You know, I am going to
recap a little bit about what we
00:00:13.72\00:00:16.86
talked about the first
half because for some that have
00:00:16.89\00:00:19.91
just tuned in, or to just
kind of set this up again.
00:00:19.94\00:00:23.65
Your husband was a pilot
Tom McGuinness, who was the
00:00:23.68\00:00:29.74
first plane that
was flown into the
00:00:29.77\00:00:31.74
World Trade Center during 9/11.
00:00:31.77\00:00:33.25
So we talked about,
even you guys before then.
00:00:33.28\00:00:36.86
And I love the fact,
sometimes I think Cheryl,
00:00:36.89\00:00:40.11
somebody talks about you,
I hear your name mentioned.
00:00:40.14\00:00:42.74
When I hear about
the event, it's as if
00:00:42.77\00:00:45.01
you just kind of
existed from 9/11 on.
00:00:45.04\00:00:47.25
You guys had this
incredible life before then,
00:00:47.28\00:00:50.25
and God has really
poured into you since then.
00:00:50.28\00:00:53.68
Umm go-ahead - - He has.
00:00:53.71\00:00:56.18
And he brought me really,
brought me from a beautiful
00:00:56.21\00:01:01.89
life to really having
my life turned to ashes.
00:01:01.93\00:01:05.57
Now He has raised up something
in me, something entirely
00:01:05.60\00:01:09.83
new out of the ashes of my
life and taken me beyond what
00:01:09.86\00:01:14.19
I could think or imagine.
00:01:14.22\00:01:15.42
And you have joy
in your life again.
00:01:15.45\00:01:18.36
I have joy in it
is truly unstoppable.
00:01:18.39\00:01:21.48
Isn't that amazing.
00:01:21.51\00:01:22.68
I want you, because
I think what God had
00:01:22.71\00:01:26.07
show you and to teach
you from the very beginning
00:01:26.10\00:01:29.15
of this whole thing.
00:01:29.18\00:01:30.33
The beginning of your
healing process is how do you
00:01:30.37\00:01:32.92
forgive and you were saying,
I have to forgive terrorists
00:01:32.95\00:01:35.40
who literally changed the
country, murdered my husband,
00:01:35.43\00:01:39.03
trashed my immediate
family, but changed the country.
00:01:39.06\00:01:42.36
And I have to learn forgiveness.
00:01:42.39\00:01:44.19
I really want to ask you,
what did that look like and
00:01:44.22\00:01:47.34
how did you learn that?
00:01:47.37\00:01:48.58
Because it is
not something simple.
00:01:48.61\00:01:50.69
No, it isn't.
00:01:50.72\00:01:52.56
I had to come to the
point of realizing that
00:01:52.59\00:01:55.86
forgiveness is not
something that I can do.
00:01:55.89\00:01:59.01
Myself in my own strength.
00:01:59.04\00:02:01.59
I'm not going to
muster it up from within me.
00:02:01.62\00:02:03.47
No, it's not like I can
say, I'm going be strong
00:02:03.50\00:02:05.75
today and I'm
going to forgive them.
00:02:05.78\00:02:07.47
It wasn't like that, it
was every day after I had a
00:02:07.50\00:02:12.21
renewed experience with Christ.
00:02:12.24\00:02:17.14
I said, Lord help me
to forgive the terrorists
00:02:17.17\00:02:20.04
for what they did,
help me Lord so that
00:02:20.07\00:02:22.61
I can serve You more fully.
00:02:22.64\00:02:24.85
It was at that point
that every day I would pray,
00:02:24.88\00:02:28.06
just Lord help me to
forgive the people who did this.
00:02:28.09\00:02:31.62
Lord help me to forgive
the people who did this and I
00:02:31.65\00:02:33.73
would just say it over and over.
00:02:33.76\00:02:35.21
Pray that, cry out to the Lord.
00:02:35.24\00:02:37.82
Cause just let me ask
you, and I hope this doesn't
00:02:37.85\00:02:41.54
stunt you because what
came in my head just then
00:02:41.57\00:02:43.85
that during that process
you are looking at continued
00:02:43.88\00:02:50.66
terrorism, they are
holding hostages and
00:02:50.69\00:02:52.62
sawing heads off on screens.
00:02:52.65\00:02:54.99
You know, what I mean is
that this was an incredibly
00:02:55.02\00:02:58.81
violent, vicious
time for this country.
00:02:58.84\00:03:02.14
You know what I
mean, and it literally has
00:03:02.17\00:03:04.71
kind of stayed with us.
00:03:04.74\00:03:06.14
And the reason I want
to ask you specifically how
00:03:06.17\00:03:10.10
you dealt with those
images is because, when I first
00:03:10.13\00:03:12.61
heard you speak, and I
first heard your talk about
00:03:12.64\00:03:14.67
forgiveness, you started
making my dysfunction in the
00:03:14.70\00:03:19.96
past, that I was molested since,
00:03:19.99\00:03:21.66
I was three months old.
00:03:21.69\00:03:22.88
Homeless by twelve - thirteen.
00:03:22.91\00:03:24.49
You started giving me
hope that maybe God can
00:03:24.52\00:03:27.57
teach me how to forgive.
00:03:27.60\00:03:28.85
So I don't want
anybody to trivialize what
00:03:28.88\00:03:34.99
God brought you to
as where you could say,
00:03:35.02\00:03:38.75
I do forgive.
00:03:38.78\00:03:40.75
Literally, it is
my first thought now,
00:03:40.78\00:03:44.16
not my last thought.
00:03:44.19\00:03:46.08
It was a process for me
and I can't say that there
00:03:46.11\00:03:50.65
was step one, two,
three, four that I did.
00:03:50.69\00:03:53.44
But I do know that
something happened in my head,
00:03:53.47\00:03:58.08
that said, Lord, I
will forgive but help me.
00:03:58.11\00:04:01.99
Help me to be able to do
this, and as I prayed out,
00:04:02.02\00:04:06.80
and as I cried out to the Lord -
00:04:06.83\00:04:08.71
Every time those
feelings came up.
00:04:08.74\00:04:10.61
Every time I either saw
an image, or every time I
00:04:10.65\00:04:13.84
would go back
down into that pit.
00:04:13.87\00:04:16.04
Every time I would get
angry or a root of bitterness
00:04:16.07\00:04:20.28
started to kind of
take hold of my heart.
00:04:20.31\00:04:23.64
I'd say Lord,
please I give this to You.
00:04:23.67\00:04:26.60
Help me to forgive them.
00:04:26.63\00:04:27.77
Help me Lord, and
that is all I could say.
00:04:27.80\00:04:30.64
I didn't have any
really biblical scriptures to
00:04:30.67\00:04:33.63
say over and over.
00:04:33.66\00:04:35.30
All I could say,
because this was a year or two
00:04:35.33\00:04:38.12
after the tragedy happened.
00:04:38.15\00:04:40.74
It took that long to
even - to get to that point.
00:04:40.77\00:04:43.43
It was a long process to
even get to that point that I
00:04:43.46\00:04:46.81
could really feel like you know.
00:04:46.84\00:04:49.16
Maybe I have forgiven.
00:04:49.19\00:04:51.26
And I remember sitting
in a hotel room and doing my
00:04:51.29\00:04:53.68
Women's Ministry, I was
finishing a Woman's Retreat
00:04:53.71\00:04:56.60
that I was doing.
00:04:56.63\00:04:57.60
I remember I was in my
Bible reading something that
00:04:57.61\00:05:02.52
took me even deeper, and
showed me there were levels
00:05:02.56\00:05:05.93
of forgiveness,
and levels of healing.
00:05:05.96\00:05:08.75
And I remember there
saying to the Lord, Lord.
00:05:08.78\00:05:12.39
I can forgive them, but
I also remember the Lord
00:05:12.42\00:05:16.17
showing me, Him saying
something to the effect of;
00:05:16.20\00:05:21.81
I needed you to
forgive, so that I could
00:05:21.84\00:05:24.88
use you more fully.
00:05:24.91\00:05:26.64
Because if you didn't
forgive, then you would have a
00:05:26.67\00:05:30.00
hardened heart and
bitterness and anger all
00:05:30.03\00:05:33.10
built up inside of you.
00:05:33.13\00:05:34.34
How could I use, you to
go out and share the good
00:05:34.37\00:05:37.82
word that I have for you.
00:05:37.85\00:05:39.39
How could I use you to
go show the world that there
00:05:39.42\00:05:42.99
is a light inside
of you that is glowing,
00:05:43.02\00:05:46.28
that is filled beyond belief.
00:05:46.31\00:05:49.10
How can I use you if
that bitterness takes hold?
00:05:49.13\00:05:52.70
And when you say that what
is really interesting to me
00:05:52.73\00:05:56.28
is that I think a lot of
folks think that God caused
00:05:56.31\00:06:00.07
this so that you
could learn this.
00:06:00.10\00:06:01.65
And I so believe the
Bible when the Bible says,
00:06:01.68\00:06:04.11
I plan evil for no one.
00:06:04.14\00:06:05.63
I am not that kind of God.
00:06:05.66\00:06:07.74
What God says is
unfortunately there are
00:06:07.77\00:06:10.92
people that are trying
to deal with these kinds of
00:06:10.95\00:06:12.29
tragedies with NO God.
00:06:12.32\00:06:14.29
I can't imagine that,
God said; you know when the
00:06:14.32\00:06:17.96
Devil hits you or the
world hits you with these
00:06:17.99\00:06:19.77
things as God I
will walk with you.
00:06:19.80\00:06:22.47
I will yoke up with
you, I will teach you to step
00:06:22.50\00:06:25.32
into the human waters
coming right from the throne
00:06:25.35\00:06:28.07
room of God, until you get this.
00:06:28.10\00:06:30.53
And that is where our
hope comes from, not that
00:06:30.56\00:06:33.30
we don't get hit.
00:06:33.33\00:06:34.30
That's exactly right-when I
do get hit-that's exactly right.
00:06:34.33\00:06:37.72
And what God showed me
with the whole forgiveness thing
00:06:37.75\00:06:41.90
that I had to go through,
is that first of all when I
00:06:41.93\00:06:45.30
was praying; it was Lord help
me so I can heal me, help me!
00:06:45.33\00:06:49.53
But then as time went on,
and I received His healing power
00:06:49.56\00:06:54.46
through His Holy
Spirit, I realize that there was
00:06:54.49\00:06:58.09
another level of healing.
00:06:58.12\00:06:59.88
It was more of me being
able to reach out to others
00:06:59.91\00:07:04.74
and help them heal
through their own tragedies.
00:07:04.77\00:07:06.98
As you see their tragedies
in their eyes, when they are
00:07:07.01\00:07:09.74
stuck, don't you see it?
00:07:09.77\00:07:11.26
I see it, I see that if
they don't forget they will
00:07:11.29\00:07:13.96
not go beyond their
tragedy, their hurt,
00:07:13.99\00:07:16.89
and they're pain.
00:07:16.92\00:07:18.22
Can you do me a favor
and just look at the camera
00:07:18.25\00:07:19.37
and tell someone that.
00:07:19.40\00:07:20.37
The importance of that.
00:07:20.38\00:07:21.51
It is absolutely critical
beyond a shadow of a doubt
00:07:21.54\00:07:24.99
that you must forgive
whoever it is that hurt you.
00:07:25.02\00:07:28.41
One way to do that is to
reach out and help others
00:07:28.44\00:07:31.93
and to pray out to God;
say, God and help me so that
00:07:31.96\00:07:35.76
I can help others.
00:07:35.79\00:07:36.91
And God will miraculously
come in, and heal you
00:07:36.94\00:07:40.10
through the power of
His Holy Spirit, so that you
00:07:40.13\00:07:42.11
can reach out to
others, and help others heal.
00:07:42.14\00:07:44.94
And it becomes a cycle,
a good cycle, a positive
00:07:44.97\00:07:48.74
cycle of one person
helping another person through
00:07:48.77\00:07:52.94
the strength and
the power of the Lord.
00:07:52.97\00:07:54.89
And it is hard to
explain to somebody
00:07:54.92\00:07:58.18
how incredible that is.
00:07:58.21\00:07:59.77
It's freeing it is I am
not held captive with the
00:07:59.80\00:08:02.98
terrorist, wanted to not only
killed three thousand people
00:08:03.01\00:08:05.88
on September 11, they wanted
to take down the families, the
00:08:05.91\00:08:10.94
nation and
cause chaos, and fear.
00:08:10.97\00:08:14.21
Fear did not only didn't grip
me, it didn't grip my children.
00:08:14.24\00:08:19.66
We were brought to our
knees for while, but through
00:08:19.69\00:08:23.52
the power of forgiveness,
through the power of God's
00:08:23.55\00:08:26.71
love, we were taken
to a whole new place.
00:08:26.74\00:08:29.54
And now we are able to
reach out to others in amazing
00:08:29.57\00:08:33.13
ways that can
give encouragement.
00:08:33.16\00:08:35.28
And now, I tell you know -
00:08:35.31\00:08:37.96
Because you do Women's Retreats,
you go and speak to groups.
00:08:37.99\00:08:41.32
Every time you go out,
I am sure you see people
00:08:41.35\00:08:44.43
locked in that bitterness.
00:08:44.46\00:08:45.68
There are people out
there my story touches.
00:08:45.71\00:08:49.65
Not only, I would say
that the people that were
00:08:49.68\00:08:52.96
touched by 9/11, there were
so many because it struck our
00:08:52.99\00:08:55.99
nation here, but there
are people that are hurting
00:08:56.02\00:08:59.85
out there from addictions,
from being abused, from broken
00:08:59.88\00:09:05.68
marriages, to tragedy that
strikes, one after another.
00:09:05.71\00:09:10.94
People come and
hear a message of hope,
00:09:10.97\00:09:13.64
of how God worked in my life.
00:09:13.67\00:09:15.67
And I am able to say that
God will do the same thing
00:09:15.70\00:09:18.31
in your life as well if
you will first trust Him.
00:09:18.34\00:09:22.15
To let Him show you the way
to have the fullness of life.
00:09:22.18\00:09:26.67
When you say, you said during
the break, that one of the
00:09:26.70\00:09:31.12
things that you love to speak
on is the forgiveness; when a
00:09:31.15\00:09:37.76
prisoner even says,
how can you forgive me?
00:09:37.79\00:09:41.18
I know somebody that
literally raped and stabbed to
00:09:41.21\00:09:44.77
death this child and
the mother is standing there
00:09:44.80\00:09:47.57
saying I don't know
how to forgive them.
00:09:47.60\00:09:49.26
And the prisoner is
saying, I don't know how you can
00:09:49.29\00:09:51.92
forgive me, talk on that.
00:09:51.95\00:09:53.83
All I can say to that is
that I can't forgive the person
00:09:53.86\00:09:59.38
that's stabbed or did
what they did to my person.
00:09:59.41\00:10:04.27
But I know that
there is somebody bigger,
00:10:04.30\00:10:06.43
and that person is Christ.
00:10:06.46\00:10:08.41
And Christ can forgive and
through me, I am the skin, I am
00:10:08.44\00:10:13.64
the hands and through the
power of Christ, I can forgive
00:10:13.67\00:10:17.49
you for what horrible
thing that you did to me, to my
00:10:17.52\00:10:20.95
children, and I can forgive
what you did to our nation.
00:10:20.98\00:10:23.79
Because I know - - in
that sense beg you to accept
00:10:23.82\00:10:27.15
that forgiveness and
go to Christ yourself.
00:10:27.18\00:10:29.51
Yeah, amen!
00:10:29.54\00:10:31.64
You know, I know that
you have, your children have
00:10:31.67\00:10:38.53
healed, they are in college.
00:10:38.56\00:10:40.61
Talk about just that process
of standing back up and God
00:10:40.64\00:10:44.50
just pouring joy into your life.
00:10:44.53\00:10:45.84
You know, we are talking
about this whole thing again,
00:10:45.87\00:10:48.20
which put you
back in that place,
00:10:48.23\00:10:50.23
but you are just
one on fire woman.
00:10:50.26\00:10:53.69
Do you know what I mean,
and full of joy and life,
00:10:53.72\00:10:57.69
your family has been
restored, so let's talk about
00:10:57.72\00:11:00.30
that a little
bit and then I want
00:11:00.33\00:11:01.53
to open it up for questions.
00:11:01.56\00:11:02.76
All I can say is
that I love the Lord.
00:11:02.79\00:11:06.06
I truly love the Lord,
and when I know that the
00:11:06.09\00:11:11.88
feeling deep in my
heart is to serve Him, then it
00:11:11.92\00:11:16.25
gives me strength to
share the story of my past,
00:11:16.28\00:11:18.85
but I go beyond that as well.
00:11:18.88\00:11:21.29
My children see because
I am doing well, they truly
00:11:21.32\00:11:26.70
have a joy in
their heart knowing that
00:11:26.73\00:11:29.27
I am set free
from any past pain.
00:11:29.30\00:11:32.03
It doesn't mean
that as a wounded healer.
00:11:32.06\00:11:34.75
You're not, you don't feel
that pain, because every time
00:11:34.78\00:11:38.82
I open my heart up and tell
00:11:38.85\00:11:40.61
that story I, do
feel the pain of it.
00:11:40.64\00:11:43.36
But I also feel the joy and
the thankfulness and the hope
00:11:43.39\00:11:48.95
that I have because of
my relationship to the Lord.
00:11:48.98\00:11:51.35
And that takes precedence
over anything that could
00:11:51.38\00:11:55.02
possibly happen
to me in this world.
00:11:55.05\00:11:57.09
So my children - and when
God says, even in Scripture.
00:11:57.12\00:12:00.70
When God says, you know,
all things turn out for good
00:12:00.74\00:12:03.43
to those that love God.
00:12:03.46\00:12:04.82
In the middle of the tragedy,
you are thinking what does that
00:12:04.85\00:12:07.12
mean, what does that mean?
00:12:07.15\00:12:08.62
Yeah, it means that when
you are in the middle of a
00:12:08.65\00:12:12.55
tragedy, now I
know that in all things
00:12:12.58\00:12:16.22
God works for His good purpose.
00:12:16.25\00:12:18.51
I guess I had to learn
truly with that scripture meant.
00:12:18.54\00:12:22.27
And now I know, and the
next time I come into a trial.
00:12:22.30\00:12:26.51
I think it will be easier for
me to gain even more strength.
00:12:26.54\00:12:31.93
But in the beginning - but you
know that God is right there.
00:12:31.96\00:12:34.91
God hasn't forgotten me,
that even though I've been
00:12:34.94\00:12:37.85
hit, even though I can't even
stand up, I know that there is a
00:12:37.88\00:12:40.80
God that cares about me.
00:12:40.83\00:12:42.42
And loves me tremendously, yes.
00:12:42.45\00:12:44.99
So as you're standing
up, you're standing up, your
00:12:45.02\00:12:47.19
daughter and your son,
the healing that has happened
00:12:47.22\00:12:49.63
in your family,
things are quieting down,
00:12:49.66\00:12:52.67
people aren't so
much at the door.
00:12:52.70\00:12:54.37
New normalcy is
evolving slowly over time.
00:12:54.40\00:12:58.23
Whom you are as a woman of God.
00:12:58.26\00:13:00.03
I am just discovering
that God made me not to be
00:13:00.06\00:13:03.08
Not to be My 9/11 widow forever.
00:13:03.11\00:13:08.47
God made me to be His servant.
00:13:08.50\00:13:11.51
To love him, He
made me as a woman full,
00:13:11.54\00:13:15.06
independent, kind, generous.
00:13:15.10\00:13:18.58
He made me the way that I
am full of joy, and I needed
00:13:18.61\00:13:22.99
to except that and to get
to that place fully healed
00:13:23.02\00:13:27.76
before, I was
ready for the next step.
00:13:27.79\00:13:30.13
Whatever that next
up was going to be I had
00:13:30.16\00:13:33.32
to get to that place.
00:13:33.44\00:13:34.47
And it was a journey out
of the ashes to get, to be,
00:13:34.50\00:13:37.69
and realize that I'm
God's creation, and He loves
00:13:37.72\00:13:40.06
me just the way that I am.
00:13:40.09\00:13:41.30
And you know, what is
interesting to me is that God,
00:13:41.33\00:13:44.04
I mean, you fell
in love with someone.
00:13:44.07\00:13:47.15
I did - what is
that in who was that.
00:13:47.18\00:13:49.71
I did, I did - He
must just be awesome.
00:13:49.74\00:13:52.34
You know, when I got to
a certain place in my life,
00:13:52.37\00:13:56.92
after 9/11, I in the most
ordinary way, God brought the
00:13:56.95\00:14:03.42
most
extraordinary man into my life.
00:14:03.45\00:14:06.73
My car was broken, and
this man, Doug, was the
00:14:06.76\00:14:15.80
manager of a body shop.
00:14:15.83\00:14:17.27
I took my car to the
body shop with all of the fear
00:14:17.30\00:14:20.87
that I was going to get
taken advantage of, because I
00:14:20.90\00:14:22.99
don't know a thing about cars.
00:14:23.02\00:14:24.62
And I start talking to him
00:14:24.65\00:14:26.86
and I was literally stuttering
about what's wrong with my car.
00:14:26.89\00:14:30.47
He said well tell me
what it's doing and he's
00:14:30.50\00:14:32.35
saying tell me if it's
like going burr burr burr,
00:14:32.38\00:14:35.86
and what noise is it making?
00:14:35.89\00:14:37.11
I'm trying to
imitate the noises,
00:14:37.14\00:14:38.70
and explained the problem.
00:14:38.73\00:14:39.98
And guys really
want hear the noise.
00:14:40.01\00:14:41.58
They do and you feel like
such a, you know, a weirdo.
00:14:41.61\00:14:46.11
Well Doug was extremely charming
00:14:46.14\00:14:48.97
from the very beginning.
00:14:49.00\00:14:50.27
I explain my car
problem and he fixed it.
00:14:50.30\00:14:53.15
From there, I think
seeds were planted inside of
00:14:53.18\00:14:57.36
him that he said that he
thought I was kind of cute.
00:14:57.39\00:15:00.88
I didn't find that
out until years later.
00:15:00.91\00:15:03.22
It was that
sound you were making.
00:15:03.25\00:15:04.43
Yeah, it must have
been, Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
00:15:04.46\00:15:07.08
It must have been.
00:15:07.11\00:15:08.08
So little while later
you end up falling in love.
00:15:08.11\00:15:13.30
A little while
later, a couple years later,
00:15:13.33\00:15:15.71
he asked me out, he would call
me periodically just to say how
00:15:15.74\00:15:20.12
is your car running and
I thought nothing of it.
00:15:20.15\00:15:22.44
I thought, what a
nice guy to ask me
00:15:22.47\00:15:24.36
how my car is running.
00:15:24.39\00:15:25.68
Then after time went
on, when I was ready,
00:15:25.71\00:15:30.51
he asked me out on a date.
00:15:30.54\00:15:34.17
I said okay and I was so excited
00:15:34.20\00:15:36.64
I felt like a little kid.
00:15:36.67\00:15:37.81
I was so excited
that I thought wow,
00:15:37.84\00:15:41.68
he's really different,
and he's really unique,
00:15:41.71\00:15:45.93
and he's a nice charming man.
00:15:45.96\00:15:48.63
I thought yeah, I'd
like to and I felt as
00:15:48.66\00:15:50.93
nervous as a little kid.
00:15:50.96\00:15:52.19
I felt like I was, - I
don't how old I was at the time,
00:15:52.22\00:15:55.07
I must have been forty five.
00:15:55.10\00:15:59.72
Forty five years
old, I felt like a little
00:15:59.75\00:16:01.87
kid all over again.
00:16:01.90\00:16:03.09
With butterflies and excitement
that I was going to get to
00:16:03.12\00:16:06.58
go out on a date.
00:16:06.61\00:16:07.90
It was kind of weird.
00:16:07.93\00:16:10.26
You guys got
married shortly after that.
00:16:10.29\00:16:12.44
We got married,
probably a year later.
00:16:12.47\00:16:15.98
Um yes - and you know, I
want to introduce him, because
00:16:16.01\00:16:20.15
to me, I think the most
incredible thing that God does,
00:16:20.18\00:16:23.11
is let me take what
the devil planned to
00:16:23.15\00:16:26.90
just take you out with.
00:16:26.94\00:16:28.20
An I am going to
bring you all way around,
00:16:28.23\00:16:30.58
restoration you are
going to fall in love.
00:16:30.61\00:16:34.59
You're going to
stand up and your
00:16:34.62\00:16:35.92
kids are going to heal.
00:16:35.96\00:16:36.93
All is kind of things
you don't even think about.
00:16:36.94\00:16:39.33
It is so far beyond
what you can imagine.
00:16:39.36\00:16:41.68
And then this incredible
guy comes into your life.
00:16:41.71\00:16:44.33
And even Doug, I want
to just say God bless you.
00:16:44.36\00:16:46.88
But when you met her
what was your first take
00:16:46.91\00:16:49.62
on her as a woman.
00:16:49.65\00:16:50.83
She was a very lovely woman -
00:16:50.86\00:16:52.83
she is adorable - she is.
00:16:52.86\00:16:54.34
She really is, I
was very blessed.
00:16:54.37\00:16:55.96
But it didn't start
off so well, when I first
00:16:55.99\00:17:00.19
asked her out,
she dropped the phone.
00:17:00.23\00:17:01.30
So, that kind of got
me a little tongue-tied,
00:17:01.33\00:17:07.43
but it turned out great.
00:17:07.46\00:17:09.89
She is a wonderful
woman, God loving woman,
00:17:09.92\00:17:12.47
and she's very strong.
00:17:12.50\00:17:14.88
She is a full woman for sure.
00:17:14.91\00:17:19.27
And you were like
a race car driver.
00:17:19.30\00:17:20.69
I do, Yep!
00:17:20.73\00:17:21.89
I think that is
the coolest thing ever.
00:17:21.92\00:17:24.20
It is wonderful,
she travels with me and
00:17:24.23\00:17:27.47
I travel with her.
00:17:27.50\00:17:28.47
We spread the
word around the world,
00:17:28.48\00:17:30.71
and it is just wonderful.
00:17:30.74\00:17:32.39
You were thinking about
putting a race car together to
00:17:32.42\00:17:35.18
work with at risk kids.
00:17:35.21\00:17:36.71
Tell us a little bit about that.
00:17:36.74\00:17:38.14
Yes, we'd like to put a
car together and cater to
00:17:38.17\00:17:42.45
children that have a need,
that have desire, a wish to
00:17:42.48\00:17:46.37
be involved in
some sort of racing.
00:17:46.40\00:17:48.81
And what is really interesting
is a lot of at-risk-kids
00:17:48.84\00:17:52.15
they don't have a lot of men in
their life, they are not doing
00:17:52.18\00:17:54.37
something that cool.
00:17:54.40\00:17:55.37
And just the fact that
you offer this to them is
00:17:55.38\00:17:57.47
going to bring healing
at a level that a lot of
00:17:57.51\00:17:59.84
people are not
going to understand.
00:17:59.87\00:18:01.05
We are hoping it will
bring a lot of blessings
00:18:01.08\00:18:02.72
to a lot of children.
00:18:02.75\00:18:03.82
How cool is that.
00:18:03.85\00:18:04.82
You know what I know that
you have brought so much joy
00:18:04.83\00:18:09.22
into Cheryl's life
and thank you for that.
00:18:09.25\00:18:11.01
Thank you, she is a
wonderful lady with a great
00:18:11.04\00:18:14.21
sense of humor and full of it.
00:18:14.24\00:18:15.99
Way fun, how cool is he.
00:18:16.02\00:18:17.92
How cool is he Cheryl?
00:18:17.95\00:18:19.56
So we has more
questions Pastor Aaron,
00:18:19.59\00:18:21.84
you had a question.
00:18:21.87\00:18:22.96
Yes I did.
00:18:22.99\00:18:24.41
When you were describing
God speaking to you, asking you
00:18:24.44\00:18:27.61
to forgive when you
were at the crash site.
00:18:27.64\00:18:29.23
What had gone through
your mind about forgiveness,
00:18:29.26\00:18:32.18
up to that point.
00:18:32.21\00:18:33.27
Was that really
the first time that
00:18:33.31\00:18:35.05
that idea had
come into your mind?
00:18:35.08\00:18:37.29
That is a great question.
00:18:37.32\00:18:39.07
It really is the first
time that I could even fathom
00:18:39.10\00:18:43.69
thinking about forgiveness.
00:18:43.72\00:18:45.58
I, before that I,
no I wasn't there.
00:18:45.61\00:18:50.50
I was just thinking
how the world am I possibly
00:18:50.53\00:18:52.85
going to rebuild -
how can I survive this.
00:18:52.88\00:18:55.03
My life, how can I survive it.
00:18:55.06\00:18:56.31
Yeah, I didn't know, I
thought, what am I to do now?
00:18:56.34\00:18:59.96
What I was doing at the
foot of the cross was saying,
00:18:59.99\00:19:02.19
Lord, what do I do now.
00:19:02.22\00:19:04.08
What am I supposed to
do, and that is when He said;
00:19:04.11\00:19:07.06
for you to do
anything you need to forgive.
00:19:07.09\00:19:09.96
For two reasons
1. you have to heal.
00:19:09.99\00:19:12.63
And 2. if you don't heal, I
can't use you to go do the work
00:19:12.66\00:19:17.33
that I plan for
you, long, long ago.
00:19:17.36\00:19:19.41
What I got to say pastor
is, cause you are pastoring in
00:19:19.44\00:19:24.40
churches, congregations
working with have that kind
00:19:24.43\00:19:27.21
of bitterness and unforgiveness.
00:19:27.24\00:19:28.79
So do you come across
that, I mean, because she is
00:19:28.82\00:19:32.21
talking about how difficult
it was for her to even say God,
00:19:32.24\00:19:35.78
what do you mean forgive.
00:19:35.82\00:19:37.28
Do you come across
that in your churches?
00:19:37.31\00:19:40.52
Yes it is amazing when
you are dealing with someone
00:19:40.55\00:19:43.65
and they tell you if you
don't know where to look,
00:19:43.68\00:19:45.30
look for bitterness
and look at forgiveness.
00:19:45.33\00:19:47.19
It is amazing how in our
lives, we are trying to get
00:19:47.22\00:19:51.06
restoration from
someone who can't give it to us.
00:19:51.09\00:19:54.64
Until we realize that
Jesus is the only One who can
00:19:54.67\00:19:56.94
give it, even myself
falling into that trap.
00:19:56.97\00:20:00.92
It is amazing to
realize that truly freedom
00:20:00.95\00:20:04.81
does come through forgiveness.
00:20:04.84\00:20:06.29
I do run into a lot
of people who deal with.
00:20:06.32\00:20:08.30
How do I forgive.
00:20:08.33\00:20:09.97
And I get asked that a lot.
00:20:10.00\00:20:12.29
People say, and
they will tell me these
00:20:12.32\00:20:15.05
tragedies have happened.
00:20:15.08\00:20:16.39
I have had these
awful things, horrendous
00:20:16.42\00:20:19.34
things happen to me.
00:20:19.38\00:20:20.52
But they say, I just
can't get to that point.
00:20:20.55\00:20:23.22
I say, I know I
couldn't do it either on my own.
00:20:23.25\00:20:26.07
But it was through
God, through His Holy Spirit
00:20:26.10\00:20:29.41
that He gave me
the strength to do it.
00:20:29.44\00:20:31.92
And it was
nothing that I could do.
00:20:31.95\00:20:33.84
Truly is above
what we are capable of
00:20:33.87\00:20:37.53
wrapping our mind around.
00:20:37.56\00:20:39.10
I could not comprehend,
it in fact, I was afraid
00:20:39.13\00:20:41.41
to talk out publicly
about forgiving the terrorist
00:20:41.44\00:20:45.66
for what they did.
00:20:45.69\00:20:46.69
The very first time I
did it because I thought that
00:20:46.72\00:20:48.75
people are going to look
at me like I have two heads.
00:20:48.78\00:20:50.53
But that was kind of how
God used me to figure out
00:20:50.56\00:20:56.08
what forgiveness was all about,
00:20:56.11\00:20:57.75
was to speak publicly about it.
00:20:57.78\00:20:59.90
As I did that,
the more I did that,
00:20:59.93\00:21:03.11
the more I
understood about His power.
00:21:03.14\00:21:06.47
It is His grace, it is
not what we did, not what we
00:21:06.50\00:21:10.59
deserve, but it is God
working through us and giving
00:21:10.62\00:21:14.73
us what we can't
give to our self.
00:21:14.76\00:21:17.58
I didn't have the
strength to forgive the
00:21:17.61\00:21:19.37
terrorist for what they did.
00:21:19.40\00:21:20.67
And it wasn't up to me.
00:21:20.70\00:21:22.00
God paid the price when He did
what He did for us on the cross.
00:21:22.03\00:21:27.18
So when I take my focus off of
whatever it is that happens to
00:21:27.21\00:21:31.77
me here, then I put my
focus on Christ and that eternal
00:21:31.80\00:21:36.93
prospective and I say
God You are the Lord, not me.
00:21:36.96\00:21:41.45
I am Your servant, and
when I got that relationship
00:21:41.48\00:21:44.51
right and understood that fully,
00:21:44.54\00:21:46.88
then I could say
God is not up to me.
00:21:46.91\00:21:50.09
But it is You working through
me, that will give me the
00:21:50.12\00:21:53.22
strength and power to forgive.
00:21:53.25\00:21:54.61
So please help me do that.
00:21:54.64\00:21:55.91
Was there ever a point
where you just felt absolute
00:21:55.94\00:21:59.92
joy at the level of
forgiveness He poured into you?
00:21:59.95\00:22:02.50
I did, I did, I could sit
in an airport after I would
00:22:02.53\00:22:06.05
speak, and all chaos
could be breaking out around me.
00:22:06.08\00:22:12.07
I would have this incredible
feeling of peace and joy,
00:22:12.10\00:22:15.92
thinking I just
served my God, my Lord.
00:22:15.95\00:22:19.27
And that is just an
incredible experience
00:22:19.30\00:22:23.44
having that this
peace that transcends
00:22:23.47\00:22:26.57
understanding and thinking wow.
00:22:26.60\00:22:28.73
What I just did is
unzipped my heart publicly
00:22:28.76\00:22:32.00
and shared about a terrible
tragedy, but I served God.
00:22:32.03\00:22:35.80
Now I am filled
with a peace that is
00:22:35.83\00:22:39.35
almost ill-repressible
it's like this joy that is just,
00:22:39.38\00:22:43.45
I've got to talk about it
00:22:43.48\00:22:45.65
because I thank God.
00:22:45.68\00:22:47.95
It heals every
fiber of your being,
00:22:47.98\00:22:49.45
as you're doing it heals.
00:22:49.48\00:22:50.93
You know that I have sat
there in that place in every
00:22:50.96\00:22:53.64
part of your being just
feels like God is washing again,
00:22:53.67\00:22:56.40
that healing
waters, over every part.
00:22:56.43\00:22:59.05
And He really did
bring me to the still waters,
00:22:59.08\00:23:01.90
that He talks about in
the Psalms 23 where He says;
00:23:01.93\00:23:05.98
know that I will take
you to those still waters -
00:23:06.01\00:23:09.40
Though you walk through the
valley of the shadow of death.
00:23:09.43\00:23:10.96
Yeah, and He really did
show me that He is the One that
00:23:10.99\00:23:17.07
calms the storms and brings
us to those peaceful places.
00:23:17.10\00:23:20.76
And when we walk through
those valleys that He is the
00:23:20.79\00:23:24.63
One that is going to
pull us up without fear.
00:23:24.66\00:23:27.78
It is His strength when He
reaches down and says I will
00:23:27.81\00:23:31.33
heal you, I'm the one that
will heal your broken heart.
00:23:31.36\00:23:33.91
I will never leave you,
even though earthly people will
00:23:33.94\00:23:37.83
leave you under different
circumstances, I will never
00:23:37.86\00:23:41.64
leave you or forsake you.
00:23:41.67\00:23:43.14
I am the One who is going
to heal your broken heart.
00:23:43.17\00:23:45.53
I thought God, I will put
my trust in you every day.
00:23:45.56\00:23:49.89
I know that in your strength
and your power, You will
00:23:49.92\00:23:54.17
give me all that I need.
00:23:54.20\00:23:55.58
You will give me the
provisions that I need.
00:23:55.61\00:23:57.51
And God has provided in
amazing ways for me to go
00:23:57.54\00:24:00.45
out and serve Him and
tell others about the hope
00:24:00.48\00:24:03.03
that we have in Him.
00:24:03.06\00:24:04.20
You know when you say
that, if somebody hasn't seen
00:24:04.23\00:24:08.38
your presentation, the
first time I saw you I just
00:24:08.41\00:24:10.64
couldn't believe, I am
listening to this story.
00:24:10.67\00:24:14.80
I am, was into this tragedy.
00:24:14.83\00:24:16.24
Yet I'm watching even through
the story and you're telling
00:24:16.27\00:24:19.49
about this joy that
comes out and I feel healing
00:24:19.52\00:24:21.99
happening in my own life.
00:24:22.02\00:24:23.19
But I know you are
seeing that in my eyes
00:24:23.22\00:24:25.09
that healing is
happening to you too.
00:24:25.12\00:24:26.50
It is, it is!
00:24:26.53\00:24:27.60
And I think how cool is that.
00:24:27.63\00:24:28.67
That is so cool and even
today it is a contagious thing.
00:24:28.70\00:24:34.46
I don't how to describe
it, except that I am able to
00:24:34.49\00:24:37.40
use my story, the life
story that God Almighty
00:24:37.43\00:24:41.51
planted inside of me long ago.
00:24:41.54\00:24:43.40
When I can use that
and lift and encourage
00:24:43.43\00:24:45.91
somebody else, by listening
to them sharing their pain
00:24:45.94\00:24:49.53
in their own life story.
00:24:49.56\00:24:52.46
I am so lifted because I
can then say and join with them
00:24:52.49\00:24:56.66
by saying; praise God for
what He did in your life, for
00:24:56.69\00:25:00.36
what He did my life, lets
go on together, praise God!
00:25:00.39\00:25:02.56
So, we are ending
this show right now.
00:25:02.59\00:25:06.53
So I'm going to first say,
God bless you for coming and
00:25:06.56\00:25:10.12
thank you for coming.
00:25:10.15\00:25:11.12
I want you to say to someone
who hasn't spoke out loud,
00:25:11.13\00:25:15.04
yet, any of that kind of
stuff yet, the importance
00:25:15.07\00:25:17.45
of speaking out loud.
00:25:17.48\00:25:18.45
Speak it!
00:25:18.46\00:25:19.43
It is so important to
speak it to share the story that
00:25:19.44\00:25:22.35
God gave to you no
matter how broken that story may
00:25:22.38\00:25:25.95
feel at some point share
it and give God glory through
00:25:25.98\00:25:29.89
it because God will truly
heal your broken heart when
00:25:29.92\00:25:33.53
you look to Him and
trust Him with all your heart.
00:25:33.56\00:25:35.82
And as you speak; what is
really interesting, is that
00:25:35.85\00:25:38.08
even in my story, which is
so different than yours, is
00:25:38.11\00:25:42.33
that saying it out loud
all the sudden you realize
00:25:42.36\00:25:44.74
that somebody else has a story.
00:25:44.77\00:25:46.01
That something else has
gone through a struggle,
00:25:46.04\00:25:48.30
and somebody else.
00:25:48.33\00:25:49.30
All of a sudden, we
are united in this journey,
00:25:49.31\00:25:52.97
but more than that.
00:25:53.00\00:25:54.75
We are blessed by
this God that says
00:25:54.78\00:25:56.76
I will stand you up.
00:25:56.79\00:25:58.22
I will Yoke up with you,
you are not going to have
00:25:58.25\00:26:00.91
to go through this alone.
00:26:00.94\00:26:02.04
But when we don't speak it.
00:26:02.07\00:26:03.07
We just kind of let all
that fester and it kills us.
00:26:03.10\00:26:05.69
It kills what's
inside of you yes.
00:26:05.72\00:26:08.34
There is power, in
talking about your life journey
00:26:08.37\00:26:11.80
that God gave to you.
00:26:11.83\00:26:13.42
Looking to Him,
there is power in that.
00:26:13.45\00:26:16.89
I am so lifted by hearing
your story and all that your
00:26:16.92\00:26:20.86
are doing around the world.
00:26:20.89\00:26:22.28
I just praise God that He
is the One that causes and
00:26:22.31\00:26:27.28
uses all that we give to Him.
00:26:27.31\00:26:29.79
So cool to have you here.
00:26:29.82\00:26:31.98
We are going to go ahead
and have a break, but you stay
00:26:32.01\00:26:34.05
with me, because there is
some important stuff we're
00:26:34.08\00:26:36.23
going to come back and
just go over just real quick.
00:26:36.27\00:26:38.01
Real quick. Stay with us!
00:26:38.04\00:26:40.16