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hello world, my name is zach

December 24, 2010 by zharrod

Hello world, my name is Zach and I do have a blog! Recently, I picked up my phone and my father was on the other end of the line, he asked, “What’s up with your website?” As I have said before, when life seems to be getting the most of me, my blog is the first thing to go. I apologize profusely for this and as I wrap up the year that was 2010, I’m trying to think through how I can write more and keep this blog more updated in 2011. So here is a quick entry to end the year right on my blog and hopefully set the tone for 2011 (will it really be 2011?!?!? Crazy!)

So what had been keeping me busy this fall? These guys and everything going on around them! (By the way, F.A.M.I.LY. stands for Forget About Me I Love You. We disovered this from Rutgers University. I love what it teaches. To put my team and teammates before myself!)

My fall was full of x’s and o’s, practices, game plans, conversations, games and lots of time with my team of 50+ guys (including coaches)! I loved it and more over I love these young men. I’m so blessed to be able to to be their coach and then some (or I least attempt to by more than a coach) to them. This season got off to a different start for us as we had our training camp outside of Prague, which included a leadership program we call “Srdce Lva” (“Heart of Lion”). In our leadership program, we discuss and ponder our team values – Tradition, Courage, Hardwork and Faithfulness/Loyalty. Beyond covering our team values, we talk about being a champion on and off the field, making a positive difference in our teammate’s lives and on our greater society and more! One of the greatest things about my fall, was that these young men bought into the plan and the program.

Them buying in carried us through our season and into the Championship game, which we won 34-23 over our cross-town rivals, the Prague Panthers. It was a hard fought game on both sides, but when it was said and done, our guys held on and we came out as Back-to-Back Champs! Here are a couple of vids. The first one, is our entrance to the field, which I happened to borrow from The Ohio State. It’s called “the Hive” and it represents that no one can divide us and we are a team to the very end. I hope this becomes a tradition amongst the Lions for years to come in some form, because I believe it is one of the greatest values we can teach the kids, that no matter what it is better to forgive and fight for unity than to divide! That’s character! The second video is our Championship Game highlight video!

I also said that we try to teach, and live out, that we want to be Champions off the field. I think I can, humbly, say that has happened this fall. Parents thanked me for an improvement in their sons grades (we did grade checks) and over all approach to life. How cool is that?! I received some of the most heart felt text messages and emails from parents and players! It’s worth it! They are worth it! In stressing being champions off the field, we also try to do good things for others. Recently, a few of us visited one of Prague’s main hospitals to bring some Christmas cheer, joy, gifts and motivation to children who are battling through cancer! Here is a short video from our visit.

If you are wondering what the Dominate shirts and bracelets are visit my friend’s, Phil, facebook page Cancer Kicker to find more information about how Phil is dominating Cancer! You can also join the domiNATION there!

There you have it, finally a new post and a new update! Thanks for all two of you that continue to stop by! Have a Revolutionary Christmas!

zhtv #25 2009 finale

November 19, 2009 by zharrod

Lions Win! Lions Win! Check out the newest episode of zhtv and learn about our BIG WIN! It was an amazing season and I’m so very thankful for every bit and moment of it! Stay tuned for another zhtv about the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and, hopefully, some blog posts again! But before I get to that, I’m jumping on a plane with my sister and heading to Barcelona for the weekend! I need a little change of pace and scenery. Have a great Thursday and an even better weekend!

Here’s some more footage from the game…

Lastly here is some video of our big come from behind victory over the Panthers in the regular season. If you don’t want to watch all of it, pick it up at about 2:00 into the video.

Thanks for stopping by zACHhARROD.com! Be a revolution today!

zhtv #24 fall 2009

November 12, 2009 by zharrod

It’s a miracle! Their is blog activity at zACHhARROD.com! Here is a little zhtv love, this is what I’ve been doing over the last two months since my last post. We have our Championship game this Saturday. Please lift my each of the players up in prayer and also please also pray that I would rep Jesus well to my players, the Panthers, the fans and even the refs (which might be the biggest miracle!)! More to come. I hope to never have blog silence that long or intense again! Sorry. But hey, thanks for being you! Be a revolution today wherever you are!

zhtv #22 summer help 2009

July 2, 2009 by zharrod

The bags still have yet to be packed, the taxi comes in 3 hours and 15 minutes (4:00 am!). No fears all is well. Things are coming together well and I have had a really good day in the midst of having a ton of things to do (thanks in large part due to my sweet girlfriend! Thanks Rach!). Stress levels are low, I’m doing good and I have some growing anticipation for this summer and what God will do as I’m back for 5 weeks!

With that said, here’s a little zhtv love for you, before I head out! It’s about coming back this summer and how I would love your help in connecting with people who would want to join US in reaching this city, continent, and country! I hope you enjoy it, even in the midst of me asking for help! As always, know my support page is sitting there waiting to be visited by you or your friends! Thanks for all you do!

Heads up! First stop, Warsaw, IN and the GRENTS (a.k.a. my gangsta talk for grandparents!) and fam for the 4th, then to the Xenia/Dayton, Ohio area for a few days! Stop by to see more dates as they develop! Thanks and be a revolution!

I need your help!

June 29, 2009 by zharrod

This summer (actually in a few days!), I’m returning to the States for a short furlough after 2 years being out on the field! Can you believe it has been two years already! Where has the time gone? With that said, I’ll be hopping on a plane and heading to the States for 5 weeks to connect with family, friends, and ministry partners and also to (re)raise some prayer and financial support for OUR ministry and my work here in Prague!

As you would imagine in light of the things that have happened since I’ve been gone, there are some needs out there and I’m trusting God to show up. With that said, would you help me? Would you consider helping me connect with others that would join US in reaching this city, country and continent!?!?

Please head over to the contact page and drop me an email if you have any thoughts, suggestions and/or questions!

As far as dates for the summer, they are starting to line up for my 5 weeks back. I recently sent a postcard (download by clicking that link or this one) out with the church dates, but I thought I would share them here.

July 12 – Sharing at Community Church of Elkhorn (4654 Briggs Rd Elkhorn, WI)
July 19 – Preaching at RiverValley Church (1331 High Ave, Oshkosh, WI)
July 26 – Sharing at Southern Lakes Evangelical Free (N6686 US Hwy 12, Elkhorn, WI)
August 9 – Sharing at Faith Baptist Delevan (1500 Creek Rd, Delavan, WI)

There will also be “Come & See Me” times where I will/might be hanging out near a coffee shop near you, so we can connect. When I have some of these dates down, I’ll post them here!

Thanks for all you do! Know I’m so grateful for every prayer prayed, tear cried for these people, and dollar sent! You guys rock! Thank you!

Oh one more thing, as always you can learn more about joining my team of ministry partners over at my support page! Thanks! Be a Revolution Today!

zhtv #21 – finale 09

June 24, 2009 by zharrod

As promised, from my last post, here you go – a brand-stinking new zhtv! Aren’t you excited?!?!?! As this current episode of zhtv will inform you, we, sadly, lost the Czech Bowl – 24-14. We, the Lions, fought hard, but just came up short at the end. Congrats to the Panthers and best of luck to you as you head to the EFAF Final! Thanks for stopping by the odd little web-world of zACHhARROD.com world, know you’re appreciated!

the project has begun…

May 29, 2009 by zharrod

Wow, has it really been over 10 days since my last blog entry? Dang! I’m so, so sorry. I have been delinquent, will you forgive me? If I have any readers remaining out there, after a sparse few months of blogging. I’ll see what I can do about that in the midst of things here. One of the reasons I had a 10+ day blog silence is because the Czech Project has started. That has pulled me away from my blog. But no fear Rach is figuring out this blog thing pretty quick and you can head over to her blog for some reading in the void of me not getting on the blog train in this season.

You might be wondering what’s up with the project this summer. Well, we were planning on having a minimum 6 students this summer to make the project go, well a month out that didn’t happen. So as we prayed about it we decided to go forward with the project. We had hoped for about 4 projectees (or maybe projectors, or students), but we got two. So we are pushing forward with the project in the midst of this, I’ve jokingly said it is more of Proj-ship – a mix of a project and an internship. I’m excited we decided to move forward, because this project serves our ministry here for three reasons:

To help us, as a staff team, grow in leadership, and also building into student-leaders, with the hope that they may join us in the future, and if they don’t that the would be lifetime laborers for the Gospel.
To bring cohesiveness and synergy within our team here.
To help infuse a fresh breath of fresh air, as having new people always brings in a new level of energy.

Thus far, four days in it would appear that this is happening. It also means that I am prepping talks and doing a fair amount in that area, which I love, but I’ve found it tough in the midst of still being in season, trying to set up my trip to the States this summer, doing relationship well, as well as doing community well, coming off a long, hard year and more. God is showing up and bringing balance and rest in it all. I know by the time I get used to it, June 22nd will be here and it will have been behind us, so I’m trusting, praying and working hard to get after it all now. I (we) would love your prayers for us this summer, as we push forward!

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!

head coach harrod…

April 29, 2009 by zharrod

For most of my life I have known one “Head Coach Harrod.” His name is Doug, not Zach. Zach is the son of Doug. Doug has been the “Head Coach” most of my life and now tonight I will be the one Head Coach in the Harrod family, at least at the moment! Tonight is the first practice for the Junior team of the off-season. Tonight I’m no longer the “other guy” when it comes to coaches but “the guy.” To be honest, I’m a bit nervous and a bit reluctant. “Why?” I’m not sure, there are a lot of things swirling in my head. It could be because I’m nervous about my language ability. Or it could be because I really respect the man that was the coach over the last few years and I liked being an assistant to him. Those are two of the reasons. There are probably more, but I would ask for your prayers. Prayers that I would coach in a way that honors God and my guys. Coach in a way where my guys really wonder why I’m so different and they would realize that it’s more than just being an American. Please pray that I don’t sound too much like an idiot as I long to speak, and coach, only in Czech and not in English. Please pray that my guys would be receptive and respond well to the changes we are experiencing. More than anything, please pray that Jesus would be depended on greatly and lifted up in all of this! Thanks for being you! Grace….

hope for the city, that I love, from the empty tomb

April 24, 2009 by zharrod

“He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1:3c

As Easter season was upon us, I returned to these words from 1 Peter once again for a fresh perspective in the midst of life and all that is going on for a large dose of hope. Especially in relationship to life here and also the prayer request of a dear friend of mine; it was simple – that God would give him HOPE in the midst of doing life and ministry here. Like my dear friend, I also find myself looking to God for hope in the midst of what appears to be a hopeless ordeal, situation, country, city and etc. After all, this country does claim to be the most atheistic country in all of Europe, and I would argue that per capita it might be the most in the world! In the midst of doing life and ministry, finding hope, and not just a plastic-wrapped, trite, pat super-spiritual hope, but a hope that is deeper than I could imagine. So here I am again, longing and looking for hope, in the midst of feeling somewhat hopeless.

I felt this sense of hopelessness once again a Easter weekend on our most recent road game (we are now 3-0) to the Eastern portion of Czech, Moravia. While on our way, we passed through the city square where there was a reading of the newest Bible translation in Czech. Actually, this is a very big deal. Let me explain this quick, as an aside of sorts. Quite, some time ago, I wrote about Sasa Flek and the new translation he was working on. Sasa’s work has been huge! This new Bible, Preklad 21. Století or 21st Century Translation, is in contemporary Czech, and it is very readable. Sasa’s heart is to get over a 1 million Bibles in the hands of his countrymen over the next 7 years! Please pray for this, please pray for him. Pray that God would use this to reach many Czechs, who might have never read the Bible before. From my understanding this is only the third translation of the Bible into Czech, in hundreds of years! Because of this, a Bible reading(s) commenced throughout the country and in many cities. While I’m excited that this took place, I also have a heavy heart about it, for the reason I’m about to tell you. While, it was admirable to set up Bible readings of the new translation in many town squares, I can imagine the challenge many Christians had with it. Christians and Christianity are very laughable to the average Czech, and from my understanding many of the churches, whom were asked to be part of this public reading were reluctant for several reasons, but the over riding two appeared to be – 1) this isn’t relevant to the Czech heart and/or 2) fear of being jeered at. It didn’t surprise me when a friend told me about the reactions of churches throughout the country; especially, when we drove past the square in Havirov and I witnessed this firsthand. As I said earlier, Havirov, is in Moravia, which is thought to be much, much more religious than Western Czech – Bohemia. This can be a debate for another time, but the scene in Havirov was very telling of the situation on a country-wide level. There were maybe four people on the big town square around the tent set up for the Bible reading – 4! All four, appeared to be there to help with the Bible reading. The square was so hopelessly empty, my heart sank for those four people and for other Czech Christians attempting to be faithful throughout the country, but my heart sank more from the reaction from within the bus.

Laughter. Jeering. And eyes on me.

The sad reality, that was the reaction inside the bus, was obviously very similar to the reaction outside the bus. Was it hard for me, personally? Of course, but that isn’t why I was torn up. I was torn up because of the sad reality of this country – apathy and indifference. Apathetic and indifferent are two words that most of my Czech friends would use to describe this situation/problem here. It is as if this apathy, or indifference, is so thick, so prominent, that you can just feel it, it’s palpable. As we drove past the reading and I listened to the laughs and the things said of the Bible reading, it was once again palpable. One of my teammates, looked at me and said, “Muses byt trpelivy tady.” (“You must be patient here.”) I nodded in agreement, but in my heart, my response to the indifference was hopelessness.

Palpable hopelessness. So thick I could cut it with a knife. I sunk into my seat and felt as if I had the weight of this country of 10.6 million pressing on me. Due to my personality, I often find my self swimming in the deep sea of hopelessness that can be found here in response to the person of Jesus, but this day, this day I speak of was different. I opened my Bible for encouragement and found it once again in 1st Peter. First Peter has been my source of finding hope, again and again over the last year or so. One reason is because of the very, very obvious verse from chapter 1, verse 3, but also because the churches that Peter was writing to were surely in very hopeless situations. Peter talked about suffering, submitting to authorities (whom were only adding to the suffering), living in community in the midst of suffering, and, um, did I say suffering?

Needless to day, the churches of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia certainly needed someone to convey the hope of the resurrection and the hope of Christ to them. Granted, I’m not fearing physical persecution and, by no means, is the jeering I receive anything on the level that the earliest Christians experienced, oh no, but I find hope in this book. I found hope in this book two weeks ago, while in the bus to our game.

“He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1:3c

No matter, how bleak, no matter, how palpable the hopelessness may be, it will never be more than hopelessness expressed on the reverse side of the resurrection, the side that appeared to be only one of death, abandonment, ugliness, blood, scorn, and desperation. It is in this side, in this situation, that God moves. It is in the ugliness that God brought life, beauty, and redemption! As I read, 1 Peter 1:3 and reflected on things here, I felt a tidal wave of hope wash over me. Hope that the apathy and indifference, someday, at some point will find an end and God will bring beauty, life and redemption to this city and country I love so much. So now, for about two weeks, I’ve been praying ‘resurrection hope’ for my teammates, Czech friends, Prague and the whole of this country. I would encourage you to reflect on this ‘resurrection hope’ for your city, and for the ‘tribe’ (of people) that God has called you to.

May, as we plead for this hope, God bring resurrections to our cities, friends and countries, and when things are hopeless, may he fill our hearts once again with hope to love the city with all we have for His glory and the city’s good!

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