Announcer: COMING UP, WITH NO WARNING,
CHET MCDONIEL WAS BORN WITH NO ARMS AND SHORTENED LEGS.
IT WAS A SHOCK. IT WAS A SHOCK TO HIS DOCTOR;
IT WAS A SHOCK TO JUDY AND ME.
Announcer: DESPITE THE CHALLENGES HIS PARENTS DECIDED
TO RAISE HIM AS THEY WOULD ANY OTHER CHILD.
LIFE IS FROM GOD AND WE'VE GOT TO RESPECT THAT,
WE'VE GOT TO HONOR THAT, AND WE'VE GOT TO LOVE IT.
Announcer: HIS SECRET TO ENJOYING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST -- NEXT!
§
Betty: THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US ON LIFE TODAY.
I'M BETTY AND THIS IS JAMES.
James: AND I'M SMILING BECAUSE
I'M LOOKING AT THE TITLE
OF CHET'S BOOK, I'M NOT BROKEN:
YOU DON'T NEED ARMS
TO BE HAPPY.
CHET'S NOT REAL TALL.
HIS LEGS ARE ABOUT AS BIG
AS MY WRIST AND MY HAND.
AND HE IS A REMARKABLE PERSON.
HE IS REALLY A MIRACLE.
HE CAME OUT HERE AND JUST
GOT UP IN THIS CHAIR
A WHILE AGO AND I THOUGHT --
I FIGURED SOMEBODY WOULD
HAVE TO HELP HIM.
NOPE, NOT A BIT.
[Laughter]
HE'S JUST A MIRACLE.
HIS DAD JIM IS HERE.
CHET MCDONIEL,
AND JIM MCDONIEL.
I'M SO THRILLED TO HAVE
BOTH OF YOU HERE.
JIM AND CHET, WELCOME
TO LIFE TODAY!
IT'S A JOY.
YOU REALLY --
YOU REALLY ARE HAPPY.
Chet: ABSOLUTELY!
James: IT EXUDES FROM YOU
AND IT'S THE JOY OF THE LORD.
YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE
SO MUCH PURPOSE IN LIFE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU ACTUALLY
HAVE BUSINESSES;
AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?
Chet: ABSOLUTELY.
I GO AROUND THE COUNTRY
SPEAKING AT DIFFERENT PLACES
AND THEN ALSO RUN A DISNEY
SPECIALIST TRAVEL AGENCY CALLED
OFF TO NEVERLAND TRAVEL.
James: DID YOU COME UP
WITH THAT IDEA YOURSELF?
Chet: ACTUALLY, WE HEARD
A YOUNG CHILD --
MY WIFE AND I WERE ON A PLANE
AND AS THE PLANE'S WHEELS
LEFT THE GROUND AND IT WAS
HEADED TO ORLANDO ABOUT
FOUR ROWS BEHIND US
A YOUNG CHILD YELLED,
"OFF TO NEVERLAND!"
[Laughter]
AND MY WIFE LOOKED --
WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER
AND SAID, "THAT'S THE NAME
OF THE COMPANY.
WE'VE GOT TO CALL IT THAT!"
James: IT HAD
TO BE SUPERNATURAL.
I'M NOT BROKEN: YOU DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE ARMS TO BE HAPPY...
AND YOU ARE HAPPY.
JIM, WAS THIS A SHOCK WHEN
YOU HAD A BABY THAT DIDN'T
HAVE ARMS AND WAS
OBVIOUSLY CHALLENGED?
Jim: IN 1979 YOU DIDN'T DO
SONOGRAMS UNLESS THERE WAS
SOME REASON -- SOMETHING
TO BE SUSPICIOUS OF.
WE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL WE WERE
IN THE DELIVERY ROOM THAT
HE HAD ANY ABNORMALITIES.
IT WAS A SHOCK.
IT WAS A SHOCK TO HIS DOCTOR;
IT WAS A SHOCK TO JUDY AND ME.
AND I STILL REMEMBER
SOME OF THE BAD SCENES THERE
AS THE DOCTOR TOOK HIM OVER,
LAID HIM IN A LITTLE CONTAINER
THAT'S FOR NEWBORNS,
A LITTLE CRIB, AND THEN WENT
BACK TO TAKE CARE OF JUDY.
HE WAS THE O.B.
SHE WAS HIS PATIENT.
HE TOLD ME LATER THAT
HE HAD DONE THE MINIMUM
OF SUCTIONING LIFE SUPPORT
FOR A NEWBORN ON CHET BECAUSE
HE FELT LIKE IF CHET COULD
PULL THROUGH HE MIGHT HAVE
A VIABLE LIFE
AND IF HE DIDN'T,
HE WOULD BE BETTER OFF DEAD.
THAT WAS QUITE A SHOCK
TO EVEN HEAR THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT HIT ME
AS MUCH THEN AS IT DID
LATER ON BECAUSE
WE LIKED THE DOCTOR
AND HE WAS GOOD TO US.
I THINK IT WAS PARTICULARLY
A SHOCK TO CHET
WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT IT.
BUT THAT WASN'T AS BAD
AS ANOTHER DOCTOR WHO
A DAY LATER TOLD ME, "NOW,
IF YOU WERE IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA, YOU'D HAVE
THREE DAYS TO DECIDE WHETHER
THIS CHILD LIVES OR DIES."
JAMES, WHAT HE WAS IMPLYING
WAS THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE
OF THAT LIFE.
HE WOULD KILL HIM
IF I JUST ASKED.
THAT WAS THE VIEW OF LIFE --
THE VALUE THAT THEY PLACED
ON LIFE.
James: I DON'T THINK
IT'S GOTTEN BETTER.
I THINK IT'S DIMINISHED
UNTIL SOMEONE THAT HAS
CHALLENGES LIKE YOU HAVE,
CHET, WOULD BE SEEN AS
PERHAPS HAVING LITTLE VALUE,
LITTLE POTENTIAL, AND WOULD
NOT SEE YOU AS ONE
TO BE PROTECTED.
AND IF YOU WERE OBSERVED
IN THE WOMB IN THIS CHALLENGED
CONDITION, VERY LIKELY
YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABORTED
IN THE WOMB.
WOULD YOU AGREE THAT SEEMS
TO BE THE TREND
AND THE THINKING IN AMERICA
TODAY ON THE PART
OF MANY, MANY PEOPLE?
Chet: ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN MY WIFE AND I WERE
PREGNANT WITH OUR FIRST CHILD,
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE
ON THE WAY NOW, BY THE WAY,
WHEN WE WERE PREGNANT
WITH OUR FIST CHILD,
OUR DOCTOR ASKED TO HAVE
A LEVEL TWO SONOGRAM
TO MAKE SURE THE BABY
WAS FORMING PROPERLY.
OF COURSE ME BEING WHO I AM
AND THE VIEWS I HAVE
IMMEDIATELY SAID, "WHY WOULD
YOU WANT TO DO THAT?"
AND SHE SAID, "NOW SLOW DOWN.
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO REALIZE
IF SOMETHING IS WRONG,
WE'RE GOING TO WANT
SPECIALISTS IN THE ROOM,
WE'RE GOING TO WANT
EVERY PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE
OF INFORMATION THAT
WE CAN HAVE IN ORDER THAT
THIS CHILD HAVE
THE BEST CHANCE AT LIFE."
AND THEN SHE STOPPED AND SAID,
"AND SOME PARENTS, IF THEY SEE
AN IMPERFECT IMAGE
ON THE SCREEN AT THIS POINT
WOULD CHOOSE TO TERMINATE."
AND THERE WAS THIS AWKWARD
SILENCE IN THE ROOM AND THEN
A SMILE ESCAPED HER LIPS
AS SHE SAID, "I'M GUESSING
YOU'RE NOT ONE
OF THOSE PEOPLE."
[Laughter]
Jim: WE WANT TO PRESENT
A STORY OF HIS SUCCESS
AND YET, I WANT TO SAY VERY
CLEARLY, IT WAS DIFFICULT.
THERE WAS A MAJOR BLOW
TO OUR THINKING, TO WHO
WE WERE AND WHAT WE WOULD DO.
YOU WOULD APPRECIATE THIS,
BETTY AS A MOTHER.
WE USED TO STAND OVER
HIS CRIB AT NIGHT AND CRY.
AND THEN WE FINALLY DECIDED
THAT WASN'T DOING HIM
ANY GOOD, WASN'T DOING US
ANY GOOD AND WE WOULD REAR HIM
THEN JUST LIKE WE WERE TRYING
TO REAR THE OTHER TWO,
TO HAVE A FULL RICH LIFE.
AND IF YOU COULD HEAR
SOME OF THE STORIES
OF HIS LIFE YOU'D KNOW
THAT NOTHING WAS HELD BACK.
HE WAS FULL STEAM ALL THE WAY.
James: I THINK HE TELLS
SOME OF THE STORIES HERE.
BY THE WAY, HERE'S AN ADDRESS,
THERE'S A WEB SITE WHERE
YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN FIND OUT
HOW TO GET THIS BOOK BUT
ALSO HOW YOU COULD GET CHET
TO COME AND COMMUNICATE
AND JIM IS QUITE
THE COMMUNICATOR HIMSELF,
A PASTOR,
AND A WONDERFUL FATHER.
CHET'S WIFE IS OUT HERE
AND THEY'VE GOT A BABY
COMING VERY, VERY SOON.
JIM'S WIFE JUDY IS THERE,
CHET'S MOTHER,
AND YOU'RE JUST BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.
I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS, CHET.
WHEN DID LIFE BECOME
CHALLENGING TO YOU?
Chet: EARLY ON OTHER KIDS
SAW ME JUST MAYBE AS DIFFERENT
BUT NOT ANYTHING TO HAVE
ANY CONCERN ABOUT.
IT WASN'T AN ISSUE
IN CONVERSATION
IN PLAYING TOGETHER.
BUT IN JUNIOR HIGH, I BECAME
THE TARGET OF BULLIES.
I BECAME THE ONE
THAT WAS RIDICULED.
I REMEMBER TIMES WHERE
THE BULLYING WAS SO BAD,
NOT NECESSARILY PHYSICAL;
IN FACT THE PHYSICAL WAS EASY
TO TAKE BECAUSE I WOULD
CHALLENGE THE BULLIES
RIGHT BACK.
"IF YOU'RE GOING TO THROW
A PUNCH AT ME I'M GOING
TO HIT YOU WITH
MY 400-POUND WHEELCHAIR.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS."
[Laughter]
IT WAS THE VERBAL ABUSE
THAT HURT.
IT WAS THE KID THAT WAS
BARELY BIGGER THAN I WAS
AND WHAT HIS TONGUE COULD DO.
I REMEMBER TIMES
IN JUNIOR HIGH THAT NOT ONLY
DID I NOT WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL
THE NEXT DAY, I CAN REMEMBER
TIMES THAT I DID NOT WANT
TO WAKE UP.
IT WAS THAT BAD.
THE DISCOURSE IN OUR NATION
RIGHT NOW YOU HEAR ADULTS SAY,
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW KIDS
ARE KILLING THEMSELVES
OVER BEING BULLIED."
AND I LIKE TO STAND UP
AND SAY, "I CAN.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT'S LIKE.
I UNDERSTAND THOSE THOUGHTS."
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR
A VERY SUPPORTIVE FAMILY,
A DEEPENING FAITH
AT THAT POINT WITH GOD,
BECAUSE WHO ELSE
DO YOU TURN TO?
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD
BE FRONT OF YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'D BE ALIVE.
BUT IT WAS AT THAT POINT
WHERE I DECIDED EITHER
THIS BECOMES MY FAITH
AND I SERVE HIM OR I'M OUT.
I DON'T NEED TO BE HERE
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO DO THIS.
EITHER THEY DON'T KNOW,
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TAUGHT,
BUT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
James: SOMEBODY FELL IN LOVE
WITH YOU WHEN YOU WERE GOING
THROUGH SOME OF THAT.
Chet: SHE DID!
SHE DID!
JOANIE AND I MET
IN JUNIOR HIGH,
IN CHURCH TOGETHER.
WE DATED FOR ABOUT
NINE MONTHS.
THE BREAK UP WAS SO BAD
THAT WE DID NOT SPEAK
TO EACH OTHER FOR THREE
OR FOUR YEARS AFTERWARDS.
YOU KNOW HOW SILLY
KIDS CAN BE.
WE'VE OFTEN TALKED --
NEITHER ONE OF US EVEN REMEMBER
WHAT THE BREAK UP WAS ABOUT.
THEN WE WENT TO DIFFERENT
COLLEGES AND CAME HOME
AND BECAME BEST FRIENDS;
WANTED TO BE AROUND EACH OTHER
ALL THE TIME; SPENT ABOUT
A YEAR JUST BEING BEST FRIENDS
AND HAVING FUN.
THEN ONE DAY I REMEMBER
PULLING OVER AND TURNING
TO HER BEFORE SHE GOT OUT
TO GO HOME, AND WE WERE
IN MY VAN, AND I SAID,
"LOOK, I'VE NEVER BEEN GOOD
AT THIS WHOLE DATING THING
SO I LOVE YOU AND
I WANT TO GET MARRIED."
I THINK SHE GRINNED AND SAID,
"FINALLY!"
SHE SAYS THAT SHE HAD BEEN
THINKING THAT FOR A LONG TIME
AND WAS WAITING FOR ME
TO TELL HER HOW I FELT.
WHEN IT REALLY CEMENTED FOR ME
THAT I HAD FOUND THE ONE WAS
-- I THINK ON OUR FIRST
OR SECOND OFFICIAL DATE,
I REMEMBER SITTING ON THE COUCH
WITH HER AND I TURNED TO HER
AND SAID, "NOW LOOK, I DON'T
HAVE ANY INTEREST IF THIS
IS SHORT TERM.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE
TO ME, I WANT THIS TO BE
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
AND IF YOU DO TOO THERE
HAS GOT TO BE SOME THINGS
THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO HELP WITH THAT MOST WIVES
ARE NOT EVER GOING
TO HAVE HELP WITH."
AND I STARTED DOWN THAT LIST
AND SHE STOPPED ME AND SAID,
"DO YOU THINK THAT IF I HAD
A PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SAY I WOULD
HAVE SAID 'YES' TO DATING YOU?"
I SAID, "NO."
SHE GOES THEN WE'RE DONE
TALKING ABOUT IT.
AND I NEVER ASKED AGAIN.
James: SHE IS A SPECIAL GIRL.
Jim: JAMES, SHE HAS IN THAT
OTHER BOOK THERE, THE ONE
THAT I WROTE, SHE HAS A LETTER
IN THERE THAT I HAD TO TWIST
HER ARM TO GET PERMISSION
TO PRINT, PUT IN THE BOOK
THAT SHE WROTE TO HER FAMILY
SAYING, "OKAY BEFORE YOU MEET
MY FIANCÉ, HE LOOKS DIFFERENT
PHYSICALLY BUT I WANT YOU
TO KNOW THAT HE IS AS DEEPLY
SPIRITUAL AS ANYONE
I'VE EVER MET AND WILL MAKE
A GREAT HEAD OF HOUSE FOR
MY HOUSEHOLD... HIS HOUSEHOLD."
Betty: TELL ME AS PARENTS,
AND YOU SEE YOUR SON
AND HIS FAMILY, HOW DO YOU
LOOK ON THIS?
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING
GOD HAS DONE!
Jim: WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING
GOD HAS DONE, YOU ARE
SO RIGHT TO SAY IT THAT WAY.
WE SWELL WITH PRIDE.
I GET TO GO WITH HIM.
SOMETIMES WE SPEAK TOGETHER
AND SOMETIMES I'M JUST
IN THE BACK SELLING THE BOOKS.
I TELL YOU, I COME AWAY
INSPIRED EVERY TIME.
I LOOK AT THAT HORRIBLE
BEGINNING AND HOW ROCKED
WE WERE AND THEN I SEE
HE IS RUNNING TWO BUSINESSES,
HAS A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY,
DRIVES ABOUT ALL OVER THE PLACE
WITH THIS VAN THAT IS HANDICAP
EQUIPPED FOR HIM TO DRIVE
AND THAT BRIGHT HAPPY SPIRIT.
HE'S BEEN A WORSHIP LEADER
IN A CHURCH, A WORSHIP PASTOR,
JUST EVERYTHING -- EXCEEDING,
ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL WE COULD
ASK OR THINK, EPHESIANS 3:20,
I SEE IT IN HIM AND I GIVE GOD
ALL THE CREDIT.
James: YOU KNOW YOUR STORY,
CHET, IS IN THIS DVD
THAT GOVERNOR HUCKABEE
AND THE CITIZENS UNITED
ORGANIZATION DID AND
YOUR TESTIMONY IS JUST
REALLY INSPIRING
IN THE SPECIAL DOCUMENTARY.
MY STORY IS THERE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW,
I'M A PRODUCT OF A FORCED
SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP ON
A 40-YEAR-OLD PRACTICAL NURSE
AND SHE CONCEIVED
AND A DOCTOR REFUSED
TO ABORT ME AND I WAS
ALLOWED TO BE BORN.
MY STORY IS HERE.
I REALLY WISH YOU'D GET
THE DVD.
I WISH YOU WOULD PLAY IT
IN YOUR HOME CHURCH.
IT'S OF THE QUALITY --
IT'S LIKE GOVERNOR HUCKABEE
SAID, THERE WERE
FOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
SITTING IN FRONT OF IT
THE FIRST TIME IT WAS PREMIERED
AND THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE
IN THE HOUSE,
THERE WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY,
OVERFLOWED THE HUGE AUDITORIUM
THEY WERE IN.
GOVERNOR HUCKABEE SAID
IT WAS AWE-INSPIRING BUT
IT HAD A TRANSFORMING EFFECT.
WE WILL SEND IT TO YOU;
PLAY IT IN YOUR
BIBLE STUDY GROUP.
ALL WE ASK YOU TO DO
IS HELP US HELP OTHERS.
WHAT DO YOU WANT, JIM
AND CHET?
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE
TO HEAR TODAY WHEN WE'RE FACING
RAMPANT ABORTIONS AS THOUGH
IT IS JUST BIRTH CONTROL?
AND EVEN HAVING ARGUMENTS
ABOUT BEING SURE THAT
EVEN SOME CHURCH GROUPS
MUST BE SURE YOU PROVIDE IT
INCLUDING ABORTION AND THEN
THE TAX FUNDING AND NOW
ALL THE CONCERNS WHERE
PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS BECOME
THE MAJOR ABORTION CLINICS
IN MANY INSTANCES WHEN
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE
TO HELP CARE FOR WOMEN
AND TO LOOK AFTER THEM
AND BENEFIT THEM AND YET
THEY'RE TAKING INNOCENT LIFE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT AMERICA
TO HEAR AND CONSIDER?
Jim: FIRST I HAVE TO CONFESS
THAT I HAVE TO FIGHT ANGER.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS LIFE
NOT BEING HERE?
SO I HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET
ANGRY AND THEN I HAVE TO PULL
BACK WITHIN MY CHRISTIAN
PERSPECTIVE AND SAY, "I WANT
TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE SEE THAT
GOD IS GREAT AND THAT HE CAN
TAKE A PHYSICAL BODY THAT IS
NOT RIGHT AND GIVE THAT PERSON
A LIFE THAT IS PERHAPS
MORE ABUNDANT THAN MINE."
SO WHY WOULD YOU THINK
OF ABORTING?
AND EVEN IF THE LIFE
IS TROUBLED, IF IT ISN'T
AS FULL AND RICH AND HAPPY
AS CHET'S, IT'S STILL A LIFE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT
TO SAY THIS ONE SHOULD LIVE
AND THIS ONE SHOULDN'T.
THAT'S GOD'S CHOICE
AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS
TRYING TO GET INTO
HIS REALM WITH THAT DECISION.
Chet: I THINK THAT'S THE KEY.
IS THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO PLAY GOD ULTIMATELY.
IT'S THAT HUMANISTIC DESIRE
TO BE MORE THAN WE ARE
IN THE WRONG WAY.
SO WE'VE GOT A CULTURE
THAT SAYS, NOT ONLY IS IT OKAY
TO ABORT BUT LET'S TAKE IT
EVEN FURTHER AND SAY
WE'RE BEING HUMANE,
IF IT IS NOT JUST A DECISION,
WE'RE BEING MORE HUMANE
OR MERCIFUL TO ABORT A BABY
WHO DOESN'T HAVE ARMS
OR MIGHT HAVE DOWN SYNDROME
OR ANY OTHER THING THAT WE CAN
SEE ON A SONOGRAM SCREEN.
BUT THE POINT IS, IT'S NOT
MORE MERCIFUL TO TAKE AWAY
LIFE IN ANY SITUATION.
NO MATTER WHAT THERE IS
NO CASE THAT YOU CAN MAKE
TO SAY YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING
GOOD BY TAKING AWAY LIFE.
LIFE IS FROM GOD
AND WE'VE GOT TO RESPECT THAT,
WE'VE GOT TO HONOR THAT,
AND WE'VE GOT TO LOVE IT!
James: YOU KNOW WHEN YOU START
WITH AN UNDERSTANDING
OF THAT LOVE PROCESS,
WHEN YOU LOVE LIFE
AND YOU TREASURE IT
AND YOU VALUE IT
AND YOU SEE IT AS
THE PRECIOUS GIFT
OF A GREAT AND LOVING GOD
AND YOU TREASURE IT,
EVERYTHING IN LIFE
IS ENHANCED IMMEDIATELY
AND BLESSED.
WE ARE SO OFTEN BLESSED
BY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
SEEM EXTREME THAT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE DEALT WITH
INDESCRIBABLE CHALLENGES,
THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH
STORY AFTER STORY OF WHAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN HOPELESS
WITHOUT GOD AND IT BECAME
INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US.
WE REALLY DO HAVE SOME
SERIOUS ISSUES WE'RE FACING
IN AMERICA.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS
ANY ONE ANYMORE SERIOUS
THAN THIS ONE.
THIS IS A YEAR
TO CHOOSE LEADERS.
IS THERE ANYTHING MORE
IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER
THAN THE VALUE OF LIFE
AND PROTECTING IT?
AND IS THERE ANY LIFE
MORE HELPLESS, MORE INNOCENT,
MORE VULNERABLE
THAN LIFE IN THE WOMB?
FATHER, HEAL OUR LAND.
THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE
TESTIMONY OF THIS FAMILY
AND OF CHET AND HIS WIFE,
MOM AND DAD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE
AND YOUR LOVE.
HEAL OUR LAND; IN JESUS' NAME.
LISTEN TO ME.
THIS IS THE YEAR FOR
EVERY PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS
THE VALUE OF LIFE,
WHO UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE
OF FAITH, OF FAMILY,
AND OF FREEDOM TO REGISTER
TO VOTE, TO PRAYERFULLY
CONSIDER WHO YOU SUPPORT
AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THE ELECTION
IS TO SET THE COURSE
FOR A NEW DIRECTION.
THAT'S WHY JAY RICHARDS
AND I JOINED TOGETHER AS
A LEADING RESPECTED CATHOLIC
AND A VERY VISIBLE PROTESTANT,
AND JOINED TOGETHER ON
THE ISSUES THAT CONCERN US
TO FIND THE COMMON GROUND
TO ADDRESS OUR VERY LEGITIMATE
COMMON CONCERNS.
THIS IS THE TIME FOR THE LIGHT
THAT'S BEEN HIDDEN
TO SUDDENLY BECOME
THE SHINING CITY ON A HILL
THAT CANNOT
AND WILL NOT BE HIDDEN.
WOULD YOU SAY THANKS
TO CHET AND TO JIM?
[Applause]
AND THANKS BE TO GOD
FOR YOUR WITNESS
AND YOUR TESTIMONY,
BOTH OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
HOW WE LOVE YOU
AND THANK GOD FOR YOU.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING
THAT YOUR FIRST INCLINATION
WILL BE TO LOOK AWAY FROM.
PLEASE DON'T.
I'M ASKING YOU AND
I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING
TO FIND IT VERY EASY TO DO,
I'M ASKING YOU TO ASK GOD
TO LET YOU SEE AS HE SEES.
AND THEN ASK HIM TO SHOW YOU
HOW YOU COULD RESPOND THE WAY
JESUS WOULD BECAUSE
WE ARE TOGETHER HIS BODY.
WATCH CLOSELY.
§
§ OH, YOU CAN'T HEAR ME CRY §
§ SEE MY DREAMS ALL DIE §
§ FROM WHERE YOU'RE STANDING §
§ ON YOUR OWN §
§ IT'S SO QUIET HERE §
§ AND I FEEL SO COLD §
§ THIS HOUSE NO LONGER FEELS LIKE HOME §
§ HOO, OOH HOO, §
§ MMM, MMM, MMM §
§ HOO, OOH HOO, §
§ MMM, MMM, MMM §
§ OH, WHOA, OHH OH §
§ OH, WHOA, OHH OH §
§ HEY YEAH YEAH YEAH §
§ YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH §
§ WHOA OH WHOA OH §
§ WHOA OH WHOA OH §
§ HEY YEAH YEAH YEAH §
§ YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH §
§ YOU CAN'T HEAR ME CRY §
§ SEE MY DREAMS ALL DIE §
§ FROM WHERE YOU'RE STANDING §
§ ON YOUR OWN §
§ IT'S SO QUIET HERE §
§ AND I FEEL SO COLD §
§ THIS HOUSE NO LONGER FEELS LIKE HOME §
James: WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN YOUR HEART, HONEY,
AS YOU WATCH THAT?
Betty: AS I'M LOOKING AT THAT,
I THINK, CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED
TO OUTLIVE THEIR PARENTS.
THAT'S THE WAY
GOD CREATED US TO BE
AND EACH GENERATION
TO BRING HOPE AND YOUTH
AND TO BRING ENCOURAGEMENT
AND LOVE, PASS IT ON.
THESE CHILDREN ARE DYING
BEFORE THEIR PARENTS.
THESE MOTHERS
ARE WATCHING THEIR BABIES
JUST DIE IN THEIR ARMS.
IT'S A SIMPLE SOLUTION...
THEY NEED FOOD.
James: I JUST LOOK AT THEM
AND I JUST SEE PRECIOUS,
PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS...
LITTLE LIVES.
I WON'T EVER GET USED
TO LOOKING AT THEM
AND I WON'T EVER LOOK AWAY
BECAUSE I SEE THEM
AS SUCH A TREASURE.
I LOOK AT THAT LITTLE BOY,
HIS FACE PRESSED UP, OBVIOUSLY,
I GUESS AGAINST HIS MOTHER.
I THOUGHT HE WAS SO PRETTY.
I SAW THREE CHILDREN STANDING.
THE TALLER CHILD HAD ON KIND OF
A NICE LITTLE AFRICAN DRESS,
AND I SAW THEM HUNGRY
AND I THOUGHT, I WONDER
WHO WOULD FEED THOSE THREE?
I SEE FAMILIES THAT ARE HUNGRY
AND THE PARENTS ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
AND I'M SAYING
I KNOW THAT MOTHER IS HURTING.
AND I KNOW THAT IN SUDAN,
WHICH IS WHERE THOSE PICTURES
WERE TAKEN, WHERE THEY'RE
BEING PERSECUTED TERRIBLY
AS THE SOUTHERN HALF
IS BROKEN AWAY FROM
THE VERY ABUSIVE NORTHERN PART
OF RADICAL ISLAMIC EXTREMISM,
AND THESE PEOPLE PRAY.
I KNOW BECAUSE OUR MISSION TEAM
ASKED THEM, DO YOU PRAY? YES.
DO YOU KNOW JESUS? YES.
AND THEY'RE PRAYING
FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
AND YOU'RE THE ANSWER.
YOU, HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
AND CANADA AND AUSTRALIA
AND ALL OVER THE WORLD,
YOU'RE THE ANSWER
TO THEIR PRAYERS.
YOU SAY, HOW DO I DO IT?
OKAY, THE MISSION WORKERS
ARE THERE.
WE'RE FEEDING HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.
YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THEM.
THEY REPRESENT THE THOUSANDS.
THEY'RE EACH ONE, THAT PRECIOUS
TO GOD AND TO THEIR FAMILY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO DIAL
THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW
AND TAKE YOUR BANKCARD
AND USE IT THE BEST WAY
YOU'LL USE IT IN YOUR LIFE,
AND THAT'S TO GIVE LIFE.
I'M ASKING YOU
IF YOU CAN GIVE $1,000
AND HELP US FEED 100 CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT MONTHS OR GIVE
$100 AND HELP US FEED TEN,
OR $50 AND HELP US FEED FIVE
OR THE THREE I REFERENCED,
GIVE $30?
WHATEVER YOU CAN DO,
I'M ASKING YOU
TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
FATHER, I PRAY
EVERY PERSON WATCHING
WILL SIMPLY GET UP,
GO TO THE PHONE,
GET THEIR BANKCARD AND SAY,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M GOING TO BE AN ANSWER
TO THAT MOTHER'S PRAYER
AND THOSE MISSIONARIES PRAYER.
I'M GOING TO EXPRESS
YOUR HEART, GOD,
AND EXTEND YOUR HANDS GOD.
I'M GOING TO SAVE LIVES TODAY
AND I'M GOING
TO REJOICE IN IT."
GOD HELP THEM TO DO IT.
IN JESUS' NAME.
NOW DO WHAT
GOD TELLS YOU TO DO.
IF YOU WANT TO GO ONLINE,
LifeToday.org, MAKE THE GIFT
THERE OR YOU CAN WRITE A CHECK.
MAKE IT TO LIFE, THAT'S WHAT
YOU'RE GIVING, LIFE,
BUT CALL THE NUMBER
AND TELL US YOU'RE MAILING IT
AND THEN MAIL IT.
AND THANK YOU
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WILL.
I FEEL LIKE YOU WILL BECAUSE
I FEEL YOU'VE IDENTIFIED
WITH GOD'S HEART AND YOU'RE
GOING TO EXPRESS HIS HEART
BY EXTENDING HANDS OF LOVE,
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE
YOU'RE DOING AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR IT
BECAUSE LIFE IS PRECIOUS
AND WE CAN SAVE THOSE LIVES.
THIS IS NOT
AN INCURABLE DISEASE.
WE'VE GOT THE ANSWER
IN OUR HAND.
WOULD YOU RELEASE IT?
THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
Announcer: AT THIS VERY MOMENT, A CHILD IS DRAWING HIS LAST BREATH
STRUGGLING TO STAY ALIVE DUE TO A LACK OF FOOD.
SADLY, THIS IMPOVERISHED CHILD IS NOT ALONE
AND WITHOUT OUR HELP MANY LIKE HIM FACE DEATH AS WELL.
TODAY YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
-- YOU CAN HELP SAVE A LIFE.
LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING TEAMS ARE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW,
READY TO ANSWER THE HUNGER CRIES
OF 400,000 SUFFERING CHILDREN IN REMOTE AREAS OF AFRICA.
WITH PREVIOUS FOOD RESERVES GONE AND PARTS OF AFRICA
FACING ITS WORST FAMINE AND FOOD SHORTAGE
IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES,
WE DESPERATELY NEED TO REPLENISH OUR SUPPLIES IMMEDIATELY!
YOUR LIFE-SAVING GIFT OF $30, $50, OR $100
WILL HELP FEED AND CARE FOR THREE, FIVE, OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THREE FULL MONTHS.
WITH YOUR GIFT, WE'LL SEND YOU THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE.
THIS BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WILL HELP YOUR CHILDREN
DISCOVER FOR THEMSELVES THAT JESUS IS AT THE CENTER
OF GOD'S GREAT STORY OF SALVATION,
AND AT THE CENTER OF THEIR LIVES TOO!
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 OR MORE TO HELP FEED TEN CHILDREN,
YOU MAY REQUEST OUR NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
AND NEW KING JAMES SIDE-BY-SIDE BIBLE
WITH A TWO-COLUMN FORMAT FOR EASY COMPARISON.
FINALLY, PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP FEED AND SAVE THE LIVES OF 100 CHILDREN,
AND YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST "THE LION AND THE LAMB" BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY!
James: I WANT TO MENTION
IF YOU DO WANT THE GIFT OF LIFE
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY,
AND IT WILL BLESS YOU
AND YOU'LL WANT TO SHOW IT
TO YOUR CONGREGATION,
YOUR BIBLE STUDY GROUPS,
OR CIVIC CLUBS,
WE ARE SENDING THE CHILDREN'S
JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE.
WOW! AND THEN THE SIDE-BY-SIDE
BIBLE, THE NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION/NEW KING JAMES VERSION.
IF YOU WANT THE BOOK,
INDIVISIBLE
IT'S IN THE BOOKSTORES.
WE HAVE REALLY ADDRESSED
THE ISSUE OF RIGHT TO LIFE,
PRECIOUSNESS OF LIFE
AND EVERY MAJOR ISSUE
OF CONCERN TO PRAY ABOUT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IT
WE'LL GLADLY SEND IT TO YOU,
JUST HELP US CARE
FOR THESE CHILDREN.
JOIN BETTY AND ME AGAIN
IN SAYING JUST AN INCREDIBLE
THANKS TO THIS INCREDIBLE
YOUNG MAN AND HIS FAMILY,
CHET MCDONIEL.
WOULD YOU SAY THANKS
TO JIM AND CHET?
THERE IS THE WEB SITE AGAIN
IF YOU WANT CHET TO COME
AND COMMUNICATE IN YOUR CHURCH,
SHARE HIS STORY,
YOU INVITE HIM.
YOU WANT TO GET THE BOOKS,
THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
THANKS SO MUCH!
THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR BEING WITH US.
THANKS FOR SHARING LIFE!
§
Announcer: CONNECT WITH LIFE TODAY
THROUGH YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
JUST GO TO lifetoday.org AND CLICK CONNECT.