>>ANNOUNCER: TODAY ON
THE JOHN ANKERBERG SHOW:
LIFE CAN BE FULL OF SURPRISES.
ONE DAY YOU CAN BE FEELING
WONDERFUL AND THE NEXT DAY
THE DOCTOR MAY DIAGNOSE YOU
WITH A LIFE ALTERING DISEASE.
ACCIDENTS, WEATHER DISASTERS,
CRIME, DISABILITIES
CAN COMPLETELY CHANGE
OUR LIVES IN A MOMENT.
AND WHEN THEY DO PEOPLE ASK,
"WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS
SO BAD?" SUCH PEOPLE WANT
TO HEAR ANSWERS FROM
REAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED
AS MUCH OR MORE THAN THEY HAVE.
AND TODAY YOU WILL HEAR
FROM TWO SUCH PEOPLE.
JONI EARECKSON TADA SEVERED
HER SPINAL CORD IN A DIVING
ACCIDENT AT AGE 17, CAUSING
HER PARAPLEGIA. SHE HAS BEEN
CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR
FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.
AND ON TOP OF THAT SHE HAS
CONTRACTED BREAST CANCER
[AND] SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC PAIN
EVERY DAY.
DR. MICHAEL EASLEY WAS
PRESIDENT OF MOODY BIBLE
INSTITUTE. BUT RESIGNED WHEN
HE BEGAN EXPERIENCING
TREMENDOUS BACK PAIN.
HIS MISERY LED TO
PAINFUL OPERATIONS WHERE
DOCTORS EVENTUALLY TOOK OUT
ALL OF HIS DISCS AND FUSED
ALL OF THE BONES IN
HIS SPINAL COLUMN TO SAVE
HIS LIFE. HE NOW IS THE LEAD
PASTOR AT FELLOWSHIP BIBLE
CHURCH IN BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE.
BUT HE LIVES WITH CHRONIC PAIN
EVERY DAY.
THESE TWO WILL ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS SURROUNDING
THE TOPIC:
"WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS?"
JOIN US FOR
THIS SPECIAL EDITION
OF THE JOHN ANKERBERG SHOW.
>>JOHN ANKERBERG: WELCOME TO
OUR PROGRAM,
I'M JOHN ANKERBERG,
THANKS FOR JOINING ME.
AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD
WE'VE GOT TWO WONDERFUL GUESTS,
DR. MICHAEL EASLEY AND
JONI EARECKSON TADA.
AND OUR TOPIC TODAY IS,
HOW DO YOU KEEP FROM BEING
DISCOURAGED OR GOING INTO
DEPRESSION WHEN YOU FACE
CONSTANT SETBACKS?
COME ON, FOLKS, DON'T KID ME.
SOME OF YOU, YOU'VE BEEN
SUFFERING WITH CERTAIN AILMENTS
AND YOU HAVE SETBACKS.
HOLD ON TO THAT QUESTION,
I WANT TO START WITH ONE PRIOR.
WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD IT,
YOU FIRST GOT KICKED IN
THE STOMACH WITH THE BAD NEWS.
AND IT GOES SOMETHING
LIKE THIS: THE DOCTOR SAYS,
"YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY, I'VE GOT
SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU TODAY.
YOU HAVE THE BEGINNING OF ALS,
OR YOU'RE GOING BLIND,
OR I THINK YOU'VE EXPERIENCED
A STROKE, OR YOU'VE SUFFERED
A SPINAL INJURY AND
YOU'RE GOING TO BE PARALYZED.
JONI AND MICHAEL, WHEN PEOPLE
HEAR THE BAD NEWS FOR THE FIRST
TIME, AND YOU BOTH HEARD
THE NEWS FOR THE FIRST TIME,
WHAT DO YOU ADVISE THEM TO DO?
>>DR. MICHAEL EASLEY: FOR ME
IT WAS A, A PERCUSSION.
I WENT TO THIS, YOU KNOW, MANY,
MANY DOCTORS, AND FINALLY FOUND
ONE WHO DIAGNOSED THE DISC
DISEASE. AND HE WANTED TO FUSE
A VERY LARGE PORTION OF
MY BACK. AND HE WAS VERY QUICK.
HE THREW THE MRI UP. HE WAS...
HIS BEDSIDE MANNER WASN'T
THE BEST. AND I WALKED OUT OF
THAT OFFICE, I HAD HEARD TERMS
I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE
IN MY LIFE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT L-4, 5, S-1
WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
POSTERIOR OR ANTERIOR.
I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT
MY ANATOMY.
AND I WENT TO MY CAR
AND I WEPT LIKE A SCHOOLBOY.
AND I SAID, "WHAT DOES ALL THIS
MEAN?" AND, AND FOR ME, JOHN,
IT WAS, IT WAS, IT TOOK A LONG
TIME, BUT IT BECAME A PROCESS.
ALL I CAN DO IS THE NEXT THING.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T WORRY ABOUT
ALL THESE POTENTIAL THINGS
IN THE FUTURE THAT AWAIT ME,
ALL I CAN DO IS THE NEXT THING.
AND CERTAINLY AS A BELIEVER
YOU DRAW BACK TO YOUR FAITH,
YOU DRAW BACK TO CHRISTIAN
FRIENDS AND SUPPORT.
FORTUNATELY WE BOTH HAVE
CHRISTIANS IN THE MEDICAL
FIELD, AND WE OBVIOUSLY SEEK
THEIR COUNSEL.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY
YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN
ADVOCATE. NO ONE CAN
DO IT FOR YOU.
>>ANKERBERG: JONI, WHEN YOU
HEARD ON TOP OF EVERYTHING
ELSE, THAT YOU HAD CANCER,
TELL ME ABOUT THAT DAY.
>>JONI EARECKSON TADA: WELL,
MY FRIEND, MY FRIEND
HAD DISCOVERED A LUMP,
A LARGE LUMP IN MY BREAST.
AND THAT MONDAY I WENT
IMMEDIATELY TO THE RADIOLOGIST,
GOT THE MAMMOGRAM, ULTRASOUND.
AND THE DOCTOR WALKED IN
TO GIVE ME, READ ME
THE FRIGHTENING NEWS.
AND WHEN SHE READ IT TO ME
I SAID, SHAKING, "LET ME REPEAT
BACK TO YOU WHAT I THINK
I HEARD YOU JUST SAY TO ME.
I THINK YOU JUST HE...YOU JUST
SAID THAT I HAVE A LARGE
MASSIVE TUMOR WITH IRREGULAR
EDGES THAT LOOKS HIGHLY
SUSPICIOUS, PERHAPS CANCER AND
I NEED TO SEE AN ONCOLOGIST.
IS THAT CORRECT?"
AND SHE NODDED, AMAZED THAT
I WAS ABLE TO REPEAT IT.
BUT, JOHN, I KNEW I WOULD BE
AN EMOTIONAL BASKET CASE IF
I DID NOT JUST GRAB A HOLD OF
THE FACTS AND HOLD ON TO THEM
FOR AN INSTANT.
TRY AS I WOULD, THOUGH,
IT DIDN'T LAST FOR LONG.
AFTER I HAD MY MASTECTOMY,
AND I WAS IN BED FOR A LONG
TIME HEALING FROM THE SURGERY,
THE FIRST DAY I WAS BACK IN
THE MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST'S LAB
TO DISCUSS CHEMOTHERAPY,
MY HUSBAND, KEN AND I
WERE SITTING THERE.
AND THE ONCOLOGIST WAS LOOKING
AT A CLIPBOARD.
AND HE SAID, "WELL, JONI,
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE
QUITE A FEW ROUNDS OF
CHEMOTHERAPY. YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO GO BACK INTO
THE HOSPITAL, HAVE A PORT
SURGICALLY INSERTED INTO
YOUR CHEST. YOU'LL BE INFUSED
WITH HIGHLY TOXIC DRUGS.
THIS WILL WEAKEN YOUR ALREADY
FRAGILE BONES, YOU MAY GET
LUNG INFECTIONS, BLADDER
INFECTIONS." OH, AND THEN
HIS NURSE CALLED HIM OUT
AND HE HAD TO GET UP.
CLOSED THE DOOR.
AND I, I SAID TO KEN,
"I CAN'T DO THAT.
I CAN'T DO THAT.
I CAN'T DO THAT."
AND I JUST COLLAPSED SOBBING
INTO MY HUSBAND'S CHEST,
AND HE JUST HELD ME TIGHT.
AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT
TO DO EXCEPT WHAT MICHAEL
HAS REFERRED TO SEVERAL TIMES
DURING THESE PROGRAMS.
YOU JUST DO THE NEXT THING.
I WENT HOME AND I CALLED
3 FRIENDS OF MINE WHO I KNOW TO
BE CHRISTIAN PRAYER WARRIORS.
AND I RECOUNTED TO THEM EXACTLY
WHAT THE RADIOLOGIST TOLD ME
AND WHAT THE CHEMO SCHEDULE
WAS GOING TO BE LIKE AND JUST
BEGGED THEM, "I NEED PRAYER."
BUT ONE OF THOSE FRIENDS
POINTED TO ME,
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1.
AND SHE SAID,
"JONI, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD
COMPANION IN THE APOSTLE PAUL."
AND THEN SHE READ IT TO ME OVER
THE PHONE WHERE THE APOSTLE
SAID, "I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE
UNINFORMED, BROTHERS, ABOUT
THE HARDSHIPS WE FACED IN ASIA.
WE WERE UNDER PRESSURE FAR
BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO ENDURE.
WE EVEN HAD WITHIN OUR HEARTS
THE STING OF DEATH."
AND I, I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
OH MY GOODNESS, THE APOSTLE
PAUL FELT LIKE I DID, LIKE
I'D RATHER DIE THAN FACE THIS?
THAT'S WHAT THE STING OF DEATH
IS LIKE IN YOUR HEART.
"BUT..."
THE NEXT VERSE SAYS
IN 2 CORINTHIANS 1:8,
"BUT THESE THINGS HAPPEN
THAT WE MIGHT NOT
RELY ON OURSELVES, BUT ON GOD
WHO RAISES THE DEAD."
AND, AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW
THE REST OF THAT PORTION,
DO YOU HAVE IT THERE, MICHAEL?
>>EASLEY: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:9
AND FOLLOWING, "INDEED, WE HAD
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH WITHIN
OURSELVES SO THAT WE WOULD NOT
TRUST IN OURSELVES, BUT IN GOD
WHO RAISES THE DEAD;
WHO DELIVERED US FROM SO GREAT
A PERIL OF DEATH, AND WILL
DELIVER US, HE ON WHOM WE HAVE
SET OUR HOPE.
AND HE WILL YET DELIVER US,
YOU ALSO JOINING IN HELPING US
THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS."
>>TADA: I LOVE THAT PART.
>>EASLEY: "SO THAT THANKS MAY
BE GIVEN BY MANY PERSONS
ON OUR BEHALF FOR THE FAVOR
BESTOWED ON US
THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF MANY."
>>TADA: YOU KNOW, RIGHT THERE
SAYS IT, AND I HAVE SAID IT
SEVERAL TIMES.
WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
I CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
I NEED HELP. I NEED FRIENDS
SUCH AS, WERE JUST, I NEED
FRIENDS SUCH AS MICHAEL JUST
MENTIONED FROM 2 CORINTHIANS 1.
I WANT PEOPLE TO HELP ME
WITH THEIR PRAYERS.
AND, OH MY GOODNESS, AS PEOPLE
PRAY OUR HEARTS OPEN UP.
THERE IS AN INCREASED DEGREE
OF FAITH, WE SUDDENLY BELIEVE
THINGS THAT WE DID NOT THINK
WE COULD BELIEVE ABOUT GOD
AND ABOUT OURSELVES.
AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
AND WE CAN DO THE NEXT THING.
AND THAT NEXT THING IS
A BIG GIANT STEP TOWARD
CHRISTIAN MATURITY.
>>ANKERBERG: THE NEXT THING,
MICHAEL, FOR YOU AS I REMEMBER
IT, YOU FINALLY CAME TO
THE DECISION THAT YOU HAD
THIS PRESTIGIOUS JOB,
WONDERFUL CAMPUS,
TREMENDOUS MINISTRY,
AND YOU HAD TO QUIT.
SO THE NEXT THING WAS NOT
AN EASY THING.
THERE WERE BIG CHANGES
THAT YOU MADE.
WHAT GAVE YOU THE COURAGE
TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES?
>>EASLEY: YOU KNOW, JOHN,
BY THAT POINT I HAD STRUGGLED
WITH THIS FOR SO LONG.
AND WHEN I GOT THIS GRIM
DIAGNOSIS THAT I HAD SOME
MAJOR SURGERIES IN FRONT OF ME,
NOT JUST LITTLE
BACK SURGERIES,...
>>ANKERBERG: AND IF YOU DIDN'T
HAVE THEM, YOU COULD HAVE DIED.
>>EASLEY: THERE, THERE WAS
A CONCERN THAT BECAUSE OF THE
MARGIN IN MY SPINAL COLUMN
THAT I WOULD'VE HIT, IN A CAR
ACCIDENT, OR IN ANYTHING AND
IT COULD'VE SEVERED MY SPINE,
IT COULD'VE KILLED ME, I COULD
BE, I COULD BE A QUADRIPLEGIC.
WHEN I FIRST LEARNED
THAT INFORMATION FROM ONE
OF THE NEUROLOGISTS, IT, IT'S,
IT'S LIKE A BUCKET OF COLD
WATER BEING THROWN ON YOU.
IT'S HARD TO TAKE IT ALL IN.
AND AS I TALKED TO MORE PEOPLE,
AND CINDY AND I HAD
WHAT WE CALL OUR MEDICAL TOUR.
WE WENT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY,
WE SOUGHT FIVE OF THE BEST
SPINAL SURGEONS IN THE COUNTRY
AND THEY ALL SAID THE SAME
THING. AND WHEN WE DROVE BACK
TO CHICAGO I TOLD CINDY,
"YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS NOT
A HARD DECISION.
IT'S A BIG DECISION, BUT IT'S
NOT A HARD DECISION BECAUSE
I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPTION."
SO FOR ME IT BECAME MORE OF
A "THIS IS THE NEXT THING LORD
AND I HAVE TO TRUST YOU
WITH THE OUTCOME."
BUT FOR CINDY AND ME
IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR.
>>ANKERBERG: AND YOU MADE
THE DECISION, AND YOU DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT WAS COMING NEXT.
AND THERE WERE A LOT OF
HARDSHIPS ATTACHED TO THAT.
>>EASLEY: SURE, SURE.
WE, WE HAD SOME HARD TIMES,
BUT WE ALSO HAD SOME SWEET
TIMES. CINDY AND I WERE
AT A CHAPTER IN OUR LIFE
WHERE THE KIDS WOULD GO OFF
TO SCHOOL.
WE STILL HAD THREE YOUNGER
CHILDREN AT HOME IN THOSE DAYS.
AND WE WOULD HAVE A LITTLE
ROUTINE. WE WOULD WALK AROUND
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS LONG AS
I COULD WALK, MAYBE
HALF AN HOUR, MAYBE 40 MINUTES.
AND WE'D PRETEND WE HAD
THIS WHITE MARKER BOARD
IN FRONT OF US THAT WAS BLANK
AND SAY, "HOW COULD GOD USE US
IN THE FUTURE?"
AND NOT TRYING TO WRITE THE,
THE PRESCRIPTION BUT JUST SAY,
"WHAT COULD GOD DO WITH US?"
AND WE DIDN'T KNOW.
WERE WE DAMAGED GOODS,
WAS I DONE, WAS IT OVER?
AND IN, IN GOD'S GREAT
KINDNESS, HE OPENED
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DIDN'T
ENVISION, JOHN.
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH.
LET ME ASK YOU A HARD QUESTION.
YOU GUYS STILL FROM TIME
TO TIME HIT A BRICK WALL
AND GO INTO DEPRESSION.
YOU'VE HAD, GOODNESS SAKES,
ENOUGH SETBACKS.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE DAY AFTER DAY
YOU'VE GOT EXTREME PAIN
TO START WITH, AND THEN THINGS
PILE IN ON TOP OF THAT.
HOW DO YOU KEEP GOING?
HOW DO YOU BEAT THESE CONSTANT
ATTACKS AND STAY SWEET AND
STILL SERVE THE LORD?
>>EASLEY: HE MAKES
A PRESUMPTION THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>>TADA: HE DOES MAKE
A PRESUMPTION.
WELL, REAL QUICKLY, I HAD ONE
FRIEND THAT I INSTANTLY CALL.
HER NAME IS VICKY OLIVAS.
SHE'S A QUADRIPLEGIC, SHE WAS
A PARALYZED IN A, AN ATTEMPTED
RAPE. THE RAPIST PULLED A GUN
AND SHOT HER IN THE NECK.
SHE SLUMPED TO THE FLOOR
IN A POOL OF BLOOD.
THE, THE RAPIST PANICKED
AND HE DRAGGED HER TO HIS CAR
AND LEFT HER ON VIRTUALLY
THE SIDEWALK OF
AN EMERGENCY ROOM
AT A HOSPITAL. AND YET
THIS WOMAN FOR 30 YEARS
HAS BEEN SUCH A BUOYANT,
OPTIMISTIC CHRISTIAN.
AND SO WHEN I'M DEPRESSED,
I TURN TO VICKY.
AND I'LL GIVE HER A CALL.
AND THIS WOMAN INVARIABLY HAS
SUCH SWEET WORDS OF COMFORT
FOR ME. SHE IS THE ONE WHO
AT TIMES HER ATTENDANT HAS
FAILED TO SHOW UP TO PUT HER
IN BED AT NIGHT AND
SHE SLEEPS IN HER WHEELCHAIR.
OH MY GOODNESS,
SHE SLEEPS IN HER WHEELCHAIR.
WHAT HAVE I GOT TO COMPLAIN
ABOUT? AND WHEN I HEAR
HER TELL ME HOW GOD'S GRACE
SUSTAINS HER, AND TO HEAR
THOSE SWEET WORDS OF HER'S
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PHONE,
"ONE DAY DOWN, JONI,
ONE DAY CLOSER TO HEAVEN.
LET'S PERSEVERE.
LET'S NOT SHAME THE LORD JESUS
BY TURNING OUR BACKS ON HIM.
LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD."
LET'S, AS MICHAEL WOULD SAY,
DO THE NEXT THING.
AND JUST HEARING THAT
PERSPECTIVE INSPIRES ME.
AND THE DEPRESSION CHASES AWAY,
BECAUSE, AGAIN, I REACHED OUT
OF MYSELF TO SOMEONE ELSE
WHO HAS BEEN THERE,
WHO UNDERSTANDS,
AND WHO WILL PRAY FOR ME.
>>ANKERBERG: MICHAEL, YOU HAVE
ALSO EXPERIENCED THESE
DEPRESSIONS WHERE IT'S,
IT'S LIKE YOU CAN'T EVEN FIGHT
IT. I MEAN, YOU ARE IN SO MUCH
PAIN THAT IT'S HARD TO TALK,
OKAY? AND SO YOU GO AWAY INTO
YOUR BASEMENT ROOM.
AND WHEN YOU GET DOWN THERE,
WHAT DO YOU DO?
>>EASLEY: WELL, YOU CAN,
YOU CAN PULL AWAY AND
BURROW DOWN.
BEFORE MY FOURTH BACK SURGERY
I LAID ON THE FLOOR ON THE TWIN
MATTRESS WITH MY FEET AT
A 45 DEGREE ANGLE FOR 23½ HOURS
A DAY. AND I WOULD LITERALLY
CRAWL ACROSS THE CARPET INTO
THE RESTROOM AND CRAWL BACK.
CINDY WOULD CHANGE MY LITTLE
PALLET. AND I WAITED FOR
ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS BEFORE I COULD
HAVE THE NEXT SURGERY.
AND IT WAS DARK, I WAS NOT
CHEERY. I MEAN, I COULD READ
THIS [THE BIBLE],
IT DIDN'T AFFECT HOW I FELT.
AND I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT MYSELF
AND THE HUMAN CONDITION THAT
I'M NOT GOING TO BEAT MYSELF UP
BECAUSE I'M DISCOURAGED RIGHT
NOW, THAT THERE IS SOME HOPE
IN THE FUTURE.
THE PASSAGE IN JAMES THAT
WE ALL MISQUOTE, "CONSIDER IT
JOY, BRETHREN, WHEN YOU
ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIAL,
KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF
YOUR FAITH PRODUCES ENDURANCE.
AND LET ENDURANCE HAVE
IT'S PERFECT RESULT SO THAT
YOU MAY BE PERFECT, COMPLETE,
AND LACKING IN NOTHING."
WELL, THAT DOESN'T
MEAN I'M JOYFUL WHEN I'M LYING
IN INTRACTABLE PAIN.
WHAT JAMES IS SAYING, CONSIDER
IT JOY, PARENTHESIS,
BECAUSE ENDURANCE IS GOING
TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOU LATER
AND YOU'LL LOOK BACK AND SAY,
"BY GOD'S KINDNESS
I ENDURED THOSE 3 OR 4 WEEKS
ON MY BACK; BY GOD'S KINDNESS
YOU ENDURED BEING IN
A STRYKER FRAME ON AND OFF
FOR TWO YEARS.,
BY GOD'S KINDNESS...."
AND THAT GIVES YOU THE COURAGE
TO LOOK FORWARD TO SAY,
"THIS ISN'T THE FIRST RODEO.
IN GOD'S GREAT KINDNESS MY,
MY CHOICE IS, WILL I PERSEVERE,
WILL I DO THE NEXT THING,
TRY TO BE CIVIL?
I DON'T HAVE TO BE SUPER
SPIRITUAL, I'M JUST NOT, JOHN.
BUT TO ECHO WHAT JONI'S ALREADY
SAID, I'VE GOT SIX FRIENDS THAT
ARE CLOSER THAN MY BROTHERS.
AND WHEN I'M IN THOSE DARK
PLACES, THOSE ARE THE GUYS
THAT CAN SPEAK TO ME.
AS ONE OF THEM SAYS,
"YOU NEED A SPIRITUAL DOPE SLAP
RIGHT NOW." [LAUGHTER]
ANOTHER ONE KNOWS WHEN
TO ENCOURAGE ME. AND THEY KNOW
MY SOUL, THEY KNOW MY SECRETS,
AND THEY LOVE ME.
AND THEY'RE THERE
WHEN I'M TOO WEAK AND TOO
DISCOURAGED TO DO IT MYSELF.
IT'S AMAZING THE PERSPECTIVE
OF A LITTLE TIME,
ENCOURAGEMENT OF OTHER
BELIEVERS, PEOPLE THAT, THAT,
THEY KNOW YOU'RE HURTING.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TOTALLY
IDENTIFY WITH THAT FELLOWSHIP
OF SUFFERING, BUT THEY KNOW
YOU'RE HURTING.
AND AS JONI SAID SO WELL
AND I TRIED TO SAY,
YOU NEED FRIENDS THAT
ARE CLOSER THAN BROTHERS,
WHO WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH TO YOU
IN LOVE. AND I'VE GOT LITERALLY
FOUR OR FIVE OF THESE GUYS
IF I CALL TODAY, THEY'D BE
AT MY HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON
OR AS SOON AS THE FLIGHT
COULD GET THEM THERE,
AND THEY'D BE THERE FOR ME.
>>ANKERBERG: MICHAEL, I WANT
TO TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE
THAT ARE GETTING TO THE END,
OKAY? AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY KNOW
THAT HEAVEN IS THE LAND OF
THE LIVING, AND I DON'T WANT
THEM TO MISS IT, OKAY? THIS IS
NOT THE ULTIMATE. WE'RE GOING
TO THE ULTIMATE IF WE KNOW
THE LORD JESUS, AND
I'M CONCERNED THAT
MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE LISTENING TO US
RIGHT NOW DON'T KNOW
THE LORD JESUS PERSONALLY.
AND, MICHAEL, I WANT YOU TO
EXPLAIN CLEARLY HOW THEY CAN
KNOW THE LORD JESUS PERSONALLY
AND THAT THEY ARE GOING
TO HEAVEN WHEN THEY DIE.
>>EASLEY: A LOT OF WAYS WE CAN
DO THIS, JOHN, BUT I, I LOVE
WHAT PAUL SAYS IN ROMANS 3:23,
"FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN
SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD."
SO IF WE ENVISION GOD AS THIS
PERFECT, HOLY BEING, WE'RE MADE
IN HIS IMAGE; HE KNOWS ABOUT
EVERY ONE OF US; HE KNOWS US
INTIMATELY; HE LOVES US.
AND NO MATTER HOW GOOD WE ARE,
WE'RE GOING TO FALL SHORT.
SO IF I GAVE YOU A BASEBALL AND
I TOOK A BASEBALL, AND I SAID,
"I WANT YOU TO HIT WASHINGTON
D.C.," YOU MIGHT THROW IT
FARTHER THAN ME, I MIGHT THROW
IT FARTHER THAN YOU.
WE'RE BOTH GOING TO FALL WAY
SHORT OF HITTING THE NATION'S
CAPITAL FROM CHATTANOOGA,
TENNESSEE.
>>ANKERBERG: RIGHT
>>EASLEY: WE FALL SHORT.
NOW, BUT THAT SIN CONDITION,
PAUL CONTINUES IN ROMANS 6:23,
"THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH"
SO, YOU AND I GET A PAYCHECK,
WE EARN AN INCOME.
MOST PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE
SOME WAY OF EARNING A LIVING.
WE, WE MAY GET WHAT WE EARN,
IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
OR WHAT WE WANT,
BUT THEOLOGICALLY WE EARN
DEATH. SO BECAUSE WE FALL
SHORT, BECAUSE WE'RE SINNERS,
THE CONSEQUENCE IS WE EARN
DEATH. AND THEN IN ROMANS 5:8,
ONE OF THE KEY VERSES, IN FACT,
MARTIN LUTHER STUMBLED ACROSS
THIS VERSE AS A CATHOLIC
PRIEST, "BUT GOD DEMONSTRATED
HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT
WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS,
CHRIST DIED FOR US."
AND THAT'S THE REMARKABLE
WAKE UP. THERE'S NO GREATER
DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE THAN
WHILE WE WERE STILL IN OUR SIN
CONDITION. AND SO OFTEN
IN RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS,
IN CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONAL
BACKGROUNDS, IN "ISMS" AND
"OLOGIES", WE THINK WE HAVE
TO BE GOOD, WE HAVE TO OFFSET
THE BAD WITH DOING GOOD.
NOT IN THIS CASE.
IN THIS CASE HE SHOWED US
HOW MUCH HE LOVED US
BY SENDING CHRIST TO DIE
BEFORE WE UNDERSTOOD
WHO HE WAS.
AND THEN AT SOME POINT IN THAT
JOURNEY WE HAVE AN ENCOUNTER
WITH HIM.
AND THAT DEMONSTRATION
OF LOVE COMES ALIVE.
AND THEN LATER PAUL SAID IN
THE LETTER TO THE BELIEVERS IN
EPHESUS, "FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE
BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH,
NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS A GIFT
OF GOD; NOT A RESULT OF WORKS,
THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST."
SO NO MATTER HOW GOOD WE ARE,
WE CAN'T EARN HIS LOVE.
AND THIS INCREDIBLE GIFT
CALLED SALVATION IS A GIFT
WE APPROPRIATE BY FAITH.
WHEN SOMEONE GIVES YOU OR ME
A GIFT WE DON'T PULL OUT
OUR CHECKBOOK AND SAY,
"CAN I REIMBURSE YOU?"
WE SAY THANK YOU. WE RECEIVE,
WE EMBRACE THAT
GIFT. SO, WE'RE ALL SINNERS;
BECAUSE WE SIN WE FALL SHORT
OF THE GLORY OF GOD,
WE DESERVE DEATH,
WE DESERVE SEPARATION FROM HIM.
HE LOVED US; HE DIED
IN OUR PLACE ON OUR BEHALF.
AND SIMPLY BY PUTTING FAITH IN
CHRIST WE RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE
AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
NOW, I LOVE THE CRUCIFIXION
SCENE WHERE WE HAVE
THE TWO THIEVES ON THE CROSS.
WHATEVER THEY DID WE DON'T KNOW
PRECISELY, BUT THEIR,
THEIR CRIME ENDED UP
IN CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
SO ALONG WITH CHRIST
THEY'RE BEING CRUCIFIED.
AND ONE ACCUSES HIM, "IF YOU'RE
THE SON OF GOD, DO SOMETHING,"
PARAPHRASE. "SAVE US!
SAVE YOURSELF AND US ALSO."
AND THE OTHER SPEAKS UP AND,
AND CHIDES HIM,
"HE'S, HE'S DONE NOTHING WRONG.
WE DESERVE THIS.
REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME
INTO YOUR KINGDOM."
AND, JOHN, I THINK
THAT'S ALL OF HUMANITY.
WE'RE THERE SHAKING OUR FISTS
AT GOD GOING, "DO SOMETHING
ABOUT MY PARAPLEGIA;"
"DO SOMETHING ABOUT CHRONIC
PAIN;" "DO SOMETHING ABOUT
MY ILLNESS;" "DO SOMETHING
ABOUT MY PROBLEM;"
"DO SOMETHING ABOUT MY HUSBAND
OR WIFE." OR WE'RE SAYING,
"WILL YOU REMEMBER ME?"
AND THE PLEA OF THE,
THE PENITENT, THE SINNER,
WHO SAYS, "I DESERVE NOTHING."
AND THAT WARMS GOD'S HEART
WE MIGHT SAY. THAT APPEALS
TO HIM. HE'S NOT LOOKING
FOR PERFECT PEOPLE,
HE'S LOOKING FOR SINNERS
WHO ACKNOWLEDGE
THEIR SINFULNESS, ACKNOWLEDGE
THEIR NEED. PUT THEIR TRUST
IN CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE.
AND THEN HE GIVES YOU
THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN
EVER HAVE, ETERNAL LIFE.
THERE'S NO DOWN SIDE TO THIS.
IN ALL OF THE YEARS
YOU'VE BEEN SHARING THIS,
JONI'S BEEN SHARING THIS,
I'VE BEEN SHARING THIS,
I DON'T SEE THE DOWN SIDE.
TRUSTING IN CHRIST
AND CHRIST ALONE FOR
YOUR SALVATION.
PUT YOUR PRIDE ASIDE,
PUT YOUR PROBLEMS ASIDE,
PUT YOUR WORRIES AND
"WHAT IFS" ASIDE.
HE LOVES YOU; HE DIED
IN YOUR PLACE, ON YOUR BEHALF,
INSTEAD OF YOU; HE OFFERS YOU
THE FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE,
FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
AND ONCE YOU MOVE FROM THAT
THRESHOLD, YOU WALK FROM THE,
THIS, THIS SIDE, WHICH IS
DEATH, INTO ETERNAL LIFE,
AND HE WILL TAKE YOU PLACES AND
GRANT YOU THINGS THAT YOU WILL
NEVER HAVE UNDERSTOOD BEFORE.
AND IT'S A MARVELOUS
RELATIONSHIP FROM A LOVING
GOD WHO SENT HIS SON TO DIE
FOR THE LIKES OF YOU AND ME.
>>ANKERBERG: RIGHT NOW I'D LIKE
FOR YOU TO LEAD THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE LISTENING IN PRAYER IF
THEY WOULD LIKE TO START THAT
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH
CHRIST. AND GOD, LOOKING DOWN,
WILL HEAR THEM AND
HE'LL SAVE THEM. SO, MICHAEL,
LEAD US IN A PRAYER.
>>EASLEY: FATHER, FOR ANY WHO
ARE LISTENING OR WATCHING THIS
IN WHATEVER FORM THEY GET IT,
TO KNOW THAT YOU LOVE THEM,
YOU CARE ABOUT THEM NO MATTER
HOW DISCOURAGED, ANGRY,
FEARFUL, RESENTFUL THEY MAY BE.
WOULD YOU LET THEM KNOW
YOU LOVE THEM?
AND SIMPLY BY FAITH, SIMPLY
BY PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN YOU,
PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN CHRIST
AND CHRIST ALONE, YOU PROMISE
THEM FORGIVENESS OF SIN
AND ETERNAL LIFE.
YOU WERE BORN TO DIE THAT
WE MIGHT LIVE AND
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS EMBRACE.
FATHER, I BELIEVE IN YOU,
I UNDERSTAND I'M A SINNER,
I DESERVE NOTHING.
BUT IN YOUR GREAT KINDNESS
YOU CAME IN MY PLACE,
ON MY BEHALF INSTEAD OF ME.
YOU DIED FOR ME TO SHOW
HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME
AND TO PROVIDE A WAY TO SOLVE
NOT JUST MY PHYSICAL PROBLEMS,
BUT MY SPIRITUAL CONDITION.
SO RIGHT NOW I PUT MY TRUST
IN YOU. I BELIEVE IN YOU.
I PUT MY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
TO DO FOR ME WHAT I CANNOT
DO FOR MYSELF. THANK YOU
FOR HEARING MY PRAYER.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME
A FREE GIFT CALLED
ETERNAL LIFE.
AND HELP ME NOW TO GROW
IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE
OF WHO THIS JESUS IS.
AND I PRAY IN HIS NAME, AMEN.
>>ANKERBERG: FOLKS, WHEN
I FIRST PRAYED THAT PRAYER,
A PERSON SAID,
"LOOK AT THE BIBLE VERSE."
AND IT WAS ROMANS 10:13.
AND I READ THE VERSE
AND IT SAID,
"WHOSOEVER," AND HE SAID,
"WHO DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS?"
I SAID, "I GUESS IT MEANS
EVERYBODY, IT MEANS ME."
"....SHALL CALL UPON
THE NAME OF THE LORD."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?
YOU JUST PRAYED AND CALLED
ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
LOOK AT WHAT THE LAST WORDS
ARE. WHAT DOES GOD SAY
HE WILL DO WHEN YOU DO THAT?"
"WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON
THE NAME OF THE LORD
SHALL BE SAVED." THAT'S GOD'S
PROMISE TO YOU, ROMANS 10:13.
THIS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS
SERIES. JONI AND MICHAEL.
I LOVE HAVING YOU HERE.
THE FOLKS LOVE HEARING YOU.
YOU'VE ANSWERED SO MANY
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
YOU'VE ENCOURAGED SO MANY
PEOPLE. AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING.
IT'S HARD FOR YOU TO DO
ALL THE TRAVELING TO COME HERE,
AND I APPRECIATE IT GREATLY.
AND, FOLKS, IF YOU WANT
TO KNOW HOW TO GET
ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT
THEY'VE PUT INTO THIS SERIES,
I WANT YOU TO STAY TUNED
AND WE'LL TELL YOU
IN JUST A MOMENT.
>>ANKERBERG: YOU KNOW,
EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEONE WHO IS
SUFFERING TODAY. AND THROUGH
THE YEARS I HAVE TAPED
DIFFERENT SERIES WITH JONI
AND MICHAEL AND AFTERWARDS
WHEN EDITING THEM, I REALIZED
I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY GIVE
MORE PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ABOUT GOD, PAIN AND SUFFERING
THAT HAS IMPACTED ME MORE THAN
WHAT THESE TWO HAVE SAID.
SO FIRST TODAY I WANT TO SHARE
3 SPECIAL PROGRAMS OF THEIRS
THAT HAVE IMPACTED ME.
I CALL THEM:
"ANKERBERG'S CHOICE," AND I AM
GOING TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE
TO YOU ON DVD FOR A GIFT
OF JUST $30.
THEN SECOND, IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION
IN OUR NEW SERIES THAT YOU ARE
LISTENING TO TODAY, ITS CALLED:
"WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS"
IT CONTAINS 5 PROGRAMS
AND ITS AVAILABLE FOR A GIFT
OF $49. IN THIS SERIES
JONI AND MICHAEL ANSWER
MANY QUESTIONS INCLUDING:
IF THE LIFE ALTERING
DISABILITY OR ILLNESS THAT
I HAVE NOW IS WHAT I AM GOING
TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOR
THE REST OF MY LIFE,
HOW DO I KNOW THAT I CAN
TRUST GOD WITH MY FUTURE?
HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE
GOD IS GOOD AND LOVING
WHEN I AM EXPERIENCING
SUCH PROLONGED PAIN
AND SUFFERING AND IT DOES
NOT FEEL LIKE GOD IS NEAR ME?
IS IT REALLY GOD'S WILL TO HEAL
EVERYONE WHO PRAYS IN FAITH
ABOUT THEIR SICKNESS?
AND WHERE DOES SCRIPTURE TEACH
THAT IF YOU ARE PARALYZED,
SICK, OR DISABLED, NO MATTER
WHAT YOUR CONDITION, YOU ARE
VERY IMPORTANT TO GOD AND
YOUR LIFE STILL HAS GREAT
PURPOSE TO HIM? AND FINALLY,
HOW CAN GOD HELP YOU
FROM BEING DISCOURAGED AND
GOING INTO DEPRESSION WHEN
YOU FACE CONSTANT SETBACKS?
NOW ALL 5 OF PROGRAMS IN
THIS SERIES ARE AVAILABLE ON
BOTH BLU-RAY AND DVD FOR $49.
THEN THIRD, WE ARE MAKING
AVAILABLE TWO ADDITIONAL
SERIES: "GOD'S HELP
WHEN YOU SUFFER" FOR $39
AND "GOD'S ENCOURAGEMENT
FOR CAREGIVERS," ALSO FOR $39,
THIS LATTER SERIES WE TAPED
WITH JONI'S HUSBAND KEN
AND MICHAEL'S WIFE CINDY.
AND FOURTH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE ALL 3 OF THESE SERIES
TOGETHER, CONTAINING
12 IMPORTANT PROGRAMS, THEY ARE
AVAILABLE TOGETHER IN A VERY
SPECIAL PACKAGE FOR ONLY $99.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT YOU
TO LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY.
EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOWS SOMEONE
WHO IS SICK AND SUFFERING
AND NEEDS TO BE ENCOURAGED.
IF YOU ORDER OUR SPECIAL
PACKAGE FOR $99, YOU MAY
REQUEST ADDITIONAL COPIES
OF OUR NEW SERIES
"WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS?"
FOR JUST $10 EACH.
AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO GIVE
THESE AWAY FREE AS A GIFT
TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO NEEDS
THIS INFORMATION.
TO ORDER NOW, CALL US
AT 1-800-805-3030.
THAT'S 1-800-805-3030.
AND YOU MAY CALL THAT
SAME NUMBER ANY DAY THIS WEEK
24 HOURS A DAY.
>>ANNOUNCER: AND TO LEARN
HOW TO START A RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS CHRIST,
GO TO OUR WEBSITE
AT JASHOW.ORG AND CLICK ON:
"PRAY TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST
AS YOUR SAVIOR."
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