IT'S A FASCINATING JOURNEY TO WALK WITH CHRIST.

Announcer: NEXT ON LIFE TODAY,

RAVI ZACHARIAS TACKLES THE HARD QUESTION

OF WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP ON FAITH.

IF THEY LATCH ONTO SOME INTELLECTUAL'S ATTACK

UPON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

THEN THEY GO AND GRAB THAT CRUTCH TO LEAN ON THAT.

James: HEY! THANK ALL OF YOU!

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE A WONDERFUL,

WONDERFUL AUDIENCE.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'VE JOINED

THE AUDIENCE.

JAMES ROBISON AND BETTY

WELCOMING RAVI ZACHARIAS.

RAVI IS A TREASURE.

I COUNT IT A PRIVILEGE

AND HONOR TO BE HIS FRIEND.

HE'S BEEN A SOURCE

OF INSPIRATION

AND ENCOURAGEMENT --

CHALLENGING --

EVERY TIME WE'RE TOGETHER.

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE HIM BACK

ON LIFE TODAY.

I'D HAVE HIM EVERY WEEK

IF HE WOULD COME EVERY WEEK.

HE'S TRAVELING

ALL OVER THE WORLD

SO I THINK I GET HIM

A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME

AT LEAST WHEN WE GET HIM HERE

FROM ATLANTA

TO THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH AREA.

HERE'S A RECENT BOOK

AND HE'S GOING TO TELL US

ABOUT ANOTHER ONE COMING OUT,

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT ON

ANOTHER PROGRAM A LITTLE MORE.

HAS CHRISTIANITY FAILED YOU?

RAVI AND I SHARE A LOT

OF MUTUAL CONCERNS AND

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT

AS WELL AS THE CONTENT

OF THIS BOOK.

JOIN BETTY AND ME

IN WELCOMING RAVI ZACHARIAS.

RAVI, GLAD TO HAVE YOU!

Ravi: THANK YOU.

James: DO YOU FEEL

A COMFORT LEVEL

LIKE YOU WOULD FEEL AT YALE

OR PRINCETON OR HARVARD?

DO YOU FEEL QUITE COMFORTABLE

RIGHT HERE?

Ravi: VERY COMFORTABLE HERE,

THANK YOU.

James: IT IS AMAZING

HOW GOD USES YOU.

I'VE SAID TO THE AUDIENCE HERE,

THE HARVARD LECTURES --

GO TO RAVI'S WEB SITE,

THERE IT IS ON THE SCREEN

AND JUST LISTEN TO HIM.

YOU WANT TO HEAR HOW HE TALKS

TO THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY?

IT IS FANTASTIC.

THEY CAN'T EVEN --

DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT

WHEN YOU WENT TO YALE

YOU WENT ON A WEEKNIGHT

AND THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE

HOW MANY CAME AND JUST

SAT EVERYWHERE AND OVERFLOWED?

Ravi: LATE LAST FALL

WE WERE AT YALE.

IT WAS A THURSDAY NIGHT,

IF I REMEMBER,

AND IT WAS PACKED TO CAPACITY;

THEY WERE SITTING IN THE AISLES,

THEY WERE JAMMING THE DOORS.

AND ONE OF THE MEMBERS

OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

HAPPENED TO BE SITTING

NEXT TO A FRIEND OF MINE.

HE LOOKED AT HIM AND HE SAID,

"YOU KNOW,

YOU COULD HAVE A TONY BLAIR

OR WORLD LEADER COME HERE

ON A WEEKNIGHT

AND ANYBODY WHO IS ANYBODY

COMES TO YALE AND THEY NEVER

DRAW MUCH OF AN AUDIENCE.

HOW IS IT ON A THURSDAY NIGHT

WE'VE GOT STUDENTS

PACKING AN AUDITORIUM

TO LISTEN TO A TALK ABOUT GOD?"

AND HE COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT.

MY BUDDY JUST LOOKED AT HIM

AND MADE THE COMMENT THAT MAYBE

BECAUSE THE ACADEMIC WORLD IS

STILL LEAVING THEIR SOULS BARREN

AND THEY WANT TO HAVE

SOME ANSWERS.

IT WAS A FANTASTIC FORUM,

JAMES -- JUST A FANTASTIC ONE!

IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF YOU.

IT IS NOT THE TALK

THAT YOU CAN PREPARE,

IT IS THE QUESTIONS

THAT THEY PREPARE.

[Laughter]

YOU JUST HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THEM

BUT ONCE IT'S OVER

AND YOU'VE GONE ON A

TWO-HOUR WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

DURING THAT TALK,

YOU JUST RECOVER AFTER THAT

AND THANK GOD FOR THE IMPACT.

James: I'M SO GLAD

THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED,

NOT ONLY IN GOD

BUT THEY WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS.

I NEVER FIND JESUS

IN ANY ACCOUNT IN SCRIPTURE

WHERE HE WAS DISTURBED

BY THE QUESTIONS.

I HAVE EVEN SUGGESTED TO PASTORS

IT WOULD BE QUITE APPROPRIATE

IN THE MIDST OF THE SERMON

IF THERE WAS A QUESTION

SOMEONE WANTED ANSWERED,

DON'T FEEL OFFENDED.

"WHO ARE YOU TO QUENCH

THE SPIRIT BY ASKING A QUESTION

IN THIS SPIRITUAL PLACE?"

I JUST DON'T FIND JESUS

BEING ALARMED.

HE'S READY TO ANSWER.

I REALLY FEEL THAT THE CHURCH

HAS ALMOST BEEN FRIGHTENED

OF SERIOUS QUESTIONING.

I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING

THE CHURCH HAS GOTTEN

IS A BAD RAP.

THE MEDIA MISREPRESENTS

WHAT THE TRUE CHURCH,

AND THE PEOPLE

WITH TRUE TRANSFORMING FAITH

ACTUALLY THINK AND SAY,

AND THE LEGITIMATE REAL EFFECT

IT HAS ON THEIR LIVES.

SO THE WORLD AT LARGE

DOESN'T REALLY SEE IT VERY OFTEN

SO THEY DON'T HEAR MANY ANSWERS

BUT WE SHOULD BE READY

TO GIVE AN ANSWER.

Ravi: I THINK THE AVERAGE

STUDENT WILL TELL YOU

THAT THE ONLY REASON THEY COME

IS BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE

QUESTIONS AT THE END OF IT,

A TIME FOR Q AND A.

WE WERE, A YEAR AGO IN NOVEMBER,

MY COLLEAGUE,

JOHN LENNOX FROM OXFORD

AND MYSELF AND MICHAEL RAMSDEN,

THREE OF US DID AN OPEN FORUM

AT ARIZONA STATE.

JAMES, THREE MONTHS BEFORE THAT

RICHARD DAWKINS HAD BEEN THERE

TO DEFEND ATHEISM.

HE DREW 3,000 THAT NIGHT.

FOR OUR OPEN FORUM THEY HAD TO

MOVE INTO THE BASKETBALL ARENA;

THERE WERE NEARLY

10,000 IN ATTENDANCE

AND AGAIN IT WAS A WEEK NIGHT.

YOU'RE ON YOUR FEET

FOR A LONG TIME.

AND YOUR COMMENT ABOUT JESUS

HOSTING THE QUESTIONER

IS REMARKABLE BECAUSE JESUS

NOT ONLY ENTERTAINED

THE QUESTION

BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT

HE RESPONDED TO THE QUESTION

WITH A QUESTION OF HIS OWN.

BECAUSE IT COMPELLED

THE QUESTIONER TO OPEN UP

WITHIN THEIR OWN ASSUMPTIONS

AND DETERMINE THE ENTRY POINT

OF THE DISCUSSION

BECAUSE A QUESTION

ACTUALLY REVEALS TO YOU

THE CONTEXT OF AN INDIVIDUAL.

I ALWAYS TELL MY COLLEAGUES,

YOU'RE NOT ANSWERING A QUESTION,

YOU'RE ANSWERING A QUESTIONER.

IF YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION

AND NOT THE QUESTIONER,

YOU'VE ACTUALLY ENGAGED

IN A SELF-DEFEATING EXERCISE.

YOU HAVE TO THEREFORE

FIND OUT WHY THIS PERSON

IS ASKING THE QUESTION.

A PERSON DOESN'T JUST ASK

ABOUT PAIN AND SUFFERING.

NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN

THEY'VE ENDURED IT.

James: IN THE BOOK, THIS ONE,

HAS CHRISTIANITY FAILED YOU?

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?

-- ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

WHERE PEOPLE SENSE

THAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY SOMEHOW

BEEN DISAPPOINTED OR THEIR FAITH

OR GOD HAS ACTUALLY FAILED THEM?

IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING?

Ravi: THE INTERESTING THING

ABOUT THAT BOOK

IS THAT THE TITLE FOR A FORUM

WAS GIVEN BY SOME

OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE

ON OUR STAFF.

THEY CAME TO ME

WITH THIS QUESTION,

"WILL YOU DO AN OPEN FORUM

IN ATLANTA ON THIS SUBJECT?"

MY INITIAL RESPONSE WAS,

"WHO WILL COME?"

AND THEY SAID,

"THERE IS A LOT OF THEM

AT OUR AGE BRACKET

WHO ARE WALKING AWAY

FROM EITHER THE CHURCH

OR CHRISTIANITY

BUT STILL WANT

TO HOLD ONTO CHRIST."

SO WHAT WE DID WAS

SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE

SENT OUR VIDEOGRAPHER AND A CREW

ON THE STREETS OF NASHVILLE,

ATLANTA, AND SO ON

TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE WHO HAD

WALKED AWAY FROM THE CHURCH

AND ASKED THEM WHY.

THEN THEY PLAYED THOSE QUESTIONS

ON THE SCREEN.

ONE WOMAN HAD DRIVEN

FROM NASHVILLE TO ATLANTA

FOR THE FORUM IN THE HOPES THAT

HER QUESTION WOULD BE ANSWERED

AS TO WHY SHE HAD WALKED AWAY

FROM THIS WHOLE FELLOWSHIP

OF CHRISTIANITY.

James: WHAT WAS HERS?

Ravi: HERS WAS A TOUGH ONE

AND MY HEART WENT OUT TO HER.

SHE SAID SHE HAD WALKED

AS FAR AS SHE KNEW

FAITHFULLY BEFORE GOD

ALL HER LIFE

AND THEN STUMBLED

INTO AN ADULTEROUS RELATIONSHIP.

AND SHE JUST SAID

SHE LOST WEEKS AND MONTHS

OF SLEEP OVER IT.

SHE FOUND IT HARD

TO EVEN FORGIVE HERSELF.

BUT ON HER WAY BACK TO GOD,

REPENTING OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED,

SHE SAID IT WAS NOT THAT

I WAS NOT ABLE TO FORGET IT

BUT THE CHURCH

NEVER LET ME FORGET IT.

AND SHE SAID,

"SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY,

TO WALK IN AND BE POUNDED

BY THIS AWFUL MEMORY,"

SHE SAID, "I HAD MADE A HELL

ENOUGH IN MY LIFE ALREADY;

I KNEW WHAT I HAD DONE

WAS A BIG TIME BLUNDER

BUT TO HAVE THAT WOUND OPENED UP

AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN,"

SHE FINALLY SAID,

"I NEVER WALKED AWAY FROM CHRIST

BUT I WONDERED IF I COULD

EVER BECOME AGAIN A PART

OF A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS."

NOW, THE HARD THING

ABOUT THAT IS THIS,

AS CHRISTIANS WE HAVE

TO HAVE CERTAIN STANDARDS

BY WHICH WE ORDER OUR LIVES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH ONE

WHO HAS FALTERED?

C.S. LEWIS SAID HE HAD LEARNED

TO BE VERY IMPATIENT

WITH HIMSELF ON THESE THINGS

BUT EXTREMELY GRACIOUS

WITH OTHERS IN THE SAME BLUNDERS

AND THE SAME MISTAKES.

THAT'S THE BALANCE

HE FOUND FOR HIMSELF.

AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS

THAT CAME MORE OFTEN THAN NOT,

WHICH IS WHY

IT IS A MAJOR CHAPTER HERE,

IS A STRUGGLE

WITH UNANSWERED PRAYER.

YOU KEEP PRAYING AND PRAYING

AND PRAYING AND YOU ALMOST

COME TO A QUESTION,

IS THIS SOME KIND OF

AUTO PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESS

I'M GOING THROUGH

OR AM I REALLY BEING HEARD

BY GOD OUT THERE?

IT IS NOT SO MUCH

THE LORD HIMSELF

WHOM THEY ARE WALKING AWAY FROM

BUT IT IS INSTITUTIONALIZATION

OF THAT TEACHING,

A LITTLE BIT LIKE

DOSTOYEVSKY'S BOOK,

THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV

WHEN THE GRAND INQUISITOR,

IS CHRIST,

COMES INTO THE MIDST

AND THEY WANT TO HAVE

NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM

BECAUSE THE INSTITUTION

IS NOW MORE POWERFUL THAN HIM

AND THAT'S THE WAY

IT OFTENTIMES BECOMES.

Betty: A LOT OF TIMES, I THINK,

IT IS EXPECTATIONS OF MAN,

WHAT THEY EXPECT.

BECAUSE I KNOW I GREW UP

UNDER A LOT OF THAT --

I ALLOWED A LOT OF IT

TO COME ON MYSELF.

I THOUGHT I KNEW

WHAT THE CHURCH EXPECTED OF ME.

IT PUSHED ME DOWN FURTHER.

I DIDN'T FIND THAT LATER ON

WHEN I KNEW THAT I COULD HAVE

THAT PERSONAL

RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

THAT HE WASN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.

Ravi: NO,

AND I THINK THAT'S KEY.

RECENTLY A BIG AUTHOR

IN THIS COUNTRY HAS WRITTEN

QUITE A GROUNDBREAKING BOOK,

HE THINKS, IN TERMS

OF THE ETERNAL STATE OF MAN.

BUT HE MAKES

AN INTERESTING COMMENT

IN THAT BOOK

THAT I THINK IS A TELL ALL.

HE SAYS, "NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE

DOES IT TALK ABOUT

A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH JESUS CHRIST."

THAT TELLS ME A VOLUME

OF WHERE HE IS COMING FROM.

IT TELLS ME ONE OF TWO THINGS,

EITHER HE DID NOT HAVE THAT,

OR HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND

THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL.

THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL IS:

COME UNTO ME ALL YOU WHO LABOR

AND ARE HEAVY LADEN

AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

THE ENCOUNTERS

HE HAD WITH INDIVIDUALS,

WHETHER IT IS THE WOMAN

WITH THE ALABASTER OINTMENT

OR NICODEMUS OR ZACCHAEUS

OR THE WOMAN AT THE WELL,

HE ALWAYS USED THE OPPORTUNITY

FOR INDIVIDUAL CONQUEST

EVEN IN A CROWD.

SO FIRST THAT PERSONAL

RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT.

BUT BETTY, I THINK

HERE'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT

AT THE SAME TIME.

PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING

WITH THAT,

IF THEY LATCH ONTO

SOME INTELLECTUAL'S ATTACK

UPON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

THEN THEY GO AND GRAB

THAT CRUTCH, TO LEAN ON THAT

AS BEING THE ACTUAL REASON WHY

THEY'RE WALKING AWAY FROM IT.

SOONER OR LATER

YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT FROM HERE

SO EVEN THOUGH THE STRUGGLE

MAY BE HERE,

WE LIKE TO PARK IT UP HERE

AND THEN IT IS

MORE SOPHISTICATED.

James: I FIND THAT

RAVI'S CAPTIVATING BECAUSE --

HE IS NOT ONLY INTELLIGENT,

INTELLECTUAL ACADEMIC

AND EXPRESSIVE BUT HE FEELS.

HE NOT ONLY FEELS WHAT GOD FEELS

BUT WHAT YOU FEEL

AND THERE IS A CONNECTION THERE

BECAUSE THE REAL GOD

THAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT

LOVES YOU SO MUCH

THAT IF HE HAD 99 SAFE, SAFE --

HE'S OUT LOOKING FOR THE ONE.

THIS IS THE POWER OF LOVE

THAT'S IN RAVI.

IT LIFTS US ABOVE

THE ACADEMIC BONDAGE

AND THE SECTARIAN BONDAGE

AND THE PARTISAN BONDAGE.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WERE TALKING

A MOMENT AGO ABOUT PRAYERS

NOT BEING ANSWERED,

I JUST HAD AN ACHE

COME UP IN MY HEART.

I MEAN, REALLY, RAVI,

BECAUSE I'VE SEEN

SUCH MIRACULOUS ANSWERS.

BUT I'VE HEARD AND SENSED

THE HEART OF PEOPLE WHO SAY,

"I'VE BEEN ASKING

AND ASKING AND ASKING."

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION?

Ravi: WELL, IT IS A LONG,

TOUGH QUESTION.

I GIVE --

I BREAK DOWN THE MAIN ASPECTS

OF THE LORD'S PRAYER IN MY BOOK.

BUT LET ME JUST PUT IT

IN A SIMPLE WAY.

C.S. LEWIS IN HIS BOOK,

LETTERS TO MALCOLM:

CHIEFLY ON PRAYER,

AND IT IS A POWERFUL BOOK,

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT,

I URGE YOU TO GET IT.

IT IS ONE OF HIS FINEST.

AT ONE POINT HE IS WRESTLING

WITH THIS IDEA OF WHAT

PRAYER ACTUALLY IS ABOUT.

AND HE SAYS THIS.

HE STOLE ITS HEARTLESS

SUGGESTION AND ALL OF THIS,

LIFTING YOURSELF UP BY YOUR OWN

PSYCHOLOGICAL BOOT STRAPS.

BUT HE WRITES THIS LITTLE POEM.

HE SAYS, "THEY TELL ME, LORD,

THAT WHEN I PRAY

ONLY ONE VOICE IS HEARD.

THAT I'M DREAMING

YOU ARE NOT THERE;

THIS WHOLE THING IS ABSURD.

MAYBE THEY'RE RIGHT, LORD,

MAYBE THEY'RE RIGHT

THAT ONLY ONE VOICE IS HEARD.

BUT IF IT IS ONLY ONE VOICE,

IT'S NOT MINE, IT'S YOURS.

I'M NOT DREAMING.

YOU ARE THE DREAMER

AND I AM YOUR DREAM."

IF WE DON'T REALIZE

THAT PRAYER IS THE PROCESS

BY WHICH GOD SHAPES YOU

INTO BECOMING THE DREAM OF GOD,

THE IRONY OF PRAYER TO ME

IS THAT AT THE VERY MOMENT

WHEN JESUS CRIED OUT

HIS GREATEST CRY OF BEING ALONE,

"MY GOD, MY GOD,

WHY HAVE YOU ABANDONED ME?"

THAT AT THAT VERY MOMENT

HE WAS ACTUALLY IN THE CENTER

OF HIS FATHER'S WILL

FOR THE VERY PURPOSE

FOR WHICH HE HAD COME.

SO GOD DOESN'T ONLY CONQUER

IN SPITE OF

THE DARK MYSTERY OF PAIN,

SOMETIMES HE CONQUERS THROUGH IT

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

THAT HE HARNESSES

AND LEADS CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE,

TAKES THAT PROCESS THROUGH WHICH

HE DELIVERS YOU.

SO THERE'S A GOOD SIDE TO IT,

THERE IS A STRUGGLE SIDE TO IT,

BUT EVERY GREAT SAINT

HAS COME THROUGH

THE LONG NIGHT'S JOURNEY

OF PRAYER AND STRUGGLE

AND BATTLE.

James: I THINK THAT FOR YOU,

IF IT DIDN'T JUST HIT

LIKE AN ARROW

THAT YOU REALLY ARE GOD'S DREAM.

WHEN YOU --

I LOOK BACK

AT THE FATHERLESSNESS

AND THE LONELINESS AND POVERTY,

AND I'VE FELT THE PAIN,

BUT THIS INCREDIBLE GOD THAT

YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT,

HE LET ME KNOW I WAS HIS DREAM.

AND THE BOY THAT NEVER HEARD

A FATHER SAY, "THAT'S GOOD,"

GOD'S CHEERING ME ON

ALL THE TIME, RAVI,

"THAT'S MY KID!"

THAT'S THE OVERLOOKED KID.

THE KID THAT COULDN'T

DO ANYTHING,

PART OF GOD'S DREAM.

AND EVERYBODY OUT HERE

WATCHING US ON TELEVISION,

ALL OVER THE WORLD,

THEY'RE GOD'S DREAM TOO.

WHEN HE BECOMES

THE POWER AND PERSONAL PRESENCE

FILLING THEIR LIFE,

THAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,

THEY CAN BEGIN TO LIVE

IN GOD'S DREAM.

I FIND THAT WHEN I LOSE --

JESUS SAID,

"IF YOU LOSE YOUR LIFE

IN MY PURPOSE YOU'LL FIND IT."

I FIND THAT PEOPLE

WHO LOSE THEIR LIFE

PURSUING THE INTERESTS OF GOD,

WHAT'S HE INTERESTED IN,

THEY FIND GOD SUDDENLY SEEMS

TO BE MORE INVOLVED

IN THEIR INTERESTS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

Ravi: I WANT TO SAY

AN ANSWER TO THAT

AND BEFORE I WANT TO DO THAT

I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

GOD IS REALLY USING JAMES

AROUND IN MANY, MANY WAYS.

I WISH I COULD TELL YOU

THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD

WITH OTHER LEADERS.

HE'S SORT OF THAT CATALYST

THAT PULLS US TOGETHER.

SO GOD IS USING YOU, JAMES,

BOTH IN THE DREAM HE'S MADE

IN YOU AND THE DREAMS

HE IS FULFILLING THROUGH YOU.

I MET A PAKISTANI MEDICAL DOCTOR

WHO WAS A CONVERT TO CHRIST

FROM ISLAM.

I ASKED HIM ONCE

HOW HE CAME TO KNOW CHRIST.

HE SAID HE WALKED INTO

A MEETING, AND HE SAYS,

"I CANNOT TELL YOU A THING

OF WHAT I HEARD THAT DAY.

I CAME TO DO A FRIEND A FAVOR

AND I WAS QUITE HOSTILE."

BUT HE SAID, "THE CLOSING

TWO LINES OF THAT TALK

CHANGED MY LIFE."

HE SAID THIS...

THE PREACHER SAID THIS,

"IN SURRENDERING YOU WIN,

IN DYING YOU LIVE."

"IN SURRENDERING YOU WIN,

IN DYING YOU LIVE."

YOU PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF

WHAT CHRIST CALLS YOU AND ME TO,

TO SURRENDER OUR WILL TO HIM,

DYING TO OURSELF

AND THEN FINDING

WHAT LIFE IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.

IT'S A FASCINATING JOURNEY

TO WALK WITH CHRIST.

AS YOU KNOW

I CAME TO KNOW CHRIST

ON A BED OF SUICIDE MYSELF

WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD.

TO ME,

WITH ALL THE ARGUMENTATION

THAT YOU CAN GIVE,

ALL THE REASONING AND LOGIC

AND ALL THIS STUFF,

THAT ACTUALLY AFTER SOME TIME

BECOMES QUITE BORING

BUT YOU DO IT,

ALL OF THAT COMES AND GOES.

WHAT DOESN'T LEAVE YOU

IS THE REALITY

OF THAT ENCOUNTER.

NICK CHARLES, THE VERY PROMINENT

C.N.N. SPORTSCASTER;

HE IS DYING OF CANCER

IN SANTA FE.

NICK IS A DEAR FRIEND.

I SAW HIM COME TO KNOW THE LORD

SOME YEARS AGO

AND OFFICIATED AT HIS WEDDING.

MY WIFE AND I WENT TO VISIT

NICK AND CORY IN SANTA FE.

SHE IS STILL A C.N.N. PRODUCER.

THERE HAD BEEN TENS OF THOUSANDS

WRITING ON THE BLOG TO C.N.N.

AFTER HIS STORY CAME

AND INTERVIEWED SANJAY GUPTA.

NICK TOLD ME

WHEN I WAS THERE RECENTLY

AS I PRAYED WITH HIM AND I SAID

MY EARTHLY GOOD-BYE TO HIM.

NICK SAID,

"ONE NIGHT I SAID TO CHRIST,

'IF YOU'RE READY, I AM,

I CANNOT TAKE THIS PAIN ANYMORE.

IT'S BEEN 20 MONTHS

OF THIS HORRIBLE STUFF.

IF YOU'RE READY,

I AM TONIGHT.' "

HE SAID, "RAVI, WHERE YOU

ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW,"

IN THESE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS

IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO.

HE SAID, "I SAW JESUS SITTING

AT THE FOOT OF THAT BED."

HE SAID,

"AS SURELY AS I AM HERE,

AND HE CAME AND SAT NEXT TO ME

AND HELD MY HAND.

AND HE SAID, 'NICK, TONIGHT

IS NOT THE NIGHT FOR YOU.

BUT IF AND WHEN IT COMES

I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU

TO TAKE YOU.' "

HE SAID,

"THAT MOMENT OF ENCOUNTER

WITH JESUS CHRIST,"

HE SAYS, "I DON'T CARE

IF THE WORLD LAUGHS,

I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY,

I HAD THAT ENCOUNTER WITH HIM

AND WHEN HE IS READY FOR ME

I'M READY TO GO."

I EXPECT A CALL ANY DAY NOW.

HE'S SLIPPING PRETTY FAST.

BUT THIS CHRIST REALLY COMES

IN THAT PERSONAL ENCOUNTER

WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL

WHO CRIES OUT TO HIM.

James: AND HE DOES FOR YOU.

RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE, JESUS...

LIKE A CHILD, I DON'T CARE

HOW MUCH EDUCATION

YOU HAVE OR LACK,

WE ALL COME LIKE CHILDREN.

JESUS, COME INTO MY LIFE.

I WANT TO LOSE MY LIFE IN YOU.

FILL ME WITH LIFE. FORGIVE ME.

I RECEIVE YOU LIKE A CHILD.

JUST TELL HIM, "FATHER,

BE MY FATHER, BE MY GOD.

JESUS COME INTO MY HEART."

YOU WANT SOMEONE

TO PRAY WITH YOU,

THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS THERE.

WE'VE PREPARED

A SIMPLE BIBLE STUDY,

"KNOWING GOD AS FATHER,"

WE'LL BE GLAD TO SEND IT TO YOU.

WE WANT TO MENTION RAVI'S BOOK

IS IN THE BOOKSTORES,

HAS CHRISTIANITY FAILED YOU?

WE'LL GLADLY SEND IT TO YOU

IF YOU'LL JUST HELP US

LITERALLY, GIVE A CUP OF WATER.

WATCH THIS CLOSELY

VERY PRAYERFULLY.

Announcer: THIS IS ELIZABETH.

SHE IS A MOTHER OF FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN

INCLUDING TWIN BABY BOYS.

SHE IS AMONG THE COUNTLESS MOTHERS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY.

HER HOME IS NOT MUCH MORE THAN A BARN

WITH SCRAP WOOD WALLS AND DIRT FLOORS.

AS SHE STRUGGLES TO CARE FOR HER CHILDREN EVERY DAY,

TWICE A DAY, SHE WALKS TO COLLECT THE WATER

HER FAMILY NEEDS TO SURVIVE.

BUT THIS IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF WATER AVAILABLE TO ELIZABETH.

THIS DIRTY MUDDY RIVER PROVIDES THE WATER

THAT COULD EVENTUALLY KILL HER CHILDREN.

Translator: MY TWINS HAVE BEEN SICK FOR A WEEK

WITH FEVER AND DIARRHEA BECAUSE OF THIS WATER.

I FEEL BAD BUT I HAVE TO GIVE IT TO MY CHILDREN.

I KNOW THE WATER IS CONTAMINATED AND WE SHOULDN'T DRINK IT

BUT I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

THIS IS ALL WE HAVE.

James: ELIZABETH REPRESENTS

SO MANY MOTHERS,

SO MANY FAMILIES,

CHILDREN IN DESPERATE NEED.

AS WE TOGETHER WATCHED HER

WALK DOWN TO THAT DIRTY

WATER SOURCE, CONTAMINATED,

FILTHY, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN WANT

TO HEAR ALL THE THINGS

THAT FLUSH IN AND ARE WASHED IN

AND THE ANIMAL WASTE

THAT IS THERE.

BUT THE CONTAMINATION

AND THE BACTERIA CAUSES

ALL TYPES OF PAINFUL

AND DEADLY DISEASES.

HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN

BECAUSE OF YOU.

I REALLY HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND

HOW MUCH WE LOVE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US

SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD

WITH PEOPLE IN DESPERATE NEED

LIKE ELIZABETH AND HER FAMILY.

WE ARE ABLE TO PUT

A FRESH WATER SOURCE

RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THAT PAIN

AND THAT SUFFERING --

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE

OF A LITTLE VILLAGE.

WE WENT IN SOME OF THE SAME AREA

THERE, BETTY AND I DID,

AND IT WAS LIKE

THEY HAD A PARTY.

WHEN WE WENT THERE IT WAS

VERY HOT AND THEY TOLD

THE CHILDREN THAT

THE MISSIONARIES AND THE PEOPLE

THAT HAD PUT THE WELL THERE

WERE COMING AND THEY LET

THOSE CHILDREN PLAY IN IT,

IT WAS LIKE A PARTY.

THEY DON'T NORMALLY ALLOW THEM

TO DO THAT BECAUSE EVEN THAT

WATER IS SO PRECIOUS.

BUT THEY WERE HAVING SO MUCH FUN

AND THEY WERE SAYING

NOT ONLY, "THANK YOU, JAMES

AND BETTY," THEY WERE SAYING,

"THANK YOU."

I PRAY YOU HEAR THAT.

BUT JUST THINK ABOUT IT,

THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING

TO CONTAMINATED WATER,

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE WATER

TO EVEN LIVE AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY

TAKING IN SOMETHING THAT

CREATES A PAINFUL DISEASE

AND OFTENTIMES A PAINFUL DEATH.

BUT WE'RE REPLACING THAT

WITH HOPE AND HEALTH

AND WE WILL CLEARLY POINT THEM

TO THE LORD JESUS.

WOULD YOU DIAL THAT NUMBER?

WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR BANKCARD

AND MAKE THE GREATEST LOVE GIFT

YOU CAN?

IF YOU COULD GIVE $48

YOU'LL GIVE TEN PEOPLE WATER,

BASICALLY FOR THE REST

OF THEIR LIFE.

YOU CAN GIVE HOPE IN A VILLAGE

LIKE YOU JUST SAW.

A GIFT OF $144 -- AND SEE THIS

IS ATTAINABLE FOR MOST PEOPLE.

WE CAN DO THIS!

SURE, IT MAY BE A SACRIFICE

BUT IT'S GOING TO GIVE SUCH

AN INCREDIBLE, INDESCRIBABLE

LASTING BLESSING.

THAT $144 WILL GIVE 30 PEOPLE

WATER THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

$4800 IS WHAT IT TAKES

FOR A WELL.

I'VE BEEN PRAYING THAT SCORES

OF PEOPLE WOULD CALL

IN A SINGLE DAY AND SAY,

"WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU

DRILL THOSE HUNDREDS OF WELLS.

WE KNOW SOME PEOPLE WILL

BE GIVING TO TAKE CARE OF 10

OR 30 BUT WE CAN GIVE A WELL.

AND AS A COUPLE

OR AN INDIVIDUAL

I WANT TO DO THAT" --

AS A SMALL BUSINESS PERHAPS.

WOULD YOU DO IT IF YOU CAN?

COULD YOU DRILL SEVERAL?

MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT

IF I GIVE A GIFT OF $2400

AND PRAY FOR SOMEONE TO JOIN ME

WE'VE GOT A WELL

OR $1200 AND WE'VE THREE OTHERS

JOIN AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER WELL.

AT WHATEVER LEVEL YOU CAN HELP,

PLEASE DO SO.

WOULD YOU GO TO THE PHONE

RIGHT NOW?

IT'S SO EASY TO SAY,

WELL, I INTEND TO DO IT.

IT'S SO EASY TO FAIL TO DO IT.

AND THESE PRECIOUS

PEOPLE'S LIVES DEPEND ON IT.

WOULD YOU MAKE THAT CALL?

YOU CAN GO ONLINE LIFETODAY.ORG

AND MAKE THE GIFT.

YOU CAN MAKE A CHECK,

MAKE IT TO LIFE.

WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL GIFTS

THAT WE WANT TO SEND YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS,

BELIEVE THIS... THE TRUTH,

...NOT THAT, THE LIES.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE

THESE SCRIPTURAL ANSWERS

TO WHAT THE ENEMY SAYS.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO BLESS YOU

AS YOU HELP US BLESS OTHERS

WITH THE TRUE SOURCE OF LIFE

BECAUSE WE FOUND LIFE

THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT CALL.

Announcer: EVERY DAY MILLIONS OF CHILDREN ARE FORCED

TO MAKE A DREADFUL CHOICE: DRINK FILTHY, POLLUTED WATER

FILLED WITH DEADLY DISEASE OR DIE FROM THIRST.

NO CHILD SHOULD EVER BE FACED WITH THIS DECISION.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE IS A SOLUTION --

MISSION: WATER FOR LIFE IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING

AND VIABLE DEMONSTRATIONS OF GOD'S LOVE IN THE WORLD TODAY.

SUFFERING CAN END BECAUSE CLEAN WATER CHANGES EVERYTHING!

WITH YOUR GIFT TODAY WE WILL BEGIN DRILLING

350 NEW WATER WELLS FOR REMOTE VILLAGES IN 12 DIFFERENT NATIONS.

YOUR GIFT OF $24 WILL HELP PROVIDE CLEAN WATER FOR FIVE PEOPLE!

A GIFT OF $48 WILL HELP PROVIDE FOR 10 PEOPLE!

$72 WILL IMPACT 15 PEOPLE.

AND $144 WILL HELP PROVIDE FRESH, CLEAN DISEASE-FREE WATER

FOR 30 PEOPLE FOR A LIFETIME!

WITH YOUR GIFT BE SURE TO REQUEST, BELIEVE THIS NOT THAT

A BRAND-NEW TOPICAL BIBLE PROMISE BOOK

THAT WILL ENCOURAGE YOU IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE.

WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 OR MORE

YOU MAY REQUEST OUR NEWLY RELEASED WATER FOR LIFE MUG SET,

A DAILY REMINDER OF THE CLEAN WATER

YOU MAKE POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO THIRST.

ALSO PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1200

TO HELP PROVIDE WATER FOR 250 PEOPLE

OR A GIFT OF $4800 TO HELP SPONSOR A COMPLETE WELL.

AND BE SURE TO REQUEST THE 2012 COMMEMORATIVE BRONZE SCULPTURE,

"THE LAMB AND THE LION."

PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE YOUR SECURE GIFT ONLINE TODAY!

James: AND TODAY,

IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IT,

I KNOW YOU CAN GO

TO RAVI'S WEB SITE

OR GO TO THE BOOKSTORES

BUT WE'LL ACTUALLY

SEND IT TO YOU TODAY

TO JUST SAY THANKS

IF YOU'LL HELP US TODAY.

JOIN BETTY AND ME AGAIN IN

SAYING THANKS TO RAVI ZACHARIAS.

RAVI, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD

TO HAVE YOU!

APPRECIATE YOU!

RAVI WILL BE TALKING TO US

ON ANOTHER PROGRAM THIS WEEK.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

A BOOK THAT'S COMING OUT.

YOU'LL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

Beth: WE'VE SEEN ALL THAT IS AT STAKE

IF WE'RE GOING TO LIVE A LIFE MOTIVATED BY THE COMFORTS OF THIS WORLD.

Announcer: TOMORROW, BETH MOORE SHOWS US

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORTS.