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2.2.07
NEW Blog
This blog is no longer being updated. Click here to see my current blog on culture and spirituality.
27.10.06
Cyber Dredging (or, Help Me - I'm tucked away in a dark corner of Blogger, waiting to be published!)
In case you hadn’t noticed, things have been pretty silent on the blog over the last week. I’ve had some technical problems with the hosting which has basically kept me from publishing anything. But, as you can see, it didn’t keep me from trying. I’ve still been posting. It just hasn’t shown up in cyberspace.
Recent Links of Note:
Recent Links of Note:
- It’s unfortunate when you lose touch with old friends. Especially old friends that have left a big impact on your life. Case in point, my old youth pastor and his wife, who are writing and performing with their band, The Shiny Things, will be starring on the reality TV show, Trading Spouses. Would love to catch up with them and hear about their experiences!
- Some say you can find medical evidence to support just about anything you fancy. Here’s my “medical finding” of choice.
- What makes a movie good? Click on the link to find out. Some great thoughts.
- The Irish government has plans to invest a good chunk of money in developing the organic food market in the country. We’re quite happy about that, as we’ve had a difficult time finding organic food here, much less affordable organic food. (I know – that’s a bit of an oxymoron.)
- Interesting article from the BBC regarding adult attitudes towards teens. I always found this interesting when I lived in England. Time and time again, the “solution” to the “youth problem” is “structured activities like drama and sports clubs.” The wording along of this “problem” is a clear indication to me that the “problem” isn’t so much the youth as it is British adult attitudes towards young people. Therefore, the solution isn’t “give them something to do to keep them out of trouble.” Rather, it’s change the way adults view young people. Believe that they can make a contribution to society. Believe that they can make the world a better place. This especially goes for communities of faith who trust in a God who can do big things through young people.
25.10.06
Live Show at Whelans
On Sunday morning, I was handed a flyer and invited to a show at a venue called Whelans. So last night, I met my friend Alan at the concert and had a brilliant time meeting new people and enjoying some great live music.
I was especially impressed with The Blood Red Mountain Band, though at first I was skeptical with their bluegrass Americana sound. The longer they played, however, the more I liked them and realized that they have the same "neo-bluegrass" kind of sound as Bright Eyes or even some Sufjan Stevens. It's folk music with a creative, quirky twist.
The band that played before them, The Suitcase, had some creative song crafting going on as well. The headliner of the night was Star Turtle, the front man of which had invited me to the show. They're a commercial rock band with a winsome stage presence and they obviously have a lot of fun playing live. Along with all of their original songs, they did a mellow cover version of Zoo Station, which I really enjoyed.
19.10.06
Kilgobbin Castle
Earlier today, I had to find our local Garda (police) station, which ended up being right down Kilgobbin road from us in Stepaside village. I kept noticing on our map that there is supposed to be a Kilgobbin Castle just down the street, between us and the village, but there aren't any signs or clear indication on how to get to it. For all I knew, it was only the site of a former castle long since demolished.
On my way back from the Garda station, I noticed an open gate into a drive that looked rather inviting. I decided to explore, thinking that if it was some big private home, I could just thicken up my American accent and apologize to the owners before they could call the Garda station that I had only just come from.
As I drove through the gate, sure enough on my right, there stood the ruins of Kilgobbin Castle. Also on the grounds is a house that I can only assume is a private residence. Are they the keepers of the historic site? Are they just unfortunate to live on the same property as a cool looking castle that attracts curious, wide-eyed Yankees? I don't know. The mammoth-like dog that came out to greet my car kept me from even the consideration of stepping out to knock on the door and voice my enquiries.
Maybe I'll try again some other time.
On my way back from the Garda station, I noticed an open gate into a drive that looked rather inviting. I decided to explore, thinking that if it was some big private home, I could just thicken up my American accent and apologize to the owners before they could call the Garda station that I had only just come from.
As I drove through the gate, sure enough on my right, there stood the ruins of Kilgobbin Castle. Also on the grounds is a house that I can only assume is a private residence. Are they the keepers of the historic site? Are they just unfortunate to live on the same property as a cool looking castle that attracts curious, wide-eyed Yankees? I don't know. The mammoth-like dog that came out to greet my car kept me from even the consideration of stepping out to knock on the door and voice my enquiries.
Maybe I'll try again some other time.
18.10.06
Defining The Gospel
Today I went back to a conversation I was having with Ruth Robinson over at the GEM Discovery blog a few months ago before we were rudely interrupted by a transcontinental move to Ireland. The last two posts in the conversation are worth noting (below). Ruth's husband, Durand, also had some great thoughts. You can follow the brief history of the conversation HERE.
RUTH ROBINSON:
As usual, there's still more that can be said to clarify some of these things and certainly more input from Scripture. That's the thrill of healthy dialogue! If this discussion sparks anything in you, ticks you off, or causes you to want to cut all ties with the Wellcomes =), please contribute to the conversation!
RUTH ROBINSON:
MY Response:Brandon, yes, involvement in loving social transformation by the church as an entity is all part of "let Your Kingdom come." But our goal can be: somewhere in this journey, some will come to a relationship with Jesus that links them to an eternity with Him. It's not consumerist capitalism if the people themselves are not the task, the target, the goal.
One question: if "personal salvation/entrance into heaven" isn't the end goal of the Gospel, what is: cultural transformation, food for the hungry? We can, as churches, be involved in caring for social issues AND love people into a relationship with the Lord. The priorities we set between these elements will shape the way we choose to implement strategy.I agree, we cannot pretend to love people without being involved in caring for felt needs. But neither is it loving to ignore that a relationship with Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
This has been an important discussion in my own heart and mind because it's helped me discern the problems that I have with the traditional evangelical definition of "The Gospel" that I've been brought up and discipled in. That traditional definition essentially says that The Gospel of Jesus is only concerned with the eternal destination of individual souls. Any concern for justice or the physical needs of people is secondary or optional.. . . Never would I say that we can “ignore that a relationship with Jesus is the only way to eternal life.” Nor would I ever say that the end goal of the Gospel is “food for the hungry” or “cultural transformation.” Those are even more severely truncated than “personal salvation/entrance into heaven.” I will clearly say, however, that the end goal of The Gospel is something closer to the Kingdom that Jesus announced and demonstrated in his ministry and that was continued by the early church.
If we say that the end goal of the Gospel is “personal salvation,” then we might as well 1) cut out the life and teachings of Jesus from our Bibles so that only his birth and death and resurrection matter; 2) throw out our ideas of discipleship,sanctification, and the clear teachings in Scripture that reveal God’s passionate heart for the oppressed, the poor, the helpless, the marginalized, etc. I don’t think anyone in evangelicalism would go so far as to actually cut these things from scripture, but without a more holistic understanding of the Gospel, we’ve certainly relegated the aforementioned issues into the “optional” category.
Okay, so I’ve said much more than I set out to here. This post was meant to cap off a conversation that we were engaged in 2 or 3 months ago. Just to summarize my thoughts and clear things up: The Gospel necessarily includes the redemption of individual people that guarantees them eternal life, both here and in the afterlife. BUT . . . The Gospel is also bigger than just that. It goes beyond making people merely “heavenbound” to making them a part of an other-worldly community that serves as a sign and foretaste of the Kingdom of God. Enter the issues of “social justice” that cannot be separated from our definition of The Gospel.
As usual, there's still more that can be said to clarify some of these things and certainly more input from Scripture. That's the thrill of healthy dialogue! If this discussion sparks anything in you, ticks you off, or causes you to want to cut all ties with the Wellcomes =), please contribute to the conversation!
16.10.06
15.10.06
Kristy's Birthday
For Kristy's birthday, I took her out to the Connemara region of Ireland this weekend. Fortunately, the weather was beautiful. Pictures here.
11.10.06
Homeless in Dublin
This month’s Dubliner magazine is featuring a series of articles on homelessness in Ireland. The Dubliner isn’t the most serious of magazines and it’s by no means a credible news source (as Mr. and Mrs. Tiger Woods would testify.) It’s more of a trendy, cultural publication with some satire thrown in at unexpected moments (e.g., an article on homelessness from The Onion.)
So when The Dubliner raises the issue of homelessness and beggars on the streets, it throws in a splash of statistics and whole lot of opinion. Having said that, it does get a wide circulation and I think it’s a healthy thing for Irish people to think about the issues. Then they can decide for themselves which writers from The Dubliner are full of rubbish and which have something legitimate to contribute to the conversation.
What’s on my heart most regarding the issues of homelessness is how the Church can be a part of the solution(s). I think I’m coming to the conclusion that what Christ-followers can contribute most profoundly is a reminder of the humanitarian nature of the homelessness problem. It may seem obvious that “homeless people are human and therefore, duh, it’s a humanitarian issue,” but I do believe that very fact gets lost in much of the debate.
The homeless are people made in the image of their Creator and not worth any less than the successful business executive living on a six-figure income. However, when we throw out arguments like “there’s no excuse for homelessness with all the help people can get from the government,” we address the issue as a political one instead of addressing the people behind the homelessness as a part of the same broken humanity that we share in.
For example, one of the arguments given for not handing out money to beggars on the streets is that they’ll probably just use it to buy alcohol or illegal drugs and stay trapped in the downward spiral of addiction. (Click here to read about one local London council’s campaign to promote this idea.) While it’s true that many homeless people are caught up in drug and alcohol addiction, many are also victims of abuse or psychological disorder such as schizophrenia. In other words, “homelessness” isn’t actually about “homelessness.” It’s often more about human fallenness and dysfunction.
Others say we should give money to beggars as much as we are able. What they do with it isn’t any of our business. It’s their money as soon we hand it to them and therefore not our responsibility. But while it’s also true that we can only be responsible for our own choices, part of the weight of that responsibility is to understand how our choices can indirectly harm our brothers and sisters living on the street by enabling them. In other words, “homelessness” isn’t actually about “homelessness.” It’s about human relationships and community.
In fact, when we’re confronted with the reasons for homelessness, it doesn’t take much to be reminded of our own brokenness. Take for example, the issue of drug and alcohol addiction of many in the homeless community which may have started out as a way of escape from life’s difficulties and spiralled out of control. Fundamentally, it’s the same issue with wealthy business people who have looked to their career as a way of the same kind of escape. The only difference is their addiction to status and/or money (or even drugs and alcohol!) probably won’t land them on the corner of O’Connell and Westmoreland Street.
These are just a few rambling thoughts on the issue. Much more to be said on a more pragmatic level. I, for one, would like to be prepared to walk a homeless person to the nearest corner shop or restaurant in Dublin city centre and get a piece of their story while buying them a bite to eat. Maybe if I do that enough, I’ll start to get to know a few well enough to build friendships that put them in touch with the source of life and redemption that dwells within me.
So when The Dubliner raises the issue of homelessness and beggars on the streets, it throws in a splash of statistics and whole lot of opinion. Having said that, it does get a wide circulation and I think it’s a healthy thing for Irish people to think about the issues. Then they can decide for themselves which writers from The Dubliner are full of rubbish and which have something legitimate to contribute to the conversation.
What’s on my heart most regarding the issues of homelessness is how the Church can be a part of the solution(s). I think I’m coming to the conclusion that what Christ-followers can contribute most profoundly is a reminder of the humanitarian nature of the homelessness problem. It may seem obvious that “homeless people are human and therefore, duh, it’s a humanitarian issue,” but I do believe that very fact gets lost in much of the debate.
The homeless are people made in the image of their Creator and not worth any less than the successful business executive living on a six-figure income. However, when we throw out arguments like “there’s no excuse for homelessness with all the help people can get from the government,” we address the issue as a political one instead of addressing the people behind the homelessness as a part of the same broken humanity that we share in.
For example, one of the arguments given for not handing out money to beggars on the streets is that they’ll probably just use it to buy alcohol or illegal drugs and stay trapped in the downward spiral of addiction. (Click here to read about one local London council’s campaign to promote this idea.) While it’s true that many homeless people are caught up in drug and alcohol addiction, many are also victims of abuse or psychological disorder such as schizophrenia. In other words, “homelessness” isn’t actually about “homelessness.” It’s often more about human fallenness and dysfunction.
Others say we should give money to beggars as much as we are able. What they do with it isn’t any of our business. It’s their money as soon we hand it to them and therefore not our responsibility. But while it’s also true that we can only be responsible for our own choices, part of the weight of that responsibility is to understand how our choices can indirectly harm our brothers and sisters living on the street by enabling them. In other words, “homelessness” isn’t actually about “homelessness.” It’s about human relationships and community.
In fact, when we’re confronted with the reasons for homelessness, it doesn’t take much to be reminded of our own brokenness. Take for example, the issue of drug and alcohol addiction of many in the homeless community which may have started out as a way of escape from life’s difficulties and spiralled out of control. Fundamentally, it’s the same issue with wealthy business people who have looked to their career as a way of the same kind of escape. The only difference is their addiction to status and/or money (or even drugs and alcohol!) probably won’t land them on the corner of O’Connell and Westmoreland Street.
These are just a few rambling thoughts on the issue. Much more to be said on a more pragmatic level. I, for one, would like to be prepared to walk a homeless person to the nearest corner shop or restaurant in Dublin city centre and get a piece of their story while buying them a bite to eat. Maybe if I do that enough, I’ll start to get to know a few well enough to build friendships that put them in touch with the source of life and redemption that dwells within me.
10.10.06
A Blast from the Past & Jessica the Youthworker
Today I had a chance to meet with someone that I actually met ten years ago during my first trip to Ireland. Click here for more.
Recently, we've enjoyed the opportunity to bless a young woman named Jessica who's serving short time with GEM here in Dublin for eight months. She's been staying in our guest room while she looks for a more permanent housing situation. (Permanent in an 8-month sort of way.) Jessica is beginning her work with the young people at a small church startup in the Ballycullen/Firhouse area just up the motorway from us. It's been good having her around as she navigates the bus system and then tells us how it all works. =) We're praying that her time here will be life-changing and that she will have opportunity for spiritual impact on young people in Ballycullen.
Jessica is from northern Minnesota, so she and Kristy have been able to relate on a few things. Like, um . . . hockey and ice fishing. I'm telling you. Those Minnesotans are party animals.
Recently, we've enjoyed the opportunity to bless a young woman named Jessica who's serving short time with GEM here in Dublin for eight months. She's been staying in our guest room while she looks for a more permanent housing situation. (Permanent in an 8-month sort of way.) Jessica is beginning her work with the young people at a small church startup in the Ballycullen/Firhouse area just up the motorway from us. It's been good having her around as she navigates the bus system and then tells us how it all works. =) We're praying that her time here will be life-changing and that she will have opportunity for spiritual impact on young people in Ballycullen.
Jessica is from northern Minnesota, so she and Kristy have been able to relate on a few things. Like, um . . . hockey and ice fishing. I'm telling you. Those Minnesotans are party animals.
8.10.06
Built to Spill, Live in Chicago
Came across this review of Built to Spill's live show in Chicago from Paste Magazine recently. Speaking from my own experience, I think it's a pretty accurate review. Click here to compare it to my own review, which is far less eloquent. (Have no fear - I think I'll stick to amateur blogging.) However, I think I'm all right with Doug Martsch not embracing fame and popularity like the critics would like.
7.10.06
The Apostle Paul's Address from Dublin Hill - A Targum by Seán Mullen
At the EAI conference last weekend, Seán Mullen read a brilliant Targum that he put together for Paul's address on Mars Hill in Acts 17. Seán didn't mention anything about Targums, but as soon as he began reading, it reminded me of what I've heard of the Jewish tradition of translating Hebrew scriptures into Aramaic. They're essentially an effort to re-hear God's voice in a particular context. The following is Seán's "Targum," his effort to speak scripture into the Irish context:
"People of Dublin! I see that in every way you are very busy. For as I walked around and looked carefully at what you dedicate yourselves to, I found your city jammed with frazzled, hassled people pursing what they see as a better life. Now what you pursue as something unattainable I am going to proclaim to you.
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the entrepreneur behind all of human life and he is not found in the unceasing pursuit of financial security. And he is not kept happy by occasional visits to church or money in the collection plate as though he needed a little bit of your time and money, because all the time and money and everything else you have, come from him. He has been responsible for the whole human story from the beginning until now, and he decided that you should have the place that you now have in his story, Ireland in 2006. And the reason he did this was so that you would seek him as the source of life and joy and maybe even find him, because he’s not as far away as you may think. He has already been giving you a lot more help than you can even imagine. As one of your own poets has said, 'Sometimes you can’t make it on your own.'
“Therefore since we were made for God and to find life in a relationship with him, we should not think that life will be found in a successful career or making lots of money; these are mere human plans. In the past God was willing to let that foolishness go, but now he has done something so we can no longer ignore his call. He has set a time when a life spent pursuing stuff rather than pursuing him will be shown to have been useless, a waste of time. He has given proof of this to all of us by Jesus’ life death and resurrection and by bringing into existence communities of Jesus apprentices who, in this city, live radically non-materialistic lives and who dedicate themselves to pursing life with God and the justice of God in this city and country.”
Not only did he do a clever job of quoting one of the most popular of contemporary Irish "poets," but he also brilliantly speaks the passage from Acts into the Irish economic context that has had such an amazing impact in the culture at large. Now that I think of it, this could easily be read in the context of a lot of other Western cities/countries as well.
"People of Dublin! I see that in every way you are very busy. For as I walked around and looked carefully at what you dedicate yourselves to, I found your city jammed with frazzled, hassled people pursing what they see as a better life. Now what you pursue as something unattainable I am going to proclaim to you.
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the entrepreneur behind all of human life and he is not found in the unceasing pursuit of financial security. And he is not kept happy by occasional visits to church or money in the collection plate as though he needed a little bit of your time and money, because all the time and money and everything else you have, come from him. He has been responsible for the whole human story from the beginning until now, and he decided that you should have the place that you now have in his story, Ireland in 2006. And the reason he did this was so that you would seek him as the source of life and joy and maybe even find him, because he’s not as far away as you may think. He has already been giving you a lot more help than you can even imagine. As one of your own poets has said, 'Sometimes you can’t make it on your own.'
“Therefore since we were made for God and to find life in a relationship with him, we should not think that life will be found in a successful career or making lots of money; these are mere human plans. In the past God was willing to let that foolishness go, but now he has done something so we can no longer ignore his call. He has set a time when a life spent pursuing stuff rather than pursuing him will be shown to have been useless, a waste of time. He has given proof of this to all of us by Jesus’ life death and resurrection and by bringing into existence communities of Jesus apprentices who, in this city, live radically non-materialistic lives and who dedicate themselves to pursing life with God and the justice of God in this city and country.”
Not only did he do a clever job of quoting one of the most popular of contemporary Irish "poets," but he also brilliantly speaks the passage from Acts into the Irish economic context that has had such an amazing impact in the culture at large. Now that I think of it, this could easily be read in the context of a lot of other Western cities/countries as well.
3.10.06
Dublin Happenings
This last weekend was the biennial conference for Evangelical Alliance Ireland. It was great day of connecting with folks from around Dublin who are passionate about God's Kingdom. I've posted a few thoughts from the day over at our main website.
I really enjoyed my time with Fergus Ryan yesterday. He has an amazing ability to sum up and articulate the spiritual heritage of Ireland, from Celtic Christianity through the introduction of Catholicism and later evangelicalism to the present day "postmodern" paradigms. I look forward to learning more from him in the months ahead. The church that he leads in Dublin recently obtained a new building, with which they are planning some very innovative and creative ministry initiatives.
Tomorrow, the GEM Youth Ministry folks here in Ireland get together to discuss an upcoming gathering of GEM youth workers from across Europe. After the meeting, a few of us are hoping to take a tour of Dublin castle and then find some live traditional Irish music.
I really enjoyed my time with Fergus Ryan yesterday. He has an amazing ability to sum up and articulate the spiritual heritage of Ireland, from Celtic Christianity through the introduction of Catholicism and later evangelicalism to the present day "postmodern" paradigms. I look forward to learning more from him in the months ahead. The church that he leads in Dublin recently obtained a new building, with which they are planning some very innovative and creative ministry initiatives.
Tomorrow, the GEM Youth Ministry folks here in Ireland get together to discuss an upcoming gathering of GEM youth workers from across Europe. After the meeting, a few of us are hoping to take a tour of Dublin castle and then find some live traditional Irish music.
29.9.06
Please . . . No More Settling
I think (and hope) that we’re near the end of the initial phase of settling in to life in Ireland. Actually, every time I think we’re almost there, more “settling” type things need to happen. Just the word itself is starting to rub me wrong. I’ve never assembled so many household items in such a short amount of time – from office desk and chair to vacuum cleaner and lawn mower. And speaking of lawn mowers, the grass in our garden (Americans, read “yard”) was so high by the time our landlords got the mower to us, I’ve filled about 9 large garden bags just this week. (And the landlords actually got the mower to us sooner than they originally said they would.) The mower that we were given is really nice . . . but I digress.
Kristy and I went to our local health club to inquire about a membership. It’s a nice club, decked out with a café, a pool and spa area, free weights, more cardio machines than I’ve seen in one place, and a hair salon. It’s a little spendy, but I’m not sure there are too many other options close to us.
This next Monday, I meet up with Irish church leader and theologian, Fergus Ryan. He’s done a tonne of research into the history of the Catholic church in Ireland, as well as other historical and cultural issues. He’ll be a great source of knowledge and understanding of the current spiritual environment here.
I’m also looking forward to visiting our local Catholic church to get an idea of what Irish Catholicism looks like and what 46% of Irish people are experiencing in that facet of Irish culture. (That percentage is much lower in the Dublin area, I’ve been told.)
Things that have been on my mind lately, in the midst of the "settling" (*shiver* - there it is again):
Kristy and I went to our local health club to inquire about a membership. It’s a nice club, decked out with a café, a pool and spa area, free weights, more cardio machines than I’ve seen in one place, and a hair salon. It’s a little spendy, but I’m not sure there are too many other options close to us.
This next Monday, I meet up with Irish church leader and theologian, Fergus Ryan. He’s done a tonne of research into the history of the Catholic church in Ireland, as well as other historical and cultural issues. He’ll be a great source of knowledge and understanding of the current spiritual environment here.
I’m also looking forward to visiting our local Catholic church to get an idea of what Irish Catholicism looks like and what 46% of Irish people are experiencing in that facet of Irish culture. (That percentage is much lower in the Dublin area, I’ve been told.)
Things that have been on my mind lately, in the midst of the "settling" (*shiver* - there it is again):
- The profound responsibility that the church has to serve the poor and the marginalized in society.
- The potential for "church" to be redefined at it's core as a network of relationships, void of the oftentimes distracting elements of church buildings and stage-centred Sunday services.
- The tension that American ex-pats (particularly in ministry) live with regarding their home country. Many grow embittered about the U.S. and still others grow more obnoxiously patriotic and defensive of their home country. Just wondering if the balance is found in allowing one's identity to be more defined by eternal things than by earthly nationalistic paradigms. Our eternal citizenship elsewhere gives us plenty of reason for critique of any and every nation and culture on the earth, including those claiming to be a "Christian nation." Much more to be said on that. For another time.
26.9.06
A Little Coincidence
Came across this remix of a scene from "Garden State" today. Coincidentally came across this picture on Flickr. See the connection? (HT: my lovely wife, who came across the YouTube clip while reading this article.)
Another small coincidence happened today. Kristy and I found ourselves broken down by the side of the road. Near a MacDonalds. Just a few short months after breaking down in my father-in-law's Crown Vic in Monument, CO. Near a MacDonalds.
So we called a tow truck and they took us to the dealership where we got the car less than a month ago. They'll have it fixed tomorrow afternoon. Never really occured to me that I might have a problem with a car that came off the assembly line two years ago.
Big shout out to Matt Kingsley for driving out to give us a lift back home.
20.9.06
Up for Air
Back in the game with internet access . . . at least for today. Kristy and I are watching the Covell's kids while they're at the Ryder Cup practice day with Rod & Dawn Taylor, so we're borrowing their broadband connection while we're here. Hope to have internet access hooked up at the new house on Friday.
Things are coming along nicely. We've got most of the boxes unpacked and 85% of our stuff put away. Yesterday, we were in the city trying to get a vehicle tax disk and trading my UK driver's licence in for an Irish one (neither of which we were successful at, for various reasons).
When I got home and read a newspaper, I realized that the Dublin Fringe Festival has been going for a few days. One of the most brilliant things they're doing is a series of live "geurilla style" art installations whereby artists perform various eye-catching artistic feats randomly throughout the city. Yesterday, shortly after Kristy and I were headed out of the city centre, someone dumped pink dye (eco-safe) into the River Liffey. I'm telling you - Dublin is one artistic place!
I'll try to write more and post some pictures this weekend.
Things are coming along nicely. We've got most of the boxes unpacked and 85% of our stuff put away. Yesterday, we were in the city trying to get a vehicle tax disk and trading my UK driver's licence in for an Irish one (neither of which we were successful at, for various reasons).
When I got home and read a newspaper, I realized that the Dublin Fringe Festival has been going for a few days. One of the most brilliant things they're doing is a series of live "geurilla style" art installations whereby artists perform various eye-catching artistic feats randomly throughout the city. Yesterday, shortly after Kristy and I were headed out of the city centre, someone dumped pink dye (eco-safe) into the River Liffey. I'm telling you - Dublin is one artistic place!
I'll try to write more and post some pictures this weekend.
14.9.06
Off to the New House Today
Today, we move into our new rental home, so it's a good day! It may take a while to get broadband service, so there may be some "web silence" from us until then. I'm sure we'll be able to find some free Wi-Fi somewhere in the meantime.
Yesterday, I got a call from our man who's been working with Irish customs to get our container to us. Surprisingly, he said that there had been no problems and that they could deliver the containter on Friday morning! This came as a huge relief to us since we had heard that Irish customs may require proof of our residence in the U.S. for more than 6 months, like utility bills. Of course, all of those kinds of records are on the container. It wouldn't have been impossible to work through, just a headache and a delay.
So after being in our new place for one night, our belongings will arrive on our front doorstep the next morning. As you can see, we are being taken care of! From our house search to our temporary housing to the container arriving in good time, God's hand has been in it all. Big shout out to those of you who've been faithfully praying for us. Keep it up! We've only begun to get settled in to life and service in Ireland.
Yesterday, I got a call from our man who's been working with Irish customs to get our container to us. Surprisingly, he said that there had been no problems and that they could deliver the containter on Friday morning! This came as a huge relief to us since we had heard that Irish customs may require proof of our residence in the U.S. for more than 6 months, like utility bills. Of course, all of those kinds of records are on the container. It wouldn't have been impossible to work through, just a headache and a delay.
So after being in our new place for one night, our belongings will arrive on our front doorstep the next morning. As you can see, we are being taken care of! From our house search to our temporary housing to the container arriving in good time, God's hand has been in it all. Big shout out to those of you who've been faithfully praying for us. Keep it up! We've only begun to get settled in to life and service in Ireland.
11.9.06
It's Just Temporary
Temporary Housing
We've really appreciated the temporary place that we've been staying in, however lacking it may be in modern day conveniences. What's not in the video is a shot of our "refrigerator," which actually just a cooler that we try to keep filled with ice. Also, we were able to replace the light bulbs in the loo. So we got that goin' for us. Which is nice.
Thursday is moving day.
We've really appreciated the temporary place that we've been staying in, however lacking it may be in modern day conveniences. What's not in the video is a shot of our "refrigerator," which actually just a cooler that we try to keep filled with ice. Also, we were able to replace the light bulbs in the loo. So we got that goin' for us. Which is nice.
Thursday is moving day.
10.9.06
Ireland Tour Pics
I've posted some pics from our road trip last week. (click here) Lots to share about it, but haven't had time nor reliable internet connection to blog much. Once we get moved in to our rental home this Thursday and have had a chance to get broadband sorted out, things will get a little more consistent.
This week, our goal is to persuade a bank to let us open an account without having to prove our address with a utility bill, since we don't have one yet (and won't for a good three months after we've been living there). We've got pressure on us by the estate agent and the landlord to set up a bank account with a dirct debit to pay our monthly rent, as stipulated in the lease. Of course, they know we can't get a bank account without proof of address in a utility bill, but have essentially said, "Figure it out." Hmmmm . . . . somebody's gotta give.
This week, our goal is to persuade a bank to let us open an account without having to prove our address with a utility bill, since we don't have one yet (and won't for a good three months after we've been living there). We've got pressure on us by the estate agent and the landlord to set up a bank account with a dirct debit to pay our monthly rent, as stipulated in the lease. Of course, they know we can't get a bank account without proof of address in a utility bill, but have essentially said, "Figure it out." Hmmmm . . . . somebody's gotta give.
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