Participants:
Series Code: TIJ
Program Code: TIJ007119S
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00:23 At 6:29 PM on Thursday, the 23rd July, 2020, a high speed
00:30 criminal car chase ended here in a spectacular car crash. 00:33 A white Juke came around this corner, fish-tailed, rolled and 00:38 smashed through the road barrier before landing 00:41 back on its wheels right here. 00:44 As many Gold Coast residents and holiday makers 00:47 were relaxing near the beach and having fun, 00:50 one man was fighting for his life and possessions. 00:54 The police soon arrived arrested the driver 00:58 and quickly established a crime scene. 01:00 The sensational incident was telecast on national news 01:05 across Australia and around the world. 01:07 Today, we're going to meet some of the people involved 01:11 and re-live this amazing story as we make this 01:15 high-speed journey, perhaps we'll discover what's really 01:19 worth living for and what gives true meaning to our lives. 01:40 The Gold Coast is Australia's Holiday Capitol, 01:43 it's famed for its long sandy beaches, 01:46 world-renowned surfing spots and an elaborate system of 01:50 inland canal systems and waterways. 01:52 Thousands flock here to holiday and have fun in the sun. 01:57 And family fun on the Gold Coast starts on its golden beaches 02:02 and then with a visit to one of its many theme parks. 02:06 Choose your own adventure from extreme water slides 02:10 to roller coasters and attractions and 02:14 when you are ready for a break from all of the action and 02:17 excitement, just a few kilometers Inland, you could find peace 02:22 and tranquility hiking the trails that crisscross 02:26 Lamington National Parks mountains and ridges and valleys 02:29 home to waterfalls, rare birds, and rainforests. 02:34 The Gold Coast, it's got it all, no wonder it's been attracting 02:40 Australian families for decades. 02:42 The Gold Coast is Australia's sixth largest city 02:46 and one of its fastest-growing, thousands of people are moving 02:51 to the Gold Coast each year and they're coming to stay. 02:55 The growing population means more homes, shops, offices, 03:00 and factories, each new building needs glass windows, glass doors 03:06 and sometimes even glass roofs. 03:08 And one of the many builders and glass specialists 03:11 on the Gold Coast who delivers and fits all this glass 03:15 is Robert Brzeski. 03:17 Robert and his family fled their night of Poland and its 03:23 draconian communist government in 1981, seeking freedom and 03:28 the ability to worship and practice religion according 03:32 to their conscience. 03:33 Traveling at night with the help of friends 03:35 they escaped across the border into Czechoslovakia 03:38 and then made their way through Hungary and the former 03:42 Yugoslavia into Austria. 03:44 They were apprehended crossing the border 03:46 into Germany and were placed in a refugee camp. 03:50 Robert was 17 at the time and had completed a brick laying 03:54 apprenticeship before fleeing Poland, after many months in 03:58 limbo desperately seeking a country to take them in. 04:02 Australia accepted Robert and his family as Political refugees 04:07 they arrived in Sydney aboard a Quantas flight in December 1982. 04:12 Robert reveled in the freedom of his new country 04:16 and soon embraced the Australian culture and way of life. 04:20 Robert enrolled as a carpenter's apprentice and became a licensed 04:25 carpenter two and a half years later. 04:28 Then, while working as a carpenter Robert completed a 04:31 five-year building management course and became a 04:34 licensed builder. 04:36 While completing his builder's course, Robert fell in love with 04:40 Biatta, a fellow refugee from Czechoslovakia 04:44 just across the border from his native Poland. 04:46 Robert and Biatta were married in 1989, and honeymooned 04:52 on the Gold Coast, they soon discovered that they had 04:56 not only fallen in love with each other but also with 05:00 the Gold Coast. 05:01 Married life drew not only responsibilities and Robert 05:06 worked long hours as he established a reputation 05:09 as a top class builder. He was A perfectionist and made sure 05:14 he had the very best tools for his work. 05:17 He saw these tools as an important and worthwhile 05:20 investment as they were a critical part of his every day 05:24 activities. Before long, he owned thousands of dollars 05:29 worth of tools and equipment. 05:30 Robert and Biatta's family expanded to five 05:35 with the arrival of two sons and a daughter. 05:38 Now Robert's work, tools, and equipment became even more 05:43 important as he had a growing family to care for. 05:47 Whenever they could, they would return to the Gold Coast 05:50 for their holidays and they moved permanently to the 05:54 Gold Coast in 2004, where Robert established a building business. 05:59 Robert began to specialize in glass and aluminum installations 06:05 he fitted out and provided services for large shopping 06:09 centers, new high-rise apartments and luxury homes. 06:12 His tool kit was growing all the time and became more 06:17 and more important in providing and caring for his family. 06:20 He was soon to find out just how much those tools meant 06:25 to him and what extremes he was prepared to go to 06:29 in order to protect them. 06:31 At 5:45 pm, after work on Thursday the 23rd of July, 2020, 06:39 Robert attended an appointment at the Robina Chiropractic 06:44 Wellness Center just a few meters behind me here. 06:47 It was the only place at the group of shops open after 06:51 business hours, and there were only a few other cars 06:54 in the parking lot. He parked his Juke outside the building 06:58 under the street lights. 07:00 He was only away for about half an hour and on his return, 07:04 he heard and saw something that got his heart pounding 07:08 and the adrenaline racing through his body. 07:11 After leaving the appointment I heard that somebody's been 07:16 walking around my truck and slammed my toolbox 07:18 I turned around and I saw a gentleman carrying 07:22 tools out of my truck. 07:23 Robert immediately ran towards the man, shouting for him 07:28 to stop. As he got closer the man threw the tools 07:32 onto the seat of his own Juke and jumped inside 07:35 and started the vehicle. 07:37 In an instant, the Juke was racing directly towards Robert 07:41 with the engine revving and the tires screeching 07:44 again, Robert yelled out STOP, STOP. 07:49 All he could think about was getting his tools back 07:52 and he just had to recover them. In a flash, the Juke was 07:57 bearing down on him, at that moment he realized that 08:01 the driver fully intended to crash into him, or run over him. 08:05 Now, his life was in serious danger. 08:09 At this moment, I was in front of the car and I saw 08:13 that it is not going to go anywhere after asking to stop, 08:16 I jumped on the truck on the bonnet... 08:18 Now, he was face-to-face with his assailant as he clung 08:23 onto the bonnet for dear life. 08:25 Robert hoped the driver would stop, however, the thief had 08:29 no intention of slowing down or stopping. 08:32 He floored the accelerator and raced off out of the car park 08:36 towards the exit. As the Juke screeched out of the parking lot 08:40 the thief swerved sharply to the left, and that caused me 08:45 to slide off the truck, off his bonnet and at 08:48 that stage, I grabbed a ladder that was on his roof rack 08:51 and that ladder has slid along the roof rack causing me 08:56 sliding with the ladder and falling off the truck 08:59 and breaking his side mirror. 09:01 The Juke was now traveling at speed and the driver 09:05 swerved sharply to the left again trying to dislodge 09:08 Robert. Then he entered the main roadway at high speed 09:12 cutting in front of traffic with Robert, who at this stage 09:17 was hanging on the side of the Juke with his legs 09:20 close to the road surface. 09:22 Robert could see all the traffic behind the Juke, 09:25 he was fearing for his life but he couldn't let go 09:29 as the Juke was traveling at high speed and was still 09:32 accelerating. Once on the road the thief swerved from the 09:37 left lane to the right lane causing Robert to be thrown 09:41 back onto the bonnet of the Juke again. 09:43 While the Juke was swerving from side to side, Robert 09:47 somehow managed to regain his balance and proceeded 09:51 to crawl higher up the bonnet towards the top of the 09:53 windscreen. He then reached over the windscreen and 09:57 clamored over the cab roof before he jumped into the 10:01 tray of the Juke and landed between the toolboxes. 10:04 Meanwhile, the driver continued to swerve from left to right 10:09 without stopping, desperately trying to shake Robert off. 10:14 He traveled about one and a half a kilometer down the 10:18 main roadway with Robert bracing himself between the 10:21 toolboxes on the back tray. 10:24 As he looked around, Robert saw more of his tools lying on the 10:28 back of the tray. 10:29 At this stage, I saw all my tools on the back of the truck 10:33 and I picked up the one that's got a metal tip, 10:36 then broke the rear windscreen. 10:39 Once the window was smashed open, Robert started to talk 10:43 to the thief in a calm manner. 10:45 He told him how foolish he was an asked if he understood 10:49 what he'd done. Robert encouraged the thief to stop. 10:52 He asked him if he had a plan regarding what he intended 10:56 to do now. All of a sudden Robert felt a 11:00 rapid acceleration as the Juke started to turn to the right, 11:05 once it had made the right turn the vehicle began to skid 11:10 and soon was fishtailing down the road. 11:13 I saw a Juke coming quite fast from the left, and it was 11:16 turning right, and I slowed my speed and watched him 11:20 go around the corner, he started to drift a little bit and 11:23 that's when I noticed the guy in the back holding on to the 11:25 tray, and he looked like he was surfing or carrying on a 11:29 little bit, so the first thing that registered was 11:30 ahh, just a couple of idiots being stupid, and then I saw 11:33 the Juke clips the curb and flipped over. 11:35 I was on the phone with my sister at the time 11:39 and I noticed, I just freaked out a little bit, and I just said 11:43 look, I got to go, I think I've just watched someone die. 11:45 So, really quickly, I turned around and pulled out 11:48 next to where the Juke flipped and landed... 11:50 The driver had lost control of the vehicle and had hit 11:54 side curb and flipped onto its side. 11:57 The Juke then skidded on its side across the footpath 12:01 and into the garden before it came to a full stop 12:05 Robert managed to walk away with only a few scratches. 12:09 Once off the Juke, Robert saw that it had rolled back 12:14 onto its wheels again, he was afraid that the driver would 12:17 take off again and so quickly ran over and opened the driver's 12:21 door, he grabbed the thief and held him back in his seat 12:25 as he was trying to get out of the Juke, 12:27 then Robert noticed that the thief was reaching for 12:31 the ignition keys and trying to restart the vehicle. 12:34 He was trying to start the car and with a bit of a struggle 12:40 I regained control and took the keys out of his ignition. 12:42 At this stage, he was screaming abuse, help, help 12:47 he's abusing me, and spectators started coming and 12:51 started screaming at me. 12:52 I saw a guy holding the driver in the seat, trying to 12:56 restrain him and the first thing that registered was 12:58 where's the guy in the back and I'm trying to look for him 13:01 and I'm like, oh man, there's a guy in the back, where is he 13:03 and the guy's, it's me, I was in the back, okay, 13:06 how are you alive? 13:07 People start helping me and I start screaming for them 13:11 to call cops and ambulance and at this stage, as soon as 13:15 I took the keys out of his ignition, he stopped struggling 13:19 because he realized that he has nowhere to go. 13:21 Then the driver holding the driver in the seat 13:23 he was explaining that the driver had just stolen 13:27 some tools from his truck and to my amazement, I just 13:31 man, you shouldn't be worried about your tools, 13:33 you should be worried about you, and he didn't even have 13:35 a scratch on him somehow, but, yeah it's just a pretty 13:39 extraordinary sight. And he asked to come out of the car 13:42 and I said, definitely not, and I asked him to reseat himself 13:47 and his sin is not going away. 13:49 I think that driver was pretty defeated by that point 13:52 by the time I roughed him up and a few people gathered around 13:54 and he just submitted, and he just sat there until the 13:57 police came. 13:58 And when the police came, I just stepped back and let the 14:01 police take the charge, and I just became one of the crowd. 14:05 Robert risked his life to recover his tools, 14:10 he used them every day at work and those tools meant 14:14 a lot to him as they allowed him to provide for his family. 14:17 and he is willing to risk every- thing for his family 14:22 and their well-being. 14:24 Robert Bresky's experience reminds us that there are times 14:29 when it's good and appropriate even necessary to stop, reflect, 14:35 and take a close look at our lives and consider what 14:38 we're willing to die for. 14:40 What do we love more than life? What things are worth dying for? 14:46 Now, why is it important even vital to do this? 14:53 Well, simply because the things worth dying for reveal 14:58 most powerfully, the things worth living for. 15:01 You see, the things we are willing to die for 15:04 are properly understood, the very things that we should live for, 15:10 the things that give live meaning. 15:13 Now, of course, there are many things that are not worth 15:16 dying for or even worth living for that matter 15:20 these include so much of what the media, society, 15:24 and our modern culture values and prizes and brainwashes us 15:28 to think they're vitally important, such as acquiring 15:32 more and more meaningless things seeking pleasure, 15:36 achieving high status, success, power, the focus is on self, 15:42 me, I. Yes, it's all about me. 15:46 We live in an age when we become preoccupied with self, 15:52 the whole focus is inward rather than outward. 15:55 The question is moved from what is best for other people 15:59 and the family to what is best for me? 16:03 Some even think we're becoming a nation of narcissists 16:07 that's when people become self-centered and focused 16:11 on themselves and need excessive admiration and approval 16:15 from mothers while showing disregard for other people's 16:18 sensitivities. 16:20 The rise of hugely popular social media networking sites 16:24 have only promoted and exacerbated the situation. 16:27 Recent research found that people who posted large numbers 16:32 of selfies on social media developed a 25% rise 16:37 in narcissistic traits over a four-month period. 16:40 Now, I think we'd all agree that whole scene and situation 16:45 certainly isn't worth dying for, or even living for. 16:50 So, what is worth dying for? Well, let's remember 16:57 that when we talk about what's worth dying for, we're really 17:01 talking about what's worth living for because the answer 17:05 to each is the same. What's worth dying for 17:09 and living for? Only love. 17:12 Throughout history, men and women have been willing to die 17:16 for family, friends, country and beliefs. 17:20 In a sense, these are natural loves. 17:24 Love is demanding it draws us not inwards 17:29 but outside ourselves. Love changes our focus from 17:34 self to others. Consider these four natural loves. 17:39 Let's start with the family. Families at their best 17:43 are an exercise in self-denial for those we love. 17:48 Mothers and Fathers make huge sacrifices to raise and 17:53 protect their children, the whole focus is directed toward 17:58 their children, their family. 18:00 Parents are prepared to make from small sacrifices to 18:05 major life changes in order to make sure their kids 18:09 have a better life. 18:10 Parents strive to make their kids' lives better before they 18:15 come into this world and continue to do that 18:18 to their very last breath. 18:20 The sacrifices they make for their family, their children, 18:24 are innumerable. 18:26 Just consider some of these sacrifices. 18:29 Time, money, relationships, personal life, sleep, 18:34 freedom, social life, career, food desires, the list goes 18:41 on and on. Parents are prepared to sacrifice everything 18:45 all because they have unconditional love for their 18:48 family, their children. 18:50 Sometimes that means making the ultimate sacrifice 18:54 like the heroic mother in Hunan, China, who was trapped 18:58 with her two children in a blazing 4th-floor apartment 19:02 with no way of escape. 19:03 She managed to salvage some bed sheets and throw them 19:07 out of the window to onlookers below to use to catch 19:11 the children. Racing against time and the toxic smoke 19:14 that was weakening her, she lifted her daughter 19:17 and threw her out of the window to safety. 19:20 Then using her last ounce of energy, she managed to lift 19:25 her son to the window so that he too could jump to safety. 19:29 But all that effort taxed her body to the limit and 19:34 sapped all her energy, she collapsed and was overcome 19:37 by the fumes and fire. She made the ultimate sacrifice 19:42 to save her children. 19:44 She knew what she was willing to die for. 19:48 Here is another example of natural love. 19:51 Friendship. It's generally a more mild love than family 19:56 and the notion of dying for a friend may seem remote 20:00 however, Jesus once said. 20:09 And indeed in almost every culture since 20:12 the beginning of time, sacrificing your own life 20:16 in order that others may live, has been regarded as the 20:20 ultimate act of selflessness and courage. 20:22 Understandably, it's an act only few people are ever 20:26 willing to make but over the course of history some 20:30 remarkable people have done just this, 20:33 they've given up their own lives so that others 20:36 can carry on living. 20:38 Max Colby was one of them, he was a Polish Priest 20:43 who was sent to Auschwitz Concentration Camp in 1941? 20:47 Now, there was a rule in Auschwitz, that 10 men 20:51 would be if one attempted to escape the concentration camp. 20:56 A man from Colby's bunker escaped in July 1941 21:00 so 10 men elected to be starved to death. 21:05 One of the chosen prisoners who Colby had befriended, 21:09 cried out about his wife and young children who needed him. 21:13 Immediately Max Colby stepped forward and asked 21:17 to take his place, the commandant agreed, two weeks later 21:22 Colby was dead, but he knew what was worth dying for. 21:28 Another example of natural love that people are willing 21:31 to die for is our country. 21:34 History is full of stories of young men and women, 21:37 soldiers that have been willing to risk their lives to protect 21:41 their country and fellow citizens, and thousands of them 21:45 have paid the ultimate sacrifice. 21:48 One of them is John Simpson, who enlisted in 21:51 World War I. He was a stretcher bearer with the Third Australian 21:55 Film Ambulance Brigade during The Gallipoli Campaign 21:58 After the landing on the Anzak Cove on the 25th of April, 1915, 22:04 Simpson used donkeys to provide first aid and carry wounded 22:09 soldiers to the safety of the beach from where 22:12 they could be evacuated. 22:13 Day after day and week after week Simpson and his donkey 22:18 would wind their way through the hills and valleys 22:21 looking for wounded soldiers even though it was 22:24 very dangerous. Simpson would crawl on his belly 22:28 often under heavy fire and drag soldiers back to safety. 22:32 He would then put the injured soldier on the donkey's back 22:35 and lead him down to the beach and safety. 22:39 He continued this work for three and a half weeks 22:42 until he was killed by machine gun fire while trying to save 22:46 another soldier. 22:47 John Simpson knew what was worth dying for. 22:52 Another example of natural love that people are 22:56 willing to die for is Beliefs. 22:59 Down through history, people have been willing to sacrifice 23:03 their lives for what they believe in and that's 23:07 certainly true about religious beliefs. 23:09 Take, for example, Christian beliefs. 23:12 Since the time of Christ, many of His followers have been 23:17 prepared to die for their faith and belief in Him. 23:20 During the time of the early church, there was Stephen 23:24 and Polycarp and many others. Then, later, there were people 23:29 like William Tyndale, who was willing to die in order to 23:34 translate the Bible into English. 23:36 And then there were others like Jerome and Leon Huss 23:40 who were willing to die for their belief of Jesus 23:43 and Bible truth. For them belief and faith in Jesus wasn't just 23:48 something to live for, it was also something to die for. 23:53 Yes, they knew what was worth dying for, so there they are 24:01 Four Natural Loves: family, friends, country, and beliefs. 24:09 Throughout history, men and women have been willing to die 24:13 for them. What about you and me? 24:15 It's certainly important to ask ourselves, 24:18 what's worth dying for because what's worth dying for 24:24 reveals most powerfully the things worth living for. 24:28 The things that give life meaning. 24:35 and they're all centered around relationships. 24:39 That's what life is all about. 24:42 No wonder men and women have been willing to die 24:45 for these four loves, but did you know that there's 24:49 a fifth love worth dying for? and that's you. 24:53 In God's eyes, you are worth dying for. 24:58 Here's what the Bible says in Romans chapter 5 verses 6 to 8. 25:27 We're not perfect people, we make mistakes, we are sinners, 25:34 and even though we were sinners and enemies Christ died for us. 25:39 This is unimaginable good news because God knows 25:45 what is worth dying for and in His eyes, 25:48 you are worth dying for. 25:52 To God, you are so precious, so valuable, so wonderful, 25:57 so worthwhile, that He wants to spend eternity with you. 26:01 And to make that possible He was prepared to die for you 26:05 and pay the penalty for your sins and mistakes 26:08 so that you can live with Him forever. 26:12 In God's eyes, you are worth dying for. 26:16 If you would like to know more about God's plans for your life 26:22 now and for eternity, then I'd like to recommend 26:25 a free gift we have for all our Incredible Journey viewers 26:29 today. It's the booklet Finding Meaning and Purpose in Your Life 26:35 this popular booklet is our gift to you and is absolutely free. 26:40 I guarantee there are no costs or obligations whatsoever. 26:44 So, make the most of this wonderful opportunity 26:47 to receive the Free gift we have for you today. 26:51 Here's the information you need. 26:54 Phone or text 0436.333.555 in Australia, or 020.422.2042 27:05 in New Zealand or 770.800.0266 in The United or visit our website 27:14 tij.tv, or simply scan the QR code on your screen 27:19 and we'll send you today's free offer, totally free of charge 27:23 and with no obligation. 27:24 You can also write to us at the addresses on your screen, 27:28 or email us at info@tij.tv don't delay, call or text us now. 27:35 Be sure to join us again next week when we will share another 27:40 of life's journey's together. 27:42 Until then, let's pray to the master of the universe, 27:46 the great creator God who made us, who loves us, 27:51 and who has a plan for our lives. 27:53 Dear Heavenly Father, We live busy lives 27:57 and sometimes our schedules are so hectic that we lose 28:01 focus of our priorities. Please help us to remember 28:04 what's really important in life, and may we always remember 28:09 that you love us, care for us, and have a plan for our lives, 28:13 We pray for your blessing on us and our families, and we ask 28:17 these things in Jesus' name. Amen! |
Revised 2025-08-12