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Funny kind of shop part 2

Fri, 29/02/2008 - 14:45 -- James Oakley

Before you read this post, see my post yesterday about a funny coffee shop you could imagine me running…

“What conclusions would you draw, if you saw such a price label, about my intentions in selling this particular coffee?”

Let me suggest a few.

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A funny kind of shop

Thu, 28/02/2008 - 14:45 -- James Oakley

Imagine, if you will, that I start to run a coffee shop. Not one that sells cups of brewed coffee. One that sells packs of freshly roasted coffee beans, to be ground at home and turned into a cup of the very best.

Here’s the price label on a 250g bag of single-origin, know-the-farmer-personally, roasted-yesterday Guatemala.

“Price: £5.
For those who cannot afford £5, the price is £2.
Those who cannot afford £2 may pay £0.50.”

What a funny kind of shop I would be running.

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If people in OT times could be saved without knowing about Jesus, does that mean the same is true today?

Fri, 15/02/2008 - 15:59 -- James Oakley

A common question. Which leads some people to try and argue that the faithful in OT times would have known as much about Jesus as we do today. They argue this to avoid being open to pluralism, relativism. inclusivism or rose-by-any-other-name-ism.

Here’s what I wrote in a recent e-mail on this matter – just in case it helps anyone.

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Postmillenial Hymn of the Day

Thu, 14/02/2008 - 16:08 -- James Oakley

God is working his purpose out,
As year succeeds to year;
God is working His purpose out,
And the time is drawing near;
Nearer and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled
With the glory of God,
As the waters cover the sea.

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Golden Calf: Worshipping the wrong God in the right way?

Wed, 13/02/2008 - 15:12 -- James Oakley

Hmm. Not sure.

It’s often been said that the golden calf is a breach of the 2nd commandment, rather than the 1st. That is: It’s not worshipping another God. It’s worshipping the right God in the wrong way – by use of images. In support of this is Aaron’s declaration: Behold, your God who brought you out of the Land of Egypt.

But I wonder.

The contrast between Moses up the mountain and what goes on as the people below get bored is striking.

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Defender of [the] faith?

Tue, 12/02/2008 - 14:41 -- James Oakley

Many will remember the furore when Prince Charles stated, many years back, that he wanted to be not “defender of the [implied, Christian] faith”, but simply “defender of faith”.

Some of the problems of that should be obvious.

Blenheim Palace

Mon, 11/02/2008 - 14:59 -- James Oakley

I had a great afternoon at Blenheim Palace on Saturday, listening to Doug Wilson talk about

  • The gospel and your church
  • The gospel and your family
  • The gospel and your government.
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Assert. Defeat. Destroy.

Mon, 04/02/2008 - 20:16 -- James Oakley

Exodus 7-15, there is a pattern.

Egypt asserts her might as the enemy of God and his people (7-11)
God defeats Egypt (12-13)
God destroys his defeated enemy (14-15)

That’s a pattern that recurs.

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From Kwik Save to Tesco

Fri, 01/02/2008 - 10:41 -- James Oakley

Whilst doubtless local feelings are mixed (they always are), I think it’s exciting that Audley now has its own branch of Tesco. It’s not very big. But it’s there. Tesco Express Audley opened its doors at 8am this morning, and from now on will be open 7 days, 6am-11pm. Hurrah!

There are plenty of people out there who are Tesco Haters.

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