Our America with Lisa Ling is a new show on Oprah Winfrey's network OWN. The new episodes come on, on Tuesday nights at 9. Lisa Ling takes viewers along for an in-depth look at some of the most controversial and thought-provoking issues in the United States today, including religious movements, sex offenders, drug addiction and online brides. In each episode, Lisa immerses herself into the lives of the people she meets, offering compelling accounts of varied experiences and providing insight into some of our nation's most contentious issues. In sharing these stories, Lisa challenges viewers to understand different perspectives and even question what they themselves have always known to be true.
"Online Brides" is the newest episode. Men from the US will go over seas on a marriage tour to find a bride. It takes you on their journey from meeting them in their home here, all the way through the "courting" process. It also shows you the women they will be meeting and it shares a little bit of their personal story.
"Pray the Gay Away" is about people that are gay and christian. It shows their struggle on being gay, christian, or both. It shows a conference with Exodus International, an organization created to help people with unwanted same-sex attractions, to a Lutheran camp that helps gay youth embrace their sexuality.
"Faith Healers" is my favorite so far. Lisa and her crew visit Todd Bentley and attend a healing service at his Morningstar church in South Carolina. She describes Bentley as a rock star among faith healers, and also points out he is a former drug addict whose adultery almost derailed his ministry. She focuses most of the show on a man in a wheelchair. Doctors have told him that he will never walk again. He believes God has told him that while he is visiting this church, through healing, he will walk again. It was amazing to see how strong his faith was, even at the best and worst of times. I won't tell you how it ends, but it is so moving. Personally, I definitely believe in healing. God has the power to do anything and everything. Faith healing is completely different, in my opinion. I don't want to say it is for show, because I don't want to take anything away from God, but I can't grasp how these people believe in this.
As for the Pandora, I was going through the different stations today and found the "Traditional Country Hymns" station. These are songs that I grew up in church with, and we never sing these anymore. It is so sad to think about kids growing up in church and will only know praise choruses. No music to read or hymnals... Just giant screens and projectors. I will leave you with this and I hope it brings you peace and happiness:
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain
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