Poland photos in Torun, February 2006
Click on individual pictures to enlarge them.












After 10 very exciting days in Poland we returned to the U.K. on February 24th. 2006 from Bydgoszcz to Stansted Airport. Praising the LORD for His goodness to us all.

Harbinger of Spring.

This phrase was used by the great English poet William Wordsworth in his poem
"To a snowdrop".


"Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
Chaste snowdrop, venturous harbinger of spring, "

After winter we look for a herald of spring, some evidence that winter is almost over.

In the Old Testament there were those who studied the "signs of the times" recorded in the first book of Chronicles chapter 12 verse 32. These were "the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do . . ."

It is great to be able to known what we "ought to do" in any given situation!

It is important to understand the signs of the times.

I believe that it is the only way that we can find encouragement to face the days of difficulty and distress. Conflict is always with us but when the conflict zone is around the Land of Israel we need to take special notice. The final events of this present age will all take place in that area of the world. Some would want to remove the name, Israel from the world map. In fact this happened recently when the United Nations held what it called "A day of Solidarity" with the Palestinian people. In the presence of Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, a large map was displayed labelled in Arabic "Map of Palestine" with UN and PLO flags in evidence but no mention of Israel.

For 56 years the Nation of Israel has sat in the company of the (so called) United Nations and yet it is still being ignored. Sadly some Bible believing Christians are failing the see that this is all part of those things that will happen in the last days.

Over a century ago Baptist and Anglican preachers had a clear view of what would have to happen before Messiah comes.
Charles H. Spurgeon and Bishop J.C.Ryle were getting the church in the U.K. to observe the signs of the times. These two writers are still speaking to the age in which we live.
When Christ returns, and The King is coming,
reprinted by Whitaker of New Kensington PA. USA keep alive
Spurgeon's words on this important subject.

Christian Focus Publications of Fearn, Scotland
keep alive the words of J.C.Ryle in the book entitled
Prophecy, ISBN 1-871676-64-9.

One magazine well worth reading is that produced by Tony Pearce,
Light for the Last Days, Box BM - 4226, London, WC1N 3XX
http://www.lightforthelastdays.co.uk/

In the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ tells of men observing the sign of the red sky at night in Matthews Gospel chapter 16 verses 1 to 4. It becomes a natural thing for people to comment on the weather signs, be it red sky at night or red sky in the morning!

We are living in interesting times, if not seen by some as difficult times.
Recently while visiting in Poland I was asked "How do you see the signs today?"

As I was asked I gave answer to that question and those who know me would expect me to hold forth on the subject. The subject being the end times as clearly shown in Holy Scripture.

I am amazed at the lack of concern that some Christians have in seeing the plan of God unfolding and for His future return to this earth, to rule and to reign.

Scripture encourages us to be ready and to be prepared, in Matthew Chapters 24 & 25 it was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself giving the warning to watch and be ready.

So I for one will continue to obey HIM.

Snow Reflections.
Some thoughts about SNOW.
When I was very young I remember that my mother used a few lines of poetry to caution my behavour. "Robert" she said "The future lies before you like a field of untrodden snow, be careful how you tread it for ever step will show". From what I recall she said that it was written by a friend in an autograph album she was given as a young woman.

One poem about Snow that I managed to commit to memory as a child was by Sir Alfred Noyes. He was born in Wolverhampton and died in the 1958. I haven't seen it in print for many years, as I remember it went like this.

The Healing Snow by Sir Alfred Noyes.
A pure white mantle blotted out the world I used to know,
There was no scarlet in the sky or on the hills below,
gently as mercy out of heaven came down the healing snow.

The trees that were so dark and bare stood up in radiant white,
And the road forgot its furrowed care as day forgets the night
And the new heaven and the new earth lay robed in dazzling light.

And every flake that fell from heaven was like an angel's kiss
Or a feather fluttering from the wings of some dear soul in bliss
Who gently leaned from that bright world to soothe the pain of this.


Snow is mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Job, Psalms, Proverbs and elsewhere.

The verses that come to mind today are in
Isaiah Chapter 55 verse 10 &11
"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." from the N.K.J.V. of the Bible.

If you take time to read further on in the King James Version of the Bible you will see that we "briars" get a mention - we get every where.

Yes, that really is me in the top right hand corner of the article.

On February 25th 2006 we returned from 10 days in central Poland.

There we visited Christian friends who are involved in sharing the Good News concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Our time was spent in Piotrkow Trybunalski and in Torun.

In Piotrkow Trybunalski we lived in the unfinished church premises of the Evangelical Christian Church (Kosciol Ewangelicznych Chrzescijan) where many rooms are completed and used for the weekly activities and the Sunday services. We also enjoyed the company of many friends, eating meals in their homes and with the help of the Pastor, Daniel Kryston and his family, having good translators understanding all that was shared with us.

Since retirement in March 2000 we have visited Poland on five occasions but this was the first winter visit. The no frills Ryanair flights are cheap and with our experience the flights arrive on time.

In Torun we were active in teaching children in the Mid-term Holiday Club (they call it a Camp). The weather wasn't cold but there were days when the snow came down, one day it snowed for 6 hours adding a further 5 inches of snow to the picturesque scene.

We have had connections with the Evangelical Church at Torun for around 25 years since first meeting their Pastor Tadeusz Tolwinski when he was a Bible student in England. That friendship has developed into a life time commitment to each other in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ in Poland and beyond. Members of the growing congregation built the premises and now they are accepted in the urban area for their involvement with children and teenagers.

From Monday through to Friday (20th to 24th) the children came and were left by their parents to enjoy five hours of activities. Bible stories, workshops and games plus mid-day soup. This soup was prepared by ladies and a man from the congregation.

The whole day was supported by a team of 15 willing workers who gave consistent service to make the time exciting and interesting for the children, some of whom had travelled some distance to get to the church building.

The following photographs will give you some idea of the time we shared together. Just click on the pictures to see them larger than life !!!