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Out of all the things I love about living in Australia one of the things I can’t stand is the stranglehold that Coles and Woolworths have on this country. They are both insanely over priced and depending on where you live you may pay more or less.
American retail giant Costco is opening its doors in Australia and already has its first location under construction in the docklands district of Melbourne. A lot of Australians have no idea what Costco is. I’ve even seen it compared to the German grocery store “Aldi’s”. Well, I can tell you that Costco is nothing like Aldi’s .. in fact I’d go as far as to say that Costco makes Aldi’s look like a second rate market stall. Costco isn’t just a grocery store, it sells everything from car parts to big screen tv’s and everything in between. What I am the most curious about is how Costco will effect the grocery market here in Australia. Some doubt that Australians will warm to the bulk buying style of shopping experience that Costco brings to the table. But I think the money saved from buying bulk will have them lining up around the block.
If its done right and the Australian government doesn’t get in the way, Costco will revolutionize the way Australians buy consumer goods. For far to long Australians have been getting royally screwed on the price of groceries, electrical goods and many other household items. Coles and Woolies had better be prepared to lower there prices and scrap there 1950’s model of what they call a grocery store. We can only hope that there plans to expand into Sydney and Brisbane happen quickly. Rumours have been circulating that Costco are looking at a site near the logan hyperdome as the home for the Brisbane Costco superstore. Other then a few pics from locals on the skyscrapercity.com forums there has been little news from Costco regarding its new stores. You can be sure I will report any news I hear about future locations and the much anticipated opening of Costco Melbourne.
Even though I am not an American I cant help but feel a bit of the pride America is feeling right now. To be honest I wasn’t sure I was ever going to see a black person in the Whitehouse but now its a reality. And although racism is still a big problem in western countries this day brings a new sense of hope and a new sense of faith in humanity. As a right wing Christian this is the first time I have ever supported a democrat in the US election because I honestly believe Barack Obama was the better man for the job. America badly needed to take a bold step in a different direction and how better to do that then with Barack Obama. That’s not to say that President Obama doesn’t have a massive job ahead of him but I don’t think that there has been this much optimism for an incoming president since JFK.
I am amazed at how many Christians I know that have gotten caught up in the conspiracy theories about this man. I hate to say it but most of these theories are coming from the far right of the republican party. The part of the republican party that can’t stand to lose let alone be forced to come to the realization that the republican party as it stands now is in desperate need of an overhaul.
On a separate note can I just say how cool the new custom made presidential Cadillac limo that has been dubbed “the beast” is. This massive bullet proof limo is a one of a kind and is actually sitting on the chassis of a Chevy truck, pretty impressive stuff.
It is a great time in history to be alive and I can almost picture Dr. Martin Luther King looking down on all of this with tears of Joy in his eyes. What a great day in modern history, we really have come a long way.
Ok so I’m four days into 2009 and getting ready for some big changes. At the moment I am looking at a few different on-line Bible colleges so I can study and still work full time. So as I sat down to write this I felt God telling me to read James chapter 3. It turned out to be an interesting read considering all the changes going on in my life at the moment.
I don’t usually do new years resolutions but this year I am going to make a serious effort to be less negative. I’m supposed to be a light to this world .. not just another complaining pessimistic babbler. So it was interesting for God to direct me to sciptures about controlling the tongue right off the bat. Gods sense of humor never ever fails to amuze me. I think its hilarious when God shows you something in His Word that so obviously applies to your life you just find yourself saying “duh” I know this .. I should know this! Why doe’s God have to continually remind me of these things. Well, I am just a sinner saved by grace and its not like at some point I am going to not need God anymore. After all .. faith is ALL about trusting Him.
Have a read of this segment of James chapter 3 .. even if you’ve read it before just read it again…
James 3
Controlling the Tongue
1 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.[b]
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
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Intereseting word! Oh yeah .. you have to apply it to your life now .. I am going to give it my all. Why? Because I am making the choice to speak life into people .. the life found in Jesus.
Back soon.. peace.
