Search Results for: ondra

COACHES TRIP 2014

January 31, 2014 by zharrod

So another year is here and that means another COACHES TRIP. Coaches Trip 2014 has begun and we are in New Jersey until next Wednesday. Please pray the details of the trip will be worked out and that God would show up in this trip to allow Jakub, Ondra and Red to have an amazing experience, but moreover that their lives would be forever changed after this trip. You can follow along with us on Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook by using this hashtag #CzechInvasion.

Here’s the tentative schedule for the coaches trip:
January 30. – Fly to Newark, NJ
January 31. – AIA Super Bowl Breakfast
February 1. – Super Bowl Experience
February 2. – Sharing at Jacob’s Well, Super Bowl Party
February 3. – Rob Smith (Offensive Coach from Clemson, Rutgers and others)
February 4 – Rutgers, AIA RUTGERS MEETING
February 5. – TRAVEL – Piscataway, NJ – Toledo, OH
February 6. – Michigan
February 7. – Michigan State
February 8. – Hope College
February 9. – Travel Day
February 10 – Visit Chicago
February 11. – morning – Wheaton College/afternoon – Elmhurst College
February 12. – University of Wisconsin – Madison
February 13. – University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
February 14. – Time in Lake Geneva, WI
February 15. – Leave Chicago for Prague.

2009 in review…

December 31, 2009 by zharrod

Wow! Today 2009 will come to an end! I can’t believe it! Where did this year go? Not only does today, the 31st, close out another year but also a decade! It’s been more than a decade since I left my parent’s home and ventured out into this big world to live this thing we call life! It’s been a decade since God cornered me with his relentless love and I couldn’t help but give my life to this God. As I sit down to begin to write this and share some images and thoughts that made up the year 2009, I almost considered trying to do a “Decade in Review!” But since this decade didn’t start off digitally like we are ending it, I don’t have any pics from, nearly, the first half of the decade in a digital format! Crazy! So here we go, a year in review will have to do…

off to a fun start

Last year, at this time I was in America, after the biggest bomb-digity-dank-sneak-attack surprise of the decade! (Haven’t seen it yet, click here) With that said, I got 2009 off to a great start with my family (minus Megs) in the LG (Lake Geneva) to roll in the New Year. It was so much fun to dance with my littlest sister, my mom and also watch my parents dance! It was probably the best New Years I’ve ever had and I could not have started off the New Year any better than spending it with those whom I love and whom love me dearly!

momentum

The New Year brought me many new cool opportunities but one of the coolest had to be four guys from Rutgers University coming and partnering with me for a week over their spring break! As I look back over 2009, their week with me in Prague marks the start of a wave of momentum with my guys and with football that I have never seen here before. It was a HUGE blessing and I look forward to seeing where God takes things as I continue to ride out this wave of momentum and also I’m stoked to see more people join me in loving on the American Football world of the Czech Republic this year and for years to come!

visitors & a new life

The longer I live here in Prague, I see more and more visitors pass through. Which is always a blessing! This last spring I had the opportunity of having Aaron Slusher visit me. It was so much fun to have him hear and see what God has done in his life since I met him at Wilmington College, while I worked there for a year a half before coming back to Prague. I was so encouraged to see the growth in his life and how he still desires to grow in his walk with God. It was a nice reminder for me that God is at work, even when I forget it, as I live in a city where we see little “fruit.” Thanks for swinging through Aaron!

I also was so excited to welcome little Izaak Stewart’s (of Mark & Joanna) arrival last spring! Living so far away from my family is certainly tough on me (and very tough on my family as well, thanks for the sacrifice you make guys!), but it’s so cool to see how God provides people and a second family of sorts through His Church, well the Stewarts are part of my second family and I love being a “pseudo/faux uncle” to their little boys. So I was “pseudo/faux uncled” once again this Spring with the arrival of Izaak! (Megs & Tom when do you think I will be real “uncled”? Maybe nine months after the wedding? 😉 Hahaha….)

saying good bye

One of the toughest things about living in Prague is that in many ways this city is a revolving door! We are constantly seeing people arrive today and it is as if they are saying, “good bye” tomorrow. Well 2009 marked me saying goodbye to two dear friends (one who happened to be a dear co-worker as well). This year, I said hard “good byes” to Jason & Erin. Jason, was one of the unexpected blessings when I moved back here to Prague. He quickly became one of my best friends and closest confidants here. Mark still makes fun of us, because the first night Jason and I met we were at a concert of a friend, and instead of listening to the concert we stood in the corner and talked (sorry Ondra) about life, vision and etc. Mark said we were like “junior high girls.” Either way, Jason was a good friend and it was hard to see him leave, but I’m confident that God will use him in the next step of his life.

Then on top of saying “good bye” to Jason, I also said “good bye” to Erin, who was on staff with AIA here for about three and half years. Erin and I grew to become good friends and tight co-workers over the nearly two years we shared time here, even in the midst of differences. I think I saw how the Gospel should explode into communities and produce love, trust, respect and more, through my relationship with Erin. This is way exciting, because in the past I don’t know that I would have got to the place with Erin, as friends and co-workers, because I wasn’t living the Gospel out as much as I had to learn to live it out over the last two plus years. Thanks Erin for being used by God for this! Know you are missed here in Prague!

new couples

One of the things that’s tough, but sometimes good 😉 is that I live overseas and it keeps me from the many, many weddings that I could go, to what seems like, nearly every month. I hope that doesn’t offend any of my dear friends, who’s weddings I’ve missed. It’s just as a single person, who loves weddings and is a hopeless romantic, weddings can be very dangerous for me (i.e. zach can become bitter, anger, single guy)! However, this summer I got to attend two weddings! The first being the wedding of the Ernsters – Matt & Leanne. Matt (or Ernie) was my roommate for nearly two years here in Prague, after I moved back. It was so much fun to celebrate their marriage in Washington this summer.

Then the second couple was Lauren and Ondra, who had two weddings this summer/fall. They got married in the States and then got married again here in Czech with Ondra’s family. Ondra is a living encouragement for me in so many way, as he was the first guy, who I got to watch God bring to Himself and also because he continues to grow in his faith. Since May 2005, when Ondra came to faith, God brought a beautiful girl from America over to Czech and the rest is history. It was so much fun to join them for wedding #2 and celebrate with them. Please pray for both of these couples as they grow in their relationships with each other and with God.

my first furlough

This summer also brought my first furlough to the States. I put in thousands of miles crisscrossing America, I spoke or shared at churches 6 Sundays, had many dinners, many meetings and much more in a mere 6 weeks! I was so blessed to see old friends and ministry partners who loved on me, listened to me, fed me, prayed for me and plain and simple showed me what the Gospel played out in relationship should look like! Thank you to each and everyone of my ministry partners who gives and prays to make it possible to be here and see God move in the hearts of Czechs! Thank you, you are prized and cherished by me!

my sister & live in the same city?

For the first time in 10 years, my sister, Megan, and I live in the same city! A third of the world away from where we last shared an address! Crazy! While our jobs have completely different hours, and we don’t get to see each other as much as we would like, it has been so much fun having her here and sharing life with her. It is really a special time in both of our lives and I’m hoping and praying I don’t take it for granted! In November we got to take our first adventure together since Megs moved here! It was to Barcelona. More on it to come in the future, as I have a zhtv in the works about our trip, but I wanted to share the picture you see above of us in a Tapas restaurant in Barcelona with you. This is one of the things I love about Megs and when we hang together. We spent three hours at one of the more notable Tapas restaurants in Barcelona and after three hours we were friends with almost all the servers and the hostess too! Megs has the ability to connect with anyone is just amazing and beautiful way! I learn much from watching her interact with people. Megs, here’s to more adventures before you leave!

a new role, new lessons, new guys & a championship!

This fall brought a new role and opportunity for me – that of a head coach. Being the son of head coach, I thought I was prepared, or groomed to a degree, for this, but that was so far from the truth! I learned that my dad (and all head coaches out there) do far more than I could ever have imagined. It was tough but I loved it! Every moment of it – the ups (winning the final) and the downs (having 13 guys at practice)! As promised a blog series will be here sooner or later about what I learned this fall, so stay tuned for Missional Lessons from the Gridiron here at zACHhARROD.com!

the year closes

As this year closed I celebrated the holidays with one of my “second families” here in Prague – the Crossans (Billy serves as the AIA Czech Director & he is pretty much a stud of a friend and boss!). I had so much fun with them over Christmas, and I’m so privileged to serve with a family like them, or I should say to be served by them, because let’s face it that’s the truth. They are great. It’s so much fun to serve as a “pseudo/faux uncle” to them as well and also to be that “crazy uncle.”

Well… There you have it a quick flyby of the year, that was 2009, in a few words and pictures. There is so much I left out, but I don’t want to write a novel today! I hope you understand (If there is anyone still reading this, at this point!). I’ve been utterly overwhelmed as of late as I reflect on much of life and the happenings of this life. God’s grace is so evident and the fact that you are reading this is evident of His grace too! Thank you to you out their in worldwide-web-land who follow these happenings here at zACHhARROD.com, who join in the adventure and revolution with me! You are unbelievable! Here’s to another year, full of more memories, evidences of God’s grace in our lives, and living out the revolution that is the Gospel. Happy New Year! Št’astný Nový Rok!

the last year of my twenties…

May 17, 2009 by zharrod

It’s here. Today is the last day of the last year of my twenties. It’s intriguing really. I’ve heard a lot of banter from my younger friends, my players, and even my ‘older’ friends who are well past 30. It makes me wonder what next year will be like!

To be honest with you, I’m not afraid of getting older and the banter doesn’t bother me. In fact, I welcome age coming! Getting older means more experiences, more wisdom and the like. So I say bring it!

With that, last year I wrote a post entitled, 28 Reflections, and as this year’s birthday approached I’ve pondered, “Can I do 29 new reflections?” I’m not sure, so I’ve tweaked it a bit and I’ve got 29 reflections/highlights/insights/things I’ve learned from the 28th of my life. So here we go, complete with pictures!

I have been “on the field” longer than I’ve ever been “on the field” before. With that being said, this means I’ve been separated from family and dear friends longer than ever before too. I was so very blessed to have my worlds of Xenia, Ohio (AIA Headquarters and Czech mix last summer with the visit of my dear friends the Garretts!

I love my roots and would love to learn more about them! This is my Swedish friend, Gustav, and his birthday cake from last year. Gustav and I studied together and now sadly they are back in Sweden. Gustav helped me love on my Swedish roots more than ever before!

I’ve once again, been inspired by the person of Jan Hus, the Czech reformer from the 15th century. This statue of Jan, is in the city of Tabor, and I loved it. “Why?” He’s clutching his Bible with flames at his feet. The courage, the faith, and more of this man inspire me. I normally pray that God would raise up Jan Huses within this generation, now and that God would move mightly to bring deep changer here.

Last summer I drove 790 km and spent 12 hours in a car alone driving around this country helping out with AIA sport camps. In the midst of that I was once again reminded of the overwhelming need all over this country. The need is so overwhelming! As I was traveling, I again fell in love with this beautiful country! This is me in the beautiful, quaint, medieval town of Telc. Check out a zhtv from the camps! Or to read more head to my July 2008 archive.

I often pinch myself and ask myself something like, “Is this really my life?” I never could have imagined that I would live where I live, travel where I have traveled, and do what I do. It’s all unreal to me! Very unreal! Like Saint Basil’s Cathedral. in Moscow, that seemed like it was out of a book or Disney. I’m so very grateful for every bit of it! Thank you to each of you readers and ministry partners who make this possible and are part of this! Thank you so very much.

One of those “pinch myself moments” came last summer, when I had the opportunity to travel to the Olympics! It was an amazing experience and I was equally amazed by the Chinese people. Who were Olympic crazy, but were also so warm and friendly!

While I was in China it felt like a Twilight Zone episode to me, as I tried to grasp the many different time zones that I was dealing with.

To make the experience even more amazing last summer, I was so excited to take Honza Gabriel to the Olympics with me. I’m hoping that in the future I will be able to take many more guys outside of Prague to experience things like Honza got to experience! Thank you to each of you helped Honza get there!

The Great Wall – need I say more?

I felt like a rock star in China! Being a 6’3″ white man attracted some attention. I think people thought I was special, meaning an athlete, but I sadly wasn’t there to compete!

Last October, I got to meet my sister’s then boyfriend, Tom, when Megs and him came through Prague for a long weekend and an interview for Megs. I instantly fell in love with Tom – in a “hetero life mate” type of way! ;-)I’m now excited to call him my future brother-in-law, as he asked for my sister’s hand in the big “M” word! Love you two!

I love what I do with AIA, but I do have had a growing passion, that is controlled and checked, to church plant in this city and in this country. Last fall, I met another young man, Bedrich, who has a heart to plant churches in this country, and who is also a pastor! It sparked my heart and desire to see the Church in Czech grow in love for its countrymen in practical, relevant, loving ways to see the hard soil of this country burst to life!

I’m still very much committed to seeing God transform the sport of American football in this country, and Europe, for His glory and the good of the Czechs! Last fall, I loved coaching once again and being able to work with guys from other teams here in Czech. Shortly after this I was also asked to become the head coach of the junior team, which has been a blast thus far!

I still scratch my head over some of the customs of this country. They aren’t wrong, they are just different! I like that every year I have the same wondering and head scratching experience! Read about my 2007 experience here.

After I returned from my short trip to the States to surprise my family for Christmas, I noticed several pics of my sweet littlest sister, Mikaela, and I. I realized how much she loves her big sister, Megan and I. She looks up to us and reveres us and I love her dearly and pray for her often! She’s an amazing little woman!

I once again realized, my parents rock! This picture might be one of my favorites from my time back in the States! My dad is busting a move here and had a huge smile on his face! I love it! I know my goofiness drives him crazy, but there are moments where I realize where I get it from!

Quite simply – my sisters are gorgeous! I’m repeatedly moved at the things they say about and their actions towards me. I love being their big brother!

I love seeing budding love! It was at this time where Tom, in a rather gentlemanly manner, approached my parents and myself asking for permission to purpose to Megs! Classy, classy, classy…. I love you Megs and Tom and I’m excited to see how your marriage unfolds!

“SURPRISE!” One of the highlights of my 28th year was surprising my whole family for a Christmas visit! So cool. I loved seeing the faces of shock and joy! Love you Harrods, Shislers and Backs!

Here are a few of my guys at my place, while we were watching the NFL play offs on my projector (graciously provided by a supporter! Thank you!). I love the NFL season because every Sunday night we watch to games, eat pizza and hang out! So much fun!

I love my church, Faith Community Church, and the dear friends that I have that I worship and serve with. This is one of the many blessings to me here in Prague. In the midst of hard weeks, struggling to get the language, work with the hard soil that is this place and the toil I feel, I’ve continually been blessed by this growing body of believers from many walks of life.

Highlights! Megs moves to Prague to manage the hub office of Czech Inn, Miss Sophie’s and Sir Toby’s!

My director, Billy, is a Stud! He directs, leads, guides and runs…. And runs a lot. This year has presented a few unexpected challenges and I’ve had the privilege of seeing the Gospel played out between Billy and myself and amongst my AIA teammates here. It’s no secret that doing ministry is tough, especially in a place like Czech, and of course there will be hard things to work through and with. Throughout some bumps this year, I’ve learned much about myself, leadership, and ministry, while Billy has had my back and gone to bat for me.

Having the Rutgers guys here! (read a previous post) Thank you Bel, Billy, Tariq and John for giving up your spring break to come and serve and love my guys and myself here! One word to describe their time here – Momentum! Please continue to pray that this momentum increases!

While I had the Rutgers guys here, I was praying about who I would ask to translate for me and I immediately longed to have Ondra translate for me. He did great and it was so encouraging for me to here him translating the Gospel to his countrymen! I’ve written much about Ondra in the past (here is the oldest post on my blog and here are some others about my dear friend) and how he was the first guy that I’ve seen come to faith. He continually grows in his walk with Jesus and will be getting married this summer! Click here to see some engagement pics!

New Life! The newest Stewart arrived this spring, which meant that I am yet an “Uncle” again! So stoked to have little Izaak here and see the Stewart clan increase to 4!

Most recently I got some good time with another one of my dear friends, Jason, in Salzburg. Sadly in the next few weeks Jason will be leaving us and Prague for some support raising time in the States and then a move back to Europe, but unfortuanly not to Prague but to Kandern, Germany. Jason will be missed, but I’m glad we got one last little adventure in before he leaves!

Did I really do 29 of those? Really? I was thinking I would struggle! There was even one more, that I don’t need, but in honor of my 30th year, which is approaching, I’ll post it anyway!

This is my home. Well kind of. This is at the center of the city I call home. Unfortunately, I can’t get any living space in the castle!! Over the last year of life, I’ve felt my love, passion, resolve and much more for this city, it’s people, this country and it’s people increase! This has all increased in ups and downs, and I would say that I’ve never longed more for this place than I do today. Thank you for being part of what God is doing here, what He’s doing in my life and just being part of this crazy thing we call life! Here’s to 29 and bring on 20-10! Ok, bring on 30!

the one year mark

September 4, 2008 by zharrod

Today, believe it or not, is the one year mark for my return “home” or back to Prague! I can’t believe it’s already been a year! So much has transpired in the last 365 days that as I thought about a year in Prague and putting something on my blog about I didn’t know where to start or what to do. How do you attempt to sum up a year like I’ve gone through, or any year for that matter, in the last year. As I sit here looking back and reflecting over the last year I’m so grateful for what God has done, both in the ups and the downs. I think one of the biggest things that hits home with me as of late is what God taught me about my “romanticized view” of returning to Prague, that I included in my May/June monthly prayer letter. I wrote:

I have a confession, while I was away from Prague, I had a “romanticized view” of the many things back here, especially with the Lions. I think this is a common epidemic amongst human beings; we do it in a variety of ways – marriage (if we’re single), kids, singleness (once we are married, looking back, or so I’m told), and much more. Well, this year wore out my romanticized view of the Lions and has brought a HUGE degree of reality to my life and ministry with the team.

As I sit looking ahead, over what God would do, could do, in the next year I sit with a much more grounded view, but yet I’m so very optimistic to see what God is going to do. As I include pics that attempt to sum up the last year, I wonder what images will sum up the next year of life in Prague. It should be exciting to see what transpires! Thank you to each of you who pray and support what WE (that is you and I partnering together with God) do here in Prague, Europe and beyond!

Back in Prague with new friends – my roomdawg (Ernie), Mark and Jason.

I was so excited to see how God had moved in Ondra’s life while I was gone and I also dove head long into learning Czech in a class room that consisted of Chinese, Koreans, a Swede and myself.

I loved jumping back into coaching and loving on my junior team guys! Pray that God would move in their hearts!

Last fall was interesting, because I was waiting, and waiting for my shipment to come with all my stuff, it came 4 months after it was scheduled and I was so very happy that it arrived! I also was blessed to spend a week on holiday with dear Crusade friends in Athens, which was a much needed break between semesters of language class.

The second semester of Czech class brought presentations, these pics (with Gustav’s [me Swedish classmate who used to play] try to represent my attempt of trying to explain American football in Czech!

It was also a blast attending the Story of the Soul conference and working with my Polish friends on a presentation about being “World Changers”.

It was awesome to partner with my teammate and friend, Šimmí, as we taught 15 or so kids how to play American football. It was also so much fun to celebrate Gustav’s birthday with him. He makes me proud to say I have Swedish blood in my veins!

This summer also brought a visit from my very dear friends, Andy and Chelsey Garrett, that was so very refreshing. Then of course, work took me to the “Far East” which I could have never have imagined.

The Chinese loved us foreigners, it was strange feeling like a rock star! I was blessed to take my friend and teammate, Honza, with me for a life changing couple of weeks! Lastly, a short lay over in Moscow, just made me scratch my head and wonder…

Thanks for sharing the last year of life with me! May God bring a revolutionary next year!

once and creative stimulus…

October 28, 2007 by zharrod

Last night, my friend, Jason, and I went to see the Irish film Once, that was just released here in Prague. I won’t get too much into the film besides I loved it. It was beautiful. Here is a quick synopsis of the film from Yahoo (or for a more detailed write up click here for the Wik):

A tale that follows ‘the Guy’, who works part-time helping his father run a small, vacuum cleaner repair business, but dreams of one day having his songs recorded and landing a record deal. Emotionally vulnerable, he is still coming to terms with the recent departure of his girlfriend and lacks the conviction and passion to move on in his pedestrian life. One day, he meets ‘the Girl’, an Eastern European immigrant who has moved to Dublin to start a new life for herself. Currently working as a house cleaner in an upper-class residence, she is struggling financially. She yearns for what she cannot afford–a piano to help her escape from the daily grind of finding her way through this strange new land. A relationship blossoms between ‘the Guy’ and ‘the Girl’, as they’re both struggling. Their shared love of music causes them to flourish and grow with a new found confidence as they take a chance on each other and a new beginning on life.

I highly recommend the film, but I’ll warn my American readers that it doesn’t have the cute bow tied on it at the end that we have come to expect from films. You also need to check out the soundtrack as well! As soon as I could I hopped on iTunes and grabbed it last night.

As I sat and watched the film I sat there feeling an untapped part of me coming alive. Maybe it is because this film follows the creative development of beautiful music, and thus art. Maybe, it is because I’ve been longing to {re}engage the artistic part of me that I forsaked somewhere along the way, thinking that an athlete couldn’t be an artist as well. I think it’s all the above. So I’m thankful that the imago dei (image of God) was bursting from this film last night. We’ll see what this means as I get settled and I can begin the {re}engagement process (it’s also a bonus that God has put some “creatives” in my life here in Prague – Mark, Jason, Ondra.)

Then this morning I stumbled along another stimulus for creativity – it’s called the Moleskine Project. The gist seems to be that people draw, paint, or pretty much create in their moleskines and then they send them in. This kind of hits home since I have a recently found love of affair with Moleskine products. Check out the Moleskine Project and I pray the rest of your weekend is blessed and full of God. I have to get going. I have my second test tomorrow in Czech class! Love it!

a special sunday

August 17, 2007 by zharrod

Last Sunday was a special one! I was up at my church in Oshkosh, RiverValley, and was very blessed by worshipping with my dear church family up there! The gathering consisted of me sharing about Czech, my work over in Prague, Ondra’s story, sharing why I feel called to Prague, the church commissioning me, them praying for me, and then a cake (by the way it was a very cool cake!). Thank you to my RiverValley Church family! I am honored and blessed to be connected to you through our great Savior and also stoked that I can represent you in Prague, Europe and beyond! I love you dearly. Here are some pics from the day (thanks Amber for the pics!)!

why i (we) do

July 31, 2007 by zharrod

What gets me out of bed each morning? See above & below.
What gives me the courage to pick up the phone and make the support call? See above & below.
What gets me fired up about the Czech Republic? See above & below.
What is one of the reasons why I know God is moving in Czech? See above & below.
What is one of the many reasons I praise my Risen Savior Jesus Christ? See above & below.

The answer is what God has done in the heart of my friend Ondra! In a country where nearly all his countrymen say, “I’m Czech, I’m an atheist” and where the Church makes up less than one third of one percent to see what God has done in Ondra is absolutely amazing! A couple of Sundays ago Ondra was baptized by my good friend, Phil Davis, at their church plant where Ondra has been helping lead worship! It’s amazing to see what God does with a life and a heart when He gets a hold of it! Join me in praying for more stories like Ondra’s in Czech!

(This is part of an interview I did with Ondra before leaving in 2005.)

a changed life

April 16, 2007 by zharrod

I thought it would be fun to post this picture this morning. I’ve posted (see here, and here, and here) before about my friend Ondra who came to know the Lord while I was in Czech for my first 18 month STINT. Ondra’s changed life has been fuel for my heart while I’ve been away from Prague the last year and a half. “Why?” you ask. The reason, is because God has used Ondra to shape my vision for Czech! It is possible, by the grace of God, to reach country of nearly 90% atheists! Ondra is evidence of that!

Anyway, you are probably wondering about the picture above. While I was in Prague I met Phil and Shanna Davis, who are planting a church to the expat community with World Harvest. I’ve missed Phil and Shanna and their two great kids! But since I left I connect Ondra and Phil. Ondra has grown and blossomed within the loving care of Phil since I’ve been gone. Well, this past Sunday Phil and his team launched their new church, Faith Community Church, in Prague and Ondra led worship! Here is what Phil said about the worship in his recent post:

We had a great time of worship, let by Dorothy, Elizabeth, and Ondra – “Here I am to Worship,” “Arise, My Soul,” and “God of Wonders.” Dorothy was rockin’ on the egg shaker, and Ondra – well, his instrumental during the offering was the most worship-ful part of the service and something I won’t forget.

I am thankful that God has completely inverted the life of Ondra and I can’t wait to get back! Come quickly September (but Lord help me make the most of the time before then!). 😉 Well, I have to get to one of my last days of curriculum for work! Be a revolution today, who knows what God might do!

i am a slacker but i have some vision for you!

August 24, 2006 by zharrod

Happy Sunday night! So I have to apologize to you my faithful reader (if I have any left!) after my lack of posts. I am not doing a very good job in the blog world right now! I hope you will forgive me for my lack of posts. I am trying to get used to my daily schedule for the year, now that school has begun! Hopefully things will begin to level off for me now.

I did think it would be fun to post my answers to a question I recently answered for a missions board application for a church back in my hometown area. The question that was posed was, â€œWhy should we support you?â€ I love when people ask me this question and it was fun to actually get a chance to type it up and put it to words. Please know that this isnâ€™t a ploy to get more support, but hopefully it allows you to see my passion and my heart for getting back to Czech and doing ministry there as soon as God wills! So here is a little vision for you this night! Have a blessed one and be a revolution!
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why i do

December 22, 2005 by zharrod

Last night I drove from Oshkosh to my parent’s house in the Lake Geneva area to find a lot of mail! I love that feeling! I heard back from several people who have joined my team of ministry partners! It has been so encouraging to see how God has provided for me and my work with Athletes in Action! Thank you so much for all of you that have joined my team and welcome to OUR ministry. Please do remember if you have committed to prayer or giving financial support you have become part of what God is doing in Czech and throughout the world! This is as much your ministry as it is mine!

I did get a piece of mail that was truly amazing! My friend Ondra sent me a Christmas card and I wanted to share a short portion with you. It is hard to share just a piece, because there is so much packed into this card that he sent me! But here is a very cool section:

I pray you manage the goals you’re struggling for! I believe Jesus will give us a chance to see each other again. Jesus wants you to come here cuz it’s for God’s sake and for people’s sake and for the world’s sake!

That is so awesome! Thank you so much Ondra for maybe the best Christmas gift I will receive this Christmas! The gift of seeing God change a life and the gift of someone being so fired up to grow in his relationship with God! Thank you Lord for calling me into a relationship with you and for calling me into the work that you have called me to! To the right is a picture of Ondra from a recent concert with one of his many bands! Well, I need to get to the ski hill! My sister, Megan, and I are coaching the high school team this evening! It should be fun! Merry Christmas and I’m so stoked to be part of the Revolution!

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