Announcer: WHEN YOUR LIFE
HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN,
HAVE YOU EVER
ASKED THE QUESTION,
HOW COULD AN ALL-POWERFUL,
ALL-LOVING GOD
ALLOW THIS VOLUME
OF SUFFERING?
>> PEOPLE OFTEN THINK OF IT
AS AN INTELLECTUAL QUESTION
BUT I'M SURE WHEN YOU FOLKS
WENT THROUGH WHAT YOU DID
IT IS THE HEART THAT'S
BEING BROKEN AT THAT POINT.
YES, THE "WHY" COMES
BUT THE "HOW TO FROM HERE ONWARDS" BECOMES SO IMPORTANT.
Announcer:
AUTHOR AND SPEAKER
RAVI ZACHARIAS
HELPS US
FIND HOPE
IN THE MIDST
OF SUFFERING -- NEXT!
♪
James: THIS PLACE IS PACKED
WITH LIFE AND LOVE AND JOY.
I'M JAMES ROBISON.
BETTY AND I WELCOME YOU
TO LIFE TODAY.
RAVI ZACHARIAS IS OUR GUEST.
BY THE WAY, YOU COME; WE TAPE
NORMALLY ON TUESDAY NIGHTS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR --
WONDERFUL GUESTS!
WE WOULD BE HAPPY
FOR YOU TO COME.
YOU CAN GO TO LIFETODAY.ORG
AND FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF
ONE OF OUR STUDIO AUDIENCES.
IT'S LIKE REALLY BEING
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
TOGETHER AND BEING INSPIRED
AND ENCOURAGED.
RAVI ZACHARIAS HAS WRITTEN
MANY GREAT BOOKS.
HERE IS ONE THAT I THINK
HAS PARTICULAR MEANING NOW,
WHY SUFFERING?
FINDING MEANING AND COMFORT
WHEN LIFE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPENING TODAY THAT SEEM
TO MAKE NO SENSE AT ALL AND
IT PUTS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF PRESSURE ON ALL OF US.
I THINK RAVI HAS A REAL GIFT.
WOULD YOU WELCOME RAVI
TO LIFE TODAY?
WE'RE SO GLAD
YOU'RE HERE, RAVI.
[Applause]
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
YOU CAN GO TO LIFETODAY.ORG,
BACK UP ONE DAY
AND JUST WATCH IT AT YOUR
LEISURE AND CONVENIENCE,
AND LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID
ABOUT A CENTER THAT GOD HAS
IMPRESSED HIM TO GIVE BIRTH TO
AND TO LAUNCH WITH
THE PRAYERFUL HELP AND SUPPORT
OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU
AND LIKE US; AND HE'S GOT
THAT HERE, I HOPE, WITH YOU.
RAVI, JUST TELL OUR VIEWERS,
JUST VERY BRIEFLY
THE NAME OF THE CENTER SO
IF THEY GO TO RAVI ZACHARIAS
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES,
R.Z.I.M. ONLINE,
THEY CAN GO AND LEARN
EVEN MORE ABOUT IT
AND BE INVOLVED.
TELL US THE NAME OF IT.
Ravi: OUR WEB SITE IS
WWW.RZIM.ORG.
IF YOU LOG ON
AND MOVE TO THE SECTION
THAT IS CALLED
THE CENTER, I-ACT,
THE INSTITUTE OF APOLOGETICS
AND CONTEMPORARY THOUGHT,
AND IT FORMS A NICE ACRONYM
BECAUSE WE WANT TO ACT UPON
THE ISSUES OF OUR TIME.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE THE
PROCUREMENT OF THE BUILDING
IN EARLY 2016, AND THEN THE
BUILDING OF THE PROGRAM; AND
SOME TIME SHORTLY THEREAFTER,
TO HOPEFULLY BE BUILT
FULL AND RUNNING WITH
THE RESIDENT FACULTY
AND VARIOUS PROGRAMS
THAT WE CAN OFFER.
ALSO, ONLINE PROGRAMS.
UNIVERSITIES ARE ALREADY
TALKING TO US
ABOUT COMING ALONGSIDE
AND LOANING THEIR FACULTY.
IMAGINE HAVING A PLACE
WHERE IF YOU'RE SOPHISTICATED
IN PHILOSOPHY,
YOU WANT TO COME AND LISTEN
TO AN ALVIN PLANTINGA
TALK ON SOMETHING,
OR A JOHN LENNOX.
WE WOULD INVITE PEOPLE
LIKE THAT.
BUT THEN WE HAVE TO DO IT
AT A POPULAR LEVEL,
JAMES AND BETTY.
YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER ON
ABOUT LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT,
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WHAT YOU'VE DONE AS A MOTHER.
YOU'VE PREPARED
MANY POINTED ARROWS THAT
GUYS LIKE US COULD NOT DO;
SO YOU DO A MARVELOUS JOB
IN THAT.
IF WE CAN BRING PEOPLE IN
FROM JUNIOR HIGH AND UP,
PREPARE THEM AT A POPULAR
LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING
SERIOUSLY THE ISSUES
AND A MEANINGFUL RESPONSE,
BASICALLY IT'S ENGAGING PEOPLE
IN CONVERSATION SO THAT
THE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST
MAY BE PRESENTED TO THEM.
I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY OTHER
MESSAGE OUT THERE
OUTSIDE OF THE GOSPEL
OF JESUS CHRIST
THAT HAS THE ANSWERS
TO WHAT WE ARE SEARCHING FOR;
THE WHOLE TRANSFORMATION
OF THE HEART THAT IS NEEDED,
THE GRACIOUSNESS IN OUR
ATTITUDE THAT IS NEEDED,
HOW TO DEAL WITH SENSITIVE
ISSUES WITH EFFECTIVENESS,
AND THEN TO HAVE RELIANCE
ON THE TRANSFORMING POWER
OF JESUS CHRIST.
ALL THIS IS IN
THE GOSPEL STORY
AND WE HOPE I-ACT WILL BE
A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME
FOR WEEKENDS, FOR A WEEK,
FOR A WHOLE SUMMER
AND DO A YEAR'S STUDY THERE.
WE WILL HAVE
INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS
TO HELP PREPARE PEOPLE
TO BE EFFECTIVE
IN WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
James: WHAT I SEE YOU DOING
IS MULTIPLYING
THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT
GOD'S GIVEN YOU.
RAVI, I BELIEVE THE GIFT
GOD'S GIVEN YOU
WILL BE MULTIPLIED.
I BELIEVE THIS DIVINE ENABLING
GOD'S PLACED ON YOU
AND THIS ZEAL FOR GOD
AND HIS WISDOM,
NOT JUST OUR KNOWLEDGE
OR OUR BRILLIANCE
BUT THE WISDOM OF GOD,
I BELIEVE IT WILL JUST SPREAD
AND WE SO DESPERATELY NEED IT.
YOU'VE WRITTEN THIS BOOK
ON SUFFERING
AND WE'RE LIVING IN A DAY NOW
WHEN THERE IS TREMENDOUS
PRESSURE BEING EXERTED
ON CHRISTIANS.
WHOEVER THOUGHT THAT
WE WOULD WATCH CHRISTIANS
LINED UP AND BEHEADED?
AND THE FACT BE KNOWN,
IF YOU ACTUALLY WATCHED
SOME OF THEM
AND SAW THEIR COUNTENANCE
AS THEY LOST THEIR HEAD,
THERE WAS A PEACE
THAT PASSED UNDERSTANDING
IN THEIR VERY COUNTENANCE.
I FIND US WONDERING,
DO WE HAVE THAT KIND
OF COMMITMENT TO CHRIST?
THERE IS A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF PRESSURE,
THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN,
THERE IS A LOT OF LOSS,
THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS
THAT ONCE SEEMED STABLE
OR BEEN SHAKEN AND PEOPLE
ARE BEGINNING TO HURT
AND THEY'RE CONFUSED.
I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION
BEFORE WE EVEN
TOUCH SUFFERING.
IS THIS PRESSURE A TIME
FOR CHRISTIANS TO JUST SAY,
"WELL, WHAT WILL BE WILL BE.
IT IS THE END TIME.
WE KNEW IT WAS GOING
TO GET WORSE.
WE MIGHT AS WELL
SETTLE FOR IT AND HOPE
JESUS GETS US OUT OF HERE."
IS THAT A PROPER ATTITUDE
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
REDEEMED BY THE LORD TO HAVE
TO JUST SETTLE IN
FOR WHAT COMES AND SIT BACK
AND LET IT HAPPEN?
Ravi: AS YOU WERE TALKING,
JAMES, I WAS THINKING
OF AN EXPERIENCE I HAD
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO,
MAYBE 4-5 YEARS AGO MAXIMUM.
I WAS IN DAMASCUS, SYRIA
AND EVERY TIME I ARRIVED
IN DAMASCUS TO SPEAK, AND
I'VE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES,
THE NEXT DAY ALWAYS
HAD TO SHOW UP AT THE CHIEF
OF INTELLIGENCE OFFICE;
THEY WOULD SEND A SUMMONS
FOR ME TO COME THERE.
THEY WOULD BE DRESSED UP
IN THEIR MILITARY GARB
AND THE GENERALS AND ALL
WOULD BE SITTING THERE.
I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE TABLE,
PLATES FULL OF BAKLAVA
AND ALL OF THAT,
WHICH I DARE NOT TOUCH
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT THE QUESTIONS
WERE GOING TO BE.
[Laughter]
BUT THEY LOOKED AT ME
AND WOULD BE VERY GRACIOUS.
AND THE CHIEF OF INTELLIGENCE
SAID TO ME, "YOU ARE
VERY WELCOME IN OUR COUNTRY."
HE SAID, "IN FACT, ZACHARIAS,
WE NEED YOU HERE."
HE SAID,
"BUT DON'T GET INVOLVED IN
THE POLITICS OF THE REGION;
JUST DON'T MEDDLE WITH THAT."
I SAID TO HIM,
"I'VE NEVER DONE THAT, SIR.
YOU KNOW IT AND
I APPRECIATE YOUR WELCOME."
I SAID,
"MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF ALL THAT IS HAPPENING
IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND SO ON?
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT?"
HE SAID, "YOU WANT
TO KNOW MY ANSWER?"
I SAID, "YES, SIR."
HE SAID,
"I GIVE THIS PART OF THE WORLD
NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS
AND THE WHOLE PLACE
IS GOING TO BLOW UP."
I SAID THAT ON A RADIO PROGRAM
AFTER I CAME BACK
AND I HAD NO CLUE
WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I SAID, "FIVE YEARS?"
HE SAID, "YES.
IF NOTHING CHANGES THE WHOLE
PLACE IS GOING TO BLOW UP."
AND YOU KNOW WHEN ISIS
AND ALL TOOK OVER,
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
TO HAVE HIS OFFICE RANSACKED
AND HE WAS ASSASSINATED
IN HIS OFFICE,
AND THE NEWS CARRIED THE STORY
OF THE CHIEF OF INTELLIGENCE
BEING KILLED.
IT ALWAYS STAYS IN MY MIND
WHAT HE WOULD SAY TO ME,
"WE NEED YOU HERE."
WHY DID HE SAY THAT?
MANY LEADERS IN
THESE ISLAMIC COUNTRIES,
I CAN QUOTE ONE MORE
FROM ABU DHABI SHEIKH NAHYAN,
WHO HAS HOSTED ME
FOR LECTURESHIP
AT SHAIKH ZAYED UNIVERSITY,
ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED
UNIVERSITIES IN OUR WORLD.
HE KEEPS TELLING ME,
"WE NEED YOU HERE.
PLEASE COME!"
THEY OPENED THE DOORS
BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THE WITNESS OF THE CHRISTIAN
AND THE EXAMPLE
OF THE CHRISTIAN IS NEEDED
IN THAT RATHER TUMULTUOUS
TERRAIN OUT THERE.
AND NO, IT IS NOT A TIME
FOR US TO RETREAT.
WHEN AUGUSTINE WAS DYING
IN CARTHAGE, WHEN HE WAS DYING
AND THE BARBARIANS
WERE SCALING THE WALLS,
THINK OF THE TWO BOOKS
THAT HE'S BEST KNOWN FOR,
HIS CONFESSIONS
AND THE CITY OF GOD;
THAT THE ULTIMATE CITY
WAS A CITY WHOSE BUILDER
AND MAKER IS GOD.
WHILE HE WAS SICK AND DYING
THERE WERE PEOPLE KNEELING
BY HIS BEDSIDE FOR PRAYER.
AND THE THREE CHURCHES
HE PLANTED WERE NOT DESTROYED
BY THE BARBARIANS,
ONE IN HIPPO
AND ONE IN CARTHAGE,
AND SO ON.
THAT IMPACT OF AUGUSTINE HAS
LINGERED NOW FOR CENTURIES,
FOR 16 CENTURIES IT'S REMAINED
AND THE IMPACT OF THE GOSPEL.
IT IS NOT A TIME
FOR US TO RETREAT.
IN FACT, IT IS A TIME
FOR US TO ENGAGE EVEN MORE.
BUT TO DO THAT UNDERGIRDED
BY THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST,
AND THE CONFIDENCE
AND THE CONVICTION
THAT HE REALLY PLACES
IN YOUR HEART AND MINE.
MORE OF THOSE WHO ARE
APPARENTLY HOSTILE TOWARD US
ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TODAY
THAN AT ANY TIME I REMEMBER.
I WILL BE IN EGYPT
THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER.
THEY ARE ALREADY TELLING US
TO EXPECT OVERFLOW CROWDS
IN EVERY AUDITORIUM
THAT THEY WILL GET.
THE AVERAGE YOUNG PERSON
IN SOME OF THESE PLACES FED UP
WITH WHAT THEY'RE SEEING,
THE POLITICIZATION OF RELIGION
AND ALL THE HAVOC
THAT'S BEING WREAKED.
THINK OF THE BEAUTY
OF THE MESSAGE OF GRACE
AND FORGIVENESS.
YOU WILL NOT FIND THAT
ANYWHERE ELSE.
THIS IS THE TIME TO ENGAGE
AND TO GIVE COURAGE
TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
I SEE SOME OF THEM
BACKPACKING IN CHINA
AND OTHER PLACES
AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
IN THE MID 1960s
WHEN MAO ZEDONG WAS BURNING
THE LIBRARIES IN NANJING
AND EVERYWHERE ELSE?
SO THE NAME OF CHRIST
WILL BE FORGOTTEN HERE.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
IS DESTROYED HERE.
THE FASTEST GROWING CHURCH
IN THE WORLD TODAY
IS IN CHINA.
SO WE MUST TAKE HOLD
OF THE TIME
AND NOT LOSE HEART.
YES, MY HEART GOES OUT TO
THE CHRISTIANS IN SYRIA AND
ALL WHO PAID WITH THEIR LIVES
BUT SO IT IS
WHEN OUR TURN COMES,
WE SHOULD BE WILLING
TO LIVE FOR THE GOSPEL
NOT JUST TO DIE FOR IT.
AND IF GOD CALLS UPON US
TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES
WE'LL DO IT.
[Applause]
James: I DON'T THINK ANYONE
WOULD BE WILLING TO DIE
FOR SOMETHING THEY'RE
NOT WILLING TO LIVE FOR.
I THINK, RAVI,
ONE OF THE THINGS
I SENSE YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT SUFFERING,
MAKING SENSE OF THE PAIN
THAT COMES.
BETTY AND I LEARNED, OR ARE
IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING
A VERY DEEP LESSON.
I PREACHED A LOT ON THE
FREEDOM THAT CHRIST CAME
TO SET CAPTIVES FREE BUT
IT HAD NEVER HIT ME AS HARD
AS THAT FIRST PHRASE,
THAT HE CAME TO BIND UP
THE BROKENHEARTED UNTIL WE
LOST OUR DAUGHTER TO CANCER,
AND SHE DIED
A PRECIOUS YOUNG MOTHER.
THAT BROKEN HEART
NEEDED BINDING.
IT WAS A SUFFERING.
THE NON-CHRISTIAN
WILL OFTENTIMES THROW AT YOU
PAIN AND SUFFERING
AS THE REASON
NOT TO BELIEVE IN GOD.
YOU SAT HERE
SOMETIME AGO
SURROUNDED BY STUDENTS
FROM THE SEMINARIES AND
ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS HERE
AND YOU MADE A STATEMENT,
"ISN'T IT INTERESTING
TO NOTICE THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO WORSHIP MOTHER NATURE,
WHEN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT
OCCURS THEY ALWAYS
BLAME FATHER GOD."
AND THAT REALLY RESONATED.
THE SUFFERING SEEMS TO BE
WHAT THE LET'S SAY
SELF-THOUGHT INTELLECTUAL
THROWS ON GOD THAT
THERE COULDN'T BE A GOD OR
THESE THINGS WOULDN'T HAPPEN;
AND SUFFERING
SEEMS TO BE PART OF IT.
Ravi: MY HEART GOES OUT
TO BOTH OF YOU
AND I COULD IMAGINE
THAT IT'S A WOUND THAT NEVER
COMPLETELY GOES AWAY.
GOD TOUCHES THE WOUND,
CRADLES YOU,
AND TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU
GO THROUGH THAT AND BE
A WITNESS SAYS A LOT MORE
THAN THAT BOOK COULD EVER SAY,
JAMES AND BETTY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING
EXAMPLES TO ALL OF US
IN THAT TIME OF GREAT LOSS.
YOU WERE VERY KIND
IN TALKING ABOUT MY OWN
PERSONAL LIFE EARLIER ON
BUT I'M JUST ONE OF MANY
SPEAKERS ON THIS TEAM, JAMES.
THERE IS ABOUT
43 OR 44 OTHERS;
I'M JUST ONE OF THEM.
GOD LAID THIS ON MY HEART
30 YEARS AGO
TO FORM THIS MINISTRY.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT
THE YOUNGER APOLOGISTS
THAT ARE ON THIS TEAM,
PEOPLE LIKE MICHAEL RAMSDEN,
NABEEL QURESHI,
VINCE VITALE, TOM PRICE,
CHRISTIAN HOFREITER,
AMY ORR-EWING,
MARGARET MANNING IN SEATTLE
AND SO ON,
WE'VE GOT JILL CARATTINI
IN OUR OFFICE IN ATLANTA
WHO WRITES EVERY DAY
AND JUST INSPIRES PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE GLOBE WITH HER
WRITING AND JUST THINKING.
I SEE THAT
AS A REASON FOR HOPE.
THIS IS CO-AUTHORED WITH ONE
OF OUR YOUNGER APOLOGISTS,
VINCE VITALE.
HE'S A TUTOR
AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY,
GRADUATE OF PRINCETON
AND HAS MASTERS,
GOT HIS DOCTORATE AT OXFORD,
AND HIS DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
WAS ON THE ISSUE OF PAIN
AND SUFFERING.
WHEN FAITH WORDS ASKED US
IF WE WOULD TOGETHER
COLLABORATE ON THIS BOOK,
I AGREED TO DO IT BECAUSE
I KNEW I WAS WRITING
WITH A YOUNG MAN
WHO HAD BROKEN SOME NEW GROUND
ON THINKING
THIS ISSUE THROUGH.
BUT GOING BACK TO
YOUR INITIAL QUESTION,
PEOPLE OFTEN THINK OF IT
AS AN INTELLECTUAL QUESTION
BUT I'M SURE WHEN YOU FOLKS
WENT THROUGH WHAT YOU DID,
IT IS THE HEART THAT'S
BEING BROKEN AT THAT POINT.
YES, THE "WHY" COMES BUT THE
"HOW TO FROM HERE ONWARDS"
BECOMES SO IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE ASK IT INTELLECTUALLY,
C.S. LEWIS USED TO SAY,
"NOTHING IS SO SELF DEFEATING
AS A QUESTION THAT HAS NOT
BEEN FULLY THOUGHT THROUGH
UNTIL IT HAS BEEN
FULLY POSED."
WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT?
WHEN YOU FULLY POSE A QUESTION
YOU HAVE TO DISCLOSE
YOUR ASSUMPTIONS.
SO, IF A PERSON SAYS THERE IS
TOO MUCH EVIL IN THIS WORLD
THEY ASSUME THERE IS GOOD.
IF YOU ASSUME THERE'S GOOD,
YOU ASSUME A MORAL ABSOLUTE
BY WHICH TO DIFFERENTIATE
BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL,
A MORAL LAW.
IF YOU ASSUME A MORAL LAW,
YOU MUST ASSUME
A MORAL LAW GIVER
BUT THAT'S WHOM THEY ARE
TRYING TO DISPROVE AND
NOT PROVE BECAUSE IF THERE
IS NO MORAL LAW GIVER
THERE IS NO MORAL LAW.
IF THERE IS NO MORAL LAW
THERE IS NO GOOD.
IF THERE IS NO GOOD,
THERE IS NO EVIL.
THE QUESTION SELF-DESTRUCTS.
NOW SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY TO ME,
"WHY DO WE NEED
A MORAL LAW GIVER?"
WE NEED A MORAL LAW GIVER --
LISTEN TO ME CAREFULLY PLEASE
-- BECAUSE ANY TIME A PROBLEM
OR A QUESTION ON EVIL
OR SUFFERING IS RAISED,
IT IS EITHER RAISED
BY A PERSON OR ABOUT A PERSON;
RIGHT? WHICH MEANS
THE QUESTION ASSUMES
INTRINSIC VALUE FOR PERSONHOOD
AND MATERIALISM
DOES NOT HAVE THAT LUXURY.
NATURALISM, MATERIALISM, IF
YOU HAVE THE RANDOM PRODUCT OF
TIME PLUS MATTER PLUS CHANCE
WE HAVE NO INTRINSIC WORTH.
IT'S ONLY EXTRINSIC WORTH
CONVEYED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.
BUT THE QUESTION
ASSUMES INTRINSIC WORTH,
WHICH MEANS
WE ARE THE OFFSPRING
OR THE CREATION OF A PERSON
WHO HAS INTRINSIC WORTH
AND THAT ULTIMATE WORTH
IS IN GOD HIMSELF.
SO YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE
THE QUESTIONS ASSUMPTIONS.
THEN YOU MOVE TOWARD THE HEART
AND GIVE ANSWERS
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ACTUALLY
TRY TO DEAL WITH IN THERE.
James: AND IT IS
A MARVELOUS BOOK.
YOU LIKE THE WAY
HE EXPLAINS THINGS?
HE SEEMS TO BE ABLE
TO TAKE NONSENSE
AND NOT MAKE SENSE OF NONSENSE
BUT SHOW YOU SO MUCH SENSE
YOU REALIZE IT IS NONSENSE
THAT YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING
OR BEING MISDIRECTED
OR MISGUIDED BY.
THIS IS A PHENOMENAL,
PHENOMENAL BOOK:
FINDING MEANING AND COMFORT
WHEN LIFE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU,
WHEN YOU LOSE A CHILD,
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
IT'S SIMPLY NOT THE WAY
IT HAS TO BE
AND YOU DON'T GET OVER IT.
YOU DO LIVE THROUGH IT
AND YOU DO LIVE WITH IT,
YOU NEVER LIVE WITHOUT IT.
IN ORDER TO LIVE WITH IT,
YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO IS
ABLE TO SHOULDER THE LOAD
WHO REALLY CARES
ABOUT THE LOAD.
IT IS SO OFTEN TRUE THAT
WHEN ONE'S HEART IS BROKEN
THEY DON'T NEED A SERMON
LIKE THEY NEED A SHOULDER.
THEY NEED TO BE SOMEONE
TO BE HELD
AND SOMEONE TO HOLD THEM.
I'VE SAID TO ALL OF
OUR VIEWERS MANY TIMES,
YOU WILL NEED A SHOULDER.
MAY I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO
SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT?
BECOME THE SHOULDER
FOR SOMEONE TO LEAN ON --
BECOME THE COMFORTER TO WORK
IN CONCERT WITH THE COMFORTER,
THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE OTHER ONE OF THE SAME KIND
JUST LIKE JESUS IN YOU, IN US,
TO BE WHAT OTHERS
ARE LOOKING FOR
SO THEY CAN SEE HIM CLEARLY.
RAVI, YOU DO THIS SO WELL.
I WANT YOU TO GO TO
THE RAVI ZACHARIAS WEB SITE.
THERE IT IS
AND YOU NORMALLY DON'T HAVE
TO PUT THE W.W.W. IN ANYMORE.
YOU'VE GOT TO CATCH UP
WITH THE TIMES.
YOU CAN JUST SKIP
RIGHT ON TO R.Z.I.M.ORG.
BUT IF YOU'LL GO THERE --
SEE I LEARNED THESE THINGS.
I'M GOING TO HELP YOU.
WELL, MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE
A LITTLE OLDER THAN YOURS.
SO YOU GO THERE.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE
CENTER AND WHAT HE'S DOING.
I WANT YOU TO ASK GOD,
NOT JUST DO I HAVE SOMEONE
THAT I NEED TO GET THERE?
DO I NEED TO GET THERE?
BUT DOES GOD WANT YOU TO BE
THE WIND BENEATH THE WINGS
OF THIS VISION?
IS THERE A WAY
THAT YOU CAN LIFT IT?
NOT JUST WITH YOUR PRAYERS,
BUT WITH YOUR SUPPORT.
I HOPE YOU WILL.
WOULD YOU JOIN BETTY AND ME
IN JUST SAYING A BIG THANKS
TO RAVI ZACHARIAS
AND LET HIM KNOW HOW MUCH
WE'RE PRAYING FOR HIM?
[Applause]
RAVI, BEFORE WE CAME OUT HERE
YOU SAW SHOES LIKE THIS
AND YOU ASKED ABOUT THEM.
THESE ARE SHOES
FOR LITTLE FEET.
INTERESTINGLY, WE HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN MOZAMBIQUE
SINCE THE WAR,
FOR 20 SOME ODD YEARS,
AND RAVI WAS THERE
WHEN IT BEGAN;
IT WAS SETTLED AND HE WAS
THERE WITH THE PRESIDENT.
BUT WHILE THEY WERE THERE
THEY ATE SOMEWHERE
AND THE WAITER SAID
HE'D WALKED SO FAR
AND SHOWED RAVI HIS SHOES
AND SAID, "I WISH
I COULD HAVE SOME SHOES."
RAVI SAID, "WELL,
I'LL GET SOME
AND MAIL THEM TO YOU."
HE SAID,
"I'LL NEVER GET THEM.
THEY'LL BE TAKEN
TO THE BLACK MARKET."
AND ON THE WAY TO THE HOTEL
RAVI'S SON SAID, "DAD,
I'VE GOT A BRAND NEW
PAIR OF SHOES.
THEY'RE THAT MAN'S SIZE.
I'D FIND SUCH JOY
IN GIVING THEM TO HIM."
EVEN AFTER HE ATTENDED
THOSE GREAT MEETINGS,
HE TOLD YOU ON THE WAY HOME,
"DAD, THAT MEANT MORE TO ME
THAN ALL THE GREAT THINGS
THAT WE'VE WATCHED,
GIVING THOSE SHOES."
YOU ASKED ABOUT HIM.
WELL, RAVI, WE'RE TRYING TO
GIVE 200,000 CHILDREN SHOES;
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND WE WANT
TO GIVE THEM SMILES
WITH CLEFT PALATE SURGERY.
WE'VE GOT TO RAISE THE MONEY
NOW, WAY AHEAD OF CHRISTMAS.
SO WE GET THE SHOES,
GET THEM TO THE MISSIONARIES
SO ON THIS SPECIAL TIME WE
NOT ONLY GIVE THEM THE GIFT,
WE TELL THEM ABOUT
THE GREATEST GIFT.
I WANT YOU TO WATCH CLOSELY,
FROM THE MISSION FIELD,
AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WATCH CLOSELY!
Announcer:
IN THIS SEASON OF GIVING,
GOD'S WORD HAS VERY SPECIAL
MEANING WHEN HE TELLS US
NOT TO BE ONLY HEARERS
OF THE WORD
BUT ALSO DOERS
OF THE WORD.
♪
Tammy: IT'S A GREAT DAY
WHEN YOU CAN GIVE
UNTO THE LEAST
OF THESE.
I'VE HUNG OUT IN
THIS VILLAGE ALL AFTERNOON
AND I COULD NOT WAIT FOR THIS
MOMENT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
BUT I'VE HAD A CHANCE
TO PLAY WITH THE CHILDREN.
WE'VE HUNG OUT AND I'VE PLAYED
AT THEIR PLAYGROUND WITH THEM.
YOU WOULD NOT IMAGINE
WHAT PLAYGROUND THEY PLAY ON.
MANY OF THEM HAVE NEVER HAD
A PAIR OF SHOES UNTIL
THIS MOMENT.
I PROMISE YOU NOW
THEY WILL NOT BE PLAYING
IN DANGEROUS PLACES AGAIN
WITHOUT SHOES
TO PROTECT THEIR FEET.
Ralph:
IN THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON
AS WE'VE BEEN GIVING
CHRISTMAS SHOES TO SO MANY
CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE SHOES,
WE'VE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF BRINGING CHRISTMAS SMILES,
BRINGING THAT CORRECTIVE
SURGERY TO CHILDREN
WHO JUST NEEDED
THAT TOUCH OF LOVE.
IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO,
THE FIRST TIME JAMES AND
BETTY CAME TO CHINA
AND SAW THE NEEDS OF ORPHANS
ALL OVER THIS LAND,
AND GOD REALLY MOVED
IN THEIR HEART
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES.
WE HAVE DONE JUST THAT
THROUGH YOU AND OTHERS
WHO HAVE GIVEN SO GENEROUSLY
FOR THESE CLEFT PALATE
SURGERIES FOR THESE CHILDREN
BRINGING WHAT WE CALL
"CHRISTMAS SMILES."
LITTLE MEIMEI HERE IS ONE
OF THE GIRLS WHO RECEIVED
ONE OF THOSE SURGERIES
THROUGH YOUR GIVING.
WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TODAY FOR LOVING ON HER,
BELIEVING
IN HER.
YOUR GIVING SEEMED
LIKE A ONETIME GIFT BUT
IT'S REALLY A GIFT THAT
GIVES A LIFETIME --
BEAUTIFUL
CHRISTMAS SMILES.
THANK YOU FOR DOING GOD'S WORK
TOGETHER THIS SEASON
-- BLESSING CHILDREN
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
James: BETTY, WHAT DO YOU
THINK ABOUT THOSE SMILES?
Betty: WELL, TO ME,
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE
SEEING A CHILD SMILE.
IT JUST MAKES ME GRIN
FROM EAR TO EAR WHEN I SEE
BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS
HAPPINESS AND JOY
BEHIND THAT SMILE TOO.
BUT JAMES, PUTTING THE SHOES
ON THEIR FEET, IT'S MORE
THAN JUST GIVING THEM
A GIFT OF SHOES.
IT IS PROTECTION
FOR THEIR FEET.
THEY WALK EVERYWHERE THEY GO
AND THEY WALK ON ALL KINDS
OF DIFFICULT TERRAIN.
SO IT'S A REAL NEED
FOR THESE CHILDREN.
THEY ARE SO HAPPY WHEN THEY
GET THEIR FIRST PAIR OF SHOES
-- FOR MANY OF THEM.
AND THEN WHEN WE PUT
THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES --
WHAT A JOY FOR ALL OF US
BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING
A DIFFERENCE.
James: IT DOES PUT A SMILE
IN MY HEART TO LOOK
AT THOSE LITTLE CHILDREN
AND KNOW THAT THEY
ARE SO EMBARRASSED.
WE HAD A LITTLE KID IN ANGOLA
THAT OBVIOUSLY, HE HAD
NEVER SEEN HIS SMILE.
I GUESS HE HAD NOT SEEN
A MIRROR.
WE ACTUALLY SHOWED HIM
SOME FOOTAGE WHERE WE
WERE TALKING TO HIM.
AND WHEN HE SAW US
PLAY IT BACK ON THE CAMERA
WHERE HE COULD LOOK
AND SEE THE LITTLE MONITOR,
HE SCREAMED
AND COVERED HIS FACE.
IT WAS SUCH
A HORRIBLE SITUATION,
AND IT MOVED US SO MUCH
TO SEE THE HEARTACHE
THAT WE ACTUALLY
GOT TO TAKE THAT LITTLE BOY
BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAID,
"WE'RE GOING TO GET HIM
THE SURGERY." WE HAD
TO TAKE FROM HIM ANGOLA,
AND GOT PERMISSION,
WE TOOK HIM ALL THE WAY TO
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
AND GAVE HIM
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SMILE.
BETTY, YOU NEVER
FORGET THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU REFERENCED THE SHOES.
WE'VE BEEN WITH
SO MANY CHILDREN
WHO CUT THEIR FEET,
BACTERIA GETS IN;
HOOKWORMS WILL ACTUALLY
AFFECT THEIR LITTLE MINDS
AND CAN DESTROY THEIR LIVES.
WE HAVE WATCHED CHILDREN DIE
BECAUSE OF THE BACTERIA
THAT GOT INTO THEIR SYSTEM
THROUGH THEIR FEET.
SO WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE
THEM THESE LITTLE SHOES --
THEY LOOK LIKE SOME
THAT WE WEAR HERE
THAT ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE
BUT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THEM
FOR $3.60 A PAIR, WHICH MEANS
$36 GIVES 10 PAIRS OF SHOES.
AND WE'RE ASKING YOU
TO GIVE AS MANY AS YOU CAN;
$144 WILL GIVE
40 CHILDREN SHOES.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO MAKE
THE LARGEST GIFT YOU CAN.
THE SURGERIES ARE $500.
IT MAY BE THAT YOU'D SAY,
"I'M GOING TO GIVE
TWO OF THOSE.
I'M GOING TO MAKE
A $1,000 GIFT."
I DON'T KNOW WHAT LEVEL
YOU CAN PARTICIPATE AT
BUT I BELIEVE YOU'LL WANT TO.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU
AS A THANK YOU
THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS SHOES.
ANY GIFT YOU MAKE
WE'VE BEEN SENDING THESE NOW.
THIS WILL BE THE FIFTH YEAR.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALL
OF THE SHOES OVER THE YEARS.
IF YOU MAKE A GIFT
OF OVER $100, WE'LL SEND YOU
THE ONE FOR THIS YEAR
PLUS THE FOUR
IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
I CAN TELL YOU,
THESE ARE ONE OF
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS
WE PUT ON OUR CHRISTMAS TREE.
THERE IS NOT A PERSON
THAT LOOKS AT OUR TREE
WHO COMES TO VISIT US
DURING CHRISTMAS
THAT DOESN'T SAY,
"WHERE DID YOU GET THE SHOES?"
AND WE'RE ABLE TO TALK
TO THEM ABOUT GIVING SHOES
AND SMILES FOR CHRISTMAS.
IT WILL ENABLE YOU
TO DO THE VERY SAME THING.
NOW REMEMBER, WE NEED
TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY.
SO WOULD YOU GO ONLINE
LIFETODAY.ORG,
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD
AND USE IT LIKE A CHECK?
OR WOULD YOU CALL THE NUMBER
AND USE THAT BANKCARD
LIKE A CHECK?
AND JUST MAKE THE GIFT
GOD PUTS ON YOUR HEART.
WE WANT TO BE
A BLESSING TO YOU.
WE'LL SAY THANK YOU.
BUT OH, WHAT A BLESSING YOU'RE
GOING TO BE TO THE CHILDREN
AND THE FAMILIES YOU TOUCH
WITH THE LOVE OF GOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR GIFT!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING
THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
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
GREEN ANTIQUED SHOE ORNAMENT,
A TREASURE TO PLACE ON YOUR
TREE EACH HOLIDAY SEASON.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE
YOU MAY ALSO 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 BEAUTIFULLY FRAMED
CANVAS PRINT OF
"THE FOREST CHAPEL."
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR
MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY!
James: WELL,
FROM THE DEPTH OF OUR HEART
IN BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN
YOU WILL BLESS WITH SHOES,
AND THOSE YOU BLESS
WITH SMILES, THANK YOU!
IF YOU'D LIKE
TO HAVE RAVI'S BOOK,
I THINK EVERYTHING THE MAN HAS
EVER WRITTEN IS A TREASURE.
AND BOY, I LOVE HIM.
I LOVE THE HELP THAT HE
AND VINCE GIVE TO THOSE WHO
WANT TO UNDERSTAND SUFFERING
AND REALLY GAIN WHAT NEEDS
TO BE GAINED THROUGH IT,
THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BLESSING
SO MANY CHILDREN,
GIVING THEM THE SMILE,
GIVING THEM SOME SHOES.
LET'S TELL RAVI ZACHARIAS
THANKS FOR WHAT HE'S DOING.
RAVI, BLESS YOU BUDDY!
WE LOVE YOU.
GO TO THE RAVI ZACHARIAS
WEB SITE; THERE IT IS.
HELP HIM DO WHAT GOD
HAS PUT ON HIS HEART.
♪
♪
♪
♪
Beth: WE ARE MEANT
TO BE A SIGHT TO BEHOLD.
Announcer: BETH MOORE
ENCOURAGES BELIEVERS
TO BE BUILT TOGETHER
IN GOD'S TEMPLE -- TOMORROW!
>> LIFE TODAY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES
SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS
IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY
STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER
OF THE E.C.F.A.