Hello, I am Karen Pearson.
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And I am here today
with my co-host Pierre Quinn.
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Hi, Pierre. Hi Karen.
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To bring you another episode
of "Stones of Remembrance,"
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the program where we visit with
one of your favorite authors,
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and look at some of
their life experiences
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that helped shape them
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and the message
found in their books.
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So often, as we pass
through life's deep waters
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just as Joshua did,
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we can meet with
some unexpected blessings
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along the way
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that will help determine
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the future
direction of our lives.
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But before I
introduce you to today's guest,
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I'd like to share something
from the word with you.
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It is found in Philippians 1: 6.
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"For I am
confident of this very thing,
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that He who began
a good work in you
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will perfect it until
the day of Christ Jesus."
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Amen. Amen. Amen.
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And now... Praise the Lord.
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To our guest, I'd like
to welcome Dr. Jack Blanco.
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Welcome to our program.
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Oh, it's great to be here.
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Amen. Thank you, Jack.
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It's an honor for
us to have you with us.
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Jack, you served for many
years as the Dean of Religion...
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Yes.
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In a School of Theology at
Southern Adventist University.
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Correct.
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Is there anything else you
can tell us about yourself?
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About myself? Yes.
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Oh, where do we start?
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Oh, yes.
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The Lord has
guided me all my life
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ever since I was small.
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Amen.
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Yeah, I didn't realize it then,
but looking back, now I know.
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Amen.
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You know, when I was,
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I was born in
Chicago by immigrant mother.
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And my mother and father
were planning to get married...
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he was from Vienna, Austria.
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And they were
planning to get married
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and just before
the wedding, he left.
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I mean, my mother
called his apartment,
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there was no answer.
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Next day, she called
again, there was no answer.
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So she went over there
and the land lady said,
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"No, he's left."
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"When?"
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"Oh, couple of days ago."
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"Oh, what about all
these furniture and stuff?"
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"He took it with him."
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"Where did he go?" "Don't know."
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Wow.
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Oh, so here I was, you
know, with a... single mom.
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And...
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she never told
me much about him,
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you know, until, later
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because she was
so hurt over that.
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Right. Right.
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And, then she had to
work as an immigrant,
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she had to work in the bakery
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for, you know, hours each day,
I mean, ten hours a day and...
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And so she put me
out with baby sitters.
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And they...
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they didn't treat me
very kindly, they abused me
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and I don't want to
go into all that detail.
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That's a kind of rough start
to a young life, Jack, isn't it?
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Yes, and then, of course,
when I was about 19 years old...
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my mother said, "Let's go
back to Germany, Bavaria,"
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where she came
from, to see her parents,
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my grand parents.
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Yes. Which I had never met.
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And so we went over there.
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My father... my grandfather
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owned a little
farm in a village.
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And oh, wow, to
be out of Chicago.
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Wow! Wow!
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The sky is
blue... Different world.
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Whatever, different world,
animals and... I just loved it.
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So my grand
father said to my mother,
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"Why don't you let him
stay out of school for a year
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and get some sunshine
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and, you know, and
built little muscle?"
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And so my mother said,
well, ask... let's ask him.
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Well now, wait a
minute, wait a minute.
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You ask a 10 year old,
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if he wants to stay
out of school for a year,
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what is he going to say?
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Well, of course. Of course.
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So she had to go back.
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You know, go back to work.
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And, because of her job.
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So I stayed there.
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While I was there,
before the year was up,
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World War II started.
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Wow, now be--
before we get to that Jack,
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before we get to that...
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All the boarders were
closed, couldn't get anywhere.
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Okay.
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We are going to get
into that little bit later.
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But before we do,
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we are going to
look at five of the books
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that you have written.
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And the books are,
"Warriors," "Chosen,"
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"Rulers,"
"Survivors" and "Savior."
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Five very special
books that you have written.
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And as you know, on this show
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we are looking
at those experiences
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in the life of our author that
helped to shape their message.
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Oh. Yes.
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Okay.
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So I think we,
we've all experienced
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those middle of
the river experiences,
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right, where something happens
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and it helps
change the direction of...
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Even if it doesn't
seem like it, at the time.
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At the time. At the time.
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That's right.
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So you have these
five wonderful books, Jack.
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How long did it
take you to write them?
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Oh, my, well, I
started writing them
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after I wrote "The Clear Word."
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Okay.
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And we will get into
"The Clear Word" in a minute,
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and then, why I
wrote that, and so on.
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But I noticed
that the young people,
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you know, I am
there at the University,
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I noticed that young
people like read narratives.
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Yes.
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So I thought, oh, okay...
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let's write the
gospels as a story.
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You know, let's
take the four gospels
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and write it as one story...
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so which I did.
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That's why you have, you know,
the book called the "Savior."
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"Savior." Four
gospels, one story.
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Yes.
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And then obviously,
it's all about Jesus.
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Yes.
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And you know, I
would venture to say that
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it's not just young people
who like reading narratives,
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but we all do.
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We all like a really good story.
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And really the
gospels were written
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as a story
originally, weren't they?
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Yeah, sure. Yes.
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And then, of course,
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I decided after I finished that,
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I decided well, well, let's go
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and finish the, the other
part of the New Testament.
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Oh, well, you see, you
have the epistles at the end,
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you know, you have
Book of Acts and so on.
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But the epistles
you come at the end.
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I should know,
Paul's epistles need to be
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put in where they
belong chronologically.
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Okay. Yes. Yeah.
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So that's why I wrote, you
know, a book "The Witness."
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It's a
chronological presentation
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of the New Testament.
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Wonderful.
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You know,
obviously outside the gospel.
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Right. And, yeah, sure.
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So when we're,
when we're reading
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some of these five books
that the Karen mentioned,
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and in many cases
it causes you to take,
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maybe a fresh look
at biblical characters
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that you thought you knew.
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Why is that important for us
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to keep taking fresh
looks at these Bible characters?
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Well, you need to
bring them to life.
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So when you
read it as the story,
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and it comes more to
life rather than reading it
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like we normally do, you know.
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Sure.
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And then, of course, I decided,
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well, let's go from New
Testament to Old Testament.
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And so I did the same
thing for the Old Testament.
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I think the book
"Chosen" was the first one.
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The "Warriors," second one.
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I think that's out.
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And then we're supposed
to get the, the "Rulers"
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and then the "Survivors"
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which finishes
the Old Testament.
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Right. That's
wonderful. And the same story.
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The titles are
powerful. The titles.
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One word, powerful titles?
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Because too, you
see, in the Old Testament,
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okay, you have some of
the prophets at the end.
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Yes.
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You know, the
prophets need to put in
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where they
belong chronologically.
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Yeah. Sure.
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Yeah, that's wonderful.
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That's a real gift
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that you've given
to the church, Jack.
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Well, you know,
it's to reach people
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and to draw
them closer to Jesus.
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Which brings me...
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That's what it's
all about. Right.
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Which brings me to the point,
when you write about Jesus,
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you write about
Him with such warmth
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and such authenticity.
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And so I wondered,
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how would you
describe your walk with Jesus?
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Okay, let me backup
just a little bit, okay.
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While I was in Germany, okay,
of course, the war started,
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borders were closed.
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I ended up in labor camp.
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Now there are--
because I was an American.
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Yes.
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Now there is a
concentration camp, we all know.
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Okay, and the way you know,
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that people went
to concentration camp
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if they have a
tattoo number on their arm.
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Then there's labor camp
00:09:39.41\00:09:40.78
which is more or
less restrictions.
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But then there is
another one we forget,
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that is slave labor camp.
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And we don't
hear much about that.
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The slave labor camp was
like a concentration camp
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in its purpose, okay.
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And I was working
in a munitions factory
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for the German army.
00:10:02.03\00:10:04.60
We worked 10 hours a day
and very little food and...
00:10:04.63\00:10:08.00
I mean, for breakfast we
got a cup of black coffee
00:10:08.04\00:10:11.04
and a slice of bread.
00:10:11.07\00:10:12.41
Yeah.
00:10:12.44\00:10:13.78
And at noon, a
bowl of watery soup,
00:10:13.81\00:10:15.14
two slices of bread, at
night cup of black coffee
00:10:15.18\00:10:16.54
and slice of bread.
00:10:16.58\00:10:18.21
I saw people collapse
and they carry them out
00:10:18.25\00:10:22.42
and that was the end.
00:10:22.45\00:10:24.65
Okay.
00:10:24.69\00:10:26.59
Just like, you know,
00:10:26.62\00:10:28.52
putting in the gas
chamber kind of similar thing.
00:10:28.56\00:10:31.69
Yeah.
00:10:31.73\00:10:33.50
But anyway, you know, the Lord
was with me through all that
00:10:33.53\00:10:36.73
then finally I
came back to the States,
00:10:36.77\00:10:39.23
and wow, you know,
be a-- free, home free.
00:10:39.27\00:10:44.91
Wow.
00:10:44.94\00:10:46.27
See my mother
again and all that.
00:10:46.31\00:10:48.68
So, Jack, where was it
when did you first realize
00:10:48.71\00:10:53.28
that Jesus had died for you
00:10:53.31\00:10:54.98
and that you loved
Him and He loved you?
00:10:55.02\00:10:56.35
I'm coming to
that, I'm coming to that.
00:10:56.38\00:10:57.75
So after, you
know, a year or so back,
00:10:59.79\00:11:02.59
at back home,
yeah, I had put on,
00:11:02.62\00:11:05.29
I, when I came home I
weighed about 85 pounds,
00:11:05.33\00:11:09.26
only 5 ft tall, 17 years old.
00:11:09.30\00:11:11.70
Oh my.
00:11:12.83\00:11:14.17
So after being home for
about a year, year and a half,
00:11:14.20\00:11:17.61
I grew six inches
and put on 50 pounds
00:11:17.64\00:11:21.91
and then the American Government
00:11:21.94\00:11:25.15
looked at me and says.
00:11:25.18\00:11:26.51
"Oh, yeah, where have you been?
00:11:26.55\00:11:27.88
I think we could use you."
00:11:27.92\00:11:30.02
Yeah, and then I
was drafted, okay?
00:11:30.05\00:11:33.86
And it was during the
Korean War I was sent,
00:11:33.89\00:11:38.46
you know, to the South Pacific
00:11:38.49\00:11:41.30
and that's where I
gave my heart to the Lord.
00:11:41.33\00:11:43.93
But let me tell
you that what happened.
00:11:43.97\00:11:46.84
My mother has
all, taught me always.
00:11:46.87\00:11:49.64
Okay, "Son, never
lose your self respect."
00:11:49.67\00:11:55.04
Never lose your self respect.
00:11:55.08\00:11:57.45
I never forgot that, so
when- and then in military,
00:11:57.48\00:12:00.72
I see, you
know, on the week end,
00:12:00.75\00:12:02.68
you know, what solders
do, I said, I don't want that.
00:12:02.72\00:12:06.82
And I looked at the officers,
well they were a little better
00:12:06.86\00:12:09.29
but they also
have their parties.
00:12:09.32\00:12:11.59
I don't know.
00:12:11.63\00:12:12.96
And one night I was in my bunk
00:12:12.99\00:12:16.53
with a mosquito net around me...
00:12:16.56\00:12:18.43
and I was thinking, you know,
00:12:20.67\00:12:22.10
who could I model my life after?
00:12:22.14\00:12:24.67
I don't have anyone.
00:12:24.71\00:12:26.98
I was gonna make the military,
00:12:27.01\00:12:28.41
my career but I changed my mind.
00:12:28.44\00:12:30.55
Oh, you know, don't know
my father and who, whatever.
00:12:31.95\00:12:37.59
And as I was lying
there thinking about that
00:12:37.62\00:12:39.85
and barrack was
empty, it was very quite.
00:12:39.89\00:12:43.43
I hear a still small voice.
00:12:45.29\00:12:49.53
God is my witness,
00:12:51.03\00:12:52.37
I'm telling you,
not an impression...
00:12:52.40\00:12:54.20
Yes.
00:12:54.24\00:12:55.57
A still small voice.
00:12:55.60\00:12:57.97
"Have you ever thought
00:12:59.11\00:13:01.31
of modeling your
life after Jesus?"
00:13:01.34\00:13:04.65
Oh, well, I knew
something about Jesus
00:13:06.01\00:13:10.29
and He was honest
and true and dependable.
00:13:10.32\00:13:12.82
Right.
00:13:12.85\00:13:14.19
Oh, if I would have
lived 2,000 years ago,
00:13:14.22\00:13:17.33
walking by the Sea of Galilee
00:13:17.36\00:13:19.23
and He would looked at me
00:13:19.26\00:13:20.60
and say, "Jack, come follow me."
00:13:20.63\00:13:22.46
I would have, oh, I'd
follow and been there.
00:13:22.50\00:13:25.93
Yeah.
00:13:25.97\00:13:27.30
Then I was thinking to myself,
but that was 2,000 years ago.
00:13:27.34\00:13:31.17
And I hear this
still small voice again.
00:13:32.74\00:13:35.74
"He's not dead.
00:13:37.35\00:13:39.11
He's alive, you
can follow Him now."
00:13:39.15\00:13:44.02
Wow.
00:13:44.05\00:13:46.25
Did that change
my life? Absolutely.
00:13:46.29\00:13:48.69
That's when Jesus came
into my life in a powerful way.
00:13:48.72\00:13:52.69
Absolutely.
00:13:52.73\00:13:54.10
I mean, I would have imagined
00:13:54.13\00:13:55.96
what was it like
to walk with Jesus,
00:13:56.00\00:13:58.40
if He were here today.
00:13:58.43\00:14:00.30
You know, I couldn't imagine,
00:14:00.34\00:14:02.14
say "Well, Jack
here, have a cigarette."
00:14:02.17\00:14:04.21
No.
00:14:05.37\00:14:06.71
Or "Let's stop in
here and have a drink."
00:14:06.74\00:14:10.31
Right. No. Okay.
00:14:10.35\00:14:13.05
Or stealing or lying. Right.
00:14:13.08\00:14:15.52
No, Jesus wouldn't
lie or steal, would He?
00:14:15.55\00:14:18.95
No. No.
00:14:18.99\00:14:20.39
Thank you, Jack.
00:14:20.42\00:14:21.76
We're gonna take
a break right now,
00:14:21.79\00:14:23.66
and, so that you can find out,
00:14:23.69\00:14:25.89
how that you can get
these books of Jack's
00:14:25.93\00:14:28.86
that he has written,
00:14:28.90\00:14:30.33
narrative right
from the Scripture,
00:14:30.37\00:14:32.63
very powerful.
00:14:32.67\00:14:34.20
Just take a
moment to watch this,
00:14:34.24\00:14:36.04
and we'll be right back.
00:14:36.07\00:14:37.51
Thank you.
00:14:37.54\00:14:38.87
In this five book set,
00:14:41.28\00:14:42.81
Jack Blanco, who brings to life
00:14:42.84\00:14:44.28
the narratives of
the text of the Bible,
00:14:44.31\00:14:46.11
in his clear and unique style,
00:14:46.15\00:14:48.38
from the dazzling beauty of Eden
00:14:48.42\00:14:50.22
to a world in
darkness and death,
00:14:50.25\00:14:52.55
from patriarchs
and prophets and kings,
00:14:52.59\00:14:54.56
both faithful and defiant.
00:14:54.59\00:14:56.73
Enjoy the unified narrative
00:14:56.76\00:14:58.33
that merges the four
gospel accounts into one,
00:14:58.36\00:15:01.70
to present the timeless
captivating story of Jesus,
00:15:01.73\00:15:05.07
our savior.
00:15:05.10\00:15:06.43
You will be inspired
00:15:06.47\00:15:07.84
as you read of the
faithfulness of the leaders
00:15:07.87\00:15:10.11
of the infant Christian church,
00:15:10.14\00:15:11.97
in spite of beating,
stoning, exile and imprisonment,
00:15:12.01\00:15:15.98
there were men
and women determined
00:15:16.01\00:15:18.25
to share Jesus with the world.
00:15:18.28\00:15:20.35
To get your copy of
Jack Blanco's five book set,
00:15:20.38\00:15:24.09
call 1-800-765-6955.
00:15:24.12\00:15:29.06
Stop by your local
Adventist Book Center
00:15:29.09\00:15:31.63
or order online at
www.AdventistBookCenter.com.
00:15:31.66\00:15:37.93
Jack, you've
led an amazing life,
00:15:44.31\00:15:47.31
and you've had
some great adventures.
00:15:47.34\00:15:49.61
What would you describe
as your greatest adventure?
00:15:49.64\00:15:53.18
My greatest adventure? Yes.
00:15:53.21\00:15:55.48
To walk with the Lord is
the greatest adventure ever,
00:15:56.79\00:16:00.26
sure, I mean, after, you know,
00:16:00.29\00:16:02.49
well, I heard
that still small voice,
00:16:02.52\00:16:05.99
model your life after Jesus,
00:16:06.03\00:16:07.80
yeah, well, there
changes that had to be made,
00:16:07.83\00:16:10.13
but the Lord continued to lead,
00:16:10.17\00:16:11.87
you know, lead me into
a call to the ministry,
00:16:11.90\00:16:17.54
I was like, "Me, a
call to the ministry."
00:16:17.57\00:16:19.37
But anyway, the Lord called,
00:16:21.91\00:16:23.24
provided and gave
me a wonderful wife.
00:16:23.28\00:16:26.51
She was a Bible worker
and you know, in Chicago,
00:16:26.55\00:16:29.88
and then when I was on furlough,
00:16:29.92\00:16:32.05
we met and I got married.
00:16:32.09\00:16:34.36
And then of
course, served as a...
00:16:34.39\00:16:36.16
went to school and seminary
00:16:36.19\00:16:38.09
and then, you
know, served as pastor
00:16:38.13\00:16:41.10
and then served in,
as a missionary in Africa
00:16:41.13\00:16:44.03
and the Philippines and so
on, and then got a call to...
00:16:44.07\00:16:49.10
well, I taught at
Columbia Union College
00:16:49.14\00:16:51.14
and then also
Southern Adventist University.
00:16:51.17\00:16:54.01
And one morning I was thinking,
00:16:55.08\00:16:57.58
you know, I need to
get closer to Jesus,
00:16:57.61\00:17:00.72
because you read the
Bible, and you read the Bible
00:17:00.75\00:17:02.85
and you read the
Spirit of Prophecy
00:17:02.88\00:17:04.22
and you read, and it's all good.
00:17:04.25\00:17:06.86
But after a while
you get into a routine,
00:17:08.02\00:17:12.19
instead of a
personal relationship.
00:17:12.23\00:17:15.43
And I said, oh,
if Jesus were today,
00:17:15.46\00:17:20.30
wouldn't that be wonderful?
00:17:20.34\00:17:22.40
I mean, if I maybe,
we took a walk together
00:17:22.44\00:17:24.87
or He was ridding
in the car with me
00:17:24.91\00:17:27.14
or I met Him somewhere.
00:17:27.18\00:17:29.01
I wonder what He would tell me.
00:17:29.04\00:17:30.61
Oh, the thought
came, well, He wouldn't sit
00:17:32.25\00:17:35.42
and tell you anything different
than He's already said.
00:17:35.45\00:17:38.85
I said "Yeah, but
how would He say it?"
00:17:38.89\00:17:41.36
Oh, yes, how would he say it?
00:17:42.49\00:17:45.39
Oh, may be I
should write this down,
00:17:47.00\00:17:49.93
if He were, if
He were here today
00:17:49.96\00:17:52.77
and we were
taking a walk or whatever
00:17:52.80\00:17:55.20
and met, how would
He say what He said?
00:17:55.24\00:17:59.81
Okay, and so I
started writing it up by hand,
00:17:59.84\00:18:03.58
and I had a real
wonderful relationship with Him,
00:18:03.61\00:18:06.35
as if we were
walking and talking together.
00:18:06.38\00:18:09.18
So the routine vanished.
00:18:09.22\00:18:11.12
It became something dynamic
and real and very personal
00:18:11.15\00:18:14.86
and you were in the word,
you were right in the word.
00:18:14.89\00:18:18.09
And when I wrote it out,
you know, I didn't want to...
00:18:18.13\00:18:21.50
I wanted to
write it, in such a way
00:18:21.53\00:18:25.10
as if Jesus were talking today.
00:18:25.13\00:18:26.84
Yes.
00:18:26.87\00:18:28.20
But I didn't
wanted to be so calm
00:18:28.24\00:18:29.80
and as it take away
the, um, what should I say,
00:18:29.84\00:18:35.04
the, the spirituality of it.
00:18:35.08\00:18:38.58
Yeah. It is sacred.
00:18:38.61\00:18:40.55
Yeah, because it's a-- yeah...
00:18:40.58\00:18:41.92
And sometimes we lose that.
00:18:41.95\00:18:43.69
No, you know, because otherwise
you can write a paraphrase
00:18:43.72\00:18:48.92
and it can become too common.
00:18:48.96\00:18:51.33
No, you don't want that,
00:18:51.36\00:18:52.69
you want the, still want
to have a sense of sacredness,
00:18:52.73\00:18:55.90
but yet, well, as
if Jesus were talking.
00:18:55.93\00:18:59.10
And I would get up
3:30 in the morning
00:18:59.13\00:19:01.60
and I would start writing,
00:19:01.64\00:19:03.34
you know, I had my own
personal devotions with Him
00:19:03.37\00:19:06.31
and then my wife would say,
00:19:06.34\00:19:08.11
and you know, "You have
to get ready for the class
00:19:08.14\00:19:10.75
and eat
breakfast and be on time."
00:19:10.78\00:19:12.98
Oh, yeah, that's true, well,
I was in a different world.
00:19:13.01\00:19:15.42
Right.
00:19:15.45\00:19:16.79
I was in different world, okay?
00:19:16.82\00:19:19.22
Um, I was walking
there by the side of Galilee,
00:19:19.25\00:19:22.89
I was talking to Jesus.
00:19:22.92\00:19:24.46
I was on the
mountain of olives with Him.
00:19:24.49\00:19:26.49
Yeah, yes, sure
and then of course,
00:19:26.53\00:19:30.50
with you know, as
I went through that,
00:19:30.53\00:19:32.20
of course, with
Paul and so on so forth.
00:19:32.23\00:19:35.07
I mean, it was an
amazing experience.
00:19:35.10\00:19:37.67
I finished the New
Testament first, okay?
00:19:37.71\00:19:41.11
It took three years
to finish New Testament
00:19:41.14\00:19:43.98
and then I showed the
written manuscript to family
00:19:44.01\00:19:48.62
and my daughter-in-law said,
00:19:48.65\00:19:50.65
"Oh, why don't you give it
to us for Christmas sometime?"
00:19:50.69\00:19:54.52
I said, well nobody
can read all the scribbles
00:19:54.56\00:19:56.79
and crossing out and
all that, I mean, okay.
00:19:56.83\00:20:00.76
So I started,
00:20:00.80\00:20:02.13
I said, well, you
know, I'll transcribe it
00:20:02.16\00:20:04.97
into the computer.
00:20:05.00\00:20:07.57
And I started that
but that was not the same.
00:20:07.60\00:20:10.14
Interesting.
00:20:11.64\00:20:12.97
Me and Jesus and the computer.
00:20:13.01\00:20:16.14
No, no, no.
00:20:16.18\00:20:18.28
Me and Jesus. Period.
00:20:18.31\00:20:20.32
Right?
00:20:20.35\00:20:21.68
So when I had time
00:20:21.72\00:20:23.69
so then I start
working on the Old testament,
00:20:23.72\00:20:28.06
but when I had time
I would transcribe...
00:20:28.09\00:20:32.03
what I had written
into the New Testament.
00:20:33.06\00:20:35.33
New Testament, you know.
00:20:35.36\00:20:36.70
And so, yeah, I took three
years to do the New Testament
00:20:37.63\00:20:40.37
and then I took ten
years to do the Old Testament.
00:20:40.40\00:20:42.57
Wow. Yeah.
00:20:42.60\00:20:44.11
As you were writing,
00:20:44.14\00:20:45.97
at what point
does it become evident,
00:20:46.01\00:20:49.04
that God has
gifted you to do this?
00:20:49.08\00:20:52.15
Here's the fact
that I was doing it.
00:20:52.18\00:20:55.05
Probably it was Jesus
who was motivating me,
00:20:55.08\00:20:57.49
get closer to me,
stay close to me, okay.
00:20:57.52\00:21:02.32
And that's what
it was all about,
00:21:02.36\00:21:04.59
I mean, I didn't
write it to be published.
00:21:04.63\00:21:07.00
No, but it's been published
and it's been a blessing,
00:21:07.03\00:21:09.83
I mean, I do a prison work
00:21:09.86\00:21:13.90
and oh, the
prisoners just love it.
00:21:13.94\00:21:16.74
And others, you know
have sure been blessed by it.
00:21:16.77\00:21:20.68
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:21:20.71\00:21:22.04
So your writing
comes out of the dynamics
00:21:22.08\00:21:24.98
of your relationship with Jesus.
00:21:25.01\00:21:26.35
Amen. Not to be published.
00:21:26.38\00:21:28.72
Amen. Sure.
00:21:28.75\00:21:30.65
Yeah. That's wonderful.
00:21:30.69\00:21:32.02
That's not
writing to be writing.
00:21:32.05\00:21:34.59
No, it's coming out of a
relationship with Him, okay.
00:21:34.62\00:21:39.33
And the same thing
with others the "Savior,"
00:21:39.36\00:21:41.70
you know, one
story, four gospels,
00:21:41.73\00:21:44.27
one story, and the others,
00:21:44.30\00:21:46.27
you know, "Chosen" or whatever,
00:21:46.30\00:21:48.54
your know, it comes
out of a relationship.
00:21:48.57\00:21:50.67
There's no doubt in my mind.
00:21:50.71\00:21:52.57
Absolutely.
00:21:52.61\00:21:53.94
Is there anything in your life
00:21:53.98\00:21:55.31
that you would
change, Jack, if you could?
00:21:55.34\00:21:56.78
No. Not a single thing?
00:21:56.81\00:21:58.61
Not a single thing,
because it's Jesus all the way.
00:21:58.65\00:22:02.15
Yes.
00:22:02.18\00:22:03.52
No, did anyone change a thing,
00:22:03.55\00:22:04.89
I mean, there
might be some changes,
00:22:04.92\00:22:06.45
yeah, I need to
be more like Jesus.
00:22:06.49\00:22:09.09
That part is true.
00:22:10.09\00:22:11.83
We always, I mean,
it's a growing process.
00:22:11.86\00:22:16.26
And the closer we get to Him,
the Holy Spirit speaks to us.
00:22:16.30\00:22:21.27
Yes.
00:22:21.30\00:22:22.80
Where we need to be more gentle,
00:22:22.84\00:22:26.04
more kind, more
loving, more compassionate,
00:22:26.07\00:22:29.54
and yet more
firm when time comes.
00:22:29.58\00:22:32.81
Yes. Oh, yes.
00:22:32.85\00:22:34.22
So it's a whole
character change, isn't it?
00:22:34.25\00:22:37.59
Absolutely.
Becoming more like Jesus.
00:22:37.62\00:22:40.06
Well, that's
what it's all about.
00:22:40.09\00:22:41.82
Sure, becoming
like Jesus, you know.
00:22:41.86\00:22:44.49
And, you know,
different people are
00:22:44.53\00:22:47.40
in different stages
of growth, obviously.
00:22:47.43\00:22:49.60
Very much so. You know.
00:22:49.63\00:22:51.37
But the Lord looks at
is that we are growing,
00:22:51.40\00:22:55.14
okay, I mean, even
though after all these years,
00:22:55.17\00:22:59.34
you know, oh, let's see
00:22:59.37\00:23:02.88
when did I give
my heart to the Lord,
00:23:02.91\00:23:05.58
hear that still small voice,
00:23:05.61\00:23:08.45
oh, that goes
back what to 48 or 49?
00:23:08.48\00:23:12.79
Yeah, that's a
few years ago, Jack.
00:23:12.82\00:23:15.42
That's a few
years ago, yeah sure,
00:23:15.46\00:23:18.16
but I mean, it's
growing, growing,
00:23:18.19\00:23:19.89
growing, growing process.
00:23:19.93\00:23:21.33
Yeah. Sure.
00:23:21.36\00:23:22.70
Or whether, whether,
00:23:22.73\00:23:24.07
people have just given their
heart to Lord Jesus Christ,
00:23:24.10\00:23:26.63
you know, recently.
00:23:26.67\00:23:28.14
Yes.
00:23:28.17\00:23:29.50
Or a year or two ago.
00:23:29.54\00:23:30.87
There are growing and...
00:23:30.91\00:23:32.97
the only thing that God
looks at, are we growing?
00:23:33.01\00:23:36.51
Yes.
00:23:36.54\00:23:37.88
It's so much compelling
about your story, Jack.
00:23:37.91\00:23:41.25
And unfortunately,
00:23:41.28\00:23:42.62
we are almost out of
time with our program.
00:23:42.65\00:23:44.55
So if someone's reading any
of your work for the first time
00:23:44.59\00:23:49.46
or maybe like you they're
in a place where it seems dark
00:23:49.49\00:23:53.70
and overwhelming.
00:23:53.73\00:23:55.30
What would you say to some
one who's experiencing a dark
00:23:55.33\00:23:58.33
and overwhelming time
00:23:58.37\00:23:59.70
and trying to find
God in midst of it?
00:23:59.73\00:24:02.30
God is always near them...
00:24:08.98\00:24:11.21
and to have an
experience with God,
00:24:13.52\00:24:16.89
it's a matter of
staying close to Him,
00:24:16.92\00:24:19.85
in difficult
times and easy times,
00:24:19.89\00:24:25.86
where else, Pierre,
where else can we go?
00:24:25.89\00:24:29.06
I mean... Amen.
00:24:30.67\00:24:32.63
Even in difficult times,
00:24:32.67\00:24:35.14
yes, when I
think back at my life,
00:24:35.17\00:24:40.61
yeah, there have
been some difficult times,
00:24:40.64\00:24:43.95
you know, and some times
when you lose loved ones,
00:24:43.98\00:24:50.29
it's difficult time,
you know, when my wife...
00:24:50.32\00:24:53.99
I had to care,
00:24:54.02\00:24:55.52
she, I'd be the care
taker for her in last few years
00:24:55.56\00:24:59.16
and to lose her
after 60 years of marriage.
00:24:59.19\00:25:02.40
Wow.
00:25:02.43\00:25:03.77
And see her suffering.
00:25:03.80\00:25:07.50
Oh, I mean, it
just wrung my heart,
00:25:07.54\00:25:10.97
you know, and I
think of Calvary, okay.
00:25:11.01\00:25:14.21
I lost my son,
he was 52 years old,
00:25:14.24\00:25:17.28
a physician, died
from Lou Gehrig's disease,
00:25:17.31\00:25:20.85
you know,
probably about 5 years ago
00:25:20.88\00:25:24.42
and my wife three years ago.
00:25:24.45\00:25:28.52
But when I saw
my... let's use my son,
00:25:28.56\00:25:32.29
when I saw my son suffer,
00:25:32.33\00:25:35.00
if I could have done some
thing would I have done it?
00:25:35.03\00:25:39.00
Yes.
00:25:39.03\00:25:40.37
Can you imagine what
I learned from that...
00:25:41.27\00:25:44.24
About God.
00:25:44.27\00:25:45.74
About God, can you imagine
00:25:45.77\00:25:48.21
God watching His
son being spit on,
00:25:48.24\00:25:51.81
slapped, cursed,
00:25:51.85\00:25:54.48
and all that,
nailed to a piece of wood.
00:25:54.52\00:25:59.12
Now wait a minute, I mean,
if I had the power to do it
00:25:59.15\00:26:03.46
and that was happening
to my son what would I do?
00:26:03.49\00:26:05.96
I would step in and stop it.
00:26:07.96\00:26:10.47
But, Pierre, God did
not step in and stop it,
00:26:10.50\00:26:16.54
even though He could have.
00:26:16.57\00:26:18.71
Praise the Lord.
00:26:18.74\00:26:20.64
Can you imagine
the emotional pain...
00:26:20.68\00:26:22.34
that the Father
must have suffered?
00:26:23.88\00:26:27.05
Okay.
00:26:27.08\00:26:28.68
Oh, and He did not step in,
00:26:28.72\00:26:34.16
why, because He
loves us so much.
00:26:34.19\00:26:38.06
Jack, we thank you so much,
00:26:38.09\00:26:40.10
for taking us down a
path where we remember that
00:26:40.13\00:26:42.43
God loves us so much.
00:26:42.46\00:26:44.27
This has been another episode
of "Stones of Remembrance,"
00:26:44.30\00:26:48.10
where we know that God takes
the dark moments of our lives
00:26:48.14\00:26:50.64
and gives us
powerful testimonies.
00:26:50.67\00:26:52.97
I'm Pierre Quinn,
00:26:53.01\00:26:54.34
and for my
co-host Karen Pearson,
00:26:54.38\00:26:56.18
we thank you for watching
00:26:56.21\00:26:57.65
and we look forward to
talking with you next time.
00:26:57.68\00:27:00.02
Roger Morneau was a
man of remarkable faith.
00:27:31.35\00:27:34.08
He believed in
the power of prayer,
00:27:34.12\00:27:36.42
because he walked each day
00:27:36.45\00:27:37.99
in the presence of a
prayer answering God.
00:27:38.02\00:27:40.96
When he prayed things happened.
00:27:40.99\00:27:43.83
Some miracles saved
him from certain death.
00:27:43.86\00:27:46.56
But most of the stories
00:27:46.59\00:27:48.13
in "The
Incredible Power of Prayer"
00:27:48.16\00:27:50.07
are in response to
his prayers for others.
00:27:50.10\00:27:53.30
Shattered families are reunited,
00:27:53.34\00:27:56.07
addicts find freedom.
00:27:56.10\00:27:58.34
Through these stories
00:27:58.37\00:27:59.87
God's amazing
answers to prayer are shared.
00:27:59.91\00:28:03.41
And he shows how you too
00:28:03.45\00:28:05.31
can take hold of the
incredible power of prayer
00:28:05.35\00:28:08.32
and experience God's
power to change lives.
00:28:08.35\00:28:11.89
Quantity pricing available.
00:28:11.92\00:28:14.02
To get your copy
00:28:14.06\00:28:15.39
of "The
Incredible Power of Prayer,"
00:28:15.42\00:28:17.03
call 1-800-765-6955.
00:28:17.06\00:28:21.56
Stop by your local
Adventist Book Center
00:28:21.60\00:28:24.30
or order online at
AdventistBookCenter.com.
00:28:24.33\00:28:28.97