Cedric Pisegna - Choose Life and Live

August 17, 2025 | S25 E33 | 28:25

Father Cedric Pisegna is a Catholic priest. His program will inspire and encourage you to Live with Passion.

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Live with Passion with Father Cedric | Cedric Pisegna - Choose Life and Live | August 17, 2025
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  • Father cedric pisegna: choose life and live.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Father cedric: welcome to "live with passion!"
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  • I'm father cedric pisegna.
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  • So glad that you decided to tune in to the program, and that's
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  • What i want to talk about today: decisions and choices.
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  • Choose life and live.
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  • That's the name of this episode.
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  • This comes from deuteronomy chapter 30.
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  • Joshua says, "i call heaven and earth to witness this day that i
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  • Have set before you: life and death, blessing and the curse.
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  • Choose life that you and your descendants may live, loving the
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  • Lord your god, obeying his voice, cleaving to him.
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  • That means life to you and length of days."
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  • Thank you, thank you, thank you for making that decision to
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  • Watch "live with passion!"
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  • Some of you have made the decision to buy my books and the
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  • Cds and the dvds of this series.
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  • Thank you, thank you, thank you that supports my programs, and
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  • Then some of you also are partners with my ministry.
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  • I treasure you.
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  • Thank you for your donations.
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  • I pray for you at mass.
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  • I'm very, very grateful, and these are decisions that you
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  • Have made, choices that you have made, and i wanna add value to
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  • Your life.
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  • I wanna help you in your life to make the best decisions that
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  • You can.
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  • To choose life and live.
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  • Thank you for watching.
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  • Thank you for buying my resources.
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  • Thank you for donating to my programs.
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  • That is something--"that" meaning decisions, choices--
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  • Is something that we do-- psychologists tell us, believe
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  • It or not--35,000 times a day.
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  • You may not realize it, but you're making a decision just
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  • About every second, getting up, sitting down, going to the
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  • Bathroom, getting something to eat, what you're gonna eat,
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  • Where you're gonna go.
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  • We're always making all these decisions 35,000 times a day,
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  • And i want you to make right decisions, good decisions,
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  • Fruit-bearing decisions.
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  • And i have to tell you that not only decisions determine our
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  • Future, they determine heaven or hell.
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  • Where are we going to end up in eternity
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  • Is all because of our choices.
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  • We of course have free will.
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  • God gave us that.
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  • The freedom to make our own choices.
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  • God does not manipulate us.
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  • He tries to influence us, tries to help us to make good
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  • Decisions by preaching, by the word, by good books,
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  • By resources.
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  • God works in our life to try to help us to choose life, but god
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  • Will never make that decision for us.
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  • We have to make our own decisions and we are responsible
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  • For the choices that we make and our choices determine our future
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  • Here on earth as well as eternity.
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  • So this is crucially, extremely important.
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  • The bible is very firm about the significance of decisions.
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  • As we just heard joshua challenge the people, "choose
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  • Today whom you will serve, and as for me in my house, we will
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  • Serve the lord."
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  • Choose life and live.
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  • And i can't stress this enough: your choices, your decisions
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  • Matter, and they determine the life that you're gonna have, the
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  • Life that you have, and the life of eternity.
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  • Vitally important.
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  • And it's crucial that you make right decisions, not
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  • Wrong choices.
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  • Of course, we are responsible for the choices that we make and
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  • I wanna harp on you on this a little bit.
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  • Go to the book of genesis and you'll read about adam and eve
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  • And, of course, they were given free will and as you know they
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  • Made wrong choices.
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  • They went exactly against god's will.
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  • It's interesting what they did as soon as adam and eve sinned:
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  • Adam blamed eve, and then eve blamed the snake.
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  • And that's what we do, we don't wanna take responsibility for
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  • Our bad choices.
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  • But the bottom line is, is that we are culpable.
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  • We are responsible.
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  • We had free will, but we fell and every one of us have fallen
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  • Because none of us has completely made right choices.
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  • We've all made wrong choices, but a series of right choices
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  • Can reverse a series of wrong choices.
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  • Just like jesus coming, making completely right choices all of
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  • His life, he reversed the curse of adam and eve.
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  • Same in our life.
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  • If you continue to make right choices, the wrong choices that
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  • You've made in the past will be reversed.
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  • I wanna help you to make right choices.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Father cedric: we are culpable.
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  • We're responsible.
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  • Ask anybody that's serving time in prison.
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  • They are responsible for the choices that they make that put
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  • Them into prison.
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  • Ask anyone who's living with regret because of the choice to
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  • Have an abortion.
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  • The pain and the remorse hurts.
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  • And ask anybody experiencing sickness, the sickness of a
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  • Headache from a hangover from drinking too much or drugging
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  • Too much.
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  • We are responsible for our choices and we will bear the
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  • Fruit of our choices.
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  • It's key, you understand that.
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  • You reap what you sow.
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  • You sow bad choices, you're gonna reap a bad life.
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  • Sow good choices, you're gonna reap a graced life, a good life.
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  • God has given us the supreme gift of freedom, free will, that
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  • Is the ability to make our own choices.
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  • We all have that.
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  • It's a wonderful gift.
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  • God wanted us to have that.
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  • He did not make us puppets.
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  • He's not trying to manipulate us.
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  • We are free.
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  • It led to the fall of people, of course, because of the freedom
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  • We abuse that freedom.
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  • But the bottom line is god will not manipulate us.
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  • He will not try to force us to make a decision, but he will
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  • Inspire us and encourage us and try to influence us to make good
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  • Decisions like i'm trying to do for you right now because good
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  • Decisions lead to a blessed life, an abundant life.
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  • We make our own choices and we will have to bear the
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  • Consequences of these choices good or bad, prosperous or
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  • Lacking, heaven or hell.
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  • You might think to yourself some of you, "wait a minute i've got
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  • An addiction and addiction is genetic.
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  • It's supersedes choices.
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  • I'm not responsible for the addiction."
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  • Well, time out just a minute.
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  • Maybe you're not responsible for having the addiction, but you
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  • Are responsible for recovering from the addiction.
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  • Getting into a 12-step program, sobering up, coming
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  • Into recovery.
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  • We are all responsible for our choices.
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  • And the bottom line is, is that who you will be tomorrow is the
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  • Result of today's choices.
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  • This is from the letter to the ephesians.
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  • You are called god's work of art.
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  • God chisels us, but we also chisel our own life by
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  • Our choices.
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  • Return to god something magnificent.
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  • God has given you life.
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  • He's blessed you.
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  • And i have that saying that i love: "who you are is god's gift
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  • To you, but who you become is your gift to god."
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  • And we become by making right choices, good actions, taking
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  • Responsibility for our life, trying to be obedient, being in
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  • Sync in harmony with the will of god.
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  • Choose life and live.
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  • Return to god what he's given to you, your life, and watch what
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  • God will do with it.
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  • God will supply the grace, but we have to go the extra mile and
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  • Do the actions.
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  • Basic wisdom is this: choose today what you'll be happy
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  • With tomorrow.
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  • I hope you got that.
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  • Choose today what you'll be happy with tomorrow.
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  • Not just what you'll be happy with right now, because a lot of
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  • People choose drinking and overeating and all that, then
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  • They end up overweight with a hangover.
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  • No, choose today what you'll be happy with tomorrow, because
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  • Tomorrow always comes.
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  • That's basic wisdom.
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  • It was emerson who gave us this saying: "sow a thought, you'll
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  • Reap an action.
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  • Sow an act, you'll reap a habit.
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  • Sow a habit, you'll reap a character.
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  • Sow a character, you'll reap a destiny."
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  • You will reap what you sow.
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  • You can eat sugar or eat healthy.
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  • That's a choice.
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  • You can drink every day or drink in moderation.
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  • You can just sit there and watch tv and be lazy or exercise after
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  • This program.
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  • You can doubt god exists or choose to believe that god
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  • Exists, of course he exists, but he'll give you a good life.
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  • "we walk by faith and not by sight."
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  • That's this series.
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  • You can surf the net, the iphone, spend a lot of time just
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  • Scrolling around, or you can spend some time in prayer.
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  • That's your choice.
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  • These are all choices.
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  • Take a nap or spend a little time reading the bible or
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  • Good books.
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  • And i wrote a book called "choose life and live" that will
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  • Help you, empower you to make good decisions.
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  • I pray that you will make that choice to get that book "choose
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  • Life and live."
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  • Or you can be selfish, self-absorbed, just thinking
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  • About yourself all the time, or you can choose to help
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  • Other people.
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  • Life is all about choices, and your life is gonna be what you
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  • Decide for it to be.
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  • God has a will for your life.
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  • He wants you to be prosperous and at peace, but it
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  • Involves obedience.
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  • Self-sacrifice, effort, work, good decisions.
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  • And if you push yourself, you will be creative and you will
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  • Realize your potential, but you gotta push yourself.
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  • You can't just live what's called, in the bible, "live in
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  • The flesh," you gotta live in the spirit.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Father cedric: let the spirit push you and lead you and
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  • Guide you.
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  • Don't just be led by your emotions, by your hunger, by the
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  • Way you feel; rather, choose life and live.
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  • The fruit of good choices--and all of our choices have
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  • Fruit--is a significant life, this is good
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  • Choices--accomplishment, fulfillment, happiness,
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  • Influencing others, having a legacy, honoring god.
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  • The fruit of bad choices: boredom, unhappiness,
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  • Sinfulness, remorse, regret, despair, frustration.
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  • Choose life and live.
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  • Some of our choices we just do without even thinking about it.
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  • You probably realize that.
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  • Get up in the morning.
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  • Brush your teeth, have something to eat, maybe read the paper.
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  • We just have our routine, our habits, take a shower, you do it
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  • Without thinking.
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  • But other choices, other choices require thought: what am i gonna
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  • Do today?
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  • What are my goals?
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  • What do i wanna accomplish?
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  • That requires some thought, and you have to make a good decision
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  • And it doesn't just come without even thinking about it.
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  • When i put together a homily or a script for television, i sit
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  • Down and i choose what i'm gonna write.
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  • I make choices about what i'm going to include, what i'm not
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  • Going to include, and it's very important.
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  • Now, there are still other major choices that require some what's
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  • Called discernment.
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  • And sometimes it helps to get a spiritual director or talk it
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  • Out with somebody like: should i move?
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  • What am i gonna do with my life?
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  • Should i keep this job?
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  • Should i marry that person?
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  • You can make those choices on your own, but it helps to talk
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  • With somebody else, somebody with some wisdom, somebody that
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  • You can trust.
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  • People come to me with a lot of questions 'cause i'm a catholic
  • 00:13:05.568 --> 00:13:09.271
  • Priest and i wanna help them make good decisions, but i don't
  • 00:13:09.271 --> 00:13:14.610
  • Want that power.
  • 00:13:14.610 --> 00:13:16.812
  • I don't want to have the power over somebody's life to make the
  • 00:13:16.812 --> 00:13:19.582
  • Decision for them.
  • 00:13:19.582 --> 00:13:20.950
  • I can give them some perspectives, but the bottom
  • 00:13:20.950 --> 00:13:23.953
  • Line is, is i try to give them biblical perspectives so that
  • 00:13:23.953 --> 00:13:26.922
  • They can make right choices.
  • 00:13:26.922 --> 00:13:29.925
  • For example, i remember a woman came to me one time, a married
  • 00:13:29.925 --> 00:13:33.095
  • Couple actually: "our son is gay.
  • 00:13:33.095 --> 00:13:35.865
  • Should we go to their wedding?"
  • 00:13:35.865 --> 00:13:37.499
  • And i tried to help them to see what the bible teaches about
  • 00:13:37.499 --> 00:13:39.902
  • That and try to help them to make a good choice.
  • 00:13:39.902 --> 00:13:42.905
  • Somebody else said, "should i marry a non-catholic?"
  • 00:13:42.905 --> 00:13:47.076
  • Others, "what job should i take?
  • 00:13:47.076 --> 00:13:49.445
  • What is god's will for me?
  • 00:13:49.445 --> 00:13:51.981
  • Should i get operated on or try another means of therapy?
  • 00:13:51.981 --> 00:13:56.752
  • Should i become a religious or get married?"
  • 00:13:56.752 --> 00:13:59.421
  • There are all kinds of questions and decisions to make.
  • 00:13:59.421 --> 00:14:04.260
  • God has a will for our life, but he gives us the latitude of
  • 00:14:04.260 --> 00:14:07.863
  • Free will.
  • 00:14:07.863 --> 00:14:09.598
  • And whatever choice we make, as long as we try to be obedient to
  • 00:14:09.598 --> 00:14:14.069
  • His will and keep making good choices--say for example, get
  • 00:14:14.069 --> 00:14:18.040
  • Married--god will bless that.
  • 00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:23.279
  • There's not just one way to live.
  • 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:26.015
  • God gives us a whole kaleidoscope of choices that we
  • 00:14:26.015 --> 00:14:29.385
  • Can make, but if we try to be in sync with his will, he will
  • 00:14:29.385 --> 00:14:34.456
  • Bless the choices that we make.
  • 00:14:34.456 --> 00:14:36.692
  • I made the choice, of course, to become a religious and to become
  • 00:14:36.692 --> 00:14:39.295
  • A priest.
  • 00:14:39.295 --> 00:14:40.629
  • Could have made the choice to get married and i believe that
  • 00:14:40.629 --> 00:14:42.865
  • God would have blessed both paths.
  • 00:14:42.865 --> 00:14:45.167
  • But i'm so glad that i chose this.
  • 00:14:45.167 --> 00:14:47.236
  • I believe it was in sync with god's will, and i did it, not
  • 00:14:47.236 --> 00:14:50.973
  • Just by myself, i made that decision, a major decision, with
  • 00:14:50.973 --> 00:14:54.476
  • The help of other people like my novice master, and i'll tell you
  • 00:14:54.476 --> 00:14:57.880
  • About that in a minute.
  • 00:14:57.880 --> 00:15:01.050
  • I like what an air traffic controller once said.
  • 00:15:01.050 --> 00:15:04.019
  • He's guiding the airplanes and he said, "good information leads
  • 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:08.157
  • To good decisions."
  • 00:15:08.157 --> 00:15:10.492
  • Good information leads to good decisions.
  • 00:15:10.492 --> 00:15:14.163
  • It's important that you gather intel.
  • 00:15:14.163 --> 00:15:17.433
  • When it comes to major choices, gather intel.
  • 00:15:17.433 --> 00:15:20.936
  • For example, i was talking about novitiate back 1984, 1985, long
  • 00:15:20.936 --> 00:15:27.076
  • Time ago i went to something called novitiate.
  • 00:15:27.076 --> 00:15:30.346
  • That's a year-long discernment process.
  • 00:15:30.346 --> 00:15:33.949
  • I did that in pittsburgh, pennsylvania, to decide to make
  • 00:15:33.949 --> 00:15:37.753
  • A final decision whether or not i'm gonna profess vows as
  • 00:15:37.753 --> 00:15:41.690
  • A passionist.
  • 00:15:41.690 --> 00:15:43.058
  • I'm a religious priest, a passionist.
  • 00:15:43.058 --> 00:15:45.494
  • You've heard of the jesuits, franciscans.
  • 00:15:45.494 --> 00:15:47.796
  • I'm a passionist, very similar to them.
  • 00:15:47.796 --> 00:15:51.934
  • You don't just make that decision lightly.
  • 00:15:51.934 --> 00:15:54.403
  • I had two novice masters helping me.
  • 00:15:54.403 --> 00:15:57.006
  • I was with other students and they helped also as they made
  • 00:15:57.006 --> 00:16:00.075
  • Their decisions, and what i did was i didn't just go to the
  • 00:16:00.075 --> 00:16:04.646
  • Monastery and say, "okay, yes, i wanna become a passionist."
  • 00:16:04.646 --> 00:16:08.817
  • I lived with a passionist for a whole year in pittsburgh,
  • 00:16:08.817 --> 00:16:12.187
  • Pennsylvania, at this monastery.
  • 00:16:12.187 --> 00:16:15.057
  • And during that year, i saw what it was like to live as
  • 00:16:15.057 --> 00:16:19.862
  • A passionist.
  • 00:16:19.862 --> 00:16:21.196
  • I saw the people that i would be living with and it helped me to
  • 00:16:21.196 --> 00:16:25.200
  • Make an informed decision.
  • 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:28.103
  • That's called gathering intel.
  • 00:16:28.103 --> 00:16:30.572
  • The same way in your life if you're gonna make a major
  • 00:16:30.572 --> 00:16:33.409
  • Decision, gather intel.
  • 00:16:33.409 --> 00:16:35.744
  • The other thing i had was two novice masters that i would sit
  • 00:16:35.744 --> 00:16:39.281
  • And talk to with spiritual direction and they helped me
  • 00:16:39.281 --> 00:16:43.819
  • To decide.
  • 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:45.521
  • And i finally did choose to profess my vows some 40 years
  • 00:16:45.521 --> 00:16:49.858
  • Ago now, and i've been a passionist ever since and i'm
  • 00:16:49.858 --> 00:16:52.828
  • Not looking back and i'm so glad for the decision that i made,
  • 00:16:52.828 --> 00:16:55.731
  • The commitment that i made.
  • 00:16:55.731 --> 00:16:57.366
  • I made a good decision and i'm now bearing fruit and i want
  • 00:16:57.366 --> 00:17:00.369
  • That for you too.
  • 00:17:00.369 --> 00:17:02.071
  • Get information and don't be afraid to share with people that
  • 00:17:02.071 --> 00:17:05.407
  • You can trust.
  • 00:17:05.407 --> 00:17:07.709
  • And then, of course, don't just make decisions on your own.
  • 00:17:07.709 --> 00:17:11.847
  • As i said, for example, i think about the president, president
  • 00:17:11.847 --> 00:17:15.317
  • Of the united states, he has all these people surrounding him,
  • 00:17:15.317 --> 00:17:18.720
  • His cabinet, and they help him to make good quality decisions
  • 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:22.991
  • By giving him information.
  • 00:17:22.991 --> 00:17:25.227
  • And he has his advisors that he can talk to that know him, that
  • 00:17:25.227 --> 00:17:30.165
  • Know the situation two heads are better than one.
  • 00:17:30.165 --> 00:17:33.368
  • It's important that you get other people to help you on
  • 00:17:33.368 --> 00:17:36.738
  • Your decision.
  • 00:17:36.738 --> 00:17:38.107
  • And then, look at your own desires.
  • 00:17:38.107 --> 00:17:43.145
  • Saint ignatius of loyola, great saint in the catholic church,
  • 00:17:43.145 --> 00:17:46.148
  • Talked about interior movements.
  • 00:17:46.148 --> 00:17:49.551
  • This is the ignatian discernment method.
  • 00:17:49.551 --> 00:17:53.055
  • You look at your feelings, how you're moving within, what your
  • 00:17:53.055 --> 00:18:01.230
  • Propensity is toward this decision.
  • 00:18:01.230 --> 00:18:04.666
  • And ignatius taught us that you can pretty well discern whether
  • 00:18:04.666 --> 00:18:11.173
  • Or not it's the will of god if your decision, if your interior
  • 00:18:11.173 --> 00:18:16.645
  • Movements endure.
  • 00:18:16.645 --> 00:18:19.781
  • If you have them for a day or for a couple of days or even for
  • 00:18:19.781 --> 00:18:22.584
  • A week and then it fades, it's probably not of god.
  • 00:18:22.584 --> 00:18:26.421
  • But if it endures, take a good look at it.
  • 00:18:26.421 --> 00:18:29.958
  • We're talking about how to make a good decision.
  • 00:18:29.958 --> 00:18:33.028
  • I remember when i was in college, i had to make a
  • 00:18:33.028 --> 00:18:36.298
  • Decision about the major that i wanted and i wasn't quite sure.
  • 00:18:36.298 --> 00:18:39.067
  • I started in business, went to marketing, went to management,
  • 00:18:39.067 --> 00:18:44.306
  • Then eventually i went to social work because god touched me and
  • 00:18:44.306 --> 00:18:47.276
  • I made different decisions.
  • 00:18:47.276 --> 00:18:49.711
  • It's important that you make good decisions and you can do it
  • 00:18:49.711 --> 00:18:54.049
  • By the way you feel, but it's got to endure.
  • 00:18:54.049 --> 00:18:58.086
  • I remember as a priest after preaching for a number of years,
  • 00:18:58.086 --> 00:19:03.091
  • I felt like god was calling me to reach out beyond the walls of
  • 00:19:03.091 --> 00:19:07.095
  • The church through media through television and radio.
  • 00:19:07.095 --> 00:19:11.800
  • And i thought to myself i'd really like to do it but is this
  • 00:19:11.800 --> 00:19:14.836
  • Really god's will?
  • 00:19:14.836 --> 00:19:16.838
  • And i pursued it.
  • 00:19:16.838 --> 00:19:18.607
  • I tried to get into television and radio, and i noticed
  • 00:19:18.607 --> 00:19:22.778
  • Something that the feelings weren't going away, they stayed
  • 00:19:22.778 --> 00:19:26.615
  • With me.
  • 00:19:26.615 --> 00:19:27.983
  • In fact, i even prayed: "heavenly father, if this is not
  • 00:19:27.983 --> 00:19:30.719
  • Your will please take this away from me.
  • 00:19:30.719 --> 00:19:32.988
  • Take these feelings away, because i don't know if i'm
  • 00:19:32.988 --> 00:19:35.557
  • Being motivated by i want people to know me or to make money
  • 00:19:35.557 --> 00:19:38.227
  • Or something.
  • 00:19:38.227 --> 00:19:39.561
  • I wanna make sure that it's your will."
  • 00:19:39.561 --> 00:19:41.763
  • And the feelings didn't go away, as i was saying, the
  • 00:19:41.763 --> 00:19:44.800
  • Feelings endured.
  • 00:19:44.800 --> 00:19:47.636
  • I noticed that, because they endured, they stayed there, they
  • 00:19:47.636 --> 00:19:53.275
  • Even harassed me,
  • 00:19:53.275 --> 00:19:55.110
  • I had to pursue it and i tried to make a good decision and the
  • 00:19:55.110 --> 00:19:59.414
  • Rest is history.
  • 00:19:59.414 --> 00:20:00.749
  • I've been on television and radio now for some good 20 years
  • 00:20:00.749 --> 00:20:04.553
  • Bearing fruit.
  • 00:20:04.553 --> 00:20:06.021
  • The fruit of a good decision, and it's the same in your life.
  • 00:20:06.021 --> 00:20:09.291
  • Gather intel, talk it over with trusted people, look at
  • 00:20:09.291 --> 00:20:13.829
  • Your feelings.
  • 00:20:13.829 --> 00:20:15.163
  • Do your feelings endure?
  • 00:20:15.163 --> 00:20:16.965
  • And then, of course, this should be number one: include god in
  • 00:20:16.965 --> 00:20:21.536
  • Your choices.
  • 00:20:21.536 --> 00:20:23.238
  • Says in proverbs chapter 3, "acknowledge the lord in all
  • 00:20:23.238 --> 00:20:26.775
  • Your ways, and he will direct your paths."
  • 00:20:26.775 --> 00:20:29.878
  • That means what plane tickets you're gonna buy, speaking
  • 00:20:29.878 --> 00:20:34.016
  • Engagements for me, where i'm gonna be traveling.
  • 00:20:34.016 --> 00:20:38.520
  • Acknowledge the lord in all of your ways.
  • 00:20:38.520 --> 00:20:43.125
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:20:43.125 --> 00:20:48.563
  • Father cedric: "we walk by faith and not by sight," include god
  • 00:20:48.563 --> 00:20:53.335
  • In your journey.
  • 00:20:53.335 --> 00:20:55.470
  • Ask god to help you to make good decisions, gather intel, talk it
  • 00:20:55.470 --> 00:21:00.409
  • Over, look at your feelings.
  • 00:21:00.409 --> 00:21:03.545
  • You will make good decisions.
  • 00:21:03.545 --> 00:21:05.180
  • That's the anatomy of discernment.
  • 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:08.417
  • And then i really wanted to share with you, and this is one
  • 00:21:08.417 --> 00:21:10.686
  • Of the major goals of this episode, in my book that i was
  • 00:21:10.686 --> 00:21:14.089
  • Talking about "choose life and live."
  • 00:21:14.089 --> 00:21:16.525
  • I wanted to talk about making good decisions that will lead
  • 00:21:16.525 --> 00:21:21.330
  • You to eternal life.
  • 00:21:21.330 --> 00:21:22.664
  • Remember what i said: decisions really matter.
  • 00:21:22.664 --> 00:21:26.768
  • Here we're sculpting our future and in eternity.
  • 00:21:26.768 --> 00:21:31.006
  • Heaven or hell is in the balance.
  • 00:21:31.006 --> 00:21:33.408
  • This is what really matters, the decisions that are made.
  • 00:21:33.408 --> 00:21:37.312
  • I remember one time i was studying to be a priest and i
  • 00:21:37.312 --> 00:21:41.083
  • Did something that only two catholic priests that i know of
  • 00:21:41.083 --> 00:21:44.519
  • Have done, myself and another priest that i met there.
  • 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:48.123
  • We went to a billy graham conference on evangelism.
  • 00:21:48.123 --> 00:21:51.927
  • This happened in louisville, kentucky.
  • 00:21:51.927 --> 00:21:54.062
  • It was a school for evangelists.
  • 00:21:54.062 --> 00:21:56.565
  • We were there for about a week, and out of the thousand
  • 00:21:56.565 --> 00:21:58.867
  • Ministers, protestant ministers, we were the only two catholic
  • 00:21:58.867 --> 00:22:03.105
  • Priests there in attendance.
  • 00:22:03.105 --> 00:22:05.474
  • And when i got out of that, that whole week long, that whole week
  • 00:22:05.474 --> 00:22:09.578
  • Long conference was what billy graham taught us: to preach and
  • 00:22:09.578 --> 00:22:15.350
  • Teach for a decision.
  • 00:22:15.350 --> 00:22:19.354
  • That's the goal of preaching: that we're trying to help people
  • 00:22:19.354 --> 00:22:23.058
  • To come to a decision for jesus christ.
  • 00:22:23.058 --> 00:22:26.094
  • Have you ever seen billy graham on tv and he has the altar call
  • 00:22:26.094 --> 00:22:29.598
  • And people come down?
  • 00:22:29.598 --> 00:22:31.333
  • We do that in the catholic church with confirmation, with
  • 00:22:31.333 --> 00:22:34.836
  • Confession, people coming to christ, communion, adult baptism
  • 00:22:34.836 --> 00:22:39.474
  • In the ocia program.
  • 00:22:39.474 --> 00:22:41.777
  • During my parish missions i preached for a decision, trying
  • 00:22:41.777 --> 00:22:45.280
  • To help people to give their life to jesus in a deep
  • 00:22:45.280 --> 00:22:48.784
  • Personal way.
  • 00:22:48.784 --> 00:22:50.152
  • Very, very important because i wanna help you in your life now
  • 00:22:50.152 --> 00:22:53.588
  • To make the decisions and have a prosperous and abundant life, of
  • 00:22:53.588 --> 00:22:56.725
  • Course, but more than anything and that's what these programs
  • 00:22:56.725 --> 00:22:59.227
  • Are all about--i want you to have eternal life and the way to
  • 00:22:59.227 --> 00:23:02.264
  • Eternal life is by giving your life to christ who died for you
  • 00:23:02.264 --> 00:23:07.636
  • On the cross.
  • 00:23:07.636 --> 00:23:09.304
  • There's a song by tom booth that says it well: "i will
  • 00:23:09.304 --> 00:23:13.675
  • Choose christ.
  • 00:23:13.675 --> 00:23:15.777
  • I will choose love.
  • 00:23:15.777 --> 00:23:18.213
  • I choose to serve.
  • 00:23:18.213 --> 00:23:20.449
  • I give my heart.
  • 00:23:20.449 --> 00:23:21.817
  • I give my life i give my all to you."
  • 00:23:21.817 --> 00:23:25.320
  • That's called surrender, that's called yielding yourself to
  • 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:29.524
  • Jesus, and i'm gonna give you a chance to do that right now.
  • 00:23:29.524 --> 00:23:32.894
  • Gonna pray a prayer, i have a prayer card with a crucifix on
  • 00:23:32.894 --> 00:23:35.997
  • It, with a cross on it, and i offer that to you free
  • 00:23:35.997 --> 00:23:40.702
  • Of charge.
  • 00:23:40.702 --> 00:23:42.037
  • All you have to do is write me at houston, texas.
  • 00:23:42.037 --> 00:23:43.839
  • We'll send that prayer card to you.
  • 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:45.740
  • Call my 844 number.
  • 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:47.943
  • Also, you can go to my website and you can download it, has the
  • 00:23:47.943 --> 00:23:51.346
  • Crucifix on it.
  • 00:23:51.346 --> 00:23:53.148
  • And this is the prayer i wanna share with you it's a prayer
  • 00:23:53.148 --> 00:23:55.484
  • Of surrender.
  • 00:23:55.484 --> 00:23:57.486
  • Please follow along with me in the silence of your hearts or
  • 00:23:57.486 --> 00:24:01.389
  • Pray it as we put it on the screen.
  • 00:24:01.389 --> 00:24:04.192
  • "jesus, i trust in you.
  • 00:24:04.192 --> 00:24:06.595
  • I believe you suffered and died for me.
  • 00:24:06.595 --> 00:24:09.598
  • You gave your life for me and i will live for you.
  • 00:24:09.598 --> 00:24:13.168
  • Because of your love, i am saved.
  • 00:24:13.168 --> 00:24:16.238
  • I surrender my heart, my mind, my body to you.
  • 00:24:16.238 --> 00:24:21.676
  • Be lord of my life.
  • 00:24:21.676 --> 00:24:24.012
  • I love you lord jesus, amen."
  • 00:24:24.012 --> 00:24:28.416
  • I wanna send that prayer card to you and i want you to make good
  • 00:24:28.416 --> 00:24:33.121
  • Decisions in your life, but most of all, the primary decision,
  • 00:24:33.121 --> 00:24:39.861
  • The foundational decision: to give your life to christ, and
  • 00:24:39.861 --> 00:24:44.699
  • That will influence all the other decisions that you make.
  • 00:24:44.699 --> 00:24:48.904
  • God will guard you and guide you in all your decisions.
  • 00:24:48.904 --> 00:24:54.142
  • Choose life and live.
  • 00:24:54.142 --> 00:24:56.678
  • May all your choices lead to fruitfulness, prosperity, and
  • 00:24:56.678 --> 00:25:01.049
  • Most of all eternal life.
  • 00:25:01.049 --> 00:25:05.287
  • Joshua challenged his people and i challenge you now.
  • 00:25:05.287 --> 00:25:09.257
  • Choose life and live.
  • 00:25:09.257 --> 00:25:10.625
  • "and as for me in my house, we will serve the lord."
  • 00:25:10.625 --> 00:25:14.429
  • Don't just live, live with passion.
  • 00:25:14.429 --> 00:25:16.865
  • Father cedric: got a letter from a woman she said, "father
  • 00:25:20.869 --> 00:25:22.637
  • Cedric, thank you for your programs.
  • 00:25:22.637 --> 00:25:24.940
  • You speak to my soul."
  • 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:26.942
  • It's exactly what i need to hear, so appreciate that.
  • 00:25:26.942 --> 00:25:30.779
  • Choose life and live.
  • 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:33.648
  • I wanna help you make good choices.
  • 00:25:33.648 --> 00:25:36.384
  • I want to help you to have eternity through your choices.
  • 00:25:36.384 --> 00:25:40.822
  • Get that prayer card.
  • 00:25:40.822 --> 00:25:42.257
  • It's free with that prayer of surrender to jesus.
  • 00:25:42.257 --> 00:25:45.727
  • That's my heart.
  • 00:25:45.727 --> 00:25:47.095
  • I want you to have eternal life.
  • 00:25:47.095 --> 00:25:48.997
  • And then i wrote a book called "choose life and live."
  • 00:25:48.997 --> 00:25:52.100
  • That book costs $15 plus shipping and handling.
  • 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:55.737
  • If you donate, i will sign that book directly to you.
  • 00:25:55.737 --> 00:26:00.375
  • "choose life and live."
  • 00:26:00.375 --> 00:26:01.910
  • All you have to do, call 844-fatherc.
  • 00:26:01.910 --> 00:26:06.147
  • Make the decision to write me in houston, texas.
  • 00:26:06.147 --> 00:26:09.618
  • Choose to go to my website, frcedric.org.
  • 00:26:09.618 --> 00:26:13.655
  • Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance.
  • 00:26:13.655 --> 00:26:15.957
  • Don't just live, live with passion.
  • 00:26:15.957 --> 00:26:20.562
  • Female announcer: we invite you to purchase series 1025, "we
  • 00:26:20.562 --> 00:26:23.965
  • Walk by faith," dvd or cd, as well as the book father
  • 00:26:23.965 --> 00:26:28.503
  • Talked about.
  • 00:26:28.503 --> 00:26:29.838
  • Because of these resources, people everywhere are learning
  • 00:26:29.838 --> 00:26:32.874
  • To trust god.
  • 00:26:32.874 --> 00:26:34.209
  • Father cedric: "we walk by faith
  • 00:26:34.209 --> 00:26:35.677
  • And not by sight."
  • 00:26:35.677 --> 00:26:37.012
  • Female announcer: right now
  • 00:26:37.012 --> 00:26:38.346
  • Simply call 844-fatherc.
  • 00:26:38.346 --> 00:26:41.282
  • That's 844-328-4372.
  • 00:26:41.282 --> 00:26:45.954
  • A kind operator is waiting for
  • 00:26:45.954 --> 00:26:47.656
  • Your call or write father cedric
  • 00:26:47.656 --> 00:26:50.692
  • At 430 bunker hill road,
  • 00:26:50.692 --> 00:26:53.428
  • Houston, texas 77024,
  • 00:26:53.428 --> 00:26:57.232
  • Or log on to frcedric.org
  • 00:26:57.232 --> 00:27:01.536
  • And order online.
  • 00:27:01.536 --> 00:27:03.405
  • Simple, easy, and secure.
  • 00:27:03.405 --> 00:27:06.041
  • It is time to trust god more fully.
  • 00:27:06.041 --> 00:27:09.711
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:09.711 --> 00:27:22.524
  • Father cedric: made possible by the friends and partners of tbn
  • 00:27:19.254 --> 00:27:26.261
  • And "live with passion."
  • 00:27:26.261 --> 00:27:29.000