Announcer: COMING UP,
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
AND EDITOR-AT-LARGE FOR CHRISTIANITY TODAY MAGAZINE,
PHILIP YANCEY
EXPLORES THE QUESTION,
WHERE IS GOD
WHEN IT HURTS?
>> WE DON'T HAVE A PROMISE
THAT WE ARE LIKE SUPERMAN,
THAT WE'RE
INVINCIBLE.
BUT RATHER WE DO
HAVE A PROMISE
THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
GOD CAN REDEEM IT,
GOD CAN RECYCLE IT
AND MAKE GOOD OUT OF IT.
Announcer: COPING WITH
PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL
AND SPIRITUAL PAIN
WITHOUT BLAME, ANGER
OR FEAR -- NEXT!
♪
Betty: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
WE'RE IN BEAUTIFUL COLORADO.
I'M BETTY ROBISON
AND THIS IS JAMES.
James: WE'RE HERE IN COLORADO
BECAUSE -- BY THE WAY,
IF YOU LIVE IN TEXAS
DURING THE SUMMER
AND IT IS LIKE 102
AND YOU COME UP TO COLORADO
AND YOU GO UP
ON THE MOUNTAINS,
IT WILL BE LIKE MAYBE 72
AND MAYBE LIKE 42
IN THE MORNING.
IT IS A PRETTY GOOD BREAK.
BUT WE'RE HERE BECAUSE
THERE ARE SOME GUESTS
THAT HAVE JUST IMPACTED,
REALLY THE WHOLE CHURCH
IN THE WHOLE WORLD
BECAUSE THEY ARE GIFTED, AND
THEY LIVE HERE IN COLORADO.
BETTY AND I REALLY THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL
IF WE COULD JUST COME
AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM,
ACTUALLY IN FELLOWSHIP
BUT ALSO TO LET THEM
SHARE WITH YOU.
PHILIP YANCEY
IS OUR GUEST TODAY.
LATER IN THE WEEK
YOU'LL MEET ANDREW WOMMACK
AND HIS WIFE,
FOR HER AND FOR MANY OF YOU
WHO WATCH TELEVISION, IT WILL
BE THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE
MET ANDREW'S WIFE JAMIE.
SHE IS JUST NOT REAL EXCITED
ABOUT BEING ON TELEVISION
BUT SHE IS DOING THIS
SO YOU'LL MEET THEM TOGETHER
LATER IN THE WEEK,
COLORADO RESIDENTS,
AND WE'RE THRILLED
THAT THEY'RE HERE.
WE HAVE PHILIP YANCEY,
WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST
GIFTED WRITERS ON PLANET.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
IF YOU ARE A WRITER YOURSELF
AND YOU READ
WHAT PHILIP WRITES
THEN MOST WRITERS THINK
I THINK I'LL RETIRE
BECAUSE HE REALLY DOES
HAVE A DIVINE ENABLING
THAT IS SO SUPERNATURAL
THAT YOU SEE IT.
AND HE IS MINISTERING
OUT OF HIS OWN JOURNEY BUT
ALSO OBSERVING OTHER'S JOURNEY
WITH GREAT PASSION
AND GREAT SENSITIVITY.
HE'S WRITTEN A BOOK
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN
HIGHLY EFFECTIVE,
A BESTSELLER,
WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?
THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW --
SO MANY BOOKS THAT WERE
GOLD MEDALLION AWARD WINNERS,
MILLIONS OF COPIES SOLD.
THIS ONE IS
WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS?
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT
RIGHT HERE IN COLORADO,
PEOPLE JUST IN A FEW NIGHTS,
360 PEOPLE LOST THEIR HOMES
TO FIRES THAT
WERE UNCONTROLLABLE.
THERE WAS INCREDIBLE PAIN:
WHY MY HOME? WHY HERE?
WHY DID THE WIND
BLOW THIS DIRECTION?
WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS?
CONNECTICUT, ALL THE THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED --
THE TORNADO DAMAGE,
STORMS, THE PAIN.
BETTY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
PHILIP YANCEY IS WITH US.
AND PHILIP, WE DON'T HAVE
A BIG STUDIO AUDIENCE
TO WELCOME YOU
BUT BETTY AND I ARE
SO THRILLED TO BE HERE
IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL STATE
AND TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU.
WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS?
YOU POINT OUT IN YOUR BOOK
THAT ONE OF
THE FIRST QUESTIONS
THAT COMES UP IS WHY?
HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT?
Philip: WHY DID I WRITE
THIS BOOK ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO?
IT WAS THE FIRST BOOK
I EVER WROTE.
AS I THINK BACK ON IT NOW,
IT COMES FROM MY CHILDHOOD.
WHEN I WAS JUST ONE YEAR OLD
MY FATHER AND MOTHER
WERE PLANNING TO GO TO AFRICA
TO BE MISSIONARIES.
I HAD A THREE YEAR OLD
BROTHER, I'M ONE.
HE CONTRACTED POLIO;
HE WAS IN AN IRON LUNG,
TOTALLY PARALYZED;
COULDN'T EVEN BREATHE
ON HIS OWN, THE IRON LUNG
BREATHES FOR HIM.
A LOT OF CHRISTIANS
WHO ARE SUPPORTING HIM
AND WERE PRAYING,
BELIEVED HE WOULD BE HEALED,
AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD HIM
REMOVED FROM THE IRON LUNG.
James: THIS IS YOUR DAD THAT
WAS GOING TO MISSION FIELD?
Philip: MY DAD WAS GOING
TO THE MISSION FIELD.
AND HE DIED,
AND THAT WHY QUESTION
HAS HAUNTED ME ALL MY LIFE.
WHEN I STARTED WRITING
ARTICLES FOR READER'S DIGEST
AND OTHER MAGAZINES,
AGAIN AND AGAIN,
I WOULD RUN INTO PEOPLE WHO
WOULD ASK JUST AS YOU SAID,
"WHY DID THE TORNADO HIT
THIS TOWN AND NOT THAT TOWN?"
"WHY DID THE WIND
BLOW THIS DIRECTION
AND NOT THAT DIRECTION?"
AND I HAVE STARED
AT EVERY PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE
ON PAIN AND SUFFERING AND
FRANKLY, ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS
I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO
THAT WHY QUESTION.
EVEN WHEN JOB,
(THE OLDEST STORY
IN THE BIBLE)
WHEN JOB HAD AN AUDIENCE
WITH GOD HIMSELF,
(IF ANYBODY DESERVED
AN ANSWER TO THE WHY QUESTION
IT WAS JOB)
AND BASICALLY,
WHAT GOD SAID WAS,
"JOB, YOU COULDN'T
POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND.
THE UNIVERSE IS SO MUCH BIGGER
THAN WHAT'S GOING ON
SO GET YOUR MIND
OFF THAT QUESTION."
WHAT WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON
AS CHRISTIANS IS NOT
WHY DID IT HAPPEN
BUT NOW THAT IT'S HAPPENED,
WHAT GOOD CAN COME OUT OF IT?
CAN IT BE REDEEMED?
CAN IT BE RECYCLED?
AND THAT'S WHY I TURN
TO THE QUESTION LIKE
WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS?
WHY DOESN'T THE BIBLE
ANSWER THE WHY QUESTION?
I THINK IF YOU PIN DOWN
THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE BIBLE
THEY WOULD SAY,
"WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
WE LIVE IN A BROKEN PLANET;
IT'S RULED BY EVIL FORCES.
BAD THINGS HAPPEN."
SO WE ARE HERE
AS GOD'S REPRESENTATIVES
TO BRING COMFORT,
TO REPRESENT
WHAT GOD IS REALLY LIKE,
TO BRING THAT GOD
OF ALL COMFORT
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
THROUGH HARD TIMES.
James: YOU KNOW
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE,
PHILIP, I BASICALLY HEARD
IN VERY EARNEST PRAYER
AND GOD SEEKING,
NOT ONLY IN OUR BEHALF
LIKE WHEN WE LOST A DAUGHTER
TO CANCER, AND YOU ASK WHY,
BUT WAY BEFORE THAT,
WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PAIN
OF OTHERS AND I'VE HAD
PLENTY OF SORROW IN MY LIFE
GROWING UP IN A BROKEN HOME
AND NOT HAVING A FATHER,
YOU LOST YOUR FATHER.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THE WAY YOU TELL
AND THIS IS WHY YOUR BOOKS
ARE SO FANTASTIC.
WHEN YOU EVEN TALK ABOUT HOW
YOU LOOKED IN THE IRON LUNG
AND THIS WAS
THE ONLY RELATIONSHIP
YOU REALLY HAD WITH YOUR DAD
AND YOU'RE WATCHING HIM DIE,
THERE'S NO REAL INTERACTION
BUT HE GETS TO SEE YOU
FOR A FEW MINUTES --
IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL TO ME
JUST TO SEE THAT.
IT IMPACTED YOU GREATLY,
YOU FELT THAT.
I THINK YOU HAD EMPATHY AND
YOU COULD FEEL WITH OTHERS.
SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT LIKE WHEN I WAS PRAYING
AND SEEING OTHERS IN PAIN,
I'D SAY, "GOD, I KNOW
THEY'RE ASKING WHY, WHY, WHY?
THEY SECOND GUESS
AND THEY WONDER."
AND THE LORD JUST SEEMED
TO SAY TO ME SO CLEARLY,
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HE'S
REALLY CONVERSING WITH ME.
I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE
REALLY SHUT OURSELVES UP
IN HIS PRESENCE AND DRAW NEAR
AND GET CLOSE TO HIS HEART,
I THINK SOMETIMES
HE REALLY EXPRESSES HIMSELF
WHERE WE CAN FEEL HIS HEART
AND HIS MIND.
HE SAID, "THE REAL QUESTION
IS NOW THAT IT'S HAPPENED,
WHAT WILL YOU ALLOW ME
TO DO WITH IT?
WHAT WILL YOU ALLOW ME
TO DO THROUGH IT?
WHAT IS GOING TO COME
FROM THIS THAT CAN BE
NOT ONLY A BLESSING TO YOU
BUT TO OTHERS?"
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
IS THAT A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT
YOU'RE HEARING AND SHARING?
Philip: VERY DEFINITELY.
ONE OF MY FRIENDS
IS A RELIGION PROFESSOR
AT WHITWORTH COLLEGE,
HIS NAME IS JERRY SITSER.
HE WAS IN
AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.
HIS DAUGHTER WAS PERFORMING
AT AN INDIAN RESERVATION
AND SOME DRUNK DRIVER
GOING 85 MILES AN HOUR
SLAMMED INTO THEIR VAN.
HE LOST HIS MOTHER, HIS WIFE,
AND HIS DAUGHTER
ALL IN THE SAME ACCIDENT.
ACTUALLY HELD EACH ONE
AS THEY DIED BECAUSE
THEY WERE IN A REMOTE AREA
AND EMERGENCY
COULDN'T GET TO THEM.
AND HE'S WRITTEN
A COUPLE OF BOOKS
AND I'VE TALKED TO HIM.
HE USES THIS WORD REDEEM,
CAN THIS BAD THING
BE REDEEMED?
NOW THAT'S KIND OF
AN OLD-FASHIONED WORD.
YOU COULD ALMOST SUBSTITUTE
THE WORD RECYCLE.
YOU TAKE AN OLD ALUMINUM CAN
THAT'S ALL SMOOSHED DOWN,
YOU TAKE IT
TO THE RECYCLE CENTER
AND THEY MAKE SOMETHING NEW
OUT OF IT,
SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF IT.
IT IS A BAD THING.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE CAN
TRUST IN AS CHRISTIANS.
THERE'S THAT GREAT VERSE,
ROMANS 8:28 THAT GOD CAN USE
ALL THINGS FOR GOOD.
PAUL GOES ON IN THAT
SAME CHAPTER TO DESCRIBE
THE KINDS OF THINGS
HE WENT THROUGH
AND THEY INCLUDED
A LOT OF BAD THINGS:
SHIPWRECKS, SNAKEBITE,
PRISON, BEATINGS,
ALL THESE THINGS AND YET,
AS HE LOOKED BACK HE SAID,
"EVERY ONE OF THESE THINGS
GOD USED FOR GOOD IN MY LIFE."
NOT THAT GOD SAID, "HERE,
I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU SUFFER
SO SOMETHING GOOD
WILL COME OUT OF IT."
WE LIVE ON A PLANET
WHERE BAD THINGS HAPPEN.
WE DON'T HAVE A PROMISE
THAT WE ARE LIKE SUPERMAN,
LIKE WE'RE INVINCIBLE BUT
RATHER WE DO HAVE A PROMISE
THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
GOD CAN REDEEM IT,
GOD CAN RECYCLE IT,
AND USE IT FOR OUR GOOD.
Betty: I THINK, REALLY,
I KNOW IN OUR SITUATION,
IN OUR TRAGEDY
BECAUSE TRAGEDY DOES COME.
WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT
REALLY TO AVOID IT.
GOD SAYS WE WILL SUFFER.
BUT TO TAKE THAT TRAGEDY --
AND ITS OKAY AT THE BEGINNING,
I BELIEVE, TO ASK WHY.
BUT WE HAVE TO GO BEYOND THAT
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE SENSED
IN MY HEALING JOURNEY
OF LOSING A PRECIOUS DAUGHTER
THAT IF ANYBODY DESERVED
TO BE HEALED HERE ON EARTH
WE FELT LIKE SHE DID,
BUT GOD HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS
TO ALL THAT BUT I WANT --
JUST AS JAMES SAID,
I WANT TO KNOW, NOW GOD, WHAT?
WHERE DO I GO TO FROM HERE?
AND I HAVE NEVER
IN THIS JOURNEY THUS FAR
FELT GOD DISAPPOINTED ME.
THIS HAS BEEN THE KEY FOR ME.
I HAVE FELT HIS PRESENCE
IN THE MIDST,
RIGHT IN THE CENTER
OF THE WHOLE TRAGEDY.
I HAVE FELT LIKE
I'VE DRAWN CLOSER TO HIM
THAN EVER BEFORE.
AND AS JOB SAID,
"I THOUGHT I KNEW HIM.
I DIDN'T KNOW HIM
LIKE I DO NOW."
AND THAT IS THE JOY THAT CAN
COME FROM SUCH A TRAGEDY
IS THAT CLOSER RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIM AND LETTING THAT
FLOW THROUGH US
AND RELATE TO OTHER PEOPLE,
TO BE A HEALING SOURCE TO THEM
BECAUSE GOD WANTS ME
TO GO ON LIVING.
HE WANTS TO PUT HIS LIFE
CONTINUALLY IN ME
THAT I CAN BE A BLESSING
TO OTHERS --
AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT
OUR DAUGHTER WOULD WANT.
James: WE GOT TO SEE,
PHILIP, AS I LOOK BACK,
YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR THE HEALING,
HOW GOD BINDS UP
THE BROKENHEARTED.
THAT REALLY JUMPED OUT AT ME.
I KEPT HEARING IT
OVER AND OVER
AND I'D PREACHED,
"I CAME TO SET
THE CAPTIVES FREE,
SET AT LIBERTY
THOSE THAT ARE IN PRISON."
AND IT WAS SO EASY FOR ME
TO PREACH THAT,
BUT I NEVER DID SEEM TO SEE
IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY
THAT FIRST PART,
WHEN JESUS MADE
THAT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ISAIAH,
"I CAME TO BIND UP
THE BROKENHEARTED."
IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOUR HEART'S
REALLY BEEN BROKEN,
WHAT DOES IT TAKE
TO BIND UP THE WOUNDS?
HE SAID, "I CAME TO DO IT."
SO I FOUND MYSELF SAYING,
AND I'VE GOT TO BELIEVE
THAT SOMEHOW
THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING,
YOU'RE WANTING TO HEAL
THE WOUND,
TO BIND UP THE WOUND,
YOU WANT TO HELP
HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED.
AS I'VE SOUGHT THAT HEALING,
ALL I CAN SEE WHEN I LOOK
AT ROBIN, 40 YEARS OF LIFE.
IT'S ALL SHE LEFT
ON PLANET EARTH
WAS THE IMPACT OF LIFE
IN HER HUSBAND
AND HER THREE CHILDREN;
I JUST SEE LIFE.
I GUESS I COULD WISH
EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN HURT,
SOMEHOW IF YOU COULD MOVE
FROM THE PAIN, THE DEATH,
THE LOSS, AND YOU MOVE
INTO WHAT GOD CAN DO
TO SHOW YOU THE GREATNESS
OF HIS LIFE AND THE REALITY
OF HIS PRESENCE,
HIS ABIDING PRESENCE --
AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.
BETTY POINTED OUT
WHEN WE LOST ROBIN
WHEN SHE WAS GOING THROUGH
THOSE EARLY DAYS,
IT WAS NOT LONG AFTER THAT OR
RIGHT IN THAT SAME TIME FRAME
THAT THE CHILDREN WERE LOST
IN THE SCHOOL IN THE SHOOTING
IN CONNECTICUT.
AND BETTY SAID TO ME,
"AT LEAST WE KNEW ROBIN
40 YEARS.
WE GOT TO SEE
THE GLORY OF GOD IN HER LIFE
AND WE GOT TO ENJOY THEM AND
WE GOT TO SEE WHAT SHE DID."
THESE LITTLE CHILDREN,
SIX YEARS OR SO,
THAT'S TOUGH, PHILIP
AND YOU WENT THERE.
YOU WENT TO CONNECTICUT.
Philip: I DID.
AND RIGHT BEFORE I WENT,
SOMEONE SENT ME A LITTLE
STATEMENT FROM FRED ROGERS,
MR. ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE WAS ACTUALLY
A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER
AND THEN BECAME KNOWN
AS A CHILDREN'S
TELEVISION PROGRAM.
HE SAID WHEN HE WAS
A LITTLE BOY,
WHEN A BAD THING WOULD HAPPEN,
A TORNADO
OR THE KIND OF THINGS
THAT WE'VE HAD ALL YEAR
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES,
HIS MOTHER WOULD SAY, "FRED,
WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN,
LOOK FOR THE HELPERS --
LOOK FOR THE HELPERS.
WHENEVER BAD THINGS HAPPEN
THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE
WHO COME AS HELPERS."
AND I'LL GO BACK
TO THAT QUESTION
THAT I STARTED WITH,
WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS?
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER
TO THE WHY QUESTION
BUT I KNOW THE ANSWER
TO WHERE IS GOD?
FOR ONE THING,
YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE
WHERE IS JESUS WHEN IT HURTS
BECAUSE HE CAME
TO BIND UP THE BROKENHEARTED
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS FOLLOW JESUS AROUND
TO KNOW HOW GOD FEELS
ABOUT PEOPLE
GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES.
JESUS NEVER ONCE
GAVE A LECTURE ABOUT,
"YOU DESERVE THIS,"
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
HE WAS THERE WITH HEALING
EVEN WITH RESURRECTION.
AND YOU COULD ALSO SUBSTITUTE,
WHERE IS THE CHURCH
WHEN IT HURTS?
LOOK FOR THE HELPERS.
IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT,
IN OTHER PLACES
WHERE I'VE BEEN,
VIRGINIA TECH, COLUMBINE,
THE CHURCH IS THERE, OKLAHOMA,
THE NEW ORLEANS HURRICANE,
YOU KNOW THIS --
THE CHURCH IS THERE.
AND WE ARE MAKING
GOD'S PRESENCE KNOWN.
WE ARE HELPING THAT PROCESS
OF BINDING UP
THE BROKENHEARTED.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY
GOD PUT US ON EARTH
TO DO GOD'S WILL.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
IS IT GOD'S WILL
THAT THIS TORNADO HIT?
I'LL LEAVE THE THEOLOGIANS.
WHAT I SAY IS,
IS IT GOD'S DESIRE?
AND WE KNOW
IT IS NOT GOD'S DESIRE
FOR PEOPLE TO SUFFER
BECAUSE JESUS SHOWED US
WHAT GOD'S DESIRE IS:
HEALING, RESURRECTION,
AND PROMISED US
THERE WILL BE A TIME
WHEN THERE IS NO PAIN,
THERE IS NO DEATH,
THERE IS NO SORROW, LIKE
YOU GUYS HAVE EXPERIENCED,
LIKE ALL OF US WILL
EXPERIENCE AT SOME POINT.
THAT'S GOD'S DESIRE.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE STUFF
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH
IN THIS WORLD IS A WAY
OF GETTING TO THAT POINT
AND THAT'S WHAT WE CHRISTIANS
CAN REPRESENT.
James: AND YOU KNOW
WHAT I FIND IS THAT
WHEN I IDENTIFY
WITH THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS,
COMPASSION, WHICH THAT'S
THE REASON PEOPLE ASK YOU,
"WHY DO YOU HELP
LITTLE CHILDREN THAT NOBODY
EVEN KNOWS THEIR NAME?
WHAT WILL THEY
EVER AMOUNT TO?"
WHEN I SAY THAT, I THINK, BOY,
THEY'RE SO BIG TO GOD!
SO OVERLOOKED BY OTHERS,
BUT NOT BY GOD.
SO HE'S LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
TO TOUCH THEM.
SO WHEN I SEE
ALL THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN
AND THE SUFFERING,
PAUL SAID, "I WANT TO KNOW
THE FELLOWSHIP
OF HIS SUFFERING,
BE CONFORMED TO THAT DEATH
THAT I MAY KNOW THE POWER
OF RESURRECTION LIFE."
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S
SOMETHING IN IDENTIFYING
WITH THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS
FROM A GOD PERSPECTIVE
OR CHRIST PERSPECTIVE
THAT WE REALLY IDENTIFY
WITH WHERE THEY ARE,
AND IN THE SAME WAY WE ARE
IDENTIFYING WITH CHRIST
BECAUSE HE REALLY FEELS,
HE WEPT BECAUSE THEY WEPT
WHEN LAZARUS WAS GONE.
HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN BUT HE WAS MOVED
WITH COMPASSION.
HE SAW THE MULTITUDES,
HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION.
WE NEED TO BE MOVED
WITH COMPASSION TODAY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
YOU'RE MOVED WITH COMPASSION
IS YOU CAN IMPART
THE LIFE OF GOD
IN THAT SITUATION.
SO THE ANSWER TO WHAT
YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT;
GOD LED US IN SOME WAY
COME OUT OF THIS WITH THE
POWER OF RESURRECTION LIFE
OVER REALITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT HAPPENS,
PHILIP.
IN THE MIDST
OF ALL OF THIS PAIN
PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO BEGIN TO SEE JESUS.
ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
TRYING TO SAY IN YOUR BOOK?
Philip: IT IS.
WHERE IS THE CHURCH
WHEN IT HURTS?
IF WE RESPOND -- IT IS EASY
FOR PEOPLE TO BLAME GOD.
WE CAN REPRESENT
THAT GOD OF COMPASSION,
THAT GOD WHO ACTUALLY
TOOK ON PAIN HIMSELF.
I'M SO GLAD
JESUS DIDN'T COME AS SUPERMAN.
THE BULLETS DIDN'T BOUNCE OFF,
THE NAILS DIDN'T --
HE FELT THEM,
HE EXPERIENCED IT.
AND HERE IS, PROBABLY
THE WORST THING THAT HAS
EVER HAPPENED IN HISTORY,
THE MURDER OF GOD'S OWN SON
WHO HAD NEVER DONE
ANYTHING WRONG.
AND WHAT DO WE CALL IT?
DARK FRIDAY, TRAGIC FRIDAY?
NO, WE CALL IT GOOD FRIDAY
BECAUSE GOD CAN TAKE
EVEN THAT WORST THING
THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN
AND RECYCLE IT,
REDEEM IT INTO SOMETHING THAT
WE LOOK BACK UPON AS GOOD.
THAT IS THE PROMISE WE HAVE.
THE WORST THING
THAT COULD HAPPEN,
GOD CAN STILL
MAKE GOOD OUT OF IT
AND THAT'S EVERY ONE OF US
CAN TRUST IN THAT PROMISE
THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,
NO MATTER WHAT
WE'RE GOING THROUGH,
GOD CAN SOMEHOW REDEEM IT,
CAN RECYCLE IT,
MAKE GOOD OUT OF IT.
James: PHILIP, YOU ARE
GIFTED BEYOND WORDS.
I'M NOT TRYING
TO BE PATRONIZING,
I'M NOT AFTER SOMETHING.
I LOVE YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU.
YOU'VE BLESSED MY LIFE.
I HAVE SAT
AS I HAVE READ AMAZING GRACE:
WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT IT,
THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW,
THE BOOK,
WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS?
I JUST LOOK
AT THE GIFT GOD'S GIVEN YOU
AND I REALIZE
HE GAVE YOU THAT GIFT FOR US.
AND WHEN I SAID A MOMENT AGO
THAT THE LORD REALLY
MADE THAT REAL TO ME,
THAT JESUS CAME TO BIND UP
THE BROKENHEARTED, LISTEN,
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
WATCHING US EVERY DAY
ALL OVER THE WORLD,
I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU ARE,
YOU'RE HURTING.
YOU HURT.
THERE IS A LOVING GOD
THAT IS NOT FOR ALL THAT
CAUSES THE SUFFERING AND PAIN
BUT HE IS THE ONE
WHO COMFORTS,
WHO BINDS IT UP.
PHILIP HAS DONE
AN INCREDIBLE JOB
HELPING YOU FIND THIS GRACE
AND THIS PEACE
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
THE COMFORT.
GET THE BOOK.
IT IS IN THE BOOKSTORES
OR YOU CAN GO ONLINE.
HE HAS A NEW ELECTRONIC,
NEW VERSION OF THIS UPDATED
WITH ALL THAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S FANTASTIC.
YOU CAN ONLY GET IT ONLINE.
THERE'S HOW YOU GET IT.
THIS INCREDIBLE
BEST-SELLING BOOK
THAT'S BLESSED SO MANY,
WE WILL SEND IT TO YOU
IF YOU JUST HELP US
BLESS SOMEONE ELSE
AT A VERY SPECIAL TIME,
I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT IT
IN A MOMENT.
BUT PHILIP, I WANT YOU
TO JUST TALK TOMORROW,
WHAT DOES THE CHURCH DO?
HOW DO WE RESPOND
WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE
WITH THE HEARTACHE?
BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS
CHURCH FOLKS SAY,
PEOPLE DON'T NEED A SERMON,
THEY NEED A SHOULDER
A LOT OF TIMES.
AND BOY, WE DOWNLOAD ON PEOPLE
TO THEIR DEMISE AND NOT FOR
THE GLORY OF GOD AND YOU
EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH THIS.
SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
ARE YOU GOOD
WITH THAT TOMORROW?
Philip: I AM. YES.
James: LET ME JUST SAY THIS
TO YOU, AND BETTY AND I DO
TOGETHER JUST THANK YOU FOR
THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE
WITH YOU...
TO SPEND THIS TIME WITH YOU.
WE COUNT IT AN HONOR.
I WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU
WHO ARE OUR SUPPORTERS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS
LOOKING OVER OUR DONOR LIST
OF FRIENDS THAT HAVE
BEEN GIVING AND SO FORTH
AND JUST THINKING, WHAT
REMARKABLE PEOPLE YOU ARE!
I WISH I COULD KNOW ALL OF
YOU PERSONALLY.
THE MISSIONARIES SAY THAT.
THEY SAY YOU'RE
THE GREATEST CHRISTIANS
ON THE PLANET BECAUSE
YOU DON'T KNOW THEM
BUT YOU KEEP THEM DOING
THE GOOD THINGS OF GOD.
AND YOU HAVE THIS COMPASSION.
YOU DON'T JUST SAY WE CARE,
YOU SHARE BECAUSE YOU CARE.
THANK YOU!
WE WANT TO ASK YOU RIGHT NOW
TO HELP US FOR CHRISTMAS
AND WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW
AND THIS IS THE LAST WEEK
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO HELP,
SO WE CAN GET IT
FOR CHRISTMAS.
WE WANT TO GIVE 200,000 PAIRS
OF SHOES FOR LITTLE CHILDREN
AND WE WANT TO GIVE SMILES
TO CHILDREN THAT NEED
SOME SURGERY, CLEFT PALATE
OR WHATEVER THE NEED IS.
LISTEN TO TAMMY TRENT.
I WANT YOU LOOK AT A
LITTLE GIRL; SHE'S GOING
TO TOUCH YOUR HEART.
HEY, LET'S BLESS
LITTLE CHILDREN LIKE THIS.
Tammy:
WHAT I LOVE
IS YOUR SMILE!
I LOVE
YOUR SMILE.
GETTING A BRAND NEW PAIR
OF SHOES IS SO EXCITING.
IT IS EXCITING
FOR ANY GIRL.
SO I KNOW THE FEELING
THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW
AND I FEEL SO LUCKY
TO BE THE ONE
TO PUT THESE SHOES
ON YOUR FEET.
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE
ABOUT LIFE OUTREACH.
THEY'RE INVOLVED
IN SO MANY AMAZING PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD
AND THIS IS JUST
ONE OF THEM,
PUTTING SHOES
ON THE FEET OF LITTLE ONES
THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED
OF A PAIR OF SHOES.
AND I LOVE HOW IT MAKES
YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW.
I LOVE THAT!
THERE YOU GO, BABY.
Announcer: WE ADMIT IT,
LIKE GOD OUR FATHER,
WE HAVE A SOFT SPOT
FOR CHILDREN.
THOSE SMILES...
THEY GET US.
SURE, THEY COME
IN MANY WAYS,
LIT UP BY FRESH WATER,
FOOD, FREEDOM
BUT SOMETIMES THOSE
SIMPLE THINGS LIKE SHOES
BRING AS MUCH JOY
TO THE FACE OF A CHILD
AS THAT WHICH
SAVES THEIR LIVES.
THERE'S A UNIQUE SPARKLE
IN THEIR EYES.
THEY STAND
A LITTLE TALLER.
AND NO, IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF
THE HEEL BENEATH THEIR FEET,
IT'S BECAUSE
IN THESE AREAS
WHERE THEIR POSSESSIONS
ARE SO FEW,
SHOES ARE
GREATLY PRIZED
BECAUSE FOR MOST, THEIR
FEET HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM.
WHAT THEIR FEET
HAVE SEEN IS DISEASE,
BUT SHOES
CAN CHANGE THAT
AND THESE ARE OFTEN
THEIR FIRST PAIR.
IT'S SOMETHING MANY OF US
TAKE FOR GRANTED
BUT THEIR SMILES
SHOW US THEY DON'T.
James: YOU'VE GOT
TO LOVE THAT!
YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE THAT SMILE
AND THOSE CHILDREN.
LISTEN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THEM,
WE NOT ONLY KNOW
WE'RE GIVING THEM SHOES,
WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM
SHOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
ON THEIR FEET
BECAUSE THOSE FAMILIES, MANY
OF THEM YOU'RE SEEING SMILE
HAVE ALREADY BEEN LED TO
CHRIST BY THE MISSIONARIES.
AND WE MEET BASIC ABSOLUTE
NECESSITY NEEDS LIKE FOOD
AND TRY TO GET CLEAN WATER
TO THEM, AND MANY OF THESE
ARE WHERE WE DRILLED
WATER WELLS.
THE MISSIONARIES HAVE SAID,
"WHY DON'T WE DO SOMETHING
REALLY SPECIAL FOR CHRISTMAS
FOR THESE CHILDREN?
JUST GIVE THEM SOMETHING
THAT THEY NEED
BUT IT WILL BE A BLESSING
AND WE'LL BE ABLE
TO TELL THEM ABOUT
THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS."
WOULD YOU HELP US
SEND 200,000 PAIRS
OF THESE SHOES?
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU
RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE $3.60 A PAIR:
$36 WE'VE GOT
TEN PAIR OF SHOES,
$144, WE'VE GOT 40.
AND WE'RE ASKING YOU
TO HELP US.
WE NEED TO GET IT NOW
AND THIS IS THE LAST WEEK.
WOULD YOU DO THAT?
IS THERE ANY WAY
YOU CAN HELP US GIVE
40 CHILDREN SHOES?
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE DO.
YOU'LL PUT A SMILE
ON THEIR FACE.
AND BETTY, DON'T YOU LOVE TO
SEE THOSE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN?
Betty: I DO, JAMES.
WE LOVE DRILLING
THE WATER WELLS,
WE LOVE PUTTING FOOD
IN THE BOWLS FOR THE CHILDREN
TO HAVE THE NOURISHMENT
THEY NEED BUT THIS IS
SOMETHING THE CHILD
CAN REALLY RELATE TO;
IT'S A GIFT TO THEM PERSONALLY
THAT THEY PUT ON THEIR FEET.
I LOVE IT MAINLY
BECAUSE I KNOW
WHAT IT IS DOING FOR THEM;
IT COULD SAVE THEIR LIVES.
THEY WALK AROUND
IN ALL THESE AREAS
WHERE THEY GET DISEASE,
THEY GET CUTS
ON THEIR LITTLE PRECIOUS FEET
AND I JUST LOOK BEYOND
JUST THE GIFT OF GIVING THEM
SOME SHOES.
WE'RE GIVING THEM LIFE
POSSIBLY BECAUSE WE'RE
HELPING THEM AVOID
SOME OF THOSE DISEASES THAT
CAN WORK UP THROUGH THEIR BODY
JUST FROM A CUT ON THEIR FEET
WALKING BAREFOOTED.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.
James: WELL, BETTY,
YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S A JOY TO THEM BUT IT
ALSO IS A GIFT OF HEALTH.
IT PROTECTS THEM
IN SO MANY WAYS.
WE ARE SENDING YOU
THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
AND I PROMISE YOU, IT WILL BE
A CONVERSATION PIECE
WHEN PEOPLE SEE IT,
"WHAT IS THAT?"
AND YOU'LL BE SURPRISED
HOW MANY PEOPLE --
MAYBE IT WON'T BE SHOES,
BUT YOU WILL MAKE THEM AWARE
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THINKING
ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE,
AND AT A TIME OF GIVING,
GIVING TO THOSE
WHO LEAST EXPECTED IT AND
IT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL.
ALSO REMEMBER
WE'RE GIVING SMILES,
AS WELL AS SHOES
FOR CHRISTMAS.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO HELP US
PAY FOR CLEFT PALATE SURGERY
AND THE SURGEONS AND DOCTORS
THAT ARE WORKING WITH US
HAVE MADE IT AS ECONOMICALLY
FEASIBLE AS POSSIBLE.
THE SURGERIES ARE COSTING
AN AVERAGE OF $500;
SOME OF THEM CLEFT PALATE,
SOME OF THEM FACIAL DEFORMITY.
WOULD YOU HELP?
IF YOU COULD GIVE $1,000
DO IT.
IF YOU COULD POSSIBLY HELP US
GIVE 10 CHILDREN SHOES
WITH $36 OR 40 CHILDREN
WITH A GIFT OF $144, DO IT.
PLEASE GO TO THE PHONE NOW;
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,
USE IT LIKE A CHECK.
IF YOU WRITE A CHECK,
DO CALL US AND TELL US
YOU'RE PUTTING IT IN THE MAIL.
WE NEED TO KNOW.
WE NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK.
OR YOU CAN GO TO LIFETODAY.ORG
AND MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
THANK YOU 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.
WHILE THAT MAY SEEN MINOR IN
THE 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 LIFE
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 HELP PROVIDE TEN PAIRS OF SHOES.
A GIFT OF $72 WILL
HELP PROVIDE 20 PAIR,
AND A GIFT OF $144
WILL HELP PROVIDE
40 PAIRS OF CHRISTMAS SHOES
FOR CHILDREN
IN NEED.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
THIS BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED
RED ANTIQUED SHOE ORNAMENT,
A TREASURE TO PLACE ON YOUR
TREE EACH HOLIDAY SEASON.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE
YOU MAY REQUEST
A SPECIAL BOXED SET
OF LIFE'S CHRISTMAS SHOE ORNAMENTS FROM PAST YEARS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP PROVIDE
OVER 275 PAIRS OF SHOES
OR TWO CHILDREN
WITH CORRECTIVE
CLEFT PALATE SURGERIES.
AND YOU MAY REQUEST OUR COMMEMORATIVE GLASS SCULPTURE
"THE BLESSING."
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK!
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY!
James: WELL, BETTY AND I SAY
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
I DO WANT TO SAY THIS TO YOU.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN GO
TO THE BOOKSTORES,
YOU CAN GO ONLINE
AND THERE IS THE NEW BOOK
THAT IS ONLINE,
BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS?
YOU HELP US
TOUCH SOMEONE'S LIFE,
WHATEVER YOU CAN DO,
AND WE'LL GLADLY
SEND YOU THE BOOK.
JUST ASK FOR IT TODAY; OKAY?
WE JUST THANK PHILIP YANCEY
FOR BEING WITH US.
PHILIP, YOU AGREED
WE'LL DO A PROGRAM TOMORROW
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT
WHAT THE CHURCH SHOULD DO,
HOW WE REALLY BEST HELP
BIND UP THE BROKENHEARTED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR WATCHING LIFE TODAY.
AND AGAIN, COMING TO YOU
FROM BEAUTIFUL COLORADO.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STATE!
IT IS JUST GOOD TO BE HERE
WITH THESE COLORADO CITIZENS
WHO HAVE MADE SUCH
AN IMPACT FOR GOD.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING
AN IMPACT FOR GOD.
♪
♪
♪
Announcer:
TOMORROW, PHILIP YANCEY
EXPLORES THE QUESTION,
WHERE IS GOD
WHEN IT HURTS?
>> GOD IS MORE UPSET
WITH THE THINGS
THAT GO ON IN THIS WORLD
THAN YOU ARE.