FREE OFFER: The Bible TRANSCRIPT: Money talks, and it also makes the world go round. It seems as though, from sunrise to sunset, the vast majority of the human population around the globe is engrossed in the pursuit of this valuable commodity. A recent poll shows that most millennials equate success in life with wealth and fame. It seems as though the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of wealth have now become synonymous, as the world engages in an ever-increasing rush-and-grab. But money is so much more than a handy commodity to have on hand. Yes, the money in the bank pays the bills, the mortgage and that ridiculously expensive shopping spree, but currency has a fascinating history. For example, did you know that the British pound is the oldest currency still in use today? Or that the motto on the first U.S. coins in 1787 was “Mind your business”? Or that the new Australian $5 note is crisp enough to play your old vinyl record collection if you put in on a turntable? Another fascinating fact about money is that countries like to use their currency to tell stories. The tradition of using money as a storytelling device stretches back over thousands of years. The first printed notes were produced in China over a thousand years ago, and the first coins were minted more than 2500 years ago. But it was the Romans who first pressed the impression of a person onto the head of their coins. This impression was used as a storytelling device to convey a specific message to the citizen[s] of the Republic, to both reassure them that Caesar had their best interests at heart and to reinforce his authority over them. This tradition of using currency to convey a clear message is still in use today. In fact, if you were to pull out a handful of bills from your wallet today, they would no doubt give you a variety of stories that would both be fascinating and inspiring. Take for example, the Australian one-hundred dollar bill. The crisp green note has two faces emblazoned across it. On one side is the face of Sir John Monash, decorated war hero, engineer and entrepreneur. On the other side is the face of Dame Nellie Melba, one of the greatest opera singers of all time and at the turn of the century, the most famous woman in the world. Her story is both fascinating and remarkable bringing to light a unique but powerful combination of talent, hard work and perseverance. Join us this week as we take a look at the inspiring story of Dame Nellie Melba. And you know what, she looks so good on these notes that I’m going to get a few more. DAME NELLIE MELBA Dame Nellie Melba was the first Australian opera singer to conquer the international world of opera and she reigned as undisputed queen for the better part of 40 years. She was one of the most famous operatic stars of the late Victorian Era, and the early 20th century, and the first Australian to receive international recognition as a classical musician. She was the first international Australian superstar and cultural icon! She was born Helen Porter Mitchell in Richmond, an inner-city suburb of Melbourne, on the 19th May 1861. She was the oldest of seven children. Her father, David Mitchell, was a builder by trade and went on to become extremely successful. In fact, some of his best-known projects can still be seen around Melbourne today. Among them are Scots’ Church Melbourne, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. The Royal Exhibition Building is the first Australian building to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is by far David Mitchell’s greatest accomplishment. By the time she was six years old, Nellie, as she was called by her family, was taking piano lessons and had begun to sing in public. From a young age Nellie showed an aptitude for music and singing, and was encouraged by her parents and teachers to pursue singing lessons. Though her parents encouraged her pursuit of music, her father was not a fan of her pursuing singing as a career. When she was twenty her mother died suddenly, and her father moved the family to Mackay in Queensland, where he immersed himself in a new building project: a sugar mill in the area. It wasn’t long before Nellie started to make an impression on Mackay society. Her singing and piano playing drew the admiration of everyone she came into contact with, including Charles Frederick Armstrong, the youngest son of an Irish baronet, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. They were married in Brisbane in December 1882 and had one son, George, in October 1883. Unfortunately, their marriage unravelled quite quickly, and Nellie chose to leave Charles after being married for just over a year. Separated and a new mother, Nellie returned to Melbourne, determined to pursue her singing career. She performed in Melbourne at several concerts which were organised by her friend John Lemmone, a flautist who would occasionally accompany her when she sang. After experiencing success in Melbourne, Nellie decided to try her luck farther afield. She travelled to London, seeking out any opportunities that might present themselves. She tried to find work with some of the leading artists and musicians in London, including Sir Arthur Sullivan, famous for his operatic collaborations with the dramatist William Gilbert. When none of those attempts panned out Nellie went to France. She settled in Paris and went to work with Mathilde Marchesi, a leading singing teacher of the time. Marchesi recognised her potential, and worked to improve her talent. Working with Marchesi also put Nellie into the orbit of the operatic elite of Paris. Her work with Marchesi refined her skills to such an extent that soon offers for work came pouring in, and she began to build her career as a solid operatic singer. It was during this time, around 1887, that Marchesi encouraged Nellie to adopt a stage name. She chose Melba, which was an abbreviation of her hometown of Melbourne. The name stuck and from then on, she was known as Nellie Melba. By May 1888 Nellie was able to make her debut at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. It seemed that she had finally arrived at the pinnacle of success, and there was nowhere else to go but up. From this point forward Nellie’s life was a whirlwind of travel and performance. She continued to perform at Covent Garden, but also added places like St. Petersburg, Paris and New York to her list of venues. The turn of the century brought mixed feelings. Her husband, Charles Frederick Armstrong, moved to the United States with their son, and finally divorced Nellie while he was in Texas in 1900. She continued to perform at Covent Gardens and was a frequent visiting performer at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. But the early part of the twentieth century brought new opportunities. In 1904 Nellie decided to return to Australia on a concert tour that included New Zealand. She was a huge hit and earned a lot more than she was expecting to. Elated by the success at home, she continued to return to Australia many times for performances. When Nellie Melba returned to Australia in 1909, she toured the country, covering over 16,000 kilometres, including many remote towns in the tour. She also bought a 60-acre dairy farm and cottage in Coldstream, a small town near Melbourne, that same year. By 1912 she built a home on the property and named it Coombe Cottage, the same name as the house that she had rented near Covent Garden. She then set up a music school in Richmond, later merging it into the Melbourne Conservatorium. WW1 FUNDRAISING When World War I broke out Nellie found herself in Australia, and threw herself into fundraising for the war effort. She donated generously to charities, either by singing without payment at fundraising events, or donating money directly. She raised over 100,000 pounds, and in recognition of her efforts she was created Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in 1918. Over the next several years she alternated between performances at the Royal Opera House, and performances in Melbourne and Sydney, where she attracted over 70,000 people at one concert. In June 1920, she made history when she participated in a pioneering radio broadcast from Marconi’s New Street Works Factory in Chelmsford, England. She was then the first internationally known artist to participate in a radio broadcast of that nature. As she moved into the mid-1920s Nellie Melba began to give a series of farewell performances across Australia. In fact, she gave such an endless stream of farewell performances that she became the centre of a common Australian expression, “More farewells than Dame Nellie Melba.” In 1929 she returned to Europe for the last time and went on a visit to Egypt. While she was in Egypt, she fell sick with a fever which lingered on indefinitely. On the 10th June 1930 she gave her last performance in London, before returning to Australia. She died in Australia in St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney in 1931 of septicaemia. She was given a grand funeral at Scots’ Church in Melbourne, which had been built by her father, and where she had sung in the choir as a young girl. The funeral motorcade was over a kilometre long, and her obituary made front page headlines in leading newspapers across the globe. Nellie Melba was buried in Lilydale and her headstone bears the farewell words of Mimi, one of the characters she played in the Opera, La Boheme; the caption reads “Addio, senza rancor – Farewell, without bitterness” AN ENDURING LEGACY Among the many accomplishments Nellie Melba was known for, one of her most significant was the time and energy she invested in the careers of younger singers. She was determined to foster the next generation of young vocalists, and worked hard to make it happen. Melba was especially focused on nurturing and cultivating the vocal talents of young women. She shared her musical scores with them, brought them on tour with her and opened opportunities for them to share the stage with her. She was a regular fixture at the Conservatorium in Melbourne for many years, teaching and looking for a “new Melba.” When Melba died, she provided for the Conservatorium with a generous bequest in her will. The donation, and her fifteen-year association with the Conservatorium, prompted the board to change the name of the Conservatorium to the Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music. However, after about a century of being in existence the Conservatorium closed its doors in 2008. The Conservatorium was later converted into the Melba Opera Trust. The goal of the new organisation is to invest in up-and-coming vocal talent and to help them to reach their goals of becoming professional opera performers. Nellie Melba left behind an enduring legacy as a performer and an opera star, but perhaps her most enduring legacy is found in the Melba Opera Trust. It is telling that in the final years of her life she spent a great deal of time investing in others and providing for future mentorship. JESUS AS MENTOR The idea of mentorship is a recurring theme in the Bible. The Bible uses the word discipleship, but the principles are similar. Jesus invested a great deal of time in the lives of twelve men, and they in turn went on to establish the Christian Church, one of the most transformational movements in history. The Bible provides some interesting pointers on how to successfully invest our time and energy in the lives of others. In fact, Jesus spent a lot of his time nurturing and empowering his disciples for the work that God had for them. Let’s take a bit of time to look at two encounters that Jesus had with different people he met during his travels, and explore how he deliberately took the time and effort to invest in their lives for the better. ZACCHEUS The first story is that of Zacchaeus. Now, Zacchaeus was a tax collector based in Jericho. He was a Jew, but he worked for the Roman government, collecting taxes from both regular citizens and merchants who passed through the busy city on their way to various points in Judea. Now Zacchaeus, like many other tax collectors of his time, had a penchant for being a thief. He would hike up the taxes and then pocket a cut for himself. It didn’t matter if it was a poor widow struggling to get by, or a loaded merchant passing through with money to burn. Zacchaeus was determined to make a cut off them all. And then, one day he heard the news that Jesus was coming to Jericho. Zacchaeus had most likely heard of Jesus and his ministry – quick snippets of conversation in the market-place, or at the tax booth while merchants idled and chatted. He probably knew Jesus was a healer and miracle worker, and had most likely heard snippets of his public sermons. Zacchaeus was curious about Jesus. What was he like? Did he live up to his reputation? The Bible tells us that Zacchaeus was a short man and couldn’t see over the shoulders of the crowds who pressed around Jesus. But determined to catch a glimpse of the famous rabbi, Zacchaeus raced to a sycamore tree that lined the single, dusty road through the city. Scrambling up the tree, he perched in a branch and watched Jesus slowly make his way towards where he was seated. What Zacchaeus’ impression of Jesus was as he watched him walk past we’ll never know, but we do know one thing: Jesus noticed the tax collector, and Jesus didn’t pass him by. Stopping beneath the tree, Jesus called out to Zacchaeus by name and invited himself over for dinner. Zacchaeus was stunned! How did Jesus know his name? And more importantly, why did Jesus want to have dinner with him? Zacchaeus wasn’t the most popular man in Jericho. In fact, he was probably despised by most people. They knew he was a liar and a cheat. No one wanted to have anything to do with tax collectors or publicans. The Bible tells us that they were considered social outcasts. But Jesus makes it a point to stop beneath the tree that this social outcast was perched in, and to deliberately ask for a dinner invitation. Why? Because Jesus is in the business of investing in people who seem to be lost causes. He looked at Zacchaeus and saw him not as he was, a cheat and a liar, but as the person he could become – a man who could make a difference in the lives of others. Jesus saw his potential and spent some time with Zacchaeus, and that time with Jesus proved to be the turning point in Zacchaeus’ life. In fact, he changed so dramatically that he gave back four times the money he had stolen, to everyone he had cheated. Meeting Jesus, spending time with Jesus, transformed Zacchaeus’ life. Jesus is in the business of changing lives. If you feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of lost hope and failed dreams, Jesus can give you a second chance. He sees your potential. He can help you to get unstuck and turn your life around. Why not consider giving him a chance in your life? SIMON PETER Another example of Jesus investing in the lives of others is found in the story of Simon Peter. Jesus called Peter to be one of His disciples through an extraordinary set of circumstances. Peter and his friends had been out fishing all night. When they got to shore they were empty handed and discouraged, and hadn’t caught a thing. Jesus met them on the beach and asked to borrow Peter’s boat, so he could use it as a platform to preach to the crowd who had gathered to hear him on the beach. Peter was only too happy to oblige. When Jesus finished, he asked Peter to launch his boat out into the deep and to let down his nets for a draught of fish. Peter was skeptical. He was used to fishing at night when the waters of the Sea of Galilee were quiet and undisturbed. Night time was the best time for fishing. And he’d just spent a night out on the sea and caught no fish. But Peter chose to take a chance on Jesus and told him that he would comply. Peter’s exact words were “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at your word I will let down the nets.” When they let down their nets they were immediately filled with fish. In fact they had such a massive catch that it almost broke the nets. Seeing Jesus provide for his needs in this way proved to be a turning point in Peter’s life. Immediately after this incident he left everything behind, and chose to follow Jesus. Peter’s story is interesting because it shows how Jesus cared about his physical needs as well as his spiritual ones. Peter had toiled all night but caught nothing. Jesus was willing to provide for the lack of Peter’s needs. The only thing Peter needed to do was trust Jesus enough to step out in faith, and act on His word. This is probably the key lesson to be learned in this story; making a choice to take a chance on Jesus, especially when things are at their lowest. Peter learned through this experience that he could trust Jesus to keep His word. Later when Jesus was arrested and crucified Peter’s faith wavered. He denied knowing Jesus out of fear and shame. But Jesus still proved to be a good friend to Peter. He really cared about him. After His resurrection Jesus sent a special message to Peter. The angels who were at the tomb when the women came back to check on Jesus body said “Go, tell his disciples, and Peter, that he is going before you into Galilee.” LESSONS FROM JESUS Jesus wanted Peter to know that even though he had denied Him and been ashamed of Him, Jesus hadn’t given up on their friendship. Jesus was still His friend. Peter’s story teaches us two important lessons about Jesus. First, Jesus sees our needs and is more than willing to supply our needs if we are willing to take Him at His word. In Philippians 4:19 Paul writes, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Secondly, Jesus is a constant friend. He is always faithful even when we aren’t. Peter learned this by experience. Even though he denied Jesus, Jesus never denied Peter. He was a faithful friend who was willing to forgive Peter, and restore their relationship. INVESTING IN OTHERS Now, during her lifetime Nellie Melba spent a lot of time investing in the welfare of others. Through her charity work during World War I, through her work at the Conservatorium of Melbourne and her personal support of young vocalists. Her story reminds us of the importance of investing ourselves in others. But even more powerful than Melba’s example is the example of Jesus. Jesus made the ultimate investment in each of us when he chose to leave heaven and die for us on the cross. John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross on our behalf was the ultimate sacrifice of love. Jesus believes in investing in people. The Bible is full of the encounters that individuals had with him. The common thread that runs through each of these stories is that no one that encountered Jesus ever walked away the same. There is something powerful and transformational about a genuine experience with Jesus. Something you need to experience yourself to really know more about. SPECIAL OFFER If you’re looking for a change in your life, if you are looking for a genuine friend you can count on no matter what, then I’d like to recommend the free gift we have for all our Incredible Journey viewers today. It’s the Bible. I invite you to pick up a Bible and read the story of Jesus’ life. In its pages you will find a friend and a saviour you can count on for the rest of your life. So, make the most of this wonderful opportunity to have your very own Bible. I guarantee there are no costs or obligations whatsoever. So, contact us now for your free copy of the Bible. CLOSING PRAYER If you have enjoyed our visit to Melbourne in the footsteps of the great Dame Nellie Melba, and our reflections on investing our time in others, then be sure to join us again next week when we will share another of life’s journeys together. Until then, let’s pray to the God who loves us and was willing to invest everything into our lives. Dear Heavenly Father. We thank you that you love us and care for us, see potential in us and are willing to invest time in us. We want to open our hearts to you and invite you into our lives so that we can experience your love and reach our full potential. Please grant us the inner peace and happiness that comes from knowing you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.