PLUS, THE DESPERATE CRIES OF

PARENTS WHO LOST THEIR SON.

WHY?

WHY HIM?

WHY US?

I MISS HIM EVERY DAY.

Lee: AND HOW THEY FOUND

HOPE IN THE MIDST OF

TRAGEDY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I

KNOW HOW MANY DAYS, 1,350.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DAY

WHEN I GET TO STOP

COUNTING.

*

[APPLAUSE]

Pat: WELL, WELCOME TO

THIS EDITION OF "THE 700

CLUB."

THE GRIEVING RESIDENTS OF

NEWTON, CONNECTICUT, ARE

HOLDING THEIR FIRST FUNERALS

TODAY, AND MANY IN THE

COMMUNITY, THE PAIN HAS JUST

BEGUN.

Terry: PEOPLE THERE

HAVE BEEN SEEKING GOD IN THE

AFTERMATH OF FRIDAY'S

HORRIFIC SHOOTING.

JENNIFER WISHON HAS THAT

STORY.

* JESUS

Reporter: SONGS,

PRAYERS, AND MEMORIALS ARE

EVERYWHERE ACROSS NEWTON.

A STEADY LINE OF PILGRIMS

WALKED THE HILL TOWARDS

SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

TO REMEMBER THE 26 CHILDREN

AND BRAVE TEACHERS THAT DIED

THERE.

A MEMORIAL OF FLOWERS, TEDDY

TEDDY BEARS BRINGS VISITORS

TO TEARS.

YUSEF WALKED THE HILL WITH

HIS 6-YEAR-OLD SON.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY THINGS

HAPPENED.

BUT THEY DO HAPPEN.

THERE IS EVIL.

THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF

EVIL IN THE WORLD AND WE

HAVE TO CONFRONT IT.

Reporter: SOME GIVE

THANKS THAT THEIR CHILDREN

SURVIVED.

SHE HEARD EVERYTHING, THE

SHOTS, THE DOORS SLAMMING,

PEOPLE YELLING.

WE FELT SO BAD SAYING

THIS, BUT IT WAS THANK GOD

IT WAS NOT OUR KIDS'

SCHOOL.

Reporter: JUST A WEEK

BEFORE THE SHOOTINGS,

CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILY

WERE HERE FOR A HAPPY

TRADITION, THE LIGHTING OF

THE TOWN CHRISTMAS TREE.

PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE SAY THE

AIR WAS FULL OF CELEBRATION

OVER THE COMING CELEBRATION

OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

EVERYBODY WAS RUNNING

AROUND AND AT 6:00, THEY

LIGHT THE TREE, AND

EVERYBODY GOES WHOA!

RIGHT THERE, AND NOW THERE

ARE TWO DONATED TREES TO

MOURN THE DEAD PEOPLE.

IT'S PRETTY BAD.

Reporter: AT A PRAYER

VIGIL ON SUNDAY, PRESIDENT

OBAMA OFFERED O COMFORT BY

REMINDING RESIDENTS THAT THE

NATION GRIEVES WITH THEM.

President Obama: LET

THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO

ME, JESUS SAID, AND DO NOT

HINDER THEM FOR SUCH BELONGS

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

GOD HAS CALLED THEM ALL

HOME.

Reporter: SOME CHURCHES

ARE KEEPING THEIR DOORS OPEN

24 HOURS FOR PRAYER.

ST. ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC

CHURCH WAS HIT ESPECIALLY

HARD.

IT WILL HANDLE EIGHT OF THE

FUNERALS.

SOME CHILDREN, THE SHOOTER'S

MOTHER, AND THE SHOOTER ALL

ATTENDED THE CHURCH.

FOR SUNDAY MASS, IT WAS

STANDING-ROOM ONLY.

THE CHURCHES WERE PEOPLE

CAME AFTER LEARNING THE

NEWS, AND CONTINUE TO COME

TO REFLECT AND HEAL.

* THERE IS NO ONE LIKE

GOD *

Reporter: THE MINISTER

OF THIS CHURCH IS UNIQUELY

SUITED FOR THIS MOMENT.

MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, HE

PASTORED A CHURCH NEAR

COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN

TWO TEENS KILLED 13 PEOPLE.

I THINK IN SOME WAYS,

WE'RE PROBABLY PREPARED TO

DEAL WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES

THAT ARE GOING TO ARISE OVER

THE NEXT WEEK FOR US.

Reporter: EMOTIONS OF

SHOCK, SORROW AND ANGER.

FOR THE CHILDREN,

INNOCENT CHILDREN, THIS

NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

ONLY GOD KNOWS.

GOD CAN WIN WITH ANY HAND

THAT IS DELT.

EVEN WHEN A BAD HAND A DELT,

GOT HAS A WAY OF TURNING

THINGS.

Reporter: THE HURT WILL

LINGER LONG AFTER THE

PRESIDENT AND TV CAMERAS

WILL LEAVE.

BUT THERE IS HOPE THAT GOD

WILL GIVE HOPE FOR PEOPLE IN

PRAYER.

GOD WILL HELP US HELP

PEOPLE IN NEED.

WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT TO

SAY, BUT WE KNOW HE DOES, SO

PRAY FOR US.

Reporter: JENNIFER

WISHON, NEWTON,

CONNECTICUT.

Pat: THEY SAY THE

GREATEST TRAGEDY IN LIFE IS

WHEN A PARENT OUTLIVES HIS

CHILD.

FOR THE PARENTS OF SANDY

HOOK VICTIMS, THAT TRAGEDY

BECOME THEIR REALITY.

COMING UP LATER, WE'LL TALK

WITH A MOTHER AND FATHER WHO

KNOWS HOW IT FEELS AND

THEY'LL TELL US HOW THEY

HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH IT.

FIRST, LEE WEBB IS IN

WASHINGTON FOR THE REST OF

TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES.

LEE?

Lee: FRESH SIGNS OF

PROGRESS IN THE STALLED

FISCAL CLIFF TALKS.

JOHN BOEHNER HAS OFFERED TO

LET THE BUSH ERA TAX CUTS

EXPIRE FOR THOSE MAKING MORE

THAN A MILLION DOLLARS A

YEAR.

IN CHANGE, BOEHNER WANTS A

TRILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDS

CUTS.

AND THEY WILL COME FROM

PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICARE.

AND RAISING THE GOVERNMENT'S

BORROWING CAP HIGH ENOUGH SO

THE ISSUE WOULD NOT HAVE TO

BE REVISITED FOR A YEAR.

FIRST A SUPREME COURT TOOK

THEIR SON AWAY, ALL BECAUSE

THEY HOME-SCHOOL THEIR SON.

DOMINIC JOHANSSON HAS BEEN

IN STATE CUSTODY SINCE

2009.

A DISTRICT COURT RULED THAT

THE JOHANSSONS COULD REPEAL,

BUT NOW A SUPREME COURT HAS

REPEALED THAT DECISION.

DALE HURT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING

THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING

AND RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE

FAMILY'S ATTORNEY ABOUT THE

CASE.

THE LAWS CONCERNING THE

TAKING OF CHILDREN INTO

THEIR CARE, IT IS LIKE A

RUBBERBAND.

YOU CAN STRETCH IT IN ANY

DIRECTION, AND THE SOCIAL

WORKERS NEVER DO WRONG.

AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE

BACKING OF THE

ADMINISTRATIVE COURTS.

ONE SOCIAL COURT SAID TO ME,

THE ADMINISTRATIVE COURTS,

THEY ARE OUR COURTS.

THE COURTS ARE SUPPOSED TO

BE FOR THE PEOPLE.

Lee: CLAUSSEN SAYS THIS

IS A PROBLEM IN ALL OF THE

NORDIC COUNTRIES.

SHE IS FILING SUITS AGAINST

ALL OF THE CHILD PROTECTION

AGENCIES IN THOSE

COUNTRIES.

THE ISLAMISTS SEEM TO HAVE

ONE ON A VOTE, BUT THE

EGYPTIAN PEOPLE ARE CALLING

FOR A REVOTE.

Reporter: THE

OPPOSITION UMBRELLA GROUP

CONDEMN THE IRREGULARITIES

AND VIOLATIONS.

IT CALLED FOR A LARGE RALLY

AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION.

MILLIONS OF EGYPTIANS CAST

THEIR VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM

ON THE CONSTITUTION.

IT WOULD EMPOWER ISLAMISTS

TO ENFORCE THE MOST

WIDESPREAD AND STRICTEST

IMITATION OF SHAI SHARI'A

LAW THAT EGYPT HAS EVER

SEEN.

WITH VERY LIMITED RIGHTS

FOR MINORITIES, RIGHTS FOR

WOMEN, RIGHTS FOR EVEN

CHILDREN.

IT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR

EGYPT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A

COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN IN

PLACE FOR MORE THAN 210

YEARS AS A MODERN STATE.

Reporter: HE SAYS

VIOLATIONS INCLUDED WOMEN

BEING PREVENTED FROM VOTING

BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT

WEARING ISLAMIC VEILS, AND

INDIVIDUALS FALSELY

IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS

JUDGES, AND CHRISTIANS BEING

DENIED ENTRY TO POLLING

STATIONS.

AND AS THE POLLS CLOSED,

HUNDREDS OF OPPOSITION

PEOPLE PROTESTED.

HE PRESIDENT HOLDS THE

POSSIBILIT POSSIBLE FOR

ROUNDTABLE FOR

RERESPONSIBILITY OF WHAT HAS

HAPPENED.

Reporter: AN ISLAMIC

VICTORY COULD THREATEN THE

33 YEAR PEACE TREAT BETWEEN

ISRAEL AND EGYPT.

Lee: THAT IS ALL FROM

WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW.

PAT, BACK TO YOU.

Pat: WE'RE DEALING WITH

TRAGEDY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS

THING THAT HAPPENED IN

CONNECTICUT TEARS OUR HEARTS

BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE

PICTURE OF THOSE SWEET

LITTLE CHILDREN, AND REALIZE

THAT I'M A FATHER OF FOUR

LITTLE CHILDREN.

THEY'RE GROWN UP NOW, BUT

LITTLE GRANDCHILDREN COME

ALONG, AND YOU KNOW HOW

PRECIOUS THEY ARE.

AND YOU SEE THOSE DEAR

LITTLE FACES OF HOPE AND

JOY, AND TO THINK THEY'RE

CUT DOWN, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME

MORE STORIES THAT WILL GIVE

YOU SOME HOPE IN THIS

SITUATION.

TERRY?

Terry: UP NEXT, TWO

PARENTS WHO LOST THEIR SON

SHARE THE HARDEST LESSON

THEY'VE EVER HAD TO LEARN.

THAT'S WHAT TRAGEDY DOES

FOR US.

IT TEACHES US HOW SMALL WE

ARE.

Terry: THE REST OF

THEIR STORY AFTER THIS.

Terry: THE FATHER OF

ONE OF THE SANDY HOOK

VICTIMS SAID IT SUCCINCTLY,

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING

TO GET THROUGH THIS.

THE PAIN THAT STEMS FROM THE

LOSS OF A LOVED ONE IS

INCOMPARABLE TO ANK ELSE

ANYTHING ELSE WE EVER FACE.

IT IS ONE THAT RON AND HIS

WIFE HAD TO DEAL WITH AFTER

THEIR 12-YEAR-OLD SON

DIED

OF PNEUMONIA.

TRUST THE LORD WITH ALL

OF YOUR HEART.

IN ALL WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM,

AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR

PAST.

LET'S TALK ABOUT TRUST IN

GOD WITH YOU.

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW IS

WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY

SON, CONNER, WHO PASSED AWAY

THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO,

AT THE AGE OF 12, AND THAT

WAS HIS FAVORITE SCRIPTURE

VERSE.

I MISS HIM EVERY DAY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I KNOW

HOW MANY DAYS.

1,350.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DAY

WHEN I GET TO STOP

COUNTING.

WELL, THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS

WAS PNEUMONIA.

IT IS LIKE, EVEN OLDER

PEOPLE SURVIVE PNEUMONIA.

HE'S A HEALTHY, 12-YEAR-OLD

BOY.

THAT'S EASY.

WHEN IT GOT TO WHERE ONE

LUNG WAS GETTING SO FULL,

ONE NIGHT RON AND I -- HE

WAS ON ONE LUNG AND I WAS ON

THE OTHER, AND WE WERE JUST

PRAYING, LORD, HEAL HIM.

I REMEMBER THAT MORNING WHEN

HE TOLD US HE IS RESPONDING

TO THE TREATMENT.

THREE WEEKS TOPS.

HE'LL LOSE A LUNG.

YOU'LL TAKE HIM HOME, AND

HE'LL BE ON OXYGEN.

AND THEY KEPT SAYING, HE'LL

LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

WE WENT TO GET LUNCH AND WE

CAME BACK, AND I REMEMBER

THE DOCTORS COMING IN, AND I

REMEMBER THEIR FACES.

AND I WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM

TO TELL ME WHAT THEY WERE

GOING TO TELL ME.

SO I RAN OUT OF THE ROOM

BECAUSE I JUST SAW IT ON

THEIR FACES.

AND SO EVERYONE GATHERED, MY

PARENTS, MY SISTER-IN-LAW,

FRIENDS, BOYS.

IT WAS, LIKE, TWO HOURS.

AND IT SEEMED LIKE 30

SECONDS.

AND WE SANG HIM HOME.

I'M SO GLAD I WAS THERE.

I WAS THERE WHEN HE CAME

INTO THE WORLD.

AND I WAS THERE WHEN HE

LEFT.

I'M KIND OF ALMOST

EMBARRASSED TO SAY IT, BUT

I'VE BEEN IN MINISTRY FOR 25

YEARS OF MY LIFE.

AND I READ SCRIPTURES AND I

HAD COUNSELLED PEOPLE WHO

HAD GONE THROUGH GREAT,

GREAT TRAGEDY, BUT I REALLY

DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW I DIDN'T

UNDERSTAND IT UNTIL I LOST

CONNER.

BECAUSE THAT I WAS THRUST

INTO IT.

AND I WAS THRUST INTO THAT

TENSION BETWEEN TRUSTING GOD

AND NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING

ON.

BEING OUT OF CONTROL WITH

THIS LIFE AND THIS

SITUATION, AND REALIZING HOW

INCREDIBLY SMALL I AM.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT TRAGEDY

DOES FOR US, IT TEACHES US

HOW SMALL WE ARE.

BECAUSE WE DON'T GET TO RUN

THE WORLD.

AND WE THINK WE DO, KRISTI.

WE DO.

WE WALK AROUND WITH THE

ILLUSION OF CONTROL.

IF I LIVE RIGHT, I GET

RIGHT.

IF I DO RIGHT, GOD BLESSES.

Kristi: YES.

AND HE'LL INSULATE US AND

PUT A BUBBLE AROUND US.

Kristi: YES.

OKAY.

SO IF I DON'T REALLY HAVE

ANY CONTROL, AND IT'S SILLY

TO THINK I EVER HAD IT, THEN

HOW DO I PUT MY TRUST IN THE

ONE WHO DOES.

I WAS REALLY ANGRY WITH

GOD.

WE HAD IT OUT FOR A LONG

TIME.

I'M THINKING, SERIOUSLY, I'M

A MINISTER'S WIFE.

I'VE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT.

"A" PLUS "B" IS SUPPOSED TO

EQUAL "C."

HAVEN'T I DONE ENOUGH?

I STOPPED PRAYING.

I COULDN'T READ HIS WORD.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.

THIS ISN'T GOOD.

THIS DOESN'T FEEL GOOD.

Kristi: WHAT DID YOU

SAY TO GOD?

IF WE WERE A FLY IN THE

ROOM, AND IT WAS JUST YOU

AND GOD, WHAT DID YOU SAY TO

HIM?

WHY?

WITH HIM?

WHY US?

YOU SAY YOU'RE GOOD AND YOU

LOVE ME, AND THIS DOESN'T

FEEL LIKE LOVE.

LOVE DOESN'T HURT.

AND I USED TO JUDGE PEOPLE

FOR HAVING ANXIETY ATTACKS

AND, YOU KNOW, DEPRESSION.

AND NOW I KNOW WHY PEOPLE GO

THERE.

AND SATAN WAS THERE SAYING

YOU CAN DO THIS.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN

THIS PIT FOREVER.

AND THERE IS NO HOPE, AND

THERE IS NO HELP FOR YOU.

AND I FELT IT.

I FELT THE DARKNESS.

I FELT THAT I COULDN'T SEE

OUT OF THAT PIT.

AND PEOPLE WERE, WE'RE

PRAYING FOR YOU.

WELL, A FAT LOT OF GOOD THAT

DID.

HONESTLY -- I MEAN, MONTELY,

HONESTLY, THAT WAS MY TAKE

ON IT.

RON WAS LIKE, HE KNEW WHERE

CONNER WAS, AND GOD IS STILL

A GOOD GOD, AND I'M HOLDING

ON TO YOU.

AND I'M THINKING, I'M TRYING

TO HOLD ON TO YOU, BUT WHERE

YOU ARE?

I WAS DONE.

AND I DECIDED TO BE DONE.

AND THE ENEMY SAID, YOUR

HUSBAND IS GOING TO BE SO

MUCH BETTER OFF, AND YOUR

BOYS ARE GOING TO BE BETTER

OFF BECAUSE YOU ARE A MESS.

I HAD A PLAN.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SELL

SELFISH, BUT THAT IS WHERE I

WAS.

AND THE PHONE HAD RUNG.

AND GOD HAD THROWN A FRIEND

OUT THERE WHO HAD LOST A SON

10 YEARS BEFORE US.

AND SHE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU

DOING AT THIS VERY MOMENT.

AND I TOLD HER.

IT DIDN'T SURPRISE HER ONE

BIT.

NO JUDGMENT.

NO CONDEMNATION.

NO THROWING OUT SCRIPTURE AT

ME.

IT WAIT WAS AS IF --

KRISTI, IT WAS AS IF SHE PUT

A LADDER DOWN INTO THAT PIT

AND SAT IN THE MUCK WITH

ME.

AND AFTER THAT PHONE CALL,

RON CAME HOME -- AND ALL

DAY, I KEPT SAYING, GOD,

WOULD YOU THROW ME A BONE?

WOULD YOU SHOW UP.

AND RON SAID, DO YOU THINK

GOD THREW YOU A BIG ENOUGH

BONE?

AND I SAID, I GUESS HE DID.

AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED

SEEING HE WAS THERE ALL

ALONG.

HE HAD NOT TURNED HIS BACK

ON ME.

I HAD TURNED MY BACK ON

HIM.

I HAD READ JOB BEFORE

CONNER DIED.

I NEVER REALLY READ JOB

BEFORE CONNER DIED.

GOD THOUGHT SO MUCH OF JOB

HE ALLOWED SATAN TO TEST

YOU.

IT TELLS YOU GOD'S

CONFIDENCE IN JOB.

AND YET WE HAVE 37 CHAPTERS

OF JOB SCREAMING AT GOD,

SAYING, LISTEN, GOD, I

DIDN'T DESERVE IT.

BECAUSE HIS THEOLOGY WAS

BASICALLY IF YOU DO RIGHT,

YOU GET RIGHT.

AND IT DIDN'T ADD UP.

AND HE IS GOING, GOD, YOU'RE

WRONG.

WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND

DONE, HE FINALLY HEARS GOD

SAY, I'M GOD AND YOU'RE

NOT.

JOB SAID, MY EARS HAVE HEARD

OF YOU, AND NOW MY EYES HAVE

SEEN YOU.

AND LET ME TELL YOU

SOMETHING, KRISTI, FOR A

GOOD COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER

CONNER DIED, I WENT TO

EVERYBODY I KNEW, WHAT DOES

THIS MEAN?

WHAT DID JOB SEE THAT HE

COULD NEVER SEE BEFORE HIS

TRAGEDY?

WHAT IS IT HE DOESN'T KNOW

BEFORE HE TRAGEDY THAT HE

NOW KNOWS ABOUT GOD AFTER

HIS TRAGEDY.

THAT VERY DEAR FRIEND OF

MINE, A MINISTER, JIMMY,

SAID, RON, I THINK IT HAS

SOMETHING TO DO -- I DON'T

KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT

IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH

TRUSTING GOD WITH WHAT WE

WILL NEVER HAVE THE

PRIVILEGE OF UNDERSTANDING

IN THIS LIFE.

HE HAD TO CHOOSE TO TRUST

GOD.

AND ANYBODY WHO HAS EVER

EXPERIENCEED AN EXPERIENCED

ANY SORT OF LOSS OR TRAGEDY

OR BROKEN DREAMS,

UNDERSTANDS THIS BETTER THAN

THEY EVER DID BEFORE THAT.

IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE THING

THAT WE HAVE TO SOMETIMES

EXPERIENCE TRAGEDY TO REALLY

SHAPE OUR HEARTS TO TRUST

GOD MORE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IT COMES

DOWN TO.

DO I CHOOSE TO TRUST HIM.

Kristi: WHAT DID YOU

AND YOUR FAMILY DO TO REGAIN

TRUST IN GOD OR REDEFINE

TRUST IN GOD?

WHAT DO YOU CURRENTLY DO?

GETTING BACK AND REAC

REACQUAINTED WITH GOD'S WORD

IS JUST LIFE GIVING.

THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS

THERE THAT I DIDN'T KNOW TO

SEE.

I JUST COULDN'T SEE THEM.

I HAD BLINDERS ON MY EYES,

AND THEN MY EYES WERE LIFTED

IN SOME WAY, AND I SAW THE

DEPTH OF GOD'S WORD.

I SEE IN THE SONGS OVER AND

OVER AND OVER AGAIN THIS

TENSION BETWEEN TRUSTING GOD

AND HAVING HOPE IN GOD AND

THE GOODNESS OF GOD, AND MY

PAIN AND MY ANGUISH AND MY

SORROW.

IT'S THERE.

I JUST NEVER SAW IT.

I DIDN'T LISTEN.

I DIDN'T HAVE EARS TO HEAR.

AND IT IS THERE.

GETTING REACQUAINTED WITH

SCRIPTURE HAS JUST BEEN

LIFE-GIVING.

AND SEEKING COUNSEL HAS BEEN

LIFE-GIVING.

Kristi: IS THERE HOPE

IN TRAGEDY?

IS THERE EVER HOPE IN

TRAGEDY?

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE IN

TRAGEDY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT

DOESN'T STINK.

AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT

DOESN'T HURT.

I THINK WE GET IT WRONG IN

CHURCH SOMETIMES.

WE SAY HOPE AS IF THE PAIN

SHOULD GO AWAY.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M

SAYING.

THERE IS HOPE BECAUSE OUR

GOD IS WORKING A REDEMPTION

IN OUR STORY.

AND LIFE MAY NOT BE AS YOU

WOULD WANT IT TO BE, BUT YOU

CAN TRUST GOD IN IT.

BECAUSE HE IS NOT FAR FROM

YOUR PAIN.

HE FEELS YOUR PAIN.

HE IS WITH YOU IN YOUR

SUFFERING.

AND HE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT

IT, AND HE JUST WANTS US TO

REMEMBER AND TO TRUST HIM

THAT HE IS GOOD, AND HE IS

WORKING ON OUR BEHALF.

ROMANS 8: 28 "GOD WORKS ALL

THINGS TO GOOD."

IT DOESN'T MEAN ALL THINGS

THAT HAPPEN ARE GOOD, BUT

GOD IS GOING TO MAKE

SOMETHING GOOD.

AND THAT'S WHERE OUR HOPE

IS.

Terry: NOW, WHERE DO

YOU GO WHEN LIFE HAPPENS AND

THE UNEXPECTED, DEEPLY

PAINFUL, HORRIFIC LOSSES

HAPPEN, OR WOUNDINGS THAT WE

CAN'T SEEM TO EVER CLIMB

OVER OR SEE ABOVE OR AROUND

IN ANY WAY, AND WE'RE LOST.

WE'RE IN THAT PLACE OF

HOPELESSNESS AND DARKNESS

AND PAIN.

THAT KIND OF PAIN THAT IS SO

DEEP IT IS UNUTTERABLE.

AND WE JUST MOAN IN THAT

PLACE.

IT HAPPENS.

IT HAPPENS.

YOU KNOW, LIKE NAN SAID, IT

IS SO EASY TO WATCH SOMEONE

ELSE WALK THROUGH A

DIFFICULT PLACE, AND HAVE

EASY ANSWERS.

AND EVEN JUDGE THE WAY THEY

HANDLE OR DON'T HANDLE IT.

BUT WHEN YOU'VE WALKED IN

THAT PLACE, WHEN YOU SAT IN

THE ASHES OF A DREAM THAT

HAS BEEN DESTROYED AND YOU

FEEL ALONE AND DISPAIRING,

AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO

HOPE, WHAT DO YOU DO?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

SCRIPTURE IS A POWERFUL

THING.

IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE

HEART OF GOD.

BUT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A

FRIEND WHO COMES AND SITS IN

THE ASHES WITH YOU AND JUST

GRIEVES.

YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU HAVE

FRIENDS WHO ARE GOING

THROUGH DIFFICULT LOSSES OR

CHALLENGES IN THEIR LIVES.

AND YOU'RE ALMOST

INTIMIDATION DATED BY IT --

IIM TIMIDINTIMIDATED BY IT,

AND YOU'RE LIKE, WHAT DO I

SAY?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY

ANYTHING.

JUST SIT WITH THEM.

IF YOU'RE THE ONE SITTING IN

THE ASHES TODAY, AND YOU

FEEL THAT KIND OF

DESPERATION THAT SAYS, HOW

DO I GO ON?

HOW DO I FIND AN ANSWER IN

THIS PLACE?

JUST NOW, JUST THIS MOMENT,

DO NOW WITH GOD.

UNDERSTAND THAT THE FATHER

HEART OF GOD IS WITH YOU,

HOLDING YOU, EMBRACING YOU

ON HIS LAP.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR KIDS

WHEN THEY'RE HURTING?

WE SCOOP THEM UP AND WE HOLD

THEM AND WE JUST ROCK WITH

THEM.

AND WE SAY, I'M HERE.

I LOVE YOU.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE PAIN

IS SO BIG AND SO DEEP, IT'S

NOT SO EASY THAT THE FINGER

CAN BE PUT ON IT AND IT IS

JUST GONE.

THE THING THAT GOD SAYS TO

US IS I'LL BE THERE WITH

YOU.

I'M NEVER GOING TO LEAVE

YOU.

I'M NEVER GOING TO FORSAKE

YOU.

AND HIS PROMISE TO US IS

THAT IN THE MIDST OF THE

DARKNESS, IN THAT GREAT,

GAPING HOLE, WHERE YOU FEEL

LIKE YOU'RE BEING WHIRLED

AROUND BY LIFE

UNCONTROLLABLY, HE SAYS, I'M

THERE.

I'M HOLDING YOU.

I'M LOVING YOU.

I'M FAITHFUL.

CONNER'S FAVORITE VERSE WAS

"TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL

OF YOUR HEART."

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THAT MEANS EVERY BIT OF YOU,

WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE IT.

THE NEXT LINE IS ABOUT YOUR

UNDERSTANDING, TRUSTING HIM

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE AN

UNDERSTANDING OF WHY YOU'RE

GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU'RE

GOING THROUGH, WHAT YOUR

LOSS HAS BEEN, WHY IT HAS

HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE LITTLE, AS

RON SAID.

WE ARE LITTLE.

BUT GOD IS BIG.

AND HE IS BIG ENOUGH FOR

YOUR HURT.

HE IS BIG ENOUGH FOR YOUR

PAIN.

HE IS BIG ENOUGH FOR YOUR

LOSS.

TODAY, RIGHT NOW, WHILE

YOU'RE IN THE DEPTH OF YOUR

GRIEF, JUST LET HIM HOLD YOU

AND ROCK YOU.

LET HIS WORD BE A STRONG

RIGHT ARM TO YOU TODAY.

LET IT DEFINE A GOD WORTHY

OF YOUR FAITHFULNESS, YOUR

TRUST, YOUR PAIN.

GIVE HIM YOUR PAIN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND

IT ALL.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE THE

BIG PICTURE.

JUST RIGHT NOW.

CLIMB UP IN HIS LAP AND LET

GOD LOVE YOU.

HE IS BIGGER THAN WHAT

YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, AND HE

GETS IT.

EIN ALL YOUR WAYS,

ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL

DIRECT YOUR PATHS.

AND I KNOW IT DOESN'T FEEL

LIKE IT OR SEEM LIKE IT

RIGHT NOW.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE

LEARN ABOUT GOD IS THAT HE

IS A REDEEMER.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO

REDEEM?

IT MEANS TO TAKE BACK

SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN

LOST.

HE IS GOING TO REDEEM THIS

IN YOUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT

MATTERS.

YOU CAN'T SEE IT RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT IS WHAT HE

SPECIALIZES IN.

RESURRECTIONS, TAKING WHAT

HAS BEEN DEAD BE LOST AND

DONE WITH, AND RESURRECTING

IT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU

THAT TODAY GOD WANTS TO

SPEAK INTO YOUR NEED.

HE WANTS TO SPEAK INTO YOUR

HURT.

HE WANTS TO SPEAK INTO YOUR

HEART AND YOUR LIFE.

LET ME PRAY WITH YOU RIGHT

NOW.

JUST PRAY WITH ME.

I KNOW THAT PAIN CAN FEEL SO

OVERWHELMING THAT YOU JUST

FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO

SWALLOW YOU UP.

HE HAS GOT YOU.

GOD'S GOT YOU.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS

LAP, AND HE'S GOT YOU.

LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.

GOD, I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO

BE YOU TO PEOPLE WHO ARE

HURTING SO DESPERATELY THAT

THEY JUST DON'T EVEN WANT TO

LIVE ANYMORE.

PAIN THAT IS SO GREAT THAT

THEY CAN'T BEAR FEELING IT

ANYMORE.

HOPELESSNESS THAT IS SO DARK

THAT THEY CAN'T SEE LIGHT

ANYWHERE ANYMORE.

OH, FATHER, SEND YOUR

SPIRIT.

SEND YOUR COMFORT INTO THE

MIDST OF THAT HOPELESSNESS

AND THAT PAIN AND THAT

DESPERATION.

THAT CRY THAT SAYS, MAKE IT

STOP.

I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE.

GOD, WE ARE LITTLE, BUT YOU

ARE BIG.

BE BIG IN THE LIVES OF THOSE

WHO ARE HURTING TODAY.

COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE IN

DESPERATE NEED.

REDEEM THE MOMENT, GOD, EVEN

THOUGH WE CAN'T SEE IT NOW.

WE TRUST YOU.

WE TRUST YOUR LOVE AND YOUR

MERCY, YOUR COMPASSION.

WE TRUST YOU UNTIL WE CAN

GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE

CAN SAY WHAT JOB SAID.

NOW I KNOW YOU IN A

DIFFERENT WAY.

I SEE YOU DIFFERENTLY.

I HAVE KNOWN WHAT IT MEANS

TO HAVE YOU COME YOURSELF, O

GOD, AND SIT IN THE ASHES OF

MY DISPAIR WITH ME.

O GOD, COME, COME NOW.

WE REACH UP OUT OF THE

DARKNESS OF WHERE WE SIT,

AND WE GRAB HOLD OF YOUR

HAND, EVER EXTENDED TO US,

GOD.

GIVE US ENOUGH PEACE, ENOUGH

STRENGTHEN, ENOUGH HOPE.

BECAUSE YOU ARE BIG, YOU ARE

LOVING, YOU ARE MERCIFUL.

YOU UNDERSTAND OUR PAIN.

O GOD, HOLD US TODAY AND

ROCK US TODAY.

WE TRUST YOU.

WE TRUST YOU.

IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

YOU KNOW, GOD KNOWS WHAT IT

MEANS TO SUFFER PAIN.

I KNOW THAT DOESN'T SEEM

VERY COMFORTABLY IN THE

PLACE THAT YOU'RE AT RIGHT

NOW, BUT HE LOST A SON.

A SON WHO HAD ALSO DONE NO

WRONG, WHO GAVE HIMSELF

WILLINGLY SO THAT WE COULD

HAVE WE WERE HAVE TODAY, THE

POWER OF GOD AVAILABLE TO

US, THE COMFORT AND THE

PEACE OF GOD AVAILABLE TO

US.

IF YOU'RE SUFFERING AND YOU

NEED SOMEONE TO PRAY WITH

YOU SPECIFICALLY TODAY, WE

WANT YOU TO KNOW WE HAVE

FRIENDS STANDING BY.

OUR NUMBER IS TOLL-FREE.

IT IS 1-800-759-0700.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL

AND SAY, WILL YOU PRAY WITH

ME TODAY.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TELL

THEM WHO YOU ARE.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE LOVE

OF GOD, SAY, WILL YOU PRAY

WITH ME TO RECEIVE JESUS

INTO MY HEART.

GOD SAYS WHEN WE REACH OUT

TO HIM, HE IS THERE.

HE IS ALREADY REACHING OUT

TO US.

TODAY REACH BACK.

REACH BACK AND RECEIVE HIM

INTO YOUR LIFE AND INTO YOUR

HEART.

FIND THE COMFORT AND THE

PEACE AND THE HOPE THAT

YOU'RE LONGING FOR.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE ON

OUR WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN

PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE

SANDY HOOK TRAGEDY.

AND YOU CAN FIND IT BY

LOGGING ON TO CBN.COM.

WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK WITH

MORE OF "THE 700 CLUB" RIGHT

AFTER THIS.

Ñxñ

Terry: ON A RECENT TRIP

TO UKRAINE, I HAD A CHANCE

TO SEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A

NEW HOME FOR ORPHANS, ONE

THAT WILL BE A SAFE PLACE

FOR CHILDREN.

ALL THE WHILE, CARRYING ON

THE MEMORY OF MY OWN

FATHER.

WE'RE HERE IN UKRAINE, TO

PRAY OVER THE CONSTRUCTION

OF OUR NEW ORPHANS PROMISE

TRAINING CENTER.

FIRST, IT IS BEING BUILT

WITH MONEY DONATED IN HONOR

OF MY FATHER, JOE, WHO

PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTANTLY

THIS PAST SPRING.

HE WAS THE FATHER OF SEVEN

ADOPTED UKRAINIAN CHILDREN.

AND BECAUSE TWO OF THE

ORPHANS FROM OUR ORIGINAL

PROJECT WILL BE WORKING WITH

ORPHANS IN THIS PARTICULAR

BUILDING.

IN FACT, ONE OF THEM,

URACOSA, IS AT THE ORPHANAGE

OF WHERE WE ADOPTED OUR

THREE DAUGHTERS.

FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR A FAMILY YOU PLACED ME

IN.

FOR A DAD WHO ALWAYS SAID I

LOVE YOU.

SO, FATHER, TODAY WE NAME

THIS CENTER, THE JOSEPH

CENTER, IN HIS HONOR.

WHEN YOU THINK OF HELPING

ORPHANS, YOU TRADITIONALLY

PICTURE YOUNG CHILDREN.

BUT HERE IN UKRAINE, THE

GREATER NEED IS FOR OLDER

ORPHANS, WHO ARE GETTING OUT

OF ORPHANAGES AT 16 YEARS OF

AGE.

THESE TEENS HAVE NO IDEA TO

LIVE INDEPENDENTLY BECAUSE

EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PROVIDED

FOR THEM IN THE INSTITUTIONS

THEY LIVED IN.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO COOK,

HOW TO RUN A HOUSEHOLD, HOW

TO MANAGE MONEY.

APPROXIMATELY 70% OF ORPHANS

ARE SWEPT UP THE SOCIAL

ILLS.

AND THAT'S A STATISTIC WE'RE

DETERMINED TO CHANGE.

SO, FATHER, TODAY WE'RE

ASKING YOU TO TOUCH THE

LIVES OF EVERY YOUNG PERSON

WHO COMES IN AND OUT OF THIS

PLACE.

SO THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM

SKILLS SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE

WELL.

AND MOST OF ALL, FATHER,

THAT YOU WOULD HEAL THEM

WITH YOUR DEEP LOVE.

YOUR PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL

SUPPORT ARE THE FOUNDATION

FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS

HAPPENING HERE.

TOGETHER WE'RE THE FAMILY

THESE CHILDREN NEVER HAD.

AND IT'S SO INTERESTING HOW

GOD WORKS THROUGH DIFFERENT

CIRCUMSTANCES, ISN'T IT?

MY DAD DIED UNEXPECTANTLY IN

MAY AFTER A TRAGIC FALL.

MY

FATHER HAD SEVEN

UKRAINIAN GRANDCHILDREN, AND

MANY PEOPLE GAVE TO THE

MEMORY OF MY FATHER, MANY OF

PEOPLE I DIDN'T KNOW, SO

THIS FACILITY COULD BE

BUILT.

TO THESE OLDER CHILDREN WHO

ARE NOT GOING TO FIND A

FAMILY, BUT WHO NOW WILL

HAVE THE SKILLS TO MOVE

FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO

THOSE WHO OF YOU WHO HAD A

VISION TO DO SOMETHING.

MANY OF YOU WATCH THESE

STORIES ABOUT THINGS WE'RE

DOING AROUND THE WORLD, AND

YOU SAY, I WANT TO BE A PART

OF THAT, TOO.

JOIN "THE 700 CLUB" TODAY.

CBN IS REACHING OUT TO THE

WORLD WITH GOD'S LOVE, AND

YOU CAN BE A PART OF THAT.

Pat: HOW MANY ORPHANS

ARE IN THE UKRAINE?

Terry: IN THE UKRAINE?

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT UKRAINE

ALONE, BUT THERE ARE

143 MILLION ORPHANS IN THE

WORLD.

Pat: 143 MILLION.

AND WE TALK ABOUT INTRA.

TH -- TRAGEDY.

THE THING THAT TORE ME UP

WAS TO HEAR ABOUT A MOTHER

WHO

WOULD TAKE HIS

6-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND LET HIM

GO IN THE CITY.

YOU TALK ABOUT HEARTBREAK.

Terry: AND PARENTS WHO

BECAUSE OF POVERTY OR LIFE

CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY COME OUT

OF THE COMMUNIST AREA WHERE

WHERE THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT

GOD.

AND THEY HAVE DRUGS AND

ALCOHOL.

Pat: I'VE SEEN FATHERS

WHO PROSTITUTED THEIR SONS,

WHO SOLD THEM FOR ALL KIND

DONE TO YOU THAT

HAPPENED TO THOSE ORPHANS.

Terry: WELL, THERE IS A

WOUNDING THAT COMES FROM

THAT THAT IS VERY HARD TO

OVERCOME.

I THINK THE REASON WE SEE

SOME TRAGEDY IN CONNECTICUT

IS BECAUSE THESE WERE

FAMILIES THAT SO LOVED THEIR

CHILDREN, THAT WERE SO

DEVOTED TO THEM.

THERE ARE CHILDREN

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT

HAVE NEVER KNOWN WHAT IT IS

LIKE TO HAVE FAMILY.

AND THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT

WE ARE REACHING OUT TO AND

WHO'S LIVES WE DESIRE TO

TOUCH.

Pat: THANK GOD YOU'RE

DOING IT.

IT IS A WONDERFUL THING.

FOLKS, IF YOU'RE NOT

PARTICIPATING, "ORPHANS'

PROMISE," WHICH TERRY IS

VERY INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN,

TO GIVE HOPE TO THESE LITTLE

KIDS.

IT IS ONE WAY OF SAYING TO

GOD, THANK YOU FOR MY

FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR MY

HEALTH, AND THE BEST WAY TO

SHOW YOU'RE THANKFUL IS TO

HELP SOMEBODY LESS

FORTUNATE.

STILL TO COME, WE HAVE A

SPECIAL EDITION OF "BRING IT

ON."

NANCY SAID, SO FAR MY KIDS

DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT

THE SANDY HOOK SHOOTING.

HOW DOES A PARENT EXPLAIN

WHAT HAPPENED WITHOUT IN

INSTILLING FEAR?

I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN GIVE

AN ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I'LL

TRY.

ñññññ

Lee: AND WELCOME BACK

TO "THE 700 CLUB" FROM OUR

STUDIOS IN WASHINGTON.

A CHRISTIAN WORKER SHOT IN

PAKISTAN HAS DIED.

AN UNKNOWN GUNMAN SHOT

70-YEAR-OLD VERJETA IN FRONT

OF HER HOME IN PAKISTAN TWO

WEEKS AGO.

SHE DIED OF HER INJURIES IN

A HOSPITAL IN HER IN ANY

NATIVE SWEDEN.

MORNINGSTAR NEWS REPORTS

THAT THEY BELIEVE ISLAMIC

EXTREMISTS CARRIED OUT THAT

ATTACK.

CBN BROUGHT CHRISTMAS TO THE

CHILDREN OF PRISON INMATES

IN LIMA, PUR RE.

MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN

GATHERED FOR A SPECIAL

SHOWING OF CBN'S

"SUPERBOOK."

WE SHARED A MESSAGE OF HOPE

AND SALVATION THROUGH JESUS

CHRIST.

EACH CHILD RECEIVED A

"SUPERBOOK" GIFT PACK IN

SPANISH, ALONG WITH A POSTER

AND TREATS.

AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE

ABOUT WHAT CBN IS DOING

AROUND THE WORLD BY LOGGING

ON TO

CBN.COM/INTERNATIONAL.

PAT AND TERRY WILL BE BACK

WITH MORE OF "THE 700 CLUB"

AFTER THIS.

Terry: WE WANT TO TAKE

SOME TIME TODAY TO ANSWER

SOME OF YOUR E-MAIL

QUESTIONS, AND, PAT, THIS

FIRST ONE IS FROM NANCY, WHO

SAYS, "I'M KEEPING MY KIDS

HOME FROM SCHOOL TODAY, BUT

I KNOW I CAN'T KEEP THEM

HOME FOREVER.

SO FAR MY CHILDREN DON'T

KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE

SANDY HOOK SHOOTINGS.

I WANT THEM TO HEAR IT FROM

ME, INSTEAD OF ANOTHER KID

AT SCHOOL.

HOW SHOULD A PARENT EXPLAIN

WHAT HAPPENED WITHOUT

INSTILLING FEAR?"

Pat: YOU'VE GOT TO TELL

THEM ABOUT GOD'S PLAN.

YOU'VE GOT TO TELL THEM

ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY

HAVE A SPIRIT, AND THE

SPIRIT LIVES ON FOREVER.

AND THE SPIRIT IS HOUSED IN

THESE BODIES, AND BODIES

DIE.

AND SOMETIMES THEY DIE WHEN

YOU'RE 10 YEARS OLD, AND

SOMETIMES THEY DIE WHEN

YOU'RE 100.

BUT YOUR SPIRIT LIVES.

AND YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN TO

THEM THE FACT THAT WHEN A

PERSON DIES, IF HE KNOWS

JESUS, HE IS GOING TO BE

FOREVER WITH THE LORD IN A

PLACE THAT IS WONDERFUL.

AND YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM

THAT HOPE.

AND SO THEY DON'T GET SCARED

OF DEATH.

THAT THEY, IN A SENSE,

WELCOME IT.

I REMEMBER REAGAN'S DAUGHTER

SAID THAT HER FATHER MADE

HEAVEN SOUND SO WONDERFUL

THAT SHE WANTED TO KILL ALL

OF THE LITTLE GOLDFISH SO

THEY WOULD GO TO HEAVEN.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

IN A SENSE, THAT'S WHAT YOU

DO.

YOU DON'T SHIRK THESE

THINGS.

YOU TELL THEM.

YOU TELL THEM WHAT REALLY

GOES ON.

YOU DON'T SCARE THEM.

THAT'S NOT SCARY.

Terry: YOU KNOW WHAT

WOULD BE PROBABLY A REALLY

GOOD TOOL TO USE FOR THAT IS

COLTON BERPO'S BOOK, "HEAVEN

IS REAL."

AND TO TALK WHAT I WAS LIKE

FOR HIM.

I THINK WHAT IS SO DIFFICULT

IS SEPARATION FROM YOUR

LOVED ONES.

ABE SAYS, "DOES A PERSON

REALLY BECOME A CHRISTIAN BY

SIMPLY SAYING SOME MAGIC

WORDS AND AGREEING TO SOME

BASIC PRINCIPLES?"

Pat: NO, THAT'S NOT

WHAT HAPPENS.

YOUR HEART HAS TO ACCEPT.

YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART

AND CONFESS WITH YOUR

MOUTH.

YOU CONFESS, BUT YOU'RE

SAVED THROUGH BELIEVING.

YOU KNOW, THAT OLD TAMIKO

STATEMENT ABOUT THE GUY WHO

WAS PUSHING A BARREL OVER A

WIRE TO NIAGARA FALLS.

AND HE SAYS, WHO BELIEVES

THAT I CAN DO THIS.

AND ALL THESE HANDS STOOD

AND SAID, WE BELIEVE.

OKAY, YOU GET THE BARREL.

NONE OF THEM WANTED TO DO

IT.

SO UNTIL YOU'RE WILLING TO

GET IN THE BARREL AND TRUST

THE LORD AND COMMIT YOUR

LIFE TO HIM -- SALVATION IS

NOT JUST SAYING SOME CREDAL

STATEMENT, NO WAY.

Terry: DOUG SAYS, "I

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT JOHN

15: 10: "IF YOU KEEP MY

COMMANDMENTS, YOU WILL ABIDE

IN MY LOVE."

IF NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US

FROM HIS LOVE, HOW DO WE

UNDERSTAND THIS VERSE THAT

SEEMS TO SAY, I WILL LOVE

YOU IF YOU OBEY THE

COMMANDMENTS.

Pat: HE DIDN'T REALLY

SAY THAT.

HE SAID YOU WILL ABIDE IN MY

LOVE.

YOU WILL DWELL IN MY LOVE.

YOU WILL ABIDE IN MY LOVE AS

YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.

IT IS AN ON-GOING WALK WITH

THE LORD.

Terry: IT IS HOW WE GET

TO KNOW HIM.

Pat: HOW WE GET TO KNOW

HIM.

WE KEEP ON.

IT'S LIKE SAYING, YOU GOT

MARRIED AND YOU MADE SOME

VOWS AND KISSED THE BRIDE

AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF.

YOU NEVER HAVE ANY

COMMUNICATION FROM THEN ON?

YOU DON'T EVER TALK TO EACH

OTHER?

OF COURSE YOU DO.

YOU LIVE TOGETHER.

YOU SHARE THINGS TOGETHER.

IT IS A WALK TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS WITH

SALVATION.

YOU WALK WITH THE LORD.

AND IF YOU CONTINUE IN MY

COMMANDMENTS, YOU WILL ABIDE

IN MY LOVE AND YOU WILL LIVE

IN MY LOVE.

Terry: THIS IS CINDY

WHO SAYS, "WHY DO I NEED TO

GO TO CHURCH?

CAN'T I JUST WORSHIP GOD

ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE I

WANT?"

Pat: YOU CAN.

BUT THE BIBLE SAYS, DON'T

FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING OF

YOURSELVES TOGETHER.

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT

BEING WITH FELLOW

CHRISTIANS, SAIR SHARING

THEIR PAIN, THEIR JOYS,

THEIR SORROW AND THEIR

BLESSINGS.

AND HAVE THEM WITH YOU.

AND IN A SENSE, HOW ARE YOU

GOING TO HEAR -- YOU'VE GOT

TO HAVE SOME TEACHING.

SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO TEACH

YOU ABOUT WHAT IS THERE.

AND THIS INSIGHT -- A GOOD

PASTOR WILL HAVE GOOD

INSIGHTS INTO THE SCRIPTURE

THAT HE OR HE UNFOLDS TO YOU

ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

AND IF YOU LIVE ALL BY

YOURSELVES -- THAT'S WHAT

THESE OW OCCULTS ARE, THEY

GET OFF BY THEMSELVES AND

THERE IS NOBODY TO CORRECT

IT, NO GOVERNOR.

YOU NEED THAT

SELF-CORRECTION THAT COMES

ABOUT WITH BEING A

CHRISTIAN.

Terry: DON'T YOU THINK

THERE IS SOMETHING, TOO,

THAT COMES FROM SETTING

ASIDE A PART OF YOUR WEEK

JUST TO GO AND WORSHIP THE

LORD?

Pat: SURE.

AND THE IDEA IS THAT YOU

DON'T WORK.

YOU SET THE TIME ASIDE FOR

THE LORD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT IN

A, QUOTE,"CHURCH."

Terry: MARK SAYS, "WHAT

IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

HAVING GOOD SELF-ESTEEM AND

PRIDE?"

Pat: THE BIBLE IS VERY

STRICT ABOUT PRIDE BECAUSE

THE PRIDE GO-ETH BEFORE

DESTRUCTION.

PRIDE SAYS I HAVE DONE IT.

I, I, I.

THAT'S PRIDE.

IF ANYBODY BOASTS, LET HIM

BOAST IN THE LORD, THE BIBLE

SAYS.

I THANK GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS

TO ME.

AND I PRAISE HIM FOR ALL HE

HAS BLESSED ME WITH.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, BEFORE

GOD, I REALIZE IS NOTHING I

HAVE NOT RECEIVED BUT FROM

HIM.

HE GAVE ME LIFE, ALL OF THE

MATERIAL THINGS, AND IT ALL

COMES FROM GOD.

AND THERE IS NOTHING I HAVE

DONE THAT DIDN'T COME FROM

GOD.

IF YOU HAVE PRIDE IN THE

LORD, THAT'S GOOD.

AND THE SAME THING, ALSO, IF

YOU'RE A RUNNER AND YOU CAN

RUN THE 100-METERS IN 9.2,

YOU MAY BE THE FASTEST IN

THE WORLD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY I'M AN

OLD SLOW POKE.

TAKE IT AS AN OBJECTIVE

FACT.

I CAN RUN THE HUNDRED IN

9.2.

OKAY, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, WHAT'S NEXT?

IS THAT ALL?

Terry: THAT'S ALL WE'VE

GOT FOR RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE DO LOVE GETTING YOUR

E-MAIL QUESTIONS, AND

HOPEFULLY GET TO MOST OF

THEM ON THIS PROGRAM.

STILL AHEAD, ONE OF MY

FAVORITE INSPIRING SINGERS,

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, TELLS

US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR

HIS SONG "CHRISTMAS CARD."

Terry: IN MAY OF 2008,

THE CREDI CHRISTIAN WORLD

MOURNED OVER THE DEATH OF

8-YEAR-OLD MIA.

SHE WAS KILLED AFTER HER

TEENAGED BROTHER

ACCIDENTALLY RAN OVER HER IN

THE DRIVEWAY.

YEARS LATER, WITH THAT

TRAGEDY STILL IN MIND,

STEVEN PENNED A CHRISTMAS

SONG LIKE NO OTHER.

RECENTLY HE TOLD US WHY HE

WROTE IT AND ABOUT THE

MESSAGE HE WANTS TO SHARE.

WE ALL KNOW THAT

CHRISTMAS, AS THE SONG SAYS,

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF

THE YEAR.

JINGLE BELLS, ALL OF THE

DECORATIONS, AND EVERYTHING

IS SO HAPPY.

BUT THE TRUTH IS IT IS ALSO

A VERY HARD TIME FOR SO MANY

PEOPLE.

IN FACT, ALL OF THE JOY,

"JOY TO THE WORLD," ALL OF

THE HAPPY SONGS AND ALL OF

THE LIGHTS SOMETIMES CAN BE

SALT IN THE WOUND.

IF WE'RE HURTING AND MISSING

SOMEONE, AND MAYBE YOU'RE

THERE.

MY FAMILY AND I CAN RELATE

TO THAT MORE THAN EVER

BEFORE NOW.

WITH OUR LITTLE GIRL IN

HEAVEN.

SO THIS SONG WAS VERY

IMPORTANT.

A SONG CALLED "CHRISTMAS

CARD."

BECAUSE FOR ME, I WANTED SO

MUCH TO SAY TO ALL OF THOSE

WHO ARE STRUGGLING THROUGH

THIS CHRISTMAS, IT MAY NOT

BE THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME

OF THE YEAR.

TO KNOW THAT THE WHOLE

CHRISTMAS STORY ABOUT THAT.

ABOUT STORIES BEING CHANGED

OVERNIGHT, ABOUT THINGS

REALLY NOT GOING THE WAY

PEOPLE HAD PLANNED, AND YET

IN THE MIDST OF IT, GOD

SHOWING UP AND SAYING, I AM

WITH YOU, IN THE MIDST OF

THIS.

SO MY HOPE AND PRAYER WITH

SENDING OUT THIS LITTLE

MUSCLE CHRISTMAS CARD OF

THIS SONG IS THAT IT WILL

FIND PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY

ARE, AND THEY WILL HEAR THAT

MESSAGE AGAIN, KNOWING THAT

GOD IS FOR YOU, AND GOD IS

WITH YOU.

AND GOD IS WITH US.

* I THINK I PASSED YOU ON

THE BUSY SIDEWALK LAST

NIGHT *

* I THINK I CAUGHT THE

SADNESS IN YOUR EYES *

* EVERYBODY SINGS THEIR

HAPPY CHRISTMAS SONGS

TONIGHT *

* ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS

CRY *

* CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND

DECORATIONS EVERYWHERE YOU

TURN *

* BUT ALL YOU FEEL INSIDE IS

DARK AND GREY *

* THERE MAY BE JOY FOR ALL

OF THE WORLD *

* BUT IS THERE ANY JOY FOR

YOU *

* HOLD ON

* LOVE IS LOOK ARE TO A

WAY *

* HOLD ON

* I BELIEVE IT'S WHY LOVE

CAME *

* SO I'M SENDING YOU THIS

CHRISTMAS CARD *

* TO LET YOU KNOW SOMEBODY

LOVES YOU *

* AND I'M SINGING YOU THIS

LITTLE SONG TO LET YOU KNOW

YOU'RE NOT ALONE *

* AND I'M THINKING AS WE

CELEBRATE *

* HOW LOVE CAME DOWN

* SO ALL THE LOST AND LONELY

BROKEN HEARTS CAN GET

FOUND *

* AND WHEREVER YOU ARE

* I HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS CARD

FINDS YOU *

* AND REMINDS YOU

*

YOU AREN'T ALONE *

* FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN

LEFT STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE

LOOKING IN *

* AND WHEN THE STORY OF YOUR

LIFE GETS REWRITTEN

OVERNIGHT *

* THIS IS ALL PART OF THE

CHRISTMAS STORY, TOO *

* AND I BELIEVE GOD KNOWS HE

IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU,

TOO *

* SO I'M SENDING YOU THIS

CHRISTMAS CARD *

* TO LET KNOW SOMEBODY LOVES

YOU *

* I'M SINGING YOU THIS

LITTLE SONG TO LET YOU KNOW

YOU'RE NOT ALONE *

* AND I'M THINKING AS WE

CELEBRATE, HOW LOVE CAME

DOWN *

* TO ALL OF THE LOST AND

LONELY BROKEN HEARTS SO THEY

CAN GET FOUND *

* AND WHEREVER YOU ARE

* I HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS CARD

FINDS YOU *

* AND REMINDS YOU

* YOU'RE NOT ALONE

* YOU'RE NEVER FORGOTTEN

* GOD, WHO MADE YOU, CAME

DOWN TO HIS WORLD *

* TO LET US KNOW, WHEREVER

WE ARE *

* HE IS WITH US.

*

GOD IS WITH US *

* AND HE REALLY WANTS TO LET

YOU KNOW *

* JUST HOW MUCH HE LOVES

YOU *

* SO I'M SINGING YOU THIS

CHRISTMAS SONG *

* SO YOU'LL KNOW YOU'RE NOT

ALONE *

* AND I'M THANKFUL AS WE

CELEBRATE *

* HOW LOVE CAME DOWN

* NOW ALL OF THE LOST AND

LONELY BROKEN HEARTS CAN GET

FOUND *

* AND WHEREVER YOU ARE, I

HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS CARD *

*

*

FINDS YOU AND REMINDS YOU *

* YOU ARE NOT ALONE

*