¤[Theme music]
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¤[Theme music]
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>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me.
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What would it be like to live
with danger on your doorstep?
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¤[Dramatic music]
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People living under the shadow
of a 12,500-feet-tall volcano,
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25 miles outside Guatemala City,
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know exactly what it's like.
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Guatemala and its population
of 16.5 million people
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is located in Central America.
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To its north and west is Mexico,
Belize is to the northeast,
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and to the east are both
Honduras and El Salvador.
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The country has two coasts;
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in the northeast
is the Caribbean,
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and to the south,
the Pacific Ocean.
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Guatemala is the
same size as Tennessee--
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or for that matter, the same
size as the country of Iceland.
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And for as long as
anyone can remember,
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volcanoes and
earthquakes have been part
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of the fabric of life here.
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The capital of
Guatemala has been moved twice--
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once because of
volcanic mudflow,
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and once because
of an earthquake.
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In fact, in 1976,
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an earthquake here in
Guatemala claimed 25,000 lives.
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Guatemala is
home to 37 volcanoes,
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four of which are still active--
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Pacaya, Santiaguito, Tacana,
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and Volcan de Fuego,
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which in English
means, ominously,
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"Volcano of Fire."
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And in June of
2018, the Volcano of Fire
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rained destruction onto
surrounding communities.
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It was the deadliest eruption in
Guatemala in almost 100 years.
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Fuego is
well-known in these parts.
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It's one of the most
active volcanoes in the world.
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It's been erupting almost
constantly for many years.
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An eruption in 2012 saw 33,000
people evacuate their homes.
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Since then, the eruptions
have been much smaller,
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but they have been persistent.
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The 54,000 people who
live within six miles of Fuego
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are constantly reminded
that danger is never far away.
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¤[Music]
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It was about the middle of
the day on June the 3rd, 2018,
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that Fuego erupted violently,
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and continued to do so
for about the next week or so.
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A column of ash rose
up above the mountain,
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stretching nine
miles high into the sky,
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and rocks, many
of them enormous,
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rained down over a wide area.
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Volcanic ash closed
Guatemala City's main airport.
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But it was the pyroclastic
flows that did so much damage.
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That's hot poisonous volcanic
gas mixed with volcanic matter.
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They can move quickly,
easily 50 miles an hour,
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sometimes much faster.
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And when they come
down a mountainside
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toward a settlement of people,
unless you move really quickly,
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essentially, you
don't have a chance.
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As rescue workers tried
to reach people the next day,
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they were interrupted by
fresh flows of mud, gas and ash.
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And because the pyroclastic
flows are really hot,
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most of the bodies
recovered were unrecognizable.
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Ash that fell to
the ground was said
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to be between 400
and 700 degrees Celsius--
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between 750 and
1,300 degrees Fahrenheit.
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When Fuego erupted,
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destruction engulfed
community after community.
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It seemed as though it
happened in the blink of an eye.
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It was like a nightmare,
except this was all too real.
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People lost their
homes, completely swept away.
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They lost their crops--gone.
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They lost their possessions.
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And many people
lost their entire family.
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And so today thousands of
people mourn those losses,
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and they're adjusting
to a new way of life--
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without the past,
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without their possessions,
without their homes,
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yes, in many cases,
without their families.
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In a moment I'm
going to introduce you
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to somebody who survived Fuego.
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She lost all of her possessions,
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but she considers
herself especially blessed
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because she and her
family made it out in one piece.
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They've lived to tell the story.
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But Rosa's neighbors did not.
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Many of them
perished-- for one reason.
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I'll tell you
why in just a moment.
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¤[Theme music]
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>>John: Now, here's a question:
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Can God be trusted?
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Either you've asked
that question yourself,
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or you know somebody who has,
and I've got an answer for you.
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I'd like you to
get today's free offer,
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"Can God Be Trusted?"
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To receive it,
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write to the
address on your screen,
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or visit us at iiwoffer.com.
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"Can God Be Trusted?"
00:07:14.93\00:07:16.36
I have an answer
for you: 800-253-3000
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or visit us at iiwoffer.com.
00:07:19.70\00:07:22.47
¤[Music]
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>>Announcer: Planning
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Call 800-992-2219.
00:07:47.83\00:07:52.60
>>John Bradshaw:
Thanks for joining me today
00:07:53.27\00:07:54.94
on It Is Written.
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Government statistics
said following the dramatic
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and devastating
volcano in southern Guatemala
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that 120 people
lost their lives,
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and another 200
were officially missing.
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Locals tell another story.
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One man told us
that he himself lost
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at least 70
extended family members.
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Another individual said
that there is no question
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that there are at
least 1,500 people missing
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in the wake of the volcano.
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In Escuintla, Guatemala,
Rosa Chacon works as a volunteer
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for the government's
emergency alert services.
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It's her responsibility
to warn local residents
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when Fuego puts them in danger.
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[Rosa speaking Spanish]
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>>Translator: We had been
doing simulations for two months
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before this situation,
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because we had calculated
that the volcano erupts
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every 35 to 40 years,
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and we were getting
to the 40-year mark.
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So we were already preparing
ourselves for another eruption,
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but we didn't think
that the eruption would be
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as big as it was.
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At nine in the morning,
we took some photos and saw
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that there was no problem
for our area at that moment.
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When 11 in the morning
came, we heard a very loud boom,
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and I started running
from one community to another,
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from one community to
another warning people,
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alerting them to
prepare themselves.
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It is very difficult for me--
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because I lived at the
epicenter of that place,
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in the very place where
that big monster was coming.
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I was trying to save the
people that were on the bridge.
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My granddaughter and I yelled--
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and two other people that were
from the same CONRED community--
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we yelled to them to
leave, to clear the area,
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but the people
were taking videos.
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It was something they
had never seen before.
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The heat of it even got to me.
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Like this--like there
were big waves coming down,
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that came with a terrible speed.
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It came crashing,
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and when we saw that
it gained speed, we ran.
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We ran. We ran
to save ourselves.
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We continued in a car.
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They picked us up,
and we were yelling,
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"Come, come! That
thing is coming over!"
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I lived through an experience.
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>>John: There are so
many people who have been
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through so much and
who have lost so much.
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What have you heard about
the experiences of other people?
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[Rosa speaking Spanish]
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>>Translator: That whole
first week was very hard.
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They would approach
me, they would hug me,
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and they would
tell me, "Mrs. Rosita,
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they've already delivered
my first dead loved one.
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I found my son."
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Others said, "I found my dad."
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"They are helping me bury them."
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I have encountered grief.
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Here we have cried together
with all of these people.
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Although I've had
to hold it in at times,
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and close myself off
somewhere very quiet and vent,
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because here I have been
trying to give people a smile.
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To the people
here I offer a hug,
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because for this reason
the Lord has sent me here,
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to hug them and give them
smiles, to all these people.
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>>John: How did people
respond when you alerted them
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to the, to the danger?
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[Rosa speaking Spanish]
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>>Translator: Some
people told me, "We're coming."
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Some didn't respond.
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This happened
mainly at ground zero,
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which is where
we've lost so many people.
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They would say, "We're going
to put ourselves in our houses."
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And that's where all
the families would gather.
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And us with the cars,
buses, national police,
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telling people
to get in the cars,
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and we would call
them, "Come up, come up."
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But what the people did
instead was to lock themselves
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in their houses.
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>>John: So the people
who've been through something
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like this--
00:12:34.92\00:12:36.85
how do you understand
their attitude towards God?
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Has that been
affected one way or another?
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[Rosa speaking Spanish]
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>>Translator: Today, all the
people have come closer to God,
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seeking God,
especially if we pray with them.
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They may have come
from different churches,
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but today when you
approach someone and tell them,
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"We want to pray
for you," they cry.
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They repent.
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And they come close to God.
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That is the attitude
that the people now have.
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>>John: After the
Volcano of Fire erupted,
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rescue efforts were hindered
by the clouds of toxic gas
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that hung heavy in the air.
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The ground was so hot
that the soles of the boots
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worn by rescuers
melted while on their feet.
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And then heavy rain fell,
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making rescue and recovery
just that much more difficult.
00:13:34.81\00:13:38.91
But rescuers, many
of them volunteers,
00:13:38.95\00:13:40.75
flocked to the area to see
what they could do to help.
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One of them was Ricardo
Carrillo, a local church pastor,
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among the first to arrive
on the scene in Escuintla.
00:13:47.62\00:13:51.79
Pastor, I
understand you were one
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of the very first church workers
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to get to the
site of the disaster.
00:13:56.73\00:13:59.87
Tell me what went
through your mind when you heard
00:13:59.90\00:14:04.11
that the volcano had erupted.
00:14:04.14\00:14:05.97
[Ricardo speaking Spanish]
00:14:06.01\00:14:07.51
>>Translator: In
that moment I thought--
00:14:07.54\00:14:08.74
the volcano had been
active every day before this--
00:14:08.78\00:14:10.81
and in that moment, the first
thing that came into my mind was
00:14:10.85\00:14:14.25
the volcanic
activity that was happening
00:14:14.28\00:14:16.32
the days before the eruption.
00:14:16.35\00:14:18.02
And I said, "Wow,
what must have happened?"
00:14:18.05\00:14:20.96
If the volcano erupted, that
means it would have devastated
00:14:20.99\00:14:23.73
several of the communities
that I actually knew.
00:14:23.76\00:14:26.49
When we arrived at the
location of the disaster,
00:14:26.53\00:14:29.03
what we were looking at--well,
it was definitely shocking.
00:14:29.06\00:14:32.97
In that moment, in my
mind, I said to myself,
00:14:33.00\00:14:36.50
how many people
must have been killed?
00:14:36.54\00:14:39.24
>>John: When you made
it to the volcano area,
00:14:39.27\00:14:42.81
to that area that was
affected, what did you see?
00:14:42.84\00:14:46.11
What did you
experience when you got there?
00:14:46.15\00:14:48.68
[Ricardo speaking Spanish]
00:14:48.98\00:14:50.25
>>Translator: It is
difficult to explain with words
00:14:50.29\00:14:52.35
because my heart,
it sank in that moment.
00:14:52.39\00:14:55.86
When I got there,
00:14:55.89\00:14:56.93
I saw a community
that I'd seen many times
00:14:56.96\00:14:59.69
because I used to pass
by that area all the time.
00:14:59.73\00:15:02.36
Now a person would end
up getting lost out there
00:15:02.40\00:15:05.13
because the land there
has become unrecognizable.
00:15:05.17\00:15:08.74
So, in that moment,
my heart sank so much;
00:15:08.77\00:15:13.31
there was so much
sadness in my heart.
00:15:13.34\00:15:15.38
>>John: With everything that
you've seen and experienced,
00:15:15.41\00:15:18.81
and the people
that you've spoken to,
00:15:18.85\00:15:20.55
and the stories
that you've heard,
00:15:20.58\00:15:22.75
what has impacted you the
most throughout this process?
00:15:22.78\00:15:27.56
[Ricardo speaking Spanish]
00:15:28.86\00:15:31.66
>>Translator: Seeing the kids--
00:15:31.69\00:15:33.86
to see the
bodies of the children
00:15:33.90\00:15:36.36
that were being
taken out of this place.
00:15:36.40\00:15:40.24
Some of the kids who
died hugging each other--
00:15:40.27\00:15:43.27
seeing that part,
00:15:43.30\00:15:46.11
the physical reaction
that some of these kids had
00:15:46.14\00:15:50.01
when this was happening.
00:15:50.05\00:15:52.01
Some of them ended
up with their arms up,
00:15:52.05\00:15:56.25
like in a defensive position,
00:15:56.28\00:15:58.69
trying to protect themselves
from what was happening.
00:15:58.72\00:16:02.02
So, when they
were taking them out,
00:16:02.06\00:16:04.66
their arms were still up
in that defensive position.
00:16:04.69\00:16:08.23
That was one of the things
that impacted me the most.
00:16:08.26\00:16:12.60
>>John: We've read in the
news that 120 people died;
00:16:12.63\00:16:18.64
200 people are missing.
00:16:18.67\00:16:21.04
But we're told by
people in the area
00:16:21.08\00:16:23.78
there's maybe 1,500
people that are unaccounted for.
00:16:23.81\00:16:27.92
Maybe we'll never know.
00:16:27.95\00:16:29.92
Why was it that so many
people weren't able to get out
00:16:29.95\00:16:34.36
or didn't get out in time?
00:16:34.39\00:16:35.96
[Ricardo speaking Spanish]
00:16:35.99\00:16:37.46
>>Translator: Because
of the number of people
00:16:37.49\00:16:39.39
that were in that place,
because it was a Sunday--
00:16:39.43\00:16:43.20
Sunday usually
isn't a working day.
00:16:43.23\00:16:45.93
Many people
were in their houses,
00:16:45.97\00:16:48.34
and the children
weren't at school.
00:16:48.37\00:16:51.51
The few who were
saved at the time
00:16:51.54\00:16:53.48
were saved
because they had gone out
00:16:53.51\00:16:55.94
to do something
outside of their houses,
00:16:55.98\00:16:59.61
something that wasn't routine.
00:16:59.65\00:17:02.22
The people were too accustomed
to the volcanic activity--
00:17:02.25\00:17:05.42
too accustomed, I would say.
00:17:05.45\00:17:08.22
They thought this
volcanic activity was the same
00:17:08.26\00:17:10.89
as what had always happened.
00:17:10.93\00:17:13.33
So many of them thought
that the column of smoke
00:17:13.36\00:17:16.13
that was coming through
was the only thing they needed
00:17:16.16\00:17:18.83
to be concerned about.
00:17:18.87\00:17:20.20
So they decided to close
themselves in their houses
00:17:20.24\00:17:24.31
to avoid being
harmed by the smoke column,
00:17:24.34\00:17:26.37
because, by being
inside their homes,
00:17:26.41\00:17:29.58
they didn't realize what
was coming behind the column
00:17:29.61\00:17:32.48
of smoke, the
danger that was there.
00:17:32.51\00:17:36.12
>>John: You know, there
are people all around the world
00:17:36.15\00:17:37.62
that are suffering.
00:17:37.65\00:17:39.65
Just a few meters away
from where we're sitting
00:17:39.69\00:17:42.52
is a young man who
lost his entire family
00:17:42.56\00:17:45.69
in this volcanic disaster.
00:17:45.73\00:17:48.53
All around the world, people
are going through suffering
00:17:48.56\00:17:50.77
of many, many different kinds.
00:17:50.80\00:17:53.87
As a pastor, what
do you say to people?
00:17:53.90\00:17:57.47
>>Translator: I would
tell them what Paul said.
00:17:57.51\00:18:02.54
You have the right to feel sad,
00:18:02.58\00:18:06.01
but not like those
who don't have hope.
00:18:06.05\00:18:09.85
We as Christians, and as
the people who believe in Jesus
00:18:09.88\00:18:13.66
and understand that
Jesus will come again,
00:18:13.69\00:18:15.82
have the right to be saddened--
00:18:15.86\00:18:18.33
but in a different
way because there is hope.
00:18:18.36\00:18:21.26
And as long as we have
hope, our sadness is different
00:18:21.30\00:18:26.57
because we know
that the hope sustains us
00:18:26.60\00:18:28.50
with a certain positivity
that we'll be able to see
00:18:28.54\00:18:32.64
our loved ones again when
Jesus Christ comes on high.
00:18:32.67\00:18:36.48
>>John: I'll be back
with more in just a moment.
00:18:36.81\00:18:39.35
¤[Theme music]
00:18:39.38\00:18:47.82
>>John: Thank
you for remembering
00:18:49.49\00:18:50.53
that It Is Written exists
00:18:50.56\00:18:52.06
because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:18:52.09\00:18:54.83
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:18:54.86\00:18:58.07
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:18:58.10\00:19:02.40
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:19:02.44\00:19:03.87
to the address on your screen,
00:19:03.91\00:19:05.34
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:19:05.37\00:19:09.24
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:19:09.28\00:19:12.01
Our number
again is 800-253-3000.
00:19:12.05\00:19:16.05
Or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:19:16.08\00:19:19.32
¤[Music]
00:19:19.85\00:19:20.26
[Fire crackling]
00:19:20.29\00:19:21.39
>>Girl: My mom woke up at
11:45, and she smelled smoke.
00:19:21.42\00:19:25.19
[Sirens wailing]
00:19:25.23\00:19:26.39
>>Man: About maybe
1:30 in the morning,
00:19:26.43\00:19:28.23
the, uh, my wife
got a phone call,
00:19:28.26\00:19:31.33
and I could hear the voice
on the other end of the line,
00:19:31.37\00:19:34.40
and she was
basically, uh, screaming,
00:19:34.44\00:19:37.21
"There's a fire. It's
massive. It's headed your way.
00:19:37.24\00:19:39.77
You need to get
out and get out now."
00:19:39.81\00:19:42.14
>>Woman: After I hear "Fire,"
I hear in the background,
00:19:42.18\00:19:45.51
"The fire is two to four
blocks away from your house."
00:19:45.55\00:19:47.62
And I panicked.
00:19:47.65\00:19:49.22
We started praying. Our
prayers didn't last long.
00:19:49.25\00:19:52.02
They were desperate;
they were--they were rushed.
00:19:52.05\00:19:56.16
There was a need; it was urgent;
00:19:56.19\00:19:57.86
it was very, very urgent.
00:19:57.89\00:19:59.06
I said, "Please
save my children."
00:19:59.09\00:20:01.76
¤[Music]
00:20:02.10\00:20:04.93
>>John Bradshaw: Where
was God when the fires burned?
00:20:04.97\00:20:06.74
Where was God
as people suffered?
00:20:06.77\00:20:08.64
Where was God
while people were dying?
00:20:08.67\00:20:11.21
Where was God in the
midst of the devastation?
00:20:11.24\00:20:13.81
[Fire crackling]
00:20:13.84\00:20:19.48
>>John Bradshaw:
Thanks for joining me today
00:20:20.65\00:20:21.72
on It Is Written.
00:20:21.75\00:20:22.65
I'm in San Miguel
Los Lotes, Guatemala--
00:20:22.68\00:20:25.65
or what's left of it--
00:20:25.69\00:20:29.02
following the devastating
eruption of Volcan de Fuego
00:20:29.06\00:20:32.09
just three weeks
ago, as I speak to you.
00:20:32.13\00:20:35.16
And you may
wonder why people stay
00:20:36.77\00:20:39.20
when there's
danger on the doorstep.
00:20:39.23\00:20:41.27
So why do people stay?
00:20:44.37\00:20:45.77
Well, there's a
couple of reasons.
00:20:45.81\00:20:47.11
One is economics.
00:20:47.14\00:20:49.08
This is where they live;
it's where their homes are.
00:20:49.11\00:20:51.71
This is where land is;
this is jobs; it's survival.
00:20:51.75\00:20:54.82
It's not that easy just to
take off and pick up again.
00:20:54.85\00:20:58.09
And the second one is related
to the first: It's logistics.
00:20:58.12\00:21:02.49
So this is a danger zone;
it's a well-known danger zone.
00:21:02.52\00:21:05.23
But to leave, to
gather up your family,
00:21:05.26\00:21:07.46
when you don't
have much of anything,
00:21:07.50\00:21:09.16
to go to another part of
the country, find new work--
00:21:09.20\00:21:12.63
it's just difficult.
00:21:12.67\00:21:14.17
There's another
reason people stay.
00:21:15.17\00:21:16.50
It's the same reason that people
move to the coast of Florida,
00:21:16.54\00:21:19.97
even though it
will certainly be hit
00:21:20.01\00:21:21.64
by another major hurricane,
00:21:21.68\00:21:23.08
or why people build homes on
the banks of rivers that flood,
00:21:23.11\00:21:26.05
or why people live in earthquake
country in California.
00:21:26.08\00:21:28.62
Danger tends to be
predictable to a degree.
00:21:28.65\00:21:31.25
You can see a hurricane
coming, so you can prepare.
00:21:31.29\00:21:33.96
If floodwaters begin
to rise, you can get out--
00:21:33.99\00:21:36.49
or at least you hope you can.
00:21:36.52\00:21:37.69
And most people
survive earthquakes,
00:21:37.73\00:21:39.86
so you hope
you're going to be lucky.
00:21:39.89\00:21:41.93
It's like driving
without a seatbelt.
00:21:41.96\00:21:43.63
Most people who do
it are going to be okay.
00:21:43.67\00:21:45.83
But those who aren't okay
are going to be really not okay.
00:21:45.87\00:21:50.01
If you have to pay the
price for your decision,
00:21:50.04\00:21:52.27
it's usually an
incredibly high price.
00:21:52.31\00:21:54.98
And then there's
another reason: familiarity.
00:21:55.01\00:21:57.55
You live around
danger, and you think,
00:21:57.58\00:22:00.48
it's never
going to happen to me.
00:22:00.52\00:22:02.62
It's happened before,
and I got away with it.
00:22:02.65\00:22:04.89
If it happens again,
I'll get away with it then.
00:22:04.92\00:22:07.52
And you will--unless,
of course, you don't.
00:22:07.56\00:22:11.49
Now, here's a question:
00:22:14.46\00:22:16.13
Why do people go on living
where they do, or how they do,
00:22:16.16\00:22:21.64
when there's danger at
their doorstep spiritually?
00:22:21.67\00:22:25.77
It's like people play a sort
of spiritual Russian roulette,
00:22:25.81\00:22:28.94
taking spiritual risks when
they ought to be minimizing risk
00:22:28.98\00:22:33.52
and maximizing safety.
00:22:33.55\00:22:35.28
There are people
waiting for a better time
00:22:35.32\00:22:38.39
to come to faith in God.
00:22:38.42\00:22:40.42
But what if, in the
interim, that volcano blows?
00:22:40.46\00:22:43.12
What if, what if
your life comes to an end?
00:22:43.16\00:22:46.59
What if Jesus were to return?
00:22:46.63\00:22:48.66
What if you were
simply to never get around
00:22:48.70\00:22:51.73
to giving your heart to God?
00:22:51.77\00:22:53.94
People dabble with sin.
00:22:53.97\00:22:55.97
A little "harmless flirting"
turns into an attraction,
00:22:56.00\00:22:59.14
which leads to bad decisions
and regret and a broken home
00:22:59.17\00:23:02.64
and ruined relationships, and
with children as the casualties,
00:23:02.68\00:23:06.55
all because, well,
00:23:06.58\00:23:07.75
no one expected it
to turn out like this.
00:23:07.78\00:23:09.58
But that's how it turns out.
00:23:09.62\00:23:11.85
When there's
danger on your doorstep,
00:23:11.89\00:23:13.76
when you live on a fault line,
you really can't be surprised
00:23:13.79\00:23:17.16
when the ground
shifts beneath your feet.
00:23:17.19\00:23:20.03
You know, you just
can't afford to take risks
00:23:20.06\00:23:22.33
with your spiritual life.
00:23:22.36\00:23:23.97
It's dangerous.
00:23:24.00\00:23:25.47
Life is unpredictable.
00:23:25.50\00:23:27.70
And while you put God
on hold, don't forget,
00:23:27.74\00:23:30.61
you're spurning--
00:23:30.64\00:23:31.67
you are saying "no" to
the love of God for you.
00:23:31.71\00:23:33.94
You're telling God you
don't want Him in your life.
00:23:33.98\00:23:37.41
But here's what happens:
00:23:37.45\00:23:38.35
You wait.
00:23:38.38\00:23:39.61
"I'll pray another day."
00:23:39.65\00:23:40.62
You wait.
00:23:40.65\00:23:41.45
"I'll read my
Bible another day."
00:23:41.48\00:23:43.45
And another day comes,
and your heart has gone cold.
00:23:43.49\00:23:46.89
That desire has
all just bled away.
00:23:46.92\00:23:49.16
And now you don't even
want to come to God at all.
00:23:49.19\00:23:55.26
Or there are those who
are putting God on hold
00:23:55.30\00:23:57.33
because they're pursuing
the things of this world.
00:23:57.37\00:24:00.97
They're saying in their
hearts, "You know, it's okay.
00:24:01.00\00:24:03.24
I know Jesus said it's
easier for a camel to get
00:24:03.27\00:24:05.47
through the eye of a
needle than for a rich man
00:24:05.51\00:24:07.18
to enter into heaven.
00:24:07.21\00:24:08.24
But it's going to be
okay for me. I'll be fine.
00:24:08.28\00:24:11.51
I can pursue that
exclusive home I don't need,
00:24:11.55\00:24:14.22
that expensive
car I can't afford."
00:24:14.25\00:24:17.25
You hang in there doing
that, and one day you become
00:24:17.29\00:24:19.65
living proof that what
Paul told Timothy is true:
00:24:19.69\00:24:23.09
"The love of money is the
root of all kinds of evil."
00:24:23.12\00:24:27.86
We just can't afford to wait.
00:24:27.86\00:24:29.43
We can't afford to put
anything in front of God.
00:24:29.46\00:24:32.07
God calls us to come to Him now.
00:24:32.10\00:24:34.27
To do anything
other than to do that--
00:24:34.30\00:24:36.74
well, that's like
living on the side of a volcano
00:24:36.77\00:24:38.74
and failing to take
action when the warnings come.
00:24:38.77\00:24:43.48
The reason Lot got
himself into so much trouble
00:24:43.51\00:24:46.28
in Sodom and
Gomorrah is that he made
00:24:46.31\00:24:48.28
a very risky spiritual decision.
00:24:48.32\00:24:51.35
Thinking he'd be okay,
00:24:51.39\00:24:53.56
he chose to live near
those very wicked cities.
00:24:53.59\00:24:57.36
The Bible says in
Genesis 13 and verse 12,
00:24:57.39\00:25:00.46
"Abram dwelled in
the land of Canaan,
00:25:00.50\00:25:02.70
and Lot dwelled in
the cities of the plain,
00:25:02.73\00:25:05.43
and pitched his
tent toward Sodom."
00:25:05.47\00:25:08.80
Yes, it's true Lot
made it out of Sodom alive,
00:25:08.84\00:25:11.64
but his wife didn't.
00:25:11.67\00:25:13.14
His sons-in-law didn't.
00:25:13.17\00:25:14.84
And while his
daughters came out of Sodom,
00:25:14.88\00:25:18.61
it's pretty obvious
that the spirit of Sodom
00:25:18.65\00:25:21.38
didn't come out of them.
00:25:21.42\00:25:23.59
James 4:7 says, "Submit
yourselves therefore to God.
00:25:23.62\00:25:27.59
Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you."
00:25:27.62\00:25:31.39
"Resist" is what James wrote.
00:25:31.43\00:25:33.96
In other words,
make some good decisions.
00:25:34.00\00:25:36.33
Be proactive in
order to safeguard
00:25:36.36\00:25:39.00
your spiritual well-being.
00:25:39.03\00:25:40.84
You do that in
other areas of your life.
00:25:40.87\00:25:42.80
People make decisions
proactively to safeguard
00:25:42.84\00:25:45.44
and preserve their health.
00:25:45.47\00:25:47.24
We do that to preserve
our well-being, our homes,
00:25:47.28\00:25:49.94
our possessions.
00:25:49.98\00:25:51.28
That's why you lock your car.
00:25:51.31\00:25:52.75
It's why you lock your house.
00:25:52.78\00:25:55.42
But what decisions
are you making proactively
00:25:55.45\00:25:58.65
to guard yourself spiritually?
00:25:58.69\00:26:01.82
Now, let's make sure
we're not getting the cart
00:26:01.86\00:26:03.56
before the horse.
00:26:03.59\00:26:04.79
James wrote, "Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you."
00:26:04.83\00:26:09.80
But where do you
get the power to resist?
00:26:09.83\00:26:12.13
Where does that
strength come from?
00:26:12.17\00:26:14.04
Right before he
wrote that, he said,
00:26:14.07\00:26:17.61
"Submit yourself
therefore to God."
00:26:17.64\00:26:21.04
Submit.
00:26:21.08\00:26:21.88
That's to surrender.
00:26:21.91\00:26:23.71
That's to yield.
00:26:23.75\00:26:25.75
And when you
submit yourself to God,
00:26:25.78\00:26:28.08
God moves into your life,
00:26:28.12\00:26:29.72
and He occupies
your whole heart.
00:26:29.75\00:26:31.75
Angels become your
attendants, your helpers,
00:26:31.79\00:26:34.86
and the Holy Spirit
provides the power that you need
00:26:34.89\00:26:37.83
to keep from evil
and to remain in the will
00:26:37.86\00:26:41.80
and in the heart of God.
00:26:41.83\00:26:43.47
First John 5 and verse 12 says,
00:26:43.50\00:26:45.47
"He [or she] that hath
the Son of God hath life."
00:26:45.50\00:26:48.90
That's where the strength
is-- when you have Jesus.
00:26:48.94\00:26:51.94
How do you have Jesus?
00:26:51.97\00:26:53.21
You surrender. You yield.
00:26:53.24\00:26:55.11
You offer your heart to him,
00:26:55.14\00:26:57.41
and He takes it,
and He makes it yours.
00:26:57.45\00:27:01.25
Surrender.
00:27:01.28\00:27:02.55
Have you surrendered?
00:27:02.58\00:27:04.42
If you haven't,
can you do it now?
00:27:04.45\00:27:07.19
I know you can.
00:27:07.22\00:27:08.62
God calls you to
submit your life to Him.
00:27:08.66\00:27:12.29
He takes your life in His hands,
and He makes your old life new.
00:27:12.33\00:27:18.93
And that's when you're really
living, walking with Jesus,
00:27:18.97\00:27:22.94
looking forward
to an eternal future.
00:27:22.97\00:27:26.41
>>John: Now, here's a question:
00:27:27.71\00:27:28.91
Can God be trusted?
00:27:28.94\00:27:31.28
Either you've asked
that question yourself,
00:27:31.31\00:27:33.15
or you know somebody who has,
and I've got an answer for you.
00:27:33.18\00:27:36.72
I'd like you to
get today's free offer,
00:27:36.75\00:27:38.95
"Can God Be Trusted?"
00:27:38.99\00:27:40.99
To receive it,
call 800-253-3000,
00:27:41.02\00:27:44.46
write to the
address on your screen,
00:27:44.49\00:27:46.23
or visit us at iiwoffer.com.
00:27:46.26\00:27:49.66
"Can God Be Trusted?"
00:27:49.70\00:27:51.40
I have an answer
for you: 800-253-3000
00:27:51.43\00:27:54.44
or visit us at iiwoffer.com.
00:27:54.47\00:27:57.41
>>John: Friend,
whatever you're doing right now,
00:27:58.37\00:28:00.04
I'd like you to
pause and pray with me.
00:28:00.08\00:28:03.58
And if you've not done so,
00:28:03.61\00:28:05.41
take the opportunity to
surrender your life to Jesus.
00:28:05.45\00:28:07.92
Let's pray.
00:28:07.95\00:28:09.35
Our Father in heaven,
00:28:09.38\00:28:11.12
we live in the midst
of great spiritual danger.
00:28:11.15\00:28:13.15
But we thank You today there
is spiritual safety in Jesus.
00:28:13.19\00:28:17.39
We thank You that when
this world had gone astray,
00:28:17.43\00:28:20.73
Jesus came to this earth
and died for lost men and women,
00:28:20.76\00:28:24.13
and now offers all of us
the gift of eternal life.
00:28:24.17\00:28:28.40
Friend, have you
accepted that gift?
00:28:28.44\00:28:30.44
We live with
danger on our doorstep,
00:28:30.47\00:28:32.84
but you can
find safety in Jesus.
00:28:32.87\00:28:35.48
Have you offered
your heart to Him?
00:28:35.51\00:28:38.08
If you haven't, do it now.
00:28:38.11\00:28:39.18
Lord, take that heart.
00:28:39.21\00:28:40.35
Friend, reach out
to Jesus by faith.
00:28:40.38\00:28:42.05
Lord, take that heart.
00:28:42.08\00:28:43.52
Friend, offer Jesus your heart.
00:28:43.55\00:28:45.25
Tell Him, "It's Yours; have it.
00:28:45.29\00:28:46.79
Give me a new life,
Lord. Take that heart."
00:28:46.82\00:28:50.09
And we thank You
today for safety in Jesus,
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security in Jesus,
certainty in Jesus.
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When the world
is moving around us,
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and the sands are
shifting under our feet,
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we thank You for
safety, for security,
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and for salvation in Christ.
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Have you claimed it, friend?
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He gives it to
you if you accept it.
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Have you accepted it?
00:29:08.54\00:29:09.54
Lord, we accept it.
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And we thank You for it.
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And we pray in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
00:29:16.42\00:29:18.55
Thanks so much for joining me.
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I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
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Until then, remember:
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"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
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but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
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¤[Theme music]
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¤[Theme music]
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