I was once an inmate in
this maximum security prison,
00:00:01.41\00:00:04.59
just on the other
side of this wall.
00:00:04.62\00:00:07.87
And I called out to God one day,
00:00:07.90\00:00:09.89
it wasn't through technology
00:00:09.92\00:00:11.95
I got down on my
knees and I prayed
00:00:11.98\00:00:14.70
and now today I'm free indeed.
00:00:14.73\00:00:16.92
We are going inside
00:00:16.95\00:00:18.66
for another
episode of Free Indeed.
00:00:18.69\00:00:21.17
Their testimonies, their songs,
00:00:21.20\00:00:23.16
about how they
too called out to God.
00:00:23.19\00:00:26.11
Stay tuned for another
episode of Free Indeed.
00:00:26.14\00:00:30.00
I'm free indeed.
00:00:42.61\00:00:47.84
Tell me your first contact
with Christmas Behind Bars?
00:00:47.87\00:00:52.85
My first contact
with Christmas Behind Bars
00:00:52.88\00:00:55.98
was
approximately eight years ago
00:00:56.01\00:01:00.78
may be nine
00:01:00.81\00:01:02.49
and the sheriff at that time
00:01:02.52\00:01:05.79
Mr. Vega
contacted the department
00:01:05.82\00:01:09.24
and the next thing I
know, I am sitting in office
00:01:09.27\00:01:11.82
with the jail
commander and a sheriff
00:01:11.85\00:01:13.71
and they are like what do
you think about this program?
00:01:13.74\00:01:16.67
And I looked at and I thought
00:01:16.70\00:01:18.64
well, it can't
harm, let's try it.
00:01:18.67\00:01:22.17
Well, that me and my big mouth
00:01:22.20\00:01:24.54
and always saying try
00:01:24.57\00:01:26.30
because the next
thing I know he says
00:01:26.33\00:01:28.32
well then you take care of it.
00:01:28.35\00:01:33.03
And I say, okay.
So that's what we did.
00:01:33.06\00:01:38.50
He told me what the
layout of his program was
00:01:38.53\00:01:41.93
and I said okay then
this is what we are gong to do
00:01:41.96\00:01:44.88
and we are tried it
and it was just fantastic.
00:01:44.91\00:01:48.46
It was during the holiday time
00:01:48.49\00:01:51.17
that's when people in jails
and prisons get most depressed
00:01:51.20\00:01:55.52
because they don't have
the time with their families.
00:01:55.55\00:01:58.62
And when I saw the impact
that it had with the inmates
00:01:58.65\00:02:03.39
it was like, okay we are
going to continue to do this
00:02:03.42\00:02:06.57
just as long as
He calls every year
00:02:06.60\00:02:08.80
and they want to do this program
00:02:08.83\00:02:11.01
that is what we are going to do.
00:02:11.04\00:02:13.16
Then when he told me
about that I want to come in
00:02:13.19\00:02:16.78
and see how
this stuff was going.
00:02:16.81\00:02:19.65
Well there I go again, yes may
00:02:19.68\00:02:23.12
and I'm now
packing all these bags
00:02:23.15\00:02:25.44
and all these
thousands and thousands of bags.
00:02:25.47\00:02:29.19
But it felt good
00:02:29.22\00:02:30.58
and all the people that were
there in the warehouse that day
00:02:30.61\00:02:33.91
we sang, we talk, we--
00:02:33.94\00:02:37.07
I mean it's just a
total fellowship all day long
00:02:37.10\00:02:40.91
and it's for a good reason.
00:02:40.94\00:02:42.97
And I don't comeback
here to tell everybody
00:02:43.00\00:02:47.71
I want-- did this for you
00:02:47.74\00:02:49.40
it's just a good feeling for me.
00:02:49.43\00:02:51.61
I don't need to comeback
00:02:51.64\00:02:52.72
and say that but now Mr. Vega
00:02:52.75\00:02:55.02
makes it's a
point, to tell everybody
00:02:55.05\00:02:58.19
that I go and do this
every year all my time
00:02:58.22\00:03:01.33
but it's just not me.
00:03:01.36\00:03:02.96
Now, the
department and administration
00:03:02.99\00:03:06.20
and other officers
are buying into this also.
00:03:06.23\00:03:09.60
So it's just a good
thing all way around
00:03:09.63\00:03:12.51
and the inmates
really do appreciate it
00:03:12.54\00:03:15.46
and I do see that
00:03:15.49\00:03:17.18
and that's what
makes this work wow.
00:03:17.21\00:03:19.48
And that's why I'm in
this with Christmas Behind Bars
00:03:19.51\00:03:23.17
and as long as
Christmas Behind Bars is coming,
00:03:23.20\00:03:26.91
want to come I will support it.
00:03:26.94\00:03:29.10
All right, now you support it
00:03:29.13\00:03:31.25
not only by
allowing them to come in
00:03:31.28\00:03:32.83
but I was, I was
with you and some friends
00:03:32.86\00:03:35.99
that you brought
couple of February's ago.
00:03:36.02\00:03:38.35
It was a cold warehouse
there wasn't any heat in there,
00:03:38.38\00:03:41.03
except the heat
you brought with you.
00:03:41.06\00:03:43.10
And you were in there
most of the day packing
00:03:43.13\00:03:45.19
and packing and
packing and packing.
00:03:45.22\00:03:46.90
You actually felt that
that was a blessing to you.
00:03:46.93\00:03:49.24
That was positive
for you. Yes, I do.
00:03:49.27\00:03:52.19
I feel it was positive to me,
00:03:52.22\00:03:53.72
because I'm able to--
each one of those bags
00:03:53.75\00:03:58.94
that you pack
everything that you put
00:03:58.97\00:04:01.62
and to those bags is
more than a candy bar,
00:04:01.65\00:04:06.15
a granola bar or a
bag of chips, its life.
00:04:06.18\00:04:11.66
It's care, its part of
you that's going in that bag.
00:04:11.69\00:04:16.75
Not the stuff but its
you that's going in there.
00:04:16.78\00:04:22.38
And that's what
the inmates receive
00:04:22.41\00:04:25.03
is the care that goes into it.
00:04:25.06\00:04:26.84
Okay, I gonna ask you
one of those high concept
00:04:26.87\00:04:29.57
ontological questions
that they are sometimes.
00:04:29.60\00:04:35.00
Talk to me about the reciprocity
00:04:35.03\00:04:39.19
the
reciprocalness of helping others
00:04:39.22\00:04:42.11
that helps you that serving
others kind of serves you.
00:04:42.14\00:04:45.26
You follow when
going? Yes, I do.
00:04:45.29\00:04:46.99
Yeah, give me
your-- your take on that.
00:04:47.02\00:04:50.37
What I think about
serving other is that--
00:04:50.40\00:04:55.44
you get something out..
Some people in life think that
00:04:55.47\00:04:58.84
everything that you
do has a monitory value.
00:04:58.87\00:05:03.25
Give, take or
just take and take.
00:05:03.28\00:05:07.05
If you give
something of yourself
00:05:07.08\00:05:10.02
a promise that in the end
you will receive something back.
00:05:10.05\00:05:17.27
If you give just a
little bit of yourself,
00:05:17.30\00:05:20.69
if you give a
little bit on knowledge
00:05:20.72\00:05:23.28
a little bit of care
00:05:23.31\00:05:25.00
I guarantee that you will
00:05:25.03\00:05:27.72
get it back at
some point in time.
00:05:27.75\00:05:30.36
I went through
cancer eight years ago
00:05:30.39\00:05:34.40
and people always ask me,
00:05:34.43\00:05:36.02
why that project
was so dear to me?
00:05:36.05\00:05:39.03
For 15 years
prior to having cancer
00:05:39.06\00:05:41.95
I did that
program relay for life
00:05:41.98\00:05:44.79
year after year
not knowing that one
00:05:44.82\00:05:48.64
July seven years ago I
would get sick in August.
00:05:48.67\00:05:53.93
I was diagnosed with it.
00:05:53.96\00:05:55.33
They told me 25 percent
00:05:55.36\00:05:57.31
but I gave so
much to relay for life
00:05:57.34\00:06:01.23
and for cancer never knowing
that it was me and I got back.
00:06:01.26\00:06:06.60
Now eight years
later I have my life. Amen.
00:06:06.63\00:06:10.98
Giving into this
program is the same exact thing
00:06:11.01\00:06:16.10
whether the inmates care
for me or like me or not.
00:06:16.13\00:06:21.12
I do have knowledge
00:06:21.15\00:06:23.02
and things that I
say do have a meaning
00:06:23.05\00:06:26.12
and at some
point of time in life
00:06:26.15\00:06:29.35
somebody is gonna
look back and say,
00:06:29.38\00:06:32.66
she gave this to me by
something that she see it.
00:06:32.69\00:06:37.63
That's all that matters.
Amen, thank you so much.
00:06:37.66\00:06:40.63
Hallelujah, salvation and glory
00:06:46.90\00:06:53.66
Honor and power
unto the Lord our God
00:06:53.69\00:07:00.65
For the Lord our God is mighty
00:07:00.68\00:07:04.37
Yes, the Lord
our God is omnipotent
00:07:04.40\00:07:08.28
The Lord our God
00:07:08.31\00:07:11.29
He is wonderful
00:07:11.32\00:07:17.00
Halleluja, salvation and glory,
00:07:17.03\00:07:23.62
Honor and power
unto the Lord our God
00:07:23.65\00:07:30.57
For the Lord our God is mighty
00:07:30.60\00:07:34.29
Yes, the Lord
our God is omnipotent
00:07:34.32\00:07:38.08
The Lord our God He is wonderful
00:07:38.11\00:07:44.88
All praises be
to the King of Kings
00:07:44.91\00:07:52.23
And the Lord our God
00:07:52.26\00:07:55.84
He is wonderful
00:07:55.87\00:07:59.63
All praises be
to the King of Kings
00:07:59.66\00:08:06.89
and the Lord our God
00:08:06.92\00:08:10.45
He is wonderful
00:08:10.48\00:08:14.98
Halleluja, Halleluja,
00:08:15.01\00:08:19.40
Halleluja, Halleluja,
00:08:19.43\00:08:21.27
Halleluja Halle-lu-ja,
00:08:21.30\00:08:25.18
He is wonderful
00:08:25.21\00:08:29.72
Halleluja, Halleluja,
00:08:29.75\00:08:34.16
Halleluja, Halleluja,
00:08:34.19\00:08:35.98
Halleluja Halle-lu-ja,
00:08:36.01\00:08:39.90
he is wonderful
00:08:39.93\00:08:45.52
Halleluja salvation and glory
00:08:45.55\00:08:51.18
And the Lord our God,
00:08:51.21\00:08:54.59
He is wonderful
00:08:54.62\00:09:00.10
Halleluja salvation and glory
00:09:00.13\00:09:05.81
And the Lord our God,
00:09:05.84\00:09:09.13
He is wonderful
00:09:09.16\00:09:12.87
All praises be
to the King of Kings
00:09:12.90\00:09:20.04
And the Lord our God,
00:09:20.07\00:09:23.60
He is wonderful
00:09:23.63\00:09:27.27
All praises be
to the King of Kings
00:09:27.30\00:09:34.45
And the Lord our God,
00:09:34.48\00:09:38.20
He is wonderful
00:09:38.23\00:09:41.94
All praises be
to the King of Kings
00:09:41.97\00:09:49.19
And the Lord our God,
00:09:49.22\00:09:52.85
He is wonderful
00:09:52.88\00:10:00.85
Christmas Behind
Bars, never dreamed
00:10:16.61\00:10:19.33
when we partnered
with 3ABN of the beauty
00:10:19.36\00:10:22.71
and value of a new
program called Free Indeed.
00:10:22.74\00:10:27.40
These men and woman
are behind bars perhaps,
00:10:27.43\00:10:30.22
most of them
forgotten by society
00:10:30.25\00:10:32.65
but not one has
been forgotten by God.
00:10:32.68\00:10:35.74
The new program Free
Indeed, that you are viewing
00:10:35.77\00:10:38.64
has been a partnership
00:10:38.67\00:10:40.15
and we thank you
for being willing
00:10:40.18\00:10:42.40
to sponsor 3ABN and
Christmas Behind Bars
00:10:42.43\00:10:46.71
to bring this together
00:10:46.74\00:10:48.54
for the honor and glory of God
00:10:48.57\00:10:50.28
and for the furtherance
of the kingdom of heaven.
00:10:50.31\00:10:52.78
We would like you to be
involved on a personal level.
00:10:52.81\00:10:55.86
Please contact us at
Christmas Behind Bars,
00:10:55.89\00:10:58.86
we need new Bibles, used Bibles,
00:10:58.89\00:11:01.19
we need devotional books.
00:11:01.22\00:11:02.66
There is a lot
of different aspects
00:11:02.69\00:11:04.23
that you and your church
00:11:04.26\00:11:05.73
can bring this
program to your area.
00:11:05.76\00:11:08.13
Because many
more people to reach
00:11:08.16\00:11:10.07
and we look forward
00:11:10.10\00:11:11.13
to the kingdom of
heaven being full.
00:11:11.16\00:11:13.38
Blessings to you
until we meet again.
00:11:13.41\00:11:15.31
I'm from St. Louis
which is pretty wild city
00:11:19.76\00:11:23.54
and in I have been in
correctness service since 1986
00:11:23.57\00:11:26.84
and now I now I am in Missouri
00:11:26.87\00:11:28.65
and I have always made
all kind of excuses while--
00:11:28.68\00:11:30.78
you know why
not to go to church.
00:11:30.81\00:11:32.45
How come I'm not gonna--
you know may be I should.
00:11:32.48\00:11:34.93
Well, I'm not gonna go
because girls go to church
00:11:34.96\00:11:37.06
and once they get out
00:11:37.09\00:11:38.14
they don't even put
a bible in their hands.
00:11:38.17\00:11:39.69
So I made all types
of excuses, you know,
00:11:39.72\00:11:42.13
why I'm not gonna go to church
00:11:42.16\00:11:43.41
but I guess I got to point
00:11:43.44\00:11:45.32
where I be myself of so much
00:11:45.35\00:11:47.30
you know, I was like, man,
00:11:47.33\00:11:48.83
there is got to be more
life in the way I'm living.
00:11:48.86\00:11:51.40
I got to try
something difference
00:11:51.43\00:11:52.74
because, you know, how we
get out there out of prison
00:11:52.77\00:11:55.47
and we think, well I'm gonna
try some of little bit different
00:11:55.50\00:11:58.15
and may be you
have to work in a desert
00:11:58.18\00:11:59.52
because we don't
want to submit ourselves.
00:11:59.55\00:12:00.88
We are going to rationalize sin.
00:12:00.91\00:12:02.48
Right, okay to
make a long story short
00:12:02.51\00:12:04.20
I was in county jail
00:12:04.23\00:12:05.26
and I looked at
the Book of Proverbs
00:12:05.29\00:12:07.23
and it says, "Trust in
the Lord with all your heart,
00:12:07.26\00:12:10.73
and do not lean on your
own understanding." Praise God.
00:12:10.76\00:12:13.43
And when I-- when I looked at it
00:12:13.46\00:12:14.76
that it was like it
was just speaking to Him.
00:12:14.79\00:12:16.44
You know, I was like
wow, may be God talking to me
00:12:16.47\00:12:19.58
because all this time in life
00:12:19.61\00:12:21.46
I have been leaning
towards my own understanding.
00:12:21.49\00:12:23.98
Amen. And is never worked.
00:12:24.01\00:12:26.82
So I could say,
since that--since 1986
00:12:26.85\00:12:30.56
untill now I am
doing a bit here Indiana.
00:12:30.59\00:12:32.80
Our father said you know what
00:12:32.83\00:12:34.40
I'm gonna give God a chance.
00:12:34.43\00:12:35.93
I'm going to give God
a trail and it helped me
00:12:35.96\00:12:37.63
because I have been
able to serve myself
00:12:37.66\00:12:40.21
with people little better,
00:12:40.24\00:12:42.01
I have and thank to God
00:12:42.04\00:12:43.94
I haven't had a conduct
violation or confrontations
00:12:43.97\00:12:46.72
since I have been here. Amen.
00:12:46.75\00:12:48.49
And he is trying
to change my character
00:12:48.52\00:12:50.57
and my believe system period
00:12:50.60\00:12:52.29
because I tired
I beat myself now
00:12:52.32\00:12:54.49
so much now, I believe God
00:12:54.52\00:12:55.70
put me in that position to where
00:12:55.73\00:12:56.98
He says okay, Cliff,
00:12:57.01\00:12:58.27
you got to make
some serious changes
00:12:58.30\00:13:00.07
because I have so
many opportunities,
00:13:00.10\00:13:01.91
you know, turn my life around
00:13:01.94\00:13:03.24
and I did this to me
00:13:03.27\00:13:05.97
and I'm just
asking God to help me,
00:13:06.00\00:13:07.46
you know change, change my life.
00:13:07.49\00:13:09.10
Change me on the
inside, you know.
00:13:09.13\00:13:11.17
So brother, may that
scripture remain with you
00:13:11.20\00:13:13.87
now until Jesus comes
00:13:13.90\00:13:15.70
to not lean on to
our own understanding
00:13:15.73\00:13:17.58
but as we search the scripture
00:13:17.61\00:13:19.40
and we say Lord, "Thy
will be done, not mine."
00:13:19.43\00:13:22.00
Amen. Amen.
00:13:22.03\00:13:23.18
God bless you,
thank you so much.
00:13:23.21\00:13:24.74
Isaiah 29:13 Bible says,
"therefore the Lord said"
00:13:29.77\00:13:34.46
so this came from God.
00:13:34.49\00:13:36.28
"Inasmuch as these people
draw near with their mouth
00:13:36.31\00:13:40.66
and honor Me with their lips,
00:13:40.69\00:13:43.69
but have removed
their hearts far from Me.
00:13:43.72\00:13:47.42
And their fear
towards Me is taught
00:13:47.45\00:13:50.44
by the commandments of men."
00:13:50.47\00:13:51.87
So God complained
here in Isaiah is that
00:13:51.90\00:13:56.44
they talk a good game,
00:13:56.47\00:13:58.88
that anomy with their mouth
00:13:58.91\00:14:01.41
but their hearts their lives
00:14:01.44\00:14:04.25
don't reflect
their talk, you follow?
00:14:04.28\00:14:07.15
They talk the talk
00:14:07.18\00:14:08.71
but they aren't
walking the walk.
00:14:08.74\00:14:11.17
That's Old Testament.
00:14:11.20\00:14:12.98
In the New Testament
00:14:13.01\00:14:14.83
Jesus in Matthew 15:8
00:14:14.86\00:14:22.54
says this, "These people draw
near to Me with their mouth.
00:14:22.57\00:14:28.11
And honor Me with their lips,
00:14:28.14\00:14:30.37
But their heart is far from Me."
00:14:30.40\00:14:33.02
That same text
in a New Testament.
00:14:33.05\00:14:36.41
This time it's
the words of Christ.
00:14:36.44\00:14:39.14
One of things
that most people say
00:14:39.17\00:14:41.08
that they
dislike about politicians
00:14:41.11\00:14:44.14
on political
reassess is the nasty way
00:14:44.17\00:14:47.95
that politicians
talk to each other
00:14:47.98\00:14:49.88
and treat each other.
00:14:49.91\00:14:50.94
You heard on TV there
will slice each other up
00:14:50.97\00:14:54.52
and talk about each
other just to get elected.
00:14:54.55\00:14:58.57
Now there are several articles
that have come out recently
00:14:58.60\00:15:01.47
and they have
conducted studies that say,
00:15:01.50\00:15:03.83
most people think
politicians will say anything,
00:15:03.86\00:15:09.16
promise anything
just to get elected
00:15:09.19\00:15:13.38
and then once
elected do almost nothing.
00:15:13.41\00:15:17.88
And that's why
people get started disgusted
00:15:17.91\00:15:19.73
with the political system
00:15:19.76\00:15:21.38
because a lot promises are made
00:15:21.41\00:15:25.36
but they are never kept.
00:15:25.39\00:15:27.51
And what people are saying
is-- what people are looking for
00:15:27.54\00:15:31.05
they want their leaders to be
real that's all--just be real.
00:15:31.08\00:15:35.79
Don't tell me what
you think I want to hear.
00:15:35.82\00:15:39.76
Don't tell me what
you think will please me.
00:15:39.79\00:15:43.08
Tell me the truth and then do
00:15:43.11\00:15:47.21
what you say you are
gonna do, make sense?
00:15:47.24\00:15:51.40
They call it the truth
vacuum or the trust gap.
00:15:51.43\00:15:58.27
Mean what you say,
00:15:58.30\00:16:00.26
don't butter me
up, don't wax me,
00:16:00.29\00:16:03.61
don't blow smoke upon nose,
00:16:03.64\00:16:05.28
just say what you mean
00:16:05.31\00:16:07.48
and mean what
you say. Be honest.
00:16:07.51\00:16:12.45
Now the reason this text is
so important that God said it,
00:16:12.48\00:16:17.81
Jesus said it in the
New Testament is that,
00:16:17.84\00:16:22.91
God is saying if you
are going to do something,
00:16:22.94\00:16:25.65
do it and be real.
00:16:25.68\00:16:28.06
If you gonna talk
the talk, walk the walk
00:16:28.09\00:16:32.33
because for many people
00:16:32.36\00:16:33.84
the only Jesus they will
see is the Jesus is in you.
00:16:33.87\00:16:38.63
And the truth is many times
00:16:38.66\00:16:40.40
Christians are
guilty of false advertising.
00:16:40.43\00:16:42.78
We carry the name Jesus
00:16:42.81\00:16:44.68
but we are not gonna
live the life of Jesus.
00:16:44.71\00:16:47.13
And Christ is
saying if you gonna
00:16:47.16\00:16:49.67
talk the talk then
walk the walk, amen.
00:16:49.70\00:16:54.73
Be honest, be real.
00:16:54.76\00:16:56.13
There's a story about this great
General Alexander the great
00:16:56.16\00:17:01.74
and he had a guy in his army
00:17:01.77\00:17:03.80
who had the
same name, Alexander,
00:17:03.83\00:17:06.56
but the guy was a goof-off.
00:17:06.59\00:17:08.75
Never showed up on time,
shoes dirty, armor not polished.
00:17:08.78\00:17:11.93
He was just a
flicker-- just like goof-off
00:17:11.96\00:17:15.23
and he had the same name.
00:17:15.26\00:17:17.25
And so Alexander
the general went to him
00:17:17.28\00:17:19.03
and said listen
man he is your choice
00:17:19.06\00:17:22.43
you ought to
either change your ways
00:17:22.46\00:17:24.83
or change your
name. That's the choice.
00:17:24.86\00:17:28.15
Change your ways
or change your name?
00:17:28.18\00:17:30.30
Well, it's the
same way with Jesus.
00:17:30.33\00:17:32.23
If you will take the name Jesus
00:17:32.26\00:17:34.80
you got to live
like Jesus. Amen. Amen.
00:17:34.83\00:17:37.55
And you don't
take the name Jesus
00:17:37.58\00:17:39.31
then you got to trust
Jesus. And here is the thing,
00:17:39.34\00:17:42.55
the most miserable
people in the world are people
00:17:42.58\00:17:46.06
who try to fake Christianity.
00:17:46.09\00:17:48.84
Trying to be a fake Christian
is the pain in the neck,
00:17:48.87\00:17:53.14
because Christians
are suppose to forgive.
00:17:53.17\00:17:56.66
So, some one that comes along
00:17:56.69\00:17:57.88
and slaps you and
you are a fake Christian.
00:17:57.91\00:18:05.46
See it's hard to
forgive when you are faking it.
00:18:05.49\00:18:08.68
And the devil will
put you in a situation
00:18:08.71\00:18:10.60
to revile yet true
stuff, he will--he will out you.
00:18:10.63\00:18:14.71
He will have
something, you know,
00:18:14.74\00:18:15.88
you may have one nerve,
00:18:15.91\00:18:19.36
the one last never and
the devil will see to it
00:18:19.39\00:18:23.57
that somebody is going to pull
00:18:23.60\00:18:25.86
that one last nerve come
on well, that one last nerve.
00:18:25.89\00:18:29.54
So you see, see if you are
faking it you will be exposed
00:18:29.57\00:18:33.91
but if it's really in your heart
00:18:33.94\00:18:36.31
when somebody does you wrong
you forgive from your heart.
00:18:36.34\00:18:42.14
You see,
vengeance hate the people
00:18:42.17\00:18:46.30
is like taking poison hoping
the other guy is gonna die.
00:18:46.33\00:18:49.87
The person that
destroys is you, Amen.
00:18:55.24\00:18:58.03
Say, a true
story down with them.
00:18:58.06\00:18:59.26
When I was in
college I had a roommate
00:18:59.29\00:19:00.88
from Liberia, West Africa.
00:19:00.91\00:19:03.26
Nice guy but he had this habit
of chewing with his mouth open.
00:19:03.29\00:19:08.13
And he really enjoyed his food
00:19:12.87\00:19:16.54
and he like to
eat nuts and grapes,
00:19:16.57\00:19:19.18
which I actually
till this day I eat nuts
00:19:19.21\00:19:21.17
and grapes I got that from him.
00:19:21.20\00:19:22.34
But he would chew it.
00:19:22.37\00:19:23.62
And I said, you know what,
00:19:29.35\00:19:31.80
this guy is doing
this to get on my nerves.
00:19:31.83\00:19:34.21
You know, when
you are in a college
00:19:34.24\00:19:35.27
you are in a dorm
it's a little tiny room,
00:19:35.30\00:19:37.52
you know, you're
share in the same space,
00:19:37.55\00:19:39.69
breathing the same air,
you can't get away form him.
00:19:39.72\00:19:42.56
I see, I am gonna put up.
00:19:45.67\00:19:47.74
You know, he is my roommate
00:19:47.77\00:19:48.82
but I see he is doing
this to get on my nerve.
00:19:48.85\00:19:51.26
Now the truth is he didn't know
he was getting on last nerves.
00:19:51.29\00:19:55.43
He didn't, he didn't know.
00:19:55.46\00:19:57.49
He is just doing
what he always does.
00:19:57.52\00:19:59.12
I found that his whole
family chewed that way.
00:19:59.15\00:20:02.52
I went to his house
on Christmas vacation
00:20:02.55\00:20:04.90
we sat at the dinner
table and I couldn't believe it.
00:20:04.93\00:20:09.66
Everybody, you got, you got,
00:20:09.69\00:20:11.14
you got a dozen people
on the table and everybody.
00:20:11.17\00:20:14.01
You know I couldn't believe it.
00:20:17.24\00:20:20.04
So he didn't know
because he grew up that way.
00:20:20.07\00:20:22.03
That's the way
that they chewed food
00:20:22.06\00:20:24.13
in his house in
Liberia, West Africa.
00:20:24.16\00:20:26.73
Guys have free and don't
know how to do, bless his heart.
00:20:26.76\00:20:29.72
And I just--I was just
I he was driving me crazy.
00:20:29.75\00:20:34.21
And I said he is
doing it on purpose.
00:20:34.24\00:20:35.67
He never knew.
00:20:35.70\00:20:38.05
And then one day
he and his girlfriend
00:20:38.08\00:20:40.81
in his little green Volkswagen
00:20:40.84\00:20:42.10
went up to this
kind of lovers lane place
00:20:42.13\00:20:44.23
where the college students
use to go to have Bible studies.
00:20:44.26\00:20:47.15
And coming down the hill
he flipped his Volkswagen
00:20:51.91\00:20:54.59
and she got
hurt and he got hurt.
00:20:54.62\00:20:56.40
So I came back from
church that Sabbath,
00:20:56.43\00:20:59.40
Saturday evening he
was in a bed arm broken
00:20:59.43\00:21:02.12
and you know mourning and
groaning and I felt so bad.
00:21:02.15\00:21:04.81
I said--I said his
name was Francis Jockey.
00:21:04.84\00:21:07.36
I said Francis,
now what happened.
00:21:07.39\00:21:09.35
My God, brought in for you,
00:21:09.38\00:21:10.41
you want some nuts and grapes.
00:21:10.44\00:21:11.47
You know
anything you want to do,
00:21:11.50\00:21:12.84
I'll get you anything
you want, you want anything--
00:21:12.87\00:21:14.41
you know can I help
you in any kind of way?
00:21:14.44\00:21:16.53
I was so glad that
he didn't go, you know.
00:21:16.56\00:21:20.26
And that's way,
that's the way we were.
00:21:20.29\00:21:24.09
So, you got
forgive and be in the real
00:21:24.12\00:21:26.66
if you gonna walk the walk
00:21:26.69\00:21:28.95
you know, talk the talk,
you better walk the walk.
00:21:28.98\00:21:31.96
And the blessing come
00:21:31.99\00:21:34.60
when, when
Jesus leaves your lips
00:21:34.63\00:21:38.28
and moves into your heart.
00:21:38.31\00:21:39.89
That's when the blessing come,
that's when the strength come,
00:21:39.92\00:21:43.22
that's when the
forgiveness comes when--
00:21:43.25\00:21:45.02
when it's not just in
your mouth its in your soul.
00:21:45.05\00:21:48.70
That's when the strength come,
that's when the power come.
00:21:48.73\00:21:51.93
Forgiving lets
you out of jail. Amen.
00:21:51.96\00:21:57.10
Holding a grudge
puts you in jail.
00:21:57.13\00:21:59.20
Tell you the last, and
this one leave in my notes
00:21:59.23\00:22:00.73
and I am done
last story I think.
00:22:00.76\00:22:05.02
I was at motor
vehicle in New York,
00:22:05.05\00:22:06.60
I have all my
ministries are in New York City.
00:22:06.63\00:22:09.10
And I was, I was
re-getting insurance for my car
00:22:09.13\00:22:14.35
and there was a
fellow in front of me,
00:22:14.38\00:22:17.12
nice looking tall 6' 3'' blond
00:22:17.15\00:22:19.35
just cursing on
news. He was just mad.
00:22:19.38\00:22:22.03
He said that, I am
gonna rip of her arm
00:22:22.06\00:22:25.79
and shove it down her
throat and I am gonna,
00:22:25.82\00:22:27.72
I'm gonna-- he
was just having a fit
00:22:27.75\00:22:29.97
and the Lord said
you need to talk to him.
00:22:30.00\00:22:33.00
I said, no I don't.
00:22:33.03\00:22:37.04
And you, you know,
when trying to fight God,
00:22:37.07\00:22:39.69
and God is just nagging.
00:22:39.72\00:22:40.79
He said, because he was
just oh, my God, oh God.
00:22:40.82\00:22:45.43
He was just going on
and God said talk to him.
00:22:45.46\00:22:48.43
And I said no, Lord, not
me not today, not no time,
00:22:48.46\00:22:53.73
nor I'm going to do it no way.
00:22:53.76\00:22:56.64
And the Lord just
nagged me, so I said to him.
00:22:56.67\00:23:01.17
Once I got to
nerve if I say hey man,
00:23:01.20\00:23:05.17
how long you are
gonna stay in prison?
00:23:05.20\00:23:06.48
He said, say what?
00:23:10.86\00:23:15.53
I said, how long you
are gonna stay in prison?
00:23:15.56\00:23:19.25
He said, what are you my warden?
00:23:19.28\00:23:23.26
I said, actually said to
him you are my sub warden.
00:23:23.29\00:23:28.06
Then I said no man I'm just
trying to get you out of jail.
00:23:28.09\00:23:32.29
So he, he I saw his shoulders,
00:23:32.32\00:23:34.10
you know, you
can see his shoulders
00:23:34.13\00:23:35.17
kind of drop down a
little bit and I said what's up?
00:23:35.20\00:23:41.33
Evidently his, his wife
had left him for another guy
00:23:41.36\00:23:47.02
and had--the guy that she
left him for was an attorney
00:23:47.05\00:23:52.21
and they had gotten his
house and his car and his son.
00:23:52.24\00:23:57.82
And he was left with
this old raggedy Chevy
00:23:57.85\00:24:01.75
that he is trying
to get insurance on it.
00:24:01.78\00:24:03.09
They got everything
00:24:03.12\00:24:04.91
and he was just
full of hate and revenge.
00:24:04.94\00:24:07.88
And I said to him that,
00:24:07.91\00:24:12.43
your wife is off with
her new lawyer boyfriend
00:24:12.46\00:24:15.26
in your house, driving your car
00:24:15.29\00:24:17.66
and the best you can do
is push yourself in jail.
00:24:17.69\00:24:21.00
I said, you got to get free.
00:24:21.03\00:24:24.78
She is not thinking about you,
00:24:24.81\00:24:26.69
so you-- you need
to start giving her
00:24:26.72\00:24:28.16
the power to destroy
you. You got to get free.
00:24:28.19\00:24:31.43
You got a son,
00:24:31.46\00:24:32.98
if you do all the stuff
that you want to do to her,
00:24:33.01\00:24:36.94
who is gonna
take care of your boy?
00:24:36.97\00:24:39.23
Who is gonna take
care of your child?
00:24:39.26\00:24:40.51
You got get free.
00:24:40.54\00:24:42.74
You are drinking poison
hoping your wife is gonna die.
00:24:42.77\00:24:47.37
Get free man.
00:24:47.40\00:24:50.55
And so we talked
about that for a long time
00:24:50.58\00:24:53.60
and when we are
done, we prayed together
00:24:53.63\00:24:57.04
and I said just free
yourself, free yourself.
00:24:57.07\00:25:01.80
That's what the Bible says,
"If the Son makes you free,
00:25:01.83\00:25:07.50
you really will be free."
00:25:07.53\00:25:09.54
That's where true freedom comes.
00:25:09.57\00:25:11.36
Let me close with a text.
00:25:11.39\00:25:15.25
I love this one, Hebrew 13:5, 6.
00:25:15.28\00:25:20.49
I'm, I'm the kind of guy
00:25:20.52\00:25:22.73
who read the
Bible several times.
00:25:22.76\00:25:24.03
Lot of people has favorite texts
00:25:24.06\00:25:25.68
that they kind
of just lock down on
00:25:25.71\00:25:27.09
kind of give them strength.
I don't have favorite text.
00:25:27.12\00:25:29.50
I have favorite anything.
00:25:29.53\00:25:30.82
My wife kind of
get up, aggregate in me
00:25:30.85\00:25:32.66
because she says, what
do you want to eat today?
00:25:32.69\00:25:34.25
I don't know.
00:25:34.28\00:25:35.76
I don't have favorite color,
00:25:35.79\00:25:36.82
favorite food,
favorite clothes, favorite text,
00:25:36.85\00:25:38.54
I don't have favorite anything.
00:25:38.57\00:25:39.89
What I have is text
in the Bible that means
00:25:39.92\00:25:42.58
some to me for
that point of time.
00:25:42.61\00:25:44.84
Then I move on to another
text and that gets me through.
00:25:44.87\00:25:47.30
When I got my cancer
diagnosis a couple of years ago
00:25:47.33\00:25:50.61
I had, Joshua 1: 9
"Have I not commanded you?
00:25:50.64\00:25:54.45
Be strong and courageous.
00:25:54.48\00:25:55.51
Do not be afraid
you to be that is made
00:25:55.54\00:25:57.05
for the Lord that God is with
thee whithersoever thou goest."
00:25:57.08\00:25:59.39
That was not for a
while, then I moved on to,
00:25:59.42\00:26:01.31
Micah 6:8,
00:26:01.34\00:26:02.58
"He hath shewed
thee, O man, what is good,
00:26:02.61\00:26:03.77
and what doth the
Lord require of thee,
00:26:03.80\00:26:05.48
but to do justly,
and to love mercy,
00:26:05.51\00:26:06.58
and to walk
humbly with thy God?"
00:26:06.61\00:26:07.64
You know, I get
him and I loose him
00:26:07.67\00:26:09.71
and I get him I get another one.
00:26:09.74\00:26:11.06
Well, this is the hot one now.
00:26:11.09\00:26:14.34
Hebrews 13, I think its 5 and 6.
00:26:14.37\00:26:17.78
Let me just find it
real fast and I'm done.
00:26:17.81\00:26:20.32
Hebrews--
00:26:20.35\00:26:21.86
see it's so knew I haven't quite
00:26:25.78\00:26:27.04
committed to memory yet.
00:26:27.07\00:26:29.09
That is coming, Hebrews 13:5, 6.
00:26:29.12\00:26:31.40
"Let your conduct be
without covetousness,"
00:26:31.43\00:26:33.47
that means don't
envy anybody anything,
00:26:33.50\00:26:35.45
just live your own life
don't be a tourist in your life
00:26:35.48\00:26:37.93
live yours, let
them live theirs.
00:26:37.96\00:26:40.19
So, "Let your conduct
be without covetousness,
00:26:40.22\00:26:42.59
be content with
such things as you have."
00:26:42.62\00:26:45.19
Whatever you got
that's what God wants for you.
00:26:45.22\00:26:47.77
So don't look in over
at hers look at yours.
00:26:47.80\00:26:51.52
Amen. Amen. I said Amen. Amen.
00:26:51.55\00:26:55.95
All right, so, "Be content
with such things as you have,
00:26:55.98\00:27:00.61
for He Himself has
said," this is God.
00:27:00.64\00:27:03.50
"I will never leave you
nor forsake you." Amen. Amen.
00:27:03.53\00:27:08.32
There is no hole you
can crawl into or fall into.
00:27:08.35\00:27:10.81
God can crawl down
there and find you. Amen.
00:27:10.84\00:27:13.13
So when you get in a hole
don't say Lord, help me out,
00:27:13.16\00:27:16.95
say Lord how are you
gonna get us out of this mess
00:27:16.98\00:27:20.36
because He is the
hole with you, amen.
00:27:20.39\00:27:22.35
You are not down
there by yourself, okay.
00:27:22.38\00:27:24.92
So, this is a
parallel, "We can boldly say,
00:27:24.95\00:27:28.35
'The lord is my helper.'"
00:27:28.38\00:27:30.67
Amen. God is my helper.
00:27:30.70\00:27:33.25
"I will not fear,
what can man do to me?"
00:27:33.28\00:27:38.92
Cannot hurt you
when you are in Jesus,
00:27:38.95\00:27:40.84
even if they take your
life they haven't hurt you
00:27:40.87\00:27:44.08
because the Bible
says you live in Jesus
00:27:44.11\00:27:46.67
and die in Jesus,
you will live for ever.
00:27:46.70\00:27:49.88
So once you get God
you get forever. Amen.
00:27:49.91\00:27:55.26
What can man do to me?
00:27:55.29\00:27:56.87
That's Hebrews 13:5, 6,
00:27:56.90\00:28:01.04
it's a powerful, powerful text.
00:28:01.07\00:28:03.12
And it will study you in time.
00:28:03.15\00:28:05.02
So walk the walk, talk
the talk, live the life
00:28:05.05\00:28:10.88
and Jesus will be your
Savior and your friend.
00:28:10.91\00:28:13.24
Thank you so
much, God bless you.
00:28:13.27\00:28:15.36