Terry: THE MAJOR

LEAGUE PITCHER WHO SPENDS

THE OFF-SEASON LIVING IN

HIS '78 VOLKSWAGEN.

THAT'S WHERE MY

INTEREST COMES FROM.

Terry: FIND OUT WHY

HE SAYS HE IS LIVING

INTENTIONALLY.

> PLUS...

ONE DAY I CAME HOME,

AND ALL OF MY DAD'S

CLOTHES WERE STACKED UP ON

THE COUCH.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER

TELLING ME MY DAD WASN'T

GOING TO LIVE IN OUR HOUSE

ANYMORE.

Terry: HOW A

GRANDFATHER'S GIFT HELPED

CHANGE HIS LIFE ON TODAY'S

"700 CLUB INTERACTIVE."

Gordon: WELL, WELCOME

TO THE SHOW.

SOLDIERS PROTECTING OUR

FREEDOM ABROAD PUT ASIDE

THEIR OWN SAFETY.

LAST AUGUST, WHILE SERVING

OUR COUNTRY IN

AFGHANISTAN, ARMY

SPECIALIST CHRIS HARRIS

LOST HIS LIFE, DAYS AFTER

LEARNING HE WOULD BE A

FATHER.

Terry: CHRIS' UNIT

RETURNED HOME ON MARCH

17th, COINCIDENTALLY,

THE SAME DAY HIS DAUGHTER

WAS BORN.

HER NAME, CHRISTIAN

MICHELLE HARRIS.

THE UNIT GATHERED TO

CELEBRATE THE LIFE THAT

WOULD LIVE ON THROUGH

CHRISTIAN.

JUST KNOWING WE COULD

COME HOME THROUGH A BABY

GIRL WAS AWESOME.

AND WHEN WE CAME HOME,

THAT WAS THE DAY SHE WAS

BORN.

SO THAT JUST MADE IT 10

TIMES BETTER.

Gordon: THAT'S A

BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BABY.

IT IS A VERY POIGNANT

STORY.

> MORE THAN 10 YEARS

AGO, WHEN SHE WAS JUST

SEVEN YEARS OLD, LAUREN

RICH LOST HER FATHER.

MASTER TROOPER DETECTIVE

DAVE RICH WAS KILLED IN

THE LINE OF DUTY.

Terry: RECENTLY

LAUREN GRADUATED HIGH

SCHOOL, AND SHE HAD SOME

SPECIAL VISITORS:

SERGEANT TONY CLECOM, A

FRIEND OF HER DAD, AND

SOME FELLOW STATE POLICE

TROOPERS, WERE ON HAND TO

SUPPORT LAUREN ON HER

SPECIAL DAY.

39 OFFICERS FROM SIX

DIFFERENT POLICE

DEPARTMENTS ATTENDED

LAUREN'S GRADUATION.

THERE PROBABLY WASN'T ROOM

FOR THE PARENTS.

Gordon: THAT'S QUITE

AN ENTOURAGE.

Terry: AND THE

SERGEANT LATER TWEETERED, TWEETED,

CONGRATS, LAUREN, AND HE

SAID YOUR DAD WOULD BE SO

PROUD OF THE GREAT YOUNG

LADY LAUREN HAS BECOME.

BOY, THAT'S A FAMILY.

Gordon: IF YOU SEE

THAT, JUST REALIZE THE

SACRIFICES THAT PEOPLE,

FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR

MILITARY, ARE GIVING TO

YOU AND ME AND TO OUR

COUNTRY.

AND WHEN THEY'RE KILLED IN

THE LINE OF DUTY, THEN

THERE IS A FAMILY LEFT

BEHIND.

AND ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO

SEE HOW THEY'RE SUPPORTING

THEM.

THAT IS REALLY GREAT.

Terry: A STATEMENT, A

VISIBLE STATEMENT.

Gordon: NOW THE ISSUE

IS: CAN SHE GET A DATE

WITH THAT MANY TROOPERS

WATCHING OVER HER.

Terry: BE CAREFUL.

Gordon: WELL, A

SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS HAS

NOW BEEN VIEWED OVER

100,000 TIMES ON

Facebook.

8-YEAR-OLD MAURICE ADAMS,

JR. WATCHED AS AN ELDERLY

WOMAN STRUGGLED WITH HER

WALKER TO CLIMB A FLIGHT

OF STAIRS.

Terry: THAT'S WHEN

MAURICE JUMPED IN TO HELP

AND ASSISTED THE WOMAN ALL

THE WAY TO THE TOP.

THE WOMAN HUGGED MAURICE,

AND HE WENT ON HIS WAY.

REILLY DUNCAN WAS THE

BY-STANDER WHO CAUGHT THE

GOOD DEED ON VIDEO.

HE SAID MAURICE HAD NO

IDEA HE WAS BEING FILMED.

HE POSTED THE VIDEO TO

Facebook AND WROTE,

"THANK GOD FOR OUR YOUTH."

Gordon: AND THERE IS

HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE.

THAT IS QUITE A PICTURE.

SHE TURNED AROUND AT THE

END AND GAVE HIM A BIG

HUG.

SPEAKING OF YOUNG PEOPLE

SHOWING COMPASSION, EVERY

MORNING ASHLEY'S

KINDERGARTEN CLASS STARTS

OFF THE DAY WITH GREETING

EVERYONE WITH HANDSHAKES,

HUGS, AND SMILES.

Terry: TAYLOR SAYS

SHE BELIEVES STARTING THE

DADE WITH A FRIENDLY

GREETING WILL HELP TEACH

HER STUDENTS COMPASSION

AND RESPECT FOR ONE

ANOTHER.

THE TEACHER POSTED ON

Facebook: "WHEN I SEE

THE DIRECTION THIS WORLD

IS HEADING, IT REMINDS ME

WHAT I AM DOING WILL MAKE

A DIFFERENCE."

I BELIEVE THAT IS SHOW.

I THINK IT IS GREAT TO SEE

YOUNG KIDS WHO KNOW HOW TO

SHAKE A HAND CORRECTLY.

Gordon: AND THEY KNOW

HOW TO HUG ONE ANOTHER.

LET'S ENCOURAGE ONE OTHER

WITH OUTBURSTS OF LOVE.

THAT'S WHAT THE NEW

TESTAMENT SAYS.

SPEND ALL OF OUR DAY TO DO

OUTBURSTS OF LOVE.

> DESPITE HIS MULTIPLE

MILLION SALARY, HE IS

OFTEN CALLED THE VAN MAN.

THAT'S BECAUSE OFF-SEASON,

YOU WILL FIND HIM LIVING

IN HIS '78 VOLKSWAGEN MAN.

HE SAYS HE LIVES

INTENTIONALLY BY LIVING

WITH GOD EVERY STEP OF THE

WAY.

Reporter: OF ALL OF

THE MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS,

ONE SEPARATES FROM THE

PACK: DETROIT TIGERS'

PITCHER DANIEL NORRIS,

WHO'S UNIQUE APPROACH IS

AS DIFFERENT AS THE

CHANGE-UP HE THROWS.

THE CHANGE-UP, THAT'S A

GOOD ANALOGY.

Reporter: HE LIVES

HIS OFF-SEASONS IN HIS '78

VOLKSWAGEN VAN.

THE LABELLING, MINIMALIST,

NON-CONFORMIST, FREE

SPIRIT.

HOW DOES DANIEL NORRIS

DESCRIBE HIMSELF?

I'VE ALWAYS KIND OF

DONE WHAT I'VE ENJOYED,

WHETHER THAT IS OFF THE

BEATEN PATH AND

NON-CONFORMING, WHATEVER

IT IS.

I'M INTRIGUED BY THE

CURIOSITY OF THE WORLD.

WE WERE ALWAYS VERY

SIMPLE.

WE HAD ONLY WHAT WE NEEDED

AND NOTHING IN EXCESS.

Reporter: AS A

PITCHER, HOW DOES THE

POSITION CAPTURE THAT

PERSONALITY?

I THINK IT BRINGS ME

OUT OF THAT COMFORT ZONE.

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES,

WHEN I'M OFF DOING MY OWN

THING, I HOLD MY RIGHT

HAND ALL DAY, BUT ON THE

MOUND, HE LIGHTS THE FIRE

UNDER ME TO GO OUT AND

COMPETE FOR HIM.

Reporter: YOU AND

THAT '78 V.W., YOU'RE

INSEPARABLE.

WHEN I GET IN THE VAN I

GO SOMEWHERE, THE

DESTINATION IS ALWAYS

GREAT.

IT USUALLY INVOLVES WATER.

I LIKE TO BE BY THE WATER.

THE JOURNEY THERE IS

ALWAYS SO PEACEFUL.

I CAN'T GO OVER 55

MILE-AN-HOUR, AND YOU'RE

IN THE RIGHT LANE, AND I'M

JUST TALKING TO GOD THE

WHOLE TIME AND LISTENING

TO MUSIC.

IT IS SOMETHING I'VE

ALWAYS ENJOYED.

Reporter: AS A

PHOTOGRAPHER, WHAT DOES

THAT LENS LET YOU SEE THAT

THE EYE NORMALLY DOESN'T?

FOR ONE, I WANT TO

SHARE GOD'S CREATION.

WHETHER THAT BE THE

MOUNTAINS OR THE OCEAN ARE

A HUMAN BEING, I WANT TO

SHARE THAT.

I'M VERY DRAWN TO THE

HOMELESS PEOPLE OR

POVERTY.

I THINK WE ALL CAN BE

INSPIRED BY ST. FRANCIS.

FOR ME IT IS SO INSPIRING,

TO BE ABLE TO WANT TO HELP

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LESS

FORTUNATE.

AND THAT BRINGS ME

HAPPINESS.

LIVING ME INTENTIONALLY IS

JUST SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

Reporter: LIVING

INTENTIONALLY, IS THAT

ANOTHER WAY OF LIVING

WITHIN THE ETERNAL

PERSPECTIVE?

ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY STEP I TAKE EVERY

DAY SHOULD BE WITH THE

INTENTIONS OF LIVING

INTERNALLY WITH GOD.

IF YOU'RE ALWAYS FOCUSED

ON GOD AND YOUR MIND NEVER

LEAVES HIM, YOU'RE NOT

GOING TO MAKE THE MISTAKES

THAT HOLD YOU VICTIM.

FOR ME, LIVING

INTENTIONALLY MEANS LIVING

WITH GOD EVERY STEP.

THERE IS INTENT WE EVERY

STEP.

EVERY PITCH HAS INTENT.

Reporter: WHEN WE

HEAR "NON CONFORM MANT,"

"RADICAL," CHRISTIANITY IS

NOT USUALLY TIED TO THAT.

SHOULD CHRISTIANITY BE AT

THE FOREFRONT OF THAT

CONVERSATION?

I THINK SO.

BEING A CHRISTIAN IS

RADICAL.

YOU SHOULD LIVE RADICALLY.

YOU SHOULD LOVE RADICALLY.

YOU SHOULD GIVE RADICALLY.

I CHALLENGE MYSELF TO LIVE

THAT WAY.

GO OUT OF THAT COMFORT

ZONE.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY

IMPORTANT, TO REALLY

EMBODY CHRIST IN THAT WAY.

THINK, WHAT WOULD JESUS

DO?

HE WOULD DO A LOT OF

THINGS WE'RE NOT DOING.

Reporter: HOW DO YOU

THINK THE CURRENT AMERICAN

CHURCH COULD SHOW A

GREATER CONTRAST OF CHRIST

IN CULTURE?

WE THINK OF CHURCH AS

WE WALK INTO IT.

I THINK CHURCH AND

WORSHIPPING GOD IS EVERY

DAY.

IT'S INDIVIDUALLY, AS A

TEAM, AS A CONGREGATION --

IT'S EVERYTHING.

I CAN GO TO THIS BASEBALL

FIELD AND WORSHIP GOD OR

GO IN THIS VAN AND WORSHIP

GOD.

> TO ME, MY MISSION IS

TO GLORIFY GOD, WHATEVER I

DO, PITCHING IN A GAME, TO

ME THAT'S CHURCH.

YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL

CONFORMED INTO THE

BUILDING.

Gordon: THAT'S A

PHRASE TO LIVE ON: "YOU

SHOULDN'T BE CONFORMED

INTO THE BUILDING."

IT IS ONE OF THE

FUNDAMENTALS OF

CHRISTIANITY: YOU ARE THE

CHURCH.

BE THE CHURCH.

DON'T THINK THE CHURCH IS

SOME BUILDING.

GET OUT AND ENJOY THE LIFE

THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.

Terry: I LOVE IT WHEN

YOU SEE A LIFE THAT

CHALLENGES YOU SIMPLY BY

THE WAY HE LIVES.

Gordon: JUST BY THE

WAY HE LIVES.

Terry: THE WAY HE

LIVES, THE WAY HE THINKS.

Gordon: ALTHOUGH, I

DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO

START SHAVING WITH AN AXE.

Terry: AND YOUR CAR

MAY BE A LITTLE SMALL FOR

ALL THOSE ADVENTURES.

Gordon: BARELY ENOUGH

ROOM TO LAY DOWN.

I CAN STILL PICK UP AN OLD

VAN.

Terry: I THINK I HAD

ONE OF THOSE, ACTUALLY.

> COMING UP, A MILITARY

WIFE HISTORY JUST SECONDS

TO TAKE SHELTER WITH HER

CHILDREN IN A CLOSET

BEFORE THEIR HOUSE TAKES A

DIRECT HIT FROM A TORNADO.

MY EARS FILLED UP WITH

PRESSURE, AND THEN JUST

THE EXPLOSION OF

EVERYTHING, ALL OF THE

GLASS AND EVERYTHING

FLYING THROUGH THE

HOUSE -- IT WAS SO FURIOUS

AND FAST, IT HAPPENED JUST

LIKE THAT.

Terry: SEE HOW THIS

MOM GETS HELP, WHEN WE

COME BACK.

Terry: BRANDIR IS A

MILITARY WIFE AND MOTHER.

SHE IS USED TO HANDLELY

ALL OF HER FAMILY'S

AFFAIRS WHILE HER HUSBAND

IS DEPLOYED.

BUT TWO MONTHS AGO, HER

HOME TOOK A DIRECT HIT BY

A TORNADO, AND SHE AND HER

CHILDREN WERE FACED WITH

MORE THAN SHE COULD HANDLE

ON HER OWN.

Reporter: FOR ARMY

WIFE BRANDI, KEEPING THE

HOUSEHOLD RUNNING SMOOTHLY

ALONE IS SECOND NATURE.

HER HUSBAND IS CURRENTLY

DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN.

SHE CONSTANTLY PRAYS FOR

HIS SAFETY.

I TRUST IN GOD.

I SAY, I KNOW YOU HAVE

GREAT PLANS FOR MY

HUSBAND.

AND YOU ARE HIS PROTECTOR,

AND YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW,

ANGELS AROUND HIM.

Reporter: IN MARCH OF

2018, IT WAS BRANDI AND

THE CHILDREN WHO NEEDED

GOD'S PROTECTION WHEN A

TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN

THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE RAIN AND THE STORM

WAS JUST BEATING DOWN ON

THE HOUSE.

COW HEAON

THE HOUSE.

THE WIND WAS STARTING TO

GET REALLY AGGRESSIVE.

Reporter: BRANDI HAD

ONLY SECONDS TO GET HER

CHILDREN INTO THE INTERIOR

CLOSET BEFORE THE HOUSE

TOOK A DIRECT HIT.

MY EARS FILLED UP WITH

PRESSURE, AND JUST THE

EXPLOSION, ALL OF THE

GLASS, AND EVERYTHING

FLYING THROUGH THE

HOUSE -- YOU COULD JUST

HEAR IT OUTSIDE.

IT HAPPENED JUST LIKE

THAT.

Reporter: THE ROOF

WAS RIPPED OFF.

INSIDE, GLASS FROM

BLOWN-OUT WINDOWS

DESTROYED MOST OF THE

FURNITURE.

THIS IS WHERE HER DAUGHTER

WOULD HAVE BEEN SLEEPING.

JUST THE FORCE OF THE

GLASS BREAKING, AND THERE

IS GLASS AND DEBRIS -- I

MEAN, IT IS JUST

DESTROYED.

I LOOK AT THIS AND I CAN'T

HELP BUT JUST BE HUMBLE

AND THANKFUL, JUST FOR

GOD'S PROTECTION.

Reporter: MOVERS

ARRIVED TO CLEAR OUT THE

HOUSE.

MEANWHILE, BRANDI FACED A

POTENTIAL FINANCIAL

CRISIS: SHE WOULD HAVE TO

DIP INTO SAVINGS TO

REPLACE THE THINGS

INSURANCE WOULDN'T COVER.

WHEN HER SUPPORT GROUP,

BATTLEGROUND, HEARD ABOUT

HIS SITUATION, THE GROUP'S

LEADER CALLED "HELPING THE

HOMEFRONT," AND SHE WENT

OVER TO TELL THEM THE GOOD

NEWS.

WE'RE PARTNERING WITH

CBN TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE

TAKEN CARE OF DURING THIS

HARDSHIP.

I FEEL SO LOVED, AND I

FEEL SO, JUST HUMBLE.

IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME,

IT REALLY DOES.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE

YOU SHOPPING TO REPLACE

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, TOYS.

ALSO, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE

YOU TO THE FURNITURE STORE

SO THAT THAT DINING ROOM

TABLE THAT HAS GLASS

EMBEDDED IN IT, AND YOUR

CHINA HUTCH THAT IS

RUINED -- THOSE ITEMS CAN

BE REPLACED.

YOUR DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM

FURNITURE THAT HAS TO BE

REPLACED, WE'RE STEPPING

IN TO HELP YOU PURCHASE

THAT AS WELL.

IT'S JUST...A LOT.

Reporter: THE STAFF

AT ASHLEY'S WAS STANDING

BY TO OFFER DISCOUNTS ON

EVERYTHING BRANDI NEEDED.

AND CBN ALSO TOOK BRANDI

SHOPPING TO REPLACE HER

CHILDREN'S CLOTHES AND

BELONGINGS.

SHE CAN NOW FACE THE

CLEANUP WITH A LITTLE LESS

STRESS.

TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE

CBN WHO COMES IN AND SAYS

WE WANT TO HELP IN THIS

SITUATION, IT ABSOLUTELY

MEANS A LOT.

IT ABSOLUTELY IS A

GAME-CHANGER.

Terry: I KNOW YOU

HAVE TO FEEL LIKE I DO,

SUCH ADMIRATION FOR THE

SPOUSES OF PEOPLE WHO

SERVE IN OUR MILITARY.

I MEAN, THEY SAY BEHIND.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

THE HOUSEHOLD, FOR THE

FAMILY.

AND IT MUST BE A FEELING

OF SUCH ALONELINESS SO

MUCH OF THE TIME.

AND THEN A DEVASTATING

THING LIKE THIS HAPPENS,

AND YOU ALMOST DON'T KNOW

WHERE TO PICK UP THE

PIECES AGAIN.

WHEN YOU GIVE TO "HELPING

THE HOMEFRONT," THIS IS

WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THIS IS ONE STORY, BUT

THERE ARE MANY, MANY

FAMILIES LIKE THIS THAT WE

HAVE REACHED OUT TO,

TOUCHED, AND MADE A

DIFFERENCE IN THEIR

SITUATION AND IN THEIR

LIVES.

WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO BE A

PART OF THAT.

IT IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO

SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR

SERVICE IN A VERY

MEANINGFUL, CONCRETE WAY.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

YOU CAN JUST CALL OUR

TOLL-FREE NUMBER:

1-800-700-7000.

OR THERE IS OUR ADDRESS,

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEND YOUR

GIFT.

IT IS "HELPING THE

HOMEFRONT," CBN CENTER,

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA,

2346 3.

OUR NUMBER, IF YOU'RE

CALLING AGAIN,

1-800-700-7000.

OR YOU CAN LOG ON TO

cbn.com AND GIVE THAT

WAY.

I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE IN

AIRPORTS AS I TRAVEL,

SAYING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE

DRESSED IN THEIR MILITARY

UNIFORMS, THANK YOU FOR

YOUR SERVICE.

THIS IS A WAY TO SAY THANK

YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN A

PLACE OF SERIOUS NEED.

AND SO, BE A PART OF THAT

WITH US, WON'T YOU?

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU

CALL RIGHT NOW.

GORDON?

Gordon: UP NEXT, A

10-YEAR-OLD HAS HIS WORLD

SHATTERED IN A MATTER OF

MOMENTS.

ONE DAY I CAMELHOME,

AND ALL OF MY DAD'S

CLOTHES WERE STACKED UP ON

THE COUCH.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER

TELLING ME THAT MY DAD

WASN'T GOING TO LIVE IN

OUR HOUSE ANYMORE.

Gordon: FIND OUT HOW

THAT DAY CHANGED THE

COURSE OF HIS LIFE, AND

HOW AN UNOPENED GIFT

BECAME HIS MOST PRECIOUS

POSSESSION, RIGHT AFTER

Gordon: WELL, HAVE

YOU EVER RECEIVED A GIFT

AND WONDERED, WHAT WOULD I

DO WITH THIS?

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO

NATE.

ONLY HE REALIZED THE VALUE

OF THE GIFT HE HAD BEEN

GIVEN MANY YEARS LATER.

I HAD THIS ONGOING JOKE

I WOULD TELL MY FRIENDS:

HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU

THAT GOD IS ALWAYS THERE

BESIDE YOU OR BEHIND YOU

TO SUPPORT YOU?

AND OF COURSE THE KIDS

WERE GO, YEAH, I'VE HEARD

THAT.

AND I WOULD JUST PUNCH THE

AIR BESIDE ME OR BEHIND

ME.

BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS

THERE BESIDE YOU, HE WAS

CLOSE ENOUGH TO HIT HIM

AND BE MAD AT HIM.

I SHOULD BE MAD AT HIM FOR

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

I HAD WHAT I FELT LIKE WAS

A PERFECT LIFE.

MY DAD WAS A BARBER.

MY MOM WAS A NURSE.

THERE WAS FIGHTING HERE

AND THERE, BUT TO ME, AS A

10-YEAR-OLD, IT SEEMED

LIKE A REGULAR FAMILY.

ONE DAY I CAME HOME, AND

ALL OF MY DAD'S CLOTHES

WERE STACKED UP ON THE

COUCH.

AND I REMEMBER MY MOTHER

TELLING ME THAT MY DAD

WASN'T GOING TO LIVE IN

OUR HOUSE ANYMORE.

COULD I HAVE DONE ANYTHING

DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE THIS

NOT HAVE HAPPENED?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ME THAT

WOULD MAKE HIM WANT TO GO?

I STARTED TO BE ANYBODY

THAT I NEEDED TO BE TO BE

LIKED.

EVERYTHING MY FRIENDS

NEEDED ME TO BE, AND

EVERYTHING TEACHERS NEEDED

ME TO BE AND COACHES

NEEDED ME TO BE, MY MOM

NEEDED ME TO BE -- MAKE

SURE PEOPLE HAVE A GREAT

TIME WHEN THEY'RE AROUND

YOU BECAUSE NOBODY CAN

DISAPPROVE, NOBODY CANNOT

LIKE ME BECAUSE NOBODY CAN

LEAVE ANYMORE.

MY GRANDFATHER GAVE ME A

BIBLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATION.

AND IT WAS IN A BOX, IN

PLASTIC.

AND AT THE TIME, I

WONDERED WHY.

WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO

WITH THAT?

SO I PUT IT AWAY, AND

CARRIED IT WITH MY STUFF.

ANYTHING THAT FELT LIKE

FAMILY AGAIN, THAT WAS

STUFF I WAS KEEPING

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I

DESPERATELY WANTED.

I WANTED A WIFE.

I WANTED KIDS.

BUT THE FEAR WAS THAT I

WASN'T A PERSON THAT COULD

DO THAT.

I WASN'T WORTH THAT.

DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO

EVEN DREAM THOSE THINGS

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE

THEM.

I MADE A PROMISE TO

MYSELF, I WAS NOT GOING TO

DO THAT.

I WAS GOING TO BE RICH.

AND I WAS GOING TO BE

WILD.

AND I WAS GOING TO LIVE AN

ADVENTURE, AND FAMILY

WASN'T GOING TO BE FART OF PART OF

THAT.

HEADING TO COLLEGE, IT WAS

ALL ABOUT THRILL-SEEKING,

EXTREME PARTYING, AND

DEATH-DEFYING ADVENTURE.

ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE

ME HAPPY AGAIN.

I GOT GREAT NEW JOBS.

BUT IT WASN'T EVERY, THIS

IS IT.

WE'RE INTO THE LATE

'90s, WITH THE TECH

BOOM, AND I'M INVESTING IN

THE STOCK MARKET.

I WAS STARTING TO HAVE

LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN AN

ACCOUNT, THAT COULD FEEL

LIKE I HAD SOMETHING, AND

IT DIDN'T WORK.

IT WAS LITERALLY NO JOY IN

IT.

ALL I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS

LOSING IT.

WHICH BROUGHT UP ALL OF

THE FEAR I HAD ABOUT

LOSING MY DAD AND LOSING

THE PEOPLE AROUND ME AND

LOSING MY SENSE OF MYSELF.

THE BREAKING POINT FOR ME

WAS COMING HOME TO MY

MOM'S HOUSE TO STAY WITH

HER, AND MY LIFE BEING SO

OUT OF CONTROL SHE SAID I

COULDN'T STAY THERE

ANYMORE.

THAT STARTED THE REAL

QUESTIONS.

THAT STARTED REAL

QUESTIONS IN MY LIFE:

WHERE AM I GOING?

WHERE IS THIS ALL TAKING

ME?

I REMEMBER A FRIEND OF

MINE AT WORK, AT A POINT,

SAYING, WHY DON'T YOU COME

TO CHURCH WITH ME?

AND CHURCH HAD NEVER BEEN

AN ANSWER.

BUT I THINK IN MY

BROKENNESS, I SAID, I'LL

GO.

THE GUY SPEAKING ACTUALLY

HAD STUFF TO SAY ABOUT MY

LIFE.

HE SAID, YOU CAN'T BE A

HUSBAND THE DAY YOU GET

MARRIED, YOU CAN'T BE A

FATHER THE DAY THAT YOU

HAVE A BABY, IT'S GOT TO

START BEFORE THEN.

THAT SPOKE TO ME.

I STARTED THINKING, WHAT

WOULD MY LIFE START TO

LOOK LIKE NOW, TO START

PREPARING FOR THAT.

IT'S NOT THIS, NOT WHAT

I'M DOING RIGHT NOW.

WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW

DOES NOT LEAD TO ANY OF

THAT.

BUT I THOUGHT THERE WAS A

CHANCE.

I FELT HOPE.

I FELT LIKE I COULD BE

MORE THAN ME, OR MORE THAN

WHO I WAS.

COULD I?

WOW!

COULD I GET MARRIED?

GOD, COULD YOU HEAL ME

ENOUGH?

A FRIEND OF MINE TOOK ME

OUT TO LUNCH ONE DAY AND

SAID, I SEE YOU AT THE

CHURCH ALL OF THE TIME.

HAVE YOU EVER GIVEN YOUR

LIFE TO JESUS?

AND I SAID, NO, DO I NEED

TO?

AND HE SAID, YOU SHOULD

AND YOU CAN.

LET'S DO IT RIGHT NOW IN

THIS RESTAURANT.

I LEFT THAT RESTAURANT,

AND ALL I COULD THINK OF

WAS, DO I STILL HAVE THE

BIBLE MY GRANDPA HAD GIVEN

ME FOR MY GRADUATION?

I'VE BEEN CARRYING IT

AROUND FOR YEARS.

DO I STILL HAVE IT?

I DROVE HOME AS FAST I

COULD ON MY MOTORCYCLE,

FOUND IT, OPENED UP THE

PACKAGE, AND IT WAS STILL

WRAPPED IN THE PLASTIC

SEAL.

I STARTED READING IT.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT

SPOKE TO MY LIFE, RIGHT

WHERE I WAS AT.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE

MOMENTS WHERE I WAS GOD

AND I, AND SAYING, I'VE

GOT YOU.

YOU DON'T NEED ALL OF

THAT.

YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING

BUT ME.

I REALIZE THAT I REALLY

BELIEVED THIS, I THINK GOD

REALLY DOES LOVE ME.

I THINK I HAVE HOPE IN HIM

AND I CAN TRUST HIM.

I HAVE A FAMILY OF MY OWN

.I HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER

AGAIN THAT I CAN TRUST

HIM.

THAT HE IS A GOOD FATHER.

AND HE WAS MY FATHER ALL

OF THE TIME.

I ABANDONED HIM FOR A LONG

TIME, DIDN'T THINK OF HIM

FOR YEARS, AND YET WHEN I

FINALLY WANTED HIM, NEEDED

HIM, TURNED TO HIM, HE'S

RIGHT THERE.

Gordon: AND HE'LL BE

RIGHT THERE FOR YOU, TOO.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS

TURN.

AND YOU'LL FIND HE IS

RIGHT THERE.

HE HASN'T LEFT YOU.

HE HASN'T FORSAKEN YOU.

THERE IS NOTHING YOU HAVE

DONE THAT COULD EVER TURN

OFF HIS LOVE FOR YOU.

HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH, HE

WAS WILLING TO DIE FOR

YOU.

HE WAS WILLING TO SAY,

I'LL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF

THAT.

I'LL MAKE A WAY, I'LL MAKE

A PATH FOR YOU TO COME

HOME, FOR YOU TO BE LOVED

AGAIN, FOR YOU TO

UNDERSTAND ALL THAT

RUNNING AWAY, I WAS ALWAYS

THERE.

NOW, HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT

TURN?

WELL, FOR NATE THERE WERE

A COUPLE OF REVELATIONS

ALONG THE WAY.

SOME REALLY PROFOUND ONES.

THE DAY YOU BECOME A

HUSBAND IS NOT THE DAY

THAT YOU START THINKING

ABOUT THAT, YOU START

BEHAVING LIKE THAT.

THE DAY YOU BECOME A

FATHER, A CHILD IS BORN --

IF THAT'S THE DAY YOU'RE

THINKING ABOUT BEING A

FATHER, YOU'RE THINKING

AND WONDERING, HOW DO I

ACT LIKE THAT?

WELL, NO, YOU'VE GOT TO DO

THESE THINGS FAR IN

ADVANCE.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED.

YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW YOU'RE

HEAVENLY FATHER.

AND THROUGH THAT, THEN ALL

YOU'RE OTHER RELATIONSHIPS

FALL INTO PLACE.

BECAUSE UNTIL GOD HAS HEAD

OF YOU, UNTIL HE IS LORD

OF YOUR LIFE, NONE OF THE

OTHER THINGS WORK.

THEY JUST DON'T HOLD

TOGETHER BECAUSE YOU'RE

OUT OF BALANCE.

YOU'RE OUT OF WHACK.

YOU'RE SEEKING THRILLS, OR

YOU'RE SEEKING SUCCESS, OR

YOU'RE SEEKING THE THINGS

OF THOF THIS WORLD.

AND YOU'RE NOT SEEKING

HIM.

YOU'RE NOT PUTTING

RIGHTEOUSNESS FIRST, AND

HIS KINGDOM FIRST, HIS

DOMINION OVER YOUR LIFE

FIRST.

BUT WHEN YOU DO THAT,

EVERYTHING LINES UP.

AND YOU SEE THE JOY, YOU

SEE THE SMILE ON NATE'S

FACE.

THAT'S NOT MADE UP.

THAT'S REAL.

AND IT IS COMING FROM HIS

INNERMOST BEING BECAUSE

THAT'S WHERE GOD DOES HIS

BEST WORK, RIGHT INSIDE OF

YOU.

TO SAY, I'LL MAKE YOU NEW

AGAIN, I'LL MAKE YOU

WHOLE.

IF YOU WANT THIS, THERE IS

A VERY SIMPLE PRAYER FOR

YOU: JESUS, IF YOU'RE

THERE, IF YOU'RE REAL, IF

YOU REALLY ARE MY SAVIOR,

COULD YOU SHOW ME?

IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THAT

PRAYER, WE'RE HERE FOR

YOU.

ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS

CALL US: 1-800-700-7000.

> HERE IS A WORD FROM

EPHESIANS: "FOR BY GRACE

YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED

THROUGH FAITH, AND THAT,

NOT OF YOURSELVES.

IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT

OF WORKS, LEST ANYONE

SHOULD BOAST."

> GOD BLESS YOU,WE'LL

SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW.