Participants: Jim Ayer
Series Code: MW
Program Code: MW000033
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01:01 We drove for a lot of miles this afternoon
01:03 through what seemed like hot air and desert 01:05 but in reality it used to be all a big bay. 01:09 We arrived here in Miletus. 01:11 Miletus was a major importance in the time of Paul. 01:16 It was actually a bigger city than Ephesus was. 01:19 You remember in the book of Acts. 01:21 Paul sealed here, called all the elders 01:24 from Ephesus to come here to speak with him. 01:26 How to take charge of the church, 01:28 how to foster God's children. 01:30 This was the time when he was heading 01:31 to Jerusalem and before he left they embraced him, 01:35 they gave him hugs and kisses, the Bible says, 01:37 fell on his neck because their leader was leaving. 01:40 He spent years with them in this area. 01:43 This is an interesting place 01:44 because not only was it a large center of commerce 01:48 but because it had two bays, ships could sail in and out. 01:52 Remember no motorized boats in those days 01:55 but they could sail in the one area, 01:58 if the wind was contrary they would sail in the other way 02:00 that's why it made it so important 02:03 for this particular city. 02:05 At its height of glory you can see 02:07 some of what's left here, massive amphitheater, 02:12 buildings, construction everywhere. 02:14 Huge city flourishing during the time of Rome 02:17 and maybe even a little bit before them. 02:21 Just imagine the jigsaw puzzle was out here. 02:24 Many times you see 02:25 that they mark them with specific codes. 02:28 They have been started doing that yet and once 02:30 they get the codes together they catalog everything, 02:34 then they put it in the computer 02:35 and start rebuilding the model. 02:38 They've got a lot of work ahead of them. 02:46 Andrey, thank you for joining us today. 02:48 foreign language 02:53 Now this is the Russian summer I'm cold. 02:56 You, you seem like you're warm. 02:59 foreign language 03:05 We're accustomed to have that kind of weather. 03:08 I'd hate to see Russian winter. 03:10 Yes, How much snow do you get? 03:13 foreign language 03:17 All winter? 03:20 During the biggest once, yes. 03:23 Now I can see why you're in 03:24 short sleeves and I am in a coat. 03:26 Yes, Tell me a little bit of your story 03:29 what do you do for a job? 03:31 foreign language Now? foreign language 03:36 Oh, manager in a company 03:38 that deals with public health issues. 03:40 Okay, okay, you've been that--doing 03:42 that for a long time? 03:43 Half a year. 03:44 Oh, what you do before? 03:46 foreign language 03:48 I work for a missionary group 03:50 for a program "300" not far from the city. 03:53 foreign language 03:55 I started a new church 03:56 and I was working there for seven years. 03:59 So you've always been a Christian? 04:01 No, I was an atheist since my childhood. 04:04 Okay, what point did you become a Christian? 04:08 foreign language 04:09 The main thing was the information, 04:12 true and serious information. 04:14 And I heard it through the "Voice of Hope." 04:16 foreign language 04:17 Well, I definitely wanna come back to that in a minute 04:19 because that's important to us. 04:22 Let me ask you. 04:24 How old were you at that time? 04:27 Twenty-five. Twenty-five. 04:29 so you are an atheist for 25 years. 04:32 Well, at around 18, 19 I started thinking about it. 04:36 I understood that there was something 04:38 but I cannot figure out what it was. 04:40 So it seems like from what I've heard 04:42 that a lot of people in the country were atheists 04:47 but many of them began thinking 04:49 there's got to be something more than atheism. 04:52 Yes, Why, why did you get your thinking 04:55 was there anything that said oh, 04:56 there's got to be something more? 04:58 foreign language 05:01 From the start in school 05:03 they told us that evolution was the truth 05:05 and the Bible was a myth. 05:07 foreign language 05:10 And it was impossible 05:11 to receive information from anyone. 05:13 foreign language 05:16 So you're brainwashed in school, 05:18 all through school but yet something 05:19 kept speaking to you? 05:21 foreign language 05:27 Through the "Voice of Hope" 05:28 I realized that the sophistication of nature, 05:31 many think and realized that there is a creator. 05:34 foreign language 05:48 Although this amphitheater is smaller 05:50 than the one in Ephesus 05:51 to me it's a lot more impressive. 05:55 It's beautiful in design it's, 05:57 it's--I don't know it's just gorgeous. 05:59 The Greeks really knew how to do it. 06:02 We think today of our stadiums, 06:03 our football stadiums and things that, 06:05 it's a new invention but they had done their science here. 06:09 Look around and say wow, 06:11 they really knew what they're doing. 06:12 Maybe, maybe that's why Paul there at Athens 06:16 went up on Mars Hill. 06:18 He began talking with these men 06:19 about the great things, speaking to them 06:21 about the unknown God. 06:23 Because they had a statue to even 06:25 the unknown God, they wanted 06:26 to make certain--they had all basis covered. 06:29 They had them covered in philosophy. 06:30 They had them covered in everyway. 06:33 Except they really didn't know the creator God. 06:36 I can imagine Paul perhaps standing 06:38 right here and addressing the great throngs of people 06:41 during the Roman times. 06:43 But things were a little bit different in Roman times 06:45 because once Rome took over they tore out 06:48 many of the seats and they created an arena of blood. 06:52 The gladiators, the lions, it looks to me like the, 06:58 the level here is a little too low for lions 07:00 but I guess there was a readymade feast 07:02 within the arena so the lions really 07:04 didn't have to go anyplace. 07:07 It's hard for me to imagine today what it must 07:10 have been like. 07:12 Blood soaked ground, people screaming and cheering 07:15 for the death of someone else. 07:17 What a time? 07:29 These were not the cheap seats. 07:30 These were the expensive seats 07:32 but they probably misplaced this one. 07:35 In all reality it would have been down further 07:37 in the front because the big man, the governors, 07:40 all the rulers they sat down further 07:43 but they got the good seats with a backrest 07:45 even though it was rock, it's still a backrest. 07:49 As you can see AWR is frontline mission radio. 07:53 Our first priority is to travel 07:55 where missionaries cannot go. 07:57 We broadcast thousands of hours each day 08:00 in 70 major languages of the world. 08:03 AWR has the capability and capacity of blanketing 08:06 almost 80% of the world's population. 08:09 Not only do we broadcast via shortwave radio 08:13 but our signal is on over 1000 FM and AM stations 08:16 around the world as well. 08:19 Our podcast subscribers, internet users, 08:21 satellite downlinks are growing rapidly. 08:24 Evidenced by the hundred thousand plus e-mails, 08:27 letters, and phone calls we receive each and every year. 08:31 Yes, AWR is your mission radio. 08:34 No walls and no borders. 08:36 For AWR that means change lives and change hearts 08:39 around the world because God is using 08:41 the airwaves of AWR to reach people everywhere. 08:49 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 08:53 You're crazy and the Bible is corrupt and distorted. 08:57 The letter said, "Please do not write me back." 09:00 It was from Salome a devout Muslim in North Africa. 09:04 Our staff member who received 09:06 the letter honored Salome's request and did not reply. 09:09 For weeks she prayed to the Holy Spirit 09:12 would bring Salome to Christ. 09:14 One day a letter arrived from Salome. 09:17 "I want to apologize for what I wrote before," it said. 09:21 "I don't know what's happening but lately something greater 09:25 than I has opened my eyes and filled my heart 09:29 with a desire to know more about Jesus. 09:32 Please forgive me and send me your Bible lessons." 09:37 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 09:41 with millions of people every day in their own languages. 09:45 For more information visit awr.org. 09:49 I'm actually standing on top of the hill right 09:51 now which is a fort. 09:53 The forts that the Turks built 09:55 above all the Greek and the Roman ruins. 09:58 What I wanted to show you is right behind me. 10:00 You can see out there the Aegean Sea. 10:03 The sea used to come right up very close over 10:06 here and on the other side also. 10:09 It's hard to imagine how all these silted 10:11 in but overtime it did and hence 10:14 today all the farmland fields. 10:21 When Paul landed in the harbor 10:23 he sent words to the Ephesians. 10:24 Now they had to come through 10:25 these mountains right over here. 10:28 Fifty kilometers away, that's a long journey. 10:32 Where did he stay, at that realm? 10:34 This is my sanctified imagination but perhaps 10:36 he stayed in something like this as he waited 10:38 for those men because it was a, 10:40 a several day journey. 10:42 What did he talk about? 10:44 He was levy. 10:45 These were his children. 10:46 He loved them supremely. 10:48 He wanted to uplift them even further 10:50 to Jesus Christ and I'm sure he talked with them 10:52 about their reunion in heaven. 10:59 Immediately behind me you'll see the old ruins 11:01 and also olive grows. 11:04 It brings up a very interesting story 11:05 of a man named Thales. 11:07 Thales was before the time of Paul. 11:09 But Thales was a man who observed things. 11:12 He observed nature. 11:13 He watched the comings and goings of the sun 11:16 and the moon and the stars. 11:18 He noticed that certain years these olive trees 11:21 would produce large amounts, other years not much. 11:27 He began thinking about this and soon 11:29 he fashioned a plan. 11:30 He told his neighbors and friends 11:31 but they wouldn't believe him, science, these things, 11:34 observation it meant nothing to them. 11:37 But he was going to prove something. 11:39 And the years that his trees produced 11:41 great abundance of olives he collected those olives. 11:44 The next year not many olives, 11:46 he sold all the olives to the friends and neighbors 11:49 and relatives and everybody around, 11:51 when they had none. 11:52 He made a lot of money in commerce 11:54 and that made everybody else think 11:56 this man may know something. 12:04 Some of the people we talk to pronounce his name Thales 12:07 but the Greeks actually pronounced it Thales. 12:10 Before Thales the Greeks explained 12:12 the origin and nature of the world through 12:14 myths and anthropomorphic gods and heroes. 12:17 Phenomena such as lightning and earthquakes 12:19 were attributed to actions of the gods. 12:21 In contrast to these mythological explanations 12:25 Thales attempted to find naturalistic explanations 12:28 of the world without reference 12:29 to the supernatural. 12:31 He explained earthquakes by hypothesizing 12:33 that the earth floats on water and earthquakes 12:36 occur when the earth is rocked by waves. 12:39 His philosophies help bring about scientific observation 12:43 rather than the contemporary thought that the gods 12:45 were the source and explanation of these things 12:48 that they did not understand. 12:51 Okay, so we're actually back to AWR. 12:54 Tell me then how did you first find it on the radio dial? 12:58 Around 1991 or 1992. 13:01 And what happened? 13:02 Exactly how did you find it? 13:04 foreign language 13:05 It was by chance--it happened by chance. 13:08 By an accident? 13:10 Back then, I thought it was by accident. 13:13 And what was the first program that you heard? 13:17 No, Don't remember that but, 13:19 but there was a change--start to change in his life? 13:22 Yes, foreign language 13:26 Yes, because they carried out 13:27 serious educational information from just 13:30 the first time listening to it. 13:33 And it caught my attention and it was very interesting 13:36 and started drawing me in. 13:38 After receiving so many facts I started comparing 13:41 it to evolution and later started reading the Bible. 13:46 After knowing more about Christ I started praying 13:49 and later God started answering my prayers 13:52 and miracles began happening in my life. 13:55 So I decided to turn my life around. 13:58 What caused you to actually pray? 14:00 I mean praying is a Christian thing and you, 14:03 you hear a program and you started praying? 14:06 I wanted to receive help. 14:09 So you just knew that help would come from there? 14:12 Yes, I had a lot of problems 14:15 that I wanted to get rid off during that time. 14:18 Alcoholism, smoking I tried with all my power to quit. 14:23 I read in the Bible that God can straighten 14:25 you so I decided to try. 14:28 If it worked, it worked. 14:30 If it doesn't I don't lose much trying 14:33 but I did have a lot of faith that it would work. 14:36 Now you began listening to AWR, 14:38 your life started changing, 14:39 you quit all these things, what, what next? 14:43 Yes, I started going to a small Bible studies 14:46 group here in a small church. 14:48 And even before that 14:49 I attended a Russian Orthodox Church 14:51 and went to a Protestant Church as well. 14:54 And after that I compared the two churches 14:56 and decided to attend the Protestant Church 14:58 because it sounded closest to what I wanted to hear 15:01 and what I was comfortable listening to and later 15:04 I became closer with Christ and was baptized. 15:08 Now you're baptized where in, in Adventist Church? 15:11 Yes, Okay, so you did the, 15:14 you did the Bible studies do you, you-- 15:16 foreign language 15:18 Yes, foreign language 15:21 From the "Voice of Hope," 15:23 24 discs to change my life 15:26 and I was amazed it was fantastic. 15:29 Now I thought I heard him say fantastic, 15:31 did I hear him say that? Yes, 15:33 So that's was--you're into English words. 15:34 Fantastic, all right. 15:37 So, so what's your life been like now? 15:42 The Bible can only describe my life as the blessed one. 15:49 Do you share AWR and your faith with others? 15:52 Everyone I know. 15:53 Everyone, Yes. 15:55 foreign language 15:57 When I visited the bordering city of Kimovsky 16:00 everyone in that town knew and even 16:02 when I was with the missionary they all knew. 16:06 Everywhere I go I recommend "Voice of Hope." 16:14 The city of Miletus became one of the 12 Ionian Cities 16:17 of Asian Minor. 16:19 Another Ionian city was Priene. 16:22 Situated across the valley floor against 16:24 the side of the mountains Priene was sacked 16:27 by Ardys of Lydia in the 7th Century B.C. 16:30 but regained its prosperity in the 8th Century. 16:33 Captured by the generals 16:34 of the Persian King Cyrus around 540 B.C., 16:38 Priene took part in several revolts against the Persians. 16:42 The city was subject to the Persians 16:44 until the time of Alexander the Great. 16:47 The population of Priene was limited and probably 16:50 never exceeded 5,000. 16:52 This was due in part to its cliff side location. 16:55 Priene is not mentioned in the Bible 16:57 but it is likely that the early Christians of Miletus 17:00 had contact with this city. 17:03 It had a substantial Christian community 17:05 during the Byzantine period 17:06 and was the seat of the bishop. 17:09 From the acropolis you can see 17:10 across the plains to Miletus. 17:13 Because of the silting end by the Meander River 17:16 the area is now rich farmland. 17:18 These two Ionians cities once separated 17:20 by the Aegean Sea are now a major source 17:23 of produce in the area. 17:27 The evolution of the land reclaimed by the sea somewhat 17:30 argue is additional proof of Darwin's theory of evolution. 17:34 Other see it is as the earth is creating 17:36 new land as designed by the creator. 17:39 Through the radio wave of AWR God is reaching 17:42 people around the world. 17:45 We would like to offer you an addition of Making Wave. 17:47 Its four of our episodes brought to you from 17:49 around the world. 17:51 God speaking to hearts. 17:53 The hearts of the listeners of AWR exciting stories. 17:56 We hope that you'll share 17:57 those with friends and neighbors, 17:58 acquaintances, anyone you come in contact with. 18:01 Join us to make waves. 18:03 It's completely free. 18:04 Right now the information is on your screen. 18:08 For your free no obligation DVD 18:10 write to Adventist World Radio, 18:13 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, 18:16 Maryland 20904 or call 1-866-503-3531 18:24 or log on to www.awr.org/MWDVD. 18:31 Be sure to request offer number 10. 18:34 That number again is 1-866-503-3531. 18:42 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 18:46 My name is Benjamin Schoun 18:47 and I'm the president of Adventist World Radio. 18:50 Let me tell you about our work in Vietnam. 18:52 The communist country where Christianity is severely 18:55 controlled and public evangelism is outlawed. 18:59 However programs broadcast by Adventist World Radio 19:02 effortlessly reach Vietnam and large numbers 19:05 of people listen secretly to our message of hope. 19:08 Many of these people risk arrest and severe punishment 19:12 together in small house churches to listen 19:14 to the programs called "Peace and Happiness." 19:17 These groups continually send us letters 19:19 asking how to bring others to Christ. 19:22 Time and again we are encouraged by making contact 19:25 with another group of believers 19:27 brought to Christ through the radio. 19:29 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 19:34 with millions of people everyday. 19:37 For more information visit awr.org. 19:43 Ben, I can look all the way out to the sea 19:46 and I understated that Patmos is not too far from here. 19:49 Yes, a few miles out, it's the island of Patmos. 19:53 It's a quaint and beautiful island really. 19:57 But it was a prison for John. 20:00 John was sent there. 20:02 The isolation with the sea all around prevented 20:06 him from having contact with anyone else. 20:09 Praise the Lord, he wasn't in exile forever. 20:12 Yes, Came back here to apparently 20:14 the place where we are now. 20:16 Yes, these little old city of Ephesus is nearby 20:20 and that's the place were John spent many, many years. 20:24 He was actually the pastor of Ephesus. 20:27 Really, I never knew that. 20:29 Well, John was known as the apostle of love 20:33 and his gospel is a little different than the others. 20:36 It is, the three gospels Matthew, 20:39 Mark and Luke are more narrative in story. 20:43 John's is more theological. 20:45 He talks about faith and the Holy Spirit 20:48 and love and in all of his writings 20:51 the theme of love seems to come through. 20:54 And I love the way he was so humble in his writing. 20:56 He never referred to himself, only the one Jesus love-- 21:01 Yes. Always diverted attention away from himself. 21:04 That's right. 21:06 To think that this could be the place 21:08 John is buried you think all the history 21:10 here it's, it's moving. 21:14 John is a disciple that I like. 21:16 I like his spirit. 21:18 He was a gentle person and had such concern for people. 21:24 This actually is basilica that was built a little later 21:29 in honor of the Apostle John. 21:31 And so it's a huge complex here. 21:34 It seem like they always built a church 21:36 over every good location. 21:38 Yes, that's right. I was told, Ben, 21:41 this place was built in about the 6th Century. 21:44 Yeah, that's what I've heard too. 21:45 And look they have a baptistery here. 21:49 And it's not just a fountain for sprinkling. 21:51 It's one where you get right in. 21:54 I remember seeing an old artwork 21:57 pictures of baptisteries 21:59 where people--they did it a little different. 22:00 Let's go down and see what it's like. 22:05 When they baptize, often they would just crouch down. 22:09 Looks awfully tiny in here. 22:10 It does but they would get their head under 22:13 the water like this. 22:15 And you know, the reason for immersion 22:18 is the significance of it. 22:22 It symbolizes a death, being buried under water 22:26 and then coming up out of the water like 22:28 a new resurrection into a new life in Christ. 22:32 And a witness to those around 22:33 that your life has been changed also. 22:35 And further more the water symbolizes 22:37 washing or cleansing from sin. 22:40 So there is a lot of symbols connected 22:42 with baptism by emersion. 22:44 And you know every one of our stories 22:47 that we've had throughout this entire series 22:50 on "Making Waves" has gone through this experience. 22:53 That's right, that's right. 22:54 God is, God is doing mighty 22:56 things through the ministry. 22:57 Ben, that's what is exciting to me. That's right. 22:59 In fact that's why part of the reason we chose 23:01 this name because we make waves 23:04 when we lay people in the water. 23:06 Perfect thing, then they are part 23:07 of the family of God. 23:09 Amen, amen. 23:15 Andrey, if have you had the opportunity 23:17 to share, what you believe about Jesus Christ 23:20 to the whole world? 23:23 What would you share? 23:24 What would you tell everybody right now? 23:26 Christian or non-Christian. 23:29 Nonbelievers-- foreign language 23:32 Because, because you're an atheist-- 23:33 foreign language 23:35 And now you are a Christian. 23:37 What do you tell all those who don't believe in Christ? 23:40 foreign language 23:43 To just pay a little attention. 23:45 To dig into the situation. 23:47 foreign language 23:52 Try to find God and you'll see what happens. 23:56 foreign language 23:59 God will answer your prayers and He will bring hope 24:02 and He will help you solve your problems. 24:05 Amen, I'm gonna ask you one more question. 24:10 Because it was the, the message of creation 24:14 that touched you. 24:16 What if somebody else out there 24:18 is kind of wondering well, 24:20 you know, I look at evolution, 24:22 I look at creation, why believe in creation? 24:25 foreign language 24:30 It's better known and compared to evolution. 24:33 foreign language 24:41 Even Darwin himself wasn't sure and questioned 24:44 his own theory. 24:46 foreign language 24:53 It was his partners and students who added things 24:56 and made things up. 24:58 This wasn't a solid theory. 25:03 You know, Andrey, it's I guess about 9 o'clock here, 25:06 sun goes down very late in summer in Russia 25:09 I didn't believe that till I saw it, 25:11 but I understand the ladies have got a meal for us. 25:14 Shall we go and have a meal? 25:15 foreign language 25:16 And I think your testimony is going to change 25:19 many lives for the Lord. 25:22 Thank God, Praise the Lord. Halleluiah, Praise the Lord. 25:25 Thank you, brother. 25:26 Thank you so much. 25:34 I am standing here in the Garden of Gethsemane 25:37 and behind me this huge olive tree, very old, 25:42 a magnificent example of God's creation. 25:45 And then we have the flowers around and the birds flying 25:48 and the animals and then God's crowning work 25:51 the creation of human beings. 25:54 Few of us realize just how central 25:57 the doctrine of creation is to all that we believe. 26:02 In fact for Andrey it was these things 26:05 that caught his attention and changed 26:08 him from an atheist to a believer. 26:11 When Andrey began to believe in the creator God 26:15 miracles began to happen in his life. 26:19 His prayers were answered. 26:22 His habits began to change. 26:25 A creator God is a powerful God. 26:28 And God's power is what transforms our lives. 26:32 Even in these last days the Book of Revelation 26:35 in the first angel's message Chapter 14 and verse 7, 26:39 it encourages us to again worship the God 26:43 who created the heavens, the earth, the sea, 26:45 and the fountains of water. 26:47 It was the "Voice of Hope" radio program 26:50 where Andrey first learned about creation 26:53 and the Creator God. 26:55 In his own words he said, 26:57 "The concept of creation has harmony and it's logical." 27:02 You can help AWR give this message to thousands 27:07 more people in this world. 27:10 Almost every place in the world 27:12 AWR is reaching people for Jesus Christ. 27:15 I hope you'll join us give us a call today 1-866-503-3531. 27:22 Or you can write us at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, 27:26 Silver Spring, Maryland 20904. 27:29 Or long on to the website at www.awr.org 27:35 Thank you for watching. 27:37 Please join us again for another exciting 27:39 gospel adventure because around the world 27:42 AWR is making waves. |
Revised 2014-12-17