The 700 Club - March 16, 2012 - Cbn

Itís something that you just donít talk about. Deep in the heart of Dixie . . . . We are a transportation hub. . . . . slavery returns to the south. The same things that bring businesses here also bring traffickers here. Well, welcome to The 700 Club. Sudan is facing a massive humanitarian crisis. Brutal attacks on civilians have now led to food shortages and starvation. Hollywood superstar George Clooney is urging the United States to take action, and he told CBNís John Jessup that Christian ministries are playing an important role in Sudan. Itís a world away from the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown; and, while that recognizable face and voice amongst one of Hollywoodís top leading men, make no mistake. This is no movie set. . . . . is coming in so weíre going to go to see the kids. Okay, Weíre moving. Rather, itís often a daily occurrence for the Nuban people living near the border of Sudan in South Sudan, and region caught in the middle of violence by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum against a mostly black Christian population. Clooney traveled there to document what he calls ìwar crimes,î which include bombing attacks, burned down villages and ethnic killings. In a one-on-one interview, he told CBN news now is the time to act. For every one of those people that is hurt, innocent people that are hurt, itís us thatís hurt. US officials warn the situation could worsen within months, leaving about a half million people at risk of starvation. But the conflict also has global implications. China relies on imported oil from South Sudan which has shut off supplies. China, who has a $20 billion infrastructure built-in, oil infrastructure built in the Sudan, is now not getting a dime. So theyíre having to go out on the open market and buy more oil which costs them money. It costs us money, raises the price of gas. Clooney is calling on Washington to increase pressure on Sudan. I asked him about whether he thought President Obama was doing enough in light of his predecessor, President Bushís record on African aid and programs. (Interviewing): How would you measure the Obama Administrationís commitment to Africa? Well, heís been amazing when he has been able to get in himself, to get in and roll up his sleeves. Listen, there is an Arab spring. There is Iran. Thereís a lot of stuff going on in the world. Itís hard to keep the focus for a long period of time on this, but thatís what our job is, to keep reminding people of this. Clooney credits the work of Christian ministries for offering hope, healing, and relief to those suffering in Sudan. They lead the work a lot of times here. When we were at the Darfur rally, it was ministers. It was a lot of people of faith that had been working very *** this. So in some ways, Iím trying to honor whatever part I can in the hard work that they do. John Jessup, CBN News, Washington. We have been there. We have been there for a long period of time, and this genocide is not new. Itís been going on for some time where the north seems bent on trying to eradicate a population based solely on their race. There is a religious element to it but, at the same time, it seems to be a genocide unfolding for over a decade now. This is a massive problem. I wish the UN would step in. I wish the US would step in. We thought South Sudan would solve the problem, but clearly it hasnít. But thank you. If youíre a member of The 700 Club, youíve been there. Youíve been there in the refugee camps in Darfur. Youíve been providing food. Youíve been providing medical care. You were there in the Nuba mountains. And if you want more information about it, all you have to do is go to OB.org, and you can find out what youíre doing in the Nuba Mountains today in Sudan. Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. Gordon, Rick Santorum says he will crackdown on *** if heís elected president. In a statement on his website, he criticizes the Obama Administration for turning a blind eye to the distribution of ***, and he promises to enforce laws already on the books. Meanwhile, Democrats are attacking Mitt Romney for announcing he wants to cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood. Theyíre trying to paint him as a candidate who opposes womenís healthcare, but Romneyís camp says his comments are being taken out of context. The controversy stems from a speech in Missouri where Romney outlined plans to cut the federal deficit. How are you going to cut spending? And I have three rules. Number one, Iím going to look at every program and ask, ìIs this program so essential, itís worth borrowing money from China to pay for it?î And if it doesnít pass that test, Iím getting rid of it. So Obamacare, goodbye; subsidies for Amtrak and for Planned Parenthood, those things, good-bye. A Romney adviser says he was not suggesting Planned Parenthood eliminated. He points out the organization has other sources of funding. In Missouri business owner is suing the Obama Administration over the contraception mandate in the presidentís health care reform law. Frank OíBrien is Catholic, and he says being forced to provide his 90 employees with contraception is a violation of his faith. The American Center for Law and Justice filed suit on behalf of OíBrienís company. Several church-affiliated institutions are also suing the Obama Administration over that mandate. OíBrien is believed to be the first secular company to sue. A record tornado season continues. This time Michigan is the target. Rain, hail, and high winds moved across southeastern parts of Michigan Thursday. There were six confirmed funnel clouds in Monroe County and at least two towns in Washtenaw County were hit by tornadoes. Emergency officials are still calculating the damage to homes and businesses. No lives were lost, but residents say they have never seen a storm of this magnitude. We just shut the door and prayed, and held hands and stuff, and we kept calling our husbands and telling them not to come home. A tornado also hit a neighborhood in Ida, Michigan. Cleanup in that state is expected to take at least a few weeks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suggesting that his country does not need an okay from the US to attack Iranís nuclear weapons program. He says Israel has never left its fate of two others, not even the best of friends. Netanyahu pointed out that Israel destroyed an unfinished nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981, and the US condemned the attack at the time. Most visitors to the Holy Land tour ancient biblical sites and, of course, walk the historic streets, but one group is literally racing through the heart of Jerusalem. Chris Mitchell explains. Early Friday morning, thousands took part in Jerusalemís second annual international marathon. The runners came from more than 50 countries. Itís part of a experience to come to one of the most important cities in the world, one of the most ancient cities in the world as well; and to be part of this experience is a fantastic feeling. To run in a unified Jerusalem, show the world that Jewish people are alive, running, kicking, is a normal city, is a great city, destination city, thereís nothing better. The marathon is on its way to becoming one of Israelís largest sporting events. Itís only two years old, but Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat told a pre-race and rally the race is becoming a destination marathon. Jerusalem is in the short list of the most important experienced marathons of the world. The track is challenging, breathtaking, people just love running the streets of Jerusalem. Itís an amazing thing, unlike any other place in the world. Usually people go to a flat city to get a better result. When they come to the hilly city of Jerusalem, itís not for the best result in the world, itís for the best experience. A highlight for many in the run is the opportunity to run in the land of the Bible and through the streets of Jerusalemís old city. Such a privilege, and just to know that this is where Jesus walked, and that itís just so historic, and itís what I read about growing up in the Bible. Itís Godís city. He gave me the gift to run, and this is going to be very special for me. In addition to the marathon, runners can choose several other races including a half marathon, and 10 km or 4 km distances. The roots trace in and around Jerusalemís city limits. African runners dominated this yearís race, and the conditions were cold and rainy; but despite the weather, many encouraged others to come next year. Chris Mitchell, CBN News, Jerusalem. Looks like a challenging course. Well, if you see people lining up outside a building in your town, itís probably at the Apple store. At eight oíclock this morning, the latest version of the iPad went on sale. IPad 3 has a much clearer display, weíre told, faster processor and an improved camera. Some lines began forming outside Apple stores yesterday. Apple ran out of supplies quickly during the debut of the second iPad last year, and many customers simply donít want the wait that comes along with ordering online. At the front of one line was Steve Wozniak, Appleís cofounder. Weíre going to be doing a lot less thinking in the future. The computer is going to think for us, and theyíre going to get much better at thinking than we are. Wozniak said thereís nothing quite like coming out on opening day. The new iPad, by the way, cost $499. Gordon, are you going to get one? No, Iím not lining up yet. But curiously, I think my father is going to get one, and heís a real iPad fan. Well, what do you think of what Wozniak is saying? Oh, I think itís just what we need, people thinking less. My word! Thereís already language for it where people are talking about, ìWell I have my computer-aided brain,î and then theyíre literally saying, ìmy meat brain.î But the computer brain is remembering more, and theyíre putting more things into the clouds. People are literally taking photographs of what they ate for breakfast and posting that so they can have a record of all their memories of their life. When you think about all that kind of stuff? Iím trying to forget what I ate for breakfast this morning. So Iím not too into that. I donít want to be reminded. Good granola bars, it isnít that interesting in a camera shot? Well, weíve got something serious coming up. Hundreds of underage girls are being pimped out every night right in the buckle of the Bible Belt. It used to be that, if someone wanted to have sex with a child, they needed to go to Thailand. Well, now a man can fly into Atlanta, have sex with a child and be home for dinner. Find out why the south has become the new hotbed for human trafficking when we return. Coming up later . . . . . . . . he was sleeping around . . . . Months after I got married, I started to cheat on my wife. . . . . but he wasnít getting much sleep. That dream was not a dream but a warning. His wake-up call on todayís 700 Club. I had what was known as a ìwidow maker.î Hi there, neighbor. Pat Boone here for my good friends at Swiss America, the company that makes retirement dreams come true with gold. A lot of folks are shifting a portion of their retirement funds into a new precious metals IRA with Swiss America. And since 2004 these IRAís are up in value over 150 percent. 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Get your free information kit and imagine how you can start looking younger today. Well, before the Civil War, slavery was a way of life in Atlanta. Now 150 years later, itís back in the form of human trafficking. As Heather Sells reports, hundreds of girls are trafficked every month in Georgia. More than five million people live and work in the Atlanta-metro area. It boasts the countryís sixth strongest economy. Atlanta is home to a number of Fortune 500 companies like Coke, Delta and Suntrust; and itís proud of it. But what itís not proud of is the lucrative business of trafficking which, by all accounts, appears to be flourishing here. A lot of the same things that bring businesses here also bring traffickers here. We are a transportation hub. It used to be, particularly with respect to child sex trafficking, that if someone wanted to have sex with a child, they needed to go to Thailand. Well now, a man can fly into Atlanta, have sex with a child and be home for dinner. US Attorney Sally Yates, the regionís top prosecutor, is raising the profile of Atlantaís anti-trafficking movement. On a recent weekday night, the hellish reality she is battling is clearly seen on the streets of at least one neighborhood. Young girls walking with their pimps, getting into cars, and going off with older men. Online ads also reveal the hundreds of young women and girls being sold on any given night. Weíre also a city that is known, to a certain extent, for the sex industry here, strip clubs and prostitution. And then we have lots of conventions, lots of major sporting events, that creates a ready market . Activists, like Stephanie Davis, have been fighting this for years. Itís something that you just donít talk about. Itís the south. Weíre living in a culture that is very polite. But Davis says a cultural shift is pulling together the faith community, business leaders and politicos. In the past year, it led to a historic anti-trafficking bill that provides tougher penalties for buyers and sellers. The state of Georgia has also worked hard to provide an array of services for victims, even targeting girls at risk. I think the best thing you can do is not tell them what to do, but teach them how to think. Teach them how to make decisions. Atlantaís Christian community is also galvanizing. A church coalition known as Street Grace promotes awareness, prayer around the clock, and local anti-trafficking ministries. Out of Darkness is one such group. Its mission: serve as a rescue hotline for trafficking victims. Since starting in December, it has rescued six women and taken them to recovery services around the city. Atlantaís business community is also waking up to the issue, and activists say itís support is crucial: In any corporate culture thatís still very male-dominated, and thereís a lot of wink, wink that goes on after hours, particularly when professionals are entertaining their clients. Companies can also make a difference by looking at their supply chain. Probably in the beginning, it is going to adversely affect their bottom line. Atlanta entrepreneur Elisabeth Marchant is one of the voices calling on corporations to change their ways. While she acknowledges that it is not easy, Marchant makes a strong case for why companies must address trafficking. Theyíre thinking, ìWell, this is over here. This is a social issue. This doesnít impact my business.î And yet it does, because you have employees at risk; you have vendors at risk; and you have your entire reputation at risk. And, says Marchant, investors and employees, especially younger ones, want responsible companies. Atlantaís own Delta Airlines has taken a first step by signing an international agreement to combat trafficking. The stateís largest hospital, and hotels like Radisson and Country Inns, are training employees to be on the lookout and report any signs of exploitation. And more than a dozen area corporations have pledged to hire victims, thanks to a new partnership between Manpower and the non-profit Second Chance Employment Services. When they come to us, we never really ask how much they can do, how much they know, what the situation is, but we tell them how much we can help them. Itís no different in many ways than when we talk to people about putting people with disabilities to work. The initial fear, ìHow can we do that, how will they fit in, can they do the job?î And then when they rationalize it through their minds, and they understand, that this is not about charity, this is about putting people with the skills that are necessary to work. Whatís especially needed in Atlanta right now are facilities designed to shelter victims. Such places could better help with their restoration. They could prevent them from returning to the streets and allow them to continue as witnesses in the cases that put those who buy and sell them behind bars. Reporting in Atlanta, Heather Sells, CBN News. Well, the Center for Global Justice at Regent University school of Law will host a symposium on trafficking in two weeks. Human rights advocates and legal professionals will strategize the best ways to protect children, women, and religious freedom. You can find out more by going to CBNNews.com. We need to get ahead of this issue, not behind it. For so long when you said human trafficking, sex trafficking, you thought Thailand, you thought Bombay, you thought it was someplace else, but itís right here, right here in our own backyard. We need to put a stop to it. When you look at this, when you see it, your heart just goes out to those who are the victims of it; and then, frankly, Terry, Iíd like to take aóyou know, somebody that would actually engage in that. I think we need to have a whole publicity campaign to say, this isnít something real men ever do. I saw Justin Timberlake one time with a sign saying real men donít pay for sex. That ought to be something that we really get up front with it. We need to bring shame to this industry, so that it stops. Yes, itís a shameful industry as a whole, but when you see children being taken advantage of, it just infuriates you. I hope that we all become well-informed. I think that is what a lot of this is about, is understanding and keeping your eyes open knowing whatís going on around you, and be part of the solution. Itís important. Well, coming up: one moment he was walking into a bank, and the next he was the latest victim of the widow maker. There was no reason for me to be able to make it through that horrible, horrible thing. He knew that the Lord saved him for a reason. Hear how dying changed this manís life, thatís next. Believe it or not, this is a catheter. Itís the new SpeediCath Compact for women, now available from Liberator Medical with full medical and private insurance reimbursements. Stay tuned for an exciting, free offer, but first meet Julie. You know when you leave the house, and you say, ìOkay, I have my phone. I have my keys. I have my wallet. Iím good to go?î Now I always have to think of a catheter, because I canít go without it. SpeediCath came into my life, and it is life-changing. Theyíre tiny and thin, and you can fit them in your back pocket. You can fit them anywhere you need them. This is a lipstick, or a lip gloss, and this is the size of it. With this youíre only touching the outer plastic, and youíre never actually in contact with the catheter itself. You just really have to give a sample. Thatís all it needs is one sample, and everyoneís going to want them. Now hereís that free offer I promised. Call Liberator Medical. Get your free, SpeediCath Compact Sample six-pack. Shipping is free: 1-800-595-1446, 1-800-595-1446. Monday . . . . . . . . the NCAA tournament is underway, and March madness is here. Duke star Seth Curry tells us how he gets ready for the big game. After playing the game on a big stage and playing against the best players and with the best players. And then . . . . . . . . a teen gets a mysterious illness. It was so bizarre in me. . . . . and an even stranger cure. Monday. Scott Nehring thought he was in perfect health. After all, he was only 38 years old, but Scott was wrong, dead wrong; and youíre about to see why. One Saturday morning, Scott Nehring walked into his bank and, as he moved towards the line, collapsed. His wife, Andrea, remembers getting the phone call: ìIs this Mrs. Nehring?î ìYes.î ìItís your husband, Scott.î ìYes.î ìDoes he have any health problems?î ìWhy, whatís going on?î ìDonít ask any questions! Does he have any health problems?î ìNot to my knowledge.î And then he said, ìWell he collapsed at the bank. Weíve got people here working on him.î Andrea didnít know if her husband would live or die. The turbulent early years of their marriage now seemed insignificant. The couple met in college and married while still in school. It was kind of a whirlwind romance, and we were engaged shortly after we started dating. Yet Scott had been keeping a part of his life and hidden from Andrea. He cleaned up his act long enough to win her over, but it didnít last. I started to do the drugs again. I started to drink very heavily. I started to sleep around, a married man. Months after I got married, I started to cheat on my wife, and it destroyed her. I just felt sick. So six months in, he told me that he wanted a divorce. And I think I found out about the girl about a month after that. The couple separated. Andrea left school and moved in with her parents where she renewed her relationship with Jesus. Over time she forgave her husband and started praying that he would give his life to Christ. Yes, I had been told ìyouíre not to give up on him.î So I didnít. We prayed a lot, and I got my strength from the Lord and from my family. After two years, they agreed to get back together and began working on their marriage. Soon they had their first child. One night, Scott had a disturbing dream. There were, in this dream, slopes of mud and muck and running, filthy water and stuff like that, and I was rolling in this stuff; and something grabbed me and pulled me down under the water, and I couldnít break free. I knew that that dream was not a dream but a warning. So I said, well, do you want to say sinners prayer? Are you finally ready to give your heart to the Lord? And I did. I got down on my knees, and I gave myself to Christ, and I begged for forgiveness for everything that I had done. Afterwards, Scott started taking his family to church, but the fighting at home continued. He had some internal conflict that he was working out, but that internal conflict, I guess, often came out in anger. One-day Scott, a seemingly healthy 38-year-old, walked into the bank and suffered a massive heart attack. By the time he hit the floor, he was already dead; and time was running out. Amazingly, paramedics were only a block away and arrived at the scene within two minutes. They worked furiously on Scott until finally they got a heartbeat. I had what was known as a ìwidow maker,î and four percent of the people survive. There was no reason for me to be able to make it through that horrible, horrible thing. He couldnít deny how the Lord choreographed his survival. It was so detailed, and he couldnít deny it. So he knew that the Lord saved him for a reason. Scott spent only a few days in the hospital. When he came home, he was not the same person. When you die and come back, thatís what youíre left with. Immediately it was my family, my wife, Christ, was the only thing that mattered. I became a better father, and I became a much better husband, easily. Giving myself to Christ, living my life for Him has allowed for me to actually become the man that I should have been all along. He really has come full circle, and Iím very grateful. When you give yourself to Christ, itís not an issue of whether you deserve it or not. You donít. Itís an issue of His grace and His gift. Itís a beautiful thing. Life is very fragile, isnít it? I think if we realized exactly how fragile it is, we would all live very differently. Scott came to a place in his life where he almost lost everything. Iíve tried speaking to him, gave him a heads up, gave him a warning, showed him a picture of what his life actually look like with all of the things he was thinking and doing, and involved in. The interesting thing is, he knew he shouldnít be doing the things that he was, but he just didnít seem to have whatever it took to overcome that. Maybe you can relate to that. Maybe thereís some things in your life that you are involved in, and you know you shouldnít be doing it. You know itís taking a toll on you, maybe even on your family. But you just canít seem to like up on the cliff and get victory over that thing. Many of us come to Christ. We say, ìYes, Jesus. I know Iím a sinner. I ask you to forgive my sins. I ask you to be my Savior.î But we never really asked Him to take our lives. We never really gave Him full sway over our lives. Lots of times we donít really know how to be different than we are. Sometimes we really donít want to let go of the things that are controlling us, even when we know we need saving by a Savior who loves us. Thereís another level to knowing Jesus thatís really knowing Him. Itís not just taking advantage of the price He paid on Calvary. Itís not just saying, ìGod, forgive my sins. Iím not worthy but Iím a sinner and need of a Savior.î Itís that place that you go to when you say, ìI am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Iím sick of my self. I want to be done with this. I want my life to be changed.î Then God doesnít ask us to do this on our own. He says, let me come into your life and clean it up. Thatís what Jesus did with his followers. He said go into that upper room and stay there until I send the Holy Spirit. The power of God come upon us to change us inside and out, to give us victory over the things in our lives that are destroying us, that are keeping us from the things that we were meant to be and how we were created to live. Hereís the great thing. Itís available to anyone who wants it. You canít get good enough. God is not keeping a scorecard. You can earn your way. He has paid the price. The Holy Spirit is available to you for the asking. Would you like to have a fresh start today? Would you like to have a new beginning? Would you like to have the kind of power that will let you live your life differently than you are living it right now? Then ask. Ask and receive. Itís not the kind of thing where you just ask, and squeeze your fist together, and close your eyes, and hope God shows up and does what He says. When you surrender your life to Him, itís a done deal. Heís already said that. Would you pray with me today? Would you just stop what youíre doing right now and do business with God? You were meant to live such a different life than youíre living right now, and the One who created the universe, who flung the stars and the planets into the sky, hung the moon and the sun, wants to walk and talk with you every day. He created you to have fellowship with Him. He wants to know you and wants you to know Him. Pray with me right now. Just say yes to Him. Letís pray together. ìGod, Iím listening to this manís story, and Iím realizing that, if something happened to me right now, if I were to die, I am not ready. I know there are things in my life that are controlling me, that are ruining me, that Iíve given myself over to that are destroying my family. I have come to the place today, God. I am sick and tired of being tired. Iím sick of myself and the choices Iíve been making. Iím sick of the behavior Iíve engaged in. I want and I need, God, a new beginning. I need you. Jesus, thank you for waiting for me, even when I wasnít acknowledging you or wanting you in any way. Today Iím coming humbly to you, and I bow down before you and say ëI am a sinner in need of a Savior.í Jesus, be my Savior. Forgive my sins. They are great and they are many. Forgive each one, God. I know who I am and what Iíve done. Iím asking you to forgive me out of your mercy. Iím also asking you to be the Lord of my life. I know that if you donít come into my life, and if your Holy Spirit doesnít come into me and fall upon me, that I have no power on my own. Be the Lord of my life. I lift everything that I am, all that I have, up on to the alter before you and I say, ëI want to belong to you, God. I want to be identified as one of your children.í Touch me, change me. Holy Spirit come into my heart. Change my mind and the way that I think. Teach me how to hear your voice when you speak to me. When I read the Bible, talk to me through your Word, God. Show me how to live. Give me a fresh beginning so that I cannot just have eternal life with you, but live for you right now, right now, today, in the place that youíve planted me. Let my life count for you. In Jesusí name I pray. Amen.î If youíve prayed that prayer, God is faithful. He never changes. Heís the same yesterday, today and forever, and His love for you is beyond what you can imagine, but what do you do now? How do you grow? Well, weíve got information that weíd love to send to you. Itís free, and if youíll call that toll free number, 1-800-759-0700. Just say, ìI just prayed that prayer,î and weíd like to send you Love and Marriage if youíre struggling in your marriage relationship. Weíve also got a packet called A New Day. Itíll help you grow in your relationship with God. Itís all free. The call is free, and the information is free. We just want to help you draw closer to the Lord. Weíre going to be back with more of The 700 Club right after this. Coming up . . . . . . . . for Buddhist, the goal is nirvana. Find out why some say that goal is impossible . . . . Reaching nirvana seems a hopeless situation. . . . . later on todayís 700 Club. Looking back over everything that had happened in my life, and then running from God and thinking that he wouldn't forgive somebody that had done the things that I had. How stupid I was! That was the most miserable time of my life. Couldn't do enough drugs, and I couldn't do enough alcohol to make it stop. For the first time in this whole ordeal, I prayed, ìJesus, fix me.î The guilt, the addiction, all gone. Thereís everything in trusting God. Just take that one step, that's all it takes. If youíre the mother of child with behavior problems, Iíd like to talk to you. My name is Janet Lehman, and Iím a behavior therapist and a mom. I know what itís like when the child that you love becomes a defiant out-of-control child who disrespects you. Thatís why my husband James and I created The Total Transformation, the program that tens of thousands of moms are now using to turn around their childís behavior. If youíve heard about the Total Transformation and wondered if it will work for you, now you can try it for free. Iím willing to give away a thousand programs today for free. All you need to do is get the program and let us know how it works for you. Weíll let you keep it for free. I know the Total Transformation works, because I used these techniques with my own son and with troubled kids for over 30 years. Let me prove to you that it works by giving you the program free. Call the number on your screen now to get the Total Transformation free. Welcome back to The 700 Club. The Democratic Party in one Florida county caused a big stir by flying an American Flag featuring an image of President Obama. Hereís what it looks like. These photos, taken by a group called FiscalRangers.com. The Orlando Sentinel reports the flag was flying for several months. Some veterans, though, saw it and were outraged. They call it a desecration of the American flag. The Lake County Democratic Party has taken it down. The St. Louis Rams teamed up with Operation Blessing to help tornado victims in Harrisburg, Illinois. Thirty-two staff members, the teamís mascot, four cheerleaders and two players volunteered for three projects. Some sorted supplies and packed bags for residents at a warehouse. Others helped welcome home a family who received an extreme blessing makeover from OB, and the last group worked with the Salvation Army, sorting through clothing and talking with residents. They finished the day with a 30-minute presentation on unity and encouragement and, of course, signed a few autographs. And 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. There's a lot that goes into producing a live television show everyday. Lee is going to be in frame sync one and DC will be in frame sync two. My job here in the control room is to listen to the director and make sure that any one of our nine cameras or our tape machines or our live feeds make it to your TV screen. My main prayer was that I would be able to use whatever skills and talents I had for God, for His Kingdom. To be able to do that on a daily basis is quite an honor and privilege. My name is Jonathan. I'm the senior technical director, and I work at CBN. Hi, Iím Dr. Joyce Brothers. Those of us who are independent and live alone shouldnít do so without having emergency protection. And for reliability and peace of mind, I recommend the Alert USA emergency respond system. With Alert USA, simply wear our pendant in and around your home, and if you ever fall or otherwise need assistance, just press the button to be connected to a specially trained operator who can summon help any time day or night. I believe in these tough times, Alert USA provides the best emergency support and value for your dollar. Right now, for a limited time, get the Alert USA system for just 50 cents a day. Youíll also get our free 911 emergency cell phone that will protect you when youíre away from home or in a black out, a phone so advanced it can even take your blood pressure. Plus, weíll include a free smoke detector with 24-hour monitoring. Only Alert USA protects you and your home no matter where you are. For a free USA brochure, call now at 1-800-839-9639. Thatís 1-800-839-9639. Monday . . . . . . . . the NCAA tournament is underway, and March madness is here. Duke star Seth Curry tells us how he gets ready for the big game. After playing the game on a big stage and playing against the best players and with the best players. And then . . . . . . . . a teen gets a mysterious illness. It was so bizarre in me. . . . . and an even stranger cure. Monday. There are over 350 million Buddhists in the world, and while many think that Buddhism is a religion that teaches how to find inner peace and nirvana, it also teaches that itís an impossible quest. Around the world, 350 million Buddhists are striving for one thing, nirvana. When one reaches nirvana, it all ends there. The person has been extinguished. In Buddhism, there is no creator, no supreme god, and no salvation but yourself. I was taught that you are your own strength. You have to achieve your own glory and achieve spiritual improvement by yourself. To reach nirvana is to extinguish the self, a nearly impossible task. In my opinion, reaching nirvana seems a hopeless situation. More than 2,000 years ago, a nobleman named Siddhartha Gautama went on a quest to overcome suffering and death. Through self-discipline and meditation, he believed that he had finally achieved nirvana. After that, he became known as the Buddha, or enlightened one. Buddha claimed that he had found the cause of human suffering and the way to end it. He then laid out his four noble truths. All existence is suffering. Human desire or attachment causes this suffering. Humans can end suffering by putting an end to their selfish desires. The fourth truth says that the only way to achieve nirvana is to follow the eight-fold path, a series of mental and behavioral guidelines. This path is illustrated by the dharma wheel, one of the most important symbols of Buddhism. It represents the endless cycle of life through rebirth. The wheel is divided into three sections: wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental development. For Buddhist monks, following the path demands that they leave everything behind, even their families, to focus on perfecting themselves. People who really want to achieve nirvana need to remove themselves from society and leave everything in order to keep their minds and souls peaceful. Therefore the ones who have achieved nirvana are mostly monks. After entering monkhood, there are 227 rules that need to be followed. Those who want to achieve nirvana need to meditate at all times. One cannot allow his feelings or emotions to overtake them. The soul needs to be pure and free from any emotion or sadness. That person's soul needs to be pure, bright, and peaceful all of the time. Only then can he achieve nirvana. And there is no supreme god to help you achieve nirvana. In Buddhism, the fate of your soul depends entirely on you. Each of us has our own responsibility. And each of us does suffer because of our confusion. But if we come to understand, we can free ourselves from suffering, even in this life, much less waiting for someone else to do it for us any time. And if you don't get it right in this life, Buddhists believe there is always the next. The cyclic existence is a process of rebirth, in order for each soul to make amends for there bad karma, all the karma that one had built up during a lifetime. If one kills and eats an animal, that person will be born as an animal during his next life. The chances for a soul to be born as a human being in order to improve their spirituality and their karma, and be able to achieve nirvana, are very slim. It is very hard. Robert Thur Buddhaís whole teaching was is that there is no separating self. Itís a hard road, because you realize that, ultimately, you can't really have nirvana until all beings have nirvana. So, then that makes it really tough. It is a tough way. How do you perfect yourself? How do you do enough good things to make up for all the bad things that youíve done? How can you possibly have even a moment when you are perfect? The Buddhists think that, ìWell, okay, if Iím not going to get it right, thereís always the next time and then the time after that,î and they project it out into an infinity where all beings, all sentient beings achieve nirvana together. Well, what does the Bible say about reincarnation? You find it in Hebrews 9:27 . . . . . . . . ìIt is appointed for men to die once,î once. We get one lifetime. We donít get multiple ones. And then it adds, ìSo Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.î The writer of Hebrews is making a very important point. God didnít have to sacrifice Jesus again and again. Christ was appointed to die for us once, and He did it for the sins of all humans for all time. He did it because He realized and He knew that we canít get there. We canít observe enough laws. We canít perfect ourselves. We canít make up for the sin that stains us and separates us from Him, so He said, ìDonít worry. Iíll take care of it.î You find the prayer and you find the promise in the Old Testament. You find it in Psalm 79 . . . . . . . . . Help us, oh God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, for your nameís sake.î Why did God do it? Well, He did it for His own nameís sake. He understood that we are His children and He loves us with an infinite love. ìFor God so loved the world, and that means you, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever,î and you can be a whosoever, ìwould believe I Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.î God took care of it. He took care of our problems so that we could be reconciled to Him for all eternity. Now, the Buddhists say, ìWell, thatís a shortcut.î Well, yeah, it is and itís a great one. This great news of salvation needs to be proclaimed in all the world as a witness, and then the end will come. Thatís the great promise of the church; the great promise of salvation, that God has taken care of it, why? For His own nameís sake. Terry, over to you. Well, in Thailand nearly 95 percent of the people are Buddhists. Thatís one of the highest percentages in the world. That number used to include a woman named Somlak, until she watched a television show produced by CBN. Forty-five year old Somlak of Thailand watched as her truck was repossessed. Her husband had abandoned her and left her deeply in debt. Inside of me I was screaming. I didnít know how to handle myself. I just wanted to die. Thatís when she remembered a program sheís been watching for a year. CBNís Thailandís From Heart to Heart. I wondered, ìIs their God the real God? Will He help me? Can I get through to Him?î Even though Somlak had been raised as a Buddhist, the words of this Christian program rang true. Somlak called the phone number for the CBN prayer counseling center. There was a real person at the end of the line. She comforted me and prayed with me as if we had known each other for a long time. Somlak prayed to receive Jesus as Savior, and CBN helped her to find a local church. I found out that I can talk to God and ask Him anything. And when CBN learned about her financial struggles, we gave her some pigs to start a livestock business and fish to start a fish farm right on her property. In just a few months, she went from 12 to 30 pigs and from a handful of fish to a full pond ready for harvest. I would like to thank CBN. I now have hope I my life, and I want to share this hope with everybody. Youíre making that kind of a difference all round the world if youíre a 700 Club member. Weíre out to change the world with the knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ. Help us do that, wonít you? You were created to be sent forth with the message thatís been given to you. So, we want to invite you to do that with us if youíre not a 700 Club member already. Itís 65 cents a day, $20 a month to join with us, but youíll be joining an army of people who are already committed to making a difference in the lives of people worldwide. Join with us now, wonít you? Our number is toll free, 1-800-759-0700. Just call and say, ìI want to join the 700 Club.î We welcome you to the family of ministries here. And we want to say, also, that if you go up to 700 Club Gold, thatís a gift of $40 a month, we want to send you two of the teachings that Gordon just gave you a small taste of in all of that. Regular 700 Club members will get The Quest for God, but if you want to join at 700 Club Gold, weíll send you two, one for you and one for a friend. Included in this, we were talking today about Buddhism, but you talk about Hinduism, you talk about the Mayan culture, about Islam, which is certainly something that we all need to understand in our culture today. Then, Gordon teaches about Jesus Christ, our faith. What is it that makes what we believe so different from the rest of the world and so precious to us? So, we want you to have this. Call now. In fact, hereís somebody who already has it. This is Halis, who lives in Austin, Texas, already got The Quest for God, sent this comment back, ìI want to commend you on an outstanding production. Not only was The Quest for God informative, but educational. This DVDís going to be a great ministry tool,î and I think youíll enjoy it, as well. So, call now, join with us, change the world. We can do it together. All right, still to come, questions from our chat room. Helen wants to know, ìThe nail salon that I go to has a Buddhist shrine. Am I sinning by going there?î Weíll answer that and more when we come back. From the ancient Greeks and Mayas to the world religions of today, millions of people have been on a quest for God; but from the very beginning of time, God has been searching for you. Jesus says, ìIíll do it for you. Iíll come to you. You wonít have to come to Me. Iím going to come to you.î In this new DVD, The Quest for God, Gordon Robertson shows you how to hear from God and find His unique plan for your life. So, itís more than just looking at Him in a book or hearing about Him from somebody else. He wants to have a direct relationship with you. Plus, learn what sets Christianity apart from all other religions. Itís by grace, the free, unmerited grace of God; He is able to present you spotless in His presence with exceeding joy. Get The Quest for God, available now! Attention those on Medicare with diabetes, you may be eligible for an upgraded meter. If you're tired of stabbing your fingertips to test your blood glucose, we have news that could change your life. If you're on Medicare with diabetes, then you need to know there is an alternative method for checking your blood glucose every day. You don't need to stab your fingertips anymore. The Embrace Meter from Diabetes Care Club is easier to use and nearly painless. And the best news is that the Diabetes Care Club would love to send you one of these meters. This method hurts less, and because you can see and hear your results, it may be easier to understand. Your blood glucose reading is 89. Call now to find out why nearly a quarter of a million patients have joined Diabetes Care Club. Membership is free. So is the call. Call 1-800-445-3014. Talk to Diabetes Care Club. You'll be glad you did. Well, weíve invited you to send in questions to our chat room and a number of you have done that. This is Helen, Gordon, who says, ìThe nail salon I that I go to has a Buddhist shrine. Am I sinning by going there?î Helen, no, youíre not sinning by going there. Let me quote from the Bible. Hereís from Acts 17. This is the apostle Paul, and heís in Athens, and he took a tour of the city. He looked at the objects of their worship, and then he had the great sermon on Mars Hill. He begins with, ìI see that youíre a very religious people.î You can use this as a tool, if you will, to show them the more excellent way, and use it as an opening if you want. Now, if youíre going to go down and bow down to the shrine, well, thatís a completely different thing; but just going to a nail salon with something like that in it, I donít see that thereís any problem to it. Yeah, I have a friend who regularly sees it as a great opportunity to talk and share. Itís a sign. Look at it as a sign. This personís not a Christian. You can share the Gospel with them. They may not know, yeah. Okay, this is Tim who wants to know, ìWhat is the difference between good karma and Godís rule of ëYou reap what you sowí?î ìKarmaî is a difficult word to translate. It can be roughly translated ìduty,î but karma comes because of the sins of your past lives. So, if you buy into reincarnation, then that whole weight of sin from all those lifetimes builds up, and then you are in your life now under a duty from those past sins to make up for them. Your station in life, where your birth is, your caste, means that you have to fulfill the duty of that caste. So, if youíre born into a sweeper family, then you have to sweep all your life and, sort of, in that penance, make up for your past sins, so you can be born into a better life the next time. So, thatís roughly what karma is and youíre required to do it. If you try to get out of it, if you try to better yourself, youíre actually sinning. So, from just a pure American point of view that we all have equal opportunity, we all have an equal shot, no, they donít. Under karma, you donít. The station youíre born to, you have to fulfill that. Now, in terms of reaping what you sow, thatís present. What youíve done now in this life, God is not mocked. You will reap what you show. Now, the great news is that Jesus even takes care of that where He says, ìIíll wipe it out. Come, let us reason together. Though your sins be as scarlet, yet they will be white as snow.î He will take all the consequence of your sin, and He took it on Himself on the cross. So, thatís the best news the world has ever heard, that even the law of reaping and sowing is cancelled by the cross. This is Peter, interesting question. He says, ìDoesnít this conversation equate to judging others for their beliefs? Arenít we all looking for the same thing? Canít we just exist and tolerate other points of view?î Peter, Iím fine with the tolerating; and in this series, Iíve been very careful to, letís take their own scripture, letís take their own words and show people just how difficult it is. If in Islam the prophet Mohammed never had peace with Allah, he never knew that his sins were forgiven. He said himself, ìI have to repent a hundred times a day.î If in Hinduism, you can never do enough good things, you can never meditate enough, you canít perfect yourself enough; if in Buddhism, the Buddhists say, ìWell, nobody achieves nirvana until all beings achieve nirvana; well, how hard is that? Well, in their own words they say itís impossible. All Iím trying to do is lift up the truth, and the ultimate truth is a person and His name is Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. This is quick. Gary says, ìIs it wrong to meditate?î No, the Bible actually encourages it, but itís what youíre meditating on. Within the Buddhists, the whole goal of meditation is to render yourself thoughtless. In Christianity and Judaism, the whole roll of meditation is to meditate on the Word of God. When you really slowly go over the words in your mind and meditate on them, then you get whole new insight into His Word is life. When you meditate on the life of God and on His Words, then you get more life. So, thatís the difference. Meditate on the Word, and we leave you with a Word to meditate on from Psalm 124 . . . . . . . . ìOur help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.î For all of us, God bless you. Weíll see you again next week. Monday . . . . . . . . the NCAA tournament is underway, and March madness is here. Duke star Seth Curry tells us how he gets ready for the big game. After playing the game on a big stage and playing against the best players and with the best players. And then . . . . . . . . a teen gets a mysterious illness. It was so bizarre in me. . . . . and an even stranger cure. Monday. Here at CBN, we see incredible things happen when we stand together. Thatís why we want to thank 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. Each day you have a part in healing the sick, feeding the hungry and broadcasting the Gospel across America and around the world. Youíve brought hope and help to those in desperate need . . . . And changed their lives forever. Just like you did for Shula. Each day she and her husband spent hours hauling water. Thatís when you drilled a well for their village and provided close, clean water. Shula says Jesus Christ brought them the well. Thanks to you, she and her husband became Christians and were baptized. Now their lives are filled with Joy. So please, watch for this mailing and send in your pledge. This year millions will experience the love and saving power of Jesus Christ. Only because you were there.