Lee: WE GO FOR THE GOLD
WITH OLYMPIC HERO GABBY
DOUGLAS.
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF
YOU JUST BELIEVE.
Lee: THE CHAMPION
GYMNIST OPENS UP ABOUT HER
LIFE AND THE ROAD TO
LONDON.
ALL OF THE HARD WORK, ALL
OF THE SACRIFICES, WAS
DEFINITELY WORTH IT.
Lee: PLUS, "OUR VOICE
OF HOPE" SERIES CONTINUES
WITH A TALK ABOUT HOLDING
ON.
I CONSIDER MYSELF ALMOST
LIKE THE WALKING DEAD.
Lee: AND LETTING GO.
NO MATTER HOW HORRIBLE
THAT PERSON HURT YOU NOTHING
GIVES YOU A JUSTIFICATION OF
HOLDING VENGEANCE.
*
Pat: WELL, WELCOME,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO
THIS EDITION OF "THE 700
CLUB."
THIS YOUNG GIRL WAS
AMERICA'S SWEETHEART IN THIS
YEAR'S OLYMPICS.
GABBY DOUGLAS WON TWO GOLD
MEDALS IN GYMNASTICS IN
LONDON, BUT HER ROAD TO THE
TOP WASN'T ALWAYS EASY.
Kristi: GABBY RECENTLY
SAT DOWN WHY CHARLENE ISRAEL
TO TALK ABOUT HER JOURNEY,
HER FAITH AND HER NEW
AUTOBIOGRAPHY, CALLED
"GRACE, GOLD, AND GLORY."
Reporter: SHE LEAPED
HER WAY TO GOLD AND STOLE
THE SHOW AT THE 2012 SUMMER
OLYMPIC GAMES, AS PART OF
THE U.S. TEAM KNOWN AS THE
FIERCE FIVE.
HER TRIUMPH ALSO MADE
16-YEAR-OLD GABBY DOUGLAS
THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
TO BE NAMED THE WORLD'S BEST
ALL-AROUND GYMNIST.
THAT HAS LED TO A LIFE
JAMMED WITH TV APPEARANCES,
PHOTO SHOOTS, AND
ENDORSEMENT DEALS.
AND THE VIRGINIA BEACH
NATIVE ALSO JUST RAPID
WRAPPED UP A CROSS-COUNTRY
TOUR.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE OUT
SHOPPING AT A GROCERY STORE
AND YOU SEE YOURSELF ON AN
ESSENCE MAGAZINE, WHAT GOES
THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU
SEE GABBY DOUGLAS ON THE
COVER OF A MAGAZINE?
I JUST STOP AND STARE FOR
ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND I
THINK, THIS IS WAY COOL.
AND I TAKE PICTURES OF IT.
Reporter: YOU DO TAKE
PICTURES OF IT?
I TAKE PICTURES OF IT.
Reporter: WHEN YOU WERE
ON THE PODIUM AND THEY
STARTED PLAYING THE
"STAR-SPANGLED BANNER", WHAT
WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR
MIND?
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A
FLASH.
WHEN I BENT DOWN TO GET MY
MEDAL, I THOUGHT ALL OF THE
HARD WORK, ALL OF THE
SACRIFICES, WERE DEFINITELY
WORTH IT.
I WAS SAYING, THANK YOU,
GOD.
Reporter: SHE WAS BORN
WITH A LIFE-THREATENING RARE
BLOOD DISEASE.
WHEN I WAS A BABY, I WAS
VERY SICK.
I REMEMBER MY MOM TELLING ME
SHE KEPT PRAYING AND PRAYING
FOR ME EVERY SINGLE NIGHT
WHEN I WAS UP COUGHING, OR I
COULDN'T KEEP FOOD DOWN.
AND SHE WAS PRAYING FOR ME
EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, AND
FINALLY GOD ANSWERED HER
PRAYERS.
Reporter: MORE ANSWERS
WOULD COME.
GABBY GREW UP IN A DEVOUT
CHRISTIAN HOME, WHEN SHE
SAYS FAITH BECAME PART OF
HER D.N.A.
AFTER WINNING GOLD, SHE
BOLDLY THANKED GOD AND
HASN'T STOPPED.
IT IS JUST VERY EXCITING,
AND I'M SO GLAD I GET TO
SPEAK OUT, AND WHEN PEOPLE
SAY I'M SO GLAD YOU DID IT,
I'M LIKE, OH, MAN, I'M SO
GLAD, TOO.
AND I'M GLAD I SPEAK OUT,
TOO.
BECAUSE I HAVE A VOICE AND I
SPOKE OUT FOR WHAT I BELIEVE
IN.
Reporter: IN HER NEW
BOOK, "GRACE, GOLD, AND
GLORY," GABBY TALKS ABOUT
HER STRUGGLES, INCLUDING THE
TIME WHEN HER FAMILY WAS
HOMELESS.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME
NEGLEC NEGATIVE THING, BUT
I FEEL LIKE GOD HAS ALWAYS
BEEN WITH ME.
Reporter: WHY DID YOU
WRITE THE BOOK?
I WROTE THE BOOK BECAUSE
I WANT PEOPLE TO GET
MOTIVATED, AND I WANT PEOPLE
TO GET INSPIRED AND HAPPY.
ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE GOING
THROUGH DIFFICULTIES, I
WANTED YOU TO KNOW
EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE.
Reporter: SHE SAYS IT
SAYS THERE WERE TIMES WHEN
IT WAS HARD TO HOLD ON TO
HOPE.
I WAS TESTED.
I REMEMBER WHEN I HAD
INJURIES, AND I LOOKED AT MY
MOM AND SAID, WHY?
AND MY MOM SAT ME DOWN AND
SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
HAPPENING, BUT DON'T GIVE UP
NOW.
Reporter: SAYS HER MOM,
NATALIE, A SINGLE MOTHER,
AND HER FAMILY, KEPT PUSHING
HER TO KEEP THE FAITH.
I DON'T THINK I COULD
HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT MY
FAMILY BEING BEHIND ME EVERY
SINGLE MINUTE, THROUGH THE
THICK AND THROUGH THE THIN.
Reporter: YOU MENTIONED
SOMETHING IN THE BOOK ABOUT
YOU ASKED GOD, WHY DID YOU
GIVE ME THIS SPECIAL GIFT?
IT MAKES ME WONDER, WHY
DID HE CHOOSE ME, OUT OF
ALWAY ALL OF THE MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE OUT THERE?
WHY ME?
I SAT DOWN AND I THINK,
HUH?
I THINK GOD HAS A PLAN FOR
EVERYONE.
I JUST SAT DOWN AND SAY, I'M
SO BLESSED TO BE IN THIS
POSITION RIGHT NOW.
Reporter: SHE SAID
KNOWING GOD HAD A PLAN KEPT
HER MOTIVATED.
PRAYER PLAYS A BIG ROLE
IN MY LIFE.
EVERY SINGLE TIME BEFORE I
COMPETED, I WAS PRAYING TO
GOD AND SAYING THANK YOU FOR
ALL, GOD, NO MATTER WHAT
HAPPENS TOMORROW, I'M STILL
GOING TO BE WITH YOU.
WIN OR LOSE, I'M STILL GOING
TO BLESS YOU AND GIVE YOU
ALL OF THE GLORY BECAUSE YOU
BROUGHT ME HERE.
Reporter: BUT HER
OLYMPIC DREAM ALMOST ENDED
BEFORE IT BEGAN.
WHEN GABBY CONTEMPLATED
LEAVING THE SPORT WHILE
TRAINING IN IOWA.
I WROTE THIS LONG TEXT
MESSAGE ON MY PHONE SAYING I
WANTED TO QUIT.
I WANTED TO TRY TRACK OR
FIELD.
MY MOM DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, SO
WE HAD A FAMILY DISCUSSION.
Reporter: GABBY IS
GRATEFUL FOR THAT PEP TALK
AND FOR THE BLESSINGS THAT
HAVE COME WITH IT.
MEANWHILE, SHE IS LOOKING
AHEAD TO THE RIO GAMES IN
2016, AND A POSSIBLE SHOT AT
ACTING.
FOR NOW, SHE WANTS TO USE
HER PLATFORM TO INSPIRE
OTHERS, THAT WITH HARD WORK,
DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.
IF YOU TRUST IN GOD AND LET
YOURSELF SOAR.
I'M SO GLAD THAT I GOT TO
GO TO LONDON AND INSPIRE
YOUNG GIRLS, THAT ANYONE CAN
DO IT, AND MY ADVICE AND TO
PASS DOWN THE MESSAGE AND
SAY ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF
YOU JUST BELIEVE.
MAKING THE HISTORY BOOKS --
I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW AT
FIRST.
I REMEMBER GOING TO THE
MEDIA AND THEY WERE LIKE,
YOU MADE HISTORY.
AND I'M, LIKE, OH, YEAH, I
DID.
Reporter: CHARLENE
ISRAEL, CBN NEWS.
Pat: SHE IS A SWEET
LITTLE GIRL AND OBVIOUSLY A
TREMENDOUS CHAMPION.
THOSE GIRLS IN GYMNASTICS
ARE 12, 13 -- HOW OLD?
Kristi: 16-ISH,
POSSIBLY.
Pat: WE SALUTE THIS
WONDERFUL CHAMPION, AND I'M
GLAD SHE IS A DISCIPLE OF
JESUS CHRIST.
KRISTI?
Kristi: PAT, WE'LL BE
BACK WITH TODAY'S HEADLINES
IN JUST A MOMENT.
LATER ON "700 CLUB," SEX,
DRUGS, AND MEGA CHURCHES.
ONE PERSON BURNED BY ALL
THREE TELLS US HOW SHE FOUND
HOPE IN THE MIDST OF TRAGEDY
AND HOW SHE LEARNED TO
FORGIVE, LATER ON TODAY'S
"THE 700 CLUB."
Lee: AND WELCOME BACK
TO "THE 700 CLUB."
BY THE POLITICAL POSTURING
IN WASHINGTON LIES WHAT MAY
BE THE BEGINNING OF A FISCAL
CLIFF.
THE HOT RHETORIC CONTINUED
TUESDAY IN THE CAPITAL, BUT
SO DID WORK ON AREAS OF
COMPRISE.
THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR
AMERICANS, AND ESPECIALLY
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WHO
HAVE 10 DAYS LEFT BEFORE
THEIR CHRISTMAS BREAK.
HEATHER CELLS HAS THAT
STORY.
President Obama:
UNFORTUNATELY THE SPEAKER'S
PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW IS STILL
OUT OF BALANCE.
Reporter: IN WACH, BOTH
SIDES ARE STILL TRADING
BARBS ON THE FAST,
FAST-APPROACHING FISCAL
CLIFF.
REACH AN AGREEMENT, OR CUTS
GO INTO EFFECT THAT COULD
FORCE THE ECONOMY BACK INTO
RECESSION.
SEEMINGLY, THE TWO SIDES
CANNOT AGREE.
President Obama: WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO SEE THE
RATES ON THE TOP 2% GO UP.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO GET A DEAL WITHOUT IT.
THE TAX INCREASES HE
WANTS WOULD FAIL TO MAKE
EVEN A SMALL DENT IN THE
DEBT, BUT IT WOULD HURT
MIDDLE CLASS BUSINESSES AND
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR
THEM.
Reporter: BEHIND THE
SCENES, HOWEVER, INSIDERS
SAY THE WHITE HOUSE AND
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE
BEGINNING TO IDENTIFY AREAS
OF SIGNIFICANT OVERLAP, AND
THESE AREAS COULD FORM THE
BASIS FOR A FINAL AGREEMENT
ON THE FISCAL CLIFF.
WHAT ARE THESE SIGNS OF
HOPE?
BOTH SIDES NOW CONCEDE THE
TAX REVENUE AND REDUCTION IN
ENTITLEMENT SPENDING ARE
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF ANY
DEAL.
A LIKELY SCENARIO, HOUSE
SPEAKER BOEHNER WILL YIELD
ON RAISING TAX RATES FOR TOP
EARNERS, AND THE WHITE HOUSE
WILL FLEX ON SOCIAL SECURITY
AND MEDICARE CUTS.
THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE WILL
CONSIDERING LOWERING TAX
RATES FOR THE TOP 2% OF
EARNERS NOT NOW, BUT NEXT
YEAR, AND BOTH SIDES ARE
CLOSE, AT LEAST IN THEORY,
ON CUTTING SPENDING ON A
HOST OF MISCELLANEOUS
PROGRAMS AND FEES.
HEATHER CELLS, CBN NEWS.
Lee: TEA PARTY
CONSERVATIVES SWEPT HOUSE
REPUBLICANS INTO POWER JUST
TWO YEARS AGO.
AND NOW G.O.P. LEADERS
APPEAR TO BE SWEEPING SOME
OF THOSE TEA PARTY LAWMAKERS
UNDER THE RUG BECAUSE
THEY'RE TOO CONSERVATIVE.
JOHN JESSOP HAS THAT STORY
FROM WASHINGTON.
Reporter:
TIM'S CAMP IS
A TEA PARTY REPUBLICAN WHO
CAME TO WASHINGTON ON A
MISSION TO REIN IN AN OUT OF
CONTROL GOVERNMENT.
I WAS CRITICAL OF THE
DEBT DEAL.
I WAS CRITICAL OF THE
SPENDING INCREASES.
I WAS CRITICAL OF A LACK OF
PROGRESS TAKING DOWN
OBAMACARE.
Reporter: AS ONE OF
CONGRESS' MOST CONSERVATIVE
MEMBERS, HIS PRINCIPLES
SOMETIMES PUTS HIM AT ODDS
WITH PARTY LEADERS.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
REPUBLICANS TO CRITICIZE
JOHN BOEHNER'S PLAN TO AR
AVERT THE FISCAL CLIFF.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A
$8 TRILLION DEFICIT, I DON'T
SEE HOW YOU DO THAT WITH
RAISING TAXES.
Reporter: ON THE SAME
DAY SPEAKER BOEHNER UNVEILED
HIS COUNTER-PROPOSAL, HE
BROKE SOME BAD NEWS TO
CERTAIN MEMBERS IN HIS
CONFERENCE, THEY WERE
GETTING BOOTED FROM THEIR
PRIMO POST.
IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE
TO ALL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
OUT THERE THINKING ABOUT
BEING REPUBLICANS.
Reporter: THESE FOUR
CONSERVATIVES WERE KICKED
OFF THEIR COMMITTEES.
BOTH FRESHMEN WERE REMOVED
FROM THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
WHERE THEY VOTED AGAINST THE
BUDGET CREATED BY PAUL
RYAN.
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK
THIS HAS TO DO WITH YOUR
VOTES AGAINST THE RYAN
BUDGET?
THAT MIGHT BE PART OF
IT.
WE DON'T KNOW.
Reporter: THEY DON'T
KNOW BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T
GIVEN AN EXPLANATION.
CBN NEWS CONTACTED SPEAKER
BOEHNER'S OFFICE TO GET SOME
ANSWERS, BUT WAS ONLY GIVEN
THIS RESPONSE: "THE
REPUBLICAN STEERING
COMMITTEE MAKES DECISIONS
BASED ON A RANGE OF
FACTORS."
WITH NOTHING CONCRETE, HE
WONDERS IF HIS PRO-LIFE AND
TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE
POLICIES MAY BE TO BLAME.
WHATEVER THE REASON, HE
LABELLED IT VINDICTIVE,
NOTING HOW THEY ALSO
STRIPPED HIM FROM THE
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.
HE SAYS HIS REMOVAL WILL
MARK THE FIRST TIME IN 150
YEARS THAT A KANSAS LAWMAKER
WILL NOT BE ON THE ROSTER.
SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THIS
MOVE SHOWS THE HOUSE G.O.P.
LEADERSHIP IS MAKING A LIST
AND CHECKING TO MAKE SURE
REBELLIOUS REPUBLICANS PAY A
PRICE.
BUT HE SAYS HE WILL REMAIN
LOYAL TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
MOST IMPORTANT, HIS
CONSTITUENTS.
Lee: AND TURNING
OVERSEAS, NEARLY 300 PEOPLE
ARE REPORTED DEAD AFTER A
POWERFUL TYPHOON FLOODED
MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN
PHILIPPINES.
AT LEAST 150 PEOPLE DIED.
OFFICIALS THERE FEAR THE
DEATH TOLL WILL RISE AS
RESCUERS REACH OTHER
HARD-HIT AREAS ISOLATED BY
LANDSLIDES AND FLOODING.
TYPHOON BOPHA WAY ONE OF THE
STRONGEST STORMS.
MOHAMMED MORSI IS BACK IN
HIS PALACE.
HE FLED YESTERDAY AFTER TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF PROTESTORS
SURROUNDED THE BUILDING.
THEY OPPOSED TO HIS DECREE
THAT GAVE HIM SWEEPING NEW
POWERS, AND THEY'RE OPPOSED
TO THE COUNTRY'S NOW
CONSTITUTION.
IT HAS DIVIDED EGYPT INTO
TWO CAMPS.
ON ONE SIDE IS THOSE WHO
SUPPORT MORSI, AND ON THE
OTHER SIDE ARE LIBERAL
GROUPS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND
MUCH OF THE PUBLIC.
OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE NOW
DECIDING ON THEIR NEXT
ACTIONS.
PAT?
Pat: IT IS TIME FOR THE
UNITED STATES TO STAND
STRONG, AND MAYBE BEHIND THE
SCENES GIVE AID AND
COMFORTE COMFORTS TO THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE TIRED OF THE
MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
THE BROTHERHOOD WANTS AN
ISLAMIC CALAFATE OVER THE
ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST.
THAT'S THEIR GOAL.
THEY'RE NOT SWEET
MODERATES.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO
APPOINTED THE P.L.O. AND
YASSER ARAFAT.
AND THEY DID THE PALESTINE
LIBERATION ORGANIZATION.
THEY HAVE FOUNDED HAMAS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
LEAGUE WITH TERRORISTS.
AND MORSI IS VERY EXTREME,
AND THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT
DON'T WANT IT.
AND THE UNITED STATES SHOULD
COME TO THEIR AID AS BEST
THEY CAN WITHOUT TIPPING THE
BALANCE AGAINST THEM.
SO WE WERE SO SILENT WHEN
THERE WAS AN OUTCRY IN IRAN
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AFTER
THAT RIGGED ELECTION.
SAME THING WITH MORSI.
IT IS TIME WE STAND UP AND
NOT SAY HE IS A PARTNER FOR
PEACE AND ALL OF THAT
NONSENSE.
WELL, SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS
HAPPENING THAT I THINK
YOU'LL FIND VERY
INTERESTING, BELGIUM, 25% OF
THE PEOPLE ARE MUSLIM.
HERE IS LEE WITH THAT
STORY.
Lee: THAT'S RIGHT,
PAT.
BELGIUM HAS SWORN INTO LOCAL
OFFICES, TWO OFFICIALS FROM
A FEW ISLAM PARTY THAT
SUPPORTS SHARI'A LAW.
THIS VIDEO SHOWS RED WANARUK
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE.
HE SAYS HE WANTS TO TURN
THEM INTO AN ISRAEL STATE.
HE ADMITS HE IS TAKING A
GRADUAL APPROACH, SAYING IT
MAY TAKE DECADES TO ENFORCE
SHARI'A LAW IN BELGIUM, BUT
HE SAYS THE PROCESS HAS
BEGUN.
MUSLIMS MAKE UP ONE QUARTER
OF BRUSSELS POPULATION.
THE JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION FINDS THAT ONLY
ONE OUT OF FIVE MEDICAL
STUDENTS PLANS TO BECOME A
GENERAL PRACTITIONER.
MOST INTEND TO BECOME
SPECIALISTS.
THE STUDY SAYS THE U.S.
THERE FACE A SHORTAGE OF
50,000 PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS
IN THE NEXT DECADE.
THAT WILL HAPPEN JUST AS
OBAMACARE BRINGS MILLIONS OF
NEW PATIENTS INTO THE
MEDICAL SYSTEM, AND THAT IS
EXPECTED TO MAKE THE
SHORTAGE EVEN WORSE.
PAT?
Pat: WE HAVE ONLY BEGUN
TO SEE THE TERROR OF IT AS
BEING UNLEASHED UPON US BY
THIS SO-CALLED OBAMACARE.
IT IS GOING TO BE TERRIBLE.
YOU WILL LOSE YOUR HEALTH
COVERAGE.
YOU'LL LOSE YOUR ACCESS TO
YOUR PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIAN.
YOU'LL BE STANDING IN LINE
FOR HOURS AND HOURS TO GET
TREATMENT BECAUSE THERE WILL
BE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL
BE FLOODING IN, WHO HAVE
BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE SYSTEM
BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE.
AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON
AND ON.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE
LIBERALS GO CRAZY IN
WASHINGTON AND INFLICT THEIR
PHILOSOPHY ON THE GENERAL
PUBLIC.
AND THIS IS THE PHILOSOPHY,
THAT THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO RUN
HEALTH CARE.
BIG MISTAKE.
KRISTI?
Kristi: WELL, OUR
"VOICE OF HOPE" SERIES
CONTINUES.
TODAY'S TOPIC IS FORGIVENESS
AND HOW TO FORGIVE.
HER LIFE MADE HEADLINES.
WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT,
PASTOR REVA TIMS.
BUT FOR ALL OF THE WRONG
REASONS.
SHE TELLS US HOW SHE
RESPONDED AFTER SCANDALS
ROCKED HER FAMILY.
IT IS JUICY, SO YOU DON'T
WANT TO TURN THE DIAL.
LATER ON TODAY'S PROGRAM, WE
GET E-MAIL QUESTIONS.
LAUREN SAYS, "I'VE BEEN THE
PUNCHING BAG OF MY MOTHER
AND BROTHER SINCE I WAS A
KID.
IT IS ONLY THA NOW THAT I'M
18 YEARS OLD THAT I CAN COME
TO REALIZE THE RESULT OF
THEIR ACTIONS.
HOW CAN I LEARN TO FORGIVE
THEM?"
WE HAVE THAT AND SO MUCH
MORE, SO DON'T GO AWAY.
Kristi: REVA TIMS SPLIT
WITH HER HUSBAND, PASTOR
ZACHARY TIMS, AFTER HE WAS
CAUGHT HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH
A STRIPPER.
TWO YEARS LATER, ZACHARY WAS
FOUND DEAD IN A NEW YORK
CITY HOTEL ROOM, LEAVING
BEHIND A CONFUSED CHURCH,
FOUR CHILDREN, AND A SCORNED
WIFE.
I SAT DOWN WITH REVA TIMS TO
TALK ABOUT THE SCANDAL, BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY TO TALK
ABOUT HOW SHE FOUND THE
STRENGTH TO FORGIVE.
Kristi: PASTOR RIVA
TIMS MADE E HEADLINES
HEADLINES WHEN HER MEGA
PASTOR HUSBAND WAS FOUND
DEAD IN A HOTEL ROOM AT THE
AGE OF 43.
HER HUSBAND'S MULTIPLE
AFFAIRS, A PUBLIC DIVORCE,
AND A CHURCH DIVIDED LEFT
RIVA EMBARRASSED AND
HEARTBROKEN.
BUT THIS SINGLE MOTHER OF
FOUR KNEW SHE HAD TO
FORGIVE.
THE QUESTION WAS: HOW?
I CONSIDER MYSELF ALMOST
LIKE THE WALKING DEAD.
I WASN'T LIVING TO MY
FULLEST POTENTIAL IN GOD
BECAUSE I HAD BEEN HURT SO
BAD.
I GOT TO A PLACE WHERE I WAS
JUST NUMB AND I WAS GOING
THROUGH THE MOTIONS.
BUT TODAY I'M IN A PLACE
WHERE I'M FULL OF LIFE, FULL
OF PURPOSE, FULL OF DESTINY,
FULL OF ENERGY AND POWER AND
AUTHORITY IN CHRIST.
IT IS ALMOST NIGHT AND DAY
FROM WHERE I WAS BEFORE.
Kristi: WE KNOW AS
CHRISTIANS, GOD SAYS WE HAVE
TO FORGIVE OTHERS.
IN ORDER FOR HIM TO FORGIVE
US, WE HAVE GOT TO FORGIVE
OTHERS.
BUT IT IS REALLY EASY FOR US
TO LOOK AT A PERSON WHO HAS
OFFENDED US, AND SAY I
FORGIVE THEM WITH MY MOUTH,
BUT OUR HEART IS OTHERWISE.
COME ON.
IT ISN'T UNTIL YOU SEE THAT
PERSON, AND YOU'RE LIKE, ARE
YOU READY?
YOU WANT TO LASH OUT, OR
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE HOME BY
YOURSELF AND YOU FIND
YOURSELF, IN YOUR MIND,
THINKING HOW MUCH YOU HATE
THAT PERSON.
THAT YOU REALIZE, WAIT A
MINUTE, FORGIVENESS DIDN'T
TAKE PLACE.
UNFORGIVENESS, RESENTMENT
HURTS US.
THEY'RE MOVING ON.
THEY'RE FINE, PARTYING.
AND WE'RE AT HOME --
Kristi: WITH THE
RESENTMENT?
YES.
IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR OWN
UNFORGIVENESS.
IT STARTED OFF WITH MY
HEALTH, I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF
JUST THE STRESS AND ALL OF
THAT.
HAD I NOT LET IT GO, I
BELIEVE MY HEALTH REALLY
WOULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.
Kristi: IT'S TRUE.
UNFORGIVENESS IS
SUFFOCATING.
IT STEALS YOUR JOY.
PEOPLE SOMETIMES FEEL
JUSTIFIED IN THEIR HATE.
AND NO MATTER HOW HORRIBLE
THAT PERSON HURT YOU, NO
MATTER HOW DEVASTATING THAT
PERSON CAME AT YOU AND TOOK
FROM YOU, OR EVEN TOOK A
LOVED ONE AWAY FROM YOU,
NOTHING REQUIRES YOU OR
GIVES YOU A JUSTIFICATION OF
HOLDING VENGEANCE.
GOD IS A JUST GOD.
AND HE WILL WORK IT OUT FOR
YOU.
Kristi: ALL RIGHT,
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS OF
UNFORGIVENESS.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS REALLY
DEALING WITH IT, AND
SOMETIMES I STILL DO, IT
DEPENDS ON WHO CROSSES MY
PATH --
[LAUGHTER]
Kristi: I'M NOT LYING.
THEN IT'S LIKE EVEN YOUR
PRAYER TIME CHANGES BECAUSE
YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
HOW CAN GOD DWELL IN OUR
HEART IF WE HAVE THAT
BITTERNESS AND ANGER, AND WE
HAVE REALLY THE DARKNESS IN
OUR HEART OF UNFORGIVENESS.
SO SPIRITUALLY, HOW DID THAT
AFFECT YOU?
WELL, I DIDN'T STAY IN
UNFORGIVENESS FOR TOO LONG.
I DID GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS.
IT DOES AFFECT YOU BECAUSE
IT AFFECTS YOUR PRAYER
LIFE.
THE BIBLE EVEN SAYS, YOUR
PRAYERS WILL BE HINDERED.
IF YOU HAVE UNFORGIVENESS
AND YOU CANNOT FORGIVE
SOMEONE, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
THE LORD WILL NOT FORGIVE
YOU EN CERTAIN AREAS.
BUT I THINK PEOPLE FORGET
THAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT
CONDONING.
WE TAKE IT IF I FORGIVE THAT
PERSON, I'M SAYING IT WASN'T
THAT BAD.
OR I'M SAYING THEY CAN DO IT
AGAIN.
NO.
WHEN YOU FORGIVE, YOU'RE
YOU'RE RELEASING YOURSELF SO
YOU CAN BE LIBERATED
SPIRITUALLY, AND SO THAT YOU
CAN FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF
FAITH, BUT YOU'RE NOT
CONDONING THEM FOR WHAT THEY
DID.
YOU'RE JUST FORGIVING THEM
FOR WHAT THEY DID.
Kristi: LET'S BREAK IT
DOWN TO THE HOW?
SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT
FOR US TO READ WHAT THE WORD
OF GOD SAYS AND HOW TO APPLY
IT IN OUR LIVES.
I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO LOVE,
BUT HOW.
I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO
FORGIVE, BUT HOW.
I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO LET
THIS OFFENSE GO, BUT HOW?
YOU HAVE TO START BY
FAITH.
IT TAKES FAITH TO FORGIVE.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BY
FAITH TO FORGIVE.
MY FIRST STEP WAS TO PRAY
AND TO PRAY SINCERELY.
I TOLD YOU BEFORE, MY PRAYER
WAS LIKE, OKAY.
I PRAYED THEIR FEET RIGHT
OFF.
I PRAYED THAT FIRE WOULD
COME DOWN AND CONSUME THEM.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE PRAYER
THAT GOD WANTED.
WHEN YOU REALLY FORGIVE
SOMEONE, YOU SAY, LORD, I
PRAY FOR THEIR SALVATION.
FATHER, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL
CONVICT THEM BY THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
LORD, SHOW ME IS THERE
ANYTHING IN ME THAT IS
CAUSING ANY OF THIS.
YOU BEGIN TO GET HUMBLE IN
YOUR SPIRIT.
WHEN YOU SINCERELY PRAY FOR
SOMEONE, YOU DON'T HATE THEM
ANYMORE.
YOUR HEART HAS BECOME SOFTER
AND IT BECOMES MORE
PLIABLE.
Kristi: AND WHEN YOU DO
PRAY FOR A PERSON, GOD GIVES
YOU REVELATION SOMETIMES.
HAS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO
YOU?
YES.
Kristi: WHEN YOU
PRAYING FOR A PERSON, GOD
ALLOWS YOU TO SEE THAT
PERSON THE WAY HE SEES
THEM.
AND YOU START SEEING
WHERE SOMEONE HURT THEM.
HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.
Kristi: RIGHT.
AND THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN WE
PRAY FOR THAT PERSON,
BREAKTHROUGH CAN HAPPEN FOR
THAT PERSON.
BECAUSE WE NOW KNOW WHAT
THOSE ROOTS ARE, WHAT THOSE
ISSUES ARE.
MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HURT
ME, DID ME WRONG, HAVE COME
BACK BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT
DID CONVICT THEM.
THE HOLY SPIRIT DID TALK TO
THEM AND THEY DID CHANGE,
AND THEY APOLOGIZED.
AND SO, YOU'RE RIGHT, GOD
USES US.
HE WANTS US TO BE AN EXAMPLE
OF HIS LOVE.
HE WANTS US TO BE AN EXAMPLE
OF CHRIST.
Kristi: WHAT DO YOU SAY
TO THAT PERSON, WHERE THAT
OFFENDER IS STILL THERE
CONSTANTLY OFFENDING YOU.
THAT IS WORSE.
I BELIEVE IN LOVING SOMEONE
FROM A DISTANCE.
I LOVE MYSELF TOO MUCH THAT
I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW
MYSELF TO BE ABUSED, I'M NOT
GOING TO ALLOW MYSELF TO BE
MENTALLY DISTURBED.
I DON'T BELIEVE GOD IS INTO
CHILD ABUSE.
WE ARE HIS CHILDREN.
WE ARE THE APPLE OF HIS
EYE.
HE WOULD NOT LITERALLY PUT
US IN A SITUATION TO
CONTINUE TO BE ABUSED,
ABUSED SEXUALLY, ABUSED
MENTALLY.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE
GO WRONG BECAUSE THEY THINK
THAT FORGIVING MEANS
CONDONING.
Kristi: AND I THINK
WHERE IT IS HARD IS IF
YOU'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
WHERE YOU'VE EXTENDED LOVE
AND DONE NOTHING BUT GOOD TO
THIS PERSON, AND THEY REPAY
YOU WITH VENUE -- THAT'S
DIFFICULT TO HANDLE.
JESUS DID THAT.
AND HE SAID "FORGIVE THEM
FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY
DO."
ALL HE DID WAS LOVE US.
ALL HE DID WAS CARE FOR US.
ALL HE DID WAS GIVE US THE
WORD.
AND WE SAW HOW THEY CAME AT
HIM AND WANTED HIM
CRUCIFIED.
HE DID NOTHING TO DESERVE
WHAT HE GOT.
AND THAT'S THE WORD OF GOD.
SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
HANDLE IT.
THAT'S WHY WHEN WE LIVE IN
CHRIST, WE'RE ABLE TO HANDLE
THAT AND WALK THROUGH IT IN
MATURITY.
THAT'S HOW WE SEE THE
KINGDOM ADVANCE.
Kristi: I AM CONVINCED
THAT LITERALLY FORGIVENESS
IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST
CHALLENGING THINGS THAT WE
AS CHRISTIANS ARE REQUIRED
TO DO.
ESPECIALLY IF -- LIKE WHEN I
WAS TALKING WITH RIVA, AND
THERE ARE SO MANY ASPECTS OF
HER STORY THAT PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW.
WHETHER IT WAS JUST AN
AFFAIR, OR YOUR CHURCH
HURTING YOU, OR JUST
BETRAYAL, NO MATTER WHAT IT
IS, WHEN GOD REQUIRES US TO
FORGIVE, THAT'S A HARD TASK
TO DO.
Pat: YOU INTERVIEWED
HER EARLIER, WHICH YOU
DIDN'T BRING OUT IN THIS
SERIES, WHAT WENT ON IN HER
LIFE.
SHE HAS FOUR CHILDREN, ONE
WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.
SHE HAS TO DO THAT.
HER HUSBAND WAS PROVIDING NO
CHILD SUPPORT FOR THAT --
Kristi: WELL, HE WASN'T
SUPPORTIVE.
I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO HER
BUSINESS, BUT THE BOTTOM
LINE IS WHEN YOU MARRY
SOMEONE, THERE IS A COVENANT
THERE.
YOU HAVE THE LEVEL OF
EXPECTATIONS.
SO EVEN WHEN THAT MARRIAGE
IS ENDED, THERE IS STILL A
LEVEL OF EXPECTATION.
SO WHEN THOSE ARE NOT
FULFILLED --
Pat: I KNOW, BUT THIS
GUY -- HE WENT TO FRANCE AND
TOOK UP WITH A FRENCH
STRIPPER.
NOT AN AMERICAN STRIPPER,
BUT A FRENCH STRIPPER.
Kristi: WELL, ALLEGEDLY
THERE WAS INFIDELITY.
Pat: INFIDELITY.
Kristi: I'M BRINGING IT
BACK TO JESUS --
Pat: ARE YOU AFRAID YOU
ARE GOING TO GET SUED BY HIS
ESTATE.
Kristi: NO.
I THINK THIS IS THE ISSUE.
I THINK THE ISSUE IS, EVERY
SINGLE PERSON, YOU,
MYSELF -- ALL OF US HAS A
STORY ABOUT HOW SOMEONE HAS
WRONGED US TO THE CORE.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE
DIFFICULT IF IT IS A SPOUSE
OR SOMEONE WE REALLY LOVE
WRONGS US.
AND SHE, THROUGH GOD'S
GRACE --
Pat: SHE IS A
REMARKABLE, LOVELY LADY.
BUT THE THING OF IT IS -- I
HAVE, IN MY OWN LIFE, I HAVE
MUCH REASON TO BE ANGRY AT A
LOT OF PEOPLE.
BUT I CANNOT HOLD A GRUDGE.
THE LORD JUST -- I MEAN, I'M
INCAPABLE OF HOLDING A
GRUDGE.
I'D KIND OF LIKE LIKE TO
HOLD A GRUDGE, BUT I CAN'T
DO IT.
THIS LADY SEEMS LIKE THE
SAME WAY.
IT IS REMARKABLE.
Kristi: THE KEY IS
THIS, JESUS SAYS WHO THE SON
SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED.
I KNOW PAT AND I KIND OF GOT
OFF TRACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT,
REALLY, FORGIVENESS, IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WHEN YOU DO
FORGIVE, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY
BE THE MOST DIFFICULT THING
TO DO, YOU WILL BE SET
FREE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT THE OTHER PERSON.
BUT YOU WILL BE SET FREE TO
MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE TO DO
WHAT THE LORD CALLS YOU TO
DO.
IF YOU NEED MORE HELP WITH
FORGIVENESS, ALL YOU HAVE TO
DO IS LOG ON TO CBN.COM.
GO TO "THE VOICE OF HAPPY"
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY
DOWNLOAD THIS WONDERFUL
STUDY GUIDE.
THERE ARE 10 SCRIPTURES THAT
WILL REALLY MINISTER TO YOUR
HEART.
AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE
REST OF OUR "VOICE OF HOPE"
SEGMENTS.
WE TALK HO ABOUT HOW TO
TRUST IN GOD THROUGH
TRAGEDY.
AND IT IS THE HOLIDAY
SEASON, AND SOMETIMES THAT
CAN BE DIFFICULT.
PEOPLE ARE LOVING THIS.
WE WANT YOU TO SHARE THEM
WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
AND YOU CAN ALSO ASK US
QUESTIONS.
PAT AND I ARE JUST ABOUT TO
ANSWER SOME OF THEM RIGHT
NOW ABOUT FORGIVENESS.
ARE YOU READY TO DO SO?
Pat: LET'S GO FOR IT.
Kristi: LAUREN
SAYS, "I'VE BEEN THE
PUNCHING BAG OF MY MOTHER
AND BIG BROTHER SINCE I WAS
A KID.
IT IS ONLY NOW, THAT I'M 18
YEARS OLD, THAT I'VE COME TO
REALIZE THE NEGATIVE AFFECTS
OF THEIR ACTION.
I FEE FEEL NOTHING MORE FOR
THEM THAN HATRED.
EVERY TIME THEY BEAT ME UP I
CURSE THEM.
HOW CAN I FORGIVE THEM?"
Pat: HAVE THEY BEEN
BEATING HER UP?
Kristi: I DON'T KNOW.
WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY,
SOMETIMES IT CAN BE VERBAL
ABUSE OR PHYSICAL ABUSE.
Pat: ALL SHE'S GOT IS
HATRED.
YOU'VE GOT TO RELEASE
BECAUSE HATRED IS A POISON
THAT WILL BUILD UP IN YOU.
YOUR HATRED ISN'T HURTING
THEM.
IT'S HURTING YOU.
YOU'VE GOT TO THINK OF
JESUS, WHO, ON THE CROSS,
SAID "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM
FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY
DO."
YOU HAVE TO SAY, FATHER
FORGET, AND LET THE FATHER
DID THE FORGIVING FOR YOU,
AND YOU LET THE FORGIVENESS
FLOW THROUGH YOU.
AS LONG AS YOU THINK, THOSE
DIRTY SNAKES, THEY BEAT ME,
CURSED ME, AND THEY DID ALL
OF THIS, AND I WAS SO
ASHAMED AND THEY EMBARRASSED
ME AND YOU KEEP GOING ON AND
ON -- YOU'VE GOT TO LET THAT
GO BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF
LIKE
A
POISON.
AND YOU KIND OF WANT
TO
TASTE IT AND TASTE IT AND
TASTE IT AGAIN.
LET IT GO AND THINK OF
JESUS.
AND READ IN THE WORD ABOUT
WHAT HE SAYS AND
WHAT HE
DOES, AND HOW
HE HAS
FORGIVEN YOU AND HE LOVES
YOU,
AND YOU JUST BASK IN
HIS LOVE AND YOU DON'T BRING
THE OTHER UP.
Kristi: AND THERE IS A
PRACTICAL ELEMENT, TOO.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS
PHYSICALLY HURTING YOU AND
LOVING YOU, I BELIEVE IN
LOVING SOMEONE FROM A
DISTANCE.
YOU'VE GOT TO STEP UP AND
SAY I VALUE MYSELF MORE THAN
ALLOWING YOU TO BEAT ME DOWN
ALL THE TIME.
Pat: YOU HAVE TO GET
OUT OF AN ABUSIVE
SITUATION.
Kristi: YEAH.
AND TALK TO PEOPLE.
Pat: IT IS TIME FOR HER
TO MOVE ON.
THE OTHER THING IS -- AND
THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT --
YOU START PRAYING THAT THAT
PERSON WILL
FIND A PEACE AND
A WALK IN JESUS.
Kristi: THAT'S GOOD,
PAT.
Pat: SO YOUR PRAYER IS
ON THE SIDE OF
LETTING THAT
PERSON COME
TO A NEW
EXPERIENCE IN JESUS.
AND THAT'S
WHAT YOU'RE
PRAYING.
NOT KEEP ME
FROM
HATING HER,
BUT MAY SHE FIND A NEW WALK
IN GOD.
Kristi: BEAUTIFUL.
JODY WRITES, "IN MY EARLY
20s, I HAD AN ABORTION.
I'M 10 YEARS OLDER AND A
CHRISTIAN, BUT I'M DISTURBED
BY THE DECISION I MADE.
HOW CAN I FORGIVE MYSELF?"
Pat: I REMEMBER DONNA
SUMMERS SAYING PEOPLE
FORGAVE ME AND I FORGIVE
ME.
YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE
YOURSELF.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
READ AGAIN WHAT THE BIBLE
SAYS.
BLESS THE LORD, ALL MY
SOULS, WHO FORGIVES ALL OF
YOUR INEQUITIES AND HEALS
ALL YOUR DISEASES.
THERE IS NOTHING -- AS FAR
AS THE EAST IS FROM THE
WEST, THAT'S HOW FAR HE'LL
TAKE YOUR SINS FROM YOU.
LOOK IN THE BIBLE, AND ALL
OF THE PROMISES ARE THERE.
LOOK UNDER THE WORD
"FORGIVENESS," AND IT'S
THERE BECAUSE GOD FORGIVES
YOU.
GOD DOESN'T WANT TO BEAT YOU
UP.
GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU
COWERING IN A CORNER ALL
ASHAMED.
HE SAYS HE WANTS YOU TO BE
CLEANSED OF DEAD WORKS THAT
YOU MIGHT SERVE THE LIVING
GOD.
HE WANTS YOU FOR SERVICE,
NOT FOR HUMILIATION.
HE WANTS YOU FOR SERVICE.
AND HE WANTS YOU TO BE FREE
OF THE PAST, THAT YOUR
CONSCIENCE IS GOING TO BE
CLEANSED FROM DEAD WORKS TO
SERVE THE LIVING GOD.
Kristi: A FRIEND OF
MINE WENT THROUGH THE VERY
SAME THING YOU JUST TALKED
ABOUT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU
TOLD ME IN TERMS OF THE
GUILT, SHE SAID AS HORRIBLE
AS I FELT, SHE KNEW ONE DAY
SHE WOULD BE REUNITED WITH
THAT BABY IN THE ARMS OF
JESUS CHRIST, AND SHE
THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND
PRAISED GOD FOR IT.
COOKIE SAYS, "I'M A SINGLE
WOMAN AND HA HAVE NEVER
BEEN IN A SERIOUS
RELATIONSHIP.
I'M CONSTANTLY ASKED WHEN
I'LL HAVE A RELATIONSHIP AND
A CHILD.
HOW DO I GET OVER THIS HURT
FEELING OF BEING LONELY?"
Pat: HAVE THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL LIFE IN THE
WORLD, AND BE HAPPY AND SHOW
EVERYONE AROUND YOU HOW
HAPPY YOU ARE.
IF GOD HAS DESTINED YOU WITH
A LIFE OF BEING SINGLE, THE
LORD IS YOUR HUSBAND, SO GET
ON WITH IT.
IF YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED,
ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU A
HUSBAND, AND HE'LL DO THAT,
TOO.
Kristi: AND STAY TUNED
NEXT WEEK BECAUSE WE'RE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT
LONELINESS.
SHE WRITES, "MY DAUGHTER IS
IN EIGHTH GRADE, AND MY
DAUGHTER IS AN ATHEIST.
AND THEIR TEACHER IS MAKING
THEM SING "MY GOD, MY LIFE."
"THE SCHOOL PRINCIPLE SAYS
THEY HAVE TO SING IT OR GET
A FAILING GRADE.
CAN THEY DO THAT?"
Pat: THE HATE TO SUE
PEOPLE, BUT SCHOOLS CANNOT
IMPOSE PAGANISM ON THEIR
STUDENTS.
THEY SAY YOU CAN'T TALK
ABOUT JESUS, YOU CAN'T CALL
THEM CHRISTMAS TREES.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE HOLIDAYS
INSTEAD OF CHRISTMAS.
BIG DEAL.
BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE PAGAN
FESTIVALS AND SING SONGS
EXALTING PAGANISM.
I THINK THAT THEY'RE
VIOLATING YOUR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
AND ONE THREAT OF A LAWSUIT
AND THEY'LL BACK UP IN A NEW
YORK SECOND.
SO I RECOMMEND THAT.
I KNOW THAT'S -- WE DON'T
WANT TO GO AROUND SUING
PEOPLE, BUT IN A CASE LIKE
THIS, I THINK YOU SHOULD.
Kristi: ZINDA SAID, "I
KNOW SOMEONE WHO SAID GOD
TOLD THEM SOMEONE IN THE
FAMILY WAS GOING TO DIE
SOON.
AND THAT ONE PERSON HAD A
BAD LIVER.
I THOUGHT PROPHECY WAS FOR
EDFICATION.
THIS PERSON NEVER SAID
THEY'D BE HEALED, AND THEY
JUST GIVE BAD REPORTS."
Pat: THAT SOUNDS LIKE
WITCHCRAFT.
AND PEOPLE TRYING TO CURSE
PEOPLE.
IT IS SATANIC.
I WOULDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO
IT.
WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS
REBUKE THAT SORT OF THING.
YOU'RE NOT UNDER THE SPELL
OF SOME SHAMAN OR SOME WITCH
OR
SOME FORTUNE TELLER.
THEY'LL DO THAT AND BRING A
CURSE ON YOU.
IF YOU FOCUS ON IT ENOUGH,
YOU MIGHT HAVE THE PROBLEM
BECAUSE YOUR MIND IS VERY
PLIABLE.
BUT I
JUST THINK, SAY IN THE
NAME OF
JESUS, I DO NOT
RECEIVE THAT.
I DO NOT RECEIVE THAT KIND
OF STATEMENT.
THAT DID NOT
COME FROM GOD.
IT COMES FROM THE DEVIL.
Kristi: SPEAK IT,
BROTHER.
IF YOU HAVE ANYMORE
QUESTIONS FOR PAT, ALL YOU
HAVE TO DO IS LOG ON TO
cbn.com, AND DON'T FORGET,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE "VOICE
OF HOPE" SERIES, WE WOULD
LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
TV HOST MARTHA POLLAND MADE
A NAME FOR HERSELF AS A
SEAMSTRESS.
AND NOW SHE IS HEADING INTO
OUR KITCHEN ON TODAY'S "700
CLUB."
Lee: WELCOME BACK TO
"THE 700 CLUB."
A DISPUTED CALIFORNIA
NATIVITY SCENE IS MOVING TO
PRIVATE LAND.
THIS COMES LESS THAN A WEEK
AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE RULED
THAT SANTA MONICA,
CALIFORNIA, COULD BAN
RELIGIOUS DISPLAYS ON PUBLIC
PROPERTY.
A CHRISTIAN GROUP HAS BEEN
SETTING UP THE NATIVITY
SCENE IN PALISADES PARK FOR
NEARLY SIX DECADES.
LAWYERS FOR THE GROUP SAY
THE MOVE TO PRIVATE LAND IS
NOT A RESOLUTION TO THE
CASE, AND THEY PLAN TO FILE
AN APPEAL.
HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER
HOSTED THE LIGHTING OF THE
CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE LAST
NIGHT.
EAGLE SCOUT RYAN FLIPPED THE
SWITCH AS THE CROWD CHEERED
AND THE U.S. BAND PLAYED "O
CHRISTMAS TREE."
THREE, TWO, ONE!
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]
Lee: THE 65-FOOT SPRUCE
IS FROM THE STATE OF
COLORADO.
REPRESENTATIVE BOEHNER SAYS
THE 10,000 LIGHTS REPRESENT
THE EVERLASTING LIGHT THAT
ENTERS THE WORLD WITH THE
BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.
THE TREE WILL BE LIT EACH
NIGHT UNTIL THE DAY AFTER
CHRISTMAS.
YOU CAN ALWAYS GET THE
LATEST FROM CBN NEWS BY
GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AT
CBNNEWS.COM.
PAT AND KRISTI WILL BE BACK
WITH MORE OF "THE 700 CLUB"
RIGHT AFTER THIS.
*
Pat: YOU KNOW, THIS IS
CHRISTMAS SEASON, AND IT'S
AMAZING AROUND THE WORLD,
THE COMPASSION, THE LOVE
THAT'S ALWAYS EVIDENT, AND
ESPECIALLY IN THE POOR
COMMUNITIES.
WELL, AFTER HER SISTER DIED,
ALMA ADOPTED HER NIECE AND
NEPHEW, EVEN THOUGH SHE
COULD BARELY AFFORD TO FEED
THEM.
DOWN IN HONDURAS.
SO WHEN "OPERATION BLESSING"
HEARD ABOUT ALMA'S
GENEROSITY, WE GAVE HER
FAMILY SOME MUCH-NEEDED
HELP.
WATCH THIS.
Reporter: ERIC AND HIS
SISTER NEEDED A PLACE TO
STAY AFTER THEIR MOTHER WAS
KILLED BY A STRAY BULLET.
SO THEIR AUNT ALMA DECIDED
TO TAKE THEM IN.
IF I HAD BEEN THE ONE WHO
HAD DIED, I'M SURE MY SISTER
WOULD HAVE TAKEN IN MY
CHILDREN.
Reporter: BUT TIMES
HAVE BEEN TOUGH FOR ALMA.
SHE IS ALSO A SINGLE MOTHER,
RAISING HER TWO CHILDREN.
HER GREATEST CHALLENGE WAS
TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO
PROVIDE FOOD FOR EVERYONE.
SOMETIMES I ONLY HAD A
LITTLE JUICE OR A PIECE OF
BREAD FOR THEM TO TAKE TO
SCHOOL.
GOD KNOWS HOW I TRIED MY
BEST TO GIVE THEM EVERYTHING
I COULD.
ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN HARD,
WE HAVE BECOME A BIG
FAMILY.
Reporter: WHEN
"OPERATION BLESSING" LEARNED
WHAT ALMA WAS DOING FOR ERIC
AND HIS SISTER, WE SET UP A
PLAN TO HELP.
FIRST WE ENROLLED HER IN
CLASSES TAUGHT BY "OPERATION
BLESSING" TO TRAIN HER HOW
TO SEW AND RUN A SMALL
BUSINESS.
THEN WE SURPRISED HER AND
GAVE HER A NEW SEWING
MACHINE.
WITH THE MACHINE AND A
LITTLE START-UP CAPITAL,
ALMA IS ALREADY MAKING
MONEY.
NOW THAT I HAVE MY NEW
MACHINE AND THE BUSINESS, I
MAKE THE CLOTHING AND I
CARRY THEM TO STORES IN THE
COMMUNITY WHERE I SELL
THEM.
Reporter: ALMA'S
CLOTHES HAVE BEEN IN HIGH
DEMAND AT THE STORES WHERE
SHE SELLS THEM, AND ORDERS
HAVE BEEN POURING IN.
MEANWHILE, FOR ERIC AND HIS
SISTER, LIFE WITH THEIR NEW
FAMILY HAS GOTTEN BETTER.
ALMA IS NOW ABLE TO PROVIDE
FOOD FOR ALL OF THEM, AND IS
GIVING THEM HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE.
THANKS, "OPERATION
BLESSING"!
Pat: WE'RE THERE IN
YOUR NAME, AND IN THE NAME
OF JESUS.
ALL AROUND THE WORLD,
HELPING THE POOR AND THE
NEEDY.
WE CAN'T DO IT FOR ALL OF
THEM, BUT WE CAN DO IT FOR
SPECIAL ONES AS WE ARE ABLE
TO HELP THEM, LIKE ALMA,
DOWN IN HONDURAS.
SUFFERING, POOR, NOT KNOWING
WHERE THE NEXT MEAL IS
COMING FROM.
NOW SHE IS A LITTLE BUSINESS
PERSON.
SHE HAS HER OWN SEWING
BUSINESS, AND SHE HAS GOT
ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY FOOD AND
TAKE CARE OF THOSE WONDERFUL
CHILDREN.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH
"OPERATION BLESSING."
THAT'S WHAT YOUR "700 CLUB"
MEMBERSHIP MEANS.
THAT'S 65 CENTS A DAY.
AND YOU THINK OF WHAT WE CAN
DO WITH 65 CENTS.
SO WHEN EVERYBODY SHARES
TOGETHER, GOOD THINGS
HAPPEN.
SO WE JUST INVITE YOU TO
CALL RIGHT NOW.
SAY, LOOK, AT THIS
CHRISTMASTIME, I WANT TO
HELP PEOPLE LIKE ALMA AND
HER LITTLE BROOD, NEPHEW AND
NIECE AND THE OTHER CHILDREN
SHE HAS.
WE WANT TO HELP THEM AND
OTHERS LIKE HER ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
PICK UP THE TELEPHONE AND
CALL IN, 1-800-759-0700.
AND I WANT TO SEND YOU
SOMETHING.
IT'S CALLED "GOD'S PLAN FOR
AMERICA."
IT'S A D.V.D., AND IT TALKS
ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF
AMERICA.
IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT GOD'S
PURPOSE FOR AMERICA IS.
AND IT'S SOMEWHAT OF A
WARNING ABOUT WHAT MAY BE
HAPPENING IF WE DON'T BEGIN
TO FOLLOW THE COVENANT THAT
WE MADE WITH GOD.
SO THAT'S THERE FOR YOU WHEN
YOU JOIN "700 CLUB."
SO PICK UP YOUR PHONE RIGHT
NOW.
GO TO YOUR PHONE AND SAY,
YEAH, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
RIGHT NOW.
KRISTI?
Kristi: MARTHA PULLEN
BEGAN HER FIRST BUSINESS
WHEN SHE WAS JUST 14 YEARS
OLD.
SINCE THEN, SHE'S STARTED
FASHION SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
HER GOAL?
SHARE HER SKILLS, NOT JUST
WITH STUDENTS, BUT FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS AS WELL.
Reporter: SHE IS THE
AUTHOR OF MORE THAN 55
BOOKS, AND SHE'S THE FOUNDER
OF SEW BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINE.
BESIDES SEWING, MARTHA ALSO
LOVES TO COOK.
AND BELIEVES THE HEART OF
THE HOME, THE KITCHEN,
BRINGS THE FAMILY TOGETHER.
IN HER LATEST BOOK, "THE
SOUTHERN FAMILY COOKBOOK,"
MARTHA SHARES NOT ONLY
FAMILY RECIPES, BUT
CHERISHED STORIES CENTERED
AROUND FOOD AND COOKING.
SHE SHOWS YOU HOW TO CREATE
A COOKING MEMOIR FOR YOUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
TO SHARE FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME.
Kristi: MARTHA'S BOOK
IS CALLED "SOUTHERN FAMILY
COOKBOOK."
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING
ME.
Kristi: OF COURSE.
I'M REALLY EXCITED.
THE ONE THING I FELT WAS
REALLY COOL.
IT WASN'T JUST RECIPES.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A PLACE
WHERE WE CAN WRITE KIND OF
OUR OWN FAMILY MEMORIES.
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE A C.D. IN THE
BACK OF THE BOOK TO MAKE IT
REALLY EASY.
I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR EACH FAMILY,
EACH WOMAN, TO WRITE THE
FAMILY RECIPES, PLUS THE
FAMILY STORIES, PLUS,
KRISTI, PUT SCRIPTURES AND
LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH YOU
LOVE JESUS.
THIS COULD BE ALSO AN
EVANGELISITIC TOOL.
BECAUSE SOMEONE IS NOT GOING
TO THROW AWAY A COOKBOOK.
THIS IS MY GRANDMOTHER'S
RECIPE, AND LOOK, HERE IS A
SCRIPTURE.
THEY TOLD A STORY ABOUT HOW
MUCH THEY LOVE JESUS.
AND WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT.
I'M HOPING THAT HAPPEN.
EVERYBODY HAS AN ASSIGNMENT,
TO GET THE FAMILY RECIPES
TOGETHER AND WRITE A STORY.
Kristi: SO THIS
GENERATION CAN PASS IT TO
THE NEXT GENERATION.
SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE
CHRISTMAS RECIPES THAT MADE
YOUR CHRISTMAS PHENOMENAL?
I GROUP IN A CHRISTIAN
FAMILY AND MY MOMMY AND
DADDY LOVED THE LORD.
WE WENT TO CHURCH THREE
TIMES A WEEK, WHETHER WE
NEEDED IT OR NOT.
AND WE WENT TO CHURCH AND MY
DADDY TOLD THE CHRISTMAS
STORY.
MY MAMA WANTED US TO HAVE
THE MOST WONDERFUL FOOD AND
THE PARTIES.
AND SHE LIKED KIND OF FANCY
THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO
SHARE WITH YOU.
Kristi: WHAT ARE THE
FANCY-DANCY THINGS.
I LIKE EASY, E-A-S-Y.
NOW WE HAVE SOME EASY THINGS
FOR YOU.
THIS WONDERFUL PINEAPPLE
CENTERPIECE, TO ME IT IS SO
PRETTY.
IT LOOKS FANCY, BUT IT IS
EASY TO DO.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THIS
SALMON.
THIS IS MY SPECIALTY.
NO COOKING, JUST CUT OFF THE
PEPPERS, AND PUT WONDERFUL
FILLINGS, AND THAT WONDERFUL
SMOKED SALMON THAT WAS IN
THERE.
MAMA ALWAYS DID CURRIED
FRUIT, AND, KRISTI, THAT WAS
KIND OF FANCY IN ALABAMA.
BUT I WAS BORN IN NEW
JERSEY.
SHE LEARNED ABOUT CURRIE --
I'M A JERSEY GIRL, TOO.
I'M GOING TO DO ONE QUICK
AND THEN I'M GOING TO LET
YOU DO ONE.
Kristi: OKAY, I LOVE
IT.
THESE ARE MAMA'S SWEET
POTATO MARSHMELLOW
SURPRISE.
THE FIRST THING WE'RE GOING
TO DO IS PUT THE SUGAR IN.
THESE RECIPES ARE ON THE
WEBSITE.
AND WHEN SUSANNE, MY
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, AND I DID
THIS, WE DID IT OURSELVES.
AND THEN THE ADAMS COMPANY
MADE IT.
Kristi: YOU'RE SO
GENTLE IN THE KITCHEN.
STEP BACK.
YOU'VE GOT THE IDEA.
WE HAVE IT MAGICALLY DOING.
Kristi: THAT WAS
QUICK.
HERE IS A LITTLE POTATO
BALL.
AND I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME
MARSHMELLOWS HERE, AND I'M
GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO,
VERY CAREFULLY -- YOU'VE GOT
TO SQUOOSH THEM IN.
YOU GET IT KIND OF COLD AND
BRING IT OVER HERE, AND THEN
YOU ROLL IT IN THE
CORNFLAKES.
MY HANDS WILL BE ALL SWEET
POTATOY.
POTATOEY.
YOU BAKE IT AND LOOK HOW
PRETTY THOSE ARE.
Kristi: CAN I TASTE
THESE?
SURE YOU CAN.
Kristi: ARE THEY
COOKED?
THE SWEET POTATOES ARE
COOKED ANYWAY.
Kristi: THEY'RE YUMMY.
I NEVER WOULD HAVE THUNK.
AND SOMETIMES IN THE
SOUTH, THEY MAKE THINGS A
LITTLE SWEETER.
ONLY 25 CALORIES IN THOSE
MARSHMELLOWS, AND YOU CAN
ROLL IT IN BROWN SUGAR.
AND YOU CAN GET FROSTED
CORNFLAKES.
Kristi: THE FROSTED
CORNFLAKES AND THE BROWN
SUGAR -- I'M ALL ABOUT IT.
THESE ARE MAMA'S FAMOUS
SPICED PECANS.
PUT ALL OF THE SUGAR IN THIS
BOWL.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE
WATER --
Kristi: YOU PUT THE
PECANS --
IT HAS EGG WHITES AND --
YOU KNOW WHAT -- GRAB IT.
THERE YOU GO.
JUST POKE IT.
THERE YOU GO.
Kristi: I LOVE IT.
DOESN'T YOU JUST LOVE
IT?
JUST DU DUMP THEM IN,
GIRL.
Kristi: I THINK THE EGG
WHITES HELP.
AND THE WATER, AND YOU
GET THAT WONDERFUL FANCY
TASTE WITH THE CINNAMON AND
THE SUGAR.
YOU'RE A GOOD COOKER.
Kristi: YOU HAVE TO PUT
YOUR HIPS AND ARMS INTO IT.
I LOVE IT.
Kristi: I USED TO LOVE
HAVING THESE ON SALADS --
THE SUGARED PECANS.
Kristi: AND I NEVER
KNEW HOW TO MAKE THEM.
I'M GOING TO PUT YOU TO
WORK.
I THINK IT IS "A" PLUS.
I'M A SCHOOL TEACHER BY THE
WAY.
Kristi: I LOVE IT.
YOU DUMP IT IN THE
BUTTERED BOWL.
YOU BAKE IT -- I THINK IT IS
225 -- I'M NOT SURE, BUT IT
IS ON THE WEBSITE.
AND THE PECANS ARE
FINISHED.
Kristi: YUMMY.
AND TALK ABOUT THE
PRETTINESS.
PUT IT IN A LITTLE GLASS
BOWL.
IT IS PERFECT FOR, LIKE,
TEACHERS OR NURSES WHO DON'T
HAVE TIME TO COOK.
Kristi: I LOVE IT,
MARTHA.
YOU'RE A GREAT COOKER.
MY GOODNESS.
Kristi: I LOVE YOUR
ENTHUSIASM.
MARTHA, I THINK I MET MY
MATCH WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS
MORE ENERGY THAN ME.
GOD BLESS YOU, GIRL.
GOD BLESS YOU,
GIRLFRIEND.
Kristi: GIRLFRIEND.
HOLD THE BOOK WHILE I TALK
ABOUT IT.
FOR MORE GREAT RECIPES,
CHECK OUT THE BOOK CALLED
"MARTHA PULLEN'S SOUTHERN
FAMILY COOKBOOK," EVEN
THOUGH SHE WAS BORN IN NEW
JERSEY.
IT IS AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE
AND YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW TO
PREPARE THE DISHES YOU JUST
SAW BY LOGGING ON TO
CBN.COM.
AND DON'T FORGET, THE
ASSIGNMENT IS, FOR ALL OF
YOU, GET YOUR FAMILY RECIPES
TOGETHER.
YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.
PUT IN THE STORIES AND
SCRIPTURES, AND KEEP IT AND
HAVE IT FOR THE FUTURE.
I JUST LOVE YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
Kristi: THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
THIS IS SO MUCH FUN.
GOD BLESS YOU.
PAT, OVER TO YOU.
Pat: SOUNDS LIKE FUN.
AND, BOY, MARTHA, SO
DELICIOUS.
MY GOODNESS.
ON TOMORROW'S SHOW, WE'LL
HIT THE GRID IRON WITH
MINNESOTA VIKINGS PRO BOWLER
JARED ALLEN.
PLUS A LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM
SINGER JAMIE GRACE.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE
YOU WITH CHRISTMAS MUSIC
FROM F.F.H., SINGING "O
COME, O COME EMMANUEL."
*
* O COME, O COME,
EMMANUEL *
* ISRAEL
*
* UNTIL THE SON OF GOD
APPEARS *
* REJOICE, REJOICE
* E MANUAL
* EMMANUEL
* OH, COME TO ME, O
ISRAEL *
*
* O COME, NOW DAY BREAK,
COME CHEER *
* THY PEOPLE
*
