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2009 Ireland Missions Trip Day 5

Today the team hiked up the Hill of Slane to check out Slane Abbey, a great site where St. Patrick himself established a church.  From it you can see for miles around.  While the team was out hiking, I decided to get some laundry done.  It took me 20 minutes just to figure out how to open the dryer door!  I’d swear that, when I took my clothes out of the dryer, they were more wet than when I put them in.  They are all currently hanging on the oil heat registers throughout the cottage.

Tonight we had the privilidge of ministering at the Emmanuel Community Church youth group.  It was great!  I talked to them about prayer and we all called on God together for our friends and families.  The church is down the street from the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a massive structure that has to be seen to fully appreciate the scope and breadth of it.

Slane Abbey from the trail

Slane Abbey from the trail

Slane Abbey

Slane Abbey

It was a muddy hike.  Bethany lost the sole of her shoe.

It was a muddy hike. Bethany lost the sole of her shoe.

St. Patrick's from across the street

St. Patrick's from across the street

St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral

2009 Ireland Missions Trip Day 3

Today was great!  We visited Monasterboice to see some of the most amazing Celtic crosses anywhere.  That wasn’t the highlight of the day though.  The best part was going to Drogheda to lead a Furnace prayer meeting.  It was so amazing!  The people here are hungry for a move of God.  They long to see the fires of prayer burn bright!  What a blessing to get to play a small part of that!  We even met in a coffee shop just like back home.  Another cool part of our day was meeting with Rachael, a young lady who’s very interested in joining the Furnace Midwest internship in the fall.  It’s a long way to come, but totally worth it!

Enjoy the video and pictures!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9gHAL3KYds]

Vanessa made a new friend

Vanessa made a new friend

Monasterboice.  Ruins of 6th century monastary.

Monasterboice. Ruins of 6th century monastary.

Estate near Monasterboice

Estate near Monasterboice

The crew in front of a beautiful cross

The crew in front of a beautiful cross

Kirsty and Shannon, our praise team for the night

Kirsty and Shannon, our praise team for the night

Lots of prayers and hugs at the Furnace prayer meeting

Lots of prayers and hugs at the Furnace prayer meeting

Furnace Friday Nights

Every Friday night I have the privilege of leading a community-wide prayer meeting for young adults. It’s the highlight of my week to watch young people praise and cry out to God for their city!

Last night I decided to snap a few pictures to share. Enjoy!

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Images of Praise

I saw these pictures taken by photographer Brian Cowen and decided to share them.

There’s something about the image of passionate praise that moves me.  Especially the humble, sincere, “Your lowest point is greater than my highest point” kind of praise.

I often wonder what praise will be like in heaven.  Our expressions of it here are so inadequate when it comes to giving our appraisal of an all-powerful, universe creating, ever reigning, forever loving God.  I’m sure it would blow our minds if we caught a glimpse of it.  However, when I see pictures like these, I think what we have for now is pretty cool…

Praise 1

Praise 2

Praise 3

Praise 4

Praise 5