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 and welcome
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to another 3ABN Today program.
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I'm Jason Bradley, and I'm
so glad that you've decided
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to join us once again.
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We have an
exciting power-packed hour
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in store for you. We are
going to be talking to someone
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who is a walking miracle.
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He's a walking miracle
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and you're going to
find out about his story.
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We're going to
dive deep into it.
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But we're going to be
blessed in song first.
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But let me introduce him to you
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so you can know who you're going
to hear from in just a minute.
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We have Pastor Abner Rodriguez.
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He's a pastor in the WV
Mountain View Conference
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of Seventh-day Adventists.
Welcome to 3ABN Today.
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Thank you. It's a pleasure
to be here with you guys
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and to once again be able
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to talk to so many people
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about the love of Jesus
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and the power of His love.
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Amen! Amen!
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I want to share a
scripture because I think this
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really fits
within your story here.
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It's taken from
Matthew chapter 4
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and verses 23 and 24.
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"And Jesus went
about all Galilee
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teaching in their synagogues,
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preaching the
gospel of the kingdom,
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and healing all
kinds of sickness
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and all kinds of
disease among the people.
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Then His fame went
throughout all Syria
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and they brought
to Him all sick people
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who were afflicted with
various diseases and torments
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and those who were
demon-possessed, epileptics,
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and paralytics,
and He healed them. "
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And we're going to
find out a lot more
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about that
healing that took place
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and how Pastor
Abner is going forth
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preaching the gospel.
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But first, we're going
to hear a wonderful song
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being played by Martha Jhoana
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and it's entitled
We Shall Behold Him.
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Wow! What a blessing!
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What a blessing!
We Shall Behold Him.
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Pastor Abner, I
want to dive into
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your background. Kind of
bring us up to speed with
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your upbringing and then
your Prodigal Son experience.
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Well, I was born in
the Message. Um-hmm.
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Sometimes people
are not fortunate
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enough to be born and
raised in an SDA home.
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Um-hmm. It wasn't
just an SDA home, it was
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a Christian home.
We tried our very best
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humanly possible, of course,
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to imitate Jesus Christ
in everything that we do.
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And, um, I guess
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like every
struggling young adult
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who was raised in the church
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sometimes there are questions
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about who Jesus really is.
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And I always tell people
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that I had to
discover who He was
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on my terms - um-hmm -
and not on my parents' terms.
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Because I knew the God
that my parents were faithful to
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and they worshiped
and they tried to guide us
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and rear us by but I
didn't have that personal
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experience with Him.
And that's what sometimes
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I feel that the youth of
today are missing in the church.
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And so I kind of
went through that myself
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and
unfortunately, I found myself
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away from God,
away from the church.
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But you know, the
love of God is so amazing
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that it has a very particular
way of bringing you back
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to the fold. Um-hmm.
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And He never calls
everybody the same way.
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He calls you different;
He called me differently.
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And even in that difference
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today I can say I
have experienced Jesus.
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Amen! That's beautiful.
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"O taste and see
that the Lord is good. "
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Absolutely. You had to
taste and see for yourself.
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You couldn't live through
your mother's experience,
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live through your
father's experience. No.
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Any of that. And
unfortunately, that's something
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that happens too
frequently today. Um-hmm.
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I'm kind of afraid to
even use this terminology
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but I have to: "as
people play church. "
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Umm. Because we'll
come to church - um-hmm -
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but we come for the
expectations of being there
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but we don't come because
we are searching for God.
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It's a routine. Yes.
And I always tell people
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"Get out of your routine. "
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Hmm... yeah, that's important.
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You know, you
mentioned to me offset
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that people go to
church and they think that that
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automatically gets
them to heaven. Um-hmm.
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Unpack that.
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Society teaches us -
um-hmm - and this is in no way
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putting down any denomination -
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society teaches us
that once you're saved
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you're forever saved.
00:10:09.10\00:10:10.44
That's
definitely God's hope for us
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but this morning's
devotional was talking about
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how it's
important for me as a person
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to come before
His presence daily
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so that I can understand:
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"What's my purpose
in this world? " Yes.
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You know with what's
happening around the world today
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everybody is
searching for a purpose.
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Um-hmm. But we're not
clear on what that mission is.
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And it won't be
clear until you understand
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who it is that you're following.
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Yes. You either
follow God - um-hmm -
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or you follow the
"other guy. " Um-hmm.
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And so we have to make the de-
cision - a conscious decision -
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of who it is that we're going to
allow our lives to be influenced
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by. Um-hmm. What
areas did you venture into
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when you were not
walking with the Lord? "
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I went "full tilt" as
they say on the streets.
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I got into alcoholism.
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I got into a lot of partying.
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I got into hanging
around with the wrong crowd.
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I got into
illegal street racing,
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and it was a complete package
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of what Satan tries
to show you: this is fun.
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And as someone who was
venturing away from God?
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my heart was
trying to follow fun
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instead of
following God. Um-hmm.
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And we don't want anybody
to think that following God
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isn't fun. On the
contrary, IT IS FUN.
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Not only is it fun but
it's also very rewarding
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because the rewards
that I receive today
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from following the Lord
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I can't even begin to tell you.
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It goes beyond measure.
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Some people chase paper. Um-hmm.
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Other chase status. Um-hmm.
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Other chase
respect or recognition.
00:12:24.51\00:12:27.38
It's always about
after man's own heart
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and not after God's own heart.
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That's why David was
such an amazing person.
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David was a man, the Bible
says, "after God's own heart. "
00:12:36.48\00:12:39.32
Um-hmm. And you
can see the level of
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demonic threats that David
had to face and he went through
00:12:44.16\00:12:47.56
but yet by the grace of God
00:12:47.76\00:12:49.83
he always had somebody to
help steer him in the right
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direction. And
that's what God does for us.
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Um-hmm. God always
allows us to go through
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certain
circumstances or situations
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to remind us "I am your God. "
00:13:01.04\00:13:03.28
Amen. "I am your Provider
00:13:03.48\00:13:05.21
and you are where you are
because I love you. " Yes!
00:13:05.41\00:13:10.09
You know, and
sometimes even in bad times
00:13:10.29\00:13:13.56
um-hmm - guess what? God is
telling us the same thing too.
00:13:13.76\00:13:17.19
Yes, yes. I Peter chapter 1
says that the trials are there
00:13:17.39\00:13:21.93
to remind us that God
has never left our side
00:13:22.13\00:13:25.27
and for our faith to grow
so that we can be converted
00:13:25.67\00:13:28.70
constantly to the
likeness of Jesus Christ.
00:13:28.90\00:13:31.71
Amen. So at what point did
God grab ahold of your life?
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'Cause I also know
that leading up to that
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you went through some
dark times. The devil has tried
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to take you out
on several occasions.
00:13:43.49\00:13:45.15
And perhaps you want to
touch on that a little bit.
00:13:45.35\00:13:47.52
Yeah, I can recall
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accidents that
I've been involved in
00:13:50.83\00:13:54.86
or near mishaps
that I was involved in
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when I was in the world.
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And I wasn't the
most likable person.
00:14:02.00\00:14:03.81
I can say that because
my attitude was all about me
00:14:04.01\00:14:07.41
and how I can show
off how I'm a powerhouse.
00:14:07.61\00:14:11.71
I was always a
very influential person
00:14:11.91\00:14:13.92
in the city
where I was growing up.
00:14:14.12\00:14:15.95
And even from a young age
00:14:16.15\00:14:18.99
for whatever reason I was very
influential with my friends.
00:14:19.19\00:14:22.16
And as an adult
or even a young adult
00:14:23.02\00:14:26.93
I kind of
followed that same track
00:14:27.13\00:14:29.76
and that track
led me to alcoholism
00:14:30.23\00:14:33.47
which later on led me to
additional health problems
00:14:33.67\00:14:37.77
that I suffered with. Um-hmm.
00:14:37.97\00:14:39.81
You know, it still exists
today. It hasn't gone away:
00:14:40.01\00:14:43.04
it's a painful reminder of
what happens when you walk away
00:14:43.24\00:14:46.61
from God. Um-hmm. But I
think that with every medication
00:14:46.82\00:14:50.32
that I have to take now,
00:14:50.52\00:14:51.92
every doctor's appointment
00:14:52.12\00:14:54.49
and the realm of so much
possibilities of so many things
00:14:54.69\00:14:58.73
going wrong it tells me:
"Lord, I need You more today
00:14:58.93\00:15:02.63
than ever before. " Yes.
00:15:02.83\00:15:04.97
I've gone
through... In my adult stage
00:15:05.30\00:15:08.97
I've gone
through health problems
00:15:09.17\00:15:10.91
with my kidneys, with diabetes.
00:15:11.11\00:15:13.38
Praise the Lord my heart is good
00:15:13.58\00:15:16.68
but high blood pressure,
a leaky valve in my heart.
00:15:17.75\00:15:21.05
And it's like: "When is
this ever going to stop? "
00:15:21.25\00:15:25.12
Yes. So I think about
the soon return of Jesus
00:15:25.32\00:15:29.16
and I say: "That's when
it's going to come to an end. "
00:15:29.36\00:15:32.39
Amen. I mean, God is going to
undo everything, every bad thing
00:15:32.59\00:15:36.73
that I did to myself.
00:15:36.93\00:15:38.33
And there are a number of
people that today are out there
00:15:38.53\00:15:41.84
struggling asking themselves:
"Why am I going through this?
00:15:42.04\00:15:46.24
"When is this
ever going to end? "
00:15:46.44\00:15:47.78
We have - not to enter
into a political debate -
00:15:47.84\00:15:51.71
the pandemic. Because
the pandemic is a real thing
00:15:51.91\00:15:55.82
and it reminds us of
how fragile life really is.
00:15:56.02\00:16:00.86
Yes. And it's
given us a gift where now
00:16:01.06\00:16:04.73
instead of
turning just to one area
00:16:04.93\00:16:07.93
we've got multiple
areas that we can go to
00:16:08.13\00:16:10.50
because God wants
to save you. Um-hmm.
00:16:10.70\00:16:13.23
And so it's not
just medications.
00:16:13.44\00:16:15.37
It's not just vaccines.
00:16:15.57\00:16:17.24
It's not just
science that can save.
00:16:17.44\00:16:20.18
Jesus saves.
00:16:20.38\00:16:21.71
Yeah. He's where our
salvation comes from.
00:16:21.81\00:16:25.15
Absolutely. Absolutely.
00:16:25.35\00:16:26.98
So there was a major event
that took place in your life,
00:16:27.18\00:16:31.72
a medical
situation that occurred
00:16:31.92\00:16:34.72
that nearly claimed your life.
00:16:34.92\00:16:37.53
Tell us about that.
00:16:37.73\00:16:39.33
Well in May 9 of 2009
00:16:39.53\00:16:43.00
I had just been
married for four years
00:16:43.20\00:16:44.80
and I had a cerebral aneurysm
00:16:45.00\00:16:48.77
that ruptured. Um-hmm.
00:16:48.97\00:16:50.64
And the accounts of the story
00:16:50.84\00:16:53.94
of the testimony, I should say
00:16:54.14\00:16:56.14
the martureó in the Greek
00:16:56.34\00:16:58.41
the accounts of that story
00:16:58.81\00:17:01.32
I don't have all the
full details, so I've gathered
00:17:01.52\00:17:05.15
little pieces of
information from my mother
00:17:05.35\00:17:07.82
from my wife as well
00:17:08.02\00:17:09.46
because they were the
ones that were present
00:17:10.43\00:17:12.49
at the time that
all of this happened.
00:17:12.69\00:17:14.70
It started when I was at work.
00:17:15.63\00:17:18.47
I usually suffered
from migraine headaches. OK.
00:17:18.67\00:17:21.50
So for me I just thought it was
just another migraine headache
00:17:21.70\00:17:24.74
that I was
having at that moment.
00:17:24.94\00:17:27.38
But little did I
know that it was actually
00:17:28.64\00:17:33.42
an aneurysm that had
ruptured in my brain.
00:17:33.62\00:17:36.02
Wow! An aneurysm that
ruptured in your brain!
00:17:36.58\00:17:40.09
Yes. And that
usually takes people out.
00:17:40.29\00:17:42.79
For 15 yrs. I was a paramedic
00:17:43.19\00:17:46.33
and I actually had
cases like this when I running
00:17:47.63\00:17:53.60
medical emergencies.
00:17:53.80\00:17:55.87
And I could tell you that
the majority of my patients
00:17:56.37\00:18:00.58
didn't even make it
sometimes even on the stretcher.
00:18:00.78\00:18:02.88
So the fact that I survived this
is a miracle on its own. Yes.
00:18:03.71\00:18:08.42
And I remember
one particular case
00:18:09.12\00:18:12.79
where I was
working in a hospital
00:18:12.99\00:18:15.32
as an ER technician
00:18:15.52\00:18:17.79
and we had a
gentleman that came in
00:18:17.99\00:18:20.33
with a cerebral
aneurysm bleed as well.
00:18:20.53\00:18:24.10
Young man with family.
00:18:24.30\00:18:29.20
And before we could even fly him
out to a Level 1 trauma center
00:18:29.40\00:18:34.01
where they could
do surgery on him
00:18:34.21\00:18:36.24
he actually died on us.
00:18:36.44\00:18:38.11
And so it was very hard.
00:18:38.61\00:18:42.28
You know, as someone who
has lived medical experiences
00:18:42.48\00:18:48.02
I now know the possibilities
of how close I was to dying.
00:18:49.82\00:18:54.96
Yes... yes. What was
your experience like?
00:18:55.16\00:18:59.13
What were you
feeling? What was going through
00:18:59.33\00:19:01.10
your mind at that time?
00:19:01.30\00:19:02.64
Honestly, I didn't
know what was happening
00:19:03.14\00:19:05.27
because I was
in a state of coma.
00:19:05.47\00:19:08.78
So for me all I
thought was I was sleeping.
00:19:09.84\00:19:15.12
Gotcha!
00:19:15.32\00:19:16.65
My wife tells me that
the day that it happened
00:19:17.45\00:19:21.29
at around 3
o'clock in the morning
00:19:23.46\00:19:25.06
I was throwing up -
00:19:25.26\00:19:29.56
OK - because it comes with
the migraines as well. Uh-huh.
00:19:29.76\00:19:33.70
Sometimes it has
nausea and vomiting
00:19:33.90\00:19:35.84
and stomach discomfort.
So for me, I didn't think
00:19:36.04\00:19:38.81
and I was literally completely
out of it... very incoherent.
00:19:39.01\00:19:43.14
Um-hmm. And from
what I understand
00:19:43.35\00:19:47.35
she called my mom
and my mom and my dad
00:19:47.55\00:19:49.95
came over to our apartment
00:19:50.15\00:19:51.49
and the three of
them took me to the ER.
00:19:51.65\00:19:55.19
They rushed me to
the emergency room.
00:19:55.39\00:19:56.73
And I remember my
wife telling me that
00:19:58.09\00:20:01.20
the doctor that was on duty
that day at the emergency room
00:20:01.40\00:20:04.20
was an Adventist
pastor who knew me.
00:20:04.40\00:20:07.97
Wow! And he and I had
worked together before.
00:20:08.17\00:20:11.94
And so they
started asking questions.
00:20:12.34\00:20:16.24
My wife was telling me, said
that my liver was very fatty
00:20:16.64\00:20:22.58
and it was in bad shape.
00:20:22.78\00:20:24.12
And the doctor said: "How
much alcohol does he consume? "
00:20:24.42\00:20:28.42
And my mom - God bless her -
00:20:28.82\00:20:32.19
I can just imagine the
embarrassment on her face -
00:20:32.59\00:20:36.06
says: "He doesn't drink alcohol.
00:20:36.26\00:20:38.37
We're Adventists.
You should know that.
00:20:38.57\00:20:40.24
You know we're in an Adventist
hospital and you're asking
00:20:40.44\00:20:42.84
these questions. " And
then my wife actually turns
00:20:43.04\00:20:46.44
to my mom and she
says: "Well actually
00:20:46.64\00:20:49.54
he used to drink a lot. "
00:20:49.74\00:20:51.81
Hmm... um-hmm. And so these
are some of the ramifications
00:20:52.01\00:20:56.08
of breaking away
from that health message.
00:20:56.28\00:21:00.09
Not only does the
inspired pen gives us
00:21:00.29\00:21:03.26
but also the Word of
God - yes - informs us.
00:21:03.46\00:21:06.36
And so long story... 'cause
it is a very long story...
00:21:06.56\00:21:10.23
long story short they
did a CAT scan of my head
00:21:11.30\00:21:15.27
and they found
that I was bleeding.
00:21:15.67\00:21:18.57
Hmm. I had taken some medication
00:21:18.77\00:21:21.68
I thought would help
me, but in fact what it was
00:21:21.88\00:21:26.48
was a blood thinner.
00:21:26.68\00:21:28.02
And so it thinned out my
blood three times the amount.
00:21:28.05\00:21:31.45
So I was pretty much drowning.
00:21:31.65\00:21:36.16
My brain was
drowning in its own blood.
00:21:36.36\00:21:38.49
Wow! That's the way it was.
00:21:38.69\00:21:40.40
And they tried to airlift me.
00:21:41.36\00:21:45.03
They brought in
the first helicopter
00:21:45.23\00:21:46.57
because the city
where we lived in
00:21:46.60\00:21:49.07
we had a Level 2 trauma center
00:21:49.27\00:21:51.67
so it was pretty
much a basic hospital.
00:21:51.87\00:21:53.51
OK. Level 1 trauma centers
00:21:53.71\00:21:55.94
have emergency heart surgery,
00:21:56.14\00:21:58.45
emergency brain surgery,
00:21:58.65\00:21:59.98
whatever needs to be
done boom! right there.
00:22:00.02\00:22:02.28
You're good to go.
00:22:02.48\00:22:03.82
You don't have to go anywhere.
00:22:03.85\00:22:05.45
But when you're in a
Level 2 trauma center
00:22:05.65\00:22:07.49
they'll treat heart attacks.
They'll treat some strokes.
00:22:07.69\00:22:10.46
They'll treat basic stuff
00:22:10.86\00:22:13.26
BUT if it complicates
itself then you have to
00:22:13.46\00:22:16.73
be sent out somewhere else. Yes.
00:22:16.93\00:22:18.90
And this was a
very complicated case
00:22:19.10\00:22:22.37
from what I understand.
00:22:22.57\00:22:23.91
I was also told
that I stopped breathing
00:22:24.71\00:22:27.44
in the hospital in the
emergency room two times.
00:22:27.84\00:22:31.18
Wow! So they had to intubate me.
00:22:31.38\00:22:34.48
And I remember the
respiratory therapist
00:22:34.88\00:22:40.39
'cause he told me this
00:22:40.79\00:22:42.72
he was a good friend of
mine from when I used to work
00:22:43.12\00:22:45.19
in that same
hospital - um-hmm - he says:
00:22:45.39\00:22:47.30
"If you would have died on
me, I would have killed you. "
00:22:47.70\00:22:50.47
And I said, no pun
intended: "I'm sorry...
00:22:52.00\00:22:54.87
I didn't mean to
scare anybody that way. "
00:22:55.07\00:22:56.97
But he said that he...
00:22:57.37\00:22:59.17
I was told that
he worked super hard
00:22:59.37\00:23:02.64
on making sure that
they preserved my life.
00:23:02.84\00:23:07.22
Um-hmm. That meant a lot to me
00:23:07.42\00:23:09.28
because sometimes we
don't understand how God works
00:23:09.82\00:23:12.55
super hard - yes - to
preserve our life. Yes.
00:23:12.75\00:23:15.99
And this was one
of those situations
00:23:16.79\00:23:18.76
were it was... timing
was everything. Um-hmm.
00:23:18.96\00:23:20.96
So they ordered
the first helicopter
00:23:21.36\00:23:23.97
and I couldn't fit in
there. I was 350 pounds
00:23:24.17\00:23:27.70
and I was twice the size of what
I am today believe it or not.
00:23:29.00\00:23:33.98
Yes. And they had to
order another helicopter
00:23:34.18\00:23:37.88
and they were looking
for options to transport me.
00:23:38.08\00:23:41.18
They wanted to send me via
ambulance but they were afraid
00:23:41.38\00:23:43.79
that if they sent
me with an ambulance
00:23:43.99\00:23:45.95
I may not make
it through transport
00:23:46.15\00:23:48.32
because the nearest Level 1
trauma center was about an hour,
00:23:48.52\00:23:52.29
two hours away. Oh wow!
00:23:52.49\00:23:54.76
And so it was kind of like
being in the middle of nowhere.
00:23:54.96\00:23:57.77
Um-hmm. And so when
the second helicopter came
00:23:57.97\00:24:02.20
they got me in there.
00:24:03.44\00:24:04.84
From what I understand because
the wife of one of the doctors
00:24:05.34\00:24:11.28
that I used to work with
she was a nurse on that flight.
00:24:11.48\00:24:13.68
OK. And she told me
00:24:13.88\00:24:16.15
"I remember you
stopped breathing
00:24:16.35\00:24:18.22
in the middle of transport
00:24:18.42\00:24:19.75
and we had to
resuscitate you again. "
00:24:19.79\00:24:21.56
Wow! They had to use paddles to
shock my heart back into rhythm.
00:24:21.76\00:24:25.89
Wow! And so when I
hear all of these things
00:24:26.09\00:24:30.40
I understand how much
trouble I was in. Yes.
00:24:30.60\00:24:34.20
I was literally
hanging by a thread. Yes!
00:24:34.40\00:24:37.07
You know, it's amazing when you
find yourself in that position
00:24:37.27\00:24:40.48
the mercy of God says:
"I'm not done with you yet. "
00:24:40.68\00:24:43.58
Um-hmm. And that's the beauty
of how this entire testimony
00:24:43.78\00:24:47.48
really starts. Absolutely!
00:24:47.68\00:24:49.72
So what was your
encounter with the Lord?
00:24:50.12\00:24:54.39
So I'm in coma. Um-hmm.
00:24:55.32\00:24:58.79
Part of it was medically induced
00:24:59.56\00:25:01.83
because my brain had a
lot of swelling. Um-hmm.
00:25:02.03\00:25:04.37
And later on, I discovered that
00:25:04.83\00:25:08.04
they took out
00:25:08.24\00:25:10.61
about 4-6 liters of blood
00:25:12.11\00:25:15.54
they drained from my
head to relieve the pressure.
00:25:15.74\00:25:19.15
And I'm sleeping.
Um-hmm. Here I am, I'm just
00:25:22.35\00:25:24.79
I just feel like well
I just need to wake up
00:25:24.99\00:25:28.52
because I have to go to work.
This is what I'm registering
00:25:28.82\00:25:31.69
in my brain - um-hmm -
but I can't wake up. Oh, man!
00:25:31.89\00:25:35.70
And so you know Solomon says
00:25:35.90\00:25:40.64
"Instruct the child
in the ways of the Lord
00:25:40.84\00:25:42.80
so that when he grows
up he doesn't depart. "
00:25:43.00\00:25:46.57
And the first thing that
came to mind was "Pray. "
00:25:46.98\00:25:50.55
Wow! And so I started praying
00:25:50.75\00:25:53.01
and I said: "Lord, I
don't know what's going on.
00:25:53.21\00:25:56.28
I know that I'm sleeping a lot
00:25:56.48\00:25:59.45
and I just... I
need to wake up. "
00:25:59.95\00:26:03.19
I didn't hear alarms. Um-hmm.
00:26:04.43\00:26:06.73
I didn't hear anything. Um-hmm.
00:26:06.93\00:26:08.60
And I kept saying to myself:
"As soon as I see the alarm"
00:26:08.80\00:26:11.83
'cause I had my eyes closed.
"As soon as I hear the alarm
00:26:12.03\00:26:14.70
I'm going to wake up
and I'm going to get ready
00:26:14.90\00:26:16.27
'cause I've gotta go
to work. " Yes... yes.
00:26:16.47\00:26:18.87
And in the meantime in my
subconscious I heard my voice
00:26:19.07\00:26:24.18
being called out and I
saw this light coming from
00:26:24.38\00:26:27.22
my right-hand side.
00:26:27.42\00:26:28.75
And it kept saying:
"Abner... Abner, wake up. "
00:26:29.28\00:26:33.89
Me? I thought it
might have been my wife
00:26:34.29\00:26:36.36
you know talking to me
00:26:36.56\00:26:38.19
but I still couldn't wake up.
00:26:38.59\00:26:40.73
And there was one time
where I said: "Look, I'm trying
00:26:40.93\00:26:43.77
to get up but I can't.
I feel like I'm tied down.
00:26:43.97\00:26:46.80
I don't know what's going on.
00:26:47.20\00:26:49.47
Can somebody please help me? "
00:26:49.87\00:26:52.74
I felt my right hand
00:26:54.14\00:26:58.85
moving an almost
going towards heaven
00:26:59.05\00:27:02.65
as you would reach for
somebody to help pick you up.
00:27:02.85\00:27:05.75
And as I
reached up I saw a hand.
00:27:06.86\00:27:10.23
And before I
even touched the hand
00:27:11.23\00:27:14.43
I woke up. Oh wow!
00:27:14.63\00:27:17.83
That was the first time
I woke out of coma. Wow!
00:27:18.97\00:27:22.27
And what was it like
when you first woke up?
00:27:22.47\00:27:24.97
Like what? Were
you looking around?
00:27:25.17\00:27:27.91
I mean, did you have
any thoughts at that point?
00:27:28.11\00:27:30.71
What? Honestly I
didn't know what to think
00:27:30.91\00:27:33.31
because the first thing
going through my mind was
00:27:33.52\00:27:36.15
was this experience real?
or was this something that I...
00:27:36.35\00:27:39.49
that my mind, my subconscious,
just concocted or made up.
00:27:39.69\00:27:43.83
Um-hmm. I started looking around
the room and I found myself
00:27:44.23\00:27:47.46
in a hospital bed with tubes
00:27:47.66\00:27:50.17
coming out of different places
00:27:50.57\00:27:52.50
where they
shouldn't be. Yes, yes, yes.
00:27:52.70\00:27:57.01
You know, I looked around
and as I looked to my right
00:27:57.21\00:28:00.38
side I saw a gentlemen
- um-hmm - tall gentleman-
00:28:00.58\00:28:04.81
wearing scrubs and he
was reading my notes -
00:28:05.01\00:28:10.19
um-hmm - my results
and I could hear him say:
00:28:10.59\00:28:14.06
"This isn't possible. "
00:28:14.46\00:28:16.42
"This can't be. "
00:28:16.62\00:28:19.06
And he looked over at
me and then he closed it.
00:28:20.16\00:28:23.67
And then he said: "How
long have you been awake? "
00:28:23.87\00:28:27.57
And I said: "I just woke up. "
00:28:27.77\00:28:31.44
Wow! And he said: "Well...
00:28:31.64\00:28:34.64
my name is Dr. So-and-So.
" And for privacy, I won't
00:28:34.84\00:28:37.75
say his name. Um-hmm.
"My name is Dr. So-and-So
00:28:37.95\00:28:40.78
and I'm a neurosurgeon
00:28:40.98\00:28:43.12
and I accepted you
here at this hospital
00:28:43.42\00:28:47.16
twenty-three days ago. "
00:28:49.39\00:28:50.73
"Do you know where you're at? "
00:28:50.76\00:28:54.16
"No, I don't. I don't
know what's going on. "
00:28:54.56\00:28:58.60
And he said: "Somebody told
me that you know a lot about
00:28:59.60\00:29:02.70
medicine and I want to
see how much you remember
00:29:02.90\00:29:08.01
because you brain has
gone through a lot of trauma"
00:29:08.21\00:29:12.51
yes - "to be in
a coma for 23 days
00:29:12.71\00:29:15.78
where people
sometimes never get out of it. "
00:29:17.29\00:29:19.29
You hear stories about
people that have been -
00:29:19.49\00:29:23.16
and this is very
few and in between -
00:29:23.36\00:29:25.23
that have been in comas
for years and come out of them.
00:29:25.63\00:29:29.53
Um-hmm. But typically
they don't bounce back
00:29:29.73\00:29:35.24
as God helped me and
allowed me to bounce back
00:29:35.64\00:29:39.64
so resiliently.
00:29:39.84\00:29:41.18
It was all by His grace.
00:29:41.21\00:29:42.54
And he says: "Wait here.
I'm going to go get a wheelchair
00:29:42.68\00:29:47.35
and I'm going to
get some help. " Um-hmm.
00:29:47.55\00:29:50.05
"I want to take you downstairs
00:29:50.25\00:29:52.35
so that I can test you
to see how much you know,
00:29:52.55\00:29:56.52
how much you remember.
Where are you cognitively? "
00:29:56.73\00:29:59.19
And he said:
"Oh, by the way... "
00:30:00.20\00:30:01.76
he said this so casually...
00:30:02.16\00:30:04.60
It's like well wait a minute.
"By the way, you're paralyzed. "
00:30:04.80\00:30:08.04
"I'm what? " Whoa!
00:30:08.24\00:30:11.61
I'm like where are
your bedside manners?
00:30:11.81\00:30:13.98
That's not something
that you tell somebody...
00:30:15.44\00:30:17.38
especially when
you first wake up. Yes.
00:30:17.58\00:30:20.15
I mean, I can understand
his surprise as he was...
00:30:20.35\00:30:24.32
he was reading my chart
and all of a sudden I come out
00:30:24.52\00:30:27.09
of coma. And he just thinks
"I'm just going to review this
00:30:27.29\00:30:30.96
chart and walk out. " Um-hmm.
But then as he's looking at me
00:30:31.16\00:30:35.10
and he said: "Oh, by
the way, you're paralyzed
00:30:35.30\00:30:36.87
on your left side.
" I was like: "What? "
00:30:37.07\00:30:40.87
He says: "We don't know if
this is something permanent
00:30:41.07\00:30:44.01
or you know
temporary. Time will tell. "
00:30:44.21\00:30:47.91
And so they bring a wheelchair.
00:30:48.78\00:30:51.65
They get me to get
into the wheelchair
00:30:51.85\00:30:54.08
and he takes me personally
downstairs to a viewing room
00:30:54.28\00:30:57.69
in radiology. And then he
shows me CAT scans. Uh-huh.
00:30:57.89\00:31:03.56
And he says: "What can you
tell me about what you see? "
00:31:03.76\00:31:07.70
And I don't know
why but inside of me
00:31:09.10\00:31:12.70
something said: "That
person is dead. " Hmm.
00:31:13.10\00:31:18.71
He says: "What
makes you say that? "
00:31:19.97\00:31:21.48
I said: "Well, it's so dark.
00:31:21.98\00:31:26.25
I mean there's nothing.
You can't see brain contour.
00:31:26.45\00:31:29.65
You can't see shape. All
you see is just the skull
00:31:29.85\00:31:32.55
and all it is is
just pure darkness. "
00:31:32.75\00:31:34.69
Wow! That's all it was. So
no brain activity whatsoever?
00:31:34.89\00:31:38.83
At that time no brain activity
00:31:39.03\00:31:41.10
because my brain was
drowning in its own blood.
00:31:41.50\00:31:47.24
Yeah... yeah.
00:31:47.44\00:31:49.14
And then he tells me
00:31:49.34\00:31:50.67
"That person is you. " Whoa!
00:31:50.91\00:31:54.41
I said: "What do
you mean that's me? "
00:31:54.61\00:31:57.48
He goes: "Yeah...
that person is you. "
00:31:58.45\00:32:01.15
And when you look at CAT
scans in the bottom of the film
00:32:01.35\00:32:05.39
on the left-hand side - um-hmm
- you always see the name.
00:32:05.59\00:32:08.42
You see the
medical record number,
00:32:08.62\00:32:10.53
date of birth, and
all that information.
00:32:10.73\00:32:12.39
And I looked at it
and it had my name.
00:32:12.79\00:32:16.20
Um-hmm. And I got so hysterical.
00:32:16.40\00:32:20.30
Wow! I broke
down; I started to cry.
00:32:20.50\00:32:24.37
He tried to calm me
down and it wasn't working.
00:32:24.77\00:32:30.41
Um-hmm. You
know, when you discover
00:32:30.61\00:32:34.98
that you have been
living in so much darkness
00:32:37.29\00:32:40.16
it propels you to be hysterical.
00:32:42.16\00:32:45.03
And this is the
reason why so many people
00:32:46.43\00:32:50.67
make so many mistakes today
00:32:50.87\00:32:52.87
because they're
living in so much darkness
00:32:53.07\00:32:55.17
and they don't even
know that they're living
00:32:55.37\00:32:56.84
in so much darkness.
Um-hmm. And as I'm looking at it
00:32:57.04\00:32:59.67
I'm saying to myself:
"This isn't possible! " Yes.
00:32:59.87\00:33:04.55
And so he calms me down.
00:33:04.95\00:33:07.98
He takes me out of there;
he takes me back to my room
00:33:08.18\00:33:10.75
and he says: "I'm
going to sedate you. "
00:33:11.15\00:33:13.99
"I don't want to be
sedated... I just woke up!
00:33:14.19\00:33:17.49
I don't want to
go back to sleep. "
00:33:17.69\00:33:19.09
He says: "Well your brain
00:33:21.03\00:33:22.83
as your blood
pressure is raising
00:33:23.03\00:33:26.00
is receiving a lot of pressure
00:33:26.20\00:33:28.40
and we need to keep it down. "
00:33:28.60\00:33:30.51
So they sedated me, and I don't
know for how long I was out
00:33:30.71\00:33:35.14
but some time that
afternoon - I don't know when -
00:33:35.54\00:33:40.68
I woke up. And at that
time the first person that I saw
00:33:40.88\00:33:44.89
was my wife. Wow!
00:33:45.09\00:33:47.62
And she was there with my mom.
00:33:48.49\00:33:50.26
But she
approaches me and she says:
00:33:50.46\00:33:53.40
"Do you remember me? "
00:33:53.60\00:33:55.20
I said: "Yeah. " And
she said: "What's my name? "
00:33:56.33\00:33:59.23
I had a pet name for
her. Uh-huh... uh-huh.
00:33:59.43\00:34:02.64
I told her the pet name...
I hope she doesn't kill me
00:34:02.84\00:34:05.81
for this... I
said: "You're Kimpsy. "
00:34:06.01\00:34:09.54
OK. And I saw
the tears in her eyes
00:34:09.74\00:34:12.98
and she got so
happy and she hugged me
00:34:13.18\00:34:15.62
and said: "Yes,
you're right. Yes! Yes! "
00:34:15.82\00:34:17.75
And my mom was in
the corner - yes -
00:34:18.62\00:34:22.26
looking at all of
this and she was crying.
00:34:22.46\00:34:24.56
And she said: "Do you
remember that little lady?
00:34:24.76\00:34:27.10
I said: "Yeah. "
"Who's that little lady? "
00:34:27.30\00:34:29.90
she said: "That's my mom. "
00:34:30.10\00:34:32.00
Um-hmm. And she came in and
she hugged me and kissed me.
00:34:32.20\00:34:36.20
We had a wonderful time.
00:34:36.40\00:34:37.84
And that was the
beginning of this godly journey.
00:34:38.04\00:34:42.88
Yes... yes.
00:34:43.81\00:34:45.91
So that's the
BEGINNING of this godly journey.
00:34:46.11\00:34:50.02
So take me through that journey.
00:34:50.22\00:34:54.19
So taking into consideration
that I had work to do
00:34:54.39\00:34:58.73
for the Lord, I
kept that in my mind.
00:34:58.93\00:35:02.43
Something kept
bringing that up to my mind.
00:35:02.63\00:35:04.17
And that evening when they
went where they were staying -
00:35:04.57\00:35:09.50
they were staying at a
place nearby - somebody had...
00:35:09.70\00:35:11.91
had allowed them to stay
at a house nearby the hospital
00:35:12.11\00:35:14.74
so they wouldn't have to travel
almost 2 hours back and forth
00:35:15.14\00:35:18.65
from where we
lived to the hospital -
00:35:18.85\00:35:20.22
I said to myself:
00:35:20.72\00:35:23.32
"Lord, You told me that
I have work for you to do.
00:35:24.25\00:35:28.46
I had just gotten done
doing an evangelistic series
00:35:28.66\00:35:32.19
where 365 people
had... I bore witness...
00:35:32.39\00:35:37.57
365 people getting baptized.
00:35:37.77\00:35:40.07
Never in my life have I
ever seen anything like that.
00:35:40.47\00:35:42.34
Wow! And even meeting
a person at the airport
00:35:42.54\00:35:47.51
when I was on my way back.
00:35:47.71\00:35:49.04
I don't know if this
woman gave her life to the Lord
00:35:50.01\00:35:52.21
but she was going
through some problems. Um-hmm.
00:35:52.41\00:35:54.55
You know, I witnessed to her.
00:35:54.75\00:35:57.65
And then there was another
gentleman who was very ill
00:35:58.35\00:36:01.06
back home. I witnessed to him,
00:36:01.26\00:36:03.56
and I do believe that the
Lord seals those individuals
00:36:03.76\00:36:06.76
for eternity - amen -
because of the experience.
00:36:06.96\00:36:11.33
Everything that you
go through reminds people
00:36:12.03\00:36:14.87
or reminds you of the need
for people to have salvation.
00:36:15.07\00:36:18.37
Um-hmm. And bearing
witness to that, I said: "Lord,
00:36:18.77\00:36:23.11
You know I can't do
this from a wheelchair. "
00:36:23.31\00:36:28.42
Um-hmm. And as I was
praying and once I said "Amen"
00:36:28.82\00:36:32.45
I felt the need to
have to go use the bathroom.
00:36:33.76\00:36:36.39
And I struggled but somehow
00:36:38.89\00:36:42.56
I got the guardrails down
00:36:42.76\00:36:45.47
I got my legs over, stood up,
00:36:45.67\00:36:50.57
held onto the wall, and
walked over to the restroom.
00:36:50.77\00:36:54.28
Wow! And I said: "Lord if You
can help me get to the restroom
00:36:54.48\00:36:58.41
I know You can help
me get to the window. "
00:36:58.81\00:37:01.22
I took off IV; I
took off telemetry.
00:37:03.59\00:37:08.12
And I don't remember
how much time went by
00:37:08.52\00:37:10.89
but I was standing by the
window and I was looking outside
00:37:11.09\00:37:13.60
my window and all I could
see was just the Bay Area.
00:37:13.80\00:37:16.30
And I thought: "How beautiful
to be able to see that! "
00:37:17.47\00:37:20.17
Yes! And all of a sudden this
little nurse who was just...
00:37:20.37\00:37:23.57
ran through the
door and she said:
00:37:23.77\00:37:25.61
"What are you doing? "
I said: "Nothing. I'm just
00:37:26.64\00:37:30.38
looking out the window. "
00:37:30.58\00:37:32.75
She goes: "No! No!
No! You don't understand.
00:37:33.15\00:37:35.18
You're supposed to be paralyzed.
00:37:35.38\00:37:37.12
What are you
doing standing up? "
00:37:37.32\00:37:38.65
Wow! And I said:
00:37:39.05\00:37:41.49
"Well... evidently I'm not. "
00:37:41.69\00:37:46.19
Um-hmm... um-hmm.
00:37:46.39\00:37:47.93
I mean I know that
it was God who did it.
00:37:48.13\00:37:50.33
Yes. You know, because
God gave me the strength
00:37:50.53\00:37:52.73
to do all of these things. Amen.
00:37:52.93\00:37:54.74
And today when I
started looking for
00:37:54.94\00:37:58.44
an Adventist institution to
follow the promise that I had
00:37:58.64\00:38:01.98
made to God - um-hmm -
I went everywhere. Yes.
00:38:02.18\00:38:07.32
And doors were being closed
left and right or so I thought -
00:38:08.02\00:38:12.29
um-hmm - 'cause I didn't hear
from any of the universities.
00:38:12.49\00:38:14.52
And I remember one Sabbath
a gentleman came to visit our
00:38:15.32\00:38:19.06
church and he didn't know me.
00:38:19.26\00:38:22.16
He just said: "You
look like a pastor. "
00:38:22.36\00:38:24.77
I was like: "Whatever man. I
just got out of the hospital.
00:38:24.97\00:38:27.60
No way no how. "
00:38:27.80\00:38:30.17
And I said: "Wait a
minute. I can't say that
00:38:30.37\00:38:33.44
for two reasons. #1
I just did evangelism;
00:38:33.64\00:38:37.25
#2 God brought me out of
something that He needs me
00:38:37.45\00:38:41.45
to witness for. "
And so he told me about
00:38:41.65\00:38:45.05
a program that they had for
adults at Oakwood University.
00:38:45.25\00:38:48.39
And I said: "Look. I'm
not paying one single cent.
00:38:48.59\00:38:51.93
I've already
wasted too much money
00:38:52.13\00:38:54.43
sending applications
and application fees
00:38:54.63\00:38:58.23
and you know all the
letters of references
00:38:58.43\00:39:01.67
and things like that. I'm not
going to spend another cent. "
00:39:01.87\00:39:03.71
Said: "Don't worry about
it... we'll take care of it. "
00:39:03.91\00:39:05.61
Um-hmm. He said: "I'm going
to connect you with a young man
00:39:05.81\00:39:08.74
who is doing recruiting.
00:39:08.94\00:39:10.58
I'm going to give
him all your information.
00:39:11.51\00:39:13.58
You tell him I sent you
00:39:13.78\00:39:15.18
and he's going to
take care of you. "
00:39:15.38\00:39:16.72
And I was rude.
I was on the phone:
00:39:16.75\00:39:18.09
I said: "Look, I'm not paying
a single cent for this, OK? "
00:39:18.22\00:39:20.42
He says: "Don't worry about
it. Just send it to me back
00:39:20.62\00:39:22.89
and I'll take care of you. "
00:39:23.09\00:39:24.43
I did everything.
Got the references again.
00:39:24.99\00:39:28.56
Um-hmm. And when I sent it in
it took literally almost 2 mos.
00:39:28.76\00:39:33.34
for him to respond. I said: "God
doesn't want me to do this. "
00:39:33.54\00:39:36.27
And I started doubting
God again. Um-hmm... um-hmm.
00:39:36.47\00:39:38.71
And then he called
me one day and he said:
00:39:38.91\00:39:40.24
"Where's your application?
" I said: "I sent that to you
00:39:40.34\00:39:42.71
months ago. What
are you talking about? "
00:39:42.91\00:39:44.25
Says: "Well we got the envelope
but it seems that somebody
00:39:44.41\00:39:47.58
opened up the
envelope, took out the contents,
00:39:47.78\00:39:50.99
and ran it through. "
00:39:51.19\00:39:53.15
And before I sent it out
something inside of me said
00:39:53.36\00:39:57.73
"Make copies of
everything. " Um-hmm.
00:39:57.93\00:40:00.46
So I copied
everything to a thumb drive. OK.
00:40:00.66\00:40:03.53
And then I said: "Look,
I've got everything in my hand.
00:40:03.73\00:40:05.90
I'm going to e-mail this to you
00:40:06.10\00:40:07.84
so that you can have my applica-
tion and all that good stuff. "
00:40:08.04\00:40:11.34
But in the back of
my mind, I kept saying
00:40:11.54\00:40:13.84
"Satan doesn't
want me to go here.
00:40:14.04\00:40:15.64
THIS is where God
needs me to be. " Yes!
00:40:15.84\00:40:18.48
He was trying to
block it. BIG TIME! Um-hmm.
00:40:18.68\00:40:21.28
And so I was
accepted to Oakwood University
00:40:21.48\00:40:25.02
both my wife and I.
00:40:25.22\00:40:26.79
She went into the
education portion.
00:40:26.99\00:40:28.79
I went into
religion and theology.
00:40:28.99\00:40:31.09
And by the grace of God
today we're both professionals.
00:40:31.29\00:40:35.46
Amen. Just
finished... When I was told
00:40:35.66\00:40:38.57
that I could not go back
to school because my wife
00:40:38.77\00:40:41.80
was told that my
level of capacity
00:40:42.00\00:40:44.31
if I survived this would
be like that of a 3rd graders.
00:40:44.47\00:40:48.51
Wow... wow!
00:40:48.71\00:40:50.71
A third-grader just
finished his Master of Arts
00:40:50.91\00:40:56.32
in pastoral
ministry. Wow! Praise God!
00:40:56.52\00:40:59.22
A third-grader finished his
degree in church leadership.
00:41:00.26\00:41:05.66
Um-hmm. A
capacity of a third-grader
00:41:05.86\00:41:09.70
is leading out a congregation.
00:41:10.10\00:41:13.27
Two congregations. Wow!
00:41:13.47\00:41:15.57
By the grace of God I've
been named area coordinator
00:41:15.77\00:41:18.41
in my conference and I'm
also associate youth director.
00:41:18.61\00:41:21.64
So you tell me: what is
it that God doesn't have
00:41:22.71\00:41:26.92
the power to do? Oh...
00:41:27.12\00:41:29.62
He has brought
you through so much.
00:41:30.55\00:41:33.62
He's delivered you from so much.
00:41:33.82\00:41:36.69
You had a survival rate of what?
00:41:36.89\00:41:39.39
5% they gave you? Less than 5%?
00:41:39.59\00:41:43.00
And if I survived my
wife was told I would
00:41:43.20\00:41:46.10
be in a vegetative state. Wow!
00:41:46.30\00:41:49.37
And then they said you
would be like a third-grader.
00:41:49.57\00:41:52.14
Your mind would be...
and God has equipped you
00:41:52.34\00:41:56.61
to accomplish all that
you've been able to accomplish.
00:41:56.81\00:41:59.38
There is absolutely nothing that
God cannot help you overcome.
00:41:59.58\00:42:05.15
Yes... yes... amen... amen.
00:42:05.35\00:42:08.26
Remember, the Bible says
00:42:08.66\00:42:10.13
in Philippians: "I
can do ALL things... "
00:42:10.33\00:42:14.36
Not some... it's all things.
00:42:14.56\00:42:17.67
"through Christ who
strengthens me. " Amen.
00:42:17.87\00:42:21.40
How do you feel today?
00:42:21.80\00:42:23.94
I feel great. I mean I'm blessed
00:42:25.04\00:42:29.41
because today I live to
tell others about Jesus.
00:42:29.61\00:42:34.88
Yes. We have a slogan
00:42:35.08\00:42:36.99
at the Mt. View Conference
00:42:37.19\00:42:38.89
in WV, and that phrase,
00:42:39.09\00:42:42.52
that theme is: "Tell
somebody about Jesus. "
00:42:42.72\00:42:45.79
Um-hmm. And I look
forward to every day
00:42:46.03\00:42:50.57
talking to people and sharing
my experiences with them.
00:42:50.77\00:42:55.94
We're doing something
called Interest Tracker. OK.
00:42:56.14\00:43:00.01
And every time I
go to visit someone
00:43:00.21\00:43:03.38
I give them a little
book: Steps to Christ. Yes.
00:43:03.58\00:43:07.68
That is an excellent
book! That's my free gift
00:43:07.88\00:43:10.49
for them. I mean they're sign-
ing up for free Bible studies
00:43:10.69\00:43:13.96
but I give them
Steps to Christ. Um-hmm.
00:43:14.89\00:43:17.56
And you should see the look
on people's faces when I say
00:43:17.76\00:43:21.10
"That little book
saved my life. " Wow!
00:43:21.30\00:43:23.97
Because at a time where
I was down... and this is
00:43:24.37\00:43:27.44
part of a different
testimony that I have...
00:43:27.64\00:43:29.64
I tried to commit suicide,
and when that didn't work
00:43:30.04\00:43:33.11
I threw the weapon on
the counter and it landed
00:43:33.31\00:43:38.35
right next to that
book Steps to Christ.
00:43:38.55\00:43:40.42
Wow! And tears...
uncontrollable tears... were
00:43:40.62\00:43:45.45
coming down my eyes when I read
00:43:45.65\00:43:48.62
that God's great love
for me is beyond all measure.
00:43:48.82\00:43:53.23
Um-hmm. That first
chapter God's Love for Humanity
00:43:53.43\00:43:56.97
had me in absolute tears
because I had lived a life
00:43:57.37\00:44:01.44
that was so reckless.
Yes. And to understand that
00:44:01.64\00:44:05.01
even through my recklessness
Jesus still loved me
00:44:05.21\00:44:09.04
was hard for me to believe
but it brought me to my knees.
00:44:09.24\00:44:13.55
And I remember
praying and saying: "Lord,
00:44:13.75\00:44:16.25
if You really love me the
way this book and Your Word says
00:44:16.45\00:44:22.16
I need You to get me out
of this situation right now. "
00:44:22.36\00:44:26.03
And the Lord absolutely did.
00:44:26.43\00:44:28.83
And even through this trial -
00:44:29.03\00:44:32.20
um-hmm - God rescued me. Amen!
00:44:32.40\00:44:36.60
Amen! He certainly did!
00:44:36.81\00:44:39.01
And you are
literally a walking miracle.
00:44:39.21\00:44:43.78
And the beautiful thing...
You know, we read that verse
00:44:43.98\00:44:46.21
in the beginning of this program
00:44:46.41\00:44:47.75
in Matthew chapter
4 verses 23 and 24.
00:44:47.78\00:44:50.89
You know, Jesus healed you
00:44:51.09\00:44:53.25
and now you're
going to preach and teach
00:44:53.46\00:44:56.42
and lead people to Christ.
00:44:56.62\00:44:58.73
And you were running
from the calling at one point.
00:44:58.93\00:45:01.03
I was, but see, now
instead of running FROM it -
00:45:01.43\00:45:05.53
yes - I thank God that
He's given me the opportunity
00:45:05.73\00:45:09.10
to now run TO it. Amen! Amen!
00:45:09.30\00:45:11.94
So do you go around
speaking, preaching, teaching
00:45:12.34\00:45:16.18
at different
churches? Different events?
00:45:16.38\00:45:18.71
What if someone
wants you to come and share
00:45:18.91\00:45:22.25
your testimony with
them? Do you do that?
00:45:22.45\00:45:24.29
I do. I did that
for a very long time
00:45:24.49\00:45:26.79
and I still continue to do it.
00:45:26.99\00:45:28.32
And I've been
told by many people
00:45:28.46\00:45:30.99
"You should write a
book on this testimony. "
00:45:31.19\00:45:34.73
I'm praying and
I'm saying: "OK, Lord,
00:45:34.93\00:45:37.40
somebody needs to
hear this. " Um-hmm.
00:45:37.80\00:45:40.47
"Somebody who's
not in church. " Yes.
00:45:40.67\00:45:42.74
So I'm asking God to give me
the strength, give me the wisdom
00:45:43.74\00:45:46.64
and the knowledge to
put it on paper. Amen! Amen!
00:45:46.84\00:45:49.91
What was... This whole
event: what was it like
00:45:50.31\00:45:53.85
for your family?
00:45:54.05\00:45:55.92
It was traumatic!
00:45:56.32\00:45:57.65
I think that even still today
00:45:58.29\00:46:00.69
as a lot of them see
me working for the Master
00:46:00.89\00:46:06.03
I don't think that that's
something they ever thought
00:46:07.23\00:46:09.60
that they would see.
00:46:09.80\00:46:11.13
Like Jesus, I thought I
was going to be cut down
00:46:12.67\00:46:15.97
and not even have a child.
00:46:16.17\00:46:17.74
The way the Bible says.
00:46:17.94\00:46:19.71
We knew that
Jesus had a mission.
00:46:19.91\00:46:21.71
But I'm so grateful to God
that His mission in my life
00:46:21.91\00:46:26.41
is not over yet.
Yes... yes... praise God.
00:46:26.61\00:46:30.35
This is... you know you
said that was the beginning
00:46:30.55\00:46:33.82
but you're journeying
through what God has in store
00:46:34.02\00:46:37.16
for your life and
that's so beautiful.
00:46:37.36\00:46:38.96
Absolutely. And I've got a...
my best friend, Charles Gardner,
00:46:39.16\00:46:42.33
who is in Alabama...
he's always telling me, says:
00:46:42.53\00:46:46.30
"Dude, you need to
write that book! " Yes!
00:46:46.50\00:46:48.80
And you know I lived a
life that was very selfish
00:46:49.50\00:46:54.74
when I was in the world.
00:46:54.94\00:46:56.44
And I'm also very
cautious because I don't want
00:46:56.64\00:47:00.95
that selfishness to
creep back in. Um-hmm.
00:47:01.15\00:47:03.99
And so I want to do
what God wants me to do
00:47:04.35\00:47:07.36
and eventually,
prayerfully, I need that book...
00:47:07.56\00:47:12.76
I need God to help
me write that testimony
00:47:12.96\00:47:15.73
so that others can
share it with many. Yes!
00:47:15.93\00:47:19.00
Yes. And it's going to be
a blessing to many as I know.
00:47:19.20\00:47:23.51
Well I hope that people
will invite you to speak
00:47:23.71\00:47:25.61
and share your
powerful testimony with them.
00:47:25.81\00:47:27.88
We're getting ready
to take a short break
00:47:28.28\00:47:30.58
to show you how you can get
in touch with Pr. Rodriguez.
00:47:30.78\00:47:33.72
Check out our newsbreak
and we'll be right back.
00:47:33.92\00:47:36.25