We went to Ross Travers (?) and checked out the Christian Renewal Center. WOW! I believe these people should give me and Nate this place....
We then ventured to Newry to be locals. We ate lunch at ground a trendy coffee bar and then had some chai tea. It was not as good as ours at FFC, so I tossed it.
After some shopping at TK Maxx no that was not a typo it is TK not TJ here. I scored a PUMA bag for 9.99! Sweet action. We headed home to get some rest before the heathen youth get here :0) for a BBQ.
The kids are here now so I gotta go!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Nathan and I ventured out and about the town today! We went to the post office and exchanged our Euros for Pounds. I'm pretty sure that we lost a LOT of money when we exchanged. We originally exchanged in Newark, NJ from US to Euros (because that's what we were told we needed!) and when we got here we found out that Northern Ireland uses the pound because it is part of the UK. Southern Ireland uses the Euro, soooo we had to go to the post office to exchange our Euros to pounds because in most NI places they do not take the Euro. When the post master told us what we were going to get back in US if we exchanged the Pounds made my jaw drop. I'm still not sure where the money went!?!?!?
While in New Castle we ventured to a little used book shop and one their versions of a dollar store. Their pound is our dollar, so one of their versions of a dollar store is "Around A Pound". The lady we were with Cynhia, had to hit the grocery to pick up some missing ingedrients for our lunch she let us roam for about 20 minutes and we had to meet her back at the car. The grocery she went to was Lids. This was their version of our Aldi's. They had giant pictures of fruit and vegetables and underneath it said "SERIOUSLY CHEAPER" hahahaha That guy should get a raise :0)
After lunch we went to Downpatrick. Cynthia dropped us off on her way to Belfast to drop off an intern from Paris at the airport so she could go home. We visited a cathedral, St. Patricks grave, The prison and all the stuff that went with that, then the St. Patrick center where it was a museum with a IMAX movie *Way different version of an IMAX than ours*. Cynthia picked us up on her way home.
After dinner we went to Dundrum to hang with Richie's youth kids. FYI Irish youth is WAY different than ours!!!! The Taylor University soccer team joined us and we just hung out with the kids. Then we headed to the Galley (?) to get what Pink called the BEST fish and chips. Well I gave it a whirl and I still detest fish (and chips when fried in fish grease) *Insert disgusted look here*! Everyone loved them with the exception of me and 2 others and all 3 of us despise fish in general so I guess we don't count.
After we dropped the soccer team off we went to a real Irish pub! It was nothing like I expected. I was thinking a loud smoky bar where giant Irish men were tipping over in a drunken state *In all fairness I have not been to many bar's in my life and never an Irish pub* It was a really nice restaurant with no smoking and they stop serving alcohol at half past 11. Hardly anyone was there and it was a family establishment. Nathan and I had our first and I believe last glass of Guiness. They let us keep our glasses as souvieners. So yeah... were practically locals now :0)
It is now 1:22 A.M. and I need to get to sleep. I can't be falling asleep durring the Bible lesson tomorrow now can I?!
While in New Castle we ventured to a little used book shop and one their versions of a dollar store. Their pound is our dollar, so one of their versions of a dollar store is "Around A Pound". The lady we were with Cynhia, had to hit the grocery to pick up some missing ingedrients for our lunch she let us roam for about 20 minutes and we had to meet her back at the car. The grocery she went to was Lids. This was their version of our Aldi's. They had giant pictures of fruit and vegetables and underneath it said "SERIOUSLY CHEAPER" hahahaha That guy should get a raise :0)
After lunch we went to Downpatrick. Cynthia dropped us off on her way to Belfast to drop off an intern from Paris at the airport so she could go home. We visited a cathedral, St. Patricks grave, The prison and all the stuff that went with that, then the St. Patrick center where it was a museum with a IMAX movie *Way different version of an IMAX than ours*. Cynthia picked us up on her way home.
After dinner we went to Dundrum to hang with Richie's youth kids. FYI Irish youth is WAY different than ours!!!! The Taylor University soccer team joined us and we just hung out with the kids. Then we headed to the Galley (?) to get what Pink called the BEST fish and chips. Well I gave it a whirl and I still detest fish (and chips when fried in fish grease) *Insert disgusted look here*! Everyone loved them with the exception of me and 2 others and all 3 of us despise fish in general so I guess we don't count.
After we dropped the soccer team off we went to a real Irish pub! It was nothing like I expected. I was thinking a loud smoky bar where giant Irish men were tipping over in a drunken state *In all fairness I have not been to many bar's in my life and never an Irish pub* It was a really nice restaurant with no smoking and they stop serving alcohol at half past 11. Hardly anyone was there and it was a family establishment. Nathan and I had our first and I believe last glass of Guiness. They let us keep our glasses as souvieners. So yeah... were practically locals now :0)
It is now 1:22 A.M. and I need to get to sleep. I can't be falling asleep durring the Bible lesson tomorrow now can I?!
Wednesday!
I have high hopes for today. It has been hard to hear God because everyone is trying to drown him out (by that I mean they love God but they are too busy with trying to put their agenda on everyone else), but today, today I feel good about.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Excuse me... Could you please shut up?
I have always had a fine appreciation for people who know a LOT about something.
What I have never developed an appreciation for is people who THINK they know a lot about EVERYTHING.
What I have never developed an appreciation for is people who THINK they know a lot about EVERYTHING.
Monday, July 27, 2009
What a Day!
Today we went to Narnia
And we came out at the Irish Sea
We discovered some really cool things
P.S. I had NO clue that seaweed attached its self to rocks!
We made some friends!
But at last it was time to head back
And get ready to hit the streets downtown
All in all we had an awesome day!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Belfast!!!!
So Nathan and I made it safely to Ireland! Woohooo, this place is beautiful.
I was in the country for about 45 minutes when I learned my first valuable lesson.
The Taylor University soccer team is also staying at Murlough house and they just happened to be on our plane. We were instructed by Richie (I am referring to him as our Ireland tour guide) to follow the lads and get on the same private coach to get to Murlough house. They were detained at customs because they didn't give the officers a satisfying answer as to why they were in Ireland. Apparently training for soccer wasn't good enough. We were almost detained with them because we are staying at the same place! We made it through and went downstairs to claim our luggage *this is where I learned my lesson* I had to use the "facilities" because lets face it airplane bathrooms even on a 757 are not spacious and you almost have to perform acrobats to pee!
So Nate points out that there is a bathroom to the right of us. I look and see a door to the left of the bathroom door *logically one would think 1 is the men's and 1 is the women's* so I am delirious mind you because it is around 4 a.m. Indiana time and I didn't sleep on either plane ride. I stumble past the group of airport workers and to the bathroom. Mind you we have been traveling non stop in the air for like 7 hours so my ankles are really kankles at this point. I open the bathroom door only to be greeted by a urinal?????
No one was at the urinal THANK GOODNESS but I assess my surroundings and at first *Hello I'm still delirious* think "Weird! Why would Ireland have urinals in the women's restroom?"
So I take a small step back because I am still in the door way and take a closer look at the stick figure on the door.
Oops! This stick figure is NOT wearing a dress.
I turn around to make a hasty exit and one of the women are pointing at the women's restroom (NOT next door to the men's but WAY on the other side of the room.
Lesson #1 in Ireland: Always pay attention to the stick figures attire!
*yes I know you think I would already know this* :0)
My friend V landed in Dublin a few years ago and she said that the bathrooms smelled good. FYI the bathrooms at the Belfast airport DO NOT SMELL GOOD.
More to come this week on Ireland so keep checking back!
Did I mention that this place is BEAUTIFUL!
I was in the country for about 45 minutes when I learned my first valuable lesson.
The Taylor University soccer team is also staying at Murlough house and they just happened to be on our plane. We were instructed by Richie (I am referring to him as our Ireland tour guide) to follow the lads and get on the same private coach to get to Murlough house. They were detained at customs because they didn't give the officers a satisfying answer as to why they were in Ireland. Apparently training for soccer wasn't good enough. We were almost detained with them because we are staying at the same place! We made it through and went downstairs to claim our luggage *this is where I learned my lesson* I had to use the "facilities" because lets face it airplane bathrooms even on a 757 are not spacious and you almost have to perform acrobats to pee!
So Nate points out that there is a bathroom to the right of us. I look and see a door to the left of the bathroom door *logically one would think 1 is the men's and 1 is the women's* so I am delirious mind you because it is around 4 a.m. Indiana time and I didn't sleep on either plane ride. I stumble past the group of airport workers and to the bathroom. Mind you we have been traveling non stop in the air for like 7 hours so my ankles are really kankles at this point. I open the bathroom door only to be greeted by a urinal?????
No one was at the urinal THANK GOODNESS but I assess my surroundings and at first *Hello I'm still delirious* think "Weird! Why would Ireland have urinals in the women's restroom?"
So I take a small step back because I am still in the door way and take a closer look at the stick figure on the door.
Oops! This stick figure is NOT wearing a dress.
I turn around to make a hasty exit and one of the women are pointing at the women's restroom (NOT next door to the men's but WAY on the other side of the room.
Lesson #1 in Ireland: Always pay attention to the stick figures attire!
*yes I know you think I would already know this* :0)
My friend V landed in Dublin a few years ago and she said that the bathrooms smelled good. FYI the bathrooms at the Belfast airport DO NOT SMELL GOOD.
More to come this week on Ireland so keep checking back!
Did I mention that this place is BEAUTIFUL!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Cosmic Vending Machine???
I have had several friends who have "issues" with God. As the "Token Christian" friend they turn to me. Sometimes they almost sling insults at me because MY God is not answering them aka Giving them what they want. I had an extended conversation once with a dear friend. I will paraphrase our words
Friend: "I've talked to God! I asked him to ......, and he isn't listening to me. He doesn't care"
Me: "Perhaps he is telling you something you don't want to hear, so your not listening"
Friend: "NO! All I have ever asked he ignores me, he never gives me what I want. He can't hear me"
I have been rolling this over & over in my mind for awhile now. What is the best way to respond to people when they are in this mind frame.
One Sunday PK hit the nail on the head.
GOD IS NOT A GIANT COSMIC VENDING MACHINE IN THE SKY!
That night when I was reading my Bible I came across something called Off And Running. In my Bible there are little boxes here and there like this that will pertain to something you have just read in the above/below/beside scripture. This one was in the book of John.
Pray Expecting to Get Answers (Read 1 John 5:14-15)
"Prayer is not getting your will in heaven. It is getting God's will on earth. Prayer is not an argument with God in which you try to persuade him to move things your way. Prayer is an exercise in which his Spirit enables you to move yourself his way. Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of his willingness. We like to gravitate toward the latter part of these verses. But don't forget the first part. You have to first "stay in Christ" by maintaining a healthy, ongoing relationship with him. When that happens, you will see your will coming in line with his, and your requests will begin to mirror what Christ wants to do in your life and the lives of those around you. At that point, you can be assured that God is listening to you and will answer your prayers"
TA-DA!
So simple. Why would God give you the time of day when you WON'T give him anything?
My dear friend (as far as I know) has never had a real relationship with our wonderful, loving heavenly father. She doesn't even play the hokey pokey as Pink would say. She just flat out has no connection to God. So sad. I love her and I want her and anyone who doesn't know Christ to have him in their lives.
Sorry I was getting off track here.
The answer is simple. You have to have a RELATIONSHIP with God. He is not a giant cosmic vending machine in the sky for you to visit when you need something.
Friend: "I've talked to God! I asked him to ......, and he isn't listening to me. He doesn't care"
Me: "Perhaps he is telling you something you don't want to hear, so your not listening"
Friend: "NO! All I have ever asked he ignores me, he never gives me what I want. He can't hear me"
I have been rolling this over & over in my mind for awhile now. What is the best way to respond to people when they are in this mind frame.
One Sunday PK hit the nail on the head.
GOD IS NOT A GIANT COSMIC VENDING MACHINE IN THE SKY!
That night when I was reading my Bible I came across something called Off And Running. In my Bible there are little boxes here and there like this that will pertain to something you have just read in the above/below/beside scripture. This one was in the book of John.
Pray Expecting to Get Answers (Read 1 John 5:14-15)
"Prayer is not getting your will in heaven. It is getting God's will on earth. Prayer is not an argument with God in which you try to persuade him to move things your way. Prayer is an exercise in which his Spirit enables you to move yourself his way. Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of his willingness. We like to gravitate toward the latter part of these verses. But don't forget the first part. You have to first "stay in Christ" by maintaining a healthy, ongoing relationship with him. When that happens, you will see your will coming in line with his, and your requests will begin to mirror what Christ wants to do in your life and the lives of those around you. At that point, you can be assured that God is listening to you and will answer your prayers"
TA-DA!
So simple. Why would God give you the time of day when you WON'T give him anything?
My dear friend (as far as I know) has never had a real relationship with our wonderful, loving heavenly father. She doesn't even play the hokey pokey as Pink would say. She just flat out has no connection to God. So sad. I love her and I want her and anyone who doesn't know Christ to have him in their lives.
Sorry I was getting off track here.
The answer is simple. You have to have a RELATIONSHIP with God. He is not a giant cosmic vending machine in the sky for you to visit when you need something.
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