I originally posted the post below in 2008 before we moved here. I forgot this information so I re-read it. Since living here we have come to see the differences in how Halloween is celebrated in the US as compared to what we have seen here. Earlier the past couple weeks I overheard some friends talking about the neighborhood kids in Athlone walking around collecting items for the bonfires on Halloween. They use palettes, tires (sometimes donated, sometimes unwillfully donated) and whatever else that will burn. I wish I had my camera today. We came out of church and turned the corner. There was a tower of crates and tires at least 20 feet high. I wish I could see it tonight. I cannot even imagine! I wish I could have taken a picture to show you. The other night one of the girl at church was talking about a family next door that had small children. Some teens ahd gotten in the front and the back of the house and set off firecrackers ("bangers") and threw them through the slot in the door for the mail. So in light of those couple of things, the things below make a little sense. Mainly though it is a reason for teenagers to have a rowdy time and have a big bonfire. I have to say some of the "things" I've seen hanging on the windows and doors are very disturbing. I don't know what the word for them would be, things that look like dead body/spirits?
In Creech tradition we made our pumpkins. Griffin had a yoda pumpkin and Ruthie and Emily had Peter Pumpkins. I will post picture and tell you our Peter Pumpkin story in the next post.
Now for Halloween and it's Origin:
Griffin asked me about why we celebrate Halloween and dress up in costumes. I did not know the answer so I looked on the internet. The following information comes from http://www.wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm.
Halloween is an annual celebration, but just what is it actually a celebration of? And how did this peculiar custom originate? Is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship? Or is it just a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual?
The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic
day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year.
One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living.
Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.
Probably a better explanation of why the Celts extinguished their fires was not to discourage spirit possession, but so that all the Celtic tribes could relight their fires from a common source, the Druidic fire that was kept burning in the Middle of Ireland, at Usinach.
Some accounts tell of how the Celts would burn someone at the stake who was thought to have already been possessed, as sort of a lesson to the spirits. Other accounts of Celtic history debunk these stories as myth.
The Romans adopted the Celtic practices as their own. But in the first century AD, Samhain was assimilated into celebrations of some of the other Roman traditions that took place in October, such as their day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, which might explain the origin of our modern tradition of bobbing for apples on Halloween.
The thrust of the practices also changed over time to become more ritualized. As belief in spirit possession waned, the practice of dressing up like hobgoblins, ghosts, and witches took on a more ceremonial role.
The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Happiness does not equal joy
Happiness is a temporary emotion based on circumstances. Joy is something deep within yourself that remains regardless of your circumstances.
When I moved here 2 years ago, I found out I was pregnant. Talk about stress!...culture shock, 2 kids, 5 previous miscarriages, and hormone shots.
I realized I was walking around the house with so much on my mind I was not talking, and I had a scowl on my face. I could not even smile unless it was forced. My prayer was “God give me joy when the circumstances around me are not good. When things are not going my way, when I can’t even smile at my kids.”
What is joy? It is a quiet confidence that allows you to rest in the midst of a storm raging around you. What are storms we face? Losing a child, paying bills, putting food on the table, being a single mom, or being married but feeling like a single mom, or a s simple as getting out the door and have a child having to change a nappy when you are already late. So where does that confidence and quietness or stillness of soul come from when you are in the midst of a storm. The Bible says that joy comes from God (Galatians 5) It comes from knowing the One in control of the circumstances and trusting Him because I know He loves me.
This is not a mindless, fluffy, feel good trust. Rather it is a fleshed out, sitting on the bathroom floor wrestling with God why did you let my baby die trust that God taught me through love, the reading and learning of His Word, the Bible which is His love letters to us, and just time and experience. I know that storms will come and go, but I know where my foundation is, and that He is unchangeable and trustworthy and loving.
Extra notes:
Happiness can be influenced by mood, music, good or bad news, etc
Galatians 5:22-23 Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit.
Joy is based on unchanging, divine promises and eternal spiritual realities. It is the sense of well being experienced by one who knows all is well between himself and the Lord (1 Peter 1:8). Joy is not the result of favorable circumstances, and even occurs when those circumstances are the most painful and severe (John 16:20-22) Joy is a gift from God, and as such, believers are not to manufacture it but to delight in the blessing they already possess (Romans 14:17, Phillipians 4:4). (MacArthur Study Bible)
Fruits of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23
Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness and Self-Control
When I moved here 2 years ago, I found out I was pregnant. Talk about stress!...culture shock, 2 kids, 5 previous miscarriages, and hormone shots.
I realized I was walking around the house with so much on my mind I was not talking, and I had a scowl on my face. I could not even smile unless it was forced. My prayer was “God give me joy when the circumstances around me are not good. When things are not going my way, when I can’t even smile at my kids.”
What is joy? It is a quiet confidence that allows you to rest in the midst of a storm raging around you. What are storms we face? Losing a child, paying bills, putting food on the table, being a single mom, or being married but feeling like a single mom, or a s simple as getting out the door and have a child having to change a nappy when you are already late. So where does that confidence and quietness or stillness of soul come from when you are in the midst of a storm. The Bible says that joy comes from God (Galatians 5) It comes from knowing the One in control of the circumstances and trusting Him because I know He loves me.
This is not a mindless, fluffy, feel good trust. Rather it is a fleshed out, sitting on the bathroom floor wrestling with God why did you let my baby die trust that God taught me through love, the reading and learning of His Word, the Bible which is His love letters to us, and just time and experience. I know that storms will come and go, but I know where my foundation is, and that He is unchangeable and trustworthy and loving.
Extra notes:
Happiness can be influenced by mood, music, good or bad news, etc
Galatians 5:22-23 Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit.
Joy is based on unchanging, divine promises and eternal spiritual realities. It is the sense of well being experienced by one who knows all is well between himself and the Lord (1 Peter 1:8). Joy is not the result of favorable circumstances, and even occurs when those circumstances are the most painful and severe (John 16:20-22) Joy is a gift from God, and as such, believers are not to manufacture it but to delight in the blessing they already possess (Romans 14:17, Phillipians 4:4). (MacArthur Study Bible)
Fruits of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23
Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness and Self-Control
Monday, October 4, 2010
Need help with creativity
Mom and Tot theme this week Joy (specific: Bubbling Joy-yes we will do bubble art. Story-The wise man..house on rock). Question: mom talk topic is Being a mom thru the storms of life. How to find joy in the midst of them. A little help here?
I have an idea but want to hear yours.
I have an idea but want to hear yours.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Inishowen-a time to unwind
We are currently taking some time away as a family. I am so excited to have this time together. I don't think we have ever ran so fast and so hard as a family, individually and together! We really need this time away together. I will be posting blogs on our time together just so I can remember the details, and will add pictures later when we get home. We are staying at a friends house in Buncrana. It is where we stayed when we first came to Ireland in 2005, when I told Ludie I would never live here. My how things change!
Today we went to Malin Head. It is the most northern part of the Republic of Ireland. It is actually farther north than Northern Ireland. We walked out towards the cliffs that go down into the Atlantic Ocean. We were the furthest of anyone out towards the ocean so we got to play, "I am the person furthest north in Ireland". It was a surreal moment to take our kids where we had visited when we first came here (when we only had one child, and now we have three, one of whom was born in Ireland!). We also got to drive through the countryside with mountains on each side and sheep in the middle of the road. My favorite sight through the mountains was the wild heather growing everywhere! When we came to Ireland I was so disappointed that there was not wild heather growing everywhere as I imagined it, and instead there was yellow gorse! Since then I have come to love the smell and color of gorse (thanks to my friend Tina), and almost two years later, have found my countryside laden with purple heather.
The best part of the day however was finding a deserted beach where we had a wonderful picnic and then went on a walk. Ludie, Griffin and Emily went to walk around the edge of the water where the tide had gone out. They were trying to walk to the other side of the shore on the inlet where we had stopped. Ruthie and I decided to walk towards the Atlantic Ocean. Our feet were read and turning numb from the cold water, but to see the joy Ruthie had in splashing in the water was priceless. We found the coolest rocks. The ocean here is so different from the SE USA! The water is so blue! The water is clear in the shallow parts. The rocks in this part of Ireland are black (which explains all the black tombstones in the cemeteries). There are more rocks instead of shells and all the small rocks on the shore are all different sorts of colors but all beautiful and rounded by the water. The huge rocks go up above your head and jut up into the sky. The seaweed is attached to some of them and there are huge pools of water where the tide has come out.
It turns out where we had our pic nic was in the bay that leads up to Malin Head. We did not know we were so close. We were on the Donagh Isle part that on the other side of the bay is Malin and Five Finger Strand Beach. Here you can view Doagh Isle where we were. To view Malin Head click on: Malin Head
On the way home we stopped to see St. Patrick's Cross/Donagh Cross. It is from the 7th century and is one of the oldest Christian crosses outside mainland Europe. You can see it and learn more at: Donagh Cross.
By the way: I love living in Ireland. About the never living here, I could not imagine not living here. I do miss my family, my best friend, Jenny and Chick-fil-A however, but I know I would be missing out tremendously if I lived outside of God's will for our lives, which is currently in Ireland. ...and would miss out on beautiful blessings such as this! I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!
I am so glad to be getting away, as this last Christmas, the kids were sick so that did not really seem like time off. Then we were blessed to go to the US in March but that was 10 speaking engagements in 14 days so now is the real family time.
Today we went to Malin Head. It is the most northern part of the Republic of Ireland. It is actually farther north than Northern Ireland. We walked out towards the cliffs that go down into the Atlantic Ocean. We were the furthest of anyone out towards the ocean so we got to play, "I am the person furthest north in Ireland". It was a surreal moment to take our kids where we had visited when we first came here (when we only had one child, and now we have three, one of whom was born in Ireland!). We also got to drive through the countryside with mountains on each side and sheep in the middle of the road. My favorite sight through the mountains was the wild heather growing everywhere! When we came to Ireland I was so disappointed that there was not wild heather growing everywhere as I imagined it, and instead there was yellow gorse! Since then I have come to love the smell and color of gorse (thanks to my friend Tina), and almost two years later, have found my countryside laden with purple heather.
The best part of the day however was finding a deserted beach where we had a wonderful picnic and then went on a walk. Ludie, Griffin and Emily went to walk around the edge of the water where the tide had gone out. They were trying to walk to the other side of the shore on the inlet where we had stopped. Ruthie and I decided to walk towards the Atlantic Ocean. Our feet were read and turning numb from the cold water, but to see the joy Ruthie had in splashing in the water was priceless. We found the coolest rocks. The ocean here is so different from the SE USA! The water is so blue! The water is clear in the shallow parts. The rocks in this part of Ireland are black (which explains all the black tombstones in the cemeteries). There are more rocks instead of shells and all the small rocks on the shore are all different sorts of colors but all beautiful and rounded by the water. The huge rocks go up above your head and jut up into the sky. The seaweed is attached to some of them and there are huge pools of water where the tide has come out.
It turns out where we had our pic nic was in the bay that leads up to Malin Head. We did not know we were so close. We were on the Donagh Isle part that on the other side of the bay is Malin and Five Finger Strand Beach. Here you can view Doagh Isle where we were. To view Malin Head click on: Malin Head
On the way home we stopped to see St. Patrick's Cross/Donagh Cross. It is from the 7th century and is one of the oldest Christian crosses outside mainland Europe. You can see it and learn more at: Donagh Cross.
By the way: I love living in Ireland. About the never living here, I could not imagine not living here. I do miss my family, my best friend, Jenny and Chick-fil-A however, but I know I would be missing out tremendously if I lived outside of God's will for our lives, which is currently in Ireland. ...and would miss out on beautiful blessings such as this! I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!
I am so glad to be getting away, as this last Christmas, the kids were sick so that did not really seem like time off. Then we were blessed to go to the US in March but that was 10 speaking engagements in 14 days so now is the real family time.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Check it out
I posted 2 posts today. So don't miss the Big Red Bus Wishlist post. The mudpie is a little long and takes up a lot of space.
The rest of the dirt....mudpies
The making of mudpies: What is our motivation for the things we do? There are so many things we do that look great in people’s eyes, but God knows the motivation of our hearts. We can be the leader in church, we can be helping the poor, we can even be evangelizing the lost. But really, all they are, are still mud pies. Sure we look great in other’s eyes but unless we are doing it out of love for God, it is just yet, a mud pie. I think one of my biggest struggles is examining my heart to see if I am doing activities, making choices, etc for the right reason. “Am I doing this so the pastor will see me and recognize what a model Christian I am? …So God can be pleased with me? …So that if I straighten up my life, He will see that my heart is in the right place and He will grant me the desires of my heart, because after all, getting pregnant could not be against His will could it? If I jump through this hoop, maybe I can gain His approval….maybe He will see to it that we don’t have another miscarriage.” Where is your heart? What are the motivations for your work? We cannot make Him love us any more, or any less by anything we do.
Isaiah 64:6 “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags”. (NIV)
Living life intentionally: In the end, a mud pie is a mud pie. Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” We were made from dust and to dust we will return (physically)-just like a mud pie. To number our days, to realize that we have an end and we don’t know how far or soon it will be, makes us live life more intentionally. I’d stop putting off sharing Jesus with my cousin. I’d not lose my patience when my child that seemed potty trained last week uses the bathroom on the floor for the fifth time in a day. I would not get so bent out of shape about….you fill in the blank. I would snuggle more with my children instead of rushing off for “my time” or to clean the house.
Second, third, fourth chances: If you mess the mud pie up, just add some water and do it again. The great thing about God is when we fail the test, we get to take it over again. We even get to take it multiple times and in different variations until we get it right. God is more concerned about our heart than our comfort. He makes our ways complete. He is sanctifying us and working in us to bring His good work in us to completion. We won’t get it right or perfect but thank God he loves us enough not to leave us alone.
James 1: 2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)
Comparing Mud pies: It may just be a mud pie but it sure looks a whole lot better than her mud pie. The truth is, again, a mud pie is a mud pie. They all look the same to God. If we compare ourselves to others, of course we will look better than others. You can always find someone that is “worse” than you. However, it is not other’s standards that count, or even ours. It is God’s standard. To understand this now, and compare your mud pie, take the “good person quiz”. You know we all love those quizzes in magazines, go ahead, take this test. See if your mud pie is good enough to get you into heaven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6t0s7fpg1M. This only takes 6 ½ minutes.
God has you right where you are supposed to be: Mud pies are mud pies no matter where you are. They look different because of the dirt/content, but they are still mud pies. Only difference is location. People tend to put us on a pedestal because we left our “comforts” of what we were accustomed to in order to move to a foreign land we knew very little about to serve God. Well, let me tell you, my dirt is no different from your dirt except in location. Dirt is dirt. God has us all right where He wants us. God may have you changing diapers and wiping snotty noses and rock babies to sleep telling them how much God loves them. God may have you . working a 9 to 5 job and has you near a person that needs to know how much He loves them. God may have you living in the dessert risking your life to share His love, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God may have you in a place where you can learn and grow so He can prepare you for what He has next for you. Is my mud pie different from yours, well yes in aspects, we are all different. But is it any more special because of location or perceived sacrifice, no. God has you where He does to use you and prepare you for what He has planned for you if you are a follower of Jesus Christ and are obedient to Him through His word, the Bible.
Are you still making the same type of mud pie or have you moved on to making real pies? Are you growing? Is your life producing fruit or are you like a mud pie that has been left in the sun, unchanged, un-pliable for shaping? Or are you just a variation of what you were when you became a Christian but with no real substance. Hebrews 5:12 “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (NIV). Are you growing or are you still pretending. Are you in the Word, or are you riding on the coat tails of what God told you a week ago, month ago, years ago. You don’t continue to give your children a bottle of milk; you give them solid food as they grow. They need a “meatier” diet, one with more substance. Evaluate your life, where are you? Are you growing or are you still making mud pies.
Well right now is my favorite time of year in Ireland. It is blackberry season. You can go on the side of the road anywhere and pick all the blackberries you want until your heart is content. I loved making mud pies as a kid, but now I am enjoying making blackberry pies. May God grow you into a great “pie maker”. Examine your heart, and make sure it is where God can grow you: surrendered, willing, humble, and obedient. Now go make some pies.
Isaiah 64:6 “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags”. (NIV)
Living life intentionally: In the end, a mud pie is a mud pie. Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” We were made from dust and to dust we will return (physically)-just like a mud pie. To number our days, to realize that we have an end and we don’t know how far or soon it will be, makes us live life more intentionally. I’d stop putting off sharing Jesus with my cousin. I’d not lose my patience when my child that seemed potty trained last week uses the bathroom on the floor for the fifth time in a day. I would not get so bent out of shape about….you fill in the blank. I would snuggle more with my children instead of rushing off for “my time” or to clean the house.
Second, third, fourth chances: If you mess the mud pie up, just add some water and do it again. The great thing about God is when we fail the test, we get to take it over again. We even get to take it multiple times and in different variations until we get it right. God is more concerned about our heart than our comfort. He makes our ways complete. He is sanctifying us and working in us to bring His good work in us to completion. We won’t get it right or perfect but thank God he loves us enough not to leave us alone.
James 1: 2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)
Comparing Mud pies: It may just be a mud pie but it sure looks a whole lot better than her mud pie. The truth is, again, a mud pie is a mud pie. They all look the same to God. If we compare ourselves to others, of course we will look better than others. You can always find someone that is “worse” than you. However, it is not other’s standards that count, or even ours. It is God’s standard. To understand this now, and compare your mud pie, take the “good person quiz”. You know we all love those quizzes in magazines, go ahead, take this test. See if your mud pie is good enough to get you into heaven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6t0s7fpg1M. This only takes 6 ½ minutes.
God has you right where you are supposed to be: Mud pies are mud pies no matter where you are. They look different because of the dirt/content, but they are still mud pies. Only difference is location. People tend to put us on a pedestal because we left our “comforts” of what we were accustomed to in order to move to a foreign land we knew very little about to serve God. Well, let me tell you, my dirt is no different from your dirt except in location. Dirt is dirt. God has us all right where He wants us. God may have you changing diapers and wiping snotty noses and rock babies to sleep telling them how much God loves them. God may have you . working a 9 to 5 job and has you near a person that needs to know how much He loves them. God may have you living in the dessert risking your life to share His love, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God may have you in a place where you can learn and grow so He can prepare you for what He has next for you. Is my mud pie different from yours, well yes in aspects, we are all different. But is it any more special because of location or perceived sacrifice, no. God has you where He does to use you and prepare you for what He has planned for you if you are a follower of Jesus Christ and are obedient to Him through His word, the Bible.
Are you still making the same type of mud pie or have you moved on to making real pies? Are you growing? Is your life producing fruit or are you like a mud pie that has been left in the sun, unchanged, un-pliable for shaping? Or are you just a variation of what you were when you became a Christian but with no real substance. Hebrews 5:12 “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (NIV). Are you growing or are you still pretending. Are you in the Word, or are you riding on the coat tails of what God told you a week ago, month ago, years ago. You don’t continue to give your children a bottle of milk; you give them solid food as they grow. They need a “meatier” diet, one with more substance. Evaluate your life, where are you? Are you growing or are you still making mud pies.
Well right now is my favorite time of year in Ireland. It is blackberry season. You can go on the side of the road anywhere and pick all the blackberries you want until your heart is content. I loved making mud pies as a kid, but now I am enjoying making blackberry pies. May God grow you into a great “pie maker”. Examine your heart, and make sure it is where God can grow you: surrendered, willing, humble, and obedient. Now go make some pies.
Big Red Bus Wishlist
Bus and kids material resource list:
Craft supplies:
Construction paper (assorted color)
Foam shapes with self stick back is always good to us.
Stickers (animals, stars, smiley face, bible verses)
Multi-Color Beads
Pipe cleaners
Crayons
Markers (washable)
Usually people get things for us from http://www.orientaltrading.com/ (just to give an idea)
Something that we really need is to replace our giant parachute (240" Diameter) ours is coming apart!! :-( And a book on parachute games would be helpful as well! We need new ideas! (same web site)
Pre-recorded puppet scripts, in CD format, would benefit us as well.
http://puppetsinc.com/prodspageeng.html
Kids songs DVDs (suggestion: Shout Praises Kids collection from Integrity Kids)
Youth songs DVDs (suggestion: WOW series)
Table games for youth ministry
Craft supplies:
Construction paper (assorted color)
Foam shapes with self stick back is always good to us.
Stickers (animals, stars, smiley face, bible verses)
Multi-Color Beads
Pipe cleaners
Crayons
Markers (washable)
Usually people get things for us from http://www.orientaltrading.com/ (just to give an idea)
Something that we really need is to replace our giant parachute (240" Diameter) ours is coming apart!! :-( And a book on parachute games would be helpful as well! We need new ideas! (same web site)
Pre-recorded puppet scripts, in CD format, would benefit us as well.
http://puppetsinc.com/prodspageeng.html
Kids songs DVDs (suggestion: Shout Praises Kids collection from Integrity Kids)
Youth songs DVDs (suggestion: WOW series)
Table games for youth ministry
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