I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, friends, and
welcome to 3ABN Today.
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My name is John Lomacang,
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but you may know that
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if your part of our 3ABN family,
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but if you're not,
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and this is your
first time welcome.
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I would like to encourage
you to remember this channel
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because we believe that
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this is the channel for
the hour in which we live.
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We believe that
Jesus is soon to come.
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And we know that your prayers
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and all of your
support whether financial
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or whether you
volunteer here with us,
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will help in
getting people ready
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for the coming of the Lord.
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We have two
wonderful guests today
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that we are thankful are here.
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You get to meet them
in just few a moments but,
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I'd like to thank
you for all your prayers,
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3ABN is continuing to grow,
our challenges are increasing,
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sometimes we remember
that the Lord is in charge
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when the pie seems to be small.
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But anything that
you can do to advance
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the cause of God through
this ministry is greatly,
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greatly appreciated.
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Now because our
guest is a singer
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and they are both
involved in ministry,
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I would like to go
ahead and introduce them now
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before we often
go to the music roll.
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We have the musician here today
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so let's welcome
them at this present time.
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Good to have you
Merlin, and Vonda Beerman,
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welcome.
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Good to be back.
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I tell you, it's so good
to see you guys again after,
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you know, we
sometimes cross paths,
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either singing somewhere
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maybe either with
the Voice of Prophecy
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or some kind of
event that's taking place
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or at ASI or General Conference
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or sometimes you're here
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in the Southern
Illinois area taping at 3ABN
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and but it's so good
to have you back again.
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For those who are
watching and listening
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to the program now,
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some people might
say, Vonda, Merlin hey,
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they're on television today,
but other people might say,
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who are they?
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So briefly, Vonda,
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let our viewers and
listeners know who you are,
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where you're from and
what you do right now?
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Okay, well, I'm a
musician for the Lord,
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and traveling, sing
praises to His name.
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Been doing it for
about, when we figure?
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Somewhere in 90s.
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Twenty six years,
we've been traveling.
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Wow! Wow!
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I've been raising
four children, you know,
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most of that time so
it's always been part time,
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but now as these
last couple years
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we've been full
time on the road.
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Wow! Wow!
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When you say,
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we that's you and your
husband travel together now.
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Yes.
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He doesn't sing
but he's very much
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a big part of this ministry
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so when I say we...
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Right, I got you. Yeah.
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You know, the same thing
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when my wife and
I travel together
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they often say, "Does she sing?"
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and she says,
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"No, I'm here in
the role of a support."
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Oh, but she
does run audio for me
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so that really is
good to have with you.
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But, Merlin, good
to have you here today.
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Yeah, he says, he carries
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the twins in the
family, literally.
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With mixer and the speaker so.
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Okay, so the mixer,
the speaker, the CDs,
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but even more than that
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the husband is
always good to have support
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when you're on the road.
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Amen.
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And so, right now you
guys are going through
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the empty nest syndrome as
your children have grown up.
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That's a good thing to give
you more time to spend together.
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Pretty close, we
got one at home still.
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A one more at home.
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Well, he is of age
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but he's back home
for a little while.
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Going to community college so.
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Okay, well that's a good thing.
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But Merlin let our
viewers and listeners know
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we just kind of alluded to it
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but kind of give
us a more detailed
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overview of what
you do right now.
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Well, I work
part time in hospital,
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practicing in brain cancer.
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And the Lord has blessed me
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with enough
hours outside of that
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to do a publishing ministry
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which was kind of birthed out of
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Vonda's music
ministry years ago,
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when we got invited into
prisons and longer story,
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but in the process of
trying to nurture the prisoners,
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we end up starting a
correspondence Bible school,
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which eventually turned
into a publishing ministry.
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Wow!
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We're gonna talk
about that in just a moment.
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I'm excited about what you
talked about off air about,
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you know, when
God gives you a dream,
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it's not
something that might happen.
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There's not a possibility
but more of a probability
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because God does
not give you any dream
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that He does not
bring to fruition.
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And I'm excited about
what you just told me here
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and we'll let our
viewers and listeners
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know in just a moment
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how they can find
out more about that.
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But, Vonda, about how
many years has it been
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since you've been
connected to the 3ABN family.
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Well, we're sitting here
thinking about it was 1992,
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makes me feel so old.
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I'm a little wiser
and a little fatter.
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You know the
wonderful thing about that
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as we grow in the Lord
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and but thank you so much
for being part of our family.
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You get a chance to do
concerts in Southern Illinois
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whenever you come here
though, that's a nice thing.
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We were glad to
have you at our church
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when you came last
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and I think it
was Frankfort Church,
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maybe the Marion Church,
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but we always appreciate
what you do for the Lord.
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We're going to get to your story
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because you have a great story
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that you want to share
with our audience today,
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but I want to start first
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with this
publishing ministry that
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you alluded to when we were
getting ready for the program.
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Tell us about the dream
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and how the Lord
brought that to fruition
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and what's
happening with it right now?
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Okay, well, our ministry
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the publishing part is called
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Revelation
Publications International.
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And you can see the graphic
here of our ministry building
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which the Lord blessed
us with a couple years back.
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The next graphic shows
some of our projects basically,
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our ministry
produces Bible study guides
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using some well
known books like,
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Steps to Christ,
Great Controversy,
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Christ Object Lessons,
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those are used as the
commentary and the guide
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and we always ask a question
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pointing you to the
Bible for the answer
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and these are the
blessing that follows.
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I won't go into the
detail how this came about
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but over the years
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we've been blessed to
produce a number of those.
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Next is our website.
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This is very exciting.
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I'll just take a second to
give a little history here.
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Four years ago,
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last time we were
here interviewing,
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we had just started
this little ministry,
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had been going
for about three weeks.
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In a nutshell one
day I was on my knees
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before a world map in my office.
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Pleading with God,
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how can we take
these to the world
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and He impressed me
to make this website
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and put these Bible studies
on there for free download.
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And I'm thinking, okay Lord,
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I'll do that but I
don't really understand
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because people either
need to know my web address
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which nobody is going to
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or they're going
to do a Google search
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for free Bible studies
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and I'm going to
end up on page 15
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and nobody's going to come.
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I said, okay, Lord,
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I'll be obedient
started put them on there
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and sure enough the first year
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there is maybe 30
or 40 at the website,
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the next year maybe 50 or 60.
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Next year maybe a 100
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and then a
neighbor came over one day
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and told me about
something called Google AdWords.
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He said, "Yeah,
you can go into Google
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and you can make a little ad,
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either a picture ad or a text ad
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and you give keywords
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and people when
they're searching,
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your ad will come up,
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they click on it
go to your website."
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I thought, that
sounds pretty exciting,
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I wonder if this would
work for the Bible studies.
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So that night I went in
and made this little ad,
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that's the next picture here.
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In fact this is the very
ad, you can see the picture ads,
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at the top is the
text ad, it basically says,
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you know "Christ
says, 'You come to me
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and if you're
worried I'll give you rest."
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And started running the ad
and within the next morning
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there were seven
people at the website.
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I was pretty excited
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that's more people that
came in a month you know.
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Well it gets a lot better
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next day there were 30
some and the next day 80 some.
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Next day, a couple of hundred,
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so we started upping the budget
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because once the budget spend,
00:08:44.25\00:08:45.62
Google's not going to
advertise for free, right.
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We're up in the budget
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and pretty soon
there's 500, 800.
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I think when we were
here after about three weeks,
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there was just a
couple of hundred.
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And we were
sitting here all excited.
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But believe me it
gets a lot better.
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Overtime a few weeks
we're up to 800, 1000,
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a couple of thousand,
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the day of
Pentecost 3000 in one day,
00:09:08.74\00:09:12.31
but these aren't people
that came the day before
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and the day before...
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These are just new hits.
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Google knows the
address of the computers
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and doesn't count
them with a return people.
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Pretty soon we are
up to 5,000, 8,000,
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numbers keep climbing
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and I think the next
graphic is the world map
00:09:29.46\00:09:33.30
showing excitedly
what's happened to date.
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I made this
slide a few weeks ago,
00:09:36.37\00:09:37.87
we were at 7.6 million bit.
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As of today we're at 7.9 million
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at this website in four years.
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Wow.
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And the exciting part is
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we're putting this before people
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for two cents a person.
00:09:49.92\00:09:52.22
I mean where can
you just put the gospel
00:09:52.25\00:09:55.19
in front of
somebody that's looking
00:09:55.22\00:09:56.79
from the other side of
the world for two cents.
00:09:56.83\00:09:59.83
Since then we went nonprofit,
00:09:59.86\00:10:01.70
we were calling for
supporters to help us,
00:10:01.73\00:10:04.00
so we have our daily
budget that right now
00:10:04.03\00:10:07.04
we're at about 8
to 9,000 people a day
00:10:07.07\00:10:09.77
that keep coming to this website
00:10:09.80\00:10:11.14
day after day after day.
00:10:11.17\00:10:13.11
In fact, a little while
ago I looked on my phone
00:10:13.14\00:10:15.48
ten minutes ago,
00:10:15.51\00:10:16.85
and there were
40 at the website.
00:10:16.88\00:10:18.88
I mean God is good
and at that same map
00:10:18.91\00:10:21.98
if we could bring
that up for a second.
00:10:22.02\00:10:24.35
If you notice
anywhere you see blue.
00:10:24.39\00:10:27.46
That's where God has
taken these Bibles studies.
00:10:27.49\00:10:29.99
You mean the light blue?
00:10:30.03\00:10:31.36
Any blue and the darker the blue
00:10:31.39\00:10:33.56
is where it's been
the most, the most hits.
00:10:33.60\00:10:37.13
Right now China,
00:10:37.17\00:10:38.50
yesterday it was
2,000 in China alone.
00:10:38.53\00:10:42.30
There's been a
couple hundred thousand
00:10:42.34\00:10:45.44
in the last year in China.
00:10:45.47\00:10:47.71
We put Arabic on the
website about two months ago.
00:10:47.74\00:10:50.68
There's been over 20,000 people
00:10:50.71\00:10:52.68
in that language
around the world.
00:10:52.71\00:10:54.65
Unbelievable.
They just keep coming.
00:10:54.68\00:10:56.65
Praise God and all glory to Him.
00:10:56.69\00:10:58.12
There is only
one little country,
00:10:58.15\00:11:00.12
which one is it?
00:11:00.16\00:11:02.26
For a long time we
didn't have any of North Korea
00:11:02.29\00:11:04.56
but somehow we
got around that wall
00:11:04.59\00:11:06.56
because somebody is
downloading in North Korea now.
00:11:06.59\00:11:09.80
And there's one desert,
00:11:09.83\00:11:11.77
there's probably not internet
out middle of that desert.
00:11:11.80\00:11:14.40
Oh, that's what I'm
talking about, yeah.
00:11:14.44\00:11:15.77
God has heard my prayer,
that prayer I prayed that day.
00:11:15.80\00:11:19.34
That is
amazing. That is amazing.
00:11:19.37\00:11:21.34
You didn't tell
us but in a capsule
00:11:21.38\00:11:23.35
you were
praying but just kind of
00:11:23.38\00:11:25.58
you talked about prisoners
00:11:25.61\00:11:27.15
and this desire to put a website
00:11:27.18\00:11:28.75
and I'll get Bible studies.
00:11:28.78\00:11:30.12
What is the untold story?
00:11:30.15\00:11:32.32
Has birthed out
of Vonda's music.
00:11:32.35\00:11:35.86
We got invited in the prisons.
00:11:35.89\00:11:37.99
We would go in and
share, and then we'd leave
00:11:38.03\00:11:40.66
and there really
wasn't a presence,
00:11:40.70\00:11:42.16
anybody presence nurturing them.
00:11:42.20\00:11:44.73
And so that's
when we felt impressed
00:11:44.77\00:11:47.44
to start the Bible School
and people started asking,
00:11:47.47\00:11:51.74
we'd give Steps to Christ,
this awesome little book.
00:11:51.77\00:11:54.98
If any viewers don't have
that I'm sure 3ABN will be
00:11:55.01\00:11:57.55
glad to put that in your hands.
00:11:57.58\00:12:00.15
This little book we
would share in the prisons
00:12:00.18\00:12:02.65
and these
prisoners would write back
00:12:02.68\00:12:04.92
and say we're being
very blessed by this book,
00:12:04.95\00:12:06.92
but we don't
understand all the big words.
00:12:06.96\00:12:09.62
So I started looking for
a simple English version,
00:12:09.66\00:12:12.36
you know, it was written
00:12:12.39\00:12:13.73
with Victorian
English in the late 1800s,
00:12:13.76\00:12:16.10
and so I started looking
00:12:16.13\00:12:17.47
for something in
more modern English
00:12:17.50\00:12:18.93
and there really
wasn't anything out there
00:12:18.97\00:12:20.40
than the other is
00:12:20.44\00:12:22.24
so I started paraphrasing it
00:12:22.27\00:12:23.64
one paragraph at a time
00:12:23.67\00:12:25.01
at the end of my
devotion each morning.
00:12:25.04\00:12:26.37
You did Steps to Christ.
00:12:26.41\00:12:27.74
Steps to Christ,
and as I was doing that,
00:12:27.78\00:12:29.58
I was looking up to texts
and I was just been so blessed,
00:12:29.61\00:12:32.35
and one day the
light bulb came on,
00:12:32.38\00:12:34.22
this should be a Bible
study, not just another book.
00:12:34.25\00:12:37.09
So that's how it was
birthed and then the concept...
00:12:37.12\00:12:40.42
other prison
ministries in Texas and Oklahoma
00:12:40.46\00:12:43.29
asked if they could use them.
00:12:43.32\00:12:44.66
We said, sure,
00:12:44.69\00:12:46.03
and eventually they said,
00:12:46.06\00:12:48.26
"Well, when
gonna write some more."
00:12:48.30\00:12:49.63
And I said, "Well,
00:12:49.66\00:12:51.00
I'd love to but I got
four kids and a full time job
00:12:51.03\00:12:54.20
and two ministries
00:12:54.24\00:12:55.57
and I'm writing
for 400 prisoners,
00:12:55.60\00:12:57.01
I don't have a lot of time."
00:12:57.04\00:12:58.37
They said, "Well, let
us take your letter writing
00:12:58.41\00:13:01.28
and why don't you
focus on publishing."
00:13:01.31\00:13:02.71
So that's kind of
how it all came about.
00:13:02.74\00:13:04.61
And right now millions
have attended that website.
00:13:04.65\00:13:07.55
God is amazing.
00:13:07.58\00:13:08.98
And the numbers are
gonna only grow, you know,
00:13:09.02\00:13:11.05
you don't ever grow
down, you always grow up
00:13:11.09\00:13:13.56
as it becomes more
aware, and I know that
00:13:13.59\00:13:16.19
by the viewers and
listeners of this program,
00:13:16.22\00:13:17.99
when we give the address,
00:13:18.03\00:13:19.56
people are gonna
start tapping on their keys
00:13:19.59\00:13:22.20
and finding
through their cell phones
00:13:22.23\00:13:24.07
or whatever device they have...
00:13:24.10\00:13:25.43
Can I add some... Sure.
00:13:25.47\00:13:27.47
I want to say this,
00:13:27.50\00:13:28.84
because it shouldn't be
our ministry on the front page.
00:13:28.87\00:13:31.57
It needs to be
all of our ministries
00:13:31.61\00:13:33.48
and this is something
00:13:33.51\00:13:34.84
any ministry out there could do,
00:13:34.88\00:13:36.41
take advantage of
this powerful tool.
00:13:36.44\00:13:39.81
There's something
called Google Grants
00:13:39.85\00:13:42.02
and this is where
00:13:42.05\00:13:43.72
if you're a
nonprofit and you qualify,
00:13:43.75\00:13:47.36
they will give you
up to $10,000 a month
00:13:47.39\00:13:49.72
of free advertising.
00:13:49.76\00:13:51.13
And by God's grace we qualified
for that about two months ago,
00:13:51.16\00:13:55.16
and that's
reaching a lot of people.
00:13:55.20\00:13:57.90
But that's in the
text ad, you know,
00:13:57.93\00:14:00.27
I mentioned
there's two kinds of ads,
00:14:00.30\00:14:01.64
there was text
ads and picture ads.
00:14:01.67\00:14:03.00
Right.
00:14:03.04\00:14:04.37
Picture ads are, is where
we get 98 percent of our hits,
00:14:04.41\00:14:06.84
they come up when you're
doing whatever, you know,
00:14:06.88\00:14:09.54
those irritating
little ads that come up.
00:14:09.58\00:14:10.95
Yes.
00:14:10.98\00:14:12.31
That's why Google is
making billions a year on those
00:14:12.35\00:14:14.48
from people who like
me risen for God's glory,
00:14:14.52\00:14:18.15
but any ministry
can take advantage
00:14:18.19\00:14:19.79
and the picture
has a very cheap,
00:14:19.82\00:14:21.92
the text ads are
quite a bit more pricey.
00:14:21.96\00:14:25.83
And so we're using
that Google Grants to...
00:14:25.86\00:14:29.96
that 10,000 a month is
getting us about a 1000 hits.
00:14:30.00\00:14:33.17
The donors who are
there are giving us
00:14:33.20\00:14:35.14
5 to 500 a month.
00:14:35.17\00:14:37.11
God bless our donors.
00:14:37.14\00:14:39.14
At two cents each,
00:14:39.17\00:14:40.74
we're able to get 8000
from a lot less budget,
00:14:40.78\00:14:44.71
so I don't want
people to think, oh,
00:14:44.75\00:14:46.72
they don't need
our resources, we do.
00:14:46.75\00:14:49.18
I mean God has
provided in that area,
00:14:49.22\00:14:51.15
it's a blessing but we're
still looking for two things
00:14:51.19\00:14:53.56
we're looking for
people willing to get involved
00:14:53.59\00:14:57.29
to donate to a nonprofit
00:14:57.33\00:14:59.46
and let us send
you a tax receipt
00:14:59.49\00:15:01.40
at the end of year
and be our partners.
00:15:01.43\00:15:02.80
I'll send out a
e-mail map each month
00:15:02.83\00:15:05.63
like the one you saw showing
00:15:05.67\00:15:07.04
where your money is gone
and tell you what's going on.
00:15:07.07\00:15:10.24
And the second thing
is we need translators.
00:15:10.27\00:15:12.17
Right now we have 14 languages
00:15:12.21\00:15:13.74
and every language
is a new mission field,
00:15:13.78\00:15:16.41
I mean literally
around the world.
00:15:16.44\00:15:18.58
I mean even with 14 languages
we're hitting the whole world.
00:15:18.61\00:15:20.95
Right.
00:15:20.98\00:15:22.32
You can imagine what we could do
00:15:22.35\00:15:23.69
if we could get another
10 or 20 or 30 languages
00:15:23.72\00:15:25.62
so anybody that's qualified
and fluent in other language.
00:15:25.65\00:15:29.19
Okay.
00:15:29.22\00:15:30.56
Since we're giving these away,
00:15:30.59\00:15:31.93
we don't have
money to pay people
00:15:31.96\00:15:33.29
but if people are
willing to donate their time
00:15:33.33\00:15:34.66
and they have the
ability, they go to our website.
00:15:34.70\00:15:37.00
The bible-lessons.org.
00:15:37.03\00:15:38.97
And if they don't see the
language they're fluent in,
00:15:39.00\00:15:41.07
please contact us,
we'd love to have your help.
00:15:41.10\00:15:43.51
Wow.
00:15:43.54\00:15:44.87
Thank you,
Merlin. That's amazing.
00:15:44.91\00:15:46.24
So your ministry
is all a part of this
00:15:46.27\00:15:48.18
and it's amazing
that little vision out of
00:15:48.21\00:15:50.25
what you had already been doing,
00:15:50.28\00:15:51.85
the Lord birthed
this new ministry.
00:15:51.88\00:15:53.85
But, Vonda, very much
the minister of music.
00:15:53.88\00:15:56.48
You have music
that you have produced,
00:15:56.52\00:15:58.22
you have a number of CDs,
00:15:58.25\00:15:59.59
we'll talk about
that in a moment.
00:15:59.62\00:16:00.96
We want to
highlight some of your music
00:16:00.99\00:16:02.36
today on our program
00:16:02.39\00:16:03.96
and, but just
kind of lead us into...
00:16:03.99\00:16:06.90
I want to kind of
highlight this first song,
00:16:06.93\00:16:08.66
then we gonna come
back with an amazing story
00:16:08.70\00:16:10.13
because you've
had some experiences
00:16:10.17\00:16:11.73
that God has
allowed you to go through
00:16:11.77\00:16:13.74
that strengthened your ministry.
00:16:13.77\00:16:15.37
But that song,
00:16:15.40\00:16:16.87
"No one ever
cared for me like Jesus,
00:16:16.91\00:16:18.74
" people have heard
that before but you said,
00:16:18.77\00:16:20.24
the Lord had come to you
with a special impression
00:16:20.28\00:16:23.58
as to why this song should
be a part of your project,
00:16:23.61\00:16:25.85
kind of lead us into that
before we bring the song up.
00:16:25.88\00:16:28.02
Yeah, okay.
00:16:28.05\00:16:29.38
Well, you know,
00:16:29.42\00:16:31.25
one day, I was
just sitting at my desk,
00:16:31.29\00:16:33.49
just having my time with
the Lord and I've always,
00:16:33.52\00:16:37.39
I've done several projects,
I think it's about seven,
00:16:37.43\00:16:41.43
seven now.
00:16:41.46\00:16:42.80
And on every one I
always pray over each song.
00:16:42.83\00:16:47.14
And about halfway
through this album, you know,
00:16:47.17\00:16:51.71
I just asked the
Lord to please impress me,
00:16:51.74\00:16:53.51
bring songs to me
00:16:53.54\00:16:54.88
because I'm not
my own songwriter,
00:16:54.91\00:16:56.24
God just, you know,
brings people to me.
00:16:56.28\00:16:58.91
And so I was sitting there
00:16:58.95\00:17:01.52
and I had over half of the songs
00:17:01.55\00:17:04.95
picked out that I
felt like they were
00:17:04.99\00:17:07.42
what I call sermon songs
00:17:07.46\00:17:09.19
'cause I like to
sing songs with a message.
00:17:09.22\00:17:11.63
And I said,
"Lord, just speak to me
00:17:11.66\00:17:13.53
because, you know,
00:17:13.56\00:17:15.70
there's a few more
spots left and I just,
00:17:15.73\00:17:18.90
I want to hear your voice.
00:17:18.93\00:17:20.77
I don't want to
just pick another song,
00:17:20.80\00:17:23.41
you know, that's just me."
00:17:23.44\00:17:25.14
And before I
could finish the words
00:17:25.17\00:17:27.98
that were coming out of
my thoughts and my head.
00:17:28.01\00:17:30.15
You know I think,
it's Isaiah where it says,
00:17:30.18\00:17:32.41
"Before you
speak, I will answer."
00:17:32.45\00:17:34.78
And Isaiah 30:21 also says,
00:17:34.82\00:17:38.12
you know to what is it...
00:17:38.15\00:17:39.85
Hear the voice behind.
00:17:39.89\00:17:41.29
"Hear the voice behind you."
00:17:41.32\00:17:42.66
Saying, "This is the way."
00:17:42.69\00:17:44.03
And I heard that voice behind me
00:17:44.06\00:17:45.39
and it was so obvious,
00:17:45.43\00:17:47.66
I knew it had been from God
00:17:47.70\00:17:49.03
because there's no way
00:17:49.06\00:17:50.70
I was even
thinking of that song.
00:17:50.73\00:17:52.90
Besides, he interrupted
my thoughts and he said,
00:17:52.93\00:17:54.90
"No one ever cared
for me like Jesus."
00:17:54.94\00:17:57.57
And I said, "Wow,
Lord, is that you."
00:17:57.61\00:17:59.57
Okay, and I start to
ponder and think about that
00:17:59.61\00:18:01.88
and when I said,
"Lord, is that you."
00:18:01.91\00:18:04.11
I heard that voice again,
00:18:04.15\00:18:05.91
"No one ever cared
for me like Jesus,"
00:18:05.95\00:18:07.52
because I want
you to tell my people.
00:18:07.55\00:18:09.98
How much I love them
more than anyone else could.
00:18:10.02\00:18:13.96
And so this song
00:18:13.99\00:18:15.56
it just becomes so
meaningful and so personal
00:18:15.59\00:18:18.36
because of that.
00:18:18.39\00:18:19.73
Wow, that's a wonderful lead,
00:18:19.76\00:18:21.10
and let's listen to this
wonderful song of ministry.
00:18:21.13\00:18:23.87
I would love to tell you
00:18:38.51\00:18:41.22
What I think of Jesus
00:18:41.25\00:18:45.62
Since I found in Him a friend
00:18:45.65\00:18:49.29
So strong and true
00:18:49.32\00:18:54.73
I would tell you how He
changed my life completely
00:18:54.76\00:19:02.17
He did something that
00:19:02.20\00:19:05.37
No other friend could do
00:19:05.41\00:19:11.55
No one ever cared
00:19:11.58\00:19:16.15
For me like Jesus
00:19:16.18\00:19:20.62
There's no other friend
00:19:20.66\00:19:23.73
So kind as He
00:19:23.76\00:19:29.26
No one else can take the sin
00:19:29.30\00:19:33.70
And darkness from me
00:19:33.74\00:19:39.61
O how much He cares for me
00:19:39.64\00:19:45.91
Every day He comes
to me with new assurance
00:19:56.42\00:20:04.20
More and more I understand
00:20:04.23\00:20:08.40
His words of love
00:20:08.44\00:20:12.97
But I'll never know just why
00:20:13.01\00:20:16.21
He came to save me
00:20:16.24\00:20:20.95
Till some day I see
00:20:20.98\00:20:24.45
His blessed face above
00:20:24.49\00:20:29.16
No one ever cared
00:20:29.19\00:20:33.80
For me like Jesus
00:20:33.83\00:20:38.47
There's no other friend
00:20:38.50\00:20:41.50
So kind as He
00:20:41.54\00:20:46.68
No one else can take the sin
00:20:46.71\00:20:50.95
And darkness from me
00:20:50.98\00:20:57.42
O how much He cares
00:20:57.45\00:21:02.39
O how much He cares
00:21:02.42\00:21:06.76
O how much
00:21:06.80\00:21:09.56
He cares for me
00:21:09.60\00:21:17.47
Thank you so much
for that song Vonda,
00:21:30.49\00:21:32.85
"No One Ever
Cared For Me Like Jesus"
00:21:32.89\00:21:34.82
is a very real experience
00:21:34.86\00:21:37.36
not just words and
music and lyrics to you,
00:21:37.39\00:21:39.69
but a very real experience
00:21:39.73\00:21:42.20
as people that are on the road,
00:21:42.23\00:21:43.70
there are always
these opportunities
00:21:43.73\00:21:45.90
to have blessings
00:21:45.93\00:21:47.40
but then there
are also challenges.
00:21:47.44\00:21:48.80
You had a challenge,
00:21:48.84\00:21:50.17
I want you to talk
to our audience about
00:21:50.21\00:21:52.34
that was a time where you
were not even able to travel,
00:21:52.37\00:21:55.84
you were out of commission
so to speak, talk about that?
00:21:55.88\00:21:58.45
Okay, well, I had
a shoulder accident.
00:21:58.48\00:22:02.48
Actually, I should say
00:22:02.52\00:22:03.92
it was several
shoulder accidents.
00:22:03.95\00:22:06.92
And I just kept
bumping into things really hard
00:22:06.96\00:22:11.39
and several times doing that
00:22:11.43\00:22:14.26
in the doorways and countertops,
00:22:14.30\00:22:16.43
and then one day
00:22:16.46\00:22:18.60
I was jogging and
tripped on the bridge
00:22:18.63\00:22:22.00
and I went
flying like superwoman,
00:22:22.04\00:22:23.81
it was terrible.
00:22:23.84\00:22:25.17
So you know...
00:22:25.21\00:22:26.54
So you just had
this continuously
00:22:26.57\00:22:28.11
hit my shoulders and I report
00:22:28.14\00:22:29.48
and let me go ahead
and hurt them right now.
00:22:29.51\00:22:30.85
Exactly.
00:22:30.88\00:22:32.21
So not to go into
all the details of that
00:22:32.25\00:22:34.62
but I developed
what's called frozen shoulder
00:22:34.65\00:22:38.29
and maybe some of the
viewers have experienced that
00:22:38.32\00:22:41.96
but what it is,
is when you are hurt,
00:22:41.99\00:22:46.16
God has created our
body ability to spew out
00:22:46.19\00:22:52.47
I guess for a better word
00:22:52.50\00:22:55.94
fibrous tissues to wrap
around that area to protect it.
00:22:55.97\00:23:01.11
Well, because I kept
inadvertently hurting it.
00:23:01.14\00:23:05.58
I think that, you know,
00:23:05.61\00:23:07.65
they don't know
what the cause is.
00:23:07.68\00:23:10.02
I've looked all that up.
00:23:10.05\00:23:12.02
They think it might be hormonal
00:23:12.05\00:23:14.46
but sometimes your
body just goes wacky
00:23:14.49\00:23:18.03
and it just keeps spewing
out these fibrous tissues
00:23:18.06\00:23:21.30
and it wraps
around like a rubber band.
00:23:21.33\00:23:22.86
Have you ever
seen these balls of...
00:23:22.90\00:23:24.23
Yeah, when you kind of tape it.
00:23:24.27\00:23:25.60
It just goes
around the capsule here
00:23:25.63\00:23:28.24
of your shoulder
around and around
00:23:28.27\00:23:30.51
and it just keeps going
and pretty soon, you know,
00:23:30.54\00:23:33.91
you're babying it anyway
and you're not moving it much
00:23:33.94\00:23:36.61
because it hurts.
00:23:36.64\00:23:38.01
Then you get to
where you're just frozen
00:23:38.05\00:23:39.65
and that's why they
call it frozen shoulder
00:23:39.68\00:23:41.08
you can't, you know,
00:23:41.12\00:23:42.45
I couldn't lift it over my head,
00:23:42.48\00:23:43.82
I couldn't lift
it behind my back.
00:23:43.85\00:23:45.19
I can only lift it to
about here and that was it.
00:23:45.22\00:23:48.72
And how long did
you go through that?
00:23:48.76\00:23:50.09
Six months. Wow.
00:23:50.13\00:23:51.69
I was out of commission,
00:23:51.73\00:23:53.33
I was not traveling for
those six months either,
00:23:53.36\00:23:55.60
because it is the
most painful experience
00:23:55.63\00:23:58.90
I ever went through.
00:23:58.93\00:24:00.27
I have to ask, Merlin,
00:24:00.30\00:24:01.64
as a person in
the medical field,
00:24:01.67\00:24:04.01
what was your feeling
about this at that time?
00:24:04.04\00:24:05.87
You know,
obviously you're in pain
00:24:05.91\00:24:08.18
when your spouse is
and night after night
00:24:08.21\00:24:10.65
she's in a
recliner in the living room,
00:24:10.68\00:24:12.55
icing and heat bags,
and praying and crying,
00:24:12.58\00:24:15.85
and going to physical therapist,
00:24:15.88\00:24:18.39
going to
chiropractors, going to MD's.
00:24:18.42\00:24:20.66
And with this there's...
00:24:20.69\00:24:22.16
most things have
a first line of...
00:24:22.19\00:24:25.03
first plan for medically
they know what successful
00:24:25.06\00:24:28.26
and they'll try this
and then this and this.
00:24:28.30\00:24:29.86
Well with frozen shoulder,
00:24:29.90\00:24:32.23
none of them have a
huge amount of success,
00:24:32.27\00:24:34.24
some of them
have limited and so.
00:24:34.27\00:24:36.50
They just have you bouncing
from one thing to the next,
00:24:36.54\00:24:38.97
and nothing was
bringing her pain relief
00:24:39.01\00:24:41.34
but it's like
somebody taking an ice pick
00:24:41.38\00:24:43.55
and jab it in your joint.
00:24:43.58\00:24:46.11
It was worse at night.
00:24:46.15\00:24:47.48
I mean I could
handle it during the day,
00:24:47.52\00:24:49.18
it was, you knew,
00:24:49.22\00:24:50.55
it was there and it's
painful but you're busy.
00:24:50.59\00:24:53.76
But and I had,
you know, painful,
00:24:53.79\00:24:56.26
more painful moments at
times in the day to bit,
00:24:56.29\00:24:59.93
at night I don't know
what your body is doing
00:24:59.96\00:25:02.03
but I mean it was just,
00:25:02.06\00:25:03.87
it was terrible
about three or...
00:25:03.90\00:25:06.60
between two and three
somewhere around there
00:25:06.63\00:25:08.74
usually around 3 A.M,
00:25:08.77\00:25:10.34
I'd have to wake, you know,
00:25:10.37\00:25:11.71
it would wake me up
00:25:11.74\00:25:13.07
and I get a little bit of
sleep but something's going on
00:25:13.11\00:25:15.68
and just felt
like somebody was just
00:25:15.71\00:25:17.28
taking knives and stabbing,
00:25:17.31\00:25:18.71
I just couldn't sleep, and so
00:25:18.75\00:25:20.95
I try to have my
time with the Lord.
00:25:20.98\00:25:22.95
You know, you don't
want to waste that time,
00:25:22.98\00:25:24.32
you're up for hours,
00:25:24.35\00:25:25.79
trying to get
your mind off of it
00:25:25.82\00:25:27.29
but literally,
John, I just couldn't,
00:25:27.32\00:25:30.13
it got to the point to
where it was accelerating
00:25:30.16\00:25:32.63
so bad that I
couldn't concentrate
00:25:32.66\00:25:36.26
on even the word, you know,
00:25:36.30\00:25:39.37
reading the Bible.
00:25:39.40\00:25:40.74
And so one particular evening,
00:25:40.77\00:25:43.00
I woke up, did my routine,
00:25:43.04\00:25:46.27
you know, go and get the ice
00:25:46.31\00:25:48.01
and try to numb it.
00:25:48.04\00:25:49.54
And I felt this
dark oppression over me
00:25:49.58\00:25:52.95
and I recognized it immediately
00:25:52.98\00:25:54.88
because I know my redeemer
00:25:54.92\00:25:57.72
and I felt his power
00:25:57.75\00:25:59.75
and I've also felt
the power of the enemy,
00:25:59.79\00:26:01.62
and I knew that oppression was,
00:26:01.66\00:26:04.13
it was something
that I could not,
00:26:04.16\00:26:07.60
I could not control myself.
00:26:07.63\00:26:10.37
And so I began to pray and cry,
00:26:10.40\00:26:13.84
and I just rocked back
and forth on that couch,
00:26:13.87\00:26:16.74
holding my shoulder
just sobbing to the Lord,
00:26:16.77\00:26:19.97
and I said, "Lord, I
don't know what else to do,
00:26:20.01\00:26:22.64
this cannot be your will.
00:26:22.68\00:26:24.08
I know it's not
your will that I am,
00:26:24.11\00:26:26.15
that I can't travel
and sing praises to you.
00:26:26.18\00:26:29.08
I know it's not your will that
00:26:29.12\00:26:30.45
I can't even open
the Bible and read it."
00:26:30.49\00:26:32.45
I said, "What is
the deal tell me what,"
00:26:32.49\00:26:34.89
you know, I've...
00:26:34.92\00:26:36.26
By the way I'll be backtrack
a little bit, you know,
00:26:36.29\00:26:37.99
as things were
progressing and getting worse,
00:26:38.03\00:26:42.46
I've had people lay hands
on me two different times.
00:26:42.50\00:26:46.23
God has chosen not
to heal me that way.
00:26:46.27\00:26:50.47
Then the natural
remedies idea came in.
00:26:50.51\00:26:54.08
And I was doing
all kinds of stuff.
00:26:54.11\00:26:55.44
"Oh, Lord, he wants to heal
me through natural remedies."
00:26:55.48\00:26:58.11
Hot and cold.
00:26:58.15\00:26:59.48
Yeah, this is a blessing.
00:26:59.51\00:27:00.85
This will be a
blessing to other people
00:27:00.88\00:27:02.22
as well, as me and I,
00:27:02.25\00:27:03.59
you know, I was
cheerful for a while,
00:27:03.62\00:27:05.05
oh, the Lord's going to do this.
00:27:05.09\00:27:06.45
Turmeric by the way,
00:27:06.49\00:27:07.82
it works great
for anti-inflammatory,
00:27:07.86\00:27:09.29
take lots of turmeric
like two teaspoons of turmeric
00:27:09.32\00:27:12.69
I was taking every four hours,
00:27:12.73\00:27:15.43
because when you
take Advil after a while,
00:27:15.46\00:27:17.57
you know, it just
makes your stomach sick.
00:27:17.60\00:27:19.50
Yeah.
00:27:19.53\00:27:21.27
So anyway, no,
00:27:21.30\00:27:23.30
the Lord didn't
choose to heal me that way.
00:27:23.34\00:27:26.54
So this is why I was in such
deep darkness at that moment
00:27:26.57\00:27:31.28
because I was at a crossroad.
00:27:31.31\00:27:34.48
I could either go
this way and say, you know,
00:27:34.52\00:27:37.85
like a road I
could either go this way
00:27:37.89\00:27:40.19
and say," Lord, you know,
00:27:40.22\00:27:42.32
I don't understand it
00:27:42.36\00:27:44.06
and just doubt him and
feel like he's not near,
00:27:44.09\00:27:47.43
he doesn't care."
00:27:47.46\00:27:48.80
Or I could go this way.
00:27:48.83\00:27:50.77
And I could say,
"Lord, I refuse to doubt you.
00:27:50.80\00:27:53.00
I know you have a
plan in this, just help me,
00:27:53.03\00:27:55.24
help me to know."
00:27:55.27\00:27:56.60
And I've been in that
crossroad before many times,
00:27:56.64\00:27:59.17
and I've told my
story about losing my voice
00:27:59.21\00:28:01.54
last time I was here,
00:28:01.58\00:28:03.71
and although I
could write a book, John,
00:28:03.75\00:28:05.71
of all the miracle stories,
00:28:05.75\00:28:07.88
the miracle stories
how God has miraculously
00:28:07.92\00:28:11.85
healed us or did
something for us,
00:28:11.89\00:28:14.96
and I just didn't
understand what was going on.
00:28:14.99\00:28:18.29
So finally, you know,
00:28:18.33\00:28:21.16
it always happens
in your darkest moment
00:28:21.20\00:28:22.96
when you're
finally just giving up
00:28:23.00\00:28:25.63
and not trying to
figure it out any more.
00:28:25.67\00:28:27.94
It's not going to
be natural remedies no,
00:28:27.97\00:28:30.11
healing, you know,
through touching with,
00:28:30.14\00:28:33.38
you know, them touching
00:28:33.41\00:28:34.74
my shoulder and asking for that.
00:28:34.78\00:28:36.81
You know, all
those things are good
00:28:36.85\00:28:38.98
and God uses those but
God had a different plan.
00:28:39.01\00:28:41.75
And once I finally
totally surrendered,
00:28:41.78\00:28:43.82
"Lord, you know take
this darkness from me."
00:28:43.85\00:28:47.82
And of course,
when you start to pray
00:28:47.86\00:28:49.56
and you praise
especially out loud,
00:28:49.59\00:28:52.09
when you're speaking
out loud the word of God,
00:28:52.13\00:28:55.10
the enemy cannot
be anywhere near.
00:28:55.13\00:28:57.03
That's true.
00:28:57.07\00:28:58.40
And praise God, you know,
00:28:58.43\00:28:59.77
he was, it left but he was,
00:28:59.80\00:29:02.54
he was putting
things in my mind like,
00:29:02.57\00:29:04.61
you know, what have you done.
00:29:04.64\00:29:07.54
You know your God is
not hearing you anymore,
00:29:07.58\00:29:10.51
you know what it's, so anyway.
00:29:10.55\00:29:14.38
So I started having
this conversation again,
00:29:14.42\00:29:16.85
it's kind of like the
song we just talked about,
00:29:16.89\00:29:19.85
and I was just having
a conversation with God
00:29:19.89\00:29:23.32
and I said,
"Lord, just speak to me
00:29:23.36\00:29:25.73
and he interrupted my thoughts."
00:29:25.76\00:29:27.43
And I heard that voice
behind me distinctly say,
00:29:27.46\00:29:31.70
"Hold on, I'll
give you strength,
00:29:31.73\00:29:33.50
someone will be
blessed through your pain."
00:29:33.54\00:29:37.47
Hold on someone will be
blessed through your pain,
00:29:37.51\00:29:40.88
and I heard it twice
and am like, "Oh, Lord,
00:29:40.91\00:29:44.41
there is a purpose
in this, I can hang on.
00:29:44.45\00:29:47.15
Thank you."
00:29:47.18\00:29:48.52
And just this peace flooded me
00:29:48.55\00:29:50.15
and I was able to
sleep for a little bit,
00:29:50.19\00:29:52.79
and you know, every
night after that I think,
00:29:52.82\00:29:55.32
it was a another week
or two I think of that
00:29:55.36\00:29:58.69
but every night,
John, I could say,
00:29:58.73\00:30:01.23
when I got up, I
was cheerful I was like,
00:30:01.26\00:30:04.93
"Lord, you've got a plan,
00:30:04.97\00:30:06.33
I know you're
not going to fail me,
00:30:06.37\00:30:08.44
and I thank you for this pain
00:30:08.47\00:30:10.21
because it's
going to bless someone."
00:30:10.24\00:30:12.67
And so then the next thing
00:30:12.71\00:30:17.55
I think was we
decided to get on Google
00:30:17.58\00:30:21.28
and type in
frozen shoulder again,
00:30:21.32\00:30:22.92
you know, we've done that before
00:30:22.95\00:30:24.52
and all we could find
at the time was you know
00:30:24.55\00:30:27.42
we did a little research on
00:30:27.46\00:30:29.02
what causes it which
they don't really know
00:30:29.06\00:30:31.69
but how to heal it.
00:30:31.73\00:30:34.83
You know how, what
are the options for me.
00:30:34.86\00:30:37.27
We've looked at that
before and all we found
00:30:37.30\00:30:40.47
and saw were these
testimonies of kind of like
00:30:40.50\00:30:42.87
these Indian rituals that
00:30:42.90\00:30:46.14
almost like a
hocus-pocus kind of thing.
00:30:46.17\00:30:49.01
Right.
00:30:49.04\00:30:50.38
Poof and you're
well, and I'm like no,
00:30:50.41\00:30:51.75
that's not the Lord.
00:30:51.78\00:30:53.11
I don't, I don't
want to go there.
00:30:53.15\00:30:54.48
I know that's not God's will.
00:30:54.52\00:30:55.85
So we never
really found anything
00:30:55.88\00:30:57.59
but we felt
impressed to look again,
00:30:57.62\00:31:00.49
this was like I
don't know months later
00:31:00.52\00:31:03.79
and we come
across to this doctor.
00:31:03.83\00:31:07.83
The only one that
does this procedure
00:31:07.86\00:31:09.56
and it never popped up
before Trigenics clinics
00:31:09.60\00:31:12.33
Dr. Allan Oolo Austin
is his name, good man.
00:31:12.37\00:31:17.17
So we saw that and
I got a little excited
00:31:17.21\00:31:19.91
because he said that it
was 98 percent successful.
00:31:19.94\00:31:24.85
It was a non-surgical procedure
00:31:24.88\00:31:27.52
and there was no
hocus-pocus about it,
00:31:27.55\00:31:29.12
you know, that he was
actually a regular doctor
00:31:29.15\00:31:32.52
and so we started
looking into it a little more,
00:31:32.55\00:31:37.13
and Merlin as
smart as he is, you know,
00:31:37.16\00:31:40.80
he was the...
00:31:40.83\00:31:42.16
I'm just a skeptic.
He was very skeptical.
00:31:42.20\00:31:45.80
At some places he was saying,
"Not a 100 percent successful."
00:31:45.83\00:31:49.24
And then they were
showing all these testimonies
00:31:49.27\00:31:51.67
and of the before and
after and so I was intrigued.
00:31:51.71\00:31:55.84
So I'm looking, okay,
00:31:55.88\00:31:57.25
if somebody
doesn't like something
00:31:57.28\00:31:59.71
you're going to
hear about that...
00:31:59.75\00:32:01.32
In the
testimonies, right exactly.
00:32:01.35\00:32:02.68
On the Internet.
00:32:02.72\00:32:04.05
Like the hotel review...
00:32:04.09\00:32:05.42
Exactly.
00:32:05.45\00:32:06.79
Don't go there anymore,
great hotel, horrible service.
00:32:06.82\00:32:08.16
Exactly.
00:32:08.19\00:32:09.52
So we went on and are looking
and everything's positive
00:32:09.56\00:32:12.63
so we started digging deeper.
00:32:12.66\00:32:14.23
Well, he even typed
in scam and his name.
00:32:14.26\00:32:18.30
And somewhat it was all good.
00:32:18.33\00:32:19.97
It was all good.
00:32:20.00\00:32:21.34
So we got on our
knees we prayed about it
00:32:21.37\00:32:24.14
and we felt like the Lord
was leading in that direction
00:32:24.17\00:32:26.74
and I was still saying,
00:32:26.78\00:32:28.11
"Lord, I don't
know what your plan is,
00:32:28.14\00:32:29.81
somebody is going to
be blessed through this,
00:32:29.84\00:32:31.28
but I'm just going
to move forward and do
00:32:31.31\00:32:32.65
what I know what to do."
00:32:32.68\00:32:34.62
I want you to hold,
00:32:34.65\00:32:35.98
I want you to give me
the rest of that story
00:32:36.02\00:32:37.35
because I know where
it's headed, I'm kind of,
00:32:37.39\00:32:38.92
I want that cliffhanger
00:32:38.95\00:32:40.82
where I want you to go right now
00:32:40.86\00:32:42.22
though is in the darkness,
00:32:42.26\00:32:45.23
in the immo...
00:32:45.26\00:32:46.73
of being immobilized wondering
00:32:46.76\00:32:49.03
what the purpose
of all of this is.
00:32:49.06\00:32:51.23
You talked about there was this,
00:32:51.27\00:32:53.13
there was this
moment of darkness
00:32:53.17\00:32:54.74
that came with that.
00:32:54.77\00:32:56.40
How would that
song choose to believe
00:32:56.44\00:32:58.97
fit into this
scenario because, you know,
00:32:59.01\00:33:01.38
there are times when we wonder,
00:33:01.41\00:33:02.74
"Okay, God, why
did this even come
00:33:02.78\00:33:04.68
and what's the purpose of this."
00:33:04.71\00:33:06.05
Now we're going to talk about
how God brought it to fruition
00:33:06.08\00:33:08.72
but lead me into that
song, Choose to believe.
00:33:08.75\00:33:10.89
Well, it is perfect,
John, for this situation,
00:33:10.92\00:33:13.86
because even though I recorded
this song before I had this,
00:33:13.89\00:33:18.83
that was a divine thing too.
00:33:18.86\00:33:20.76
This was recorded,
00:33:20.80\00:33:22.40
Judy Arvesen wrote this song
00:33:22.43\00:33:23.83
in fact several songs
that I did off of this album.
00:33:23.87\00:33:26.70
And it was written
for a difficult time
00:33:26.74\00:33:30.01
that person had went through.
00:33:30.04\00:33:31.97
It's perfect for
my situation too,
00:33:32.01\00:33:33.81
because I in the
middle of that darkness,
00:33:33.84\00:33:36.95
I said exactly that.
00:33:36.98\00:33:38.48
I said, "Lord, I
refuse to doubt you,
00:33:38.51\00:33:40.05
I choose to believe
00:33:40.08\00:33:42.45
that even though I cannot
see what's in front of me.
00:33:42.48\00:33:46.49
You have to have a plan.
00:33:46.52\00:33:48.52
I know you love me."
00:33:48.56\00:33:50.16
And that's when he
finally spoke and I heard it,
00:33:50.19\00:33:54.60
that still small voice.
00:33:54.63\00:33:56.00
Well, I want, as you listen
to this song to think about
00:33:56.03\00:33:58.70
that trial that the Lord allowed
00:33:58.73\00:34:00.07
Merlin and Vonda to
go through together.
00:34:00.10\00:34:02.70
And if you're at that place,
00:34:02.74\00:34:04.14
I would say the
song will encourage you
00:34:04.17\00:34:05.94
to also do the same
thing, Choose to Believe.
00:34:05.97\00:34:08.84
Into to which
life, some rain must fall
00:34:22.66\00:34:28.86
But lately it seems
00:34:28.90\00:34:32.23
I've had it all
00:34:32.27\00:34:35.84
Just when I felt
the storm was over
00:34:35.87\00:34:42.41
Out of the blue there came a God
00:34:42.44\00:34:48.58
But you never promised,
that life would be easy
00:34:48.62\00:34:55.56
And I'm starting to see
00:34:55.59\00:35:02.00
Sometimes it
takes the worst in life
00:35:02.03\00:35:08.20
To bring out the best in me
00:35:08.24\00:35:14.14
So I will choose to believe
00:35:14.18\00:35:18.08
Though I cannot see
00:35:18.11\00:35:21.02
How you're working
all things for my good
00:35:21.05\00:35:27.22
And I'll hold your hand
00:35:27.26\00:35:31.39
Though I don't understand
00:35:31.43\00:35:34.06
Still I trust
and choose to believe
00:35:34.10\00:35:40.20
Though you may know
00:35:51.45\00:35:54.28
Just what I'm needing
00:35:54.32\00:35:57.79
It's hard to let go
and trust your needing
00:35:57.82\00:36:04.53
Just when I
thought I lost control
00:36:04.56\00:36:11.07
You're always there
you're always pleading
00:36:11.10\00:36:17.64
So for today, Lord
help me to trust you
00:36:17.67\00:36:24.18
I need your strength not my own
00:36:24.21\00:36:30.92
And when I need
a friend to turn to
00:36:30.95\00:36:37.36
You will be faithful and true.
00:36:37.39\00:36:42.93
So I will choose to believe
00:36:42.96\00:36:47.10
Though I cannot see
00:36:47.14\00:36:49.74
How you're working
all things for my good
00:36:49.77\00:36:56.28
And I'll hold your hand
00:36:56.31\00:37:00.05
Though I don't understand
00:37:00.08\00:37:02.72
Still I trust
and choose to believe
00:37:02.75\00:37:10.26
Walking by faith not by sight
00:37:10.29\00:37:16.43
It's so very hard to do
00:37:16.46\00:37:23.27
But as I grow
00:37:23.30\00:37:26.68
I come to know
00:37:26.71\00:37:29.78
That your love
will see me through
00:37:29.81\00:37:35.82
So I will choose to believe
00:37:35.85\00:37:39.79
Though I cannot see
00:37:39.82\00:37:42.69
How you're working
all things for my good
00:37:42.72\00:37:48.83
And I'll hold your hand
00:37:48.86\00:37:53.47
Though I don't understand
00:37:53.50\00:37:56.04
Still I trust
and choose to believe
00:37:56.07\00:38:02.64
Lord, help me to trust you
00:38:02.68\00:38:06.98
And choose to believe
00:38:07.02\00:38:14.52
As you can hear that song
00:38:24.40\00:38:25.93
really does make a difference
00:38:25.97\00:38:27.44
when a person is
in a dark tunnel,
00:38:27.47\00:38:29.04
a dark place in his or her life.
00:38:29.07\00:38:31.27
And as I've said
to someone before,
00:38:31.31\00:38:33.27
when you cannot hear God,
00:38:33.31\00:38:34.74
it does not equate
to the absence of God.
00:38:34.78\00:38:37.25
And so, Vonda,
00:38:37.28\00:38:38.61
you both choose and I would say,
00:38:38.65\00:38:39.98
I say both of you
00:38:40.02\00:38:41.35
because you're both
going through this together.
00:38:41.38\00:38:42.88
You choose to believe
00:38:42.92\00:38:44.25
when the answers
don't seem to be coming.
00:38:44.29\00:38:46.19
Let's keep
walking through the story
00:38:46.22\00:38:47.82
because this is a place
00:38:47.86\00:38:49.56
where the very thing
you want to do the most
00:38:49.59\00:38:51.73
you can't do and that's singing.
00:38:51.76\00:38:53.76
And you've been in
those places before.
00:38:53.80\00:38:56.03
I like what you
said a moment ago
00:38:56.06\00:38:57.40
before we went to the song.
00:38:57.43\00:38:59.30
I was saying boy,
00:38:59.33\00:39:00.67
you could write a book on trials
00:39:00.70\00:39:02.04
and you say, I can
write a book on miracles,
00:39:02.07\00:39:04.37
and I thought how wonderful,
don't accent the negative
00:39:04.41\00:39:06.88
but highlight the positive.
00:39:06.91\00:39:08.64
Talk about that
00:39:08.68\00:39:10.01
in the midst of people
having difficult lives,
00:39:10.05\00:39:11.38
God is good.
00:39:11.41\00:39:12.75
Let's talk about that
for a moment before we...
00:39:12.78\00:39:14.18
And then take us to that story
00:39:14.22\00:39:15.68
which I'm holding on
for that cliffhanger.
00:39:15.72\00:39:18.09
Well, I just want
to encourage the people
00:39:18.12\00:39:21.86
that God has a
plan even in your pain
00:39:21.89\00:39:26.06
that if you seek
Him and you trust Him,
00:39:26.09\00:39:28.76
He will give you the answers.
00:39:28.80\00:39:30.67
And faith the Bible says,
00:39:30.70\00:39:32.87
is the substance
of things hoped for,
00:39:32.90\00:39:34.47
the evidence of things not seen.
00:39:34.50\00:39:36.50
So faith has to be exercised
00:39:36.54\00:39:38.71
and the only way we
can exercise our faith
00:39:38.74\00:39:41.38
is by the word of God.
00:39:41.41\00:39:42.98
He is the word,
He is in the word.
00:39:43.01\00:39:45.68
And so when those
dark moments come,
00:39:45.71\00:39:48.48
I just want to encourage people,
00:39:48.52\00:39:49.92
pray every day for the power
of the Holy Spirit in your life
00:39:49.95\00:39:54.29
and claim promises as your own,
00:39:54.32\00:39:57.46
claim the word of God,
00:39:57.49\00:39:58.83
take those
promises that apply to you.
00:39:58.86\00:40:01.50
And say them out
loud if you can and say,
00:40:01.53\00:40:04.27
Lord, you said, you said,
00:40:04.30\00:40:06.07
and, you know,
00:40:06.10\00:40:08.37
this is what I'm claiming
00:40:08.40\00:40:10.24
and it will help
your faith to grow.
00:40:10.27\00:40:13.17
These are some of the things
that have really helped me
00:40:13.21\00:40:15.24
and I've seen him just do
marvelous things because of it.
00:40:15.28\00:40:20.22
So life is hard but God is good.
00:40:20.25\00:40:23.25
And as we see in our churches,
God is good all the time,
00:40:23.28\00:40:26.62
all the time God is good.
00:40:26.65\00:40:29.19
Now before we
bring that song up,
00:40:29.22\00:40:31.33
I want you to tell me.
00:40:31.36\00:40:32.69
Let's our audience
know that's listening
00:40:32.73\00:40:35.03
and they're
waiting to find out well,
00:40:35.06\00:40:36.93
why all this pain why so long.
00:40:36.97\00:40:38.93
Where was God
going with all of this?
00:40:38.97\00:40:40.70
What was God doing through this?
00:40:40.74\00:40:42.40
Where was He leading you?
00:40:42.44\00:40:43.77
Well, I didn't know at first,
00:40:43.81\00:40:45.94
and so I started to doubt
after we had called the clinic
00:40:45.97\00:40:49.11
and got an
appointment, you know,
00:40:49.14\00:40:50.48
we were like two months out,
00:40:50.51\00:40:51.85
I had to wait two
months because he's,
00:40:51.88\00:40:53.38
you know, gets a lot of people.
00:40:53.42\00:40:55.65
And by the way, I had it...
00:40:55.68\00:40:59.25
God worked it out that I
was able to go earlier than that
00:40:59.29\00:41:03.66
because I had a series of
concerts in Spanish planned
00:41:03.69\00:41:07.90
a year back that I
never canceled yet,
00:41:07.93\00:41:10.50
we were going to Columbia for.
00:41:10.53\00:41:12.23
And so once we
had scheduled this
00:41:12.27\00:41:16.44
then I had,
00:41:16.47\00:41:17.81
I wrote to the assistant
and told him my situation.
00:41:17.84\00:41:22.08
I said, if there...
00:41:22.11\00:41:23.45
Look, I said, "If
there's any cancellation,
00:41:23.48\00:41:25.28
you know please remember me."
00:41:25.31\00:41:26.85
And I told him my situation.
00:41:26.88\00:41:28.32
I was a musician, I
know what I was doing
00:41:28.35\00:41:30.42
and he called me
a day or two later
00:41:30.45\00:41:31.95
and he says,
"Look, there was this lady
00:41:31.99\00:41:33.49
that had issues
with her passport.
00:41:33.52\00:41:35.46
She's going to have to postpone,
00:41:35.49\00:41:37.03
there's an opening
but you have to tell me
00:41:37.06\00:41:38.43
real quick
because it goes fast."
00:41:38.46\00:41:39.96
And I'm like, oh, yes.
00:41:40.00\00:41:42.46
I think so, you know
'cause I asked when is it?
00:41:42.50\00:41:44.60
And he says, in two
week. Like a week later.
00:41:44.63\00:41:47.17
In two weeks I think.
00:41:47.20\00:41:48.84
And so, I said, "Well,
let me call my husband."
00:41:48.87\00:41:51.81
Well, I called
my husband at work
00:41:51.84\00:41:53.54
and he said, "Oh,
honey that's great.
00:41:53.58\00:41:55.54
Take it.
00:41:55.58\00:41:56.91
I can't go
because I have patients,
00:41:56.95\00:41:58.91
and you know I can't change that
00:41:58.95\00:42:00.78
but you need to go."
00:42:00.82\00:42:02.15
And I said, "I'm
not going without you.
00:42:02.18\00:42:04.09
You know when we're in
terrible distress like this."
00:42:04.12\00:42:06.72
You want your spouse by."
00:42:06.76\00:42:08.09
I said, "I think
I'll wait the two months,
00:42:08.12\00:42:09.62
I just can't go without you."
00:42:09.66\00:42:10.99
And he said, "No
honey, please take Nicky."
00:42:11.03\00:42:13.66
Nicky is my oldest
daughter, she's my little nurse,
00:42:13.70\00:42:16.03
she is a nurse, but I
call her my little nurse.
00:42:16.06\00:42:18.87
And you're supposed
to take somebody with you
00:42:18.90\00:42:21.27
because you have to do
these certain exercises
00:42:21.30\00:42:23.61
that you have to be watched.
00:42:23.64\00:42:25.37
And so I said,
00:42:25.41\00:42:27.58
"I just can't go without you,
00:42:27.61\00:42:29.14
" so I hung up the phone.
00:42:29.18\00:42:32.15
And that's when the
Lord gave me the dream.
00:42:32.18\00:42:34.28
I dreamed a dream
00:42:34.32\00:42:36.79
I had like this
déjà vu moment for a second.
00:42:36.82\00:42:41.26
Have you ever had those,
it's like, wait a second.
00:42:41.29\00:42:43.96
Something clicked when
he said my daughter Nikki.
00:42:43.99\00:42:47.10
It was a dream that
00:42:47.13\00:42:48.46
I had back a
couple of nights before
00:42:48.50\00:42:51.27
and it was right in
the middle of the night
00:42:51.30\00:42:52.63
I guess because
usually remember your dreams
00:42:52.67\00:42:54.34
if it is right when you wake up.
00:42:54.37\00:42:55.74
Right.
00:42:55.77\00:42:57.11
But I started to ponder on that,
00:42:57.14\00:42:58.47
did this happen and
then the more I pondered,
00:42:58.51\00:43:01.21
I thought, yeah, I dreamed this,
00:43:01.24\00:43:02.91
I dreamed I was at that clinic
and my daughter was with me.
00:43:02.94\00:43:07.85
And I had to ponder on
that and think is this real
00:43:07.88\00:43:10.69
and the more I
thought about I was like yes,
00:43:10.72\00:43:12.99
I did dream this dream.
00:43:13.02\00:43:14.69
And then I heard
the voice of God again,
00:43:14.72\00:43:16.59
He said, "Go, go."
00:43:16.62\00:43:18.19
And then that's when I realized
00:43:18.23\00:43:21.10
God had a divine
appointment for me.
00:43:21.13\00:43:23.33
I didn't know it was somebody
00:43:23.37\00:43:24.70
that was going to
sit next to the plane,
00:43:24.73\00:43:27.54
next to you on the plane,
00:43:27.57\00:43:28.90
if it was the nurse
00:43:28.94\00:43:30.27
or if it was the
doctor himself but I knew.
00:43:30.31\00:43:32.24
I got chill bumps I was like,
"Wow, Lord you are amazing."
00:43:32.27\00:43:36.04
In other words, the
door starting to open up,
00:43:36.08\00:43:37.48
you're starting to see
the light coming through.
00:43:37.51\00:43:39.01
Yes. Okay.
00:43:39.05\00:43:40.38
But just to
back up a little bit,
00:43:40.42\00:43:41.98
I was having these doubts
about going because again,
00:43:42.02\00:43:45.62
I had this little dark
oppression over me saying
00:43:45.65\00:43:48.62
you shouldn't be doing this.
00:43:48.66\00:43:49.99
Look at all these
other people that go through
00:43:50.03\00:43:51.49
what you do and
they just wait it out.
00:43:51.53\00:43:53.80
You know, you're
spending thousands of dollars
00:43:53.83\00:43:55.76
to go and fix your arm.
00:43:55.80\00:43:57.83
Look what you could do
00:43:57.87\00:43:59.20
for the gospel
with that you know,
00:43:59.23\00:44:00.57
right.
00:44:00.60\00:44:01.94
I mean just all
of these, you know...
00:44:01.97\00:44:03.41
Right, the devil
is trying to impose
00:44:03.44\00:44:05.34
what God is trying to do.
00:44:05.37\00:44:06.71
Of using thoughts, yeah,
00:44:06.74\00:44:08.08
and then it took me a little bit
00:44:08.11\00:44:09.44
but then I
realized wait a minute.
00:44:09.48\00:44:11.25
That doesn't come from God.
00:44:11.28\00:44:12.95
And, John, I have
to tell you that we...
00:44:12.98\00:44:15.35
I have learned in many
years of my Christian walk
00:44:15.38\00:44:18.75
to examine yourself talk.
00:44:18.79\00:44:22.06
If you ask the Holy
Spirit to show you every day,
00:44:22.09\00:44:25.56
you examine yourself talk.
00:44:25.59\00:44:27.53
We can be brutal to ourselves,
00:44:27.56\00:44:29.90
and realize where it comes from,
00:44:29.93\00:44:32.63
stop and analyze and say,
00:44:32.67\00:44:34.17
"Okay, does that come from God
00:44:34.20\00:44:35.54
or does that come from
somewhere else, from enemy."
00:44:35.57\00:44:38.51
And I realized,
Lord, that's not from you.
00:44:38.54\00:44:40.78
You've got to give me peace,
00:44:40.81\00:44:42.21
you've got to give me peace that
00:44:42.24\00:44:44.45
I'm going there to get
you know this procedure done
00:44:44.48\00:44:47.82
and it's your will.
00:44:47.85\00:44:49.18
And that's when you
know I just want to back up
00:44:49.22\00:44:50.69
and tell you that because
00:44:50.72\00:44:52.05
and that's when he,
00:44:52.09\00:44:53.59
they called and
got me in earlier
00:44:53.62\00:44:55.86
and he showed me
that I had this dream.
00:44:55.89\00:44:58.33
So then I began
to get very excited
00:44:58.36\00:45:00.83
and planning the trip
out, and everything and so...
00:45:00.86\00:45:05.07
Anyway we went and
the procedure my...
00:45:05.10\00:45:08.80
you know, my
daughter came with me.
00:45:08.84\00:45:10.81
The procedure went really well.
00:45:10.84\00:45:13.78
The doctor is very
compassionate person.
00:45:13.81\00:45:16.11
And what did you
find out about him
00:45:16.14\00:45:17.48
particularly, specifically?
00:45:17.51\00:45:19.18
Online.
00:45:19.21\00:45:20.55
Yeah I found him on,
he's the one that we Googled.
00:45:20.58\00:45:23.05
What plan did God had for
him though that's the key...
00:45:23.08\00:45:25.42
Oh, what plan did he have?
00:45:25.45\00:45:26.79
Yes, I'm getting to that.
00:45:26.82\00:45:28.16
So then I didn't, you know,
00:45:28.19\00:45:30.39
I didn't meet
anybody on the airplane
00:45:30.43\00:45:32.36
so I was like,
"Okay, Lord, I knew this
00:45:32.39\00:45:33.93
but I prepared this gift bag."
00:45:33.96\00:45:36.20
And I said, "Lord,
please help me not to fail you.
00:45:36.23\00:45:38.27
I don't know what
divine appointment this is.
00:45:38.30\00:45:41.57
Am I supposed
to talk to someone,
00:45:41.60\00:45:43.41
am I supposed to
give someone something,
00:45:43.44\00:45:45.67
so I want to be prepared,
don't let me fail you."
00:45:45.71\00:45:47.94
So I made a gift bag and
I put it in my CD in there
00:45:47.98\00:45:51.91
and I put a couple of pamphlets
00:45:51.95\00:45:54.02
and I put Steps to Christ
00:45:54.05\00:45:55.38
which is the best
book on the character
00:45:55.42\00:45:57.32
and love of
Christ in my opinion.
00:45:57.35\00:45:59.62
And then God impressed me,
00:45:59.65\00:46:01.62
I usually don't give
these out very often.
00:46:01.66\00:46:04.99
God impressed me
to stick in prophecy,
00:46:05.03\00:46:07.26
Daniel and Revelation disk.
00:46:07.30\00:46:10.20
Foundations of Prophecy
00:46:10.23\00:46:11.57
Foundation of Prophecy,
00:46:11.60\00:46:13.23
and so long story short,
00:46:13.27\00:46:15.50
we get down with
procedure, the enemy saying,
00:46:15.54\00:46:18.27
"I can't leave this out."
00:46:18.31\00:46:20.74
He wanted to
hypnotize me because he said,
00:46:20.78\00:46:23.58
"If I hypnotize you
won't feel any pain."
00:46:23.61\00:46:27.38
And I said, Lord, is this...
00:46:27.42\00:46:29.68
what have I done.
00:46:29.72\00:46:31.85
This is like you
know not your will.
00:46:31.89\00:46:34.66
So I told him I
said, "No, thank you,
00:46:34.69\00:46:36.96
my Lord will get me through it."
00:46:36.99\00:46:38.79
So just fast forward,
00:46:38.83\00:46:41.86
we went through it and then
00:46:41.90\00:46:45.17
I handed him that bag.
00:46:45.20\00:46:48.44
And he looked in that bag
00:46:48.47\00:46:49.80
and he said, "What is this
00:46:49.84\00:46:52.04
and he pulled that out
00:46:52.07\00:46:53.54
the one that had the
Daniel and Revelation seminar."
00:46:53.58\00:46:56.44
He called me
back into the office
00:46:56.48\00:46:57.81
my daughter and I
00:46:57.85\00:46:59.18
and he said,
00:46:59.21\00:47:00.55
"I've been looking
for something like this."
00:47:00.58\00:47:02.78
Praise the Lord.
00:47:02.82\00:47:04.72
He said, you know,
there's more to the story.
00:47:04.75\00:47:07.29
I wish I can, I
had time to tell you
00:47:07.32\00:47:09.02
but he's been
in contact with me.
00:47:09.06\00:47:10.93
That was it.
00:47:10.96\00:47:12.29
I mean he was so ecstatic,
00:47:12.33\00:47:13.66
John, my daughter and
I got in the car we were.
00:47:13.70\00:47:16.56
Did this really happen.
00:47:16.60\00:47:18.33
I cannot believe
this really happened.
00:47:18.37\00:47:19.70
So what you found out the Lord
00:47:19.73\00:47:21.27
and through all this
trial was leading you
00:47:21.30\00:47:22.97
to this doctor who is
looking for the truth.
00:47:23.00\00:47:25.31
Amen.
00:47:25.34\00:47:26.68
So life is
hard, but God is good.
00:47:26.71\00:47:29.51
I tell you, I do
it all over again,
00:47:29.54\00:47:31.08
it was such a
endorphin feeling...
00:47:31.11\00:47:35.15
A fulfilling
moment. God used me, yeah.
00:47:35.18\00:47:36.92
You know as you
listen to this song.
00:47:36.95\00:47:38.35
Life is hard but God is Good,
00:47:38.39\00:47:39.79
just think about that through
your trials and difficulties
00:47:39.82\00:47:42.29
sometimes God lead
you down a dark road
00:47:42.32\00:47:44.63
that at the end
of that darkness,
00:47:44.66\00:47:46.36
the light of God will be
reflected in someone's life.
00:47:46.39\00:47:48.80
Listen to the song.
00:47:48.83\00:47:50.17
We'll go to a newsbreak
00:47:50.20\00:47:51.53
and then we'll come back
for some closing thoughts.
00:47:51.57\00:47:54.10
You turn the key
00:48:10.29\00:48:12.82
Then close the door behind you
00:48:12.85\00:48:17.23
Drop your bags on the floor
00:48:17.26\00:48:24.10
You reach for the light
00:48:24.13\00:48:27.14
But there's darkness deep inside
00:48:27.17\00:48:31.44
And you can't take it anymore
00:48:31.47\00:48:37.65
'Cause sometimes living
takes the life out of you
00:48:37.68\00:48:45.55
And sometimes
living is all you can do
00:48:45.59\00:48:50.26
Life is hard,
00:48:54.20\00:48:57.53
The world is cold
00:48:57.57\00:49:01.24
We're barely young
00:49:01.27\00:49:03.94
And then we're old
00:49:03.97\00:49:08.44
But every falling
tear is always understood
00:49:08.48\00:49:14.58
Life is hard
00:49:14.62\00:49:16.85
But God is good
00:49:20.86\00:49:22.49
You start to cry
00:49:33.27\00:49:35.70
'Cause you've
been strong for so long
00:49:35.74\00:49:40.41
But that's not how you feel
00:49:40.44\00:49:46.98
You try to pray
00:49:47.02\00:49:49.75
But there's nothing left to say
00:49:49.78\00:49:54.16
So you just quietly kneel
00:49:54.19\00:49:57.56
And in the silence
of all that you face
00:50:01.43\00:50:08.07
God will give you
00:50:08.10\00:50:10.81
His mercy and grace
00:50:10.84\00:50:17.28
Jesus never said It
was an easy road to travel
00:50:17.31\00:50:24.19
He only said that
you would never be alone
00:50:24.22\00:50:31.09
So when your last thread of hope
00:50:31.13\00:50:34.06
Begins to come unraveled
00:50:34.10\00:50:37.70
Don't give up,
He walks beside you
00:50:37.73\00:50:41.64
On this journey home
00:50:41.67\00:50:47.74
And He knows Life is hard
00:50:47.78\00:50:54.95
The world is cold
00:50:54.98\00:50:58.49
We're barely
young and then we're old
00:50:58.52\00:51:05.36
But every falling
tear is always understood
00:51:05.39\00:51:11.67
Life is hard
00:51:11.70\00:51:13.97
Yes, life is hard
00:51:18.64\00:51:22.21
But God is good
00:51:25.41\00:51:26.82
If you would like to
know more about this ministry,
00:51:54.08\00:51:56.04
you can write to Revelation
Publications International,
00:51:56.08\00:51:59.31
38275, Jasper Lowell
Road, Fall Creek, Oregon 97438.
00:51:59.35\00:52:05.55
That's Revelation
Publications International,
00:52:05.59\00:52:08.36
38275, Jasper Lowell
Road, Fall Creek, Oregon 97438.
00:52:08.39\00:52:15.06
You can call 800-952-4457.
00:52:15.10\00:52:19.13
That's 800-952-4457
00:52:19.17\00:52:22.94
or you can visit their
website at bible-lessons.org.
00:52:22.97\00:52:27.58
That's bible-lessons.org
00:52:27.61\00:52:31.41
If you'd like to
get some of Vonda's CDs,
00:52:31.45\00:52:33.82
you can order online at
RevelationPublications.com.
00:52:33.85\00:52:37.55