Shouting "Hallelujah" for a Life-Saving Legacy!

By Dr. Robert H. Schuller

The year 2010 celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Dr. Robert H. Schuller's ordination, the 60th anniversary of his marriage to his beloved Arvella, and the 40th Anniversary of the Hour of Power! In joy and thankfulness, we shout "Hallelujah!" It's very rare that a pastor continues his work into a sixth decade, so at this historic time in Dr. Schuller's life and ministry, PowerLines asked him: "Dr. Schuller, when you look back at 60 years as a pastor, a preacher and a minister, what do you see as your greatest achievement?" He answered: I don't remember exactly when it happened, but, after we went on TV in 1970, very early in our television history, we started receiving letters that said: "You saved my life."

Now, over the last 40 years, I've read it repeatedly- thousands of times. It's really quite a remarkable thing. I wondered how it was possible that so many people would tell us: "You saved my life."

I must say, when I graduated from seminary in 1950, if somebody would have told me then that my life of ministry would actually help save a single life, or even two lives, I think I would have been profoundly shocked to consider that God would use me to make that kind of impact on human lives. Now, 60 years later, after reading or hearing that sentence countless times from countless people, it is still truly amazing. It has to be a "God thing."

I say this because we've always preached the positive love of God. And it's God, alone, through Jesus Christ who has the power to save and redeem. I am humbled and exhilarated that God has used this ministry like an electrical power cord to transmit the positively charged and encouraging gospel of Jesus Christ. I have so often said, "All I did was show up for work every day." And, I truly believe it. Arvella and I came to work every day with a sincere desire in our hearts to share our faith in our living Lord with everyone we met.

"You saved my life"- this is the great legacy of our work for Jesus Christ from the Crystal Cathedral to the people of America and the world.

The PSALMS . . . timeless, affirming encouragement for ALL ages.

By Jim Coleman,
Crystal Cathedral Creative Director

I was sitting in church recently listening to Dr. Robert H. Schuller read the morning scripture. In the opening sentence from Psalm 18:2 he emphasized, as only Dr. Schuller can, "The Lord is my rock!" At that moment, a tiny girl sitting behind me on her mother's lap repeated aloud, "My rock!" She spoke in a childlike yet loud and firm tone. As I turned around to look at the toddler, her mother and I exchanged smiles. Then, towards the end of the reading, when Dr. Schuller said it once again, the little voice behind me repeated the words, "My rock!" I heard her say those words a couple more times during the hour-long service. It was amazing... and a marvelous illustration of how impressionable our minds are and how important it is to fill up our hearts and our heads with positive spiritual values.

Can you imagine the difference it might make in your life if you heard Dr. Robert H. Schuller reading the Psalms in your home, car, or office every day? Maybe you, like this little girl, would discover the positive value of repeating and embracing the timeless, affirming encouragement given to us by God through the Bible in the life-enhancing book of Psalms.

Across the country in Pennsylvania another viewer wrote, "I don't know where
to begin to thank you for the Hour of Power. I often feel depressed, but when I listen to your program I am always strengthened and find the courage to press on. Your music and weekly speakers are wonderful!"

A viewer from Germany wrote, "Your program has helped me a lot when faced with difficult times in the past. I watch Hour of Power on TV and watched it on DVDs as well. While your ministry is facing difficult times, I'm praying for you. I would like to thank you and your staff for the good work."

Yet another viewer wrote, "The statement, 'You saved my life,' greatly applies to me. I can never thank you and God enough for your Hour of Power television ministry. I have been watching your program since I was 24 years old; I am now 54. I can't imagine my life without you."

As you can see from these comments, the Hour of Power is a powerful source of God-inspired hope and encouragement to persons everywhere . . . it's a power-line on a power-pole positively charged with spiritual energy for your soul and millions of others, as well.

Just as the Hour of Power positively charges your life, so too, your financial gifts recharge this ministry . . . making it possible for the Hour of Power to stay on the air. Without you, the power would be cut and the Hour of Power would not continue its 40-year+ commitment to being a power-line of positive faith.

Yes, you are important to this world-televised ministry. We know times are tough so, this month, we've put together a special hope-generating gift just for you. We have created, for the first time in our 40-year television history, an audio CD that features Dr. Robert H. Schuller reading the Psalms from the pulpit of the Crystal Cathedral. A graduate of Princeton Seminary once said that Dr. Schuller sets the model for the powerful presentation of scripture reading. So, we have taken 26 Psalms, all read by Dr. Schuller, and put them on a 74-minute CD just for you to listen to morning, noon and night . . . over and over and over again. Hear the true power, the true hope, the true timeless and encouraging gift of God as communicated in the cherished pages of the Bible in the Psalms.

Please write, call, or go online today to request and receive the inspiration of Dr. Robert H. Schuller reading the Psalms. Include as generous a gift as you possibly can so, together, we will keep the power of the Hour of Power positively charged and sending out to you God's spiritual energy, truth, and love!

Finding Hope to Face His Tomorrows

By Robert H. Schuller

Some years ago I received a phone call from a man who lived in Monte Carlo.

"Dr. Schuller," he said, "we have never met, but you saved my life. I want to come see you and thank you in person."

A few days later, this man flew to Los Angeles and arrived in my office. A tall, handsome, broad shouldered man, probably in his early fifties, he limped toward me, a white cane in his right hand, one leg conspicuously shorter than the other one. A black patch covered his left eye, while his right eye stared upward, unfocused. His companion spoke first, saying, "As you can see, Juan is blind. But he's alive-thanks to you. Juan and I were business partners and friends before his accident. He wanted to tell you his story himself."

Juan shared that he was an only child, the sole inheritor of his wealthy Cuban family's fortune. Fearing he might lose it all under Fidel Castro's regime, Juan sold everything except his large private yacht, which he sailed to Monte Carlo to dock in front of his new, luxurious, waterfront home.

One rainy weekend, Juan and his girlfriend headed to Switzerland in his Rolls Royce. Driving too fast, he lost control on the slick road and wrapped the car around a tree. Seven months after, he awakened from a coma to find that the accident had killed his girlfriend, caused him to go blind, and badly deformed his left leg.

Juan went to bed every night hoping he would die in his sleep. Eventually he planned to kill himself with a revolver on a Sunday morning after dismissing his staff. Once alone, he would turn up the TV's volume as loud as possible. With one hand holding a gun to his temple, he would use his other hand to press the TV "on," filling the room with sound, drowning out the gunshot. Sunday morning came, Juan followed his plan, but before he could pull the trigger, he heard the bellowing voice of a TV preacher: "This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

"Dr. Schuller," Juan said, "those words exploded through my mind and soul. It was like divine shock therapy. I couldn't pull the trigger. I dropped the gun, falling on my knees beside it, and listened to your every word. I could hardly wait for the next Sunday to arrive. I wondered if you'd be back. You were! And you were there the next Sunday...and the next...and the next. In time, I invited Jesus Christ into my life." Just then, Juan reached into his coat pocket, drew out a flat, slender package, and handed it to me, saying, "Thank you, Dr. Schuller. You saved my life!"

I opened the package to find a beautiful gold anchor, my initials inscribed on one side, on an exquisite chain. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. I wear it often, and every time I do, it silently whispers to me the words of Hebrews 6:19: "...hope is an anchor for the soul."

Before Juan found God, he was shipwrecked in the sea of life. However, once he anchored himself to a mighty force-faith-Juan left behind his shipwrecked life to live a buoyant life anchored in hope.

Exciting New Benefits for the 2010 Eagles Club

To thank our Eagles member for being there, we've added exciting new benefits for you when you join the 2010 Eagles Club:

+ Exclusive and unique weekly video Fireside Chats with Dr. Robert H. Schuller, Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman and other Crystal Cathedral ministry leaders via the Internet or on DVD.

+ Quarterly, one-hour Fireside Teleconferences with Dr. Schuller and Sheila who will answer YOUR questions live, enabling you to grasp the true heartbeat of this ministry in a very personal way.

+ 15% discount on all purchases when you visit Crystal Cathedral Books & Gifts on campus or online at www.cathedralgifts.com (does not include Hour of Power offer items available for a donation only).

+ 15% discount on all 2010 The Glory of Christmas performances when you visit the box office, order online, or call 877-54-GLORY.

+ All 2010 Eagles Club members will ALSO receive a two-volume, genuine leather, deluxe-bound set of Dr. Schuller's bestselling books: Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do and Tough-Minded Faith for Tender-Hearted People (simultaneous New York Times bestsellers).

+ Our 2010 Golden Eagles Club members will receive a limited edition, 18-book library of some of Dr. Schuller's most popular books.

We invite you to join or renew your 2010 Eagles Club membership. Don't wait. Commit TODAY! Let your life soar as a 2010 Eagle for the Hour of Power!

Eagles Club: Saving Lives Through the Hour of Power

Before going on air on a morning talk show in Boston recently, the show's host told Sheila Schuller Coleman, "I remember being a small girl sitting on my parent's lap in the living room watching the Hour of Power every Sunday morning. Your father's positive message meant the world to my parents and my family. Thank you."

"You saved my life," an anonymous Hour of Power viewer writes. "I am an incest survivor. As I was going into therapy, I tuned in to your church service. Its positive message of hope got me through the difficult process of healing many traumatic childhood memories and restoring my soul and spirit."

As the televised Hour of Power celebrates its 40th Anniversary this month, testimonies like this could be multiplied a million times over.

"If I could do one thing before my life is through," says Founding Pastor, Robert H. Schuller, "I would sit down with you—one on one—and tell you the countless ways the Hour of Power has changed lives."

What makes it possible for the Hour of Power to sustain this kind of human impact and be the fourth longest-running weekly program in television history? "The Eagles Club has long been the solid foundation of the Hour of Power" states Dr. Schuller. "Nearly one-third of our operating budget is funded by their combined annual pledge. These faithful givers have seen us through many financially challenging times." Because of our Eagles Club, nearly 20 million persons hear the UP!lifting, HOPE-filled, healing message of God's love every week.

Never has America and the world needed the televised Hour of Power more. And never has the Eagles Club been more important to the Hour of Power than in 2010. Last year's economic free-fall greatly affected this ministry. (Insufficient funding as has recently forced the Hour of Power off the air on stations in twelve major U.S. cities: Madison, Wisconsin; Tucson, Arizona; Wichita, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; Dayton, Ohio; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Monterey, California; Cincinnati, Ohio; Orlando, Florida; and Bingham, New York; Traverse City, Michigan; Spokane, Washington.) Yet, in spite of these losses and a substantial drop in revenue during 2009, our faithful Eagles Club members kept us alive, and the despairing hearts of many were lifted as gifts gave wings to the Hour of Power.

Saving Lives Through A Message of Hope For 40 Years

Where It All Began...40 Years Ago.

In September 1969, Robert H. Schuller visited his close friend Billy Graham at his Crusade in Anaheim, California. Rev. Graham said, "Bob, my weekly radio program is called the Hour of Decision. I think you should go on television with your powerful message and call it the Hour of Power."

So in February 1970, the foundation of what has become the longest-running, most widely viewed televised church service in the history of the world was laid when Dr. Schuller telecast his first Hour of Power program to the Los Angeles viewing area.

A year later, the Hour of Power was on in New York City. Chicago was added soon after. And by 1973, the program was seen on 12 stations across the United States.

By 1985, the Hour of Power's fifteenth year on television, it could be viewed by 70 percent of the United States' population.

Today, televised services from the Crystal Cathedral are watched by nearly one million persons weekly in the United States (available to over 200 million), across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, the United Kingdom, Africa, Russia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, making it the most-watched televised church service on television.

With today's technology, an estimated one billion people have access to the Hour of Power's unique, positive message of love and hope originating from the Crystal Cathedral. What an extraordinary opportunity!

Maria Fury “Beat the Odds” with Heroic Faith

In the blink of an eye, life can change forever... as Maria Fury discovered in the spring of 2005. Maria had worked at the Crystal Cathedral for seven years as Secretary to Dr. Robert H. Schuller. She loved her work. Life was good. She had made many friends in her time at the Crystal Cathedral and believed with all her heart that the work she was doing for Dr. Schuller, day in and day out, reached way beyond the ordinary. "I never felt like I was just doing work," Maria shared in a letter to Dr. Schuller's son-in-law, Jim Coleman. "I always felt that I was sharing God's word with millions of people on behalf of the Crystal Cathedral."

One day while at work, Maria started having excruciating pain in her lower back. By the next morning her pain was so unbearable that her husband Dan rushed her to the hospital. The doctors immediately ran tests on her where they discovered a spot, confirming a short while later that she had Stage IV pancreatic cancer (the cancer had already metastasized in her liver). So, how does someone even begin to respond to news like that? Maria responded with heroic faith! And with the "effective and fervent prayers" of many, the exercise of good-health practices while undergoing rigorous chemotherapy treatments, and leaning heavily on the support of friends and family...Maria "beat the odds" of pancreatic cancer and survived far beyond what her doctors either predicted or expected. "Stage IV is not my cancer stage," Maria used to tell Dr. Schuller who thought of her like a sister. "My cancer stage is to live, survive and work for you!" And she did... for FOUR more years!

Maria Fury's heroic faith victoriously carried her across the "finish line" on August 28, 2009 when she passed from this life to the next. And like the great Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, his friend in the faith, Maria now shouts these words with joy from heaven, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Watch a Ripple Turn into a Wave of New Ideas

Some years ago I took a trip to Israel. One morning while there, I took a motorboat ride across the Sea of Galilee. Suddenly, in the middle of the lake, the operator of the boat cut the motor. I wondered for a moment if we were out of gas. When I inquired, the man said, "No. I thought it would be nice, Dr. Schuller, if you could just listen to the quietness out here." Soon the boat stopped rocking and the only sounds we heard were those of water lapping gently against the stern of the boat and the magnificent silence of the centuries as we sat in the very same sea Jesus had fished more than 2,000 years earlier.

We may think we know the answers to all of the important questions in our lives. We may think we have our philosophies, ideologies, theology, and psychology all neatly packaged and labeled and feel safe and secure in our knowledge. That's when it's time to cut the motor, to pause and be still and recognize the mighty presence of God, and to ask ourselves: "Am I ready for a new idea?"

Summer offers you and me an opportunity to slow down, to cut the motors of our busy lives, to sit expectantly allowing the ripple of quietness to inspire within us a wave of new ideas. Who knows where just one thought, one new idea, might take you or me in the weeks, months, and years ahead if we stop long enough to let God speak in the summer quiet.

- Robert H. Schuller