There has been a ‘wee bit of snow’ this week…..
Shuffle carefully down our steps and look to your right and this is what it currently looks like….
I see things in ’tilt-shift’ mode when it snows!
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Lady Gaga, political activist or dumb american?
You would think that being offended by Lady GaGa would be as a result of her provocative onstage antics? The gratuitous side of her persona and live show?
In Belfast, perhaps concert goers could be offended by her biting the head of a barbie doll or some other part of what I’ve heard was a very weird, if entertaining show?
Oh goodness no! Here in Northern Ireland we like to be deeply offended when stupid americans wave Irish flags! Yes, I hear you; “Its not our flag” and “flags have such an attachment to our violent past” etc etc
Regardless of whether you are offended or whether you thought it was great to see her waving the Irish flag around you need to understand celebrities and pop stars a bit better.
Above you can see Lady Gaga wearing a dress made entirely from raw meat! She likes publicity and she knows how to get it and perhaps, is a little unhinged!
So, what about the flag? Here’s what I think…
1: She might have known what she was doing and that it would cause a stir because we take offence at the silliest of things.
2: She is just another dumb american who has no clue whether they are in Ireland, Scotland or Germany when they cross the Atlantic!
My money would be on number 2!
I’ve been to a Christian concert where the singer was too ignorant of our history to know that he may be offending some people with a flag and an irish jig. Oh how we laughed…..but then I have to ask if we shouldn’t just get over our so-called offence at the Irish flag? Seriously, and especially in the context of a Christian concert, full of ‘christians.’
But, the bigger picture…
Are we now so morally and socially inept that the biggest offence and shock to come from a Lady Gaga concert is her waving an Irish flag?
Makes you wonder….
Coast, Dolphins and climate change…..
We just spent a few days at the “coast”
A teeny holiday for us at the “John Snow House” in Portrush – we were very grateful to be allowed to stay there.
Tell you what though – climate change whispered/shouted in my ear and baffled us this week!
On Monday it rained intermittently and in sync with us every time we left the house!
On Tuesday it was occasionally wet, baltic cold and windy as………..
Wednesday was a different continent! It was as if we had literally jumped into a different world – sunshine as we strolled along the beach at 10am and for the rest of the day which was great.
This morning we were on the beach at 9.30am for a walk and again it was beautiful so i predict snow for tomorrow!
Typically i decided to not take our camera out this morning and oh how i regretted that! We were walking along in about 3 inches of water when i spotted something about 50ft away from us in the shallow waves.
“There’s something in the water” i said
“Is it a body?” says Cherith
Oh dear!! We didn’t have to call CSI!
It was 3 dolphins! We thought we saw 2 to begin with and then a 3rd appeared – they swam along, rising in and out of the waves not far from us for about 200 yards – it was beautiful to watch. No pictures though – sigh! There is a nice ‘couple’ somewhere who can confirm our sighting though, they watched with us for a few moments and then left when we told them Jesus made the dolphins!
We are home now so it can snow at the coast if “it” wants!
p.s. we didn’t really tell the nice folks that Jesus made the dolphins!
More pics on my Flickr
Orange Jesus is not…..
Today is the 12th of July!
Here in Northern Ireland thousands of people take to the streets to “celebrate” the “Glorious Revolution (1688) and victory of Protestant king William of Orange over Catholic king James II at the Battle of the Boyne (1690).” (from wikipedia)
In recent years an effort to make the whole thing a lot more cultural and a lot less sectarian led to a name change.
We all know that calling it ‘Orangefest’ takes the sectarian edge of it! Perhaps if they gave out free oranges to everyone? Or dressed up as Oranges? Promoted a national culinary delight created from oranges that we could all enjoy during the holiday period? Im clutching at straws…….
I watched “the 12th” once when i was still a child and i vowed to never endure it again!
I may often say i don’t care about it or i’m indifferent to the whole thing but if i am honest, i do care.
I care about something that gets labelled as ‘Christian’ and is clearly not. I care that many ‘Christian leaders’ from many Churches still join in and do not see the terrible influence they are having. I care that thousands of men & women think their parading and “celebrations” have God’s endorsement! I care that these things all add to the undercurrent of sectarianism that is evident in the “Protestant Churches” here in Northern Ireland.
Last year Gary Boal said this;
“Today on the 12th of July i’d ask you to bow your knee & worship the One True and Only Worshipful Master; Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God.” (read the full post here)
Even if you hate everything else i just said, at least know this….
One day you will bow your knee before God, and whether you were ‘Orange’ or ‘Green’ in this life will NOT matter! God does not support your cause no matter how much you name drop Him!
Orange…………..Jesus was and is NOT!
