I HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

THAT WAS TOO MUCH ON MY TERMS.

Announcer: COMING UP, TEACHING PASTOR, KYLE IDLEMAN

CHALLENGES YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT IT REALLY MEANS

TO CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN.

TOO OFTENTIMES OUR CHURCHES HAVE BECOME

STADIUMS FULL OF FANS.

PEOPLE WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS CLOSE ENOUGH TO GET THE BENEFITS

BUT NOT SO CLOSE THAT IT REQUIRES ANYTHING FROM THEM.

Announcer: BECOMING A COMPLETELY COMMITTED FOLLOWER OF JESUS

AND NOT JUST A FAN -- NEXT!

James: THANK ALL OF YOU.

AND WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!

I'M JAMES ROBISON.

I FEEL LIKE I'M HALF HERE

BECAUSE BETTY IS NOT HERE.

SHE HAD AN EYE THAT HAD

A BLOOD VESSEL BREAK IN IT

A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING

TO TAKE ABOUT A WEEK

FOR THAT TO GET BETTER.

IT'S NEARLY SWOLLEN SHUT.

SHE WASN'T COMFORTABLE

BEING WITH US.

I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.

I HAVE A WONDERFUL GUEST,

KYLE IDLEMAN WHO IS ONE

OF THE TEACHING PASTORS

AT SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

IN LOUISVILLE.

DAVE STONE IS PASTOR.

DAVE, I'M SURE YOU'RE WATCHING

BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WATCH ME

AND YOU WATCH BETTY BECAUSE

YOU TOLD US YOU HAVE

AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT WE DO.

AND I HAVE SO MUCH ADMIRATION

AND APPRECIATION FOR YOU

AND FOR YOUR CHURCH

AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP,

AND ALSO FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

BUT I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

BECAUSE I KNOW YOU REALLY LIKE

MY GUEST TODAY.

I KNOW THAT KYLE --

AND YOU EVEN SENT ME AN E-MAIL

SAYING, "HE'S SOME KIND

OF PREACHER, JAMES.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

THE TWO OF YOU BEING TOGETHER."

SO DAVE, HIGHEST REGARDS

AND APPRECIATION FOR YOU,

FOR THE LEADERSHIP THERE

IN ONE OF THE GREAT CHURCHES

IN OUR NATION;

I JUST THANK GOD FOR YOU.

THANK GOD FOR THE MINISTRY

THERE AT SOUTHEAST,

AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING

ONE OF YOUR STAFF.

I WANT YOU TO WELCOME

KYLE IDLEMAN TO LIFE TODAY.

KYLE, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

Kyle: THANK YOU!

I APPRECIATE IT.

James: I WANT TO TALK TO YOU

-- YOU KNOW I ACTUALLY SAW

CLIPS OF YOU PREACHING

AND YOU'RE REALLY GOOD.

I CAN TELL YOU'RE ZEALOUS

AND I'M KIND OF

A ZEALOUS GUY MYSELF.

I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG

LIKE YOU, I HAD A LOT OF ZEAL

BUT I'VE STILL GOT IT

AND I'M KIND OF AN OLD GUY.

Kyle: I HOPE I'M GOING STRONG.

James: YOU'LL BE GOING STRONG

-- NOT A FAN.

THIS IS KIND OF A TITLE

THAT GETS YOUR ATTENTION.

AND MAX LUCADO TALKS ABOUT

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE BOOK IT IS.

YOUR PASTOR HAS SAID

THIS IS AWESOME.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT,

NOT A FAN?

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY

AND TELL ME ABOUT

WHAT LED TO THIS BOOK.

Kyle: A FAN IS SIMPLY DEFINED

AS AN ENTHUSIASTIC ADMIRER.

THE BOOK REALLY BEGAN

AS A PERSONAL CONVICTION

IN MY OWN LIFE THAT

I HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

THAT WAS TOO MUCH ON MY TERMS.

IN OTHER WORDS, I DEFINED IT,

I IDENTIFIED IT MORE ABOUT

WHAT I WANTED IT TO BE

AND HOW I WANTED IT TO LOOK

THAN NECESSARILY

WHAT THE GOSPELS TAUGHT.

AS A RESULT, OFTENTIMES

MY SERMONS WOULD REFLECT THAT.

AND SO GOD BROKE ME,

CONVICTED ME ON A THURSDAY.

I WAS GETTING READY TO PREACH

FOR EASTER WEEKEND.

AT OUR CHURCH WE'LL HAVE

30,000 OR 40,000 PEOPLE

COME IN FOR EASTER WEEKEND.

SO I WAS FEELING THIS PRESSURE.

I WANTED IT TO BE

A GOOD SERMON.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WHAT WE CALL

"CHREASTERS" ON THAT WEEKEND.

AND CHREASTERS ARE THE PEOPLE

THAT ONLY COME ON

CHRISTMAS AND EASTER.

I THINK EVERY CHURCH HAS THEM,

THE CHREASTERS.

AND THE CHREASTERS ARE --.

James: ARE THEY ANYTHING

LIKE CREATURES?

Kyle: A LITTLE BIT.

THEY COME A COUPLE TIMES

A YEAR.

I EVEN HAD ONE TIME --

I FINISHED PREACHING AN EASTER

SERMON AND A PERSON CAUGHT ME

AFTERWARDS AND SAID,

"IT'S A GREAT MESSAGE.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR."

THAT'S KIND OF THE MENTALITY

OF A CHREASTER.

SO I WAS SITTING

TRYING TO THINK,

WHAT'S A MESSAGE THAT

WOULD GET THEIR ATTENTION?

WHAT'S A WAY TO CREATIVELY

PRESENT THIS IN SUCH A WAY

THAT THEY WOULD WANT

TO COME BACK?

IT JUST WASN'T COMING.

SO I WENT INTO

OUR EMPTY SANCTUARY,

AND IT'S A BIG SANCTUARY;

IT SEATS AROUND 9,000 PEOPLE.

I SAT THERE

AND JUST BEGAN TO PRAY.

SAID, "GOD, WHAT IS IT

THAT YOU WOULD WANT ME TO SAY?"

I PULLED OUT A BIBLE

OUT OF THE CHAIR IN FRONT OF ME

AND I JUST ASKED

A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION THAT

WOULD END UP REALLY CHANGING ME

AS A PERSON AND AS A PREACHER.

HERE'S THE QUESTION I ASKED.

I SAID, "WHAT DID JESUS PREACH

WHENEVER HE HAD

HIS LARGE CROWDS?"

I JUST BEGAN TO DO A SURVEY

OF THE GOSPELS MAKING NOTES

OF THE DIFFERENT MESSAGES

THAT JESUS PREACHED WHENEVER

HE HAD THE BIGGEST AUDIENCES.

WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS THAT

WHEN HE HAD THE BIG CROWDS

HE WOULD OFTEN PREACH A MESSAGE

THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY

COMFORTABLE;

IT WASN'T NECESSARILY

WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR.

SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE

WOULD GO HOME.

AND SO I SAT THERE AND I CRIED

AND I TOLD GOD, "I'M SORRY"

BECAUSE TOO OFTENTIMES

I HAD PREACHED A MESSAGE

THAT I KNEW PEOPLE WOULD WANT

TO HEAR, THAT I THOUGHT WOULD

MAKE ME A LITTLE MORE POPULAR,

THAT I FELT WOULD

BE COMFORTABLE FOR

ALL THE CHREASTERS.

AND I MADE THE DECISION THAT

THE APOLOGY HAD TO GO FURTHER.

SO I STOOD UP ON THAT EASTER

WEEKEND AND I SAID TO ALL

THE PEOPLE THERE, "LISTEN,

I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY BECAUSE

TOO OFTENTIMES I HAVE PREACHED

A GOSPEL THAT HAS LEFT OUT

SOME CERTAIN AREAS.

I'VE ALLOWED THERE TO BE

SMALL PRINT AND THERE IS

NO SMALL PRINT IN THE TRUTH

OF CHRIST.

I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE IT

MORE PLEASING

AND MORE PRESENTABLE BUT

IN DOING SO I'VE CHEAPENED IT."

AND SO I BEGAN JUST REALLY

WITH A VERY HEARTFELT TEARFUL

CONFESSION, HOPING IT WOULD GO

NO FURTHER THAN THAT.

WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS THAT

THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT

GOD NEEDED TO CONVICT ME OF.

HE NEEDED TO CHANGE A LOT

OF HEARTS IN OUR CHURCH BUT

IT NEEDED TO GO FURTHER

BECAUSE TOO OFTENTIMES

OUR CHURCHES HAVE BECOME

STADIUMS FULL OF FANS.

PEOPLE WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS

CLOSE ENOUGH TO GET

THE BENEFITS BUT NOT SO CLOSE

IT REQUIRES ANYTHING FROM THEM

AND THEY WANT THE RELATIONSHIP

ON THEIR TERMS.

SO REALLY, IT'S JUST A CALL

BACK TO THE GOSPELS

TO OBJECTIVELY SAY, "ALL RIGHT,

WHAT'S IT REALLY MEAN

TO FOLLOW CHRIST?

HOW DOES HE DEFINE THAT?"

BUT IT BEGAN IN A VERY

PERSONAL WAY FOR ME.

SO I JUST BEGAN TO REALLY

CHALLENGE OUR CHURCH AND

MYSELF WITH THOSE QUESTIONS.

ARE YOU SACRIFICING FOR JESUS?

IS IT COSTING YOU ANYTHING?

AND BEGAN TO EXPLORE,

ARE WE REALLY FOLLOWING CHRIST

BY CARRYING A CROSS

OR HAVE WE DECIDED THAT

WE'RE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH

A GOSPEL OF EASE,

CONVENIENCE, AND COMFORT?

THE IMAGE I LIKE TO USE

IS THAT OF A SNUGGIE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A SNUGGIE IS?

James: OH, YEAH.

Kyle: DO YOU HAVE A SNUGGIE?

James: SOMEBODY GAVE ME ONE.

I HAVE TO ADMIT IT.

[Laughter]

Kyle: I LOVE THE THOUGHT OF YOU

ON A COUCH WEARING A SNUGGIE

WATCHING TV.

James: WELL, JUST DREAM ON.

OKAY?

[Laughter]

Kyle: THAT IS A PRODUCT THAT

SOLD MILLIONS AND MILLIONS

OF... BLANKETS WITH SLEEVES

IS ALL THEY ARE, IN OUR CULTURE

AND WE CAN BE THE PEOPLE

OF THE SNUGGIE.

WE LIKE THE LAZY BOY,

WE LIKE THE COUNTRY CLUB,

THE DAY SPA...

WE LIKE SNUGGIES.

SO I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED,

OFTENTIMES IS WE HAVE ADOPTED

THIS SNUGGIE THEOLOGY WHERE

WE MAKE IT AS COMFORTABLE

AS POSSIBLE BUT JESUS SAID

IT'S GOING TO MEAN

CARRYING A CROSS,

IT'S GOING TO MEAN SACRIFICING.

AND SO JUST ASKING --

James: WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE

TO CARRY A CROSS?

TO SOMEBODY WHO IS SAYING,

"WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

AM I GOING AROUND WITH WOOD?"

ARTHUR BLESSITT CARRIED IT

AROUND THE WORLD;

DRUG IT ON WHEELS AND HE WAS

A TREMENDOUS WITNESS.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE

TO CARRY THE CROSS?

WHEN YOU SAID, "I WANT YOU

TO BE A FAN IN WHICH

YOU CARRY THE CROSS."

Kyle: AND THAT'S THE JOURNEY

THAT I WENT ON IS TRYING

TO EXPLORE THAT BECAUSE

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE SOMETHING

THAT YOU CROCHET ON A PILLOW

AND YOU SET OUT ON A BED.

"CARRY A CROSS AND FOLLOW ME,"

IT SOUNDS VERY POETIC.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TODAY?

BECAUSE IF CHRISTIANS

START LIVING LIKE CHRISTIANS,

IF WE START DOING THIS,

THAT'S WHERE REVIVAL,

WHERE AN AWAKENING TAKES PLACE.

IT'S WHEN WE BEGIN TO NOT

JUST SPEAK OUR FAITH

BUT WE BEGIN TO LIVE IT.

SO I WENT ON THIS JOURNEY

OF TRYING TO DISCOVER, OKAY,

WHAT DOES THAT TRULY LOOK LIKE

IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW?

WHAT I FOUND WAS

I'M SO INSPIRED

BY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

AND ACROSS THE WORLD

WHO ARE LIVING THIS OUT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DO

IN THE BOOK IS I TELL ABOUT

14 DIFFERENT STORIES OF PEOPLE

WHO HAVE MADE THE DECISION:

I DON'T WANT TO BE A FAN,

I WANT TO BE A FOLLOWER.

AND AS YOU BEGIN TO SEE

THESE PRACTICAL EXAMPLES

YOU THINK, THAT'S IT.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

WE STARTED A FACEBOOK PAGE THAT

NOW HAS AROUND 33,000 PEOPLE

FROM 18 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

AND THEY'VE SAID,

"I DON'T WANT TO BE A FAN,

I WANT TO BE A FOLLOWER."

AND THEY JUST BEGAN TO TELL

THEIR STORIES OF CARRYING

A CROSS, DENYING THEMSELVES.

SOMETIMES IT IS DRAMATIC.

FOR SOME FAMILY IT MEANT SAYING

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO QUIT

THEIR JOBS AND THEY WERE

GOING TO MOVE TO HAITI,

(THIS IS RIGHT AFTER

THE EARTHQUAKE)

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO

CLEAN WATER PROJECTS IN HAITI.

THAT'S WHAT IT MEANT

TO FOLLOW JESUS.

FOR ANOTHER LADY, A SINGLE MOM,

FOR HER, IT MEANT

BEING INTENTIONAL OF HELPING

CARE FOR HER ELDERLY NEIGHBOR

WHO COULDN'T REALLY CARE

FOR HERSELF.

SO EVERY DAY SHE GOES

AND CHECKS ON HER AND SHE MAKES

SURE SHE HAS FOOD AND MEALS

AND IS CLEANED UP AFTER.

SO YOU BEGIN TO SEE

THESE PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF

PEOPLE WHO ARE FOLLOWING JESUS,

AND YOU KNOW IT

WHEN YOU SEE IT.

SO THAT'S SOMEONE WHO IS

DENYING THEMSELVES

AND CARRYING A CROSS.

James: WHEN I SEE SOMEONE

TAKE THAT WHICH IS SPECIAL

AND PRECIOUS TO THEM,

WHICH THEY TREASURE BECAUSE

WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS

THAT'S WHERE YOUR HEART IS

AND IT MEANS MORE THAN MONEY.

WE TREASURE OUR TIME.

WHEN WE'RE WILLING TO GIVE

OUR TIME TO SOMEONE ELSE'S NEED

OR AN AREA OF CONCERN,

THAT'S WHAT I CONSIDER

BEING A FOLLOWER.

WHEN WE WILL TAKE OUR GIFTS,

WHATEVER WE HAVE THE ABILITY,

WHETHER IT IS TO HELP PEOPLE

CHART A COURSE, HELP PEOPLE

TO DEAL WITH THEIR CHALLENGES,

HELP PEOPLE THINK

THEIR WAY OUT.

WE TAKE WHAT WE USE

FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT;

NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING

PERSONAL INTERESTS,

HOW YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE

YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

IF YOU DON'T LOVE YOURSELF

PROPERLY AND HAVE LEGITIMATE

SELF INTEREST.

BUT WHEN YOU'LL TAKE YOUR SAME

ABILITIES AND FOCUS ON HELPING

SOMEONE MEET THEIR NEED,

I SEE THAT AS FOLLOWING CHRIST.

IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE?

Kyle: ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED IS THAT

MOST PEOPLE RESPOND TO

THAT MESSAGE ENTHUSIASTICALLY.

THEY WANT TO EMBRACE THAT.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING

MORE, SOMETHING DEEPER

AND MORE SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

WE HAD ONE GENTLEMAN

IN OUR CHURCH WHEN WE STARTED

TO REALLY BE MORE INTENTIONAL

WITH THIS MESSAGE HE SENT

IN AN E-MAIL AND HE SAID

HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE A MEMBER

OF THE CHURCH ANYMORE.

HE JUST SAID ON THERE,

"I DON'T LIKE KYLE'S PREACHING"

-- THAT'S ALL HE SAID.

I WANTED TO KNOW MORE.

SO I CALLED THIS GUY.

I DIDN'T KNOW HIM,

BUT I CALLED HIM AND I SAID,

"HEY, I'M KYLE.

I SEE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PART

OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE

YOU DON'T LIKE MY PREACHING.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND

A LITTLE BIT MORE."

AND I CAUGHT HIM

A LITTLE OFF GUARD.

HE BEGAN TO TALK AND RAMBLE

A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT

HERE'S WHAT HE SAID.

HE SAID, "WHEN YOU'RE PREACHING

I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE TRYING

TO INTERFERE WITH MY LIFE."

AND AS SOON AS HE SAID IT,

I THOUGHT, THAT'S IT!

THAT'S IT!

WE ARE FINE AS LONG AS WE CAN

COMPARTMENTALIZE OUR FAITH

AND SAY, "WHEN I WALK

INTO CHURCH ON SUNDAY

AND I SIT DOWN I CAN CHEER

IN THE STANDS, END OF STORY."

BUT WHEN IT BEGINS TO INTERFERE

WITH OUR FINANCES,

OUR TREASURE, OUR TIME,

WHEN IT BEGINS TO INTERFERE

WITH OUR PLANS, THEN IT BECOMES

SOMETHING MUCH DIFFERENT.

James: SOME OTHER EXPERIENCE

YOU SAID YOU WANTED BEFORE

WE EVEN CAME OUT,

YOU SAID THERE'S SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED WITH SOMEBODY

THAT PRETTY WELL ILLUSTRATES

WHAT YOU'D LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW

ABOUT NOT BEING A FAN

BUT BEING A FOLLOWER.

YOU HAVE MEN -- LIKE YOU SAID,

YOU TELL 14 SPECIFIC STORIES.

Kyle: I HAD NO REAL INTENTION,

NO PLAN OF EVER WRITING A BOOK

ON THE SUBJECT AND THEN I MET

A YOUNG MAN IN OUR CHURCH,

LATE 20s, SINGLE FATHER WHO HAD

A PRETTY ROUGH LIFE BEFORE

HE CAME TO CHRIST.

AND IF HE WERE TO TELL YOU

HIS STORY YOU WOULD JUST SAY

THAT IT CONSISTED OF DRINKING

AND PARTYING AND WAKING UP

ANGRY, NOT KNOWING WHY.

IT WAS JUST REALLY WITHOUT

ANY DIRECTION.

BUT WHEN HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN

EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR HIM

AND HE GOT IT AND HE WENT

ALL IN; REALLY BECAME COMMITTED

IN HIS FAITH --

JUST GREAT EXAMPLE

FOR A LOT OF US.

ONE DAY HE SAID, "HEY,

WOULD YOU MEET AND HAVE COFFEE

WITH ME AND MY MOM?"

IT'S KIND OF AN UNUSUAL REQUEST

BUT I AGREED AND I THOUGHT

I KNEW FOR SURE WHAT

WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

I THOUGHT HIS MOM, SHE JUST

WANTS TO SAY THANK YOU

TO THE CHURCH AND THANK YOU

TO ME FOR THE GOOD THINGS

GOD HAS DONE IN HER SON'S LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS GOING

TO BE ABOUT.

SHE IS JUST GOING TO DROP

SOME ENCOURAGEMENT MY WAY.

SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD

TO THE COFFEE.

WE SIT DOWN FOR THE COFFEE.

IT WENT A MUCH DIFFERENT

DIRECTION.

SHE WAS UPSET.

AND HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID.

SHE SAID, "MY SON HAS TAKEN

ALL OF THIS TOO FAR."

SHE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN

HOW HE NEEDED TO BE WORKING

ON SUNDAYS, BUT WAS NOT TAKING

THE HOURS SO HE COULD

GO TO CHURCH.

AND HE SHOULDN'T BE GIVING

HIS HARD-EARNED MONEY TO PEOPLE

WHO WERE IN NEED BECAUSE

HE HAD HIS OWN NEEDS.

AND HE WAS TRYING TO GIVE AWAY

COPIES OF SERMONS AND TRYING

TO ALWAYS HAVE PRAYER AROUND

THE DINNER TABLE AND MAKING

THE FAMILY UNCOMFORTABLE.

AND THIS IS A LADY WHO WENT

TO CHURCH, WENT TO A DIFFERENT

CHURCH AND CONSIDERED HERSELF

TO BE QUITE RELIGIOUS.

BUT HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID TO ME.

SHE SAID, "WOULD YOU PLEASE

TELL MY SON THAT THE BIBLE

TEACHES MODERATION

IN ALL THINGS."

SHE SAID, "WOULD YOU PLEASE

TELL HIM THAT THE BIBLE

TEACHES IT DOESN'T HAVE

TO BE ALL OR NOTHING."

I TRIED TO KEEP MY COOL; RIGHT?

BUT I COULD SEE

MY NOSTRILS FLARING.

I START QUOTING REVELATION

ABOUT JESUS SAYS,

"YOU'RE NEITHER HOT NOR COLD."

THE WHOLE CALL TO FOLLOW HIM

IS AN ALL OR NOTHING CALL,

AND THAT'S WHERE LIFE IS FOUND

AND THAT'S WHERE

BEAUTY IS FOUND.

IT IS ONLY BY GOING ALL IN.

I REALIZED THEN THIS IS

A MESSAGE THAT A LOT OF MOMS,

A LOT OF CHILDREN,

A LOT OF CHURCHES

NEEDED TO HEAR.

SO GOD BEGAN IT IN MY LIFE.

HE CONTINUES TO TEACH ME

BECAUSE THERE IS MANY DAYS

WHEN I'M MORE FAN

THAN FOLLOWER.

BUT I KNOW THAT HE SEEKS

TO HAVE NOT NECESSARILY

CHURCHES THAT ARE FULL OF FANS

BUT HE WANTS COMPLETELY

COMMITTED FOLLOWERS.

James: DO YOU APPRECIATE

WHAT KYLE IS SHARING?

DO YOU APPRECIATE

THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT BEING

A FAN BUT A FOLLOWER?

IT'S FOLLOWING CHRIST.

IT'S IN FOLLOWING HIM

AND COMING TO HIM WE FIND LIFE.

IT'S IN FOLLOWING HIM THAT

WE FIND THE WAY THROUGH LIFE.

HE IS THE WAY TO LIFE

BUT FOLLOWING HIM IS A WAY

THROUGH LIFE AND IT IS THE WAY

TO POINT OTHERS TO THE LIFE

THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN HIM.

I REALLY THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE

THINK IT IS JUST GOING DOWN

TO THE CHURCH HOUSE.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, WHEN YOU COME

TO UNDERSTAND CHRIST,

THIS IS HIS HOUSE.

WE'RE THE TEMPLE OF GOD.

HE WANTS TO LIVE IN US.

HE WANTS US TO BECOME

THE FRUITFUL FIELD THAT

LITERALLY REVEALS THE BEAUTY

OF HIS PRESENCE

AND WHAT THE FATHER IS LIKE.

THE BIBLE IS CLEAR ABOUT

IT BEING KINGDOM LIFE

AND THERE IS ONLY ONE KING.

WE ARE JOINT HEIRS

BUT NOT JOINT KINGS.

HE'S KING, HE'S RULER,

WE FOLLOW HIM, AND WHEN

WE FOLLOW HIM WE HAVE LIFE.

WE CAN CHEER HIM

AND PRAISE HIM,

HE IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE

BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN

BEING A CHEERING SECTION.

IT IS ACTUALLY GETTING

IN THE GAME.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING YOU

SAY TO PEOPLE.

DON'T JUST SIT IN THE PEW.

STAND UP, AND GO OUT

AND PIERCE THE DARKNESS.

THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU SAY THANKS

TO KYLE AGAIN?

I THINK THIS IS GREAT.

THIS IS IN THE BOOKSTORES.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW,

THERE IS A WEB SITE TO

SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT...

SAY, "I WANT TO GO LISTEN

TO THIS GUY."

YOU'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO DAVE,

THE PASTOR THERE, DAVE STONE,

IT IS JUST A WONDERFUL,

WONDERFUL CHURCH.

YOU KIND OF REMIND ME

OF WHEN I WAS YOUNG,

MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO.

I STILL HAVE GOT ZEAL.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW,

I'M A FOLLOWER AND I'M STILL

A SERIOUS FOLLOWER AND I HAVE

NO RETIREMENT IN ME ANYWHERE!

GOT NO QUIT IN ME.

I'M NOT SITTING DOWN.

I'M GOING TO STAND UP AND

TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY ELSE

TO STAND UP.

I USED TO TEASE BENNY HINN

WHEN HE WAS BLOWING ON PEOPLE

AND THEY WERE FALLING DOWN,

I SAID, "YOU KNOCK THEM DOWN,

I'M GOING TO TRY TO

GET THEM ALL TO STAND UP."

I'VE BEEN SPENDING MY LIFE

TRYING TO GET PEOPLE

TO STAND UP FOR JESUS,

TO FOLLOW HIM WITH

THEIR WHOLE HEART,

AND TO LIVE FOR HIM

AND TO LOVE HIM WITH EVERYTHING

THEY ARE AND THAT'S WHAT

WE CHALLENGE YOU TO DO.

I REALLY THANK GOD THAT

YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US

TO HAVE GUESTS THAT HAVE

A TESTIMONY AND A WITNESS.

YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US

TO PRESENT BETH MOORE:

"WEDNESDAYS WITH BETH."

WHAT A WONDERFUL,

INSPIRATIONAL TEACHER.

SHE IS RAISING UP FOLLOWERS.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING

THAT I KNOW.

WHEN WE FOLLOW JESUS

WE'RE GOING TO RELEASE RIVERS

OF LIVING WATER.

JESUS SAID, "OUT OF YOUR

INNERMOST BEING WILL FLOW

RIVERS OF LIVING WATER."

THAT MEANS LOVE AND LIFE,

THE LOVE OF GOD, THE LIFE

OF GOD IS RELEASED AND THERE

IS NO GREATER WAY TO REVEAL

THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE RIVER

OF GOD'S LIFE THAN

TO GIVE PEOPLE WATER.

JESUS SAID, "I'M THE WATER

OF LIFE."

WE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HIM.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE GREATEST

CRISIS IN THE WORLD

THAT IS LEADING TO MORE ILLNESS

AND MORE DEATH THAN ANYTHING

IS CONTAMINATED WATER?

-- DISEASED-RIDDEN WATER!

WE DON'T HAVE TO RESEARCH

THE CURE; ALL WE'VE GOT TO DO

IS PROVIDE CLEAN WATER.

JESUS SAID, "IF YOU'LL GIVE

A CUP OF WATER IN MY NAME,

YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR REWARD."

WHAT IS THAT REWARD?

IT'S DOING THE WILL OF GOD,

RELEASING THE LIFE OF GOD.

WOULD YOU JOIN US SAVING LIVES

BY GIVING A CUP OF FRESH,

CLEAN WATER?

WHAT ABOUT A WELL?

LISTEN TO THIS TESTIMONY.

LISTEN TO THIS VERY REAL STORY

AND YOU AND I HAVE THE ANSWER.

James: DAUPHINE,

I WISH YOU COULD HEAR ME.

I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T

BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND ME

AND WE HAD TO HAVE A TRANSLATOR

SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND YOU

AND GRAPHICALLY PUT IT

ON THE SCREEN SO OUR VIEWERS

WOULD UNDERSTAND YOU BUT LET ME

JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING,

WE CARE AND WE CAN HELP YOU.

I DIDN'T JUST SEE

THAT LITTLE CHILD SITTING THERE

ON THAT ROCK AND THINK,

JUST SOME LITTLE KID.

NO, ALL THE LITTLE CHILDREN

ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT.

HE DIDN'T OVERLOOK THEM.

BUT HE'S LOOKING

FOR HANDS AND HEARTS

AND A MIND THAT CARES ENOUGH

TO SAY "I'LL HELP."

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP US

DRILL A WATER WELL

IN THAT AREA.

WE'RE GOING TO DRILL MORE

IN THAT COUNTRY, MADAGASCAR,

THAN PROBABLY

ANY SMALL LAND MASS

BECAUSE THE NEED

IS SO DESPERATE.

WE'LL BE DRILLING WATER WELLS

IN 15-20 COUNTRIES;

YOU DETERMINE HOW MANY

WE CAN DRILL BUT

WE DRILL HUNDREDS EVERY YEAR

DEPENDING ON HOW MANY OF YOU

WILL HELP WITH GIFTS OF $48.

$48 GIVES TEN PEOPLE WATER

FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE;

THAT'S WHAT IT BREAKS OUT TO.

YOU TAKE A $4800 WELL,

THAT'S WHAT THEY COST: $4800,

GIVE AT LEAST

A THOUSAND PEOPLE WATER,

SOMETIMES IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

BUT THAT WOULD BREAK OUT

TO ABOUT $4.80

FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE

IN THESE INCREDIBLE,

DESPERATELY NEEDY AREAS.

IF YOU COULD GIVE A WELL, $4800

-- MANY OF YOU TELL US,

"JAMES, EVERY YEAR WE DO IT."

BETTY AND I GIVE A WELL

EVERY TIME WE HAVE THE PROJECT.

WE STARTED YEARS AGO AND SAID,

"GOD, WE WANT TO DO IT."

I'M TELLING YOU, GOD SAYS

WHEN YOU ARE GENEROUS

AND YOU BLESS OTHERS,

YOU YOURSELF WILL BE BLESSED

AND YOU WILL BE REFRESHED.

GOD BLESSES US

WHEN WE BLESS OTHERS.

IT'S A BLESSING

TO BLESS OTHERS.

I DON'T GIVE TO GET,

I GIVE TO GIVE.

AND GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO BLESS

SO WE CAN KEEP BLESSING.

COULD YOU GIVE A WELL? $4800?

COULD YOU GIVE $2400 TOWARD IT

AND SAY, "I PRAY

SOMEONE JOINS ME"?

OR $1200 AND PRAY THREE WILL?

WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, DO IT.

BUT REMEMBER, $48 OR $144

YOU'VE GOT TEN PEOPLE WATER

THE REST OF THEIR LIFE

OR 30 PEOPLE WATER

THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO

BUT THERE IS A LEVEL

AT WHICH YOU CAN HELP.

SO I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW,

WOULD YOU DO IT?

WOULD YOU BE AN ANSWER

TO THAT MOTHER'S CONCERN

FOR HER CHILDREN?

SHE'S ALREADY LOST CHILDREN,

DISEASE AND CONTAMINATED WATER.

WE CAN CORRECT THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO

ANY RESEARCH ON IT,

SHE JUST NEEDS A WATER WELL.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A STUDY;

WE KNOW WHAT SHE NEEDS.

PLEASE DIAL THE NUMBER.

TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,

USE IT LIKE A CHECK.

THAT'S HOW YOU SHOULD ALWAYS

USE THEM.

IF YOU WRITE A CHECK,

MAKE IT TO LIFE.

GO ONLINE, LIFETODAY.ORG

AND MAKE YOUR GIFT.

FATHER, I'M PRAYING

EVERY PERSON WATCHING

WILL GIVE SOMETHING.

WILL YOU?

I REALLY BELIEVE YOU'RE PRAYING

THAT GOD WILL MEET THE NEED

BUT CAN YOU HELP MEET THE NEED?

WOULD YOU DIAL THE NUMBER,

MAKE THAT GIFT OF A WELL

OR TOWARD THE WELL?

THERE IS NO LEVEL TOO SMALL.

WE HAVE SOME GIFTS

WE WANT TO SEND YOU.

THE BEAUTIFUL

"LAMB AND THE LION" BRONZE,

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST

BEAUTIFUL ART PIECES

WE'VE EVER PRESENTED.

IT'S THE PEACE OF GOD THAT

BRINGS THE IMPOSSIBLE TOGETHER

AND WE'RE DOING

THE IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANY

WHEN WE GIVE THEM WATER.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT CALL.

BY THE WAY,

IF YOU SHOULD EVER GET A BUSY,

PEOPLE ARE EITHER CALLING

TO GET HELP

OR CALLING TO GIVE HELP.

YOU BE PERSISTENT

AND YOU GET THROUGH.

THANK YOU FOR DOING IT!

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: I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE

THE IMPORTANCE OF IF YOU CAN

DRILL A WELL, DO IT.

IF YOU CAN GIVE $1200 TOWARD IT

OR MORE, ASK FOR "THE LION

AND THE LAMB" BRONZE.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!

IT IS A TREASURED ART PIECE.

I WANT TO MENTION AGAIN

KYLE IDLEMAN'S BOOK, NOT A FAN.

I'M TELLING YOU,

YOU FOLLOW JESUS

YOU'RE GOING TO BE BLESSED.

KYLE, I'M REAL EXCITED,

BETTY AND I ARE.

YOUR PASTOR NOTIFIED ME

HOW HAPPY -- YOU'RE LIKE

A SON IN THE MINISTRY.

THIS IS OUR SON RANDY

AND HE WROTE A BOOK,

GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY:

DISCOVERING DEEPER JOY

THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED.

THIS IS OUR SON.

I TOLD HIM MANY TIMES, I WISH

I COULD WRITE LIKE YOU, RANDY,

WHAT A BLESSING!

BUT WOULD YOU JOIN ME AGAIN

IN SAYING THANKS TO KYLE?

THANK YOU, KYLE!

BLESS YOU

AND SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

DAVE STONE, BLESS YOU

AND YOUR FAMILY!

-- THE WHOLE CHURCH FAMILY!

YOU'RE A WONDERFUL FRIEND!

THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR WATCHING LIFE TODAY

AND SHARING LIFE EVERY DAY!

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

AT ONLINE AND RETAIL BOOKSTORES.

IT WAS THE HARDEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

CANCER IS NOTHING!

Announcer: A TRANSFORMING JOURNEY FROM PAST HURTS

TO A VICTORIOUS FUTURE -- TOMORROW!