Announcer: NEXT! MANY BOYS DREAM

OF ACCOMPLISHING GREAT THINGS BUT ONCE THEY GROW UP

THEY FIND THEMSELVES LIVING A LIFE OF NORMALCY.

BUT WE GET SO WRAPPED UP AS GUYS IN THINKING

I HAVE TO DO THESE HUGE THINGS TO BE A MAN.

NO, YOU DON'T!

Announcer: JOIN TROY MEEDER AS HE PROVES

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AN AVERAGE JOE.

GOD'S CALLING ON YOUR LIFE, GOD'S VALUE OF YOUR LIFE

IS NOT IN WHAT YOU DO, IT'S IN WHO YOU ARE.

James: THANK ALL OF YOU

FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY

IN SHARING WITH YOU.

WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.

I'M JAMES

AND THIS IS BETTY ROBISON,

AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE

THE PRIVILEGE WE HAVE

IN SHARING TIME WITH YOU

THAT CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE NOT

ONLY YOUR LIFE BUT THE LIVES

OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE.

I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT

IN THE BOOKSTORES RIGHT NOW,

AND ONLINE, YOU CAN GET

THE BOOK, INDIVISIBLE

AND I'M ENCOURAGING YOU

TO GET IT, TO READ IT,

AND TO PASS IT ON.

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT

WHAT GOD HAS LED US TO DO

IS TO SHARE, I BELIEVE,

A MESSAGE THAT MANY OF YOU

HAVE BEEN PRAYING WOULD GO OUT

AND WOULD HELP SHOW US THE WAY

OUT OF THE WILDERNESS

OF DESPAIR AND DISHEARTENING

AND DISCOURAGEMENT

THAT SO MANY PEOPLE SENSE.

WE DO WANT TO BE A BLESSING

TO OUR NATION BY POINTING

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

I THINK THAT'S WHAT ALL OF US

AS MINISTERS SHOULD DO.

I BELIEVE THERE IS A WAY

THAT APPEARS RIGHT TO MANY MEN,

THE WAYS ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH,

BUT THEN THERE IS

THE WAY OF LIFE

AND WE'RE REALLY SEEKING

TO POINT IN THAT DIRECTION.

I WANT TO HOLD UP A BOOK

THAT IS TITLED AVERAGE JOE

AND I'M REALLY CURIOUS

ABOUT THAT.

THE SUBHEADING SAYS,

"GOD'S EXTRAORDINARY CALLING

ON ORDINARY MEN."

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE

FEEL PRETTY ORDINARY.

I KNOW, BETTY, YOU'VE TOLD

MANY TIMES ON OUR PROGRAM,

YOU'RE NO AVERAGE JOE

BUT YOU ARE A PERSON WHO FELT

LIKE YOU WERE VERY ORDINARY.

Betty: VERY INSIGNIFICANT

IS THE WAY I FELT.

James: I WAS WATCHING YOU

ON THE MONITOR WHEN WE CAME ON

AND I SAID, "BOY, SHE'S PRETTY!

IF I WASN'T MARRIED TO HER

AND I WASN'T MARRIED

I'D TRY TO GET A DATE!"

YOU ARE RADIANT;

YOU ARE IN NO WAY ORDINARY.

BUT CAN YOU UNDERSTAND

AND WE'RE GOING TO MEET

THE AUTHOR IN A MOMENT

AND TALK ABOUT THE BOOK,

AND HIS WIFE,

AND HOW PEOPLE DO FEEL LIKE

THEY'RE JUST AVERAGE

OR SO ORDINARY

THEY DON'T MATTER?

Betty: ABSOLUTELY!

I WOULD IMAGINE

A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY.

AND BEING A WOMAN,

PROBABLY A LOT OF WOMEN, GIRLS,

FEEL LIKE WHO CARES ABOUT ME?

HOW DO I ADD TO THIS LIFE?

WHO WOULD EVEN MISS ME

IF I WAS GONE?

James: IT MAKES ME VERY SAD

THAT ANYONE FEELS THAT WAY,

AND YET I KNOW THAT I THINK

YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD ME TALK

ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD

WITHOUT A FATHER

AND WITHOUT A FAMILY.

AND WHEN KIDS

WOULD DO THINGS AT RECESS

AND DO THINGS AT SCHOOL

AND THEY WOULD PICK TEAMS,

WELL, I MOVED, AS I REMEMBER,

ABOUT 15 TO 17 TIMES

IN A TEN YEAR PERIOD

SO I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW PEOPLE

A LOT OF TIMES VERY WELL OR

AT LEAST FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

BUT THERE WERE MANY TIMES

WHEN THEY WOULD CHOOSE TEAMS

AND AFTER THEY CHOSE,

I WAS STILL STANDING THERE

WHEN THE OTHER KIDS

WENT OFF TO PLAY.

I DON'T EVEN THINK I HAVE

THE ABILITY TO TELL YOU

HOW LONELY THAT FELT,

HOW OVERLOOKED.

I REALLY WONDER SOMETIMES,

BETTY, IF A LOT OF PEOPLE

DON'T FEEL THAT WAY AND YET

I FOUND AN INCREDIBLE,

INDESCRIBABLE COMFORT

IN KNOWING GOD CHOSE ME.

AND I THINK OF ALL OF YOU,

AND I REALLY HAVE AN IDEA

THAT'S WHAT TROY IS GOING

TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE,

THE AUTHOR OF

THE AVERAGE JOE BOOK,

TO COMMUNICATE

HOW GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU

AND CHOSEN YOU

FOR A VERY SPECIAL REASON.

I WANT YOU TO WELCOME

THE AUTHOR OF AVERAGE JOE,

TROY MEEDER AND HIS WIFE KIM

TO LIFE TODAY.

WOULD YOU WELCOME HIM?

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU!

GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

OKAY, AVERAGE JOE.

Troy: AVERAGE JOE --

ABSOLUTELY!

James: IS THAT THE WAY

YOU FELT ABOUT YOURSELF?

Troy: ABSOLUTELY!

I GREW UP IN THE '70S,

EARLY '60S,

ALL THROUGH THE '70S

AND HAD BIG DREAMS

AND THINGS I WANTED TO DO.

I WANTED TO BE A JET PILOT.

I WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT.

I WANTED TO SCUBA DIVE

WITH JACQUE COUSTEAU.

I HAD ALL THOSE THINGS

THAT AS A GUY, "YEAH, I'M

GOING TO CONQUER THE WORLD!"

I GREW UP

IN A BLUE COLLAR FAMILY

THAT COLLEGE WAS KIND OF

OUT OF THE QUESTION.

I HAD A CHANCE TO GO ONE YEAR

OF COLLEGE.

I TOOK OFF AND THOUGHT,

I'M ON MY WAY.

I'M GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!

I'M GOING TO HAVE LETTERS

AFTER MY NAME.

I'M GOING TO HAVE

A BRASS PLAQUE ON MY DOOR

THAT SAYS MY NAME TO MY OFFICE.

I'M GOING TO BE SOMEBODY!

AND AFTER A YEAR I WAS DONE,

I WAS OUT OF MONEY AND

MY GRADES WEREN'T THAT GOOD AND

SO I PACKED UP MY VOLKSWAGEN

AND HEADED BACK HOME.

THAT MONTH, JUNE OF 1979,

I STARTED HAVING A DREAM

AND IT WAS A REOCCURRING DREAM

THAT WOULD HAPPEN

ABOUT ONCE A MONTH.

IT WAS LIKE

I WAS IN THIS THIRD PERSON

AND I CAN STILL SEE IT TODAY

SO VIVIDLY AND THERE IS

THIS LITTLE OLD MAN SITTING ON

THE STEPS OF POINT LOMA COLLEGE

DOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

AND HE'S GOT LONG GRAY HAIR

AND HE'S SKINNY AND SCRAWNY

AND HE'S BEEN THERE FOREVER

AND HE'S GOT BOOKS EVERYWHERE

AND ALL AROUND HIM

WALK THE STUDENTS

THAT HAD PROMISE.

THEY WERE YOUNG,

THEY WERE FULL OF PROMISE.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE

THE DOCTORS, LAWYERS,

PILOTS, PASTORS --

ALL THOSE GUYS WALKING AROUND

THIS LITTLE OLD MAN.

THEN AS THE DREAM WENT ON

I REALIZED THAT

THE LITTLE OLD MAN WAS ME

AND THAT I HAD

NEVER LEFT THE SCHOOL.

I HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING

WITH MY LIFE.

ALL I HAD DONE IS SIT THERE

AND TRY AND DO SOMETHING.

TRY AND MAKE MYSELF SOMETHING.

I CAN REMEMBER

WAKING UP FROM THE DREAM

TIME AND TIME AGAIN

FEELING LIKE, GOSH,

TROY, YOU'VE DONE NOTHING

WITH YOUR LIFE.

YOU'RE STILL THAT OLD MAN

THAT NEVER FINISHED SCHOOL,

YOU NEVER FLEW JETS,

YOU NEVER JOINED THE AIR FORCE,

YOU'RE JUST AN AVERAGE JOE.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO,

KIM AND I WERE UP

IN THE NORTH CASCADES HIKING

LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.

WE HAD OUR LITTLE CAMPER UP

AND I HAD THE DREAM.

I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING

AND KIM HAD SOME COFFEE ON,

AND SHE NOTICED MY COUNTENANCE

WAS A LITTLE BIT DOWN.

"IS EVERYTHING OKAY?"

I SAID, "NO,

I HAD THE DREAM AGAIN."

AS MY WIFE,

SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL COMPANION,

SHE GRABBED HER LAPTOP

AND SAID, "YOU KNOW,

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS DREAM

THAT YOU HAD."

AND SHE STARTED TYPING.

WE GOT IN THE TRUCK

AND HEADED UP TOWARD YAKIMA

AND LEAVENWORTH, IN THAT AREA

AND SHE SAID, "DO YOU THINK

THAT MAYBE GUYS LIKE YOU

MAY FEEL THE SAME WAY?"

I THOUGHT, "YEAH,

I BET THERE IS A LOT OF GUYS

THAT FEEL THAT SAME WAY.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE AVERAGE.

LIKE THEY HAD

THESE BIG DREAMS..."

AND NOT THAT THAT --

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT

-- I DON'T WANT GUYS

TO EVER FEEL LIKE WELL,

YES, I'M JUST MARRIED.

I JUST HAVE KIDS.

NO, THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL PART

OF LIFE!

BUT WE GET SO WRAPPED UP

AS GUYS IN THINKING

I HAVE TO DO THESE HUGE THINGS

TO BE A MAN.

NO, YOU DON'T.

GOD'S CALLING ON YOUR LIFE,

GOD'S VALUE OF YOUR LIFE

IS NOT IN WHAT YOU DO,

IT'S IN WHO YOU ARE.

IT'S IN HOW BETTY SEES YOU.

YOUR VALUE AS A MAN,

MY VALUE AS A MAN

IS NOT IF I HAVE

THIS WONDERFUL TV SHOW

OR THIS RANCH FOR KIDS,

THERE'S THE VALUE,

AND EVEN MORE SO, THERE'S

THE VALUE WHEN OUR JESUS

LOOKS US IN THE EYES AND SAYS,

"BUDDY, I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOU."

MAYBE IT'S POURING

A CUP OF COFFEE AT STARBUCKS.

BUT DOGGONE IT!

YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE BEST

STARBUCKS COFFEE POURER

ON THE PLANET!

AND YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE

THOSE PEOPLE AROUND YOU

AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE A MAN

THAT LOVES YOUR WIFE

AND LOVES YOUR KIDS AND DOES

WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO

WITH HIS SHOULDERS SQUARED OFF

AND HIS EYES FIXED ON JESUS.

THERE'S A SCRIPTURE IN THE BOOK

THAT I WROTE --

I DIDN'T WRITE THE BOOK --

THERE'S A SCRIPTURE IN THE BOOK

THAT I COPIED

FROM ACTS CHAPTER FOUR,

VERSE 13 AND IT SAYS

THAT JOHN AND JAMES

WERE STANDING AND SPEAKING

TO THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL,

ALL THE BIG SMART GUYS, AND

THE WORD SAYS THEY WERE AMAZED

AT WHAT CAME OUT OF THE MOUTHS

OF THESE ORDINARY MEN.

AND THE BACK HALF

OF THE VERSE SAYS, "BECAUSE

THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS."

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM

EXTRAORDINARY!

I'M JUST A NORMAL EVERYDAY GUY

WHO HAS A YOUTH RANCH FOR KIDS.

GETS UP IN THE MORNING AND DOES

-- YESTERDAY MORNING I WAS

DIGGING A HOLE FOR A FENCE POST

AND THEN SCOOPING HORSE MANURE.

JUST DOING AVERAGE STUFF

BUT BECAUSE OF MY JESUS AND

BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS IN MY LIFE

I GET TO LIVE

AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE.

James: WHAT REALLY BREAKS MY

HEART IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE

HEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT JESUS

BUT THEY IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED

WITH SOME KIND OF

A RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATION THAT

HAS NEVER SEEMED TO HAVE MUCH

PROFOUND OR POSITIVE EFFECT

ON THE PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY

WITH IT, LIKE WHO SHOW UP

DOWN AT THE CHURCH.

THEY DON'T ACT LIKE

THERE'S BEEN ANY DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE

FOR JESUS.

IT IS NOT RELIGION,

IT IS A RELATIONSHIP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE,

THEY REALLY WANT TO MEET GOD

BUT THEY END UP GETTING STUCK

IN RELIGION.

BUT THEIR CHURCHES

ARE FULL OF PEOPLE --

MANY GREAT CHURCHES --

FULL OF PEOPLE WHERE GOD IS BIG

AND WHERE GOD IS REAL

AND WHERE THE RELATIONSHIP

IS GENUINE

AND HAS TRANSFORMING EFFECT;

THIS IS WHAT

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE

BECOMING EXTRAORDINARY IN

THEIR LIFE AS ORDINARY PEOPLE

BECAUSE THEY ASSOCIATED

WITH SOME RELIGIOUS GROUP.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT

A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

THAT COULD TAKE YOU

WHEN YOU'RE HAVING

A RECURRING DREAM

AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR LIFE

IS JUST VANITY, IT'S NOTHING,

IT'S INSIGNIFICANT

AND YOU SUDDENLY FIND OUT,

JESUS MAKES THE MOST ORDINARY

PEOPLE FEEL EXTRAORDINARY.

AND YOU THEN BEGIN

TO LET THIS LIFE AND LOVE

BE EXPRESSED THROUGH YOU,

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AROUND YOU

AND I'VE WATCH WHAT YOU DO,

SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU'RE WORKING WITH KIDS

ON THE RANCH,

THE THINGS YOU'RE DOING

AND NOW THEY'RE MODELING THIS

ALL OVER THE WORLD

WHERE THEY'RE USING

ANIMALS AND HORSES TO TRY

TO MINISTER TO CHILDREN.

ALL OF THE SUDDEN

ALL THESE ORDINARY PEOPLE

THAT DON'T THINK

THEY'VE GOT ANYTHING GOING,

THEY'RE MINISTERING TO PEOPLE

WHO FEEL TOTALLY OVERLOOKED

BECAUSE THEY'VE BECOME

EXTRAORDINARY BECAUSE

CHRIST IN THEM IS ALIVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SUMMING UP

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING

AND EXPERIENCING BUT WHAT

I ACTUALLY SEE IS PEOPLE

CAUGHT IN THIS CROSSFIRE

BETWEEN AM I GOING TO IDENTIFY

WITH THE RELIGION

OR AM I GOING TO HAVE

THIS TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE

WITH THIS LIVING JESUS

THAT TAKES AN AVERAGE JOE

AND DOES EXTRAORDINARY THINGS?

Troy: IT'S ALL JESUS!

THERE IS A STORY IN THE BOOK

CALLED "THE GARDENER."

IT'S THIS MAN

THAT I SPENT TIME WITH

AND HE WAS A 60 SOMETHING

PHYLLIS DILLER, GLASSES,

JOHN DEERE HAT,

CARHARTT COVERALL,

LANDS KEEPER GUY

THAT LOVED JESUS.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW

IF HE WENT TO CHURCH

BUT I KNOW HE WAS PASSIONATELY

IN LOVE WITH JESUS.

THE WORDS THAT POURED

OUT OF HIS MOUTH

WHILE WE MOWED GRASS TOGETHER

AND PLANTED FLOWERS TOGETHER

AND DID AVERAGE STUFF,

THE WORLD WOULD SEE HIM

AS JUST AN OLD MAN

WALKING DOWN THE STREET

IN DIRTY COVERALLS

BUT HE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN

BECAUSE OF THE CALLING

GOD HAD ON HIS LIFE,

AND HE LIVED THAT OUT

IN THE PLACE

THAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO.

TALKING ABOUT MYSELF

AND THE GUYS I SPEND TIME WITH,

WE GET SO WRAPPED UP IN

THE WHAT IF'S,

AND I SHOULD BE DOING THAT,

AND I SHOULD BE CLIMBING

THESE MOUNTAINS

AND DOING THIS MAN ADVENTURE,

AND THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS

-- OR STARTING A COMPANY --

AND THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS

BUT WE FORGET THE BEST THING

IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS,

OUR DAY-TO-DAY TIME

IN THE WORD WITH THE LORD

AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIM,

AND BEING A MAN THAT SAYS,

"MY YES IS YES, MY NO IS NO,

MY HANDSHAKE IS MY BOND."

IF I TOLD YOU, JAMES,

I WAS GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE

FOR YOU FOR X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS

AND WE SHOOK HANDS, BY GOLLY,

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO BE.

James: YOU MEAN EVEN IN

THESE UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES?

[Laughter]

YOU'LL GET SOME CALLS.

LET'S PUT A PHONE NUMBER UP.

KIM, LET ME ASK YOU,

HAVE YOU WATCHED THIS QUOTE

UNDERSTANDING OF AVERAGE JOE

AND THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK

GOD CAN DO, AND YOU'VE

WATCHED THE CHANGES IN HIM;

HE SHARES IN THE BOOK

THAT YOU HAD A TIME

OF SOME TENSION COME UP

BECAUSE HE WAS KIND OF

LET'S SAY BEING REALLY

IN THE WRONG WAY ORDINARY

AND NOT LETTING

THE EXTRAORDINARY COME FORTH.

Kim: I DON'T KNOW A MARRIAGE

THAT WOULD NOT BE HONEST TO SAY

THAT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH

THAT PLACE OF FIRE,

AND THAT TEMPERING.

I SAW MY HUSBAND

STRUGGLE THE MOST

WHEN HE WAS TRYING

TO MAKE HIS LIFE VALUABLE,

NOT CHRIST BEING VALUABLE

THROUGH HIM.

HE WAS TRYING TO FIND VALUE

IN HIMSELF IN WHAT HE COULD DO

AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAD

THE MOST TENSION

IN OUR MARRIAGE.

I CAN TELL YOU WITH CERTAINTY,

WOMEN ARE NOT MEANT

TO LEAD A MARRIAGE.

AND BOY, I GOT BEAT UP

BECAUSE I WAS GETTING BEAT UP

I WOULD COME HOME

AND BEAT UP HIM

BECAUSE I WAS HURT,

YOU WERE HURT.

OUR FOCUS WAS NOT ON CHRIST,

IT WAS ON US.

IN THIS LIFE

WE ONLY HAVE TWO GEARS,

WE'RE EITHER FOCUSED

ON JESUS CHRIST OR ON OURSELF.

IT'S A SHORT LIST.

AT THAT TIME BOTH OF US,

WE KNEW, YEAH, WE GO TO CHURCH,

WE PUNCHED THE TIME CLOCK AS

YOU SAID BUT THE RELATIONSHIP

WAS NOT BEING NURTURED AND

GROWN -- THAT TAKES EFFORT.

WHEN YOU CROSSED THAT BRIDGE

OF SAYING, JESUS PLUS NOTHING

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

Troy: AND LEADING THE MARRIAGE.

I HAD STEPPED ASIDE AND SAID,

"IF YOU WANT TO GO TO CHURCH,

I'LL GO WITH YOU.

IF YOU WANT TO PRAY, OKAY.

WE'LL DO THAT.

DOGGONE IT, I'D RATHER

WATCH THE BALL GAME BUT OKAY."

IT WASN'T UNTIL I STOOD UP

AND SAID, "NO, WAIT A MINUTE.

I'M THE PASTOR OF MY HOME.

THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY THERE.

THAT'S MY JOB;

THAT'S MY CALLING IN LIFE."

WHEN I TOOK THAT MANTLE

OF RESPONSIBILITY AND SAID,

"FROM NOW ON,

WE'RE GOING TOGETHER

BUT I'M THE GUY THAT GOD'S

CALLED TO LEAD THIS HOME."

YOU COULD JUST SEE THE HEALTH

AND BEAUTY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP

TOTALLY CHANGE.

AND NOT IN A "I'M THE RULER"

KIND OF GUY -- NOT AT ALL!

OUR LORD IS A SERVANT KING.

WHEN I SERVE MY WIFE

AND LEAD HER IN A WAY

THAT IS SERVICE AND TAKING HER

TO THE ARMS OF JESUS,

THAT'S WHEN THINGS CHANGED.

James: THAT'S WHAT YOU REALLY

SEEK TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO

UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF,

AND I THINK IF YOU COULD

REALLY RECOGNIZE AND

HOW OFTEN YOU FEEL OVERLOOKED

OR HOW INSIGNIFICANT YOU FEEL,

THAT WE REALLY FIND OUR

SIGNIFICANCE IN CHRIST,

IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

AND WHEN HE FIND THAT,

WE SUDDENLY -- NOW IF WE REALLY

LISTEN TO JESUS AND THEN

WE LIVE BEYOND OUR WORLD

AND BEGIN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

IN OTHER PEOPLE'S WORLDS

IN WHERE THEY LIVE

BECAUSE WE LITERALLY RELEASE

THE RIVER OF GOD'S LOVE

AND LIFE TOWARD OTHERS.

AND REALLY,

THERE ISN'T ANYONE AVERAGE,

THERE'S JUST PEOPLE

THAT FEEL AVERAGE.

AND WHEN THEY ALLOW GOD

TO BE WHO HE IS IN US,

IT BECOMES A SUPERNATURAL...

Betty: I THINK THAT IS KEY,

IS COMING TO THE REALIZATION

OF WHO GOD IS

AND HOW UNLIMITED HE IS

AND WANTS TO BE IN OUR LIVES

IF WE ALLOW HIM TO,

IF WE SUBMIT OURSELVES TO HIM

AND LET HIM SHOW US WHO HE IS,

ALL POWERFUL,

HE CAN DO ALL THINGS.

AND HE WANTS TO TAKE US --

HE WANTS US TO COME AS WE ARE.

SO MANY TIMES

I THINK WE HOLD BACK BECAUSE

WE THINK WE'VE GOT TO DRESS UP

AND BE PERFECT BEFORE WE EVEN

COMMUNICATE WITH THE LORD.

THAT'S NOT IT AT ALL.

HE SAYS COME TO ME

JUST AS YOU ARE AND I WILL

FILL YOU WITH MY LOVE,

WITH MY SPIRIT AND LET YOU --

GIVE YOU THAT EXTRAORDINARY

BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE

THAT IS EXTRAORDINARY.

James: I REALLY DO PRAY

PEOPLE WILL GET THE BOOK.

BOTTOM LINE,

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THEY GRASP

WHEN THEY GET THROUGH THE BOOK?

Troy: THE BOOK IS NOT ABOUT

BEING MEDIOCRE, NOT AT ALL.

THE BOOK IS ABOUT FIGHTING

FOR WHAT IS TRUTH

AND WHAT IS RIGHT.

I LOVE THE STORY OF ELEAZAR,

IN THE BOOK OF --

I THINK IT WAS SECOND SAMUEL,

ONE OF THE THREE

OF DAVID'S MIGHTY MEN.

THE WORD SAYS THAT HE STOOD

BACK TO BACK WITH HIS KING

AND DREW HIS SWORD

AND FOUGHT THE ENEMY

UNTIL HE COULD NO LONGER

HOLD UP HIS SWORD.

HE WAS AN AVERAGE JOE,

PROBABLY A CRIMINAL,

AN OUTCAST,

WHO KNOWS WHO HE WAS,

JUST A QUICK LINE ABOUT HIM.

BUT HERE IS A MAN THAT STOOD

BACK TO BACK WITH HIS KING.

I WANT TO STAND BACK TO BACK

WITH MY JESUS AND FIGHT

UNTIL THE DAY I CAN'T STAND UP.

James: AND THAT'S REALLY

WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO DO.

I WANT TO RECOMMEND THE BOOK

TO YOU.

ALSO, KIM WROTE A BOOK

CALLED FIERCE BEAUTY.

SHE ACTUALLY,

HER DAD KILLED HER MOTHER

WHEN SHE WAS NINE

AND THEN KILLED HIMSELF

AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG BLOW,

AND IS GOING TO REQUIRE

A FIERCENESS

EVEN IN THE REALM OF FAITH TO

FIND THE BEAUTY THAT GOD HAS.

THESE TWO BOOKS ARE REALLY,

REALLY MEANINGFUL.

DO YOU APPRECIATE VERY MUCH

THIS INCREDIBLE TESTIMONY?

KIM, BOTH OF YOU

HAVE BEEN GREAT MINISTERING,

A TEAM TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE.

BETTY AND I HAVE BEEN A TEAM

FOR SOON 50 YEARS,

NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE CELEBRATING

OUR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL JOURNEY.

THERE HAVE BEEN

THOSE TENSE MOMENTS.

I'VE BEEN THE ONE AT FAULT

MORE OFTEN, NONE OF YOU

HAD TO GUESS AT THAT,

YOU ALREADY FIGURED THAT OUT.

[Laughter]

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO

ANY BIG RESEARCH

OR BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST.

BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU,

THE THING THAT HAS MEANT

SO MUCH TO BETTY AND ME

IS LIVING BEYOND OUR WORLD.

AND OUR VIEWERS TELL US,

"JAMES, THANK YOU

FOR THE INSPIRATION.

THANK YOU FOR THE TESTIMONIES.

THANK YOU

FOR THE BIBLE TEACHING.

BUT WE APPRECIATE

THE OPPORTUNITY OF CHANGING

SOMEBODY'S WORLD WITH LOVE."

I WANT YOU TO WATCH CLOSELY.

James: WHEN I SAW THAT

GRAPHIC GO UP, "NO HOPE,"

AND THEN "NO LIFE,"

I FOUND MYSELF SAYING,

"HOPE LIVES HERE.

LIFE LIVES HERE" --

THE WAY, THE TRUTH,

AND THE LIFE.

DON'T TELL ME THERE IS NO HOPE.

I LISTENED TO THAT MOTHER

IN MADAGASCAR

OFF OF THE EAST COAST

OF SOUTHERN AFRICA;

ALL THESE CHILDREN ARE SICK,

ALL THEY NEED IS CLEAN WATER.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING

FOR A CURE FOR CANCER

OR SOME UNDIAGNOSED DISEASE

AND WE GOT THE CURE.

IF JUST A CUP OF WATER

YOU WOULD GIVE IN MY NAME,

HOPE SAID THAT,

LIFE SAID THAT --

JESUS SAID THAT.

"YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR REWARD."

MY MIND NEVER DOES RACE --

I GUESS I CAN UNDERSTAND

SOME RACING TO THINK

WHAT MIGHT THAT REWARD BE?

BETTY, THERE IS

SO MUCH HOPE AND LIFE THAT

GOD'S PUT IN MY HEART FOR

OTHERS THAT IT'S REWARD ENOUGH

TO SEE THAT SAME MOTHER

SEE HER CHILDREN

GET CLEAN WATER,

TO SEE HER FRIENDS

AND THEIR FAMILIES COME

TO A CLEAN WATER SOURCE

AND NO LONGER SAY "NO LIFE,"

"NO HOPE" BUT HAVE LIFE.

WE MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

GOD'S LOVE THROUGH US,

THROUGH OUR VIEWERS,

MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

BETTY AND I GIVE TO THE

WATER WELL DRILLING PROGRAM.

WE GIVE TO EVERY

MISSION OUTREACH

WE'RE INVOLVED IN,

OUR LIVES, OUR TIME,

BUT OUR RESOURCES.

ANY TIME -- IT'S AMAZING

HOW WE GIVE

AND IT'S LIKE GOD BLESSES

WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE

MORE THAN ENOUGH.

WE KEEP ASKING GOD,

"LET US GIVE!"

SO I'M ASKING YOU,

WOULD YOU DO THIS?

WE NEED EVERYBODY

ALL OVER THE WORLD,

IN AUSTRALIA,

YOU'RE SO WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU!

SOMETIMES I THINK

YOU'RE HELPING US HERE

IN NORTH AMERICA

WHEN WE FELT SOME OF THE WEIGHT

YOU HAVEN'T FELT AND YET

YOU'VE FELT TREMENDOUS WEIGHT

THROUGH THE FLOODING

AND THE PROBLEMS YOU'VE HAD.

GOD BLESS YOU!

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP...

THE U.K., CANADA, THE U.S.

WE NEED TO HEAR

FROM ALL OF YOU,

OUR GOAL OF HUNDREDS OF WELLS

-- IT'S ONE WELL AT A TIME,

ONE GIFT AT A TIME.

COULD YOU GIVE A WELL?

FATHER, I PRAY TODAY THAT

SEVERAL WILL GIVE A WELL.

I PRAY

THERE WOULD BE SOMEONE TODAY

WHO WOULD GIVE SEVERAL WELLS.

SAY, "I COULD DO IT.

I'VE BEEN BLESSED. I'LL DO IT!

HELP EVERYONE."

DO YOU REALIZE $48,

10 PEOPLE WATER

THE REST OF THEIR LIFE?

$144, 30 PEOPLE WATER

THE REST OF THEIR LIFE?

IF YOU WRITE A CHECK,

MAKE IT TO LIFE;

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GIVING.

USE YOUR BANKCARD LIKE A CHECK

AND CALL US AND SAY,

"HERE'S MY GIFT."

OR GO ONLINE: LifeToday.org.

IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL.

IF YOU'VE MADE GIFTS TODAY

WE GOT IT.

WE CAN PASS IT ON

TO THE MISSIONARIES AND THOSE

THAT ARE DRILLING WATER WELLS.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT CALL.

WE HAVE SOME GIFTS TO BLESS YOU

IN YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AND

TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE.

PLEASE MAKE

THAT SPECIAL GIFT TODAY.

IF YOU SHOULD EVER GET A BUSY,

YOU JUST KEEP CALLING.

BE PERSISTENT!

LIVES DO DEPEND ON IT

WE NEED TO HEAR

FROM EVERY ONE OF YOU

MAKING THE BEST GIFT

YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

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: HERE IS A WATER SOURCE AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND

THAT THIS IS CONTAMINATED WATER.

IT MAY LOOK CLEAN TO YOU, IT MAY LOOK CLEAN

TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE VILLAGES AROUND HERE

BUT IT'S CONTAMINATED FROM HUMAN WASTE, ANIMAL WASTE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT

WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO DRILL A WELL HERE BUT THERE ARE

-- AND PLEASE GRASP THIS IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN --

THERE ARE ONE BILLION PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD

WHO DON'T HAVE CLEAN WATER

AND 10,000 PEOPLE WILL DIE OF WATERBORNE ILLNESSES TODAY

BUT WE CAN STOP THAT.

DIAL THAT TELEPHONE NUMBER AND MAKE THE VERY BEST GIFT YOU CAN.

PLEASE DO IT AND DO IT NOW.

PLEASE MAKE THE GIFT OR YOU CAN GO ON LIFETODAY.ORG.

YOU COULD GIVE A COMMUNITY, A VILLAGE PERHAPS, A WELL,

OR YOU COULD GIVE TOWARD THE DRILLING OF A WELL.

YOU COULD GIVE 30 PEOPLE OR 60 PEOPLE WATER FOR LIFE

BY SIMPLY MAKING A GIFT TODAY. PLEASE DO IT!

James: THE AVERAGE JOE,

TROY MEEDER,

FIERCE BEAUTY, KIM MEEDER,

OUR GUESTS; SAY THANKS

TO KIM AND TO TROY AGAIN.

BLESS YOU IN YOUR WORK

WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

THANK YOU FOR THE EXAMPLE.

I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU,

INDIVISIBLE; GET IT

AND LET'S TURN OUR NATION

BACK TO STABILITY AND SECURITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH

A BLESSING TO US AND TO OTHERS

ALL OVER THE WORLD.

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 -- THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK

AT ONLINE AND RETAIL BOOKSTORES.

Beth: SO THEY DIDN'T REALLY SAY ANYTHING,

THEY SIGNALED BY NODDING THEIR HEAD.

I THOUGHT THAT IS SUCH A CLASSIC MAN THING!

DON'T YOU THINK IT IS?

Announcer: BETH MOORE -- TOMORROW!