LIKE WHY DID YOU ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS BUT NOT OURS?

Announcer: COMING UP, TWO FAMILIES FACED

WITH TRAGEDY AND STRUGGLES ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

BECAUSE WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN GOD SAYS NO?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE DEVASTATED WITH GOD;

WHEN YOU HAVE PRAYED AND YOU HAVE BELIEVED

AND YOU'VE DONE THE CHECKLIST LIKE WE DID?

IS THIS A CONSEQUENCE?

IS MY CANCER A CONSEQUENCE OF ALL MY REBELLION,

OF ALL MY DISOBEDIENCE, AND NOW THIS IS MY PUNISHMENT?

Announcer: WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN GOD SAYS NO -- NEXT!

Randy: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!

I'M RANDY ROBISON AND THIS IS

MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE DEBBIE.

MY PARENTS ARE TAKING

A WELL NEEDED REST TODAY.

BUT WE THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE

A GOOD DISCUSSION TODAY.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF GUESTS,

I'VE GOT KASEY VAN NORMAN

WHO IS HERE.

SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK,

NAMED BY GOD.

A WONDERFUL BOOK,

I ENCOURAGE YOU

TO CHECK THAT OUT.

I ALSO HAVE GOT JOY

AND TAIT CRUSE WHO ARE HERE

AND THEY WROTE A BOOK ABOUT

THEIR SON CALLED,

HOPE TRANSFORMED.

WOULD YOU WELCOME THEM

TO LIFE TODAY?

[Applause]

NOW IF YOU DIDN'T SEE

THE PROGRAMS WITH THEM,

I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO

TO LIFETODAY.ORG

AND WATCH THOSE PROGRAMS

AS SOON AS THIS ONE IS DONE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE HERE.

I WANT TO RECAP QUICKLY.

KASEY HAS HAD A DIFFICULT

PAST OR CHILDHOOD,

A BROKEN HOME,

IT EVOLVED INTO CUTTING

AND AN EATING DISORDER

AND PROMISCUITY,

AND GOD BROUGHT YOU BACK.

THEN YOU WENT THROUGH ANOTHER

BOUT OF DIFFICULT TIMES

THAT LED TO AN ATTEMPTED

SUICIDE, AND ALWAYS

GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU BACK

AND GONE DEEPER WITH YOU

AND HEALED A LOT OF

THE ORIGINAL WOUNDS.

BUT MORE RECENTLY, AS PEOPLE

MIGHT NOTE BY THE HAIRSTYLE,

THAT'S NOT YOUR CHOICE.

RIGHT? THAT'S A RESULT...

Kasey: ALTHOUGH IT MAKES

SUNDAY MORNINGS A LOT EASIER.

IT REALLY DOES.

Randy: IT'S GREAT!

I LOVE THE SHORT HAIR.

BUT YOU JUST SURVIVED

A BOUT OF CHEMO.

SO GIVE US THE SHORT VERSION

OF HOW THAT WENT

AND HOW YOU'RE DOING.

Kasey: I WAS HAVING

A ROUTINE PROCEDURE

SIX MONTHS AGO AND THE LORD

LED THE SURGEON TO A TUMOR.

THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS

A TUMOR THERE.

I NEVER ONCE GAVE IT

ANOTHER THOUGHT.

I JUST WENT ON ABOUT MY LIFE.

I SAID, OH, NO, IT'S NOTHING.

IT'S A BENIGN SOMETHING.

GOT THE PHONE CALL

TWO WEEKS AFTER

THAT IT WAS IN FACT MALIGNANT

AND THAT THERE WAS SOME

OTHER LYMPH NODES INVOLVED

AND I HAD FOLLICULAR LYMPHOMA;

IT IS A CASE OF

NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA.

MUCH LIKE MANY PEOPLE WHEN

THEY GET -- I WAS LISTENING

TO YOUR STORY, VERY SIMILAR

IN THAT YOU'RE JUST REELING

THAT DAY AND YOU JUST --

IT'S LIKE YOU'RE STANDING

OUTSIDE YOURSELF LOOKING IN

GOING, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN

TO ME.

THIS HAPPENS TO OTHER PEOPLE.

I'D JUST BEEN THROUGH THIS

WITH MY MOM.

I HAD JUST LOST MY MOM

ONLY TWO YEARS PRIOR

TO CANCER, TO KIND OF

A SISTER CANCER OF MINE,

ANOTHER BLOOD CANCER.

I WAS HER CARETAKER DURING

THAT TIME AND I HAD WATCHED

HER SUFFER WITH THIS CANCER

AND IT LITERALLY EAT HER BODY.

THE CHEMOTHERAPY AND ALL

THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE

PUTTING IN HER BODY

JUST GRADUALLY JUST

TEAR HER APART.

AND IMMEDIATELY, YOU GO

TO ALL THESE SCENARIOS.

YOU FLASHBACK TO ALL

THOSE MOMENTS WITH MY MOM

AND BEING WITH HER WHEN

SHE TOOK HER LAST BREATH,

AND THINKING, "WAIT A MINUTE,

I'M 31 YEARS OLD.

THIS ISN'T -- THIS ISN'T

WHERE WE'RE GOING, GOD.

WE JUST HAD ALL THIS

RESTORATION AND HEALING.

THIS BOOK IS COMING OUT.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Randy: BUT YOU'RE IN

FULL REMISSION NOW.

Kasey: YES, BY SO MANY

PRAYERS OF SO MANY PEOPLE

AND BY HIS WILL, I AM.

I'M IN COMPLETE REMISSION

AFTER FOUR CHEMOTHERAPY

TREATMENTS.

Randy: NOW I'M ALL

FOR GIVING GOD THE GLORY

IN THAT AND I'M VERY GLAD

THAT YOU'RE DOING WELL.

IT'S INTERESTING THOUGH

THE CRUSE'S ARE HERE BECAUSE

THEIR STORY IS ONE

OF PRAYERS, OF EFFORT,

OF LOOKING TO GLORIFY GOD

THROUGH THE SITUATION AND

OVER FOUR AND A HALF YEARS,

FROM FOUR TO EIGHT

AND A HALF, NINE?

Joy: FOUR AND A HALF

TO EIGHT.

Randy: CONNOR BATTLED CANCER.

THOUGHT HE WON BUT

IT TURNS OUT THE TREATMENT

THAT KILLED ONE CANCER

BROUGHT ANOTHER CANCER

THAT TOOK HIS LIFE.

HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN SOMEONE

SAYS, "HEY, I'M CANCER FREE.

PRAISE GOD

MY PRAYERS WORKED!"

Joy: YEAH.

AT FIRST IT WAS KIND OF HARD

TO SWALLOW BECAUSE

YOU'RE LIKE, "WHY DID

YOU ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS

BUT NOT OURS?

DID WE NOT HAVE ENOUGH FAITH?"

DID HE LOVE HER

MORE THAN HE LOVED CONNOR?

DID SHE WITNESS TO PEOPLE

OR TALK TO PEOPLE

MORE ABOUT GOD DURING

THE WHOLE PROCESS?

DID SHE HELP MORE PEOPLE

IN THE PROCESS?

Randy: DID SHE DO

THE RIGHT THINGS?

Joy: THE CHECKLIST --

WE HAD THE CHECKLIST

ON THE PRAYERS.

WE HAD THE CHECKLIST

ON DOING EVERYTHING.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF

THE PITFALL OF WHERE

YOU CAN FALL INTO IS

TO BELIEVE THOSE LIES.

YOU KNOW IN REALITY,

IT IS SOVEREIGNTY.

I REMEMBER THINKING ONE DAY,

YOU KNOW THEY ALWAYS SAY

IT IS BY GOD'S GRACE

THAT SOMEONE IS RESCUED.

"OH, MAN, THEY WERE SAVED

FROM THAT CAR ACCIDENT.

THAT'S GOD'S GRACE."

"SHE WAS HEALED FROM CANCER,

THAT'S GOD'S GRACE."

BUT I THINK THERE'S EVEN

HOW MUCH MORE GRACE IS POURED

OUT IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE ARE

NOT RESCUED FROM THE DEEPEST

PAIN OR THE BIGGEST TRIAL

THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH.

I THINK THAT'S JUST WHEN

YOU EXPERIENCE GOD FULLY.

Randy: AND YOU SAY THAT

FROM EXPERIENCE.

Joy: YES.

AND I COULDN'T SAY THAT

RIGHT AWAY.

RIGHT AFTER CONNOR PASSED AWAY

BUT I JUST KNOW THAT

WE COULDN'T HAVE SURVIVED,

WE COULDN'T HAVE TAKEN

ONE MORE STEP TO GET OUT

OF OUR BED WITHOUT GOD'S GRACE

FULLY ENVELOPING US.

I REMEMBER TELLING SOMEBODY,

YOU HAVE THIS DEEP FEAR

LIKE WHEN CONNOR WASN'T

DOING WELL, LIKE, "WHAT'S

IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE

IF CONNOR PASSES AWAY?

HOW WILL WE SURVIVE THAT?"

BUT YOU IMAGINE YOUR DEEPEST

FEAR WITHOUT IMAGINING

GOD WALKING YOU THROUGH IT

AND CARRYING YOU THROUGH IT.

SO IN REALITY, WHEN

WE WALKED THROUGH THOSE

DARK DAYS AFTER CONNOR

PASSED AWAY, WE FELT HIS LOVE

PULLING US THROUGH IT,

CARRYING US THROUGH.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE I HAD

A PADDED JACKET ON KEEPING ME

JUST COMFORTED AND KEEPING

ALL THOSE THINGS AWAY

FROM ME, AND JUST GETTING ME

THROUGH EACH DAY, AND JUST

KEEPING ALL THOSE THINGS

FROM GETTING AT ME.

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE --

SO WHEN YOU WORRY ABOUT

WHAT COULD HAPPEN

AND YOUR BIGGEST FEARS

AND EVERYTHING AND YOU'RE

IMAGINING WHAT IT WAS GOING

TO BE LIKE IF YOU HAD TO GO

THROUGH WHAT YOUR MOM DID,

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE IT WITH

GOD CARRYING YOU THROUGH IT.

SO THAT WAS MY MESSAGE

TO PEOPLE, DON'T BE AFRAID.

YOU HAVE THIS FEAR BUT

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE GOING

THROUGH IT WITH GOD'S GRACE

CARRYING YOU.

Randy: YOUR DAUGHTER READ

A SCRIPTURE, WAS IT

AT CONNOR'S FUNERAL

OR WAS IT --?

Joy: IT WAS HOURS BEFORE

CONNOR PASSED AWAY.

Randy: WHAT WAS THAT SCRIPTURE?

YOUR 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,

I MIGHT ADD.

Joy: WELL, WE WERE

ALL READING BIBLE VERSES

TO HIM ABOUT HEAVEN.

BUT THE ONE SHE CHOSE

WAS WHEN JESUS WAS PRAYING,

"TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME."

AND HE SAID, "NOT MY WILL

BUT THY WILL BE DONE."

AND SO SHE, EVEN AT

11 YEARS OLD, REALIZED

IT WAS GOD'S WILL --

IT IS GOD'S WILL

THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.

IF JESUS STRUGGLED WITH THAT

AND HE HAD TEARS AND PAIN,

AND HE CRIED OUT TO GOD,

IT MADE ME FEEL MORE HUMAN,

LIKE IT'S OKAY THAT

I'M HURTING AND THAT

I WOULD CRY OUT TO HIM

IN FRUSTRATION, LIKE DID IT

HAVE TO BE THIS WAY?

ISN'T THERE A BETTER PLAN

THAN THIS?

I THINK THERE IS

A BETTER PLAN BUT IN REALITY

ITS HIS WILL

AND HIS SOVEREIGN PLAN.

I ALSO DEALT WITH A LOT

OF GUILT ABOUT DID WE DO

SOMETHING WRONG OR COULD

WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING BETTER

WITH THE TREATMENT?

BUT IN THE VERSE IT SAYS

CONNOR'S LIFE WAS ORDAINED

BEFORE HE WAS BORN.

I KNOW THAT GOD HAD A PLAN

FOR HIM, AND I SEE HOW

GOD IS STILL USING

CONNOR'S LIFE TO TOUCH PEOPLE.

BEFORE WE WROTE THE BOOK

AND BEFORE CONNOR PASSED AWAY,

WE SAID, "WE'RE NOT GOING

TO WRITE A BOOK

IF CONNOR PASSES AWAY BECAUSE

THAT'S A SAD STORY.

WHO IS THAT REALLY

GOING TO HELP?"

BUT I SEE THAT THERE'S

AN AUDIENCE OUT THERE THAT

NEEDS TO HEAR THIS MESSAGE

BECAUSE WHERE DO YOU GO

WHEN GOD SAYS NO?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE

DEVASTATED WITH GOD?

WHEN YOU HAVE PRAYED

AND YOU HAVE BELIEVED

AND YOU'VE DONE THE CHECKLIST

LIKE WE DID,

WHAT DO THOSE PEOPLE DO?

Randy: WE DON'T ALWAYS

GET OUR PRAYERS ANSWERED.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS, KASEY,

DID YOU HAVE SOME OF

THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT

SHE'S EXPRESSING HERE WHEN

YOU WERE DIAGNOSED?

LIKE "OH, WHAT DID I DO?

IS THIS MY SIN COMING BACK

ON ME?"

DID YOU EXPERIENCE THAT

AS AN ADULT?

Kasey: ABSOLUTELY.

THE BIG ONE, YOU HIT IT

ON THE HEAD THERE.

JUST IS THIS A CONSEQUENCE,

IS MY CANCER A CONSEQUENCE

OF ALL MY REBELLION,

OF ALL MY DISOBEDIENCE

AND NOW THIS IS MY PUNISHMENT?

MAN, TO BE JUST IN THE BED

REELING FROM THAT

AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED

THROUGH THAT IS THAT

THE RIGHT QUESTION IS NOT WHY.

THE QUESTION IS NOT WHY GOD?

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?

THE RIGHT QUESTION IS WHAT?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO

THROUGH THIS?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO

THROUGH ME IN THIS?

THAT WAS JUST --

TO COME TO THAT PLACE

THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN,

IT IS HIS WILL AND ALTHOUGH

THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT

EVEN PRAYING A PRAYER

CAN CHANGE THE MIND OF GOD.

AND SO YOU'RE GOING, "OKAY,

GOD, IF PRAYER CAN REALLY

CHANGE YOUR MIND..."

BUT ULTIMATELY, HIS PLAN

IS SO PERFECT AND IT IS SO

TO MAKE YOU MORE LIKE

THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST AND

IT IS SO TO MAKE YOU MORE --

CONNOR'S LIFE AND HIS STORY

AND HIS LEGACY MAKING THEM

MORE LIKE CHRIST.

I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SAY,

I CAN'T FATHOM

AND Y'ALL ARE HEROES

AND THE LEGACY THAT

THIS LITTLE BOY IS LEAVING

IS MINISTERING TO ME

AT THE AGE OF 32 WITH

MY CHILDREN TO JUST --

EVERY MOMENT WITH THEM

IS PRECIOUS.

BUT ONE THING THAT

GOD BROUGHT TO ME

IN THE MIDST OF CHEMO

AND WILL CONTINUE,

BECAUSE MY TYPE OF CANCER

IS NOT CURABLE.

I'LL ACTUALLY FIGHT THIS

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

IT IS NOT A CURABLE CANCER

AND SO I'LL HAVE TREATMENTS

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

BUT THAT HEALING,

ULTIMATE HEALING IS TO BE

WITH CHRIST AND FOR US

TO GET IT REVERSED IS TO MISS

THE ABUNDANCE OF LIVING NOW.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE --

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!

BUT TO MISS WHAT WE COULD

BE LIVING NOW BECAUSE

WE'RE DOUBTING AND

WE'RE ASKING THE WHY?

Randy: HOW DOES IT STRIKE YOU

WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEONE

LIKE THAT SAY, "DESPITE

THE LOSS OF YOUR SON,

THROUGH YOUR PAIN

GOD IS MINISTERING TO ME."

Tait: THROUGHOUT WHEN CONNOR

WAS SICK AND AFTER

HIS DEATH, I'VE ALWAYS SAID

IT IS A DARK VALLEY BECAUSE

YOU HAVE YOUR OLD NORMAL,

CONNOR BEING WITH US

OR CONNOR BEING SICK,

AND THEN YOU GET KIND OF

ON THE ADRENALINE HIGH

OF FIGHTING BECAUSE THEN

WE HAD TO COME OFF

THE ADRENALINE OF FIGHTING

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FIGHT

ANY MORE.

SO YOU REALLY HAVE THIS

NEW NORMAL GOING FORWARD.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID

IT IS A DARK VALLEY;

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S

TO THE LEFT,

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S

TO THE RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T GO BACK TO HEALTHY

CONNOR OR HEALTHY --

AND REALLY, YOU HAVE

TO GO FORWARD.

THE ONLY WAY YOU GO FORWARD

IS WITH BELIEVERS PUSHING YOU

THROUGH, AND REALLY CHRIST,

WALKING ALONG WITH YOU.

SO EVERY MORNING I WOULD

GET UP AND IF I COULD SEE

THE SUNRISE, I WAS GOOD.

WAKE UP IN PRAYER.

BUT HOW DO YOU GET THROUGH IT?

YOU BOND -- I HAD TO BOND

TO JOY BECAUSE THERE'S

AN 88% DIVORCE RATE.

IT'S FAITH, FAMILY,

AND FRIENDS, YOU JUST KEEP

GOING BACK TO THAT.

OTHERWISE YOU HAVE NOTHING

AND YOU GET REAL PURE.

YOU BOIL IT DOWN TO

THE ORGANIC MATTER THAT IT IS

AND IT'S FAITH, FAMILY,

AND FRIENDS.

Joy: AND WHEN SHE SAID THAT,

SOMEBODY HAD WRITTEN ME

AN E-MAIL THAT THEY HAD GIVEN

THEIR BOOK TO A CO-WORKER

AND HE CAME IN HER OFFICE

AND HE SHUT THE DOOR

AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW,

I READ HOPE TRANSFORMED

LAST NIGHT AND I'VE ALWAYS

BELIEVED IN RELIGION BUT

I DIDN'T GET IT.

THIS BOOK HAS CHANGED MY LIFE

AND I'M BUYING IT FOR

EVERYBODY IN MY FAMILY."

AND I E-MAILED HER BACK,

IT WAS ACTUALLY

THE GHOST WRITER,

AND I E-MAILED HER BACK

AND I SAID, "I'M TYPING THIS

AS TEARS ARE STREAMING

DOWN MY FACE BECAUSE

I REALIZE GOD IS STILL

USING CONNOR'S LIFE"

AND THAT IS MORE REWARDING

TO ME, THAT IS HEALING TO ME.

I'VE KIND OF CLAIMED

THE VERSE THAT ALL THINGS

WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

TO THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD

AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO

HIS PURPOSE, ROMANS 8:28

AS MY THEME VERSE

SINCE CONNOR PASSED AWAY.

I JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE

THAT GOD CAN USE EVEN THIS --

EVEN THIS FOR GOOD.

SO THAT'S HOW WHEN YOU TELL ME

THAT, IT BRINGS BACK THAT FAITH

I'M REALLY TRYING TO

HOLD IN GOD AGAIN,

I'M WORKING ON IT EVERY DAY,

BABY STEPS.

IT MAKES ME BELIEVE, OKAY,

HE CAN DO THIS.

HE CAN USE IT FOR GOOD.

Debbie: HOW ARE YOUR OTHER

CHILDREN DOING SINCE?

Joy: IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE.

MACKENZIE, THE OLDEST ONE,

SHE'S JUST -- SHE GIVES

ALL THE RIGHT ANSWERS

SO HOPEFULLY SHE BELIEVES

EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAYS.

SHE'S STRONG.

Tait: INDEPENDENT,

BECAME VERY INDEPENDENT.

Joy: I SEE GOD WORKING

IN HER LIFE.

I THINK CARSON IS ONE

THAT WAS CLOSEST TO CONNOR,

WHO IS A YEAR YOUNGER

AND HE STRUGGLED SO MUCH

WITH DEPRESSION.

HE'S HAD A LOT OF COUNSELING

AND I JUST PRAY EVERY DAY

THAT GOD CAN USE EVEN THIS

FOR HIS GOOD AND HE IS USING IT

TO MOLD HIM INTO WHO HE IS.

I MET WITH CHRIS TOMLIN'S

PRODUCER AND HE LOST

A SISTER TO CANCER

AT A YOUNG AGE.

HE SAID, "IT MADE ME

WHO I AM TODAY.

IT MOLDED ME INTO THAT."

I'M LIKE THAT'S WHAT

I'M PRAYING FOR CARSON.

Tait: AND THEN OUR MASON

WHO WAS BORN INTO THIS,

INTO THE CHAOS, HE WAS BORN

A DAY BEFORE WE WENT INTO

THE 64 DAYS OF BONE MARROW

TRANSPLANT SO HE LITERALLY

HAD HIM AND THREW HIM

TO OUR MOTHER IN LAW,

WE DIDN'T HOLD THAT CHILD

FOR WEEKS.

ANGRY, ANXIOUS, UNTRUSTING --

Joy: KIND OF A CONTROL FREAK

BECAUSE HE JUST HAD

LACK OF CONTROL BECAUSE

WE WERE GONE SO MUCH

FOR CONNOR'S TREATMENTS.

IT WAS A REVOLVING DOOR

OF PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF HIM.

Randy: HAVE YOU HAD TO TRY

TO MAYBE SINCE LOSING CONNOR

TRY TO MAYBE COMPENSATE

FOR SOME OF THE LOST TIME

WITH THE OTHERS?

Joy: TRIED TO.

JUST TRY TO FEED

THAT INSECURITY,

TRY TO FEED IT WITH LOVE

AND SECURITY AND FOUNDATION

-- IT IS FUNNY.

I REMEMBER IT WAS THE FIRST

THANKSGIVING AFTER CONNOR

PASSED AWAY AND MY KIDS ARE

HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES

DEALING WITH THIS GRIEF

AND THIS LOSS.

I REMEMBER CRYING OUT TO GOD

GOING, I THOUGHT THIS WAS

GOING TO GET EASIER?

BECAUSE OUR FOCUS HAD BEEN

ON CONNOR'S PHYSICAL HEALING

AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

AND NOW I'M LOOKING AT

MY CHILDREN AND THEY HAVE

EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS THAT

THEY HAD TO GET THROUGH

IN DEPRESSION.

GOD, I THOUGHT THIS WAS

GOING TO GET EASIER.

LIKE TAIT SAID, I WANT

THE WHITE FLAG.

MY TICKET HAS BEEN PUNCHED

-- I'M SURE THIS WAS

PROBABLY WHAT YOU THOUGHT,

MY TICKET'S BEEN PUNCHED,

I'M GOOD.

LET SOMEBODY ELSE

PLAY THE GAME.

I WANT TO SIT ON THE BENCH.

Tait: TAKE ME OUT, COACH,

Randy: I THINK KASEY CAN

TELL YOU AS MUCH AS ANYONE,

THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE

OUTWARD AND THE SYMPTOMATIC,

IT IS THE ROOT ISSUES

THAT HEALING HAS GOT TO GO

ALL THE WAY TO THE CORE

TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

BRIEFLY, YOU TALK ABOUT

PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH

AND AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH

THESE STRUGGLES, WHAT SHOULD

PEOPLE SAY TO YOU

DURING THIS TIME?

Tait: IT'S INTERESTING,

WHEN CONNOR WAS DIAGNOSED,

I HAD THREE INTERACTIONS

WITHIN A DAY.

THE FIRST ONE WAS,

"WE'LL GO TO THIS PRAYER GARDEN

AND YOU WALK IN THIS PRAYER

GARDEN AND YOU'LL BE HEALED."

OKAY.

THE OTHER ONE SAID,

"WELL, IT'S ALREADY BEEN

DETERMINED SO WHETHER

YOU PRAY OR NOT, GOD HAS

MADE HIS MIND UP."

I'M LIKE, "YEAH, BUT

NEHEMIAH KIND OF --

I THINK PRAYERS,

WE'RE COMMANDED TO PRAY."

THEN ONE KIND OF SAID,

"GO TAKE THEM TO MOTHER EARTH

WILL RESTORE THEM

WITH SHEEP AND BABY LAMBS

AND CHICKS."

Randy: THIS WAS AT

YOUR CHURCH?

Tait: NO, NO, NO!

THIS IS THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS,

WHETHER IT'S --

IT'S ALL WITH BEST INTERESTS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU SAY TO

A SICK CHILD OR A SICK MOTHER?

WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN

LIFE PUNCHES YOU

RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES?

IT IS A SUCKER PUNCH.

I WOULD SAY, A LOT OF TIMES

JUST BE QUIET AND LET THEM

KNOW YOU'RE THERE TO HELP.

WE HAVE FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE

THAT PICKED UP DRY CLEANING,

TOOK OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

I MEAN OUR HOUSE

WAS NEVER LOCKED.

HELP AND SERVE IN ACTION --

ACTION.

Randy: ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER

THAN WORDS.

Joy: JUST KNOWING YOU CARE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT

YOU'RE GOING THROUGH,

I CAN'T FATHOM,

BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW

I'M THERE FOR YOU.

I WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU

AND I WANT TO PRAY FOR YOU.

HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOU

AND SERVE YOU?

THAT'S WHAT I TRY --

WHEN I TALK TO OTHER FAMILIES

WHO ARE LOSING THEIR CHILD,

THEIR CHILD IS DYING

FROM CANCER,

EVEN JUST STRUGGLING.

IT'S HARD, I KNOW.

I JUST WANT TO BE HERE

TO LISTEN.

Tait: BUT PEOPLE SAY

THE STRANGEST THINGS.

I HAD ONE PERSON SAY,

"MY DOG HAD CANCER,

I UNDERSTAND."

I'M LIKE, "NO, YOU DON'T.

NO, YOU DON'T."

SO THEY NEED TO BE QUIET

AND JUST SERVE.

Kasey: DON'T SAY, "IT'S OKAY.

IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY."

CANCER OR ANY OTHER TRAUMA

THAT HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE,

YOU DON'T KNOW. IT'S NOT OKAY.

IN THAT MOMENT

IT'S NOT OKAY.

IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE OKAY

BECAUSE YOUR FATE

IS INTENDED -- YOU'RE INTENDED

TO BE CONSTANTLY CHANGING

AND MOLDING INTO

THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST AND

THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS IN THOSE

PAINS AND TRIALS OF LIFE.

THAT'S THE ONLY TIME

IT HAPPENS.

IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE OKAY.

DON'T SAY YOU UNDERSTAND.

EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY

HAVE BEEN THROUGH --

I GOT THAT A LOT.

Randy: FROM OTHER CANCER

SURVIVORS?

Kasey: "I UNDERSTAND

WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH."

AND IN A WAY, YES,

THERE IS EMPATHY --

THERE IS CERTAINLY EMPATHY,

THERE IS CERTAINLY COMPASSION

BUT UNDERSTANDING OF MY CANCER

WITH MY CHEMO AND HOW

I HAVE FELT, YOU DON'T HAVE.

SO I THINK THAT --

I THINK WHAT YOU JUST SAID,

JUST ACTION.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST

BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE

WAS PEOPLE THAT PRAYED

IN THE MOMENT THAT

THEY SAID THEY WOULD

PRAY FOR ME.

BECAUSE IT IS VERY EASY

TO SAY, I'VE DONE IT MYSELF,

I'M GUILTY, "I'LL PRAY FOR YOU"

AND HAVE EVERY INTENTION

OF DOING SO AND THEN

YOU GET CAUGHT UP

AND YOU FORGET TO PRAY

FOR THAT PERSON.

WHAT SPOKE VOLUMES TO ME

AND TOUCHED MY HEART

IN THE MIDST OF THAT TRIAL WAS

WHEN PEOPLE WOULD JUST PRAY.

IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE

ANY KIND OF BIG PRAYER

OR FORMAL PRAYER,

IT WAS JUST TOUCHING ME

AND LETTING THAT SPIRIT

SPEAK POWER INTO MY SPIRIT,

DOING IT THEN.

Randy: NOT SAYING

YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT,

MAYBE YOU'LL DO IT LATER

BUT DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

THANKS, YOU GUYS

FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

I WANT TO SHOW OUR VIEWERS

SOMETHING BECAUSE WHAT

THEY JUST SAID IS THE SECRET

TO IT ALL.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER

THAN WORDS AND DON'T SAY

YOU'LL DO IT LATER,

SAY YOU'LL DO IT NOW.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY

RIGHT NOW TO SAVE

CHILDREN'S LIVES.

YOU CAN IMPACT PEOPLE

WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST

RIGHT NOW.

GO WITH ME TO CAMBODIA.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU

SOMETHING.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU

AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

I WANT TO INVITE YOU

TO JOIN US ON THIS MISSION

WE CALL WATER FOR LIFE.

WATCH THIS.

Randy: I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS WATER. GOOD LORD!

AH! IT SMELLS HORRIBLE.

IT SMELLS WORSE THAN IT LOOKS!

BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY DRINK

BECAUSE THIS IS ALL THEY HAVE TO DRINK.

THIS IS NOT WATER THAT YOU CAN LIVE FROM.

THIS IS WATER THAT WILL KILL YOU.

I HAVE SEEN DISEASES, I'VE SEEN CHILDREN WITH SORES

AND KIDS WITH DIARRHEA, I'VE SEEN GRAVES.

I'VE SAT WITH A MOTHER

WHILE SHE WEPT OVER HER CHILDREN THAT SHE LOST

BECAUSE OF THIS CONTAMINATED WATER.

THIS IS DEATH WATER AND IT'S KILLING THEIR CHILDREN.

I WOULD NEVER MAKE A CHILD DRINK THIS.

BUT THESE CHILDREN HAVE NO CHOICE.

IT IS THIS OR NOTHING

AND SOME OF THEM DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL KILL THEM.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TELL THEM, "DON'T DRINK THE WATER."

WE HAVE TO SAY, "HERE'S WATER YOU CAN DRINK."

JESUS CALLS HIMSELF "LIVING WATER"

BECAUSE HE BRINGS LIFE.

WE ARE HIS HANDS AND HIS FEET.

HELP US DEMONSTRATE THE GOSPEL

AS WE BRING THEM WATER FOR LIFE.

Randy: YOU KNOW THERE'S NOT

MUCH BETTER IN THIS WORLD

THAN TO SEE A CHILD SMILE?

AND WHEN YOU KNOW

THEY'RE SMILING BECAUSE

YOU JOINED WITH US

IN MISSION: WATER FOR LIFE

AND MADE THAT FRESH CLEAN

DRINKING WATER POSSIBLE,

I TELL YOU WHAT,

THAT'S A FEELING --

THERE IS NOT MUCH BETTER

IN THIS WORLD

THAT'S BETTER THAN THAT.

THAT'S THE INVITATION

I WANT TO EXTEND TO YOU

RIGHT NOW.

JOIN WITH US

ON MISSION: WATER FOR LIFE.

YOU CAN IMPACT A LIFE

FOR THEIR LIFETIME.

IT'S A GIFT

THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

THE AVERAGE WELL IS $4800

AND THAT REACHES AN AVERAGE

OF 1,000 PEOPLE.

I KNOW IN THAT VILLAGE

I WAS IN, THERE WERE MORE

THAN 1,000 IN THAT AREA

THAT WOULD COME TO THAT WELL

TO GET CLEAN DRINKING WATER

BUT ON AVERAGE,

THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.

SO YOUR GIFT OF $4800

WILL REACH 1,000 PEOPLE.

YOU WILL GIVE THEM

CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

WHAT A HUGE THING!

YOU WILL ERADICATE SICKNESS

AND YOU WILL SHOW THEM

THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.

WHEREVER WE GO,

WE'RE NOT SHY ABOUT THE FACT

THAT WE ARE THERE

REPRESENTING JESUS CHRIST.

WE ARE HIS HANDS,

WE ARE HIS FEET;

THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS US.

I WANT YOU TO DO THAT NOW.

IF YOU CAN GIVE $1200,

WE'LL SEND YOU

"THE LION AND THE LAMB" BRONZE

THAT WILL SERVE AS A REMINDER

OF YOUR GIFT

AND I HOPE YOU'LL PUT IT

SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CAN SEE IT

AND YOU'LL REMEMBER THE SMILE

THAT YOU SAW BECAUSE

YOU'RE PUTTING SMILES

ON OTHER CHILDREN'S FACES.

SOME OF YOU,

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY,

I UNDERSTAND.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW

THAT THERE'S NOT A GIFT

THAT'S TOO BIG

BUT THERE'S NOT A GIFT

THAT'S TOO SMALL.

$48 WILL GIVE WATER

TO 10 PEOPLE.

HOW SIMPLE IS THAT?

IT IS SIMPLE AND YET

THE IMPACT IS PROFOUND,

AND SO LONG --

IT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING.

THAT'S THE THING

THAT JUST ASTOUNDS ME

IS HOW A SIMPLE ACT

OF DRILLING A WATER WELL

HAS SUCH INCREDIBLE IMPACT

FOR YEARS AND GENERATIONS.

WILL YOU JOIN US RIGHT NOW?

WILL YOU GO TO THE PHONE?

CALL US AND MAKE

THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN.

REALLY, IT'S ALL ABOUT

OBEYING GOD'S

GREAT COMMISSION

TO GO OUT AND REACH OTHERS.

SO DON'T GET HUNG UP ON

WHAT YOU CAN OR CAN'T GIVE.

JUST OBEY GOD

AND JOIN WITH US

IN THIS GREAT MISSION.

GO ONLINE, THERE'S

THE WEB SITE RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S HOW I GIVE.

DO WHAT YOU CAN.

IF WE WILL ALL JOIN TOGETHER,

WE WILL REACH OUR GOAL,

HUNDREDS OF WELLS

IN SO MANY COUNTRIES

IMPACTING SO MANY LIVES

BUT WE CAN'T DO IT

WITHOUT YOU.

JOIN US NOW -- JOIN US

IN MISSION: WATER FOR LIFE

AND THANK YOU AS YOU GIVE.

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!

Randy: I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR SUPPORTING WATER FOR LIFE.

YOUR GIFT IS GOING

TO KEEP ON GIVING.

IF YOU CAN'T DO IT

RIGHT THIS SECOND,

PLEASE WRITE IT DOWN.

WRITE DOWN THE PHONE NUMBER

OR LIFETODAY.ORG

AND YOU CAN DO IT LATER.

ALSO, I WANT TO MENTION

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE

ABOUT KASEY VAN NORMAN

VISIT KASEYVANNORMAN.COM.

THERE IS THE U.R.L.

AND IF YOU WANT TO LEARN

MORE ABOUT TEAM CONNOR --

TEAMCONNOR.ORG --

YOU CAN CHECK THAT OUT AS WELL.

AS ALWAYS, I REALLY APPRECIATE

YOU GUYS BEING HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

WOULD YOU THANK THEM

FOR BEING HERE ON LIFE TODAY

AND OPENING UP

AND TELLING THEIR STORY?

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT

AND I APPRECIATE YOU

FOR WATCHING LIFE TODAY.

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.

Announcer: IF YOU'RE IN THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH AREA,

COME BE A PART OF THE LIFE TODAY STUDIO AUDIENCE.

CALL OR E-MAIL TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS.

YOU'LL BE INSPIRED AND ENTERTAINED!