Hello!
I have not blogged in a while - I will soon -
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Friday, January 20, 2006
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Fancy Title
Today I traveled to three historic spots in the Irish countryside.
By countryside I mean about 15 minutes out side of Dublin are fields of lush green grass dotted with white fluffy sheep, and narrow winding roads.
The first place we visited was Newgrange. Newgrange is a neolithic tomb of quite amazing construction. Predating the Pyrimids by 500 years, this tomb is of amazing construction. From a distance looking like any other grassy knoll as you draw near you realize that the hill is actually a grass covered man made place for the barial of the ashes of this acient culture. The tomb has one narrow opening and a "sun roof" of sorts. This opening is perfectly alighned so that on the winter solstice the sun from two minutes to nine until 15 after nine shoots a beam directly into the tomb and onto an altar - so that if you r head was placed on the altar you would be struck by a slear view of the sun in all of it's glory.
This place was amazing and my words do not even begin to do it justice. Check it out here: http://www.knowth.com/newgrange.htm
Next we hopped into the car and winded our way to the Castle of Trim. This castle is the first that the Normans built when they placed their claim on Ireland - and it is also the site of the filming of Braveheart. Seeing this castle was absolutely amazing mainly because the Irish do not place so many restrictions on visitors as in America - ie we were allowed to climb all over crazy places. I hope to get a pictue up soon of this castle - which was every kids dream exploration.
Last of all we drove to the Hill of Tara - a place that had significance back in the time of Irish Kings. http://www.knowth.com/tara.htm Kind hard to discribe what exactly we saw and it was all rather "Fellowship of the Rings" ish. But it is also the site of St. Patrick's victory over the druid priests. I read the prayer that I quoted bellow and so much came into perspective.
As we drove home, exhausted I sat in the passenger seat (on the left) and pondered on the history of Ireland and why I have landed here. Since the times of neolithic travelers Ireland has been under another country's thumb. They never asked for anything or bothered anybody but somehow in the world's hunger for land aquisition they have always been under possesion of another. How do I as an outsider share Christ with this people group who have always been taken? Well that is not exactly how I want to articulate myself - none the less I sit here my mind is thick with things to sort out. And I will be sure to share it with you in another blog of an equally fitting title.
By countryside I mean about 15 minutes out side of Dublin are fields of lush green grass dotted with white fluffy sheep, and narrow winding roads.
The first place we visited was Newgrange. Newgrange is a neolithic tomb of quite amazing construction. Predating the Pyrimids by 500 years, this tomb is of amazing construction. From a distance looking like any other grassy knoll as you draw near you realize that the hill is actually a grass covered man made place for the barial of the ashes of this acient culture. The tomb has one narrow opening and a "sun roof" of sorts. This opening is perfectly alighned so that on the winter solstice the sun from two minutes to nine until 15 after nine shoots a beam directly into the tomb and onto an altar - so that if you r head was placed on the altar you would be struck by a slear view of the sun in all of it's glory.
This place was amazing and my words do not even begin to do it justice. Check it out here: http://www.knowth.com/newgrange.htm
Next we hopped into the car and winded our way to the Castle of Trim. This castle is the first that the Normans built when they placed their claim on Ireland - and it is also the site of the filming of Braveheart. Seeing this castle was absolutely amazing mainly because the Irish do not place so many restrictions on visitors as in America - ie we were allowed to climb all over crazy places. I hope to get a pictue up soon of this castle - which was every kids dream exploration.
Last of all we drove to the Hill of Tara - a place that had significance back in the time of Irish Kings. http://www.knowth.com/tara.htm Kind hard to discribe what exactly we saw and it was all rather "Fellowship of the Rings" ish. But it is also the site of St. Patrick's victory over the druid priests. I read the prayer that I quoted bellow and so much came into perspective.
As we drove home, exhausted I sat in the passenger seat (on the left) and pondered on the history of Ireland and why I have landed here. Since the times of neolithic travelers Ireland has been under another country's thumb. They never asked for anything or bothered anybody but somehow in the world's hunger for land aquisition they have always been under possesion of another. How do I as an outsider share Christ with this people group who have always been taken? Well that is not exactly how I want to articulate myself - none the less I sit here my mind is thick with things to sort out. And I will be sure to share it with you in another blog of an equally fitting title.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Hello from Dublin!
Oh my goodness!
Here I am!
Really exhausted and overwehlmed - but happy none the less.
My seat on the flight over was up-graded to world club which was really fun and just fueled my excitement.
you can see what I'm talking about here: http://www.airlinequality.com/Product/BA_C_Seat.htm
Kind of hard to see - but pretty swank none the less.
Here at my destination my accomadations are pretty nice with lots of storage and a private bath. about the size of a typical dorm room but nicer.
Once I am not so over wehlmed but just wehlmed I'll write more.
Here I am!
Really exhausted and overwehlmed - but happy none the less.
My seat on the flight over was up-graded to world club which was really fun and just fueled my excitement.
you can see what I'm talking about here: http://www.airlinequality.com/Product/BA_C_Seat.htm
Kind of hard to see - but pretty swank none the less.
Here at my destination my accomadations are pretty nice with lots of storage and a private bath. about the size of a typical dorm room but nicer.
Once I am not so over wehlmed but just wehlmed I'll write more.
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