Adventures in Odyssey

Chris Anthony: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.

Eugene Meltsner: Eugene Meltsner here, inviting you to join today's assemblage of characters and myself for an extended period of discovery, imagination, and exhilaration of excitement that is. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.

Mandy Straussberg: She said that God doesn't answer prayers anymore.

Eugene Meltsner: Hm.

George Müller: So you wish to have a look at our orphanage?

William Tyndale: Why am I under arrest?

Guest (Male): Empty, empty, empty, empty.

Guest (Male): You've been living in a cave somewhere?

Mandy Straussberg: Oh my. Hello? Eugene?

Eugene Meltsner: Oh yes, I'm over here behind the imagination station.

Mandy Straussberg: Oh. Hello.

Eugene Meltsner: Greetings. Amanda is it not?

Mandy Straussberg: Mandy, yeah.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh.

Mandy Straussberg: Connie was busy and sent me up to talk to you.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, how may I assist you? Watch out for that toolbox.

Mandy Straussberg: Thanks. Well, there's a girl at school who keeps giving me a hard time, Jessica Dunn.

Eugene Meltsner: I see. Huh, and what pray tell is Jessica Dunn giving you a hard time about?

Mandy Straussberg: She saw me praying in the library and teased me about it. She said that God doesn't answer prayers anymore.

Eugene Meltsner: Hm. And what did you say?

Mandy Straussberg: I showed her my Bible and said that God answers prayers all the time. But she said that he might have way back in the Bible days, but stopped after that.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, Jessica obviously does not know her history.

Mandy Straussberg: That what I thought too. Oh, what history?

Eugene Meltsner: Suffice it to say that God didn't stop answering prayers after the Bible. History is replete with examples of answered prayers.

Mandy Straussberg: Yeah? Like what?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, Mr. Whittaker and I were having a discussion about this very topic just the other day and Wait, we can do much better than a tutorial on the subject.

Mandy Straussberg: Better than what?

Eugene Meltsner: Mr. Whittaker has installed a new program in the imagination station. I'm not sure anyone's tried it yet. Would you like to be the first?

Mandy Straussberg: A trip in the imagination station? Yes, please.

Eugene Meltsner: Very well. One moment please. Huh, there. Now, Amanda, Mandy, let us climb aboard. You first.

Mandy Straussberg: You're going with me?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh-huh. As the program is untried, it would behoove me to attend in case something isn't working properly. Besides, I'm rather curious to experience Mr. Whittaker's new program as well. Now, are you ready?

Mandy Straussberg: I sure am.

Eugene Meltsner: Then as is the routine, push the red button.

Chris Anthony: Now in the Adventures in Odyssey Club, Connie and Paxton decide the employees at wit's end need a morale boost.

Connie Kendall: Team building university. I create the itinerary and plan organization transforming exercises and we'd order one of those long sub sandwiches to share.

Paxton: I'm going to give you a chance to see this thorough.

Chris Anthony: But the exercises don't go as planned.

Penny Wise: First you let me fall on my face and now you want me bald.

Connie Kendall: Hair is temporary. Team building is forever.

Chris Anthony: Is employee morale worth all this? Find out now in the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Mandy Straussberg: Where are we, Eugene?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I'm not entirely certain. Obviously a foyer of some sort. The architectural design leads me to believe it is a building from the late 18th century. Oh, though that portrait on the wall is of a rather young Queen Victoria. So perhaps we are in the middle of the 19th century.

Mary Müller: Oh, hello. I didn't realize anyone was here. You should have called out. Names, please.

Eugene Meltsner: I am Eugene Meltsner and my protégé here is

Mandy Straussberg: I'm Mandy.

Mary Müller: Mandy. Interesting name. Short for Amanda, isn't it? I take it from your accents that you're American.

Eugene Meltsner: Indeed.

Mary Müller: A pleasure to meet you both. We get a few of you you know, but with Bristol being such a major British port and all. Now, sir, are you her custodian or have you brought her to us for other reasons?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh, her custodian? Well no, that is to say Where are we? Besides Bristol, I mean.

Mary Müller: The orphanage of course. I'm Mary Müller, wife of the Reverend Oh dear, you look terribly confused.

Eugene Meltsner: Did you say Müller? As in the Reverend George Müller?

Mary Müller: Yes.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, uh-huh. Amanda and I are very interested in your establishment.

Mandy Straussberg: I am?

Eugene Meltsner: Yes, we are.

Mary Müller: Interested. So you wish to have a look at our orphanage? For what purpose might I ask? Are you also ministers?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, it's more accurate to say that we hope to learn something from what we see here.

Mary Müller: Ah, well. We do have occasional visitors who wish to study how we operate. Though I should tell you right away that we don't accept donations or have an established list of benefactors.

Eugene Meltsner: Then how do you pay your bills?

Mary Müller: We get by through the only means possible.

Mandy Straussberg: And that is?

Mary Müller: Faith. Now, the children have finished their chores for the evening and they'll be off to bed. My husband will be along shortly. This way if you don't mind.

Eugene Meltsner: Thank you. Come along, Amanda.

Mandy Straussberg: Eugene, where are we?

Eugene Meltsner: Bristol, England sometime in the 1840s.

Mandy Straussberg: But what does this have to do with

Eugene Meltsner: You'll have to watch and see.

Mandy Straussberg: Eugene, what happened?

Eugene Meltsner: Well apparently we're on our way to the next adventure.

Mandy Straussberg: It's so dark.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh. It most certainly is not Bristol.

Mandy Straussberg: Where are we?

Eugene Meltsner: Hm. The town square in Europe. From the appearance of those huts in that fortress, we've gone further back into history.

Mandy Straussberg: Like how far back?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, 1500s perhaps.

Mandy Straussberg: What?

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, I believe I know where Mr. Whittaker has sent us. It's the town of Vilvorde in Belgium. You see, Mr. Whittaker has a deep appreciation for what

William Tyndale: Vilvorde?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh, uh, me me?

William Tyndale: Did you just arrive? Why did you not go straight to the jail? You're late.

Eugene Meltsner: Late? Uh, oh. Yes. Jail. Uh, I do apologize. Well, we had a flat on the way in, you see.

Mandy Straussberg: What?

William Tyndale: Follow me and hurry.

Eugene Meltsner: Yes.

William Tyndale: You've kept us waiting long enough. Though nobody told me you were bringing a child with you. Unusual, but none of my business. Will you want to sleep or interrogate the prisoner right away?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh, interrogate the prisoner?

William Tyndale: I thought as much. He's in here. Uh, we keep him in the back cell of the guard house. There'll be no trouble. He's English. Do not fight.

Eugene Meltsner: No, no. Of course not. And uh, merely as a matter of protocol, how precisely would I address this particular Englishman?

William Tyndale: Makes no difference to me what you call the heretic. I call him William Tyndale. And not mister or doctor. Too much respect for a man like him.

Eugene Meltsner: William Tyndale. Just as I thought.

William Tyndale: He's in here. Just shout when you're finished. But watch him. He's a clever one.

Eugene Meltsner: Uh, thank you.

Mandy Straussberg: William Tyndale?

Eugene Meltsner: Hm. He translated the Bible into English.

Mandy Straussberg: So what's he doing in jail?

Eugene Meltsner: Let's find out.

William Tyndale: Why am I under arrest? An odd question for a magistrate to ask.

Eugene Meltsner: Well actually I'm not a magistrate.

William Tyndale: Then who are you?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh, would it be enough to say that we're travelers who have come a long way to learn from you?

William Tyndale: Travelers, eh? Fellow sojourners of the true Christian faith?

Eugene Meltsner: Yes.

William Tyndale: I wouldn't say it too loudly or they'll lock you in here with me.

Mandy Straussberg: You mean it's a crime to be a Christian here?

William Tyndale: Ah now, there's an interesting question. I certainly didn't think so. Then I committed a most heinous crime. I acted on my faith.

Mandy Straussberg: You mean you translated the Bible into English?

William Tyndale: Yes. How did you know?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh, news of your work has spread.

William Tyndale: Praise God. But to be more accurate, I translated the New Testament into English. They arrested me before I finished the Old Testament. And now they want to burn me at the stake for it.

Mandy Straussberg: Burn you?

William Tyndale: Well that is the penalty for heresy. So there, if you're a couple of spies, you have my confession. Do with me what you will.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh well, we're not spies, sir.

Mandy Straussberg: Wait. I don't get it. They're going to burn you at the stake for translating the Bible? What's wrong with that?

William Tyndale: You're not from around here, are you? Uh, where do I begin? Well, back in England when I was a poor tutor to a rich man's children, I had wonderful debates with the churchmen who came to dine at the great house. They seem to regard the Bible as a tremendous secret.

Mandy Straussberg: Secret?

William Tyndale: Yes, locked away from ordinary people in its mysterious ancient languages. I soon realized that even these clergymen and bishops hadn't read the scriptures, much less understood them. So I determined that the overriding purpose of my life, my heartfelt prayer, would be to put God's book into the common language. So the humblest plowboy could know as much of the word of God as the mightiest king in England.

Mandy Straussberg: And that was a crime?

William Tyndale: It would seem so. The church is greatly threatened by my work, enough to drive me from England. And now to condemn me to the stake.

Mandy Straussberg: That's terrible.

William Tyndale: Still I pray that God in his grace will deliver me from this judgment.

Mandy Straussberg: And if you prayed, God will have to deliver you, right?

William Tyndale: Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed for deliverance in the Garden of Gethsemane, but concluded his prayer with not my will, but thine, oh Lord.

Mandy Straussberg: But God wouldn't let you burn at the stake for making the Bible readable for everybody. Would he?

William Tyndale: In my prayers, I certainly hope not. But tomorrow will show us the revelation of God's desire.

Mandy Straussberg: No way. It's not fair.

Eugene Meltsner: As I said, it's a new program.

Mandy Straussberg: But what about Mr. Tyndale? They aren't going to burn him at the stake, are they?

Eugene Meltsner: Well if this is upsetting you too much, Amanda, we can stop.

Mandy Straussberg: No, it's okay. I just want to know what's going to happen to everybody. The orphanage, Mr. Tyndale, and Hey, wait a minute. Where are we now?

Eugene Meltsner: Summoning my observational skills upon close examination, I would have to say that we are on a road in the middle of nowhere.

Mandy Straussberg: I can see that. But Ow, so hot and bright. I should have brought my sunglasses.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, still dissatisfied, are we? One moment you're complaining that it's too dark and now it's too hot and bright.

Mandy Straussberg: So where are we? Why is it so dusty?

Eugene Meltsner: Unknown. Oh wait, someone's approaching.

Mandy Straussberg: Looks like there are a lot of someone's approaching. Look, Eugene.

Eugene Meltsner: Yes, yes. I see. Their clothes, the horse-drawn wagon. We appear to be in mid 1800s America. Excuse me. Greetings and salutations.

Guest (Male): Hello there. We seem to be lost. Can you tell us where we are?

Guest (Male): Well, follow this road yonder and you'll get to Oberlin, Ohio.

Eugene Meltsner: Ah, thank you. Where's everybody journeying to on such a such a fine afternoon?

Guest (Male): I could do without such fine afternoons. If they don't end soon, my crops will die and then where will I be?

Eugene Meltsner: So you're in a drought?

Guest (Male): You've been living in a cave somewhere?

Guest (Male): Sure, we're in a drought. The worst one anybody around here has ever seen or heard tell of. Not a drop of rain since the first day of spring. And if we don't get some soon, all the animals will die too and then where will I be?

Mandy Straussberg: So where's everybody going? Did somebody find water down the road?

Guest (Male): I'm not counting on it, but my wife seems to think so. Ain't that right, Matilda?

Matilda: Charles Finney is going to pray for rain.

Mandy Straussberg: Oh?

Matilda: You ain't heard of Charles Finney?

Eugene Meltsner: Oh yes, of course. The great revival preacher.

Mandy Straussberg: Oh. You really think his prayer is going to work?

Matilda: Well, I'd like to think it will.

Guest (Male): If the two of you are going, there's no point walking on a day like this. You can ride with us.

Mandy Straussberg: Can we, Eugene?

Eugene Meltsner: Of course, Amanda. Thank you, sir.

Guest (Male): Hop in. Just don't disturb my pigs. They'll get to flushing and then where will I be?

Eugene Meltsner: Oh my.

Mandy Straussberg: Oh, excuse me. Um, Wow. Where did all these people come from?

Eugene Meltsner: It appears as if the entire region showed up for this gathering. A drought is a very serious matter for poor farmers.

Mandy Straussberg: I never heard of Charles Finney.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I'm not well versed with his life either. I know only that he was a famous Bible teacher and preacher around this time. Oh, and and do you see that building over there?

Mandy Straussberg: Yeah.

Eugene Meltsner: That's Oberlin College. Charles Finney is the president there.

Mandy Straussberg: I see a lot of men by the podium. Which one is he?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I've only ever seen one drawing of him in one of Mr. Whittaker's books, but Yes. Of course.

Mandy Straussberg: What's so funny?

Eugene Meltsner: I think I 've spotted him.

Mandy Straussberg: Where?

Eugene Meltsner: Uh, there. The the tall man carrying the umbrella.

Mandy Straussberg: Umbrella?

Guest (Male): Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, students, it's the time we've all been waiting for. After months of praying for rain and not getting it, a man we all know and respect as a devout preacher for God has agreed to lead us today as we lift our hearts toward heaven. Here is president Charles Finney.

Charles Finney: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. See, I'm the only one who brought an umbrella today. We all have faith, or don't we? Asking the Lord to send rain, are we not? Better to be prepared. Now, let's put our faith in Jesus. Let's believe he can do this thing we ask of him. Dear heavenly Father, our chief burden today is the lack of rain. Day after day we have looked up and seen only the burning sun and clouds that never bring a shower. The poor creatures of the field and the forest joined together in our suffering.

The ground itself is cracked open in its dryness. Even the thirsty earth seems to cry out for water. Oh Lord, we know you are the God of power and provision. We cry out to you, Father, for Jesus' sake. Our hearts' desire and prayer is for rain, Lord. Send the rain and relieve our suffering. We pray this, oh Lord, with great thanksgiving that you shall answer this plea. For we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Mandy Straussberg: Eugene, look. The clouds.

Eugene Meltsner: I I I see them.

Charles Finney: The Lord has heard while we were yet speaking.

Mandy Straussberg: It worked, Eugene. God answered his prayer. God answered his prayer.

Eugene Meltsner: It's a good thing Charles Finney remembered to bring his umbrella.

Chris Anthony: Want to contact us about the episodes you're hearing? Visit our website at adventuresinodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1 800 A Family with a parent's permission of course. We always love hearing from you.

George Müller: Eugene, Amanda, you came back.

Eugene Meltsner: Good morning, Mrs. Müller.

Mandy Straussberg: Do you see, sir? Look. Empty, empty, empty, empty.

William Tyndale: I believe I understand, Frank. You are saying that we are out of food.

Mandy Straussberg: Do you see, sir? Interrogate Mrs. Harris.

Paxton: She's right, sir. Down to the last potato peeling.

William Tyndale: That does seem to be a problem. Mary, is there any money in the box?

Paxton: No, not a brass farthing. We've spent it all.

William Tyndale: I see. Well, I can't help but believe that God does not want these children to miss their breakfast.

Paxton: Have the children take their seats please.

William Tyndale: But sir, Frank, have the children take their seats.

Guest (Male): As you wish.

William Tyndale: Be seated children.

Eugene Meltsner: We still have no food to put in front of them, Reverend. No, but we shall thank the Lord for the food he will provide. Attention, children. You know you must be ready in time for your lessons, so let us pray. Dear Father, we thank you for what you will give us to eat. In Jesus' name, amen.

Mandy Straussberg: Amen.

William Tyndale: Well sir, sir, please.

Eugene Meltsner: Don't stand there gawking, Mrs. Harris. Please open the door.

Paxton: Yes, Reverend. Uh, right. Come right this way. Reverend Müller, this man would like a word with you.

William Tyndale: Of course. Come in.

Eugene Meltsner: Reverend Müller?

William Tyndale: Yes, sir.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I don't know how to explain this, sir, because I never had anything like this happen to me before.

William Tyndale: Yes?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I'm a baker by trade, sir. Got my own bake shop on the other side of Bristol. Well, sir, middle of last night, I suddenly wakes up. It's the strangest thing. I had this I had this feeling. Well, sir, it was like God was there in the room with me. Like the whole room was filled with his goodness. Anyhow, I gets this idea, see. I says to myself, Pastor Müller's orphans don't have bread for breakfast. So I gets up and wakes my apprentices and we spends the rest of the night baking bread and sweet rolls for you and your children.

And if you don't mind that is

William Tyndale: No, no, no. Not at all. Bring it in, please.

Guest (Male): Right. Bring it in, boys.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I've never

William Tyndale: Thank you. Thank you.

Eugene Meltsner: Don't thank me, Pastor. It was the Lord's doing.

Paxton: George, another gentleman.

Guest (Male): Excuse me, governor. This is the orphanage, is it?

Eugene Meltsner: Yes, that is right.

Guest (Male): Well, sir, me wagon broke down in the street here and I got to tow it back to the shop for repairs.

Eugene Meltsner: How may we help you?

Guest (Male): Well, I got all these containers of fresh milk in the back and I thought maybe it would do more good for the orphans than for me to dump it out in the gutter.

William Tyndale: You are absolutely correct, sir. By all means, bring it in.

Guest (Male): Right you are, gov. All right, Billy. He wants the milk. Pastor Müller, bread and milk, bread and milk. I don't believe it, Pastor. Bread and milk.

William Tyndale: Believe it, Frank, and praise God for his provision.

Mandy Straussberg: Eugene, did you see that? God took the baker to bring the bread. Then he made the milk wagon break down. Just like he made the rain come for Charles Finney. He answers prayer. Boy, is Jessica going to hear it from me.

Eugene Meltsner: As I said, history is full of examples of answered prayers.

Mandy Straussberg: But what about William Tyndale? We have to go back and see our gov sits in free.

Eugene Meltsner: I believe that's where we are now.

Mandy Straussberg: There's an awful lot of people here. I can't see a thing.

Eugene Meltsner: They've come for William Tyndale's execution, I'm afraid.

Mandy Straussberg: Ah, then they're going to be disappointed. What's going on, Eugene? I can't see anything.

Eugene Meltsner: Perhaps it's better that way. There's a large stake set up in the middle of the square with mounds of firewood piled up around it.

Mandy Straussberg: We shouldn't have gone to all that work cuz they won't get to use it.

Eugene Meltsner: Mandy, William Tyndale is tied to the stake.

Mandy Straussberg: What? Well, something's still going to happen. They're going to send him free. I know it.

Eugene Meltsner: Mandy,

Mandy Straussberg: Mr. Tyndale just wanted to translate the Bible so people could read it. God's not going to let him die for that. He'll do something. I know it. Eugene, what's happening?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, they're they're bringing up the torches.

Guest (Male): Lord, open the king of England's eyes.

Mandy Straussberg: No, God answers prayers and he can't die. Eugene, Eugene.

Eugene Meltsner: Mandy? Mandy, are you all right?

Mandy Straussberg: Oh Eugene, God let him die. How could God let him die like that?

Eugene Meltsner: Huh, I can't answer that question. Why does anyone ever have to die tragically or for his faith?

Mandy Straussberg: But I don't get it. God answered Charles Finney's prayer and brought the rain and then he answered George Müller's prayer and gave those orphans breakfast. Why didn't he answer William Tyndale's prayer?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, God doesn't always answer prayers in the ways we might anticipate. In some respects, one could argue that God did answer William Tyndale's prayer.

Mandy Straussberg: What do you mean?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, he told us that his heart's prayer was to translate the Bible so that everyone could read it, remember?

Mandy Straussberg: Yeah.

Eugene Meltsner: And his last words were a prayer that God would open the eyes of the king of England.

Mandy Straussberg: Uh-huh.

Eugene Meltsner: Both of those prayers were answered. 75 years after Tyndale died, King James the First commanded that the Bible be translated into English so that all of his subjects could read it from the highest ruler down to the boy plowing a field.

Mandy Straussberg: Really?

Eugene Meltsner: Yes. And the version that the translators used as one of their best sources was William Tyndale's.

Mandy Straussberg: Wow.

Eugene Meltsner: So you see, his prayers were answered, just not as we expected.

Mandy Straussberg: It still makes me feel sad.

Eugene Meltsner: I'm not convinced that answered prayers are always supposed to make us feel happy, but they do work out, which I suppose is the point of Mr. Whittaker's new program, eh?

Mandy Straussberg: Yeah.

Eugene Meltsner: So uh, what are you going to say to Jessica Dunn the next time you see her?

Mandy Straussberg: First that she ought to try this program.

Eugene Meltsner: Hm. And then?

Mandy Straussberg: I'll tell her that I'm praying for her.

Chris Anthony: Excellent. First John 5 14 reminds us that this is the confidence which we have before him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. No matter who we are or what we're going through, God is there listening to us. In fact, Psalm 55 promises evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud and God shall hear my voice. He may not always answer the way we expect, but he does answer. Stop for a moment and think about how God has answered prayers in your life. And if you get a chance, why don't you write them down and send them to me?

Do you remember our address? It's Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC V6B 4G3. And when you write, ask about how you can get your own copy of today's episode. It's called When in Doubt, Pray. Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. When in Doubt, Pray was written by Doug McIntosh and directed by Phil Lollar. Our production engineer was Todd Busteed and I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.