The 700 Club - September 9, 2011 - Cbn

“A plane just hit the Twin Towers.” Ten years since the worst terrorist attack on American soil. Somebody was attacking our country. Ten years since 9/11. Boom. Meet the heroes. That day people needed help. And hear their stories. I want to go in. On a special edition of The 700 Club. Well, welcome to this edition of The 700 Club. Today we remember 9/11, ten years after the attacks that changed our country forever. We’ll remember both those who died at the hands of the terrorists, as well as those who sacrificed their lives to save others. We’re also going to meet some amazing survivors. We’ll hear their personal stories and see how they triumphed over tragedy and how that continues in their lives. But first, the government has new information that al Qaeda may be planning its own celebration of 9/11. They’re planning to attack us again. Mark Martin has the story. The terror threat has New York City police on alert, adding extra hours to their shifts. They’re increasing security in the nation’s capital as well. It's accurate that there is specific credible, but unconfirmed threat information. US officials say al Qaeda's new leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is behind the plot, a man who has vowed to avenge the death of his predecessor Osama bin Laden. Senior federal officials say it involves three people, including at least one American citizen who flew into the US from the Middle East in August. The apparent target: the same two cities attacked 10 years ago. Officials say this latest plot could involve a car or truck bomb, similar to the failed attack on Times Square last year. At least one official says they were searching for two missing rental trucks. Another possibility: using small arms, homemade explosives, or even poison. Al Qaeda central in Afghanistan and Pakistan is probably down to a few hundred people, but it doesn't take many people to do this kind of attack. Law enforcement officials want the public to be on the lookout and to not hesitate to contact police. If you are in a position to see something suspicious, you shouldn't wait. Pick up the phone and call 911. However, while officials say this threat is credible, it's not a cause for panic. Mark Martin, CBN News. We should be alert, and we should be aware of what’s going around us. If you do see anything suspicious, please report it to the authorities. But let me underline; this isn’t a time to panic. Let’s all take a lesson from the residents of Jerusalem. There was a terrible bombing at a pizza parlor. When the parlor reopened, we had a report from somebody who was there who said, “I don’t even like pizza, but I’m here; and I’m here to let the terrorists know that they didn’t win. And I am patronizing and eating pizza today just to let them know that.” Let’s go over to Lee Webb in the CBN Newsroom for the rest of the news. Lee. Gordon, ask anyone who is old enough to remember 9/11, and they can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing. And the memories are especially powerful, of course, in America’s largest city where the Twin Towers fell. Wendy Griffith has this look at how New York and New Yorkers have changed since that historic day. 9/11 was a day very much like this one: beautiful, sunny, and hardly a cloud in the sky. And although it’s been 10 years since the terrorists stabbed this city in the heart, for many New Yorkers the memories are as painful and as raw as yesterday. This is my city. This is my soil. I never thought this could happen here. When the plane hit, I knew immediately that it was intentional. I don’t think we’ll ever forget it. Even tough New Yorkers like Rose and Sarah say 9/11 changed them and their city. I’m fearful. I think it's changed us for the rest of our lives. When you see the constant police protection, the terrorists. We came in on a bus to go to the Pompey exhibit; and the bus had to be stopped, because the counter terrorism group had to check underneath. I come in, and I enjoy the city. I look around me more. I'm a little more observant. 9/11 also transformed the city in another way. A new Barna Group study reveals that New Yorkers are more spiritually active today than they were immediately following 9/11. It finds more church attendance and a greater commitment to Christ than a decade ago. The study also reports that the number of born-again Christians in New York surged from 20 percent in the late ‘90s to 32 percent today. Although none of us will ever forget the images from the Twin Towers, nor the nearly 3,000 souls who perished that day, New Yorkers say they have a message for the rest of the world. We're strong. We’re resilient. We’re fighters. We don't give up, and we're not giving in. Wendy Griffith, CBN News, New York. Well, the terrorists also attacked our nation’s capital that day, at the heart of our military establishment. And like New Yorkers, the people of Washington believe the events of 9/11 made them stronger. John Jessup has that story. Washington, DC, the center of American politics and power. But when American Airlines Flight 77 torpedoed into the Pentagon, the perception of America's impenetrable might came crashing down. In a decade of rebuilding, the Pentagon has been restored, the government created the Department of Homeland Security, and the capital region is more secure than it was when the hijackers executed their plan. Generally speaking, life has moved on. On 9/11, Martha Hamilton was on her way to work near the White House. Ten years later, she and her husband are raising their three-year old son in downtown DC. There are a lot of things for parents to worry about; and certainly after 9/11, it kind of changed everyone's worldview and feelings of security. But you really just can't let that consume you, so we're just trying to raise him to feel safe and secure as best we can. Don Denton has been living and working on Capitol Hill since the 1970s. He recalls a few families moved out of town because they no longer felt safe. People uprooted their lives and made basic life decisions on where they're going to live and how they're going to raise their kids, because they were afraid that all of a sudden, New York City, Washington, DC, big cities like this might become targets. But that was the exception, not the rule. In the last 10 years, this city has come back with a vengeance. Jane Volkema is one of the newcomers who moved to DC in the wake of the attacks. Jane says she no longer cringes at the sound of low-flying planes landing at a nearby national airport. Instead, she appreciates the laughter ringing from the school across the street from the church where she now ministers. To see how far we've come by the kids across the street, I think it's amazing that again, with our faith in God, He's made us stronger. Looking back on that day shows America's resilience. Looking toward the future, we remember the promise to never forget. John Jessup, CBN News, Washington. Gordon, in so many ways, it’s hard to remember what life was like in this country on September 10, 2001. It is, Lee. It is hard to remember what it was like to not have pat-downs in the airports and how it was to sort of live on the basis that there hadn’t been this kind of terrorist attack on our soil. But at the same time, let’s remember. Let’s remember those who died that day. Let’s remember those who gave their lives, so that others wouldn’t die, the heroes on that flight that said, “We’re going to try to take over this. We’re going to try to change this, so it doesn’t hit its intended target.” And for a day, let’s all be New Yorkers. Let’s all be workers at the Pentagon and understand and remember. Let’s also remember the words of Jesus, and let us pray for our enemies. Let’s pray for those who despitefully use us, and let’s ask that God would bring salvation to them. We’ll be right back with more after this. Coming up . . . . . . . . she worked in the World Trade Center on 9/11. You’re thinking, is this building going to fall? And I’m up 81 flights. How am I getting out of here? He was a New York City firefighter. Different sized body parts, and there are big pieces, and there are small pieces. And it’s all over the place. His desperate search to find her, and the photos seen around the world. Saw you on TV. Got to say, it was as painful to watch. Try living it. Spend seven days in Utopia. Wow! You’ll find your game. First you have to see it, feel it, trust it. Reminds me of someone else I used to know. That, he does. I think some time here might do you good. Sure is beautiful. I don’t think that your coming here was an accident. Seven Days in Utopia. Rated G. When you look in the mirror, can you imagine erasing years of aging? That's what I used to look like. Lifestyle Lift takes only about an hour. See the difference immediately. I'm Linda. I'm 70 years old. Can you believe it? Call now for a free information kit. It's quick, affordable, and takes only about an hour. Lifestyle Lift, a breakthrough medical procedure that helps remove wrinkles, frown lines and sagging skin. Call now for a free information kit. Consultations are free. Call Lifestyle Lift today. Monday . . . . . . . . they had the perfect campsite . . . . Right over this 60-foot valley. . . . . but when the fire died . . . . I knew something was wrong, and I looked up, and Carter wasn’t to be seen. . . . . they had to fight the elements to save their buddy’s life. After two or three times of feeling, I kicked something. Our week of prayer continues. From that moment on, I thought he was dead. Next week on The 700 Club. September 11th is a time to remember the thousands of victims who died in the attacks. It’s also a day to offer thanks for those who survived. Jean Potter worked on the 81st floor of the North Tower. Her husband Dan was a New York City firefighter. Mark Martin has their amazing story. Jean and Dan Potter live a quiet life, surrounded by woods and wildlife in northeastern Pennsylvania. It's a stark contrast to 10 years ago, living in a Manhattan apartment just a few blocks from the World Trade Center. Jean worked on the 81st floor of the first tower hit on the morning of 9/11. All of a sudden, this massive explosion rocked the building, and we literally swayed from side to side. And what first came to me is, “This is not your time. We are with you. Your brother is with you.” I lost my brother in 1999. Jean believes it was the voice of God, loud and clear, a message in the midst of chaos. You're thinking, is this building going to fall? And I'm up 81 flights. How am I getting out of here? She made it to the staircase as the floor became engulfed in flames. My heart was palpitating a mile a minute as I was going down the staircase. And what also came to me is, “You and Dan will be blessed with a beautiful life. You will go north.” And I saw like green trees. This is all while this is happening, and I'm in a very nervous state, but the messages were coming in. Jean believes God was reassuring her and prodding her to keep moving down the staircase. In the 20s, we start seeing firemen, which gave us all a sense of relief, one of whom was Vinny Giammona who was my husband's lieutenant at Ladder 5, and I grabbed his arm. I said, “Vinny, be safe,” and I will never forget the look on his face that day. It would have been his 40th birthday, and he left behind a wife and four children, four little girls who are now grown. But I will never forget the look on his face. Lieutenant Vinny Giammona was one of 343 New York firefighters who died that dark day. Jean's husband, Dan, a firefighter at the time, knew 60 of them. When the terrorists struck, he was on Staten Island but quickly raced to Manhattan to make sure Jean was safe, not knowing that she made it out of the North Tower before it collapsed. It wasn't until he was a block or two away that he realized the magnitude of the situation. There are different sized body parts. And there are big pieces, and there are small pieces, and it's all over the place. Dan arrived at Ground Zero to help and had to take cover when the South Tower collapsed, and later, the North Tower. It sounded like a freight train, maybe a hundred times more, and you just figure with that amount of noise, and you know it's coming down around you. It's just a matter of time. Debris and concrete pelted Dan, but he says God kept him alive, and the big hit never came. Covered in ash, the battered firefighter refused to give up his search for his wife and went back to their apartment. Dan pounded on the door of their Battery Park city apartment, but no one answered. It was then he thought that he had lost Jean. The overwhelmed firefighter left the building and sat on this bench and prayed. It was at that moment an Associated Press photographer snapped a photo of him, a photo that would be seen around the world. I am praying. I'm praying to Jesus. I’m praying for clarity, just, “What do you want me to do? What should I do?” Dan believes Jesus directed him to go back to the apartment. It was there the phone rang. His father was crying and called to check on Dan. He also told Dan where Jean was, and Dan was on his way. And I saw her standing there, and she's all upset, and she looked at me kind of wide eyed, like, “What are you doing here?” Like that. And in he walks in his bunker gear, covered, and his eyes were blood red. There was just blood in his eyes, and I said, “Where were you?” He said, “You don't want to know,” and we hugged. It was just unbelievable. We are so grateful for what Jesus has done in our life. Jean chronicles the couple's amazing story of survival in a new book, By The Grace of God: a 9/11 Survivor’s Story of Love, Hope, and Healing. He was with all of us that day, and I don't want people to think that we were so special, because we were saved. I mean it wasn't our time, and He was with those who were passing over, and it's just a great privilege to speak about Him. Life has been tough at times over the last 10 years. The Potters have dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder, and Dan had to retire as a firefighter because of the injuries he suffered on 9/11. Yet, in spite of the attacks and the difficulties that have followed, the faith of Jean and Dan remains strong, and they hope those who read and hear their story will also trust in God. God is a loving God. If you turn over your pain to Him, He will pull you through it. He will heal your heart. I trust Him implicitly, and I give Him my life with that. “Use me for your glory, and whatever I can do for you.” These days, Dan is a national fire instructor and volunteers for the Red Cross. Jean counsels female inmates at a correctional center. Even though they now live in Pennsylvania, they still consider themselves New Yorkers, grateful for a second chance at life. Mark Martin, CBN News, Pennsylvania and New York. It’s an amazing story. In the aftermath of the tragedy, all of us, I think, were asking why. Why did this happen? What is this all about? Even asking why would God let this happen? At the same time you hear these wonderful stories of people who were praying, and God spoke to them in the middle of it, and was telling them, “It’s not your time. Here’s what you need to do. Here’s where you need to go. Here’s the future I have mapped out for you.” And when you hear those stories, you understand, the Bible is true. He is our very present help in time of trouble. So even though we’re dealing now with floods, storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, things that are perplexing us, why so many, why so frequent, we need to keep that in mind. He will be our very present help in time of trouble. Terry. Well, up next, meet a man who was inside the Pentagon on 9/11. Boom, the building shook. I hit the wall so hard that it was like a body slam. People were down. People were screaming. People were hurt. If you were standing up and in that fireball, you died. See how this survivor went back into the flames five times to save others. Still ahead . . . . . . . . a rescue worker hooked on danger . . . . I wanted to have the adrenaline rush. . . . . with no vital signs. I feel that I have a heart that’s not beating. How he received life support on 9/11. For the first time in my life, God was actually with me. Have you ever heard the expression “good as gold?” Well, gold is on everybody’s minds these days, and rightfully so, having risen in value dramatically since 2001. For years now, I’ve been singing the praises of one of the most recognized and trusted names in gold, Swiss America. They believe, like I do, that people need to know what’s good about gold. Gold has withstood the test of time, and so has Swiss America. Now is the time to rediscover gold, because gold offers diversification, profit, potential, and best of all, privacy. Call or visit online now and ask for the Pat Boone DVD, and they will gladly rush out a copy along with other information about getting gold into your nest egg. If you’re going to buy gold, buy it from a company you can trust. I did. And I’ve been a satisfied Swiss America customer for over 15 years. They are as good as gold. Call or log on right now. When Tony Rose went to work at the Pentagon on September 11th, he had no idea he would return home a hero, but that’s exactly what happened after he went back into that burning building five times to save others. After seeing the second plane hit, you just knew that it was not an air traffic controller issue. It was not an accident. Somebody was attacking our country. Tony Rose watched the World Trade Center terror attacks from a TV in his office. As a Sergeant Major in the Army, he knew to immediately secure important documents. What he didn’t know was that his wing of the Pentagon was the terrorist’s next target. Boom, the building shook. It’s almost as though that building was on an earthquake line. It literally shook. People were down. People were screaming. People were hurt. If you were standing up and in that fireball, you died. People would just disintegrate. Terrorists had crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into Tony’s section of the Pentagon. Just above his head, the fire burned at 2300 degrees. Whatever that touched, it would incinerate. That fire was taking air from wherever it could get it, and if it meant your lungs, that where it took it from. I hit the wall so hard that it was like a body slam. I couldn’t breathe in; I couldn’t breathe out. Time slows down. “Am I alive? Is this real?” I was scared to death. But Tony says he knew he was still alive for a reason. The Lord already knew the number of my days. If I was meant to be dead right now, I would be dead. But if I was not dead, then I ought to be doing something. And slowly sounds start coming back. At that point I got to my knee and started waving people past me, to escort people outside of the building. And we would clear people as quickly as we could below the smoke. And then after that, when no one else was moving, we went into the smoke and the flame to find the people that we knew had not come out. Tony went back into the burning building five times, working his way deeper into the intense heat and smoke pulling out survivors. Everything was hot. The closer that we worked into the building toward the E-ring to try to find people, of course, the hotter it was. The real issue about going back in that day was what I learned at the knees of my mom and my dad, my Sunday school teachers, the elders of the church. You see, because that’s what gave me a heart for other people. But there was still an assurance that I was right there at that time for that reason to do whatever it was I could to help. That day people needed help. The reality of the attack didn’t set in until later, when Tony found pieces of the jet and a hand from a child passenger. I got so angry, I got so terribly angry, because I realized that somebody literally had come home to my home, attacked my country, attacked my family, attacked my flag. You know, “Why did this kid have to die? Why did this little kid have to die?” All these people had personalities. All these people had a family. And they had a contribution in a part of our country. I don’t want them to be forgotten, not just for themselves, but if we forget them, then we forget the fact that there is someone out there who does not like our flag, who does not like our country. I don’t want America to forget that we really are in a war, in a war that’s not just in some distant land. It’s right here in this country; it’s right now, and all of us have a part in that, and the only way they’re going to know is if we remember. That night, as the adrenalin wore off, Tony realized he was wounded. I thought that any blood I had on my uniform was from people that we had pulled out, not from me. And when I pull off my shirt and found pieces of steel in my abdomen, and that’s when I noticed the burns and the cuts and the pieces of glass. His injuries healed quickly. The emotional wounds have taken longer. Tony retired from the military a year after the attacks. He became a licensed therapist, helping others and himself find hope in the midst of tragedy. I know that if I’m going to do what I was meant to do on this earth, I need to stand tall and be a Christian soldier, and that’s by sharing the Word of God with other people. That’s what I believe. That’s my commission from God. Jesus said to do it. That’s what I need to do. The biggest thing that I’ve prayed for since 9/11 has been for the good Lord to allow me to see people as an eternal soul, no matter what they look like. And then maybe I will be able to see this person without bias, without preconceived notions and prejudices. And then maybe I can really hear what this person has to say, or say something to them that they need to hear. There’s hope that’s coming out of 9/11, and that’s what people need to hear. And when you’ve got that hope, then you’ve got a confidence and energy to be able to go out and do what you need to do. And for me, my hope, that’s Jesus. Amazing stories. And you’ll find more stories commemorating the survivors and heroes of 9/11 at CBN.com. You’ll also find video remembrances from CBN News, photo galleries of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Ministry resources are there, some discussion boards, and the opportunity to share your memories of 9/11. That’s at CBN.com. Well, Steve Negron is a New York City rescue worker who was home the morning of September 11th. When he arrived at the scene towers, he tried desperately to get into the buildings, not because he cared about the people trapped inside, but because he was hooked on the rush of adrenaline. Stephen Negron loved the streets, the sirens, and the adrenalin rush that came with every emergency call. He’s an emergency responder for the New York City Fire Department, but his devotion to his job and the party lifestyle with his co-workers cost him his first marriage. I wanted to either be at my job 24 hours a day, or I would be out with my friends partying. Sometimes we would come to work straight out of the club. His need for excitement started on the streets of the Bronx, New York, where he was involved with crime and gangs as a boy. Because they were older than me, I was always trying to prove myself with them and doing the drugs and robbing people. The more trouble I was in, the better I felt. His experiences as a young man left him emotionally detached and numb, traits he carried with him into his work. Steven Negron: I wanted to have the adrenaline rush. I would take the risk for anyone, and I would go into any danger for anyone. I never did it because I felt the compassion for a person. I did it, again, because the adrenaline. It was my job. I had no emotions as far as loving another person. So I was disconnected completely as far as feeling alive. That began to change on the morning of September 11th, 2001. Steve was at home when he got a call from work. They told me, “Turn on the television. A plane just hit the Twin Towers.” The adrenaline started running; and as we’re driving in, we noticed people running towards us, so we had to stop the vehicle exactly where we were. Our thing was to get those people to safety, and we got them into the truck and got them out of the area. I’m getting frustrated, because the adrenaline is not getting filled. I want to go in. But the number of injured people they encountered on the street prevented them from entering the building. I didn’t know we were in the vicinity of the second tower while it was going down. By the time I was able to go any further the collapse had occurred, if not I would have been among the pile. For the next several days, Steve worked with recovery teams passing buckets of debris at Ground Zero. He saw the emotion of the people around him but still felt nothing. The faith or the hope that kept me going this time was that there was someone there that I could pull out. When they told me to go back, that sort of came like a cloud over me, and I started feeling depressed like I would make a difference, and now they’re pulling me out. And I recall telling my partner who came to pick me up that I felt there was something wrong with me. These people are really hurting, and at this moment I feel like I’m just doing a job. Steve bowed his head and prayed. I had not prayed in years, especially the lifestyle I was living. And my prayer was very specific. I said, “Lord, I need to feel alive again. I feel that I have a heart that’s not beating. I don’t want to feel this way.” I said, “God let me see with your eyes and let me feel with your heart what you’re feeling now.” Suddenly I felt God’s hand touch me. Tears start coming down my eyes, and to me that was an impossibility. I felt good, like for the first time in my life God was actually with me. Over the next few days Steve says God changed his life. He went back to Ground Zero, this time filled with compassion. When God touched me, everything just completely changed. I was seeing life differently. So I wanted to go back, but it wasn’t because of adrenaline this time. I wanted to go back to save people. I wanted to save them physically. I wanted to save them spiritually. He says he knows that it was the grace of God that kept him from entering the towers that day, and he’s thankful that he’s been given more time. My frustration of getting into the building and all those people He kept sending my way to keep me from going into the building, I know that was His divine hand. He kept me from the danger. I think I was given a chance, because if I would have went down that day I would not spend eternity with God. He gave me another chance. He’ll give you another chance as well. He’ll give you as many chances as you need. Are you like Steve, that your heart has grown cold? The Bible even predicts it. Jesus predicted it in Matthew 24, that the love of many will grow cold. The reason? Because lawlessness will abound. When you start seeing so many different tragedies, so much destruction, one reaction is to grow cold. But when you understand how important it is that you pray the same prayer that Steve prayed, “Lord, I want to see with your eyes. I want to feel what you feel. I want my heart to beat again.” Well, then you get it. And just like Steve, you could have been far away from Him. You could have been living a life that wasn’t honoring Him. You could have been doing all those things. But a humble and contrite heart God won’t despise. If you turn to Him, if you ask Him, He’ll come to you. He’ll be with you. Maybe you’ve been hurt. Maybe you’ve had tragedy in your life. Maybe you’ve even been hurt by the Church, by other Christians. All you have to do is pray this same prayer. “Lord, I want to see with your eyes. I want to feel with your heart.” Does Jesus know what it’s like to go through tragedy? Yes. Did He see loved ones die? Yes. Was He persecuted? Was He falsely accused? Did the religious people of His day attack Him? Yes. We serve a God who knows from experience what it’s like. And through all of that, He still loved. He still had compassion. And He still had peace. And from a cross, He was able to say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Now, if you want that, the amazing miracle is you can have it. You can have that same mind. You can have the mind of Christ. You can have the same heart. You can have the same compassion. You can have all of that, because He wants to give it to you. All it takes is exactly what Steve did. He got on his knees, and he prayed out loud, “Lord, give me life again. Let my heart beat again. Let me feel again. Let me live again.” And if you’ll do that, Jesus will do the same thing for you. Now more than ever, we need rejuvenated Christians. We need people who really do feel, really do see, and really do understand. So if you want this, if you’ve grown cold, maybe it’s the first time you’ve ever heard this kind of message, you can have it. And all you have to do is ask for it, and He’ll come. He’ll answer. Now, if this is for you, what I want you to do is pray it right now. Don’t let another moment go by. Pray it right now, and let Jesus do all the rest. What He has done for others, what He did for Steve, He’ll do for you. Pray with me. “Lord Jesus.” That’s right. Say it out loud. “Jesus, I want to see as you see. I want to feel as you feel. I want to know your heart. Jesus, right now, you know how cold I’ve become, how I’ve turned away. Lord, I want to turn back to you. So hear my prayer. Come into my heart. Give me that touch, and let my heart beat again. Let me have your heart, your mind, your understanding, your compassion, your peace. And Lord, I also ask for your forgiveness, and so I turn to you and I dedicate myself again, and I want to follow you all the days of my life. Hear my prayer, for I pray it in Jesus’ name.” Father, for those who just prayed, I pray a renewal. I pray that your Spirit would just be on them and in them and surround them and let them know how much you love them. Do it now, for we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. If you prayed with me, I want you to do something. I want you to let somebody else know. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He will be faithful and just to forgive us. And so just do that. Take a moment to let somebody know. It’s a toll free call: 1-800-759-0700. And just say, “I prayed. I asked Jesus to come into my heart. I asked Him to renew me, to renew my love, to renew my commitment to Him.” It’s easy. Just pick up the phone and call. When you call, we’ve got something for you. It’s called “A New Day.” In here is a packet, a CD, a teaching on what do you do now. How do you live the Christian life? What does it all mean? We also encourage you to start reading the Bible again and do it every day. It’s the renewing of our mind comes from when we start reading the Bible on a regular basis. We also encourage you to join a local church, so do it right now. Make the phone call: 1-800-759-0700. Terry, over to you. Well, still ahead, meet the man who made it safety down 1,400 steps in Tower One with the help of his guide dog. That’s ahead as we remember 9/11, 10 years later. You’re just thinking about one thing, the money and your selfish means and what you want. And when you’re’ at that place, you’re at a dangerous place. When I should have been killed in the streets, He didn’t allow it to happen. He showed me mercy even when I didn’t deserve it. When I realized how much God loved me. That compelled me to love Him back. It compelled me to love Him back. Saw you on TV. Got to say, it was as painful to watch. Try living it. Spend seven days in Utopia. Wow! You’ll find your game. First you have to see it, feel it, trust it. Reminds me of someone else I used to know. That, he does. I think some time here might do you good. Sure is beautiful. I don’t think that your coming here was an accident. Seven Days in Utopia. Rated G. Welcome back to The 700 Club. President Obama says his latest jobs plan will put people back to work. It will create more jobs for construction workers, more jobs for teachers, more jobs for veterans, and more jobs for long-term unemployed. The president told the joint session of Congress 15 times that they need to pass his jobs bill. Democrats support the plan, but many Republicans have questions. I'm most concerned about our regulatory clamps that are on our businesses, and the president was very clear tonight that he's not really interested in rolling back much of that regulatory burden. I was so relieved that he finally talked about jobs and about growth in a way that is very forward looking. Some House Republican leaders have signaled they plan to pass some of the president’s bill. Operation Blessing International delivered 40 boats to Japanese fishermen affected by the tsunami. The fishermen have out of work since the disaster almost six months ago. Thousands of boats were lost and entire seaweed and shellfish operations were destroyed. Japanese boat builders are struggling to replace the fleet, and it could take up to a year for them to catch up. So Operation Blessing has stepped in and it hopes to donate hundreds more boats in the next several months. You can find out more about Operation Blessing by going to its website at OB.org. Gordon and Terry will be back with more of The 700 Club, after this. My name is Roger Stump, and I’m a cancer survivor. The surgeon said it's inoperable. “It's already in your liver.” My wife, Brenda, sat there and cried; and I'm thinking, “I can't die right now. I'm only 52 years old.” I was so distraught. I've heard Cancer Treatment Centers of America have experience with pancreatic cancers. It was like night and day. The hospital just breeds an environment of hope. You get a CT scan, and the next morning the results were read to you. We’d go up there; I just knew it was going to be a good result. You could just see the joy on Dr. Granik’s face. Call now and we’ll show you how the most compassionate people anywhere put you at the center of everything we do. Together, we'll explore real treatment options you may not even know exist. Roger Stump: Cancer Treatment Centers of America. It is such a different place, because they give you hope. I would strongly urge you to call them and get a second opinion. Please call today. Monday . . . . . . . . they had the perfect campsite . . . . Right over this 60-foot valley. . . . . but when the fire died . . . . I knew something was wrong, and I looked up and Carter wasn’t to be seen. . . . . they had to fight the elements to save their buddy’s life. After two or three times of feeling, I kicked something. Our week of prayer continues. From that moment on, I thought he was dead. Next week on The 700 Club. Michael Hingson was the regional sales manager and head of operations for a Fortune 500 company. He also happens to be blind. On the morning of 9/11, Michael was working in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. On September 11, 2001, Michael Hingson and his guide dog, Roselle, were the 78th floor of Tower One when the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center. Through smoke and confusion, Roselle led Michael down more than 1,400 stairs to safety before the building collapsed. Michael is grateful to be alive and has shared his story on shows like CNN’s Larry King Live with Roselle by his side. Roselle passed away on June 26, 2011. She was 13. For her service on September 11th, Roselle was honored as a canine hero and is a finalist in the American Humane Association Hero Dog Award for 2011. Please welcome to The 700 Club Michael Hingson and his new guide dog, Africa. Michael, it’s great to have you with us. Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here. The book was so fascinating, because to read from your perspective what it was like going down 1,400 stairs, that would have been an amazing feat. It was an amazing feat for all the other people who were there, but you did that with a guide dog. What was that like? Well, as we describe in Thunder Dog, it was, I think probably in some ways the same for us as anyone. It was a matter of focusing and not allowing panic. I was led to focus on Roselle. We've always worked as a team. Every guide dog user learns to work as a team, but as we were walking down the stairs, I suddenly began thinking, or realizing and being nudged to think, focus on her, encourage her, because that's the only way you're going to keep her from panicking, because she’s going to sense the fear. And I know that was God talking to me and making me think about it in a way that I hadn't verbalized before, that it really is a team effort. And it obviously worked, because there was a lot going on around you. There were moments where people started to panic, and there was this tremendous smell of jet fuel, and yet she never panicked. She didn’t panic because I didn't, and I didn't because she didn't. And it really is an interdependent relationship. She focused on listening to me, and as I sounded calm for her and said, “Good girl, keep going, forward, left,” and so on, she was able to do her job. But in turn, because she didn't indicate to me that she felt any fear, then I knew that we were safe as we went down the stairs. And, of course, that was just in the stairwell. People went through such a series of emotions, yourself as well. I think when you first get to the stairwell, you feel like, “Oh, my goodness, we found a way out. We're going to move down.” Then as you realize how far it is to get out of there, and those smells are becoming stronger and stronger, was there a moment that you really felt, “I’m not going to get out of here.” No, not going down the stairs, because I felt that all we could do was our best. Now, mind you, I was listening every second of the way in case that building started to do something different. But going down the stairs, meeting people, meeting the firemen coming up the stairs and so on, I never worried about getting out. I didn't have time to worry about that. You just focused on the moment and what was required. Just focused on the moment. You worked in that building regularly. It was a big, strong building. Did it ever occur to you that that thing could actually fall and just disintegrate? It never occurred to me, but I always thought when I went into the building, “What would I do in the case of an emergency?” And so as a result, I worked very hard to make sure I knew how to get around in the building and knew all that I needed to know. People think blind people can’t function, and all we do is hold on to the harness if we use a guide dog, and we get dragged around. Blindness isn't the handicapped. The handicaps are our attitudes and misconceptions about blindness. You all have the disability that you're light dependent, and Thomas Edison fixed that by inventing the electric light bulb for you. But nevertheless, we all have our challenges. For me, I think what was even more significant was after we got down the stairs and we got outside, we were only a hundred yards away from Tower Two when it collapsed. And, of course, it’s a 400-yard tall building. And I remember when I knew that the building was collapsing, I turned with Roselle and ran. No one was helping anyone. But as we ran, I started to think, “God, I can't believe that you got us out of building just to have it fall on us, and immediately I heard in my head, as you heard other people talking about it earlier, but I heard a voice as clearly as you hear me that said, “Don't worry about what you can't control. Focus on running with Roselle and the rest will take care of itself.” And that's what helped me, because then I had that immediate sense of peace and conviction that if we did work together, we would make it out, and in fact that's what happened. We made it around a corner. We got a building between us. I caught up to a colleague, David Frank, who was in our office that day for some meetings that we were going to be doing. We kept running. We got engulfed in the dust cloud. We went into a subway station to get out of the wretched air that we were breathing in, because we were suffocating in it. And certainly it was all led by that voice that said, “Don’t worry about what you can't control.” And so we survived, and that's what we talk about in Thunder Dog. But the book is also not just a 9/11 book. It really is a book of life lessons. It's about me growing up. And so I worry also about not only thinking of the day and all the ramifications and the potentials for attack, but also beyond 9/11. And so we’re hoping that this is a way that we can inspire people and educate them a little bit about blindness and also their own lives and dealing with change. Dealing with change and dealing with challenge. Your parents were amazing people. They really stood strong for you, because your blindness came because of a premature birth and too much oxygen, so you’ve really never remembered any time in your life where you weren't blind. But they never accepted that you should be treated differently, and they did everything in their power to change that. And it has made every difference in your life, hasn't it? It certainly has. And also my father had a very deep faith that helped me in having a good grounding in God and Jesus and keeping that light that they shine around us fixed in my mind all the time and recognizing that we're all part of the same world. God watches over all of us, and God is with us; and we need to listen, not just talk to Him. Well, Michael is right when he says Thunder Dog isn't just the story about 9/11. It's a story about life and how to live it and live it well. It's available in bookstores around the country. And I suggest you get it. It's a very inspiring read. Thank you so much for being with us, Michael. Thank you. And I have a quick present for you. This is Roselle’s paw print. Thank you. I love that. We got it just six days before she died. That’s wonderful. She was an amazing dog. She was. Well, when we come back, we’re going to be praying for you and your specific needs, so don’t go away. Back in a moment. Saw you on TV. Got to say, it was as painful to watch. Try living it. Spend seven days in Utopia. Wow! You’ll find your game. First you have to see it, feel it, trust it. Reminds me of someone else I used to know. That, he does. I think some time here might do you good. Sure is beautiful. I don’t think that your coming here was an accident. Seven Days in Utopia. Rated G. If you’re one of the millions of Americans without dental insurance, ask yourself these three important questions. One, does your company not offer dental insurance? Two, are you self employed? Three, are you retired? If you answered yes to any of these, it’s important that you call Encore Dental today. Encore Dental is real insurance, and your acceptance is guaranteed. You’ll receive up to 100 percent coverage for preventative care and up to 50 percent on basic and major procedures. Encore Dental can help keep your teeth healthy which may prevent infections that lead to heart disease and stroke. And with the high cost of procedures, it makes sense to have great coverage. Choose your level of benefits. There are no claims to fill out and no waiting for reimbursement. So go ahead, review it for 30 days. Call 1-800-671-6150. Call now, and save an additional ten percent. Call now and save an additional ten percent. Every day, all over the world, thousands of people contact CBN’s counseling centers for prayer, and they found some creative ways to get in touch with us. In Indonesia, one woman lost her voice, couldn’t make a phone call, so here’s what she did instead. As a high school teacher, Maida relied on her voice to do her job. And her family came to depend on the extra income she brought home as well. But then Maida got sick, so sick that her husband had to stay home to take care of her. It was hurting. I felt like someone was standing on my chest. I was worried. I wondered if it would ever get better. Maida’s condition got worse, and eventually she lost her voice, too. Doctors told her she had developed paresis, or paralyzed vocal chords, a condition which has no treatment and no cure. I remembered that I had watched some healing stories on CBN’s Solusi program. I realized that only Jesus could help me. Because she couldn’t talk, Maida decided to send a text message to CBN Indonesia asking for prayer. By the next day, her condition had changed dramatically. I woke up in the morning with no more in my chest. And I could talk and breathe normally, too. I shouted, “Thank you!” to God. I am healed. Maida has returned to her teaching job and to her role as wife and mom. I believe that Jesus is working to heal our nation, just like He healed me through CBN Solusi. And I pray that more people will watch Solusi and experience God’s love, too. It’s wonderful what’s happening. We’re reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through CBN International. If you want to be a part of it, all you have to do is join the 700 Club. Call that number: 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “Yes, I want to be a part of everything you’re doing around the world.” A portion of every gift to the 700 Club goes into the work of CBN International. If you want to designate your gift for international outreach, you can. Just log on to CBN.com, and there will be a place on the giving page where you can designate your gift to do international work. When you call and join, we’ll send you Life Beyond the Grave, real people who have been to Heaven and have come back, and you want to hear their story of what they’re doing. So call us: 1-800-759-0700. Terry. Well, yesterday at noon, the staff here at CBN gathered together to kick off our week of prayer that we call Seven Days Ablaze. First, Gordon led us in prayer for the needs of our partners, and then Lieutenant General William Boykin gave us a stirring charge. Take a look. For all those that are represented here in this room, we lift them to you. And Lord, we come boldly to your throne of grace, for with you nothing is impossible. Be with us now, Lord, for we ask it all in Jesus’ name. Amen. If we as the body of Christ do not rise up and become a mighty army for God, and become the salt and light, we’re going to lose our country. And I really believe that with all my heart. We’re going to lose our country. The only hope America has is for the body of Christ to unify and rise up as a mighty army. The leadership of the nation today is facing an awful lot of challenges. They need our prayers. We need to pray for them. God bless our president. God, give him strength. Give him wisdom. Give him guidance. You don’t have to agree with him politically, but he is the leader. He’s in charge. You need to be praying for him. God bless our vice president. God bless our Congress. The church needs to come together in intercessory prayer for the leaders of this nation. We’re going to be meeting again today at noon, and you can join us when we pray together. We invite you to pray for all of our partners, for our nation and our leaders, and for the world. You can log on to CBN.com. And if you have any specific personal prayer requests, give us a call at 1-800-759-0700. It’s our privilege to pray for you, and we want to do that right now. We’ve got some prayer requests. This is from Jacksonville, Florida, a healing from a brain injury in 2006. Here’s asking for the healing of a 13-year-old girl from scoliosis. Let’s just join together. We have a great stack of prayer requests in front of us. We’ve gotten an amazing response to this call to prayer. A lot of people need prayer, so join with us and let’s just pray now. “Lord, we just lift the needs of those who have written in, and we just come into agreement with them, touching them now, and we say be healed. And for the ones we read, for the girl with scoliosis, for the one with the brain injury, we just ask for your healing touch to go into their bodies now, in Jesus’ name. Be healed. And, Lord, we just join in that call to prayer for our nation. We pray for President Obama. We ask for wisdom for him. We ask that he would have your wisdom and that he would have peace. We ask for peace in the Congress and the Senate. We ask for unity. We ask that we would once again be one nation under God. Lord, we also pray for Israel and her time of need. Be with her. Protect her, for we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.” Amen. We leave you with these words from Isaiah 57 . . . . “No weapon formed against you shall prosper. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” God bless you. We’ll see you again next week. Here at CBN, we see amazing things happen when we stand together. That’s why we want to say thank you to the thousands of you . . . . . . . . who recently pledged to join the 700 Club. Your monthly gift makes it possible to bring crucial help to those who need it most. You help heal the sick, feed the hungry . . . . . . . . and preach the Gospel across America and throughout the world. You’ve brought health and hope to people in desperate need. And changed their lives forever. This widow was so poor she had to search for food for her children. Many times all she could find was ant larvae. When her daughter became ill with a deadly parasite, you sent a free medical clinic that saved her life. You also gave this family a small poultry business so that they can support themselves. Your love ended their despair. So please watch for this mailing and send in your pledge. This year millions will know . . . . The love and saving power of Jesus Christ. And that only happens, because you were there.