plans, it looked like a good year. And it
© Ivan Steiger MMXXI was. The year 2021 is ahead and as we are looking at current events, it feels as It is He who changes the times and though we are watching the film, “The the periods; He removes kings and World Turned Upside Down,” but we appoints kings; He gives wisdom to already know how it will end. wise men, and knowledge to people We did not believe that we would of understanding. (Da 2:21) see the fall of socialism in Central Eu- This sentence is by the decree of rope in our lifetime since The Prague the angelic watchers, and the decision is a command of the holy Spring was crushed by Russian tanks in ones, in order that the living may 1968. The process of mild democratiza- know that the Most High is ruler tion and political liberalization that over the realm of mankind, and sought to build an advanced society, He grants it to whomever He i.e. „socialism with a human face“ as it wishes and sets over it the was presented to the people, did not lowliest of people. (Da 4:17) work. The Baltimore Sun remembered those events with the heading, „Social- JANUARY 2021 ism with a Human Face: Another God DEAR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF That Failed.“ THE REACH BEYOND MINISTRY https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs- TO THE PEOPLES xpm-1992-11-18-1992323011-story.html OF CZECHIA AND SLOVAKIA The next chapter was called “The Velvet revolution.” So, we saw the fall! Instead of looking for New year We also did not believe that the so- resolutions, Klara went back to her Fa- cialist agenda would be resurrected in cebook entries. Not focusing on Covid the West in the 21st century. We never lockdown isolation, canceled or limited imagined that we would witness its rise in Western Europe, and in the country Despite physical isolation, we had that adopted us. After all, the United new opportunities in the spiritual States was our refuge! realm. The year 2021 will go on, and we all Despite the lockdown, we were able will get used to the fact that the fun- to reach near and far, through Face- damental reshaping of the world is book, sharing face to face concerns, ahead of us. blessings, and inspiration. Despite the fact that we could only And the LORD will continually touch keyboards, and displays to guide you, and satisfy your desire express our likes or dislikes, we we- in scorched places, and give re communicating with real people. strength to your bones; and you Despite all the setbacks, we en- will be like a watered garden, and dured. like a spring of water whose wa- Despite numerous inconveniences,
tersdo not fail. (Isaiah 58:11) everything is available. Despite travel restrictions, we can be Despite many disappointments glob- in touch with our family and friends ally, nationally, and personally, we overseas. believe that He is in control. Each one of the „despites“ sounds Despite corona isolation and quaran- like counting our blessings. tine, cyberspace enabled us to be in contact with people and events. SOME CZECH CONTRIBUTION Despite both of us being under co- TO THE WORLD rona attack, His mercy was everlast- ing. Sugar Cube Despite the separation, we experi- Sugar cubes are food sugar pro- enced much care and concern for cessed into a cube. Until the middle of our well-being. the 19th century, sugar was distributed Despite having to change or post- mainly in the form of sugar-loaves. pone many plans, and learn to live Jakub Kryštof Rad is considered to be according to His plans, we were able the inventor of sugar cubes. He was to express our care for others. the director of the Dačice refinery and Despite missing fellowship in the patented sugar cubes in 1843. The church, we are blessed by all the privilege of producing sugar cubes was new opportunities to fellowship with granted to Rad on January 23, 1843. those brothers and sisters we see Juliana Radová, Rad’s wife, injured only occasionally. her finger while trying to chip off a pie- ce of sugar from a sugar-loaf. The sug- At the Vienna University, Ressel at- ar-loaves were hard and impractical, up tended lectures on forestry, chemistry, to five feet high. Anyone needing sugar technology, and natural sciences. But could not do without a hammer, pliers, due to a lack of money, he had to leave or crowbar. The woman suggested to the university and became a forester her husband, Jakub Kryštof Rad, the after graduating from a forestry school. refinery director and an enthusiastic At his new job, he came up with many inventor, that he should come up with gimmicks, for instance how to measure an easier way. areas of woods quickly and reliably. Rad's first cubes were in the shape The job instigated an interest in sea of a cuboid with edge dimensions of navigation in the young man, as his 1/2 by 5/8 of an inch. Later, they be- duty was to care for wood from defor- gan to differ from one manufacturer to esting to the building of sea ships. So another, and the shape also changed among many other inventions, Ressel from a cube to various geometric became famous for the propeller. In shapes, such as the characters of the 1826 he applied for an Austrian patent bridge card colors – clubs, diamonds, for what he called “a never-ending hearts, and spades. screw which can be used to drive ships both on sea and rivers” and he re- Propeller ceived the license in February 1827. Josef Ressel, a Czech-born inventor, Ressel was the first to place the pro- was ahead of his time. Although he peller between the helm and the stern invented many different devices, he is so that the propeller worked under the mainly famous for being the first to water thus being most efficient. invent and use the propeller. But Ressel's authorship of the inven- The ball-bearing without oiling, tion was put in doubt due to inertia of press-roller for oil and wine, rolling mill, the Austrian Presidium of Imperial Sci- and steam engine with air cooling were ences when in a suspicious coinci- just a few inventions introduced by the dence, English traders Sauvage and Czech inventor Josef Ressel. Ressel was Smith came up with the same inven- born in the east Bohemian town of tion. It is believed now that someone Chrudim in 1793. He studied at an artil- might have secretly sold Ressel's inven- lery school in Česke Budějovice (Bud- tion to Great Britain. But in 1865, at its weis) where he acquired outstanding arbitrary session, the National Academy knowledge of mathematics, geometry, in Washington decided the matter in and technical drawing. Ressel's favor. Ressel died of malaria in 1857 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he's unusual. As a young Jewish girl she buried. survived the concentration camp, became a believer, and the Lord PLEASE PRAY FOR used her and her daughter to start Our wish and prayer is that The Bad Czech and Slovak broadcasting in Times will become Good Times for HCJB Voice of the Andes Good The Spiritual Victory. News. It is amazing to follow the Online ministries are great but not to Lord's plans in our lives. replace fellowship heart to heart and As part of Pavel's covid recovery, he face to face. has been prescribed by the doctors a Our calendar this year is empty ex- three-week special spa treatment. cept for a few medical checkups. Klara will join him. Otherwise we have no binding or scheduled events or conferences. It THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS, is all in His hands. SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION Please pray that the hearts of people IN OUR LIFE AND will be softened during this trial. THE CZECH & SLOVAK Our churches, bible studies, and fel- MINISTRIES
lowships are controlled by lockdown In His Sovereign Grace, regulations. Pavel and Klara Steiger Pray that people will not get com-
You may mail your Canadian PRAISES Tax-deductible contributions to: At the present time we continue writ- REACH BEYOND ing and translating without any inter- 3 - 44 SALTSMAN DRIVE CAMBRIDGE, ON N3H 4R7 ruption. Pavel is writing another book. CANADA Klara finished the translation of Lili Attach to your check the following note: Kladensky's testimony. She is 95 FOR THE MINISTRY OF years old now and spends her days PAVEL & KLARA STEIGER ACC # 100–110329 in Costa Rica. Her life story is most