AND I REALLY WANTED TO FIND OUT

WHAT DOES GOD MEAN BY HAPPINESS?

Announcer: NEXT ON LIFE TODAY,

JAMES AND BETTY'S SON, RANDY

REVEALS HOW GOD WANTS US ALL TO BE HAPPY.

AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS STRONGER

THAN ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN FACE IN THIS LIFE

BECAUSE WE WILL FACE HARDSHIP,

WE WILL FACE GRIEF, WE WILL HAVE LOSSES,

BUT YET THERE IS A JOY THAT IS STRONGER THAN ALL THAT.

Announcer: DISCOVERING DEEPER JOY THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED -- NEXT!

James: I'VE GOT SUCH

A WONDERFUL STAFF!

WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.

I'M JAMES ROBISON;

MY WIFE BETTY AND I ARE

THRILLED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

I'VE GOT THIS LITTLE NOTE

BECAUSE WE HAVE A GUEST TODAY,

AND OFTENTIMES THEY'LL SHOW ME

HOW I'M SUPPOSED

TO PRONOUNCE THE NAME.

MY NAME IS ROBISON.

AND IT'S OFTEN PRONOUNCED

ROW-BISON, ROBE-SON.

BUT HERE IT SAYS

THAT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW

TO PRONOUNCE YOUR GUEST'S NAME

IT IS PRONOUNCED LIKE ROBINSON

WITHOUT THE MIDDLE N: ROBISON.

THAT'S BECAUSE OUR GUEST

IS A ROBISON.

IT IS OUR SON, RANDY ROBISON

AND HIS WIFE DEBBIE.

WOULD YOU WELCOME RANDY

AND DEBBIE TO LIFE TODAY?

AND IT IS ROBISON.

AND I BET YOU GOT USED TO PEOPLE

CALLING IT ROBINSON,

AND ROW-BISON.

Debbie: CONSTANTLY.

James: AND DOES THAT

MAKE YOU HAPPY?

BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE; ISN'T IT?

Debbie: IT IS.

James: TO CONTINUALLY

JUST CORRECT PEOPLE.

IT IS NO BIG DEAL.

IT IS ONE WAY GOD KEEPS

SOME OF US JUST HUMBLE.

RANDY HAS WRITTEN A BOOK,

GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY.

WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT

IT TOOK ME BACK.

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW BOOKS

WRITTEN ALONG THIS LINE.

OF COURSE, I KNOW TRUE HAPPINESS

COMES FROM AN INNER JOY.

I LOOKED AT THE SUBHEADING:

DISCOVERING DEEPER JOY

THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED

BY JAMES RANDALL ROBISON --

AND FOUR ROBISON CHILDREN,

TWO BOYS, TWO GIRLS.

IS THAT WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

Randy: THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS.

THE BOOK IS DIVIDED

INTO THREE SECTIONS.

WE TALK ABOUT THE OBSTACLES

TO HAPPINESS.

WHAT I CALL

"THE MIXED BLESSINGS"

AND FAMILY IS ONE OF THOSE

BECAUSE AS THE BIBLE SAYS,

YOUR CHILDREN CAN BRING

YOU HAPPINESS

BUT THEY CAN ALSO

BRING YOU GREAT GRIEF.

AND THEN THERE IS

THE PATHS TO HAPPINESS,

WHICH ARE GUARANTEED WAYS

TO HAVE MORE HAPPINESS

IN YOUR LIFE AND IT'S

ALL DRAWN FROM THE BIBLE.

James: I REALLY AM PLEASED,

RANDY, WHEN I READ

THE SPIRITUAL DEPTH OF WHICH

YOU ADDRESSED AND TOUCHED ON

ALL THE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS

THAT YOU WERE LED TO TOUCH ON.

I WANT TO SAY TO YOU

THAT YOU ARE,

AS ALL OF OUR CHILDREN,

YOU HAVE NOT BROUGHT US GRIEF,

YOU HAVE BROUGHT US GREAT JOY.

WE EVEN FOUND IT INTERESTING

WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT

HOW YOU LEARNED IN CRAFTY WAYS

TO MANIPULATE CERTAIN THINGS

IN ORDER TO GET AWAY WITH IT

AS THOUGH YOU WERE SUCCEEDING.

BUT THAT DID NOT GIVE YOU --

BUT YOU'RE HONEST AND AS WE

READ THIS WE THOUGHT, WHAT ELSE

ARE WE GOING TO FIND IN HERE?

AND HE'S TALKING ABOUT

BEING HAPPIER --

WE'RE GOING TO FIND SOME THINGS

TO MAKE US VERY UNHAPPY.

WELL, I WANT TO ASK YOU,

WHAT LED YOU TO WRITE THE BOOK?

Randy: WELL, IT'S BEEN

A LONG JOURNEY TO THIS BOOK.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF INTROSPECTION,

ONE I'VE HAD TO TRY TO LEARN

TO LIVE OUT MYSELF

AND I'M STILL NOT THERE YET.

BUT THE THING I THINK

THAT GOT MY ATTENTION WAS

WHEN I WENT WITH THE MINISTRY

TO RWANDA, ABOUT A YEAR

AFTER THE GENOCIDE THERE,

AND I DIDN'T --

I MEAN I EXPECTED

TO SEE A LOT OF MISERY

AND IT WAS A HORRIBLE SITUATION.

I DIDN'T EXPECT ALL THE THINGS

THAT I SAW, WHICH WERE YES,

WE SAW TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN,

BUT WE ALSO SAW CHILDREN

WHO WERE LAUGHING,

CHILDREN WHO TRULY SEEMED HAPPY

WITH EACH OTHER.

I SAW A CANADIAN COUPLE

THAT WAS THERE WORKING

WHO WAS -- THEY WERE WORKING

IN VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE NICE THINGS.

EVERYTHING WAS DIFFICULT

OVER THERE.

THEY WERE TRULY HAPPY.

DO YOU REMEMBER FRED NKUNDA?

THE LIFE CENTER IN RWANDA

IN GITARAMA

IS NAMED FOR FRED NKUNDA,

A UGANDAN MAN

WHO HAD GIVEN UP EVERYTHING

JUST TO HELP THE ORPHANS.

HE EVENTUALLY DIED FROM CANCER;

HE DIDN'T HAVE

GOOD MEDICAL CARE.

BUT HE WAS HAPPY.

James: HE DIED

CARING FOR THOSE ORPHANS.

HE HIMSELF WAS AN ORPHAN

WHO HAD BEEN DRIVEN OUT

DURING THE WAR BETWEEN

THE HUTUS AND THE TUTSIS,

AND HE CAME BACK IN

WHEN THE GENOCIDE STARTED

TO TAKE CARE OF THE ORPHANS

HE KNEW MANY HAD CRAWLED OUT

FROM UNDER PILES

OF THEIR OWN PARENTS' BODIES,

KILLED WITH MACHETES.

HE WENT IN THERE AND LOVED THEM.

AND RANDY, HE WOULDN'T LEAVE.

EVEN WHILE HE WAS FIGHTING

HIS OWN DISEASE

AND ULTIMATE DEATH,

HE WOULDN'T LEAVE

THESE CHILDREN.

LIKE YOU SAID, HE WAS FILLED

WITH AN OVERFLOWING JOY.

Randy: HE WAS! HE SMILED;

HE WAS A JOY TO BE AROUND.

THEN I CAME HOME

AND I SAW PEOPLE

WHO WERE IMPATIENT,

WHO DIDN'T SMILE,

WHO DIDN'T GREET YOU,

JUST AROUND TOWN, AROUND HERE.

EVEN MY OWN CHILDREN WERE NOT

VERY HAPPY WITH THE FOOD

WE WOULD GIVE THEM SOMETIMES.

IN MOZAMBIQUE, THEY'RE THRILLED

WITH THAT BOWL OF MUSH.

I THOUGHT, OKAY, SOMETHING

IS WRONG HERE IN THIS PICTURE.

THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING

BUT TRAUMA AND GRIEF

HAVE SOME HAPPINESS

AND IT IS NOT FAKE, IT IS REAL.

AND YET, WE IN AMERICA

WHO HAVE SO MUCH,

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY.

THAT CAUSED ME TO LOOK

AT MY OWN HAPPINESS,

TO LOOK AT THE THINGS WE TAKE

-- DRAW OUR HAPPINESS FROM

AND TO KIND OF GET INTO SOME

OF WHAT IS REAL HAPPINESS.

SO THIS IS THE PRODUCT

OF TWO THINGS, A LONG JOURNEY OF

REALIZING THAT GOD DOES WANT US

TO BE HAPPY IN HIS CONTEXT,

OUR HAPPINESS AFFECTS

OTHER PEOPLE VERY DIRECTLY,

AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING

THAT AFFECTS, I THINK,

THE CAUSE OF CHRIST BECAUSE

IF CHRISTIANS ARE UNHAPPY, THEN

WHO WANTS TO BE A CHRISTIAN?

SO I WENT TO THE WORD

AND I LOOKED AT OVER

600 INSTANCES OF JOY,

REJOICE, HAPPY, HAPPINESS,

DELIGHT, GOODNESS, GLADNESS,

AND I REALLY WANTED TO FIND OUT

WHAT DOES GOD MEAN BY HAPPINESS?

WHY WOULD JESUS SAY, "I CAME

SO THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE JOY

AND THAT YOUR JOY BE MADE FULL?"

WHAT IS THAT? WHAT IS THAT?

IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALTHOUGH

WE USE THE WORD HAPPINESS

IN A LOT OF CONTEXT WHERE

IT'S NOT REAL HAPPINESS.

TO ME HAPPINESS IS A COOKIE

WITH WALNUTS AND DARK CHOCOLATE,

BUT THAT'S PLEASURE --

A LOT OF TIMES WE USE HAPPINESS

TO EXPRESS OUR PLEASURE,

AND HAPPINESS AND PLEASURE

ARE NOT THE SAME THING.

REAL HAPPINESS IS JOY

AND IT IS SOMETHING

THAT STEMS FROM OUR SALVATION

AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS

STRONGER THAN ANYTHING ELSE

WE CAN FACE IN THIS LIFE

BECAUSE WE WILL FACE HARDSHIP,

WE WILL FACE GRIEF,

WE WILL HAVE LOSSES,

BUT YET THERE IS A JOY

THAT IS STRONGER THAN ALL THAT

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK GOD

WANTS TO REALLY INSTILL IN US

RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW.

James: YOU KNOW WE'VE WATCHED...

IN OUR FAMILY, A LOT OF PEOPLE

LOOK AT OUR FAMILY AND THINK,

WELL, Y'ALL DON'T HAVE

ANY CHALLENGES, AND YET OUR LIFE

IS FILLED WITH CHALLENGES.

OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER

HAS HAD A BATTLE, AS WE TOLD YOU

A COUPLE YEARS AGO,

WITH THROAT CANCER.

RANDY, WE'VE ALL WATCHED HER.

WE WATCHED HER LOSE WEIGHT

TO WHERE YOU DIDN'T EVEN

RECOGNIZE YOUR OWN SISTER,

SHE HAD LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT

YOU DIDN'T KNOW HER.

AND I THINK WE CAN --

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JOY

AND A PEACE,

WE NEVER SAW THAT LEAVE ROBIN.

Randy: NEVER! NOT ONCE!

James: SHE SIGNED EVERY E-MAIL,

"I WIN."

SHE TOLD HER SISTER IN THOSE

REAL DEEP MOMENTS OF SHARING,

WHICH SHE DIDN'T EVEN WANT

TO TALK TO MOM AND DAD ABOUT,

SHE TOLD HER SISTER,

SHE SAID, "I CAN'T CRY."

THERE WAS AN INNER PEACE.

THERE WAS A PEACE SO GREAT

IN HER THAT ALL OF US SAID,

"LORD, WE WANT THAT PEACE."

THAT'S THE PEACE YOU'VE WRITTEN

ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT JOY,

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT

AN INNER JOY.

YOU'VE HAD SOME REAL CHALLENGES

WITH YOUR EYES.

YOU HAVE MACULAR DEGENERATION.

I REMEMBER SAYING TO YOU

WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE YOU MIGHT --

YOU NEARLY LOST THE SIGHT IN

ONE EYE AND THEN THE OTHER ONE

HIT VERY DRAMATICALLY.

I WENT WITH YOU TO THE HOSPITAL.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY

WERE GOING TO BE ABLE

TO GET IT RE-ATTACHED.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU

WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE

WHEN I TOOK YOU BACK

TO SEE IF YOU COULD SEE.

I REMEMBER SAYING,

"RANDY, YOU'RE A WRITER

AND YOU DO OUR WEB SITE."

HE DOES THE MINISTRY WEB SITE

FOR LIFE Today

AND LIFE Outreach.

I SAID, "THAT'S YOUR JOB.

YOU REALLY NEED

TO BE ABLE TO SEE."

YOU SAID TO ME, "I JUST WANT

TO BE ABLE TO SEE LONG ENOUGH

TO SEE MY CHILDREN GROW UP."

THERE'S BEEN

AN INNER PEACE THERE, RANDY,

AND TO ME, THAT'S WHAT

YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT.

Randy: BARNES' NOTES

ON THE NEW TESTAMENT DEFINE

HAPPINESS AS A STATE OF MIND

FREE FROM TROUBLE.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,

IT IS NOT AN

IGNORANCE IS BLISS

KIND OF FREE FROM TROUBLE,

IT IS KNOWING

ALL THAT IS GOING ON

BUT HAVING AN OVERRIDING PEACE

TO WHERE YOU'RE NOT ANXIOUS

ABOUT ANYTHING

AS SOMEONE WE KNOW SAID.

I'LL TELL YOU

AN INTERESTING STORY --

James: JESUS SAID

BE ANXIOUS IN NOTHING.

THERE ARE VOLUMES --

RANDY REALLY EXHAUSTS EXPANSE

WITH WHAT THAT MEANS,

NOT TO LIVE ANXIOUS.

Randy: I'LL TELL YOU

A QUICK STORY IF YOU'LL LET ME.

THE WHOLE MACULAR DEGENERATION

AND VITRECTOMIES, WHICH I HAD

DETACHED RETINAS IN BOTH EYES

AND I'VE HAD OTHER SURGERIES,

I LEARNED SOMETHING INTERESTING

AND IT'S IN THE BOOK.

BUT ONE OF THE GUARANTEED PATHS

TO JOY, GREATER JOY,

REAL HAPPINESS

IS ADAPTING A GODLY PERSPECTIVE.

I LEARNED SOMETHING --

WE'RE TOLD TO WALK BY FAITH

AND NOT BY SIGHT

AND A LOT OF TIMES

I DON'T THINK WE REALLY GRASP

WHAT THAT MEANS.

I LEARNED TO DRIVE BY FAITH

AND NOT BY SIGHT.

[Laughter]

James: SCARY THOUGHT

TO EVERYBODY IN THE METROPLEX.

YOU HEAR IT NOW.

Randy: WE CAN TALK ABOUT NOW

BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT.

BUT AFTER THE SECOND SURGERY,

IN MY LEFT EYE THERE WAS

A LOT OF MUSCLE DAMAGE.

I HAD SOME DIFFICULTY

JUST KEEPING MY EYES LOOKING

IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

THAT MAKES IT REAL HARD

TO DRIVE BECAUSE

WHEN I'M SITTING AND I CAN FOCUS

I CAN GET MY EYES TO LOOK

AND IT IS NOT A PROBLEM.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING

EVERYTHING IS MOVING

AND WHEN EVERYTHING IS MOVING,

THIS LEFT EYE, AFTER SURGERY,

IT WAS FLOATING.

AND SO I WOULD LOOK AT THE ROAD

AND I WOULDN'T SEE ONE ROAD,

I WOULD SEE TWO ROADS.

I DON'T MEAN LIKE

ONE HERE AND ONE HERE,

I MEAN ONE UP HERE

AND TO THE SIDE.

IT WAS THAT BAD.

HERE'S THE THING,

I COULD SEE CLEARLY

OUT OF THAT EYE.

IT WASN'T THAT I COULDN'T SEE.

I COULD SEE GREAT --

THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.

I HAD TO KNOW THAT MY RIGHT EYE

WAS SEEING WHAT WAS TRUE

AND WHAT WAS RIGHT.

MY LEFT EYE, WHICH COULD SEE

WOULD HAVE LED ME

RIGHT OFF THE ROAD.

WHEN YOU TALK

ABOUT WALKING BY FAITH

AND NOT BY SIGHT,

OUR FAITH SHOWS US WHAT IS TRUE

AND WHAT IS RIGHT.

SO SOMETIMES OUR PERSPECTIVE

CAN BE OFF BUT IF WE WILL STICK

WITH WHAT IS TRUE

AND WHAT IS RIGHT

ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD

WE WON'T END UP IN THE DITCH.

SO I DROVE THAT WAY FOR A WHILE

AND THINGS ARE BETTER NOW.

[Laughter]

James: Y'ALL CAN ALL BE

AT REST IN THE METROPLEX.

[Laughter]

Randy: BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE

GUARANTEED PATHS TO HAPPINESS,

WHEN WE LEARN TO ADAPT

THAT GODLY PERSPECTIVE,

WE DO FIND GREATER JOY

IN OUR LIVES.

James: WHAT ARE SOME

OF THE OBSTACLES

THAT YOU POINT OUT IN THE BOOK,

RANDY, YOU TOUCH ONTO THE JOY

AND THE HAPPINESS,

LIKE DISOBEDIENCE AND SO FORTH?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS

THAT KEEP PEOPLE FROM HAVING

THE JOY AND THE HAPPINESS?

Randy: THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS.

DISOBEDIENCE IS ONE

OF THE MORE COMMON ONES

AND I KNOW I STRUGGLE WITH THAT,

I THINK EVERYBODY DOES.

THERE IS NO SHAME IN ADMITTING

THAT WE STRUGGLE

WITH OBEYING GOD.

PSALM 119, VERSE 35

SAYS: MAKE ME WALK IN

THE PATH OF YOUR COMMANDMENTS

FOR I DELIGHT IN IT.

NOW FOR -- WHEN I WAS YOUNGER

I WOULD DISMISS THAT REALLY

AS NICE POETRY

BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE ANYONE

TO MAKE ME DO ANYTHING,

AS YOU KNOW VERY WELL.

James: YEAH, WE HAD SOME

REAL NICE CONFRONTATIONS.

Randy: I TEND TO BE INDEPENDENT

BUT --.

James: I TEND TO BE CONFRONTIVE

AND FORCEFUL.

Randy: OH, OKAY.

THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER SHOW.

James: THAT'S THE NEXT BOOK!

Randy: THAT COMES AFTER

THE THERAPIES AND --

I'M TEASING.

BUT COMMANDMENTS IS A WORD

THAT I GENERALLY DON'T LIKE.

I DON'T -- IT'S LIKE --

James: I WOULD AGREE,

I DON'T EITHER.

Randy: MOST PEOPLE DON'T.

I LOOKED AT THE HEBREW IN THAT

AND THERE ARE ONLY FOUR WORDS

IN THAT WHOLE THING.

THE FIRST WORD MAKE ME WALK

IS TO LEAD OR TO MARCH;

THERE IS SOME DISCIPLINE

IMPLIED THERE.

A PATH, THE WORD FOR PATH

IS LITERALLY A PATHWAY

BUT IT ALSO MEANS TRAVELER.

THE INTERESTING THING

IS THAT THE WORD

WE TRANSLATE AS COMMANDMENTS

MEANS GOD'S CODE OF WISDOM.

AND THEN THE DELIGHT PART

IS ACTUALLY TO TAKE PLEASURE

TO FIND NOT JUST HAPPINESS

BUT PLEASURE.

THAT SCRIPTURE SAYS:

GOD LEAD ME DOWN THAT JOURNEY

TO YOUR WISDOM AND I WILL

FIND PLEASURE AND HAPPINESS.

RIGHT? NOW THAT

I CAN GET EXCITED ABOUT.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OBEDIENCE

BECAUSE WE LIKE TO

NOT ALWAYS LISTEN TO GOD.

I THINK THE CLASSIC STORY

IN THE BIBLE IS JONAH.

GOD SAYS, "JONAH, YOU NEED

TO GO EAST ACROSS THE LAND."

JONAH SAYS, "I HEAR YOU, GOD.

WHY DON'T I GO WEST

ACROSS THE WATER?"

[Laughter]

RIGHT?

I FIGHT THAT IN MY OWN LIFE.

I KNOW GOD WANTS ME

TO DO SOMETHING AND I GO,

"I THINK I'M GOING TO DO

JUST THE OPPOSITE."

SOMETIMES YOU'RE

NOT EVEN WILLINGLY

TRYING TO DISOBEY GOD,

IT'S JUST YOU KIND OF GO

YOUR OWN WAY.

WELL, IT LED TO MISERY,

AND NOT ONLY MISERY FOR JONAH

AS HE IS SITTING OUT THERE

IN THE STORMS, IT LED TO MISERY

FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.

THEY WERE NOT HAPPY.

AND A LOT OF TIMES

WHEN WE DISOBEY GOD,

NOT ONLY ARE WE UNHAPPY

BUT WE MAKE PEOPLE AROUND US

UNHAPPY, AND IF YOU'RE A FATHER,

THAT'S HUGE.

YOU AFFECT YOUR WIFE,

YOU AFFECT YOUR KIDS,

AND YOU REALIZE,

MAN, MY DISOBEDIENCE

IS NOT JUST WORKING AGAINST ME

BUT EVERYBODY AROUND ME.

Betty: AND THAT IS A PART

OF THE PARENTING WHEN...

Randy: OH, YEAH, WE OWE IT

TO OUR CHILDREN TO BE HAPPY.

Betty: EVEN THOUGH THOSE TIMES

ARE NOT FUN, NECESSARILY,

FOR THEM TO BE OBEDIENT

OR TO DISCIPLINE THEM

IN A WAY THAT WE KNOW

A LOT OF TIMES

THROUGH EXPERIENCE

WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE.

James: AND JONAH

GOT DISCIPLINED.

JONAH GOT CORRECTED.

Randy: I'LL TELL YOU

WHAT HE DID.

HE SAID THE RIGHT THING.

HE SAID, "THIS IS ALL MY FAULT."

HE DIDN'T BLAME THE CHURCH.

HE DIDN'T BLAME HIS PARENTS.

HE DIDN'T BLAME THE GOVERNMENT.

HE SAID, "THIS IS ON ME."

THINGS INSTANTLY GOT BETTER.

James: HE HAD

AN INTERESTING RIDE.

Randy: YEAH, THINGS INSTANTLY

GOT WORSE BECAUSE

THEY THREW HIM OVERBOARD, AND

SOMETIMES IN OUR DISOBEDIENCE

WE'VE GOT TO REALIZE THAT

ADMITTING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT

WILL BRING SOME CONSEQUENCES.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS,

AS HE WAS THROWN OVERBOARD,

IS THAT HE DIED TO HIMSELF

IN THAT PICTURE OF BEING

IN THE BELLY OF THE WHALE

FOR THREE DAYS AND HE WAS MOVED

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL THING

ABOUT REPENTANCE

IS THAT WHEN WE REPENT

AND ALLOW GOD TO TAKE OVER,

HE MOVES US

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND THAT RIGHT DIRECTION

BRINGS US GREATER HAPPINESS

BECAUSE WE'RE LIVING

IN HIS WILL.

James: WELL, WE'VE WATCHED

BOTH OF YOU, IN OUR OPINION,

SEEK TO BE THE BEST PARENTS.

AND IT'S A JOY TO BE AROUND YOU

AND ALL FOUR CHILDREN,

EVEN THOUGH TEENAGED CHILDREN.

AND THEY'RE ALL SO DIFFERENT,

SO DIVERSE

AND YET THE HEART HARMONY

THAT WE SEE IN YOUR FAMILY,

IT'S SOMETHING THAT AS PARENTS,

WE THANK GOD FOR EVERY DAY.

AND DEBBIE, HOW DO YOU FEEL

ABOUT RANDY HAVING

HIS FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED WHEN

YOU'VE WATCHED HIM WORK SO HARD

AND WRITE AND WAIT FOR THAT DAY?

ARE YOU EXCITED

ABOUT THE MESSAGE?

Debbie: I'M SO EXCITED!

JUST FOR SOMEBODY TO WRITE

A BOOK TO ME IS JUST AMAZING

BECAUSE I CAN'T EVEN WRITE

A SENTENCE HARDLY.

SO A WHOLE BOOK IS...

[Laughter]

James: A WHOLE BOOK!

WELL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW

THAT WE REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU

TO GET THE BOOK TODAY

AND IT'S A GREAT JOY

FOR ME AND FOR BETTY

TO LITERALLY PRESENT TO YOU

A MESSAGE THAT WE BELIEVE

GOD IS NOT ONLY GIVEN

BUT DEVELOPED AND IS DEVELOPING

IN AND THROUGH RANDY'S LIFE

AND THE LIFE OF HIS FAMILY

BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOUND

A SOURCE OF JOY.

WE FIND JOY IN WATCHING IT AND

OBSERVING IT ON THEIR JOURNEY.

IT THRILLS ME AS A MINISTER

WHO REALLY WANTS TO SHARE

THE LIFE AND THE LOVE OF GOD

AND ALL HE OFFERS WITH OTHERS

TO SEE OUR SON DOING IT PERHAPS

IN A WAY FAR MORE EFFECTIVELY

THAN WE MAY HAVE EVER DONE IT.

AND WE REALLY ADMIRE

WHAT WE SEE IN HIM.

I KNOW YOU DO.

WOULD YOU JUST SAY

THANKS BE TO GOD

FOR WHAT WE'VE HEARD

FROM OUR OWN SON TODAY

AND THE BOOK?

WE JUST SAY THANKS TO RANDY

AND DEBBIE FOR BEING WITH US.

RANDY REFERENCED THE --

HE REFERENCED THE MISSION FIELD

JUST A WHILE AGO,

AND GOING TO RWANDA WHERE WE'VE

BEEN ABLE TO SAVE THE LIVES OF

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.

WHEN I SAY "WE," THAT INCLUDES

THE VIEWERS OF LIFE Today

WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US

TO BUILD THE LARGEST ORPHANAGE

IN RWANDA,

AND TO PLACE MORE CHILDREN

AND TO SEE AN ENTIRE NATION

ACTUALLY PASS A LAW

AGAINST USING ANY RACIST TERM.

YOU CAN'T EVEN USE

A RACIST TERM,

YOU HAVE TO BE RWANDANS,

YOU CAN'T BE TUTSI,

HUTU OR SOME OTHER RACE.

MUCH OF THAT

CAME OUT OF ORPHANAGE

THAT RANDY WAS TALKING ABOUT.

WE WATCHED IT BIRTHING

THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD THERE

AND THEY SAW IT

AND IT IMPACTED A NATION

AND STILL IS.

THAT'S THE JOY OF THE LORD

WE'VE SEEN IT IN CHILDREN

WHO HAVE SO LITTLE.

YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'LL FIND JOY

THAT IS AS GREAT

AS ANY YOU'LL EXPERIENCE?

-- FULFILLING THE WILL OF GOD.

JESUS SAID,

"GIVING A CUP OF WATER

IN MY NAME

YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR REWARD."

PART OF THAT REWARD

IS THE PRESENCE AND THE BLESSING

AND THE JOY OF THE LORD --

THE JOY OF THE LORD

IS OUR STRENGTH.

WHAT PLEASES HIM?

-- ALLEVIATING SUFFERING

-- GIVING WATER TO THE THIRSTY.

YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR

A VERY SAD STORY.

YOU AND I HAVE THE ANSWER.

WE CAN STOP THIS PAIN

AND WE CAN REPLACE IT WITH JOY.

WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.

Translator: MY NAME IS MIRIAM BONEGAS.

IT WAS SUDDEN; HE WAS FIVE MONTHS OLD.

HE HAD NEVER BEEN SICK.

I WAS CARRYING HIM IN MY ARMS

AND THEN I FELT HE HAD QUIT BREATHING.

HE COULDN'T BREATHE AND HE DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING.

HERE IS WHERE I SAW MY SON DIE.

THE DOCTORS SAID IT WAS THE WATER THAT TOOK HIM.

FOR A GRIEVING MOTHER THIS SOMEHOW HURT MORE.

MIRIAM HAD GIVEN EVERYTHING AS A MOM

BUT GIVING HER SON, TYSON, WATER TO DRINK WASN'T OPTIONAL;

UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER WAS HER WATER SOURCE,

RIVER WATER, CONTAMINATED.

LEFT WITH NO CHOICE, MIRIAM GAVE TYSON WATER

THAT ATTACKED HIS BODY LIKE A POISON.

Translator: THAT MORNING MY SON WOKE UP FEELING BAD,

VOMITING AND WOULDN'T EAT.

I GOT SCARED AND STARTED TO TAKE HIM TO THE HEALTH CLINIC

BUT IT WOULD TAKE THREE HOURS TO WALK THERE.

I HAVE TO TRAVEL THAT ROAD A LOT

BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ONE OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S HARD BECAUSE I ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

I MISS HIM SO MUCH.

THERE IS LITTLE WORSE THAN HELPLESSLY HOLDING

YOUR DYING CHILD IN YOUR ARMS,

NOT FROM AN INCURABLE DISEASE

BUT BECAUSE OF UNCLEAN DRINKING WATER.

James: BOY, SHE'S LOST

WHAT'S SO PRECIOUS.

AND THEY HAVE SO LITTLE

IN THE IMPOVERISHED AREAS

WHERE THEY JUST NEED WATER,

FRESH CLEAN WATER.

BETTY, WE REALLY DO HAVE

THE ANSWER FOR THAT MOTHER,

FOR THE CHILDREN AROUND HER.

Betty: JAMES, I'M WATCHING

AND AS A MOTHER, YOU CAN SENSE

THE HEARTBREAK OF THAT MOTHER,

IT WAS SO DEEP, SO BIG, TO HER.

BUT, YOU KNOW

THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE,

THEY NEED FRESH CLEAN WATER.

THEY NEED WATER FREE FROM THE

CONTAMINATION AND THE DISEASE

THAT THEY HAVE NO OPTION OF

RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE.

WE WANT TO GIVE THEM AN OPTION,

AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE

FROM THE GOOD AND THE BAD.

WON'T YOU HELP US DO THAT?

WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT

SO VERY, VERY MUCH.

James: I'M CONVINCED THAT

EVERY PERSON THAT HAS A HEART,

ANY MEASURE OF SENSITIVITY

WOULD LIKE TO MEET

LEGITIMATE NEEDS.

I THINK AMERICANS ARE

SOMEWHAT CONCERNED, BETTY,

ANY TIME A CHILD IS LOST

OR MISSING OR YOU'VE HAD

SOME KIND OF NATURAL DISASTER,

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

RUSH TO THAT SCENE;

SAME WAY ALL OVER THE WORLD,

YOU RUSH IN TO HELP.

THE THING PEOPLE ARE NOT

EXCITED ABOUT DOING

IS MAINTAINING PROGRAMS

THAT DON'T SEEM TO AFFECT,

DON'T SEEM TO MAKE

ANY DIFFERENCE

AND JUST FUNDING SOMETHING

THAT DOESN'T WORK.

WE FOUND THAT PEOPLE

JUST LIKE YOU ARE EXCITED

WHEN I KNOW I CAN DO SOMETHING.

LET ME TELL YOU

HOW SIMPLE THIS IS.

THIS ISN'T WISHFUL THINKING.

WE CAN DRILL SEVERAL WATER WELLS

IN THOSE AREAS,

THE WATER IS THERE.

IT'S ACCESSIBLE,

VERY ACCESSIBLE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,

THE WELLS IN MANY OF THE AREAS

ARE GOING TO BE INEXPENSIVE

BUT WHERE IT IS A DEEP WELL

AND VERY EXPENSIVE,

IT STILL AVERAGES OUT TO $4800.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG

THAT'S GOING TO HOLD

BUT IT'S HOLDING NOW.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DRILL

AS MANY WELLS

AS YOU ENABLE US TO DRILL;

WE'VE TARGETED HUNDREDS OF THEM

IN MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES,

AND TO BE AN ANSWER TO THAT NEED

THAT THAT MOTHER ADDRESSED

SO EFFECTIVELY.

IT DOES WORK, BUT YOU'RE

THE ONES THAT MAKE IT WORK.

THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING

YOU HOPE WORKS --

THIS ISN'T THROWING MONEY

AT SOMETHING WHERE IT DOESN'T

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE -- IT WORKS!

WE'RE ASKING YOU IF YOU WOULD

TO DIAL THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU HAD A PRAYER NEED,

IT IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW THAT.

THAT MAY BE WHY YOU CALL TODAY.

BUT I'M ASKING AS MANY OF YOU

AS CAN, I'M ASKING YOU,

WOULD YOU CALL AND SAY,

"I WANT TO HELP GIVE WATER

TO PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

I WANT TO HELP DRILL A WELL."

IF YOU COULD GIVE THE $4800,

I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IT.

I'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE SAY,

"I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO

IN THE PAST, I CAN'T THIS YEAR.

I'M PRAYING SOMEBODY

WILL TAKE MY PLACE."

PERHAPS YOU'RE THAT PERSON.

CAN YOU GIVE $1200

AND PRAY THREE WILL JOIN YOU?

OR $2400 AND PRAY SOMEONE ELSE

WILL MATCH THAT.

WHATEVER YOU CAN DO,

PLEASE, DIAL THE NUMBER,

USE YOUR BANKCARD, OR WRITE

A CHECK, MAKE IT TO LIFE

BUT CALL US AND TELL US

YOU'RE MAILING IT BECAUSE

WE HAVE TO KNOW IT IS COMING.

WE'VE GOT TO LET MISSION WORKERS

AND THE WELL DRILLING TEAMS KNOW

THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE

THE RESOURCES.

SO PLEASE MAKE THAT CALL.

WOULD YOU DO IT?

OR YOU CAN GO ONLINE

lifetoday.org.

REMEMBER THIS,

I'LL ALWAYS ASK YOU TO SHOOT FOR

THE HIGHEST LEVEL YOU CAN GIVE

BUT $48 --

DON'T CONSIDER THIS SMALL --

FOR TEN PEOPLE THAT'S WATER

THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

$48 TOWARD THE WELL,

$144, 30 PEOPLE.

SO WHATEVER LEVEL YOU CAN

PARTICIPATE AT PLEASE DO SO.

WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL GIFTS

TO BLESS YOU IN YOUR LIFE

AND YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

BUT YOU'RE GOING

TO BE GIVING LIFE,

REAL LIFE AND HOPE.

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: WE ARE SENDING

TO THOSE OF YOU

WHO MAKE A GIFT TO HELP US,

BELIEVE THIS NOT THAT.

AND TODAY,

IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IT,

WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY

TO SEND YOU OUR SON'S BOOK,

GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY,

AND IT REALLY DOES TELL YOU

WHAT THAT JOY IS.

IT'S NOT JUST LITTLE

TRITE FRIVOLITY;

IT IS AN INNER PEACE

THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF STORMS

AND CHALLENGES,

THERE IS A PEACE AND A JOY

THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING.

IT'S SUPERNATURAL!

RANDY, THANK YOU!

DEBBIE, THANK YOU!

ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT BEING HERE?

Debbie: I'M SO HAPPY!

James: SHE IS KIND OF LIKE BETTY

IN THE SENSE, "I LIKE TO STAY

IN THE BACKGROUND."

WOULD YOU SAY THANKS

TO RANDY AND DEBBIE?

YOU DID GREAT, DEBBIE!

YOU DID GREAT.

YOU MADE US HAPPY!

THANK YOU, RANDY!

THANK ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US

SHARE THIS TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS

FOR OUR FAMILY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US

SHARE THE LIFE AND LOVE OF GOD.

Announcer: FAITH, FAMILY, AND FREEDOM ARE UNDER ATTACK.

AS AMERICA FACES BATTLES WITHIN, MANY WONDER WHERE TO TURN.

IN THEIR NEW BOOK, JAMES ROBISON AND JAY RICHARDS

CALL US TO STAND TOGETHER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

AS ONE NATION TRULY UNDER GOD.

INDIVISIBLE -- COMING SOON TO ONLINE AND RETAIL BOOKSTORES.

Beth: I'M NEVER TRUSTING ANYBODY AGAIN!

BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IF I COULD HAVE TRUSTED ANYBODY

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT PARTICULAR PERSON.

Announcer: SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT TOMORROW ON LIFE TODAY!