Prague Journal—09.07.15 (England)

This morning cousin Andrew and his wife Heather took Uncle John and me into downtown Manchester to the cathedral.

Our grandfather was a “joiner” and worked for a company of craftsmen that produced and installed (among other things) carved wooden decorations in churches. They did a magnificent carved oak organ screen in the parish church here in Wilmslow. Uncle John said they also did a lot of work in a side chapel in the cathedral dedicated to the Manchester Regiment. Andy had never seen it, so we decided to go have a look.

The chapel is beautiful. My granddad and his colleagues build cabinets to contain books in which are inscribed the names of the men of the regiment who, going back into the 17th century, had perished in one battle or another. The pages are turned on a regular basis, so that all the names are on display during the course of a year.

The interesting thing about this installation is that having done all the work in about 1936, the cathedral was hit by a German bomb in 1940, and the chapel was largely destroyed. So after the war, the same men came back in and did all the work over a second time!

The oak panelling is a gorgeous, warm brown. The chapel is still used for weddings, baptisms, and memorial services by the members of the regiment.

Prague Journal—09.07.14 (England)

This afternoon I took a ride with my cousin Christine out into the Darbyshire countryside. The hills and dales of the "Peak District" are beautiful. Here are a few photos. The church pictured is the Church of St John the Baptist in Tideswell, known popularly as the "Cathedral of the Peak," for it is one of the largest and certainly the most perfect church in the area, built in about 1400.

Prague Journal—09.07.13

Yesterday, as I waited at the stop for the bus to take me over to the place we meet for worship in Modřany, I was thinking…

Jesus said “the fields were white unto harvest.” It doesn’t always seem that this is so. The spiritual need in the Czech Republic is so great, but so few really understand what is wrong with them and who can bring real healing to their lives. It’s a struggle to gain any kind of hearing for the gospel of Christ. The Farniks — who have labored in this field for so many years — understand this much better than I after a few brief visits.

But as the Spirit teaches us, “we walk by faith and not by sight.” We may not see the “whiteness,” the ripeness of the harvest, but if God says it’s so, we must believe it, and act with confidence upon that hope. There are disappointments that I was not able to do more during the month here in Prague. But God’s ways are not mine, and I hope something I said or did will bless a life and advance the cause of the Kingdom. God only knows.

As these thoughts jumbled through my mind, I was listening to some Newsboys music to prepare my heart for the coming worship. The Newsboys have written some pretty stirring “missionary” songs in the last few years. and one, “The Mission,” began to play. My weak, unbelieving heart was captured (again) by Pete Furler’s lyrics, and began to pulse in time with the urgent drumbeat of this anthem. I was reminded of the vision of faith that a missionary (or, really, any Christian) must carry as we live our lives and bear our witness.

When the runners came from Bethlehem

All breathless with good news

They were passing a baton forward through time

The commission, from God's lips to our ears

Carried by His saints two thousand years

Connects us all to the same lifeline

As I fix my eyes ahead

I can feel the Spirit's breath...

(And) I can hear the mission bell ringing out loud and clear

It's the revolution Jesus started, and it's here

Echoing across the world from the shores of Galilee

I can hear the mission bell call for you and me

I wanna run with fire

It's my heart's desire

Lifting your love higher

In the history of our faith's arrivals

Great awakenings, Welsh revivals

Saints and martyrs, summoned by a new birth

Patrick's save of the Irish nation

William Carey's expectation

Lambs and Lions

Called to the ends of the earth

Gotta put my hand to the plow

Not looking back, not now...

That was the tonic for my weariness and doubts about effectiveness. As I rode the bus over to Modřany, my heart soared again with the vision, and the commitment expressed in the chorus that must be ours every day…

I wanna run with fire

It's my heart's desire

Lifting your love higher

May God make it so.

Prague Journal—09.07.12

The ride down to Tábor on Friday evening was a battle with weekend getaway traffic and rain much of the way. We arrived at our hosts’ house about 7:00 o’clock and had a meal with the delightful Jiří Vaněk family.

Tábor was a Hussite stronghold during the 15th century, and the Vaněks live close to the center of the old town in a large two hundred year old house. Part of the town defenses was a system of tunnels connecting homes and buildings hewn out of solid rock, and the Vaněks have their very own section of that tunnel system. After dinner, Jiří took us down for a look.

The next morning the seminar began at 9:00 at the Czech Brethren Church. There were about 15 of us all together. Most of the men were from the Tábor church or one of two other CB congregations in the area that are in a collegiate relationship with that congregation.

Mrs. Vaněk and the children provided another delicious meal for the noon break. The seminar concluded about 2:30 PM. It was a blessing to be with these brothers, and to share with them some of the things I have learned from my study of the apostles’ sermons in Acts.

After the sessions were over, Jiří showed us around the old town a little more, and we climbed the 200 steps of the church tower to survey the surrounding countryside. God gave us a timely break in the rainy weather during our tour. After some more fellowship with the Vaněks and more food, we returned to Prague about 8:30.

This morning I led my fourth and final worship service for this summer. Julie was back from her travels in the USA, and brought another school friend, Václav, with her to the service. I pray God has blessed his Word to strengthen and encourage these brothers and sisters and they faithfully serve to plant a church in Modřany. They send their greetings to their friends in Christ in the USA.

Tomorrow morning at 4:55 AM I jump a bus and metro and bus back to the airport for an 8:00 AM flight back to Manchester and a quick visit with my family in England. Then on Friday, God willing, home to San Diego.

Prague Journal—09.07.09

Met Michael Hartman for lunch today and got caught up with his family news. His oldest son (15) is in London this whole summer studying English. His wife Monica and the other two kids are in Moravia with Michael's parents. Things are going well for the family. He sends his greetings to all his friends from English camp.

Here are a couple more photos I've accumulated over the past week, but have not shared yet.

Another view of the Tyn Church on Old Town Square

The Jerusalem Synagogue

Prague Journal—09.07.08

Today I got to spend a few hours with Margareta between two of her English lessons. She has about 20 private students as well as taking a full load of extension classes at Charles University toward her masters. Busy lady.

We spent a couple of hours looking at Czech (and other) art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries at one of the Prague National Gallery locations at the Veletržní Palác (Trade Show Palace). Then we walked over to a kind of fairground that was built in a century or so ago. It had an impressive central building.

Then we had lunch and I caught up with her on her year of changes — new residence, new church, and new (part time) job. It has been a challenging time, but she is rejoicing in the Lord’s blessings.

After I left Margareta, I was passing the Obecní Dům (Municipal House) near Náměsti Republiky, and saw a sign outside for a concert at 7:30 PM in the Smetana Hall inside — the Colorado Symphony Chorus with a combined orchestra from East Bohemia playing Verdi’s Requiem. Could not pass that one up. Got a great seat for a good price, and enjoyed the concert thoroughly.

I counted 180 singers (±2-3) in the chorus. What a glorious sound in that acoustically live auditorium!! The chorus responded so well to their accustomed conductor, but the orchestra’s entries were a bit ragged in place (especially the brass “attacks”) probably because they had not had sufficient rehearsal time with an unfamiliar conductor. But no matter.

The Dies irae section — one of the most dramatic pieces of music ever — was stunning (the bass drum resounded through the hall in such a way that it made it sound like we were inside the drum), and, soon afterward, Verdi’s version of “the last trump” gave me quadurple goosebumps (they positioned pairs of trumpeters at other places in the hall and as they began to play their antiphonal fanfares…)!

What a treat. Thank you, Lord, for music!

Prague Journal—09.07.07

Today I went looking for some cubist buildings in Prague I read about. Here are some photos.