Gordon: COMING UP, THE
STORY BEHIND THE FIRST
CHRISTMAS.
ON THE WALL OF THE TEMPLE
IS AN I INSCRIPTION.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SEE THE
SIGN IN THE STARS OF THE
NIGHT ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
LOOKING FOR IT.
Gordon: IN THE RACE TO
FIND THE MESSIAH 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.
Gordon: WELCOME TO THE
SHOW.
EVERY CHRISTMAS WE CELEBRATE
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST 2,000
YEARS AGO IN BETHLEHEM.
Terry: A THOUSAND YEARS
BEFORE THAT, JEWISH PROPHETS
FORETOLD THE BIRTH OF THE
MESSIAH.
TODAY GORDON TAKES A LOOK AT
ONE ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERY
AND HOW IT CHANGED THE
COURSE OF HISTORY.
Reporter: THE BIRTH OF
A BABY, A SMALL EVENT THAT
BECAME THE TURNING POINT IN
WORLD HISTORY.
2,000 YEARS AGO, THE MESSIAH
ARRIVED ON EARTH.
AND ONLY A FEW PEOPLE SAW
THE SIGN.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SEE
THE SIGN IN THE STARS OF THE
NIGHT ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
LOOKING FOR IT.
Gordon: THE ONES WHO
SAW THE SIGN WERE THE WISE
MEN FROM THE EAST.
THEIR SEARCH FOR THE KING OF
THE JEWS BROUGHT THEM TO THE
PALACE OF HAROD THE GREAT.
THE IRONY IS, OF COURSE,
THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A STAR
THAT THEY ASSOCIATE WITH THE
RISING OF A KING OVER
JACOB.
Gordon: SO WHO EXACTLY
WERE THE WISE MEN WHO CALLED
ON KING HAROD, AND WHY DID
THEY SEEM TO KNOW JEWISH
PROPHECY BETTER THAN THE
JEWS.
THE ANSWER MAE LIE ON A
3,000-YEAR-OLD INSCRIPTION
DISCOVERED IN JORDAN.
IN 1967, ARCHEOLOGISTS FIND
THE REMAINS OF AN ANCIENT
TEMPLE.
ON THE WALL OF THE TEMPLE
WAS AN INSCRIPTION OF
BAYLON, THE PROPHET.
Gordon: BAYLOM, THE SON
OF BAY OR, VISITED BY AN
JOINT VENTUR AN ANGEL AND.
ONLY SMALL FRAGMENTS OF THE
INSCRIPTION HAVE SURVIVED.
IT IS WRITTEN IN ARMAIC, AND
IT TALKS ABOUT FIRE AND
JUDGMENT ON THELAND OF CANE
CANIN.
BAYLOM'S PROPHECY IN THE
BOOK OF NUMBERS, DELIVERED
BY THE STAR OF JACOB, THE
JEWISH MESSIAH.
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT
CONTEXT, AN ARCHEOLOGICAL
CONTEXT, WITH A STORY ABOUT
HIM THAT IS NOT THE BIBLICAL
STORY.
BUT IT SHOWS US THAT HIS
REPUTATION AS A PROFESSIONAL
FORETELLER EXISTED
THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN SIDE
OF THE JORDAN, WHAT WE WOULD
CALL THE TRANS JORDAN.
Gordon: IT IS ONE OF
THE FEW PROPHETS WITH
ARCHEOLOGICAL PROOF OF HIS
EXISTENCE.
I THINK IT IS EXCITING.
IT LEADS CREDIBILITY TO
MATTHEW'S STORY BECAUSE IT
IS PEOPLE COMING FROM THAT
SIDE OF THE RIVER.
Gordon: THEY LED THE
MEN TO LOOK FOR A STAR, NLT
STAR LED THEM TO JERUSALEM.
THIS IS THE TOWER OF DAVID,
THE SPOT WHERE HAROD'S
PALACE ONCE STOOD, A PLACE
HISTORIANS CALLED WONDEROUS
BEYOND WORDS.
IT WAS HEAR THAT HARROD
SUMMONED THE WISE MEN TO A
SECRET MEETING.
THE STORY IS THEY COME TO
THE KING OF THE JEWS,
HARROD, WHO DOES NOT KNOW
HIS OWN SCRIPTURES, AND HAS
TO ASK HIS COUNSELLORS AND
ADVISORS TO SEARCH THE
JEWISH SCRIPTURES, WHILE
THEY WHO ARE GENTILES AND
FOREIGNERS, KNOW THE
PROPHECY OF BAYLOM.
Consuelo: HIS MEN FOUND
A 700-YEAR-OLD CLUE FROM THE
PROFIT MICAH.
THAT LED THEM TO THE
BIRTHPLACE OF THE MESSIAH.
THEY WENT TO BETHLEHEM AND
FOUND JOSEPH, MARY, AND
JESUS.
THEY BROUGHT GOLD,
FRANKINCENSE AND MURRH.
GIFTS THAT WERE DESCRIBED BY
THE PROPHETS, HUNDREDS OF
YEARS EARLIER.
BUT WHILE THEY WORSHIPPED
JESUS, HARROD PLANNED TO
KILL HIM.
NOWADAYS, IF WE TO MEET
HARROD THE GREAT, WE WOULD
THINK HE SUFFERED FROM
SEVERE PARANOIA AND NEEDED
MEDAL TREATMENT AND A GOOD
PSYCHIATRIST.
Gordon: THE WISE MEN
ONLY FUELED HIS PARANOIA.
THEY WERE KNOWN AS THE
KING-MAKERS OF THE EAST, AND
NOW THEY WERE IN HARROD'S
PALACE, LOOKING FOR THE ONE
WHO HAD BEEN BORN KING OF
THE JEWS.
HARROD SAW THEIR VISIT AS A
THREAT.
THIS IS JUST WHO HARROD
IS.
HE IS A CONVERT, WITH NO
ACTUAL JEWISH BLOOD, WHO IS
ALWAYS FEARFUL.
DOESN'T TRUST ANYONE.
LOVED HIS WIFE SO MUCH, HE
KILLED HER.
LOVED HER TO DEATH, I SAY.
Gordon: HARROD ORDERED
A MASSACRE IN BETHLEHEM.
EVERY MALE UNDER THE AGE OF
TWO WAS KILLED.
AN EVENT THAT WAS PROPHESIED
BY JEREMIAH, MORE THAN 600
YEARS BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
JOSEPH AND MARY FLED TO
EGYPT, A JOURNEY PREDICTED
BY THE PROPHET HOSEA, AND
FULFILLED IN THE GOSPEL OF
MATTHEW.
HOSEA 11: 1 SAYS, "WHEN
ISRAEL WAS A CHILD, I LOVED
HIM."
SOME SAY MATTHEW MISQUOTED
HOSEA TERRIBLY.
"WHEN ISRAEL WAS A CHILD, I
LOVED HIM."
JUST AS IT HAPPENED TO
ISRAEL, SO IT HAPPENED TO
THE MESSIAH.
YOU HAVE THIS PATTERN OVER
AND OVER IN THE SCRIPTURES.
Gordon: NOWHERE IS THE
PROMISE OF THE MESSIAH MORE
POWERFUL THAN IN THE BOOK OF
ISAIAH.
HE SPOKE OF A CHILD, BORN OF
A VIRGIN, A SON CALLED
WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR, MIGHTY
GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, AND
PRINCE OF PEACE.
THE WORDS OF ISAIAH WERE
COPIED BY SCRIBES, HIDDEN IN
CAVES, AND PROTECTED FOR
MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS.
WHEN THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS
WERE REDISCOVERED, THE BOOK
OF ISAIAH WAS FOUND
COMPLETELY INTACT.
I WOULD SAY THE ONE
SCROLL THAT HAS HAD MORE
IMPACT UPON THE WORLD THAN
ANY OTHER SCROLL THAT WAS
FOUND HERE IS THE GREAT
ISAIAH SCROLL.
Gordon: THIS IS THE
OLDEST KNOWN COPY OF THE
BOOK OF ISAIAH, AND IT IS
THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE TODAY.
THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE
BIRTH OF CHRIST.
THERE WE HAVE A SCROLL
FROM AROUND 100 B.C. THAT IS
NEARLY AS WELL-PRESERVED AS
IT WAS IN THE DAYS THAT IT
WAS BEING READ.
OTHERWISE, THE NEXT COPIES
OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH COME
FROM A THOUSAND YEARS
LATER.
AND WITH THIS, WE ARE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SAY, NOW AND
FOR ALL TIME, THAT WE HAVE
THE TEXT THAT EXISTED FROM
2,000 YEARS AGO.
Gordon: FROM THE DESERT
CAVES, NEAR THE DEAD SEA, TO
THE RUINS OF AN ANCIENT
TEMPLE IN JORDAN, THE STORY
OF THE MESSIAH WAS ETCHED IN
STONE AND WRITTEN ON
PARCHMENT HUNDREDS OF YEARS
BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN.
AND NOW THE GENTILES CAN SAY
TO ZION, ARISE, SHINE, FOR
YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.
AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS
RISEN UPON YOU.
Gordon: IT IS THE
GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD.
THIS CHRISTMAS, SPEND TIME
WITH YOUR FAMILY GOING
THROUGH THESE PROPHECIES.
IT REALLY REINFORCES YOUR
FAITH.
WHEN YOU FIND JESUS IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT, WHEN YOU FIND
OUT HOW SPECIFICALLY HIS
BIRTH, HIS LIFE, HIS
MIRACLES, HIS DEATH AND
RESURRECTION FULFILLED THE
WORDS OF THE PROPHETS, AND
HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, I
HAVE TO FULFILL THESE
THINGS, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE,
TO FILL FULL THE WORD OF
GOOD.
AND YOU FIND EVEN IN HIS
NAME HOW HE IS FULFILLING
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY.
HOW HE SHALL BE CALLED
WONDERFUL, AND HOW THAT
RELATES BACK TO JACOB
WRESTLING WITH GOD, AND GOD
NAMING HIM ISRAEL.
AND JACOB ASKS HIM, WHAT IS
YOUR NAME, AND HE SAYS,
CAN'T YOU SEE HOW IT IS
WONDERFUL.
HOW JESUS FULFILLED
JEDADIAH, TO KING DAVID,
THAT YOUR SON WILL BE CALLED
JEDADIAH, WHICH MEANS
BELOVED OF GOD.
AND HOW JESUS, WHEN HE WAS
BAPTIZED, FULFILLED THAT.
A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN
WHOM I AM WELL-PLEASED.
LISTEN TO HIM.
WHEN YOU FIND JESUS IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT, IT WILL
ENCOURAGE YOUR FAITH.
I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE, THE
LONGER I'M A CHRISTIAN, THE
MORE JEWISH I BECOME.
HOW I TREASURE THE OLD
TESTAMENT AND THE TORAH, AND
HOW ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE
FULFILLED.
AND COMING UP, WE'LL BRING
YOU TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF
JESUS, BETHLEHEM, TO BRING
HOPE TO THE WOMEN WHO WERE
DESPERATE FOR HELP.
Terry: SINCE 1978,
"OPERATION BLESSING" HAS
HELPED MORE THAN 200 MILLION
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
NOW WE'RE WORKING IN THE
STATE OF ISRAEL.
AND WE'RE REACHING OUT NOT
TO JUST ISRAELIS, BUT TO
PALESTINIANS IN GAZA AND THE
WEST BANK.
ONE OF OUR FIRST STOPS WITH
A GIRLS HOME IN BETHLEHEM.
AT FIRST GLANCE, IT IS
HARD TO TELL THESE GIRLS
CAME FROM HOMES WHERE THEY
WERE BEATEN AND ABUSED, BUT
TODAY THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE
TO LIVE AT THE BETHLEHEM
GIRLS' HOME.
THIS HOME IS THE ONLY
HOUSE IN ALL OF PALESTINE
FOR SUCH GIRLS.
Reporter: SHE IS THE
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS
FOR THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM.
SHE KNOWS FIRSTHAND MONEY IS
TIGHT FOR THIS
GOVERNMENT-RUN HOME, AND THE
NEEDS ARE GREAT.
WE LIVE IN A VERY
SITUATION HERE.
AND THE BUILDING WAS VERY
BAD.
Reporter: IN THE
WINTER, THIS OLD STONE
BUILDING GETS VERY COLD.
THE GIRLS SLEEP ON BEDS
COVERED WITH WORN-OUT
SHEETS.
SOME EVEN USE TOWELS AS
BLANKETS.
AND THE CABINETS WHERE THEY
KEEP THEIR CLOTHES ARE
BROKEN AND FULL OF
SPRINTERS.
RECENTLY, THE GIRLS' HOME
GOT A VISIT FROM "OPERATION
BLESSING."
WHILE THE GIRLS WERE AWAY AT
SCHOOL ONE DAY, OUR TEAM OF
VOLUNTEER WENT TO WORK.
WE GAVE THE GIRLS WARM
BEDDING AND RUGS AND BRAND
NEW WOODEN CABINETS.
A FEW HOURS LATER, THE GIRLS
CAME HOME TO SEE THEIR NEW
ROOMS.
[CHEERING]
WHEN I WALKED IN HERE, I
COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
THE ROOMS WERE SO DARK
BEFORE.
AND NOW THEY ARE SHINING.
"OPERATION BLESSING" -- I
CAN SEE THAT THEY ARE ONE OF
THE FEW ORGANIZATIONS THAT,
IN A SHORT TIME, THEY THINK
ABOUT US AND THEY PROMISE US
AND THEY SHOW IT.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY
MUCH.
Terry: WE'RE REACHING
OUT AND MEETING PEOPLE RIGHT
AT THEIR POINT OF NEED, AND
THAT'S PART OF WHAT YOU DO
IF YOU'RE A "THE 700 CLUB"
MEMBER.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO JOIN
WITH US, SO THAT YOUNG
WOMEN, LIKE THE YOUNG GIRLS
YOU SEE THERE, AS WELL AS
CHILDREN, FAMILIES,
INDIVIDUALS IN NEED AROUND
THE WORLD, ARE BEING TOUCHED
WITH HOPE AND THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A FUTURE.
THE LOVE OF GOD IS FILLED IN
THEIR HEARTS BECAUSE OF YOUR
CARING HAND EXTENDED TO
THEM.
JOIN "THE 700 CLUB."
MAKE THAT KIND OF A
DIFFERENCE TODAY.
65 CENTS A DAY, $20 A MONTH,
MAKES YOU A "700 CLUB"
MEMBER.
WE'RE ASKING TO GO TO YOUR
HOME AND PARTNER WITHS US.
WE'RE IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON
RIGHT NOW, AND THERE IS SO
MUCH NEED AROUND THE WORLD.
WE WANT YOU TO HELP US TOUCH
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER IS
1-888-777-1999.
AND OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK
YOU FOR CARING ABOUT OTHERS,
IS TO SEND YOU PAT'S LATEST
TEACHING, "HOW TO PREPARE
THE DAYS AHEAD."
SO CALL OR LOG ON RIGHT
NOW.
GORDON?
Gordon: LET'S TAKE A
MOMENT TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL IN
THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF
JERUSALEM.
THERE IS SO MUCH TURMOIL IN
THAT REGION.
RECENT ROCKET ATTACKS, SO
MUCH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF ANY KIND OF PEACE
PROCESS.
THE BIBLE IS TRUE, PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO SAY PEACE,
PEACE, WHERE THERE IS NO
PEACE.
WE NEED THE PRINCE OF PEACE
TO COME AND ESTABLISH PEACE
OVER JERUSALEM.
LET'S PRAY FOR THAT.
LORD, WE JUST LIFT ISRAEL TO
YOU RIGHT NOW.
AND WE SPECIFICALLY PRAY FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING,
WHO ARE LIVING IN FEAR AND
BOTH SIDES, WHETHER THEY'RE
IN THE WEST BANK OR IN GAZA
OR IN JERUSALEM AND TE TEL
AVIV, THROUGHOUT ISRAEL,
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN FEAR OF
ROCKET ATTACKS AND SUICIDE
BOMBINGS.
LORD, WE JUST ASK FOR
PEACE.
WE ASK FOR PEACE OVER
JERUSALEM.
WE ASK FOR PEACE TO COME TO
THAT REGION.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ASK
FOR YOU TO COME.
FOR WITHOUT YOU, THERE WILL
BE NO.
SO COME QUICKLY, LORD
JESUS.
ESTABLISH PEACE IN YOUR CITY
ONCE AGAIN, FOR WE ASK IT IN
JESUS' NAME.
AMEN, AND AMEN.
TERRY?
Terry: UP NEXT, WE'VE
GIVEN YOU THE STORY BEHIND
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS,
HOWEVER, THERE ARE FEW WHO
KNOW WHERE AMERICA'S POPULAR
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS COME
FROM, FROM SANTA CLAUS TO
THE CHRISTMAS TREE, DISCOVER
THEIR HISTORY AFTER THIS.
Terry: EVERY CHRISTMAS,
WE RECEIVE E-MAILS WITH
SIMILAR QUESTIONS, WHY DO WE
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH A
CHRISTMAS TREE, AND WHO WAS
SAINT NICK.
AND WE ASKED TWO ACADEMIC
SCHOLARS TO TELL US THE
HISTORY BEHIND SOME OF
CHRISTMAS' MOST POPULAR
TRADITIONS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
CHRISTMAS TREE, WE LOOK
BEFORE EVEN CHRISTIANITY
DEVELOPED.
SIGNIFICANT GREENERY, AND WE
CAN SEE IN IT EGYPT, AND
PEOPLE IN THE WINTER MONTHS
BROUGHT PALMS INSIDE, AND WE
CAN SEE IT IN ROME AND
NORTHERN EUROPE.
AND IN THE MIDDLE AGES,
WHEN THEY BEGAN THEIR GUILD
MYSTERY PLAY.
EACH GUILD WOULD PUT ON A
PLAY.
ONE OF THE PLAYS THEY PUT ON
WAS ADAM AND EVE.
AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE
PARADISE TREE, WHICH
REFERRED TO THE TREE IN THE
GARDEN IN WHICH EVE PLUCKED
THE APPLE.
AND WE HAVE THE IMAGE OF THE
CHRISTMAS PYRAMID, WHICH WAS
A TRIANGULAR WOODEN SHAPE,
AND THEY WOULD PUT
DECORATIONS ON EVER GREENS,
BULBS, CANDIES, ALL KINDS OF
TREATS FOR THE KIDS AND
EVERYONE ELSE.
AND THESE TWO MERGED
TOGETHER.
AND AS THEY MERGED TOGETHER,
YOU HAVE THE CHRISTMAS
TREE.
IN SOME RESPECTS, ALL OF
THIS GOES BACK TO WILLIAM
THE GREAT, WHO TALKED ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF CLAIMING
OTHER PEOPLE'S TRADITIONS
AND WORKING WITH THEM.
ST. NICHOLAS IS FASCINATING
FOR SO MANY REASONS.
HE GREW UP IN A RICH FAMILY,
AND HIS PARENTS DIED WHEN HE
WAS FAIRLY YOUNG.
BECAME A BISHOP AT AN
EXTREMELY YOUNG AGE AND IT
WAS EXTREMELY
WELL-RESPECTED.
MY FAVORITE STORY OF HIM WAS
OF THE STOCKING.
ALLEGEDLY THERE WAS AN
IMPOVERISHED MAN WHO HAD
THREE DAUGHTERS, AND HE
DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR
THEIR DOWERY.
AND WITHOUT DOWERYS, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO WALK THE
STREETS.
AND ST ST. NICHOLAS HEARD
ABOUT THIS.
AND WHEN THE DAUGHTERS HUNG
THEIR STOCKINGS UP AT NIGHT,
HE CAME AND PUT COINS IN
THEIR STOCKINGS.
IT MIGHT HAVE COME THROUGH
THE CHIMNEY, WHO KNOWS.
BUT SOMEHOW THE COINS GOT IN
THEIR STOCKINGS AND GAVE THE
GIRLS DOWERIES SO THEY WOULD
COULD MARRY.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE
STORIES IS THE CANDY CANES.
THEY WERE DEVELOPED IN 1670
1670 AT THE COLOGNE
SERVICE.
DURING THE SERVICE, THE
CHILDREN WERE UNRULY, AND TO
KEEP THEM QUIET, THEY WOULD
GIVE THEM WHITE STICKS OF
CANDY.
AS TIME WENT ON, YOU WOULD
HAVE PE PEPPERMINT FOR
PURIFICATION AND
WINTERGREEN.
IT WAS THIS TIME TO GIVE
THEM THE SYMBOL OF THE
SHEPHERD'S CROOK, THAT
JESUS, AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD,
WILL BE WITH YOU AND TAKE
CARE OF HIS SHEEP, OF WHOM
YOU ARE ONE.
I THINK MY FAVORITE WOULD
BE JUST THE NATIVITY SCENE
IN GENERAL.
WHICH WE DON'T SEE COME
ABOUT UNTIL ST. FRANCIS.
AND ST. FRANCIS WAS TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TELL
THE CHRISTMAS STORY,
PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON'T READ.
AND I SAW ONE WITH SANTA AND
FROSTY, AND THEN THE
ANIMALS -- THE ANIMALS WERE
ADDED LATER.
THEY WERE IN GOSPELS THAT
NEVER MADE IT INTO THE NEW
TESTAMENT.
IF WE TAKE THE ANIMALS OUT,
AND WE LOOK AT THE WISE MEN,
WHO REALLY CAME LATER.
AND THE SHEPHERD, WHO HAD A
PRETTY LOUSY REPUTATION IN
THEIR DAY, AND WE'RE LEFT
WITH MARY, WHO IS YOUNG AND
PREGNANT, AND I THINK WHEN
YOU STOP THERE AND TAKE A
PHOTOGRAPH OF THAT, WE CAN
COME TO A REAL GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT.
Terry: I KNOW THAT
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
STRUGGLE WITH SOME OF THE
POPULAR THINGS THAT WE DO TO
CELEBRATE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
CHRISTMAS TREE COMING OUT OF
THE TRADITION -- I MEAN,
PAGAN THINGS.
Gordon: SUPPOSEDLY
LUTHER, YOU KNOW, SOLEMNIZED
IT BY SAYING WE'RE SHOWING
THE REBIRTH.
Terry: I THINK IT IS
ALL IN THE INTENT.
Gordon: THE ENGLISH
CULTURE DIDN'T HAVE
CHRISTMAS TREES UNTIL THE
GERMANS CAME TO
WILLIAMSBURG.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN
THE AMERICAN COLONY.
SO WE GOT CHRISTMAS TREES.
Terry: I OFTEN THINK
ABOUT MANY OF THE THINGS WE
DO TO CELEBRATE, THE
INTENTION BEHIND IT IS WHAT
VALIDATES WHATEVER IT IS
WE'RE CELEBRATING.
Gordon: I WOULD BE
CAREFUL WITH, SAY, SANTA
CLAUS AND FROSTY THE
SNOWMAN -- THEY'RE WONDERFUL
STORIES, BUT I THINK YOU
NEED TO BE SPECIFIC WITH THE
KIDS THAT THIS IS A MYTH.
I GOT IN TROUBLE IN
KINDERGARTEN WHEN I STARTED
TELLING ALL OF THE OTHER
KIDS, SANTA CLAUS IS A
MYTH.
HE IS NOT GOING TO LAND ON
YOUR ROOF TONIGHT.
Terry: WHY AM I NOT
SURPRISED YOU WOULD BE THE
ONE OUT OF THE CLASS.
Gordon: THE TEACHER HAD
TO SAY, NO, NO, NO.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE THE ONE
BREAKING THE NEWS.
BUT MY FATHER WAS REAL
INSISTENT WITH US THAT HE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHEN IT
WAS A MYTH, THAT WE KNEW IT
WAS A MYTH.
AND WHEN WE GREW UP AND
FOUND UP IT WASN'T A MYTH,
THAT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER OUR
FAITH WOULDN'T BE AFFECTED.
THAT WE WOULD KNOW CHRISTMAS
IS ABOUT JESUS, AND THE
BIRTH OF A MIRACLE TOLD WHO
WAS FORETOLD BY JEWISH
PROPHETS WHO CAME TO SAVE
THE WORLD.
Terry: YEAH.
HE IS REAL.
Gordon: AND WE DATE OUR
CALENDAR ON HIS BIRTH.
AND IT'S THE GREATEST STORY
STORY THE WORLD'S EVER
HEARD.
SO HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE
GOT THAT.
BUT WE DID HAVE A CHRISTMAS
TREE.
AND MY MOM REALLY LIKED
CHRISTMAS TREES.
AND WE WOULD READ THE ACROSS
STORY --
Terry: MOST OF THE
THINGS I KNOW THAT YOUR
FOLKS DO TO CELEBRATE ALL
HAVE SPIRITUAL
SIGNIFICANCE.
AND YOUR MOM PAINTS ANGELS
AND DECORATES HER TREE WITH
THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, IT'S
THE SYMBOL BEHIND WHAT WE
DO.
SANTA -- I DID THE SAME
THING WITH MY CHILDREN.
KIDS CAN STILL HAVE FUN WITH
IT.
Gordon: YOU WERE A
BAH-HUMBUG --
Terry: I DIDN'T HAVE
REBELLIOUS CHILDREN LIKE
YOU, WHO INSISTED ON TELLING
THE WHOLE CLASS.
[LAUGHTER]
Gordon: WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE A CALL.
HERE IS GINA FROM FLORIDA.
HI, GINA.
Caller: HI, GORDON, HI
TERRY.
Gordon: HOW CAN WE PRAY
FOR YOU?
Caller: I'M CALLING
BECAUSE I NEED HEALING.
I'VE BEEN BATTLING FIBER
FIBER MA FIBROMYALGIA.
I'M FIGHTING DEPRESSION.
AND I LOST MY ESTRANGED DAD
AND IT HAS COMPOUNDED MY
SITUATION.
I'M VERY ANXIOUS
CONSTANTLY.
I'VE BEEN PRESCRIBED
MEDICATION, BUT THE SIDE
EFFECTS ARE HORRENDOUS.
I'M NOT SLEEPING, AND I WAKE
UP AND MY MIND IS GOING A
MILE A MINUTE.
Gordon: GINA, WHY WERE
YOU ESTRANGED FROM YOUR
FATHER?
MY PARENTS GOT DIVORCED
WHEN I WAS 3, AND MY FATHER
WAS A MUSLIM.
SO I DIDN'T SEE HIM FOR A
LOT, LIKE SINCE I WAS 15.
IT WAS ROUGH, REALLY ROUGH.
SO HIS DEATH OPENED A LOT OF
STUFF.
Gordon: HAVE YOU
FORGIVEN THEM FOR THIS
DIVORCE?
Caller: UM, YEAH, I
GUESS.
I FORGIVE THEM FOR THE
DIVORCE.
IT WAS HARD TO FORGIVE HIM
FOR NOT BEING INVOLVED IN MY
LIFE.
JUST NOT BEING THERE.
Gordon: SOMETIMES,
GINA, WE'VE GOT TO REPARENT
OURSELVES.
AND WHEN YOUR FATHER IS NOT
WITH YOU, YOU HAVE TO LOOK
TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER TO
FILL THE GAP.
AND HE PROMISES HE'LL DO
THAT.
YOU KNOW, HE PROMISES THAT
HE WILL RAISE THE ORPHAN
UP.
AND HE FULFILLS THAT
PROMISE.
AND SOMETIMES WHEN A PARENT
IS ABSENT, AND YOU'RE
WONDERING -- AND I KNOW
YOU'VE THOUGHT THIS, IS IT
MY FAULT?
WHY DOESN'T HE WANT TO SPEND
TIME WITH ME?
YOU'VE GOT TO TURN TO YOUR
HEAVENLY FATHER BECAUSE YOUR
EARTHLY FATHER JUST CAN'T
GIVE IT TO YOU.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO TURN TO
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FOR
THAT PEACE AND THAT
SATISFACTION.
AND, GINA, I THINK THE THING
YOU REALLY NEED IS HIS
LOVE.
THAT YOU WOULD JUST FEEL
THAT.
I CAN TELL IN YOUR VOICE --
YOU'RE IN PAIN RIGHT NOW,
AREN'T YOU?
Caller: A LOT.
A LOT OF PAIN.
Gordon: ALL RIGHT.
LET'S JUST PRAY.
LORD, WE JUST ASK THAT YOUR
LOVE WOULD REACH DOWN, AND
FAITH WORKS THROUGH LOVE,
AND SO WE JUST ASK FOR YOUR
LOVE TO COME AND BAPTIZE
GINA AND JUST SURROUND HER
WITH YOUR PRESENCE, AND FILL
HER WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE
FATHER.
AND JUST LET HER KNOW HOW
MUCH YOU LOVE HER, HOW MUCH
YOU CHERISH HER, HOW MUCH
YOU CHERISH EVERY WORD.
JUST BE WITH HER.
AND NOW WE COME AGAINST THIS
PAIN.
AND WE REBUKE IT.
AND WE SAY YOU MUST LEAVE
HER BODY NOW.
BY THE STRIPES OF JESUS
CHRIST, GINA WAS HEALED, IS
BEING HEALED, AND WILL STAY
HEALED FROM THIS MOMENT
FORWARD.
AND WE BREAK OFF OF HER
ANXIETY AND FEAR, AND WE
JUST SAY THAT LOVE WILL CAST
ALL THAT OUT.
SO JUST -- LORD, LET HER
FIND ACCEPTANCE IN YOU, OPEN
ARMS IN YOU, FULFILLMENT IN
YOU, AND WE ASK IT ALL IN
JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.
AND AMEN.
PRAISE GOD.
Caller: THANK YOU.
Gordon: I FELT THAT
ONE.
Caller: THANK YOU.
Gordon: IT'S GOOD TO
HEAR YOU LAUGH, GINA.
Caller: YES, IT IS.
Gordon: HOW DO YOU
FEEL?
Caller: I FEEL GOD'S
PRESENCE.
Gordon: AMEN.
ALL RIGHT.
HE WANTS TO BE YOUR DADDY.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS.
I WANT TO BE YOUR ABBA
FATHER, AND YOU CAN CALL HIM
DADDY.
AND WHEN YOU CALL TO HIM IN
THAT TONE, DADDY, HE'LL
COME.
HE'LL COME.
THANKS FOR CALLING.
ENJOY THIS.
Caller: THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Gordon: AND KEEP IN
MIND, HE'LL NEVER LEAVE
YOU.
HE'LL NEVER FORSAKE YOU.
HE IS ALWAYS THERE.
HIS LOVE IS ALWAYS THERE.
Caller: THANK YOU.
Gordon: ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE
WORDS FROM LUKE 2: "SUDDENLY
THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL A
MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY
HOSTS, PRAISING GOD AND
SAYING GLORY TO GOD IN THE
HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH,
PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARDS
