Announcer:
NEXT ON LIFE TODAY!
SPEAKER AND AUTHOR,
MICHELE CUSHATT
BATTLED CANCER
OF THE TONGUE
THREE TIMES
AND BEGAN TO LOSE
HER IDENTITY
AS HER FAITH
WAS SHAKEN.
>> IT WAS LITERALLY
A SECOND BY SECOND STRUGGLE
TO FIND
THE WILL TO LIVE.
AND THAT'S AN AMOUNT
OF SUFFERING THAT I KNOW
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
RIGHT NOW IN THAT PLACE.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE HONOR THE FACT THAT
THAT'S HOW LIFE IS
SOMETIMES.
♪
Sheila: HI!
WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.
I'M SHEILA WALSH
HERE WITH RANDY ROBISON.
JAMES AND BETTY ARE TAKING
A WELL DESERVED DAY OFF.
HONESTLY, I'M SO THRILLED
TO HAVE THIS PARTICULAR GUEST
ON OUR SHOW.
SHE'S A FRIEND BUT SHE IS ALSO
KIND OF A HERO OF MINE.
SO LET ME JUST INTRODUCE HER.
PLEASE WELCOME
MICHELE CUSHATT.
WELCOME DEAR FRIEND.
Michele: THANK YOU!
SO GLAD TO BE HERE.
Sheila: YOU HAVE THIS
FANTASTIC NEW BOOK OUT,
I AM: A 60-DAY JOURNEY
TO KNOWING WHO YOU ARE
BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS.
BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT,
LET'S JUST LAY OUT
THE HARSH REALITY
OF THE JOURNEY
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON.
TAKE ME BACK TO THE FIRST DAY
WHEN YOU DISCOVERED THAT
THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.
Michele: WELL,
IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT
SIX AND A HALF YEARS AGO NOW.
I HAD A SORE INSIDE MY MOUTH
ON THE SIDE OF MY TONGUE
THAT WOULD NOT HEAL.
BUT I WAS 39 YEARS OLD
AT THE TIME.
WE ASSUMED
THOSE KIND OF THINGS
ARE NOTHING IMPORTANT.
SO I WENT TO THE DOCTOR
JUST AS A PRECAUTION
AND HE SAID,
"OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
IT IS NOTHING."
BUT WHAT I FOUND OUT LATER
WAS THAT HE WAS WRONG.
I FOUND OUT THAT I HAD
SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
OF THE TONGUE,
CANCER OF THE TONGUE.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
SOMETHING LIKE THAT EXISTED.
AND DEFINITELY NOT
FOR A 39-YEAR OLD MOM AND WIFE
TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO IN JUST
THE SPAN OF SECONDS,
MY LIFE COMPLETELY CHANGED
VERY RADICALLY,
AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Sheila: THE FIRST SURGERY,
WAS IT KIND OF
MINIMALLY INVASIVE?
Michele: YES.
THE FIRST SURGERY,
ALTHOUGH IT WAS SHOCKING
AT FIRST, THE DOCTORS
FELT LIKE IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY;
IT WAS CANCER CAUGHT EARLY,
THE BEST CASE SCENARIO.
THEY TOLD ME A NUMBER OF TIMES
I HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
IT WAS GONE. THEY GOT IT ALL.
IT WOULDN'T COME BACK.
BUT THEY WERE MISTAKEN.
Randy: WE SHOULD
PROBABLY CLARIFY THAT
WHAT YOU WERE DIAGNOSED WITH,
THE SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
IS ONE OF THE MOST
AGGRESSIVE FORMS, IF NOT
THE MOST AGGRESSIVE FORM.
Michele: YES, IT IS VERY RARE.
IT IS NOT VERY COMMON.
ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO
BECOMING MORE COMMON LATELY,
BUT IT IS VERY RARE
AND VERY AGGRESSIVE.
BECAUSE IT IS IN THE TONGUE,
WHICH IS A MUSCLE,
IT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL
OF SPREADING.
AND SO ALTHOUGH THEY
WEREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THAT
IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE
IT WAS CAUGHT VERY EARLY,
WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW
IS THAT IT IS
A VERY TRICKY KIND OF CANCER
AND VERY DIFFICULT
TO CATCH AND STOP.
Sheila: AND IT CAME BACK
ONE MORE TIME
BUT THEN I REMEMBER
YOU WERE WITH US
AT WOMEN OF FAITH.
WASN'T THAT WHEN YOU REALIZED
THAT IT WAS BACK AGAIN
AND THIS TIME
IT WAS GOING TO BE
WAY MORE DRASTIC?
Michele: YES, EXACTLY.
SO IT CAME BACK IN 2014,
EARLY IN THE YEAR.
ONCE AGAIN
THEY THOUGHT THEY CAUGHT IT.
THEY GOT IT ALL
AND DID A RADICAL SURGERY.
AND SEVEN MONTHS LATER
WHILE WE WERE ON TOUR
WITH WOMEN OF FAITH,
IT CAME BACK A THIRD TIME.
HOWEVER THIS TIME
IT CAME BACK SO AGGRESSIVE,
SO ADVANCED
THAT THEY GAVE ME TWO WEEKS
TO GET MY AFFAIRS IN ORDER.
AND THEN THEY PUT ME
INTO SURGERY,
A NINE-HOUR SURGERY
WHERE THEY REMOVED
TWO THIRDS OF MY TONGUE.
THEY CUT ME OPEN
FROM WRIST TO ELBOW
TO HELP REBUILD MY TONGUE.
THEY ALSO CUT OPEN MY NECK
AND MY LEGS TO BASICALLY
REBUILD EVERYTHING
TO GIVE ME A CHANCE
OF BEING ABLE TO FUNCTION.
THEN AFTER ABOUT FOUR WEEKS
OF RECOVERY FROM THAT SURGERY
THEY STARTED PRETTY RADICAL
EXTERNAL RADIATION
AND CHEMOTHERAPY.
IN THEIR WORDS,
THEY NEEDED TO TAKE ME
TO THE BRINK OF DEATH
IN ORDER TO GIVE ME
ANY CHANCE OF LIFE.
Randy: HOW PAINFUL
WAS ALL THIS?
Michele: THERE ARE NO WORDS.
THERE ARE NO WORDS
FOR HOW PAINFUL.
QUITE FRANKLY,
AND I'M ALWAYS CAUTIOUS
BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST MORE
THAN MOST PEOPLE
CAN EVEN IMAGINE OR BEAR BUT
I DIDN'T KNOW A HUMAN BEING
COULD GO THROUGH THAT KIND
OF PHYSICAL SUFFERING
AND LIVE.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY APPRECIATION
FOR HUMAN PAIN
UNTIL THAT MOMENT.
I'VE HAD KIDS
AND GONE THROUGH OTHER THINGS
BUT THERE IS A LEVEL
OF SUFFERING THAT MOST OF US
HOPEFULLY NEVER EXPERIENCE.
I GOT A TASTE OF THAT
AND IT WAS HARD.
Sheila: IN THE MIDST
OF ALL THAT, MICHELE,
HOW ON EARTH
DO YOU STILL FUNCTION
AS A MOTHER?
BECAUSE I KNOW
SOME OF YOUR STORY
AND I LOVE YOU.
BUT I FOUND AS I WAS
READING YOUR BOOK AGAIN,
I REFRESHED MYSELF,
I SAT AND WEPT
AS I READ YOUR BOOK
BECAUSE I THINK, HOW DO YOU
EVEN TAKE THE NEXT STEP,
NEVER MIND BE A WIFE,
BE A MOM?
Michele: THE REALITY IS
MOST DAYS I COULD DO LITTLE
BUT JUST WILL MYSELF TO LIVE
ONE SECOND AT A TIME.
THERE WAS NO ABILITY
TO FUNCTION.
THERE WAS NO MOTHERING
GOING ON.
THERE WAS NO BEING A WIFE.
IT WAS ME ON THE COUCH
FOR MONTHS
HAVING TO MAKE
A MOMENT BY MOMENT DECISION
TO LIVE.
THAT'S VERY HARD TO EVEN --
WE'VE STARTED
THIS CONVERSATION AND GO RIGHT
INTO THE DEEP END OF THE POOL.
IT WAS LITERALLY
A SECOND BY SECOND STRUGGLE
TO FIND THE WILL TO LIVE.
THAT'S AN AMOUNT OF SUFFERING
THAT -- I KNOW THERE ARE
SOME PEOPLE RIGHT NOW
THAT ARE IN THAT PLACE
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE HONOR THE FACT THAT
THAT'S HOW LIFE IS SOMETIMES;
WHERE IT IS
AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE STRUGGLE
TO MAKE THE CHOICE TO LIVE.
Sheila: ONE OF THE THINGS
I FIND MYSELF WONDERING
BECAUSE YOU'RE A VERY
GIFTED SPEAKER, WRITER,
AND MOST OF US,
WHEN WE GET TO A CERTAIN AGE,
WE THINK, WELL, WE DON'T
REALLY JUDGE WHO WE ARE,
OUR SELF-ESTEEM
BY WHAT WE LOOK LIKE
OR WHAT WE SOUND LIKE
BUT I WONDER,
THIS LEVEL OF DEVASTATION,
HOW DID THAT IMPACT
HOW YOU SAW YOURSELF?
Michele: IT IS STILL IMPACTING
HOW I SEE MYSELF.
IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME,
OKAY, SO MY SURGERY,
MY SPEECH CHANGED ABOUT
TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
SO I'VE BEEN LIVING
IN THIS NEW REALITY
WITH A BODY THAT HAS A VERY
REAL PHYSICAL DISABILITY
FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS NOW.
IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME
THREE YEARS AGO
IF I FOUND MY WORTH
IN MY APPEARANCE OR MY TALENTS
OR MY RELATIONSHIPS
OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT,
I WOULD HAVE SAID,
"OH NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I LOVE JESUS.
MY WORTH IS IN JESUS."
IT IS ONE THING TO SAY THAT,
IT'S ANOTHER THING TO HAVE
EVERY BIT OF YOUR BEING
COMPLETELY ALTERED
AND CHANGED.
AND WHAT THAT DOES IS
IT FORCED ME TO FACE
THE REALITY THAT I DID FIND
SOME OF MY WORTH AND MY VALUE
IN HOW I LOOKED
AND HOW I TALKED.
MY ABILITY
TO SOUND INTELLIGENT
OR TO DO A JOB AS A SPEAKER
OR WHATEVER IT IS.
SO HAVING THAT ALL REMOVED
OR ALTERED
IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY,
IT WAS LIKE BEING STRIPPED
COMPLETELY BARE
AND WHAT'S LEFT
WHEN YOU'RE COMPLETELY BARE?
Randy: WHERE WAS GOD
DURING ALL THIS?
Michele: THAT IS A QUESTION
I ASKED MANY, MANY TIMES.
THE DIFFICULTY IS
WE OFTEN EQUATE
THE PRESENCE OF PAIN
WITH THE ABSENCE OF GOD.
HOW MANY OF US THINK
THE MOMENT WE FEEL PAIN
THAT MUST MEAN THAT GOD LEFT.
FOR MANY OF US,
THAT'S WHERE OUR FAITH
IS EITHER BUILT STRONGER
OR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED
IS IN THOSE KIND OF PLACES.
SO I HAD TO WRESTLE WITH THAT
QUITE OFTEN.
WHERE WAS HE?
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WERE PRAYING FOR MY HEALING
AND CANCER JUST DIDN'T
COME BACK ONCE,
IT CAME BACK --
I HAD IT THREE TIMES.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
ABOUT ALL OF THAT?
PART OF THE STRUGGLE THEN
WAS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT GOD, IN MANY WAYS
IS ACTUALLY CLOSER
IN THOSE MOMENTS OF PAIN,
HE IS NOT FAR AWAY.
THERE WAS A NEARNESS OF GOD
THAT I ONLY COULD EXPERIENCE
IN A PLACE OF SUFFERING.
IN OTHER WORDS, I GREW UP
AS A CHURCH-GOING GIRL
WHO LOVED TO CELEBRATE EASTER.
RIGHT? EASTER IS ALL ABOUT
THE EMPTY TOMB.
BUT DURING MY PLACE
OF SUFFERING
I FOUND GREAT COMFORT
IN GOOD FRIDAY AND SATURDAY,
IN THE PLACE OF PAIN
AND WAITING.
BECAUSE GOD IS NOT
JUST A GOD OF THE TOMB,
HE IS THE GOD OF THE GARDEN.
HE'S THE GOD
THAT WAS THERE AGONIZING
OVER THE SUFFERING OF MANKIND
AND WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN
IN ORDER TO REDEEM US.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU,
THAT GAVE ME --
PICTURING JESUS IN THE GARDEN
BEFORE HIS ARREST
AND PICTURING HIS SUFFERING
AS MUCH AS I HATE
TO THINK OF IT
GAVE ME SO MUCH COMFORT
IN MY OWN PAIN
THAT GOD WOULD DO THAT FOR US.
Sheila: THIS BOOK, MICHELE,
BECAUSE IT IS REALLY FANTASTIC
AND ALSO, IT CAME WITH CARDS.
YOU SENT ME
THE WHOLE PACKAGE.
YOU KNOW I'VE PUT THOSE
ALL ABOUT AROUND;
I HAVE LIKE A PRAYER ROOM
AND I'VE PUT ALL 60 CARDS,
I'VE TAPED THEM UP
AND I CANNOT TELL YOU
HOW MUCH COMFORT ON DARK DAYS.
Michele: THOSE 60 CARDS
ARE 60 --
I CHOSE 60 VERSES IN THE BIBLE
THAT ARE GOD'S WORDS ABOUT US.
SPECIFIC VERSES WHERE JESUS
OR GOD SPEAKS,
AND SPEAKS HIS FAVOR
AND AFFECTION OVER US
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS
FEELING COMPLETELY ABANDONED
AND ALONE AND SUFFERING,
I NEEDED TO HEAR
GOD'S WORDS OF AFFECTION
AND LOVE FOR ME IN THAT PLACE;
THAT HE DIDN'T SEE
THIS BROKEN WOMAN
THAT WAS DYING ON THE COUCH.
HE SAW SOMEONE THAT HE ADORED
AND HE LOVED AND THAT
HE WAS GOING TO CARRY.
SO THOSE 60 CARDS
ARE A COLLECTION OF 60 --
I NEEDED A LOT OF THEM.
ONE OR TWO VERSES
WASN'T GOING TO CUT IT.
SO IT'S 60
OF THE MOST POWERFUL WORDS
OF GOD'S FAVOR OVER US THAT
I WOULD JUST REPEAT TO MYSELF
DAY AFTER DAY,
SOMETIMES SECOND BY SECOND.
Randy: I FIND IT INTERESTING
BECAUSE YOUR BOOK
IS CALLED I AM, IT IS NOT
YOUR STORY OF SUFFERING,
NECESSARILY.
IT'S NOT EVEN
A BOOK ON HEALING
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT IS A BOOK ON IDENTITY.
WHY WAS THAT
THE THING THAT YOU FELT
YOU HAD TO SPEAK ABOUT
THE MOST ON THIS SIDE
OF ALL THE SUFFERING?
Michele: IRONICALLY ENOUGH,
I PLANNED TO WRITE THAT BOOK
BEFORE CANCER CAME BACK
THE THIRD TIME.
SO IN MANY WAYS
IT WAS ACTUALLY
A MORE DIVINE ORCHESTRATION
THAN ANYTHING I MANIPULATED.
THE REASON I THINK
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT IS
I THINK WE IN OUR HUMAN LIFE
FROM BIRTH TO DEATH,
WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN TALENTS
AND APPEARANCE
AND ACHIEVEMENTS AND CAREER
AND FAMILY AND ALL OF THIS
THAT WE THINK
THAT THAT'S WHO WE ARE.
BUT LIKE JOB SAID,
"NAKED I CAME INTO THIS WORLD
AND NAKED I DEPART."
ULTIMATELY, YOU AND I STAND
BEFORE GOD WITH NOTHING
BUT JUST OUR BAREST SELVES.
AND GOD SAYS,
"I DIED FOR THAT."
THAT YOU THAT HAS
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO OFFER,
THAT'S WHO I DIED FOR,
RIGHT THERE
WITHOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS,
WITHOUT YOUR PERFECTION."
Sheila: I FIND IT REALLY
INTERESTING AS A WOMAN
HOW YOU REDEFINE "BEAUTIFUL"
BECAUSE YOU TELL A STORY
ABOUT OVERHEARING
A CONVERSATION,
I THINK YOU WERE IN COLLEGE,
AND A BOY SAID, AND I'VE HAD
A EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT
WHERE HE WAS SAYING,
"SHE WOULD BE SO BEAUTIFUL
IF SHE WASN'T OVERWEIGHT."
AND HOW THAT IMPACTED YOU.
THEN YOU THINK, NOW IF WE
COULD JUST GET TO THIS SIZE
OR THIS -- THEN EVERYTHING
WOULD BE PERFECT.
YOU'VE DISCOVERED
THAT IS NOT GOING TO DO IT.
Michele: LET ME JUST
PUT IT THIS WAY.
WHEN I WAS GOING
THROUGH TREATMENT
I WAS THE THINNEST I'VE EVER
BEEN IN MY LIFE AND YET
I FELT SO UNATTRACTIVE.
BEAUTY CANNOT --
WE CANNOT MANUFACTURE BEAUTY.
ONE THING I'VE TOLD MYSELF
AND REMINDED SO MANY OTHERS
IS THAT WE WERE NEVER MEANT
TO BUILD AN IDENTITY,
WE WERE MEANT TO RECEIVE IT.
Sheila: SAY THAT AGAIN,
THAT'S HUGE!
Michele: WE WERE NEVER MEANT
TO BUILD AN IDENTITY,
WE WERE MEANT TO RECEIVE IT.
OUR IDENTITY
HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED
AS THE CREATION
OF A CREATIVE GOD.
THAT MEANS
THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO
TO ADD TO OUR WORTH,
THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO
TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT.
THERE IS NO SURGEON SCALPEL
THAT CAN CUT OUR VALUE
AWAY FROM US.
WE SIMPLY NEED TO RECEIVE
THE FAVOR AND THE VALUE
THAT GOD HAS ALREADY
SPOKEN OVER US.
IMAGINE IF THAT
WOULD TAKE HOLD.
Sheila: WHEN I READ THAT
IT REMINDED ME OF I WAS
AT MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.
I'M COMING DOWN
ON THE ELEVATOR
AND I'VE ALWAYS HATED MY ARMS
BECAUSE I ALWAYS THINK,
I DON'T HAVE TONED ARMS.
Michele: DID YOU KNOW
THIS IS TRUE?
WOMEN HATE THEIR ARMS.
Sheila: I KNOW I APOLOGIZE
TO MY ARMS.
BUT THERE'S THIS WOMAN
IN THE ELEVATOR WITH ME
AND SHE'S GOT THESE
REALLY SCULPTED SHOULDERS
AND SHE'S VERY SLIM
AND I SAY TO HER,
"GOSH, I LOVE YOUR ARMS!"
AND SHE SAID, "CHEMOTHERAPY."
AND IN THAT MOMENT
I FELT SO EXPOSED
BY THE WAY THAT AS A BELIEVER,
AS A FOLLOWER,
AS A DAUGHTER OF GOD,
THAT I HAVE BOUGHT
INTO THIS RIDICULOUS
SMOKE AND MIRRORS
THAT WILL NOT HOLD UP
WHEN LIFE HITS.
I THINK IT IS ONE
OF THE GREATEST GIFTS IN THIS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE
A UNIQUE ABILITY, MICHELE,
TO TELL THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH
BUT IN EVERY CRACK
HOPE IS SPRINGING OUT.
Michele: YES!
IT IS EVERYWHERE!
Sheila: HOW HAS
THIS JOURNEY OF YOURS
IMPACTED YOUR CHILDREN?
Michele: OH WELL.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE
WATCHING A MAMA GO THROUGH
A LIFE AND DEATH EXPERIENCE
AND THEY HAD TO SEE THAT
DAY AFTER DAY.
IT WASN'T JUST A COUPLE
OF WEEKS OF A HARD ILLNESS,
IT'S TAKEN ME TWO YEARS
TO COME BACK TO LIFE.
SO FOR THEM TO WATCH
THEIR MOM GO THROUGH THAT
HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT
AND UNSETTLING FOR THEM.
AT THE SAME TIME,
I THINK IT'S BEEN
A UNIQUE GIFT
BECAUSE THIS IS REAL LIFE.
THIS IS REAL LIFE.
WE ARE NOT MADE
TO LAST FOREVER.
ONE THING
I AM MORE COMMITTED TO NOW
MORE THAN ANYTHING
IS HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS
WITH MY KIDS
TO HELP THEM REALIZE,
GUESS WHAT?
WE HAVE TODAY.
THAT'S ALL WE HAVE.
WE HAVE TODAY.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO USE IT?
Randy: I'M CURIOUS,
HAVING BEEN SO CLOSE TO DEATH
AND HAVING TO FACE --
YOU SAID AT ONE TIME
THEY TOLD YOU
TO GET YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER.
HOW HAS THAT CHANGED...
THAT BRUSH WITH DEATH,
HOW HAS THAT CHANGED
YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE
AND ETERNITY?
Michele: OH MAN.
THERE'S NOT ONE ASPECT
OF MY LIFE
THAT HASN'T CHANGED.
SINCE I'VE HAD CANCER
THREE TIMES,
I HAVE NO GUARANTEES
OF A FULL LIFE.
THEY HAVE A HOPEFUL PROGNOSIS,
BUT THE TRUTH IS,
IS AFTER YOU'VE HAD IT
THREE TIMES,
I HAVE NO PROMISES
OF LIVING TO BE 80.
SO I LIVE EVERY DAY
WITH THE REALITY
THAT IT COULD CHANGE
IN A PHONE CALL FOR ME.
IT CAN CHANGE THAT FAST.
SO FIRST OF ALL,
I'VE HAD TO --
I HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE
TO BE EITHER CAPTIVE TO FEAR
OR TO TRUST THE ONE
WHO HAS NUMBERED MY DAYS.
SO THAT'S A BIG CHANGE.
SO I LIVE TODAY KNOWING GOD,
YOU HAVE NUMBERED MY DAYS.
I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY
ABOUT TOMORROW.
I KNOW YOU WILL LEAVE ME HERE
UNTIL I'M DONE
AND NOT A DAY SOONER
OR A DAY LATER.
BUT IT ALSO
MAKES ME MORE PASSIONATE
ABOUT HONEST CONVERSATION.
NOT HOLDING BACK,
NOT LEAVING THINGS UNSAID,
NOT MISSING OPPORTUNITIES
TO SHARE THE GOSPEL
WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS HURTING
OR SIMPLY
JUST STOP WORKING ONE DAY
AND GO TO THE HOSPITAL
WITH A FRIEND
WHO NEEDS SOMEBODY
TO JUST SIT WITH HER.
ALL THE THINGS
THAT SEEMS SO URGENT,
NOT SO IMPORTANT ANYMORE.
Randy: YOU SAID YOU'RE
NOT GUARANTEED A FULL LIFE
BUT WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH,
IT HAS FORCED YOU TO CHOOSE
TO LIVE THAT FULL LIFE
BECAUSE THE LIFE YOU LIVE
IS PROBABLY FULLER NOW
THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S.
Michele: AND THIS
WILL SOUND STRANGE.
I WOULD NEVER WANT TO GO BACK
TO THAT PLACE OF SUFFERING
AND THERE ARE STILL TIMES
THAT IT MAKES ME WEEP
TO THINK ABOUT IT
BUT AT THE SAME TIME
AND I MEAN THIS
WITH ALL OF MY HEART,
I'VE BEEN GIVEN
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL GIFT.
THERE ARE TIMES
THAT I FEEL LIKE
I'M THE LUCKIEST WOMAN
IN THE WORLD
BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN ME
A GLIMPSE OF ETERNITY
THAT I COULDN'T HAVE
MANUFACTURED OR FOUND
ANY OTHER WAY.
AND IT'S COMPLETELY CHANGED
HOW I VIEW PEOPLE
AND LIFE AND EACH DAY.
AND FROM THAT STANDPOINT,
I JUST --
I'M SO THANKFUL.
Sheila: WHEN YOU SPEAK
YOU DO AN INTERESTING THING
WITH WOMEN AND THEIR SHOES;
YOU GET THEM
TO TAKE THEIR SHOES OFF.
TELL US WHAT THAT'S ABOUT
BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT
TWO VERY PROFOUND
INTENTIONAL THINGS --
TWO TRUTHS.
Michele: WELL,
THE OPENING OF THE BOOK IS
ALL ABOUT THE STORY OF MOSES
AT THE BURNING BUSH.
IT IS THIS BEAUTIFUL SCENE
AND IT IS SUCH A COMMON STORY
THAT I THINK WE NEGLECT
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT
MANY TIMES.
MOSES SEES THIS BURNING BUSH
THAT IS NOT CONSUMED
AND HE'S CURIOUS.
HE PARKS HIS SHEEP AND
HE GOES OVER THERE AND
CHECKS OUT THIS BURNING BUSH.
GOD SPEAKS TO HIM FROM
THIS BUSH AND TELLS MOSES
TO TAKE OFF HIS SHOES.
SO MOSES IS THERE BAREFOOTED
ON THE GROUND.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOD
WAS THINKING, BUT I THINK
HE WANTED MOSES TO BE
COMPLETELY STRIPPED BARE,
BAREFOOTED.
LIKE "I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
ROCK YOUR WORLD SO I NEED YOU
TO HAVE A GOOD FOOTING."
THAT'S WHEN GOD SAYS,
"I'M GOING TO SEND YOU
TO EGYPT."
MOSES'S QUESTION IN
THAT MOMENT, I BELIEVE
IS ALL OF OUR QUESTION WHEN
GOD CALLS US TO SOMETHING.
MOSES SAYS,
"WHO AM I THAT I SHOULD GO?"
IN OTHER WORDS, HE'S LIKE,
"I DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.
I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH.
I'M NOT ATTRACTIVE ENOUGH.
I'M NOT TALENTED ENOUGH.
I SPEAK FUNNY."
AND SO IN THAT MOMENT
WHEN MOSES IS THERE,
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE
I'M HOVERING AT THE EDGE
OF MY CHAIR
WAITING FOR GOD'S ANSWER
ALONG WITH MOSES.
SO GOD ANSWERS HIM
AND GOD GIVES MOSES
A TWO PART ANSWER.
HE SAYS, "MOSES,
I WILL BE WITH YOU."
IN OTHER WORDS, HE DOESN'T
ANSWER MOSES'S QUESTION.
MOSES THINKS IT IS ABOUT HIM
AND GOD SAYS,
"IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU, MOSES."
HE SAYS, I WILL BE WITH YOU
AND THEN HE TELLS HIM,
"I AM SENDING YOU."
IN OTHER WORDS, GOD'S PRESENCE
AND GOD'S PURPOSE.
AND WHAT I DO
AT MY SPEAKING EVENTS IS
I HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE
IN THE AUDIENCE STAND UP
AND I HAVE THEM
TAKE OFF THEIR SHOES
AND GET BAREFOOTED BEFORE GOD.
I'M LIKE WHATEVER GOD
IS CALLING YOU TO RIGHT NOW
THAT YOU FEEL ILL-EQUIPPED
FOR, GOD IS SAYING,
"I HAVE THE TWO FOOTINGS
YOU NEED TO WALK THIS OUT:
MY PRESENCE, MY PURPOSE."
YOU STRAP THOSE TWO SHOES ON
EVERY DAY AND NOTHING
WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU.
Sheila: WOW!
THAT IS PRETTY PROFOUND.
AND ACTUALLY, IT'S ONE OF
THE MOST PERFECT SEGUES
INTO SOMETHING
THAT'S VERY DEAR TO OUR HEART
AT THE MOMENT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CHILDREN
AROUND THE WORLD
AND THAT IS
THEIR DAILY REALITY.
THEY WAKE UP EVERY MORNING
WITH NO SHOES,
THEY GO TO BED WITH NO SHOES.
BUT IT IS OUR PRAYER HERE
AT LIFE TODAY
THAT THIS CHRISTMAS, WE'RE
GOING TO CHANGE ALL THAT.
WOULD YOU WATCH THIS?
Ralph:
ONE OF THE THINGS
I'VE NOTICED
IS THERE IS NO KIDS
WEARING SHOES HARDLY.
ALMOST ALL OF THEM
HAVE NO SHOES.
THE TERRAIN HERE
CAN BE REALLY TOUGH,
EVEN WALKING
IN SHOES BUT
MUCH LESS
BAREFOOTED.
JAHDU WAS BROUGHT
TO ME HERE.
I SAW HIS FEET
AND YOU CAN SEE THE TOLL
THAT IT'S TAKEN
WITH HIM NOT
WEARING SHOES
PROBABLY MOST OF HIS LIFE,
IF NOT ALL OF HIS LIFE.
YOU KNOW THE SOLUTION
TO THESE HARDSHIPS
IS A SIMPLE PAIR
OF SHOES.
Tammy: YOU THINK
IT IS JUST A PAIR OF SHOES
BUT IT IS SO MUCH
MORE THAN THAT.
WHAT THIS REPRESENTS
IS SO MUCH MORE.
IT COULD SAVE
AND SPARE HIS VERY LIFE.
THINK ABOUT IT.
EVEN A LITTLE CUT THAT
HE COULD GET ON HIS FOOT,
STEPPING THEN INTO
A BAD SOURCE OF WATER
AND INFECT IT.
AND SO WHAT DO
WE DO ABOUT IT?
A SIMPLE PAIR
OF SHOES
THAT REALLY COSTS
VERY, VERY LITTLE
CAN CHANGE A LIFE
ONE CHILD AT A TIME.
THESE LITTLE ONES
ARE IN DESPERATE NEED.
THEY WERE SO EXCITED
WALKING INTO THIS ROOM
THINKING I GET
A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.
Ralph: YOU CAN BE
A BLESSING TODAY
BY GIVING A CHILD LIKE JAHDU
HIS VERY FIRST PAIR OF SHOES.
SO PLEASE
PARTNER WITH US
TO PROVIDE JAHDU
AND CHILDREN JUST LIKE HIM
ALL AROUND THE WORLD WITH
A BRAND-NEW PAIR OF SHOES
THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
Sheila: THIS IS AWESOME
AND THIS IS SO DOABLE!
I LOVE THIS PROJECT.
I'VE BEEN IN ANGOLA.
I'VE WATCHED CHILDREN
HAVE SHOES PUT ON --
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF DOING IT
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AND
THEY'RE JUST BLOWN AWAY.
THEY RUN AROUND THE VILLAGE
JUST SO EXCITED.
YOU MAY BE THINKING,
WHY ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT CHRISTMAS?
THIS IS A LITTLE EARLY.
THE REASON IS
BECAUSE WE NEED
TO GET EVERYTHING SET UP.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE
150,000 CHILDREN
WITH THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT
THEY HAVE EVER HAD, THEIR
VERY FIRST PAIR OF SHOES.
AND IT IS SO DOABLE!
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE
THE JOY IN THEIR FACES
WHEN THEY GET THAT
AND IT IS SO FOR SO LITTLE.
WHEN YOU THINK OF WHAT
WE SPEND AT CHRISTMAS ON
THINGS WE REALLY DON'T NEED.
AND MAYBE
YOU SOMETIMES THINK, GOSH,
I WISH I COULD DO SOMETHING
THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WELL, WE'RE GIVING YOU
THAT INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVIDE SHOES FOR CHILDREN.
NOT ONLY DO
THE CHILDREN'S FACES LIGHT UP,
I'VE WATCHED
THE FACES OF THEIR MOTHERS
WHO WORRIED ABOUT
THEIR LITTLE ONES
WALKING ON THESE ROUGH ROADS
AND PUTTING THEIR FEET
INTO WATER WHERE
IT'S INFESTED WITH DISEASE.
BUT WE CAN CHANGE THAT
THIS CHRISTMAS.
WE CAN GIVE GIFTS TO PEOPLE
THAT MIGHT NOT
SIT AROUND OUR TREE
BUT HOPEFULLY
BECAUSE WE REACH THEM
WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST,
MAYBE THEY WILL SIT AROUND
THE THRONE WITH US EVENTUALLY
WHEN WE GET TO ALSO TELL THEM
ABOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
AND IT IS SO DOABLE, RANDY!
Randy: IT IS.
WHEN I FIND A PAIR OF SHOES
WHICH I BUY
ONCE EVERY OTHER YEAR.
Sheila: YOU'RE SUCH A MAN!
Randy: I AM!
BUT $36, I THINK,
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD PRICE
FOR A PAIR OF SHOES; RIGHT?
FOR A GUY'S SHOES --
A GUY'S SHOES.
Sheila: CARRY ON.
[Laughter]
Randy: $36 WILL ACTUALLY BUY
TEN-PAIR OF SHOES
AND THEY'RE NOT JUNK SHOES,
THEY'RE GOOD SHOES.
THEY'RE VERY DURABLE
AND THAT WILL PUT SHOES
OFTENTIMES FOR THE FIRST TIME
ON TEN CHILDREN.
WHICH MEANS $72
WILL ENABLE YOU
TO GIVE SHOES TO 20 CHILDREN.
$180, IF YOU CAN DO THAT
AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU CAN
THIS CHRISTMAS,
THAT WILL PROVIDE
50 PAIRS OF SHOES.
AND NOT ONLY WILL YOU RECEIVE
THIS CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
OF CRYSTAL SHOE
COMMEMORATING YOUR GIFT
TO THE OUTREACH, YOU'LL GET
A WHOLE BOX OF THOSE
SO YOU CAN DECORATE YOUR TREE
WITH SHOES AS A REMINDER
OF ALL THE CHILDREN THAT
YOU HAVE PROVIDED SHOES FOR.
AND THERE IS ONE MORE ASPECT,
THE SHOES AND SMILES OUTREACH
THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW
AND THAT IS THE SMILE.
A SMILE IS A SURGERY
WE PROVIDE FOR A CHILD
WHO HAS A CLEFT PALATE,
WHICH OFTENTIMES IS WORSE
THAN JUST THE SMILE;
IT PREVENTS THEM
FROM SPEAKING OR EATING
OR EVEN BREATHING PROPERLY.
SO THE SMILES ASPECT
OF THIS OUTREACH
IS SOMETHING THAT RADICALLY
CHANGES THE CHILD'S LIFE.
WE CAN PROVIDE A SURGERY
FOR A CHILD FOR $500.
THAT WILL PROVIDE
A CLEFT PALATE SURGERY.
SO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S JUST A JOY
TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT
WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE WORLD
PROVIDING SHOES AND SMILES.
WE INVITE YOU
TO JOIN US IN THIS.
SO I HOPE
YOU WILL GO TO THE PHONE,
GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW AND MAKE
THE VERY BEST GIFT YOU CAN.
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.
FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN
LIVING IN POVERTY
HAVE 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 AND DISEASE
THAT COULD LEAD
TO CRIPPLING CONSEQUENCES --
AND EVEN DEATH.
BY RESPONDING TODAY YOU CAN
HELP IMMEDIATELY SECURE
AND BEGIN SHIPPING
CHRISTMAS SHOES
TO 150,000 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 THE GIFT
OF $180
WILL HELP PROVIDE
50 PAIRS OF CHRISTMAS SHOES
FOR CHILDREN
IN NEED.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
THIS BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED
CRYSTAL SHOE ORNAMENT,
A TREASURE TO PLACE
ON YOUR TREE
EACH HOLIDAY
SEASON.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $180 OR MORE
YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST
THIS KEEPSAKE BOXED SET
OF LIFE'S
CHRISTMAS SHOE ORNAMENTS.
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 DETERMINED EAGLE
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY.
Randy: I DO HOPE
YOU'RE GOING TO THE PHONE
OR GOING ONLINE RIGHT NOW
TO JOIN IN
THIS WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS
SHOES & SMILES CAMPAIGN.
IF YOU DO THAT TODAY
AND YOU'RE INTERESTED
IN THIS FABULOUS BOOK
BY OUR GUEST, MICHELE CUSHATT,
BE SURE TO ASK FOR THAT BOOK.
DO YOU THINK
IT IS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA?
Sheila: IT'S BRILLIANT.
I READ IT OVER AGAIN.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH
THIS BOOK HAS BLESSED ME.
BUT I CANNOT TELL YOU
HOW MUCH YOU HAVE BLESSED.
IT IS A SEVERE MERCY
MY FRIEND.
YOU HAVE WALKED THROUGH
A DARK, DARK VALLEY
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU
THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINES
BEAUTIFULLY THROUGH YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
PLEASE, WOULD YOU HELP ME
THANK OUR GUEST,
MICHELE CUSHATT?
Randy: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
WE HOPE THAT
YOU'LL WATCH US EVERY DAY
ON LIFE TODAY.
♪
♪
♪
Announcer: REGARDLESS
OF YOUR NET WORTH,
ESTATE PLANNING BENEFITS
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
BEFORE AND AFTER DEATH,
AND RESULTS IN PEACE OF MIND.
AS A FREE SERVICE
TO OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS,
LIFE PLANNING SERVICES,
A MINISTRY OF
LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL
CAN HELP WITH
YOUR ESTATE PLANNING NEEDS
AND CHART
YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE!
DON'T PUT OFF
THIS IMPORTANT STEP
TO PEACE OF MIND
THROUGH BETTER PLANNING.
CONTACT LIFE PLANNING
SERVICES TODAY!
>> WHO AM I GOING TO BE
WHEN I DON'T PLAY ANYMORE
BECAUSE THE N.F.L.
STANDS FOR:
NOT FOR LONG.
Announcer:
DEFENSIVE BACK,
DERWIN GRAY 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.