Adventures in Odyssey

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

John Avery Whittaker: Hi there, I'm John Avery Whittaker, but you can call me Whit. My friends and I are about to set off for a time of wonder and excitement. Want to come along? We'd love to have you join us for today's Adventure in Odyssey.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh no.

John Avery Whittaker: You're sputtering, Eugene.

Connie Kendall: You saying I talk a lot?

John Avery Whittaker: Well, something like that.

Eugene Meltsner: You want me to become a believer in Christianity.

Connie Kendall: You know, you're sort of—

Guest (Male): Could you try that in English?

Guest (Male): Then Jesus put another parable before them. The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

When the crop came up and began to ripen, the weeds appeared as well. Then the owner's servants came up to him and said, "Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did all these weeds come from?"

"Some enemy of mine has done this." "Do you want us to go out and pull them all up?" "No. If you pull up the weeds now, you would pull up the wheat with them. Let them both grow together until the harvest. And at harvest time, I shall tell the reapers to collect all the weeds first and tie them up in bundles, ready to burn, but collect the wheat and store it in my barn." Then Jesus put another parable—

Eugene Meltsner: Mr. Whittaker, you wanted to see me?

John Avery Whittaker: Eugene! Yes, come in.

Eugene Meltsner: I didn't know what was on your schedule today, but I was wondering if you could help me on this kids' radio production.

John Avery Whittaker: Help you?

Eugene Meltsner: You know, the usual. I'm having a hard time adding the sound effects and music to these tapes, like this parable about the kingdom of heaven.

John Avery Whittaker: Kingdom of heaven?

Eugene Meltsner: It's a very straightforward parable, but I keep thinking we need something behind it. Here.

Guest (Male): Sir!

Eugene Meltsner: It takes place in a field. Should I add some wind effects?

Guest (Male): Didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did all these weeds come from? Some enemy of mine has done this.

John Avery Whittaker: With all due respect, Mr. Whittaker, that may be just a tad too much.

Eugene Meltsner: That's what I thought. Perhaps a gentle breeze and the sound of their feet crunching against the dry foliage on the ground, like this. Or at the end, how about the sound of the barn door closing with a resounding bang?

John Avery Whittaker: Perfect! That's exactly the reason I wanted you in here, Eugene. Would you mind finishing these parables? You're so much better at it than I am.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, to be perfectly honest, Mr. Whittaker, I don't think I can.

John Avery Whittaker: Oh?

Eugene Meltsner: You see, I've reports to do at the college, and well, I'm terribly busy right now.

John Avery Whittaker: I see.

Eugene Meltsner: Not to mention the reprogramming you wanted me to do on the Imagination Station.

John Avery Whittaker: Basically, you don't want to do it.

Eugene Meltsner: It's not that I don't want to. Oh no.

John Avery Whittaker: You're sputtering again, Eugene.

Eugene Meltsner: Yes, of course. I'm sorry. It's only that it's a very busy time for me.

John Avery Whittaker: Seems like the last few weeks have been very busy for you, ever since your experience in the Imagination Station, I think.

Eugene Meltsner: The Imagination—oh no.

John Avery Whittaker: You're sputtering again, Eugene. Well, I'd like to talk to you about that.

Eugene Meltsner: Sincerely, Mr. Whittaker, there isn't anything to discuss. But if you'll excuse me, I really have to leave. A meeting at the college, you know.

John Avery Whittaker: Yes, I know. It's a very busy time.

Eugene Meltsner: Exactly! Au revoir.

John Avery Whittaker: Au re—goodbye. A slamming door?

Chris: It's hard to trust a lot of entertainment these days, but you can always trust Adventures in Odyssey. Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas have been teaching kids biblical truth for over 35 years.

A club membership will give them even more episodes to keep them strong in the Lord. Whether you play episodes in the car, before bed, or anytime, you can be sure they're learning to be more like Christ. Learn all about the club at adventuresinodyssey.com. That's adventuresinodyssey.com.

Guest (Male): This is another parable Jesus gave to them. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. As a seed, it is the smallest of all them. Whoops! Where'd it go? Oh, there it is! But it grows to be the biggest of all plants. It becomes a tree, big enough for birds to come and nest in its branches.

John Avery Whittaker: Wait a minute. This isn't right. I wanted birds, not an elephant. Bulldozers? This isn't working.

Connie Kendall: A parable with a bulldozer in it?

John Avery Whittaker: No. Oh, I'm sorry, I mean no. I keep pushing the wrong button.

Connie Kendall: Well, where's Eugene? I thought you were going to ask him to produce these tapes.

John Avery Whittaker: Well, I did, but he said he's too busy.

Connie Kendall: Oh yeah, that line.

John Avery Whittaker: Sound familiar?

Connie Kendall: Are you kidding? He does his work around here and he's out the door. Haven't had more than five minutes' worth of conversation with him ever since his experience in the Imagination Station with the life-after-death program.

John Avery Whittaker: Yeah, he never has time to talk about it. He's always on the run. I think he's avoiding us.

Connie Kendall: I think you may be right. Whatever he saw in the Imagination Station was enough to upset him. Well, you were with him. You saw it.

John Avery Whittaker: Oh boy, did I. He looked awful. He said it was complete isolation and emptiness.

Connie Kendall: Which is a near-perfect description of eternity without God. And that's why he doesn't want to talk about it.

John Avery Whittaker: But I still don't get it. If something like that happened to me, I'd want to talk about it.

Connie Kendall: Well, that's one of the differences between the two of you.

John Avery Whittaker: You saying I talk a lot?

Connie Kendall: Well, I'm saying that Eugene is a very private person when it comes to what he's really feeling. That's why I want to be careful.

John Avery Whittaker: Careful?

Connie Kendall: Well, you see, I don't want to push him or he might retreat further.

John Avery Whittaker: Meaning that I shouldn't push him either?

Connie Kendall: Well, something like that.

John Avery Whittaker: I can't promise anything.

Connie Kendall: Just try to be sensitive.

John Avery Whittaker: Okay.

Connie Kendall: Thank you. Now, maybe it's this button. Then again, maybe not.

Connie Kendall: Oh, Eugene, you're here.

Eugene Meltsner: Indeed, Miss Kendall. Your powers of detection are as strong as ever.

Connie Kendall: Don't get snippy. I thought you had to go to school or something.

Eugene Meltsner: In due time. I wanted to complete this task at hand first, namely loading these dishes into the dishwasher.

Connie Kendall: Oh, I guess Whit got the impression you had to leave right away.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, did he?

Connie Kendall: Yeah, because you wouldn't help him with the kids' radio tapes.

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, I see. An easy misunderstanding.

Connie Kendall: Hey, I could finish the dishes if you want to go back in to help him.

Eugene Meltsner: I'm sorry, Miss Kendall, but there really isn't time.

Connie Kendall: There isn't time or you don't want to make time?

Eugene Meltsner: I beg your pardon?

Connie Kendall: I mean, be sensitive. You just haven't been around much, you know? Like, you kind of do your work and then you're sort of—

Eugene Meltsner: I'm—forgive me, Miss Kendall, but I don't think I've ever been that way in my life.

Connie Kendall: I mean you're out of here like a bullet. Why do you have to make this so hard?

Eugene Meltsner: How can I be making it hard when I don't understand what you mean?

Connie Kendall: You know exactly what I mean, Eugene. I just want to know what your problem is, okay? Make me blurt it out, why don't you?

Eugene Meltsner: My problem?

Connie Kendall: Oh, come on, Eugene. The Imagination Station. What happened to you when you tried Whit's life-after-death program?

Eugene Meltsner: Oh, that! I'd almost forgotten about it.

Connie Kendall: I don't believe you.

Eugene Meltsner: Are you accusing me of lying?

Connie Kendall: No! Yes!

Eugene Meltsner: Perhaps this is simply my way of communicating to you that I don't want to talk about it.

Connie Kendall: Perhaps it is, but I think you should talk about it.

Eugene Meltsner: Should or shouldn't is in the proverbial eye of the beholder. However, if I were to talk about it, I'd only say that my experience in the Imagination Station was likely the result of weariness and anxiety brought about by Mr. Whittaker's failing health.

Connie Kendall: Oh, right.

Eugene Meltsner: Right! And as a man of higher learning, I wouldn't allow that experience to lead me to draw any significant conclusion.

Connie Kendall: Meaning what?

Eugene Meltsner: Meaning that I cannot oblige you in what you want.

Connie Kendall: What do you think I want?

Eugene Meltsner: You want me to become a believer in Christianity. I can't.

Connie Kendall: Why not?

Eugene Meltsner: Because it is a closed issue for me.

Connie Kendall: A closed issue?

Eugene Meltsner: Yes, or to put it in a way for you to understand, I don't want to talk about it anymore. The dishwasher is now ready to be engaged.

Connie Kendall: Eugene!

Eugene Meltsner: I'm sorry, I can't hear you! Good day, Miss Kendall!

Connie Kendall: Eugene! What if I still want to talk about it? Eugene, come back here!

Guest (Male): The kingdom of heaven is like yeast which a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour till it was all leavened. All these things Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables, and he did not speak—

John Avery Whittaker: Not a lot to add to that one.

Guest (Male): The kingdom of heaven is like treasure which a man found buried in a field. He buried it again, and in joy went and sold everything he had and bought the field.

John Avery Whittaker: Not a lot of sound effects needed for that one. Let's see.

Guest (Male): Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

Guest (Male 2): Step right up! Step right up! Get your pearls right here!

Guest (Male): Could I see that pearl there, please?

Guest (Male 2): Of course you can. Good quality stuff, I don't mind saying.

Guest (Male): When he has found a single pearl of great value—

Guest (Male 2): Wow, this is beautiful! I'll be right back.

Guest (Male): He goes and sells all his possessions and buys it.

John Avery Whittaker: Marketplace, crowd noises.

Guest (Male): One-day sale, ladies! Last call on the sterling silver! Never seen—

John Avery Whittaker: That won't do for first-century Israel. Connie!

Connie Kendall: What?

John Avery Whittaker: Connie?

Connie Kendall: Oh, I'm sorry, Whit.

John Avery Whittaker: Can I see you a minute?

Connie Kendall: Sure.

Guest (Male): The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

Guest (Male 2): Step right up—

Connie Kendall: Look, Whit, I'm sorry about that. I just had a very frustrating conversation with Eugene.

John Avery Whittaker: Really? I thought he left.

Connie Kendall: Well, I think that's what he wanted you to think. He was in the kitchen doing dishes.

John Avery Whittaker: And?

Connie Kendall: Whit, we're going to have to do something.

John Avery Whittaker: Well, I thought we talked about that already. We're going to take it easy and be sensitive.

Connie Kendall: Sensitive, yeah. Well, I tried that and it didn't work.

John Avery Whittaker: Huh?

Connie Kendall: He said he doesn't want to talk about it. It's a closed issue with him.

John Avery Whittaker: Oh, what's a closed issue? Your being sensitive?

Connie Kendall: No, Eugene becoming a Christian.

John Avery Whittaker: Now, Connie.

Connie Kendall: I couldn't help it, Whit. The subject came up and, well, I had to say something.

John Avery Whittaker: Not always. Did Eugene leave?

Connie Kendall: Yeah, he's so exasperating.

John Avery Whittaker: Well, leave it alone for now. I need you to do me a favor.

Connie Kendall: Sure.

John Avery Whittaker: Would you go to the public library and get some sound effects recordings with crowd noises on them?

Connie Kendall: Crowd noises. Sure.

John Avery Whittaker: Oh, thank you.

Connie Kendall: Whit, what are we going to do?

John Avery Whittaker: Get those sound effects records so I can finish this kids' radio production. Other than that, wait patiently to see how the Lord leads.

Connie Kendall: Figured you were going to say that.

Chris: A mysterious phone call and a new nemesis? Emily Jones and Matthew Parker are on the case.

Emily Jones: I just need to find out who this person is.

Guest (Male): Oh, sounds like a real mystery.

Chris: It all starts with a phone caller threatening to blackmail Jones and Parker's friend Jeremy. But this new nemesis won't stop there. Can Emily and Matthew figure out who this blackmailer is before it's too late? Solve the mystery with them by reading Jones and Parker Case Files: The Nemesis.

It's the second book in the series with 16 new stories full of fun, faith, and intrigue. It's a great way for kids ages 8 to 12 to sharpen their detective skills while learning important values. Inspect clues, examine the evidence, and try to guess who done it.

Emily Jones: This is going to be harder than I thought, Mr. Whittaker.

Guest (Female): Oh, stop saying that, Priscilla. Relax. We're going to have a blast.

Chris: For more, go to adventuresinodyssey.com/jonesandparker. That's adventuresinodyssey.com/jonesandparker.

Chris: The stories we hear help shape who we are. The right stories teach us to be brave, to be kind to others, to be godly people. These are the kinds of stories your children hear with each episode of Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas.

And your kids can hear as many great stories as they want with an Adventures in Odyssey Club membership. When you join the club, you'll get access to over 1,000 faith-building episodes, including episodes you can only hear as a member.

You'll get access to devotionals, games, comics, and other fun activities. Keep giving them stories that will live in their hearts forever. Teach them to be wise like Whit, to be compassionate like Connie, to hold on to the biblical values they learn, even when you're not there to remind them.

Try a membership for 14 days to see if it's right for your family. Go to adventuresinodyssey.com to start your free trial. That's adventuresinodyssey.com.

Chris: Want to contact us about the episode 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.

Connie Kendall: Excuse me.

Guest (Female): Yes?

Connie Kendall: I was wondering if you could tell me where your sound effects records are.

Guest (Female): In the recorded matter section, second floor.

Connie Kendall: Oh, thanks. Sorry! Eugene!

Eugene Meltsner: Miss Kendall! What are you doing here?

Connie Kendall: I'm on an errand for Whit. What are you doing here?

Eugene Meltsner: Research, actually. It was nice to see you. Goodbye.

Connie Kendall: Let me help you with those.

Eugene Meltsner: No, I'll get them.

Connie Kendall: It's my fault, Eugene. What is all this?

Eugene Meltsner: Books, that's all.

Connie Kendall: Confessions by St. Augustine? Paradise Lost by John Milton? New Testament History by Bruce? Symbols in the Bible and Their Meaning by Hopstetler? Eugene!

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I can explain, of course. Purely academic. Just happened to pick up a few today.

Guest (Male): Mr. Meltsner?

Eugene Meltsner: Yes?

Guest (Male): I have those translations of the Bible that you special ordered last week.

Eugene Meltsner: Thank you.

Guest (Male): But Storr's The Basics of Christian Faith won't be in until next week.

Eugene Meltsner: Thank you, thank you.

Connie Kendall: Eugene!

Eugene Meltsner: Yes, Miss Kendall?

Connie Kendall: I don't get it. What about all that stuff about "I don't want to talk about it" and "the issue is closed"?

Eugene Meltsner: To be perfectly honest—

Connie Kendall: That would be nice.

Eugene Meltsner: Perhaps we should go somewhere else to talk.

Connie Kendall: Suits me.

Connie Kendall: Okay, Eugene, you want to tell me what's going on?

Eugene Meltsner: Technically speaking, nothing is going on. I'm merely doing some research, that's all.

Connie Kendall: Research about Christianity.

Eugene Meltsner: Precisely.

Connie Kendall: Then why did you tell me and Whit that—

Eugene Meltsner: I told you that I didn't want to discuss the matter because I didn't want you and Mr. Whittaker to get your hopes up. Connie, I know you and Mr. Whittaker have been wondering about me since my experience in the Imagination Station.

Connie Kendall: You got that right.

Eugene Meltsner: And no doubt you've been waiting for me to make some confession of faith or a commitment to Christianity.

Connie Kendall: Maybe a little.

Eugene Meltsner: But I'm not like that. It isn't that easy for me. I don't doubt what I experienced, but I need to know more before I can even think of trusting.

Connie Kendall: That's why you're researching Christianity?

Eugene Meltsner: I want to try to understand it.

Connie Kendall: I don't know if you can ever do that just by reading, but don't worry about me and Whit, Eugene. We'd rather you felt free to ask us questions than to sneak around trying to figure it out alone. What are you trying to figure out?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, all of it. Topics we've discussed at Whit's End. For example, something Mr. Whittaker mentioned earlier today: the kingdom of heaven.

Connie Kendall: What about it?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I know the phrase, but I've never stopped to ask what it means. Is it a literal place? A state of mind?

Connie Kendall: Oh, I can answer that! The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom brought about by Jesus. See? And though it may one day be a literal place, it's sort of something that's inside of us too.

Eugene Meltsner: So it's literal and figurative?

Connie Kendall: No, it's—well, yeah. It's literal in the sense that it's a real place, but it's figurative in this sense that it—wait a minute, let me start over. Okay, you see, the kingdom of heaven is—maybe you should talk to Whit.

Guest (Male): The kingdom of heaven is like a big net thrown into the sea, collecting all kinds of fish. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore and sit down and pick out the good ones for the barrels, but they throw away the bad.

That is how it will be at the end of this world. The angels will go out and pick out the wicked from among the good and throw them into the blazing fire, where there will be tears and bitter regret.

Eugene Meltsner: Mr. Whittaker?

John Avery Whittaker: Eugene! I'm surprised to see you again. I thought you were leaving for the rest of the day.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, I was. However, I decided to return to talk to you.

John Avery Whittaker: Talk to me? Oh, then you better sit down.

Eugene Meltsner: Very well. Connie caught me at the library.

John Avery Whittaker: Caught you? Weren't you supposed to be at the library?

Eugene Meltsner: It wasn't my presence at the library, it's what I was reading there.

John Avery Whittaker: Go on.

Eugene Meltsner: Books about Christianity.

John Avery Whittaker: I see.

Eugene Meltsner: Ever since that incident in the Imagination Station, I—

John Avery Whittaker: Oh, hold on, Eugene. Maybe you better tell me about that incident. All I've heard has been secondhand.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, it's difficult to explain. I know that your life-after-death program gave you an experience of joy and reunion.

John Avery Whittaker: But not for you.

Eugene Meltsner: No. In many ways, it was the most terrifying experience I've ever had. It was as if I were completely separated from everyone and everything, as if I were thoroughly alone, as if life had absolutely no meaning and I was non-existent in a burning darkness. Connie said I saw a glimpse of hell, and in many ways, I want to believe her.

John Avery Whittaker: Believe it, Eugene.

Eugene Meltsner: However, that experience isn't enough to make me want to rush into the arms of Christianity for protection, to act poetically for a moment. That's why I've been researching and studying. I want to confirm or deny my experience.

John Avery Whittaker: Well, why didn't you talk to us about it before?

Eugene Meltsner: Because I didn't want you to get your hopes up. I suspect that it would mean a lot to you if I became a Christian.

John Avery Whittaker: It would. You know, it's something I've been praying about since I met you. But that's not the only fear you had.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, to be perfectly honest—

John Avery Whittaker: You were also afraid we might try to convert you.

Eugene Meltsner: Exactly!

John Avery Whittaker: Well, I'm not surprised, Eugene. Not by any of it.

Eugene Meltsner: You're not?

John Avery Whittaker: No. For one thing, we might want to try to help you along if we thought you were close to making some sort of decision. I hope you understand that it's only because we care about you and want what's best.

Eugene Meltsner: Yes, sir.

John Avery Whittaker: And I also think it's perfectly within your character to want to read and research as much as you can about Christianity, particularly after your experience. There's nothing wrong with that.

Eugene Meltsner: Thank you.

John Avery Whittaker: But you also need to know that all your studying may fail you when it comes to understanding God, His ways, and the salvation He offers us.

Eugene Meltsner: Fail me?

John Avery Whittaker: The Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to Corinth that God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. For it was after the world in its wisdom had failed to know God that He in His wisdom chose to save all who would believe by the simple-mindedness of the gospel message.

Eugene Meltsner: Well, that certainly would explain some of the things that don't seem to make sense.

John Avery Whittaker: You see, Eugene, our minds can only grasp so much about the nature of God, of eternity. After that, it's a matter of the spirit. Our spirit links up with His in an eternal relationship that gives us the right perspective to understand Him better.

Eugene Meltsner: Mr. Whittaker?

John Avery Whittaker: Yeah?

Eugene Meltsner: As is so often inquired of me, could you try that in English?

John Avery Whittaker: All right. I'm mixing these kids' radio tapes about the kingdom of heaven. At the moment, it sounds like you and I are having a conversation on a beach somewhere.

Eugene Meltsner: And it's most enjoyable.

John Avery Whittaker: And I guess if anyone were listening to us without seeing where we are, they'd think we were having a conversation on a beach. It sounds real.

Eugene Meltsner: Absolutely.

John Avery Whittaker: But it's not. It only seems real because it's all we know. I can push a few buttons here and completely change it. Once again, it seems real, but it's not. Like this.

You know as well as I do that beyond this studio is the real world where real kids are playing and Connie is serving ice cream and—well, you have the idea.

Eugene Meltsner: Yes.

John Avery Whittaker: Come on.

Eugene Meltsner: Where to?

John Avery Whittaker: Just follow me. In a lot of ways, the real world is no different than the world we just created in the studio. You see, our senses take it all in and we make the understandable mistake of believing that that's all there is.

But it isn't. What waits beyond this world is an eternal one. I suppose you could call it the kingdom of heaven.

Eugene Meltsner: How do you know all this?

John Avery Whittaker: For one thing, God tells us about it in the Bible. For another thing, as a believer, He has put His Spirit inside of me. It's sort of a piece of the kingdom of heaven that helps us to understand that this world isn't all there is, that it's just a dim reflection of the real world to come.

So you see, Eugene, understanding God is dependent on faith. And faith isn't so much a matter of the mind as it is a matter of the heart, the spirit. It's a nice day today.

Eugene Meltsner: Indeed.

John Avery Whittaker: Does any of this make sense to you?

Eugene Meltsner: Well, as much as it can, I suppose. Mr. Whittaker, I think I want to believe, but I need help with my unbelief.

John Avery Whittaker: Eugene, that's as good a start as any.

Chris: In his second letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes, "We set our eyes not on what we see, but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever."

You know, the New Testament is full of verses teaching us not to count on the things of this world because they don't last. As believers in Jesus, we should be aware that there is an eternal world that is filled with the glory and truth of God.

Some call it the kingdom of heaven. It's hard for us to imagine, but by faith, we know it's there. And when we think about it, everything we do with our lives should reflect the kingdom to come.

How can we do that? By reading God's word and getting to know Him in prayer. That's our link between the world we see and the eternal world we can't.

Thanks for listening. If you ever want to get in touch with us here, the address is: Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. Or in Canada, write to: Box 9800, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4G3.

And don't forget to ask how you can get a copy of today's episode. It's called "Thy Kingdom Come." That address again is: Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995.

Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. "Thy Kingdom Come" was written and directed by Paul McCusker. Our production engineer was Dave Arnold, and our executive producer, Chuck Bolte. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.