Welcome to Celebrating Life
In Recovery, my name is Cheri,
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your host and today we
are going to be talking about
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the privilege of prayer.
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It is such an
incredible topic, so come
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join us in the café.
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I love the topic today,
the privilege of prayer.
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Does God want us to talk
to Him? Does He talk to us?
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I'm thinking if we get this,
it would help us tremendously.
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God not only wants us to
talk to Him, He says asks Me.
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Ask Me, I want to pour into
you, I want to give you gifts.
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I want to fill you up to
where your life is just a blast.
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I learned that
in different ways.
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There was a time that I
had left the church, somebody
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said something and it offended
me and I left the church.
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I met this guy, it was amazing,
and it is so funny because
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he's from a
background that is just normal,
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even more than normal.
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His dad did an Ambassadorship
for the United Nations.
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His mom is a violinist. He
was a Boy Scout until he was
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18 years old, and I am a
heroin addict and homeless
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for 10 years and
a literate at 23.
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We start to actually like
each other which cracked me up.
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We ended up getting married
and because I had left the
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church when I met him, I
ended up meeting and marrying
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a non-Christian.
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I don't know if I would
have done that in the church,
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hopefully I wouldn't
have, but anyhow I met him.
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He was a non-Christian
for the first 14 years of our
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marriage, and so
not just for a few days.
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14 years I'm praying God,
please make Yourself real to
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this guy, and I'm doing
ministry and I love God.
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I love the church, I
came back full force.
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I'm doing evangelism all
over the world and he is not
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even a Christian, it was
hilarious, it was hilarious.
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I would come home, like I
went to Thailand and watched God
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do miracles, sent an angel
to rescue us when the Mafia
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was threatening to gut us.
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Hang our intestines in
the back of the club, sends us
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angels and I come home saying,
Brad guessed what happened?
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He was like giving me about
10 or 15 minutes to talk about
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spiritual things, and the
whole time I'm thinking this is
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crazy and I'm
praying and praying.
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I've got to tell you a little
bit about our private life.
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Because this guy
absolutely adores me.
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It's amazing, I don't know
if any woman is loved as much,
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except for you Latisha.
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But anyhow he adores me
and he knows I have this whole
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dysfunctional background.
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He is like you know what
Cheri? I want to show you
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everything I got
to see as a child.
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Every national Park, I
want to take you canoeing, and
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rafting, and skiing, I
mean the guy is just amazing.
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So he surprises me with trips.
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Like we will be doing
something, going over to his
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parents for Christmas,
and this was one year we drove
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from California to
Madison, Wisconsin.
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We are driving and he has
got a surprise he wants to show
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me but never wants to tell
me what the surprise is until
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we walk onto the
place, I don't even know.
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So he says, it's
going to be exciting.
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The more we drive its like
this blizzard happens and we
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are driving across a couple
of states and you can't see
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the front of the car.
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In Wyoming they shut the
freeway down, literally closed
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it down, I didn't even know
they did that with freeways.
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We are sleeping on the side
of the road and there was an
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18 wheeler that had jackknifed
and they were trying to
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clear that up, I mean it
was just this crazy weather.
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So once they opened the
road again and we start driving,
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I have my little daughter in
her car seat in the back seat
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and we are driving again.
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He gets off this little
tiny road and he says, I said,
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what are you doing? He says,
I want to show you something
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and I'm like are you
nuts? It is like a blizzard.
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You can't see the front of
the car. This road is tiny.
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We are going to be
snowed in, we're going to die.
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I'm serious, get back on
the freeway, even the freeway
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wasn't that safe because
they were closing that off.
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And this tiny road
didn't looks safe to me at all.
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He's like no, I want
to show you something.
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I'm thinking, I'm like thinking
I've got this mother bear
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instinct to protect my young.
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You have to get back on the
freeway or were going to die.
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This is crazy. He was
like no, no you will love this.
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I saw this when I was a
kid and I was so blessed and
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I want to show you
and I want to show Jackie.
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I'm like get back on the
freeway, and now I'm getting mad
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I'm trying to figure out
beside threatening his life,
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or to leave him for ever, I
was trying to figure out how
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I'm going to get
him back on the freeway.
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He says, Cheri. I said,
what? He said, will you pray?
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I said pray about
what? I'm so mad at him,
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he's not even Christian
what does he mean will I pray?
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I look at him and he
says would you pray that God
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just clear up the weather?
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I'm like oh shut up. But
what I'm thinking that I look at
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him and he's got
a tear in his eye.
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I'm thinking he really
believes that I can pray and God
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can clear up the weather.
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I'm all of a sudden thinking
God please, and I seriously
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started praying,
and it was quiet.
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I say God I know everything
You have done in my life.
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I know that you healed
me from all kinds of stuff.
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Hepatitis A, B, and C. And
I have damaged my body and to
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my mind and was so
twisted when I met him.
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My teeth were all a wreck,
my face was rotted from all my
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drugs and homelessness and
they had to literally go in and
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scrape out my face and jawbone.
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And all that stuff, and
I know God did all that.
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He made sure all that happened
and He blessed me with taking
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me back to school, I learned
to read and all that stuff.
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I thought God, I know you
did miracles in my life that
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nobody will ever know
on this side of heaven.
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I'm begging You please
clear up the weather for Brad,
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not for the weather sake,
but to just let him know You
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love him and it matters to
You what he does and that he
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knows that You a real
and that kind of stuff.
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So I'm praying like crazy
and what was really interesting
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is I start praying I
look at the weather and it's
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starting to clear
up, I'm like oh man.
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This is so good, I'm like
Brad the weather is clearing up.
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How cool is this? We start
paying attention and Jackie
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is little, she's five or
so, four or five I don't know.
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She is paying
attention, but she doesn't know.
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We start to go into this
national Park, it's a park
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called Devils Tower in Wyoming,
North Dakota or something.
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So we start to pull in and
there was a snow plow truck
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that pulls right in front of us.
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So not only is there this
blizzard, snow on the ground,
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there is a snow plow
truck right in front of us.
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I'm thinking God that
was so good, I love You.
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God is a blast sometimes.
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Anyhow we are following
this truck in, we stop and this
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guy gets out and Brad gets out.
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He does this man thing, I
don't know if you guys realize
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that you do this. But
he's like, I'm bringing my kids
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to show them the tower.
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He says I was here
the last time in 1963.
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The guy says that's the first
year I started working here.
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I got my job in 1963 so
these men started to bond about
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that, and it was
really cool to watch them.
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Just saying ya I was here, and
of course they didn't remember
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each other, but now he's saying
I'm bringing my family and
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it is way cool.
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And the guy says what you have
to do? You have to hike around
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the tower, it's a mile
hike and you'll have a blast.
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Then he says when you are
done I'm going to clear out this
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one road, and drive this
one road when you leave and
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I will plow it out for
you and give you the best
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view of the tower.
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So he leaves to go to that.
We hiked around the tower and
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Jackie is little and in her
Sabbath school class they are
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looking at animals prints
and all that stuff so she starts
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looking at animal footprints.
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We are doing all that stuff
and we have so much fun and
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I look up and all of a sudden
there is blue and the sky.
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So not only has the blizzard
stopped, but there is blue in
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the sky and I'm
thinking how amazing is God?
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I'm taking pictures of the
whole thing because I can't
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believe the changes in the
weather just since that prayer.
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We march all the way around
the tower and we come to the
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front and there is a photo
op right in front of the tower.
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It's like this built up
platform. On that photo op
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it says, tower of
fire. So Brad and I look
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at each other and say,
I wonder why they call it
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the tower of fire?
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As we said that, the clouds
opened up, and I promise you,
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I have pictures of this,
I should of brought them.
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The clouds opened up and
the sun comes through full blast
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and hits this
tower, this Devils Tower.
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The way the rock is, it
just lit up as if it was
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fire for five minutes.
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Both of us stood there and
were like oh man, thank you,
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thank you, thank you.
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It was so fun because at
that moment I saw Brad's life
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change, I saw him believe
for the first time that God
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heard him, God cared about
him, God intervened for his
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family just to be blessed and
it wasn't about anybody else.
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We stood there for five
minutes like I said and we were
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overwhelmed, I mean
hair standing up overwhelmed.
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Taking pictures like
crazy, asking each other do you
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think this was God, do
you think God did this?
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I'm thinking, oh man I
think God did this because we
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prayed, and all of a sudden
the entire storm comes back.
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Poof, it was done, I
think how fun is that.
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That God wants to bless
us, God wants to hear us.
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I'm not saying that
everybody that prays the weather
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clears up, He's
not going to do that.
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But I know that He says
ask, ask Me because I want to
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speak to you, I want to
show you how incredible I Am.
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I want you to know
it is that personal.
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So we are going to talk
about the privilege of prayer.
00:09:45.78\00:09:47.87
We are going to talk about
how God intervenes in people's
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lives and you
will be so blessed.
00:09:49.99\00:09:51.88
So I want you to stay tuned
and I want to introduce you to
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the guest today
Latisha and Fa'asoa.
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Both of their testimonies
are amazing so you've got to
00:10:00.61\00:10:04.03
stay with us, we
will be right back.
00:10:04.07\00:10:05.76
We want to introduce
you to a beautiful book
00:10:10.19\00:10:12.33
called 'Steps To Christ'.
00:10:12.36\00:10:14.36
Each program in this
series is based on a different
00:10:14.39\00:10:16.96
chapter showing you how
to become a Christian and
00:10:17.00\00:10:19.53
gain victory
over your addictions.
00:10:19.57\00:10:21.43
'Steps To Christ' is our
gift to you free of charge.
00:10:21.46\00:10:24.76
Just call us at:
00:10:24.80\00:10:26.92
Welcome back, you know
this is my most favorite part of
00:10:51.69\00:10:55.19
the show where we get
to interview the guests.
00:10:55.22\00:10:57.09
I want to say you know what
Latisha, thank you for coming,
00:10:57.13\00:11:00.34
Fa'asoa thank you for coming.
00:11:00.37\00:11:02.05
So Fa'asoa you are
going to be a Pastor. - yes.
00:11:02.09\00:11:05.06
You are in seminary now.
- yes. - that is way cool.
00:11:05.09\00:11:07.99
You know what? You look
real sweet when you say yes like
00:11:08.03\00:11:11.72
that - I'm really
not. - but you are wild.
00:11:11.76\00:11:16.48
So I met you years
ago at a teen retreat,
00:11:16.51\00:11:18.85
right? - Umhumm!
- First time we met.
00:11:18.89\00:11:21.16
I Want to tell a little story
about the teen retreat so jump
00:11:21.19\00:11:23.41
in any time, but it
is really for Carolyn.
00:11:23.45\00:11:25.83
I've got to tell you this,
I go to this teen retreat and
00:11:25.87\00:11:29.58
there were four kids from
Union College that were doing
00:11:29.62\00:11:32.79
music, and it was pretty
serious because the four kids
00:11:32.82\00:11:35.61
from Union College, one person
had just lost their father.
00:11:35.65\00:11:38.35
And some of the else was
dealing with some heavy issues.
00:11:38.39\00:11:41.28
We had a Pastor there, Pastor
Jim, and I don't even want
00:11:41.32\00:11:44.05
to tell what his problem
is because he would kill me.
00:11:44.08\00:11:47.21
But he was dealing with some
stuff and then we had people
00:11:47.24\00:11:50.33
I knew and Carolyn,
you and I had met when
00:11:50.37\00:11:52.40
you were like seven, right?
00:11:52.44\00:11:54.12
So Caroline and some other
friends that I knew were there
00:11:54.16\00:11:57.78
and I'm telling my testimony
and were talking and all that
00:11:57.81\00:12:01.40
stuff and I was coming
to the very end of the day.
00:12:01.44\00:12:03.69
Very end of the day and I
knew that I didn't have a lot of
00:12:03.73\00:12:07.27
time and you can't, teens get
a little anxious if you're late.
00:12:07.31\00:12:10.82
So I'm like trying to tell
the stories and I had three
00:12:10.85\00:12:13.53
stories I wanted to tell
and all made the same point.
00:12:13.56\00:12:16.76
I wanted to tell them badly,
so I told them really fast
00:12:16.80\00:12:19.97
as if they all
happened at the same time.
00:12:20.00\00:12:22.20
Well God has been really trying
to work with me with about being
00:12:22.23\00:12:25.65
honest and not exaggerating,
and I'm kind of sanguine.
00:12:25.68\00:12:28.66
You know, you relate to
that. - I'm so sanguine.
00:12:28.70\00:12:33.22
Right, does he ever exaggerate?
00:12:33.26\00:12:35.06
- yeah - yeah I do
occasionally. - Guilty.
00:12:35.09\00:12:38.49
What Do you mean? - When he is
telling stories sometimes they
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a little bigger
than it was in actuality.
00:12:43.39\00:12:47.45
I know and God has really
been working on me to not do
00:12:47.48\00:12:52.14
that, so God says, Cheri I
want you, He doesn't even call
00:12:52.18\00:12:56.80
it exaggerating,
He calls it lying.
00:12:56.84\00:12:58.78
I'm saying I don't lie,
and He says, well you do.
00:12:58.82\00:13:02.30
I said no, I just exaggerate.
00:13:02.33\00:13:03.99
He says, well
that's a lie actually.
00:13:04.02\00:13:05.82
So He's working on me and
I'm trying to work on that.
00:13:05.86\00:13:08.67
I'm really praying, God I
want to be an incredible woman
00:13:08.70\00:13:11.48
of God and all
those kind of things.
00:13:11.51\00:13:13.37
So He is working
on all that stuff.
00:13:13.41\00:13:15.20
So I'm at the teen retreat
and say all three stories as if
00:13:15.23\00:13:18.17
they happened at one time.
00:13:18.21\00:13:19.40
I go back to my hotel
and God says, that was a lie.
00:13:19.44\00:13:23.21
Oh, no way, it was not a
lie I just exaggerated a little
00:13:23.25\00:13:28.15
bit, and not even exaggerated,
not all three stories
00:13:28.18\00:13:31.80
happened but I just said
it as if they happened at one
00:13:31.83\00:13:35.41
time because I
didn't have any more time.
00:13:35.45\00:13:37.62
I'm telling God
Na-na-na-na, Na-na-na-na.
00:13:37.65\00:13:39.82
And God lets me do
this whole rational stuff,
00:13:39.86\00:13:41.96
rationalizing and all that
and He said, it's a lie and you
00:13:42.00\00:13:44.42
need to tell the kids you
lied to them and you are sorry.
00:13:44.45\00:13:46.84
Oh man, that is
so inappropriate.
00:13:46.88\00:13:49.36
My God that's inappropriate.
00:13:49.40\00:13:51.79
I'm arguing with Him, and
God, I love the fact that He has
00:13:51.83\00:13:55.52
so much mercy, He lets us
argue with Him when He is trying
00:13:55.55\00:13:59.21
to teach us
stuff. So I'm arguing.
00:13:59.25\00:14:01.01
I'm turning up the worship music
louder so I don't have to hear
00:14:01.05\00:14:04.10
the Holy Spirit and the next
day we go back to the meeting
00:14:04.13\00:14:07.33
and everybody is
there, you guys for there.
00:14:07.37\00:14:09.11
The kids from the Union
are singing and Carolyn you're
00:14:09.15\00:14:12.24
there and the first thing
I say, the first thing I say,
00:14:12.28\00:14:15.15
and I'm telling God I'm not
going to apologize for lying
00:14:15.18\00:14:17.42
because it is inappropriate
and the first thing that comes
00:14:17.45\00:14:19.65
out of my mouth is
that I'm so sorry for lying.
00:14:19.68\00:14:22.35
How do you do that, I
didn't want to say that.
00:14:22.39\00:14:25.02
That's not what I wanted to say.
00:14:25.05\00:14:26.62
Then I wanted to clean it
up so I said to the kids, you
00:14:26.65\00:14:29.74
know what you guys probably
don't any problems with lying.
00:14:29.78\00:14:32.83
Every little head
went down, it was amazing.
00:14:32.87\00:14:35.86
In the front row, I don't
know if you guys remember, but
00:14:35.90\00:14:38.39
in the front row was
this little homeschooled kid.
00:14:38.42\00:14:40.99
She was so sweet, it was
not you but you are sweet
00:14:41.02\00:14:43.52
Caroline, but this little
homeschooled kid and her head
00:14:43.56\00:14:45.93
went down and she
says she lies all the time.
00:14:45.96\00:14:48.81
I'm like stop, so we talked
about lying and integrity and
00:14:48.84\00:14:52.14
all that kind of stuff,
it was an incredible meeting.
00:14:52.17\00:14:55.43
Then Carolyn I'm going
to tell this part because
00:14:55.47\00:14:57.56
it is my favorite part.
00:14:57.60\00:14:58.62
Carolyn and I leave after
the meeting and we are going to
00:14:58.66\00:15:01.73
go to the adult tent, we've
walked down to the adult tent
00:15:01.76\00:15:04.63
and we get down there and
the meetings are over and I was
00:15:04.66\00:15:07.49
hoping to see the singers there.
00:15:07.52\00:15:08.97
There was a quartet, a barber
shop quartet kind of thing.
00:15:09.01\00:15:13.14
I wanted to see them and
they were four young guys.
00:15:13.18\00:15:15.79
They had just got
done and were walking out.
00:15:15.82\00:15:18.71
And I said oh man, Carolyn
and I were holding hands and
00:15:18.74\00:15:21.62
she was much younger and we
were holding hands and these
00:15:21.65\00:15:24.49
guys walk out and I said
I heard you were fabulous.
00:15:24.52\00:15:27.25
I'm sorry I didn't
get to hear you sing.
00:15:27.28\00:15:29.15
They were like, are you
Cheri Peters? I'm like yeah.
00:15:29.19\00:15:33.57
They said, would you
like us to sing for you?
00:15:33.60\00:15:36.11
I'm like, am I like on
candid camera or something?
00:15:36.14\00:15:39.82
Does this happen,
you're going to sing for me?
00:15:39.86\00:15:43.51
Of course I say I'm so
grandiose okay. Alright!
00:15:43.55\00:15:48.21
So they line up side-by-side
and they do the Humm thing
00:15:48.24\00:15:51.54
to get all on the same
key and they sing this song.
00:15:51.58\00:15:55.63
You better mind, you're
going to face it all in the
00:15:55.66\00:15:59.64
judgment, you'd better mind,
mind and they are doing this
00:15:59.67\00:16:03.79
harmony and I'm like alright!
00:16:03.82\00:16:05.83
I don't know if you remember
this Carolyn, what you said?
00:16:05.87\00:16:09.04
You said, does God never
leave you alone about something?
00:16:09.08\00:16:12.21
That was the whole
thing about telling the truth.
00:16:12.25\00:16:13.94
Do remember that? - yeah I
remember like I had no clue
00:16:13.97\00:16:19.15
about your problem
with lying and stuff.
00:16:19.19\00:16:21.94
But later you tell
about, I helped you, wow I can't
00:16:21.97\00:16:26.15
believe it. -
wasn't that fun? - yeah.
00:16:26.18\00:16:28.63
I love you, I've got to
say I'm so glad you're here but
00:16:28.67\00:16:31.13
we have known each
other since you were seven.
00:16:31.16\00:16:34.03
And you have dealt with
some things too. - yeah.
00:16:34.07\00:16:36.94
And God has been
faithful. - yes He's always been
00:16:36.97\00:16:39.81
faithful to me.
00:16:39.84\00:16:41.31
I'm going to go ahead and
interview you Fa'asoa after
00:16:41.34\00:16:44.84
that, but have you ever
prayed where you know that
00:16:44.88\00:16:48.31
God answer a prayer? - Yes
I have, I can't think of any
00:16:48.35\00:16:52.35
experiences right now but
there has been many times when
00:16:52.39\00:16:56.04
God has answered prayer for
me in just a little ways like
00:16:56.07\00:16:59.58
finding shoes, couldn't
find the other shoe and He would
00:16:59.62\00:17:02.89
help me find it.
00:17:02.93\00:17:04.02
You knew it was Him? -
yeah, - Amen how cool is that?
00:17:04.05\00:17:06.64
Yeah and I would find it
in places I would have never
00:17:06.68\00:17:09.49
thought I would
have looked for anything.
00:17:09.53\00:17:11.96
You know what I love,
because sometimes we don't pray
00:17:12.00\00:17:13.79
unless it is a big thing
and God says ask me about
00:17:13.83\00:17:15.59
everything, talk to
me about everything.
00:17:15.62\00:17:17.38
Pray without ceasing the
Bible says, because I want to
00:17:17.41\00:17:20.07
answer every single thing.
00:17:20.10\00:17:21.79
So Fa'asoa what is
amazing to me is meeting you at
00:17:21.82\00:17:26.67
that camp meeting is there
was a point where you told me
00:17:26.71\00:17:29.87
a little bit about your
testimony and I asked you if
00:17:29.90\00:17:33.10
you would tell the
group. Can you talk about that?
00:17:33.13\00:17:36.29
And also about the
Conference President?
00:17:36.33\00:17:38.73
Absolutely, we were driving
back and forth to where the
00:17:38.77\00:17:44.74
pastors were staying down
below the conference camping
00:17:44.77\00:17:50.71
site and you had asked
me to share about myself.
00:17:50.74\00:17:54.24
I'm like no way, you do
not want to hear my story.
00:17:54.28\00:17:57.74
You say go ahead
and so I said alright.
00:17:57.77\00:18:00.12
I shared hesitantly, because
somehow I figured inside that
00:18:00.15\00:18:04.43
you would ask me to
share it with the world.
00:18:04.46\00:18:08.80
- I'm not telling, don't ask me.
00:18:08.84\00:18:12.94
But I did, and you asked
me to share it with the young
00:18:12.97\00:18:18.22
people, and as I shared it
I was praying within myself
00:18:18.26\00:18:22.09
thinking and hoping that
the President of the Rocky
00:18:22.13\00:18:25.93
Mountains
conference wouldn't be there.
00:18:25.97\00:18:27.30
- This was a new gig for
you. - this was a new gig for
00:18:27.34\00:18:29.32
me, I had just gotten hired
on at my wife and I, I moved
00:18:29.35\00:18:31.98
my family to Wyoming. I
didn't want to go to Wyoming
00:18:32.02\00:18:35.06
before anyways but I
didn't feel like I could relate
00:18:35.10\00:18:38.11
with all these issues.
00:18:38.15\00:18:39.59
So here we are, and I'm
going to be talking and there is
00:18:39.62\00:18:43.49
a chance that the conference
might hear it, the President
00:18:43.53\00:18:46.56
might hear my story and
what is he going to think of me?
00:18:46.60\00:18:49.40
- he might fire me. -
yes, exactly that is what I was
00:18:49.43\00:18:52.19
thinking. - so
let me set this up.
00:18:52.23\00:18:54.65
As he gets ready to speak,
the Conference President walks
00:18:54.69\00:18:59.21
in and sits down.
00:18:59.24\00:19:01.11
I didn't know that, I didn't
see him come in and sit down
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.61
I'm like trying to get myself
mentally prepared to share
00:19:04.64\00:19:08.34
my story, and so I get into
my story and pass the middle
00:19:08.38\00:19:12.16
part of my story I walked
toward the back of the audience
00:19:12.20\00:19:15.95
and there he is sitting there.
00:19:15.99\00:19:18.42
I'm like, (gulp) well
it's out in the open now.
00:19:18.46\00:19:25.48
So I might as well
share. - and for people that are
00:19:25.51\00:19:30.79
curious, he
actually loves you now.
00:19:30.83\00:19:33.56
It really, he didn't
make a judgment he actually,
00:19:33.59\00:19:36.82
you didn't get fired. - no!
00:19:36.86\00:19:39.12
And that was one of the biggest
things that I have learned
00:19:39.16\00:19:42.96
for those of us who are in
the Ministry, who have been in
00:19:43.00\00:19:46.77
Pastoring for a long
time there is a lot of fear.
00:19:46.81\00:19:49.09
What are people going
to think, what are our
00:19:49.13\00:19:51.07
President's
going to think of us.
00:19:51.10\00:19:52.40
Who cares if we
actually share our story.
00:19:52.43\00:19:56.59
What I'm trying to say
is, if God is in this thing,
00:19:56.62\00:19:59.90
somebody's life is
going to be blessed.
00:19:59.93\00:20:02.73
If you're willing to sacrifice
a little bit of yourself
00:20:02.77\00:20:06.20
and step out of your
comfort zone and take that risk.
00:20:06.23\00:20:09.65
Someone is watching you
where ever they are at and they
00:20:09.69\00:20:12.75
are going to feel free and
they are going to actually feel
00:20:12.79\00:20:15.80
like they're a part of this
real world that we are living
00:20:15.84\00:20:18.82
in, we are all
sinners saved by grace.
00:20:18.85\00:20:21.83
And that is exciting. - Amen.
00:20:21.86\00:20:23.48
What is really interesting
to me, and I want to go back
00:20:23.52\00:20:26.05
Carolyn, is the first
time that Carolyn and I met she
00:20:26.08\00:20:28.35
was seven years old and
I'm talking about my history,
00:20:28.39\00:20:31.36
and even at seven she could
relate to some of it and was
00:20:31.40\00:20:34.25
blessed by that and that is
where our friendship developed
00:20:34.28\00:20:36.73
So what you are saying is
that you don't even know who is
00:20:36.77\00:20:39.18
going to hear you and
find courage and strength.
00:20:39.22\00:20:42.02
Absolutely, absolutely
because it is a scary thing.
00:20:42.05\00:20:44.82
So now, what is your
testimony, who are you?
00:20:44.85\00:20:47.74
Well right now I am currently,
my wife and my family, and I
00:20:47.78\00:20:52.31
are currently at the
Andrews University attending the
00:20:52.35\00:20:55.42
seminary after having
ministered in Wyoming.
00:20:55.46\00:20:59.06
Hello Wyoming! For two
years and we love those people.
00:20:59.09\00:21:03.98
We love these places and so
we are getting more education.
00:21:04.02\00:21:08.87
That is where we are
at currently. - Amen.
00:21:08.91\00:21:11.74
And you are at nursing right
Latisha? - I'm a nurse, yes.
00:21:11.78\00:21:14.87
How did you meet this guy?
00:21:14.90\00:21:17.49
When I gave my heart back
to God decided I wanted to
00:21:17.52\00:21:22.66
learn, growing up as a
Christian, I knew everything
00:21:22.69\00:21:26.58
was in the Bible I believed, I
didn't know where it was or how
00:21:26.61\00:21:29.38
to share it and so I had
gone to Amazing Facts and taken
00:21:29.42\00:21:32.86
their program there and
being in California after that
00:21:32.89\00:21:36.30
I went to Weimer to
work in their health program.
00:21:36.33\00:21:38.50
Fa'asoa it was the summer before
his senior year of college
00:21:38.53\00:21:45.51
taking the pastoral ministry
degree in California and so
00:21:45.55\00:21:49.01
we were there
together for that school year.
00:21:49.05\00:21:51.96
Neither one of us were really
looking for a relationship.
00:21:52.00\00:21:55.46
We both kind of been burnt
and were waiting for God to
00:21:55.49\00:21:58.88
lead, but God brought us
together, put us together.
00:21:58.92\00:22:02.86
We can see that we had
common values and interests.
00:22:02.90\00:22:06.77
You know I have only a couple
brain cells, but I want to
00:22:06.81\00:22:09.68
ask you if this is
true or if I'm imagining.
00:22:09.72\00:22:12.49
Didn't you walk around
pretty much naked at Weimer?
00:22:12.53\00:22:15.23
With your little Samoa outfit
on? - I did and it freaked
00:22:15.26\00:22:20.16
my friends out at Weimer.
00:22:20.20\00:22:22.45
I'm sure it would. - and
Weimer is incredible but they
00:22:22.48\00:22:24.88
are a little
conservative. - yes.
00:22:24.91\00:22:26.22
So imagine him in a little
Samoa thing and walking around
00:22:26.26\00:22:29.79
campus at Weimer, is
that what attracted you?
00:22:29.82\00:22:32.53
Come on be honest? Come
on. - okay my friends were out
00:22:32.57\00:22:38.08
in the college lawn area
and they were just hanging out,
00:22:38.11\00:22:42.28
chilling and singing or
whatever and I wanted to go talk
00:22:42.31\00:22:46.44
to one of the
ladies in the girls dorm.
00:22:46.48\00:22:48.55
So I had my little sarong, or
lava, lava and just white shirt
00:22:48.58\00:22:52.34
and I had my sarong on with
nothing so to everybody it is
00:22:52.38\00:22:56.10
like a skirt.
00:22:56.14\00:22:57.22
I'm walking across campus
and they are looking at me,
00:22:57.26\00:22:59.34
and their mouths
dropped, and one of them said,
00:22:59.37\00:23:02.37
what are you doing? I
said what does it look like
00:23:02.41\00:23:05.49
I'm doing? I'm going to
the girls dorm thank you.
00:23:05.53\00:23:08.58
In my little skirt
thing. - I love that.
00:23:08.62\00:23:12.20
It freaked them out.
- I know I love that.
00:23:12.24\00:23:15.75
As soon as you told me
that story I thought I love this
00:23:15.78\00:23:18.54
guy, I was wondering because
you are pretty conservative,
00:23:18.58\00:23:21.30
right? - yes. - So you
are not? - no. Barely dressed.
00:23:21.34\00:23:25.78
Opposites attract. So how
did you get attracted to him?
00:23:28.05\00:23:33.28
Or was that just
something that happened with the
00:23:33.32\00:23:35.16
friendship? - just seeing
how he interacted with people,
00:23:35.19\00:23:38.87
how he loved people, how
considerate and compassionate
00:23:38.91\00:23:42.55
he was, attracted me to him.
00:23:42.59\00:23:46.80
But until I knew God was
leading, and when he asked me to
00:23:46.84\00:23:50.97
date him I said we have
to pray about it, and if it's
00:23:51.01\00:23:54.10
going to be towards
marriage, and I know that God is
00:23:54.14\00:23:57.20
leading toward
marriage, then I will date you.
00:23:57.24\00:23:59.05
You know what's really funny
about Christians or Adventists
00:23:59.08\00:24:01.82
every time I hear this, because
my background is different?
00:24:01.85\00:24:04.55
It's like somebody
says would like to date me,
00:24:04.59\00:24:06.82
they say well if God's going
to bring marriage into this,
00:24:06.86\00:24:08.69
we need to pray.
00:24:08.73\00:24:09.82
Doesn't that scare a guy
on the first date? I mean it
00:24:09.85\00:24:12.85
sounds like, because you
said that right away right?
00:24:12.89\00:24:15.85
Well I already felt
like God was leading in the
00:24:15.88\00:24:19.46
relationship, He put us
together a couple of times where
00:24:19.50\00:24:22.83
we had a chance, in a work
setting to relate with each
00:24:22.87\00:24:25.73
other, talk together, get
to know each other on a casual
00:24:25.76\00:24:29.30
setting and so I felt that
God was potentially leading
00:24:29.33\00:24:32.84
in that area, but
I wanted to be sure.
00:24:32.87\00:24:36.09
I didn't want my heartbroken
I didn't want his heart broke.
00:24:36.12\00:24:38.60
I didn't want to
play that game. - Amen.
00:24:38.64\00:24:41.13
So you guys fell in love? - yes.
00:24:41.16\00:24:43.73
Okay, so now before we get
into that, I want to hear your
00:24:43.76\00:24:46.34
testimony because I think
you have the coolest testimony.
00:24:46.37\00:24:48.91
The reason I said as
soon as you told me one time,
00:24:48.95\00:24:51.54
when we were in the car,
you told me you know my dad is
00:24:51.58\00:24:53.30
growing pot, he's
growing weed in the house and
00:24:53.33\00:24:56.10
I am like what? And
he's a Pastor. So tell them.
00:24:56.14\00:24:59.82
I have to say right at
this point that I have been
00:24:59.85\00:25:03.46
praying to know just exactly
what to share because there
00:25:03.49\00:25:07.35
is some sensitive areas,
and I am like okay God, what do
00:25:07.38\00:25:10.82
You want me to share that
our audience and everyone can
00:25:10.85\00:25:14.25
hopefully relate to
and find a blessing in it?
00:25:14.28\00:25:17.32
I was thinking, you know
I'll just share what He's done,
00:25:17.35\00:25:22.61
what Jesus has done in my life.
00:25:22.65\00:25:24.47
At two years old, my memory
of two years old was waking up
00:25:24.50\00:25:28.89
in the middle of the night
some time, with a bright light
00:25:28.93\00:25:33.29
on, and my dad is arguing
with my mother and he comes over
00:25:33.32\00:25:36.89
and grabs one of these rocks,
you have to understand the
00:25:36.93\00:25:40.47
setting real quick.
00:25:40.50\00:25:41.47
In the islands in our
home it is open and there is no
00:25:41.48\00:25:45.21
windows, so we slept in
those mosquito nets that are
00:25:45.25\00:25:48.98
triangular and so you have
to have something to hold them
00:25:49.02\00:25:52.71
from flying all over the place.
00:25:52.75\00:25:54.48
So I see my dad coming
over and grabbing one of these
00:25:54.51\00:25:57.72
things as he is screaming at
my mother and she is sleeping
00:25:57.76\00:26:00.40
because she is tired, it
is way late in the night.
00:26:00.44\00:26:02.26
And he is smashing
her face with this rock.
00:26:02.29\00:26:04.58
That is my two year old
memory, it was so traumatic that
00:26:04.62\00:26:09.62
I still remember it
as if it was yesterday.
00:26:09.65\00:26:11.64
Then growing up, a lot of
times, the majority of the time,
00:26:11.68\00:26:15.47
when I would see my
mother would be at the hospital
00:26:15.51\00:26:17.47
because my father had just
gotten drunk the night before
00:26:17.50\00:26:19.57
or was high on
dope and would beat her.
00:26:19.61\00:26:23.29
So I see my mother with
scars and bruises and broken
00:26:23.33\00:26:27.12
things, and what have you.
00:26:27.15\00:26:28.78
So that is the life I
grew up in and that is the
00:26:28.82\00:26:31.90
environment I grew up in.
00:26:31.93\00:26:33.68
My dad was heavy into drugs,
cocaine, like I said to you
00:26:33.71\00:26:38.24
one time, we grew
marijuana in our house.
00:26:38.27\00:26:40.84
In the corner of a house
we had these 5 gallon buckets,
00:26:40.87\00:26:45.17
white buckets with
these marijuana plants.
00:26:45.20\00:26:48.03
My mom would tell us children,
don't touch daddies plants.
00:26:48.07\00:26:51.71
And in our heads were thinking,
those must be sacred plants.
00:26:51.74\00:26:55.30
And my mother would tell us some
times, you can take the weeds
00:26:55.33\00:26:58.86
out of them, you know
weeds but we got the pun.
00:26:58.89\00:27:04.58
But here are these plants,
and then my dad and my uncles
00:27:04.61\00:27:08.73
had this huge marijuana
plantation, and next to them
00:27:08.76\00:27:12.81
were tomatoes, cucumbers and
I cleaned up the tomatoes and
00:27:12.85\00:27:16.94
cucumbers and
couldn't touch these weeds.
00:27:16.98\00:27:18.61
Anyways, this was the life and
and the family that I grew up in
00:27:18.64\00:27:22.26
Very dysfunctional, but
nevertheless I want to tell you
00:27:22.30\00:27:26.58
the miracle that Jesus
did for me even as a child.
00:27:26.62\00:27:29.43
It was that I chose, I saw
the affects of what drugs and
00:27:29.47\00:27:34.18
alcohol did to my Father, I
chose never, ever to do that.
00:27:34.22\00:27:37.99
You know I have never
touched drugs. - that's amazing.
00:27:38.02\00:27:41.21
You know I forgot that
about you. - at two years old.
00:27:41.25\00:27:44.40
Wow, you said I
am not doing this.
00:27:44.44\00:27:45.73
I'm not doing it, and I
told her, and my wife can vouch
00:27:45.76\00:27:49.01
for this, I told
myself never will I lay
00:27:49.04\00:27:52.45
a hand on my wife.
00:27:52.49\00:27:53.66
We have been married for
years, not once have I laid my
00:27:53.70\00:27:55.63
hands on my wife, four
years, to me that's huge.
00:27:55.66\00:27:59.05
For those who have been
married for 50 some odd years.
00:27:59.08\00:28:01.62
- I'm going on
19, that's amazing.
00:28:01.66\00:28:04.24
It is, but to me that is
huge considering my back ground.
00:28:04.27\00:28:08.17
- right because I
don't want to be like my dad.
00:28:08.21\00:28:10.80
- no, I don't. And there
are other times where I see
00:28:10.84\00:28:14.05
my self disciplining my
child, and I love her to pieces,
00:28:14.09\00:28:17.41
for those of you know me
know she's my girl, but I see
00:28:17.44\00:28:20.76
myself almost coming close
to being abusive and it freaks
00:28:20.79\00:28:24.19
me out and I have to, - because
you were abused as a child.
00:28:24.23\00:28:27.60
- physically, sexually,
emotionally, 3 and 1/2 to 4
00:28:27.63\00:28:33.58
years old was the first
time that my uncle had raped me.
00:28:33.61\00:28:37.78
And from then on to about
18 years old at those different
00:28:37.82\00:28:41.95
times, three different
uncles or relatives raped me
00:28:41.98\00:28:44.97
consistently, on
a consistent basis.
00:28:45.01\00:28:47.80
My whole concept of sexual
purity was not even there.
00:28:47.84\00:28:51.93
It was totally messed up.
- even when you told me that,
00:28:51.97\00:28:56.03
you were so angry sometimes
that when I get bigger?
00:28:56.06\00:28:59.95
I made a vow, I don't remember
exactly when, so for those
00:28:59.98\00:29:05.91
of you who make these vowels,
don't, please don't because
00:29:05.94\00:29:11.84
Satan will use that and
one day it will come true.
00:29:11.88\00:29:16.04
For me it did, it almost did.
00:29:16.07\00:29:17.46
I made a vow that when
I grew up I would join the
00:29:17.49\00:29:20.49
military go in there and
get training on how to kill
00:29:20.53\00:29:23.45
and how to murder, fly
back to the islands and kill
00:29:23.48\00:29:26.24
three of my uncles.
00:29:26.28\00:29:27.91
March 22 of 1997, I took
that step, I actually had sworn
00:29:27.94\00:29:32.36
in once, thank God I was
in the delay entry program,
00:29:32.39\00:29:37.66
but I had sworn
in once in the Army.
00:29:37.69\00:29:40.34
I'm seeing myself
fulfilling this vow that I took.
00:29:40.37\00:29:44.49
I was serious, I was
going to take their life,
00:29:44.52\00:29:48.61
it didn't matter what.
00:29:48.65\00:29:50.27
My whole concept of men and
women relationship was totally
00:29:50.30\00:29:56.89
messed up, totally messed up.
00:29:56.93\00:29:58.74
- you stolen things
from me, you changed my life,
00:29:58.77\00:30:01.43
you injured me, I
am going to kill you.
00:30:01.47\00:30:03.94
And that in turn I hated
God, I hated God and some of
00:30:03.98\00:30:09.94
you who are watching
now can relate to this.
00:30:09.97\00:30:12.25
I asked myself, I asked
God why did you allow this to
00:30:12.28\00:30:16.16
happen to a 4 and 1/2, 3
and 1/2 four and 1/2 year old
00:30:16.19\00:30:20.03
who couldn't
protect himself? Why God?
00:30:20.06\00:30:23.10
So you see some of these
questions I really believe I had
00:30:23.14\00:30:25.82
come to the point in my
relationship with God where I
00:30:25.85\00:30:28.47
can honestly say, without
exaggeration, I can honestly say
00:30:28.50\00:30:33.75
- because we're going
to check with Latisha.
00:30:33.78\00:30:36.65
You can check with her,
but I can honestly say, God you
00:30:36.69\00:30:40.31
know what, I may not
understand everything, and no
00:30:40.34\00:30:42.99
psychologist may be able
to explain every little detail
00:30:43.02\00:30:46.48
to me, but I'm
learning to trust in You.
00:30:46.52\00:30:49.52
One day, You will answer
my questions, He will answer
00:30:49.55\00:30:55.49
those questions. - Amen.
00:30:55.52\00:30:58.04
So coming with that
background, and then coming into
00:30:58.08\00:31:01.38
Adventism, Christian Adventism.
00:31:01.41\00:31:04.66
- that didn't happen
when you were in the military?
00:31:04.69\00:31:06.94
- no, on that day, thank you for
bringing it back to me - okay.
00:31:06.97\00:31:09.19
On that day, actually it
was two weeks prior to that
00:31:09.23\00:31:13.34
experience, I was hanging
out with some gang members,
00:31:13.38\00:31:17.45
friends of mine, and relatives.
00:31:17.49\00:31:19.71
I had left the gang. -
I could see you in a gang.
00:31:19.75\00:31:25.29
- I had left that and
what I was looking for,
00:31:25.32\00:31:29.91
even in the gangs,
was somewhere that I could
00:31:29.95\00:31:34.47
relate, somewhere where I
was accepted, where I was loved.
00:31:34.50\00:31:38.50
- plus you could deal
with all this anger. - you bet.
00:31:38.53\00:31:40.69
- I could honestly just
be angry and it was okay.
00:31:40.73\00:31:44.33
- yeah, and so I
ended up in the wrong crowd.
00:31:44.37\00:31:47.90
But in the midst of that,
something happened where I was
00:31:47.93\00:31:52.55
playing video games, scoring
in video games with this gang
00:31:52.59\00:31:56.39
member friend of mine, little
did I know that their whole
00:31:56.42\00:32:00.65
family were Adventists, and
they had backslidden and left
00:32:00.68\00:32:04.87
the church except the mother.
00:32:04.91\00:32:06.33
She was still
faithful, still going to church,
00:32:06.36\00:32:09.50
still praying, a
powerful praying mother, Amen.
00:32:09.53\00:32:12.63
Whoever you are mothers.
00:32:12.67\00:32:14.52
So I was hanging out with
this guy and he said to me,
00:32:14.55\00:32:18.44
do you know about the
Sabbath? About the what?
00:32:18.48\00:32:22.97
I had never heard
the term in my life.
00:32:23.01\00:32:24.52
About the Sabbath, I
said the what? He said,
00:32:24.56\00:32:26.86
the seventh day of the week,
let me see Monday, Tuesday,
00:32:26.89\00:32:30.61
Wednesday, you mean Sunday?
00:32:30.64\00:32:32.96
He was like no, Saturday
the seventh day of the week.
00:32:33.00\00:32:35.91
Anyway it went from that to
his Father coming home drunk
00:32:35.94\00:32:39.48
and saying, and he will
say this to you today, that the
00:32:39.52\00:32:42.65
Holy Spirit even in his
drunken stupor said to him,
00:32:42.69\00:32:45.93
this young man you need
to share the Gospel with.
00:32:45.97\00:32:48.85
- as he's drunk. - he's
drunk Cheri. - I love that.
00:32:48.89\00:32:51.70
Drunk, okay? So don't tell
me that God can't do anything
00:32:51.73\00:32:55.40
because He surely can.
00:32:55.44\00:32:56.72
This gentleman came inside
of the room and brought me
00:32:56.76\00:33:00.01
a little pamphlet, and
that was the beginning of my
00:33:00.05\00:33:03.24
studying into scripture
and becoming an Adventist,
00:33:03.27\00:33:06.43
choosing to become
an Adventist Christian.
00:33:06.47\00:33:07.76
I want to know because I
want to know did the drunk
00:33:07.79\00:33:10.27
come back around? - did
the drugs come back around?
00:33:10.30\00:33:12.88
No the drunk, the guy
that gave you the pamphlet?
00:33:12.92\00:33:16.02
I want to say to you that
the year 2000, Kenneth Cox,
00:33:16.06\00:33:19.10
he and his team and my home
church, my mother's church where
00:33:19.13\00:33:23.67
I was baptized, were
preparing these meetings.
00:33:23.70\00:33:25.62
And during part of that
whole time, the whole family,
00:33:25.65\00:33:32.86
the family of the
man that shared with me.
00:33:32.90\00:33:35.67
- the mother that was
praying? - the mother that was
00:33:35.70\00:33:38.60
praying, plus my then
girlfriend and her parents they
00:33:38.64\00:33:41.50
were all baptized
and became Adventist.
00:33:41.54\00:33:43.56
Oh I love that. - God, like
you said before, God doesn't
00:33:43.59\00:33:47.40
do something just to
affect one person, when He does
00:33:47.44\00:33:51.21
something, it is
huge. Our God is huge.
00:33:51.24\00:33:54.97
So He brought these
families back to Himself
00:33:55.01\00:33:57.48
and it's exciting.
00:33:57.52\00:33:58.89
So your studies
ended up getting baptized
00:33:58.93\00:34:01.86
and coming back into
the church, seriously coming
00:34:01.90\00:34:04.26
into the church. - seriously
coming into the church.
00:34:04.29\00:34:07.80
What was amazing to me
Cheri is during the part of that
00:34:07.84\00:34:10.92
transition for me,
coming into the church and being
00:34:10.95\00:34:13.90
excited about the Three
Angels Messages and so forth,
00:34:13.94\00:34:16.81
I had experiences with the
Lord wherefore example one time
00:34:16.85\00:34:20.38
I was late to school, and
was parked up on this hill.
00:34:20.41\00:34:23.27
I didn't have the
keys, I had two keys
00:34:23.30\00:34:26.55
three keys on this keychain.
00:34:26.59\00:34:28.11
A key to the passenger
seat broke the past winter,
00:34:28.14\00:34:33.56
so I only had the key to
the ignition, and a key to the
00:34:33.60\00:34:36.46
mailbox, and a key to our home.
00:34:36.49\00:34:37.84
So I stepped out, I was
late and running to school and
00:34:37.88\00:34:40.80
slammed the door and everything
was locked inside this
00:34:40.83\00:34:43.72
station wagon, so I'm
looking up to the heavens.
00:34:43.75\00:34:46.71
It was a beautiful
starry night, I'm like ah,
00:34:46.75\00:34:49.64
I'm freaking out. I'm really
freaking out! - I'm locked out.
00:34:49.67\00:34:53.61
I'm going oh God
what my going to do?
00:34:53.65\00:34:55.83
My books are in the car, it's
locked and I can't get it in.
00:34:55.86\00:34:58.62
I know, I will bust a window
thinking my will dad bust me.
00:34:58.66\00:35:01.38
No, he's not going to do that.
00:35:01.42\00:35:02.68
So I decided to run
around and hopefully try to find
00:35:02.72\00:35:07.15
some corner of some
area where a door was
00:35:07.18\00:35:09.59
hopefully open.
Nothing it was all locked.
00:35:09.63\00:35:11.96
I walked behind the tailgate
and to this deep breath and
00:35:12.00\00:35:15.54
a huge sigh and looked up
and shot up a short prayer,
00:35:15.58\00:35:19.17
God help me! I turned
around, and I'm not kidding you.
00:35:19.21\00:35:22.77
I don't know how God
does it, but He does.
00:35:22.80\00:35:26.12
I stuck the key to
our house into the lock.
00:35:26.15\00:35:29.39
- let's just try this
key. - popped it and it opened.
00:35:29.43\00:35:35.33
The tailgate, I'm not kidding.
00:35:35.37\00:35:38.05
I open that thing and my
eyeballs got bigger and bigger,
00:35:38.08\00:35:41.82
I'm like no way, oh well
so I crawled right in and got
00:35:41.86\00:35:45.56
my books and made
sure one the doors open.
00:35:45.59\00:35:47.22
Got back out and slammed
it and turned my back and was
00:35:47.26\00:35:49.88
on my way back to school
and stopped in my tracks.
00:35:49.92\00:35:52.42
I was like, that did
not really happen did it?
00:35:52.46\00:35:54.89
So I turned around and went
back to the tailgate of the car
00:35:54.92\00:35:57.82
and stuck the key
back in and guess what?
00:35:57.85\00:36:00.73
It won't work, I'm
like I'm going to class.
00:36:00.77\00:36:03.61
It freaked me out, and that
is how the Lord worked with me
00:36:05.65\00:36:09.68
as I was transitioning
into the church. - Amen.
00:36:09.71\00:36:12.96
So it is so exciting. -
how did you get from that place
00:36:12.99\00:36:16.33
to actually deciding you
were going to be a Pastor?
00:36:16.37\00:36:19.27
Are you going to trust
God enough that I want to give
00:36:19.30\00:36:22.17
You my whole life?
00:36:22.21\00:36:23.39
You know Cheri, - and
did you ever kill your uncle?
00:36:23.42\00:36:26.44
No! Thank the Lord. March 22 of
97 like I said, it was that day
00:36:26.47\00:36:33.92
I was scheduled to swear
in one more time and then
00:36:33.96\00:36:36.80
they were going to
send me to boot camp.
00:36:36.84\00:36:39.27
But that was the day I
was baptized as an Adventist.
00:36:39.31\00:36:42.47
I was baptized March 22 of 1997.
00:36:42.50\00:36:45.72
So I called up my recruiter
and said, you know what
00:36:45.75\00:36:49.22
I'm changing my mind, I
am so sorry I can't join the
00:36:49.25\00:36:52.68
military because I'm
joining a different army.
00:36:52.72\00:36:54.65
He was like, what
are you talking about?
00:36:54.68\00:36:56.21
I said I'm sorry I'm
getting baptized on this day.
00:36:56.24\00:36:59.65
- I'm in the Lord's
army. - that's right!
00:36:59.69\00:37:02.03
It happens to be on
Sabbath so I cannot go.
00:37:02.06\00:37:04.33
He tried to convince
me, you could be a chaplain,
00:37:04.37\00:37:06.08
and you can do this and
that and the other thing.
00:37:06.11\00:37:07.76
I'm like, I think God has
different plans for me. Click.
00:37:07.79\00:37:11.67
That was the end of
that. That was the end of that!
00:37:11.70\00:37:15.49
No I did not end up killing
my uncles and as I am going
00:37:15.53\00:37:18.99
into this transition, into this
recovery I am looking back at
00:37:19.03\00:37:22.45
what God was doing in my life
then, and what God is doing in
00:37:22.48\00:37:25.73
my life now and it is exciting.
I have come a long ways.
00:37:25.76\00:37:28.98
I really have. - you
have an incredible family.
00:37:29.01\00:37:33.05
I mean your little girl, Latisha
and all that, when I'm around
00:37:33.09\00:37:37.12
you guys I can feel
the love in your family.
00:37:37.15\00:37:39.77
And speaking of that Cheri,
I want to say for those of you
00:37:39.81\00:37:43.59
who may not belong to a family
such as I have, and I know
00:37:43.62\00:37:46.56
that some of you are probably
jealous and that is okay.
00:37:46.60\00:37:49.50
You know because -
I'm jealous of it myself.
00:37:49.53\00:37:53.28
I look at my wife, and every
time I have made a mistake,
00:37:53.31\00:37:57.09
every time I have done,
I've gone on pornography,
00:37:57.13\00:37:59.90
or struggles with those issues,
because of all this junk.
00:37:59.94\00:38:02.71
I have so much junk.
00:38:02.75\00:38:04.29
I came home one day, I'm in
the Ministry, in the Ministry.
00:38:04.32\00:38:07.61
I come home and I just had
given a Bible study or some
00:38:07.65\00:38:10.28
thing but the night
before I was on porn and it was
00:38:10.32\00:38:12.92
on the computer still.
00:38:12.95\00:38:14.08
My wife, she checks things out.
00:38:14.11\00:38:15.81
So she is checking this site
out and she is crying, right?
00:38:15.85\00:38:19.72
It totally hurts her. So I
come home and instead of her
00:38:19.75\00:38:23.77
pointing her finger at me
and saying, all the mean things
00:38:23.80\00:38:27.51
she could rightly say,
really from a human standpoint
00:38:27.55\00:38:30.80
absolutely she had every
right to condemn me and what
00:38:30.83\00:38:34.05
have you, and I deserved it.
00:38:34.08\00:38:35.79
But when I walked in my
office, on my computer was this
00:38:35.83\00:38:39.55
note, and said these
words Cheri. I love you.
00:38:39.59\00:38:43.47
- oh, Amen. - and it's
been a transition, and it has
00:38:43.51\00:38:48.20
been awesome to have
someone love you in spite of all
00:38:48.23\00:38:52.89
the junk you struggle with.
00:38:52.92\00:38:55.45
It is an amazing,
amazing experience.
00:38:55.49\00:38:59.01
I know Pastors who are my
friends are struggling with
00:38:59.04\00:39:02.06
these issues, but let me
tell you if you have a wife who
00:39:02.10\00:39:05.43
is supportive, and is a
godly woman who loves Jesus.
00:39:05.47\00:39:09.43
There is nothing like it,
there is nothing, that is why
00:39:09.46\00:39:12.66
I can sit here and tell you
that Jesus loves you because
00:39:12.69\00:39:15.85
my wife is able to
love me in spite of me.
00:39:15.89\00:39:19.46
That is exciting,
so thrilling for me.
00:39:19.49\00:39:22.99
How hard was that Latisha?
It has been extremely hard at
00:39:23.03\00:39:28.58
times, growing up I never
had to deal with it personally,
00:39:28.61\00:39:34.13
really abuse issues, and
so when I knew that God was
00:39:34.16\00:39:38.37
leading me into a
relationship with Fa'asoa, um,
00:39:38.40\00:39:42.57
I read as many books as I could.
00:39:42.61\00:39:45.92
I read 'Belonging' by the
Rockies and we read together
00:39:45.96\00:39:51.95
relationships,
books about relationships,
00:39:51.98\00:39:54.58
books about abuse.
'Every man's Battle.'
00:39:54.62\00:39:57.15
Books so we could understand,
so understanding mentally why,
00:39:57.19\00:40:03.42
how the abuse affects his
mind, why he goes looking for
00:40:03.45\00:40:09.62
perpetrators, looking for that
abuse relationship, sometimes
00:40:09.65\00:40:15.32
helps because I know there
is a reason, but yet it is very
00:40:15.35\00:40:20.99
painful and has been
very painful at times.
00:40:21.02\00:40:24.31
But I have seen God
give him victory. - Amen.
00:40:24.35\00:40:27.57
Even as your talking it's
amazing that you love him enough
00:40:27.61\00:40:35.33
to educate myself to
look at these issues.
00:40:35.37\00:40:37.50
Even with both of you
talking, I don't think a lot of
00:40:37.53\00:40:41.10
people understand, when you
are tweaked at an early age,
00:40:41.13\00:40:44.67
all that stuff comes
into your life and even though
00:40:44.70\00:40:47.85
you hate it, you hate yourself
for being led in that way
00:40:47.88\00:40:50.77
is that you get trapped
into some stuff and God says,
00:40:50.80\00:40:54.04
I want you, and we were talking
today about the privilege
00:40:54.08\00:40:57.28
of prayer, I want you to
pray for Me to intervene.
00:40:57.32\00:41:00.18
I want you to know
that I am right there.
00:41:00.21\00:41:02.09
I want you to beg the Holy
Spirit to step with you right
00:41:02.13\00:41:04.60
here, so you are talking
about how incredible it is to
00:41:04.64\00:41:07.50
have a wife, but we have a
God that the Bible says prays
00:41:07.54\00:41:10.37
every day in the Holy of
Holies, in the presence of
00:41:10.40\00:41:13.14
His Father about what
you watch on the Internet.
00:41:13.17\00:41:15.87
Because He loves you.
00:41:15.91\00:41:16.91
That little boy that
was injured, He loves you
00:41:16.95\00:41:21.11
and is just praying for
us to be brave enough to come
00:41:21.14\00:41:24.22
into our relationship
enough that I can surrender
00:41:24.25\00:41:27.30
these issues to You.
00:41:27.33\00:41:28.72
It's been so hard for me,
and it has been a huge struggle
00:41:28.75\00:41:32.16
to even accept the
fact that God loves me.
00:41:32.20\00:41:34.59
For God to love me! And
that I got from my childhood.
00:41:34.62\00:41:39.80
You know both sides of my
family are very musical, very
00:41:39.84\00:41:44.98
musical and like I
shared with you earlier.
00:41:45.02\00:41:47.59
The training that we get,
that I had gotten if I had
00:41:47.62\00:41:51.35
sounded a note in the wrong
way my uncles would have that
00:41:51.38\00:41:54.54
belt, a leather belt 2
inches wide wrap around my back.
00:41:54.58\00:41:57.83
For a long time I hated
singing because it was painful.
00:41:57.86\00:42:01.33
It was a very painful experience
so to sing meant pain.
00:42:01.37\00:42:05.99
Singing equaled pain until
I met Jesus and that changed
00:42:06.02\00:42:09.87
everything, so now for those
of you who have seen me sing
00:42:09.91\00:42:14.25
I sing from the depths of my
soul because I know you don't
00:42:14.28\00:42:18.59
know, but I know
what Jesus has done.
00:42:18.62\00:42:21.42
I know what He is
doing now and it is real.
00:42:21.45\00:42:24.93
It is so real. - you know
what I think, even about what
00:42:24.97\00:42:28.00
you guys just said,
Latisha what you said, is that
00:42:28.04\00:42:30.24
I really do I believe that
God does that for me with my
00:42:30.28\00:42:32.87
junk, the darker junk, it
is almost like He puts that
00:42:32.91\00:42:35.47
little love how
stickum, I love you.
00:42:35.50\00:42:37.79
It's like He doesn't say,
you know what I can't believe
00:42:37.83\00:42:40.34
you're doing this again, I
can't believe you went there,
00:42:40.38\00:42:42.86
but He just says I love you.
00:42:42.90\00:42:44.33
And being able to say,
that as we celebrate recovery,
00:42:44.36\00:42:49.15
as we walk into a relationship
that has been blessed and
00:42:49.19\00:42:53.05
God is changing us, is
that we have to know there is no
00:42:53.09\00:42:56.57
condemnation, He is just
saying, I want you to get beyond
00:42:56.61\00:43:00.06
the injury that you
have been a part of.
00:43:00.09\00:43:02.93
He wants us to have this
joy, He wants us to have freedom
00:43:02.96\00:43:07.36
and not to be afraid.
00:43:07.40\00:43:09.31
Because if God is with
us, who, what President,
00:43:09.35\00:43:13.56
Vice President, is going
to be against us? - Amen!
00:43:13.59\00:43:17.51
Yes somebody told me
earlier God is forgiving but
00:43:17.55\00:43:21.39
people are not, and that
may be true but let me tell you.
00:43:21.43\00:43:24.86
Let me encourage you, but
if you will step out and let
00:43:24.90\00:43:28.78
people know that you too
are struggling, that God has a
00:43:28.81\00:43:32.66
bigger, God is
bigger than you or I.
00:43:32.69\00:43:34.56
He wants to change you
and He wants to free you from
00:43:34.59\00:43:39.63
this fear, you will
have an experience that
00:43:39.66\00:43:42.03
is beyond your imagination.
00:43:42.07\00:43:43.91
We are going to open
it up, I want to see if
00:43:43.95\00:43:45.44
anybody has any questions.
00:43:45.48\00:43:46.60
I know that Janette you
were wanting to ask a question.
00:43:46.64\00:43:50.70
Actually I wanted to point
out, or make a comment that
00:43:50.74\00:43:54.77
I think it is just
wonderful that Latisha actually
00:43:54.80\00:43:58.18
decided to read
about your situation.
00:43:58.21\00:44:00.97
I think that is very
important in today's couples,
00:44:01.00\00:44:03.57
especially the young
couples when they get into
00:44:03.61\00:44:06.11
situations that they
don't understand, they should be
00:44:06.14\00:44:09.23
able to really know a
little more about it before
00:44:09.27\00:44:12.33
they make an impulsive decision.
00:44:12.36\00:44:14.66
You know divorce running a
very prevalent in our society
00:44:14.70\00:44:17.92
and it is always the
first immediate way out.
00:44:17.96\00:44:21.07
Latisha I commend you for
taking the time to actually
00:44:21.11\00:44:24.94
read about some things
that you did not know because it
00:44:24.98\00:44:28.24
wasn't part like you said,
you recognize it is not part of
00:44:28.28\00:44:31.51
what I am used to, but
at the same time I love my
00:44:31.55\00:44:34.71
husband so much that I
want to know more about what
00:44:34.74\00:44:37.87
is happening in his head.
00:44:37.90\00:44:39.14
I wish that more
Christian women would do that.
00:44:39.17\00:44:41.66
I think we have a natural
tendency of saying that if it's
00:44:41.70\00:44:44.87
not what we are accustomed
to it is wrong, it is bad, and
00:44:44.90\00:44:48.04
we push it away, we
push the whole person away.
00:44:48.07\00:44:50.94
I think what he is sharing
here is not being pushed away
00:44:50.98\00:44:55.25
by you, not feeling rejected
has definitely made a big
00:44:55.28\00:44:58.64
difference in his life
because he has been rejected so
00:44:58.67\00:45:02.00
many times before, so this
has really been a blessing for
00:45:02.04\00:45:05.01
anyone who is listening to
understand that we don't know
00:45:05.05\00:45:08.10
everything and it is really
okay for us to go out there
00:45:08.13\00:45:11.15
and read a
little bit more about.
00:45:11.18\00:45:12.70
If your child has an
illness what do you do?
00:45:12.73\00:45:15.29
You read every piece of
literature on it, well if your
00:45:15.33\00:45:19.32
husband has a porn addiction,
or sexual abuse or what
00:45:19.36\00:45:22.69
ever read about it, find
out everything you can so that
00:45:22.72\00:45:26.02
you will know how
to deal with that pain.
00:45:26.05\00:45:27.97
So you don't push away,
don't throw away the baby with
00:45:28.00\00:45:30.55
the bathwater, it is
really important to know that.
00:45:30.59\00:45:32.81
I'm telling you from
what counseling perspective,
00:45:32.85\00:45:35.47
I just wish more
people would do that and that
00:45:35.50\00:45:37.86
you would have the
natural instinct and it is
00:45:37.89\00:45:39.97
commendable and a
blessing from God too.
00:45:40.01\00:45:42.02
I think becoming more
educated helps because then
00:45:42.05\00:45:47.47
you understand that it
is going to be painful to go
00:45:47.50\00:45:52.89
through recovery with the
person and to go through the
00:45:52.92\00:45:57.18
experiences but to understand
how it affects the mind,
00:45:57.22\00:46:01.83
why they are doing what
they are doing, helps me to be
00:46:01.87\00:46:07.27
able to understand him,
even though I don't know exactly
00:46:07.31\00:46:12.67
how he feels, I
wasn't abused like he was.
00:46:12.71\00:46:15.94
You said you liked the book
'Every Man's Battle', we had
00:46:15.97\00:46:18.45
Fred Stoecker, Brenda
Stoecker on the show and
00:46:18.48\00:46:20.99
Brenda wrote a book
'Every Heart Restored'.
00:46:21.02\00:46:23.46
What she said was as she
got to know what he was going
00:46:23.49\00:46:27.31
through, she learned one
thing that it was not me, it is
00:46:27.35\00:46:30.39
not that I was so lacking
that pushed him into that.
00:46:30.43\00:46:33.26
She said I really needed
to know that because my first
00:46:33.30\00:46:36.10
reaction, was am
I not good enough?
00:46:36.13\00:46:38.46
She said she had to learn that.
00:46:38.50\00:46:40.72
Yeah that, I mean I had those
thoughts as well and had to
00:46:40.75\00:46:45.97
work through that and also
just to, I guess to remember the
00:46:46.01\00:46:51.20
process, the struggle, or
the journey that Fa'asoa is
00:46:51.23\00:46:58.06
going through and I'm his
wife, there may be times that
00:46:58.10\00:47:04.90
he is frustrated at me,
but the other times when
00:47:04.94\00:47:09.02
he has been on
pornography, it's not because
00:47:09.05\00:47:13.10
I'm insufficient as a wife.
00:47:13.13\00:47:16.08
- you have to learn that.
- that is a very hard thing
00:47:16.12\00:47:19.95
to try to understand and to
remember when you are in that
00:47:19.99\00:47:24.03
situation, but being
educated helps you to be able to
00:47:24.07\00:47:28.08
separate out of that.
00:47:28.11\00:47:29.65
I can assure you that even
as a counselor for 16 years,
00:47:29.68\00:47:33.17
I still read books on so
many different topics because it
00:47:33.20\00:47:36.66
helps me
understand people around me.
00:47:36.69\00:47:38.74
I think it makes life just
a little easier to manage when
00:47:38.78\00:47:42.37
you know why people
are the way they are.
00:47:42.41\00:47:45.07
Your understanding, like I
said even if your child had
00:47:45.10\00:47:48.41
a problem, at least you
would know what to do. - right.
00:47:48.44\00:47:51.38
That just knowing what
to do takes away some of the
00:47:51.42\00:47:54.29
uncertainty and that helps
you to cope and that is the most
00:47:54.33\00:47:57.79
important thing every person
in recovery needs support.
00:47:57.83\00:48:01.26
You can't be supportive
if you don't understand.
00:48:01.30\00:48:03.68
So in order for you to under-
stand you have to know as much
00:48:03.71\00:48:07.03
as you can, it doesn't
matter who it is in your family.
00:48:07.07\00:48:09.93
It could be your child
tomorrow, it doesn't matter,
00:48:09.96\00:48:12.81
the point is if you're
not sure of something than the
00:48:12.84\00:48:15.25
most important thing is
to get as much information as
00:48:15.28\00:48:17.66
you can to help you cope.
00:48:17.69\00:48:19.38
Um, Larry I know
you had a question.
00:48:19.42\00:48:22.29
Well I don't know so much
as a question, I want to relate
00:48:22.32\00:48:25.79
something here that I had
never related in public before.
00:48:25.83\00:48:29.45
That is that I went through
molestation when I was a child.
00:48:29.48\00:48:33.07
I never thought about it
as affecting my life to the
00:48:33.10\00:48:40.89
extent that some
people says it has.
00:48:40.92\00:48:43.11
I have talked to Cheri and with
a few people and I got through
00:48:43.14\00:48:48.26
drugs, I've got through
alcohol, I've got through these
00:48:48.29\00:48:50.74
other things and didn't
mind talking about those things.
00:48:50.78\00:48:53.95
But hearing what you said
about helping somebody, if this
00:48:53.99\00:48:56.87
can help somebody, I went
through it and I didn't want to
00:48:56.90\00:48:59.43
face it, I don't know if I
still don't want to look at it.
00:48:59.46\00:49:01.95
I wanna let it go.
00:49:01.98\00:49:03.32
I just don't want to deal
with it at all, but it is there.
00:49:03.35\00:49:07.57
It made me feel, I got into
a lot of sexual relationships
00:49:07.61\00:49:11.37
that had no meaning to
them because I guess I wanted to
00:49:11.40\00:49:15.22
prove that I am a man and
not in a problem situation
00:49:15.25\00:49:19.04
because of these things.
00:49:19.07\00:49:20.48
It made me doubt
that I was a man.
00:49:20.52\00:49:23.80
So when you got
through it, I feel like I trust
00:49:23.84\00:49:30.74
God with a lot of
things, and this is
00:49:30.77\00:49:32.16
my biggest problem is trusting.
00:49:32.20\00:49:34.65
I just get to a point
where you can just turn it over
00:49:34.68\00:49:38.60
and even speak about it,
but for me it's like this is
00:49:38.64\00:49:41.86
probably the hardest
thing I've ever said in my life.
00:49:41.90\00:49:45.60
I mean my family, and nobody
knows about this, you know.
00:49:45.63\00:49:49.61
It's really, I feel like
people are going to look at me
00:49:49.65\00:49:53.38
differently, and there
is a lot of guilt and stuff
00:49:53.41\00:49:57.11
that goes with it.
00:49:57.15\00:49:58.39
You know Fa'asoa I want you to
answer him but I think a lot of
00:49:58.43\00:50:01.49
men are asking the same
thing, is how do I let this go?
00:50:01.52\00:50:04.77
For me, I can only
speak from my own experience.
00:50:04.81\00:50:08.78
It is very difficult for
me to even consider coming
00:50:08.82\00:50:12.94
to the program to share my
baggage, to share this junk
00:50:12.98\00:50:17.07
that I have gone through.
00:50:17.11\00:50:18.83
But I have made a conscious
decision that if I would just
00:50:18.87\00:50:24.60
for once step away from
myself, and from the fear that
00:50:24.64\00:50:29.50
I experienced from
wanting to share this publicly,
00:50:29.54\00:50:34.37
and think about a
child, a 12-year-old boy,
00:50:34.41\00:50:37.98
or a 10-year-old boy
that may have, or may be
00:50:38.01\00:50:41.55
being molested right now.
00:50:41.59\00:50:43.14
It is a big problem in
our church, and it is not even
00:50:43.18\00:50:46.01
being addressed as it should be.
00:50:46.05\00:50:48.19
If I could share my
story, and if that young man or
00:50:48.22\00:50:53.09
young woman would see
what Jesus can do with me
00:50:53.12\00:50:57.91
- as far as healing - as
far as healing - and loving you.
00:50:57.95\00:51:01.56
- that's right and
loving me in spite of every
00:51:01.59\00:51:04.00
thing else, then it is worth it.
00:51:04.04\00:51:06.21
It is worth my taking a risk.
00:51:06.25\00:51:08.35
My wife and I are involved
in this holistic small group
00:51:08.39\00:51:12.46
thing at Andrews University,
The Church Called a Passage.
00:51:12.49\00:51:16.53
And in there we have
a lot of young people.
00:51:16.56\00:51:18.35
Part of our group one time I
was driving with this young man.
00:51:18.39\00:51:21.00
He has struggled similar
issues and he asked me, in the
00:51:21.04\00:51:25.43
midst of our group I shared
my testimony, just little bit.
00:51:25.46\00:51:29.82
He asked me, he said,
how are you able to do it?
00:51:29.86\00:51:32.36
The same question
you're asking me now Larry.
00:51:32.39\00:51:34.82
How is it that you are able
to freely share without fear?
00:51:34.85\00:51:38.77
And this is what I said to
him, every time that I share
00:51:38.80\00:51:42.68
I take a risk, I take a
risk of people judging me.
00:51:42.71\00:51:46.87
I take the risk of
people looking down on me.
00:51:46.90\00:51:49.58
I take a risk of people
mistreating me, but for me,
00:51:49.62\00:51:55.39
it's a worthwhile risk because
I want them to see Jesus.
00:51:55.43\00:52:00.48
I want them to know
that my Savior lives.
00:52:00.51\00:52:03.11
I want them to know that
He is bigger than my issues.
00:52:03.15\00:52:06.75
That He can bring
freedom and joy, not only in
00:52:06.79\00:52:10.02
my marriage, but in my
life and that is worth it.
00:52:10.05\00:52:14.28
That is worth the risk,
so I by faith depending on,
00:52:14.31\00:52:18.47
I don't care how you explain
faith, but for me it's fear
00:52:18.50\00:52:23.03
but stepping out anyways,
anyways, in spite of the fear
00:52:23.07\00:52:27.57
and saying, look
what Jesus can do.
00:52:27.60\00:52:30.92
It's only, we have such a
short time, but it's really
00:52:30.95\00:52:35.30
vindicating God, saying
God is bigger than all my stuff
00:52:35.34\00:52:39.66
and wants me well.
00:52:39.69\00:52:41.04
He sees all this junk and
wants me well and wants healing
00:52:41.07\00:52:43.93
in my life and
that is for all of us.
00:52:43.96\00:52:45.45
He wants to even use me and
stand me in the midst of all
00:52:45.48\00:52:49.37
this stuff, how cool is that?
00:52:49.41\00:52:51.63
The privilege of us to be
able to pray to a God like that,
00:52:51.67\00:52:54.46
that sees all our stuff and
says I want to heal you anyway.
00:52:54.49\00:52:57.24
Isaiah 57:18.
00:52:57.28\00:52:59.35
I just want to say, we
are running out of time and
00:52:59.39\00:53:02.23
you have always blessed me,
your testimony has blessed me.
00:53:02.27\00:53:05.45
The fact that I am watching
you stand up, and watching
00:53:05.49\00:53:08.59
you hold on to God, and
I know that He is going to
00:53:08.62\00:53:11.50
bless you as a mighty
man of God standing up in
00:53:11.54\00:53:14.38
integrity and I
think that is amazing.
00:53:14.42\00:53:17.02
Wow, is he lucky to have you.
00:53:17.06\00:53:19.95
I feel pretty blessed.
- yeah exactly, exactly.
00:53:19.99\00:53:24.42
I would say thank you so
much for joining us and will
00:53:24.46\00:53:28.07
you guys come back? - yes,
absolutely we will be back.
00:53:28.10\00:53:31.57
That is incredible and I
am hoping that everybody heard
00:53:31.61\00:53:35.43
what was said here, prayer
is amazing, testimonies are
00:53:35.46\00:53:39.25
amazing, and for us to
be real with each other is
00:53:39.28\00:53:42.02
absolutely healing and
God is saying you know what?
00:53:42.06\00:53:44.73
Be real with Me too, speak
to Me, listen to Me and be real
00:53:44.76\00:53:47.98
with each other, speak to
each other, talk to each other
00:53:48.01\00:53:51.20
about who you are and
what you testimonies are
00:53:51.23\00:53:54.20
because it vindicates
God and allows us to heal,
00:53:54.23\00:53:57.16
it's absolutely amazing.
00:53:57.20\00:53:59.00
Stay tuned, we
will be right back.
00:53:59.04\00:54:00.66
Amazing stories, real people
in real situations discussing
00:54:04.95\00:54:08.65
issues that really matter.
00:54:08.68\00:54:10.44
A complete first season of
Celebrating Life In Recover is
00:54:10.48\00:54:13.81
now available on DVD and
can be ordered by calling 3ABN
00:54:13.85\00:54:17.15
or online at 3ABN.org
hosted by Cheri Peters.
00:54:17.19\00:54:20.29
This season follows
principles of the book
00:54:20.33\00:54:23.40
'Steps to Christ'.
00:54:23.44\00:54:25.08
See for yourself how
God changed the lives of the
00:54:25.12\00:54:26.87
convicted and the accused
and victims of terrible crimes.
00:54:26.90\00:54:30.09
You won't want to miss a moment
of these powerful interviews.
00:54:30.12\00:54:33.27
Don't you love God? I think
He is so amazing because we are
00:54:36.44\00:54:39.42
such a mess we
have all kinds of stuff.
00:54:39.46\00:54:41.46
Not only abuses done by someone
else towards us, but stuff then
00:54:41.50\00:54:45.52
we go out and do and
just pile stuff on each other.
00:54:45.56\00:54:48.20
You know one thing on
another. God is faithful.
00:54:48.23\00:54:50.80
He says, you know what? I want
to heal you, I want to bless you
00:54:50.83\00:54:53.52
I want to take this junk
and help you to enjoy life.
00:54:53.55\00:54:56.56
We heard that, we heard
that Fa'asosa in your story.
00:54:56.60\00:54:59.77
I want to say that people
haven't, we just brought your
00:54:59.81\00:55:02.57
daughter in, can you
introduce your daughter to us?
00:55:02.61\00:55:05.31
This is Chrisa Jean and we have
been blessed to have her in our
00:55:05.34\00:55:09.05
lives and she will
be two in two days.
00:55:09.08\00:55:11.62
Chrisa Jean, how are you doing?
Mommy,- you get to be with your
00:55:11.66\00:55:16.35
mommy, you've been away
from mom for this whole show.
00:55:16.39\00:55:20.02
Is this mommy,- Daddy,
-Oh I know and I love that.
00:55:20.06\00:55:24.64
And you look a lot like
your daddy. How cool is that?
00:55:24.67\00:55:29.75
How is that she's cuter,
I love that. - What's that?
00:55:29.78\00:55:34.83
That's a TV set.
So you know what?
00:55:34.86\00:55:39.05
I have to say we have one
more child that joined us.
00:55:39.08\00:55:42.70
So what is your name?
Christiana.- Christiana.
00:55:42.73\00:55:46.12
I want to say thank you for
joining us, but I want to talk
00:55:46.16\00:55:49.05
to you about, don't forget
to ask God, pray with Him.
00:55:49.09\00:55:52.56
Ask Him, sometimes people say
how do I start a prayer life?
00:55:52.59\00:55:56.74
Write Him a letter. Sit
down with Him and just say God,
00:55:56.77\00:56:00.35
I just want to know who You
are, walk outside and ask Him
00:56:00.39\00:56:03.90
to show you something in nature.
God says I promise you I want
00:56:03.94\00:56:08.02
to speak to you. I
want to give you a life.
00:56:08.05\00:56:10.89
I want to communicate
with you. I'm crazy about you.
00:56:10.92\00:56:13.95
We talk about all this stuff
we talked about today about
00:56:13.99\00:56:16.98
different things we struggle
with, and different things that
00:56:17.01\00:56:19.97
mostly, most of the
time pushes us away from God.
00:56:20.01\00:56:23.50
God says don't step away
from Me steps towards Me.
00:56:23.54\00:56:26.96
Steps towards Me and we have the
privilege of stepping into the
00:56:27.00\00:56:30.39
Holy of Holies on a spiritual
sense and the presence of God
00:56:30.43\00:56:33.79
with Christ, and we
have the privilege of saying,
00:56:33.83\00:56:36.70
Heh Dad I need some help.
What I thought was amazing too
00:56:36.73\00:56:40.91
is the Bible says that
Christ Himself prays for us.
00:56:40.94\00:56:46.06
He sits there in the Holy of
Holies in the presence of His
00:56:46.09\00:56:49.95
Father surrounded by all
the angels and intercedes for us
00:56:49.98\00:56:53.80
every single day. I
absolutely think that is cool.
00:56:53.83\00:56:57.99
Christ Himself
is praying for me.
00:56:58.02\00:57:00.12
The privilege of prayer is the
most amazing thing and we try
00:57:00.16\00:57:03.80
to get through life, we
try to get through our recovery
00:57:03.83\00:57:05.85
without it, don't do
it. Pray for everything.
00:57:05.89\00:57:08.38
And remember that God prays
for every single thing you do
00:57:08.42\00:57:12.05
because His goal is
for you to get well.
00:57:12.09\00:57:14.31
Our theme text for this whole
series has been Isaiah 57:18
00:57:14.35\00:57:17.56
where it says, God knows
our mess, He knows everything
00:57:17.60\00:57:20.78
about us, He knows
when we are stuck in anger.
00:57:20.81\00:57:23.39
When we are stuck in workaholism
when we are stuck in porn,
00:57:23.43\00:57:26.43
When we are stuck in
all that kind of stuff.
00:57:26.46\00:57:28.07
He says, I intercede for you
everyday, I pray for you every
00:57:28.11\00:57:30.98
day because I want you to
feel what it feels like to be
00:57:31.02\00:57:34.02
released from all that because
I'm God and crazy about you.
00:57:34.05\00:57:37.35
Absolutely crazy about you
so always remember that God is
00:57:37.38\00:57:40.64
crazy about you, and
always remember that I am too.
00:57:40.67\00:57:43.28
See ya next time!
00:57:43.31\00:57:45.22