Lee: THE SHOCK HEARD
AROUND THE SPORTS WORLD.
IT IS ABOUT TO GRAB.
Lee: A FOOTBALL PLAYER
CUT DOWN IN HIS PRIME.
THEN I CHANGED MY LIFE.
Lee: CAN'T MOVE HIS
LEGS, CAN'T BREATHE ON HIS
OWN.
THE PARALYZED PLAYER WHO
STOOD TALL.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD
HAS A PLAN FOR ME.
Lee: ON TODAY'S "700
CLUB."
[APPLAUSE]
Pat: THE GOVERNOR OF
NEW YORK HAS SAID THAT SANDY
IS MORE DEVASTATING THAN
KATRINA, AND TO BACK UP THAT
CLAIM, NEW JERSEY AND NEW
YORK ARE REQUESTING FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
$71 BILLION, THAT'S "B" FOR
BILLION DOLLARS, TO CLEAN UP
AND RESTORE SOME
INFRASTRUCTURE AFTER THE
DEVASTATION OF SUPERSTORM
SANDY.
Terry: WELL, THE
CLEANUP AND THE RECOVERY
FROM THE HURRICANE WILL TAKE
YEARS.
NEW YORK'S GOVERNOR SAYS THE
DAMAGE FROM SANDY WAS IN
SOME WAYS, AS PAT WAS
SAYING, WORSE THAN KATRINA.
CHARLENE ISRAEL HAS THAT
STORY.
Reporter: SANDY
DESTROYED MORE THAN 300,000
HOUSES IN NEW YORK ALONE.
WITH WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
ACROSS THE STATE.
GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO MET
WITH LOCAL AND STATE
OFFICIALS TO REVIEW DAMAGE
ASSESSMENTS AND DISCUSS THE
COSTS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE
TO HOUSING, PARKS, AND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
BREAKDOWN IN TERMS OF
NUMBERS, OR RECOVERY COST IS
ABOUT $32 BILLION.
ORIGINALLY WE ESTIMATED IT
TO BE ABOUT 30 BILLION.
Reporter: CUOMO SAYS
CONSIDERING THE STATE'S
POPULATION AND THE AMOUNT OF
HOMES AND BUSINESSES
AFFECTED, THE STORM CAUSED
MORE HAVOC THAN HURRICANE
KATRINA.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
DAMAGE DOWN, THE ECONOMIC
DAMAGE, THE HOUSING DAMAGE,
THE DAMAGE TO COMMERCIAL
PROPERTIES, BECAUSE OF THE
DENSITY OF NEW YORK, THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED,@G
THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES
AFFECTED, WAS MUCH LARGER IN
HURRICANE SANDY THAN IN
HURRICANE KATRINA.
AND THAT PUTS THIS ENTIRE
CONVERSATION, I BELIEVE, IN
FOCUS.
Reporter: NEW YORK
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG
PLANS TO TRAVEL TO
WASHINGTON TO MAKE THE
CITY'S CASE WITH
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS.
THERE ARE SOME ROUGHLY
6,000 PRIVATELY-OWNED
MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL
BUILDINGS IN THE AREA HIT
HARDEST, IN QUEENS, ON
STATEN ISLAND, AND IN SOUTH
BROOKLYN.
Reporter: IN
NEIGHBORING NEW JERSEY, THE
STORM CAUSED MASSIVE DAMAGE
TO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM AND
COASTLINE.
TRANSIT IS A $38 BILLION
INDUSTRY FOR THIS STATE.
THE TWO KEY THINGS WILL BE
GETTING OUR RESIDENTS BACK
INTO THEIR HOMES AND GET OUR
TOURISM INDUSTRY REBUILT.
Reporter: RESIDENTS IN
THE STATE NEED LOTS OF
HELP.
95% OF WHAT I OWN IS
DEVASTATED.
Reporter: AND THEY'RE
NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WILL
TAKE FOR THEM TO RECOVER
FROM SANDY.
I DON'T KNOW IF I EVER
WILL.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M PROBABLY
GOING TO TAKE A $200,000
HIT, AND AT 65, THAT'S QUITE
A CHUNK OF YOUR SAVINGS.
Reporter: MEANWHILE,
NEARLY A MONTH AFTER SANDY,
CBN'S "OPERATION BLESSING"
IS STILL ON THE SCENE IN
BOTH NEW YORK AND NEW
JERSEY.
VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN
CLEANING HOMES AND
DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO
VICTIMS.
THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING,
VOLUNTEERS SERVED
THANKSGIVING DINNER TO THOSE
AFFECTED BY THE STORM.
CHARLENE ISRAEL, CBN NEWS.
Pat: THANKSGIVING
DINNER WAS A BIG DEAL.
LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE
SHOWED UP.
THERE WERE ABOUT 2500 OR
SO.
Terry: YOU KNOW, WHEN
THERE IS THAT KIND OF
DEVASTATION, IT IS VERY HARD
TO REACH OUT IN ANY WAY THAT
PEOPLE REALLY FEEL IS EASING
THEIR PAIN.
Pat: SURE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BUILD THE
HOUSES, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE
DOING, AND "OPERATION
BLESSING" HAS GOTTEN A
TREMENDOUS HANDLE ON IT.
BILL HOLDEN, FROM "OPERATION
BLESSING," GOING TO BE HERE
TO TELL US ABOUT WHAT THAT
ORGANIZATION IS DOING.
A LOT OF THESE CHARITIES
COME IN, TAKE PICTURES, AND
LEAVE.
WE DON'T DO IT.
WE DON'T DO IT.
WE STAY THERE.
WE STAY AND HELP.
WE'RE PROBABLY THE LONGEST
SURVIVOR IN NEW ORLEANS TO
HELP THOSE DEVASTATED AREAS,
AND WE'LL BE HELPING THE
PEOPLE IN QUEENS AND STATEN
ISLAND AND OUT IN LONG
ISLAND, LONG AFTER SOME OF
THE OTHER CHARITIES HAVE
PULLED UP STAKES AND LEFT.
WE'RE VERY PLEASED.
BY THE WAY, AS A TREAT, IN
ANSWER TO HIS FANS, WE HAVE
THE SUPER DOG BLUE.
THERE IS BLUE, HAVING A
LITTLE SNACK IN THE GREEN
ROOM.
ISN'T HE MAGNIFICENT?
Terry: HE IS A SWEET
DOG.
Pat: EVERYBODY LOVES
HIM.
BLUE IS THE MASCOT OF
"OPERATION BLESSING."
ISN'T HE SWEET.
ALL RIGHT, BUT FIRST -- DID
YOU EVER WATCH "TWO AND A
HALF MEN?"
Terry: NO, I DID NOT.
Pat: IN ALL OF YOUR
LIFE YOU HAVE NEVER WATCHED
IT?
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
POPULAR SHOWS ON THE AIR.
BUT IT IS LOADED WITH
INNUENDO.
SO THE CHILD STAR, THE HALF
MAN, WHO WAS A LITTLE BOY,
WHO IS NOW IN COLLEGE OR
POST-COLLEGE, HE HAS SPOKEN
OUT AGAINST HIS OWN TV
SHOW.
LEE WEBB HAS THAT STORY FROM
THE CBN NEWS ROOM.
Lee: THE TEENAGED ACTOR
IN THE CBS COMEDY "TWO AND A
HALF MEN," HAS TOLD PEOPLE
TO TOP WATCHING THE PROGRAM
BECAUSE IT IS QUOTE
"FILTH."
19-YEAR-OLD ANGUS T.JONES
HAS PLAYED THE CHARACTER,
JAKE, SINCE HE WAS 10.
NOW HE SAYS HE WANTS OUT.
JONES ATTENDED A CHRISTIAN
SCHOOL WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER,
BUT SAYS HIS FAITH HAS BEEN
NON-EXIST TENT.
HE HAS HAD A SPIRITUAL
AWAKENING, AND SAYS HE WANTS
TO LEAVE THE SHOW, BUT
CAN'T.
INSTEAD HE IS ENCOURAGING
VIEWERS TO TUNE OUT.
PLEASE STOP WATCHING "TWO
AND A HALF MEN."
I'M ON IT, AND I DON'T WANT
TO BE ON IT.
PLEASE STOP FILLING YOUR
HEAD WITH FILTH.
YOU CANNOT BE A TRUE
GOD-FEARING PERSON AND BE ON
A TELEVISION SHOW LIKE
THAT.
I KNOW I CAN'T.
I'M NOT OKAY WITH WHAT I'M
LEARNING, WHAT THE BIBLE
SAYS, AND BEING ON THAT
TELEVISION SHOW.
Lee: FORERUNNER
CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN
CALIFORNIA POSTED THAT
VIDEO.
JONES ATTENDS A SEVENTH DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH IN
CALIFORNIA.
Pat: THEY BOUNCED
CHARLIE SHEEN, WHO IS THE
LEAD ACTOR BECAUSE OF HIS
DRUNKEN TIRADES, AND SHEEN
HAS BEEN REPLACED BY ANOTHER
ACTOR WHO GETS $1 MILLION
PER EPISODES.
Terry: WOW.
I GUESS IT IS BECAUSE OF
CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS THAT
HE CAN'T WALK FROM THAT?
Pat: THEY'RE GOING TO
TEAR THEIR HAIR OUT.
A FEW EPISODES BACK, THEY
HAD HIM HOOKED UP WITH SOME
STRIPPER TYPE, SO HIS
CHARACTER WAS HAVING AN
AFFAIR.
SO I GUESS HE DOESN'T THINK
THAT'S TOO COOL.
BUT IT'S A VERY POPULAR
SHOW.
CBS HAS GOT THAT, AND THEN
"THE BIG BANG THEORY," WHICH
IS MORE CEREBRAL.
HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?
Terry: NO.
Pat: IT'S ABOUT
SCIENCE.
THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL A BUNCH
OF NERDS.
AND THEY -- IT'S REALLY VERY
FUNNY.
BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE
COMEDY ON CBS, SO "TWO AND A
HALF MEN" HAS BEEN A REAL --
IMAGINE PAYING THE LEAD
ACTOR THAT THEY RECRUITED TO
TAKE CHARLIE SHEEN'S PLACE,
$1 MILLION PER EPISODE.
WELL, THERE IS A REGION IN
SPAIN THAT IS KNOWN AS
CATALONIA, AND YOU PROBABLY
HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT
IT.
BUT CATALONIA HAS AS MANY
PEOPLE AS BELGIUM, AND IT
HAS AS MANY AS PORT -- AS
MANY AS PORTUGAL, EXCUSE
ME.
AND LEE HAS MORE ABOUT WHAT
IS GOING ON IN CATALONIA.
Lee: VOTERS IN THAT
REGION OF SPAIN, CATALONIA,
PAT, DELIVERED A MIXED
MESSAGE ON THE ISSUE OF
SECESSION THIS WEEKEND.
A MAJORITY SUPPORTED
POLITICAL PARTIES WHO
FAVORED PULLING OUT OF
SPAIN.
BUT THEY DID NOT MAKE A
CLEAR DECISION ON WHO SHOULD
LEAVE THE SUCESSION.
IT IS UNCLEAR IN CATALONIA
WILL HOLD A REFERENDUM ON
SUCESSION, BUT SOME ANALYSTS
BELIEVE THE CHANCES THAT IT
WILL ARE GETTING BETTER.
THE ROAD TO AN AGREEMENT ON
THE SO-CALLED FISCAL CLIFF
IN WASHINGTON MAY BE BLOCKED
BY AN UNEXPECTED ISSUE.
A CHANGE IN THE SENATE RULE
ON FILIBUSTERS. HARRY REID
AND MITCH McCONNELL ARE AT
ODDS OVER THAT ISSUE.
FILIBUSTERS ALLOW AN
INDIVIDUAL SENATOR TO BLOCK
A RULE OR LAW BY TALKING
ABOUT IT ENDLESSLY.
REID SAYS HE WANTS TO TAKE A
SMALL CHANGE TO THE RULE SO
THE SENATE CAN OPERATE MORE
EFFICIENTLY.
BUT SENATOR McCONNELL SAYS
REID IS TRYING TO GIVE MORE
POWER TO THE DEMOCRATIC
MAJORITY.
HE SAYS IF THEY CANNOT AGREE
ON THE FILIBUSTER, IT WILL
HURT THEIR ABILITY TO WORK
TOGETHER ON THE FISCAL CLIFF
ISSUE.
Pat: LEE, SOME YEARS
AGO, THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN
THE MINORITY, AND THE
REPUBLICANS HAD THE
MAJORITY, AND THEY USED THAT
THREAT OF FILIBUSTER TO
BLOCK COUNTLESS NOMINATIONS
FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES.
SOME OF THESE FINE JUDGES
WERE COMING UP, AND THE
SENATOR FROM NEW YORK
PARTICULARLY LED THE
CHARGE.
AND IT GOT TO BE YOU HAD TO
HAVE A 60-VOTE MAJORITY,
WHICH IS WHAT YOU NEED TO
INVOKE WHAT THEY CALL
CLOSURE, TO SHUT OFF THE
DEBATE.
IT USED TO ME THAT JAMES --
JIMMY STEWARDS -- YOU
REMEMBER "MR. SMITH GOES TO
WASHINGTON," HE WAS ON THE
FLOOR UNTIL HIS VOICE CAME
OUT.
IF THEY LEFT THE FLOOR, THEY
LOST THE PRIVILEGE OF
TALKING.
AND NOW THEY SAY, I'M GOING
TO FILIBUSTER.
THEY JUST ANNOUNCE THEIR
INTENTION, AND THE SENATE
SAYS, OKAY, WE WON'T TAKE
THAT MEASURE UP.
IT ALLOWS A DICTATORSHIP OF
MINORITY.
BUT IT IS INTERESTING THAT
HAVING USED THAT TACTIC SO
SUCCESSFUL, NOW THEY'RE
GOING TO USE WHAT IS CALLED
A NUCLEAR OPTION.
THE RULES ARE GOING TO BE
CHANGED BY THE OPPRESSIVE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.
AND NOW THE OPPRESSIVE
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IS
ANYWAY WE'RE GOING TO USE
THE NUCLEAR OPTION.
AND SENATOR REID IS LAUGHING
QUIETLY BEHIND THE SCENES.
Lee: THE SUPREME COURT
IS REVIVING THE LIBERTY
UNIVERSITY'S -- IT IS
ORDERING THEM TO RULE ON THE
CASE IT PREVIOUSLY DECLINED
TO HEAR.
LIBERTY ARGUED THAT
REQUIREMENTS LIKE THE BIRTH
CONTROL MANDATE VIOLATED THE
FREEDOM.
BUT THE COLLEGE PETITIONED
THE COURT TO REOPEN THE CASE
AGAINST THE CONTRACEPTION
MANDATE.
SEVERAL OTHER RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FILED
SIMILAR CHALLENGES.
WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE
AMERICAN ACADEMY AND
PEDIATRICS SAYS DOCTORS
SHOULD PRESCRIBE EMERGENCY
CONTRACEPTIVES FOR TEENS,
EVEN BEFORE THEY'RE SEXUALLY
ACTIVE.
THEY SAY DRUGS LIKE PLAN "B"
SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO
GIRLS UNDER THE AGE OF 17.
IT SAYS IT COULD REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF TEEN PREGNANCIES,
AND EVEN OPEN THE DOOR TO
TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT
ABSTINENCE.
THE PAPER SAID MANY
PEDIATRICIANS DO NOT
PRESCRIBE THE CONTRACEPTIVES
AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE THEY
DON'T WANT THEM TO BECOME
ACTIVE.
PRO-LIFE ACTIVISTS SAY IT
CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE AN
ABORTION.
PRO-LIFE ACTIVISTS WHO
PROTEST AT ABORTION CLINICS
MAY SIMPLY THINK THEY'RE
EXERCISING FREEDOM OF
SPEECH, BUT A GROWING NUMBER
HAVE BECOME THE TARGETS OF
FEDERAL LAWSUITS.
PAUL STRAND EXPLAINS.
Reporter: FOR DECADES,
PRO-LIFE DEMONSTRATORS HAVE
LINED UP OUTSIDE ABORTION
CLINICS.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY A
CHILD-KILLING INSTITUTION.
Reporter: THE MAJOR ONE
IS FACE.
AND CONVICTED PROTESTORS
HAVE FACED THOUSANDS OF
FINES, AS WELL AS JAIL
TIME.
JUST THE LEGAL COSTS CAN GO
OVER $100,000.
THE FEDS HAVE STEPPED UP THE
NUMBER OF FACE CASES THESE
LAST TWO YEARS.
SOME CONSIDER THIS A BLATENT
CASE OF FEDERAL OVERREACH.
IT IS JUST A SOURCE OF
MISCHIEF BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
Reporter: LAWYER
REBECCA MESSEL REPRESENTS
ONE OF THE FED'S TARGETS,
KEN AND JOE SCOTT.
THEY ARE LONG TIME
PROTESTORS OUTSIDE PLANNED
PLAN IN DENVER.
IN THE OLD DAYS OF OUR
COUNTRY, THEY WOULD THROW
BAPTIST PREACHERS INTO JAIL
FOR EVANGELIZING.
Reporter: AT TAXPAYER
EXPENSE, THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT PUT FIVE FEDERAL
PROSECUTORS ON THE JOE SCOTT
CASE.ú
BUT IT WASN'T THAT EASY FOR
KEN, WHO FACED 10 CHARGES OF
OBSTRUCTING THE ENTRANCE TO
THE CLINIC'S PARKING
LOTMENT.
> LOT.
THEY ALLEGED 10 INCIDENTS
OVER TWO YEARS.
Reporter: AND THIS CAN
BE INTIMIDATING.
THEY'RE GOING TO SUE YOU
AND TAKE YOUR INCOME AWAY
FROM YOU OR YOUR POSESSIONS,
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
AFRAID OF THAT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO SHUT
DOWN FREE SPEECH AT ABORTION
CLINICS, BUT THEN CECILE
RICHARDS IS ONE OF THE MOST
FREQUENT VISITORS TO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
SO YOU KNOW IT IS HAVING AN
IM PACK.
THERE ARE BABIES KILLING
HERE.
THEY KILLED 25 TO 35 A DAY
HERE.
JESUS SAID BECAUSE THEY
HATE ME, THEY'RE GOING TO
HATE YOU.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE A VICTIM.
I BELONG TO JESUS.
Reporter: LATELY, THE
GOVERNMENT IS HAVING A TOUGH
TIME WINNING THESE CASES.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
BROUGHT TEN CLAIMS AGAINST
KEN, AND NOT ONE HAD ANY
CLAIM.
HE WROTE, "THE COURT CAN
ONLY WONDER WHETHER HIS
ACTION WAS THE PRODUCT OF A
CONCERTED EFFORT BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT AND P.W.C., THE
PREJUDICIAL WOMEN'S
CENTER."
JUSTICE DROPPED THE CASE AND
PAID THE PROTESTORS $120P IN
DAMAGES.
AS FOR THE CHARGE OF CO
COLLUSION, SHE BELIEVES IT
IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE.
THERE WAS A A DEPARTMENT
IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMISSION TO BRING THESE
CASES EVEN BEFORE THEY KNEW
OF THESE CASES.
Reporter: BUT FACE ACT
REMAINS ON THE BOOKS.
IT IS DANGEROUS IN SO
MANY WAYS.
IT HAS BEEN USED HERE AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO TRY TO
INTIMIDATE AND PUNISH PEOPLE
FOR EXERCISING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
Reporter: PAUL STRAND,
CBN NEWS, DENVER.
Lee: PAT, THESE FOLKS
WHO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS MUST BE
HAVING AN IMPACT, OR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
PLANNED PARENTHOOD WOULDN'T
BE ALL UP IN ARMS ABOUT IT.
Pat: WE HAVE WHAT'S
BEEN CALLED THE ABORTION
DISTORTION.
WE HAVE A SOCIETY OF DEATH.
AND THOSE ON THE LEFT CLAIM
TO BE LIBERALS, BUT THEY
WANT DEATH.
THEY WANT TO KILL OFF OLD
PEOPLE OR FACILITATE THE
EUTHANASIA OF OLD PEOPLE.
THEY WANT TO DO AWAY WITH
UNBORN CHILDREN.
AND THEY GET PASSIONATE
ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.
I MEAN, THEY'RE WILD,
LITERALLY WILD.
DEMONSTRATIONS, WHEN THEY GO
OUT AGAINST THE PRO-LIFE
ADVOCATES, AND ALL OF THESE
PRO-LIFERS ARE BASICALLY
SAYING TO THE EXPECTANT
MOTHERS, WOULD YOU PLEASE
THINK A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT
YOU'RE DOING.
WITHIN YOU IS A HUMAN BEING,
AND PERHAPS YOU DON'T WANT
TO TERMINATE ITS LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
PERHAPS THERE ARE OTHER WAYS
OF DOING IT.
I THINK THERE ARE OTHER
WAYS.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE
CAN DO IS DEFUND PLANNED
PARENTHOOD, KEEP IT FROM
GETTING MONEY FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF
MONEY.
INTERESTING ENOUGH, IN THOSE
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS A YEAR
OR SO AGO, THE PRESIDENT --
THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE
BEEN WILLING TO SHUT THE
GOVERNMENT DOWN IN ORDER TO
PRESERVE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
WELL, THERE IS A CASE RIGHT
NOW IN CALIFORNIA, AND
ANOTHER ONE IN TEXAS, THAT
IS GOING TO DEAL A BODY BLOW
TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN
TRIPLING BILLING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR THE SO-CALLED
PROCEDURES THEY DO.
AND IT IS A SCANDAL OF MAJOR
PROPORTIONS.
AND THIS IS A CIVIL
LAWSUIT.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO HURT
SOMEBODY, I THINK A BETTER
WAY OF DOING IT THAN GOING
OUT WITH PLACARDS AND
LADDERS OUTSIDE OF THEIR
BUILDING IS TO CUT THE
SOURCE OF THEIR FUNDS.
Terry: TALK ABOUT
BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS
YOU.
AS FAR AS THE CALIFORNIA
SITUATION IS CONCERNED.
Pat: THEY'RE NOT
BITING.
THEY'RE GETTING A DOUBLE
HELPING, A TRIPLE HELPING.
AND THE AMERICAN CENTER FOR
LAW AND JUSTICE HAS AN
ACTIVE LAWSUIT IN
CALIFORNIA, AND IT HAS
SURVIVED A CHALLENGE OR SO.
INTERESTLY ENOUGH, THE NINTH
CIRCUIT WAS ON THE SIDE OF
THE ACLJ.
AND THAT HAS OVERCOME
SEVERAL OBJECTIONS, AND IT
LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE COMING
TO TRIAL.
SO THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
MAJOR DAMAGE, A WHOLE LOT
MORE THAN DEMONSTRATORS WITH
PLACARDS.
Terry: WE'LL KEEP YOU
POSTED.
COMING UP, A CHURCH THAT
TURNED THANKSGIVING INTO AN
EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
AND LATER, WE'RE GOING TO
TALK WITH THE FOOTBALL
PLAYER WHO WON THE ESPIE
AWARD FOR PERSEVERANCE.
SO STAY TUNED.
Pat: YOU'VE READ ABOUT
IT, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT,
POVERTY, DRUGS, CRIME, ALL
OF THESE HAVE PLAGUED THE
HUNTS POINT COMMUNITY IN THE
BRONX FOR YEARS.
HBO EVEN TOOK ITS CAMERAS
THERE A FEW YEARS AGO TO
DOCUMENT ALL OF THE
PROSTITUTION IN THAT AREA.
NOW ONE CHURCH IN THAT AREA
IS WORKING TO TURN THINGS
AROUND.
AS CHARLENE ISRAEL TELLS US,
IT IS HAVING AMAZING
RESULTS.
Reporter: THESE ARE THE
IMAGES OF HUNTS POINT, WORN
OUT BUILDINGS, STRIP CLUBS,
AND GIRLS WALKING THE
STREETS.
THERE IS A GENERATIONAL
HISTORY IN HUNTS POINT,
NOTORIOUSLY KNOWN FOR
PROSTITUTION, CRIME, DRUGS,
GANGS.
EVEN NOW, SEX TRAFFICKING IS
SUCH A HUGE ISSUE HERE.
Reporter: REGGIE
STUTSMAN IS ON A MISSION TO
PAINT A DIFFERENT PICTURE OF
THE BRONX NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE AND HIS WIFE PLANTED REAL
LIFE CHURCH IN THE HEART OF
HUNTS POINT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO COME
HERE.
IT WASN'T MY VISION AT ALL
TO COME TO HUNTS POINT.
BUT WHEN WE STARTED
MINISTERING HERE TO THE
PROSTITUTES AND THE PIMPS,
THE LORD DIRECTED OUR
HEARTS, CHANGED OUR HEARTS,
FOR HIS PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
Reporter: FOR THE PAST
TWO YEARS, THEIR CHURCH HAS
TRIED A VARIETY OF WAYS TO
REACH THOSE PEOPLE.
WE WANT TO PREACH THE
GOSPEL, BUT WE WANT TO SHOW
THE GOSPEL.
THEY'VE HEARD THE GOSPEL ALL
THEIR LIVES, BUT THEY
HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
THIS PLACE NEEDS JESUS
MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
GOD HAS GIVEN US FAVOR WITH
ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE,
REACHING THE COMMUNITY, BUT
WE WANT TO THINK OUTSIDE OF
THE BOX.
Reporter: THAT NEW WAY
OF THINKING PROPELLED THIS
CHURCH OF JUST 30 MEMBERS TO
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE'RE A NEW CHURCH, BUT
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE
HAVE A BIG THANKSGIVING
DINNER, AND IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS, WE'VE HAD OVER 1200
PEOPLE.
Reporter: AND EACH
SCHOOL YEAR, THE CHURCH
DISTRIBUTES HUNDREDS OF
BACKPACKS AND SUPPLIES FOR
LOCAL CHILDREN.
IT IS AMAZING HOW GOD
CONTINUES TO BLESS REAL LIFE
CHURCH AND TO SAY HE CARES
ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
Reporter: THEY ALSO
HOSTED A THREE-DAY HEALTH
OUTREACH, REACHING MORE THAN
300 PEOPLE.
FREE EYE EXAMS, FREE EYE
GLASSES, AND DIABETES
TESTING.
Reporter: DR. ANDY
JAMES, A VISION FOR CHRIST,
HEARD ABOUT THE WORK OF THE
BRONX CHURCH AND WANTED TO
HELP.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT
JESUS CALLS US TO DO.
HE WANTS US TO GO AND HELP
OTHERS.
IT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT HIM.
WE CAN HELP PEOPLE SEE
BETTER AND WE CAN HELP
PEOPLE FEEL BETTER.
Reporter: THOSE WHO
ATTENDED WERE OVERWHELMED.
IT TOUCHED MY HEART.
BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER --
BEFORE SHE HAD THE GLASSES
AND SHE WAS PLAYING AT
SCHOOL, AND HER GLASSES
BROKE.
WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE EYE
DOCTOR, THEY SAY OH, YOU
HAVE TO WAIT FOR TWO YEARS,
OTHERWISE YOU PAY -- I'M A
SINGLE MOTHER.
AND IT IS NOT EASY FOR ME.
Reporter: NEEDS LIKE
THAT ARE WHAT MOTIVATE
STUTSMAN AND HIS CHURCH TO
BLANKET THE AREA WITH ACTS
OF LOVE AND PRAYER.
THEY ARE HOPEFUL THEY WILL
SEE THE FRUIT OF THEIR
LABOR.
THIS WAS HANDED OVER TO
US BY OUR GOD.
SO I'M EXPECTING TO SEE BIG
THINGS HAPPENING.
Reporter: SOME OF THOSE
ANSWERS ARE ALREADY TAKING
SHAPE.
LAST NIGHT WE HAD TWO OF
THE WORST DRUG DEALERS IN
HUNTS POINT COME TO THE
ALTER AND GET PRAYED FOR.
I MEAN, WHERE DOES THAT
HAPPEN ACCEPT WHEN THE
CHURCH GOES OUT OF THE
BUILDING AND COMES OUT ON
THE STREETS.
Reporter: DEPUTY
BURROUGH PRESIDENT ARIELLE
GREEN APPLAUDED STUTSMAN AND
HIS TEAM.
WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THE EFFORT THE CHURCHES MAKE
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF
THAT EFFORT.
WE'RE IN A LOCAL CHURCH, NOT
A GREAT CATHEDRAL, BUT JUST
A LITTLE, AVERAGE CHURCH,
WHO SAID WE ARE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE ARE GOING TO HELP THESE
PEOPLE REALIZE THAT GOD IS
VERY MUCH ON THE SCENE.
Reporter: MEANWHILE,
PASTOR STUTSMAN AND HIS
CHURCH ARE COMMITTED TO
CONTINUE LIVING OUT THEIR
MOTO, OF SERVING REAL PEOPLE
WITH REAL ISSUES, AND
POINTING THEM TO A REAL
GOD.
CHARLENE ISRAEL, CBN NEWS,
BRONX, NEW YORK.
Pat: FANTASTIC.
WE APPRECIATE PASTOR
STUTSMAN AND THE WORK HE IS
DOING.
CONGRATULATIONS AT THIS
CHRISTMAS TO A SMALL
CONGREGATION THAT IS DOING A
HUGE AMOUNT OF GOOD.
TERRY?
Terry: UP NEXT, A VERY
SPECIAL FRIEND OF "THE 700
CLUB" IS RETURNING TO OUR
SET TODAY.
BLUE IS HERE, AND HE IS
GOING TO UPDATE US ON HIS
LATEST WORK.
YOU WANT TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS
TO SAY, SO DON'T GO AWAY.
Pat: DEVASTATING
SUPERSTORM SANDY, WHEN IT
STRUCK, IT KNOCKED OUT POWER
TO MORE THAN EIGHT MILLION
HOMES.
ONE MONTH LATER, SOME PARTS
OF THE EAST COAST ARE STATE
RECOVERING.
SO "OPERATION BLESSING" IS
STILL ON THE GROUND HELPING
PEOPLE GET THE SUPPLIES THEY
DESPERATELY NEED.
I DON'T SEE A LOT OF NEWS
ABOUT WHAT IS BEING DONE FOR
ROCKAWAY.
WE HEAR ABOUT JERSEY AND
OTHER PLACES.
Reporter: THE
RESIDENTS
OF FAR ROCKAWAY NEW YORK
FEEL LEFT OUT.
WHILE OTHER AREAS OF NEW
YORK HAVE THEIR POWER
RESTORED IN THE AFTERMATH OF
HURRICANE SANDY, THEY'RE
STILL IN THE DARK.
TO MAKE IT WORSE, THEY
WEREN'T EVEN GETTING THE
BASIC NEEDS, LIKE FOOD AND
WATER, THAT IS UNTIL
"OPERATION BLESSING" CAME TO
HELP.
WHEN WE CAME HERE, THE
PEOPLE KIND OF LIT UP.
THEY WELCOMED US IN.
THEY WERE OVERWHELMED THAT
SOMEONE DECIDED TO COME DOWN
HERE TO HELP THEM.
WE WERE THE FIRST TEAM
HERE.
WHEN WE CAME, THEY SAID THEY
HAD NOTHING.
Reporter:
"OPERATION BLESSING" IS
PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH THE
THINGS THEY NEED MOST:
CLEANUP KITS, TOILETRIES,
CANNED FOOD AND WATER.
THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN SERVING
HOT MEALS, A WELCOME TREAT
IN TIMES LIKE THESE.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR HELP, FOR THE FOOD, THE
HAMPERS.
WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL.
WE'RE SET UP TO STAY AS
LONG AS WE HAVE THE
RESOURCES, AND AS LONG AS
THERE IS A NEED.
WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO
MEET THAT NEED.
BECAUSE OF "OPERATION
BLESSING" DISASTER RELIEF,
THE PEOPLE OF ROCKAWAY AND
OTHER COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE
TO FACE THESE DIFFICULT
TIMES ALONE.
I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU
GUYS ARE HERE HELPING US.
BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY IN NEED
AT THIS TIME, AND YOU GUYS
HAVE BEEN A BIG BLESSING FOR
US.
I LIKE "OPERATION
BLESSING" BECAUSE WHAT THEY
DO HERE IN THE COUNTRY, AND
WHAT THEY DO AROUND THE
WORLD, THAT'S WHAT MAKES
THIS COUNTRY GREAT.
IT IS NOT JUST LIKE YOU JUST
FEND FOR YOURSELF.
WE HELP EACH OTHER.
YOU HELP YOUR FELLOW MAN.
Pat: WELL, WITH US
RIGHT NOW BY POPULAR DEMAND
IS MY OLD FRIEND BLUE.
BILL, LET ME HAVE HIM.
THERE YOU GO.
Pat: COME HERE, BABY.
COME HERE.
AAHHH.
ALL RIGHT, BLUE, SIT.
DON'T BITE MY HAND.
GOOD GRIEF.
OH, YOUR SO PRETTY.
ISN'T HE GORGEOUS.
HE IS SO BIG.
LIE DOWN, BLUE.
LIE DOWN.
THAT'S A GOOD BOY.
BILL, TELL US ABOUT WHAT
YOU'RE DOING IN NEW YORK.
IT IS REALLY A MESS UP
THERE.
THE DENSITY OF THE
POPULATION IS WHAT MADE THIS
THING AS BAD AS IT IS.
THE DEVASTATION IS FAR
GREATER REALLY THAN WHAT
HAPPENED IN KATRINA BECAUSE
SO MANY PEOPLE WERE
AFFECTED.
WE'RE WORKING NOW IN BREEZY
POINT, AND WE STARTED OUT IN
LOWER MANHATTAN, AND AS THE
POWER WENT ON, WE MOVED, AND
WE'RE WORKING IN STATEN
ISLAND, AND WE'RE IN NEW
JERSEY.
AND WE'RE FOCUSED IN A PLACE
CALLED BREEZY POINT.
AND BREEZY POINT IS A PLACE
WITH ABOUT 2700 HOMES.
MOSTLY FIREMEN, NEW YORK
POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRST
RESPONDERS THAT HAVE LIVED
THERE FOR GENERATIONS, SOME
OF THEM.
EVERY SINGLE HOME WAS
FLOODED.
110 HOUSES WERE BURNED
DOWN.
2700 "THE TRADIN2700
FLOODED, AND WE'RE OUT THERE
HELPING TO ORGANIZE ALL OF
THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS.
THEY'RE WONDERFUL PEOPLE,
AND THEY'RE HURTING, AND ALL
OF THEIR HOMES ARE FLOODED.
Pat: NOBODY ELSE IS
THERE ACCEPT --
OH, THERE ARE OTHER
PEOPLE THERE.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND
THERE ARE A LOT OF LOCAL
VOLUNTEERS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
IS A PROBLEM WE DON'T HAVE
HOTELS FOR VOLUNTEERS.
Pat: WHAT DO YOU DO?
USE TRAILERS?
NO.
LOCAL VOLUNTEERS ARE SHOWING
UP.
ON THE WEEKENDS, WE MAY GET
400 OR 500 PEOPLE THERE, BUT
DURING THE WEEK WE COULD
REALLY USE HELP.
Pat: YOU WANT
VOLUNTEERS?
YES.
AND ON THE WEBSITE THERE IS
A PLACE.
Pat: IS BLUE HELPING?
BLUE IS HELPING.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DRIVE
HIM UP, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO
PUT HIM ON THE AIRPLANE,
INTO THE CARGO.
Pat: I DON'T BLAME
YOU.
HERE.
JUMP.
DO IT ONE MORE TIME.
THAT'S A BOY.
SIT.
GOOD BOY.
ALL RIGHT, BLUE, PLACE.
NO.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT, PLACE.
THAT DARN TREAT.
Pat: PLACE.
BLUE, OVER HERE.
Pat: PLACE.
HE GETS THE MESSAGE.
[LAUGHTER]
Pat: YOU ARE SO
PRETTY.
MAN, HE'S PRETTY.
DID YOU BATHE HIM?
HE HAD A SHAMPOO LAST
NIGHT, AND IN THE GREEN
ROOM, HE SAW THE TRAY, AND
HE FELT BECAUSE HE IS THE
ON-AIR TALENT, THAT THOSE
MUFFINS WERE FOR HIM.
Pat: DID HE EAT THEM?
HE TRIED TO, BUT I GOT
THEM.
Pat: BLUE, DO IT
AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY, SIT.
LIE DOWN.
OKAY, THAT'S A BOY.
HERE.
DON'T BITE MY HAND, YOU
SUCKER.
OH, YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
YOU LIKE HIM, HUH?
OH, I LOVE HIM.
LAURA AND I HAVE BEEN
MARRIED 40 YEARS, AND WE'VE
HAD DOBERMANS ALL OUR
MARRIED LIFE, AND BLUE IS
THE MOST INCREDIBLE ONE
WE'VE EVER BEEN AROUND.
HE IS A GREAT DOG.
Pat: I RAISED HIM FROM
A BABY, AND HE CERTAINLY --
OH, HE'S GORGEOUS.
YEAH.
Pat: HOW CAN PEOPLE
HELP "OPERATION BLESSING"?
WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?
THE BEST THING THEY COULD
DO, PAT, IS GO TO OUR
WEBSITE, ob.org AND MAKE A
CASH DONATION.
IF THEY CAN COME UP TO
VOLUNTEER, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
IN NEW JERSEY, WE CAN PUT
THEM UP IN NE YOU, UP, BUT
IN NEW YORK, WE CAN'T.
WE'RE HOPING THAT A CHURCH
WILL OPEN UP THAT WE CAN PUT
VOLUNTEERS IN.
Pat: THE PEOPLE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE?
THE PEOPLE -- THIS IS
AMERICANA, AND THESE ARE
HARD-WORKING, MIDDLE INCOME
FAMILIES, THAT REALLY NEED
HELP.
THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED
ANYTHING LIKE THIS, PAT.
Pat:
"OPERATION BLESSING," THE
ADDRESS, "OPERATION
BLESSING," CBN, VIRGINIA
BEACH, AND THERE IS THE
NUMBER.
CBN CENTER.
TURN HIM LOOSE.
SIT.
YES, YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.
I KNOW I'VE GOT TREATS.
LOOK AT HIM.
HE IS GOING TO EAT MY HAND.
YOU KNOW, A DOG LIKE THIS
WOULD GET YOU SCARED, EXCEPT
HE IS SO SWEET.
YOU'RE SUCH A SWEET DOG.
LIE DOWN.
ONE MORE TIME, JUMP OVER MY
LEG.
ONE MORE TIME, BACK OVER.
HE'S SO BIG.
IF I COULD GET A HORSE TO
JUMP LIKE YOU, WE'D WIN THE
OLYMPICS.
OKAY, BILL, GOD BLESS YOU.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT A
TREAT.
HE HAS Facebook FRIENDS.
WHAT DOES HE HAVE, 3500 OR
4,000?
HE HAS 4,025 AS OF THIS
MORNING.
HE COULD USE MORE FRIENDS.
Pat: PEOPLE WRITE HIM
LIKE HE UNDERSTANDS.
THEY EXPLAIN BIBLE THINGS TO
HIM.
YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD BOY.
CAN YOU SHAKE HANDS.
SIT.
SIT.
SHAKE HANDS.
SHAKE --
Pat: HE DOESN'T SHAKE
ANYMORE?
HE'S NOT MUCH ON SHAKING
HANDS.
HE IS CRYING LIKE A LITTLE
GIRL.
Pat: YOU'VE HAD ALL OF
THE TREATS YOU'RE GOING TO
GET.
YOU'LL GET FAT.
YES, YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.
GOD BLESS YOU.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THERE
HE IS.
ISN'T HE BEAUTIFUL.
FOR US DOG-LOVERS -- YES, I
KNOW, LIFE IS TOUGH.
YOU WANT ANOTHER MUFFIN?
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
ONE.
TERRY, I HATE TO LEAVE
MR. BLUE.
HE IS SUCH A SWEET DOG.
[DOG CRYING SOUNDS]
Pat: WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
THE MINUTE HE SAW YOU ON
THAT SCREEN, HE ALERTS.
EVERY TIME HE HEARS YOUR
VOICE --
Pat: I WAS HIS DADDY
FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS, WHEN
HE WAS A LITTLE BABY.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
YOU WANT TO DO THAT PLACE
THING.
ALL RIGHT, BLUE, PLACE.
PLACE.
[LAUGHTER]
HE SAID IT'S NOT BIG
ENOUGH.
Pat: HE DID IT.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, TERRY, I HATE TO LEAVE
THIS SCENE OF DOMESTIC
BLISS, BUT I GUESS WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO.
Terry: WE'RE LEAVING IT
FOR A GOOD REASON, BECAUSE
STILL AHEAD, WE HAVE AN
AMAZING STORY, THE ATHLETE
WHO HAS BECOME AN
INSPIRATION JUST BY GOING ON
THE FIELD.
ER LEGAZPI
Reporter: WELCOME BACK
TO WASHINGTON FOR THIS CBN
NEWS BREAK.
UGANDAN LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO
VOTE ON A NEW BILL.
THEY ARE CALLING ON THE
UGANDAN PARLIAMENT NOT TO
PASS IT.
BUT THE SPEAKER SAYS SHE
WANTS THE LEGISLATION TO
PASS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
HOMOSEXUAL IS ILLEGAL IN
MOST AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AND
IN SEVERAL NATIONS, THE
DEATH PENALTY CAN BE
IMPOSED.
THE FIRST OFFICIAL SIGN OF
CHRISTMAS ARRIVES AT THE
STEPS OF THE U.S. CAPITOL IN
WASHINGTON.
IT TWO THREE WEEKS FOR THE
SPRUCE TO TRAVEL FROM COL
COLORADO TO THE WEST FRONT
LAWN OF THE CAPITOL
BUILDING.
WHEN IT IS FULLY DECORATE IT
WILL BOAST ABOUT 5,000
HAND-CRAFTED ORNAMENTS FROM
ITS NATIVE COLORADO.
THE CERIMONIAL LIGHTING IS
NEXT TUESDAY.
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: MORE THAN 100
YEARS AGO, THE GAME OF
FOOTBALL WAS NEARLY OUTLAWED
BECAUSE IT WAS TOO VIOLENT.
PLAYERS WERE BEING KILLED ON
THE FIELD.
SINCE THEN, CHANGES HAVE
BEEN MADE TO MAKE IT SAFER,
BUT THE GAME IS STILL VERY
DANGEROUS.
SOMETHING THE SPORTS WORLD
WAS REMINDED OF WHEN ERIC
LeGRAND WENT TO MAKE A
TACKLE JUST TWO YEARS AGO.
HE KICKS OFF.
THIS IS A GOOD ONE.
IT'S AT THE FIVE.
OOH, WHAT A GREAT OPEN-FIELD
HIT.
Reporter: THAT WAS THE
MOMENT THAT BROUGHT THE
RUTGERS FOOTBALL FIELD TO A
HALT, AND PUT EVERYTHING
INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR ERIC
LeGRAND.
WHEN YOU HEAR OCTOBER 16,
2010, WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR
MIND?
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WILL STICK IN MY HEAD
FOREVER.
THE DAY THAT CHANGED MY
LIFE.
I'M MAKING A TACKLE, AND
BOOM.
THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU
CAN'T MOVE EVERYTHING.
Reporter: ERIC LIVED 20
MINUTES AWAY FROM RUTGERS.
HE WAS A NATURAL ATHLETE.
BUT THE TIME HE WAS A
FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL,
COLLEGES WERE ALREADY
SCOUTING HIM.
IN HIS JUNIOR YEAR, ALTHOUGH
HE HAD OTHER OFFERS, HE
ACCEPTED A SCHOLARSHIP TO
PLAY FOR RUTGERS.
I WAS LIKE, THESE PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN WITH ME SINCE MY
FRESHMAN YEAR.
WHEN I WAS TIME FOR ME TO
MAKE MY DECISION, I
WAS, LIKE, THEY REALLY CARE
ABOUT ME, CARE ABOUT MY
GRADES, AND MAKING SURE I'M
QUALIFIED TO COME HERE.
I'VE BEEN UP HERE THOUSANDS
OF TIMES TO COME VISIT.
IT IS 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM
MY HOUSE.
WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE.
PLAYING DIVISIONAL COLLEGE
20 MINUTES FROM YOUR HOUSE.
THIS IS A PERFECT PLACE FOR
ME.
Reporter: BY HIS
SOPHOMORE SEASON AT RUTGERS,
, HE SHOWED A LOT OF
POTENTIAL.
HE PLAYED IN ALL 13 GAMES.
HIS FUTURE LOOKED BRIGHT,
BUT IN HIS JUNIOR YEAR,
DURING THE GAME AGAINST
ARMY, HE HIT THE RUNNER AT
AN AWKWARD ANGLE, THAT LEFT
HIM ON HIS BACK.
I STARTED PRAYING.
OH, MY GOD, IS THIS GOING TO
BE THE END OF ME.
IS IT MY TIME TO COME UP TO
YOU.
I WAS LIKE, GOD, PLEASE LET
ME CATCH A GASP OF AIR SO I
CAN FEEL BETTER.
Reporter: AS YOU'RE
LEAVING THE FIELD, WHAT ARE
YOU THINKING?
I GIVE A THUMBS UP TO THE
CROWD THAT I'M OKAY.
THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE DOES.
BUT THEN I COULDN'T.
AND I FELT LIKE A THOUSAND
POUNDS WERE LAYING ON MY
HAND AND I COULDN'T MOVE
IT.
Reporter: ERIC HAD
FRACTURED HIS C-3 AND C-4
CERVICAL VERTEBRAE, WHICH
CAUSED PARALYSIS FROM THE
NECK DOWN.
HE WAS PLACED ON A
VENTILATOR TO HELP HIM
BREATHE.
IT WAS BREATHING FOR ME
AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT BECAUSE
IT WAS SO UNCOMFORTABLE.
AND THEN IT WAS MAKING
NOISES.
I KNEW I WANTED TO GET THAT
THING OUT.
Reporter: IN ORDER TO
DO THAT, HE ASKED GOD FOR
HELP.
BELIEVE FROM MY PRAYING,
I WILLED THIS THING OUT.
MY DIAPHRAGM WAS PARALYZED,
BUT I WILLED IT AWAY.
I'M TIRED OF IT.
GOD, HELP ME OUT.
AND BEING ABLE TO BREATHE ON
MY OWN AGAIN.
HE LEFT ME WITH THAT
ABILITY.
Reporter: THAT VICTORY
STRENTHENED ERIC'S FAITH.
SO WHEN DOCTORS SAID HE
COULD NEVER WALK AGAIN, IT
HAD NO EFFECT.
BUT I CAME OFF THE
VENTILATOR FIVE WEEKS AFTER
THEY TOLD ME I NEVER WOULD.
Reporter: IT HAS BEEN
TWO YEARS SINCE HIS INJURY,
AND ERIC'S FAITH IS STRONGER
THAN EVER.
IN MAY, HE WAS SYMBOLICLY
SIGNED BY THE TAMPA BAY
BUCCANEERS BY HIS FORMER
COACH AND BUCK'S CURRENT
COACH.
HE ALSO HAS HAD NUMEROUS
ENGAGEMENTS, AND RECEASED
HONORS, INCLUDING THE UNSUNG
HERO AWARD.
DOCTORS AREN'T SURE ABOUT
ERIC'S RECOVERY, HE BELIEVES
THROUGH THIS FAITH IN THE
LORD, HE WILL SOME DAY WALK
AGAIN.
ONCE I STARTED BREATHING
ON MY OWN AGAIN, I'M LIKE
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.
EVERYTHING IS JUST COMING
BACK.
MAYBE A LITTLE SLOW, BUT
THINGS ARE COMING BACK.
I WAS STARTING TO FEEL A
LITTLE MORE, OVER MY NECK,
MY SHOULDERS.
THAT REALLY KEPT ME
MOTIVATED, TO SEE THAT STUFF
HAPPENING.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN.
THEY DON'T KNOW MY WILL, MY
DETERMINATION, AND MY
FAITH.
MY BELIEF THAT EVERYTHING IS
POSSIBLE, AND EVERYTHING
DOES HAPPEN FOR A REASON.
Reporter: ERIC IS A
BUSY MAN, WHEN HE IS NOT
WORKING ON THIS DEGREE
DEGREE, HE IS SPREADING HIS
FAITH.
HE WANTS TO SPREAD THE
MESSAGE THAT GOD IS STILL IN
CONTROL, AND ALL YOU HAVE TO
DO IS BELIEVE.
I LOOK AT IT, LIKE, WOW,
LOOK WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
DO.
I'VE DONE MORE IN THE TWO
YEARS THAN MY ENTIRE LIFE
PLAYING FOOTBALL.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD,
ANYTHING IS TRULY POSSIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN, BUT HE IS
GOING TO GET ME OUT OF THIS
CHAIR.
Terry: FAITH AND
ATTITUDE MAKE AN AMAZING
DIFFERENT.
HIS BOOK IS CALLED "BELIEVE,
AND THE TACKLE THAT CHANGED
MY LIFE."
AND HE HAS A VERSION OF HIS
BOOK GEARED TOWARDS YOUNGER
AUDIENCES, "CALLE CALLED
"BELIEVE."
Pat: WHAT A REMARKABLE
YOUNG MAN.
NERVES REGENERATE.
WE JUST PRAY
HE
WILL GET ALL
OF HIS FUNCTIONS BACK.
WHAT A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN.
Terry: ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON WITH
OUR PROGRAM TODAY.
THANKSGIVING IS OVER.
HERE IS THE QUESTION: HAVE
YOU PUT UP YOUR CHRISTMAS
LIGHTS YET?
WE'LL TELL YOU WHERE THAT
TRADITION STARTED.
AND LATER, PAT IS GOING TO
BRING IT ON WITH YOUR E-MAIL
QUESTIONS, AND GREG WANTS TO
KNOW, "IS PLAYING POKER FOR
PRETEND MONEY A SIN?"
WE'LL BRING IT ON WITH THE
ANSWER TO THAT AND MORE,
AFTER THIS.
Terry: WELL, ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, AMERICANS ARE CHAN
NELSO CHANNELING THEIR
INNER CLARK GRISWALD AND
DECORATING, BUT WHAT REALLY
IS BEHIND THIS TRADITION.
WE ASKED A BEST-SELLING
AUTHOR TO FIND OUT.
NOTHING GETS ME MORE INTO
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS THAN
SEEING ALL OF THESE HOMES
LIT UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
I THINK HIS HOME TAKES THE
CAKE.
IT IS PROBABLY THE BRIGHTEST
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
LET ME ASK YOU, WHEN DID
THIS TRADITION OF LIGHTING
UP OUR HOMES BEGIN?
THE 1940s AND '50s IS
WHEN IT REALLY STARTED.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN LIGHTS
LIKE THESE CAME DOWN TO
PRICES THAT NORMAL PEOPLE
COULD AFFORD.
WE HAD CARS, AND STATION
WAGONS IN THE '50s AND
'60s, AND WE WOULD GO AND
LOOK AT LIGHTS.
IT STARREDED WHEN MARTIN
LUTHER KINGMARTIN LUTHER
KING TIED A CANDLE ON HIS
TREE.
THAT LIGHT HAS BEEN
ILLUMINATING ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
Reporter: WHITE LIGHTS
HAVE BEEN IN VOGUE FOR THE
PAST FEW YEARS.
BUT I REALLY LIKE THE
COLORFUL LIGHTS.
IS THERE A MEANING BEHIND
THE COLORS?
THE WHITE LIGHT
REPRESENTS THE PURITY OF
CHRIST.
THE WHITE CANDLE THAT MARTIN
LUTHER KING LIT.
AND MY GRANDMA HAD BLUE
LIGHTS, AND THE BLUE LIGHTS
REPRESENT LOVE.
AND THE RED LIGHTS, LIKE
THESE, REPRESENT THE BLOOD
OF CHRIST THAT WAS SHED ON
THE CROSS.
AND WE HAVE THE GREEN LIGHTS
LIKE THE EVER GREEN TREE,
EVERLASTING LIFE.
THINGS THAT DON'T DIE.
AND SO THE LIGHTS HAVE A
GREAT MEANING AND IMPACT
DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
Reporter: AND THE MOST
IMPORTANT MEANING IS THAT
THEY REMIND US OF THE LIGHT
OF THE WORLD, JESUS CHRIST,
AND THE REAL MEANING FOR THE
SEASON.
Reporter: THINK OF
THAT, ONE LITTLE LIGHT
ILLUMINATING IN A MANGER,
AND NOW IT IS ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
Terry: WOW.
Pat: WOW!
Terry: SO YOU PUT
LIGHTS OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE?
Pat: NO.
Terry: DO YOU PUT
LIGHTS INSIDE YOUR HOUSE?
Pat: NO, I SIT IN THE>c>c
DARK -- I'M SCROOGE.
WE HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE.
I FINALLY GAVE IN AND WE
HAVE ONE OF THOUGH
ARTIFICIAL TREES.
YOU PLUG IN THE LIGHTS, AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE
THIS GLORIOUS-LOOKING TREE.
Terry: WE HAVE HAD ONE
OF THOSE FOR YEARS, WHEN OUR
CHILDREN WERE YOUNG.
THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE
GONE OUT AND GOTTEN A FRESH
TREE.
I REALLY ENJOY IT.
Pat: WHEN MY CHILDREN
WERE OLDER, TIM AND GORDON,
WE USED TO GO OUT IN THE
WOODS AND CHOP A TREE.
Terry: WOW!
OKAY, YOU WIN.
Pat: OKAY?
YOU'RE FROM WISCONSIN, YOU
MUST GO OUT IN THE SLEIGH
AND THE SNOW IN WISCONSIN
AND CHOP TREES.
Terry: TO GRANDMOTHER'S
HOUSE WE GO.
WE HAVE SOME E-MAIL
QUESTIONS.
THIS FIRST ONE IS FROM GREG,
WHO WANTS TO KNOW, "IS
PLAYING POKER FOR PRETEND
MONEY A SIN?"
Pat: HEAVENS NO.
POKER IS A GAME.
IT IS A GAME OF SKILL.
IT IS A GAME -- THERE IS A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LUCK
INVOLVED, BUT IT IS ALSO
SKILL.
IT'S A GAME, BUT I DON'T
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PLAY
FOR FOR FUN BECAUSE IT
DOESN'T TAKE YOU LONG BEFORE
YOU PLAY FOR THE REAL
THING.
I PLAYED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
AND LET ME TELL YOU, IT IS
AN ADDICTION.
I SPENT ALL NIGHT LOSING MY
MONEY.
Terry: THE ADDICTION IS
YOU'RE GOING TO WIN SOME OF
IT BACK THE NEXT HAND
AROUND?
Pat: GAMBLING IS --
THERE IS A RUSH.
I MEAN, ALL ADDICTIONS COME
ABOUT BECAUSE OF SOME KIND
OF A RUSH.
THAT'S WHAT DRUGS, ALCOHOL,
ETC., DO.
YOU WIN A BIG POT, YAY, BUT
YOU'RE THERE PRAYING TO DRAW
AN INSIDE STRAIGHT, AND
THERE IS A BIG PILE OF MONEY
IN THE MIDDLE.
AND IF YOU WIN, IT'S A
RUSH.
AND IF YOU LOSE IT'S A
RUSH.
Terry: REALLY?
IF YOU LOSE, IT'S A RUSH?
Pat: OF COURSE, LIKE
GOING DOWN A HILL OR A
ROLLERCOASTER.
IF YOU LOSE, YOU DIE.
THEN THE IDIOTS THINK I'M
GOING TO HIT ON THE NEXT
ONE, AND THEN I'M GOING TO
DOUBLE UP AND HIT THE
DEALER.
BY THE WAY, THESE THINGS ARE
FIXED FOR THE HOUSE.
THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS.
Terry: THAT'S WHAT I
SAY.
IF YOU AND I WERE WINNING,
THE HOUSE WOULDN'T BE SO LIT
UP.
MARIA SAYS, "IN ORDER TO
ESCAPE THE PRESSURES OF
LIFE, I WOULD RUN TO THE
CASINOS AND GAMBLE.
I HAVE DONE THIS FOR ABOUT
10 YEARS, WHICH CAUSED ME TO
LOSE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF
MONEY.
TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, I LIED
TO MY ADULT CHILDREN ABOUT
IT.
I'M IN MY 60s, AND I NEED
TO START OVER.
I'VE ASKED GOD TO FORGIVE ME
AND TAKE THIS OBSESSION AWAY
FROM ME.
WILL GOD FORGIVE ME AND GIVE
ME A CHANCE TO LEAVE AN
HERITANCE TO MY CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
I WOULD HATE TO LEAVE THEM
NOTHING."
Pat: BILL BRANDON SAID
HE LOST, LIKE, $7 MILLION.
IT IS AN ADDICTION.
WILL GOD FORGIVE IT?
DRUG ADDICTION?
YES.
SEX ADDICTION?
YES.
AND HE'LL GIVE YOU A FRESH
START.
BUT IF YOU KEEP THROWING
YOUR MONEY AWAY -- AND IT'S
SO EASY TO DO.
AGAIN, IT'S THAT RUSH, MAYBE
THIS NEXT TIME I'LL HIT.
Terry: WHEN YOU HAVE AN
ADDICTION, YOU SORT OF NEED
HELP WITH THAT.
ISN'T THERE A GAMBLERS'
ANONYMOUS?
Pat: OF COURSE THERE
IS.
BUT IT IS AN OBSESSION.
I HATE TO SEE THIS LOTTERY
BUSINESS.
THE CHANCES OF WINNING THE
LOTTERY, IS LIKE THE SAME
CHANCE YOU HAVE OF BEING HIT
BY A METEOR.
IT IS VERY JUST SLIM.
AND YET PEOPLE IN THESE
STORES ARE PUTTING DOWN
THEIR $5 AND $10 TO GET
THESE LITTLE TICKETS.
IT IS TERRIBLE.
Terry: THIS IS MICHELLE
WHO SAYS, "I HAVE THREE
TEENAGED BOYS AND NOW TWO OF
THEM ARE QUESTIONING THE
BIBLE.
THIS SCARES ME.
THEY TELL ME IF THE BIBLE IS
TRUTH, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO
EXPLAIN DINOSAURS.
EVEN MY HUSBAND IS AGREEING
WITH THEM.
HOW DO I EXPLAIN THINGS TO
THEM THAT THE BIBLE DOESN'T
COVER.
I'M SO AFRAID THEY'RE
WALKING AWAY FROM GOD.
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS NOT
HAVING MY HUSBAND AND
CHILDREN NEXT WITH ME IN
HEAVEN."
Pat: BISHOP USHER, GOD
BLESS HIM, WASN'T INSPIRED
BY THE LORD WHEN HE SAID IT
ALL TOOK 6,000 YEARS.
YOU GO BACK IN TIME, AND
YOU'VE GOT RADIO CARBON AND
YOU'VE GOT THE CARCASSES OF
DINOSAURS FROZEN IN TIME,
OUT IN THE COLD, AS YOU
KNOW.
THEY HAD THAT BIG -- WHAT
WAS IT, THE FIERCE ONE --
Terry: THE
TYRANNOSAURUS?
Pat: YEAH, THE
TYRANNOSAURSUS.
AND THERE WAS A TIME THESE
GIANT REPTILES WERE ON THE
EARTH, AND IT WAS BEFORE THE
TIME OF THE BIBLE.
SO DON'T TRY TO COVER IT UP
AND MAKE LIKE EVERYTHING WAS
6,000 YEARS.
THAT'S NOT THE BIBLE.
THAT'S BISHOP USHER.
SO IF YOU FIGHT SCIENCE,
YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR
CHILDREN.
I BELIEVE IN TELLING THEM
THE WAY IT WAS.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
AND, LORD WILLING, WE'LL BE
SEEING YOU TOMORROW ON THIS
EDITION OF "THE 700 CLUB."
BYE-BYE.
( applause
[APPLAUSE]
Ñ
