Author Archives: Pieter Stok

About Pieter Stok

I am passionate about faith, marriage and family. My interests include reading, video editing, travel and Lego. Also, I find the older I get, the more reflective I become. Whereas once I had answers for everything and everyone, now I have more questions.

Jamtli Museum Ostersunde

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Pieter Stok

Every now and then special, unexpected moments occur. I had wanted to see the Jamtli regional museum in central Sweden. It is renown for its outdoor and indoor displays of local history.

Hetty went to the door to check on times only to find we were an hour early. However, a small group was waiting for a private tour and we were invited along. For two hours we were honorary members of an Illinois Rotary Club. Marlyn, the Swedish guide gave us an informative tour of both the collection of regional buildings and the museum. As there were a number of teachers, the 1895 school room with its sand topped desks on which to practice writing, was quite a hit.

The museum is of a standard for others to note. It has a number of key qualities: an aesthetic beauty, educational focus, it is hands on and fun for children, it has academic rigor and its own archeologists, and embraces community groups. The displays are creative and breath taking. The display of a tapestry, older than the Bayeux Tapestry, is simple and effective. Sami culture is displayed as well as a great collection of Viking artifacts.

This museum is in a fairly remote town of 25000 people (60000 in the local area) and employs 130 people and double that in the Summer when the outside museum comes alive. Simply said, it is a tribute to the community. There is a message in this for my own home town.

Categories: Reflections, Travel | 3 Comments

Some More Favourite Pictures – in no particular order

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Pieter Stok

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Some (lighted hearted) Observations Made On OurTrip – So Far

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Pieter Stok

1. On our journeys we have come to the conclusion that it was an EU directive that every Pole acquire a semi trailer. Why else would there be on many on European roads?
2. It is a rule, it seems, that every Norwegian must own a tractor. If he or she can’t afford a tractor, a small digger will have to suffice. If you see the amount of snow in Norway, this rule explains itself.
3. In Spain, every male over 70 must drive a Max car. This 2stroke machine has a top speed of 35 kph. It may only be driven on bike tracks, back roads, suburban streets, highways – in fact wherever they wish, especially during peak hours.
4. Another rule seems to be that every Dutchman must have two bikes – one for home and the other to strap on the back of the camper ( not a prerequisite but highly encouraged).
5. The traffic lights in France are only suggestions. Often they don’t work, so why bother to obey them anyway. The local councils also have a programme to make them as inconspicuous as possible.
6. Indicator lights on Saabs do not work in Sweden. Amazing as it may seem, I have only seen a slight flicker from one light – and that may have been the sun’s reflection.
7. You know it’s cold when the skidoos are parked next to the house and the trailers have skis.

You may have “observations” to add.

Categories: Life, Reflections, Travel | 1 Comment

Stave Churches

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Pieter Stok

Over these last few days we have pursued a passion of mine – Stave Churches. These churches are between 800 and a 1000 years old. Thousands were build but only a few remain. Being wooden, from the floor to the roof tiles, they required a lot of attention. Those that remain, still do. The photo of the Borgund church, shows one of the most original churches, and it is preserved in a tar like substance.

With dragons on the roof and high soaring towers, they picture a period when people were moving from pagan gods to Christianity.

It is very easy to be critical of this syncretism but how many of our 21st century values do we incorporate “seamlessly” into our faith – uncritically. Even though these churches are now tourist attractions, it is encouraging to see, in many places, a living and active contemporary church building near by.

Below are:
1. The Kaupanger Stave Church
2. The Borgund Stave Church
3. The Roldal Stave Church
4. The Heddal Stave Church

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith | 2 Comments

Hetty’s Perspective on Our Last Day in the UK

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Pieter Stok

Tuesday 24 April Market Harborough to Seer Green
Another homemade breakfast greeted us downstairs as Lin had made porridge for us. It was a relaxing way to start the day, especially with Handel’s Largo playing in the background. Afterwards we bade John and Lin farewell and headed for Milton Keynes Centre to find a car charger for the IPad. It just happened that the Lego shop was across the way from the Apple shop. Imagine that! We filled up a tub with bricks. Then we went in search of a suitcase on wheels which could use as carry-on. It was good to wander through the Centre and surprising how familiar it all was.

Pieter was overjoyed we got back to the car and discovered that the new charger did its job. He programmed the gps on the dashboard for Rochester and soon we were traveling south to the orders of Miss GPS, “in 300 yards veer right, take the second exit, continue on the M1 for 9 miles” . I relaxed. Some other woman was telling Pieter where to go.

A few hours and half the London ring road later, we got to Rochester. We did a walking tour to see the buildings and sites that inspired Charles Dickens. Just as we started the rain stopped, at last. When we got to the tourist office a group of loud schoolgirls were testing the patience of the staff. The lady behind the counter told us about another Dickens exhibition at the Guildhall. We hurried off and discovered not only an excellent video of how Dickens saw Rochester in the 1850-80s. There were also exhibits of the hulk ships, maritime items and town history. They used mirrors creatively to make spaces appear larger. Altogether it was well presented and supplemented what we saw yesterday at the Museum of London. When we get back home I will have to read Edwin Drood, Dickens last unfinished book, set in Rochester.

We wound up Miss GPS and she got us to our campsite in Seer Green, via the other half of the ring road (yes we’re almost back to where we started).

We have had a lovely meal in the local pub- The Jolly Cricketers. Pieter’s thumb looks dreadful and makes cutting his food nearly impossible. “Bryce Courtney” is sitting at the next table behaving lecherously towards a blond half his age. Disgusting!

Tomorrow we will catch our flight to Goteborg, Sweden, after bringing the car and Miss GPS back to Hertz.
PS. I listened to The Archers tonight before going to the pub and meeting people who must have been the inspiration for some of the characters.

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A Quiet English Weekend

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Pieter Stok

This weekend we have had a quiet, by our standards, few days. We visited the Cowper Newton Museum in Olney on Saturday. This is a brilliant little museum celebrating the lives of two Christian men – a poet and a reformed sea captain turned Anglican minister. This museum pictures their lives and the era in which they lived.

That evening we dropped in unannounced at our friends Heather and Keith and their two daughters. The following morning, after walking through Bletchley, we attended Spurgeon’s Baptist church and renewed old relationships. In the afternoon, after a detour to the Eleanor Cross in Geddington (which included an unexpected guide by the local historian) we stayed with our friends John and Lin. They made us feel at home so we stayed an extra night. We also attended their delightful church in the evening – Baptist again. The music was warm and celebratory; the message to the point.

On Monday we did the tourist thing in London: the Eye, the Tower, a trip down the stone steps which badly bruised my thumb, the British Library with its amazing manuscripts, and the Museum of London – chasing Charles Dickens. We continued our Dickens research on Tuesday in Rochester.

Insights? Not too many. I was too relaxed. However, French and German student groups are ruder than any I have ever come across! The Tower of London with screaming German students may be a just cause for a … I think I am going to far.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Church, Devotional, Faith, Family | Leave a comment

The Medieval Mind

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Pieter Stok

A few days ago we went to Chartres Cathedral. One writer described it as one of the most perfect pictures of the medieval mind.

What does this massive and beautiful building tell us? Here are a few ideas for the moment.
1. God was at the heart of their thinking. God dominated their lives and they wanted to honour Him.
2. There was a fear of God – fear in a wrong sense. Confessional boxes, a maze that had to be travelled on the knees was at the heart of the Cathedral. People needed to do things to earn God’s pleasure.
3. It was an illiterate society, so the Bible story was told in great detail in the beautifully rich stained glass windows. Sadly, non Biblical Stories about Mary were added. But the detail and accuracy of the Bible stories was impressive.
4. The size of the building made God remote. Even Jesus was not a personal savior.
5. My last point, for the moment, is that this image of God does not communicate to the 21st century mind. Chartres reminds us that we need to reapply the gospel message anew for every age.

Finally, whatever our feelings, the medieval devotion makes pale in comparison.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith | 2 Comments

Past Glories

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Pieter Stok

After the heights of Calvinism in Geneva, we went to the Abbey of Cluny today. It is a magnificent complex of buildings whose influence ranged over the pre reformational world. This abbey was the mother from which many others were set up, in England and France. It was an amazing picture of medieval devotion. Today its zeal was muted by tourists and bored French school groups. From there we went to the magnificent Cathedral at Orleans whose patron saint is Joan of Arc – a martyr of the French nation. Like many Cathedrals there are beggars at the door. The question as to what to what to do bothers me.

Yesterday we passed an accident on a country road. There were police cars and emergency vehicles. Cars were being redirected around the accident. On the side of the road was a body bag with a body in it. For me this was a stark reminder of the calling we have to represent Christ. Death may come at any moment (especially on French and Spanish roads) but we need to have a relationship with Christ – nothing is more important than that!

Tomorrow we plan to go to Chartres Cathedral and from their to Belgium to see family.

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Geneva – The Heart of the Reformation

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Pieter Stok

Today was a fabulous day for a Calvinist lad. Hetty (not hefty – certainly not after walking 125 kms) and I went to Geneva. We visited the old city where there is a museum dedicated to the Reformation. It was informative, well laid out and we could have spent the whole day there. It narrated the story of the Reformation, its issues and its key people. There was material for all ages, including audio and visual presentations. I found the last room, which presented Protestant worship around the world, very moving. But we didn’t stay all day!

Next to the museum is St Peter’s Cathedral under which, is the most incredible area of archeology I have ever seen. The detailed information, the extent of the work, the overview from the 1st century to more recent years and the presentation, was an unexpected delight. Any person who loves archeology and visits Geneva must go. The whole set up is Swiss efficiency at its best. The same can’t be said of the Post Office which was a rigmarole at its best, or is it worst? The museum and archeology visit also allowed us up the towers of St Peter’s. This must be one of the best views of Geneva!

Finally we went to the Reformation monument – a giant facade representing the key players in the Reformation. A very powerful message, which sadly, doesn’t get heard in modern Europe.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Faith, History | 4 Comments

Saturday ~ it must be Barcelona.

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Pieter Stok

I’m currently sitting outside the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. This morning we have been at Gaudi’s Guell Park a place of weird and wonderful shapes and architecture. The place was jam packed. I was thrilled that at the gate a couple of men were handing out tracts declaring that Jesus is risen. When I encouraged them they told me in halting English that they were evangelicals. Praise God!

Spain appears to be a deeply religious country. The cynic would say that if you drove like that you need faith; in yourself, the other driver and luck! The churches we have been in have been full. However we have sighted very few teenagers, children and younger families in church. That is not a good sign. My overall impression is that Spain is going the secular way of northern Europe.

The overt signs of faith, such as churches and crosses in each village, is not matched with a vibrant reality. My visit is fleeting, but there is much to pay for in this country.

Categories: Faith, Travel | 1 Comment