Transcript: Jesus Encounters: Stranger Story 2 - Christian Drama Movie Based on New Testament

you And the tension between those two factions is what has been blamed globally for the fighting in that region. Here at home, the controversy that has divided the U.S. since the early 1970s once again finds itself on the hearts and minds of the American public. Leslie Kyle has that report. Thanks, Aaron. Tomorrow, the Senate will be voting on a bill which has been called the most monumental decision on abortion to come down the pike since Roe v. Wade. While votes such as these are usually decided by collective blocks from one party or another, this truly divided Senate finds itself at a virtual 50-50 split with the apparent deciding vote and the weight of the country resting on the shoulders of Senator Margaret O'Connell. Senator O'Connell, who represents one of the most conservative, Bible-thumping districts in the U.S., has baffled and even frustrated many of her constituents by her refusal to speak publicly about her voting intentions. Joining us now to perhaps shed some light on the subject is Kelly Winstrom, Chief of Staff for Senator O'Connell. Ms. Winstrom, thank you for joining us. My pleasure. How do the voters, in particular the ones in Senator O'Connell's district, feel about the Senator's stance on this issue? Or should I say lack of stance? Well, Leslie, the Senator's supporters have responded overwhelmingly and have vowed to stand behind her. According to the majority, they are very confident in the Senator's stance, whether she verbalizes it or not. And what is the Senator's response to that? Well, as you know, the senator is determined to be as fully knowledgeable about all aspects of this bill. She feels that while it may appear to some of her critics as political posturing, it is in reality exactly what she was elected to do. With the vote being so close and Senator O'Connell literally controlling the pendulum, how do you explain her reluctance to reassure the public of her voting intentions, which most pundits say should be a no-brainer for her? She has always been very well informed on every bill at vote. This one is no different. So with the vote just one day away, the senator takes no stance one way or another on this abortion bill. Again, it is her job to be as well informed as possible. Well, it sounds like her constituents, as well as the rest of the country, are going to have to continue to play the waiting game for now. Thanks for joining us, Kelly. Thank you, Leslie. The senator has not been returning calls all day. Can you tell us if she's in the building? I don't know. I just got here myself. What about the rumor that she's holding out for leverage on being named head of the committee? That rumor is totally ridiculous and unfounded. Do you have anything to say about the statement made by the party chairman last night? I haven't even heard the statement. How in the world can I make a comment on it? We all know that the senator is being bombarded in every direction. We'll have something to announce later. Thank you so much for coming. Thank you for your time. So, you want to hear about the kind of day I've been having? I saw the interview. I like the blouse Leslie was wearing. Am I too far away for you to see that I'm not laughing? Sorry. The vote's tomorrow, Kel. One more day and this will all be over. So that's the plan, then. We hole up here until tomorrow morning. After, of course, you've had every opportunity to alienate every last supporter. Waiting on your big surprise. Kelly, there's no surprise. I just need a little more time. With all due respect, you don't have any more time. Public opinion changes minute by minute, and your minute's just about up. The Women's Faith Conference called, again... About what? About whether or not you're still coming to New York next month. Why wouldn't I be? I'm sure they're thinking, depending on your vote tomorrow, you may or may not still be a guest of honor. And you have a press conference at 5.30. I haven't scheduled anything. I did. You did. I had to. You have got to give your people something. They are not willing to roll the dice on what you might do tomorrow. I was acting on what I thought was in the best interest of this office. I thought that by giving an actual deadline, it might help to... Rush things along? You have got to give your people reassurance about the person they voted into this office. And if you can't do that, then they're as good as lost. along with me. Are you resigning because you don't approve of the way I'm handling things? Is that what you're saying? Okay, look, listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I know we're both stressed out, but this is becoming something bigger than it needs to be. It's a no-brainer. You should have been out there for weeks now talking about making history and turning the tide on this whole abortion mess. You could have so much political clout right now that you would be... For once, it's not about clout, Kelly. I just have to work through... Work through what? I believe that I'm... No one cares what you believe. It's just about the vote. I'm going for a walk. A walk? Where? We've got to... No, you've got to. I'm going for a walk. I'll call security It's okay I'll go the back way Thank you. All right. Come on. Come on. Yeah, come on, boy. Come on. Come on. Come on. Oh, yeah. Oh, you're a good boy, aren't you? You're a champion bone chaser, aren't you? Yeah. Oh, what you got? Oh, there you go. Oh. Need some of your ear? Oh, just run through a sticker bush? Would you hold this, please? Oh, no, I just want... There. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. There. Does that feel all better? Huh? Is that all better? Yeah. Oh, thanks. I didn't want that thing to get lodged in there. Oh, yeah. Oh, you're adorable, aren't you? What's his name? Butkus. And right now, his owner is worried sick trying to find him. Yeah. Why don't you call and do you have your cell phone? No, I don't have one. Besides, his owner will be along any minute now. I'm sorry, is it okay if we sit here? Oh, sure. Do you have any pets? Oh, no, no. We have a cat. That counts. I've always been more comfortable with cats than dogs Cats are more like people You mean all warm and cuddly? Yeah, that's it She's been acting funny the last few days Doesn't seem to want to eat or play Come on, come on You know, I'm pretty good with animals. If you want, I can take a look at your cat for you. Are you a vet? Not really. I just love animals. You don't look like you're here for exercise. No, I was... I just needed some air. In a cemetery? It's close by. I like the peace and quiet. Guess that's a little morbid. Maybe not. Coming here causes you to contemplate life and death. Some people that's just what they need to get their perspective back. Yeah. Yeah. Do you not watch television? Not much. Kind of touch and go. Newspapers? Internet? About the same. They come here every month. You know them? Yeah. The grave belongs to Andrew Robinson. She died five years ago. That's her husband and her son. She was a special lady. Godly woman full of compassion, generosity. And she was a big influence in the lives of those two men, along with a lot of other people. Sounds like she had it all together. Not always. There were a few times that family came close to falling apart. But their faith sustained them. You go to church with her? Sort of. I'm in a lot of churches. Evangelist? Not exactly. How about you? I work for the government. That explains the need for peace and quiet. Yeah. Oh, Kelly. Work? Yeah. Deadlines? You could say that. A lot of decision-making? Look, I really shouldn't be talking about my work, but... Yes, it's about decisions. I understand. You can't possibly understand. Every breath you take is put under a microscope. I talk to someone in the bakery and it's a sound bite on the news. Sometimes it's just a... Lonely? Yeah. Lonely. So what's bugging you about this decision? Like I said, I... Look, do you really not know who I am? Sure I do. You're somebody who's looking for peace. And quiet. You know, I go to church, I pray, I love reading my Bible. I always thought that was part of the reason why the people, why they thought I would do a good job for them. I've always tried to trust people. I never 100%. So we're talking deep pain, hidden from everyone, keeping you from moving forward, right? What? Don't worry. It's not that uncommon. You don't know anything about me. Do you think God knows? Yes, I do. That's one of the things I struggle with. Ooh, this is ridiculous. I don't even know you, and I've got someplace to be this afternoon. I've got to go. You'd be ashamed to leave without the peace you came for, Maggie. Okay, nobody calls me that but my family. Now, just who are you? Obviously somebody who can read a keychain. I'm... I'm sorry. Oh, I didn't mean to be... Look, I'm really just jumpy today. You know what? I feel like stretching my legs. You want to walk with me? Sure. Why not? Thank you. Would it help if I told you that I know what it feels like to feel lonely in the face of getting criticized? Did your friends think you were doing things just to look good, instead of knowing you well enough to realize it was something else? I know some did. I also know others didn't. But it really wasn't about what my friends thought. It was about doing what I knew God wanted me to do. There are a lot of things people can call you that'll stick. Hypocrite's the worst one. Do you think anyone is ever fully prepared for what life throws at them? Struggling isn't pretty. Sometimes it isn't meant to be. What if you didn't struggle when you should have? Meaning what? Meaning, what if deep down you knew something was wrong, but you did it anyway? You failed the test, and the reminder of it never went away. Are you discounting God's ability to forgive? I don't know. Maggie, God's love is massive in size and strength, and His desire to forgive people is just as big. But that just doesn't seem... Rational? It isn't. God's love makes no sense at all to the world. Especially if people try to define it in their terms. It goes against every instinct the world ever had. Thank you. I'm sorry. She's usually pretty good about staying put. No problem. Come on, sweetie. Let's leave these nice people alone. Bye, Elizabeth. Bye, Elizabeth. Looks like we made a circle. andrew robinson wasn't that the perfect woman you were telling me about andrew is far from perfect as a matter of fact when she was 31 years old she abandoned her family just up and took off one day you didn't mention that well they eventually got back together after a year she realized she made a mistake and went back home And? And she asked God to forgive her, and he did. And she asked her family to forgive her, and they did. I can't imagine how they could do that. Probably because she started at the top. And without that noose of guilt around her neck to hold her back, she went on to do some great things with her life. Just like you will. once that noose is gone. Like I said, you don't know anything about me. Tomorrow morning I be casting the deciding vote on a bill that will eventually bring abortion to an end in this country Yeah? When I was in college, I had an abortion. I was 21. He was one of my professors. I loved him and respected him, and I thought he felt the same way. When I got pregnant, well, it didn't fit into either of our plans, so that was that. A month later, we were over. I met Glenn at a fundraiser a few years after that, and we got married. But there'd been some damage, so he and I were never able to have kids of our own. I've carried this around with me for as long as I can remember. Thought I'd put it all behind me. Now here I sit, high and mighty, about to tell thousands of women they can't do exactly what I did. What kind of person am I? Your one has just overlooked a couple of important details. What are you talking about? Well, first of all, God didn't say you are forgiven just as soon as you feel forgiven. He said you are forgiven. You don't feel that way. The problem is between you and that noose I mentioned earlier, not you and God. Would that be the noose that's keeping me from accomplishing great things? You've always believed in what happened at the cross, right? Yeah, of course I have. Well, if you don't acknowledge the forgiveness part, then that whole thing was a big waste of time. Do you think God arranged all that so you could feel chained up by something you did 30 years ago? Or so that you could move on and maybe keep other people from being chained up the same way? At least a hundred times I've asked for His forgiveness. Then there's just one thing left for you to do. Accept it. Bye, Maggie. Bye, Jesus. When did I lose the night day? All the colors fade to gray. The world is changing. The turn starts to slip away. Where's the hope of better days? The heart it fails me And cold is in the air Never more alone than now Sorry you didn't have time to read it. The only thing that isn't filled in is your decision on the vote. I trust you'll take care of that. Thank you. I want to thank you all for being here today. I know everyone's anxious to get a heads up on how I'm going to vote tomorrow. It's a decision that will have repercussions for years to come. and it's one that has the possibility of beginning a healing process from a place that has divided us as a nation for a long time. In reaching my decision, I did a lot of soul searching. I also searched out for the one who made my soul to begin with. so now instead of explaining to you about my conflict and struggle with telling other women how to live their lives i'd like to tell you how i've decided to live mine about 30 years ago i had an abortion i was young i wasn't married and I certainly wasn't walking with God. I was going my own way, down my own path. And for years after, I lived with fear and guilt and shame for what I'd done. It wasn't until I accepted the gift of his forgiveness that I was able to lay that horrible time of my life at his feet. And from that moment, I was freed of all that inner pain that had been like a noose around my neck, choking the joy of life for me. I was also enlightened as to just how big God's heart really is and how there's nothing I can't overcome by way of his grace and healing touch now I realize there'll be some who call me hypocritical and I can understand that but I'd like to think of myself as being restored and given a second chance to rectify a mistake I made by now doing all I can to keep other women from being led down the same path I followed. This wonderful country of ours was founded on faith in a loving and understanding Father, and I believe that only through a reemergence of that faith will our land truly begin to heal. so it is my wish and my hope that tomorrow's vote will be the first step in re-establishing this country as our founding fathers meant it to be for so long we have taken too many leniences So it's not his fault. And it's just another example of how things get done instead of just talking about doing things. Your comments about the mayor were way off base. Oh, they were, were they? Yeah. I'm sorry, what was your name again? Wayne. Wayne, right. And where are you calling from? Here in the city. I see. So, Wayne, what you're saying is that you think the mayor simply showed a lapse in judgment as opposed to being the consummate idiot I've always known him to be? That's what I'm saying. Quick sidebar here, Wayne. Did you actually vote for this guy in the last election? You bet I did. Oh, well, that explains everything. Okay, Wayne, I'm going to tell you what you need to do. Now listen carefully. You may want to write this down. Now, first thing tomorrow morning, I want you to go down to the unemployment office because I bet dollars to donuts you're too stupid to have a job. And I want you to fill out an application and tell them that you want a paper route. Hey, I have a job. Don't interrupt me, Wayne. You might actually learn something. So, now you've got your paper route, which will provide you with your first ever paycheck. And that will force you to see just how much tax money is coming out of your back pocket, or your purse, or whatever it is you happen to carry, Wayne. And you'll see just how it's being flushed down the toilet to fund your mayor's moronic programs and scams. Look, I don't appreciate all that. I'm not going to tell you again, Wayne. So, on that day, when you're out delivering newspapers at 5 a.m., alone, because your wife left you, because who wants to be married to a loser that delivers newspapers for a living? I mean, who wants to be married to a paper boy? I want you to unroll one of those papers and take a good hard look at the front page, which says that the idiot that you put into office is facing prison because the collusion and the money laundering finally caught up with him. Hey, you know, you ought to just shut... I warned you, Wayne. Rule number one, you don't interrupt the host. You know, I guess they're right. You can't talk politics with some people. We've got to take a short one here and pay a few bills. You're listening to Around the Block with Neil Fazio. And right. Right, every night on WKFWAM Radio. We'll be right back. You must be a little tired tonight. I almost heard that guy get in three words. Keeping that guy from talking is doing him a favor. So you got a cigarette? Nope, and neither do you. The cleaning lady narked on us yesterday. She told Jim she found a butt in the men's room. I'm bored. The morons are especially drab tonight. Say, whatever happened to that hoser from Schaumburg? You know, the one who used to call and threaten me from aboard the mothership? I think they made him station manager. I need to be motivated. It's no fun eating people alive when they just lay there and take it. What I wouldn't give for just one worthy opponent. At least one per show. Well, stir somebody up. By the way, you're on in 20. Right. You're listening to Around the Block with Neil Fazio. Overnight, every night on WKFWAM Radio. Welcome back, disgruntled listeners far and wide. You know, speaking of politics, I was driving by the courthouse today, and I saw a group of fanatics holding a protest or rally or whatever, and I saw that all of their signs were written in Bible verse. And most of these whack jobs were praying out loud like a bunch of Trappist monks. So I assume that this was just another group of religious nuts out to tell the rest of us not to abort babies or not to read porn or not to enjoy cigarettes, not to do anything that conflicts with their twisted sense of morality that they want to shove down the throats of normal people. And I said to myself, when did we hand the reins over to these people? Exactly when did they take it upon themselves to be the self-appointed conscience of the masses? Our phone lines are open. I'm very, very interested in getting your thoughts on this. Back in a moment. You're listening to Around the Block with Neil Fazio. Overnight, every night on WKFWAM Radio. We'll be right back. Well, we'll see just how many holy rollers are up this time of night. Ah, worth a try. Uh, back up in ten. And it looks like you've got some fresh meat. Be beauty. You're listening to Around the Block with Neil Fazio. Overnight, every night on WKFWAM Radio. And we're back. Vince, who's our first caller? Kelly from Morton Grove. Kelly from Morton Grove. You're up on the Neil Fazio program. What's on your mind? Kelly. Oh, Kelly, are you there? Sorry, I'm a little nervous. No need to be nervous. Just go ahead. What's on your mind? Um, why are you so mean to everyone? Mean? I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a harmless little hush puppy. No, you're not. You're abusive and you act like you know everything. Well, Kelly, have you ever stopped to consider the fact that maybe I do know everything? Like that thing you said about those people at the courthouse. Did you have to be so insulting about it? Hello. It's called entertainment, sweetheart. Now, the way that I describe people and situations is just the way that I conduct business. I'll pray for you. Would you mind repeating that? I said I'll pray for you. I'll pray that God softens your heart. Well, Kelly from Morton Grove, I appreciate the kind sentiments. Thanks, but no thanks. A softer heart? Just not gonna work for me. But real quick, would you mind telling me... God! She hung up. I guess she wanted to get a head start on that praying thing. God's probably got to get up for work pretty soon. Hey, you know, Vince, maybe we ought to launch that for a new promotional campaign. Come say a prayer for old Neal Foss. Monday we could pray for a raise. Tuesday we could pray for a Mustang convertible. Wednesday, well, you get the idea. I guess we have our subject, the insanity of faith and the kooks that make it happen. Now, I don't care if you believe in divine intervention, worship trees, or if you think that your parakeet bears an eerie resemblance to the Virgin Mary. Give me a call. I want to hear from you. So help me God. William from Evanston. William from Evanston, go ahead. You're the next caller on the Neil Fazio program. Hey, man. What do you think you're doing? You can't trash people's beliefs on the radio. I call it enlightenment, Billy. And I'm just giving the people what they want. Yeah, but religion's off-limits. People take their faith serious. So, uh, what are you? Baptist? Catholic? I'm not any of those. I don't even go to church, but I defend people's right to believe what they want without being made fun of. But how can you not make fun of a group of people who wave their hands to God, thinking that it's somehow going to give their miserable little lives meaning? We're coming up on a hard break here. So come on, you thumpers far and wide. You haven't convinced me of anything yet. Except that you're all a bunch of whiny hypocrites who can't make a case for anything. So when we come back, I want to hear you give it your best shot. Now, I don't care if you're Methodist, Presbyterian. Heck, how about Jesus himself? If you're listening, J.C., and your people say you are, I want to hear from you. I'll put you at the top of the line. Right back in a moment. You're listening to Around the Block with Neil Fazio. Overnight, every night on WKFWAM Radio. We'll be right back. And we're out. Well, looks like you got that nest of bees you wanted. The lines are all lit up. Bring them on. I'm feeling my oats tonight. Hey, can you believe that woman? Which one? The one that said she'd pray for me. Seems to make him feel good. It just gives him a false sense of control. Like there's some kind of operator that I have to go through just to make God make joyous things happen in my life. We're almost up. Hey, Fuzz, is it a waste of time to say try not to offend anyone? That really offends me. You're listening to Around the Block with Neil Fasio. Overnight, every night on WKFWAM Radio. Welcome back, believers and believerettes. It's Neil Fazio, and tonight we're looking for the truth. And what makes you religious people tick? I want to know. Do your prayers ever get answered? And how do you tell the difference between answered prayer and good old-fashioned luck? Give me a call. Let's get it out in the open. Vincent, release the hounds. Yes? Hey, Faz, you have to take this one first. What's the name? I'll let him tell you. Go ahead, caller. You're next on the Neil Fazio program. Hi, Neil. And with whom am I speaking? It's Jesus. Would you mind repeating that? I said it's Jesus. Jesus himself? Jesus himself. Well, hello, Lord. And to what do I owe this honor? Your, um, is it your majesty? Jesus is fine. All right, Jesus. What made you call? You said you wanted to hear from me. And I'm also a little curious about if you meant what you said. About what? About looking for the truth. Oh, you bet. So, JC, is it okay if I call you anything I like? Within reason. All right. Let's get down to my first question. Shoot. The other day, I was driving past the Little League field, and both teams were lined up along the base paths, praying before the game. Uh-huh. So if both teams are praying before the game, how does God decide who wins? Well it not about who wins Oh so athletes that pray before a game are just wasting their time Well no Prayer never wasted Oh, that's so? Yeah. So all that training and working out is overrated, huh? A few holy molies and you're good to go? Prayer's not just reciting words, Neil. Lessons in prayer from someone who knows. Thanks for enlightening me. No, it's more like reminding you. This is the stuff you knew when you were eight years old, Neil. Remember how you used to pray before every game? The other kids used to make fun of you, but you whispered your prayers anyway. Well, my little mind wasn't fully formed back then. Besides, I think most kids back then were instructed to pray before games. But your prayers were different. In what way? Well, most kids pray to win. And? But you didn't necessarily pray to win. You only prayed that you wouldn't make any mistakes. And how would you know that? At least no mistakes that people would notice. It wasn't about winning or losing with you. You actually prayed to be invisible. To just get through the game without messing up. Alright. Who put you up to this? Nobody. Was it Kevin? Your cousin that played with you? Yeah. You and Kevin haven't spoken in 11 years. And even back then, he would be the last person that would ever make fun of you. If you're joining us late, we have on the line with us the Son of God. Or the amazing Kresgen, or some serious stalker, I'm not sure which. But I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Tell me, Jesus, where have you been keeping yourself for the last, what, 2,000 years or so? I've been right here. So, were you with that group of protesters that were outside the courthouse today? Well, they weren't protesting anything. They were praying over a decision that was being made inside the building. But to answer your question, yes, I was with them. I see. Now I'm beginning to get a bead. At the same time, I was also with you as you drove by. Oh, so, you think you know all about me, huh? Uh-huh. So, what color shirt am I wearing? That's a parlor trick meal. I called to answer your questions. What questions? I believe your topic was on faith. Right. So, look, Jesus, we've got to do a short commercial break, but would you mind hanging on? We'd love to continue on the other side If you'll pardon the pun I'll stay as long as you want me to Groovy We'll be right back Hey Vinnie Patch me through on this guy He's on Hello Hi Neil Alright who are you My ex put you up to this No Then who are you I'm who I said I was. Listen, you're a fruitcake is what you are, pal. Now, I don't know who you've been talking to, but why don't you just... Wait, hold on a second. What is it? No, don't cut this guy off. Every line is lit up now. This is great stuff. You still there? Yeah. Look, I don't know who you've been talking to or what you're up to, But my producer wants to keep you on a little longer. But you listen to me. You stay on topic or you're off. You got it? Loud and clear. And I'm still going to find out who you are. It's over, Neil. And what is? Your commercial. Yes, yes, we're back. Talking with, now, brace yourselves, Jesus of Nazareth. And people say I don't get the hot guests. So, Jesus? Yes? What good did it do for those kooks, excuse me, your followers, to stand outside the actual courthouse where a decision was being made? Did they have to be on location for God to hear their prayers? No, of course not. Well, then why didn't they hold their little vigil at a church? Isn't that what it's for? They were in church. You want to run that by me again? It's all in the definition mainly. Churches, in this day and age, have come to mean a building for worship and preaching. And don't forget for passing the plate. Right. But in actuality, the word church is taken from a Greek word that means the people of God, or collective body of believers. The point being? The point being, you don't actually go to church, you go to be with church. Fascinating. So, if those people don't get their wish, was it all a big waste of time? It's not a matter of filling a wish. God's not Santa Claus. Then, why pray? Well, look at it this way. It's the method of communication that God set up for people. Any relationship gets stronger when two parties can communicate. Well, that brings me to a question that's always bugged me, Jesus. Stay with me here. Now, according to the Bible, when you were supposedly on earth, we'll call it the first time, the Bible states that you were continually praying to God. Yeah. And that same Bible also clearly states that you are, in fact, God himself. Uh-huh. Well, call me crazy. But isn't it technically impossible to pray to yourself? Nothing is impossible. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Nothing is impossible with God, yada, yada, yada, so forth and so on. Just answer the question. I'll give you the answer, but there's no way you can fully understand it. Try me. The question is, if Jesus was God, then why did he pray? You know, the same question could be asked for why I slept and why I ate, why I cried, felt pain. Are you stalling? No, not at all. When I walked the earth, I was fully God, but I was also fully man. One of the main reasons I came was to teach mankind how to live a godly life. So the best way to do that was to become one of them and provide a righteous model for them to emulate. Which means what? It means that I sought the Father's will and I depended on Him. And I prayed to Him, just like He expects everyone to do. With all due respect, existing as two different people at the same time doesn't make sense to me. With all due respect, it's not intended to make sense to you. Moving on. You want to take a stab at the fact that Christianity, your home court advantage, is arrogant and intolerant in its claim to be the one true faith? What bothers you most about that statement? If I had to pick something, I'd say it's the way that evangelicals try to make people think that they've got the morality market cornered. So, you want to discuss other religions and morality? Why not? Let's fire it up. You dabbled with Eastern religions back in your college days, right? What, did you read that in some old station bio or something? Well, is it true? Yeah, yeah, it's true. What about it? Well, what's the ultimate source of morality in Hinduism? Does their ultimate source establish right and wrong? No, no, the source is amoral. In Hinduism, the ultimate force is neither right nor wrong. It simply is. So, what's the basis for morality if the source of all things is non-moral? What decides what's right or wrong? My understanding is that people do. But people are an extension of the source, right? Yeah. But you just said the source is amoral. So how could people be left to decide? What do you remember about Buddhism? Enough. Enough? Is that your answer? All right, smart guy. In Buddhism, the ultimate reality is an abstract void called nirvana. You enter nirvana by traveling an eightfold path. Go on. You enter nirvana by traveling an eightfold path and stamping out all attachment and desire in yourself. Once that's eliminated, all of your suffering ends. Your turn. Well, let me ask you something. Would you agree that the majority of human accomplishments, like inventions and discoveries, heroism, for example, would you agree that all these are achieved by someone having passion? I guess. Not to mention the fact that humans have millions of sensory nerve cells in the skin, all designed to provide pleasure. What are you getting at, Messiah? The fact that that part of Buddhism just doesn't make sense. Which part? The part that says that this impersonal universe made very personal human beings, that all have great desires and the ability to feel pleasure. Point B. But the goal in life is to ultimately get rid of all desire. Well, I guess that part doesn't make sense. Tell me this. Do you think that maybe the suffering in India was so great that Buddha tried to come up with a belief system that was based entirely on alleviating suffering? Who knows? Well, Jesus, it's been great having you on. We'll see you for cake and ice cream at Christmas time. You're listening to Around the Block with Neil Fazio. overnight every night on WKFWAM Radio. We'll be right back. What do you think you're doing? That clown had enough material to finish out the show. And the show is my show, you got that? We talk about current events and subjects that I choose, not the other way around. What? That guy get to you? You think he ate your lunch on those questions? Just gave me the creeps. That's all that little league thing and all that other stuff. Give me a cigarette, will you? Still can't do it. You're up in about ten. You're listening to Around the Block with Neil Fazio. Overnight, every night on WKFWAM Radio. Welcome back. You know, all this yapping by the city council about a new basketball arena has got me on the brink of vomiting. Follow me here. Now, the city expects you and me to fork over 5% more of our hard-earned money to provide a bunch of 25-year-old millionaires with an overpriced, overbuilt playground. Now, if you have any brains at all, you agree with me, so let's hear about it. Who's up, Vince? Stuart from the South Side. Stuart, you're the next caller on the Neil Fazio program. Hey, why'd you cut the Jesus guy off? Because it was time to move on to other business, Stu. The guy was starting to bore me. Now, do you follow pro basketball? I really like the way he explains stuff. Yeah, I'm sure you did, Stu. Vince? Christina from Naperville? Christina, you're on the Neil Fazio program. Is there any way you can get the guy who said he was Jesus back on? Look, we get thousands of callers per week. Do you think we have everybody on redial? He was more interesting than anybody else you've had on this week. Well, Chrissy, that's your opinion. Well, can you have him back on again? Look, Chrissy, everything here is supply and demand. We take callers in the order that they come in. If the guy calls back, I'll put him on. Okay. Now, do you have a comment about the arena? No. That was it. Bye. Vincent, who's next? It's that guy, Foz. What guy? The Jesus guy. We got anybody else? Nobody. Every other line went black. You're kidding me, right? We have a little surprise for some of you. Jesus has returned. Caller, are you there? Hi again, Neil. So, what pearls of theological wisdom are you going to lay on us this time? I think I made enough academic points for one night. So, why'd you call back? Because there's something you still want to know. Oh, really? And what's that? If what I said about prayer never being wasted is true, because you prayed once and you never thought I heard... Well, I think you finally blew one, pal. I can't remember the last time I said a prayer. I can. It was the night your son died. What? He prayed that he wouldn't die, but he died anyway. And you've been mad at me ever since. Why didn't you save him? The reasons he died, and the reasons I didn't step in... Go into that long list of things you won't understand until another time. Yeah. But listen to me. Even though you gave up on me that night, it might comfort you to know that I've never given up on you. And I'd love to talk with you again. Goodbye, Neil. I'm here when you need me. Yeah. Fagy, you okay? Yeah, just fine. You want to hit the booth and get tomorrow's promos knocked out? Can we do it a little later? I'll go grab a bite. Just don't leave me hanging. I won't. So who did you think that nut was, anyway? Maybe he was who he said he was. Excuse me. Can you tell me if there's a coffee shop close by, open this time of morning? Yeah, there's an all-nighter just around the corner. I'm heading that way if you want to tag along. Yeah, that'd be great. Neil Fazio. The radio guy. You listen to the show? All the time. How about tonight? Yeah. Some show, huh? Yeah, it was some show. I think you'll like this place around the corner. Really good coffee. Oh, yeah? No frappuccino, no capillante. Good, good coffee. How are the eggs? Political commentary, then humor. But if you remember the exchange between Bottom and Puck in the middle of Midsummer Night's Dream... Let's see what it's that line. Okay. Hey, Gage. You got an answer for that one? you should know this stuff by now. This is all review, and you need to know this, but only after you've had a chance to complete your project. Oh, and fair warning, guys, there will be a quiz on Monday. So for those of you who didn't do so hot on the last one, this may be your last chance for extra credit. All right, let's turn to page 34, and I suggest you take notes because this stuff will be on the test. The chart on the left-hand side shows the contrast between Warren's argument that Shakespeare was a satirist and O'Bannon's theory that his works were more political commentary than humor. Is there a problem back there? Kelly? Jordan, is there a problem? No, ma'am. Does anyone else in the room have a problem, Jordan? No, ma'am. All right, then. Let's pay attention. The overriding factor in this debate goes back to what we learned in the first chapter. Can anyone tell me what that was? Hey, Virgin. What's up? Stop calling me that. Oh, I'm sorry. How about, um, Little Angel? Hey, Jordan, are you going to Kenneth's party tonight? Kelly, Little Angel doesn't go to parties. Little Angel might see somebody take a drink or smoke a cigarette. What? Real cigarettes? Oh, my God. Don't say it. Virgin ears. And virgin eyes. And virgin hair. And virgin shoes. Besides, she can't go to a party. It's Friday night. She probably has Bible study with her youth group. Well, she can bring them along. I'll do a sermon about parties. Thou shalt not drink beer. Thou shalt not touch girls. Okay, real funny. Can you please move? What's your hurry? I've got to catch a bus. Hey, that's cool. We'll walk with you. Hey, Jordan, is it true you got picked out of your last school for praying in class? No. Is it true you don't date because you only like girls? Ooh, I better watch out. Come on, guys, just lay off. Come on, Jordan. Throw your Bible at us. Come on. Hey, Joel, what would you do if I kissed you on the mouth right here in front of everybody? Come on, do it. Do it. Come on, go ahead. Look, this is my uncle, and he works undercover for the FBI, and if you don't get out of here, you're going to be in big trouble. You heard what she said. Come on guys, let's go. Freak! Thanks No problem They treat you like that all the time All the time. Do you want a bite? You miss lunch today? I miss lunch every day. No place to eat where you won't get harassed? Here. You know, for some reason I'm still hungry. There's a diner on the corner. You want to go grab a bite? I'm not supposed to be alone with strangers. It's full of people. Yeah. Or do you not want to spoil your dinner? Mom doesn't get home till 8, so dinner's not till 8.30. Let's go. Wait a minute. I don't have any money. Don't worry about it. You guys ready to order? You go ahead. I'm still trying to decide. I'll have a cheeseburger and fries, and this will all be on one ticket. Okay. How about you? I'll have a triple cheeseburger with everything, a large order of onion rings, some potato skins, and a strawberry milkshake with whipped cream. Is somebody else going to be joining her? No, just us. Okay, thanks. I'll get that right out. Thank you. So, things are tough at school, huh? What? I'm just trying to figure out... Trying to figure out what? Why are you doing all this for me? Well, I know you wanted to talk to me, and I thought this would give us a good chance. Dear Jesus, I am really, really scared. Please come talk to me. Love, Jordan. I wrote that in my diary when I was like nine. The night your mom and dad split up. I've got these, too. You made me a birthday card every Christmas from the time you were three till you were 13. I never mailed these. I got them anyway. Is it really you? Yes. What took you so long? I'm dying here. Well, I never really thought you needed to talk. You just needed to be held. But today was different. What happened today? Today was the first day I thought you might actually be ashamed of me. Well, not exactly ashamed. More just, like, tired of getting made fun of all the time. Because of the way you look at things differently and the way you choose to live your life? Yeah. I can relate. You can relate to me. Remember when I said the world hated me first? Yeah, but I didn't think you were talking about high school. Oh, it applies to high school. Later on, college, someday when you have a job, neighbors. The world's always going to be there. So it's not going to get any better? Probably not that part. Not as long as you choose me over the world. Great. But I think you're tough enough to handle it. It just won't be easy sometimes. Okay, here you go. Oh, that's right. Okay, can I get you guys anything else? I think we're fine, thanks. Okay. How do we... Say the blessing? Yeah. Do I say it directly to you, or do I have to... Just do what you normally do. This is so weird. Lord... Thank you for this food, and I really mean that. Please bless it to the nourishment of our bodies. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Amen. See, why do we say that? What's that? Amen. What does it even mean? It comes from the word aman, which means to faithfully support or confirm. So if you say it at the end of a prayer, it's reaffirming your dedication to God. Do you have to close your eyes? It's okay with me if you don't. Bow your head? That's kind of a respect thing, but it's not necessary. So why is it bad to pray for, like, stuff? Like a new video game or a house or something? Well, it's not necessarily bad. It's just that God doesn't want to be reduced to being a magical genie in a bottle. What do you mean? I mean, if God just showed up to fill orders for things like new clothes and new cars and vacations, pretty soon people would forget all about him and just start concentrating on the presents. No good? No, no good. That's not the way he wants to have a relationship with his family. Find joy in the blesser, not the blessings. Can you make that up? Bumper sticker. I did decide something earlier What's that? I decided I wasn't going to keep my Bible in my locker anymore Hmm Back to the harassment thing? So what's next? What do you mean? I mean, what's the next part of our relationship you're willing to part with So people won't make fun of you? The prayers? The rules about parties? The way you dress? The Bible stays. Is that your decision or mine? Both. Good. Are Bible questions okay? Shoot. If God wrote the Bible, then why do people get the credit? Well, I guess you could say it's God's way of doing things. Look at it this way. Remember when you were a little kid and you wanted so bad to help your mom make cookies? Yeah, well, sort of, kind of, I guess. Thanks for meeting me halfway. And even though she could have done it a lot quicker and with a lot less mess if she'd done it all by herself, she was happy to accept your offer to help. So you made the cookies together, and when the cookies were all done, your dad comes home from work, your mom holds out a plate of cookies and says, Look what Jordy made for you today. And your mom didn't take any credit for herself. to the Bible authors? God's always going to be able to perform tasks for him, and he always has. Not so much because he needs them to or because they're just so great at it, but because he knows how blessed someone is when they let themselves be used by him. Next. Okay. I saw this TV show on cable the other night, and it was all about how there was always mistakes in the Bible and how it couldn't trust it to be accurate. Do you want the long explanation of the short one? How about medium? Okay. First, technical. It was written down many, many years ago by many, many authors. Thousands of years ago in two languages that aren't even spoken today. Is that an excuse? No, not at all. In fact, if it was any other book, then the world would celebrate it as one of the most well-preserved, most factually relevant books in history. and any mismatch in details would just be written off as a typo. Okay, next. Second, the world you live in, which includes the producers of the show you watched, has an ever-changing way that they view history. What do you mean? Well, for example, one of the points that show made was that there was no evidence to support that crucifixion was used to punish criminals during my time. Right. But, right after the show aired, some archaeologists uncovered a pair of heel bones that had been nailed together. They did test on the bones. They found out that they dated back to the time when I was on Earth. So the Bible was vindicated, and the critics were off to disprove their next point. That it? Do you want one more? Sure. Sometimes, error is in the eye of the beholder. Like? Like, Luke wrote that I was born in a stable. But Matthew wrote that the wise men visited my mother at her house. And some people see that as a contradiction. Let me get this one. Go ahead. Okay, but there's nothing that says they both happened at the same time. Like, the wise men could have visited you a little while after you were born, after your parents moved into a house, right? Right. But you know what? None of that stuff is the most important thing. Then what's the most important thing? The thing is that no other book has been more vital to saving lives or changing the world. Telling the truth. Or telling the truth. Or helping people through tough times. So when you think about it, spending so much time and energy trying to disprove which side of the ark the elephant slept on, just doesn't make much sense. Yeah, you're right. Are you going to finish your fries? You know what I don't like? What's that? Some of the movies they've made about you. Like which ones? Well, I don't know the titles. Mainly the older ones where your hair's all stiff and you just stare straight ahead without even blinking. Yeah? Yeah, and they've got you walking around like this. I never thought of you that way Well, I'm glad Why do the movie people think you acted like that? Well, sometimes when you have very little information to go on Your imagination runs wild with you Not always in a good way Maybe that's why some people don't like you Because they think you're really like that That's a possibility So, of all the movies made about you Which actor that played you did you like the best? Do I have to pick one? No, I guess not. Wouldn't know which one's my favorite? Which one? With a guy that looked just like you. Well, sort of. And I didn't speak English, it was... That movie was in Latin and Aramaic. Yeah. Mom wasn't going to let me watch it, but I talked her into it. She still thought it was pretty bad for me to see. Was it really as bad as it was in the movie? the crucifixion worse gosh I'm sorry but you know what if I had to I'd do it all over again for you Thank you. I'm sorry. Something you're interested in, like literature? Yeah, so I can teach kids about how cool old stories are so they're not stuck in front of the internet playing video games all day. Who's your favorite author? Wait a minute. Don't you already know the answers to all these questions? I know I'm enjoying our conversation. Me too. Wait, let's see. I like Jane Austen, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Italy Dickinson for poetry. That's a pretty diversified group of authors. What about your parables? What about them? You wrote all those? Right. Who else would have written them? So, why'd you use them then? What, the parables? Yeah, I mean, why didn't you just come out and tell people what you wanted them to know? You know what's funny? Some of the disciples used to ask me the same thing. Well, it's like this. Back then, just like today, some people were better at understanding spiritual truth than others. So, if I was talking to a group of people that was humble and anxious to hear the truth, then I could speak plainly with them. But if a group had some people who were prideful and not anxious to hear what I had to say, or resentful of what I was saying, It was a more natural way to teach him within the context of a story. Are you allowed to tell me about heaven? As in, is your grandmother there? No, that's not what I meant. She is, though, isn't she? Yeah. What I meant was, can you tell me what it's like? Not in a way you can understand. Can you try? I'll give it a shot. Okay. I want you to close your eyes and name for me your three favorite places in the whole wide world. The beach, Disney World, and Ireland. You've been to Ireland? No, just read about it and seen some pictures. Good enough. Now, name your three favorite sounds. Flutes, the way dolphins talk, and wind chimes. All right. Favorite smells? Smells? Yeah. Okay. Fresh roses, puppy breath, and mom's chocolate chip muffins right out of the oven. Good. Now keep your eyes closed. I want you to imagine a universe where nothing else exists except for these favorite things. Yeah? Heaven is a million times better. You're right. I can't imagine it. Sorry about being ashamed of you today. It's alright. Do you want this? You bet I do. I made it myself. I love the colors. You know, we better get moving. Your mom's going to be calling to see if you're home yet. Can we stay just a little bit longer? This is my other favorite place. Sure. Thank you. I can't believe we're already here. Time just flew by. Always seems that way, doesn't it? So, you're probably not going to come back and do this with me again, are you? We'll see. I know what that means. Then you should also know that I'm never really leaving you. Is that a metaphor? If you want to take it that way. You know? Yeah? Back when I used to get scared when I was little, there's something I always used to imagine myself doing. You don't think you're too big now? I'll never be too big for you You many dangers, toils and snares I have already come. Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures. Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost But now