Participants: Jim Ayer
Series Code: MW
Program Code: MW000023
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00:13 Hey, once you come along with us right now
00:14 we're going to into enter the state of Leo Tolstoy. 00:17 Tolstoy, the Russian, you might remember 00:19 who virtually changed history, 00:23 find out how? 00:56 The village right here over my left shoulder 00:59 is the village that was here 01:00 during the time of Leo Tolstoy. 01:02 His whole state apparently surrounded 01:05 this particular area, in this particular village. 01:11 A couple other things 01:12 that are exciting to me here is Tolstoy's tomb. 01:14 Now it may sound funny to you, 01:16 but I like graveyards, 01:17 so we're going to check that out 01:18 in a minute, but first. 01:19 I want to check out the green house. 01:21 So let's go and check out the green house. 01:25 Well, the best laid plants, 01:27 we're locked out of the green house area 01:28 I can't get in, but let's check out over the fence, 01:31 looks like a pretty area. 01:56 I sure wish you could be here, 01:57 I mean, it is wonderful, 01:59 the ground cover is phenomenal, 02:02 the trees, the oaks are huge. 02:05 The birds over here are just absolutely phenomenal, 02:08 I mean this place is gorgeous. 02:22 Maybe a little hard on camera to see, 02:24 but these trees are intertwine, 02:26 they call it the love trees. 02:29 Couples come from all around, 02:30 it's been tradition I guess for a long time 02:32 and they cast money at the base of the tree. 02:35 They make their wish that their lives 02:36 might be intertwine forever. 03:06 Hey, for those of us who can't figured out, 03:08 this is the big pond. 03:12 Yasnaya Polyana meaning "Clear Glade" 03:15 was the home of an own Russian family of nobility. 03:18 On August 28, 1828, 03:21 Leo Tolstoy, was born at the state 03:23 and was destined to change the world. 03:25 The Tolstoy's were connected to the grandest families 03:28 of Russian aristocracy and as such Leo was born 03:31 into a life of privilege. 03:33 In 1844, Tolstoy began to study 03:36 law and oriental languages at Kazan University. 03:39 However his teachers labeled him as both 03:41 unwilling and unable to learn. 03:44 He found no meaning in the studies of the university 03:47 and left in midterm. 03:49 Early in his life, he developed 03:50 insatiable thirst for rational 03:52 and moral justification of life. 03:55 He couldn't understand why there was 03:57 such a difference in the life he lived 03:59 and the life of the peasants 04:00 that surrounded the family state. 04:04 It's exciting to think, 04:06 Tolstoy walked on the bridge just like this. 04:09 Matter of fact, they have redone this bridge 04:11 over and over to keep in its original condition. 04:14 But Tolstoy, the man who changed 04:16 so much of the world who had a huge influence 04:20 on Christianity walked this barge bridge. 04:25 Tolstoy was never satisfied 04:27 and was disillusioned by the materialistic 04:29 and selfish bourgeois class. 04:32 In 1859, he started the school for the peasants. 04:35 Tolstoy felt, he didn't deserve 04:37 the wealth into which he was born. 04:39 He was known to bring vagrants to his state 04:41 that he felt needed a helping hand 04:44 and was very generous to beggars 04:46 handing out large sums of money. 04:48 Tolstoy was a torched man guilty of being 04:50 born in noble while so many were born peasants 04:54 with no hope of education or advancement. 04:59 On the property is a beautiful old school. 05:02 The grounds are gorgeous, the balcony everything. 05:05 This school was provided by Tolstoy for his peasants, 05:09 they take care of all the property. 05:11 Now that was an extremely rare thing, 05:13 because during his time 05:14 you could kill your peasant with no problem, 05:17 wasn't against the law. 05:18 But he provided school for them, 05:20 he provided healthcare, he provided education, 05:24 phenomenal thing for a man of his time. 05:28 At one point Tolstoy began to attract 05:29 disciples in the following. 05:32 People began to refer to them as Tolstoyans. 05:34 Their religious views were based 05:36 on rigorous study of the gospels of Jesus 05:38 particularly the Sermon on the Mount. 05:41 However their view of Jesus Christ was that 05:43 He was spiritually guided human being 05:45 rather than the Son of God. 05:48 In the 1930s the Tolstoyans were routinely rounded up 05:51 by Stalin and sent to labor camps. 05:54 Tolstoy himself was a rationalist. 05:57 He held the view that reason was 05:58 the source of knowledge or justification. 06:00 However by the time he wrote his most famous work 06:03 War and Peace, his philosophy was undergoing to change. 06:08 He confessed that one should live 06:10 so as to have the best for oneself and one family. 06:13 This shift continued until he believed that 06:15 you had little control over your own life 06:18 much less the lives of others. 06:20 Finally, in 1901, 06:22 the Orthodox Church excommunicated him, 06:24 even though he had been public knowledge 06:26 for many years that his thoughts on life 06:28 and religion had nothing in common with the church. 06:32 Standing here at Tolstoy's home, 06:35 I look around at the grounds and the beauty. 06:39 Russia itself is truly a beautiful country, 06:41 you are in the cities of Moscow 06:43 and Saint Petersburg, congestion, fumes, 06:47 but you get out here in the country 06:48 and it's absolutely spectacular. 06:50 The sound of the birds are beautiful, 06:52 the water, it must have been 06:55 a tremendous inspiration to him 06:56 as he came here to write. 07:03 As a man of privilege, he divided his time 07:05 between Moscow and Yasnaya Polyana. 07:09 He also spent time between 1856, and 1861, 07:13 traveling throughout Europe. 07:18 In September of 1862, he was married for the second time 07:22 to Sophia Andreevna Behrs with whom he had 12 children, 07:26 five of which died in childhood. 07:31 The loss of children and even the mother 07:33 in child birth was not uncommon during that era. 08:04 Tolstoy was in good health for his age, 08:06 but in 1901, he became very ill 08:09 and left his beloved Yasnaya Polyana. 08:12 He was personally oppressed by the dichotomy 08:14 of his preaching of communism and easy life he led. 08:19 His life was one of guilt, because he had so much 08:22 and saw others with so little. 08:24 Finally in his wanderings away from Yasnaya Polyana, 08:27 he stopped at the convent 08:28 where his sister was the mother superior. 08:31 There he died on November 20, 1910. 08:35 He was buried in simple peasant's grave 08:37 in the woods 500 yards from his family home. 08:40 He died in November of 1910. 08:42 He was laid in this beautiful serene place. 08:45 But he was not a man of serenity himself, 08:48 because he created ripples around the world 08:50 by his writing, by his lifestyle 08:52 and everything he did including on his deathbed. 08:55 He spoke directly to the Russian Orthodox Church 08:58 saying these words. 09:00 "Though I walk through the valley 09:01 of the shadow of death" 09:03 two plus two does not equal six. 09:06 He was not a man 09:07 who was in love with the Orthodox Church. 09:46 Tolstoy was looking for peace and happiness. 09:49 He didn't really find it. 09:51 She is dying of cancer, 09:53 but yet threw a myriad of miracles 09:56 she found her peace and happiness. 10:03 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 10:07 Four years ago, I married a man 10:09 who claimed to be the Prophet of God. 10:11 However he failed to care for the needs of our family 10:14 and eventually left me while I was pregnant. 10:17 A short time later he returned saying 10:19 he had a revelation that I was committing adultery 10:22 and he tried to force me to confess that charges. 10:25 I will do no such thing 10:27 to even cause much trouble in my life. 10:30 The programs of Adventist World Radio 10:32 have helped me to cope with these difficulties. 10:35 I'm writing asking you to pray for myself 10:37 and my two children as we reconcile this problem. 10:43 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 10:47 with millions of people 10:48 everyday in their own languages. 10:51 For more information visit awr.org 10:55 or call 1800-337-4297 11:05 As you can see AWR is frontline mission radio. 11:09 Our first priority is to travel 11:10 where missionaries cannot go. 11:13 We broadcast thousands of hours each day 11:15 in seventy major languages of the world. 11:19 AWR has the capability and capacity of blanketing 11:22 almost 80% of the world's population. 11:25 Not only do we broadcast via shortwave radio, 11:28 but our signal is on over 1000 FM 11:31 and AM stations around the world as well. 11:34 Our podcast subscribers, internet users, 11:37 satellite downlinks are growing rapidly. 11:40 Evidence by the hundred thousand 11:41 plus e-mails, letters and phone calls 11:44 we receive each and every year. 11:46 Yes, AWR, is your mission radio. 11:50 No walls and no borders. 11:51 For AWR that means change lives 11:53 and change hearts around the world, 11:55 because God is using the airwaves of AWR 11:59 to reach people everywhere. 12:25 Zoya, I love your house, how long have you lived here? 12:28 For 28 years. 12:30 And you told me you work not far from here. 12:33 I started working for the railroad, 12:36 when I was still a student. 12:38 I worked for the railroad all my life. 12:40 And what did you do at the railroad? 12:45 I finished my education at the university, 12:48 but I started work at the bottom 12:51 and I worked my way up. 12:55 For your life, what were you 12:58 as far as during the time of communism, 13:00 where you an atheist, or an agnostic, 13:02 or where you a Christian? 13:06 I can't say I was atheist, because my parents 13:09 and grandparents were Baptist Christians. 13:12 I wasn't a Baptist, I was living 13:15 during the time of Soviet Union 13:16 by their rules like all other young people. 13:22 So, you really had no belief in your life? 13:25 I wasn't a strong believer, 13:27 but I can't say I was an atheist either. 13:31 At what time in your life 13:32 did you change, what happened? 13:36 Everything changed when my mother died. 13:39 She always said that 13:40 if you are not going to come to God, 13:43 He is going to make you come to Him 13:46 exactly what she said happened through my sickness. 13:50 Now you say through your sickness? 13:53 It was swallowing me, 13:55 it was a very serious sickness 13:57 and this sickness would scare anyone around me. 14:11 If you don't mind, 14:12 would you share with me more about your sickness? 14:16 I didn't feel sick and I continue working, 14:19 but the doctors are watching me closely. 14:24 You actually were diagnosed with cancer, 14:27 how did that diagnosis affect you mentally? 14:33 After my first surgery in 1985, 14:37 I was diagnosed with the cancer, 14:39 but they were not sure, I was scared to death. 14:43 I didn't know if I could believe them or not? 14:46 But they said cancer and that was a big shock. 14:54 So the doctors diagnosed you with cancer, 14:57 what did they say about it? 14:58 Did they give you a time? 15:00 I did eight rounds of chemotherapy. 15:03 Where you okay? 15:06 They were checking me 15:07 all the time because after chemo, 15:10 it could either help me or kill me, 15:13 that's why no one waits for a good result. 15:16 In 1991, the cancer returned and I had another surgery. 15:21 Later, I was on a disability for a whole year. 15:25 After one year, they cancel my disability 15:28 like my cancer never exist, 15:30 but my sickness came back every six years. 15:35 So during this time, 15:36 what was your mental condition 15:38 going through all these? 15:43 It was a horrible time, 15:44 because I didn't believe in God 15:47 and was alone and scared. 15:49 At that same time, 15:50 I remember that my mother said, 15:53 everything was horrible mess in my life. 16:05 I got passed this mess and begin to work down 16:08 a new road with the God. 16:11 Now I saw that my soul was empty 16:14 and if I die soon, 16:15 I will stand before God as my judge. 16:19 I understand your condition is terminal. 16:26 I felt pretty healthy and month or two ago, 16:30 I was attending church, I was walking 16:33 and doing all my house work, 16:35 and now I'm sick again. 16:39 There are so many people around the world 16:43 that have cancer, that have great problems, 16:49 but you have one of the greatest really, 16:53 it sounds like doctors haven't 16:54 given you a long time, 16:55 but please share with people, what gives you hope? 17:05 All my strength I get from God, 17:08 it doesn't matter whether you are sick or healthy, 17:11 because we all stand before God 17:14 and all my friends who were healthy have already died, 17:18 but I am sick and still alive. 17:20 That's why any doctor diagnoses 17:23 shouldn't scare anyone. 17:25 Only one thing can scare you 17:26 and that is how you are going to stand before God. 17:33 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 17:37 Kaluram was a poor field laborer 17:40 near Gujarat in India, finding his work tedious, 17:43 Kalu purchased a small radio to relieve the boredom. 17:47 One day, he came across a program 17:48 talking about Jesus, it was from Adventist World Radio. 17:52 After listening for a few days, 17:54 Kalu looked for a pastor 17:55 who could tell him more about Christ. 17:58 Soon convinced of the Christian truth, 18:00 Kalu was baptized and became an outreach leader 18:03 in his hometown and the surrounding area. 18:06 Witnessing in predominantly 18:07 Hindu towns is not always safe 18:10 and Kalu was once attacked 18:11 when approaching a town to preach. 18:13 However, through the efforts of Kalu 18:16 and the volunteers he has trained 18:18 nearly 1,000 people have accepted Christ. 18:22 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 18:26 with millions of people everyday. 18:28 For more information, visit awr.org. 18:32 Through the radio wave of AWR, 18:34 God is reaching people around the world. 18:38 We would like to offer you an edition of Making Wave. 18:41 It's four of our episodes 18:42 brought to you from around the world. 18:45 God speaking to hearts, 18:46 the hearts of the listeners of AWR exciting stories. 18:49 We hope that you will share those with friends 18:51 and neighbors, acquaintances, 18:52 any one you come in contact with. 18:54 Join us to make wave, it's completely free. 18:57 Right now the information is on your screen. 19:01 For your free no obligation DVD 19:03 write to Adventist World Radio, 19:06 12501, Old Columbia Pike 19:09 Silver Spring, Maryland, 20904 19:12 or call 1-866-503-3531 19:17 or log on to www.awr.org/MWDVD. 19:24 Be sure to request offer number 10, 19:27 that number again is 1-866-503-3531. 20:22 Tell me more about this, 20:23 what happened in your life spiritually? 20:29 My mother and I used to attend Baptist house churches 20:33 while she was alive. 20:34 She used to read the Bible to me 20:37 and talk about Saturdays 20:38 and it did not say anything about Sunday. 20:42 My mother was uneducated, 20:44 she could read, but couldn't write. 20:47 She said I can understand 20:50 why we celebrate Sunday instead of Saturday 20:53 and those words stay in my mind. 20:57 So at a point now if I understand 20:59 this correctly, you lost your mother, 21:03 you've got a terrible disease 21:06 that apparently is incurable. 21:10 But yet God uses all this to bring you to Him. 21:18 I think that is right. 21:20 She's not a young person, 21:22 but she is a little bit younger than me. 21:24 She live in Athabasca village were there Adventist Church. 21:28 I didn't know about this church. 21:42 She came to visit her mother and we start talking, 21:46 she explained me about Saturday 21:48 and the Sabbath and invite me to her church. 21:52 She invite me to church in special day 21:55 when there are going to be visitors from America. 22:05 That is were I learned everything about the Sabbath. 22:09 It was really important, 22:11 because I had never learned about the Sabbath. 22:14 I knew God existed, but I knew nothing about him, 22:19 that's why I was so thirsty to learn 22:21 and I begin to correspondence school. 22:24 Now, I attend church every week. 23:16 Bless you. Yes, God bless you. 23:19 and we wish you all the very best for you 23:20 and we will remember you forever. 23:37 What would you like to say to all those people 23:39 who maybe watching today 23:41 and they don't know Jesus Christ like you do? 23:43 What would you like to tell them? 23:50 My advice is to come to Jesus, 23:53 He's given me strength and health 23:55 and He is the only one that can give you a long life, 23:59 everything in His hands, just believe in Him, 24:02 because in your own strength you can do nothing. 24:06 Doesn't matter what your sickness is, 24:09 small or serious, you cannot live without God. 24:14 Zoya, you're a courageous woman 24:17 and I know that it took a lot of strength 24:19 to even be here with us today. 24:21 I understand the doctors actually gave you a diagnosis 24:24 that you would be dead already. 24:28 Yes, the doctors told my relatives 24:31 to get ready for my funeral, because I was going to die. 24:36 Every single test they did show that I was dying, 24:40 only a miracle can save me. 24:42 I have a brother living in Moscow. 24:44 He is a Christian, 24:46 and he asked his church to pray for me 24:49 for 35 days I was in intensive care, 24:52 but God saved me 24:54 and put me on my feet again. 24:59 In our show today, we had two individuals 25:02 each of them seeking something better in life 25:06 than what they already had. 25:08 Tolstoy on the one hand 25:09 was seeking better community life, 25:13 a better way of life, more justice. 25:16 On the other hand, Zoya, was looking for God 25:20 and especially when she got sick, 25:23 she wanted to know God and bring God into her life, 25:27 so she could have peace of mind. 25:29 Both of them were hoping for something better. 25:33 And that's what Adventist World Radio 25:34 really is all about, is to bring hope to people's lives. 25:39 In the Psalms it says, 25:41 "He who trust and hopes in God will never be ashamed." 25:46 And that certainly the case, 25:48 because Adventist World Radio is seeking to bring hope 25:51 from person to person, from village to village, 25:54 from country to country. 25:56 Wouldn't you like to join us 25:57 in our work of sharing hope with people around the world? 26:01 If you like to know more 26:02 about the mission of Adventist World Radio, 26:04 give us a call, the number is 866-503-3531. 26:09 If you would like to write us 26:11 do so at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, 26:14 Silver Spring, Maryland, 20904 26:17 or if you like to check a site on the web, 26:19 you can do that at www.awr.org. 26:24 And thank you for watching, 26:26 please join us again 26:27 for another exciting gospel adventure, 26:29 because around the world AWR is making waves. |
Revised 2014-12-17