Lee: WE GO FOR THE GOLD

WITH OLYMPIC HERO GABBY

DOUGLAS.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF

YOU JUST BELIEVE.

Lee: THE CHAMPION

GYMNIST OPENS UP ABOUT HER

LIFE AND THE ROAD TO

LONDON.

ALL OF THE HARD WORK, ALL

OF THE SACRIFICES, WAS

DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

Lee: PLUS, "OUR VOICE

OF HOPE" SERIES CONTINUES

WITH A TALK ABOUT HOLDING

ON.

I CONSIDER MYSELF ALMOST

LIKE THE WALKING DEAD.

Lee: AND LETTING GO.

NO MATTER HOW HORRIBLE

THAT PERSON HURT YOU NOTHING

GIVES YOU A JUSTIFICATION OF

HOLDING VENGEANCE.

*

Pat: WELL, WELCOME,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO

THIS EDITION OF "THE 700

CLUB."

THIS YOUNG GIRL WAS

AMERICA'S SWEETHEART IN THIS

YEAR'S OLYMPICS.

GABBY DOUGLAS WON TWO GOLD

MEDALS IN GYMNASTICS IN

LONDON, BUT HER ROAD TO THE

TOP WASN'T ALWAYS EASY.

Kristi: GABBY RECENTLY

SAT DOWN WHY CHARLENE ISRAEL

TO TALK ABOUT HER JOURNEY,

HER FAITH AND HER NEW

AUTOBIOGRAPHY, CALLED

"GRACE, GOLD, AND GLORY."

Reporter: SHE LEAPED

HER WAY TO GOLD AND STOLE

THE SHOW AT THE 2012 SUMMER

OLYMPIC GAMES, AS PART OF

THE U.S. TEAM KNOWN AS THE

FIERCE FIVE.

HER TRIUMPH ALSO MADE

16-YEAR-OLD GABBY DOUGLAS

THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN

TO BE NAMED THE WORLD'S BEST

ALL-AROUND GYMNIST.

THAT HAS LED TO A LIFE

JAMMED WITH TV APPEARANCES,

PHOTO SHOOTS, AND

ENDORSEMENT DEALS.

AND THE VIRGINIA BEACH

NATIVE ALSO JUST RAPID

WRAPPED UP A CROSS-COUNTRY

TOUR.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE OUT

SHOPPING AT A GROCERY STORE

AND YOU SEE YOURSELF ON AN

ESSENCE MAGAZINE, WHAT GOES

THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU

SEE GABBY DOUGLAS ON THE

COVER OF A MAGAZINE?

I JUST STOP AND STARE FOR

ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND I

THINK, THIS IS WAY COOL.

AND I TAKE PICTURES OF IT.

Reporter: YOU DO TAKE

PICTURES OF IT?

I TAKE PICTURES OF IT.

Reporter: WHEN YOU WERE

ON THE PODIUM AND THEY

STARTED PLAYING THE

"STAR-SPANGLED BANNER", WHAT

WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR

MIND?

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A

FLASH.

WHEN I BENT DOWN TO GET MY

MEDAL, I THOUGHT ALL OF THE

HARD WORK, ALL OF THE

SACRIFICES, WERE DEFINITELY

WORTH IT.

I WAS SAYING, THANK YOU,

GOD.

Reporter: SHE WAS BORN

WITH A LIFE-THREATENING RARE

BLOOD DISEASE.

WHEN I WAS A BABY, I WAS

VERY SICK.

I REMEMBER MY MOM TELLING ME

SHE KEPT PRAYING AND PRAYING

FOR ME EVERY SINGLE NIGHT

WHEN I WAS UP COUGHING, OR I

COULDN'T KEEP FOOD DOWN.

AND SHE WAS PRAYING FOR ME

EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, AND

FINALLY GOD ANSWERED HER

PRAYERS.

Reporter: MORE ANSWERS

WOULD COME.

GABBY GREW UP IN A DEVOUT

CHRISTIAN HOME, WHEN SHE

SAYS FAITH BECAME PART OF

HER D.N.A.

AFTER WINNING GOLD, SHE

BOLDLY THANKED GOD AND

HASN'T STOPPED.

IT IS JUST VERY EXCITING,

AND I'M SO GLAD I GET TO

SPEAK OUT, AND WHEN PEOPLE

SAY I'M SO GLAD YOU DID IT,

I'M LIKE, OH, MAN, I'M SO

GLAD, TOO.

AND I'M GLAD I SPEAK OUT,

TOO.

BECAUSE I HAVE A VOICE AND I

SPOKE OUT FOR WHAT I BELIEVE

IN.

Reporter: IN HER NEW

BOOK, "GRACE, GOLD, AND

GLORY," GABBY TALKS ABOUT

HER STRUGGLES, INCLUDING THE

TIME WHEN HER FAMILY WAS

HOMELESS.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME

NEGLEC NEGATIVE THING, BUT

I FEEL LIKE GOD HAS ALWAYS

BEEN WITH ME.

Reporter: WHY DID YOU

WRITE THE BOOK?

I WROTE THE BOOK BECAUSE

I WANT PEOPLE TO GET

MOTIVATED, AND I WANT PEOPLE

TO GET INSPIRED AND HAPPY.

ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE GOING

THROUGH DIFFICULTIES, I

WANTED YOU TO KNOW

EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE.

Reporter: SHE SAYS IT

SAYS THERE WERE TIMES WHEN

IT WAS HARD TO HOLD ON TO

HOPE.

I WAS TESTED.

I REMEMBER WHEN I HAD

INJURIES, AND I LOOKED AT MY

MOM AND SAID, WHY?

AND MY MOM SAT ME DOWN AND

SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S

HAPPENING, BUT DON'T GIVE UP

NOW.

Reporter: SAYS HER MOM,

NATALIE, A SINGLE MOTHER,

AND HER FAMILY, KEPT PUSHING

HER TO KEEP THE FAITH.

I DON'T THINK I COULD

HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT MY

FAMILY BEING BEHIND ME EVERY

SINGLE MINUTE, THROUGH THE

THICK AND THROUGH THE THIN.

Reporter: YOU MENTIONED

SOMETHING IN THE BOOK ABOUT

YOU ASKED GOD, WHY DID YOU

GIVE ME THIS SPECIAL GIFT?

IT MAKES ME WONDER, WHY

DID HE CHOOSE ME, OUT OF

ALWAY ALL OF THE MILLIONS

OF PEOPLE OUT THERE?

WHY ME?

I SAT DOWN AND I THINK,

HUH?

I THINK GOD HAS A PLAN FOR

EVERYONE.

I JUST SAT DOWN AND SAY, I'M

SO BLESSED TO BE IN THIS

POSITION RIGHT NOW.

Reporter: SHE SAID

KNOWING GOD HAD A PLAN KEPT

HER MOTIVATED.

PRAYER PLAYS A BIG ROLE

IN MY LIFE.

EVERY SINGLE TIME BEFORE I

COMPETED, I WAS PRAYING TO

GOD AND SAYING THANK YOU FOR

ALL, GOD, NO MATTER WHAT

HAPPENS TOMORROW, I'M STILL

GOING TO BE WITH YOU.

WIN OR LOSE, I'M STILL GOING

TO BLESS YOU AND GIVE YOU

ALL OF THE GLORY BECAUSE YOU

BROUGHT ME HERE.

Reporter: BUT HER

OLYMPIC DREAM ALMOST ENDED

BEFORE IT BEGAN.

WHEN GABBY CONTEMPLATED

LEAVING THE SPORT WHILE

TRAINING IN IOWA.

I WROTE THIS LONG TEXT

MESSAGE ON MY PHONE SAYING I

WANTED TO QUIT.

I WANTED TO TRY TRACK OR

FIELD.

MY MOM DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, SO

WE HAD A FAMILY DISCUSSION.

Reporter: GABBY IS

GRATEFUL FOR THAT PEP TALK

AND FOR THE BLESSINGS THAT

HAVE COME WITH IT.

MEANWHILE, SHE IS LOOKING

AHEAD TO THE RIO GAMES IN

2016, AND A POSSIBLE SHOT AT

ACTING.

FOR NOW, SHE WANTS TO USE

HER PLATFORM TO INSPIRE

OTHERS, THAT WITH HARD WORK,

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.

IF YOU TRUST IN GOD AND LET

YOURSELF SOAR.

I'M SO GLAD THAT I GOT TO

GO TO LONDON AND INSPIRE

YOUNG GIRLS, THAT ANYONE CAN

DO IT, AND MY ADVICE AND TO

PASS DOWN THE MESSAGE AND

SAY ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF

YOU JUST BELIEVE.

MAKING THE HISTORY BOOKS --

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW AT

FIRST.

I REMEMBER GOING TO THE

MEDIA AND THEY WERE LIKE,

YOU MADE HISTORY.

AND I'M, LIKE, OH, YEAH, I

DID.

Reporter: CHARLENE

ISRAEL, CBN NEWS.

Pat: SHE IS A SWEET

LITTLE GIRL AND OBVIOUSLY A

TREMENDOUS CHAMPION.

THOSE GIRLS IN GYMNASTICS

ARE 12, 13 -- HOW OLD?

Kristi: 16-ISH,

POSSIBLY.

Pat: WE SALUTE THIS

WONDERFUL CHAMPION, AND I'M

GLAD SHE IS A DISCIPLE OF

JESUS CHRIST.

KRISTI?

Kristi: PAT, WE'LL BE

BACK WITH TODAY'S HEADLINES

IN JUST A MOMENT.

LATER ON "700 CLUB," SEX,

DRUGS, AND MEGA CHURCHES.

ONE PERSON BURNED BY ALL

THREE TELLS US HOW SHE FOUND

HOPE IN THE MIDST OF TRAGEDY

AND HOW SHE LEARNED TO

FORGIVE, LATER ON TODAY'S

"THE 700 CLUB."

Lee: AND WELCOME BACK

TO "THE 700 CLUB."

BY THE POLITICAL POSTURING

IN WASHINGTON LIES WHAT MAY

BE THE BEGINNING OF A FISCAL

CLIFF.

THE HOT RHETORIC CONTINUED

TUESDAY IN THE CAPITAL, BUT

SO DID WORK ON AREAS OF

COMPRISE.

THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR

AMERICANS, AND ESPECIALLY

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WHO

HAVE 10 DAYS LEFT BEFORE

THEIR CHRISTMAS BREAK.

HEATHER CELLS HAS THAT

STORY.

President Obama:

UNFORTUNATELY THE SPEAKER'S

PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW IS STILL

OUT OF BALANCE.

Reporter: IN WACH, BOTH

SIDES ARE STILL TRADING

BARBS ON THE FAST,

FAST-APPROACHING FISCAL

CLIFF.

REACH AN AGREEMENT, OR CUTS

GO INTO EFFECT THAT COULD

FORCE THE ECONOMY BACK INTO

RECESSION.

SEEMINGLY, THE TWO SIDES

CANNOT AGREE.

President Obama: WE'RE

GOING TO HAVE TO SEE THE

RATES ON THE TOP 2% GO UP.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE

TO GET A DEAL WITHOUT IT.

THE TAX INCREASES HE

WANTS WOULD FAIL TO MAKE

EVEN A SMALL DENT IN THE

DEBT, BUT IT WOULD HURT

MIDDLE CLASS BUSINESSES AND

THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR

THEM.

Reporter: BEHIND THE

SCENES, HOWEVER, INSIDERS

SAY THE WHITE HOUSE AND

HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE

BEGINNING TO IDENTIFY AREAS

OF SIGNIFICANT OVERLAP, AND

THESE AREAS COULD FORM THE

BASIS FOR A FINAL AGREEMENT

ON THE FISCAL CLIFF.

WHAT ARE THESE SIGNS OF

HOPE?

BOTH SIDES NOW CONCEDE THE

TAX REVENUE AND REDUCTION IN

ENTITLEMENT SPENDING ARE

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF ANY

DEAL.

A LIKELY SCENARIO, HOUSE

SPEAKER BOEHNER WILL YIELD

ON RAISING TAX RATES FOR TOP

EARNERS, AND THE WHITE HOUSE

WILL FLEX ON SOCIAL SECURITY

AND MEDICARE CUTS.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE WILL

CONSIDERING LOWERING TAX

RATES FOR THE TOP 2% OF

EARNERS NOT NOW, BUT NEXT

YEAR, AND BOTH SIDES ARE

CLOSE, AT LEAST IN THEORY,

ON CUTTING SPENDING ON A

HOST OF MISCELLANEOUS

PROGRAMS AND FEES.

HEATHER CELLS, CBN NEWS.

Lee: TEA PARTY

CONSERVATIVES SWEPT HOUSE

REPUBLICANS INTO POWER JUST

TWO YEARS AGO.

AND NOW G.O.P. LEADERS

APPEAR TO BE SWEEPING SOME

OF THOSE TEA PARTY LAWMAKERS

UNDER THE RUG BECAUSE

THEY'RE TOO CONSERVATIVE.

JOHN JESSOP HAS THAT STORY

FROM WASHINGTON.

Reporter:

TIM'S CAMP IS

A TEA PARTY REPUBLICAN WHO

CAME TO WASHINGTON ON A

MISSION TO REIN IN AN OUT OF

CONTROL GOVERNMENT.

I WAS CRITICAL OF THE

DEBT DEAL.

I WAS CRITICAL OF THE

SPENDING INCREASES.

I WAS CRITICAL OF A LACK OF

PROGRESS TAKING DOWN

OBAMACARE.

Reporter: AS ONE OF

CONGRESS' MOST CONSERVATIVE

MEMBERS, HIS PRINCIPLES

SOMETIMES PUTS HIM AT ODDS

WITH PARTY LEADERS.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST

REPUBLICANS TO CRITICIZE

JOHN BOEHNER'S PLAN TO AR

AVERT THE FISCAL CLIFF.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A

$8 TRILLION DEFICIT, I DON'T

SEE HOW YOU DO THAT WITH

RAISING TAXES.

Reporter: ON THE SAME

DAY SPEAKER BOEHNER UNVEILED

HIS COUNTER-PROPOSAL, HE

BROKE SOME BAD NEWS TO

CERTAIN MEMBERS IN HIS

CONFERENCE, THEY WERE

GETTING BOOTED FROM THEIR

PRIMO POST.

IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE

TO ALL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE

OUT THERE THINKING ABOUT

BEING REPUBLICANS.

Reporter: THESE FOUR

CONSERVATIVES WERE KICKED

OFF THEIR COMMITTEES.

BOTH FRESHMEN WERE REMOVED

FROM THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,

WHERE THEY VOTED AGAINST THE

BUDGET CREATED BY PAUL

RYAN.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK

THIS HAS TO DO WITH YOUR

VOTES AGAINST THE RYAN

BUDGET?

THAT MIGHT BE PART OF

IT.

WE DON'T KNOW.

Reporter: THEY DON'T

KNOW BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T

GIVEN AN EXPLANATION.

CBN NEWS CONTACTED SPEAKER

BOEHNER'S OFFICE TO GET SOME

ANSWERS, BUT WAS ONLY GIVEN

THIS RESPONSE: "THE

REPUBLICAN STEERING

COMMITTEE MAKES DECISIONS

BASED ON A RANGE OF

FACTORS."

WITH NOTHING CONCRETE, HE

WONDERS IF HIS PRO-LIFE AND

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

POLICIES MAY BE TO BLAME.

WHATEVER THE REASON, HE

LABELLED IT VINDICTIVE,

NOTING HOW THEY ALSO

STRIPPED HIM FROM THE

AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.

HE SAYS HIS REMOVAL WILL

MARK THE FIRST TIME IN 150

YEARS THAT A KANSAS LAWMAKER

WILL NOT BE ON THE ROSTER.

SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THIS

MOVE SHOWS THE HOUSE G.O.P.

LEADERSHIP IS MAKING A LIST

AND CHECKING TO MAKE SURE

REBELLIOUS REPUBLICANS PAY A

PRICE.

BUT HE SAYS HE WILL REMAIN

LOYAL TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE

MOST IMPORTANT, HIS

CONSTITUENTS.

Lee: AND TURNING

OVERSEAS, NEARLY 300 PEOPLE

ARE REPORTED DEAD AFTER A

POWERFUL TYPHOON FLOODED

MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN

PHILIPPINES.

AT LEAST 150 PEOPLE DIED.

OFFICIALS THERE FEAR THE

DEATH TOLL WILL RISE AS

RESCUERS REACH OTHER

HARD-HIT AREAS ISOLATED BY

LANDSLIDES AND FLOODING.

TYPHOON BOPHA WAY ONE OF THE

STRONGEST STORMS.

MOHAMMED MORSI IS BACK IN

HIS PALACE.

HE FLED YESTERDAY AFTER TENS

OF THOUSANDS OF PROTESTORS

SURROUNDED THE BUILDING.

THEY OPPOSED TO HIS DECREE

THAT GAVE HIM SWEEPING NEW

POWERS, AND THEY'RE OPPOSED

TO THE COUNTRY'S NOW

CONSTITUTION.

IT HAS DIVIDED EGYPT INTO

TWO CAMPS.

ON ONE SIDE IS THOSE WHO

SUPPORT MORSI, AND ON THE

OTHER SIDE ARE LIBERAL

GROUPS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND

MUCH OF THE PUBLIC.

OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE NOW

DECIDING ON THEIR NEXT

ACTIONS.

PAT?

Pat: IT IS TIME FOR THE

UNITED STATES TO STAND

STRONG, AND MAYBE BEHIND THE

SCENES GIVE AID AND

COMFORTE COMFORTS TO THE

PEOPLE WHO ARE TIRED OF THE

MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.

THE BROTHERHOOD WANTS AN

ISLAMIC CALAFATE OVER THE

ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST.

THAT'S THEIR GOAL.

THEY'RE NOT SWEET

MODERATES.

THEY'RE THE ONES WHO

APPOINTED THE P.L.O. AND

YASSER ARAFAT.

AND THEY DID THE PALESTINE

LIBERATION ORGANIZATION.

THEY HAVE FOUNDED HAMAS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN

LEAGUE WITH TERRORISTS.

AND MORSI IS VERY EXTREME,

AND THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT

DON'T WANT IT.

AND THE UNITED STATES SHOULD

COME TO THEIR AID AS BEST

THEY CAN WITHOUT TIPPING THE

BALANCE AGAINST THEM.

SO WE WERE SO SILENT WHEN

THERE WAS AN OUTCRY IN IRAN

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AFTER

THAT RIGGED ELECTION.

SAME THING WITH MORSI.

IT IS TIME WE STAND UP AND

NOT SAY HE IS A PARTNER FOR

PEACE AND ALL OF THAT

NONSENSE.

WELL, SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS

HAPPENING THAT I THINK

YOU'LL FIND VERY

INTERESTING, BELGIUM, 25% OF

THE PEOPLE ARE MUSLIM.

HERE IS LEE WITH THAT

STORY.

Lee: THAT'S RIGHT,

PAT.

BELGIUM HAS SWORN INTO LOCAL

OFFICES, TWO OFFICIALS FROM

A FEW ISLAM PARTY THAT

SUPPORTS SHARI'A LAW.

THIS VIDEO SHOWS RED WANARUK

TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE.

HE SAYS HE WANTS TO TURN

THEM INTO AN ISRAEL STATE.

HE ADMITS HE IS TAKING A

GRADUAL APPROACH, SAYING IT

MAY TAKE DECADES TO ENFORCE

SHARI'A LAW IN BELGIUM, BUT

HE SAYS THE PROCESS HAS

BEGUN.

MUSLIMS MAKE UP ONE QUARTER

OF BRUSSELS POPULATION.

THE JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL

ASSOCIATION FINDS THAT ONLY

ONE OUT OF FIVE MEDICAL

STUDENTS PLANS TO BECOME A

GENERAL PRACTITIONER.

MOST INTEND TO BECOME

SPECIALISTS.

THE STUDY SAYS THE U.S.

THERE FACE A SHORTAGE OF

50,000 PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS

IN THE NEXT DECADE.

THAT WILL HAPPEN JUST AS

OBAMACARE BRINGS MILLIONS OF

NEW PATIENTS INTO THE

MEDICAL SYSTEM, AND THAT IS

EXPECTED TO MAKE THE

SHORTAGE EVEN WORSE.

PAT?

Pat: WE HAVE ONLY BEGUN

TO SEE THE TERROR OF IT AS

BEING UNLEASHED UPON US BY

THIS SO-CALLED OBAMACARE.

IT IS GOING TO BE TERRIBLE.

YOU WILL LOSE YOUR HEALTH

COVERAGE.

YOU'LL LOSE YOUR ACCESS TO

YOUR PRIMARY CARE

PHYSICIAN.

YOU'LL BE STANDING IN LINE

FOR HOURS AND HOURS TO GET

TREATMENT BECAUSE THERE WILL

BE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL

BE FLOODING IN, WHO HAVE

BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE SYSTEM

BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE.

AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON

AND ON.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE

LIBERALS GO CRAZY IN

WASHINGTON AND INFLICT THEIR

PHILOSOPHY ON THE GENERAL

PUBLIC.

AND THIS IS THE PHILOSOPHY,

THAT THE UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO RUN

HEALTH CARE.

BIG MISTAKE.

KRISTI?

Kristi: WELL, OUR

"VOICE OF HOPE" SERIES

CONTINUES.

TODAY'S TOPIC IS FORGIVENESS

AND HOW TO FORGIVE.

HER LIFE MADE HEADLINES.

WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT,

PASTOR REVA TIMS.

BUT FOR ALL OF THE WRONG

REASONS.

SHE TELLS US HOW SHE

RESPONDED AFTER SCANDALS

ROCKED HER FAMILY.

IT IS JUICY, SO YOU DON'T

WANT TO TURN THE DIAL.

LATER ON TODAY'S PROGRAM, WE

GET E-MAIL QUESTIONS.

LAUREN SAYS, "I'VE BEEN THE

PUNCHING BAG OF MY MOTHER

AND BROTHER SINCE I WAS A

KID.

IT IS ONLY THA NOW THAT I'M

18 YEARS OLD THAT I CAN COME

TO REALIZE THE RESULT OF

THEIR ACTIONS.

HOW CAN I LEARN TO FORGIVE

THEM?"

WE HAVE THAT AND SO MUCH

MORE, SO DON'T GO AWAY.

Kristi: REVA TIMS SPLIT

WITH HER HUSBAND, PASTOR

ZACHARY TIMS, AFTER HE WAS

CAUGHT HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH

A STRIPPER.

TWO YEARS LATER, ZACHARY WAS

FOUND DEAD IN A NEW YORK

CITY HOTEL ROOM, LEAVING

BEHIND A CONFUSED CHURCH,

FOUR CHILDREN, AND A SCORNED

WIFE.

I SAT DOWN WITH REVA TIMS TO

TALK ABOUT THE SCANDAL, BUT

MORE IMPORTANTLY TO TALK

ABOUT HOW SHE FOUND THE

STRENGTH TO FORGIVE.

Kristi: PASTOR RIVA

TIMS MADE E HEADLINES

HEADLINES WHEN HER MEGA

PASTOR HUSBAND WAS FOUND

DEAD IN A HOTEL ROOM AT THE

AGE OF 43.

HER HUSBAND'S MULTIPLE

AFFAIRS, A PUBLIC DIVORCE,

AND A CHURCH DIVIDED LEFT

RIVA EMBARRASSED AND

HEARTBROKEN.

BUT THIS SINGLE MOTHER OF

FOUR KNEW SHE HAD TO

FORGIVE.

THE QUESTION WAS: HOW?

I CONSIDER MYSELF ALMOST

LIKE THE WALKING DEAD.

I WASN'T LIVING TO MY

FULLEST POTENTIAL IN GOD

BECAUSE I HAD BEEN HURT SO

BAD.

I GOT TO A PLACE WHERE I WAS

JUST NUMB AND I WAS GOING

THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

BUT TODAY I'M IN A PLACE

WHERE I'M FULL OF LIFE, FULL

OF PURPOSE, FULL OF DESTINY,

FULL OF ENERGY AND POWER AND

AUTHORITY IN CHRIST.

IT IS ALMOST NIGHT AND DAY

FROM WHERE I WAS BEFORE.

Kristi: WE KNOW AS

CHRISTIANS, GOD SAYS WE HAVE

TO FORGIVE OTHERS.

IN ORDER FOR HIM TO FORGIVE

US, WE HAVE GOT TO FORGIVE

OTHERS.

BUT IT IS REALLY EASY FOR US

TO LOOK AT A PERSON WHO HAS

OFFENDED US, AND SAY I

FORGIVE THEM WITH MY MOUTH,

BUT OUR HEART IS OTHERWISE.

COME ON.

IT ISN'T UNTIL YOU SEE THAT

PERSON, AND YOU'RE LIKE, ARE

YOU READY?

YOU WANT TO LASH OUT, OR

EVEN WHEN YOU'RE HOME BY

YOURSELF AND YOU FIND

YOURSELF, IN YOUR MIND,

THINKING HOW MUCH YOU HATE

THAT PERSON.

THAT YOU REALIZE, WAIT A

MINUTE, FORGIVENESS DIDN'T

TAKE PLACE.

UNFORGIVENESS, RESENTMENT

HURTS US.

THEY'RE MOVING ON.

THEY'RE FINE, PARTYING.

AND WE'RE AT HOME --

Kristi: WITH THE

RESENTMENT?

YES.

IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR OWN

UNFORGIVENESS.

IT STARTED OFF WITH MY

HEALTH, I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF

JUST THE STRESS AND ALL OF

THAT.

HAD I NOT LET IT GO, I

BELIEVE MY HEALTH REALLY

WOULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

Kristi: IT'S TRUE.

UNFORGIVENESS IS

SUFFOCATING.

IT STEALS YOUR JOY.

PEOPLE SOMETIMES FEEL

JUSTIFIED IN THEIR HATE.

AND NO MATTER HOW HORRIBLE

THAT PERSON HURT YOU, NO

MATTER HOW DEVASTATING THAT

PERSON CAME AT YOU AND TOOK

FROM YOU, OR EVEN TOOK A

LOVED ONE AWAY FROM YOU,

NOTHING REQUIRES YOU OR

GIVES YOU A JUSTIFICATION OF

HOLDING VENGEANCE.

GOD IS A JUST GOD.

AND HE WILL WORK IT OUT FOR

YOU.

Kristi: ALL RIGHT,

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE

SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS OF

UNFORGIVENESS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS REALLY

DEALING WITH IT, AND

SOMETIMES I STILL DO, IT

DEPENDS ON WHO CROSSES MY

PATH --

[LAUGHTER]

Kristi: I'M NOT LYING.

THEN IT'S LIKE EVEN YOUR

PRAYER TIME CHANGES BECAUSE

YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

HOW CAN GOD DWELL IN OUR

HEART IF WE HAVE THAT

BITTERNESS AND ANGER, AND WE

HAVE REALLY THE DARKNESS IN

OUR HEART OF UNFORGIVENESS.

SO SPIRITUALLY, HOW DID THAT

AFFECT YOU?

WELL, I DIDN'T STAY IN

UNFORGIVENESS FOR TOO LONG.

I DID GO THROUGH THE

PROCESS.

IT DOES AFFECT YOU BECAUSE

IT AFFECTS YOUR PRAYER

LIFE.

THE BIBLE EVEN SAYS, YOUR

PRAYERS WILL BE HINDERED.

IF YOU HAVE UNFORGIVENESS

AND YOU CANNOT FORGIVE

SOMEONE, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT

THE LORD WILL NOT FORGIVE

YOU EN CERTAIN AREAS.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE FORGET

THAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT

CONDONING.

WE TAKE IT IF I FORGIVE THAT

PERSON, I'M SAYING IT WASN'T

THAT BAD.

OR I'M SAYING THEY CAN DO IT

AGAIN.

NO.

WHEN YOU FORGIVE, YOU'RE

YOU'RE RELEASING YOURSELF SO

YOU CAN BE LIBERATED

SPIRITUALLY, AND SO THAT YOU

CAN FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF

FAITH, BUT YOU'RE NOT

CONDONING THEM FOR WHAT THEY

DID.

YOU'RE JUST FORGIVING THEM

FOR WHAT THEY DID.

Kristi: LET'S BREAK IT

DOWN TO THE HOW?

SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT

FOR US TO READ WHAT THE WORD

OF GOD SAYS AND HOW TO APPLY

IT IN OUR LIVES.

I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO LOVE,

BUT HOW.

I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO

FORGIVE, BUT HOW.

I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO LET

THIS OFFENSE GO, BUT HOW?

YOU HAVE TO START BY

FAITH.

IT TAKES FAITH TO FORGIVE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BY

FAITH TO FORGIVE.

MY FIRST STEP WAS TO PRAY

AND TO PRAY SINCERELY.

I TOLD YOU BEFORE, MY PRAYER

WAS LIKE, OKAY.

I PRAYED THEIR FEET RIGHT

OFF.

I PRAYED THAT FIRE WOULD

COME DOWN AND CONSUME THEM.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE PRAYER

THAT GOD WANTED.

WHEN YOU REALLY FORGIVE

SOMEONE, YOU SAY, LORD, I

PRAY FOR THEIR SALVATION.

FATHER, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL

CONVICT THEM BY THE HOLY

SPIRIT.

LORD, SHOW ME IS THERE

ANYTHING IN ME THAT IS

CAUSING ANY OF THIS.

YOU BEGIN TO GET HUMBLE IN

YOUR SPIRIT.

WHEN YOU SINCERELY PRAY FOR

SOMEONE, YOU DON'T HATE THEM

ANYMORE.

YOUR HEART HAS BECOME SOFTER

AND IT BECOMES MORE

PLIABLE.

Kristi: AND WHEN YOU DO

PRAY FOR A PERSON, GOD GIVES

YOU REVELATION SOMETIMES.

HAS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO

YOU?

YES.

Kristi: WHEN YOU

PRAYING FOR A PERSON, GOD

ALLOWS YOU TO SEE THAT

PERSON THE WAY HE SEES

THEM.

AND YOU START SEEING

WHERE SOMEONE HURT THEM.

HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.

Kristi: RIGHT.

AND THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN WE

PRAY FOR THAT PERSON,

BREAKTHROUGH CAN HAPPEN FOR

THAT PERSON.

BECAUSE WE NOW KNOW WHAT

THOSE ROOTS ARE, WHAT THOSE

ISSUES ARE.

MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HURT

ME, DID ME WRONG, HAVE COME

BACK BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT

DID CONVICT THEM.

THE HOLY SPIRIT DID TALK TO

THEM AND THEY DID CHANGE,

AND THEY APOLOGIZED.

AND SO, YOU'RE RIGHT, GOD

USES US.

HE WANTS US TO BE AN EXAMPLE

OF HIS LOVE.

HE WANTS US TO BE AN EXAMPLE

OF CHRIST.

Kristi: WHAT DO YOU SAY

TO THAT PERSON, WHERE THAT

OFFENDER IS STILL THERE

CONSTANTLY OFFENDING YOU.

THAT IS WORSE.

I BELIEVE IN LOVING SOMEONE

FROM A DISTANCE.

I LOVE MYSELF TOO MUCH THAT

I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW

MYSELF TO BE ABUSED, I'M NOT

GOING TO ALLOW MYSELF TO BE

MENTALLY DISTURBED.

I DON'T BELIEVE GOD IS INTO

CHILD ABUSE.

WE ARE HIS CHILDREN.

WE ARE THE APPLE OF HIS

EYE.

HE WOULD NOT LITERALLY PUT

US IN A SITUATION TO

CONTINUE TO BE ABUSED,

ABUSED SEXUALLY, ABUSED

MENTALLY.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE

GO WRONG BECAUSE THEY THINK

THAT FORGIVING MEANS

CONDONING.

Kristi: AND I THINK

WHERE IT IS HARD IS IF

YOU'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG.

WHERE YOU'VE EXTENDED LOVE

AND DONE NOTHING BUT GOOD TO

THIS PERSON, AND THEY REPAY

YOU WITH VENUE -- THAT'S

DIFFICULT TO HANDLE.

JESUS DID THAT.

AND HE SAID "FORGIVE THEM

FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY

DO."

ALL HE DID WAS LOVE US.

ALL HE DID WAS CARE FOR US.

ALL HE DID WAS GIVE US THE

WORD.

AND WE SAW HOW THEY CAME AT

HIM AND WANTED HIM

CRUCIFIED.

HE DID NOTHING TO DESERVE

WHAT HE GOT.

AND THAT'S THE WORD OF GOD.

SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO

HANDLE IT.

THAT'S WHY WHEN WE LIVE IN

CHRIST, WE'RE ABLE TO HANDLE

THAT AND WALK THROUGH IT IN

MATURITY.

THAT'S HOW WE SEE THE

KINGDOM ADVANCE.

Kristi: I AM CONVINCED

THAT LITERALLY FORGIVENESS

IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST

CHALLENGING THINGS THAT WE

AS CHRISTIANS ARE REQUIRED

TO DO.

ESPECIALLY IF -- LIKE WHEN I

WAS TALKING WITH RIVA, AND

THERE ARE SO MANY ASPECTS OF

HER STORY THAT PEOPLE DON'T

KNOW.

WHETHER IT WAS JUST AN

AFFAIR, OR YOUR CHURCH

HURTING YOU, OR JUST

BETRAYAL, NO MATTER WHAT IT

IS, WHEN GOD REQUIRES US TO

FORGIVE, THAT'S A HARD TASK

TO DO.

Pat: YOU INTERVIEWED

HER EARLIER, WHICH YOU

DIDN'T BRING OUT IN THIS

SERIES, WHAT WENT ON IN HER

LIFE.

SHE HAS FOUR CHILDREN, ONE

WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.

SHE HAS TO DO THAT.

HER HUSBAND WAS PROVIDING NO

CHILD SUPPORT FOR THAT --

Kristi: WELL, HE WASN'T

SUPPORTIVE.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO HER

BUSINESS, BUT THE BOTTOM

LINE IS WHEN YOU MARRY

SOMEONE, THERE IS A COVENANT

THERE.

YOU HAVE THE LEVEL OF

EXPECTATIONS.

SO EVEN WHEN THAT MARRIAGE

IS ENDED, THERE IS STILL A

LEVEL OF EXPECTATION.

SO WHEN THOSE ARE NOT

FULFILLED --

Pat: I KNOW, BUT THIS

GUY -- HE WENT TO FRANCE AND

TOOK UP WITH A FRENCH

STRIPPER.

NOT AN AMERICAN STRIPPER,

BUT A FRENCH STRIPPER.

Kristi: WELL, ALLEGEDLY

THERE WAS INFIDELITY.

Pat: INFIDELITY.

Kristi: I'M BRINGING IT

BACK TO JESUS --

Pat: ARE YOU AFRAID YOU

ARE GOING TO GET SUED BY HIS

ESTATE.

Kristi: NO.

I THINK THIS IS THE ISSUE.

I THINK THE ISSUE IS, EVERY

SINGLE PERSON, YOU,

MYSELF -- ALL OF US HAS A

STORY ABOUT HOW SOMEONE HAS

WRONGED US TO THE CORE.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE

DIFFICULT IF IT IS A SPOUSE

OR SOMEONE WE REALLY LOVE

WRONGS US.

AND SHE, THROUGH GOD'S

GRACE --

Pat: SHE IS A

REMARKABLE, LOVELY LADY.

BUT THE THING OF IT IS -- I

HAVE, IN MY OWN LIFE, I HAVE

MUCH REASON TO BE ANGRY AT A

LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT I CANNOT HOLD A GRUDGE.

THE LORD JUST -- I MEAN, I'M

INCAPABLE OF HOLDING A

GRUDGE.

I'D KIND OF LIKE LIKE TO

HOLD A GRUDGE, BUT I CAN'T

DO IT.

THIS LADY SEEMS LIKE THE

SAME WAY.

IT IS REMARKABLE.

Kristi: THE KEY IS

THIS, JESUS SAYS WHO THE SON

SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED.

I KNOW PAT AND I KIND OF GOT

OFF TRACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT,

REALLY, FORGIVENESS, IT'S

SOMETHING THAT WHEN YOU DO

FORGIVE, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY

BE THE MOST DIFFICULT THING

TO DO, YOU WILL BE SET

FREE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY

ABOUT THE OTHER PERSON.

BUT YOU WILL BE SET FREE TO

MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE TO DO

WHAT THE LORD CALLS YOU TO

DO.

IF YOU NEED MORE HELP WITH

FORGIVENESS, ALL YOU HAVE TO

DO IS LOG ON TO CBN.COM.

GO TO "THE VOICE OF HAPPY"

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY

DOWNLOAD THIS WONDERFUL

STUDY GUIDE.

THERE ARE 10 SCRIPTURES THAT

WILL REALLY MINISTER TO YOUR

HEART.

AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE

REST OF OUR "VOICE OF HOPE"

SEGMENTS.

WE TALK HO ABOUT HOW TO

TRUST IN GOD THROUGH

TRAGEDY.

AND IT IS THE HOLIDAY

SEASON, AND SOMETIMES THAT

CAN BE DIFFICULT.

PEOPLE ARE LOVING THIS.

WE WANT YOU TO SHARE THEM

WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

AND YOU CAN ALSO ASK US

QUESTIONS.

PAT AND I ARE JUST ABOUT TO

ANSWER SOME OF THEM RIGHT

NOW ABOUT FORGIVENESS.

ARE YOU READY TO DO SO?

Pat: LET'S GO FOR IT.

Kristi: LAUREN

SAYS, "I'VE BEEN THE

PUNCHING BAG OF MY MOTHER

AND BIG BROTHER SINCE I WAS

A KID.

IT IS ONLY NOW, THAT I'M 18

YEARS OLD, THAT I'VE COME TO

REALIZE THE NEGATIVE AFFECTS

OF THEIR ACTION.

I FEE FEEL NOTHING MORE FOR

THEM THAN HATRED.

EVERY TIME THEY BEAT ME UP I

CURSE THEM.

HOW CAN I FORGIVE THEM?"

Pat: HAVE THEY BEEN

BEATING HER UP?

Kristi: I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY,

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE VERBAL

ABUSE OR PHYSICAL ABUSE.

Pat: ALL SHE'S GOT IS

HATRED.

YOU'VE GOT TO RELEASE

BECAUSE HATRED IS A POISON

THAT WILL BUILD UP IN YOU.

YOUR HATRED ISN'T HURTING

THEM.

IT'S HURTING YOU.

YOU'VE GOT TO THINK OF

JESUS, WHO, ON THE CROSS,

SAID "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM

FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY

DO."

YOU HAVE TO SAY, FATHER

FORGET, AND LET THE FATHER

DID THE FORGIVING FOR YOU,

AND YOU LET THE FORGIVENESS

FLOW THROUGH YOU.

AS LONG AS YOU THINK, THOSE

DIRTY SNAKES, THEY BEAT ME,

CURSED ME, AND THEY DID ALL

OF THIS, AND I WAS SO

ASHAMED AND THEY EMBARRASSED

ME AND YOU KEEP GOING ON AND

ON -- YOU'VE GOT TO LET THAT

GO BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF

LIKE

A

POISON.

AND YOU KIND OF WANT

TO

TASTE IT AND TASTE IT AND

TASTE IT AGAIN.

LET IT GO AND THINK OF

JESUS.

AND READ IN THE WORD ABOUT

WHAT HE SAYS AND

WHAT HE

DOES, AND HOW

HE HAS

FORGIVEN YOU AND HE LOVES

YOU,

AND YOU JUST BASK IN

HIS LOVE AND YOU DON'T BRING

THE OTHER UP.

Kristi: AND THERE IS A

PRACTICAL ELEMENT, TOO.

IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS

PHYSICALLY HURTING YOU AND

LOVING YOU, I BELIEVE IN

LOVING SOMEONE FROM A

DISTANCE.

YOU'VE GOT TO STEP UP AND

SAY I VALUE MYSELF MORE THAN

ALLOWING YOU TO BEAT ME DOWN

ALL THE TIME.

Pat: YOU HAVE TO GET

OUT OF AN ABUSIVE

SITUATION.

Kristi: YEAH.

AND TALK TO PEOPLE.

Pat: IT IS TIME FOR HER

TO MOVE ON.

THE OTHER THING IS -- AND

THIS IS

VERY IMPORTANT --

YOU START PRAYING THAT THAT

PERSON WILL

FIND A PEACE AND

A WALK IN JESUS.

Kristi: THAT'S GOOD,

PAT.

Pat: SO YOUR PRAYER IS

ON THE SIDE OF

LETTING THAT

PERSON COME

TO A NEW

EXPERIENCE IN JESUS.

AND THAT'S

WHAT YOU'RE

PRAYING.

NOT KEEP ME

FROM

HATING HER,

BUT MAY SHE FIND A NEW WALK

IN GOD.

Kristi: BEAUTIFUL.

JODY WRITES, "IN MY EARLY

20s, I HAD AN ABORTION.

I'M 10 YEARS OLDER AND A

CHRISTIAN, BUT I'M DISTURBED

BY THE DECISION I MADE.

HOW CAN I FORGIVE MYSELF?"

Pat: I REMEMBER DONNA

SUMMERS SAYING PEOPLE

FORGAVE ME AND I FORGIVE

ME.

YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE

YOURSELF.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

READ AGAIN WHAT THE BIBLE

SAYS.

BLESS THE LORD, ALL MY

SOULS, WHO FORGIVES ALL OF

YOUR INEQUITIES AND HEALS

ALL YOUR DISEASES.

THERE IS NOTHING -- AS FAR

AS THE EAST IS FROM THE

WEST, THAT'S HOW FAR HE'LL

TAKE YOUR SINS FROM YOU.

LOOK IN THE BIBLE, AND ALL

OF THE PROMISES ARE THERE.

LOOK UNDER THE WORD

"FORGIVENESS," AND IT'S

THERE BECAUSE GOD FORGIVES

YOU.

GOD DOESN'T WANT TO BEAT YOU

UP.

GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU

COWERING IN A CORNER ALL

ASHAMED.

HE SAYS HE WANTS YOU TO BE

CLEANSED OF DEAD WORKS THAT

YOU MIGHT SERVE THE LIVING

GOD.

HE WANTS YOU FOR SERVICE,

NOT FOR HUMILIATION.

HE WANTS YOU FOR SERVICE.

AND HE WANTS YOU TO BE FREE

OF THE PAST, THAT YOUR

CONSCIENCE IS GOING TO BE

CLEANSED FROM DEAD WORKS TO

SERVE THE LIVING GOD.

Kristi: A FRIEND OF

MINE WENT THROUGH THE VERY

SAME THING YOU JUST TALKED

ABOUT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU

TOLD ME IN TERMS OF THE

GUILT, SHE SAID AS HORRIBLE

AS I FELT, SHE KNEW ONE DAY

SHE WOULD BE REUNITED WITH

THAT BABY IN THE ARMS OF

JESUS CHRIST, AND SHE

THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND

PRAISED GOD FOR IT.

COOKIE SAYS, "I'M A SINGLE

WOMAN AND HA HAVE NEVER

BEEN IN A SERIOUS

RELATIONSHIP.

I'M CONSTANTLY ASKED WHEN

I'LL HAVE A RELATIONSHIP AND

A CHILD.

HOW DO I GET OVER THIS HURT

FEELING OF BEING LONELY?"

Pat: HAVE THE MOST

SUCCESSFUL LIFE IN THE

WORLD, AND BE HAPPY AND SHOW

EVERYONE AROUND YOU HOW

HAPPY YOU ARE.

IF GOD HAS DESTINED YOU WITH

A LIFE OF BEING SINGLE, THE

LORD IS YOUR HUSBAND, SO GET

ON WITH IT.

IF YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED,

ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU A

HUSBAND, AND HE'LL DO THAT,

TOO.

Kristi: AND STAY TUNED

NEXT WEEK BECAUSE WE'RE

GOING TO TALK ABOUT

LONELINESS.

SHE WRITES, "MY DAUGHTER IS

IN EIGHTH GRADE, AND MY

DAUGHTER IS AN ATHEIST.

AND THEIR TEACHER IS MAKING

THEM SING "MY GOD, MY LIFE."

"THE SCHOOL PRINCIPLE SAYS

THEY HAVE TO SING IT OR GET

A FAILING GRADE.

CAN THEY DO THAT?"

Pat: THE HATE TO SUE

PEOPLE, BUT SCHOOLS CANNOT

IMPOSE PAGANISM ON THEIR

STUDENTS.

THEY SAY YOU CAN'T TALK

ABOUT JESUS, YOU CAN'T CALL

THEM CHRISTMAS TREES.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE HOLIDAYS

INSTEAD OF CHRISTMAS.

BIG DEAL.

BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE PAGAN

FESTIVALS AND SING SONGS

EXALTING PAGANISM.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE

VIOLATING YOUR

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

AND ONE THREAT OF A LAWSUIT

AND THEY'LL BACK UP IN A NEW

YORK SECOND.

SO I RECOMMEND THAT.

I KNOW THAT'S -- WE DON'T

WANT TO GO AROUND SUING

PEOPLE, BUT IN A CASE LIKE

THIS, I THINK YOU SHOULD.

Kristi: ZINDA SAID, "I

KNOW SOMEONE WHO SAID GOD

TOLD THEM SOMEONE IN THE

FAMILY WAS GOING TO DIE

SOON.

AND THAT ONE PERSON HAD A

BAD LIVER.

I THOUGHT PROPHECY WAS FOR

EDFICATION.

THIS PERSON NEVER SAID

THEY'D BE HEALED, AND THEY

JUST GIVE BAD REPORTS."

Pat: THAT SOUNDS LIKE

WITCHCRAFT.

AND PEOPLE TRYING TO CURSE

PEOPLE.

IT IS SATANIC.

I WOULDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO

IT.

WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS

REBUKE THAT SORT OF THING.

YOU'RE NOT UNDER THE SPELL

OF SOME SHAMAN OR SOME WITCH

OR

SOME FORTUNE TELLER.

THEY'LL DO THAT AND BRING A

CURSE ON YOU.

IF YOU FOCUS ON IT ENOUGH,

YOU MIGHT HAVE THE PROBLEM

BECAUSE YOUR MIND IS VERY

PLIABLE.

BUT I

JUST THINK, SAY IN THE

NAME OF

JESUS, I DO NOT

RECEIVE THAT.

I DO NOT RECEIVE THAT KIND

OF STATEMENT.

THAT DID NOT

COME FROM GOD.

IT COMES FROM THE DEVIL.

Kristi: SPEAK IT,

BROTHER.

IF YOU HAVE ANYMORE

QUESTIONS FOR PAT, ALL YOU

HAVE TO DO IS LOG ON TO

cbn.com, AND DON'T FORGET,

ESPECIALLY WITH THE "VOICE

OF HOPE" SERIES, WE WOULD

LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

TV HOST MARTHA POLLAND MADE

A NAME FOR HERSELF AS A

SEAMSTRESS.

AND NOW SHE IS HEADING INTO

OUR KITCHEN ON TODAY'S "700

CLUB."

Lee: WELCOME BACK TO

"THE 700 CLUB."

A DISPUTED CALIFORNIA

NATIVITY SCENE IS MOVING TO

PRIVATE LAND.

THIS COMES LESS THAN A WEEK

AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE RULED

THAT SANTA MONICA,

CALIFORNIA, COULD BAN

RELIGIOUS DISPLAYS ON PUBLIC

PROPERTY.

A CHRISTIAN GROUP HAS BEEN

SETTING UP THE NATIVITY

SCENE IN PALISADES PARK FOR

NEARLY SIX DECADES.

LAWYERS FOR THE GROUP SAY

THE MOVE TO PRIVATE LAND IS

NOT A RESOLUTION TO THE

CASE, AND THEY PLAN TO FILE

AN APPEAL.

HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER

HOSTED THE LIGHTING OF THE

CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE LAST

NIGHT.

EAGLE SCOUT RYAN FLIPPED THE

SWITCH AS THE CROWD CHEERED

AND THE U.S. BAND PLAYED "O

CHRISTMAS TREE."

THREE, TWO, ONE!

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]

Lee: THE 65-FOOT SPRUCE

IS FROM THE STATE OF

COLORADO.

REPRESENTATIVE BOEHNER SAYS

THE 10,000 LIGHTS REPRESENT

THE EVERLASTING LIGHT THAT

ENTERS THE WORLD WITH THE

BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE TREE WILL BE LIT EACH

NIGHT UNTIL THE DAY AFTER

CHRISTMAS.

YOU CAN ALWAYS GET THE

LATEST FROM CBN NEWS BY

GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AT

CBNNEWS.COM.

PAT AND KRISTI WILL BE BACK

WITH MORE OF "THE 700 CLUB"

RIGHT AFTER THIS.

*

Pat: YOU KNOW, THIS IS

CHRISTMAS SEASON, AND IT'S

AMAZING AROUND THE WORLD,

THE COMPASSION, THE LOVE

THAT'S ALWAYS EVIDENT, AND

ESPECIALLY IN THE POOR

COMMUNITIES.

WELL, AFTER HER SISTER DIED,

ALMA ADOPTED HER NIECE AND

NEPHEW, EVEN THOUGH SHE

COULD BARELY AFFORD TO FEED

THEM.

DOWN IN HONDURAS.

SO WHEN "OPERATION BLESSING"

HEARD ABOUT ALMA'S

GENEROSITY, WE GAVE HER

FAMILY SOME MUCH-NEEDED

HELP.

WATCH THIS.

Reporter: ERIC AND HIS

SISTER NEEDED A PLACE TO

STAY AFTER THEIR MOTHER WAS

KILLED BY A STRAY BULLET.

SO THEIR AUNT ALMA DECIDED

TO TAKE THEM IN.

IF I HAD BEEN THE ONE WHO

HAD DIED, I'M SURE MY SISTER

WOULD HAVE TAKEN IN MY

CHILDREN.

Reporter: BUT TIMES

HAVE BEEN TOUGH FOR ALMA.

SHE IS ALSO A SINGLE MOTHER,

RAISING HER TWO CHILDREN.

HER GREATEST CHALLENGE WAS

TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO

PROVIDE FOOD FOR EVERYONE.

SOMETIMES I ONLY HAD A

LITTLE JUICE OR A PIECE OF

BREAD FOR THEM TO TAKE TO

SCHOOL.

GOD KNOWS HOW I TRIED MY

BEST TO GIVE THEM EVERYTHING

I COULD.

ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN HARD,

WE HAVE BECOME A BIG

FAMILY.

Reporter: WHEN

"OPERATION BLESSING" LEARNED

WHAT ALMA WAS DOING FOR ERIC

AND HIS SISTER, WE SET UP A

PLAN TO HELP.

FIRST WE ENROLLED HER IN

CLASSES TAUGHT BY "OPERATION

BLESSING" TO TRAIN HER HOW

TO SEW AND RUN A SMALL

BUSINESS.

THEN WE SURPRISED HER AND

GAVE HER A NEW SEWING

MACHINE.

WITH THE MACHINE AND A

LITTLE START-UP CAPITAL,

ALMA IS ALREADY MAKING

MONEY.

NOW THAT I HAVE MY NEW

MACHINE AND THE BUSINESS, I

MAKE THE CLOTHING AND I

CARRY THEM TO STORES IN THE

COMMUNITY WHERE I SELL

THEM.

Reporter: ALMA'S

CLOTHES HAVE BEEN IN HIGH

DEMAND AT THE STORES WHERE

SHE SELLS THEM, AND ORDERS

HAVE BEEN POURING IN.

MEANWHILE, FOR ERIC AND HIS

SISTER, LIFE WITH THEIR NEW

FAMILY HAS GOTTEN BETTER.

ALMA IS NOW ABLE TO PROVIDE

FOOD FOR ALL OF THEM, AND IS

GIVING THEM HOPE FOR THE

FUTURE.

THANKS, "OPERATION

BLESSING"!

Pat: WE'RE THERE IN

YOUR NAME, AND IN THE NAME

OF JESUS.

ALL AROUND THE WORLD,

HELPING THE POOR AND THE

NEEDY.

WE CAN'T DO IT FOR ALL OF

THEM, BUT WE CAN DO IT FOR

SPECIAL ONES AS WE ARE ABLE

TO HELP THEM, LIKE ALMA,

DOWN IN HONDURAS.

SUFFERING, POOR, NOT KNOWING

WHERE THE NEXT MEAL IS

COMING FROM.

NOW SHE IS A LITTLE BUSINESS

PERSON.

SHE HAS HER OWN SEWING

BUSINESS, AND SHE HAS GOT

ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY FOOD AND

TAKE CARE OF THOSE WONDERFUL

CHILDREN.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH

"OPERATION BLESSING."

THAT'S WHAT YOUR "700 CLUB"

MEMBERSHIP MEANS.

THAT'S 65 CENTS A DAY.

AND YOU THINK OF WHAT WE CAN

DO WITH 65 CENTS.

SO WHEN EVERYBODY SHARES

TOGETHER, GOOD THINGS

HAPPEN.

SO WE JUST INVITE YOU TO

CALL RIGHT NOW.

SAY, LOOK, AT THIS

CHRISTMASTIME, I WANT TO

HELP PEOPLE LIKE ALMA AND

HER LITTLE BROOD, NEPHEW AND

NIECE AND THE OTHER CHILDREN

SHE HAS.

WE WANT TO HELP THEM AND

OTHERS LIKE HER ALL OVER THE

WORLD.

PICK UP THE TELEPHONE AND

CALL IN, 1-800-759-0700.

AND I WANT TO SEND YOU

SOMETHING.

IT'S CALLED "GOD'S PLAN FOR

AMERICA."

IT'S A D.V.D., AND IT TALKS

ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF

AMERICA.

IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT GOD'S

PURPOSE FOR AMERICA IS.

AND IT'S SOMEWHAT OF A

WARNING ABOUT WHAT MAY BE

HAPPENING IF WE DON'T BEGIN

TO FOLLOW THE COVENANT THAT

WE MADE WITH GOD.

SO THAT'S THERE FOR YOU WHEN

YOU JOIN "700 CLUB."

SO PICK UP YOUR PHONE RIGHT

NOW.

GO TO YOUR PHONE AND SAY,

YEAH, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME

RIGHT NOW.

KRISTI?

Kristi: MARTHA PULLEN

BEGAN HER FIRST BUSINESS

WHEN SHE WAS JUST 14 YEARS

OLD.

SINCE THEN, SHE'S STARTED

FASHION SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE

WORLD.

HER GOAL?

SHARE HER SKILLS, NOT JUST

WITH STUDENTS, BUT FOR

FUTURE GENERATIONS AS WELL.

Reporter: SHE IS THE

AUTHOR OF MORE THAN 55

BOOKS, AND SHE'S THE FOUNDER

OF SEW BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINE.

BESIDES SEWING, MARTHA ALSO

LOVES TO COOK.

AND BELIEVES THE HEART OF

THE HOME, THE KITCHEN,

BRINGS THE FAMILY TOGETHER.

IN HER LATEST BOOK, "THE

SOUTHERN FAMILY COOKBOOK,"

MARTHA SHARES NOT ONLY

FAMILY RECIPES, BUT

CHERISHED STORIES CENTERED

AROUND FOOD AND COOKING.

SHE SHOWS YOU HOW TO CREATE

A COOKING MEMOIR FOR YOUR

CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

TO SHARE FOR GENERATIONS TO

COME.

Kristi: MARTHA'S BOOK

IS CALLED "SOUTHERN FAMILY

COOKBOOK."

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING

ME.

Kristi: OF COURSE.

I'M REALLY EXCITED.

THE ONE THING I FELT WAS

REALLY COOL.

IT WASN'T JUST RECIPES.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A PLACE

WHERE WE CAN WRITE KIND OF

OUR OWN FAMILY MEMORIES.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE A C.D. IN THE

BACK OF THE BOOK TO MAKE IT

REALLY EASY.

I THINK IT IS REALLY

IMPORTANT FOR EACH FAMILY,

EACH WOMAN, TO WRITE THE

FAMILY RECIPES, PLUS THE

FAMILY STORIES, PLUS,

KRISTI, PUT SCRIPTURES AND

LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH YOU

LOVE JESUS.

THIS COULD BE ALSO AN

EVANGELISITIC TOOL.

BECAUSE SOMEONE IS NOT GOING

TO THROW AWAY A COOKBOOK.

THIS IS MY GRANDMOTHER'S

RECIPE, AND LOOK, HERE IS A

SCRIPTURE.

THEY TOLD A STORY ABOUT HOW

MUCH THEY LOVE JESUS.

AND WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT.

I'M HOPING THAT HAPPEN.

EVERYBODY HAS AN ASSIGNMENT,

TO GET THE FAMILY RECIPES

TOGETHER AND WRITE A STORY.

Kristi: SO THIS

GENERATION CAN PASS IT TO

THE NEXT GENERATION.

SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE

CHRISTMAS RECIPES THAT MADE

YOUR CHRISTMAS PHENOMENAL?

I GROUP IN A CHRISTIAN

FAMILY AND MY MOMMY AND

DADDY LOVED THE LORD.

WE WENT TO CHURCH THREE

TIMES A WEEK, WHETHER WE

NEEDED IT OR NOT.

AND WE WENT TO CHURCH AND MY

DADDY TOLD THE CHRISTMAS

STORY.

MY MAMA WANTED US TO HAVE

THE MOST WONDERFUL FOOD AND

THE PARTIES.

AND SHE LIKED KIND OF FANCY

THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO

SHARE WITH YOU.

Kristi: WHAT ARE THE

FANCY-DANCY THINGS.

I LIKE EASY, E-A-S-Y.

NOW WE HAVE SOME EASY THINGS

FOR YOU.

THIS WONDERFUL PINEAPPLE

CENTERPIECE, TO ME IT IS SO

PRETTY.

IT LOOKS FANCY, BUT IT IS

EASY TO DO.

I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THIS

SALMON.

THIS IS MY SPECIALTY.

NO COOKING, JUST CUT OFF THE

PEPPERS, AND PUT WONDERFUL

FILLINGS, AND THAT WONDERFUL

SMOKED SALMON THAT WAS IN

THERE.

MAMA ALWAYS DID CURRIED

FRUIT, AND, KRISTI, THAT WAS

KIND OF FANCY IN ALABAMA.

BUT I WAS BORN IN NEW

JERSEY.

SHE LEARNED ABOUT CURRIE --

I'M A JERSEY GIRL, TOO.

I'M GOING TO DO ONE QUICK

AND THEN I'M GOING TO LET

YOU DO ONE.

Kristi: OKAY, I LOVE

IT.

THESE ARE MAMA'S SWEET

POTATO MARSHMELLOW

SURPRISE.

THE FIRST THING WE'RE GOING

TO DO IS PUT THE SUGAR IN.

THESE RECIPES ARE ON THE

WEBSITE.

AND WHEN SUSANNE, MY

DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, AND I DID

THIS, WE DID IT OURSELVES.

AND THEN THE ADAMS COMPANY

MADE IT.

Kristi: YOU'RE SO

GENTLE IN THE KITCHEN.

STEP BACK.

YOU'VE GOT THE IDEA.

WE HAVE IT MAGICALLY DOING.

Kristi: THAT WAS

QUICK.

HERE IS A LITTLE POTATO

BALL.

AND I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME

MARSHMELLOWS HERE, AND I'M

GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO,

VERY CAREFULLY -- YOU'VE GOT

TO SQUOOSH THEM IN.

YOU GET IT KIND OF COLD AND

BRING IT OVER HERE, AND THEN

YOU ROLL IT IN THE

CORNFLAKES.

MY HANDS WILL BE ALL SWEET

POTATOY.

POTATOEY.

YOU BAKE IT AND LOOK HOW

PRETTY THOSE ARE.

Kristi: CAN I TASTE

THESE?

SURE YOU CAN.

Kristi: ARE THEY

COOKED?

THE SWEET POTATOES ARE

COOKED ANYWAY.

Kristi: THEY'RE YUMMY.

I NEVER WOULD HAVE THUNK.

AND SOMETIMES IN THE

SOUTH, THEY MAKE THINGS A

LITTLE SWEETER.

ONLY 25 CALORIES IN THOSE

MARSHMELLOWS, AND YOU CAN

ROLL IT IN BROWN SUGAR.

AND YOU CAN GET FROSTED

CORNFLAKES.

Kristi: THE FROSTED

CORNFLAKES AND THE BROWN

SUGAR -- I'M ALL ABOUT IT.

THESE ARE MAMA'S FAMOUS

SPICED PECANS.

PUT ALL OF THE SUGAR IN THIS

BOWL.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE

WATER --

Kristi: YOU PUT THE

PECANS --

IT HAS EGG WHITES AND --

YOU KNOW WHAT -- GRAB IT.

THERE YOU GO.

JUST POKE IT.

THERE YOU GO.

Kristi: I LOVE IT.

DOESN'T YOU JUST LOVE

IT?

JUST DU DUMP THEM IN,

GIRL.

Kristi: I THINK THE EGG

WHITES HELP.

AND THE WATER, AND YOU

GET THAT WONDERFUL FANCY

TASTE WITH THE CINNAMON AND

THE SUGAR.

YOU'RE A GOOD COOKER.

Kristi: YOU HAVE TO PUT

YOUR HIPS AND ARMS INTO IT.

I LOVE IT.

Kristi: I USED TO LOVE

HAVING THESE ON SALADS --

THE SUGARED PECANS.

Kristi: AND I NEVER

KNEW HOW TO MAKE THEM.

I'M GOING TO PUT YOU TO

WORK.

I THINK IT IS "A" PLUS.

I'M A SCHOOL TEACHER BY THE

WAY.

Kristi: I LOVE IT.

YOU DUMP IT IN THE

BUTTERED BOWL.

YOU BAKE IT -- I THINK IT IS

225 -- I'M NOT SURE, BUT IT

IS ON THE WEBSITE.

AND THE PECANS ARE

FINISHED.

Kristi: YUMMY.

AND TALK ABOUT THE

PRETTINESS.

PUT IT IN A LITTLE GLASS

BOWL.

IT IS PERFECT FOR, LIKE,

TEACHERS OR NURSES WHO DON'T

HAVE TIME TO COOK.

Kristi: I LOVE IT,

MARTHA.

YOU'RE A GREAT COOKER.

MY GOODNESS.

Kristi: I LOVE YOUR

ENTHUSIASM.

MARTHA, I THINK I MET MY

MATCH WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS

MORE ENERGY THAN ME.

GOD BLESS YOU, GIRL.

GOD BLESS YOU,

GIRLFRIEND.

Kristi: GIRLFRIEND.

HOLD THE BOOK WHILE I TALK

ABOUT IT.

FOR MORE GREAT RECIPES,

CHECK OUT THE BOOK CALLED

"MARTHA PULLEN'S SOUTHERN

FAMILY COOKBOOK," EVEN

THOUGH SHE WAS BORN IN NEW

JERSEY.

IT IS AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE

AND YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW TO

PREPARE THE DISHES YOU JUST

SAW BY LOGGING ON TO

CBN.COM.

AND DON'T FORGET, THE

ASSIGNMENT IS, FOR ALL OF

YOU, GET YOUR FAMILY RECIPES

TOGETHER.

YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

PUT IN THE STORIES AND

SCRIPTURES, AND KEEP IT AND

HAVE IT FOR THE FUTURE.

I JUST LOVE YOU.

[LAUGHTER]

Kristi: THANK YOU SO

MUCH.

THIS IS SO MUCH FUN.

GOD BLESS YOU.

PAT, OVER TO YOU.

Pat: SOUNDS LIKE FUN.

AND, BOY, MARTHA, SO

DELICIOUS.

MY GOODNESS.

ON TOMORROW'S SHOW, WE'LL

HIT THE GRID IRON WITH

MINNESOTA VIKINGS PRO BOWLER

JARED ALLEN.

PLUS A LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM

SINGER JAMIE GRACE.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE

YOU WITH CHRISTMAS MUSIC

FROM F.F.H., SINGING "O

COME, O COME EMMANUEL."

*

* O COME, O COME,

EMMANUEL *

* ISRAEL

*

* UNTIL THE SON OF GOD

APPEARS *

* REJOICE, REJOICE

* E MANUAL

* EMMANUEL

* OH, COME TO ME, O

ISRAEL *

*

* O COME, NOW DAY BREAK,

COME CHEER *

* THY PEOPLE

*