Category: Getting to grips with God stuff

Well I am a Christian…

You never know what’s going on behind closed doors…!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Humour8 Comments

These days I’m a pretty poor evangelist! I wasn’t always like this. I used to be brave, bold, fearless. I also used to be obnoxious, arrogant, bordering on downright rude! Shame I didn’t land somewhere in the middle really.

One of my funnier brushes with the coal face of evangelism happened in conjunction with my Dad. He can always be relied upon to move any story into the hilarious/embarrassing category. However it wasn’t him I was trying to win over. I came home from work one day and he informed me that 2 religious men (not priests now…!) had been at the door. They were dressed in suits and ties and had haversacks and clipboards with them. When they asked my Dad if he was interested in religion his reply was something along the lines of… “Oh now my daughter Annmarie is in to all that, she’s not here at the moment but call back next week and she’ll talk to you about it. Sure she’d talk to you for hours about it. Call back when she’s here” and he promptly shut the door.

He was delighted he had dispensed of them with so little time and effort, my mam was DISGUSTED that he had invited them back but I was thrilled at the prospect of leading these two poor misguided souls into the light.

It was a few weeks later and I’d almost given up hope that they would come back. Then I saw them out the kitchen window. Two men in suits, clipboards in hand. This was it!!! I ran to the door, swung it open and before they drew breath I said – something along the lines of,

“Now before you start I want you to know that I am a born again, Bible believing Christian. I believe Jesus is the son of God. He is the Saviour of the world, died for our sins, raised from the dead to give us life and if you’re here to offer me a half baked version of this Gospel then don’t bother. And before you start arguing points of doctrine let me tell you that nothing…NOTHING… changes what God has done in my heart and in my life and maybe it is YOU that needs to sort out what you believe about God.”
 

I stood there, Charlton Heston-like, I could almost feel the staff in my hand and the wind in my hair and I’m sure I heard the distant strains of… “Let my people go!!!!”
After a moment’s silence I looked at the two men for the first time. they were both pale, with their mouths open. One still had his finger in the air where he had not quite managed to ring the bell. The other had a business card in his hand and slowly handed it me saying.. “eh we’re from Alcorn Insurance and… well… we were really just wondering if you’d… well if you might be interested… eh… well a chat about.. well… life insurance? But I suppose you…  you probably don’t think you… need it.”

The following few minutes are a bit of a blur really. But they hurried back down the path and I shut the door  and stared at my shoes for a bit. Sad day when the best your new found faith can do is drive evangelists (and insurance salesmen) away from your door.

My life assurance documents  🙂

I’d love to think that those guys are now leading mission teams to the Peruvian villages and Indian deserts. But I’m afraid I can’t confirm that, it is possible I suppose.

But one thing I’m fairly certain of, they aren’t selling insurance anymore!!!

Sorry boys – I can’t join your revolution!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings1 Comment

I’ve connected with a group of mad yokes on Twitter! They’re a motley crew of complainers and curmudgeons and I love them to bits. 😀 There’s quite a bit of ranting going on, but they are very respectful to me even though I don’t fully agree with them, and in fairness don’t fully understand them either.

I was tempted to start a revolution meself when I saw this on the road to Kenmare!

Some are looking for a revolution. Some are angry at our government. Most seem frustrated with the cuts that are chipping away at the best asset that Ireland has ever had – her people. It’s a passionate cry to ‘give Ireland back her heart’ as one guy puts it. Having grown up listening to my granny singing ‘rebel songs’, these guys remind me of the spirit of those old come-all-ye’s. Songs about the fight for freedom  and justice that came with a huge cost but was never really won. The aching heart of the ‘fighting Irish’… it’s all there.

The other frustration for them is how few there are joining them in their ‘crusade’. The fact that I am responding and engaging in the conversation has earned me a bit of kudos I think! Today I was even offered the position of ‘Captain’! But I graciously declined it. 🙂 You see guys, I’m sorry but I can’t join your revolution.

I really don’t believe that is what God wants – not for me and not for Ireland. When I pray the ‘Our Father’, I ask for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven. When the Kingdom of God came in the time of Jesus, it did not come as believers of God thought it would. It wasn’t a political overthrow. It was quiet person by person regeneration. Jesus didn’t come in and sweep the government to one side, changing the political scene from the top down (which He would have had the God given authority to do). No , Jesus came to the people and changed hearts and minds, encouraging us to change our communities – from the ground up and out!

The Bible tells me to pray for those who have been put in authority over me. It’s not easy, especially when I have so little faith in any of them, but it also tells me I’m to obey them and not rebel against them. It doesn’t mean I sit back and ignore what’s going on. But I can’t rant and rave and I can’t captain a revolution. Even though it sounds like fun 😉

Thanks for your friendship gang! Don’t give up hope on our country just yet. God’s got her firmly in His sights and He’s not finished with us. Yiz are in my prayers along with our native land.

And if you have one more minute to spare before it’s time to storm the gates 🙂 have a read of this…

Isaiah 42

A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick He will not snuff out!

1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,  my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”

Where were you?

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff6 Comments

I was off work sick. Curled up on the sofa, watching a film. I pressed the ‘pause’ button and went to the kitchen to make another Lemsip. But by the time I got back to the sitting room the player had gone asleep and the telly had kicked back in. “Grrr…. I hate when that happens!” The inconvenience of it all…

I saw the ‘Breaking News’ banner flashing as I fumbled with the remote control and as I went to press ‘play’ I looked up and saw the two towers with the plume of smoke coming out of one of them. As the commentary continued I sat at the edge of the sofa just shaking my head slowly saying, ‘No… way… no… way… ‘ then, well I thought my heart would stop when the 2nd plane hit the other tower.

I watched the telly for hours and days afterwards as the towers collapsed and the story of the other planes unfolded. The world has never been the same since. Even now, many long frustrating queues in airports are because no one knows if, when, where something like this will happen again. But listening now to the victims’ names being read out, one by one – it’s clear that the love and strength of those left behind is far more powerful than any force used to bring destruction that day.

On the Official 9/11 Commemoration Website, the 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels says of th2 11th anniversary,

“Despite the unimaginable tragedy of 9/11 itself, this day is also about the spirit of unity that came in the aftermath. It showed us that the best of humanity can overcome the worst hate. It gave us hope for the future.”1

Amen to that!

1 Taken from http://www.911memorial.org The full text of Joe Daniels’ message can be found here

Suicide Awareness Day 2012

On By auntyamoIn Family, Getting to grips with God stuff3 Comments

When I think about it, I’m shocked at how many people I know who have been affected by suicide. Today is the start of Suicide Awareness Week and marks Suicide Awareness Day around the world.

There are two people that come to mind in particular today. One I’d known since I was a kid. I fancied him like mad and dreamed of marrying him one day. He was a great laugh! Even though I hadn’t seem him for years, cos he was my brother’s mate, I invited him to my wedding – not as the groom tho 🙂 It was different from any other wedding he’d been to and he loved it! I remember him running over to me at one stage shouting, “Amo, this is a BRILLIANT day!” with his huge smile.

The other person I’m thinking about today I didn’t know as well, or for as long. She was a beauty! She was a scream too. I remember a wedding we were both at – we were dancing like mad women 😉 She was a fiesty fiery redhead  – another one with a big bright smile…

I’ve had down days. Some VERY dark and dismal days! But I don’t remember a day when I felt I didn’t have anyone in world that I could talk to, or that there was no way out of a situation. I can’t imagine what that would be like. How crushing it must be to feel that there is no way out and no one who can help.

I can’t give enough praise for Pieta House – an organisation working to prevent suicide and self harm in Ireland. Their work is inspiring – and tireless. And this week I’d encourage you to look at their website, Facebook page, Twitter feed – what ever is your thing. Get involved, raise awareness , or a few quid even – and let’s work together to help those who feel helpless.

There is always hope! My hope is in Christ Jesus. I know not everyone reading this shares that hope. But hope still exists and help can be found. You are not alone.

You are NOT alone!

Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

“I Am What I Am” – Could I live by this Paralympic anthem?

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Health, weight & wellbeing1 Comment

WOW The Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games was A.MAY.ZING!

Little Amo 🙂

I know it might sound like a bit of a cliché but it really has made me think about my outlook on life! I’m such a lazy mare most of the time. And though I hide it (pretty much) on this blog, I can be a bit of a complainer.

I spend a ridiculous amount of time looking at everybody else’s life and asking God to make me someone else or even just like someone else. I want less fat and more intelligence. I want less insecurity and more hilariousness. I want less work and more money.

It was quite striking to see hundreds of people celebrating the difference between them and the Olympians we saw march into that same stadium a month ago. They celebrated that which makes them Paralympians.

Curehead and corsage days

For years I strove to be different. I worked hard on my ‘look’ and made sure I had a look that was noticed by everyone. I wanted to stand out from the crowd. But ended up hanging out with a gang of people who looked just like me!  Outside confidence hid the fact that I was never happy.

Spoiler alert… Most of my confidence and bravado is still a tribute to my acting abilities 😀

The life I have and the person I am is the creative work of God! So maybe I should look in the mirror and say something along the lines of, “Enough of your moaning, Amo! Get on with the life you have, and stop wishing for another life!” That contentment, no matter what , is a very biblical principle. Paul says in the book of Philippians, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation”

I wish I was like that! I would love to be like Paul! You see… there I go again! 😀

I wish I was like her!
oh hang on it’s me 😀

I wish the greatest of success to all the athletes. Especially our Irish heroes. And I hope that the Olympic motto – “Inspire a Generation!” does exactly that.

I was certainly inspired tonight!

At the ceremony Stephen Hawking said “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet” If I may add… and look to the One who made them – the stars… and your feet!  🙂

Space to think about what comes after…

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff1 Comment

I loved reading the tributes to Neil Armstrong that rolled around Twitter, Facebook, blogs and websites. Although, some of the American press almost over looked his death. Well he died on a Saturday you see… and towards the end of the summer when some newsrooms are scantily staffed. (huh?)

NBC are being particularly mocked online for reporting that ‘Astronaut Neil Young’ had died! (huh?) You don’t need me to provide you with link! Just google it and choose your own!

As much as it feels wrong that the story wasn’t covered very well, maybe it’s fitting that he had a quiet exit. For a man at the centre of world changing events, Neil Armstrong seemed to live a very normal life after walking on the moon. There isn’t a raft of TV interviews that we can search youtube for. There are a lot of books about him but it’s said he only wrote one himself. By all accounts, he was a quiet unassuming man who went back to his home state to teach Aerospace Engineering. Never really got involved in politics and as far as my research can tell me – he never did an advertisement for anything!

But the most interesting thing to me was the well wishers who bade him farewell as he left our atmosphere and went back to the stratosphere that not only defined him, but which he defined.  It was actually very emotional to read some of the Tweets. Retweeted again and again, coming from all over the world. Wishing him well on his way…

Death is a (not so) funny thing though isn’t it?! It is one of the few things, maybe the only thing that we can guarantee EVERY SINGLE PERSON will experience – yet we’re almost always surprised to find someone has died. The reaction to death and opinion of its outcome varies across the world, across religions & philosophies and across time. But more often than not – we’re not prepared for it.

I’m not usually a blogger of dismal subjects. But you must remember that for me – though I do cry when someone dies, it is not a ‘dismal’ subject for me. There is an eternity to be enjoyed which, when this rubbish body of mine eventually gives up on me, I look forward to.
My father-in-law had an amazing attitude to death. When he was ill he believed that if he got well again – GREAT, but if he didn’t – he’d get to be with Jesus so… GREAT. For him it was a win – win situation. Basically saying what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

I’d be lying if I said that I totally have my head around that one. But I am confident that  beyond space, beyond the moon and beyond the space beyond the moon… there is an eternity and a heavenly home for me! My departure from the earth will make no headlines (unless I die in some freak spandex accident or am eaten by a mongoose…) Maybe one or two of my Tweeps might say something nice about me. And sure there might even be a nice little obituary to me in the local paper. Something like… “She ate a lot of chocolate but it was people like her who kept Cadbury’s open and contributed to the recovery of Ireland’s economy and the return of the ‘boom’!” As you can see I’m not expecting to go for a while yet! 🙂

But… whether my exit makes a splash or not, my entrance into the next world with be a party. A big party! And you’re invited by the way!

Think about it!

More T.V. Vicar?

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Writing, Blogging etcLeave a comment

In case you didn’t read the previous post (and shame on you btw :D) I should mention that I was one of a number of bloggers who were set a challenge to write a post using two words randomly pulled out of a hat… and my two were ‘sandwich’ and intrigue’. So here we go…

Recently I tried to think of a vicar/priest/minister that isn’t portrayed as ridiculous or nasty in film/TV/literature. I’m not one of those people who hears about something that is hailed to be “disgraceful and offensive” to Christians and then goes looking for it so I can see how disgraceful it is and how offended I am! I do confess to being quite curious when I hear of the outrageous stuff, but I tend not to get too worked up.

From the funny, but hopefully inaccurate, Welsh vicar ranting about sandwiches, (you can see the clip here – just to check how offensive/funny you do/don’t find it – delete as appropriate) to the sinister scenes of intrigue and conspiracy with plotting bishops and assassin priests in The Da Vinci Code – your choice seems to be… wally or baddie. (Other clerical baddies include Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers and Dan Brown wheels them out again in Angels and Demons)

As much as I loved The Vicar of Dibley, she was a bit more sex mad than a single woman of the cloth is probably supposed to be. And there’s a whole host (pardon the pun) of poor hapless priests and vicars to choose from. Four Weddings and a Funeral has that great wedding ceremony scene with Rowan Atkinson. Jane Austen’s father was a minister, and a good one at that (supposedly anyway – I never met him myself), yet pretty much anytime she wrote a vicar/curate into one of her books, he was silly and vain. There seems to be no end of incompetence. Programmes like Rev, Jam & Jerusalem, Keeping Up Appearances, Killinascully – they all have these bumbling halfwit clergymen! And then there’s Father Ted…

I’m not saying they’re not funny or well written. OK some more than others, but they are often very funny and in some cases scarily well written. Tell me, people of Ireland, how many of the priests in Father Ted are you sure you’ve met at some stage in your life!

So, I’m waving a banner. Just to say that there are many good, faithful, hardworking men and women out there. Serving God, serving the church and serving the community. Just in case there is someone somewhere wondering whether church leaders are all wallies and baddies. My answer is a resounding… CERTAINLY NOT! Well… not all 🙂

In a little nod to the restoration of faith in the faithful, let me quote just a few lines from Series 1, Episode 5 of Jam and Jerusalem. The doctor’s receptionist ‘Tipp’ (played by the wonderful Pauline McGlynn, of Mrs.Doyle fame) is talking to the local Church of England vicar about how she was,

“raised by nuns in a cold convent, in southern Ireland.”
“Yes, it must have been dreadful.” came the Vicar’s half-hearted reply.
“No, actually. It was lovely.” answered Tipp. “I won’t have a word said against them! But THAT won’t win you the Booker Prize will it?”

I know the feelin’ missis 😀

The Answer to Your Question is… Yes!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuffLeave a comment

For the last week pretty much all the ‘search words’ that have led to my blog are …. “katie taylor christian” quite often with a question mark.

So this short and sweet post is to let you know that… YES! Katie Taylor is a committed Christian. I don’t know her full story and testimony but Dan Tabb from Sports Across Ireland interviewed Katie for VOX Magazine in 2009 and here is a snippet of what the article said about her sport and her faith.

Katie’s perspective on being a Christian and a boxer is similar to that of Olympic champion runner Eric Liddell of ‘Chariots of Fire’ film fame. When challenged by his sister about running versus serving God full time in China as a missionary, he responded, “I believe God made me for a purpose… but He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure. To win is to honour him.”

Katie shared, “I believe the talent, ability and motivation I’ve been given is truly a gift from God. I am very humbled and feel so blessed for the life the Lord has given me. I’m very grateful for the gifts and talents [God] has given me. I do not take the gifts for granted, but rather hone those gifts and abilities through diligent training twice a day, six times a week. My preparation and performance is my act of worship.” ***

So there you have it!

There are a number of Facebook pages dedicated to Katie – this is just one of them!

She’s going for GOLD today at around 5pm! I’d tune in if I were you…. 🙂

*** Used with permission. Please note that full copyright for this extract from VOX Magazine Issue 2 April – June 2009 remains with Solas Publishing

Armchair Olympics

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Health, weight & wellbeing, Humour2 Comments

So there I am with a large mug of coffee and a packet of chocolate digestives criticising the gymnast cos her triple somersault wasn’t perfect…

They have to keep their legs straight – how many times do I have to say it?!?!?!

Anyway…. I suddenly have a moment of crisis. Am I really committed to anything?

There have been lots of ads on the telly lately, focussing on the commitment of athletes who have made it to the Olympics. Not just the last four years, but a life time of early mornings, hard work, sacrificing time and money – committment!

Am I actually committed to anything? Other than getting to the bottom of this packet of biscuits?

Anyone familiar with the Bible will know that themes of perseverance and running the race are used to help explain the Christian life. There’s also a lot of farming analogies, which make much more sense to me now that I live in a rural community. Just last week I was chatting with someone about arranging a get-together but we weren’t sure if it was possible. I was asking what time some of the farmers would be finishing work.  The answer came… “As long as the sun is shining the lads will work.”

“Yeah Amo!” I thought, kicking myself “like they clock out at 5!  helloooooo?!”

Suddenly it dawned on my that ‘Make hay while the sun shines’ is not just an old adage – it’s a work ethic!

I think the problem is that all this running and jumping over things is highlighting the fact that the things I’m passionate about and committed to are in my head and my heart. I can’t think of one that I need to get out of my chair for! Which is a bit worrying really!

Don’t get me wrong. I do move. I had to go all the way over there to get these biscuits. But I’m not committed to moving.

Maybe I should combine my thinking with some athletic efforts! I could record my blog posts with my handsfree kit as I run around the carpark outside the apt. Or maybe I could get a bicycle and a loud haler; go cycling around Kildare shouting, “Here’s a list of the people I love… ”

Yes! Yes, I think this might work you know… all I need to do is get my favourite Bible verses printed on a leotard (might not be room for ALL the Psalms…) and then I can show them gymnasts how it’s SUPPOSED to be done!

That’s it! That’s what I’m going to do. Just one more biscuit tho eh?

Discarded & Unnamed

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings3 Comments

Most of the time it doesn’t hurt anymore.

I go about my day to day life and I don’t even give it a thought.

Get the odd twinge, when I hear of pregnancies  but in general, not having children doesn’t often cause me much pain anymore. Usually I’m just so delighted that there’ll another little person in my life that the joy outweighs the sadness.

But today it’s tough. Today it is painful. Today it feels REALLY unfair and the whole world feels upside down. Mainly because of an article I read in the online version of the Telegraph [1]

248 human foetuses were found in a Russian forest. 248 little tiny people whose lives ended or were ended. When I read the article it was almost crushing.

I’m not going to rant about abortion or stem cell research. I disagree with abortion, anyone who know s me would know that. But I don’t have a fight in me at the moment. All I have is a pressing sadness that for some reason I don’t have a child and 248 tiny humans were packed into plastic containers and dumped in a forest.

LORD, I don’t understand. Help me not to despair about the total upside down nature of this situation. Which is mild and could be thought as nothing compared to a lot of other imbalanced and unjust situations in the world.

248… discarded and unnamed…

And I am sad.

 

[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9423324/248-human-foetuses-found-in-Russian-forest.html