Announcer:
NEXT ON LIFE TODAY.
JAMES AND BETTY
SHARE WITH SHEILA WALSH
A FEW MIRACULOUS STORIES
FROM THE THE PAST
AND EXPLAIN
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
TO LIVE AMAZED.
Sheila: YOU,
THROUGH THIS BOOK
HAVE BECOME
A LIVING EXAMPLE
OF WHAT I BELIEVE
PROFOUNDLY.
AND THAT IS,
IN CHRIST
YOUR HISTORY DOES NOT
DICTATE YOUR DESTINY.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE
WHO START OFF IN A ROUGH PLACE
AND THEY THINK THIS IS HOW
MY LIFE IS GOING TO BE.
YOU COULD NOT
HAVE STARTED OFF
IN A MORE
ROUGH PLACE.
♪
Betty: THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US ON LIFE TODAY.
I'M BETTY AND THIS IS JAMES.
WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE
SHEILA WALSH WITH US.
James: WE ARE!
AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
THE BOOK LIVING AMAZED.
NOW PLEASE HEAR THIS.
YOU WERE DESIGNED,
DESTINED TO LIVE AMAZED.
NOT ONLY EXPERIENCING
AMAZING GRACE
BUT RELEASING AMAZING LOVE,
OFTENTIMES FORGIVENESS,
THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE AMAZING
IN ORDER FOR YOU TO EVEN
FORGIVE IN SOME INSTANCES.
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT
THAT YOU ARE A CHOSEN PERSON.
YOU'RE NOT OVERLOOKED.
YOU'RE NOT UNIMPORTANT.
YOU MAY LOOK
AT SOME CHRISTIANS
AND HEAR SOME TEACHERS
AND SPEAKERS, PREACHERS
THAT YOU THINK
MY, THEY'RE GIFTED --
OR I HEAR DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND,
THERE IS NO ONE INSIGNIFICANT
IN THE EYES OF GOD
OR THE HEART OF GOD
OR THE KINGDOM PURPOSE OF GOD.
I WAS THE KID
THAT WAS NOT PICKED.
I WAS THE KID
THAT DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER.
I WAS THE KID
THAT WASN'T EXPECTED.
AND YET, COULD GOD USE A BOY
THAT DIDN'T GET PICKED
EVEN WHEN THEY PICKED TEAMS
TO PLAY A GAME?
I MOVED SO MUCH
NO ONE KNEW ME.
I LIVED LONELY.
COULD GOD DO SOMETHING
AMAZING WITH ME?
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT
AFTER DATING,
AND YOU DID LIKE ME,
CAN YOU FIGURE OUT
WHY YOU LIKED ME?
Betty: I STILL LIKE YOU!
James: WHEN WE WERE YOUNG,
WHAT WAS IT?
Betty: WELL, I THOUGHT
YOU WERE AWFULLY CUTE.
[Laughing]
James: OH MY! SOUNDS SO GOOD.
I DON'T EVER
HEAR THAT ANYMORE.
Betty: I MEAN,
YOU ARE AWFULLY CUTE!
NOT YOU WERE.
James: I'M JUST
A GRAY HEADED OLD MAN.
BUT HERE'S THE DEAL.
YOU WATCHED WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN REALLY THE BIRTHING,
IN SO MANY WAYS,
OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
Betty: ABSOLUTELY.
I WAS THERE
WHEN GOD CALLED YOU TO PREACH
AND THERE WAS SHOCK
ACROSS THE WHOLE CHURCH.
WHAT IS SO AMAZING TO ME
IS HOW GOD'S TIMING
IS SO PERFECT
WHEN HE IS GETTING READY
TO DO SOMETHING
THAT IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.
JUST THE FACT
THAT YOU WERE A BOY
THAT DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE
AT THIS YOUTH REVIVAL
THAT WHOLE WEEK.
SO I WOULD MAKE SURE
YOU WERE THAT WEEK,
I GOT YOU ELECTED
AS YOUTH PASTOR.
James: THANKS A LOT!
Betty: SO YOU HAD TO GET UP
AND ANNOUNCE THE YOUTH PASTOR
EVERY NIGHT.
I FEEL LIKE
THAT WAS SO MUCH GOD'S PLAN;
EVEN I WASN'T AWARE OF
WHAT HIS PLAN WAS GOING TO BE,
THE BEGINNING OF IT.
BUT GOD DID SOMETHING SPECIAL
THAT FRIDAY NIGHT.
James: HERE WE ARE IN OUR 70s,
WOULD YOU SAY THAT
YOU'RE WATCHING SOMEONE
CONTINUE TO LIVE AMAZED
AND YOU LIVE AMAZED
WATCHING WHAT GOD IS DOING?
Betty: YES, ABSOLUTELY!
JUST OUR WHOLE JOURNEY
AS A COUPLE
AND OUR FAMILY
AND THE JOURNEY
GOD'S TAKEN US ON
THROUGH YOUR CRUSADES
AND CONFERENCES
AND NOW ON TELEVISION
AND MISSION FIELD,
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE
GOING TO A MISSION FIELD.
THAT WAS THE LAST THING.
I SAID, "GOD, PLEASE
DON'T MAKE ME A MISSIONARY.
PLEASE DON'T SEND ME THERE!"
BUT GOD DID.
WE ARE MISSIONARIES.
WE DON'T STAY OVER THERE
BUT WE ARE PART
OF THE MISSION OUTREACH
BECAUSE WE ASK PEOPLE TO HELP
AND TO SUPPORT MISSIONARIES
THAT GOD HAS SENT
INTO THOSE PLACES.
James: IT IS OUR VIEWERS
AND THIS IS THE THING.
PEOPLE DON'T SEEM
TO UNDERSTAND
BUT YOU ENABLE THE PEOPLE
WITH A BROKEN HEART
AND GREAT COMPASSION
AND A GIFT TO PUT LOVING ARMS
AROUND SUFFERING PEOPLE
AND TO RECOGNIZE THEM
AND SEE THE NEED AND KNOW
HOW TO ADDRESS IT EFFECTIVELY
BUT THEY COULDN'T IF YOU,
AS AN INDIVIDUAL
DIDN'T PRAY FOR THEM
AND EVEN UNDERGIRD THEM.
WELCOME SHEILA WALSH.
WE'RE GLAD SHEILA'S WITH US.
Sheila: LOVE YOU GUYS!
James: YOU ARE A READER.
YOU ACTUALLY ENJOY IT.
YOU DON'T DO IT
AS AN ASSIGNMENT.
YOU ENJOY IT.
YOU TOLD ME
THAT LIVING AMAZED
BLESSED YOU AND INSPIRED YOU.
WHY?
Sheila: BECAUSE YOU,
THROUGH THIS BOOK
HAVE BECOME A LIVING EXAMPLE
OF WHAT I BELIEVE PROFOUNDLY
AND THAT IS
IN CHRIST YOUR HISTORY
DOES NOT DICTATE YOUR DESTINY.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE
WHO START OFF IN A ROUGH PLACE
AND THEY THINK, THIS IS HOW
MY LIFE IS GOING TO BE.
YOU COULD NOT HAVE STARTED OFF
IN A MORE ROUGH PLACE.
I MEAN YOUR DARLING MOTHER,
40 YEARS OLD, RAPED, PREGNANT,
WENT TO GET A TERMINATION
AND FOR REASONS ONLY KNOWN
TO GOD AND TO HEAVEN,
THE DOCTOR SAID NO.
YOU WEREN'T EVEN MEANT
TO TAKE A BREATH, JAMES,
NEVER MIND LIVE AMAZED.
BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU
TO UNPACK THAT TITLE.
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING
HONESTLY, I'M LIVING DAZED,
NEVER MIND AMAZED.
[Laughter]
WHAT DOES IT MEAN
TO LIVE AMAZED?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
James: IT IS VERY
DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN
BECAUSE IT IS SO AMAZING.
BUT LET ME JUST TELL YOU THIS.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE READ
IN THE BIBLE THAT WAS EXCITING
AND SEEMING TO BE MIRACULOUS
OR EVEN BEYOND REACH,
I'VE EXPERIENCED IT.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED
THE MIRACULOUS HEALINGS.
WE HAD A WOMAN HEALED,
BETTY WAS THERE IN AFRICA,
WHO DIDN'T HAVE ANY PUPILS,
HER EYES WERE GRAY MATTER
AND SHE SAW PERFECTLY
INSTANTLY.
INTERESTING THING, SHEILA,
THERE WERE NO DOUBTERS
IN THE CROWD.
THEY HAD NEVER
LEARNED TO DOUBT
WHAT GOD MIGHT HAVE SAID.
SO WHEN WE PROCLAIM
GOD HEALS THE BLIND
THEY NEVER QUESTION IT,
THEY JUST REACHED UP.
I WENT THROUGH
A PERIOD OF TIME
THAT EVERYBODY I PRAYED FOR
WAS HEALED INSTANTLY.
I MEAN INSTANTLY!
THIS WAS AN AMAZING VISIT;
LIKE WHEN I WENT TO SEE
ORAL ROBERTS.
I HAD A FANTASTIC ENCOUNTER
WITH HIM WHERE I JUST SAID,
"I'VE COME
TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU.
I MADE FUN OF YOU.
I HELPED PUSH YOU OUT
TO BE AN ISLAND
UNTO YOURSELF."
I SAID,
"I THINK A LOT OF THE CHURCH
DID THAT TO YOU, SIR."
I SAID,
"I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR PRAYING FOR THE SICK
BECAUSE ALL OF US
SHOULD BE PRAYING
FOR THE SICK."
HE STARTS WEEPING.
AND ORAL LOOKS AT ME
AND HE SAYS, "I'M SO LONELY.
I'VE BEEN LONELY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING."
I BROUGHT CHURCH LEADERS
FROM EVERYWHERE
TO MEET WITH HIM.
IT WAS LIKE
A GREAT RESTORATION MOMENT.
I SAID TO ORAL,
"I'VE SEEN THE MIRACULOUS
BUT I FEEL LIKE GOD
IS IMPRESSING ON ME
THAT HE DOESN'T WANT
THE MIRACULOUS TO BE A PART
OF A SOMEBODY'S OUTREACH
OR A SOMEBODY'S MINISTRY
BUT THE MINISTRY
OF THE BODY OF CHRIST."
HE LEANED FORWARD,
HE SAID, "OH, FOR SO LONG
I'VE WANTED THE CHURCH
TO UNDERSTAND THAT;
THAT IT IS THE BODY OF CHRIST,
NOT THE SOMEBODIES,
NOT THE GIFTED."
ANY ONE OF US
CAN BE THE CHANNEL
THROUGH WHICH GOD FLOWS
MIRACULOUS POWER
AND BLESSINGS.
Sheila: THAT'S WHAT'S AMAZING
ABOUT THIS BOOK, THOUGH.
I'M A GREAT FAN OF BIOGRAPHIES
AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
AND I'VE READ THE GREAT BOOKS
OF CHURCHILL
AND DIFFERENT LEADERS.
THE THING THAT'S AMAZING
ABOUT THIS IS YOU ARE
OPENING UP THIS WORLD
TO EVERY SINGLE BELIEVER.
ONE OF THE MOST
AMAZING STORIES, THOUGH,
IN THIS BOOK,
BECAUSE PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU
AND THEY KNOW ALL THE CRUSADES
AND ALL THE YEARS
WHEN YOU WERE
THIS POWERFUL PREACHER.
I THINK OF THE STORY IN HERE
WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT,
YOU SEE SOME KIDS
IN A PARKING LOT
AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE
YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
I WANT YOU TO TALK
ABOUT THE FACT
THAT GOD MEANT YOU TO HAVE
AN ENCOUNTER THERE
BUT HOW THE ENEMY
CAN TRY AND KEEP US AWAY
FROM WHAT GOD WANTS,
SOUNDED PRETTY REASON.
TALK ABOUT THAT.
James: THE STORY BEGINS IN
THE BOOK AND I REALLY DON'T
WANT TO TELL THE WHOLE STORY
BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO READ IT.
HERE'S WHAT I DO WANT TO SAY.
I WAS IN COVERALLS;
I HAD WORKED ALL DAY.
I DID NOT LOOK GOOD.
I HADN'T SHAVED,
I HADN'T COMBED MY HAIR.
I WAS PRETTY SLOPPY.
MY WIFE WAS IN THE VAN.
OUR YOUNG DAUGHTER
WAS IN THE VAN.
SHE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD,
FIVE YEARS OLD,
SHE DIDN'T FEEL WELL.
WE HAD MY FOSTER PARENTS,
REVEREND AND MRS. HALE
WHO HAD CARED FOR ME
OFF AND ON
THROUGH MY CHILDHOOD
AND NOW THEN WE WERE
TAKING CARE OF THEM.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY
STAYING WITH US.
AND WE HAD GONE DOWN TO WORK
IN A PLACE THAT WE WANTED
TO BE OUTDOORS,
IN A RETREAT AREA
AND WE LIKED TO WATCH DEER.
SOMETIMES GOD CALLS THEN HOME.
BUT ANYWAY, WE WERE DOWN THERE
WORKING ON THIS PLACE
AND WE'RE GOING HOME
THROUGH MARBLE FALLS
AND I JUST HAVE A CRAVING
FOR CHOCOLATE MILK.
BETTY SAID, "JAMES, IT'S HOT.
YOU'RE ALL SWEATY.
GET SOMETHING COLD TO DRINK.
I SAID, "NO. I'VE GOT
TO HAVE CHOCOLATE MILK."
SO I PULLED INTO
THE CONVENIENCE STORE
IN MARBLE FALLS.
I WALKED IN
AND SAW A LOT OF KIDS
SCATTERED ON THE PARKING LOT.
THEY LOOK KIND OF SERIOUS.
THERE WERE TWO GIRLS
AT THE COUNTER CRYING.
I GO BACK TO GET MILK IN THE
DAIRY DEPARTMENT AND THERE
ARE TWO GIRLS CRYING THERE.
I LOOKED OVER AND SAW ANOTHER
COUPLE OF GIRLS CRYING
OVER HERE.
AS I WALKED TO THE COUNTER
THE GIRLS AT THE FRONT
AND THE KIDS
THAT WERE IN THE STORE
WALKED OUT IN THE PARKING LOT.
SO I LOOKED AT THE LADY.
I SAID, "WHAT'S WRONG
WITH THESE KIDS?"
SHE SAID, "THEIR FRIEND THAT
WAS THE STAR FOOTBALL PLAYER
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT
AND INJURED VERY BADLY.
THEY PRAYED HE WOULD GET WELL
AND HE DIED TODAY.
AND THEY'RE DEVASTATED."
WELL, THE MINUTE SHE SAID IT,
THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID TO ME,
ALL SLOPPY LOOKING,
DON'T LOOK LIKE
A CHRISTIAN WITNESS,
JUST AN OLD WORKER, STRANGER.
THE LORD SAID,
"YOU NEED TO TELL THEM
WHAT THEY NEED
TO HEAR RIGHT NOW."
BUT WHAT THE DEVIL SAID TO ME
IS, "YOUR WIFE IS TIRED,
YOUR LITTLE GIRL IS TIRED.
YOU'VE GOT A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE
FROM HERE.
YOUR FOSTER PARENTS ARE TIRED
AND YOU LOOK LIKE A BUM."
WELL, I COULDN'T DISAGREE.
I LOOKED LIKE A BUM.
SO THE DEVIL IS GIVING ME
ALL THE REASONS NOT TO GO.
AND I LOOK OUT
AND THEY'RE SCATTERED
ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT
AND I SAID, "WELL,
THIS WILL TAKE ALL NIGHT."
SO I START TO THE CAR
AND WHEN I DID,
THE WHOLE GROUP OF KIDS
CAME TOGETHER.
THEY JUST CAME
RIGHT THERE TOGETHER.
I SAID OKAY, LORD.
I WALKED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE CIRCLE.
I LOOKED OUT AND I SAID,
"I HEARD ABOUT YOUR FRIEND.
I'M REALLY SORRY.
I'M BROKENHEARTED WITH YOU.
BUT I NEED
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
IF YOUR FRIEND
WAS A CHRISTIAN,
IF YOUR FRIEND KNEW JESUS
HE IS LOOKING DOWN
ON THIS PARKING LOT
AND HE'S SAYING,
'WHATEVER YOU DO --
WHATEVER YOU DO,
DON'T MISS THIS.
DON'T MISS THIS!'
BUT IF YOUR FRIEND
WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN,
IF YOUR FRIEND
DID NOT KNOW THE LORD,
AND YOU DO KNOW JESUS,
AND YOU NEVER TALKED TO HIM,
YOUR FRIEND IS LOOKING AT YOU
AND SAYING,
'WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME
ABOUT THIS ETERNITY?
WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN ME?'"
NOW,
YOUR FRIEND WANTS YOU
TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER
ONE NIGHT
WHEN YOUR FRIEND DIED,
A STRANGER PASSING
THROUGH TOWN STOPPED
AND POINTED YOU TO JESUS
AND RECOMMENDED JESUS.
AND I GOT IN THE VAN.
END OF THE STORY?
Sheila: NO!
James: NOT EVEN CLOSE.
I'M PREACHING
A CITYWIDE CRUSADE IN AUSTIN
EARLY IN THE FALL.
FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE
WALK UP ON THE PLATFORM
AT THE END OF THE SERVICE
AS I'M TRYING
TO WALK DOWN THE STEPS.
THEY GATHER AROUND ME
AND THEY SAY, "YOU'RE HIM?
YOU ARE THE MAN!
YOU'RE THE MAN!
YOU'RE THE ONE!"
I SAID, "THE ONE WHAT?"
"YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE HIM
BUT YOU ARE THE MAN.
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT STOPPED
IN MARBLE FALLS
ON A PARKING LOT
WHEN OUR FRIEND HAD DIED
AND YOU TOLD US ABOUT JESUS."
AND NOW A GIRL IS CRYING,
"AND I GAVE MY LIFE
TO JESUS RIGHT THERE
ON THAT PARKING LOT
AND I WENT HOME AND
I TOLD MY DADDY ABOUT JESUS.
MY DADDY HAD BEEN
AN ALCOHOLIC.
MY DADDY DIDN'T KNOW THE LORD
AND MY DADDY GOT SAVED.
AND SIR,
JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
MY DADDY WAS KILLED
IN A WRECK.
WELL, MY DADDY WENT TO HEAVEN
BECAUSE YOU STOPPED
ON THAT PARKING LOT."
AND ANOTHER KID SAID,
"ALL THE KIDS
ON THAT PARKING LOT
GOT RIGHT WITH GOD.
OUR WHOLE TOWN'S
BEEN MOVED BY GOD.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT HAPPENED!"
AND I SAID, "WELL, THANK YOU.
HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WAS ME?"
THEY SAID, "WELL,
YOU HAVING THIS MEETING
AND OUR PASTOR PUT A POSTER UP
ON THE WALL IN THE CHURCH
TO PRAY FOR THIS CRUSADE
AND WE SAW YOUR PICTURE
AND WE SAID,
'PASTOR, THAT'S HIM!
THAT'S HIM! THAT'S HIM!'
AND WE SAID
WE'RE GOING TO GO TELL HIM."
NOW, GET THIS.
SHEILA, THIS IS CRAZY.
WE'RE WITH OUR FOSTER PARENTS
OUT THERE IN A CAB-OVER-CAMPER
TRYING TO ENJOY BEING ALONE
OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
AND WE LOOK UP AND A MAN
IS WALKING ACROSS THIS RANCH,
PASTURE, THIS DEER LEASE
WITH A SUIT AND A TIE ON;
AND JUST THE WARMTH OF
THAT PARTICULAR TIME OF YEAR,
IT WAS STILL WARM,
AND HE WALKED UP TO US
AND HE SAID,
"I KNOW THIS IS CRAZY.
I HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH
THAT BARBED WIRE FENCE."
BUT HE SAID,
"I'M THE PASTOR
OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH."
AND HE SAID, "JAMES,
YOU STOPPED ON A PARKING LOT."
AND HE SAID,
"THAT DAY EARLIER, AFTER
THAT FOOTBALL PLAYER DIED,
EVERY KID IN MY CHURCH
CONTACTED ME AND SAID, 'WE
WILL NOT BE BACK TO CHURCH.
WE PRAYED,
HE DID NOT GET WELL,
AND WE'RE NOT COMING BACK
TO CHURCH.'
THEN YOU STOPPED
ON THE PARKING LOT."
HE SAID,
"NOT ONLY DID THOSE KIDS COME
BUT I BAPTIZED 20 KIDS
THE NEXT WEEK THAT WERE SAVED
ON THE PARKING LOT."
HE SAID, "JAMES,
THERE IS A SPIRIT OF REVIVAL."
HE SAID, "ARE YOU COMING BACK
DOWN HERE TO MARBLE FALLS
IN THIS AREA
MAYBE LATER IN THE YEAR?"
I SAID, "I'M COMING BACK
IN DECEMBER.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
I'M GOING TO BE OUT HERE
WITH MY WIFE UNTIL DARK."
HE SAID, "WELL, WOULD YOU
COME IN TOWN AFTER DARK
AND PREACH TO OUR TOWN?"
HE SAID, "WE'VE GOT
A BIG BARN OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
WOULD YOU GO
AND WOULD YOU PREACH?"
I SAID, "OKAY,
WHEN I COME BACK I WILL."
WE CAME BACK.
BETTY AND I DROVE IN
AND IT WAS 15 MILES
OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
ON A ROCK SHALE ROAD.
I THOUGHT THESE PEOPLE --
WE'VE WANDERED INTO
NEVER-NEVER LAND.
WE LEFT THE LITTLE
DOWNTOWN AREA OF MARBLE FALLS,
I THINK THE POPULATION
WAS 1500.
WE GET OUT TO A BARN; THERE
ARE 1,000 PEOPLE IN THE BARN.
THEY ONLY HAD 900 SEATS.
THERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE
STANDING AROUND THE WALL.
THEY SAID, "SOME PEOPLE CAME,
COULDN'T GET IN AND LEFT."
I GET UP AND PREACH;
99 PEOPLE CAME FORWARD
AND GAVE THEIR LIFE TO CHRIST.
Betty: WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?
James: I SAID TO BETTY
WHEN WE LEFT,
YOU KNOW I'M AN EVANGELIST
AND 99 PEOPLE SAVED.
I'VE BEEN THINKING, MAYBE
YOU SHOULD HAVE COME FORWARD
TO MAKE IT AN EVEN 100.
AND WE LAUGHED
JUST LIKE YOU'RE LAUGHING.
BUT NOW THE STORY
IS NOT OVER OVER, SHEILA,
BECAUSE THIS THING
HIT THIS TOWN JUST LIKE
A TIDAL WAVE OF GLORY.
AND THE PASTOR SAYS,
"WOULD YOU COME BACK
DURING THE SUMMER AND PREACH
IN OUR FOOTBALL STADIUM?"
AND I WENT BACK
AND PREACHED IN THE STADIUM.
WE TURNED OUT
THE POPULATION OF THE CITY,
275 MORE PEOPLE GOT SAVED.
WOULD YOU ALL CALL THAT
AN AMAZING STOP
ON A PARKING LOT
WHERE NOBODY KNOWS YOU?
[Cheers & applause]
THE THING ABOUT IT IS, SHEILA,
I WOULD WALK IN TRUCK STOPS
AS A YOUNG MAN,
STILL A TEENAGER EVEN
AND JUST WALK UP TO A TABLE
FULL OF ALL THESE MEN
SITTING THERE DRINKING BEER
AND LAID BACK AND JUST
HAVING THEIR GOOD TIME.
AND I WOULD PAUSE AT
THE END OF THE TABLE.
YOU MAY THINK,
NOBODY WOULD DO THIS.
YOU'D BE SURPRISED.
BETTY, YOU USED TO SIT
IN RESTAURANTS AND
YOU'D START GETTING NERVOUS.
Betty: WE DID.
AND THE AMAZING PART OF IT IS
THAT THIS WAS A YOUNG BOY
THAT WOULD NEVER GET UP
AND SPEAK TO ANYONE,
NEVER GIVE A CLASS REPORT
OR ANYTHING BECAUSE
HE WAS JUST SO SHY --
NEVER ATE IN THE LUNCHROOM,
ALWAYS ATE BY HIMSELF.
I THOUGHT,
GOD TURNED HIM INSIDE OUT.
HE TRANSFORMED HIM AND THAT
IS THE AMAZING POWER OF GOD
AND WE CAN SEE IT EVERY DAY
IN OUR LIVES.
James: I WANT TO SAY TO YOU
I WANT YOU TO READ THE BOOK
AND I WANT YOU TO SHARE IT.
I'M ACTUALLY PRAYING
THAT YOU'LL GET A COPY
AND YOU'LL GET A COPY
FOR ANOTHER BELIEVER OR TWO
OR MAYBE SOMEBODY
THAT DOESN'T KNOW THE LORD.
AND YOU WOULD SAY,
"I WANT YOU TO READ THIS"
AND PRAY THAT THAT PERSON
BEGINS TO LIVE AMAZED.
I THINK YOU'LL BE INSPIRED
TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS
THAT YOU CAN SEE
THE UNBELIEVABLE TAKE PLACE
AS THOUGH IT IS AS NATURAL
AS BREATHING.
THE LORD REALLY WANTS YOU
TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AMAZED.
HE SENT ANOTHER ONE
LIKE HIMSELF, THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ANOTHER OF THE SAME KIND
TO LIVE IN US.
I HAVE WATCHED THE MIRACULOUS
IN EVERY AREA
THAT WE READ ABOUT
IN THE BIBLE.
I'M TELLING YOU,
BETTY, SHE SAYS,
"I'M VERY QUIET AND VERY SHY"
BUT THE GLORY THAT'S ON HER,
WELL, YOU CAN SEE IT.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING
SHE PUTS ON.
THIS IS WHO SHE IS --
AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT
THAT SHE'S BEEN TO ME.
JUST THIS WEEK
SHE STARTED READING ME
PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE
ABOUT THE AMAZING THINGS
THAT HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE
YIELDED THEIR LIFE TO GOD.
AND OFTENTIMES
SHE CAN'T FINISH READING
WITHOUT TEARS
WELLING UP IN HER EYES
OVER THE GLORY OF GOD.
FATHER, I'M PRAYING FOR
EVERYONE WATCHING RIGHT NOW,
THAT THEY WILL REALIZE
NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE,
HOW OVERLOOKED THEY'VE BEEN,
HOW INADEQUATE THEY MAY FEEL,
IF THEY WILL SIMPLY YIELD --
AND THIS IS SUCH A KEY --
THE CLAY OF THEIR LIFE
TO THE POTTER'S HAND
HE WILL CREATE A VESSEL
FOR HONOR,
A CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH HE
FLOWS RIVERS OF LIVING WATER
OF LOVE AND LIFE.
FATHER, PLEASE, PLEASE --
PLEASE LET EVERY PERSON HERE
HEAR YOUR VOICE NOW
CALLING THEM TO AMAZING GRACE
AND AMAZING LIFE;
IN JESUS' NAME.
I PRAY THAT
YOU WILL READ THE BOOK,
GET A COPY FOR A FRIEND AND
LIVE AMAZED AND WATCH THEM
BEGIN TO LIVE AMAZED.
SHEILA, YOU HAVE HAD
A MARVELOUSLY BLESSED LIFE
AND YET YOU HAVE
HAD THE CHALLENGES.
YOU SEEM TO RECOGNIZE NEED
AS CLEARLY AS ANYONE
I'VE EVER SEEN.
AND YOU'VE BEEN GOING
TO THE MISSION FIELD
SINCE YOU JOINED
WITH LIFE OUTREACH.
YOU'VE JUST RETURNED
FROM OVERSEAS IN ASIA TO DEAL
WITH SEXUAL TRAFFICKING.
WE'RE GOING TO WATCH YOU
OVER THERE AND OUR VIEWERS
AND OUR FRIENDS CAN MAKE
ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS
UNBELIEVABLY DARK WORLD.
WATCH CLOSELY.
Sheila: MY FIRST NIGHT
ON THE STREETS
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
WAS DEVASTATING.
I NEVER THOUGHT
I WOULD SEE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT
IN MY LIFE.
A SEX TRAFFICKER
CAN MAKE $200,000 A YEAR
ON ONE --
ONE LITTLE GIRL.
AND SHE'S
JUST A CHILD.
Interpreter:
WHEN I WAS 12,
I GOT A JOB
DOING HOUSEWORK.
I WORKED
VERY HARD.
ONE TIME
I MET A LADY
WHO SAID SHE COULD GET ME
A JOB AS A HAIRDRESSER.
THEY WOULD
TRAIN ME
AND IT WOULD BE
A WELL-PAID JOB.
I BELIEVED HER
AND SO DID MY MOTHER.
SO I WENT WITH HER
TO THE THAI BORDER.
BUT ONCE I GOT THERE
I WAS SOLD AS A PROSTITUTE.
THEY FORCED ME
TO HAVE SEX WITH MANY MEN;
UP TO 20 MEN
A NIGHT.
Sheila:
SOME OF MY FRIENDS,
BEFORE I EVEN WENT
SAID TO ME, "WHY DON'T THESE PEOPLE JUST GET OUT OF IT?
IF THEY DON'T LIKE
THAT LIFESTYLE
WHY DON'T THEY
JUST LEAVE?"
BUT WHEN YOU BEGIN TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS,
SO MANY OF THESE GIRLS,
THEY'RE BROUGHT TO A PLACE,
THEY'RE THROWN INTO
A ROOM WITH OTHER GIRLS
AND THEY'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO SLEEP,
THEY'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO EAT,
AND AT SOME POINT
AFTER SEVERAL DAYS
ONE OF THEM IS REMOVED
AND NEVER COMES BACK.
THE MESSAGE
TO THE GIRLS IS,
IF YOU DON'T DO
WHAT WE TELL YOU TO DO,
IF YOU
DON'T SMILE
AND LOOK LIKE THIS
IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO,
THE SAME THING
CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.
Interpreter:
WHAT I MISS MOST
IS MY MOTHER'S LOVE
AND COMFORT.
WHEN I'M IN THE BROTHELS
I FEEL HOPELESS --
THAT I'LL NEVER
GET OUT.
James: WELL, WE KNOW
IT IS NOT HOPELESS.
SHEILA, YOU'VE BEEN,
YOU'VE SEEN
AS BETTY AND I HAVE,
YOU SEE THE LOVE
THE MISSIONARIES
ARE FILLED WITH.
AND YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN WE EITHER
HEAD OFF A CHILD
THAT IS A PROSPECT
TO BE KIDNAPPED, SO TO SPEAK,
TAKEN INTO SLAVERY
OR WE HAVE A WAY
TO GET THEM OUT,
PUT THEM IN A RESCUE CENTER,
THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE SAFE;
ULTIMATELY,
IF THEY'RE CHILDREN
PUT THEM INTO A SETTING
WHERE THEY ACTUALLY LEARN
ALL THE THINGS A CHILD
NEEDS TO LEARN AND THEY
HAVE AN AMAZING CHANGE.
IT COSTS US $128
TO RESCUE A CHILD.
THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH MONEY
TO DO WHAT WE DO.
I NEED YOU
TO LET OUR VIEWERS KNOW,
YOU'VE ALREADY MADE IT
VERY CLEAR WHAT THE NEED IS
AND THEY CAN SEE IT,
HOW AFFECTIVE IS THE WORK
WHEN THEY ENABLE
THESE WORKERS THAT
GOD HAS CALLED AND SET APART,
HOW AFFECTIVE IS IT?
Sheila: I'VE NEVER IN MY LIFE
SEEN SUCH EVIL
AS I EXPERIENCED
ON THE STREETS
AS I WALKED THROUGH
AND LOOKED IN THE FACES
OF THESE LITTLE GIRLS
COVERED IN MAKEUP.
INSIDE THEY'RE JUST
LITTLE GIRLS
LIKE YOUR DAUGHTER.
BUT I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS
AT LIFE TODAY.
WE BUILT THIS PLACE.
IT'S CALLED DESTINY HOUSE.
I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THESE LITTLE GIRLS
AND LITTLE BOYS
ARE RESCUED OFF THE STREETS
AND THEY'RE BROUGHT
TO A SAFE PLACE.
AND THEY'RE TOLD,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
REMEMBER THAT NIGHT
WHEN YOU CRIED OUT AND
YOU SAID, 'IF THERE IS A GOD
DO YOU HEAR ME?'
YES, HE HEARD YOU
AND YOU'RE NOT A LABEL
AND YOU'RE NOT A NUMBER,
HE KNOWS YOUR NAME."
I'VE WATCHED THEM
GIVE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST.
WHEN YOU HAVE LIVED IN HELL
AND HEAVEN INVADES YOUR LIFE,
YOU BECOME
AN ON-FIRE BELIEVER.
JAMES, THIS IS NOT MISSIONS.
THIS IS THE GREAT COMMISSION.
THIS IS GOING TO THE UTTERMOST
PARTS OF THE EARTH
AND RESCUING THOSE
WHO NEED RESCUING.
James: NO QUESTION!
IT IS SO AMAZING.
HERE'S THE THING.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT
LONG ENOUGH NOW
THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE
WHO HAVE GRADUATED
WHO ARE NOW TEACHERS.
THERE ARE A FEW
WHO ARE PROFESSORS
AND WHO ARE TEACHING
AS A CHRISTIAN
THE WITNESS OF CHRIST
AND WHO ARE NOW LEADERS.
MANY OF THEM, BETTY,
WENT BACK TO THEIR HOME
WHERE OFTENTIMES
THESE CHILDREN WERE SOLD
FOR THE PROMISE OF A JOB
FOR THE CHILD
OR THEY WERE ACTUALLY
SOMETIMES TRADED FOR A RADIO
OR A TELEVISION
FOR THIS POOR FAMILY.
AND THEY WOULD TELL THEM
THOUGH, "BUT WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE THE CHILD IN.
BUT IF YOU'LL LET US
TAKE THE CHILD
AND PUT THEM TO WORK
AND EDUCATE THEM,"
BUT IT IS ALL A LIE.
BUT IT HAPPENS.
THEN WHEN YOU SEE THE CHANGE,
AND HERE'S THE DEAL,
THIS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION.
BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT
OF THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED AND SENT
AND BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU, $128,
WE CAN RESCUE ANOTHER CHILD.
BETTY OUR GOAL IS 5,000
THIS YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT THE MISSIONARIES
HAVE SHOWN US IN VARIOUS AREAS
IS VERY REALISTIC.
WOULD YOU HELP US?
LET ME TELL YOU A BIG MIRACLE.
WE'VE GOT
A $200,000 CHALLENGE GIFT.
NOW THAT'S HOW MUCH
PEOPLE CARE.
SO WHAT YOU GIVE
WILL BE DOUBLED.
$128, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO SAY,
"I CAN'T DO THAT."
BUT IF YOU CAN GIVE $64
YOU'VE JUST RESCUED A CHILD
BECAUSE IT IS DOUBLED.
THERE IS A LEVEL
AT WHICH YOU CAN HELP.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE THIS,
AND I THINK YOUR HEART
WILL LEAP TO DO IT.
SOME OF YOU
CAN HELP RESCUE TEN
WITH A GIFT OF $1280.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
TEN -- NO, NOW IT'S 20
BECAUSE IT'S DOUBLED.
FATHER, LET EVERYONE
WHO HAS A HEART TO HELP
REACH OUT, OFFER A HAND,
AND MAKE THE GIFT
YOU PUT ON THEIR HEART;
IN JESUS' NAME.
YOU CAN GO ONLINE
OR DIAL THAT NUMBER.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
THE BOOK LIVING AMAZED
BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU'LL BE
INSPIRED TO LIVE AMAZED.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING
IS GOING TO BRING ABOUT
AMAZING RESULTS.
WE'LL SEND THAT
TO SAY THANKS FOR ANY GIFT.
WE WANT TO SEND YOU
A JOURNAL ALONG WITH IT.
IF YOU MAKE A GIFT OF $100
OR MORE THERE WILL BE
A BEAUTIFUL STUDY GUIDE
WHERE YOU LEARN TO LIVE
AND THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES
WHAT IT IS TO LIVE AMAZED.
THE BEAUTIFUL
"DETERMINED EAGLE,"
I WANT TO SEE EVERY CHRISTIAN
DETERMINED AND COMMITTED
TO SOAR WITH THE TURBULENCE
OF THE TIMES
AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE DAY.
GOD MAKES US
OVERCOMERS IN CHRIST.
WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR YOUR HELP.
WE HAVE THE GIFTS TO BLESS YOU
BUT YOU'RE GIVING THE GIFT
OF LOVE AND LIFE AND FREEDOM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR DOING IT.
Announcer:
INNOCENT CHILDREN
AND YOUNG PEOPLE
LONGING TO BE LOVED
AND CARED FOR
ARE BEING ABDUCTED
AND SOLD
AT THE HANDS
OF VIOLENT PREDATORS,
THEIR SPIRIT
AND BODY BROKEN
UNDER HORRIFIC EMOTIONAL
AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.
THROUGH MISSION:
RESCUE LIFE
YOU CAN REACH OUT
TO SAVE CHILDREN
VULNERABLE TO
SEX TRAFFICKERS.
YOU CAN HELP RESCUE
THOSE ALREADY ENSLAVED
AND YOU CAN HELP
RESTORE THEIR LIVES
AND GIVE THEM
A FUTURE.
NOW A GENEROUS OPPORTUNITY
OF A $200,000 MATCHING GIFT
MEANS YOUR GIFT OF $128
TO HELP RESCUE A CHILD
WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP TWO CHILDREN.
YOUR $64 GIFT WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP RESCUE ONE CHILD
FROM THE HORRORS
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND A $32
RESCUE GIFT
WILL BE DOUBLED
TO $64.
WITH YOUR GIFT
WE WILL SEND YOU
JAMES ROBISON'S NEW BOOK,
LIVING AMAZED:
HOW DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
AS YOU READ THESE
INSPIRING STORIES
YOU'LL LEARN HOW
TO LIVE AMAZED
IN THE PRESENCE OF
GOD 24 HOURS A DAY.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100
OR MORE YOU'LL RECEIVE
JAMES'S NEW BOOK,
ALONG WITH THE COMPANION
AMAZED JOURNAL
SO YOU CAN RECORD ACCOUNTS
IN YOUR OWN LIFE
WHERE YOU'RE AMAZED
AT GOD'S GOODNESS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1280
WHICH WILL NOW
HELP RESCUE 20 CHILDREN
AND YOU MAY REQUEST
OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW
"DETERMINED EAGLE"
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR SECURE GIFT ONLINE TODAY.
James: WE ARE SENDING YOU
LIVING AMAZED.
I THINK IT WILL INSPIRE YOU
AND HOPEFULLY, PRAYERFULLY,
YOU LIVE AMAZED
AND REVEAL HOW AMAZING
GOD'S GRACE AND HIS LOVE IS
AND WHAT REDEMPTION
REALLY LOOKS LIKE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR HELP.
WE WANT TO SAY THANKS
TO SHEILA WALSH
FOR BEING SUCH A BLESSING.
AND THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS
ON THE MISSION FIELD
TO INSPIRE ALL OF US TO
IN A WAY BE A MISSIONARY
AND SUPPORT IT.
Sheila: PURE JOY!
James: WOULD YOU SAY THANKS
TO SHEILA?
[Applause]
THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR YOUR HELP.
THANKS FOR REACHING OUT
WITH ARMS AND HANDS OF LOVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
♪
♪
♪
♪
Announcer: TOMORROW,
A PASTOR WHO HELPED JAMES
REALIZE THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
JIM HILTON DISCUSSES
KINGDOM LIVING
AND WHAT IT MEANS
TO LIVE AMAZED.
>> 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.