thomas abbott

This is rather old news I suppose, but when wondering about what to write for my first AL post in almost a year, thought this was the most relevant topic. 

How old?

Well, I popped the question on September 12th last year. 

I'm in Yunnan at the moment on a photo shoot with Zhang Zi Yi (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha, etc), but that's a story for another blog.





This is about 'Sunday Night Live' - a name coined by Robert Glover for an evening of live worship in Beijing (usually one every two months or so). Last Sunday 'The Vine Band' and Dean Sherman joined forces for an exciting encounter with God.

I recently joined a debate about Democracy on the Guardian's 'Comment is Free' blog:

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ ronald_dworkin/2007/03/ is_democracy_possible_here.html

Here was my response to the article and many contributions:

Democracy is simply defined as: one person / one vote.
Anything more than this, then people are beginning to express their personal definition and expectations of government. Democracy does not come with a ready made constitution or a universally proved method of delivering the goods.

I've posted comments on a few other blogs about this, so thought I might as well blog about it.

I've been learning recently that worship in Church is actually a relatively small part of our worship to God. And really, that it's a very specific type of worship.

I listened to a great sermon by Graham Tomlin (HTB) over Christmas (via the podcasts - I was in Thailand!), about how God's creation is in constant worship by just being. The mountains... animal kingdom... humans... just by being alive we're living an act of worship. Humans have the added responsibility of choosing to worship Him, and not just on Sunday mornings, but with everything we say and do.

I prepared this talk for a small bible study a few months back. The subject has both fascinated and challenged me.

When I read 'brokenness of heart' in the passage from Smith Wigglesworth's book (below), it seemed so... harsh.  I couldn't shake the words out of my head, so explored it further.

(Apologies in advance for mixed metaphors of a 'broken heart')

Thought I'd share it with you. Comments / corrections  welcome.

It's a bit long for a blog...

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hi folks.

i'm now back in beijing, and all set up with a new flat, bike, and routine (same job though).

i picked my flat for the following reason:

it's very well decorated. it's also cheap, and the landlord speaks english. but, it's a bit of a distance from my office, so i've discovered a new found joy: the beijing bus...

I have this reccuring urge to pray for Richard Dawkins.

I've been praying for someone to be Jesus to him. I doubt arguing God with him would be fruitfull anymore as he's clearly quite convinced of his own theories. Pride alone could keep him from admitting that God exists at this stage.

So instead of someone proving he's wrong, he needs to be shown he's wrong. And it can be done. I can't help but think of a road to Damascus moment.

Norwich.

Well, where else could I be?

Farmers - I haven't actually seen one yet, but it's true that most Norwich people talk like them. Naaarwich.

Canaries - I'm a Villa supporter, but I think I know more about NCFC these days. I'm based 5 mins walk away from the stadium, and I see the miserable supporters trudge by on a saturday afternoon.

Well, I'm back, but I'm convinced that air travel [over several time zones] is wholly unnatural, and too much of it will cause some sort of long-term damage.

Jet-lag just doesn't get any easier....

I also find that after a long flight to a country at least 4 hours different in time, the first few days don't feel real. Almost as if I'm observing life through a window.