY'S "700
CLUB INTERACTIVE."
ON "700 CLUB INTERACTIVE,"
WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO PRAY
FOR EACH OTHER AND EXPLORE
TOPICS THAT MATTER TO YOU.
WATCH WHAT GOD IS DOING IN
THE WORLD TODAY.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE
TALKING ABOUT THANKSGIVING.
AND ALL OF US, YOU KNOW,
WENT THROUGH SCHOOL AND WE
WERE ALL TAUGHT THAT
THANKSGIVING IS ALL ABOUT
PILGRIMS, THE PLYMOUTH
COLONY, SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED UP IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
HOWEVER, SOME HISTORIANS
BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST
THANKSGIVING ACTUALLY
HAPPENED WELL BEFORE THAT
ONE, AT THE FUTURE HOME OF
TWO U.S. PRESIDENTS.
Reporter: THANKSGIVING
IS A BELOVED AMERICAN
HOLIDAY, CELEBRATED FOR
CENTURIES.
BUT DID THE TRADITION REALLY
START WITH THE PILGRIMS?
OR EARLIER?
TWO YEARS BEFORE PLYMOUTH,
ALONG THE BANKS OF THE JAMES
RIVER, THERE WAS BERKELEY.
WHERE HISTORY COMES TO
LIFE.
WHEN I WAS A BOY, I
STARTED HEARING ABOUT
BERKELEY PLANTATION, AND
CAPTAIN JOHN WOODLEAF, AND
HOW HE CAME OVER FROM
ENGLAND.
THERE WERE FOUR GENTLEMEN
THAT MET IN LONDON IN 1618
TO TRY TO DEVELOP A TRIP
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO THE
NEW WORLD.
THEY WANTED TO SET UP A
VIRGINIA COLONY HERE IN
BERKELEY.
THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN A GRANT
OF 8,000 ACRES IN THE
VIRGINIA COLONY BY THE KING,
KING JAMES, AT THE TIME.
AND THREE MILES OF
WATERFRONT.
THEY WANTED TO ESTABLISH A
SETTLEMENT IN ORDER TO
PRODUCE CROPS AND GOODS TO
SHIP BACK TO ENGLAND, AND
BECOME A PROFIT-MAKING
VENTURE HERE.
THEY SAILED FOR TWO AND A
HALF MONTHS ACROSS THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN, AND LANDED
HERE AT BERKELEY PLANTATION
ON DECEMBER 4th, 1619, AND
ON ORDERS FROM LONDON HELD
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING IN
AMERICA.
THEY WERE TOLD BY THE LONDON
COMPANY, ONCE THEY ARRIVED,
AT THE BERKELEY SITE, TO
KNEEL AND PRAY AND GIVE
THANKS FOR THEIR SAFE
PASSAGE, AND TO DO THAT
ANNUALLY FROM THAT POINT ON,
WHICH THEY DID.
UNTIL THE INDIAN MASSACRE OF
1622.
Reporter: BERKELEY
PLANTATION HAS BEEN A
CONTINUOUS PART OF AMERICA'S
HISTORY SINCE ITS
SETTLEMENT.
ONCE A SUCCESSFUL TOBACCO
PLANTATION, IT WAS ALSO THE
FIRST COMMERCIAL SHIPYARD ON
THE JAMES RIVER.
IT'S HOME TO TWO U.S.
PRESIDENTS.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON AND
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
DURING THE CIVIL WAR IT WAS
A SIGNIFICANT MILITARY EN
CAMPMENT, WITH THE FAMILIAR
TUNE, TAPS WAS COMPOSED AND
FIRST PLAYED.
OVER THE NEXT 75 YEARS, THE
PLANTATION CHANGED HANDS
NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS
FORGOTTEN.
THEN JOHN JAMIESON, A FORMER
UNION DRUMMER BOY, PURCHASED
THE PLANTATION FOR ITS
TIMBER.
IT WAS IN RUINS, AND
BEYOND FIXING, EVERYONE
SAID.
THE RESTORATION OF ALL OF
THIS, WHAT YOU SEE TODAY, IS
ENTIRELY DUE TO MY PARENTS.
THEY SPENT 70, 80 YEARS OF
THEIR LIVES REALLY DOING IT
FOR VIRGINIA AND DOING IT
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND
THE WORLD.
WE REALLY CONSIDER OURSELVES
NOT THE OWNERS OF BERKELEY,
BUT WE CONSIDER OURSELVES
THE STEWARDESSES, THE
KEEPERS OF THIS PLACE THAT
HAS SO MUCH HISTORY.
IN 1932, DR. RYAN TOLLER,
HE ACCIDENTALLY UNCOVERED
THE PAPERS AT THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THEY WERE THE SHIP'S
MODERATE LOG.
IT DOCUMENTED THE TRIP
OVER FROM ENGLAND TO THE
BERKELEY SITE, AS WELL AS
THE ENACTMENT OF
THANKSGIVING THAT WAS HELD
HERE.
THERE IT WAS, AND IT WAS
A HUGE SURPRISE.
NO ONE KNEW THAT AMERICA'S
FIRST VIRGINIA -- FIRST
THANKSGIVING WAS HERE AND IN
VIRGINIA.
BEGINNING IN 1958, THE
JAMIESON FAMILY INVITED THE
WOODLEY FAMILY TO THE
PLANTATION TO OBSERVE THE
THANKSGIVING.
AND IT GREW INTO MORE OF A
FESTIVAL.
SENATOR JOHN J.WICKER WAS
VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN
PROMOTING THE FESTIVAL AND
THE FACT THAT THE FIRST
THANKSGIVING WAS HELD IN
VIRGINIA.
ON NOVEMBER 5th, 1963,
PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S
PROCLAMATION FOR
THANKSGIVING FOR THE NEXT
YEAR.
AND HE STATED THAT VIRGINIA
AND MASSACHUSETTS WERE SITES
OF THANKSGIVING, BUT HE DID
RECOGNIZE VIRGINIA, AND HE
PUT IT FIRST BEFORE HE DID
MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH, I
THINK, GAVE VIRGINIA ITS
RIGHTFUL PLACE IN HISTORY.
THE MISSION OF OUR
ORGANIZATION, THE VIRGINIA
THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL, IS TO
EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING IN
AMERICA.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT OUR FAMILY HAS DONE.
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED,
BUT THESE PEOPLE,
VIRGINIANS, WHO CARE ABOUT
VIRGINIA AND CARE ABOUT ITS
HISTORY, AND HOPEFULLY THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL COME
HERE AND HAVE A GOOD DAY AND
HAVE THEIR LITTLE HISTORY
WITH THEIR FAMILY AND
EXPERIENCE THIS BEAUTIFUL
SETTING ON THE JAMES RIVER.
IF I MAY BE SO BOLD, I WOULD
LIKE TO WISH ALL OF AMERICA
A HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM
THE PLACE IT REALLY DID
FIRST OCCUR.
Gordon: I IMAGINE FOLKS
IN MASSACHUSETTS WILL STILL
ARGUE ABOUT IT.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT FIRST
BEGAN, I THINK THE TRADITION
IS IMPORTANT, AND AN
IMPORTANT PART OF AMERICAN
CULTURE.
AND SO THIS THANKSGIVING,
WHEN YOU GATHER WITH YOUR
FAMILY HOPEFULLY AROUND A
NICE ROAST TURKEY, YOU GIVE
THANKS, TOO, AND REMEMBER
HOW IT FIRST STARTED, BOTH
IN MASSACHUSETTS, WHERE IT
WAS THANKSGIVING FOR GOD
HAVING GOTTEN THEM THROUGH,
AND THEN IN BERKELEY,
THANKSGIVING FOR SAFE
PASSAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC,
AND IT WAS IN INSTITUTED AS
AN ANNUAL OBSERVANCE, THAT
WE SHOULD GIVE THANKS.
WHO DO WE GIVE THANKS TO?
WE GIVE THANKS TO ALMIGHTY
GOD.
SO THIS THANKSGIVING, MAKE
SURE YOU DO THAT, AND THANK
HIM FOR ALL THAT HE HAS
DONE, FOR THE LIFE, THE
BREATH THAT YOU HAVE, FOR
THE FAMILY THAT YOU HAVE,
FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL
THINGS HE HAS PROVIDED FOR
US ALL.
STILL AHEAD, AN AWKWARD
FAMILY REUNION.
I REMEMBER WALKING UP
BEHIND HIM, LIKE, ALL RIGHT,
THIS IS MY PAYBACK TIME.
WHEN I WALK UP TO THIS DUDE,
I'M GOING TO PUNCH HIM IN
THE FACE.
Gordon: A FATHER AND
SON COME FACE TO FACE FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.
NEXT ON "700 CLUB
INTERACTIVE."
Gordon: RAPPER NIGEL
ANDERSON CHOSE THE STAGE
NAME LEGEND BECAUSE IT IS
HIS NAME SPELLED BACKWARDS.
AND HE TELLS HOW HIS LIFE
TURNED AROUND AFTER SEEING
HIS FATHER FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN 15 YEARS.
Reporter: HE EXPLODED
ON TO THE MUSIC SCENE IN
2009.
HIS REAL NAME IS NIGEL
ANDERSON.
GROWING UP, HE WAS ALWAYS IN
CHURCH, BUT HIS HOME LIFE
WAS FAR FROM PEACEFUL.
MY FATHER WAS AN
ALCOHOLIC.
HE ENDED UP GETTING ADDICTED
TO DRUGS, AND SOME HARD
STUFF, AND YOU KNOW, MY
MOTHER WAS SHELTERING ME
FROM IT, SO I WAS NEVER
REALLY EXPOSED TO THOSE
THINGS.
BUT HE WOULD COME HOME DRUNK
AND HIGH, AND SHE WAS
GETTING EMOTIONALLYLY ABUSED
BECAUSE OF THAT.
NOT PHYSICALLY, BUT
EMOTIONALLY.
SHE WAS GOING TO REHAB,
TRYING TO WORK HER HARDEST
TO SAVE HER MARRIAGE.
Reporter: BUT DESPITE
HIS MOTHER'S BEST EFFORTS,
NOTHING CHANGED AND HE
DECIDED TO LEAVE.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO HOLD
ON TO THAT RELATIONSHIP AT
THE RISK OF ENDANGERING MY
LIFE.
Reporter: OVER THE NEXT
15 YEARS, NIGEL RARELY SAW
HIS FATHER, AND EACH PASSING
YEAR, THE ANGER AND
BITTERNESS WITHIN HIM GREW.
MOST PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME
SAY I WAS A GOOD GUY, KIND
OF CHILL, BUT ON THE INSIDE,
I WAS DYING.
I WAS HURTING.
* IT'S LIKE THE WEIGHT OF
THE WORLD IS ON MY
SHOULDERS *
Reporter: HE STARTED
PARTIESING AND SLEEPING
AROUND TO DEAL WITH HIS
PAIN.
I JUST GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE I DECIDED, YOU KNOW, I
WAS SO HURT BY DAD NOT
CARING, OR NOT CARING ENOUGH
TO BE TRUTHFUL WITH ME.
I WAS LIKE, WHATEVER, MAN.
I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I WANT
TO DO.
Reporter: THEN HE BEGAN
TO MAKE MUSIC.
I BEGAN TO MAKE BEATS.
I FOUND I WAS GOOD AT MAKING
BEATS.
I DECIDED TO DIVE
WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN MUSIC
RAPPING ABOUT ANYTHING.
Reporter: HE WANTED TO
MAKE A GOOD LIFE FOR HIMSELF
AND HIS FAMILY.
GETTING A JOB AT A FINANCE
COMPANY BROUGHT HIM A GOT
OPPORTUNITY.
I WAS BROUGHT UNDER THE
WING OF A VERY PROMINENT
PERSON IN THE COMPANY.
IT WAS LIKE A QUICK RISE TO
FAME.
Reporter: WHEN HIS BOSS
GOT CAUGHT DEFRAUDING THE
COMPANY, NIGEL WENT DOWN
WITH HIM.
HE WAS OUT OF A JOB AND LET
DOWN BY A ROLE MODEL ONCE
AGAIN.
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
AND YOU OPEN YOUR EYES AND
YOU SAW YOU WERE MANIPULATED
INTO BUILDING UP SOMEBODY
ELSE'S POCKETS, YOU BEGIN TO
REALIZE, WOW, I'VE BEEN LIED
TO AGAIN.
Reporter: SHORTLY
AFTER, HE RECEIVED A LETTER
FROM HIS FATHER, INVITING
HIM TO LUNCH.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS
GOING TO DO, BUT I KNEW THE
END RESULT OF WHATEVER I DID
I WANTED HIM TO FEEL SOME
PAIN.
I WANTED HIM TO SUFFER.
I REMEMBER WALKING UP
BEHIND HIM, AND AT FERS IT
WAS TEARS IN MY -- AT FIRST
IT WAS TEARS IN MY EYES.
AND THEN IT TURNED INTO
ANGER.
I WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, THIS
IS MY PAYBACK TIME.
WHEN I WALK UP TO THIS DUDE,
I'M GOING TO PUNCH HIM IN
THE FACE.
WHEN I APPROACHED HIM, HE
TURNED AROUND AND I SAW A
MAN IN HIS 50s THAT LOOKED
LIKE HE WAS IN HIS 80s,
AND HE SAID HE WAS SORRY.
ALL OF THAT ANGER TURNED TO
PITY IMMEDIATELY.
I SAID, DAD, I FORGIVE YOU.
THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT
THAT MOMENT WAS, THAT WAS
THE FIRST TIME THAT I THINK
I EVER FELT SOMEBODY ELSE
EXPERIENCE FREEDOM.
Reporter: A FEW MONTHS
LATER, HIS DAD PASSED AWAY.
NIGEL BEGAN TO PONDER WHAT
HAPPENS AFTER DEATH.
HE BEGAN TO SEEK GOD FOR
ANSWERS.
I DECIDED THAT I NEEDED
TO KNOW WHO THIS GUY GOD
WAS.
I CRIED OUT TO HIM, AND I
TOLD HIM, I NEED YOU.
IF YOU'RE REALLY THERE, I
NEED YOU TO TALK TO ME.
Reporter: NIGEL
SURRENDERED HIS JOB TO GOD,
AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSIC
BEGAN TO OPEN UP.
DOORS OPENED.
GOD CONNECTED ME TO PEOPLE.
I STILL HAVE GREAT
RELATIONSHIPS TO THIS DAY.
I GET TO SEE GOD DO FOR
SOMEBODY ELSE WHAT HE DID
FOR ME.
Reporter: TODAY NIGEL
IS MARRIED, AND HE AND HIS
WIFE ARE EXPECTING THEIR
FIRST CHILD.
WITHOUT HAVING A NATURAL
FATHER, I KNOW I'M GOING TO
BE A GOOD FATHER TO MY CHILD
BECAUSE GOD HAS BEEN A GOOD
FATHER TO ME.
HE GIVES US EVERYTHING WE
NEED.
AND HE TOSSES IN BONUSES AND
WANTS THAT WE DON'T EVEN
DESERVE, JUST TO KIND OF
WINK AT US AND SAY, I LOVE
YOU.
Gordon: HE DOES WINK AT
US, JUST TO SAY I LOVE YOU.
THAT'S A LOVING, HEAVENLY
FATHER.
A LOT OF US HAVE GONE
THROUGH PROBLEMS WITH OUR
PARENTS.
MAYBE NOT AS SEVERE AS
NIGEL, WHERE DRUGS AND
ALCOHOL LITERALLY DEPRIVED
HIM OF A DAD.
BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR
SITUATION IS WITH YOUR
BIOLOGICAL PARENTS, YOU'VE
GOT ANOTHER PARENT, AND
THAT'S GOD.
AND HE'S YOUR FATHER.
AND HE WANTS TO PROVIDE FOR
YOU.
NOW, LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED
TO NIGEL'S LIFE.
HE GREW UP BITTER.
WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF
THIS?
WHERE IS DAD?
AND HE STARTS, AS MUCH AS
HIS MOTHER WANTS TO KEEP HIM
FROM THINGS, HE STARTS
PURSUING THOSE SAME THINGS
SHE IS TRYING TO KEEP HIM
FROM.
HE IS LOOKING FOR
ACCEPTANCE.
HE IS LOOKING FOR ACCEPTANCE
IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, IN
THE MUSIC WORLD, IN THE
PARTY WORLD, AND ALL OF
THOSE THINGS, AND HE IS NOT
ABLE TO FIND IT.
HE IS NOT ABLE TO FIND THAT
PEACE.
AND THEN AN AMAZING THING
HAPPENS.
ALL OF THAT ANGER COMES TO
THE FOREFRONT WHEN HE
FINALLY DOES MEET HIS FATHER
AFTER 15 YEARS.
AND HE SEES HIM, AND HE SEES
WHAT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL HAVE
DONE TO HIM.
AND NOW A MAN IN HIS 50s
LOOKS LIKE A MAN IN HIS
80s, AND HE IS ABLE TO
FIND WITHIN HIMSELF THE
ABILITY TO FORGIVE HIM AND
TO SAY, OKAY, I NOW
UNDERSTAND.
I NOW UNDERSTAND.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL OVER
YOUR ADDICTION, I DIDN'T
HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR
ADDICTION.
AND BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE
CONTROL, YOU COULDN'T BE
THERE FOR ME.
AND THAT ENABLED SOMETHING
INCREDIBLE TO HAPPEN.
HERE IS THE PROMISE, AND YOU
FIND IT IN ISAIAH 44, AND
THIS IS FROM GOD: "I WILL
POUR WATER UPON HIM WHO IS
THIRSTY."
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO FOR GOD
TO BE POURING WATER ON YOU
IS TO JUST SAY I'M THIRSTY.
WE GET INTO THIS WRONG
CONCEPT OF GOD, THAT SOMEHOW
OR ANOTHER BECAUSE WE MADE
SO MANY MISTAKES, WE'VE
MESSED UP SO MUCH, THAT HE
CAN'T POSSIBLY LOVE US
ANYMORE.
AND SO WE GET IN HIS MINDSET
THAT WE'VE GOT TO WORK FOR
IT.
THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE UP
FOR IT.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THE GOLD
STAR.
WE'VE GOT TO CLEAN UP.
WE'VE GOT TO DO WHAT'S
RIGHT.
AND THEN IF WE DO ENOUGH OF
THAT, GOD WILL FINALLY SMILE
ON US AND SAY, OKAY,
WELL-DONE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING
GOOD.
WELL, THAT'S NOT THE GOOD
NEWS AT ALL.
AND IT'S NOT BY WORKS, LESS
ANYONE SHOULD BOAST.
IT IS ENTIRELY THE GRACE OF
GOD.
AND WHAT HAPPENED TO NIGEL
CAN HAPPEN TO YOU, WHERE GOD
WILL LITERALLY START RAINING
ON YOU, RAINING REVELATION
ON YOU, RAINING GOD WINKS ON
YOU, RAINING BLESSINGS ON
YOU.
ALL BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU.
HE LOVES YOU.
AND WHEN WE FINALLY
UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S THE
GRACE OF GOD, WELL THEN WE
FINALLY TURN.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE
SAYS.
IT'S THE LOVE OF GOD.
IT'S THE GRACE OF GOD, THAT
LEADS TO REPENTANCE, THAT
WONDERFUL GREEK WORD, LEADS
TO THE TURN.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO
NIGEL.
WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO GIVE
FORGIVENESS TO HIS FATHER,
THEN HE STARTED SAYING, I
BET GOD IS ABLE TO DO THAT
FOR ME, TOO.
AND HE STARTED LOOKING FOR
GOD.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN YOU
SEEK HIM WITH ALL OF YOUR
HEART, YOU'LL FIND HIM.
AND YOU'LL FIND WHAT YOU'VE
BEEN MISSING ALL OF THIS
TIME.
THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF
YOUR LOVING HEAVENLY
FATHER.
WHERE LITERALLY YOU WERE
MADE FOR THAT.
YOU ARE MADE TO BE JUST
UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED FOR
WHO YOU ARE.
BECAUSE YOUR FEARFULLY AND
WONDERFULLY MADE.
YOU'RE UNIQUE.
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE IN THE
UNIVERSE JUST LIKE YOU.
NOBODY ELSE IS LIKE YOU.
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE.
AND GOD INFINITELY VALUES
YOU.
SO MUCH SO THAT HE IS
WILLING TO FORGIVE YOU FOR
ANYTHING YOU HAVE DONE
WRONG.
HE WANTS TO HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
HE WANTS TO SET YOU FREE.
HE WANTS TO PUT YOU ON A
PATH THAT WILL SATISFY YOUR
INNER MOST DESIRES, YOUR
LONGINGS.
HE WANTS TO SATISFY YOU WITH
GOOD THINGS.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE
SAYS.
NOW, HOW DO YOU GET IT?
WELL, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE
THING: ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
ASK FOR IT.
IT CAN BE A VERY SIMPLE
PRAYER.
JESUS, IF YOU'RE THERE, AND
IF THIS IS REAL, AND THIS
GOOD NEWS IS REALLY FOR ME,
YOU REALLY WANT TO FORGIVE
ME, YOU REALLY WANT TO SAVE
ME, YOU REALLY WANT TO BE
WITH ME, WELL, THEN, OKAY.
I OPEN MY HEART TO YOU.
I ASK THAT YOU COME IN.
AND IF YOU'LL DO THAT AND
PRAY WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART,
HE'LL ANSWER.
AND HE'LL SHOW UP FOR YOU.
AND HE'LL POUR WATER ON YOUR
THIRST, SO MUCH SO THAT YOU
WON'T EVER THIRST AGAIN.
THAT'S HOW MUCH HE LOVES
YOU.
AND THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS TO
DO FOR YOU.
HE WANTS TO TRANSFORM YOU.
SO IF THIS IS FOR YOU, IF
THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT, ALL
YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL US.
THE NUMBER IS TOLL-FREE.
1-888-777-1999.
JUST SAY, I WANT TO ASK
JESUS INTO MY HEART.
I WANT TO KNOW HIM.
IF THIS IS REAL, I WANT TO
KNOW, AND I WANT TO KNOW
TODAY.
WHEN YOU CALL, WE'VE GOT
SOMETHING FOR YOU.
IT'S CALLED A NEW DAY.
AND THERE IS A C.D. TEACHING
ON WHAT DO CHRISTIANS
BELIEVE.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A
CHRISTIAN?
HOW DO YOU LIVE THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE.
IT'S ALL FREE.
THE PHONE CALL IS FREE.
THE PACKET IS FREE.
CALL US.
1-888-777-1999.
COMING UP, INSIDE EDITION
ANCHOR DEBORAH NORVILLE
SHARES A SECRET TO GOOD
HEALTH, AND IT DOESN'T
INVOLVE DIETING.
FIND OUT HER SECRET LATER ON
"700 CLUB INTERACTIVE."
Gordon: INSIDE EDITION
ANCHOR, DEBORAH NORVILLE,
SAYS SHE FOUND AN EASIER WAY
TO BE HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER
WITHOUT DIET AND EXERCISE.
I'M ALL FOR THAT.
SHE TALKED TO OUR OWN LISA
RYAN ABOUT THE TWO WORDS
THAT CHANGED HER LIFE AND
HOW THEY CAN CHANGE YOURS.
Reporter: INSIDE
EDITION HOST, DEBORAH
NORVILLE, HAS DONE MOST
EVERYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF
TELEVISION.
FROM EXPLORING AND DRIVING A
SUBMARINE TO SPENDING FIVE
DAYS IN JAIL.
SHE WAS A PARKING GARAGE
ATTENDANT FOR A DAY, AND
EVEN WASHED DISHES AT A BUSY
NEW YORK DELI.
RECENTLY I HAD A CHANCE TO
TALK WITH HER ON THE
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE OF
GRATITUDE.
I ALWAYS HAD A SENSE THAT
MY LIFE GOES BETTER WHEN I
FOCUS ON WHAT IS WORKING, AS
OPPOSED TO THE SOMETIMES
LONG LIST OF STUFF THAT
ISN'T WORKING.
Reporter: IT SEEMS LIKE
SUCH A SIMPLE CONCEPT, AND
YET IT IS PROFOUND.
BUT IT REALLY IS A BIBLICAL
PRINCIPLE?
IF YOU'RE A BORN AGAIN
CHRISTIAN, YOU KNOW
THESSALONIANS 5 COMMANDS YOU
TO GIVE THANKS FOR
EVERYTHING, IN ALL THINGS
GIVE THANKS.
THAT IS PART AND PARCEL OF
EVERYTHING YOU DO EVERY
DAY.
EVERY PRAYER I'VE MADE HAS
STARTED, DEAR LORD, THANK
YOU.
Reporter: IT ENCOURAGES
PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON THE GOOD,
BY WRITING DOWN THREE THANKS
THANK YOUS EVERY DAY.
YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE A
BURDEN.
IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT
IS UPLIFTING.
I STARTED DOING IT DAY IN
AND DAY OUT LAST FEBRUARY.
IT WAS GREAT, IT WAS
UPLIFTING.
IF NOTHING ELSE, IT WAS A
WONDERFUL MEMORY FOR ME OF
SOME OF THE GREAT HIGHLIGHTS
OF MY LIFE THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BE FORGOTTEN.
Reporter: YOU'LL BE
HAPPY TO KNOW MY FAMILY AND
I STARTED THE THANK YOU
CHALLENGE LAST NI.
NEITHER.
SO MANY TIMES WE, AS
PARENTS, THINK WE HAVE DONE
A GREAT JOB IF WE CAN TEACH
OUR KIDS TO SAY THANK YOU
AND PLEASE.
WE, AS PARENTS, NEED TO
MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN LOOK
AT STUDENTS AS A GOOD
PLACE.
AND ONE OF MY KIDS SAYS HIS
THREE GOOD THINGS WERE
ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED AT HOME.
AND I SAT WITH HIM AND SAID,
DID YOU SIT WITH ANYBODY AT
LUNCH.
AND HE SAID, YEAH.
SO AND SO.
AND HE'S GOT THIS BRAND NEW
VIDEO GAME AND HE INVITED ME
TO PLAY ON FRIDAY.
I SAID THAT'S ONE.
AND DO YOU HAVE DESSERT
TODAY?
OH, THEY GAVE US THE
BIGGEST BROWNIES.
THEY WERE SO GOOD.
I SAID TWO.
KEEP GOING.
BUT I'M DRAGGING IT OUT OF
HIM.
AT ANY POINT DURING THE DAY,
DID THE TEACHER CALL ON
YOU?
DID YOU GET IT RIGHT?
NOT ONLY DID I GET IT RIGHT,
FOUR BOYS IN FRONT OF ME GOT
IT WRONG.
AND HOW DID YOU FEEL?
I FELT SO SMART, MOM, AND
I DON'T USUALLY FEEL SMART
AT SCHOOL.
AND I THOUGHT, NOT ONLY DID
SCHOOL START NOT BEING A
PLACE WHERE GOOD THINGS
DON'T HAPPEN, HIS GRADES
WENT UP.
Reporter: DEBORAH
POINTS THAT THERE IS
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT
IMPROVING YOUR ATTITUDE CAN
IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL
HEALTH.
EACH ONE IS FOOTNOTEED,
AND EACH ONE HAS A SEPARATE
RESEARCH STUDY THAT BACKS IT
UP.
IF I SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU
POWER WILL MAKE YOU
PHYSICALLY STRONGER, YOU
WILL EXERCISE ON AVERAGE AN
HOUR AND A HALF LONGER EACH
WEEK.
IF I TELL YOU THAT THE SAME
MINDSET THAT YOU GET WHEN
YOU'RE PRACTICING THANK YOU
POWER CAN HELP YOU REDUCE
THE PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF
STRESS, YOU WILL LOWER YOUR
BLOOD PRESSURE.
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO REDUCE
YOUR HEART RATE.
SO THIS IS A HEAVILY
RESEARCHED PROJECT THAT IS
WRAPPED IN THE GUISE OF AN
UPLIFTING, SPIRITUAL BOOK,
THAT I THINK -- NO, THAT I
FLOW I KNOW IS MAKING A
MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
Reporter: NOW, ARE SOME
PEOPLE JUST BORN -- ARE THEY
JUST NATURALLY MORE GRATEFUL
AND OPTMISTIC, OR IS IT A
LEARNED QUALITY?
ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST
EXCITING THINGS I LEARNED IN
MY RESEARCH.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO
WILL ALWAYS SEE THE GLASS AT
HALF FULL, UNBELIEVABLY
OPTMISTIC, AND LL YEAH YAY
FOR THEM.
BUT IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE WHO TENDS TO BE THE
NANCY NEGATIVE OF THE WORLD,
YOU CAN CHANGE.
AND HERE IS HOW YOU DO IT --
IT'S VERY SIMPLE -- FIND ONE
THING TODAY THAT MADE YOUR
LIFE BRIGHTER.
Gordon: GOOD WORD FOR
THANKSGIVING, FIND ONE THING
YOU'RE THANKFUL FOR AND GIVE
THANKS.
UNDERSTAND IT IS THE KEY TO
GETTING INTO GOD'S
PRESENCE.
WE ENTER INTO HIS COURTS
WITH PRAISE, AND INTO HIS
PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING.
AND WHEN YOU GET THAT
PRINCIPLE, TO JUST THANK HIM
FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR
YOU.
THEN YOU ANTICIPATE THE
FURTHER BLESSINGS THAT HE IS
ABLE TO PROVIDE.
AND SO LET YOUR REQUESTS BE
MADE KNOWN WITH
THANKSGIVING.
AND WHEN YOU DO IT THAT WAY,
IT COMES OFF A WHOLE LOT
DIFFERENT AND IT ENCOURAGES
YOUR FAITH.
IT IS TIME TO TAKE SOME
PRAYER CALLS.
WE HAVE GOT DEBRA FROM
CANADA ON THE LINE.
HI, DEBRA.
Caller: HELLO.
Gordon: HI.
HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?
Caller: HI.
YES.
I NEED PRAYER.
I'M A GROWN ADULT, AND THE
LORD OPENED UP THE DOOR FOR
ME FIVE YEARS AGO TO GO BACK
TO SCHOOL, AND HE OPENED ALL
OF THE DOORS.
SO I GRADUATED FROM THE
UNIVERSITY TWO WEEKS AGO,
AND NOW I'M PRAYING THAT GOD
WILL OPEN UP A DOOR FOR A
JOB.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY HEART IS
TO HELP PEOPLE, SO THE
PROGRAM I TOOK WER WAS
URBAN INNER CITY STUDIES,
DEALING WITH POVERTY AND
ISSUES.
AND I BELIEVE THE LORD IS
STRATEGICALLY PLACING ME TO
GO TO SCHOOL TO TAKE THIS
BECAUSE HE WANTS TO USE ME.
I BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL MY
HEART, AND I WOULD REALLY
LIKE PRAYER THAT GOD WOULD
OPEN UPT DOOR FO UP THE
DOOR FOR ME TO WORK RIGHT
NOW.
Gordon: DO YOU WANT TO
BE A SOCIAL WORKER?
Caller: IT'S NOT A
SOCIAL WORKER -- IT'S LIKE
BEING A SOCIAL WORKER, BUT
I'LL DEAL WITH COMMUNITIES
AND DEALING WITH POVERTY AND
HOUSING ISSUES.
THAT'S MY HEART.
I HAD AN OKAY-PAYING JOB
BEFORE, AND GOD KIND OF
MOVED ME OUT OF THERE AND HE
OPENED ALL OF THE DOORS FOR
MY EDUCATION.
Gordon: IF HE OPENED
ALL OF THOSE DOORS, HE'LL
CONTINUE OPENING THEM FOR
YOU.
Caller: AND I JUST WANT
PRAYER AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
Gordon: LORD, WE LIFT
DEBRA TO YOU RIGHT NOW AND
WE SPEAK ENCOURAGEMENT DEEP
WITHIN HER SPIRIT.
FIRST, WE THANK YOU FOR HOW
YOU PROVIDED FOR HER
EDUCATION, AND YOU OPENED
ALL OF THOSE DOORS, SO WE
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND NOW WE THANK YOU IN
ADVANCE FOR OPENING DOORS
FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THAT SHE WOULD SEE THE PLAN
AND SEE WHAT TO DO AND SEE
WHERE TO GO SO THAT
COMMUNITIES COULD BE
TRANSFORMED, THAT PEOPLE,
FAMILIES, COULD FIND
HOUSING.
THAT THERE WOULD BE HOUSING
FOR SINGLE MOMS.
THAT THERE WOULD BE A
BLESSING FOR HER.
WE JUST ASK FOR THAT
EMPLOYMENT DOOR TO OPEN FOR
HER, AND IT WOULD BECOME
PLAIN FOR HER QUICKLY,
LORD.
AND WE ASK FOR A QUICK WORK
TO BE DONE IN HER LIFE, AND
THAT SHE WOULD KNOW THAT SHE
WOULD KNOW THAT SHE WOULD
KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN IT.
NOW, GIVE HER THIS, LORD.
GIVE HER THE DESIRES OF HER
HEART, FOR WE ASK IT ALL IN
JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.
Caller: AMEN.
THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL.
I WANT TO BLESS YOU.
I AM SO HAPPY THAT I HAVE,
YOU KNOW -- THAT THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA IS MY
NEIGHBOR TO THE SOUTH.
Gordon: WE'RE HAPPY
THAT YOU'RE A NEIGHBOR TO
THE NORTH.
Caller: I JUST LOVE YOU
AND I LOVE THE STATES AND I
GO SHOPPING DOWN ACROSS THE
BORDER.
AND I JUST LOVE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
WHEN I GO DOWN THERE, I
ALWAYS GET TREATED WELL,
TOO.
Gordon: THESE DAYS IT
IS A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER
BECAUSE THE CANADIAN DOLLAR
IS --
Caller: YEAH, EXACTLY.
WHEN I GO THERE, THEY GO,
OH, YOU'RE FROM CANADA.
THEY'RE SO NICE TO US.
WE ALWAYS GET TREATED
REALLY, REALLY WELL.
Gordon: I CAN TELL YOU
ALL OF MY TRIPS TO CANADA,
I'VE BEEN TREATED VERY WELL
AS WELL.
Caller: I'M SO GLAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I FEEL SO UP LIFTED AND
ENCOURAGED.
Gordon: THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR CALLING.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE
WORDS FROM GALATIANS: "DON'T
GET TIRED OF DOING WHAT IS
GOOD.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED AND
GIVE UP, FOR WE WILL REAP A
HARVEST OF BLESSING AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME."
GOD BLESS YOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAINCH
