Announcer: NEXT ON LIFE TODAY, FORMER N.F.L. RUNNING BACK

AND HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER, EDDIE GEORGE,

ALONG WITH HIS WIFE TAMARA SHARE THE STRUGGLES

THEY HAVE OVERCOME IN THEIR MARRIAGE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT AVOIDING ISSUES,

IT'S ABOUT WHEN THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS COME,

HAVING THAT BLUEPRINT TO GET THROUGH IT.

DEALING WITH ME, I KNOW SHE HAD TO HAVE FAITH.

I PRAYED A LOT! [Laughter]

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE GOD IN THIS RELATIONSHIP.

Announcer: BEING MARRIED FOR REAL -- NEXT!

§

Betty: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!

THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR JOINING US.

I'M BETTY ROBISON

AND THIS IS JAMES.

James: AND WE'VE GOT --

WE'RE IN COWBOY COUNTRY HERE.

LISTEN TO ME NOW BECAUSE

IF YOU BELIEVE IN PRAYER

AND YOU HAVE ANY COMPASSION,

PRAY FOR THE COWBOYS SOMETIME.

WOULD YOU DO THAT?

JUST DO US A LITTLE FAVOR

AND PRAY FOR THEM.

HERE IS A FELLOW

THAT PLAYED FOR THE COWBOYS

FOR A LITTLE WHILE,

HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER,

ALL PRO RUNNING BACK,

HIS NAME IS EDDIE GEORGE,

HIS WIFE IS TAMARA.

THEY'VE GOT A BOOK

AND THIS IS PROBABLY

THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME

THEY EVER FOUND

THEMSELVES IN RIGHT HERE,

AND PROBABLY

THE MOST CHALLENGING GAME.

BUT THEY SAY THEY'RE

MARRIED FOR REAL:

BUILDING A LOVING,

POWERFUL LIFE TOGETHER.

EDDIE AND TAMARA GEORGE,

WOULD YOU WELCOME THEM

TO LIFE TODAY?

Eddie: THANK YOU!

James: I'M GLAD YOU'VE GOT

A LITTLE SPARE TIME WHEN

YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO FOCUS

TOTALLY ON THE MARRIAGE.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING

TO PRAY FOR THE TITANS SOME

BUT YOU WERE WITH THE COWBOYS

A LITTLE WHILE.

THROW A PRAYER OUR WAY

EVERY NOW AND THEN.

Eddie: I WILL. I WILL!

I NEEDED THE PRAYER WHEN

I WAS HERE BECAUSE I STOOD

ON THE SIDELINES A LOT

AND DIDN'T PLAY A WHOLE LOT.

James: YOU DIDN'T BUILD

RESENTMENT OR ANYTHING?

YOU DIDN'T SPEAK

SOMETHING ON US?

Eddie: NO. I LOVE THIS CITY!

BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT

I GREW UP IN PHILADELPHIA

SO WEARING THE STAR

ON THE HELMET WENT AGAINST

EVERYTHING I GREW UP AGAINST.

[Laughter]

James: WELL, CHRISTIANS

ARE FORGIVING

SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO FORGIVE.

I'VE GOT AN IDEA HERE

AND YOU MARRIED THIS GIRL,

AND SHE TELLS US

THAT SHE KNEW NOTHING

ABOUT SPORTS.

[Laughter]

Tamara: EDWARD! FOOTBALL --

DID I KNOW ABOUT FOOTBALL?

Eddie: YOU KNEW NOTHING

ABOUT SPORTS?

Tamara: WELL, NO BEFORE.

BEFORE --

[Laughing]

IN THE BEGINNING,

I DIDN'T KNOW

ANYTHING ABOUT...

I WAS NOT AN ATHLETE.

I'D NEVER PLAYED A SPORT

IN MY LIFE.

I WAS NEVER A CHEERLEADER

SO I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH

ABOUT SPORTS.

I STARTED TO LEARN

ABOUT SPORTS WHEN

I STARTING DATING ATHLETES.

[Laughing]

James: THAT'S IT!

Tamara: MY FIRST BOYFRIEND

WAS A BASKETBALL PLAYER.

MY HUSBAND LATER

WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

I USED TO GO TO SLEEP

AT GAMES.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

James: NOW I KNOW WHY

YOU WEREN'T A CHEERLEADER.

Tamara: I DIDN'T KNOW

WHEN TO CHEER!

[Laughter]

James: IT'S REAL TOUGH

WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING.

DID YOU LEARN

THAT SLEEPING BIT IN CHURCH

LISTENING TO PEOPLE LIKE ME?

Tamara: I HOPE NOT.

James: LET ME ASK YOU THIS,

BECAUSE WE'RE GOING

TO COVER SOME GROUND HERE

BECAUSE REALLY,

YOU PUT A LOT INTO THE BOOK.

IN YOUR PAST,

YOU HAD SOME HURT

SO YOU SAY YOU BROUGHT

SOME BAGGAGE INTO LIFE.

Tamara: I BROUGHT MY HISTORY

INTO MY RELATIONSHIP.

James: WELL, TELL US ABOUT IT.

Tamara: MY HISTORY IS THAT

I GREW UP WITH A MOM

WHO WAS 21 AND HAD SIX KIDS.

WE WERE POOR, SHE MADE A LOT

OF BAD DECISIONS BECAUSE

SHE WAS TOO YOUNG TO MAKE

ANYTHING STRONG OR ANYTHING

CONCRETE AT THAT TIME.

AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE

A LOT OF HELP AROUND HER.

WATCHING HER AS A LITTLE GIRL

MAKE THESE DECISIONS,

IN MY MIND, I'M THINKING THIS

IS HOW LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

I WATCHED

AN ABUSIVE STEPFATHER

COME IN AND BEAT ON MY MOTHER,

BEAT ON US, TAKE EVERYTHING

OUT OF THE HOUSE.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS, I DIDN'T

REALIZE I WAS FOLLOWING DOWN

THOSE SAME FOOTSTEPS.

MY FIRST BOYFRIEND

WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE.

I KNEW IT WAS WRONG

BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE IT.

BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS

HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

James: YOU THINK THAT'S

BASICALLY WHAT MEN WERE LIKE?

Tamara: YEAH! YOU DON'T KNOW

THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

UNTIL YOU FIND A DIFFERENCE.

SO I HAD TO LITERALLY

CLEAN MYSELF UP

TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR THE ONE

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WITH.

James: DID YOU KNOW ABOUT

HER PAST WHEN YOU ALL MET?

Eddie: OH, NO.

ALL I KNEW WAS I SAW

A BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS ANGEL

IN THE MALL ONE DAY IN 1994

AND I FELT AS THOUGH SHE WAS

GOING TO BE MY WIFE EVEN THEN,

EVEN WHEN SHE DIDN'T GIVE ME

THE AUTOGRAPH AT THE MALL

AND DISSED ME.

Tamara: WE KEEP

GOING BACK THERE --

TALKING ABOUT HISTORY.

James: WHY WERE YOU

ASKING HER FOR AN AUTOGRAPH?

Eddie: I RECOGNIZED HER.

I APPRECIATED HER MUSIC,

HER TALENT.

SHE'S A SINGER WITH S.W.V.

IN THE 90S THEY WERE

REALLY HOT BACK THEN.

AND I WAS A YOUNG STRUGGLING

STUDENT ATHLETE PLAYING

FOR OHIO STATE

AT THE CITRUS BOWL

AT THE TIME.

WE WERE IN THE MALL,

A FRIEND OF MINE, BUYING

SOME GIFTS FOR OUR FAMILIES

WITH THE LITTLE MONEY WE HAD.

AND I SAW HER WALKING

WITH ALL THESE BAGS OF GIFTS.

AND I SAID, "OH, MAN!

THERE IS TAJ FROM S.W.V.!

LET'S GO GET HER AUTOGRAPH."

Tamara: YES, HE DID.

YES, HE DID!

Eddie: SO I RAN OVER THERE.

GOT MY PIECE OF PAPER OUT --

Tamara: AND THIS IS WHERE

OUR STORIES DIFFER.

Eddie: CAN I FINISH?

Tamara: OKAY!

Eddie: I SAID, "MA'AM,

CAN I PLEASE!"

Tamara: MA'AM!

Eddie: I SAID, "MA'AM,"

BECAUSE I COME

FROM A MILITARY BACKGROUND,

I'M VERY RESPECTFUL.

I SAID, "MA'AM,

CAN I PLEASE

HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?"

SHE'S LIKE "SPLPP-HA! NO!

I'M LOOKING FOR MY FAMILY."

Tamara: I DID NOT!

Eddie: I SAID, "OH, REALLY?

I WILL NEVER BUY AN ALBUM

FROM YOU AGAIN!"

[Laughter]

Tamara: HE'S LIKE

THE NUMBER ONE S.W.V. FAN.

HE HAS TONS OF CD'S!

Eddie: ANYWAY,

THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW

UNTIL WE REALLY STARTED

TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER

AROUND 1997, 1998, WE WOULD

STAY ON THE PHONE FOR HOURS,

LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP.

SO IT REALLY TOOK

THE PHYSICAL ASPECT OUT OF

THE RELATIONSHIP EARLY ON

AND I REALLY HAD

TO FOCUS ON THE QUALITY

OF THE HUMAN BEING.

ONCE I REALLY UNDERSTOOD

HER BACKGROUND,

WHERE SHE CAME FROM,

HOW SHE WAS ABLE TO PERSEVERE,

I SAID MAN,

THAT'S SOME GREAT QUALITIES

THAT I WANT TO HAVE

SOMEBODY ON MY TEAM

WHEN THINGS ARE ROUGH.

THEY UNDERSTAND

WHAT IT IS LIKE,

ESPECIALLY FOR ATHLETES.

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH

THAT WORLD OF PLAYING

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS,

YOU'VE SEEN THE HEIGHTS

OF GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS,

YOU'RE SEEING MONEY

THROWN AT YOU, IT'S NOT

GOING TO LAST FOREVER.

TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS

AFTER THE GAME,

THE DIVORCE RATES

ARE OUT OF THE ROOF

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE

TO HANDLE ADVERSITY

AND NOT HAVING

WHAT YOU USED TO HAVE.

SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT.

THERE WAS A TIME

IN OUR RELATIONSHIP

WHEN SHE LIVED IN LOS ANGELES,

SHE DIDN'T HAVE A BED

TO SLEEP ON.

SO THAT TOLD ME

A LOT ABOUT MY WIFE

AND WHO SHE WAS AS A PERSON.

James: I KNOW IN YOUR STORY

THAT YOU WENT FROM

THE ABUSIVE SITUATION

IN THE HOME TO WHERE

YOU MADE THE BAD CHOICES

AND YOU GOT INTO MORE ABUSE,

YOU HAD TO BREAK OFF

SOME THINGS AND WASN'T

ONE OF THOSE ENCOUNTERS

PRETTY SIGNIFICANT

IN YOUR LIFE AND

A PRETTY EMOTIONAL SITUATION?

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

Tamara: MY LIFE EMOTIONALLY

HAD GOTTEN SO BAD

I WAS DONE.

I WAS LITERALLY

TIRED OF LIVING.

IT TOOK ME TO A POINT WHERE

I HAD TO BREAK MYSELF DOWN.

THERE WAS AN INCIDENT

WHERE I REMEMBER CRYING

FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT.

LITERALLY,

I WOULD EAT AND CRY.

I WOULD SHOWER AND CRY.

EVERYTHING I DID I CRIED.

DURING THAT TIME I COULD HEAR

-- I COULD HEAR MYSELF SAYING,

"WHY ARE YOU

TORTURING YOURSELF?

WHY ARE YOU PUTTING

YOURSELF THROUGH THIS?"

AND I REALIZED IT WASN'T ME.

IT WAS A HIGHER POWER

TALKING TO ME.

AT THAT MOMENT,

I STOPPED CRYING

AND I PLACED THE CALL

AND I SEVERED THAT

RELATIONSHIP FOR GOOD.

I WALKED AWAY, AND I'VE BEEN

A BETTER PERSON FOR IT.

I CAN'T COMPLAIN AND

I REALIZED I OPENED MYSELF UP

FOR THE ONE THAT

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WITH.

I LET IT ALL GO.

James: WHEN YOU ALL

GOT TOGETHER, HOW IMPORTANT

DID COMMUNICATION BECOME?

Tamara: IT HAD TO BE THERE

BECAUSE WE WERE LONG DISTANCE.

THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN

NOT COMMUNICATE

NOT BEING TOGETHER.

SO YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY

TO MAKE IT WORK.

AND OURS WAS ON THE PHONE,

E-MAIL -- WHAT DID WE HAVE?

WE HAD THIS LITTLE CAMERA --

Eddie: TWO-WAY PAGERS.

Tamara: YEAH, IT WAS LIKE

A TWO-WAY PAGER

AND YOU COULD SEND PICTURES,

YOU COULD DO ALL THIS STUFF,

BUT WE HAD TO COMMUNICATE.

THAT WAS THE FIRST THING

ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP

AND UNFORTUNATELY,

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T

HAVE THAT AS A PRIORITY

BECAUSE THEY'RE TOGETHER

ALL OF THE TIME

AND THE PHYSICAL AND

EVERYTHING ELSE TAKES OVER.

BECAUSE WE WERE LONG DISTANCE

WE HAD NO CHOICE.

Eddie: BUT I WOULD SAY THIS,

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING NOW

GOING INTO OUR EIGHTH YEAR

OF MARRIAGE,

WITH 14 YEARS TOGETHER,

IS THAT THE COMMUNICATION

DURING DIFFICULT TIMES --

WHEN IT IS TOUGH TO DEAL

WITH REAL LIFE ISSUES

WITH YOUR CHILDREN OR FINANCES

OR BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE

DEALING WITH OTHER TEMPTATIONS

AND HEARING THINGS AND DEALING

WITH THOSE ISSUES,

WHEN YOU DON'T WANT

TO TALK ABOUT IT,

THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE

TO COMMUNICATE ON SOME LEVEL.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T

ADDRESS THE ISSUE

AND YOU JUST SWEEP IT

UNDER THE RUG,

THAT DUST BUILDS, IT FESTERS,

AND IT BECOMES A PROBLEM.

SO YOU HAVE TO ATTACK

THAT ISSUE HEAD ON,

DEAL WITH IT

WITH THE GAME PLAN

AND UNDERSTAND, LISTEN,

WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM,

THESE THINGS

ARE GOING TO COME UP,

THESE WAVES ARE GOING

TO COME UP.

HOW DO WE FLOW

WITH THIS CURRENT?

HOW DO WE GET WITH

THE RHYTHM OF THE WAVE

AND GET THROUGH IT?

THAT'S THE KEY; IT'S NOT ABOUT

AVOIDING ISSUES, IT IS ABOUT

WHEN THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS

COME, HAVING THAT BLUEPRINT

TO GET THROUGH IT.

Betty: YOU WERE EVIDENTLY

COMMITTED TO THE MARRIAGE.

IT WASN'T LIKE, "WELL,

IF THIS DOESN'T WORK OUT

WE CAN GET A DIVORCE,

WE CAN GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS."

THAT COMMITMENT HAS TO BE

THERE BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE --

YOU BOTH BRING BAGGAGE

INTO THE RELATIONSHIP.

Eddie: LISTEN, WE'VE GONE

THROUGH OUR ISSUES, WE'VE

GONE TO MARRIAGE COUNSELING...

James: DID HE HAVE ANY ISSUES?

Tamara: ABSOLUTELY!

Eddie: I STILL DO!

I HAVE ISSUE

ACROSS MY FOREHEAD.

I AM THE ISSUE!

[Laughter]

JUST CALL ME "ISSUE."

James: WELL, ISSUE

IS WHY YOU WROTE THE BOOK.

BECAUSE I REALLY AM

CURIOUS WHY, OBVIOUSLY,

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE

YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH BAGGAGE,

LET'S SAY, THAT COULD

KEEP YOU FROM EVER HAVING

A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP,

NOW YOU ALL HAVE WORKED

TO A POINT,

AND YOU'VE SEEN THE STRENGTHS

IN ONE ANOTHER,

AND YOU'VE GOTTEN SOMEPLACE

BUT WHY DID YOU DECIDE

YOU WANTED TO WRITE

ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY?

WHAT LED YOU

TO WRITE THE BOOK?

Tamara: WHEN WE DECIDED

TO WRITE THIS BOOK

WE KNEW WE WANTED TO WRITE

SOMETHING ON RELATIONSHIPS

BECAUSE WE KNEW

A LOT ABOUT THAT.

WE FIGURED

IF WE WOULD BE HONEST

ABOUT WHAT WE WENT THROUGH

AND HOW WE RESOLVED

THOSE ISSUES, IT WILL EASILY

GET THROUGH TO PEOPLE.

WE COULD WRITE A BOOK AND

CREATE STORIES ALL DAY LONG

BUT WILL IT TOUCH SOMEONE?

WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

AND TO HEAR THE TRUTH,

THE GOD-HONEST TRUTH

AND TO KNOW THAT MARRIAGE

IS NOT A JOKE, IT'S SOMETHING

YOU WORK AT EVERY DAY,

WE FIGURED THAT WOULD BE

THE BEST WAY TO HELP PEOPLE.

AND IF WE'D HAD A BOOK

LIKE THIS AROUND 14 YEARS AGO,

MAYBE WE WOULD HAVE AVOIDED

A LOT OF THE ISSUES

THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH,

WE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY

HAD A MUCH EASIER ROAD.

BUT WE THANK GOD FOR THAT ROAD

BECAUSE IT MADE US

WHO WE ARE TODAY,

THE COUPLE WE ARE TODAY

AND NOW WE CAN PASS IT ON

TO SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP THEM.

James: AND YOU BOTH OVERCAME

REAL SERIOUS CHALLENGES

IN THE FACT THAT YOU HAD

ABUSIVE SITUATIONS.

AND YOUR DAD AND MOM

WERE NOT TOGETHER

AND YOUR DAD HAD SOME ISSUES.

YOU AND I HAD A PRETTY

INTERESTING CONVERSATION

BEFORE WE CAME OUT HERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DETECTED,

EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT

HAVE HAD ALL THE REASONS

TO DISMISS THE RESPECT LEVEL

FOR YOUR DAD AND LOVE,

YOU REALLY DO HAVE THAT.

YOU HAVE AN APPRECIATION,

EVEN THOUGH HE MIGHT HAVE

BEEN TRYING TO LIVE OUT

SOME OF HIS DREAMS

AND FANTASIES IN YOU, AND

PUSHED YOU, STILL YOU WENT

ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP,

YOU FULFILLED THE DREAMS.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN

THE RESPECT LEVEL

AND HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT

FOR YOU TO LOOK BACK ON,

BOTH OF YOU,

DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND YET

HANDLE THAT APPROPRIATELY?

Eddie: WELL, GROWING UP,

LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE MY FATHER

IN MY LIFE THE WHOLE TIMES

BUT THE YEARS

THAT I DID HAVE HIM

WAS VERY IMPACTFUL FOR ME

BECAUSE HE WOULD TAKE ME

TO THE HIGH SCHOOL

FOOTBALL GAMES,

AND GO TO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

AT NIGHT.

AND HE WOULD SAY, "THE MAGIC

HAPPENS UNDER THE LIGHTS."

WE WOULD HEAR THE DRUMS

LIKE MILES AWAY

AND HE WOULD GET SO EXCITED.

AND WE WOULD WATCH

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TOGETHER

AND HOW WE TALKED ABOUT

EARL CAMPBELL AND TONY DORSETT

AND SOME OF THE GREAT

RUNNING BACKS.

IT WAS MY GOAL TO HAVE HIM

TALK ABOUT ME IN THE SAME WAY.

MY FATHER PLAYED

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL,

THAT'S IT.

HE DIDN'T PLAY IN COLLEGE

OR PROFESSIONALLY

BUT IN MY MIND, HE WAS

THE GREATEST RUNNING BACK

THAT EVER PLAYED THE GAME.

I WANTED HIM TO TALK ABOUT ME

IN THE SAME BREATH.

SO GROWING UP AS A TEENAGER

TO A YOUNG ADULT, I WOULD

SEE HIM AROUND THE CITY.

HE HAD HIS ISSUES WITH DRUGS

AND I NEVER ONCE

DISRESPECTED MY FATHER

BECAUSE THAT WAS MY DAD

AND I LOVED HIM

AND I WANTED HIM TO GET WELL.

I THOUGHT BY

LIVING OUT HIS DREAM

AND SEEING ME SUCCESSFUL WOULD

IN HIS EYES HE'D SAY,

"LOOK, I MADE IT."

I WAS CARRYING HIS DREAM

ON MY BACK.

I WANTED TO DO IT

TO THE FULLEST

AND I THOUGHT I'D DONE IT.

A GREAT STORY,

I'LL TELL YOU THIS,

CAME AT A TIME WHEN

I NEEDED HIM THE MOST AND

IT WAS A PLAY-OFF GAME AGAINST

THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS,

MY LAST YEAR

WITH THE TENNESSEE TITANS.

HE CAME UP TO THE GAME,

JUST HIM AND I,

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET

BEFORE THE GAME

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME

WE EVER HAD PRAYER TOGETHER.

WE WERE PRAYING

BY THE BEDSIDE.

AND I BEGAN PRAYING

AND I COULDN'T --

I BROKE IN TEARS.

THEN HE PICKED ME UP

AND HE PRAYED FOR ME

AND WE JUST HUGGED.

THAT WAS THE MOMENT

THAT LED TO...

TOLD ME THAT I FULFILLED

THAT PART OF MY LIFE.

THAT WAS IT.

I WAS DONE AS A TITAN.

I CAME DOWN HERE TO DALLAS

AND STOOD ON THE SIDELINES

AND WATCHED Y'ALL PLAY

FOR A YEAR.

[Laughter]

BUT IT WAS GREAT.

James: WE HADN'T BEEN

REAL SMART FOR A WHILE,

OFF AND ON.

Eddie: BUT THAT CHAPTER

IN MY LIFE WAS CLOSED

BECAUSE I HAD THAT ONE MOMENT

WITH MY FATHER.

HE WASN'T IN MY LIFE A LOT

BUT I LOVED, AND I PLAYED

THE GAME BECAUSE OF HIM

AND I WANTED HIM TO SEE ME

AND TALK ABOUT ME

WITH GREATNESS.

James: IT'S OBVIOUS THAT

THAT MOMENT EVEN PRAYING THERE

IS HUGE TO YOU.

I LOOK AT A COUPLE

THAT I KNOW WANT PEOPLE

WHO HAVE HAD CHALLENGES --

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE

HAVE CHALLENGES.

I GREW UP WITHOUT A FATHER

SO I WANT EVERYBODY

TO HAVE THE FATHER

BUT I'D LIKE THEM

TO HAVE A FATHER IN PLACE.

AND GOOD FATHERS

USUALLY BECOME BETTER FATHERS

BECAUSE OF THIS FATHER --

GOD, THE FATHER.

HOW IMPORTANT IS FAITH

IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

Tamara: WE CAN'T DO IT

WITHOUT FAITH.

NOTHING WE DO MAKES SENSE

WITHOUT FAITH.

WHEN WE WERE DOWN-AND-OUT,

WHEN WE HAD NO MORE AIR

TO BREATHE, FAITH GAVE US AIR.

IT GAVE US STRENGTH.

IT GAVE US A FOUNDATION

THAT WE STAND ON EVERY DAY.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT FAITH.

Eddie: YEAH, AND FAITH IS

THE FOUNDATION FOR ANYTHING

-- FOR ANYBODY.

IF YOU'RE PURSUING A CAREER,

A DREAM, MARRIAGE,

RELATIONSHIP,

A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP,

YOU'RE OPERATING OFF OF FAITH

BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING THERE

THAT SAYS YOU'RE GOING

TO MAKE IT OR YOU'RE

GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL,

YET YOU ARE OPERATING OFF

OF FAITH AND WILL AND TRUST.

THAT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR US

BECAUSE DEALING WITH ME,

I KNOW SHE HAD TO HAVE FAITH.

Tamara: I PRAYED A LOT.

[Laughter]

Eddie: YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE GOD

IN THIS RELATIONSHIP

FOR IT TO WORK.

SO FAITH IS HUGE FOR US

AND IS NOTHING

YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED AND SAY,

"OKAY, WE'RE PUTTING FAITH

ON THE SHELF TODAY."

YOU WAKE UP IN FAITH,

YOU WALK OUT THE DOOR

IN FAITH,

AND WE GO TO SLEEP IN FAITH

AND THAT'S HOW WE OPERATE.

James: YOU FEEL LIKE

YOU REALLY GIVE, IN MANY WAYS,

A HANDBOOK TO PEOPLE WHO SAY,

"WELL, WHEN I LOOK

AT SOME OF THE THINGS

I'VE FACED IN MY LIFE,

I MIGHT WONDER IF I'M

EVEN PREPARED AT ALL

FOR A MEANINGFUL MARRIAGE."

YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM

HOPE AND FAITH AND HELP.

YOU FEEL LIKE

IF THEY WILL READ THE BOOK,

IF THEY'RE CONSIDERING

MARRIAGE, IF THEY'RE

PRAYING FOR A MARRIAGE,

PRAYING FOR SOMEBODY

OR IF THEY'RE IN A MARRIAGE,

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU REALLY

PUT SOMETHING OUT THEY CAN

TAKE RIGHT INTO THEIR LIVES

AND BEGIN TO APPLY IT

IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.

Tamara: IT'S A GREAT

BLUEPRINT.

James: YOU'RE HANDING OFF

SOMETHING THAT CAN

ENABLE PEOPLE TO REALLY GET

AHEAD IN LIFE AND SUCCEED.

WOULD YOU SAY THANKS,

ALONG WITH BETTY AND ME,

TO EDDIE AND TO TAMARA?

THANK GOD FOR FAITH

AND THE JOURNEY.

AND WHEREVER YOU ARE

IN YOUR JOURNEY,

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND

THAT GOD IS BIGGER

THAN EVERY MOUNTAIN

AND EVERY CHALLENGE YOU FACE,

ABLE TO LIFT YOU UP

OUT OF EVERY VALLEY.

OFTENTIMES, BETTY, I THINK

THE CHALLENGING MOMENTS

MAKE US STRONG ENOUGH

TO TAKE SOME THINGS

THAT WERE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED.

EVEN AS WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE

WITH ONE ANOTHER,

IT MAKES US STRONGER.

FATHER, I PRAY FOR MARRIAGES,

I PRAY FOR FAMILIES,

I PRAY FOR PEOPLE

WHO ARE SEEKING

A MEANINGFUL MARRIAGE

OR A RELATIONSHIP

THAT NEEDS TO BE HEALED.

AND I PRAY, DEAR GOD,

THAT THEY WILL TURN TO YOU,

COMMIT TO YOU AND ONE ANOTHER

AND SEE THAT

RELATIONSHIP HEALED.

IN JESUS' NAME.

WE REALLY WANT TO BE

AVAILABLE ANY TIME

TO PRAY WITH YOU AND FOR YOU.

THE NUMBER IS THERE BECAUSE

I WANT TO SAY

SOMEBODY LOVES YOU,

NOT JUST GOD,

BUT SOMEBODY'S PAID

FOR THE NUMBER.

IF YOU'RE AT A DESPERATE POINT

AND YOU SAY, "GOSH,

I DON'T KNOW

IF I COULD AFFORD THE CALL,"

IT'S PAID FOR BY LOVE.

CALL AND JUST SAY,

"WOULD YOU PLEASE

PRAY WITH ME?"

I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF YOU,

IF YOU WOULD,

TO TURN YOUR EYES

AND LOOK AT A SCENE HAPPENING

ALL OVER THE WORLD WHERE

THERE IS SO MANY CHILDREN

AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT

DO NOT HAVE WHAT I HAVE HERE

IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT'S

A CLEAN CUP OF WATER

THAT WE SO OFTEN

TAKE FOR GRANTED.

WE'RE SO INTERESTED

IN PURE CLEAN WATER

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN

WANT TO DRINK TAP WATER HERE

IN THE ADVANCED COUNTRIES

SO THEY BUY BOTTLED WATER

TRYING TO GET SOMETHING

THAT'S A LITTLE MORE PURE.

WELL, IMAGINE,

WHAT IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY --

ANY SOURCE AT ALL

FOR ANYTHING

CLOSE TO CLEAN WATER?

YOU HAVE DISEASE-RIDDEN WATER

BUT YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.

I WOULDN'T CHANGE THAT.

I THINK YOU'RE

GOING TO WANT TO.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO

WHAT JESUS SAID?

GIVE A CUP OF WATER

IN HIS NAME?

WATCH.

§

§

§

§

§

§

§

James: WELL, BETTY,

THOSE MOUNDS OF DIRT

REPRESENT A DREAM THAT'S GONE,

ALL BECAUSE NO WATER

-- NO CLEAN,

NON-CONTAMINATED WATER SOURCE.

I'M ASKING YOU TO DO WHAT

VIEWERS LIKE YOU HAVE TOLD US,

AND BETTY AND I CAN CERTAINLY

CONCUR AND AGREE,

THEY DON'T EVER DO ANYTHING

THEY FIND ANY GREATER JOY

OUT OF PARTICIPATING IN

AND THAT'S GIVING PEOPLE

A FRESH CLEAN WATER WELL,

A WATER SOURCE THAT LITERALLY

IS A GIFT THAT WE MAKE

THAT JUST KEEPS GIVING

FOR A LIFETIME.

WE'RE REALLY TARGETING

350 AREAS.

YOU SAY, "HOW DO YOU FIND

THE AREAS?"

WELL, OUR ATTENTION

ON THOSE AREAS IS LITERALLY

FOCUSED BY MISSIONARIES

WHO PLANTED THEIR LIFE IN

THE MIDST OF THAT SUFFERING.

AND IN LOVE, THEY COME TO US

BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPRESSED

A DESIRE TO HELP MEET NEEDS

AND THEY KNOW THAT

THE VIEWERS OF LIFE TODAY WANT

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE OUTSIDE

THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN,

AND IMPACT POSITIVELY

SOMEBODY ELSE'S WORLD.

THEY LIVE BEYOND THEMSELVES.

IN OTHER WORDS,

THE RIVER WITHIN

IS RELEASED TO FREELY FLOW

LIKE JESUS SAID

IT'S SUPPOSED TO;

AND IN RELEASING THE RIVER,

WE FIND LIFE BY GIVING LIFE.

SO THEY COME TO US

AND THEY SAY,

"WOULD YOU DRILL A WELL

IN THIS AREA?

WE'VE GOT AN AREA

OF TREMENDOUS NEED

AND IT WILL JUST

CHANGE EVERYTHING."

SO WE'VE TARGETED 350 AREAS.

NOW THE AVERAGE COST

AND WE'RE PRAYING

IT WILL STAY AT THIS LEVEL

WITH THE PETROLEUM INCREASES

AND THE ENERGY COSTS AND

GASOLINE COSTS, DIESEL COSTS,

WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG

IT WILL STAY THERE

BUT RIGHT NOW

WE ARE BEING ASSURED

WE CAN DRILL THE WELLS FOR

AN AVERAGE OF $4800 EACH --

A WELL FOR $4800.

YOU PERHAPS COULD GIVE A WELL.

MANY PEOPLE SAY,

"THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT JOYS

OF MY YEAR; I GIVE A WELL."

SOME PEOPLE SAY,

"I MADE IT ONE OF MY DREAMS

TO GIVE A WELL;

I WORK TOWARD IT."

WE'VE GOT CHILDREN

WHO GO TO WORK

AND START DOING LITTLE THINGS

TO RAISE MONEY

AND THEY DO IT.

WE'VE GOT CLASSROOMS

THAT DO IT,

AND CHURCHES BUT MAINLY,

WE'VE GOT INDIVIDUALS

AND COUPLES THAT SAY,

"I CAN DO IT."

THERE WOULD BE SOME, BETTY,

WHO TELL US, "WELL,

I CAN'T DO A WHOLE WELL

BUT I CAN GIVE

PART OF A WELL."

AND THEY GIVE $1200

AND START PRAYING, "GOD,

GIVE US THREE TO JOIN ME"

AND WE'VE GOT A WELL.

SO IF YOU CAN DO THAT,

WE'RE ASKING YOU TO

MAKE THAT GIFT.

BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND,

THIS IS HOW IT BREAKS OUT:

A GIFT OF $48

GIVES 10 PEOPLE WATER

FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

NOW THAT'S JUST A GIFT

THAT KEEPS ON GIVING;

$144 AND YOU'VE GIVEN

30 PEOPLE WATER

THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

THERE IS SOME LEVEL

AT WHICH EVERYONE

CAN PARTICIPATE

AND THAT'S A JOY.

WILL YOU DIAL THE NUMBER

RIGHT NOW

AND TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,

USE IT LIKE A CHECK?

COULD YOU DO THAT?

IF YOU CAN GIVE A WELL

OR PART OF A WELL

OR MAKE THAT GIFT OF $48,

$100 OR MORE,

WHATEVER YOU CAN DO,

IF YOU MAKE A CHECK,

MAKE IT TO <U>LIFE</U>

BUT CALL US AND TELL US

WHAT YOU'RE MAILING.

YOU CAN GO ONLINE,

LifeToday.org AND

MAKE THAT GIFT IMMEDIATELY.

WE'VE GOT SOME SPECIAL GIFTS

THAT WE WANT TO SEND YOU

TO INSPIRE YOU,

A DEVOTIONAL BOOK,

A STUDY THAT WILL INSPIRE YOU.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO BLESS YOU.

BUT YOU ARE

THE GREATEST BLESSING

BECAUSE YOU ARE CHANGING

EVERYTHING FOR PEOPLE WHEN

YOU GIVE THEM CLEAN WATER.

PLEASE MAKE THAT LIFE-GIVING

CALL AND THAT SPECIAL GIFT.

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 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 CAN ESTABLISH

AND DRILL 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 ARISE,

A BEAUTIFUL NEW DAILY DEVOTIONAL

FEATURING WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM INSPIRING WOMEN

WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR FAITH ON LIFE TODAY.

WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 OR MORE,

YOU MAY REQUEST THE ARISE AUDIO VISUAL DEVOTIONAL

FEATURING 40 DAYS OF INSPIRATION

FROM LIFE TODAY'S FAVORITE WOMEN GUESTS.

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 LION AND THE LAMB."

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

James: THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN

COME HERE TO GET WATER

BUT WE JUST VISITED WITH A MOTHER A FEW MINUTES AGO

THAT LOST HER LITTLE SEVEN-MONTH-OLD BABY GIRL

BECAUSE OF CONTAMINATED WATER FROM THIS WELL.

Betty: JAMES, THESE CHILDREN ARE OLDER

THAN THE LITTLE SEVEN MONTH OLD THAT DIED

BUT STILL WITH THIS WATER HERE,

IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GROW UP.

James: WHEN THEY'RE RELATED TO THE FAMILY OF GOD,

THEY'RE RELATED TO US, IT'S GOD'S FAMILY.

THE PEOPLE HE LOVES THAT JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO GIVE HEALTH AND LIFE

AND CLEAN WATER TO THEM AND WE CAN DO THAT.

WE CAN CERTAINLY GIVE A CUP OF WATER,

EVEN A WELL OF WATER IN JESUS' NAME.

James: I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU

THAT WE'RE SENDING

THIS BEAUTIFUL BRONZE,

THIS COLLECTIBLE

"LION AND LAMB"

TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR YOUR GIFT, THAT'S IF

YOU MAKE A GIFT OF A WELL

OR $1200 TOWARD IT.

THE WONDERFUL DEVOTIONAL BOOK,

WHICH YOU'LL HEAR

NOT ONLY FROM BETTY

AND OTHERS THAT YOU KNOW

ON THE LIFE TODAY PROGRAM

BUT MANY OF THE PEOPLE

THAT YOU GREATLY RESPECT

TO INSPIRE YOU.

WOMEN WHO HAVE STORIES

THAT WILL INSPIRE,

AND ALSO THE TEACHING SERIES,

THE DVD AND CD SERIES

FROM THESE SAME ONES.

I WANT TO JUST SAY FIRST,

THANKS TO YOU BUT ALSO

THANKS TO OUR AUDIENCE HERE

AND THANKS TO EDDIE

AND TAMARA GEORGE.

I THINK THEY'RE JUST

A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE.

I JUST SAY WE BLESS YOU.

WOULD YOU JOIN US

IN SAYING THANKS?

BLESS BOTH OF YOU

AND BLESS YOU.

HERE IS THE BOOK;

IT'S IN THE BOOKSTORES.

YOU CAN GET IT ONLINE,

MARRIED FOR REAL,

FOR KEEPS -- COMMITMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR LETTING US SHARE

THIS TIME WITH YOU.

§

§

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

JAMES ROBISON AND JAY RICHARDS ENCOURAGE A DIVIDED AMERICA

TO STAND TOGETHER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

INDIVISIBLE -- NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK

AND ONLINE AND RETAIL BOOKSTORES.

Announcer: TOMORROW, FOX NEWS ANALYST,

FATHER JONATHAN MORRIS.

SOMETIMES WE CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN EITHER OBLIGATION,

GET CAUGHT UP IN TRADITION.