ME, AS THE KING OF MY OWN LIFE, DOESN'T END WELL.

Announcer: COMING UP, A YOUNG MAN STRUGGLING

WITH LIFE AND RELIGION ANSWERS WITH A VIDEO POEM

THAT GOES VIRAL WITH OVER 21 MILLION VIEWS.

NOW BACK TO THE POINT, ONE THING IS VITAL TO MENTION.

HOW JESUS AND RELIGION ARE ON OPPOSITE SPECTRUMS.

SEE ONE'S THE WORK OF GOD, BUT ONE'S A MAN-MADE INVENTION.

SEE ONE IS THE CURE BUT THE OTHER IS THE INFECTION.

Announcer: THE MAN AND THE VIDEO -- NEXT!

§

James: WELL, ALL OF YOU

WHO ARE HERE, YOU'RE WHERE

I KNOW AT LEAST 20 MILLION

PEOPLE WISH THEY WERE.

WAY ON UP BEYOND THAT WATCHED

THIS YOUNG MAN ON YOUTUBE;

JEFFERSON BETHKE IS HIS NAME.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY

REALLY KNEW HIS NAME,

MAY NOT HAVE EVEN CARED.

YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT THIS GUY IS DOING WHEN

HE TALKS ABOUT BASICALLY

"I HATE RELIGION BUT

IT ENDED UP I LOVE JESUS"

AND SO YOU'RE BEGINNING

TO WONDER, IS THE GUY

MAD AT THE CHURCH

OR WHAT'S GOING ON?

I WANT TO SAY THIS,

AND RIGHT HERE LOCALLY

IN THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH AREA,

LET ME JUST SAY, JACK GRAHAM,

PRESTONWOOD CHURCH,

HEY JACK, I'VE ALWAYS

ADMIRED YOU AND LOVED YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN HERE,

BEEN A GUEST MANY TIMES,

WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR YEARS.

BUT WHEN THE MEDIA AND A LOT OF

PEOPLE CAME DOWN ON THIS GUY,

JACK, YOU JUST IMMEDIATELY

STOOD UP AND SAID,

"YOU KNOW WHAT?

HE'S JUST RIGHT ABOUT A LOT

OF THINGS HE'S SAYING ABOUT

WHERE RELIGION GETS

OUT OF PLACE.

I BELIEVE HE LOVES JESUS

AND I BELIEVE WE NEED

TO BE LISTENING."

JACK, AS YOU'RE GOING

TO HEAR FROM THE YOUNG MAN

YOURSELF WHAT THAT MEANT TO HIM

AT THE MOMENT WHEN THE FRAY

AND THE VIEWS BEGAN,

YOU STOOD LIKE A STATESMAN FOR

GOD AND I WANT TO THANK YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO HEAR

THE YOUNG MAN YOURSELF

RIGHT HERE.

WHY DON'T WE JUST LISTEN

TO THAT YOUTUBE THAT

WENT VIRAL IMMEDIATELY

AND WENT AROUND THE WORLD?

HERE IT IS.

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU JESUS CAME TO ABOLISH RELIGION.

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU VOTING REPUBLICAN

REALLY WASN'T HIS MISSION?

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU REPUBLICAN DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN CHRISTIAN

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU CALL SOME PEOPLE BLIND

DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY GIVE YOU VISION.

I MEAN IF RELIGION IS SO GREAT,

WHY HAS IT STARTED SO MANY WARS?

WHY DOES IT BUILD HUGE CHURCHES BUT FAILS TO FEED THE POOR?

TELLS SINGLE MOMS GOD DOESN'T LOVE THEM

IF THEY'VE EVER HAD A DIVORCE BUT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

GOD ACTUALLY CALLS RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHORES.

RELIGION MIGHT PREACH GRACE,

BUT ANOTHER THING THEY PRACTICE

TEND TO RIDICULE GOD'S PEOPLE,

THEY DID IT TO JOHN THE BAPTIST.

THEY CAN'T FIX THEIR PROBLEMS AND SO THEY JUST MASK IT,

NOT REALIZING RELIGION'S LIKE SPRAYING PERFUME ON A CASKET.

SEE THE PROBLEM WITH RELIGION IS IT NEVER GETS TO THE CORE.

IT'S JUST BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION LIKE A LONG LIST OF CHORES.

LIKE LET'S DRESS UP THE OUTSIDE,

MAKE IT LOOK NICE AND NEAT

BUT IT IS FUNNY, THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO DO MUMMIES

WHILE THE CORPSE ROTS UNDERNEATH.

NOW I AIN'T JUDGIN', I'M JUST SAYING

QUIT PUTTING ON A FAKE LOOK, 'CAUSE THERE'S A PROBLEM

IF PEOPLE ONLY KNOW YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN BY YOUR FACEBOOK.

I MEAN IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF LIFE,

YOU KNOW THAT LOGIC IS UNWORTHY.

IT'S LIKE SAYING YOU PLAY FOR THE LAKERS

JUST BECAUSE YOU BOUGHT A JERSEY.

SEE, THIS WAS ME TOO BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO BE ON TO ME

ACTING LIKE A CHURCH KID WHILE ADDICTED TO PORNOGRAPHY.

SEE ON SUNDAY I'D GO TO CHURCH, BUT SATURDAY GETTING FADED,

ACTING AS IF I WAS SIMPLY CREATED

TO JUST HAVE SEX AND GET WASTED.

SEE I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE BUILDING THIS FACADE OF NEATNESS

BUT NOW THAT I KNOW JESUS, I BOAST IN MY WEAKNESS

BECAUSE IF GRACE IS WATER, THEN THE CHURCH SHOULD BE AN OCEAN.

IT IS NOT A MUSEUM FOR GOOD PEOPLE,

IT IS A HOSPITAL FOR THE BROKEN,

WHICH MEANS I DON'T HAVE TO HIDE MY FAILURE,

I DON'T HAVE TO HIDE MY SIN

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DEPEND ON ME IT DEPENDS ON HIM.

SEE BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GOD'S ENEMY AND CERTAINLY NOT A FAN,

HE LOOKED DOWN AND SAID, "I WANT THAT MAN."

WHICH IS WHY JESUS HATED RELIGION

AND FOR IT, HE CALLED THEM FOOLS.

DON'T YOU SEE SO MUCH BETTER THAN JUST FOLLOWING SOME RULES?

NOW LET ME CLARIFY, I LOVE THE CHURCH,

I LOVE THE BIBLE AND YES, I BELIEVE IN SIN

BUT IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR CHURCH,

WOULD THEY ACTUALLY LET HIM IN?

SEE, REMEMBER HE WAS CALLED A GLUTTON AND A DRUNKARD

BY RELIGIOUS MEN.

BUT THE SON OF GOD NEVER SUPPORTS SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS,

NOT NOW, NOT THEN.

NOW BACK TO THE POINT, ONE THING IS VITAL TO MENTION,

HOW JESUS AND RELIGION ARE ON OPPOSITE SPECTRUMS.

SEE ONE'S THE WORK OF GOD BUT ONE'S A MAN-MADE INVENTION.

SEE ONE IS THE CURE BUT THE OTHER IS THE INFECTION.

SEE BECAUSE RELIGION SAYS "DO," JESUS SAYS "DONE."

RELIGION SAYS "SLAVE," JESUS SAYS "SON."

RELIGION PUTS YOU IN BONDAGE WHILE JESUS SETS YOU FREE.

RELIGION MAKES YOU BLIND BUT JESUS MAKES YOU SEE.

THAT'S WHY RELIGION AND JESUS ARE TWO DIFFERENT CLAIMS.

RELIGION IS MAN SEARCHING FOR GOD;

CHRISTIANITY IS GOD SEARCHING FOR MAN.

WHICH IS WHY SALVATION IS FREELY MINE,

AND FORGIVENESS IS MY OWN, NOT BASED ON MY MERITS,

BUT JESUS' OBEDIENCE ALONE.

BECAUSE HE TOOK THE CROWN OF THORNS

AND THE BLOOD DRIPPED DOWN HIS FACE,

HE TOOK WHAT WE ALL DESERVED.

I GUESS THAT'S WHY YOU CALL IT GRACE.

AND WHILE BEING MURDERED,

HE YELLED, "FATHER FORGIVE THEM, THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO,"

BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS DANGLING ON THAT CROSS,

HE WAS THINKING OF YOU.

AND HE ABSORBED ALL OF YOUR SIN

AND HE BURIED IT IN THE TOMB

WHICH IS WHY I'M KNEELING AT THE CROSS SAYING,

"COME ON, THERE'S ROOM."

SO FOR RELIGION, NO I HATE IT.

IN FACT, I LITERALLY RESENT IT

BECAUSE WHEN JESUS SAID, "IT IS FINISHED,"

I BELIEVE HE MEANT IT.

[Standing Ovation]

James: I LOVE IT!

I WAS IMPRESSED TO REACH OVER

AND PICK UP A BOOK I WROTE

12 YEARS AGO BECAUSE

ONE OF THE CHAPTERS IN IT IS:

"RELIGION CAN BE DANGEROUS."

Jefferson: I SHOULD HAVE

HAD YOU IN THE VIDEO.

[Laughter]

James: I WANT YOU TO KNOW

THAT YOU ECHOED WHAT I BELIEVE

EVERY SENSITIVE-TO-GOD PERSON

KNOWS IN THEIR HEART.

AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU TAKE

OFFENSE BECAUSE YOU KNOW,

YOU REALLY APPRECIATE

WHAT'S HAPPENED AT CHURCH,

AND YOU THINK HE WAS TAKING

A SHOT AT YOUR CHURCH

OR YOUR FELLOWSHIP

OR YOUR FAMILY,

YOU DIDN'T HEAR HIM.

HE WAS EXPOSING IDOLATRY

OR RELIGION THAT HAS REPLACED

RELATIONSHIP AND WE'VE MOVED

OVER INTO THE WORSHIP

OF SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY

KEEPS US FROM GOD,

IT KEEPS OTHERS FROM

BEING DRAWN TO GOD.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY

YOU SAID IT.

NOW TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY,

YOU EXPERIENCED SOME THINGS

WHERE YOU HAD SEEN THAT

RELIGION DIDN'T HAVE --

IT HAD A BAD SIDE AND THEN

YOU SAW THE BEAUTIFUL SIDE

OF JESUS.

Jefferson: YEAH, SO I MEAN

I CAME TO THIS REALIZATION

THROUGH EXPERIENCE, I DIDN'T

COME -- AND THEN OF COURSE,

THROUGH READING.

BUT GROWING UP I WAS THE KID

WHO I WAS BETTER THAN YOU

BECAUSE I DIDN'T SMOKE,

I DIDN'T DRINK,

I DIDN'T HAVE SEX AND THAT WAS

GOING TO GET ME TO HEAVEN.

AND I WOULD CALL MYSELF

A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE OF THAT.

THEN I GET TO HIGH SCHOOL

AND GIRLS BECAME A LOT MORE

ATTRACTIVE THAN THOSE RULES;

RIGHT?

[Laughter]

BECAUSE HERE'S THE TRUTH,

IF YOU ARE TRYING

TO WHITE KNUCKLE GOD

AND YOU'RE TRYING TO COMBAT

THE PLEASURES OF THE WORLD WITH

HARD WORKING OBEDIENCE THAT

HAS NO INTIMACY WITH JESUS,

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK,

YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

THE WORLD GOT MORE ATTRACTIVE.

I SAID, "I'M IN.

I'LL DO THAT NOW."

AND THEN I STARTED LIVING

THAT LIFESTYLE FOR A FEW YEARS

AND THAT'S WHERE I CAME

TO THE REALIZATION THAT

I TRIED TO ARTICULATE

IN THE VIDEO THAT

THERE'S TWO ENEMIES OF JESUS.

THERE IS ONE ENEMY OF SIN

AND THEY MANIFEST THEMSELVES

IN TWO WAYS: REBELLION

AND RELIGION.

REBELLION OF THE "I CAN DO

WHATEVER I WANT, GET OUT

OF MY LIFE, LET ME DO...

I'M GOD." RIGHT?

AND THERE'S RELIGION WHERE

I CAN EARN MY WAY TO GOD,

I CAN EARN HIS FAVOR,

AND THAT'S NOT ME MAKING

THAT UP, THAT'S COMPLETELY

BIBLICAL IN LUKE 15

OF THE PRODIGAL SON.

WHAT WE'VE DONE TO THAT STORY

IS WE'VE MADE IT SIMPLY ABOUT

THE REBELLIOUS SON BECAUSE

THE REBELLIOUS SON,

AND THIS WAS ME,

AND I DIDN'T LEARN THIS

DIFFERENCE FOREVER,

WHERE THE REBELLIOUS SON

COMES HOME AND IT'S

A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF GRACE,

OF JUST THE FATHER

EMBRACING THE SON IN HIS FILTH,

IN HIS MUD, WHICH IS EXACTLY

WHAT THE CROSS IS, RIGHT?

AT THE CROSS HE'S EMBRACING US

IN OUR DIRTINESS

BUT THEN THAT'S IT,

THAT'S JUST THE STORY.

BUT NOT IN THE SCRIPTURE,

THAT'S WHAT WE MAKE IT

BUT THEN THE SCRIPTURE

KEEPS GOING WHERE THEN

ALL OF THE SUDDEN

THE OLDER BROTHER KIND OF

HEARS SOME MUSIC,

HE KIND OF HEARS MAYBE THE

HIP HOP, THE BASE THUMPING

AND HE'S LIKE,

"WHAT'S GOING ON?"

AND ONE OF THE SERVANTS SAYS,

"YOUR DAD IS THROWING A PARTY,

YOUR BROTHER CAME HOME

AND HE WAS DEAD

AND NOW HE IS ALIVE."

WHAT DOES THE OLDER SON DO?

HE SAYS, "THAT'S NOT FAIR!

I WAS GOOD,

I DID WHAT MY DAD WANTED,

I SHOULD BE IN THERE."

AND THAT'S RELIGION.

THEN THE FATHER COMES OUT

AND SAYS,

"EVERYTHING HAS BEEN YOURS,

I JUST WANTED INTIMACY."

THE RULES ARE OKAY, BUT

THAT'S WHEN THEY FLOW

FROM INTIMACY AND

THE OLDER SON MISSED THAT

AND WE NEVER ADDRESS THAT,

WE ONLY ADDRESS

THE YOUNGER SON.

James: I SAY "AMEN."

NOW THAT YOU'VE HAD

THE EXPOSURE, WHAT DO YOU THINK

GOD WANTS TO DO WITH IT?

BECAUSE I KNOW AND I'VE SAID

THIS TO YOU IN PRIVATE

AND I KNEW IT WHEN I SAW YOU,

I KNEW IT WHEN WE WERE

VISITING BEFORE WE CAME OUT

HERE, YOU REALLY DO HAVE

A SPECIAL TOUCH OF GOD.

DID YOU WRITE THAT POEM?

Jefferson: YEP, YEP.

James: AND DID YOU JUST KIND

OF SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH IT

AND THEN YOU SAID, " I'D LIKE

TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT?"

DID SOMEBODY ELSE GIVE YOU

SOME IDEAS OR DID YOU COME UP

WITH THE WHOLE PICTURE OF

HOW I WAS GOING TO DO IT?

Jefferson: YEAH,

SO I DEFINITELY WON'T STEAL

ANY THUNDER OR GLORY FROM THAT.

WHAT HAPPENED IS I READ

A BOOK CALLED <I>PRODIGAL GOD</I>

BY A GUY NAMED TIM KELLER.

ANYONE NEEDS TO READ THAT BOOK

IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IT

BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY

WHAT I JUST EXPLAINED;

IT SHOWS THAT JUXTAPOSITION.

I READ IT AND I WAS LIKE,

"MAN, I NEED TO DO SOMETHING

WITH THIS."

AT THIS TIME I WAS IN COLLEGE

SO I WROTE THE POEM IN HOPES

TO PERFORM IT IN FRONT OF

A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE

AT MY OPEN MIKE AND THEN

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE

I GRADUATED AND THEY DIDN'T

HAVE ANOTHER OPEN MIKE

AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SAT ON IT, NEVER THINKING

I WOULD DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

THEN ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS

IS A VIDEO GUY AND SAID, "HEY,

LET'S PUT IT ON YOUTUBE."

I SAID, "COOL,

ALL THREE PEOPLE WILL SEE IT."

AND THEN IT GOT A LITTLE CRAZY.

[Laughter]

James: WHAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE

FROM THAT ERRONEOUS WAY

YOU WERE WALKING AND THEN

WHEN YOU TURNED AROUND

AND YOU REACHED THAT POINT,

WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT --

THE KELLER BOOK OR WHAT WAS IT?

Jefferson: IT WAS A PROCESS

FOR ME BUT I WOULD SAY

THERE IS A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS

YOU CAN COME TO GOD,

IT'S NOT ALWAYS JUST THE CRASH

AND BURN ESSENTIALLY

BUT MINE WAS CLOSE TO THAT.

I WAS ALWAYS THE GUY THAT

EVERYTHING I TOUCHED

TURNED TO GOLD; I WAS ON

THE GOOD BASEBALL TEAM.

I HAD THE GIRLFRIEND.

THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN

WHEN GOD STARTED TO SLOWLY

PULL THOSE THINGS FROM ME,

I REALIZED MY LIFE WAS BUILT

ON SAND AND IT WASN'T,

IT WAS SINKING AND IT WAS EMPTY

AND IT WAS FOOLISH.

THAT'S WHAT HE DID;

HE TOOK TWO IDOLS FROM ME

REALLY QUICK.

IT WAS MY FRESHMAN YEAR

OF COLLEGE.

I GOT KICKED OFF

THE BASEBALL TEAM, I GOT PUT

ON ACADEMIC PROBATION,

AND MY GIRLFRIEND BROKE UP

WITH ME ALL IN LIKE 24 HOURS.

I WAS LIKE, THIS SUCKS.

[Laughter]

IT WAS ROUGH

AND IT WAS REALLY TOUGH.

IT WAS IN THAT MOMENT

THAT GOD SHOWED ME THAT

ME, AS THE KING OF MY OWN LIFE,

DOESN'T END WELL.

ANYONE AS THE GOD OR KING

OF THEIR OWN LIFE

DOES NOT END WELL.

IT WAS IN THAT MOMENT THAT

I OPENED THE SCRIPTURES

AND I STARTED TO READ

THE SCRIPTURES.

AND AT FIRST I WAS LIKE

WAS THIS EVEN THE BIBLE

I WAS READING AS A KID BECAUSE

IT SEEMED SO MUCH MORE VIBRANT,

SO MUCH MORE DIFFERENT.

I SAW JESUS WHO WAS

COMPASSIONATE AND JUST GENTLE

AND WOULD CROSS RACIAL

AND SOCIOECONOMIC LINES.

BUT THEN I'D FLIP THE PAGE

AND SEE A JESUS WHO MAKES

A WHIP OF CORDS

AND GOES U.F.C. ON ALL

OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE TEMPLE.

AND SO I'M JUST LIKE,

THIS DUDE CANNOT BE PUT

ON A BOX. I WANT IN.

LIKE I WANT HIM.

AND THAT'S WHEN

I STARTED FOLLOWING.

James: AND YOU DEFINITELY

CAN'T PUT HIM IN A BOX.

AND HUMANITY TRIES.

Betty: WERE YOU SURPRISED

WITH THE RESPONSE FROM

THE VIDEO?

Jefferson: COMPLETELY

SURPRISED ON BOTH ENDS.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD

STRIKE A CHORD IN REGARDS

TO RESONATING WITH

SO MANY PEOPLE IN A GOOD WAY

AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD

STRIKE A CHORD WITH MAKING

PEOPLE THAT ANGRY AT ME,

WHICH WAS REALLY DIFFICULT

ON BOTH ENDS --

IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE

I THINK IN THE HUMAN HEART,

ESPECIALLY IN MY GENERATION,

BECAUSE WE'RE THE MOST

FATHERLESS GENERATION THAT

HAS EVER LIVED, WE JUST WANT

SOMEONE TO TELL US

WE'RE GOOD ENOUGH.

THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL

OF MOST OF MY AGE DEMOGRAPHIC.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE

IN HIGH SCHOOL USUALLY SAY

GOOD-BYE TO JESUS

ON THE ALTAR OF COOL.

THEY'LL DO ANYTHING IF ONLY

THEIR FRIENDS TELL THEM

THEY'RE COOL.

AND GOD EXPOSED THAT

IN MY HEART;

HE COMPLETELY EXPOSED IT

WHERE I DIDN'T REALIZE

I WAS ADDICTED TO THE PRAISE

OF MAN UNTIL EITHER

THEY ALL REALLY TOLD ME

I WAS AWESOME OR THEY ALL

TOLD ME I WASN'T

AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN

I STARTED CRAVING IT.

IT WAS THROUGH THAT

I REALIZED THAT GOD'S

AFFIRMATION OF JESUS

ON THE CROSS AND HIS

RESURRECTION IS MY IDENTITY.

James: BOY, THAT'S GREAT.

I WANT TO BE AN ENCOURAGER

AND I WANT TO HELP YOU DO

IN ANY WAY WHAT YOU BELIEVE

GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.

I THINK OUR VIEWERS WOULD

LOVE TO PRAY FOR YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK

GOD WANTS YOU TO DO?

WHAT DO YOU SEE RIGHT NOW?

Jefferson: IN THE FUTURE?

James: YEAH.

Jefferson: IT'S A TOUGH

QUESTION; RIGHT?

MY ROOMMATE ALWAYS MAKES FUN

OF ME BECAUSE HE'S LIKE,

"BRO, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW

WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO EAT

TWO HOURS FROM NOW."

PEOPLE ASK ME THAT QUESTION

AND I'M LIKE, "IF I CAN TALK

ABOUT JESUS I'M IN."

I'VE TRIED TO PRAY ABOUT THAT

AND TRY TO REALLY THINK

ABOUT THAT AND I THINK

THE WAY GOD'S LEADING IS

I HAVE A HUGE HEART FOR

URBAN MINISTRY, INNER CITY

MINISTRY, KIND OF LIKE

TIM KELLER, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE

SUCH AN AFFINITY TOWARDS HIM,

WHERE I WANT TO SEE --

BECAUSE THE THING I SEE,

ON A WHOLE, I SEE SOMEONE

EITHER BEING VERY GREAT

AT THE PROCLAMATION OF

THE WORD, EVERY SUNDAY

THEY JUST PREACH THE BIBLE

FOR AN HOUR, THEY EXPOSE

THE SCRIPTURES AND IT'S GREAT,

AND THEN THEIR CHURCH

BUILDING SITS EMPTY

FOR SIX DAYS A WEEK.

OR I SEE SOMEONE WHO SAYS, "OH,

WE JUST NEED TO LOVE EVERYONE.

LET'S JUST BRING FAIRY DUST

ON EVERYONE AND EVERYONE

WILL BE GOOD AND

EVERYONE WILL BE AWESOME."

AND THEN THEY SHOW THE DISPLAY

OF THE PROCLAMATION

OF THE WORD BUT

I WANT TO DO BOTH.

I WANT A PLACE THAT

MANIFESTS HIS BODY.

James: I'M GETTING A VISION

WITH YOU.

RIGHT NOW -- I'M SERIOUS.

AND I'M BEING SERIOUS

WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING

AN ANSWER TO PRAYER I'VE HAD

BECAUSE I COME FROM THE SONS,

I'M THE PRODUCT OF RAPE,

NO FATHER, NEVER HAD A HOME

AND I WAS THE REAL POOR.

I WENT AND PREACHED TO

THE HOMELESS PEOPLE HERE

IN FORT WORTH THE OTHER DAY,

IT WAS REAL SPECIAL.

AND I'VE BEEN PRAYING

FOR A LONG TIME TO BE ABLE

TO GET TO THE INNER CITY KIDS.

I'VE NEVER THOUGHT THIS.

I'M TRYING TO GET

THE SUBURBAN/URBAN CHURCHES

AND ALL THE SURROUNDING

UPPER END CHURCHES TO HELP

THE INNER CITY CHURCHES.

I'M WORKING ON THAT.

I'M SUCCEEDING AT IT

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN

TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE

IT'S IN MY HEART.

WHAT I JUST HEARD YOU SAYING,

"THESE CHURCHES SIT EMPTY

DURING THE WEEK,"

I JUST REALLY WONDER IF

IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE --

AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU CAN

SHOW ME HOW AND YOU CAN

GO BACK AND TALK TO YOUR PASTOR

ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS IS

BIG ON MY HEART BECAUSE I AM

A FATHER, I'M A GRANDFATHER.

I WANT TO TALK TO THE KIDS

IN THE INNER CITY ABOUT

COMING FROM NOTHING

AND NOT LIVING UP WITH HATE

AND HOW YOU GET THE FATHER

WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER,

AND HOW YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP

AND YOU CAN REALLY LOOK

BEYOND YOUR PAIN

AND SEE POSSIBILITIES AND

THERE IS NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE.

I WANT TO TALK TO THEM.

BUT I HAD THIS LITTLE VISION

WHILE YOU WERE TALKING.

WHAT IF WE COULD TRY

TO ENCOURAGE SOME OF

THE CHURCHES TO LET SOMEBODY

LIKE YOURSELF AND I'LL BE GLAD

TO WORK WITH YOU, I'LL TRY TO

GET PEOPLE TO WORK WITH YOU,

WE MIGHT JUST HAVE TO START

SOMEWHERE AND SEE IT BUILD.

BUT ASK SOME OF THE CHURCHES

TO MAKE THEIR BUILDING

AVAILABLE DURING THE WEEK

FOR US TO GET THE INNER CITY

KIDS TO ALL COME AND LISTEN

TO YOU AND MAYBE SOME

COOL MUSIC AND MAYBE

ON OLD MAN -- MAYBE AN OLD MAN

LIKE ME.

Jefferson: WE COULD TWEETS.

[Laughter]

James: WE COULD TWEET, TWITTER,

YOU MIGHT TEACH ME.

YOU COULD TEACH ME SOME STUFF.

Jefferson: WE'LL DO

A POEM DUET.

James: HEY, WE COULD GO

THOUGH AND LOVE THESE KIDS.

DOES THAT EVEN MAKE SENSE?

IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE CHURCHES

WOULD MAKE A BUILDING AVAILABLE

DURING THE WEEK, BECAUSE

THESE KIDS, THEY'RE NOT

HUNG UP ON WE GOT TO GO

ON THE WEEKEND, THEY LIKE

TO GO SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT.

THEIR MOM MIGHT LET THEM GO,

IF THERE WAS SOMEWHERE

THEY COULD GO THAT'S DECENT.

NOBODY IS GETTING DRUNK

DOWN THERE.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO SIT

AROUND AND TWEET.

[Laughter]

I REALLY HEARD THAT.

LET ME GIVE YOU THIS

LITTLE THING THAT

I'VE LEARNED THIS YEAR.

I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME

BUT I'M ON AN INTERESTING

JOURNEY.

ABRAHAM WENT OUT NOT KNOWING

WHERE, HE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE.

HE JUST KNEW HE WAS FOLLOWING.

YOU HEARD THIS SONG,

IT WAS A COUNTRY SONG:

ONE DAY AT A TIME, SWEET JESUS.

YOU MAY NOT --

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT?

Jefferson: I WAS GOING

TO TRY TO LIE AND SAY,

YEAH BUT...

[Laughter]

GARTH BROOKS?

BRAD PAISLEY?

TAYLOR SWIFT?

James: I'VE GOT SOMETHING

MORE RELEVANT --

MORE RELEVANT, ONE STEP

AT A TIME, SWEET JESUS,

THAT'S HOW YOU'RE LIVING

RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S THE SAFEST WAY TO LIVE.

SO DON'T BE DISAPPOINTED

IF YOU CAN'T SEE TOO FAR

DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT WHAT I'M DOING

IS DREAMING WITH YOU.

YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING

PRETTY BIG AND IT'S GOING OUT

ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WHAT IF CHURCHES WOULD

MAKE THEIR BUILDINGS,

YOUR BEAUTIFUL PAID-FOR

BUILDINGS, PUT YOU SOME

SECURITY DOWN THERE

IF YOU'RE JUST SCARED SPITLESS;

OKAY?

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU NEED

SECURITY, YOU'RE NOT

BOTHERING ANYBODY.

[Laughter]

HERE'S THE THING.

LOOK -- IF THEY WOULD OPEN

THEIR BUILDINGS

AND LET SOMEBODY LIKE YOU

COME IN AND SAY, "I WANT

TO TALK TO ALL THE KIDS."

AND MAYBE AN OLD GUY LIKE ME

COME IN AND SAY...

TALK ABOUT FATHERS.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

Jefferson: NO, THAT MAKES

A TON OF SENSE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T

MAKE THE CHURCH BUILDING

AN IDOL, WHO THAT THING

IS SO WORN OUT BY THE TIME

THEY DIE AND WE GO TO GLORY

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT JESUS

IS GOING TO LOOK AT

THE BUILDING -- "AND I WISH

YOU WOULD HAVE REDONE

THE CARPET BEFORE

YOU CAME UP HERE."

[Laughter]

BUT THEY SHOULD BE WORN OUT

BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE

KINGDOM WORK GOING ON IN THEM.

THAT'S MY HEART; MY HEART

IS TO WHETHER IT IS IN

THE BUILDING OR IN THE CITY.

I MEAN A LOT OF PEOPLE

ALWAYS WANT TO BE THIS

HUGE TELEVANGELIST AND

PREACHING ALL OVER THE WORLD

BUT SOMETIMES MY DREAM

IS TO LITERALLY MOVE INTO

THE INNER CITY AND BE

A GOOD HUSBAND AND FATHER

BECAUSE THAT IS THE BIGGEST

MINISTRY THAT WILL TOUCH

THEIR HEARTS.

James: THAT'S MY HEART.

ME AND BETTY ARE BOTH SITTING

HERE WISHING WE COULD GET

OFF TELEVISION BECAUSE --.

NO, I'M SERIOUS.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE'RE

HERE BY DIVINE ASSIGNMENT.

SHE SAYS I BRING HER UP HERE

KICKING AND SCREAMING

EVERY WEEK.

I JUST DRAG HER UP HERE.

WE WANT TO JUST GO OFF

AND DISAPPEAR.

GOD WON'T LET US.

THIS IS AN ASSIGNMENT HERE.

IT'S LIKE HE STUCK YOU THERE.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT

WAS GOING TO GO LIKE THAT.

BUT WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER,

WITH ALL THE VIEWERS,

WE CAN PRAY, "GOD, SHOW US

OUR STEPS."

AND EVERYONE OUT HERE,

WHAT ALL OF YOU OUT HERE

IN THIS AUDIENCE NEED

TO UNDERSTAND IS,

THAT IT IS REALLY,

REALLY IMPORTANT THAT

ALL OF YOU GET IT.

SEE, THIS IS NOT LIKE --

"THIS MUST BE SOMEBODY

SO SPECIAL."

LOOK WHAT GOD DID.

HEAR THIS OUT HERE

IN THIS AUDIENCE;

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW SPECIAL

YOU ARE TO GOD.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW IMPORTANT

YOU ARE TO HIS PURPOSE,

HIS KINGDOM PURPOSE.

NO IDEA!

SAY, "GOD SHOW ME."

AND IT COULD BE THAT

YOU TOUCH ONE PERSON.

BUT JUST, "GOD, WHAT DO YOU

WANT TO DO WITH ME?"

YOU'RE SO IMPORTANT!

YOU'RE SO SPECIAL.

FATHER, I PRAY YOU'LL SHOW

JEFFERSON AND EVERY PERSON

WATCHING AND EVERY PERSON

IN THIS STUDIO HOW SPECIAL

YOU ARE, HOW SPECIAL

YOU SHOULD BE TO THEM AND

HOW SPECIAL THEY ARE TO YOU.

I PRAY DEAR GOD, THAT

THEY WILL RIGHT NOW SAY,

"LORD, YOU'RE GOING TO BE

THE CENTER OF MY LIFE.

I'M GOING TO HAVE INTIMACY

WITH YOU AND I WANT YOU

TO DIRECT MY STEPS."

AND GOD, THANK YOU FOR

THE CHURCHES THAT BECOME

THE FAMILY THAT EXPRESSES

YOUR LIFE AND YOUR LOVE,

AND HEAL OUR CHURCHES

AND MAKE THEM HEALTHY,

IN JESUS' NAME.

YOU WANT SOMEONE TO PRAY

WITH YOU?

CALL THE NUMBER; WE'LL BE

SO HAPPY TO PRAY WITH YOU

AND TO PRAY FOR YOU.

WOULD YOU SAY THANKS TO GOD

AND THANKS TO JEFFERSON

FOR SHARING WITH US?

Jefferson: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT BIG TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

James: I WANT ALL OF YOU

RIGHT NOW TO KNOW WE ARE

GIVING SMILES AND SHOES

FOR CHRISTMAS.

THERE WILL BE PEOPLE CALLING

RIGHT NOW SAYING,

"PRAY WITH ME."

I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMEONE

YOU CAN BE AN ANSWER

TO THEIR PRAYER

AND TO THEIR NEED. WATCH.

Announcer: LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL'S MISSION

IS TO SHARE THE TRUTH OF GOD'S LOVE IN WORD AND DEED

WITH PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

TOGETHER, WITH OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS,

WE PROVIDE THE ESSENTIALS OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE;

LIKE WATER FOR THOSE WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIFE

NOW HAVE SAFE CLEAN WATER TO DRINK;

FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO ONCE SUFFERED FROM MALNUTRITION

BUT NOW HAVE A HOT MEAL TO EAT EACH DAY;

YOUNG GIRLS ONCE IN BONDAGE IN THE DARK AND DEADLY WORLD

OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARE BEING RESCUED AND RESTORED;

AND FAMILIES, TRAPPED IN GRINDING POVERTY NOW HAVE HOPE

FOR A BETTER FUTURE LIVING IN A SAFE AND SECURE HOME PROVIDED BY LIFE.

THIS SEASON WE ONCE AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY

TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN

WHO ARE EXPOSED TO THE RAVAGES OF HOOKWORM DISEASE

SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE PROTECTION FOR THEIR FEET.

IT IS A SIMPLE REMEDY -- SHOES!

SHOES THAT CAN PREVENT CHILDREN FROM SUFFERING ANEMIA,

MALNUTRITION, AND IN SEVERE CASES DEATH CAUSED BY HOOKWORMS

THAT INVADE THEIR BODIES THROUGH THEIR FEET.

Randy: THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH TOWARDS IMPROVING

THE HEALTH AND THE LIVES OF CHILDREN ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

NOT ALL OF YOU CAN COME HERE

AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE THAT I HAVE OF ACTUALLY PUTTING

THE SHOES ON THE FEET OF THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN,

BUT YOU CAN STILL BE A BIG PART BECAUSE REALLY,

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU; DO WHAT YOU CAN.

GIVE AS MANY PAIRS OF SHOES AS YOU CAN.

EVERY TIME YOU DO IT, YOU'LL BE MAKING A CHILD'S DAY

AND YOU'LL BE IMPROVING THEIR HEALTH.

James: I WANT YOU TO PUT THAT

LITTLE KID BACK UP THERE.

I WANT EVERYBODY TO SEE THAT.

LOOK AT THAT LITTLE FELLA,

HOW HAPPY HE IS.

YOU SEE THAT?

THAT'S JOY.

LITTLE FEET...

GOT SOME SHOES.

BETTY, WHEN I SEE THOSE LITTLE

CHILDREN'S FACES, WASN'T

THAT A PRETTY LITTLE BOY?

IT'S JUST JOY.

WE CAN GIVE JOY.

Betty: WE CAN SO EASILY,

JAMES AND THESE CHILDREN,

NOT JUST THE FUN OF SEEING

THEIR SMILES WHEN WE GIVE THEM

SOMETHING LIKE SHOES BECAUSE

THEY'VE NEVER HAD THEM,

A LOT OF THEM BUT TO KNOW

THAT THEY'RE THERE FOR

A PURPOSE, WE'RE GIVING THEM

FOR A PURPOSE AND THAT'S

TO HELP THEM AVOID DISEASES

THAT THEY CAN GET JUST AS

WE SAW, WALKING AROUND

ON ALL THE OBSTACLES THAT

ARE ON THE GROUND AND

KEEPING THEM FROM GETTING SICK.

James: AND THEY DO GET

TERRIBLE DISEASES

FROM HOOKWORMS.

IT GETS INTO THEIR INTESTINES

AND INTO THEIR LITTLE BRAINS

AND IT IS JUST DESTRUCTIVE.

WE WANT TO ASK YOU TO DIAL

THE TELEPHONE NUMBER THERE,

AND WE KNOW WE'RE GOING

TO BE TALKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS

WAY AHEAD OF TIME BUT

WE WANT TO GET THE SHOES

AND YES, PROVIDE THE SURGERY

FOR CHRISTMAS SMILES TO DO

THE CLEFT PALATE SURGERIES

WHERE WE CAN.

WE WANT TO ASK YOU TO BEGIN

RIGHT NOW MAKING IT POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE ALREADY FOUND

200,000 CHILDREN LOCATED

WHERE THE MISSIONARIES

HAVE A HEART TO HELP THEM

AND TO SEE THE HEALING COME

NOT ONLY TO THEIR LIVES

AND THEIR COMMUNITIES BUT

TO THEIR BODIES.

SO WOULD YOU PLEASE

DIAL THAT NUMBER?

TAKE YOUR BANKCARD;

WOULD YOU MAKE A GIFT?

THE SHOES ARE $3.60 APIECE;

$36 WE'VE GOT TEN PAIR

OF SHOES.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE

HUNDREDS OF PAIRS OF SHOES.

YOU MAKE A VERY SPECIAL GIFT,

WHATEVER YOU CAN DO,

YOU MAKE THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN.

WE'RE SENDING YOU A BEAUTIFUL

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL

MAKE A GIFT OF $100 OR MORE

THAT IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE SHOE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

AND YOU PUT IT ON THE TREE

AND I PROMISE YOU THIS,

YOU'RE GOING TO BE THINKING

ABOUT ALL OF THE CHILDREN

THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP

BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF GOD

THAT WAS EXPRESSED

THROUGH YOUR GIFT.

WE WANT TO SEND YOU ALSO

A BOOK OUR SON WROTE,

THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK

THAT RANDY HAS WRITTEN

THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED,

<I>GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY</I>;

DISCOVERING DEEPER JOY

THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED.

OUR SON IS A GIFTED TEACHER.

HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN

AN AWESOME STUDENT AND HE IS

A GREAT COMMUNICATOR BUT

HE IS ALSO A GIFTED WRITER.

WHAT AMAZED US AND EVERYBODY

THAT'S READ THE BOOK IS

THE INCREDIBLE GIFT

TO COMMUNICATE AND TEACH

THE TRUTH FROM GOD'S WORD.

IT REMINDS ME IN MANY WAYS

OF BETH MOORE.

SOMETIMES I SAY MY GOODNESS!

THIS IS AMAZING TO ME

THAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE JOY

EVEN AS YOU READ THE BOOK,

WHICH WE'LL SEND FOR ANY GIFT

THAT YOU MAKE TO HELP US

GIVE THE SHOES AND THE SMILES.

IF YOU CAN MAKE A GIFT

OF $1,000 OR MORE, WE HAVE

A SPECIAL ART PIECE,

A COLLECTIBLE THAT I KNOW

YOU'RE GOING TO TREASURE.

WE WANT TO SEND IT TO YOU

TO SAY THANK YOU.

YOU CAN GO ONLINE

LIFETODAY.ORG

AND MAKE YOUR GIFT.

BUT WOULD YOU PLEASE,

WOULD YOU DIAL THAT NUMBER

RIGHT NOW AND LET US KNOW

WHAT GOD HAS

IMPRESSED YOU TO DO?

EVEN IF YOU WRITE A CHECK,

MAKE IT TO <I><U>LIFE</I></U> BUT CALL US

AND TELL US WHAT

YOU'RE SENDING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING IT!

Announcer: POVERTY IS A KILLER

AND BECAUSE OF IT CHILDREN NEEDLESSLY SUFFER,

NOT ONLY FROM A LACK OF FOOD AND CLEAN WATER,

BUT ALSO FROM A LACK OF THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED

SUCH AS A HEALTHY SMILE OR A SIMPLE PAIR OF SHOES.

FOR MOST OF THESE CHILDREN,

THEY'VE NEVER OWNED A NEW PAIR OF SHOES

AND WHILE THAT MAY SEEM MINOR IN LIGHT OF ALL THEIR NEEDS,

WALKING WITH BARE FEET PUTS THEM AT RISK

OF LIFE-THREATENING INFECTIONS THAT COULD LEAD

TO CRIPPLING CONSEQUENCES, DISEASE, AND EVEN DEATH.

BY RESPONDING TODAY, YOU CAN HELP <I>LIFE</I> IMMEDIATELY SECURE

AND BEGIN SHIPPING CHRISTMAS SHOES TO 200,000 CHILDREN

AROUND THE WORLD JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

YOUR GIFT OF $36 WILL PROVIDE TEN PAIRS OF SHOES.

A GIFT OF $72 WILL PROVIDE 20 PAIR

AND A GIFT OF $144 WILL HELP PROVIDE 40 PAIRS

OF CHRISTMAS SHOES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED.

IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR GIFT, BE SURE TO REQUEST

THE INSPIRATIONAL NEW BOOK, <I>GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY</I>

BY JAMES AND BETTY'S SON, RANDY ROBISON.

WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 TO HELP PROVIDE 28 PAIRS OF SHOES,

YOU MAY REQUEST THE BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED SHOE ORNAMENT

TO PLACE ON YOUR TREE EACH CHRISTMAS.

FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE

TO HELP PROVIDE TWO CHILDREN WITH CORRECTIVE CLEFT PALATE SURGERIES

AND YOU MAY REQUEST "THE LION AND THE LAMB" BRONZE SCULPTURE.

PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY.

James: FROM THE BOTTOM

OF MY HEART I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR HELPING US.

PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN

TO PROVIDE THE SHOES.

THERE'S JEFFERSON'S WEB SITE.

NOW I WASN'T JUST TRYING

TO BE NICE WHEN I SAID

THAT'S BEEN ON MY HEART

ABOUT THE INNER CITY.

DR. TONY EVANS HERE

WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH

I'VE TRIED TO WORK WITH HIM

IN THE INNER CITY.

HE KNOWS MY HEART.

BOY, I LOVE HIM.

I LOVE ALL THESE CHURCHES

TRYING TO REACH OUT...

TIM KELLER.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE JUST

HAD TO CANCEL BEING HERE

BECAUSE HE HAD A CONFLICT;

HE WAS COMING.

WE LOVE THESE PEOPLE.

LISTEN TO ME, YOU WANT

TO KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE,

THERE'S HIS WEB SITE.

CHECK IT OUT

AND BE PRAYING FOR HIM.

JOIN BETTY AND ME

IN SAYING THANKS AGAIN.

Jefferson: THANK YOU

SO MUCH!

§

§

Announcer: WHEN IN COLLEGE, GWEN AND BRAD

COVERED UP HER PREGNANCY WITH AN ABORTION.

JOIN US NEXT WEEK AS GWEN, ONE OF THE <I>GIRLFRIENDS IN GOD</I>,

SHARES HER JOURNEY FROM BROKEN TO BEAUTIFUL.