A 9-year-old’s body is burned 100% and yet he overcomes life’s challenges by faith.
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AND I LOOKED UP AT MY
MOM, AND I SAID, MOM, AM I
GOING TO DIE?
Andrew: AND
UNIMAGINABLE ACCIDENT.
I HAD BURNS ON 100% OF
MY BODY, 87% WERE THIRD
DEGREE.
Andrew: FIND OUT HOW
A DIFFICULT DECISION LED
TO A RADICALLY INSPIRED
LIFE.
> AND HE WENT FROM
BULLIED TO BULLY.
ALL OF THAT ON TODAY'S
"THE 700 CLUB".
Andrew: MOORNG GOOD MORNING
AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION
TEENAGERS ARE SUBSTANCE
ABUSERS.
SADLY LESS THAN 8% OF THEM
WILL SEEK TREATMENT.
Terry: SHE FOUND
HERSELF FACING DEATH, THAT
IS, UNTIL SOMEONE SHE
DIDN'T KNOW SACRIFICED HIS
TIME GOING ABOVE AND
BEYOND.
TAKE A LOOK.
HE SAID, OH, I'M JUST
HERE TO CHECK ON HER.
AND I WAS, LIKE, OH, OKAY.
*
AT THAT MOMENT, WE
THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO
DIE.
I LOVE YOU.
*
GO ABOVE AND BEYOND?
I'M JUST DOING MY JOB.
Andrew: WOW.
WHAT THE SHORT PIECE
DIDN'T MENTION IS THAT
OFFICER, SCOTT, WAS BY
LAUREN'S SIDE EVERY DIE
FOR 10 MONTHS DURING HIS
PHYSICAL THERAPY.
HE SAID, DID I GO ABOVE
AND BEYOND, NO.
I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB.
NO, HE WAS GOING ABOVE AND
YOND.
AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEM HE
WAS FOR HER AND THE WHOLE
FAMILY.
Terry: IT GIVES NEW
MEANING TO THE WORD
COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT,
LAST WEEK IN TEXAS, THE
POLICE SHOWED THEIR
SUPPORT FOR A FALLEN
OFFICER.
OFFICER KEVIN WAS STRUCK
AND KILLED IN THE LINE OF
DUTY BY A DRUNK DRIVER.
HIS WIFE WAS PREGNANT WITH
THEIR FIRST CHILD.
Andrew: FAST FORWARD
SIX YEARS LATER, AND THAT
CHILD ATTENDED HIS FIRST
DAY OF SCHOOL.
MORE THAN 100 OFFICERS
ESCORTED KEVIN TO
KINDERGARTEN.
IT IS ABOUT THE BLUE
FAMILY TAKING CARE OF
THEIR OWN.
WE'RE ALL FAMILY.
WE'RE A BLUE FAMILY.
IN THIS TIME, WE NEED TO
COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT
EACH OTHER.
WE'RE REALLY, REALLY
THANKFUL TO ALL OF THE
OFFICERS WHO TURNAROUND TURNED OUT TO
SUPPORT KEVIN, JR., WHEN
HIS FATHER COULDN'T BE
THERE.
Terry: THE COUPLE HAD
PLANNED TO NAME THEIR SON
MATTHEW, BUT AFTER HIS
DEATH, SHE DECIDED TO
HONOR HER HUSBAND BY
NAMING THEIR SON KEVIN.
TALK ABOUT MAKING AN
ENTRANCE.
Andrew: THESE STORIES
ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN IN
BLUE TOUCH YOUR HEART.
MANY OF THESE MEN AND
WOMEN IN THE POLICE WARMER
UNIFORM ARE SUCH HEROS.
> THIS BOY WAS CLOSE TO
BECOMING AN EAGLE SCOUT,
BUT HE HAD TO DO ONE MORE
PROJECT.
AND ONE BETTER PROJECT
THAN TO RESTORE AN OLD,
RUGGED CROSS.
Terry: SUCH THE
SINGER.
WE'LL TAKE A VOTE AFTER A
FEW MINUTES HERE.
> 16-YEAR-OLD JOHN CULIC
LEARNED OF THE CROSS THAT
WAS PROBABLY DISPLAYED ON
HIS CHURCH'S ROOF FOR
NEARLY 50 YEARS, BEFORE IT
WAS BEING RELEASED BACK IN
2015.
THE CROSS HAD BEEN IN
STORAGE FOR THE PAST TWO
YEARS, AND JOHN DECIDED TO
GET BUSY RESTORING IT.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A
BIG PROJECT THAT WOULD
LAST A LONG TIME AND I
COULD COME BACK AND SHOW
MY KIDS ONE DAY, AND IT
WOULD BE EXCITING FOR THE
CHURCH.
Terry: A SPECIAL
DEDICATION CEREMONY IS
PLANNED FOR
OCTOBER 22nd, AND THE
CROSS WILL BE DISPLAYED ON
THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH
BUILDING.
Andrew: HOW ABOUT
THAT YOUNG MAN SAYING,
MAYBE I CAN TAKE MY KIDS
TO SEE IT.
HE WAS ALREADY THINKING
THAT FAR AHEAD.
I WAS NEVER THINKING --
Terry: HE IS A PRETTY
RESPONSIBLE KID.
> ONE IN 10 COUPLES
SUFFER WITH INFERTILITY.
AND THAT ROAD CAN BE
PAINFUL.
Andrew: MELISSA IS A
NEWS ANCHOR IN OHIO, AND
SHE AND HER HUSBAND TRIED
FOR TWO YEARS, AND SHE
SHOWS HOW SHE BROKE THE
GOOD NEWS TO HER HUSBAND.
TAKE A LOOK.
HEY, GUYS.
WELL, I MADE THIS FOR YOU.
AND I ALSO GOT YOU
SOMETHING.
UH-OH.
WHAT?
OH!
NO!
NO!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
NO!
[LAUGHTER]
OH, MY GOODNESS!
OH!
NO WAY!
OH, MAN!
OH, MY GOSH!
OH, MY GOD!
OH, THANK YOU, JESUS!
OH, THANK YOU, LORD!
Terry: WELL, LITTLE
ALEXANDER WAS BORN ON
JULY 21st, AND THE
FAMILY IS DOING GREAT.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
Andrew:
CONGRATULATIONS.
Terry: YOU CAN'T HELP
BUT REJOICE WITH THEM.
Andrew: WHAT A SWEET
MOMENT.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON IS
OFFICIALLY UNDER WAY.
YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF
"RUDY," HE WAS A DED THE DEDICATED
FOOTBALL PLAYER AT NOTRE
DAME, ALTHOUGH HE NEVER
EARNED A COLLEGE
SCHOLARSHIP.
BUT MANY MAKE THE TEAM
THROUGH TRYOUTS, AND HOPE
TO ATTAIN A SCHOLARSHIP.
Terry: THAT DREAM
CAME TRUE FOR A UNIVERSITY
OF OREGON WALK-ON.
AND HIS MOM WAS IN ON THE
SURPRISE.
TAKE A LOOK.
LET'S GO, HURRY UP.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
THIS IS HAWAII RIGHT HERE.
HERE WE GO.
*
HI, MOM.
FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD
WORK AND DEDICATION AND
DEVOTION HAS NOT GONE
UNNOTICED.
SO CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU HAVE BEEN OFFERED A
FULL SCHOLARSHIP.
[YELLING]
[CHEERING]
> IF YOU HAVE A DREAM,
NEVER GIVE UP.
IF YOU HAVE A GOAL, SET
YOUR HEART TO IT AND NEVER
GIVE UP.
* CONGRATULATIONS
THANK YOU, MOM, FOR
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
EVERYTHING IS FOR YOU, AND
I LOVE YOU, MOM.
THANK YOU.
Andrew: FANTASTIC.
HE TOOK TO TWITTER SHORTLY
AFTER AN SAID, GOD'S PLAN
IS ALWAYS GREATER THAN
YOURS.
BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE WHO
HAS BEEN ON THE RIDE WITH
ME.
HE BATTLED THROUGH HIGH
SCHOOL INJURIES AND NEVER
GAVE UPPE UP ON HIS DREAM OF
PLAYING COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
TERRY?
Terry: IT IS ALWAYS
FUN TO SEE, ESPECIALLY A
YOUNG PERSON REALLY WORK
HARD AND MAKE IT OVER THE
FINISH LINE.
THAT IS AWESOME.
Andrew: I WOULD HAVE
BEEN STUNNED AND CONCERNED
IF MY MOTHER SHOWED UP ON
THE BIG SCREEN -- YOU KNOW
MY MOTHER.
Terry: I DO KNOW YOUR
MOTHER.
> WELL, COMING UP, A
9-YEAR-OLD SUFFERS 100%
BURNS ON HIS BODY AND
RESOLVES TO LIVE.
I SAID, MAMA, I DO NOT
WANT TO LIVE.
I WANT TO LIVE.
AND HER RESPONSE WAS,
GOOD, BABY, GOOD.
Terry: FIND OUT HOW
HE OVER CAME A VERY
PAINFUL RECOVERY.
THAT'S NEXT.
DON'T GO AWAY.
Terry: YOU HEARD THE
SAYING, IF YOU PLAY WITH
FIRE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET
BURNED.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED TO JOHN O'LEARY
WHEN HE WAS JUST A YOUNG
BOY.
JUST MOMENTS AFTER
LIGHTING A MATCH, SHE WAS
BURNED OVER HIS ENTIRE
BODY.
AND SOON HE HAD TO MAKE A
LIFE-CHANGING CHOICE.
I HAD SEEN LITTLE BOYS
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAY
WITH FIRE AND GASOLINE.
I ASSUMED IF THEY COULD DO
THIS, SO COULD I.
SO ON A SATURDAY MORNING,
WITH MOM AND DAD BOTH
GONE, I WALKED INTO THE
GARAGE, LIT A PIECE OF
CARDBOARD ON FIRE, AND
CAME OVER TO A FIVE GALLON
CAS OF GASOLINE, AND THE
PLAN WAS TO POUR A TINY
BIT --
Reporter: THE FUMES
CREATED A MASSIVE
EXPLOSION, LAUNCHING HIM
20 FEET TO THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE GARAGE.
HE WAS RUSHED TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM, WHERE HIS
PARENTS MET HIM.
I LOOKED UP AT MY MOM,
AND I SAID, MOM, AM I
GOING TO DIE?
WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION,
I WAS LOOKING FOR HOPE.
I KNEW REALLY QUICKLY
WHAT A SERIOUS CONDITION
THIS WAS.
I FEEL IT WAS PUT ON MY
HEART, AND I SAID, JOHN,
DO YOU WANT TO DIE?
SHE LOOKED ME IN THE
EYES AND FIRMLY SAID, IT
IS YOUR CHOICE.
IT IS NOT MINE.
AND I SAID, MOM, I DO NOT
WANT TO DIE.
I WANT TO LIVE.
AND HER RESPONSE WAS GOOD,
BABY, GOOD.
AND SHE SAID, YOU TAKE THE
HAND OF JESUS AND YOU WALK
WITH HIM.
Reporter: TODAY HE IS
A SUCCESSFUL SPEAKER AND
NATIONAL BEST-SELLING
AUTHOR.
AT HOME, HE IS HUSBAND TO
BETH AND FATHER OF FOUR
CHILDREN.
HE HAS OVERCOME CHALLENGES
TO LIVE WHAT HE CALLS A
RADICALLY INSPIRED LIFE.
HE SAYS WE CAN ALL DO THE
SAME, AND IT STARTS WITH A
DECISION.
THIS CHOICE OF FREE
WILL, THAT A LITTLE BOY,
EVEN AT AGE NINE, HAD TO
OWN HIMSELF.
AT SOME POINT YOU'VE GOT
TO CHOOSE YOUR PATH.
Reporter: FOR JOHN,
THE PATH WASN'T EASY.
THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE
I WOULD SURVIVE THE FIRE.
I HAD BURNS ON 100% OF MY
FIRE.
87% WERE THIRD DEGREE.
I WAS ON A TRACH.
MY LUNGS HAD BEEN
DEGENERATED.
IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED
DOZENS OF SURGERIES AND
AMPUTATION.
WHAT MADE IT ENDURABLE WAS
MY FAITH IN GOD, THE LOVE
OF MY PARENTS, THE
COMMUNITY SHOWING UP DAY
AFTER DAY.
Reporter: JOHN MADE
IT HOME AFTER FIVE MONTHS
OF REHAB AND SURGERIES.
IT WAS THEN THAT HE
REALIZED HIS CHOICE TO
LIVE MEANT BEING A VICTOR,
NOT A VICTIM.
AT HIS CHILDHOOD HOME, HE
REFLECTS BY THIS PIANO,
WHERE HE LEARNED TO PLAY
"AMAZING GRACE."
ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS
GRATEFUL AFTER BEING
BURNED WAS AT LEAST I WILL
NEVER HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER
PIANO LESSON AGAIN.
THE DOORBELL RANG, AND IT
WAS MY PIANO TEACHER.
AND ALSO MY MOM WALKED
INTO THE ROOM AND SAID, IT
IS YOUR LESSON.
AND I COULDN'T USE BEING
BURNED AS AN EXCUSE.
Reporter: AND JUST AS
HE LEARNED TENACITY
THROUGH HIS MOTHER, HE
LEARNS ACCEPTANCE THROUGH
HIS SON.
MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON,
JACK, WAS SHAVING NEXT TO
ME.
MY SHIRT WAS OFF, AND MY
STOMACH IS FULL OF BIG,
THICK RED SCARS.
HE STARTED TRACKING HIS
FINGER ON ONE OF THE
SCARS, AND HE LOOKS UP AND
SAYS, DAD, YOUR TUMMY IS
RED, BUMPY, AND RIDGY, AND
I LOVE IT...AND I LOVE IT.
HE SAW BEAUTY IN ME WASN'T
ABLE TO SEE IN MYSELF,
WHICH IS ALSO THE LENS GOD
SEES US THROUGH.
Reporter: HE SAYS IT
ISN'T ABOUT FREEDOM FROM
SUFFERING, BUT SEEING PAIN
WITH PERSPECTIVE.
ALTHOUGH PART OF MY
PRAYER IS TO BE HEALED OF
MY SCARS, TO HAVE FINGERS
GROW BACK, GOD HAS GIVEN
ME NOT AS EVIDENCE OF WHAT
I WENT THROUGH, BUT AS A
REMINDER OF HOW HE MAKES
ALL THINGS NEW.
Reporter: JOHN LIVES
IN ST. LOUIS AND TRAVELS
THE COUNTRY SHARING HIS
TESTIMONY, ENCOURAGING
OTHERS TO CHOOSE THEIR
PATH AND OWN THEIR STORY.
HIS BOOK IS TITLED, "ON
FIRE: THE SEVEN CHOICES TO
IGNITE A RADICALLY
INSPIRED LIFE."
WHEN YOU TAKE THE WORST
AND IGNITE YOUR FAITH TO
LET IT BE TRANSFORMED, IT
ALLOWS YOU TO USE A
SLOGAN, LIKE, "ON FIRE"
NOT FOR BAD, BUT FOR GOOD.
IT MEANS YOUR GRATEFUL FOR
EVERYTHING.
IT MEANS YOU SHOW UP EACH
DAY WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE
GOT.
Reporter: AND IT
MEANS FAITH THAT IGNITES A
LIFE OF PURPOSE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE GIFT THAT IS
IN THE FIRE.
YES, IT CAN BURN YOU, BUT
IT IS ALSO TRUE IT CAN
RENEW YOUR SOUL AND MAKE
AND REFINE YOU INTO A
BETTER VERSION OF
YOURSELF.
I HAVE UNDERSTOOD THROUGH
JESUS OF WHAT JOY LOOKS
LIKE.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS
PERFECTION HERE ON EARTH.
IT IS THE VISION THAT HE
IS WORKING THROUGH THIS
THING AND OUR BEST DAYS
ARE COMING.
WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT, HOW
CAN YOU HELP BUT SING AND
HOW CAN YOU HELP BUT
SMILE?
Terry: THERE IS SUCH
A MESSAGE IN WHAT HE HAS
TO SAY.
BEING ABLE TO SEE THE
BEAUTY IN THE
IMPERFECTION.
THAT IS HOW GOOD SEES US.
WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL
IF WE COULD SEE EACH OTHER
THAT WAY AND RECOGNIZE OUR
VALUE, JUST AS A CREATION
OF GOD, JUST AS HUMAN
BEINGS.
JUST AS FELLOW RESIDENTS
ON THIS GLOBE.
Andrew: I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF INTERVIEWING
JOHN ON THIS PROGRAM.
AND YOU DON'T WANT HIM TO
LEAVE.
HE IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS,
WHEN YOU'RE WITH HIM --
GRANTED, IT WAS ONE
AFTERNOON -- BUT I HE IS ONE
OF THOSE GUYS WHEN YOU'RE
AROUND HIM, YOU CAN SEE
JESUS IN HIM, WITH ALL OF
THE SCARS AND EVERYTHING
ELSE, AND YOU JUST LIKE
BEING AROUND HIM.
AND HIS PERSPECTIVE ON
LIFE IS TRULY REMARKABLE
AND COURAGEOUS.
Terry: I THINK THERE
IS SOMETHING SO
SIGNIFICANT IN WHAT HE
SAID, TOO, THAT WHEN WE
COME TO THOSE PIVOTAL
PLACES IN YOUR LIVES, WE
GET TO CHOOSE.
AND THE CHOICE THAT WE
MAKE AFFECTS EVERYTHING.
Andrew: AND HIS MOM
ASKED HIM AT SUCH A YOUNG
AGE, DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?
AND WE GOT A CHUCKLE ABOUT
HOW HE WAS RELIEVED ABOUT
NO PIANO LESSONS AND THEN
THE PIANO TEACHER SHOWS UP
AT THE DOOR.
HIS MOM WAS VERY, VERY
WISE.
Terry: UH-HUH, AND
VERY, VERY INSPIRING.
Andrew: UP NEXT, HIS
LIFE WAS DARK AND IT
CHARACTERIZED HIS ENTIRE
BEING.
ANGER, HATE, WRATH, AND
I ENDED UP BECOMING A PAID
FIGHTER.
AND I TRAVELLED THE STRIP
BAR CIRCUIT, A DARK, DARK
LIFE.
Andrew: AN INCREDIBLE
STORY COMING UP.
FIND OUT HOW HE RESPONDED
Andrew: MIC MITCH ZAJACK,
HE USED TO WORK WITH SOME
OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST
NOTORIOUS DRUG RUNNERS.
ANYONE WHO TRIED TO CROSS
HIS PATH HAD TO CONTEND
WITH HIS IMPOSING 6' 7"
FRAME.
HE WAS A FEARLESS FORCE IN
THE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD,
UNTIL ONE SMALL BOOKLET
SCARED HIM STRAIGHT.
I MADE A LIVING FROM
ANGER.
PAID BODYGUARD, PAID
FIGHTER, PAID STRONG ARM.
Andrew: THERE WERE
FEW WHO WOULD CROSS MITCH,
WHO STANDS THE AT 6' 7."
BUT IN SCHOOL --
PEOPLE GOT BULLIED, AND
I WAS ONE OF THEM.
I GOT SMACKED AROUND AND
BEAT.
IT WASN'T FAIR.
AND IT UPSET ME.
BUT THERE WASN'T MUCH I
COULD DO.
Andrew: AT HOME, IT
WAS HIS STEPFATHER WHO
DISHED OUT THE ABUSE.
THERE WAS A CLOSENESS
BETWEEN HIM AND MY SISTER,
AND I WAS MORE ON THE
OUTSIDE AND I DIDN'T LIKE
IT.
THERE WAS SOME TIMES THAT
I GOT BEAT PRETTY BAD.
Andrew: MITCH BECAME
ANGRY AND BITTER, FEELING
LIKE HE DIDN'T BELONG
ANYWHERE.
I WAS PRETTY LONELY IN
LIFE, JUST WONDERING
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT.
Andrew: AT 13, MITCH
FOUND DRINKING AND SMOKING
POT HELPED TAKE THE EDGE
OFF HIS GROWING ANGER.
I LIKED IT.
IT JUST TOOK ME IN A KIND
OF FUZZY, GOOD-FEELING
PLACE.
IT WAS A GOOD TIME.
Andrew: IN HIGH
SCHOOL, THE TABLES TURNED.
HE HAD GROWN INTO A TOWER,
IMPOSING FIGURE, WITH A
SCORE TO SETTLE.
ILIZE I LIVED TO FIGHT.
I COULD TELL THE
DIFFERENCE, HOW PEOPLE
LOOKED AT ME.
IT WAS DIFFERENT, HOW THEY
USED TO LOOK DOWN AT ME,
COMPARED TO NOW, WHEN THEY
LOOKED UP AT ME.
AND I LIKED THAT.
Andrew: AFTER HIGH
SCHOOL, HE FOUND OTHER
WAYS TO VET HIS ANGER.
THE ANGER GOT TO THE
POINT WHERE THE LIFE I HAD
NOW STARTED -- I WAS ABLE
TO MAKE A LIVING WITH IT.
ANGER, HATE, WRATH -- I
ENDED UP BECOMING A PAID
FIGHTER, PAID STRONG ARM.
TRAVELLED THE STIP LIFE
CIRCUIT.
A DARK, DARK LIFE.
Andrew: THEN MITCH
STARTED MAKING AND SELLING
CRACK COCAINE.
HE DEALT WITH EVERYBODY TO
COLUMBIAN DRUG LORDS.
I ENDED UP RUNNING
DRUGS FOR DOMINICANS,
COLUMBIANS.
I CARRIED BIG GUNS WITH
NASTY BULLETS.
Andrew: HE WAS ALSO
CAUGHT IN THE CYCLE OF
DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ADDICTION.
I HAD LOST MOST
EVERYTHING PROBABLY A
COUPLE TIMES.
YOU HAVE THINGS, MATERIAL
THINGS, EVEN THINGS OF
NECESSITY.
BUT ONCE THOUGH DRUGS
REALLY START TO TAKE OVER,
YOU START LOSING
EVERYTHING.
Andrew: BUT THIS TIME
MITCH LOST EVERYTHING FOR
GOOD.
AFTER SEVERAL ARRESTS AND
SQUANDERING ALL OF HIS
MONEY, HE WOUND UP
HOMELESS, LIVING ON THE
STREETS OF REDDING,
PENNSYLVANIA.
AND IT WAS THEN HE BEGAN
EXAMINING HIS LIFE.
JUST AIMLESSLY
WONDERING.
IT IS A HORRIBLE
LIFESTYLE.
MISERY, TORTURE, FEAR,
DARKNESS, NOTHING GOOD.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OVER
YOUR SHOULDER.
IT'S JUST A LOST LIFE.
Andrew: ONE AFTERNOON
MITCH STUMBLED INTO A
PHONE BOOTH TO CALL A
FRIEND.
THERE WAS A GOSPEL
TRACK IN IT.
IT SAID HEAVEN AND HELL ON
IT.
AND I PICKED IT UP.
HEAVEN CERTAINLY SOUNDS
NICE.
THAT'S A NO-BRAINER.
BUT HELL IS THE REALITY
FOR ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T
KNOW THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST.
AND I DIDN'T.
AND IT BOTHERED ME.
IT BOTHERED ME GREATLY.
I PROBABLY HAD IT FOR A
YEAR.
I COULD NOT THROW IT AWAY.
IT JUST SEEMS GOD STARTED
DEALING WITH ME, AND ANY
TIME I SAW FLAMES OR FIRE,
IT JUST BOTHERS ME.
I COULD NOT ME.
I COULD NOT THINK ABOUT
HELL, THE PENALTY OF HELL.
I KNEW IT WAS BAD.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY
LIFE, I WAS GETTING
SCARED.
AND I WASN'T ONE TO GET
SCARED.
Andrew: MITCH FILLED
OUT THE FORM ON THE BACK
OF THE TRACK AND MAILED IT
IN.
AND HE MOVED IN WITH HIS
MOTHER.
AND HE GOT A CALL FROM THE
LOCAL PASTOR.
HE CAME OVER AND TOLD
ME WHAT THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS IN
CAVALRY.
AND HE PAID FOR MY SINS.
AND HE LET ME KNOW IF I
REPENT AND CALL OUT,
BELIEVING IN HIM, IT WILL
SAVE ME FROM MY SINS, AND
I CAN AVOID THE PENALTY OF
THE DEVIL'S HELL, WHICH I
KNEW WAS COMING, AND BE
ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF
GOD, AND RECEIVE A HOME IN
HEAVEN ONE DAY.
I LIKED THAT.
THAT IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING
FOR.
AND HE LED ME TO THE LORD.
Andrew: MITCH STILL
STRUGGLED FOR EVERLY
MONTHS TO KICK HIS DRUG
ADDICTIONS.
BUT ON CHRISTMAS DAY,
WHILE HOLD IN IN A HOTEL
ROOM, READY TO USE
COCAINE, GOD SPEAK TO HIM.
I THOUGHT, THIS IS
DECEMBER 25th.
I THOUGHT, THIS IS THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST'S
BIRTHDAY, MY SAVIOR, WHAT
AM I DOING?
I FELT HORRIBLY ASHAMED.
I SAID, I'VE GOT TO COME
BACK.
AND I LEFT THE MOTEL ROOM,
AND I THREW EVERYTHING
AWAY, AND I HAVE BEEN
CLEAN AND SOBER, SAFE AND
HAPPY, WALKING WITH THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST EVER
SINCE, AND THAT'S OVER 13 13
AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
I DON'T EVER WANT TO GO
BACK THERE.
I KNOW HOW MUCH I NEED THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST.
HE WILL KEEP ME CLEAN AND
SOBER.
THE SATISFACTION AND
CONTENTMENT IN MY HEART IS
AMAZING.
I LIVE FOR THAT.
I CRAVE THAT.
I LOVE THAT.
THE LORD FILLED THE VOID
THAT I COULD NEVER FILL.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY
ONE THAT DID IT.
Andrew: THINK OF
THAT.
THINK OF THAT, MITCH ABOUT
TO DO MORE DRUGS AT SUCH A
LOW POINT, AND THE HOLY
SPIRIT INTERVENES.
BECAUSE THE CALL OF GOD,
HIS LOVE FOR US, IT NEVER
QUITS.
IT NEVER STOPS PURSUING
US.
EVEN IN THOSE MOMENTS WHEN
WE'RE AS FAR FROM GOD THAN
WE THINK WE CAN POSSIBLY
BE.
THAT BIG, TOUGH MAN, AND
THE LIFESTYLE HE LIVED,
THAT STRENGTH AND
TOUGHNESS TURNS INTO
WEAKNESS AFTER A WHILE.
EVEN THE ESCAPE FROM DRUG
USE AND ALCOHOL, THAT
FUZZY FEELING HE LIKES SO
MUCH, EVENTUALLY IT FADES.
AND WE CAN ONLY HIDE IN
OUR SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR SO
LONG UNTIL REALITY SETS
IN, AND HE FOUND HIMSELF
HOMELESS.
THAT GOD CHOSE TO SPEAK TO
HIM EARLY ON THROUGH A
GOSPEL TRACK.
AND HE IS DOING DRUGS AND
THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUES
TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR OF
HIS LIFE.
WE CAN'T DO LIFE WITHOUT
JESUS, NOT THE WAY GOD
DESIGNED US.
JESUS SAID, AS HE WAS
TEACHING, IF WE LISTEN TO
HIM AND OBEY HIS
INSTRUCTION AND LET HIM
LOVE US, AND WE'RE IN
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM,
IT'S LIKE A WISE MAN WHO
BUILT HIS HOME ON A SOLID
ROCK.
AND THEN WHEN THE WINDS
CAME AND THE RAIN AND THE
FLOODS STARTED, THAT
HOUSE, THAT STRUCTURE,
STOOD STRONG.
BUT WE CAN ALSO, IF WE
IGNORE THE CALL OF CHRIST
AND WE SAY TO HIM, I
REJECT YOU, I DON'T WANT
THIS FREE GIFT OF
SALVATION -- IT'S LIKE THE
FOOLISH MAN WHO BUILT HIS
HOUSE ON SAND.
AND WHEN THE RAINS CAME
AND THE FLOODS START, THE
HOUSE CRUMBLES BECAUSE IT
IS NOT BUILT ON A SOLID
FOUNDATION.
JESUS CHRIST IS MORE THAN
A SOLID FOUNDATION.
HIS SACRIFICE, HIS BLOOD
SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS,
ENABLES US TO SPEND
ETERNITY WITH GOD
ALMIGHTY.
BUT EVEN FOR TODAY IT CAN
CHANGE OUR LIFE.
IT MAY NOT CHANGE YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES, AT LEAST
NOT YET, BUT GOD WANTS TO
CHANGE YOUR HEART.
HE DESIRES TO CONFORM YOU
INTO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON.
AND THAT TAKES SURRENDER.
MITCH, THE BIG, STRONG
TOUGHGOD GUTOUGH GUY CAME TO THE
MOMENT WHERE HE SAID,
LORD, I HAVE TO SURRENDER.
MY TOUGHNESS AND MY
STRENGTH HAS ONLY GOTTEN
ME SO FAR.
IN FACT, IT HAS GOTTEN ME
NOTHING.
AND HE SURRENDERED.
I DON'T KNOW YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW THE SITUATION
YOU'RE IN, BUT I DO KNOW
THAT JESUS CHRIST IS
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF
YOUR HEART.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
PRAY WITH YOU.
FATHER, HERE WE ARE WITH
OUR SIN PROBLEM.
AND WE SEE THE MESS IN
YOUR LIFE THAT PERHAPS
WE'VE MADE BECAUSE EITHER
WE'VE NEVER FOLLOWED YOU
OR WE DID AND NOW WE'VE
WANDERED AWAY.
FATHER, THIS MOMENT NOW, I
SEE THIS AMAZING TESTIMONY
AND THIS LIFE CHANGE, AND,
FATHER, I JUST DESIRE
TODAY TO SAY, I SURRENDER
TO YOU.
MY PERCEIVED STRENGTHS, MY
PERCEPTION THAT I CAN DO
LIFE WITHOUT YOU,
FATHER -- I CAN'T.
I PRAY I MAKE YOU THAT
FIRM FOUNDATION AND MAKE
YOU KING OF MY HEART.
AND I SURRENDER MYSELF TO
YOU, LORD.
AND I ASK YOU TO HAVE YOUR
HOLY SPIRIT HELP ME WALK
IN YOUR WAYS AND YOU'LL
LIGHT MY PATH.
AND IT'S IN JESUS' NAME I
PRAY.
AMEN.
I WANT TO LEAVE YOU TODAY
WITH ROMANS 8: 18: "FOR I
CONSIDER THAT THE
SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT
TIME ARE NOT WORTHY TO BE
COMPARED WITH THE GLORY,
WHICH SHALL BE REVEALED