Announcer: NEXT
ON LIFE TODAY!
BEST-SELLING AUTHORS,
ANN VOSKAMP AND SHEILA WALSH
DISCUSS BROKENNESS,
SUFFERING,
AND LIVING
ABUNDANT WHOLENESS.
>> THE ART OF GREAT LIVING
IS GIVENNESS,
IN TERMS OF GIVING
MY LIFE TO HIM,
GIVING MY LIFE
OUT INTO THE WORLD.
BUT NOT JUST
THE BEST PARTS OF ME
BUT GIVING
THE BROKEN PARTS OF ME.
THERE'S DEEP HEALING AND
COMMUNION IN THE BROKEN PLACES
WHERE WE CAN
TEAR OFF THE MASKS
AND BE REAL
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
♪
Betty: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
I'M BETTY AND THIS IS JAMES.
James: YEAH! I'M SITTING HERE
WITH THREE OF THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN THE WORLD,
STARTING WITH BETTY
-- MOST BEAUTIFUL!
WE'VE GOT TO SETTLE THAT;
AND SHEILA WALSH
AND ANN VOSKAMP.
WOULD YOU WELCOME ANN
AND SHEILA TO LIFE TODAY?
[Applause]
ANN, LET ME TELL YOU THIS.
THIS IS GOOD.
YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!
HERE IT IS, THE BROKEN WAY.
SOUND LIKE A FUN WAY TO GO?
-- A DARING PATH
INTO THE ABUNDANT LIFE.
THE -- NOT LIKE
CHOOSE YOUR ABUNDANT LIFE
BUT THE ABUNDANT LIFE,
FROM THE SOURCE OF LIFE,
FROM THE WAY, THE TRUTH,
AND THE LIFE.
THE BROKEN WAY?
WHAT IN THE WORLD
DOES THAT MEAN?
SHE ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT
BAD BROKENNESS AND
GOOD AND GREAT BROKENNESS.
SHEILA WALSH SAYS
SHE UNDERSTANDS BROKENNESS.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I DO.
I DON'T KNOW, BETTY, I GUESS
YOU LOSE A DAUGHTER,
YOU SEE SUFFERING ALL OVER
THE WORLD THAT YOU TRY TO PUT
HEALING, LOVING HANDS ON.
YOU'VE HAD TO LIVE WITH ME --
THAT'S CHALLENGING ENOUGH
TO BREAK ANYBODY.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
BUT ANN HAS GOT AN INSIGHT.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
SHEILA, YOU ALREADY,
BECAUSE YOU RESPECT
THIS WOMAN'S INCREDIBLE
GIFTEDNESS AND THE EFFECT
SHE HAS AND THE LOVE SHE HAS
FOR GOD AND FOR PEOPLE
AND HER INSIGHT, BUT YOU GOT
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
WHAT SHE IS SHARING HERE.
KIND OF INTRO WHY YOU'RE
EXCITED ABOUT WHAT
SHE IS SHARING.
Sheila: FIRST OF ALL,
I JUST LOVE ANN.
I JUST LOVE HER.
THERE IS SOMETHING SO PROFOUND
ABOUT THE GIFT OF
THIS WOMAN'S LIFE.
HER FIRST BOOK,
ONE THOUSAND GIFTS
WAS THIS HUGE
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER.
IT JUST BROKE ALL SORTS
OF RECORDS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE
TO WRITE YOUR NEXT BOOK
AND ITS LIKE, GOSH!
THE MINUTE I READ THE TITLE
OF THIS BOOK I THOUGHT, ANN,
YOU HEARD FROM GOD.
BECAUSE HONESTLY, JAMES,
I'VE READ THE BOOK,
THIS IS A REVOLUTION.
IF EVERY BELIEVER BEGAN
TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THE VERY THING THAT YOU THINK
DISQUALIFIES YOU FROM
BEING LOVED AND ACCEPTED
BY GOD IS THE VERY THING
THAT IS THE GATEWAY
INTO HIS PRESENCE,
IT WOULD CHANGE THE WAY
WE ALL LIVE.
YOU HAVE A GREAT QUOTE AT
THE BEGINNING OF YOUR BOOK.
YOU SAY, "THE VERY THING
WE'RE AFRAID OF,
OUR BROKENNESS IS A DOOR
TO OUR FATHER'S HEART."
THAT'S JUST FANTASTIC
RIGHT THERE.
James: SHEILA, I KNOW BECAUSE
I WATCHED YOU WALK OUT
BROKEN, DEVASTATED,
TO A PADDED CELL.
THAT'S NOT STRETCHING IT,
TRYING TO KEEP YOU ALIVE
AND I WAS THERE WHEN
YOU WALKED OUT.
BUT YOU ALSO KNOW BECAUSE
YOU'VE WATCHED MY JOURNEY
FROM ALL THESE HUGE CROWDS,
COLISEUMS, STADIUMS,
INCREDIBLE INFLUENCE,
EVEN ON THE NATION
AND YET I DESPAIRED OF LIFE.
BUT WHEN I WENT THROUGH
THAT BROKENNESS AND YIELDED
THIS BROKEN VESSEL TO THE
HANDS THAT HEAL AND SHAPE,
I BECAME A NEW PERSON.
IT WAS LIKE A SHOT HEARD
AROUND THE WORLD.
WHEN ROBERT SCHULLER CALLS YOU
AND SAYS, "YOU WERE
THE SCARIEST PERSON
I EVER KNEW IN MY LIFE.
YOU ABSOLUTELY SCARED ME."
NOW THINK ABOUT THIS.
THE NEXT THING HE SAID WAS,
"YOU'RE THE GREATEST MIRACLE
I'VE EVER SEEN OUTSIDE
THE BIBLE.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MAN
GO FROM SUCH PASSION AND FIRE
AND ANGER TO SUCH COMPASSION
AND LOVE."
HE SAID, "IT IS A MIRACLE
OF GOD THAT I'VE EVER SEEN."
THAT'S WHAT GOD DID.
GOD TOOK A TOTALLY DEVASTATED,
DEFEATED, BROKEN VESSEL
AND WHEN I OPENED UP
AND SAID, "HEAL THIS BROKEN
VESSEL, HEAL THIS PERSON
THAT DESPAIRED.
I CAN'T DO IT MYSELF."
THEN WHEN I OPENED UP
AND WOULD BARE MY SOUL,
PEOPLE WERE SET FREE ALL OVER
THE WORLD COMING OUT OF
THE WILLINGNESS LIKE SHE SAID
TO BECOME VULNERABLE
IN THAT BROKENNESS.
WE WENT FROM HAVING
TWO MILLION PEOPLE SAVED
IN 20 YEARS TO HAVING
TWO TO FIVE MILLION PEOPLE
COME TO CHRIST IN A YEAR
BECAUSE OF A BROKEN VESSEL.
SO PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
THIS BROKENNESS CAN BE THE
BEGINNING OF SOMETHING GREAT.
Sheila: BUT THERE IS A DEPTH
TO YOUR VULNERABILITY
IN THIS ONE, ANN BECAUSE
YOU PAINT THIS VERY POIGNANT
SCENE AT THE BEGINNING
OF WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG GIRL
AND YOU DROPPED SOME GLASS
AND YOU TOOK IT AND YOU BEGAN
TO CUT YOURSELF.
BUT THEN YOU SWITCHED TO
A MOMENT WHEN YOU'RE IN
THE KITCHEN WITH YOUR OLDEST
DAUGHTER AND SHE BEGINS
TO TELL YOU A STORY
THAT IS VERY FAMILIAR.
WHAT DID THAT DO TO YOU?
Ann: I THINK SOMETIMES
WE THINK ABOUT OUR OWN
FAILURES; OUR WORST NIGHTMARE
IS THAT MY OWN FAILURE
BECOMES CONTAGIOUS;
THAT SOMEBODY ELSE THAT
WE LOVE COULD BE BROKEN
THE WAY WE ARE BROKEN.
HAVE I SOMEHOW PASSED ON
MY BROKENNESS?
ESPECIALLY AS A MOTHER,
YOU'D DO ANYTHING NOT TO
PASS ON YOUR OWN BROKENNESS.
SITTING WITH MY OWN DAUGHTER
AND THINKING THROUGH
HOW DO I GO AHEAD AND PROCESS
MY OWN BROKENNESS SO THAT
I REALIZE THAT THE ONLY WORDS
THAT I NEED TO HEAR,
ALL THERE IS TO HEAR
IS "BELOVED."
THAT'S MY REAL IDENTITY.
THAT'S WHO I REALLY AM.
WRITING THAT CROSS ON MY WRIST
WHERE I USED TO HAVE SCARS
FROM WHERE I CUT,
THAT'S MY REAL NAME,
THAT'S WHO I REALLY AM.
I'M SEEN THROUGH JESUS AND
THE WAY HE CALLS ME "BELOVED."
I THINK IN THE MIDST OF
OUR OWN FAILURES,
IF WE CAN SEE THAT MY NAME
IS NOT FAILURE.
I AM BROKEN BUT I AM BELOVED.
THAT IS A JOURNEY
AND A PROCESS
AND A WAY TO STEP INTO.
BUT WE CAN'T HAVE
DEEP INTIMACY WITH CHRIST
UNTIL WE KNOW THAT
OUR IDENTITY IS IN CHRIST.
I THINK THAT'S A WAY OF
HAVING OUR MINDS TRANSFORMED,
A CONSTANT WHO AM I REALLY?
AND LISTEN FOR HOW HE CALLS
OUR NAME CONSTANTLY,
"YOU ARE BELOVED!
YOU ARE BELOVED!
YOU ARE BELOVED" --
EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE BROKEN.
Sheila: MY VERY FIRST DAY
IN THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
THE PSYCHIATRIST SAID
TO ME, "WHO ARE YOU?"
I SAID, "SHEILA WALSH."
HE SAID, "NO, SHEILA,
I DIDN'T ASK YOUR NAME.
WHO ARE YOU?"
I SAID, "I'M THE CO-HOST
OF THE 700 CLUB."
HOW PATHETIC IS THAT?
HE SAID, "NO, I DIDN'T
ASK WHAT YOUR JOB WAS.
I ASKED WHO ARE YOU?"
AND I SAID, "I HAVE NO IDEA."
HE SAID, "I KNOW THAT
AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE."
BUT BY THE TIME I LEFT,
AFTER A MONTH, HE CALLED OUT
THE WINDOW AND HE SAID TO ME,
"SHEILA! WHO ARE YOU?"
I SAID, "I'M SHEILA WALSH,
DAUGHTER OF THE KING OF KINGS
AND NOBODY CAN TOUCH THAT!"
BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.
IF YOU PUT YOUR IDENTITY
IN ANYTHING ELSE
IT CAN CHANGE IN A MOMENT.
Ann: IDENTITY MEANS WHO
YOU ARE STABLE, UNWAVERING,
THE SAME DAY IN AND DAY OUT
REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE ESSENCE OF WHO YOU ARE
DOESN'T CHANGE.
AND FOR ME, PENNING THAT CROSS
ON MY WRIST EVERY DAY SAYING
I WANT TO BE CRUCIFORMED,
THAT SAYS IT
-- THAT'S MY IDENTITY.
THAT'S THE THING ABOUT ME
THAT DOESN'T CHANGE.
I AM "BELOVED"
NO MATTER WHAT ELSE HAPPENS.
James: I WANT YOU TO TURN
YOUR WRIST TOWARD THE CAMERA.
TURN IT UP HERE.
HOLD IT UP WHERE
THEY CAN SEE IT.
IT IS FADING.
TURN IT TOWARD THE CAMERA.
CAN Y'ALL ZOOM IN ON THAT?
LET'S LET HER WORK ON IT.
HOLD IT REAL STILL
FOR JUST A MOMENT.
YOU'VE BEEN POINTING AT IT
SO MANY TIMES ITS RED NOW.
AND IT'S FADING,
YOUR CROSS IS FADING.
[Laughter]
BUT TELL OUR VIEWERS
WHY DO YOU PUT THAT THERE?
IT'S RIGHT WHERE CHRIST TOOK,
HE ACTUALLY TOOK THE SPIKE
RIGHT IN THAT PLACE.
Ann: IT'S ALSO WHERE
I USED TO CUT MYSELF.
I THINK WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT OVER THE TOP OF
OUR OWN SCARS CHRIST MEETS US
WITH HIS SCARS;
THERE'S HEALING, HIS WOUNDS
HEALING OUR WOUNDS.
I LIKE TO THINK THAT
VERTICAL BEAM THAT COMES DOWN,
THAT'S THE GRACE HE GIVES
AND MY GRATITUDE RISES UP.
THEN THERE'S THE CROSSBEAM.
I WANT TO BE BROKEN AND
GIVEN OUT INTO THE WORLD.
I THINK THE ESSENCE OF
CHRISTIANITY COMES DOWN TO
THAT EUCHARISTEO
AND THAT KOINONIA.
EUCHARISTEO, OUR GRATITUDE,
WHICH ONE THOUSAND GIFTS
EXPLORED BUT THEN ALSO
THE GIVENNESS THAT
WE EXPERIENCE IN THE BROKEN
AND GIVING OUT INTO COMMUNION.
FOR ME THAT WORD GIVENNESS
HAS REALLY COME TO MEAN
HOW DO I LIVE
A SURRENDERED LIFE?
-- A CONSTANT GIVENNESS
OUT INTO THE WORLD?
-- A GIVENNESS
OF MY OWN SELF TO HIM?
THE ART OF GREAT LIVING
IS GIVENNESS IN TERMS
OF GIVING MY LIFE TO HIM,
GIVING MY LIFE
OUT INTO THE WORLD.
BUT NOT JUST THE BEST PARTS
OF ME, BUT GIVING
THE BROKEN PARTS OF ME
OUT INTO THE WORLD;
AND THAT REQUIRES HUMILITY
AND VULNERABILITY AND
DEEP TRUST IN MY OWN IDENTITY
AS BELOVEDNESS.
I THINK IF WE CAN GO AHEAD
AND TRUST THAT WE'RE BELOVED
AND WE SHARE OUR BROKENNESS,
THERE'S DEEP HEALING
AND COMMUNION IN THE BROKEN
PLACES WHERE WE CAN TEAR OFF
THE MASKS AND BE REAL
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Betty: AND DON'T YOU THINK
THAT THROUGH THAT BROKENNESS,
IF WE REVEAL IT,
IT SHINES THROUGH US,
THAT IT BRINGS HOPE
TO OTHERS BECAUSE
IT'S POSSIBLE.
IT'S POSSIBLE!
Sheila: THE CHURCH SHOULD BE
THE MOST TRANSPARENT PLACE
ON THE PLANET
WHERE YOU GET TO SHOW UP
BUT SO OFTEN IT IS
THE LEAST TRANSPARENT.
I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST
LESSONS I LEARNED IN
THE PSYCH HOSPITAL WAS AT THE
VERY END I WENT TO A CHURCH
AND JUST THE PRESENCE
OF CHRIST IN THIS
LITTLE CHURCH WITH THE SUN
COMING THROUGH
THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
AND FEELING LOST; THINKING,
LORD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
AND I SUDDENLY HAD THIS
INCREDIBLE JUST THIS PRESENCE
OF MY GRANDMOTHER SINGING
OVER ME AS A CHILD.
IT WAS "ROCK OF AGES."
IT WAS THESE TWO LINES:
NOTHING IN MY HANDS I BRING,
SIMPLY TO THY CROSS I CLING.
AND I FINALLY GOT IT.
I AM NOT THE GOOD NEWS.
THAT IS A HUGE RELIEF
RIGHT THERE!
[Laughter]
SERIOUSLY! SO OFTEN WE LIVE
LIKE WE WANT TO BE GODS.
WE WANT TO GET IT ALL RIGHT.
CHRIST CAME BECAUSE
WE GOT IT ALL WRONG
AND WE ARE BELOVED.
Ann: WE ARE BELOVED IN THE
MIDST OF THE BROKENNESS
AND TO THAT CROSS I CLING.
AND THEN LET THAT CROSS
GO AHEAD AND SHAPE MY LIFE
INTO ABUNDANCE.
Sheila: SO WHAT DO YOU SAY
TO YOUR DAUGHTER WHEN
SHE IS IN A BROKEN PLACE?
HOW DO YOU HELP BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT JUST HER MOM,
YOU'RE HER SISTER.
Ann: AGAIN, I HAVE A PAINTING
ON THE WALL AT HOME AND IT IS
THOMAS, DOUBTING THOMAS.
JESUS TAKES HIS HAND.
JESUS IS ALL THE MOVEMENT;
JESUS TAKES HIS HAND AND
PRESSES IT INTO HIS WOUNDS.
I THINK GOING AHEAD AND
TAKING OUR OWN BROKENNESS TO
THE CROSS, BEING REALLY REAL
AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT
OUR BROKENNESS,
WE DON'T HAVE TO HIDE IT.
WE CAN LAY OUT ALL THOSE
BROKEN PIECES AND GO AHEAD
AND SAY NAME WHO
YOU REALLY ARE,
NAME WHO YOU REALLY ARE
IN CHRIST.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO
IS PREACH GOSPEL BACK
TO OURSELVES ABOUT
WHO WE REALLY ARE.
Sheila: SAY THAT
ONE MORE TIME,
ANN BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY
WE ALL NEED TO HEAR THAT.
Ann: WE DO. WE NEED
TO PREACH GOSPEL, YES,
OUR LIVES WILL INCARNATE
CHRIST AND THAT WILL PREACH
THE GOSPEL OUT INTO THE WORLD,
BUT WE NEED TO PREACH GOSPEL
BACK TO OURSELVES ABOUT
WHO WE REALLY ARE IN CHRIST.
BECAUSE THE ENEMY IS LOUD
ALL OF THE TIME;
LIES IN OUR HEAD ABOUT
WHO WE ARE.
SOMETIMES WE'VE GOT
TO REALIZE THAT THING
IN OUR HAND, IT IS A LIE.
YOU HAVE TO BREAK THE LIE.
YOU HAVE TO SHAKE OFF
THE SNAKE, BREAK THE SNAKE
AND LISTEN TO THE TRUTH OF
WHO YOU REALLY ARE IN CHRIST.
THAT IDENTITY ALLOWS YOU
TO RISE UP AND BE AN ESTHER
IN THIS GENERATION
FOR THIS TIME TO BE BROKEN
AND GIVEN TO THOSE OUTSIDE
THE GATES WHO NEED TO KNOW
WHO THEY ARE IN CHRIST.
Sheila: I THINK WE SHOULD
ALL GET A PEN AND
DO A WEE CROSS.
NOBODY IN YOUR CHURCH
IS GOING TO -- A PEN -- HELLO?
JUST A WEE CROSS SO YOU'RE
CONSTANTLY LOOK AT THAT
AND ALLOW THE TRUTH OF THAT
TO BE LOUDER THAN
THE LIES OF THE ENEMY.
Ann: ALL OF THE TIME!
IT MEANS YOUR IDENTITY.
IT MEANS -- IT FORMED,
THAT CRUCIFORMED CROSS
FORMS WHO YOU ARE.
IT FORMS THE SHAPE
OF YOUR DAYS.
I WANT TO LIVE BROKEN
AND GIVEN IN THE MIDST OF
MY OWN BROKENNESS BUT
THERE CAN BE ABUNDANCE
IN THE WORLD.
Sheila: THE GREAT THING
ABOUT THAT IS SOMETIMES
YOU THINK I'M SO BROKEN.
I'LL WAIT 'TIL JESUS HEALS ME
AND THEN I'LL REACH OUT
TO OTHERS.
Ann: NO! BUT IN THE MIDST
OF THE BROKENNESS
IF YOU WILL REACH OUT,
IF YOU WILL LIVE CRUCIFORMED
AND STRETCHED OUT,
YOU WILL MEET CHRIST
IN THAT PLACE AND THAT DEEP
COMMUNION WILL HEAL YOU
IN A WAY THAT IS SO UNEXPECTED
AND UPSIDE DOWN
AND TRANSFORMATIONAL.
Sheila: NOW DO YOU GET WHY
I WAS EXCITED ABOUT
THIS WOMAN? HELLO?
James: IS ANYBODY HERE
IN THIS STUDIO, DOES ANYBODY
UNDERSTAND WHY BEFORE
WE EVER CAME ON THE AIR
I MADE THEM TURN THEIR CHAIRS
TOWARD EACH OTHER?
I SAID BECAUSE
IT'S GOING TO BE THIS
INCREDIBLE CONVERSATION.
I FEEL ABSOLUTELY PRIVILEGED
TO BE SITTING HERE.
AND I'M NOT LISTENING
TO TWO WOMEN, I'M LISTENING
TO GOD TALK THROUGH TWO WOMEN.
NOW WOMEN CAN TALK BUT
GOD CAN TALK THROUGH WOMEN.
ISN'T THIS INCREDIBLE?
Betty: I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO TELL YOU THAT
FOR A LONG TIME!
[Laughter]
James: OH, BOY!
I TELL YOU WHAT.
JUST GO FOR IT, HONEY!
GET IN THE MIX HERE.
Sheila: IN A WORLD THAT
IS TRYING TO ANESTHETIZE --
THINK ABOUT IT -- HOW MANY
TIMES WE'RE TRYING TO STOP
THE PAIN, WE TRY TO MEDICATE
THE PAIN, WE TRY TO
ANESTHETIZE THE PAIN,
BURY THE PAIN, SUPPRESS
THE PAIN, DENY THE PAIN.
THE REVOLUTION IS --
IN FACT, YOU HAVE ANOTHER
THING I WROTE DOWN THAT
I THOUGHT WAS SO BRILLIANT.
YOU SAID...
OH, GOSH I CAN'T FIND IT.
OH, YEAH!
"FREEDOM CAN BE FOUND
NOT ONLY BEYOND FEAR
AND PAIN BUT WITHIN IT."
Ann: WITHIN IT.
I THINK I REALIZED IF
I CAN SAY I DON'T NEED TO
BE AFRAID OF BROKEN THINGS.
CHRIST IS REDEEMING
EVERYTHING.
AS SOON AS I'M NOT AFRAID
OF BROKEN THINGS, THE PEACE,
THE ABUNDANCE,
THE OPENHANDEDNESS
AND GIVENNESS AND SURRENDER
THAT I CAN'T LIVE WITH,
AND HE LOVES ABUNDANCE
TO FILL THOSE HANDS.
Sheila: AND DON'T YOU THINK
IN A WORLD THAT IS BROKEN
AND HURTING THEY'RE GOING
TO WANT TO COME RUNNING
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BROKEN
AND OUTSTRETCHED?
Ann: AND NOT AFRAID
OF THEIR BROKENNESS.
Sheila: NO! AND IF THAT'S
OUR SAVIOR'S STANCE,
IF THAT'S ALL THE TIME --
Ann: LIKE THIS --
CRUCIFORMED, LIKE THAT.
James: I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH.
Ann: ALL THE TIME IN THE
MIDST OF THE BROKENNESS.
James: I'VE SAID RECENTLY
THAT I FELT LIKE THE LORD
JUST IMPRESSED THIS ON
MY HEART AND THAT IS THAT
HE HAS NEVER MADE ME FEEL
LIKE HE'S DISAPPOINTED IN ME.
HE HAS LET ME KNOW
HE'S DISAPPOINTED FOR ME,
NOT IN ME.
THERE'S REALLY A LOT
TO BE DISCOVERED
IN THAT REALITY.
GOD IS NOT TRYING
TO SHAME ANYBODY.
WE'VE GOT ENOUGH OF IT.
HE TOOK THE SHAME, HE TOOK
THE BLAME OFF OF YOU
AND HE IS THE VALUE,
HE IS THE ONE WORTHY OF PRAISE
AND WORTHY OF WORSHIP.
WE'RE NOT.
WE JUST GET OFF THE THRONE,
LET HIM BE ON WHEN
WE'RE BROKEN, LET HIM
PICK UP THE PIECES.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT
PUTTING CLAY, YIELDED CLAY
IN THE POTTER'S HAND.
THERE STILL IS A SHAPING
PROCESS WHICH REQUIRES
PRESSURE AND SQUEEZING.
NOW IF WE'RE THE CLAY,
HE IS THE POTTER AND
THERE IS SQUEEZING.
IT'S STILL NOT THE MOST
COMFORTABLE PROCESS
NECESSARILY AND SOMETIMES
IT FEELS LIKE DEVASTATING
BROKENNESS BUT HE IS ACTUALLY
SHAPING US INTO A VESSEL
OF HONOR IF WE'LL JUST REALIZE
THAT IF WE PUT OUR LIFE
THERE IN HIS HANDS,
GO TO THE CROSS LIKE
YOU'VE SAID AND LITERALLY
LAY IT ALL BEFORE HIM
AND RECOGNIZE HIM FOR
WHO HE IS AND THEN LET HIM
DO WHAT HE DOES,
WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO,
WE EXPERIENCE A MIRACLE.
Sheila: ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WHEN I WAS READING
ANN'S BOOK, THE BROKEN WAY,
TO ME IT IS ALMOST LIKE
AN UNPACKING OF ROMANS EIGHT
VERSE ONE: THERE IS NOW
THEREFORE NO CONDEMNATION
TO THOSE IN CHRIST JESUS.
AND WHEN YOU GET THAT,
THEN YOU'RE NOT AFRAID
TO BE OPEN.
James: RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WILL
GIVE YOU THE CONDEMNATION.
ONCE YOU START DUMPING THAT
ON PEOPLE YOU HAVE REMOVED
THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVICTION
IN MANY INSTANCES.
DON'T DUMP THAT
ON ONE ANOTHER.
BE THAT WITHNESS,
THAT PERSON THAT CAN BE
WITH SOMEBODY IN A STORM
OR THE BROKENNESS OR THE PAIN.
WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL
IF PEOPLE WOULD READ
THIS BOOK AND SUDDENLY
ALLOW GOD TO DO SUCH
A MIRACULOUS WORK OF GRACE
THAT THEY WOULD IN FACT
THROUGH THE BROKEN WAY
FIND THE PATHWAY TO
THE ABUNDANT LIFE THAT CHRIST
SAYS HE CAME TO GIVE US?
NOW REMEMBER THIS.
HE DIDN'T SAY I CAME
TO GIVE YOU ABUNDANCE
OF STUFF.
HE SAID, "I CAME TO GIVE YOU
SUCH ABUNDANT LIFE"
THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE.
LIKE PAUL SAID, "I KNOW WHAT
IT IS TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT.
I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO ABOUND
AND BE ABASED.
BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY CONTENT
IN CHRIST."
HE IS MY ADEQUACY,
MY SUFFICIENCY, AND IF
YOU HAVE HIM YOU HAVE
ALL YOU NEED.
HE IS ABLE TO SUPPLY
ALL YOUR NEED.
NOT NECESSARILY YOUR WISHES,
YOUR DESIRES, OR YOUR
APPETITES BUT ALL YOU NEED
ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES
IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS
THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS A PHENOMENAL BOOK.
DO YOU APPRECIATE
THESE WOMEN UNPACKING
A WHOLE LOT OF TRUTH,
TALKING ABOUT ANN'S
INCREDIBLE GIFT TO
UNDERSTAND BROKENNESS?
NOW IT IS IN THE BOOKSTORES.
THERE IS ALSO, IF THEY GO
TO THEBROKENWAY.COM
THEY CAN FIND OUT ABOUT
THE TEACHING CURRICULUM
THAT HAS DVD'S,
A STUDY SYLLABUS.
IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR YOU
TO DO IN YOUR STUDY GROUPS,
MEN AND WOMEN, HOME GROUPS
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS WOULD BE A GREAT WAY
TO START A BIBLE STUDY
WHERE YOU SAY, "I DON'T THINK
I CAN UNLOAD AND DEAL
WITH ALL THE QUESTIONS
THAT MIGHT COME."
WELL, ANN WILL HELP YOU
AND IT CAN BE RIGHT THERE,
DVD, WITH YOUR BIG SCREEN TV
AND ALL YOUR NEIGHBORS,
OR IT CAN BE AT THE CHURCH.
YOU WERE ACTUALLY, AND
I BELIEVE IT'S A GIFT OF GOD
THROUGH YOU, NOT ONLY GETTING
THIS LITTLE GIRL FROM CHINA
THAT YOU WENT AND GOT,
WHAT A STORY THAT IS
AND THAT'S IN THE LAST PART
OF THE BOOK ABOUT THAT GRACE,
A LITTLE BROKENHEARTED GIRL
THAT HAD HALF A HEART.
BUT GO OVER THERE, SIX KIDS
AND GO GET ANOTHER ONE
LIKE THIS?
READ THE LOVE STORY.
THIS IS THE BROKEN WAY.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU
TO GET IT.
NOW BOTH OF YOU LADIES KNOW
THAT WE'VE GOT A MISSIONARY
HEART BECAUSE ONCE YOU'VE
BEEN TO THE MISSION FIELD,
IT IS LIKE OUR GRANDSON SAID,
WELL, ALL OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN
THAT HAVE BEEN SAID,
"IT CHANGED OUR LIVES FOREVER
BECAUSE WE SAW REAL NEED
THAT COULD BE MET WITH LOVE."
I WANT YOU TO LOOK RIGHT NOW.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING UP.
I KNOW IT IS A LITTLE WAY OFF
BUT WE WANT TO GET AHEAD
OF TIME BECAUSE WE WANT
TO GIVE SOME SMILES
AND SOME SHOES FOR CHRISTMAS
TO LITTLE CHILDREN WHO NEVER
IMAGINED THEY WOULD SEE
SUCH AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE.
WATCH CLOSELY.
Announcer:
FROM YOUR FAMILY
TO OUR FAMILY,
YOUR GENEROSITY
HAS EMPOWERED
LIFE'S MISSION EFFORTS
AROUND THE WORLD --
AND THE LOOK
ON THESE CHILDREN'S FACES
MAKES THE
IMPACT OBVIOUS.
IT'S IN THE SMILE OF MATEO
AS HE RECEIVES A BOWL OF FOOD
MADE POSSIBLE
BY YOUR GIVING.
OR OF GABRIELLA
AS SHE QUENCHES HER THIRST
FROM A CLEAN WATER WELL
THAT YOU HELPED DRILL.
YOU COULD EVEN SAY
YOU MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS
TO GIVE
CHILDREN SMILES.
WELL, THIS CHRISTMAS
WE'D LIKE TO GIVE A SMILE
TO SOMEONE WHO
MIGHT NOT EASILY
BE ABLE TO
SMILE OTHERWISE.
YOU SEE,
ALL OVER THE WORLD
THERE ARE CHILDREN
WHO HAVE TROUBLE SMILING
BECAUSE THEY WERE BORN
WITH A CLEFT LIP OR PALATE.
BUT A SIMPLE SURGERY
BY LOVING DOCTORS
CAN RADICALLY
TRANSFORM
THE APPEARANCE
OF CHILDREN LIKE THESE
AND GREATLY IMPROVE
THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
BUT THEY WON'T BE THE ONLY
ONES SMILING THIS CHRISTMAS
BECAUSE WITH YOUR HELP
WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE
A BRAND-NEW
PAIR OF SHOES
TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE
NEVER HAD THEM.
Tammy: YOU CAN SEE
ALL OF THE LITTLE ONES,
HONESTLY, THE SMILES
ON THEIR FACES,
IT'S SO EXCITING
TO BE A PART OF IT.
YOU CAN
LOOK AROUND
AT ALL OF THE CHILDREN
IN THIS VILLAGE
AND MOST OF THEM
ARE WITHOUT SHOES.
THEY CAN LOSE
THEIR VERY LIVES
BECAUSE OF AN INFECTION THAT THEY COULD GET ON THEIR FEET.
Announcer: HELP MAKE
THIS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
FOR A CHILD
LIKE THIS.
HELP US PROVIDE
CHRISTMAS SHOES AND SMILES.
James: BOY, YOU KNOW
I DON'T EVER WANT
TO COME ACROSS LIKE A BEGGAR
BUT IF I EVER BEG I WANT IT
TO BE IN BEHALF OF THOSE
WHO REALLY NEED SOMEONE
TO PLEAD THEIR CAUSE.
I LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE
PRETTY LITTLE CHILDREN,
BETTY, AND THINK HOW MUCH
WE'VE LOVED THEM,
AND LOVED HOLDING THEM.
AND YOU'VE ENABLED US
TO HOLD THEM.
YOU SENT US
TO THE MISSION FIELD.
YOU SUPPORT THE MISSIONARIES.
SEVERAL THOUSAND MISSIONARIES
RIGHT NOW IN AFRICA
THAT YOU MAKE POSSIBLE --
SEVERAL THOUSAND!
AND THEN YOU DON'T
LEAVE THEM EMPTY-HANDED.
RIGHT NOW
ALL OVER THE WORLD,
150,000 LITTLE FEET
WE WANT TO PUT SHOES ON
BECAUSE THE MISSIONARIES
GOT OUR ATTENTION
TO THEIR AREA.
THEY SAID, "WE'VE GOT
SOME REAL ISSUES HERE."
SO I DON'T WANT TO SOUND
LIKE A BEGGAR BUT HERE'S
WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU TO DO.
I JUST WANT YOU TO GIVE
THE GREATEST GIFT
YOU CAN GIVE RIGHT NOW.
FIRST YOU PRAY.
BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE
10 CHILDREN A PAIR OF SHOES,
THAT'S $36.
THEY'RE $3.60 A PAIR
AND THEY'RE ALL-WEATHER.
THEY'RE LIKE CROCS,
VERY MUCH THE SAME.
YOU PAY A LOT OF MONEY
FOR THEM HERE.
BUT THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR
AND THEY DO EXPAND
TO FIT DIFFERENT SIZES
AS THEY GROW;
THEY CAN GROW INTO THEM
A LITTLE BIT.
THEY'RE VERY GOOD PROTECTION
AND THEY DON'T WEAR OUT,
NOT EASILY AT ALL.
SO JUST GIVE ALL YOU CAN.
IF YOU CAN GIVE 50 KIDS
A PAIR OF SHOES, THAT'S $180.
IF YOU CAN GIVE US SOME SMILES
AT $500 A SMILE, FOR SOME
OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FACES
THAT THEY DON'T LOOK PRETTY.
Betty: JAMES, THAT'S WHAT
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM
TO DO, THE SMILES.
IT'S HEARTBREAKING
WHEN WE HEAR A CHILD CRYING
BECAUSE THEY'RE HURTING
BUT IT IS HEARTWARMING
WHEN WE SEE A CHILD SMILE.
I WANT TO SEE A LOT OF SMILES
ON THESE CHILDREN'S FACES
BECAUSE THEY DESERVE
TO BE ABLE TO SMILE
BECAUSE THEY CAN.
SO I HOPE YOU WILL
REACH INTO YOUR HEART
AND ASK GOD
WHAT YOU CAN DO
TO PUT SOME SMILES
ON THESE CHILDREN'S FACES.
James: I PROMISE YOU,
WHEN YOU PUT A SMILE ON
THESE LITTLE CHILDREN'S FACES
YOU PUT A SMILE ON A MOM
AND THOSE PARENTS
AND THAT FAMILY.
SO LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.
LIKE BETTY SAID, LET'S DO IT.
JUST GO TO LIFETODAY.ORG
AND USE YOUR BANKCARD.
IF YOU COULD GIVE $1,000
FOR TWO SMILES,
WOULD YOU DO IT?
I KNOW THAT MAY BE
A REAL STRETCH.
AND THEN AGAIN I KNOW
I'M TALKING TO SOMEONE
WHO COULD GIVE
SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS.
CAN I JUST SAY THIS?
THANK YOU!
MANY OF YOU OVERWHELM US.
A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE LEAVING LIFE OUTREACH
IN THEIR ESTATE.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
RIGHT NOW THINKING,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'VE GOT PRETTY BIG
INSURANCE POLICIES.
WHEN I LEAVE HERE
I'D LIKE THAT.
OR I'VE ACCUMULATED
SOME THINGS
AND I WANT THAT TO GO ON
FOREVER IN IMPACTING LIVES.
AND YOU CAN DO THAT.
THERE IS INFORMATION
ON HOW YOU CAN CONTACT...
YOU KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO?
SHOW HOW TO SAVE YOUR FAMILY
A LOT OF MONEY.
AND BLESS YOU
AND ENABLE YOU TO GIVE.
BUT DON'T FORGET THAT.
THERE'S A LEVEL
AT WHICH EVERY ONE OF YOU
WATCHING CAN GIVE.
LIFETODAY.ORG
OR DIAL THE NUMBER,
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,
USE IT LIKE A CHECK.
IF YOU WRITE A CHECK,
MAKE IT TO LIFE
BUT WE NEED YOU TO CALL US
AND TELL US YOU'RE SENDING IT
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT
TO LET THE MISSIONARIES KNOW
THE SHOES ARE ON THE WAY.
THEY'RE PAID FOR.
AND BETTY AND I CAN'T
PAY FOR ALL OF THEM.
BUT WE DO OUR PART.
YOU DO YOUR PART
SHARING GOD'S HEART.
WILL YOU DO THAT?
LIFETODAY.ORG
OR DIAL THE NUMBER.
THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT.
WE HAVE SOME GIFTS
TO BLESS YOU BUT BOY,
YOU ARE BLESSING PEOPLE
WITH THE GIFT OF LOVE
AND IT NEVER FAILS.
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 A 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.
James: BETTY, WHAT DO YOU
THINK ABOUT ALL THESE
BEAUTIFUL FEET
AND THESE BEAUTIFUL
CHILDREN?
Betty: I THINK THEY DESERVE
SOME PRETTY LITTLE SHOES
ON THEIR FEET;
DON'T YOU?
IT'S NOT JUST TO
GIVE THEM SHOES
-- IT IS TO BLESS THEM,
WE WANT TO BLESS THEM!
BUT THE SHOES HAVE A REAL
IMPORTANT USE TOO, JAMES.
THEY CAN PROTECT THEIR FEET
FROM GETTING CUTS AND BRUISES
AND ALSO
FROM DISEASE.
James: WE FOUND OUT THAT HOOKWORMS ACTUALLY GET
IN THE SKIN OF THEIR FEET
SOMETIMES WALKING IN DIRT
OR SAND AND THEN IT ACTUALLY
ENDS UP IN THEIR INTESTINES
AND IT CAN
BE DEADLY.
LET'S PUT SHOES ON ALL
THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN'S
BEAUTIFUL FEET!
IT WOULD JUST BE SUCH
A WONDERFUL GIFT TO MAKE
AT THIS TIME.
I HOPE YOU'LL DO
ALL YOU CAN.
JUST GIVE AS MANY PAIRS
AS YOU CAN TO BLESS
AS MANY CHILDREN AND
THEIR FAMILIES AS YOU CAN.
James: I'M PRAYING YOU WILL
GIVE AT LEAST 50 CHILDREN,
I THINK ALL OF YOU ARE
GOING TO GIVE 10 KIDS
A PAIR OF SHOES BUT
COULD YOU GIVE 50?
WE WANT TO SEND YOU THE SHOES.
LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
YOU MAKE A GIFT.
WE WANT TO SEND YOU
ANN'S BOOK, THE BROKEN WAY
BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL BE
A REAL BLESSING.
SHEILA, WHAT DO YOU THINK
THIS WILL DO FOR FOLKS
IF THEY GET IT AND APPLY IT?
Sheila: I THINK ONE OF
THE GREATEST GIFTS OF
THIS BOOK IS THAT YOU WILL
REALIZE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO BE AFRAID ANYMORE
OF ANYTHING.
James: THAT'S GREAT!
WOULD YOU SAY THANKS
TO ANN AND TO SHEILA?
WHAT A BLESSING THEY'VE BEEN.
THANK YOU BOTH! GREAT GUESTS!
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US
THIS TIME WITH YOU
TO SHARE LIFE TODAY.
THANKS FOR HELPING US
SHARE SHOES AND SMILES.
THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR BEING WITH US.
♪
♪
♪
Announcer: IF YOU'RE IN
THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH AREA,
COME BE A PART
OF THE LIFE TODAY
STUDIO AUDIENCE.
CALL OR E-MAIL TODAY
TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS.
YOU'LL BE INSPIRED
AND ENTERTAINED!
>> 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.