James's Weblog

I'd like to welcome my friend James Gould to the blogosphere.

James has just started a degree in Biblical Studies at Sheffield, having done a youth-work year-out with us last year. He's concerned to end his degree loving God more than when he began.

So, rather than e-mail all his friends separately with every issue his course raises, he thought he'd start a blog and ask his questions where we can all find them. To start with, they're a bunch of OT questions, often Pentateuch ones.

Welcome, James. And if any readers of this blog ever fancy peaking at his and posting him the odd comment by way of reply - I know he'd be grateful.

At St James, Audley we are about to start a sermon series on Exodus – the whole book in 8 sermons.

I get to preach on 1:1-7:7, 12-14, and the first of the tabernacle sections.

Phew… it’s hard work. And I’m trying to work out why.

Well, mine has arrived, it's been roasted, and it's had 36 hours to rest.

The verdict... Very nice indeed - an absolutely magnificent Kenyan. Definitely the kind of Kenyan that has winey taste - and I think I slightly prefer the ones that are fruity. (The apricot burst in the Gethumbwini Peaberry was just stunning). But this is such a good winey Kenyan that I can't complain. Hints of nuts as well.

Definitely don't roast it too dark (end of 1st crack is just right IMHO). Or easier, buy it ready-roasted from Steve. Definitely not for espresso. But even more important - definitely not to miss out on.

http://www.hasbean.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=718

All the usual questions come into our heads - are they real Christians etc?

But, notwithstanding those questions, we often complain that the media reports the persecution of every religious group except followers of Christ. How refreshing to read this article in the Guardian.

Refreshing to see this kind of story getting coverage;

disappointing to discover there is a political slant to the reporting;

but overwhelmingly sad to read of the plight of fellow believers.a href=

Brilliant!

The whole thing isn’t long, but here are a couple of paragraphs

The BBC reports the row caused by an e-mail sent by Councillor David Clutterbuck.

A Conservative councillor who sparked a row when he joked that Noah would have to let gay animals on board if he built his ark today has refused to apologise.

http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=43870

Well it got me wrong! Apparently...

One of the members of our church gave me an A5 piece of paper a few weeks ago. A copy of this had gone through the letter box of every house on his estate, and he wanted to know more about it.

The sheet came from an organisation called “Advent Books”, and invited the reader to send off for a free book entitled The Great Controversy and/or to sign up for a free postal Bible course.

The Great Controversy

This is like something from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

1 Kings 8:15:

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father.