Gordon: A YOGA TEACHER
LEARNS A LESSON OF A
LIFETIME.
GOD LED HIM TO THE VERY
SPOT WHERE I WAS
HITCHHIKING.
WHEN HE PULLED OVER, I
OPENED THE DOOR TO THE VAN,
AND MY HEART STARTED RACING,
AND I KNEW THIS WAS IT.
Gordon: HOW HE HAD A
CHANGE OF HEART AND FAITH,
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.
WELL, GOOD MORNING, AND
WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
IF YOU'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR
INNER PEACE, MANY RELIGIONS
SAY THEY HAVE THE ANSWER.
HINDUS, BUDDHISTS, THEY ALL
SAY THEY HAVE THE WAY TO
TRUE ENLIGHTENNESS.
Terry: THAT'S WHAT MIKE
WAS LOOKING FOR.
HE READ BOOK ON YOGA, AND
CHANTED, BUT MIKE NEVER
FOUND HIM.
UNTIL ONE DAY, PEACE FOUND
HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD.
I WAS IN CONVULSIONS.
I FELT LIKE MY SOUL WAS
LEAVING MY BODY AND GOING
INTO THIS TERRIBLE, DARK
VOID.
I CAME RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE
OF DEATH AND SOMEHOW CAME
BACK AGAIN.
IT CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE IN
LIFE.
I WAS RAISED AS A ROMAN
CATHOLIC AND WAS VERY
DEVOTED, BUT I NEVER HAD AN
ENCOUNTER WITH GOD.
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, I
BECAME A ROCK MUSICIAN, AND
THE LIFESTYLE THAT WENT
ALONG WITH THAT LED ME INTO
DRUG USE.
I MOVED AWAY FROM RELIGION
ALL TOGETHER.
AT THE AGE OF 19, I HAD A
TERRIBLE DRUG OVERDOSE
EXPERIENCE.
I THOUGHT I WAS DYING.
I DECIDED, I'VE GOT TO FIND
OUT WHAT IS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THIS EXPERIENCE
CALLED DEATH.
I MET AN INDIAN GURU, AND I
DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL IN
ORDER TO STUDY YOGA ALL
DAY.
I WOULD START AT 3:30 EVERY
MORNING WITH MEDITATION, AND
I WOULD SPEND HOURS AND
HOURS READING ABOUT THE GIDA
AND THE BIBLE, AND ANY BOOK
THAT WAS SACRED AND
INSPIRED.
AND THEN AT NIGHT I WAS
TEACHING AT FOUR
UNIVERSITIES.
ONE OF THE PRIMARY BELIEFS
OF THAT VIE WORLD VIEW IS
THAT ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO
THE PATH TO GOD.
THAT A HINDU CAN GET THERE
THROUGH HIS PRACTICES AND
ACHIEVE SAMATI, OR A
CHRISTIAN CAN BE BORN
AGAIN.
SO IT BLENDS ALL OF THEM
TOGETHER AS IF ALL OF THE
EXPERIENCE ARE ONE IN THE
SAME.
THE TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER DID A
BIG HALF-PAGE ARTICLE ON
ME.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WOULD
ALERT THIS PRAYER GROUP IN
TOWN TO START PRAYING FOR ME
ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
THEY HAD A 24-HOUR PRAYER
CHAIN AND HA THEY ASSIGNED
SOMEBODY TO BE PRAYING AND
FASTING FOR ME EVERY HOUR OF
EVERY DAY.
AN OLD FRIEND FROM COLLEGE
WROTE ME A LETTER.
LARRY AND I BOTH DROPPED OUT
OF SCHOOL IN ORDER TO STUDY
UNDER DIFFERENT GURUS.
I GET THIS SURPRISING LETTER
FROM LARRY, WHERE HE SAID HE
MADE JESUS THE SAVIOR OF HIS
LIFE AND THE LORD OF HIS
LIFE.
AND THAT WAS TOO HEAVY FOR
ME TO HANDLE AT FIRST.
FINALLY ONE DAY I DECIDED,
MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING
ABOUT JESUS THAT I HAVE
MISINTERPRETED.
SO I THOUGHT, IF I'M GOING
TO BE A TRUE SEEKER AND BE
OPEN-MINDED, I NEED TO AT
LEAST DEDICATE ONE DAY TO
JESUS.
THAT MORNING, INSTEAD OF
DOING MANTRA YO YOGA, I
STARTED READING THE BIBLE
AND PRAYING.
AND I PRAYED SIMPLE PRAYERS,
LIKE, JESUS, IF YOU REALLY
DIED ON THE CROSS FOR
HUMANITY, IF YOU REALLY ROSE
FROM THE DEATH, IF YOU'RE
THE ONLY SAVIOR, GIVE ME A
SUPER NATURAL SIGN TODAY.
I KEPT CONVERSING WITH THE
LORD, EXPECTING I WOULD HAVE
A VISION OR HEAR A VOICE.
THAT AFTERNOON I HAD TO GO
TEACH A YOGA CLASS, AND I
HAD TO HITCH HIKE THERE.
ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
PRAYER GROUP WAS A FORMER
YOGA STUDENT WHO HAD BECOME
A CHRISTIAN, AND GOD LED HIM
TO THE VERY SPOT WHERE I WAS
HITCHHIKING.
I WAS STILL PRAYING, JESUS,
IF YOU'RE THE ANSWER, GIVE
ME A SIGN.
WHEN HE PULLED OVER, I
OPENED THE DOOR TO THE VAN
AND MY HEART STARTED RACING
BECAUSE ON THE CEILING OF
THIS VAN, HE TAPED A PICTURE
OF THE LORD JESUS.
AND I KNEW, THIS IS IT.
A FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD,
HE BROKE THE SILENCE AND
SAID, FRIEND, CAN I ASK YOU
A QUESTION?
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED
JESUS CHRIST COMING INTO
YOUR HEART.
SO HE PULLED OVER TO THE
SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE
DISCUSSED A FEW BIBLICAL
THINGS FOR A FEW MINUTES,
AND JUST PRAYED A SIMPLE
PRAYER.
I HAD THAT ENCOUNTER I HAD
BEEN SEEKING FOR MY ENTIRE
LIFE, FROM MY EARLY YEARS IN
CATHOLICISM, AND ALL OF THE
YEARS I SPENT IN NEW-AGE
SPIRITUALITY, I FINALLY
REACHED WHAT I WAS SEARCHING
FOR WHEN I FOUND THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST.
THAT WEEK I WENT BACK TO ALL
OF MY YOGA CLASSES AND TOLD
THEM ALL THAT I FOUND THE
LORD AND I WOULD NO LONGER
BE TEACHING YOGA.
SOME WERE VERY CONFUSED, AND
MOST OF MY MAIN STUDENTS
BECAME CHRISTIANS, ALSO.
I CAN SEE HOW GOD USED THE
TIME I SPENT IN EASTERN
RELIGIONS FOR A POSITIVE
PERSON.
I WITNESS TO EVERY HINDU
PERSON I COME ACROSS.
I HAVE A CONNECTION WITH
THEM.
I KNOW HOW TO TALK TO THEM
AND SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH
THEM IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT
IS NOT OFFENSIVE.
GOD CAN TAKE YOUR PAST AND
REDEEM IT AND MAKE IT USEFUL
TO HIS PURPOSES.
IF YOU EVER COME OUT OF ANY
KIND OF DARKNESS, YOU EARN
THE RIGHT TO REACH BACK AND
DRAW SOMEBODY ELSE OUT OF
THE SAME DILEMMA.
Gordon: JESUS IS THE
WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE
LIFE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT
AND GO, BOY, THAT'S
EXCLUSIONARY BECAUSE IT
SEEMS TO BE POPULAR TODAY TO
SAY ALL RELIGIONS ARE EQUAL,
AND ALL PATHS LEAD TO THE
TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT
DOESN'T HAPPEN.
WHEN YOU TALK TO A BUDDHIST,
WHEN YOU TALK TO A HINDU,
WHEN YOU TALK TO A MUSLIM,
AND YOU ASK THEM, ARE YOU
ASSURED OF SALVATION?
DO YOU KNOW?
THEY'LL TELL YOU NO.
A BUDDHIST WILL SAY, NO, I
HAVEN'T ACHIEVED NIRVANA.
A HINDU, NO, I DON'T HAVE
MOKSHA.
IN ISLAM, EVEN MOHAMMED
DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS GOING TO
HEAVEN.
THERE IS NO ASSURANCE
BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL BASED ON
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE
YOURSELF GOOD ENOUGH THAT
GOD WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR
YOU.
CHRISTIANITY IS THE OTHER
WAY AROUND.
JESUS SAYS, I'LL TAKE CARE
OF THAT.
AND IF YOU'LL OPEN THE DOOR
FOR ME -- "BEHOLD I STAND AT
THE DOOR.
IF ANYONE HEAR MY VOICE AND
OPEN THE DOOR, I'LL COME
IN."
THAT'S HIS PROMISE.
WHERE HE MEETS YOU WHERE YOU
ARE TO RESTORE YOU, TO
REDEEM YOU, TO SAVE YOU, TO
FORGIVE YOU.
AND HE HAS DONE IT ALL.
WE DON'T HAVE TO.
WE JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT.
WE JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE.
NOW, HERE IT IS FROM THE
BIBLE.
IT'S FROM JOHN 14: 6: "I AM
THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE
LIFE.
NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER
EXCEPT THROUGH ME."
THAT'S EXCLUSIONARY.
HE IS THE DOOR.
HE IS THE KEY, IF YOU WILL.
TO SALVATION.
WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PRAY
ENOUGH.
YOU CAN'T DO ENOUGH GOOD
THINGS TO MAKE UP FOR THE
THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE
WRONG.
YOU CAN'T FAST ENOUGH.
YOU CAN'T GIVE ENOUGH.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, GOD
TAKES CARE OF ALL OF IT
BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU.
AND THAT'S THE GOSPEL.
GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD --
THAT INCLUDES YOU -- THAT HE
GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
THAT WHO SO FAR WOULD
BELIEVE ON HIM WOULD NOT
PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING
LIFE.
NOW, HERE IS ANOTHER GREAT
PART OF THAT NEWS, IS THAT
JESUS WANTS TO SHOW UP FOR
YOU.
AND IF YOU PRAY THE SAME
PRAYER THAT MIKE PRAYED,
JESUS, IF YOU'RE REAL, IF
YOU'RE THERE, IF YOU CAME
FOR ME, IF YOU'RE THE
SAVIOR, IF YOU'RE THE
MESSIAH, COULD YOU SHOW ME?
COULD YOU SHOW UP FOR ME?
AND HERE IS THE PROMISE THAT
YOU GET.
IT'S FROM THE SAME GOSPEL,
THE SAME CHAPTER, JOHN 14:
21: "WHO HAS MY COMMANDMENTS
AND KEEPS THEM, IS HE WHO
LOVES ME."
WHAT ARE THOSE
COMMANDMENTS?
THEY'RE REAL SIMPLE.
LOVE GOD; LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
THOSE ARE THE COMMANDMENTS.
IF YOU KEEP THAT, YOU LOVE
JESUS.
"AND HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE
LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I
WILL MANIFEST."
"I WILL LOVE HIM AND I WILL
MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM."
HE'LL SHOW UP FOR YOU.
WHEN YOU SEEK HIM WITH ALL
OF YOUR HEART, THEN YOU'LL
FIND HIM.
HE WANTS TO SHOW YOU HE IS
REAL.
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
ASK HIM.
IF YOU WANT HELP WITH THAT,
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
AND IT IS JUST A PHONE CALL
AWAY.
THE NUMBER IS ON THE
SCREEN.
1-888-777-1999.
JUST SAY, I WANT TO KNOW
JESUS.
I WANT TO MEET HIM TODAY.
COULD YOU HELP ME WITH
THAT?
COULD YOU PRAY WITH ME.
AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT OTHER RELIGIONS, I'VE
PUT TOGETHER A WONDERFUL
D.V.D.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT.
IT'S CALLED "THE QUEST FOR
GOD."
IN HERE ARE EXPLANATIONS OF
BUDDHISM, HINDUISM, ISLAM,
AND OTHER RELIGIONS OF THE
WORLD.
DONE BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
PRACTICING THEM.
I WANTED THIS TO BE IF A
MUSLIM SAW IT, HE WOULD
AGREE WITH IT.
IF A HINDU SAW IT, HE WOULD
AGREE WITH IT.
AND IF A BUDDHIST SAW IT, HE
WOULD AGREE WITH IT.
AND IN ALL OF THEM, THERE IS
NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER.
ARE YOU SAVED?
YOU DON'T KNOW.
YOU DON'T FIND NIRVANA.
YOU DON'T FIND MOKSHA, AND
YOU DON'T FIND SALVATION
BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH
GOOD THINGS YOU CAN DO.
IF YOU WANT THIS, THERE IS A
SPECIAL PAGE WHERE YOU CAN
WATCH THOSE VIDEOS FREE
ONLINE OR YOU CAN GET THE
"QUEST FOR GOD" D.V.D.
IT IS AVAILABLE.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO
OUR WEBSITE, cbn.com, AND
IT'S AVAILABLE ON
AMAZON.COM.
IF YOU WANT OTHER
INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER
RELIGIONS AND HOW THEY DON'T
ARRIVE AT THE TOP OF THE
MOUNTAIN, GO TO CBN.COM.
STILL AHEAD, TERRY AND I
WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS,
AND YOU'LL GET TO MEET A
GURU WHO DIDN'T HAVE A
CLUE.
AND I HAD TRIED
EVERYTHING BEFORE THAT TO
GET RID OF THIS BURDEN, THIS
FEAR, THIS ANXIOUSNESS.
EVERY NEW-AGE PROCESS JUST
DIDN'T WORK.
Gordon: SEE HOW HE
FOUND WHAT HE WAS LOOKING
FOR WHEN WE COME BACK.
Terry: FOR YEARS JOHN
GORDON THRIVED ON ENERGY AND
POSITIVE THINKING.
HE WAS A SOUGHT-AFTER
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER.
AND THEN ONE DAY WHILE
DRIVING, JOHN HEARD A VOICE
THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE.
I BELIEVE EVERY ONE OF US
HAS A CHOICE BETWEEN TWO
ROADS: THE POSITIVE ROAD AND
THE NEGATIVE ROAD.
AND THE POSITIVE ROAD LEADS
TO JOY, SUCCESS, AND
FULFILLMENT.
AND THE NEGATIVE ROAD LEADS
TO FAILURE, NEGATIVITY, AND
DISPAIR.
Reporter: JOHN GORDON
HAS BEEN DOWN BOTH ROADS.
TODAY HE IS A MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKER WHO COACHES HUGE
ORGANIZATIONS AND SPORTS
TEAMS.
BUT A WHILE BACK, NOTHING
BUT NEGATIVITY FILLED HIS
MIND.
HE WAS ALMOST BANKRUPT AND
ALMOST LOST HIS MARRIAGE.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL
WITH MY STRESS.
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH
MY FEAR.
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH
BEING A YOUNG FATHER WITH A
WIFE AND TWO KIDS TO
SUPPORT.
WHEN I WAS IN MY 20s,
PEOPLE SAID, WOW, YOU HAVE
THE WHOLE WORLD AHEAD OF
YOU.
I WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE
UP-AND-COMERS IN ATLANTA,
SOMEONE WHO WAS REALLY
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
AND EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT
ALWAYS ACCOMPLISHING
SOMETHING, AND NOW I WASN'T
ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING.
I BLAMED MY PARENTS, MY
BIOLOGICAL FATHER, WHO LEFT
WHEN I WAS ONE.
I BLAMED MY WIFE.
IT WAS EVERYONE ELSE'S FAULT
BUT MINE.
IT WAS ALWAYS NITPICKING,
ALWAYS SOMETHING HE WAS
NOTICING THAT WE WEREN'T
DOING RIGHT.
AND I TOLD HIM, I WOULD
RATHER LIVE ALONE AND
STRUGGLE AND TRY TO MAKE
ENDS MEET THAN TO LEAVE WITH
YOU AND DEAL WITH THIS KIND
OF NEGATIVITY.
SO I PRETTY MUCH SAID I WAS
GOING TO DIVORCE HIM.
Reporter: THAT GOT
JOHN'S ATTENTION.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, I
GOT THIS THIS SORT OF EUREKA
MOMENT, AND WRITING AND
SPEAKING JUST CAME TO ME.
I STARTED JUST TO RESEARCH
FOR MYSELF POSITIVE WAYS TO
CHANGE MY OWN LIFE.
Reporter: JOHN PUT WHAT
HE WAS LEARNING INTO
PRACTICE, STARTING AT HOME.
SO KATHRYN DECIDED TO STAY
IN THE MARRIAGE.
THEN HE BEGAN WRITING AND
SPEAKING ABOUT POSITIVE
ENERGY.
JOHN'S TEACHINGS CAME FROM A
COLLECTION OF RELIGIONS AND
BELIEFS.
MY BELIEF WAS ALL PATHS
LED TO GOD.
AND JESUS WAS JUST ONE
PATH.
THAT THROUGH BUDDHISM, YOU
CAN GET THERE AS WELL, AND
THROUGH HINDUISM, YOU CAN
GET THERE.
AND IF YOU WERE JUST HAVING
A SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE FATHER GOD, YOU CAN
CONNECT.
Reporter: JOHN HAS
BECAME KNOWN AS THE ENERGY
GUY.
HE EVEN APPEARED ON
"THE "TODATHE "TODAY
THE "TODAY SHOW," AND THEN
HIS SUCCESS CAME TO A STOP.
THE SPEAKING JUST DRIED
UP.
BUT IT WAS DURING THIS
PROCESS THAT GOD STARTED TO
CHANGE ME.
Reporter: JOHN GREW UP
IN A JEWISH FAMILY.
APART FROM BEING
BARMITZVAHED, HE NEVER WENT
TO CHURCH.
IT WAS A LOT OF HYPOCRISY
TO ME.
Reporter: THEN A GOOD
FRIEND GAVE JOHN SOME GOOD
SERMONS ON C.D. TO JOHN.
I NEVER THOUGHT I NEEDED
SAVING.
BUT NOW I WAS INTRODUCED TO
THE IDEA THAT GOD CAME HERE
TO SAVE YOU.
IT WAS AFTER LISTENING TO
THOSE C.D.s THAT ON MY
WALK OF PRAYER AND THE
MORNING, I SAID, GOD, IF
THERE IS SOMETHING TO THIS
JESUS, IF HE IS WHO THEY SAY
HE IS, JUST SHOW ME THE
SIGNS.
I'M OPEN TO THEM.
JUST, I'M OPEN.
I'M DRIVING DOWN TO ORLANDO
TO SPEAK, I'M ON I-95 SOUTH,
AND I'M LOOKING TO THE LEFT,
AND I HEARD THIS VOICE TO
SAY LOOK.
I TURN AND I LOOK AND I SEE
THIS SIGN THAT SAYS, "JESUS
IS THE ANSWER."
AND IN THAT MOMENT, I KNEW
IT WAS A SIGN FROM GOD.
IT WAS MEANT FOR ME.
Reporter: WHILE JOHN
WAS MEDITATING, HE STARTED
SEEING GLOWING CROSSES.
HE TOLD A BUDDHIST ENERGY
HEALER ABOUT ALL OF THESE
THINGS HE WAS SEEING, AND HE
WAS SURPRISED AT THE THE
BUDDHIST'S RESPONSE.
HE SAID CHRISTIANITY IS
LIKE SPIRITUAL CHEATING, YOU
JUST BELIEVE AND YOU
RECEIVE.
AND I HAD TRIED EVERYTHING
BEFORE THAT TO GET RID OF
THIS BURDEN, TO GET RID OF
THIS KNOT I HAD IN MY
STOMACH, HIS CONSTANT
ANXIETY, THIS FEAR, THIS
ANXIOUSNESS THAT WAS IN ME
AT ALL TIMES.
EVERY TECHNIQUE, EVERY
NEW-AGE PROCESS JUST DIDN'T
WORK.
I JUST SAID, JESUS, I MAKE
YOU MY LORD AND SAVIOR.
PLEASE SAVE ME.
TAKE MY BURDEN.
TAKE MY PAIN.
I CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
HE STARTED TO CHANGE ME IN A
LOT OF WAYS.
I WAS A BETTER FATHER.
A BETTER HUSBAND.
I STARTED TO JUDGE OTHERS A
LOT LESS.
AND, ALSO, I WAS VERY
CONTROLLING, AND I STARTED
TO SURRENDER A LOT MORE.
AND I ALSO STARTED TO
REALIZE MY OWN
IMPERFECTIONS.
I USED TO TRY TO COVER UP MY
IMPERFECTIONS WITH PRIDE AND
BEATING THE CHEST WITH HOW
GREAT I AM.
BUT, ACTUALLY, GOD STARTED
SHOWING ME HOW IMPERFECT I
WAS AND HOW MUCH I ACTUALLY
NEEDED HIM.
Reporter: JOHN WAS
BAPTIZED ON PALM SUNDAY,
2007, AND SO EASTER IS A
VERY SPECIAL TIME FOR HIM.
THROUGH THE RESURRECTION,
IT CEMENTS EVERYTHING I
BELIEVE AS A CHRISTIAN, THAT
JESUS CAME HERE.
HE CAME TO TEACH US.
HE CAME TO DIE FOR US.
AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE
CAME TO GIVE US LIFE.
GOD JUST LOVES ME FOR ME.
I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING
TO GET HIS LOVE.
Terry: THAT'S BECAUSE
IT IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
AND THAT'S SO FOREIGN TO
MOST OF US.
IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE
AND RECEIVE.
THERE IS HARDLY ANYWHERE IN
LIFE THAT THAT HAPPENS TO
US, BUT IT DOES WITH OUR
GOD.
WE ARE "700 CLUB
INTERACTIVE," AND WE HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS FROM YOU, OUR
LISTENERS, OUR VIEWERS.
SO LET'S GO OVER TO JESSICA
TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING
ONLINE.
DON WRITES IN, "I
RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE
UNTARIAN CHURCH.
I DON'T HAVE THE PRESSURE OF
HAVING TO PRAY, BUT CAN
SIMPLY MEDITATE, AND THAT
BRINGS ME PEACE.
MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS AND
ANGRY AND TELL ME I SHOULD
REPENT SINCE JESUS IS THE
ONLY WAY.
SINCE MY NEW CHURCH
INCORPORATES ALL BELIEFS, AM
I NOT SAVED?"
Gordon: LET ME ANSWER
THE QUESTION, ARE YOU SAVED
FIRST.
THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR ON
THIS.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART
THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH,
THAT HE CAME AND HE LIVED A
SINLESS LIFE, THAT HE DIED
ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS
AND HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE
GRAVE, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT
IN YOUR HEART AND CONFESS IT
WITH YOUR MOUTH, YOU SHALL
BE SAVED.
THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.
SO IT'S NOT BASED ON WHAT
CHURCH YOU GO TO.
NOW, IN TERMS OF UNTARIAN
BELIEFS.
I DON'T SHARE THEM.
I DON'T BELIEVE ALL ROADS
LEAD TO THE TOP OF THE
MOUNTAIN.
I DON'T THINK ALL RELIGIONS
ARE EQUAL.
I THINK THERE IS ONE, AND
HIS NAME IS JESUS.
AND IT'S A RELATIONSHIP.
AND YOU CAN HAVE IT.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE IT, YOU
NEVER WANT TO GIVE IT UP
BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST
PRECIOUS THING THERE IS.
SO WHY WOULD YOU BE WITH A
GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT
BELIEVES THAT WAY?
NOW, MEDITATION, I LIKE TO
MEDITATE ON THE SCRIPTURES.
I LIKE TO JUST BE WITH GOD.
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS
GOD.
SO IF YOU'RE FINDING PEACE
FROM THAT, BY ALL MEANS DO
IT.
THE BIBLE ENCOURAGES IT.
SO GO FOR THAT.
BUT STAYING WITHIN THE
UNITARIAN CHURCH, I WOULDN'T
DO THAT.
DON'T FORSAKE THE FELLOWSHIP
OF BELIEVERS.
IF THEY BELIEVE IN BUDDHA OR
MOHAMMED, THEY'RE NOT
BELIEVERS WITH YOU, THAT
JESUS IS THE WAY.
LET'S GO OVER TO JESSICA FOR
ONE MORE QUESTION.
GORDON, LEE SAYS, "I AM
THE ONLY CHRISTIAN IN MY
FAMILY, AND RECENTLY MY MOM
BEGAN TO FOLLOW A NEW-AGE
PSYCHIC.
SHE SAYS THAT THE PSYCHIC
READS THE BIBLE AND IS
THEREFORE A CHRISTIAN.
I TRY TO REASON WITH HER,
BUT SHE ALWAYS FINDS A WAY
TO SILENCE ME.
HOW CAN I EXPLAIN TO HER
THAT WHAT SHE BELIEVERS IN
IS A LIE?"
Terry: LEE, IT SEEMS
LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING IN
ALL OF US THAT WANTS TO KNOW
THE FUTURE, AND TO NOT BE
SURPRISED BY LIFE.
SO WE LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO
CAN TELL US THAT.
WE LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN
GIVE US A HEADS-UP, MAYBE TO
FIND SOMETHING WORR WE'RE
WANTING OR NEEDING IN OUR
LIVES.
I WOULD SAY THIS TO YOU, YOU
KNOW, MOST OF THE TIME
PEOPLE RECOGNIZE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT IN US WHEN WE ARE
LIVING FOR AND WITH JESUS.
WHEN HE IS SO MUCH A PART OF
OUR LIVES THAT IT SHOWS.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, AS THE
BIBLE SAYS, THE CITY ON A
HILL.
YOU SAY YOU'RE THE ONLY
CHRISTIAN IN YOUR FAMILY.
I WOULD SAY DON'T ARGUE WITH
YOUR MOM ABOUT THIS.
SHE IS NOT OPEN TO HEARING
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
LOVE HER.
LIVE IT OUT BEFORE HER.
BE JESUS WITH SKIN UNTO HER,
AND DON'T MAKE THIS THE
THING THAT DIVIDES YOU.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE
IS STRUGGLING WITH AND NOT
SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE.
UNTIL SHE IS READY TO SEE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN YOU
AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT
CHANGED YOUR LIFE, WHY ARE
YOU ABLE TO HAVE JOY, TO BE
STRONG IN THE MIDST OF
DIFFICULTY, SHE'LL SEE IT IN
YOU, AND SHE'LL ASK.
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
Gordon: I WOULD.
SHE MAY BE THE ONLY VERSION
OF JESUS THAT YOU EVER SEE.
AND WHEN YOU START THINKING
THAT WAY, IT REALLY CHANGES
YOUR HEART AND CHANGES YOUR
BEHAVIOR.
IF SOMEONE IS LOST AND BLIND
TO IT, SHOW THEM THE BETTER
WAY.
SHOW THEM THE MORE EXCELLENT
WAY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
STILL AHEAD, HEAR HOW A TV
SHOW STOPPED A GANG OF
THIEVES.
THAT'S UP NEXT.
SAL
Terry: TAMMY WAS RAISED
A MUSLIM, BUT AS AN ADULT,
SHE REALIZED SHE HAD NO
PEACE OR JOY.
TAMMY LONGED FOR MORE, AND
SHE FINALLY FOUND WHAT SHE
WAS LOOKING FOR IN THE MOST
UNUSUAL WAY.
I HAD NO PEACE OF MIND,
NO JOY.
Reporter: TAMMY WAS
SEARCHING FOR MEANING IN HIS
LIFE.
SHE WAS BORN A MUSLIM AND
LIVED ACCORDING TO THE
TENENTS OF ISLAM, BUT SHE
SAID SHE LONGED FOR
SOMETHING MORE.
I WENT TO WITCH DOCTORS,
AND THEY DEMANDED CHICKEN
AND ALSO A SACRIFICE, JUST
TO CONSULT THE SPIRITS FOR
ME.
Reporter: SIBRIAN, A
CHRISTIAN LIVING IN HIR
VILLAGE, TRIED TO TELL HER
ABOUT JESUS, BUT SHE
WOULDN'T LISTEN.
I DECIDED TO GIVE HER
TIPS FROM "THE 700 CLUB,"
BECAUSE I'VE WITNESSED MANY
MIRACLES THROUGH IT.
Reporter: ONE NIGHT
TAMMY DECIDED TO WATCH THE
TAPES THAT SIBRIAN GAVE
HER.
SHE HEARD A NOISE OUTSIDE,
AND THEN THE DOOR FLEW OPEN,
AND A GANG OF ROBBERS RUSHED
IN.
I WAS VERY AFRAID.
I MADE A PROMISE TO GOD,
SAYING, OH, LORD, IF ONLY
YOU WILL KEEP ME FROM THIS,
I WILL ACCEPT GOD IN MY
LIFE.
Reporter: AT THAT VERY
MOMENT ON THE TELEVISION,
PAT ROBERTSON BEGAN TO PRAY,
AND SOMETHING STRANGE
HAPPENED.
THE LEADER OF THE GANG
FELL TO THE FLOOR.
I FELT A STRONG WIND HIT
ME, AND I FELL TO THE
GROUND.
WHEN HE FELL, THE OTHER
THREE GUNMEN FLED.
I COULDN'T GET UP FOR
AROUND 15 MINUTES.
I SAW SOMEONE, AS WHITE AS
AN ANGEL, TELLING ME TO
ACCEPT CHRIST.
WHEN HE CAME AROUND, HE
WAS ASKING ME TO HELP HIM.
HE SAID HE WANTED JESUS IN
HIS LIFE.
THE GUILT OF MY SINS
WEIGHED HEAVILY ON ME.
I WANTED TO ACCEPT CHRIST.
I KNEW I WOULD HAVE PEACE
AND A CHANGE OF LIFE IF I
DID.
Reporter: TAMMY SENT
FOR SIBRIAN, WHO PRAYED FOR
JACOB.
AS HE PRAYED FOR ME, I
FELT A GREAT PEACE IN MY
HEART.
I KNEW I WOULD NEVER GO BACK
TO MY OLD WAYS.
Reporter: JACOB DIDN'T
HAVE A JOB, SO SIBRIAN
BOUGHT HIM A MOTORCYCLE,
WHICH HE USES AS A TAXI
BUSINESS.
RIDING AROUND TOWN, JACOB
STILL SEES SOME OF HER
FORMER GANG MEMBERS.
I PREACH TO THEM, AND TWO
OF THEM ARE ALREADY
CHRISTIANS.
Reporter: THE
EXPERIENCE CHANGED TAMMY'S
BELIEF, TOO.
BEFORE I NEVER BELIEVED
THAT JESUS WAS LORD, BUT
WHEN I SAW THE ROBBERS
RUNNING AWAY, THEN I
BELIEVED THAT, INDEED, JESUS
IS LORD.
CBN, I'M VERY THANKFUL.
I FOUND SALVATION AND
HEALING THROUGH YOUR
PROGRAM.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Terry: TRUTH, WE ARE
ABLE TO BRING THE TRUTH, THE
MESSAGE OF WHO JESUS IS, TO
THE WORLD.
WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
IF YOU'RE A "700 CLUB"
MEMBER, YOU HELP US TO DO
THAT.
JESUS SAID THAT WE WOULD
KNOW THE TRUTH, AND IT WAS
THE TRUTH THAT WOULD SET US
FREE.
THAT'S A POWERFUL STORY OF
HOW GOD WORKED IN A COUNTRY
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
GLOBE.
PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER HEARD
ABOUT HIM.
A FAITHFUL MAN, SIBRIAN, WHO
BROUGHT THE TRUTH TO THEM,
BUT YOU PROVIDED THE
VEHICLE.
AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU.
IF YOU'RE NOT A "700 CLUB"
MEMBER, THIS PROGRAM AND IN
OTHER LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD
HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU CARE.
JOIN WITH US.
IT IS 65 CENTS A DAY, $20 A
MONTH TO BECOME A "700 CLUB"
MEMBER.
BUT WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN
WITH THOUSANDS OF US BY
GOING TO YOUR PHONE AND
CALLING, 1-888-777-1999.
JUST SAY, I WANT TO JOIN
"700 CLUB."
OR YOU CAN DO IT BY LOGGING
ON TO CBN.COM.
BUT DO IT TODAY.
GORDON?
Gordon: WE LEAVE YOU
WITH THIS WONDERFUL WORD
FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 8: 6:
"BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS
ONLY ONE GOD, THE FATHER WHO
CREATED EVERYTHING.
AND WE LIVE FOR HIM.
AND THERE IS ONLY ONE LORD,
JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM
GOD MAY EVERYTHING, AND
THROUGH WHOM WE HAVE BEEN
GIVEN LIFE."
CELEBRATE TODAY THE LIFE
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN,
GIVEN FREELY BY JESUS.
GOD BLESS YOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.
