Gordon: TRAPPED BY

HIS OWN ADDICTION...

I WAS SITTING THERE

SAYING TO MYSELF, WHY AM I

HERE?

AM I HERE TO DIE?

Gordon: FIND OUT HOW

HIS QUESTION WAS ANSWERED.

PLUS "NEW YORK TIMES"

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MAX

LUCADO SHARES THE MOMENT

UNDERLINED PASSAGE IN THE

BIBLE.

AND...HOW TO AVOID LIFE'S

ANXIETIES, ON TODAY'S "700

CLUB INTERACTIVE."

WELL, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

AS CLEANUP CONTINUES IN

THE WAKE OF HURRICANES

IRMA AND HARVEY, STORIES

LIKE THIS ONE CONTINUE TO

SURFACE.

13-YEAR-OLD VIRGIL SMITH'S

HOME IN DICKENSON, TEXAS,

WAS FLOODED DUE TO

HURRICANE HARVEY.

WHILE TAKING SHELTER AT A

NEIGHBOR'S SECOND FLOOR

APARTMENT, VI VIRGIL GOT A

DESPERATE CALL FROM HER

FRIEND.

HE SWAM BACK TO HIS

APARTMENT, THROUGH THE

FLOODWATERS, PICKED UP AN

AIR MATTRESS, AND BEGAN

RESCUING HIS NEIGHBORS, 17

IN TOTAL.

HELP, HELP!

IT WAS, LIKE, WE'RE HERE.

ALL I'M THINKING ABOUT

IS I KNOW HE IS ABLE TO

SAY, HE CAN RESCUE, HE CAN

SWIM.

I HAD FAITH IN THE LORD

THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING

TO BE ALL RIGHT.

IT FEELS LIKE V.J., CAN

YOU COME AND HELP US

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE CAN'T

SWIM.

I THANK GOD THERE IS NO

SNAKES OR ALLIGATORS

DIDN'T BITE US.

Gordon: WAY TO GO,

VIRGIL.

THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING

TO DO.

AND HEROS ARE COMING OUT

OF THESE TRAGEDIES.

> WELL SOME TEXANS HAVE

LIVED IN THE SAME PLACE

FOR DECADES, AND THEY

NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH

FLOODED HOMES UNTIL

HARVEY.

WHEN THE HURRICANE HIT,

THEY HAD TO FLEE, AND THEY

WERE SHOCKED BY WHAT THEY

SAW WHEN THEY RETURNED.

Reporter: WHEN THE

RELENTLESS RAIN OF

HURRICANE HARVEY CAUSED

CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IN

EAST TEXAS, MOST VICTIMS

HAD NEVER SEEN LIKE IT.

I WAS HERE IN THIS

HOUSE.

AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 50

YEARS.

AND I NEVER HAD ANY WATER

COME EVEN INTO MY YARD,

MUCH LESS INTO MY HOUSE.

Reporter: A SMALL,

STEADY STREAM FLOWS IN

FRONT OF LEROY'S CURB, BUT

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE

STORM, IT REACHED SIX FEET

IN HIS FAMILY HOME, WHERE

HE RAISED HIS KIDS, AND UP

UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO,

HOSTED HIS SEVEN

GRANDCHILDREN.

LEROY'S SON, JOSEPH,

REMEMBERS THE TERRIFYING

NIGHT WHEN THE WATER

WOULDN'T STOP RISING.

HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH

TIME AT ALL.

BEFORE HE KNEW IT, IT WAS

MIDWAY TO THE DRIVEWAY,

AND THE NEXT THING IT WAS

COMING UP INTO THE GARAGE

AND HAVING TO BE

EVACUATED.

EVENTUALLY THE POLICE

AND SOME PEOPLE COME IN

AND SAID, YOU'VE GOT TO

GET OUT.

YOU'VE GOT A FEW MINUTES.

WE'RE GOING TO GO SEE THE

OTHER HOUSES AND COME BY

AND PICK YOU UP.

I JUST GRABBED WHAT I

COULD.

Reporter: EVERYTHING

LEFT BEHIND WAS DESTROYED.

WHEN THE FLOODWATERS

RECEDED, "OPERATION

BLESSING" SPRUNG INTO

ACTION.

I HAD NO IDEA YOU GUYS

WERE COMING.

SEEING YOU...YOU KNOW,

MAKES YOU BELIEVE.

NEVER LOSE FAITH.

Reporter: REMOVING

WATER-LOGGED CARPETS AND

KNOCKING OUT MOLDING

WALLS, "OPERATION

BLESSING" VOLUNTEERS

HELPED TURN A NIGHTMARE

INTO A CHANCE FOR RENEWED

FAITH.

THERE IS MORE GOOD

PEOPLE THAN I THOUGHT

THERE WAS.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY HAS JUST

BEEN SO HELPFUL HERE.

I'M JUST OVERWHELMED.

I CAN'T SAY THE RIGHT

WORDS TO EVEN COME CLOSE

TO EXPRESSING HOW GRATEFUL

I AM.

Gordon: AND THANK

YOU.

IF YOU'RE A PART OF "THE

700 CLUB," YOU'RE PART OF

THAT RELIEF EFFORT.

IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER, WE

ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE ENCOURAGE

YOU TO BE A PART OF THE

"OPERATION BLESSING"

DISASTER RELIEF FUND.

THAT'S A DESIGNATED FUND,

WHERE 100% OF YOUR GIFT

WILL GO INTO DISASTER

RELIEF.

SO WHETHER IT IS IRMA IN

FLORIDA, HARVEY IN TEXAS,

OR THIS BRAND NEW STORM

BEARING DOWN, MARIA,

YOU'RE A PART OF IT.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE

SUPPORT IN ORDER TO MAKE

IT POSSIBLE TO HELP PEOPLE

IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.

SO IF YOU WANT TO BE A

PART OF IT, ALL YOU HAVE

TO DO IS CALL US:

1-800-700-7000.

AND SAY, I WANT TO BE A

PART OF GIVING TO THE

"OPERATION BLESSING"

DISASTER RELIEF FUND.

IF YOU WANT TO WRITE A

CHECK, JUST PUT "OPERATION

BLESSING" DISASTER IN THE

MEMO LINE.

THERE IS ALSO A PLACE ON

THE WEBSITE, AND ON THE

"OPERATION BLESSING"

WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN

DESIGNATE YOUR GIFT.

SO ANY WAY YOU CHOOSE, DO

IT NOW.

1-800-700-7000.

> WELL, 3-YEAR-OLD

CAMDEN WOODEN HAS FACED

ADVERSITY SINCE THE DAY HE

WAS BORN.

DUE TO A RARE BIRTH

DEFECT, CAMDEN WAS BORN

WITHOUT ARMS OR LEGS.

HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T STOP

HIM FROM BEING A BLESSING

TO HIS MOM AND YOUNGER

SIBLINGS.

TAKE A LOOK.

[BABY NOISES]

Gordon: THAT'S AN

AMAZING VIDEO.

CAMDEN'S MOTHER SAYS SHE

IS AMAZED BY HIS

DETERMINATION AND HIS

ABILITY.

AND YOU CAN SEE HERE IN

THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM,

SHE SAYS, "SO IN LOVE WITH

MY FEARFULLY AND

WONDERFULLY MADE BOYS."

AND WHAT A TESTAMENT TO

LIFE.

LET'S HAVE LIFE AND HAVE

IT MORE AB ABUNDANTLY.

> WELL, COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SEASON IS JUST A FEW WEEKS

OLD, AND IT HAS ALREADY

GIVEN US A GREAT STORY.

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HAS

A NEW FAMILY CHILDREN'S

HOSPITAL BUILT OVERLOOKING

THE HAWKEYE STADIUM.

DURING THE TEAM'S HOME

OPENER, PATIENTS GATHERED

TOGETHER TO WATCH THE

GAME, AND THAT'S WHEN

SOMETHING SPECIAL

HAPPENED.

AFTER THE END OF THE FIRST

QUARTER, IN HOPES OF

ENCOURAGING THE CHILDREN

AND THEIR FAMILIES, 70,000

FANS TURNED IN UNISON TO

WAVE HELLO.

UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS HOPE

THIS WILL BECOME A NEW

TRADITION.

AND THE UNDEFEATED IOWA

HAWKEYES NOW HOST A BIG

GAME THIS WEEKEND.

THEY'RE TAKING ON NUMBER

FOUR, PENN STATE, AND WE

WISH THEM ALL OF THE BEST.

WHAT A WONDERFUL THING TO

DO.

> UP NEXT, IT IS THE

Gordon: AN ESTIMATED

40 MILLION AMERICAN ADULTS

SUFFER FROM ANXIETY

DISORDERS.

HOW DO WE FIND CALM IN A

CHAOTIC WORLD?

"NEW YORK TIMES"

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MAX

LUCADO HAS THE ANSWER.

Reporter:

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MAX

LUCADO SAYS CHANCES ARE

YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW

STRUGGLES WITH ANXIETY.

BUT HE SAYS THERE ARE WAYS

TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THE

WORRIES OF LIFE.

A NEW DAY AWAITS YOU,

MY FRIEND.

A NEW SEASON, IN WHICH YOU

WILL WORRY LESS AND TRUST

MORE.

REDUCED FEAR AND ENHANCED

FAITH.

Reporter: IN HIS

LATEST BOOK, "ANXIOUS FOR

NOTHING," MAX PROVIDES A

ROADMAP TO WORRY-FREE

LIVING AND OFFERS

PRACTICAL TIPS TO FINDING

CALM IN A CHAOTIC WORLD.

Gordon: MAX LUCADO

JOINS US NOW.

WE TEASED IT, SO I'VE GOT

TO ASK THE QUESTION: WHAT

IS THE MOST UNDERLINED

VERSE IN THE BIBLE.

I COULDN'T HELP BUT

NOTICE THE FELLOW FISHING

IN THE VIDEO THERE, HE

DOESN'T HAVE A CARE --

Gordon: HE DOESN'T

HAVE CARE IN THE WORLD.

PHILIPPIANS 4, 6-7.

ACCORDING TO KINDLE, THE

DOWNLOADABLE BOOKS

PROCEDURE, THEY MEASURE

WHAT IS THE DOWNLOADED

BOOK, AND WHAT IS THE MOST

UNDERLINED PART OF THAT

BOOK.

ACCORDING TO THEM,

PHILIPPIANS 4, 6-7, IS THE

MOST UNDERLINED PASSAGE OF

ANY BOOK ANYWHERE IN THE

WORLD.

Gordon: THAT IS

SURPRISING TO ME.

I'M NOT SURE WHY.

I GUESS IN MODERN CULTURE,

WE ARE ANXIOUS A LOT.

THE PACE OF LIFE, THE PACE

OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE,

THE PACE OF ANY KIND OF

CHANGE -- EVERYTHING SEEMS

TO BE ACCELERATING.

IT DOES, DOESN'T IT?

I'VE READ THERE HAVE BEEN

MORE CHANGES IN THE LAST

30 YEARS THAN IN THE LAST

300 COMBINED.

YOU KNOW, JUST EVEN TODAY

SOMEBODY WAS ASKING ME,

ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE

NEW PHONE?

AND I THOUGHT, THERE IS A

NEW PHONE?

I CAN'T KEEP UP.

I'M BARELY LEARNING HOW TO

USE THE PHONE I HAVE.

Gordon: MY SMARTPHONE

MAKES ME SEEM DUMB.

[LAUGHTER]

Gordon: I LIKE USING

IT, BUT SOMETIMES I DON'T

UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS

DOING.

IT IS A FRANTIC PACE.

AND, ALSO, THERE IS JUST

THE ISSUE OF WE'RE

BOMBARDED BY NEWS UPDATES.

AND NEWS IS, BY NATURE,

NEGATIVE.

SO IF I'M GETTING ALERTS

THROUGHOUT THE DAY OF A

NEW DEVELOPMENT, POTENTIAL

WAR, NUCLEAR CONFLICT,

NORTH KOREA, AND NOW

HURRICANES -- WE FEEL LIKE

WE'RE -- EVERY TIME WE

TURN AROUND THERE IS

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS

NEGATIVE --

Gordon: SOMETHING

NEW.

AND OUR ANCESTORS

DIDN'T DEAL WITH THAT.

100 YEARS OWING AGO OR 50 YEARS

AGO, IF YOU HEARD NEWS, IT

WAS ONCE A WEEK, OR MAYBE

ONCE A DAY, DEPENDING ON

WHERE YOU LIVED.

Gordon: OR ONCE A

DECADE.

YES.

YOU NEVER HEARD WHAT WAS

HAPPENING IN NEPAL OR

AUSTRALIA.

BUT NOW WE HAVE TO LEARN

HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

Gordon: SO HOW DO WE

DEAL WITH IT?

WE ALL UNDERSTAND "BE

ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING," AND

REALIZE THAT'S A GOAL.

I CAN CONFESS THAT I CAN

KNOW THAT INTELLECTUALLY,

BUT IN MY HEART I'M GOING,

I'M ANXIOUS.

SO HOW DO IT GET THROUGH

IT?

THE REAL MESSAGE IS THE

PASSAGE, "BE ANXIOUS FOR

NOTHING."

THE BETTER EXPLANATION IS

DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO

BE IN A STATE OF PERPETUAL

ANXIETY.

THE APOSTLE PAUL, WRITING

THIS EPISAL IN THE BOOK --

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS IN

PRISON, HE DIDN'T MAKE ONE

COMPLAINT.

HE SAYS, CELEBRATE GOD,

REJOICE IN THE LORD, THEN

ASK GOD FOR HELP, BE

ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT

IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER

AND PETITION, ASK HIM.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO

MEDITATE ON GOOD THINGS.

HE GIVES NINE VIRTUES TO

MEDITATE ON.

TURN AND START TO MEDITATE

ON THINGS THAT ARE TRUE

AND GOOD AND NOBLE AND SO

FORTH.

CELEBRATE GOD, ASK GOD FOR

HELP, LEAVE YOUR CONCERNS

WITH HIM, MEDITATE ON GOOD

THINGS, C-A-L-M.

Gordon: WHY IS

THANKSGIVING SO IMPORTANT?

IN MY LOY, LIFE, I REALIZED GOD

INHABITS THE THANKSGIVING

OF PEOPLE.

HE DOESN'T I INHABIT YOUR

COMPLAINTS.

WHY IS THANKSGIVING SO

IMPORTANT?

WELL, THE HEART CANNOT,

AT ONE TIME, HOUSE ANXIETY

AND GRATITUDE.

ONE MOVES THE OTHER OUT.

AND GRATITUDE ALWAYS WINS.

A GREAT EXERCISE IN

DEALING WITH ANXIETY IS TO

TURN AWAY FROM WHAT IS

TROUBLING YOU AND MAKE A

LIST OF THE BLESSINGS THAT

YOU HAVE.

BY THE TIME YOU WRITE 10

THINGS DOWN THAT YOU'RE

THANKFUL FOR, YOU'LL FIND

THE ANXIETY IS

DIMINISHING, MAYBE EVEN

EXITING, BECAUSE THEY

CAN'T SHARE THE SAME

HEART.

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT

GRATITUDE AND ANXIETY,

THEY DON'T GET ALONG.

AND GRATITUDE ALWAYS SHOWS

THE DOOR TO ANXIETY.

Gordon: WHY, WHEN

WE'RE IN THE STRESS -- WHY

DO WE NOT GO TO GOD WITH

IT?

I THINK ANOTHER KEY IN --

THE KEY IN YOUR BOOK IS

LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE

KNOWN.

HOW DO WE OVERCOME THE

TENDENCY TO SAY, I'VE GOT

TO MANAGE THIS OR I'VE GOT

TO DEAL WITH THIS, OR I'VE

GOT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS.

YEAH.

YEAH.

I THINK IT IS A LEARNED

SKILL, GORDON.

I THINK IT IS A CHALLENGE

THAT WE ALL FACE.

I KNOW I FACE IT.

AND THAT IS, I WANT TO FIX

THINGS MYSELF OR I FEEL

LIKE IT IS ALL UP TO ME.

THE BIBLE IS SUGARED OR

SEASONED WITH THESE

PROMISES, LIKE, CAST ALL

YOUR CARES UPON HIM

BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU.

THIS ONE WE'RE STUDYING

HERE, BE ANXIOUS FOR

NOTHING, BUT BY PRAYER AND

PETITION, LET EVERYTHING

BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD.

SO THE HEAD WE CAN DEVELOP

IS THE SECOND WE BEGIN TO

FEEL THAT ANXIETY,

WHATEVER IT IS IN YOUR

BODY OR MY BODY -- FOR ME,

IT IS MY NECK GETS TIGHT.

THE SECOND I FEEL THAT, I

SAY, LORD, I'M GOING TO

GIVE THIS TO YOU BEFORE IT

GETS TO ME.

Gordon: WHY DON'T

MORE PEOPLE GET THIS?

I HEAR CONTINUALLY, I'M

STRESSED OUT.

I HEAR THAT A LOT AND IT

IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS,

WHEN I HEAR THAT IT IM

PARTS TO ME BECAUSE I

START WORRYING ABOUT THEM.

AND DON'T WE DESIRE NOT

TO BE THAT WAY?

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO

SAYS, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET

MORE ANXIOUS.

WE ALL WANT TO FIND A WAY

TO DEAL WITH IT.

I THINK IT IS A REAL

SITUATION IN OUR CULTURE.

I JUST HAVE A HUNCH THAT

THE DIVISION IN OUR

CULTURE, THIS POLARIZATION

IN OUR CULTURE -- ANXIETY

CREATES COMBATIVE PEOPLE,

AND CONSEQUENTLY WE FIND

IT DIFFICULT TO HAVE

IMPORTANT DIALOGUES ABOUT

VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS,

BECAUSE I FEAR THAT

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO

DISAGREE WITH ME OR PROVE

ME WRONG.

BUT IF I'M CONFIDENT THAT

GOD IS A GOOD GOD, AND GOD

IS IN CONTROL, AND HE IS

GOING TO LEAD US ALL

THROUGH THIS, THAT OPENS

THE DOOR, I THINK, TO MORE

INCREASED DIALOGUE AND

CONVERSATION.

Gordon: CAN YOU DO A

BIBLE STUDY ON CAPITOL

HILL?

I THINK WE NEED IT.

[LAUGHTER]

Gordon: GO TO THE

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS

AND SAY, HERE IS HOW WE

CAN GET THERE.

YOU KNOW, EVEN ON --

I'M NOT A GREAT SOCIAL

MEDIA GURU, BUT I DO

Facebook.

I DO THESE MESSAGES ON

Facebook.

AND I NOTICED THAT THERE

ARE SO MANY TRIGGER POINTS

WITH PEOPLE.

AND THEY CAN'T JUST SAY I

DISAGREE.

THEY'VE GOT TO TELL YOU

HOW BAD YOU ARE.

Gordon: THEY'VE GOT

TO SHRED YOU.

THEY'VE GOT TO SHRED

YOU.

SO IT IS AN ANGRY WORLD WE

LIVE IN.

I'M TRYING TO TRACE THAT,

WHERE DOES ALL OF ALL OF

THAT COME FROM?

AND IT HAS TO DO WITH JUST

THIS ANXIETY THAT IS

SETTLED UPON US.

Gordon: LET'S TALK

ABOUT THE END OF IT, AND

MAY THE PEACE OF GOD COME

AND GUARD YOUR HEART AND

MIND.

YEAH.

Gordon: WHY DO WE

TEND TO BLOCK THAT?

BECAUSE I KNOW IN MY LIFE,

WHEN I'M TRYING TO GET TO

THAT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE I

RESIST HIS PEACE.

DO YOU?

Gordon: THERE WAS ONE

TIME I WAS PRAYING, AND I

WAS POURING OUT MY

COMPLAINT, AND THIS IS

BEFORE I REALIZED HE

DOESN'T INHABIT THOSE, BUT

HE IS STILL THERE.

IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE

AND HAVE OUR BEING.

THAT STILL, SMALL VOICE,

BUT I AM WITH YOU.

AND I WANTED TO ARGUE WITH

IT.

IT'S, LIKE, DON'T YOU

UNDERSTAND?

BUT I AM WITH YOU.

AND THAT SHOULD HAVE

BROUGHT ALL OF THE PEACE I

NEEDED, BUT AT THAT MOMENT

I WANTED TO RESIST IT.

WHY DO WE DO THAT?

WE WANT A SOLUTION WHEN

GOD JUST WANTS TO GIVE US

HIS PRESENCE, RIGHT?

AND THAT'S PART OF THE

PROMISE.

REJOICE IN THE LORD

ALWAYS, LET YOUR

GENTLENESS BE MADE EVIDENT

TO ALL BECAUSE THE LORD IS

NEAR.

SO THE APOSTLE, I THINK,

IS SAYING, SOMETIMES GOD

DOESN'T GIVE YOU A

SOLUTION.

HE DOESN'T DISENTANGLE THE

PROBLEM.

HE JUST SAYS, I'LL WALK

WITH YOU THROUGH IT.

I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF IT

WITH YOU.

Gordon: AND PAUL IS

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE.

HE IS WRITING FROM A

PRISON CELL.

AND HE IS SAYING, I HAVE

FOUND THE SECRET TO

CONTENTMENT.

YES.

AND HE HAD REASON TO

COMPLAIN.

CHURCHES WERE SQUABBLING,

AND THEY'RE NOT QUITE

GETTING ALONE, AND HE IS

WONDERING IF SOME OF THEM

ARE GOING TO MAKE IT.

AND HE HAS NO GUARANTEE HE

IS GOING TO MAKE IT OUT OF

PRISON EVER.

Gordon: IN FACT, HE

WAS GUARANTEED HE WOULD

NOT.

RIGHT.

AND HE HAS PLENTY OF

REASON TO COMPLAIN, BUT HE

DOESN'T.

Gordon: AND HE IS

SAYING, ALL THINGS ARE

GOING TO WORK OUT.

I TRUST HIM.

ANXIETY IS A DEFAULT

EMOTION, I THINK, GORDON.

I THINK WE DON'T HAVE TO

DECIDE I'M GOING TO BE

ANXIOUS.

WE DO HAVE TO DECIDE I'M

GOING TO HAVE FAITH.

SO WE GO TO ANXIETY

WITHOUT A DECISION.

IT IS JUST KIND OF THE

NATURAL COURSE WE TAKE.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO DECIDE,

OKAY, TODAY I'M GOING TO

DO MY BEST TO BE A PERSON

OF PEACE.

EVERY TIME I HAVE A

PROBLEM, I'M GOING TO GIVE

IT TO GOD.

Gordon: GOD WORK, AND

GREAT BOOK.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET IT.

IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE MANY

STRESSED OUT AMERICANS,

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

AND IT'S CALLED "ANXIOUS

FOR NOTHING," AND IT IS

AVAILABLE WHEREVER BOOKS

ARE SOLD.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

THANK YOU.

Gordon: COMING UP,

HIS LOVE FOR CRACK COCAINE

MEANT HE LIVED A FEW

Gordon: JOEL SMOKED

HIS FIRST JOINT WHEN HE

WAS JUST EIGHT YEARS OLD.

FROM THEN ON, POT WAS HIS

LIFE AS HE SMOKED IT

BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER

SCHOOL.

AND OVER THE YEARS, JOEL'S

DRUG USE ESCALATED INTO A

FULL-BLOWN CRACK COCAINE

ADDICTION.

UNTIL HE COULDN'T EVEN

BEAR TO LOOK IN A MIRROR.

MY RIBS ARE SHOWING.

MY WHOLE BOTTOM JAW IS

SUCKED IN.

I'M NOT GOING TO LOOK IN

THE MIRROR AT MYSELF.

YOU NEVER LOOK IN THE

MIRROR.

THE MIRROR TELLS THE TALE.

NO ONE LOOKS IN THE

MIRROR, NO ONE.

Reporter: JOEL'S

ADDICTION TOOK HIM TO THE

DEPTHS OF DISPAIR, LIVING

IN A CRACK HOUSE.

HIS PAINFUL JOURNEY BEGAN

AS A CHILD WHEN HIS

PARENTS DIVORCED.

THERE WAS MORE PEACE IN

THE WOODS WITH MY DOG THAN

ANYTHING I'M GOING TO FIND

IN THAT HOUSE.

SO I LEARNED TO GET

COMFORTABLE WITH BEING

ALONE, AND NOT TRYING TO

PUT A WHOLE LOT OF

RELIABILITY ON OTHER

PEOPLE'S AFFECTION, LOVE,

AND CARE, BECAUSE I JUST

LEARNED TO STOP TRUSTING

IT.

Reporter: JOEL STAYED

WITH HIS MOTHER, WHO

SUFFERED FROM MENTAL

ILLNESS.

BECAUSE SHE WAS A

CHRISTIAN, HE BLAMED GOD

FOR HER INABILITY TO LOVE

AND CARE FOR HIM.

FOR DAYS SHE WOULD SIT

AT OUR KITCHEN TABLE AND

NOT MOVE.

COMPLETE CATATONIA.

MY ATTEMPTS TO BE HEARD OR

TO FEEL OR RECEIVE LOVE

FROM MY MOTHER, HE WAS

INCAPABLE OF GIVING IT.

Reporter: HE STARTED

SMOKING POT, HAVING

STARTED WHEN HE WAS JUST

EIGHT YEARS OLD.

WHAT IT IMMEDIATELY DID

WAS TOOK ALL OF THAT

EMOTIONAL DISREGULATION

AND ANGST AND SADNESS, AND

I WENT, THERE IS A REASON

TO LIVE.

I LOVED IT.

I WAS SMOKING MARIJUANA

THREE TIMES A DAY, BEFORE,

DURING, AND AFTER SCHOOL.

IT WAS JUST A LIFESTYLE.

IT IS WHAT I DID TO NOT

REALLY HAVE TO FEEL.

I DON'T WANT TO GET BACK

TO FEELING.

IF I START FEELING, WHAT

AM I GOING TO DO WITH ALL

OF THAT?

Reporter: WHEN JOEL

WAS IN HIS 20s,

MARIJUANA BECAME A GATEWAY

TO HARDER DRUGS.

I'D HAD ROOMMATES WHO

DID CRACK COCAINE, AND I

SAID, I'LL TRY IT.

ONCE THE CRACK CAME, IT

WAS ALMOST OVERNIGHT THAT

THIS IS WHAT IS NOW GOING

TO START RUNNING THE SHOW.

Reporter: HIS NEW

ADDICTION CONSUMED EVERY

PART OF HIS LIFE AND SOUL.

IT WAS THAT HORRIBLE

CYCLE OF HUSTLING,

COPPING, GETTING HIGH, ALL

DAY LONG.

AND THE ONLY TIME YOU'RE

GOING TO GO TO SLEEP IS

WHEN YOU'RE COMPLETELY

DEVASTATED IN ALL OF YOUR

OWN RESOURCES, YOU CAN'T

GET ANYMORE.

THE DEALER IS OUT AND

THERE ARE NO DEALERS

AVAILABLE, OR YOU RIPPED

OFF EVERYTHING FROM

ANYBODY YOU CAN STEAL FROM

THAT DAY.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT

HOPE IS ON THE HORIZON.

EMOTIONAL BANKRUPTCY.

MY LOVE TANK WAS EMPTY.

THERE WAS NO ONE FILLING

THAT.

EVERY RELATIONSHIP I WAS

IN, I WAS IN IT FOR WHAT I

COULD GET OUT OF IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO DELIVER

YOU MY HEART AND HAVE YOU

BE A BAD STEWARD OF MY

HEART AGAIN.

Reporter: JOEL WORKED

OFF AND ON TO SUPPORT HIS

HABIT.

BUT AFTER 20 YEARS OF

ADDICTION, HE MOVED INTO A

CRACK HOUSE AND STARTED

RUNNING DRUGS.

THE CRACK HOUSE CULTURE

IS ME TRYING TO HELP YOU

FIND YOUR WALLET, AND IT'S

IN YOUR BACK POCKET.

I WAS ALWAYS CONVINCED THE

POLICE WERE COMING.

I WOULD FREEZE AND NOT

MAKE ANY MOVEMENT.

TOTAL ISOLATION.

I'M SITTING THERE SAYING

TO MYSELF, WHY AM I HERE?

AM I HERE TO DIE?

IS THAT WHY I HAVE COME

HERE?

YOU'RE LOOKING UP AT

NOTHING BECAUSE I DON'T

BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.

SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE

I'M LOOKING.

AND I'M ASKING THESE

QUESTIONS INTO THIS PLACE

WHERE THERE IS NOT GOING

TO BE ANY ANSWERS.

SO REALIZING, I THINK I'M

HERE TO DIE.

DEATH IS A RELIEF.

WE TALK ABOUT OVERDOSING

AND HAVING AN HEART

ATTACK, AND I WOULD THINK

TO MYSELF, THAT'S THE

RESOLVE.

Reporter: IT IS

DESPERATION, HIS FAMILY

MADE ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO

PULL HIM OUT.

MAN, THEY JUST KEPT

CALLING.

AND FINALLY MY SISTER DID

A RESCUE MISSION.

AND SHE ROUNDED UP FRIENDS

OF MINE AND SAID, WE'RE

COMING TO GET YOU.

Reporter: THEY TOOK

HIM TO TEEN CHALLENGE, A

CHRISTIAN RECOVERY PROGRAM

FOR DRUG ADDICTS.

A FEW WEEKS INTO THE

PROGRAM, JOEL POURED OUT

HIS ANGER AT GOD.

I SAID, I DON'T KNOW

WHO YOU ARE, AND I CURSED

HIM OUT.

AND I SHOOK A FIST AT HIM

WITH ALL OF THE, WHERE

WERE YOUs?

AND THERE WAS A WEIRD PART

OF ME THAT FELT LIKE

SOMEBODY WAS LISTENING.

I HAD NEVER HEARD ANYBODY

LISTENING.

AND THE FIRST THING I

HEARD GOD SAYING WAS, I

WAS THERE ALWAYS, WITH

YOU, IN ALL OF IT.

I WAS RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I

SUSTAINED YOU FOR A DAY

SUCH AS THIS.

BY THE END OF IT, I WAS ON

THE FLOOR IN A POOL OF

TEARS, BODY SURFING ON

THOSE TEARS ALL THE WAY TO

THE FEET OF JESUS, AND

I'VE NEVER TURNED BACK.

Reporter: JOEL

SURRENDERED HIS LIFE TO

CHRIST AND COMPLETED

REHABILITATION.

SOBER FOR 13 YEARS, HE IS

NOW MARRIED AND COMPLETING

A DOCTORATE IN TEEN

ADDICTION.

MOST OF ALL, HE IS

GRATEFUL FOR A HEALED

HEART THAT HAS LEARNED TO

TRUST GOD.

IT WAS AN EXCHANGE OF

IDENTITIES, AND IT WAS

NOTHING LESS THAN

SUPERNATURAL.

THERE IS A KNOWING ABOUT

WHO I AM AS A HUMAN BEING

I'VE NEVER HAD.

I CAN BE VULNERABLE WITH

GOD.

I CAN HAVE HIM -- HE IS IN

THE ROOM WHEREVER I GO.

SOMETIMES IN FEELING, BUT

ALWAYS IN KNOWING.

AND I NEVER HAD THAT.

I NEVER HAD A KNOWING OF

SOMETHING CARING FOR ME.

ENTERING INTO THE RISK

WITH JESUS AND FINDING OUT

THERE WAS NONE IS THE

REWARD.

THERE WAS NEVER A RISK.

HE PROMISES TO NEVER LEAVE

ME OR FORSAKE ME.

Gordon: THAT PROGRAMS

IPROMISEIS FOR YOU.

HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.

HE WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU.

HE HAS BEEN WALKING WITH

YOU ALL THIS TIME.

IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE

AND HAVE OUR BEING.

AND, YES, HE IS A GOD WHO

ANSWERS PRAYER.

HE IS A GOD WHO LISTENS.

HE IS A GOD WHO IS WITH

YOU.

NOW, TO GET THIS, TO GET

RELEASE, TO GET WHAT JOEL

FOUND, IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

THE SAME WAY.

ASK FOR IT.

ASK HIM.

ASK HIM.

AND IF YOU'VE GOT ISSUES,

WHERE WERE YOU?

WHY DID THESE THINGS

HAPPEN?

ASK HIM.

ASK HIM.

HE IS THE ANSWER TO EVERY

HUMAN NEED.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK.

CALL TO ME, AND I WILL

ANSWER YOU AND SHOW YOU

GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS.

IF YOU WANT HELP WITH

PRAYER, WE'RE HERE FOR

YOU.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PICK

UP THE PHONE AND CALL US:

1-800-700-7000.

HERE IS A WORD FROM

HEBREWS: "FOR EVERY HOUSE

IS BUILT BY SOMEONE, BUT

HE WHO BUILDS ALL THINGS

IS GOD."

GOD BLESS YOU.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.